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©2002 by Jannet Unite-Penny
Editors' Note: This article is excerpted
with permission from Jannet's chapter in, I'm
Fine! Learning to Unblock
Your Emotions, edited by Dr. Andrew
Tresidder, 2002 by Gill & Macmillan Ltd.
If you would like more explanation of the concept of the shadow, see
Jannet's earlier
article in our archives.
Carl Jung first popularised the concept of the
Shadow in his work with the unconscious aspects
of the Self. The Shadow is actually a component
of the Self, more than just the sum of its parts.
Since it is always with us and holds so much of
our life energy, anyone serious about increasing
self-awareness or about growing spiritually,
must of necessity, tangle with this Shadow Self.
To work with our Shadow we need to look at the characteristics of the people in our lives
whose behaviour pushes our buttons, at people we dislike or hate, at what irritates or angers
us the most. It is very possible that we may pride ourselves on having the opposite of these particular qualities for, ironically, the more intensely we polarise ourselves in any characteristic, the more we will attract its opposite to us in our lives.
Also we need to look at what we really admire in others. This is information that teaches
us so much about ourselves.
The standard response we often have, when asked to look to see where we can identify ourselves in people,
or in situations which upset us or get to us in some way is "But I don't do that!" And the answer is
"No, you probably don't, but maybe you would really like to". Perhaps what stops us is the judgement
we have on such behaviour that prevents us allowing ourselves to act in such a way. It follows that
we are really infuriated when someone else has the audacity to do so. Similarly, when we admire
someone passionately and long to be like them,
identify the quality in them that triggers this response, and work on reclaiming it from your Shadow.
Since women, in particular, are conditioned not
to feel anger, it is an important issue for them
to bring to the surface. There are several
essences which focus on this emotion in the
context of female issues. The first of these,
Touch-me-not Essence, deals with anger in response
to limitations and judgments imposed on women by
chauvinism and patriarchy. Another is Gazania
Essence, for the woman who has to subjugate
herself to the needs of others, and who is
sexually repressed. Lemon Essence is
particularly helpful as an aid to processing
women's anger, which is disallowed by virtue of
society's judgements.
One way that anger seeps out in our lives is when we use it passive-aggressively to punish
those around us, and we can be remarkably inventive in finding ways to do this. White Geranium
Essence, for unreliability and irresponsibility, and Vygie Essence, for control and manipulation,
are two to remember here.
Geranium Incanum Essence can also be of particular value in such destructive or
vengeful relationships, where we find ourselves attracting violent, threatening situations in our lives.
Consciously integrating the Shadow aspect of the Self in these circumstances will free the very powerful,
magnetic energy which holds us locked into such relationships. It may as well be that Crisis Remedy
and Auric Protection Essence could be used most beneficially here, as well
There is the probability, in these circumstances, that you will feel victimised,
failing to remember that reality is a product of the inner world. Use Yucca Essence as it works to help
transform feelings
of victimhood through taking personal responsibility for what happens to us.
Another important essence for dealing with these violent or abusive aspects, which we
have projected outward, is Wild Ginger Essence. It facilitates the owning and accepting of these aspects,
drawing them out of shadow consciousness and allowing them to be transmuted. We all know, perhaps first
hand, of people who find themselves, repeatedly in abusive relationships, replaying the old patterns set,
most probably in childhood. The way to deal with this
is to own this pattern so that reality no longer has to keep presenting it.
Grevillea Essence is another essence that works to assist in the incorporation of the Shadow Self.
Because judging that which we disown in ourselves, when we see it is others, is so characteristic, we may
similarly feel judged and vulnerable to criticism. Understanding that we create what happens to us, that it
is our judgements which are being reflected back to us, frees us to take back our power from those onto
whom we have projected it, and thereby change our outer realities. Pompom Tree Essence can also be
used for fear of rejection, feelings of shame and vulnerability to the opinions of others, and
Plumbago Essence deals specifically with the feelings of shame and low self-esteem which can increase our vulnerability.
When we polarise ourselves in the upright, moral side of ourselves, disowning our
ability to be violent or hostile, judging this behaviour in others, there is the potential
to meet this violent side of ourselves out in our world. Reality manifests from the inside out.
The dark, Dr. Jekyll aspect of Self may be represented to us by our realities, not to punish us, but
to teach us to recognise these energies within ourselves and in order that we take back the power
we have given away to outside forces in our lives. On a spiritual level we already know this.
 Another major function of the Shadow is that of holding emotions for us,
which are too intense to deal with when we first experience them. When a loved one dies violently,
when we are sexually abused, when a relationship ends, when the loss, pain, grief, abandonment or betrayal
are too great or when we just cannot face the anger or shame, our Shadow will pick up these feelings
and keep them until we can face them. There are many of the South African Flower Essences that are applicable in such circumstances. I will mention only a few to give you an idea of how to use them.
English Hawthorne Essence is for intense grief, when our hearts are broken, when the hurt and
anguish are unbearable. We really cannot afford to leave pain of this type in our bodies,
unprocessed, as it can easily lead to illness. We have to have the courage to tangle with
it, and this is a valuable essence to help us. Dog Rose Essence works similarly, with unexpressed grief,
facilitating expression and integration of the pain. Peach Essence assists us with the affects of
past trauma, or grief, which continue to effect the present. The beautiful blue Water Lily,
indigenous to the Cape of Good Hope, has been used for the Water Lily Essence which benefits us
when we have numbed ourselves against the pain, and simply deny what we feel. Pelargonium Essence
is indicated when the emotional baggage we carry results in a sense of alienation and isolation.
It also facilitates the integration of the unconscious into the conscious.
In addition to these essences, one helpful process for claiming your shadow is to sit by yourself, calling on your Higher Self and
unseen counsellors to help you, and to give yourself time to work with whatever it is that
evokes this response in you or that you have identified. With real self-honesty and integrity,
examine the depths of your psyche. Admit the truth to yourself. I am not suggesting you need to admit
the truth to anyone else nor that you go into the adolescent part of yourself and start beating
yourself up about it. Castigating yourself or going off on a blaming trip of "Oh, I am such a despicable,
horrible person, no one could possibly love me!" is going to achieve nothing at all.
What is needed is the recognition of this aspect in yourself; the lifting of the judgement
you have (for you judge what you disown); forgiveness of yourself -- for having hidden the
truth from yourself for so long -- and for the pain you have caused yourself, and others,
in the process, and a desire to be different from now on. Then, put into practice what
you have learned about yourself, and actually be different.
Editors' Note: For more articles with a Jungian approach, visit our Virtual Booklet,
Dreams, Essences and Archetypes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jannet Unite-Penny, although
trained as a lawyer, has studied metaphysics
and natural health for thirty-five years. Since
1994 she has produced the The South African
Flower and Gem Essences in Cape Town, South
Africa. Living on the slopes of Table Mountain in
the Cape of Good Hope, world famous for its
unique and very diverse floral kingdom, she felt
that it was important to make the energy of these
beautiful plants and of the African continent
available for healing.
Art Credits: Treatment by Word of Mouth Web Design, based on a design by Deborah Bier.
Photos from Clipart.com.
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
  
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