Conversation with the Shadow - Active Imagination Meditation Exercise - Jungian Shadow Work

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  • Опубліковано 24 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 38

  • @makeitconscious
    @makeitconscious  Місяць тому

    Learn the Art of Science of Self-Knowledge - Sign up to the Know Yourself Programme:
    How to Talk to Yourself - the Active Imagination Course - knowyourself.makeitconscious.com/course/activeimagination
    The MiC Philosophy Course (only $7) - knowyourself.makeitconscious.com/course/micphilosophy

  • @makeitconscious
    @makeitconscious  Рік тому +9

    The last time I performed this exercise, I brought to mind a recent experience of poor customer service, where I made my displeasure and inconvenience known. Whilst I acted fairly in this incident, I still came away with a slight sense of conflict, as though I hadn’t fully accepted something about my intentions, speech or actions.
    Whilst honesty is never a ‘bad’ thing, it can still be dangerous if applied one-sidedly. It needs to be balanced - not with dishonesty, but with tact. The conflict was between part of me that needs to speak up, be honest and say what I see, vs. the part that needs to be tactful and compassionate. The solution is not to quash one in favour of the other, but to synthesise both.
    The shadow appeared as a stern and stolid old man in a draping black gown. He was a little shorter than me and had his arms clasped in from of him, concealed in opposite sleeves. He remained silent throughout my questions. He began motionless, but then suddenly screamed at me. Next he got really close to me, within a couple of inches, and just stared me in the face. Then, we actually hugged, before walking together with my arm around him. He looked a lot cheerier. The conversation didn’t consist of much on this occasion. Eventually I just said ‘I accept you.’
    This experience was a reminder of how sometimes an explicit dialogue isn’t necessary. As well as of letting go of the need for a logical conclusion or a definitive intellectual grasping of the meaning. Often, simply having the interaction is enough, to know that progress has been made and that it has improved your trajectory for future interactions.
    What came up for you during your Conversation with the Shadow? What insights did you uncover?

  • @Tlapis3
    @Tlapis3 15 днів тому

    oh this was probably the best meditation I’ve done in years. THANK YOU. can we have more videos like this??

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  15 днів тому +1

      That's awesome to hear. Great work... glad the exercise helped you open up that connection. You certainly deserve credit though for your dedication and willingness 😉.
      I was just thinking about whether to release some more shadow-focused guided exercises. So your comment came at an interesting moment 😉.
      Thank you for the comment and feel free to keep sharing your experiences as you go 🌟🔥

  • @TalksWithBrandi
    @TalksWithBrandi 3 місяці тому

    I am so grateful that I’ve came across your channel. I’ve already went through about three of your videos and I have a lot more to uncover but what I have uncovered has been extremely vital and I just wanna say thank you for that. Sending you much love and gratitude
    ☓☓❥

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  2 місяці тому

      Hey Brandi, great to hear you've been getting stuck into active imagination practice. Wonderful to hear you've made some vital discoveries already. You're very welcome and thank you for the comment.
      If you have not yet seen it, I recommend beginning the series Beyond the Limen. Part 3 of 7 has just been published and the series as a whole will serve as an introduction to the practice of active imagination.
      Strength to you and feel free to ask questions or share your experiences any time 🌟🔥

  • @grazia23
    @grazia23 Місяць тому

    This person speaks with a tempo!

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  Місяць тому

      What kind of tempo? Is it too slow or too fast for your preferences?

  • @MrGlobaltravler
    @MrGlobaltravler 15 днів тому

    I found myself in a dark alley way, 2 tall trees either end of the alley way, there were doors on both sides, the sides of the alley were 6 ft tall and made of wood fences pailings. Definitely from my childhood. The shadow appeared at the south eastern end of the alley way between the 2 tall trees, he was completely dark but i could tell he was wearing a suit with a hat. He was completely motionless, said nothing, and when i approached i felt some fear but went to him very rapidly and face to face. He just stood there, dark, motionless.

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  15 днів тому +1

      Great work for opening up a connection. Sounds like it was successful. The fear is suggesting that this was definitely a representation of the shadow. Even if the communication was not very active, no experience or effort in active imagination is wasted.
      The shadow's particular appearance in a suit and hat could point to the quality of 'flavour' of the material. It's hard to say without a deeper discussion but certainly worth enquiring into.
      His motionless and uncommunicative stance seems to be reflecting a resistance on both sides to it fully opening up, but this is to be expected and still good progress. I recommend continuing to tease out an interaction with this aspect in active imagination and daily life. I'm sure it will be fruitful. You could also try The Shadow Room exercise for more insight into the nature of the material as well as complete some of the work of integration:
      The Shadow Room - ua-cam.com/video/sTh776BUbZk/v-deo.html
      Thank you for your comment and feel free to keep sharing your experiences 🌟🔥

  • @svetlanadelight8969
    @svetlanadelight8969 Місяць тому

    I appreciate this video, thank you🥰🥰🥰

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  Місяць тому

      You're welcome! Thank you for the comment and well done for going deep 🌟🔥

  • @emilyneale9898
    @emilyneale9898 8 місяців тому

    This is really powerful! I saw a thick forest and a shadow partially hiding behind one of the trees. The shadow was young and scared. It told me to be my true self in situations. I told it that its voice was valid and that I am here to listen to it. It was this reconnection with a part of my self that had been silent for a long time. Wow!

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  8 місяців тому

      Great work Emily... The shadow being young and scared likely reflects the time of your life when it was established. Much of our persona-shadow dynamics have their roots in the first few years of life. Being your true self involves making this aspect of you conscious, deepening a relationship with it and honouring its needs. Keep going! Continue your conversations with this part of you, find out why it is scared and what it needs. Well done, and thank you for the encouraging comment.

  • @dolleemagarotto5915
    @dolleemagarotto5915 4 місяці тому

    I’m pretty new to meditation and authentically working on me. All I get are splotches of light. I can’t truly visualize anything past geometric cascades of designs and colors. I’m not sure why this wall is there but a little apprehensive to go past it but I’m committed. Thank you for the opportunity to experience this.

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  4 місяці тому +1

      Hey Dollee, this is great. I love hearing when someone makes a firm decision to be true to themselves. You are choosing this road yourself and you deserve the credit for that. But I’m glad that the content from MiC might support you along the way. You’re welcome.
      Any experience during meditation or active imagination, no matter how unexpected, can be valuable. It's not certain what your experience of multicoloured objects suggests, although it is surely worth further enquiry. What seems most notable is your apprehension to going past it. It’s perfectly natural to have some resistance at all stages. You must literally ‘encounter the energy of resistance’ when developing self-knowledge.
      Funnily enough, there is an exercise on this channel called ‘The Wall’ which is designed to facilitate insight into blockages such as you describe. I often prescribe it to new clients at the start of their programme.
      The Wall - UA-cam version - ua-cam.com/video/9o8AaoqQdv0/v-deo.html
      The Wall - Extended version - open.spotify.com/episode/2GONu2WZnOyln7Az35rfNZ?si=r5AxnW3rQKWV6Xv1_qCwAQ
      Strength to you Dollee and feel free to follow up any time.

    • @dolleemagarotto5915
      @dolleemagarotto5915 4 місяці тому

      @@makeitconscious thank you!

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  4 місяці тому

      @@dolleemagarotto5915 You're welcome!

  • @shanvmw
    @shanvmw 3 місяці тому

    To truly witness one's shadow you must first master the angle of your light source.

  • @siriussirius2652
    @siriussirius2652 3 місяці тому

    I must be completely disconnected from my unconscious because I felt nothing didnt feel like I was in contact with anything ......

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  3 місяці тому

      Great work for attempting the exercise. Don't worry, you are certainly not completely disconnected from the unconscious. It can take a while to get into the swing of active imagination if you haven't tried it before. There can also understandably be some resistance, not least on the first attempts.
      Sometimes a connection is also not forthcoming because there's a lot of other material vying for conscious attention. In other words you've got a lot on your mind. In this case taking longer to meditate at the start, or meditating and bringing the mind to rest before the guided exercise, can help.
      There are a couple of exercises I sometimes suggest when I take on new coaching clients. These might be more accessible whereas the shadow exercises could be challenging to begin with. I recommend checking out The Wall and/or Journey Into the Depths, and then progressing to shadow exercises like this one or The Shadow Room.
      The Wall - ua-cam.com/video/9o8AaoqQdv0/v-deo.html
      Journey into the Depths - ua-cam.com/video/JoyoHqlUz58/v-deo.html

    • @siriussirius2652
      @siriussirius2652 3 місяці тому

      @@makeitconscious what are some ways to transcend this resistance?

    • @siriussirius2652
      @siriussirius2652 3 місяці тому

      @@makeitconscious How do I recognize that I am resisting this subconscious encounter ?

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  3 місяці тому +1

      Great questions. The only way is to transcend the resistance is to go through it. This is an energic process. You have to be willing to do the inner work and keep going. Individuation is a full time job. I prepared a short guide on what it involves, which I recommend signing up for at makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits
      However here are a couple of immediate practical tips for dealing with resistance during an active imagination or meditation exercise. The first, as you've noted, is to simply recognise it when it occurs. You can become aware of resistance in the images themselves, or lack thereof, in your own feelings towards the encounter, in your own physical body, or in some compelling distraction.
      Secondly, be sure to set your intention to face it. Find the middle way, neither trying to attack or back away from resistance. Both of those extremes are a kind of avoidance. Instead just gently face it, make it conscious and allow it to run its course. When you're not sure what to do or where to go, resistance (and conflict) points the way, and intention takes you there.
      Keep learning, reading and diving deep into yourself, using the tools available. I am sure you will open up a fruitful connection with the unconscious in time.

  • @makeitconscious
    @makeitconscious  9 місяців тому

    Uncover a lifetime of self-insight with a Tarot Birth Chart.
    Learn more at: makeitconscious.com/step/tarot-birth-chart-reports

    • @julianc691
      @julianc691 3 місяці тому

      The Shadow came to me and strangled me,and my hands were actually the shadow’s hands. I was basically hurting myself,literally. So I got scared and stopped . Do you think this is normal?

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  3 місяці тому

      ​@@julianc691 Hi Julian, great work for attempting the exercise. It takes courage to engage with the shadow. There’s no need to worry about what you experienced. Instances like this are common, particularly in the early stages of working with the shadow.
      Your experience, although unsettling, is also highly symbolic of the role of the shadow and our relationship to it. The shadow quite literally represents the parts of ourselves we do not like, and therefore our self-hate. Shadow work can be construed as finding all the ways in which we secretly hate and harm ourselves, making them conscious and learning to love ourselves wholly and fully.
      So the experience you had is encouraging and pointing you in a clear direction. There is tremendous value in seeing where it leads.
      It might be a good time to check out the new series Beyond the Limen - in this seven part guided series I’ll cover the basics of active imagination practice. Part 1 is available and Part 2 goes live tomorrow. It could be a way to ease into the shadow exercises which can be particularly demanding.
      Beyond The Limen - Part 1 - ua-cam.com/video/BFlMuVNvvbE/v-deo.html
      Whenever you feel ready, you can re-enter a conversation with the shadow. Know that it is not there to harm you, but to point the way. In any case, always listen to your mind and don’t take on more than you can tolerate at any time. You always have the option to cease the exercise at any time if it becomes too much to take on at once. There’s always another approach and a right time for all things :)
      Thanks for your comment and I’d be interested to hear how you get on 🌟🔥

    • @julianc691
      @julianc691 3 місяці тому

      @@makeitconscious thank you so much,you deserve a lot of credit for all the amazing work you do with your channel. I did the “beyond the linen” exercise,I met someone,but it was weird. Just as a little background story,I am an graphic artist and one of my best ideas for some of my stuff came out late at night in a park. This park has a lake with a little bridge. This is where I met this person,during your exercise. It was an older guy,late 50’s ,disfigured,one eyed individual. His eye was so sad… it was expressing so much… almost crying. He was poorly dressed,in a patched suit. His hands were big,oversized and very rough,like he worked in construction all his life. His shoes were old,had holes and his toes were coming out. He looked at me,but couldn’t say anything. I got close to him and hugged him. He didn’t do anything,he was like a statue though,but that hug made me feel better. His watery eye and sad grimace look at me,like he was trying to tell me something but he couldn’t. I would really like to share more with you about this ,do you have an email we can get in touch? I don’t usually do this but I would like to get a feedback from someone who knows this stuff better than me. Bless you,have an amazing weekend!

  • @angeloalfredson3433
    @angeloalfredson3433 5 місяців тому

    I was on the bed of the motionless misty lake, i stood on the waters as the forests surrounded the lake far far away. There was a single island in the middle of the lake, one with a dead tree whose branches stretched to the moonlit sky. The Shadow approached me from the tree, is was long and sender with fingers the stretched long and a body as thin as a pole,it had a elongated head of a dog with no teeth and drooped ears. It was gentle,but ready to strike ,calm but silently raging in its blue hue eyes. When i approaches, it did the same, we respected one another, and...i guess, he desires to be a part of me, he desires a name. What shall i call this gentle shadow?

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  5 місяців тому

      Hey, sounds like a powerful and useful encounter. Good job. I wonder what the head of the dog could mean for you. It reminds me of Anubis. The dead tree and moon also have underworld connotations. Could he also be offering to take you on a journey there?
      The silently raging eyes I think also point to some emotion calling to be integrated. It would be good to continue engaging with this figure in active imagination, ask his name and what he means for you. Great work…

    • @angeloalfredson3433
      @angeloalfredson3433 5 місяців тому

      @@makeitconscious Thank you, I think I will continue with this meditation. But thank you so much for introducing him to me through your guided meditation
      Btw, I finally named my shadow, but it's taken on two names: Astellà and Alaster. I guess my shadow has grown accustomed to the characteristics of both the feminine and masculine in tenderness and strength. But maybe I'll convince my shadow to take on one.

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  5 місяців тому

      You're welcome sir... glad it's been useful. It's a great thing to get to know and integrate the shadow.
      The two names are interesting. Astella sounds like stellar or star. Alaster as well. And both names sound like Aleph or Alpha, connoting the first letter of the Hebrew/Greek alphabet, and from which we get the word 'alive.' This letter in turn is associated with The Fool card and Uranus, itself in turn associated with The Star card.
      It might be worth checking out these cards and their meanings to see if they resonate with you, as well as doing The Fool and Star exercises on this channel. It is interesting that it is appearing as shadow. Perhaps these are hidden parts of your character or maybe it's getting mixed up with some other aspects. In either case I think doing those exercises could be beneficial.

  • @Likelineshorts
    @Likelineshorts 9 місяців тому

    Just a question If I feel scared to meet the shadow, that does mean something, and if so, that does mean it's not yet the right time to meet the shadow?

    • @margaretregthechannel4929
      @margaretregthechannel4929 6 місяців тому +1

      I had a similar experience I was a little scared to meet the shadow, but I went with it and followed the guided instructions. However, the shadow would not answer the questions I asked in the manner suggested by the guide, at first I thought I was doing it, then told myself again to go with it and accept what was coming to me. By the end of the guided journey I could clearly see what the shadow had told me through the not answering, there was a refusal on behalf of the shadow, but by the end I realised what that meant and as a result have found some peace with my sense of unworthiness.

    • @margaretregthechannel4929
      @margaretregthechannel4929 6 місяців тому

      I think it would be clearer for me to say that I was able to reframe that feeling and understand where it came from.

  • @JrNaZaH
    @JrNaZaH Рік тому +3

    3 ads mid session, youtube be wildin

    • @makeitconscious
      @makeitconscious  Рік тому +4

      I see... unfortunately UA-cam does not allow creators to disable ads entirely until they have over 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours in the last year.
      In the meantime I have done what I can and switched off what are called 'internet based ads' which should keep them to a minimum, but some ads may still appear from time to time. Although 3 times during one exercise seems excessive and unusual.
      If ads appear at any point I recommend skipping the ad and re-focusing on the exercise in the way that you would for other kinds of distraction. If they remain excessive feel free to contact me and I can send an mp3 of the exercises you would like to practice until the channel accrues 4000 watch hours. With any luck this is not far off.

  • @traceler
    @traceler 7 місяців тому

    too broken and slow robotic narration.