About Shadow

Most of us lack clarity of vision of the whole self. This occurs when various family and cultural biases, values and concepts are at odds with the full expression of the individual we naturally are. 

Any such impediment to clear seeing amounts to something clinging to glass and inhibiting the ready transmission of light. In the case of the natural self, this effectively filters our perception of who we are and what is real.

Another way of thinking about this is that what does not pass attaches to the glass and becomes a darkening influence, that is, the “shadow” side of consciousness. The shading caused by preconceptions will occlude sight, affecting our ability and willingness to effectively and accurately examine the self. 

To illustrate this, imagine yourself walking into an old barn. Near the large windows all of the implements and lubricants and bags of fertilizer are in clear view. As you wander farther into the interior you become less clear about what you see and less certain of your step. You begin to slow your movement to prevent bumping into a rusty spade or rake or stepping into a shaft. 

The deeper you go the more this careful approach affects your pace. The light begins to yellow and dust motes fill its beams. Soon you have to stop to let your eyes adjust. If you continue without doing so you sense that you really might get hurt. Even if you were told before going in that the space ahead is actually clear, there is no way to know it for sure from your own experience, and your imaginings of the mere possibility of harm are enough to evoke caution and concern.

The worst spaces are the dark corners where no light penetrates at all. There anything might hide, including a nesting owl or a raccoon. This is the place of eerie sensations and anxiety. This is the boundary of your self-assuredness. If you are like most of us you will back-peddle to an area where things are identifiable and familiar from your earlier encounter with them. 

Interestingly, as you turn from viewing the darkness, the area you just came through that did not seem so light before seems brighter now. You might wonder: is it the contrast that makes the difference, or is it that having adjusted to darkness, any light seems brighter? Is it an illusion? Does it even matter since you associate it with a feeling of safety and relief, and you are just happy to be moving on? 

But, might you also feel like you have missed something? Might you also be just a bit ashamed at your timidity and lack of adventurousness? Or will you applaud yourself for being wise and mature for not having taken too great a risk, deciding to leave the exploration of the darkness for another day? 

Of course, you may never go back at all, choosing to stay with what you have already seen and can feel like you know. There are a lot of other, less complicated experiences to pique your interest and fill your time.

Consider, then, what the lack of transparency does to complicate life. None of us wants to look into our shadows. We all are afraid of what is there. We conjure imaginary scenes of harm; we develop avoidant patterns; we stay mired in the familiar; we feel weak and ashamed; we slow our movement and hinder our growth. 

We need transparency; it is what allows all that has accumulated in our attics, closets or cellars to be revealed and allowed to pass.