Episode 12 - You Don't Have to Obsess About Your Shadow Work
Are you ready to dive into shadow work without it taking over your entire life?
Discover how to create a container and embrace the power of intentional practices.
In this episode of Rooted Feminine where we’ll discuss…
🌙 Creating a container for shadow work: Establishing dedicated practices, setting up physical altars, and utilizing rituals to prevent shadow work from consuming one's life.
🌙 Intentionality and focus: Choosing one specific area of shadow work, practicing awareness, acceptance, and accountability, and dedicating time and space to the work.
🌙 Honoring and concluding the shadow work: Using rituals to bring closure for now, solidify the work done, and show reverence for one's growth and spiritual path.
Feel the call to your own shadow work but want to do it within a loving sisterhood? Join us
August 21st at 7PM Eastern | 4PM Pacific
for a live shadow season ceremony:
Show Notes:
Hey sister, welcome to Episode 12 of Rooted Feminine. We are halfway through our series on shadow work, and I'm excited to dive into another episode on this theme. Today, we're going to talk about how to do shadow work without becoming obsessed. So far, we've discussed the importance of shadow work, its meaning for spiritual growth, and how it helps us become our best selves. Shadow work is crucial, but it doesn't have to be a negative experience filled with intense emotions. One key takeaway from this series is that shadow work does not mean you are broken and need fixing.
Shadow work is about bravely examining what's working and what's not, taking accountability for your role, and being aware of how others contribute. It's not about fixing a broken piece of yourself; it's about embracing the cyclical and seasonal aspects of spiritual growth and dedicating time and space to your shadow. Today, we'll explore how to do this without it consuming your entire life.
If you're seeking support for your shadow work, we have a wisdom event coming up on August 21st. It's a free event called Womb Work, filled with sisterhood, ceremony, and education. You can register for the event at rootedfeminine.com/shadow. Joining us live will give you a more immersive experience, but if you can't attend, you can catch the replay.
Now, let's dive into today's episode. In the spiritual space, there are various groups or cliques such as the lightworker, star seed, ascended consciousness, and healing groups. Belonging is important, and it's possible to draw wisdom from all these groups. You can explore different messages and ideas without contradictions. Here at Rooted Feminine, we focus on the sacred feminine embodiment, but we appreciate and respect other paths as well.
Currently, the healing group seems to be quite vocal. They emphasize healing trauma and becoming the highest version of yourself. As a former psychotherapist, I question the qualifications of some who offer trauma work. It's essential to not exclusively focus on healing as the answer to spiritual growth, just as focusing solely on love and light isn't the complete picture.
The feminine path is cyclical and seasonal, incorporating both love and light, shadow, and healing. Each has its time and space. Our goal is to experience our wholeness and divinity fully. Shadow work is vital but not the entirety of spiritual growth. Our primary objective is to commune with our soul magic, embody our mystical and divine selves, and ground the sacred feminine in our everyday lives.
Shadow work helps us examine what isn't working, accept it, take accountability, but it shouldn't consume our lives. It's about embracing both the darkness and the light. Setting up a sacred container personally or within a community allows us to do the necessary work without getting lost in it. We can dedicate a specific period or place to shadow work while infusing our everyday existence with soul fire.
When we solely focus on the shadow, it taints every experience and prevents us from fully engaging in the present. For instance, we might be at a child's birthday party, but our thoughts are consumed by past experiences and patterns.
So, that's not living an embodied life. We don't want to have a banner launch in our business, enrolling people or signing on new clients, while being consumed by thoughts like, "Oh, this means my money mindset is coming into play," and so on. We can live and celebrate without getting stuck in perpetual healing loops. Resolving one issue only to move on to the next creates a never-ending cycle of questioning and focusing on what's wrong. This prevents us from living our soul's truth and experiencing regular communication with our soul.
To avoid being mired in constant healing and shadow work, we can dedicate a season or container for this work. At Rooted Feminine, we do this during the autumn season. Setting up parameters and seeking guidance and support through share circles can help bring up and process what emerges. However, you can also create your own sacred space for this purpose.
Setting up an altar specifically for shadow work is a powerful symbol. Dark crystals like obsidian, black tourmaline, and smoky quartz can be used to signify shadow while also providing grounding and protection. Including imagery or tarot cards related to shadow work can also be beneficial. If desired, you can even set up a separate altar dedicated to light, allowing for an energetic reset when needed.
Additionally, being intentional about the shadow work you undertake is crucial. Instead of trying to address multiple issues simultaneously, choose one area to focus on and take it slow. Dedicate a specific timeframe to this work and create an intentional container around it.
Developing a dedicated practice can further solidify the container for your shadow work. You don't need an elaborate routine; even a simple daily spiritual practice can make a difference. It's about recommitting yourself to regular engagement with your altar or other spiritual practices that resonate with you.
Remember, the goal is to avoid getting lost in perpetual healing and shadow work. By creating a container, you signal to the universe and yourself that you are serious about transformation. It's about claiming your power, embracing your worthiness, and actively participating in your growth and how you relate to yourself and others.
So, it doesn't have to be all-consuming if you don't have time for that on a regular basis. Instead, I encourage you to have a dedicated practice, even if it's just five minutes. At Rooted Feminine, we offer an offering called "The Morning Routine Reimagined" in our shop, where I walk you through three different morning routines: one for an hour, one for 30 minutes, and one for 10 minutes. You can check it out at rootedfeminine.com/shop if it interests you. The key is to find something manageable that you can do every day during your shadow season. For example, you could spend 10 minutes journaling and pulling a card related to your intentional shadow work.
Another important aspect is dedicating a ritual when your shadow season is coming to an end. This could be a cord cutting ceremony or a blood ritual if you menstruate. Both symbolize release and closure. You can also explore other rituals that resonate with you. The purpose of the ritual is to solidify the occasion, bring closure for now, and honor the work you've done.
It's important to remember that the feminine path is a spiral, and you're never truly done with shadow work. Even if you address specific issues in one container, they may resurface in the future. However, each time you encounter them, you'll have evolved and gained new tools and perspectives. Trust your intuition and soul to know when you're done with an issue for now.
To summarize, creating a container for your shadow work helps prevent it from taking over your life. You can set up a physical altar, have an energetic intention, establish a dedicated daily practice, and culminate with a ritual for closure. If you're seeking guidance and support, I invite you to join our wisdom event, "Womb Work: Three Energies to Support You in Your Shadow Work, Even if You're New to the Dark Side," happening on August 21st. You can register at rootedfeminine.com/shadow.
I'm excited for you to embark on your shadow work journey in a safe and contained way that allows you to embrace your power and co-create your healing without becoming obsessed with it. Next week, we'll have the final episode in the Shadow Work Series. Until then, I'll see you next time in Temple Space.
