(Re)integrating Shadow | Jake Haber

Join us for our Halloween-themed message as we explore our inner shadow, the meaning of the word "monster", and how to embrace the dark and light aspects of life. 

 

Quotes:

Robert A. Johnson: 

“The persona is what we would like to be and how we wish to be seen by the world. It is our psychological clothing and it mediates between our true selves and our environment just as our physical clothing presents an image to those we meet. The ego is what we are and know about consciously. The shadow is that part of us we fail to see or know.”

"We divide the self into an ego and a shadow because our culture insists that we behave in a particular manner."

"Unless we do conscious work on it, the shadow is almost always projected; that is, it is neatly laid on someone or something else so we do not have to take responsibility for it"

 

Roshi Joan Halifax: 

“‘The secret of life,’ say the Utes, ‘is in the shadows and not in the open sun; to see anything at all, you must look deeply into the shadow of a living thing.’” 

 

Paul Selig: 

"You cannot be the light and hold another in darkness… What you damn, damns you back. What you curse is your own curse reflected right back at you."

 

Stephen Mitchell: 

"Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself."

 

Jeffrey Jerome Cohen: 

 “The Monster signifies something other than itself - it is always a displacement - always inhabits the gap”

“A monstrum is a message that breaks into this world from the realm of the divine”

 

Gabrielle Bernstein: 

"The qualities I dislike in others are disowned parts of my shadow."

 

Discussion: 

What are some ways that we can get to know our “shadow”? 

Has your “shadow” ever shown you something helpful?