Does the shadow need to be healed? Can it heal us?

My understanding of the term “shadow” is that it is that part of myself that I cannot accept as being “me.”  Thus, to my way of thinking, the shadow itself does not necessarily need to be healed.  What needs healing is the rift beween myself and my shadow.  What needs to happen is an integration of shadow into self, an expansion of the boundaries of self to include shadow.

 At least, that's how it looks to me.

 Karl 

Re: Does the shadow need to be healed? Can it heal us?

I agree with you. It reminds me of a friend while I studied at University. We had to read Piaget, a swiss developementalist, unreadable! My friend would say to me, that he understood the guy's writing - I was amazed. Then he answered that between the lines were empty spaces, and those were beautiful to him, and that he could understand those perfectly!

A way to accept what  we can't accept!

Re: Does the shadow need to be healed? Can it heal us?

The shadow self in most people heals itself through experience and learning and loving..

Maturation brings integration of different aspects of our psyche….as  we generally feel the pain associated with the shadow self and become bogged down by its patterns…..and it usually becomes obvious when our shadow is problematic.

Recognising the patterns around pain generates opportunities for healing since most people want to feel better or good about themselves , their life and their relationships.

At the end of the day  …time passes and  we just have to get on with whatever crosses our path in …healed or hurt….and try and make the best of each day….

with love and light

catemurray