Origins of the 'Shadow Self'

Our society teaches us that certain behaviors, emotional patterns, sexual desires, and lifestyle choices are inappropriate. Now, humans are highly social creatures; The last thing we want is to be excommunicated from the rest of our tribe. So, to avoid being kicked out, we do whatever it takes to fit in. In the early years of our childhood, we figure out where the line lies between socially acceptable and unacceptable and spend the rest of our lives trying to respect it. People judge us, condemn us, gossip about us, and the unpleasant emotions that accompany this experience can quickly become overwhelming.

However, in reality, we don't need people to observe our deviations in order to suffer for them. In the end, we internalize society's reaction so deeply that we inflict it on ourselves. The only way to escape this perpetual and recurring pain is through the construction of the self. We create stories about our identity, who we are, and what we would never do, all for the purpose of protecting ourselves from the consequences of being rejected by society. Over time, we begin to internalize these stories, and once we develop strong beliefs about ourselves, we unconsciously tend to dismiss any information that contradicts them. This mental process is known as confirmation bias, a tendency in which people interpret or ignore information in a way that supports their pre-existing beliefs. According to C. G. Jung:

"Unfortunately, there is no doubt that man is, in general, worse than he imagines or wants to be. Everyone wears a shadow, and the less it is incorporated into the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. If an inferiority is conscious, one always has the opportunity to correct it. In addition, it is constantly in contact with other interests, so it is continuously subject to modifications. But if it is repressed and isolated from consciousness, it will never be corrected." — C. G. Jung

A common E1 trap is to use self-knowledge as a false source of power to judge and condemn others. In this process, the inner search can become a compulsion that blinds the person to intuition and the revelation that they have reached a point where they must let go of even their prior knowledge and surrender to a deeper spiritual search and connection.

Understanding oneself, others, and the mechanism of the self is crucial to developing a deeper sense of humanity and recognizing that we are all in the same boat. In our blindness, we are all equally ridiculous in our own unique way, leading to an early version

of the appreciation of uniqueness. This understanding can help cool a person's perfectionist drive.

It is interesting to observe how, as one better understands oneself and others, the perception of difficulties changes and the look at one's own challenges and those of others becomes warmer. Transformation is in the relationship that is established with oneself. Instead of seeing it as an enemy to be defeated, the self becomes an indispensable ally in the acquisition of full and enlightened consciousness, an awareness of consciousness, and in obtaining the nature of the mind.

"I remember that on my 'SAT 2' I had a crying fit. I couldn't identify that I needed a handkerchief to blow my nose. Recognizing what everyone saw seemed like a world to me. The therapist had to point out my need for me to realize this. I'm not used to needing it. Even today, I do everything alone, without asking for help. I have to reach my limit to recognize my need, to say 'I need you'. I'm so used to being strong, to protecting others that it's very difficult for me to do it any other way. They taught me to be independent, autonomous, responsible..." — Patrick Genard

It's true that when we reject our feelings and thoughts (even disturbing ones), we often experience behavior that doesn't conform to the image we have of ourselves or the one we think others have of us. Projecting our shadow onto others can lead us to refuse and possess ourselves, to lose ourselves in the process. Recognizing and embracing our shadow is an important step towards authenticity and self-reflection.

According to Jung's perspective, this process is the way in which neurosis finds an opportunity to take root in the psyche, gradually taking control over important aspects of a person's mind and behavior.

The fundamental purpose of psychological development lies in the integration of the shadow into the self. This implies that in order to achieve wholeness and authenticity as individuals, we must learn to embrace and accept our own darkness. In this process of self-acceptance, we can overcome the barriers of neurosis that limit our personal growth and our understanding of ourselves.

Acceptance plays a crucial role in our ability to help others, both individually and on a global scale. In the context of what is discussed in chapter 12, it is important to recognize that we can aspire to be people who experience certain feelings and thoughts without self-criticism or condemnation. This approach allows us to be more compassionate to ourselves and ultimately empowers us to offer more genuine and effective support to those around us.

Jung's proposal to deal with this internal division is what he calls "parallel work". Jung maintains that what we repress never remains repressed; instead, it lodges itself in the unconscious and exerts a significant influence on our lives. Despite the narrative our selves try to maintain, Jung suggests that it is the unconscious that actually plays a key role in determining our actions and behaviors. Therefore, "shadow work" involves exploring and reconciling ourselves with these repressed aspects of ourselves in order to achieve greater wholeness and authenticity in our psychological life.

Western Theosophy is often characterized by filling the consciousness with ideal conceptions and spiritual aspirations. However, according to Jung, true enlightenment and personal development are not achieved simply by imagining figures of light or high ideals. Instead, it is achieved by facing and becoming aware of the darkness that resides in the shadow of the psyche. Jung emphasizes that the process of self-exploration and confrontation with the repressed and dark aspects of oneself is fundamental to achieving an authentic transformation and understanding of human psychology. Rather than avoiding darkness, it is about embracing it and understanding it as an integral part of the journey to inner enlightenment.

"I was stunned when I discovered my dark side in describing the characteristics of the Sexual Being. This awareness led me to follow the path to the good side indicated during the Introduction to the Psychology of Enneatypes course. This was followed by a long series of SAT courses and related activities (in Brazil, USA, Canada, Germany, and Italy), such as the three-year Gestalt therapy course with many capable and dedicated therapists." — Jurgen Kramer

Through shadow work, we become aware of our unconscious impulses and gain the ability to choose how we wish to act based on that awareness. The first step in this work is to take a step back, recognize our habitual patterns of behavior, and observe the processes that take place within us. Meditation is a valuable tool for developing this ability to step back and observe our emotions and thoughts from a more objective perspective.

When we accept our "shadows", we unlock the wisdom they contain, fear can be transformed into courage, pain can become a source of strength and resistance, and aggression can be transmuted into passion, this wisdom informs our actions, decisions, and the way we interact with others. We develop greater empathy towards the feelings of others and respond with compassion, recognizing that everyone is dealing with their own shadows.

An important aspect of shadow self-integration is the healing of emotional wounds, especially those that originated in childhood and later experiences. As we embark on this work, we begin to understand that much of our shadow originates from past wounds and in an attempt to protect ourselves from future harm. We accept what happened to us,

recognize that we did not deserve evil and that receiving it was not our fault, and reclaim those lost parts of ourselves to return to wholeness.