The Shadows We Carry


The Journaling Muse – Issue #38 The Shadows We Carry

A soft space to reflect, reconnect, and create with feeling.

Personal Reflection

Lately, I’ve been trying to live from my dream-life self—the version of me that Dr. Joe Dispenza describes, already whole, peaceful, and free.

But sometimes I slip back into old patterns. A headline, a twinge of pain, or a wave of fear from the world around me pulls me off course. Suddenly I’m doubting, reacting, or losing patience with my body’s slow healing.

Each time I return to my journal, though, I find a quiet path home.
It reminds me that the parts of me that ache, resist, or fear are not my enemies—
they’re unseen pieces asking to be met.

This, I’ve realized, is the shadow: not something to banish, but something to understand.

Last time, we stood at the Equinox, balancing light and dark.
Now, we turn inward—to the landscapes within.

We all have them: the stories we hide, the wounds that shaped us, the traits we’ve labeled “too much” or “not enough.”

But what if the shadow isn’t a monster lurking in the basement,
but a forgotten friend waiting patiently in the hallway of the heart?

What if it isn’t here to harm us, but to protect us?
And what if, by inviting it out for a cup of tea and a conversation on the page, we don’t give it power—
we reclaim the power we’ve spent hiding it?

Let’s explore the shadows we carry, not with a blinding flashlight, but with a gentle light—enough to see what they’ve been waiting to show us.


Where Our Shadows Come From

Understanding the shadow helps us meet it with compassion instead of fear.

The Inherited Shadow — Beliefs or burdens passed down through family or culture.
​“Don’t show off.” “We don’t talk about money.” “You have to be the strong one.”

The Wounded Shadow — Parts formed by past hurt or rejection.
The child who learned they were too loud, too sensitive, or never enough.

The Golden Shadow — Our hidden light—talents, creativity, or confidence we suppress for fear of shining too brightly.

The Silenced Shadow — Dreams and desires we mute because they seem inconvenient to our current life.


Journaling Prompts · A Conversation with Your Shadow

Phase 1 – Identification & Curiosity​
🧳 The Unpacking Suitcase — Imagine unpacking a suitcase you’ve carried for years. What’s inside? An old fear? A hidden dream? A stubborn regret? List them without judgment.

đŸšȘ The Doorway — Picture a closed door in your mind. Behind it is something you rarely let out. Describe the door—its color, weight, sound, or energy.

Phase 2 – The Conversation​
Letter to My Shadow

“Dear Shadow of my [perfectionism/insecurity/anger], I see you.
I’ve been trying to ignore you, but today I want to understand.
Why are you here? What are you trying to protect me from?”

The Shadow’s Reply — Switch hands or simply switch perspective and let the shadow respond freely. It might whisper:

“I’m here to keep you safe from failure.” or “I’m angry because you stopped painting.”

Phase 3 – Integration & Thanking​
The Gift in the Dark — Every shadow hides a gift: high standards, empathy, intuition, resilience. What is yours?

Thanking the Protector

“Thank you, shadow, for trying to protect me by __________.
I am safe enough now to carry this lesson forward without the pain.”

Creative Spark · Giving Your Shadow a Form

With your non-dominant hand, draw the shape or feeling of one of your shadows—without looking at the page.
Then write:

“This is the shadow of my ______.
It looks like this because ______.”

When you’re done, take a moment to look at what appeared on the page.

Even without words, your shadow may already be telling you something new.

With warmth,
​Beáta


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