🌟 Free (60- Minute) Shadow Integration Masterclass! Click the link to watch the Masterclass now... www.shadowintegration.org/masterclass In this Masterclass you'll learn... - The #1 root cause of what keeps you from living kind of life that you really want to live - Three Common Misconceptions About the Shadow - Six simple steps for integrating your Shadow - How to use Shadow Work to realize your full potential and live a fulfilling life.
Fantastic video, I feel shadow work is absolutely vital when it comes to personal healing and gaining insight into one's self, not to mention the greater neurosis of society. However, the stumbling block for most people is the feeling of shame which blocks them from coming face to face with these shadow aspects. Carl Jung termed shame as being the "Soul eating emotion" because it literally eats us from the inside whilst we simultaneously feel ashamed of it and so do nothing about it. Thus the Shadow and all it's resulting chaos is created and manifested outwardly into the world. It's ironic how many Religions teach people to seek the light whilst in reality it's only by going through one's own inner darkness that you reach the dawn.
Yes! Very well said. It's this inner shame that makes us repress things in the first place. So, it's the very things that we want to face the least about ourselves that will bring us the deepest levels of peace and fulfillment in life.
I love you men. I have just quit some old souls group on fb for their insistence on negating and ignoring, what you have just so properly described. they shared that religious tendency to obsessively look for light and ignore darkness. a pity. thank's for this post
The issue that you've shared about not being assertive, this was the first time i actually truly understood something about myself. I've never understood why I stopped being assertive and turned out to become a pushover and people pleaser and this explained so much!
excellent video. I love that you deliver the material in a confident yet humble way without pedestalizing yourself. This is a very effective/non alienating form of sharing this type of information. Well done. subscribed.
i'd just like to say your work is unparalleled. It's really put my life in perspective learning about the shadow, the ego etc. I've read a few books on spirituality but none have given me such profound insights as your videos. I also meditated from an 'ego' perspective rather than as an observer of the ego, which obviously caused me to repress certain thoughts or feelings. My ego has also caused me huge difficulties in my relationship, where i've not been able to be my authentic self, e.g. when i get angry i wouldnt understand why I hated it so much and attacked myself for it because i had the story in my head that 'I am a good person and supportive boyfriend'. thanks again.
I believe I'm in tune with my shadow, after taking lsd a year ago I had a massive realisation but I wasn't able to describe it properly. basically I realised all the hatred and evil I have inside myself and understood I need to let it go or at least take things with less heart. now I've taken shrooms several times since, I think ego death on a trip is like seeing your shadow as a person and you really don't like it. anyway last week I heard Jordan peterson talk about Jung and it hit home so I've done some reading and find this all fascinating!
Mr_ Heathen I had the exact same experience a few weeks ago. I went into the bathroom and just looked in the mirror. And rather than looking at the reflection as just me, I looked at it as if I was looking into the eyes of another person. And I saw so much beauty, potential, and pain and rage. Then I realized what you did. It was a very emotional experience, and I feel like I got a lot from it and still am.
@Janice Brown None of those modalities "get rid of" ego or shadow. I've done them many times and Jung himself was clear on this. It's not about eradication of such things, it's about incorporating them into a healthy ecosystem of the psyche. One example Jung used was aggression. We all know what unhealthy aggression looks like, but he pointed out that when it's integrated into a healthy psyche it allows one to assert themselves in the world in a healthy way. At work, in relationships, etc. There is temporary ego obliteration while working with Anyhuasca, and it's quite challenging to experience, but it's more like a deep reboot and cleansing, than it is an eradication. Ego is necessary. Our identity arises from it. Hope this helps.
I cannot gently challenge my mother's interpretation of anything without it escalating. I was also raised not to rock the boat, to value security, never take a risk, never draw attention to oneself. My mother eye rolls at anything she doesn't deem sensible. When my children were tiny, just before I left my controlling abusive xh, I remember thinking ''who am I'' I had an awareness that I had no identity that wasn't a construct. I rebuilt my sense of self gradually but part of my new identity is pride that I had found a sense of self that didn't come from anything obviously external or material. ie NO validation from a academic or career glory, no husband no beautiful home no flashy car no art to make up for it, not buddhist hippy leaning to explain my poverty - nothing. I felt like society would look at me and see no value in me, so from that point I had to think about my sense of self. Now, I feel like I have a strong sense of myself, but I guess it's still a construct. So how can you have a strong sense of yourself if it's all just a construct of concepts about yourself? I will watch your clip identification and attachment - disidentifying with the Ego now :-) I've only just found your channel so I need to watch in order I suppose!
AS Stanley You not only had abusive husband but also abusive mother. I’m sure you have never known about it. You are worthy simply because you are and stop talking to the woman you call your mother!
First time on your channel. Finally here's someone who succinctly sums up the major psycho problems I've been having with suppressed emotions and fetish acting out. Your PTSD and trauma video are keepers. I shared the info with other people in my recovery group.
+Ao Ming Thank you! :D Well, here's the tricky part. The Shadow, as thing-in-itself, doesn't exist. Think of the Shadow as more of the opposite result of the ongoing process we refer to as Ego. The Ego and the Shadow are ongoing contrapositive processes and not something that can be pointed to in your internal reality as a solid thing. It's a verb not a noun. So, we use the Ego process to identify with aspects of ourselves and to create our self-image. Then, through this process of identification, we also dis-identify with and ignore all aspects that jeopardize our ability to identify with the self-image that comes about through the Ego process. But the Shadow is the ultimate defense mechanism. So, there is no true distinction. It exists solely to protect your self-image from traits, ideas, and aspects of reality that undermine the self-image, and it is the root of all conditioned defense mechanisms.
The Diamond Net Do you think, it is possible, that forms of depression are generated by shifting similar functions to the shadow (for example emotional numbness by shifting Fe + Fi)?
Jung is regarded as notoriously difficult to read. Trying may actually put you off him. I have found the following books about him to be well written. Since each author sees Jung differently through his own lens it's best to read them all:Jung to live by - Eugene PascalEgo and archetype - Edward EdingerThe Quotable Jung - Judith Harris C G Jung, His Myth in Our Time - Marie-Louise von FranzThe Wisdom of Carl Jung - Edward HoffmanEros and Pathos - Aldo Carotenuto (about being in love)James Hollis - any of his books published by Inner City Press Hollis's YT appearances are excellent Coming Together, Coming Apart - John Desteian (relationships)
You have been immeasurably helpful and you explain very complicated things in a way that is easy for my to understand. I think your work is really underrated and rare so thank you!
“There is no generally effective technique for assimilating the shadow. It is more like diplomacy or statesmanship and it is always an individual matter. First one has to accept and take seriously the existence of the shadow. Second, one has to become aware of its qualities and intentions. This happens through conscientious attention to moods, fantasies and impulses. Third, a long process of negotiation is unavoidable.” (Carl Jung)
Thank you so much for this video. You presented the subject in a very easy to understand manner. A lot of what you talked about resonated with me, especially the part regarding seeing the splinter in another's eye but not the log in my own.
OK, so this is going to sound pretty cookie, I absolutely love you. After watching a few of your lectures I put together my own process which took about two hours and I have had such an incredible mental and emotional miracle happen in my life because of what I learned.
Thank you for this. I've been looking everywhere for resources to explain Jungian Archetypes in layman's terms with little luck. Thank goodness I stumbled upon your channel.
Victorian-era woman example, coincidentally a close description of what I've been going through in my professional life. Fully comprehensive video on the subject of the shadow, one can only acquire this knowledge and express it with such eloquence only by working on themselves with not less than heroical effort. Greetings from London
Ur video is really amazing. Even if we recognize our shadow aspect, we can not get out of repressed emotions because social norms do not allow us to express it.
I enjoyed hearing your ideas on shadow. This has given me a great understanding on these topics as I am studying them currently. You have great knowledge and good example which makes the topic interesting and clear. I even liked your Anima and Animus videos. Please do continue making more videos of psychological theories. The subscription of this channel is worth it. Great video and lot to learn.
Thank you, Emerald. I am a psych student at U of L taking a Psychology of Personality class. Your method of weaving together, Jungian psychology with concepts in meta-physics and eastern philosophies has helped me to grasp this concept better. Once again, thank you. - Preston
The development of the shadow is not a conscious process. No one relegates their unfavorable traits to the psychological netherworld by an act of will. Those traits are unconsciously placed there by the necessities growing up in one's family.
You're making me understand it well. Great channel, great video. Einzelganger brought me to your channel. I have just started discovering about shadow behaviours and I have lot of these in me. (Also, the shadow in me: "I hope she likes my comment")
WOW!! I have been working on my shadows for so long. I "accidentally" came across your video. I had the same kind of mother. Perfectionist to be exact. I was a carefree, creative type, while she was the studious type. I am figuring this all out as I am writing this to you. I was a straight A student who never did her homework. I took really, good notes and I could picture them in my mind and read them. My mom used to call one of the kids' mother and get my homework assignment and do my homework for me. One day she had been embarrassed by this, trait in me, and beat me. I have been the "good little girl" ever since. I judge people who are lackadaisical. I refer to myself as "Responsible". She used to call me "clear headed". Like that was something bad. Or she'd say, "You know, you're a little like your father." WOW!!! Well, you're right. I re-framed it. I am responsible, which took me far in life, and still continues to take me far. "Thank you, mommy." WOW!!! I can be both carefree and responsible. And I know when each is appropriate.
It's definitely difficult to deal with parental issues. I won't go too much in detail as I know my mom wouldn't appreciate too much, but I've had a great deal of issues with my mom. For a long time, I was trying to find a way to psychologically forgive her but the negative emotions and feelings of resentment and anger kept coming up despite my desire not to feel them. When a person has issues with a parent, it can feel like a cosmic joke has been played on them. There's this feeling of unfairness and "never got a chance" to having these types of issues. But what has been helpful to me in at least managing my feelings as I examine and reintegrate my shadow is to see the behavior separate from individuals. So, I may be tempted to vilify my mom for the way she is that's caused me pain. I also might be tempted to become resistant to traits that remind me of her, thus relegating those traits to the Shadow. But if I zoom out a bit, I see that her childhood was difficult because of her family dynamic as she had issues with her mom as well. And if I look at what my mother's mother went through and get an idea of what her family dynamic has been, she had a very over-bearing father who prevented her from pursuing her dream of becoming a gym teacher because of her gender. Who knows what the heck her dad went through, having immigrated to America from what was then Czechoslovakia. So, family trauma travels generations and is an impersonal force. If you look at the big picture you find that no particular person is to blame for the pain. It's the same as a wave in the ocean; it creates a series of chain reactions that ripple through time, but no source can be found to "start" those chain reactions. Shadow work also helps to diffuse this negative chain reaction across generations. Best of luck with your shadow work. :)
***** I've considered this before too as I've dealt with a lot of issues with financial stability over the course of my teens and twenties despite being a very hard worker. But for some reason, this is the way that reality works right now and I've experienced firsthand that reality is objectively always perfect. So, even though on the personal level I prefer a better social order and a society that serves all and am willing to work toward it, I recognize that perhaps I'm not seeing the bigger picture. Everything that comes about is a result of impersonal cycles. Everyone plays their part in them, but the origin is always out of grasp.
Great video. First video I've seen from your channel. Just found you today as I Googled the term "Shadow Personality by Carl Jung" which I picked up from reading the Robert Greene's book The Laws of Human Nature. I will be subscribing. Good stuff. Thank you!
I would like to say that I am enjoying your videos. I have been working on integrating my shadow self for the past 16 yrs. From what I have experienced you are spot on about enlightenment. Wholeness is possible and it is our natural state.
Thank you! :) I'm glad that you like them. I will have more stuff in the future about reintegrating the shadow, enlightenment, and other related topics too.
Hi, Emerald, My name is Loïc and I am a French musician, dancer and English teacher who is very passionate about psychology. Discovered your channel yesterday and haven't stopped watching your videos. I'm probably at my fifth. I do want to thank you for the quality of your insight and your capacity to render many aspects of psychology and philosophy and existentialism a lot clearer for people. I admit being very influenced by the Freudian approach but this only because I had never taken the time to dig into Jung's approach. And this video has definitely opened my eyes to new interpretations of my own psychology which I feel may actually correspond a lot more to the understanding of myself and of life I am trying to pursue. I have already subscribed and already know that your content is going to become moments I will wait for. Cheers ;)
Thank you for subscribing! I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the videos. I really appreciate Jung's approach, myself, because it defines human psychology in relation to things that are beyond. It resonates more with my experience. Though I do recognize many aspects of Freud's approach as valid too, from different perspectives. Currently, I'm at a bit of a stand-still with my videos because my editing computer is out of commission. But I intend to start making videos again within the next few months or so, so keep your eyes open in February/March/April for new videos. :) Thanks again!
Exactly. I can completely relate to what you are saying. And this is why Jung's approach resonates with me, too. Although I am and will surely be a sceptic, I am opened to the possibility that there might be realities we are unaware of. Having attended shamanic ceremonies, organized trance percussion circles and being also interested in how psycho active substances broadens our consciousness, and also being a straight right brain, discovering Jung really brings about this essential aspect of psychology which was missing in Freud. And I really thank you for that. Just finished watching your videos on art which definitely correlates this approach, too. Thank your for responding, too ;) and good luck for your futur content. Your videos are just ideal for me, the format, the length, the aesthetics. Excellent job, Emerald.
It’s March 27th 2020, Covid 19 is everywhere. One can feel the collective shadow starting to surface in everyone. It’s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Victorian Era Woman: Florence Nightingale, the creator of modern nursing. She didn't just get married and be a proper woman as her family had pressured. she changed the face of history
I really appreciate the time you've taken here to help some of us learn in a different way! This was all explained so clearly and simply. Thanks for allowing us to have some of your experiences as examples to put big concepts into perspective of daily life and our lives. I learned a lot today and will keep watching to help myself grow. Great video!
Excellent video, very nice summary. I noticed when you mentioned 'our shadow' at around 10:58 you touched your throat chakra, makes me think that one of your primary blockages may be in communicating your deepest self most fully. The unconscious is very smart, it knows where our blockages are and it expresses those in subtle unconscious clues. I wanted to say that in case you can use that information somehow :)
+Peter Lynch Wow! Awesome observation! I had Reiki done about a year ago, and the lady told me that my throat chakra was the one she needed to work most on. It matched my experiences too because (up until I had my channel) I had no outlet to express myself, and I was also working as a public school teacher where I never felt comfortable with sharing myself authentically. So, I've felt sort of blocked from expressing myself. I'm still working through some things with that too. Thank you for pointing this out! :)
Wow. I was struggling to grasp the concept of the shadow for a very long time before watching this video. This is well said, and gives me the clarity I was seeking. It just clicks now. Many thanks for sharing this and making it digestible. I only know my shadow as a result of it coming to the surface from meditation, I've actually never done any shadowwork, but watching this has got me thinking long and hard about a myriad of interactions with a myriad of people and how I have been shaped by my surroundings. Great video thanks again :-)
Here I want to mention something worth related to this topic.We all have repressed our desires since we are born.It was one king of mechanism of socializing. But we do not need to discern all the people to gain that creativity.We only learn from a handful amount of people.Because we come here to complete our goal of perfection.That's why boundary is necessary.
This video about shadows has made my day, it speaks volume. The mind is a wonderful thing. Hope you don't mind me sharing an experience I had years ago that got me searching for answers which led me to this video. This here is about an experience I had years ago and how to repeat it into my life cos it was a wonderful and joyful experience , I felt like God. I was in control of almost everything, I wasn't a serious student in school back then but during this experience which happened in my final year in school I went into the exam hall opened dmy question papers and all the answers came to me, I was surprised cos I didn't know how it came, cosmic didn't read for it or get into the teachers class for once. During the course of this experience I passed all the papers with an "A" grade. I noticed it just wasn't in my exams it also extended to other areas of my life for example I could imagine a meeting in my head like what to say and what the persons reply will be and it was spot on. My prediction was always right. During this experience I wasn't eating and never realized it until the 3rd day I had to force myself to eat. I had some many experiences to many to mention. After a while the feeling stopped and I almost broke down in tears. And since then I've been searching for answers. I'm from Nigeria, nobody seem to know what it was. Pastors say it's God some say it's the devil. I don't know who to believe anymore. Do you know what it is and how to get it back?
There is this expression "moments of grace" at least in French... it describes these magic seconds or days, maybe even years for the most gifted, those moments that some people are lucky enough to experiment, often when young and healthy, but sometimes also later in life. It can be pure grace like it happened to you, or success in your work, your quest, your research. Imagine a scientist working all his life to discover something, and suddenly it's there in front of him, after he found some sign, followed some trail or equation... what happened, where did this voice telling him the way come from ? If you are a believer you may call it God's finger, or the Devil's if things turns bad and the treasury you found, later destroys your life... Fasting is also well known to have some side effects, many positive, and is/was part of many rituals in different parts of the world... some people make it part of their weekly or even daily diet (many people over their 50's do intermittent fasting without knowing it). I don't think you should try to live the same experience again at all costs - that might be the best way to become addicted to drugs ! - but follow your life, your way, the best you can, be grateful for all the good moments, and if you are lucky enough to feel the same way again, then take it as a divine gift ?
Thank you so much, I think I got addicted to knowing what caused the experience. I will try now to let go and live me life. Thank you for responding. I appreciate Smart Cat Collar Project
Excellent presentation of the shadow relevant to Jungian teaching . To some the subject can appeared to be too complexed ,but is , as was Jung intentions in, Man and His Symbols ,presented so to be understood by a general audience not for rocket scientists . The video also brought me back to life changing memories ,when while in high school ( many moons ago) my English teacher Marion Woodman led me into a better understanding of myself as becoming a artist . DR Woodman later went on to become a world acclaimed Jungian Psychologist ,open( studied in Zurich) opening with her Brother Fraser Boa the Jungian institute here in Toronto . In reflection having DR Woodman Author of many jungian books ,as my hight school teacher from grade nine to thirteen ,was a honour that many young people do not have .At a age when youth faces many complexes that can be overwhelming I welcomed the new thoughts of Jung and Freud so to understand the psyche better, .When I was in grade 12 people in university would call me to help with there understanding of Jung and Freud . TO me ,by having Dr. Woodman for a teacher i thought all knew of these things ,but later found out i was lucky to have this knowledge transferred to my psyche . DR Woodman and her husband Dr Ross Woodman , also were responsible for many artists careers having them recognize there repressed talents in their shadow and making them conscious in the form of art so all to see , Congradulations on a lovely piece of work that i am sure will transform others .!
Thank you! :) That must have been awesome having Marion Woodman as a teacher. I never read anything from her directly but there have been quotes that I ran across from her that really stuck with me. One example was (paraphrased) "Spirit without matter is a ghost. Matter without spirit is a corpse. Either way, both are dead." This quote was used a book that I was reading on chakras which explained the importance of opening the lower physical chakras as well as the higher spiritual chakras, as the religions of the west have often viewed the physical as lesser than the spiritual creating a cultural imbalance that we still see the effects of today.
yes it was a great experience having DR Marion Woodman for a teacher that as mentioned at the time I was not aware of the gift I was receiving .I have been asked yrs later by Jungians and others what it was like to have her for a teacher ?. the story how I ended up having her was in fact meaning full coincidence . I was a jock sitting on the football field at yrs end . The principle came up to me asking how i did ,as i was reading my report card . I said okay but failed one , "what one he asked" I said English i got a 49 . He said come with me as i followed him into the office .He took out my file stroked out 49 and gave me a 50 ,saying have a good summer . The following yr i was put in Marion Woodman class and my marks went from 49/50 to A+ for the next four yrs . She recognized my creative talents buried in my shadow and encouraged them to emerge , I was in four schools shows and was given art projects because of her . She, as mentioned wrote many books based on Jungian Psychology . Most for woman ,because of her own experience and her being a teacher saw many of the repressions in young girls . One on this related to anerexia and obesity in young girls . Another on the anima and animas and others . I later at the Jungian institute here in Toronto ,after her return form Zurich took workshops that involved dance and centred around spirt and matter connecting . One book .her Jungian thesis book , Leaving My Fathers House . I would recommend for you to read. It is about the psychological journey of finding her own individual psych . She uses her story and those of her woman who she worked with in her office to become very successful creative people ( artists and Oscar nominees) through dream work . I think you will like it you remind me a lot like her in her enthusiasm for Jung while being a teacher ,also her young life was that of a good student like you who wanted to do good for her father who was a minister . I am sure you will find her honesty of great interest . she has a video Dancing inside the Flame , that you would also like ... I went to a Dr. Marion Woodman night here in Toronto . She said in her speech , it is not about the nice house ,( that she would take me to as a student to see her art collection ) the acclaims ( honourary phds and buildings build after her at a University beside a Joseph Campbell building ) she said in closing " It is all about the Journey "
Thank you so much for sharing this. The part about being insight seeking and daydreaming a lot, ect., and how you explained it as not being in the present moment especially affected me. I have heard that in the past once or twice but when you said it, a "lightbulb" went off. Thank you for your insights.
This is so awesome. I've been reading on Jung's works (especially Man and His Symbols) for a few years now and for some reason just thought to look on UA-cam. You have an excellent understanding! It's nice hearing someone speak it out
Thank you. I got really into Jungian Psychology a few years back, and it's such a fascinating psychological framework. It also mirrors my experiences with re-integration and experiencing the Self very accurately. I plan to make more videos on Jungian Psychology too about the ego, the persona, the Self, archetypes, and other topics. So, definitely check back for more. Thanks again! :)
Thanks for sharing your childhood experience I could relate a lot to that with my own father and it lead me to be not very confident. SO thank you for shedding some light on the subject.
Shadow work is enlightening. As Wei Wu Wei says, "Why are you unhappy? Because everything you think and say and do is about the self ..... and there isn't one. " And I would like to add that 'enlightenment' is not a matter of time.
Great video, thank you so much, you speak and communicate so well. The video seemed a lot shorter than it was, kudos on making such dense topics flow so well and for sharing your own examples!
Unawareness of Ones "shadow" or "alter ego", potential schizophrenia, if shadow alter ego acts out in real time without ones "id" realizing it's happening. I had an encounter with someone later diagnosed with this disorder, unbeknownst by anyone at the time. Social pressures regarding taboo subjects cause repressive traits to progress into more or less complete suppression of their "shadow" self, fear of being socially shunned by those who, themselves, have aversions of their own "shadow". This can cause mass social hysteria about prominent social phobias, in my opinion. Of course, there's a darker side, social acceptance of base negative human traits can lead to worse case scenarios. *The Diamond Net* , I'm of the opinion one must face ones shadow alter ego with love, acceptance, compassion, fearlessness and show it who's boss, tough love. I hope we can get those on either side of the abyss to accept this solution, before the shadow becomes the *SHADOW* ...
Repression of ego complex can especially cause really profound psychological issues. This is a big trap for some on the spiritual path seeking to nullify their identity who end up losing all direction in life. So, it's important to make the distinction between ego repression and ego transcendence. But like you said, the Shadow, if taken to an extreme degree and echoed by society can cause some very big issues for the individual and society at large.
Going to view your Freud vs Jung dream interpretation youtube, soon. If I remember correctly Fraud viewed schizophrenia uncurable. Jung rejected this view, chose shadow alter ego personalities, became a premier psychologist. Good concept, I've read about the "dweller", a sort of shadow alter ego "animal within". The little beast wants to take over, intimidate weak willed, strike fear in unaware. It needs reassuring, love and understanding. Don't show fear to an animal, especially in self, even if. Thanks for concern *The Diamond Net*.
I related to everything you've said and felt called out by a lot of it. Especially the parts where you spoke on self hate and your anecdote about having issues with standing up for yourself. My mother is exactly the same as yours in her style of parenting and hearing your experience on it made me realise some parallels in my own experience. The inability to express myself well in a conflict and the fear of disharmony has made me extremely conflict avoidant and any time a conversation gets even a little more like a disagreement I try to steer it to a different topic. I recently ruined my friendship with someone I really care about because I projected my frustration with myself on her when she refused to just drop it and ever since then my feelings of self hate that I thought I had cured myself from resurfaced and grew worse. This was a very well made video; you taught me a lot and gave me some things to think about. You earned a new subscriber 💕
I feel like I would've had a whole lot less resistance to this stuff if in general the understanding of 'ego' were not skewed by so many people's misunderstanding/personal meanings. When most people say 'ego' who aren't aware of what it means in the context its taught here, they mean something 'bad'. They assume its something selfish or dirty. So I tend to have a sort of negative response when I hear 'ego' as if I've done something 'bad'. But now I understand its just basically a facade that we grow accustomed to believing is our true self. The reality is that it just hides our true self. That's what it means in this context of this kind of work/teaching. Some part of me feels like, phew! Thank god it's not 'bad'. It's just.. not really that simple to throw into a black or white category.
Great stuff. Positives repel each other and negatives do the same. Three is a crowd unless a train of alignment occurs as a team… when the entire “electron group” decides on an agreed direction, positive to negative. Aligning efforts create an even larger magnet when the two connect - end to end - in the same direction. We have shadows opposing the best of intentions: because women + and men: “slings and arrows”. The natural flow when both energies can work together. The piercing and the pierced. Positivity collects but negativity stir the pot. Wouldn’t it be awesome if women and men enjoyed being completely different from each other - in order to help each other their align efforts?
most people who have a good amount of control over themselves, they know how to focus and explain things concisely.....and give you the "greatly informative" videos, when it comes to something as complex as discussing the differences in persona or Archetypes of the personality it's necessary. and, people who have gone through individuation, or have down the shadow work are intensely aware of themselves......so they wont banter off into something random because they aren't controlled by their "shadow" self more.
I'm familiar with the idea of enlightenment and pursued it when I was younger. But my understanding now is that the ego is part of the human condition and we can't transcended it, like Buddhists propose. I do agree that we Identify with ideas and complexes that has nothing to do with who we really are, but that is it, there is an "I" who is truly ourselves. We do have that core. The journey, in my view, is not about transcending the ego, but (as Socrates said) "Know thyself". It is about having a health mind where the ego don't get confused of what it is, and is capable of relating with other parts and concepts in your mind without letting them hijack your self. You do that by expanding your consciousness, being more aware of what is happening below the surface, engage in introspection and being open minded about your shadow. Not let complexes fester in depths of your soul. Having health relationships with other people that help you examine yourself and accept who you are, the good and the bad. People you can be intimate with. Of course, that is more easier than done, but that is the place I would like to be. It takes a lot of courage to look yourself in your mind's eye. To look yourself naked in the mirror. Other times, the most difficult thing to do is simply to take action. Deal with ones problems might seem like a huge undertaking and taking the first step and keep going sometimes is the most difficult thing.
Truly, the best psychology channel on UA-cam! Thank you so much for your great thought organization and perception of things. I am studying to be a psychologist and dealing with the complex childhood trauma and I am happy I found your channel on a right time when there is so much need for this perspective in my life.
I enjoyed your explanation and appreciate your effort in the creation of the video. You almost lost me when you said, *_"Law of Attraction."_* ... annnnd just as I was about to click off your video I asked myself, _"Wait, does my judgment of her usage of that term say more about her or more about me?"_ Shadow detected. Finished the video. Haha Jungian Shadow work in action!
Good video!Carl Jung's Shadow work is fascinating to say the least...I think he was really onto something. We were born into this world as whole people...360 degree personality.At ages 1-3,through socialization, we learned to suppress certain traits that our caregivers don't like or that society doesn't like. Let's take anger,for example...this is a typical trait that get's suppressed a lot cause people don't know how to deal with it.Our parents might have brainwashed us to thinking that "it's not ok to be angry,being angry is wrong!" and so we learned to suppress that trait.But suppressed anger does a lot of harm than good.I myself got so good at suppressing it,I would bottle it up over a period of time and then start snapping at people when I couldn't take it anymore.This,of course,is no good because you traumatize other people in the process.So I started looking for ways to "express" this emotion in ways that aren't destructive.I found journaling in a notebook is a good way to blow off steam that provides immediate relief!Exercise too.I'm still not perfect with it though....but I'm getting there. of course there are other traits as well...greed,envy,lust etc.And shadow traits aren't necessarily all "bad" traits either like you said....creativity as well.
+CerebralAssassin Thanks! I have had a lot of issues with expressing anger too. We tend to think of that as the worst emotion, and to make it mean something about us as a person. Thanks for watching. :)
I feel guilty for supressing my shadow. Been reading a bit of Jung and this video was super insightful - subscribed - I also feel Jung is more enjoyable to read and understand than Freud.
really really great explanation. I thought I understood this concept pretty well from his perspective but I did initially think of it as only the negative undesirable traits, but the aversion to conscious thought seems more thorough an explanation.
Thank you! I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that only negative traits are in the Shadow. But negative and positive are just labels. So, it's really just whichever traits we've come to label as being negative that end up there. So, I try to look at all traits as inherently neutral, no matter how beneficial and detrimental their expressions tend to be, because at the root all traits can be expressed in either direction.
this is why I like hearing lots of people talk about complex concepts. Almost no matter how well I know something, someone else might be able to look at it with another view thats equally correct that allows me to refine what I know and eliminate more of what it isnt. In my case, I think nearly 100% of my shadow is negative emotions, which is why I just made that connection without thinking about it. Im not so sure if all traits can be expressed both ways. . . like a trait for cruelty perhaps. But then again, it allows me to understand why others want to be cruel.
🌟 Free (60- Minute) Shadow Integration Masterclass!
Click the link to watch the Masterclass now... www.shadowintegration.org/masterclass
In this Masterclass you'll learn...
- The #1 root cause of what keeps you from living kind of life that you really want to live
- Three Common Misconceptions About the Shadow
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- How to use Shadow Work to realize your full potential and live a fulfilling life.
You are talking with body and it appears bodylanguage is good...but it is cut out. Do not cut it out.
Fantastic video, I feel shadow work is absolutely vital when it comes to personal healing and gaining insight into one's self, not to mention the greater neurosis of society. However, the stumbling block for most people is the feeling of shame which blocks them from coming face to face with these shadow aspects. Carl Jung termed shame as being the "Soul eating emotion" because it literally eats us from the inside whilst we simultaneously feel ashamed of it and so do nothing about it. Thus the Shadow and all it's resulting chaos is created and manifested outwardly into the world. It's ironic how many Religions teach people to seek the light whilst in reality it's only by going through one's own inner darkness that you reach the dawn.
Yes! Very well said. It's this inner shame that makes us repress things in the first place. So, it's the very things that we want to face the least about ourselves that will bring us the deepest levels of peace and fulfillment in life.
I love you men. I have just quit some old souls group on fb for their insistence on negating and ignoring, what you have just so properly described. they shared that religious tendency to obsessively look for light and ignore darkness. a pity. thank's for this post
The Diamond Net
So in love with your everything!
Very beautiful person.. in&out
Tom Davison yes
Tom Davison fascinating! 💕
The issue that you've shared about not being assertive, this was the first time i actually truly understood something about myself. I've never understood why I stopped being assertive and turned out to become a pushover and people pleaser and this explained so much!
I know it's an old vid, but I really enjoyed it. I like your informative yet casual style.
Working my shadow side while in quarantine! Your videos had been helping me so much, I only can thank you.
excellent video. I love that you deliver the material in a confident yet humble way without pedestalizing yourself. This is a very effective/non alienating form of sharing this type of information. Well done. subscribed.
Do you like this because you have a tendency to pedestal yourself? Just asking in relation to shadow work.
You are SO intelligent
I love Tool and so do you.
I prefer Limp Bizkit
i'd just like to say your work is unparalleled. It's really put my life in perspective learning about the shadow, the ego etc. I've read a few books on spirituality but none have given me such profound insights as your videos. I also meditated from an 'ego' perspective rather than as an observer of the ego, which obviously caused me to repress certain thoughts or feelings. My ego has also caused me huge difficulties in my relationship, where i've not been able to be my authentic self, e.g. when i get angry i wouldnt understand why I hated it so much and attacked myself for it because i had the story in my head that 'I am a good person and supportive boyfriend'. thanks again.
I believe I'm in tune with my shadow, after taking lsd a year ago I had a massive realisation but I wasn't able to describe it properly. basically I realised all the hatred and evil I have inside myself and understood I need to let it go or at least take things with less heart. now I've taken shrooms several times since, I think ego death on a trip is like seeing your shadow as a person and you really don't like it. anyway last week I heard Jordan peterson talk about Jung and it hit home so I've done some reading and find this all fascinating!
Mr_ Heathen I had the exact same experience a few weeks ago. I went into the bathroom and just looked in the mirror. And rather than looking at the reflection as just me, I looked at it as if I was looking into the eyes of another person. And I saw so much beauty, potential, and pain and rage. Then I realized what you did. It was a very emotional experience, and I feel like I got a lot from it and still am.
@Janice Brown None of those modalities "get rid of" ego or shadow. I've done them many times and Jung himself was clear on this. It's not about eradication of such things, it's about incorporating them into a healthy ecosystem of the psyche. One example Jung used was aggression. We all know what unhealthy aggression looks like, but he pointed out that when it's integrated into a healthy psyche it allows one to assert themselves in the world in a healthy way. At work, in relationships, etc. There is temporary ego obliteration while working with Anyhuasca, and it's quite challenging to experience, but it's more like a deep reboot and cleansing, than it is an eradication. Ego is necessary. Our identity arises from it. Hope this helps.
I cannot gently challenge my mother's interpretation of anything without it escalating. I was also raised not to rock the boat, to value security, never take a risk, never draw attention to oneself. My mother eye rolls at anything she doesn't deem sensible. When my children were tiny, just before I left my controlling abusive xh, I remember thinking ''who am I'' I had an awareness that I had no identity that wasn't a construct. I rebuilt my sense of self gradually but part of my new identity is pride that I had found a sense of self that didn't come from anything obviously external or material. ie NO validation from a academic or career glory, no husband no beautiful home no flashy car no art to make up for it, not buddhist hippy leaning to explain my poverty - nothing. I felt like society would look at me and see no value in me, so from that point I had to think about my sense of self. Now, I feel like I have a strong sense of myself, but I guess it's still a construct. So how can you have a strong sense of yourself if it's all just a construct of concepts about yourself? I will watch your clip identification and attachment - disidentifying with the Ego now :-) I've only just found your channel so I need to watch in order I suppose!
AS Stanley
You not only had abusive husband but also abusive mother. I’m sure you have never known about it. You are worthy simply because you are and stop talking to the woman you call your mother!
Thank you !! Every time I start watching you I come up with questions. Inevitably you always address those questions and answer them perfectly.
First time on your channel. Finally here's someone who succinctly sums up the major psycho problems I've been having with suppressed emotions and fetish acting out. Your PTSD and trauma video are keepers. I shared the info with other people in my recovery group.
+Ao Ming Thank you! :D Well, here's the tricky part. The Shadow, as thing-in-itself, doesn't exist. Think of the Shadow as more of the opposite result of the ongoing process we refer to as Ego. The Ego and the Shadow are ongoing contrapositive processes and not something that can be pointed to in your internal reality as a solid thing. It's a verb not a noun. So, we use the Ego process to identify with aspects of ourselves and to create our self-image. Then, through this process of identification, we also dis-identify with and ignore all aspects that jeopardize our ability to identify with the self-image that comes about through the Ego process. But the Shadow is the ultimate defense mechanism. So, there is no true distinction. It exists solely to protect your self-image from traits, ideas, and aspects of reality that undermine the self-image, and it is the root of all conditioned defense mechanisms.
I really like your explanation style which reflects a deeper nnderstanding of Jung's work in the shadow.
SHIT VIDEO LOL
The Diamond Net
Do you think, it is possible, that forms of depression are generated by shifting similar functions to the shadow (for example emotional numbness by shifting Fe + Fi)?
Jung is regarded as notoriously difficult to read. Trying may actually put you off him. I have found the following books about him to be well written. Since each author sees Jung differently through his own lens it's best to read them all:Jung to live by - Eugene PascalEgo and archetype - Edward EdingerThe Quotable Jung - Judith Harris C G Jung, His Myth in Our Time - Marie-Louise von FranzThe Wisdom of Carl Jung - Edward HoffmanEros and Pathos - Aldo Carotenuto (about being in love)James Hollis - any of his books published by Inner City Press Hollis's YT appearances are excellent Coming Together, Coming Apart - John Desteian (relationships)
I just read my list as YT reproduced it. They disregarded my orderliness and just smooshed everything together Oh well!.
I came from Einzelganger and glad i checked the playlist. Have to watch them all. Thank you!
You have been immeasurably helpful and you explain very complicated things in a way that is easy for my to understand. I think your work is really underrated and rare so thank you!
This is an excellent video. I have added it to the Archetype in Action page on Facebook.
Wow so smart I learning this now in my 40s. Tnx.
“There is no generally effective technique for assimilating the shadow. It is more like diplomacy or statesmanship and it is always an individual matter. First one has to accept and take seriously the existence of the shadow. Second, one has to become aware of its qualities and intentions. This happens through conscientious attention to moods, fantasies and impulses. Third, a long process of negotiation is unavoidable.” (Carl Jung)
Thank you so much for this video. You presented the subject in a very easy to understand manner. A lot of what you talked about resonated with me, especially the part regarding seeing the splinter in another's eye but not the log in my own.
OK, so this is going to sound pretty cookie, I absolutely love you. After watching a few of your lectures I put together my own process which took about two hours and I have had such an incredible mental and emotional miracle happen in my life because of what I learned.
Thank you for this. I've been looking everywhere for resources to explain Jungian Archetypes in layman's terms with little luck. Thank goodness I stumbled upon your channel.
Victorian-era woman example, coincidentally a close description of what I've been going through in my professional life. Fully comprehensive video on the subject of the shadow, one can only acquire this knowledge and express it with such eloquence only by working on themselves with not less than heroical effort.
Greetings from London
Wow, I feel like I've found a treasure chest by finding this channel. Credits goes to Einzelgänger!
Ur video is really amazing. Even if we recognize our shadow aspect, we can not get out of repressed emotions because social norms do not allow us to express it.
I enjoyed hearing your ideas on shadow. This has given me a great understanding on these topics as I am studying them currently. You have great knowledge and good example which makes the topic interesting and clear. I even liked your Anima and Animus videos. Please do continue making more videos of psychological theories. The subscription of this channel is worth it. Great video and lot to learn.
Three minutes in and I know this channel is the real deal. Great video.
This has been the most significant and enlightening explanation of Carl Jung's shadow. Thanks for making me understand
Thank you! I'm glad that it was helpful. :D
I'm here from Einzelgänger. I am intrigued by all of this. I'm not familiar with Carl Jung's work but I will be rectifying that in the coming weeks.
Awesome! Welcome to the channel! 😊
I've been searching for someone to explain all this to me for a very long time.. I understand now. Truly thank you!
Thank you, Emerald. I am a psych student at U of L taking a Psychology of Personality class. Your method of weaving together, Jungian psychology with concepts in meta-physics and eastern philosophies has helped me to grasp this concept better. Once again, thank you.
- Preston
You're welcome! I'm glad that my perspective is helpful. :)
The development of the shadow is not a conscious process. No one relegates their unfavorable traits to the psychological netherworld by an act of will. Those traits are unconsciously placed there by the necessities growing up in one's family.
You're making me understand it well. Great channel, great video. Einzelganger brought me to your channel. I have just started discovering about shadow behaviours and I have lot of these in me.
(Also, the shadow in me: "I hope she likes my comment")
Thanks Emerald
WOW!! I have been working on my shadows for so long. I "accidentally" came across your video. I had the same kind of mother. Perfectionist to be exact. I was a carefree, creative type, while she was the studious type. I am figuring this all out as I am writing this to you. I was a straight A student who never did her homework. I took really, good notes and I could picture them in my mind and read them. My mom used to call one of the kids' mother and get my homework assignment and do my homework for me. One day she had been embarrassed by this, trait in me, and beat me. I have been the "good little girl" ever since. I judge people who are lackadaisical. I refer to myself as "Responsible". She used to call me "clear headed". Like that was something bad. Or she'd say, "You know, you're a little like your father." WOW!!! Well, you're right. I re-framed it. I am responsible, which took me far in life, and still continues to take me far. "Thank you, mommy." WOW!!! I can be both carefree and responsible. And I know when each is appropriate.
It's definitely difficult to deal with parental issues. I won't go too much in detail as I know my mom wouldn't appreciate too much, but I've had a great deal of issues with my mom. For a long time, I was trying to find a way to psychologically forgive her but the negative emotions and feelings of resentment and anger kept coming up despite my desire not to feel them. When a person has issues with a parent, it can feel like a cosmic joke has been played on them. There's this feeling of unfairness and "never got a chance" to having these types of issues. But what has been helpful to me in at least managing my feelings as I examine and reintegrate my shadow is to see the behavior separate from individuals. So, I may be tempted to vilify my mom for the way she is that's caused me pain. I also might be tempted to become resistant to traits that remind me of her, thus relegating those traits to the Shadow.
But if I zoom out a bit, I see that her childhood was difficult because of her family dynamic as she had issues with her mom as well. And if I look at what my mother's mother went through and get an idea of what her family dynamic has been, she had a very over-bearing father who prevented her from pursuing her dream of becoming a gym teacher because of her gender. Who knows what the heck her dad went through, having immigrated to America from what was then Czechoslovakia. So, family trauma travels generations and is an impersonal force. If you look at the big picture you find that no particular person is to blame for the pain. It's the same as a wave in the ocean; it creates a series of chain reactions that ripple through time, but no source can be found to "start" those chain reactions. Shadow work also helps to diffuse this negative chain reaction across generations. Best of luck with your shadow work. :)
Thank you!!!
Thank you!!
***** I've considered this before too as I've dealt with a lot of issues with financial stability over the course of my teens and twenties despite being a very hard worker. But for some reason, this is the way that reality works right now and I've experienced firsthand that reality is objectively always perfect. So, even though on the personal level I prefer a better social order and a society that serves all and am willing to work toward it, I recognize that perhaps I'm not seeing the bigger picture. Everything that comes about is a result of impersonal cycles. Everyone plays their part in them, but the origin is always out of grasp.
Galexy Notprovided You're welcome! :)
Great video. First video I've seen from your channel. Just found you today as I Googled the term "Shadow Personality by Carl Jung" which I picked up from reading the Robert Greene's book The Laws of Human Nature. I will be subscribing. Good stuff. Thank you!
I would like to say that I am enjoying your videos. I have been working on integrating my shadow self for the past 16 yrs. From what I have experienced you are spot on about enlightenment. Wholeness is possible and it is our natural state.
Thank you! :) I'm glad that you like them. I will have more stuff in the future about reintegrating the shadow, enlightenment, and other related topics too.
+The Diamond Net. :)
Hi, Emerald,
My name is Loïc and I am a French musician, dancer and English teacher who is very passionate about psychology.
Discovered your channel yesterday and haven't stopped watching your videos. I'm probably at my fifth.
I do want to thank you for the quality of your insight and your capacity to render many aspects of psychology and philosophy and existentialism a lot clearer for people.
I admit being very influenced by the Freudian approach but this only because I had never taken the time to dig into Jung's approach. And this video has definitely opened my eyes to new interpretations of my own psychology which I feel may actually correspond a lot more to the understanding of myself and of life I am trying to pursue.
I have already subscribed and already know that your content is going to become moments I will wait for.
Cheers ;)
Thank you for subscribing! I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the videos. I really appreciate Jung's approach, myself, because it defines human psychology in relation to things that are beyond. It resonates more with my experience. Though I do recognize many aspects of Freud's approach as valid too, from different perspectives. Currently, I'm at a bit of a stand-still with my videos because my editing computer is out of commission. But I intend to start making videos again within the next few months or so, so keep your eyes open in February/March/April for new videos. :) Thanks again!
Exactly. I can completely relate to what you are saying.
And this is why Jung's approach resonates with me, too. Although I am and will surely be a sceptic, I am opened to the possibility that there might be realities we are unaware of.
Having attended shamanic ceremonies, organized trance percussion circles and being also interested in how psycho active substances broadens our consciousness, and also being a straight right brain, discovering Jung really brings about this essential aspect of psychology which was missing in Freud. And I really thank you for that.
Just finished watching your videos on art which definitely correlates this approach, too.
Thank your for responding, too ;) and good luck for your futur content.
Your videos are just ideal for me, the format, the length, the aesthetics. Excellent job, Emerald.
It’s March 27th 2020, Covid 19 is everywhere. One can feel the collective shadow starting to surface in everyone. It’s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Victorian Era Woman:
Florence Nightingale, the creator of modern nursing. She didn't just get married and be a proper woman as her family had pressured. she changed the face of history
This channel is gold.
I really appreciate the time you've taken here to help some of us learn in a different way! This was all explained so clearly and simply. Thanks for allowing us to have some of your experiences as examples to put big concepts into perspective of daily life and our lives. I learned a lot today and will keep watching to help myself grow. Great video!
That was a brilliant video! Thank you for your efforts
You are one of the rare people I like to listen to. Very well said.
Thank you. :)
amazing video. it was really thought provoking.
play
pause
think
reflect
note down.
it took me 2 hrs to watch this video.
thank you so much.
Excellent video, very nice summary. I noticed when you mentioned 'our shadow' at around 10:58 you touched your throat chakra, makes me think that one of your primary blockages may be in communicating your deepest self most fully. The unconscious is very smart, it knows where our blockages are and it expresses those in subtle unconscious clues. I wanted to say that in case you can use that information somehow :)
+Peter Lynch Wow! Awesome observation! I had Reiki done about a year ago, and the lady told me that my throat chakra was the one she needed to work most on. It matched my experiences too because (up until I had my channel) I had no outlet to express myself, and I was also working as a public school teacher where I never felt comfortable with sharing myself authentically. So, I've felt sort of blocked from expressing myself. I'm still working through some things with that too. Thank you for pointing this out! :)
I love your style! All the spirituality sans mumbo-jumbo hehehe.
Thank you! :)
I'm mesmerized by the love and clarity. Thank you so much for sharing this, I'm happy to have come across the channel
Wow. I was struggling to grasp the concept of the shadow for a very long time before watching this video. This is well said, and gives me the clarity I was seeking. It just clicks now. Many thanks for sharing this and making it digestible. I only know my shadow as a result of it coming to the surface from meditation, I've actually never done any shadowwork, but watching this has got me thinking long and hard about a myriad of interactions with a myriad of people and how I have been shaped by my surroundings. Great video thanks again :-)
Thank you for all the amazing content! Really enjoying the way you explain some of these more complex ideas, very helpful!
Thank you! I'm glad you like my explanations. :)
Here I want to mention something worth related to this topic.We all have repressed our desires since we are born.It was one king of mechanism of socializing.
But we do not need to discern all the people to gain that creativity.We only learn from a handful amount of people.Because we come here to complete our goal of perfection.That's why boundary is necessary.
Very well done. You've taken a concept that seems esoteric and made it clear and practical.
Thank you! :D
This was so informative. Thank you.
Very well spoken and easy to understand and listen to. Honestly impressed
Such self awareness at such a young age. Wow! You go girl.
This video about shadows has made my day, it speaks volume. The mind is a wonderful thing. Hope you don't mind me sharing an experience I had years ago that got me searching for answers which led me to this video.
This here is about an experience I had years ago and how to repeat it into my life cos it was a wonderful and joyful experience , I felt like God. I was in control of almost everything, I wasn't a serious student in school back then but during this experience which happened in my final year in school I went into the exam hall opened dmy question papers and all the answers came to me, I was surprised cos I didn't know how it came, cosmic didn't read for it or get into the teachers class for once. During the course of this experience I passed all the papers with an "A" grade. I noticed it just wasn't in my exams it also extended to other areas of my life for example I could imagine a meeting in my head like what to say and what the persons reply will be and it was spot on. My prediction was always right. During this experience I wasn't eating and never realized it until the 3rd day I had to force myself to eat. I had some many experiences to many to mention. After a while the feeling stopped and I almost broke down in tears. And since then I've been searching for answers. I'm from Nigeria, nobody seem to know what it was. Pastors say it's God some say it's the devil. I don't know who to believe anymore. Do you know what it is and how to get it back?
There is this expression "moments of grace" at least in French... it describes these magic seconds or days, maybe even years for the most gifted, those moments that some people are lucky enough to experiment, often when young and healthy, but sometimes also later in life.
It can be pure grace like it happened to you, or success in your work, your quest, your research. Imagine a scientist working all his life to discover something, and suddenly it's there in front of him, after he found some sign, followed some trail or equation... what happened, where did this voice telling him the way come from ? If you are a believer you may call it God's finger, or the Devil's if things turns bad and the treasury you found, later destroys your life...
Fasting is also well known to have some side effects, many positive, and is/was part of many rituals in different parts of the world... some people make it part of their weekly or even daily diet (many people over their 50's do intermittent fasting without knowing it).
I don't think you should try to live the same experience again at all costs - that might be the best way to become addicted to drugs ! - but follow your life, your way, the best you can, be grateful for all the good moments, and if you are lucky enough to feel the same way again, then take it as a divine gift ?
Thank you so much, I think I got addicted to knowing what caused the experience. I will try now to let go and live me life. Thank you for responding. I appreciate Smart Cat Collar Project
Smart Cat Collar Project I think I'm going to try fasting although it's not my strong suit. But I'm going to give it a go. Thanks and Happy new year
Excellent presentation of the shadow relevant to Jungian teaching . To some the subject can appeared to be too complexed ,but is , as was Jung intentions in, Man and His Symbols ,presented so to be understood by a general audience not for rocket scientists .
The video also brought me back to life changing memories ,when while in high school ( many moons ago) my English teacher Marion Woodman led me into a better understanding of myself as becoming a artist . DR Woodman later went on to become a world acclaimed Jungian Psychologist ,open( studied in Zurich) opening with her Brother Fraser Boa the Jungian institute here in Toronto . In reflection having DR Woodman Author of many jungian books ,as my hight school teacher from grade nine to thirteen ,was a honour that many young people do not have .At a age when youth faces many complexes that can be overwhelming I welcomed the new thoughts of Jung and Freud so to understand the psyche better, .When I was in grade 12 people in university would call me to help with there understanding of Jung and Freud . TO me ,by having Dr. Woodman for a teacher i thought all knew of these things ,but later found out i was lucky to have this knowledge transferred to my psyche . DR Woodman and her husband Dr Ross Woodman , also were responsible for many artists careers having them recognize there repressed talents in their shadow and making them conscious in the form of art so all to see , Congradulations on a lovely piece of work that i am sure will transform others .!
Thank you! :) That must have been awesome having Marion Woodman as a teacher. I never read anything from her directly but there have been quotes that I ran across from her that really stuck with me. One example was (paraphrased) "Spirit without matter is a ghost. Matter without spirit is a corpse. Either way, both are dead." This quote was used a book that I was reading on chakras which explained the importance of opening the lower physical chakras as well as the higher spiritual chakras, as the religions of the west have often viewed the physical as lesser than the spiritual creating a cultural imbalance that we still see the effects of today.
yes it was a great experience having DR Marion Woodman for a teacher that as mentioned at the time I was not aware of the gift I was receiving .I have been asked yrs later by Jungians and others what it was like to have her for a teacher ?. the story how I ended up having her was in fact meaning full coincidence . I was a jock sitting on the football field at yrs end . The principle came up to me asking how i did ,as i was reading my report card . I said okay but failed one , "what one he asked" I said English i got a 49 . He said come with me as i followed him into the office .He took out my file stroked out 49 and gave me a 50 ,saying have a good summer . The following yr i was put in Marion Woodman class and my marks went from 49/50 to A+ for the next four yrs . She recognized my creative talents buried in my shadow and encouraged them to emerge , I was in four schools shows and was given art projects because of her . She, as mentioned wrote many books based on Jungian Psychology . Most for woman ,because of her own experience and her being a teacher saw many of the repressions in young girls . One on this related to anerexia and obesity in young girls . Another on the anima and animas and others . I later at the Jungian institute here in Toronto ,after her return form Zurich took workshops that involved dance and centred around spirt and matter connecting . One book .her Jungian thesis book , Leaving My Fathers House . I would recommend for you to read. It is about the psychological journey of finding her own individual psych . She uses her story and those of her woman who she worked with in her office to become very successful creative people ( artists and Oscar nominees) through dream work . I think you will like it you remind me a lot like her in her enthusiasm for Jung while being a teacher ,also her young life was that of a good student like you who wanted to do good for her father who was a minister . I am sure you will find her honesty of great interest . she has a video Dancing inside the Flame , that you would also like ... I went to a Dr. Marion Woodman night here in Toronto . She said in her speech , it is not about the nice house ,( that she would take me to as a student to see her art collection ) the acclaims ( honourary phds and buildings build after her at a University beside a Joseph Campbell building ) she said in closing " It is all about the Journey "
Wayne Burt Wow! She really sounds like an amazing person. I'll definitely have to check out her work. Thank you for the recommendation. :D
This has been so helpful. I am just learning about the Shadow and Shadow work and your videos have been amazing ❤
You are my new TV show!! 🤗🤗💜💜💜💜 I love sooo much the way you explain things! Thank you so much!!!💕💕💕💕💕💕🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
What a resource your videos are, incredibly insightful
So much knowledge in one video I immediately subscribed. Thank you.
Wow. Thank you for making Jung accessible to me.
Thank you for this contribution Diamond Net. Was very helpful and clear for me. Useful right now
Knocked this theory out the park! Such a great breakdown, thank you for sharing.
Thank you! :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. The part about being insight seeking and daydreaming a lot, ect., and how you explained it as not being in the present moment especially affected me. I have heard that in the past once or twice but when you said it, a "lightbulb" went off. Thank you for your insights.
Me : hey dude im working on my shadow
Friend : cool how can i get one of those...
This is so awesome. I've been reading on Jung's works (especially Man and His Symbols) for a few years now and for some reason just thought to look on UA-cam. You have an excellent understanding! It's nice hearing someone speak it out
Thank you. I got really into Jungian Psychology a few years back, and it's such a fascinating psychological framework. It also mirrors my experiences with re-integration and experiencing the Self very accurately. I plan to make more videos on Jungian Psychology too about the ego, the persona, the Self, archetypes, and other topics. So, definitely check back for more. Thanks again! :)
I definitely will! And thank you!
Trevor Gregory :)
This is the first video of yours that I've found, you've done such great work presenting this. Totally earned my subscription. :)
Excellent work, quite an undervalued channel imho
I am a shadow, the true self..
Thanks for sharing your childhood experience I could relate a lot to that with my own father and it lead me to be not very confident. SO thank you for shedding some light on the subject.
Shadow work is enlightening. As Wei Wu Wei says, "Why are you unhappy? Because everything you think and say and do is about the self ..... and there isn't one. " And I would like to add that 'enlightenment' is not a matter of time.
This was so very enlightening. It made me 'lighter". Thank you, Diamond Net. Even a 64 y/o INFJ can still learn something.
Great video.! Helped a lot. Greetings from Brasil.!
Thank you! I'm glad to hear it! :D
Impressive video, easy to follow and in-depth at the same time. Great work! Also, eyebrow game totally on point!
Very Happy I found your Site 😁.
Great video! Thanks for uploading 🙏🏼
This is soooo great! Thank you so much for doing this! I can't wait to watch more!
Thank you and you're welcome! :)
Excellent video Emerald. Your videos are so helpful. Thank you.
great video! And what a delightful supportive comment thread! incredible!
Thanks. :D
Great video, thank you so much, you speak and communicate so well. The video seemed a lot shorter than it was, kudos on making such dense topics flow so well and for sharing your own examples!
I love your work, thanks a lot
Greetings from Norway
Unawareness of Ones "shadow" or "alter ego", potential schizophrenia, if shadow alter ego acts out in real time without ones "id" realizing it's happening. I had an encounter with someone later diagnosed with this disorder, unbeknownst by anyone at the time. Social pressures regarding taboo subjects cause repressive traits to progress into more or less complete suppression of their "shadow" self, fear of being socially shunned by those who, themselves, have aversions of their own "shadow". This can cause mass social hysteria about prominent social phobias, in my opinion. Of course, there's a darker side, social acceptance of base negative human traits can lead to worse case scenarios. *The Diamond Net* , I'm of the opinion one must face ones shadow alter ego with love, acceptance, compassion, fearlessness and show it who's boss, tough love. I hope we can get those on either side of the abyss to accept this solution, before the shadow becomes the *SHADOW* ...
Repression of ego complex can especially cause really profound psychological issues. This is a big trap for some on the spiritual path seeking to nullify their identity who end up losing all direction in life. So, it's important to make the distinction between ego repression and ego transcendence. But like you said, the Shadow, if taken to an extreme degree and echoed by society can cause some very big issues for the individual and society at large.
Going to view your Freud vs Jung dream interpretation youtube, soon. If I remember correctly Fraud viewed schizophrenia uncurable. Jung rejected this view, chose shadow alter ego personalities, became a premier psychologist. Good concept, I've read about the "dweller", a sort of shadow alter ego "animal within". The little beast wants to take over, intimidate weak willed, strike fear in unaware. It needs reassuring, love and understanding. Don't show fear to an animal, especially in self, even if. Thanks for concern *The Diamond Net*.
I related to everything you've said and felt called out by a lot of it. Especially the parts where you spoke on self hate and your anecdote about having issues with standing up for yourself. My mother is exactly the same as yours in her style of parenting and hearing your experience on it made me realise some parallels in my own experience. The inability to express myself well in a conflict and the fear of disharmony has made me extremely conflict avoidant and any time a conversation gets even a little more like a disagreement I try to steer it to a different topic. I recently ruined my friendship with someone I really care about because I projected my frustration with myself on her when she refused to just drop it and ever since then my feelings of self hate that I thought I had cured myself from resurfaced and grew worse. This was a very well made video; you taught me a lot and gave me some things to think about. You earned a new subscriber 💕
14:30 Haha, it was the complete opposite for me. My ego telling me I have all these issues loool.
Great video, I'll binge all of these.
I feel like I would've had a whole lot less resistance to this stuff if in general the understanding of 'ego' were not skewed by so many people's misunderstanding/personal meanings.
When most people say 'ego' who aren't aware of what it means in the context its taught here, they mean something 'bad'. They assume its something selfish or dirty. So I tend to have a sort of negative response when I hear 'ego' as if I've done something 'bad'.
But now I understand its just basically a facade that we grow accustomed to believing is our true self. The reality is that it just hides our true self. That's what it means in this context of this kind of work/teaching.
Some part of me feels like, phew! Thank god it's not 'bad'. It's just.. not really that simple to throw into a black or white category.
Fear of insignificance. What a great and useful term. Thanks!
Thank you! :)
Great stuff. Positives repel each other and negatives do the same. Three is a crowd unless a train of alignment occurs as a team… when the entire “electron group” decides on an agreed direction, positive to negative. Aligning efforts create an even larger magnet when the two connect - end to end - in the same direction. We have shadows opposing the best of intentions: because women + and men: “slings and arrows”. The natural flow when both energies can work together. The piercing and the pierced. Positivity collects but negativity stir the pot. Wouldn’t it be awesome if women and men enjoyed being completely different from each other - in order to help each other their align efforts?
Her expressions seem.. Flattened. In any case, this was greatly informative.
most people who have a good amount of control over themselves, they know how to focus and explain things concisely.....and give you the "greatly informative" videos, when it comes to something as complex as discussing the differences in persona or Archetypes of the personality it's necessary. and, people who have gone through individuation, or have down the shadow work are intensely aware of themselves......so they wont banter off into something random because they aren't controlled by their "shadow" self more.
I'm familiar with the idea of enlightenment and pursued it when I was younger. But my understanding now is that the ego is part of the human condition and we can't transcended it, like Buddhists propose. I do agree that we Identify with ideas and complexes that has nothing to do with who we really are, but that is it, there is an "I" who is truly ourselves. We do have that core. The journey, in my view, is not about transcending the ego, but (as Socrates said) "Know thyself".
It is about having a health mind where the ego don't get confused of what it is, and is capable of relating with other parts and concepts in your mind without letting them hijack your self.
You do that by expanding your consciousness, being more aware of what is happening below the surface, engage in introspection and being open minded about your shadow. Not let complexes fester in depths of your soul. Having health relationships with other people that help you examine yourself and accept who you are, the good and the bad. People you can be intimate with.
Of course, that is more easier than done, but that is the place I would like to be. It takes a lot of courage to look yourself in your mind's eye. To look yourself naked in the mirror. Other times, the most difficult thing to do is simply to take action. Deal with ones problems might seem like a huge undertaking and taking the first step and keep going sometimes is the most difficult thing.
When the light illuminates one side of you, the shadow will always be there to remind it for you.
great! you do an amazing job! I appreciate people like you who make my life more interesting and fun to be with my real self! Thanks!
Thank you for the words of encouragement and thank you for watching! :)
Thanks Emerald, this video was insightfully dope!
Truly, the best psychology channel on UA-cam! Thank you so much for your great thought organization and perception of things. I am studying to be a psychologist and dealing with the complex childhood trauma and I am happy I found your channel on a right time when there is so much need for this perspective in my life.
Thank you! I'm glad that my channel has been helpful to you. :)
I enjoyed your explanation and appreciate your effort in the creation of the video. You almost lost me when you said, *_"Law of Attraction."_* ... annnnd just as I was about to click off your video I asked myself, _"Wait, does my judgment of her usage of that term say more about her or more about me?"_ Shadow detected. Finished the video.
Haha Jungian Shadow work in action!
Loving all my traits
Good video!Carl Jung's Shadow work is fascinating to say the least...I think he was really onto something.
We were born into this world as whole people...360 degree personality.At ages 1-3,through socialization, we learned to suppress certain traits that our caregivers don't like or that society doesn't like.
Let's take anger,for example...this is a typical trait that get's suppressed a lot cause people don't know how to deal with it.Our parents might have brainwashed us to thinking that "it's not ok to be angry,being angry is wrong!" and so we learned to suppress that trait.But suppressed anger does a lot of harm than good.I myself got so good at suppressing it,I would bottle it up over a period of time and then start snapping at people when I couldn't take it anymore.This,of course,is no good because you traumatize other people in the process.So I started looking for ways to "express" this emotion in ways that aren't destructive.I found journaling in a notebook is a good way to blow off steam that provides immediate relief!Exercise too.I'm still not perfect with it though....but I'm getting there.
of course there are other traits as well...greed,envy,lust etc.And shadow traits aren't necessarily all "bad" traits either like you said....creativity as well.
+CerebralAssassin Thanks! I have had a lot of issues with expressing anger too. We tend to think of that as the worst emotion, and to make it mean something about us as a person. Thanks for watching. :)
Beautiful face, beautiful soul. Massive respect and admiration for what you do 🤩
Space cadet, yep. I spend time in that space. Thank you for your work; it is valued.
I feel guilty for supressing my shadow. Been reading a bit of Jung and this video was super insightful - subscribed - I also feel Jung is more enjoyable to read and understand than Freud.
really really great explanation. I thought I understood this concept pretty well from his perspective but I did initially think of it as only the negative undesirable traits, but the aversion to conscious thought seems more thorough an explanation.
Thank you! I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that only negative traits are in the Shadow. But negative and positive are just labels. So, it's really just whichever traits we've come to label as being negative that end up there. So, I try to look at all traits as inherently neutral, no matter how beneficial and detrimental their expressions tend to be, because at the root all traits can be expressed in either direction.
this is why I like hearing lots of people talk about complex concepts. Almost no matter how well I know something, someone else might be able to look at it with another view thats equally correct that allows me to refine what I know and eliminate more of what it isnt.
In my case, I think nearly 100% of my shadow is negative emotions, which is why I just made that connection without thinking about it.
Im not so sure if all traits can be expressed both ways. . . like a trait for cruelty perhaps. But then again, it allows me to understand why others want to be cruel.