Shadow Work to Free Yourself
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Shadow Work to Free Yourself
Fitting in vs Being You, Unique, Fascinating, Curious, Different
Shadow work in the most simple way I can explain it is reflecting back on yourself what you judge or are jealous of in others, but that is actually a pattern inside of you.
If you bring this unconscious pattern to awareness, it can be a way to become aware of who you are or who you want to be.
Shadow Work originates from Psychologist Carl Jung. He was influenced by Hinduism.
“Shadow work is the practice of exploring one’s unconscious to integrate repressed or disowned aspects of the self.” — read more on Google AI
“Hinduism’s focus on the realization of Brahman, the ultimate reality, and the connection between the individual soul (Atman) and the universal consciousness, resonated with Jung’s exploration of the human psyche’s potential for wholeness. This influence can be seen in Jung’s emphasis on integrating the shadow into consciousness to achieve a more complete and balanced self, a process akin to the Hindu concept of self-realization.” — read more on Google AI
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What shadow work is and how to heal yourself so you can be free
I made illustrations that I will explain to you so you can do this process step-by-step on your own. Take time for this process. Set an hour for yourself to reflect. It may also become something that you take seriously. It may take days, weeks, months, and that’s ok.
For me, I spent months reflecting on my shadows, and it really helped me gain awareness and set me on a higher frequency spiritual path by being honest and true with myself about who I really Am.
Important Note: These patterns are not you. They typically come from your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. They may come from society, news, entertainment, media, etc.
Think of yourself as a robot. Do you want to have these sinful unconscious patterns running your life and be stuck in the cycle of death and rebirth and samsara?
Or do you want to open your heart and be on the path of being a good person, and on the way towards ascension, enlightenment, and eternal salvation?
This is called changing your epigenetics. From entanglements and knots of trauma that block the light, to opening your DNA with compassion, understanding, and forgiveness to be completely filled with light.
I have a successful quantum healing process I use with people that allows these traumas to be healed, so your DNA can change and enlighten. You can read the testimonials here.
Also, a great book to read to free yourself from your shadows and come into the light is called The Gene Keys: Embracing Your Higher Purpose. It’s an amazing book, channeled by Richard Rudd. He also has a website you can view here.
“A teacher, mystic and award-winning poet, Richard Rudd’s inner journey began early in life as he experienced strange energies rushing throughout his body, culminating in a major spiritual experience at the age of 29. Emerging from what he calls ‘a field of limitless light’ that lasted 3 days and 3 nights, Richard was entrusted with a sacred teaching — the wisdom of the Gene Keys.”
The book contains knowledge about DNA, the I Ching, and our evolutionary future. It may just be fun reading for you, or unlock something deeper inside too. I’m not sure, but it is an incredible book.
Here are my illustrations with notes that may be helpful for you to do shadow work on your own:
Be kind and gentle with yourself during this process, dear soul!
Figure 1 of Shadow Work by Ashley Heacock
Step 1: Awareness
Ask yourself:
What am I jealous of?
What am I judgmental of?
What are you insecure about?
What emotions do you feel around certain people?
Do you feel hatred at times? When and why?
I took a journal/phone with me throughout the day and would write down when I would feel an emotion come through. It brought awareness to unconscious, hidden patterns inside me. This allowed me to change it. I would then contemplate on how I can be a better person. This is the beginning of starting to be aware of your shadows that have been hidden. This is similar to the process of meditation and what it does to your heart, brain, and soul.
Also, note that the other person may feel your energy, and it could inflict harm on them. Also, God knows All. Every thought, intention, belief, energy is known by God.
If you have ill will towards others, this is called sin in Christianity, and leads you to the pit, to hell, because you’re hurting another being.
This is also called negative karma in Hinduism, and you will continue the cycle of samsara (death and rebirth, death and rebirth) until you heal yourself of the lesson your soul is supposed to learn and come into love for yourself and others.
I would set the intention of Salvation, Nirvana, Enlightenment. Heal yourself, heal the world.
In the illustration above, I give some solutions.
For instance, if you find yourself judgmental of somebody who you feel is just such an incredible person. Why are they incredible? Is it because they’re generous, kind? Can you find that in yourself? Maybe start volunteering with children, the homeless, or immigrants teaching them English? That could make you who you believe your soul really is.
If you find yourself with a lot of judgments and feel extremely sinful about yourself, perhaps try going to a Catholic Church. See if you resonate with the Priests. Go to confession and talk to them about the ugliness you see inside yourself. Perhaps they can help you?
If that does not seem like the right fit for you, perhaps try Buddhism. Meditate through all of the judgments, jealously, anger, hatred. The breath heals. Take a stance of acceptance and non-judgmental awareness. Be kind and gentle with yourself. The neural pathways will dissolve.
Here is a diagram below to help you. You could also find a local Buddhist center. There are also a lot of apps that can be helpful.
Image by Ashley Heacock
You could also talk to somebody who you feel comfortable with who has been through what you’ve been through and is compassionate and understanding.
You could find a shaman, medicine woman or man, to help you. They can feel the energies, when they were created, either as a child or in a past life, or some other space or time.
I do not recommend counseling, as you just tell the same story over and over again, and it creates harmful neural pathways. You need to create a new, empowering story for yourself.
You may also need to find another friend group. You can go to different churches, Buddhist centers, synagogues, mosques, volunteer opportunities, and find people who are on higher frequencies.
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Also, consider…is America actually living in a “communist society” without realizing it? Are most people trying to “fit in” versus Being You, Unique, Fascinating, Curious, Enchanting, Different?
Read my article here to see if you can break free:
An Experiment to Know and Be Who You Are
Meeting three random people who are non-judgmental, and trying out different parts of yourself to see what feels right and good to your body
Figure 2 of Shadow Work by Ashley Heacock
Step 2: Daily Practice to Free Yourself
Create a daily list of names of people and why you hate them throughout your day
Reflect back on yourself and how that pattern may also be part of you; that’s called your shadow
Can you be more aware of these behaviors/patterns?
Can you try to be more sensitive, kind, or whatever the opposite, more good behavior/pattern would be?
Do you want to be more like this or that; the qualities of that person you are judgmental or jealous of? Then take actions to do so!
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Example 1:
You think: John/Zaire is such an “asshole”
Does that mean, for you:
Wow, I’m kinda like that too in this way and this way and this way; gain awareness of this shadow, and try to then be a different, better person and not like the person you don’t want to be. You can also have more compassion for that person. Are they just reflecting back to you who you are?
or does it mean:
I would like to be more assertive like him. So I will take steps towards this; perhaps exercising, reading books, or something else.
or does it mean:
Wow, he’s just incredible. I’m different. I’m not as good at basketball as he is. That’s OK. Find acceptance and love for yourself. Let go. Release. Empty yourself. You can’t be him, so just let go. What is your unique quality that you can be proud of? Can you change your neural pathways towards positive qualities about yourself, rather than anger and hatred at somebody else who you cannot and never will be. It’s a logical argument. It will really help your soul calm down. I just won’t be him. I’m me. And that’s okay. That’s reaching zero-point density. Detachment from the story of him, and being in the present moment with yourself.
or does it mean:
I would like to be a kinder person, because wow that hurts my heart that there are people in the world like that
or does it mean:
I need to stay away from this guy
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Example 2:
You think: Suzie/Zoe is such a “bitch”
Does. that mean, for you:
Wow, I’m kinda like that too in this way and this way and this way; gain awareness of this shadow, and try to then be a different, better person and not like the person you don’t want to be. You can also have more compassion for that person. Are they just reflecting back to you who you are?
or does it mean:
I would like to exercise, salsa, go to techno parties and become more sassy
or does it mean:
I would like to speak my voice more like she does so I’m going to try to be less shy
or does it mean:
I would like to be treated with respect so I’m going to take steps to find my self-worth
or does it mean:
Wow, she’s just incredible. I’m different. I’m not as good at cooking as she is. That’s OK. Find acceptance and love for yourself. Let go. Release. Empty yourself. You can’t be her, so just let go. What is your unique quality that you can be proud of? Can you change your neural pathways towards positive qualities about yourself, rather than anger and hatred at somebody else who you cannot and never will be. It’s a logical argument. It will really help your soul calm down. I just won’t be her. I’m me. And that’s okay. That’s reaching zero-point. Detachment from the story of her, and being in the present moment with yourself.
or does it mean:
I need to stay away from this person
Here’s an article I wrote that may also be helpful to you:
Achieving Enlightenment, i.e. Quantum Zero Gravity T=0
Healing Your Body to be On Beat and In Tune with the Song of the Universe
Figure 3 of Shadow Work by Ashley Heacock (Where’s my fucking $ and opportunity Uncle Sam? (WMFOUS?)
Figure 4 of Shadow Work by Ashley Heacock (WMFOUS?)
I want to be careful with shadow work though. There is a socioeconomic, nationalistic, etc. barrier.
Some people are too poor to have shoes that are clean and cool. They may feel jealous or angry or judgmental of others, and that is actually a normal, healthy response.
This is similar to Trump supporters being angry. They lost their factory jobs and are in poverty. You can learn more about relative depravation theory by Google Searching. Realize this is about socioeconomics now, not just race. You can also read about this crisis in my article here, or my book here or here.
How Trump Got Re-Elected: Automation and the Crisis of Identity and Despair
This is a problem of society. This is a problem of injustice. We have massive inequality in our world.
A UBS Global Wealth Report found that in 2023, the world’s richest 1% owned around 47.5% all the wealth. Meanwhile, adults with less than $10,000 make up nearly 40% of the world’s population and only hold less than 1% of the wealth. Quite a drastic difference.
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So be gentle with yourself if you are part of this group that is unable to change or do what I list above because society is not functioning properly and you are in poverty or are in a situation that is not right, good, fair, or just.
Also, if you are part of the group that is able to change and do what is listed above, perhaps realize wow, I am extremely privileged. That may change your neural pathways as well towards compassion, less selfishness, and more inspiration to help those in need.
Written by
Ashley Heacock, Researcher, Writer, Mentor, Guide
MIT Sloan School of Management, MBA
Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MPA
The George Washington University, BA Economics, BA International Affairs
Contact for healing sessions: ashleyheacock@gmail.com
Website: awakeningconsciousness.community
Here’s also a really good resource if you’d like more support and worksheets to do shadow work and healing work on yourself:
