Friday, January 18, 2008

Transforming Shadow Into Possibility

Linda said...
What happens when shadow emerges? Why does it happen in our closest relationships?

Good questions, Linda. I think the answer can stand as a new thread on the nature and importance of our shadow. Here is a short poem that sums it up well:

As I was going up the stair
I met a man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
I wish, I wish he’d stay away
- Hughes Merns

That man is our shadow, and our ego instinctively looks away because shadow holds our limited portions of personality and habits developed in the past that no longer serve and are not part of conscious awareness. Our dark shadow holds repressed negativity while our golden shadow holds our repressed potentiality.

The shadow can also be comprised of portions of our collective psyche. This comes up as circumstances or emotions that separate us as a group. It can also present as external fascination or spectacle that holds our attention, and thus keeps us from accessing internal resources and connecting with the group in spirit.

We usually project our shadow into places where it is “safe” to show this side of us, like our closest relationships. We instinctively know that the people we love the most give us the best chance to transform our shadow aspect by recognizing it, and then initiating and sustaining expanded awareness. This transformation process removes limitation and allows us to release what no longer serves, having recognized that it does not fit the “big picture” of integration and unity.

Molly Brogan

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this what your coming book, Shadow Dancing, is about? After what you have to say about shadow, the dancing sounds interesting.

Molly Brogan said...

The characters in Shadow Dancing are discussing the process of shadow and together, discovering the importance of understanding and owning our shadow aspects in reaching our highest potential, individually and in relationship. They can do this together because their relationship is what is sometimes called "twin flame" or "twin soul."

The characters in the book preceding Shadow Dancing, the second book in my trilogy, Chasing Twilight, also struggle to come to grips with their shadow aspects and are unable to do this together, which dooms the relationship to failure. Anytime a person has an overriding drive to control, it is not possible to create the sacred space necessary to transform shadow and realize a twin.
Thanks for asking. Molly Brogan

Anonymous said...

I like this bit about shadow. How does it apply to your first novel, Remember Me?

Molly Brogan said...

Great question, Callie (and, you used one of MY favorite slang words - bit!) The characters in Remember Me aren't really introspective enough to recognize their shadow in their day to day relationships. This is certainly one of the things that lends to the downward spiral of the Mary Margaret character. She continually looks for answers outside of herself, especially when her dark shadow is rearing its ugly head! When her golden shadow presents itself, she looks away, deeming herself unworthy of the more beautiful things in life. Certainly, if she were able to transform her shadow, things might have gone much differently for her. Thanks for asking. Molly

Anonymous said...

One of the things I like most about Remember Me is the dream diary. Does this have anything to do with shadow?

Anonymous said...

How about the second novel, Chasing Twilight - what part does shadow play with these characters? Their emotions are so intense. And what about all three books together? Do they all relate to each other in terms of shadow?