Girls and Boys Cavort In the Shadows – #66

According to Dr. Bjork, when Boys in Basement are rambunctious, they are showing Girls in Glee Club a good time.  

To understand our primitive brain (AKA Boys/Girls Home), picture Boys exploring a Sao Paulo favela.* The Girls accompany them; they want to see what trouble the Boys’ compulsive desires will get them in this time.

The boys start a big fire. The flames leap into the night sky. 

They create huge dark shadows. The Boys and Girls begin to weave in and out of the light and the shadows.

When we use the word shadow in the psychological world, we are referring to the dumping ground for all the characteristics of our personality that we don’t want to claim.**

If these characteristics are hidden long enough and not recognized consciously, they will take on a life of their own.  We create an internal favela.

When our temper bursts forth (picture flames); we are releasing the energy of anger from our shadow.

Whenever there is powerful energy (light), the result is dark shadows. 

When we want to avoid a confrontation with our shadow, we judge others. If I judge you, I don’t have to recognize my own hidden characteristics: the focus is on you.

According to Richo, the shadow layers of ego are control, fear, attachment, the need to fix things, obsession with an outcome, blame of others, and shame about ourselves.

Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense to you. In the next few weeks we will work together to understand the concept of the shadow. Be sure to use the comment section to share your thoughts and questions. Recently I’ve had a new awareness about shadow that I will try to share with you. 

Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall

*Favela – In Brazil, a slum at the edge of a city.

**I relied heavily on Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche by Robert A. Johnson AND Shadow Dance by David Richo for ideas regarding the Shadow’s role in our lives.