Note of Caution: You should be aware that even so much as writing this article has proven to be very disruptive and problematic. If you are particularly sensitive to negativity, I would suggest that you promptly mark this entry as read (assuming you use an app like Feedly) and move on with your life. I'll be discussing some pretty negative stuff here.
You're welcome to stick around and read through this, but if you do, it may spark off some pretty noticeable changes. Proceed at your own risk.
You're welcome to stick around and read through this, but if you do, it may spark off some pretty noticeable changes. Proceed at your own risk.
Still sticking 'round? Ok, down to business....
In response to a series of questions a long-time client of mine has posed, I have decided to talk a bit about shadow work, the associated risks and implications, and the possible benefits of doing the Work. Herein will be a few methodologies that one can use to engage their Shadow and progress past their limitations.
Before I start, I must stress that this Work is FAR more dangerous and advanced than anything I've written about previously - hence the warning at the top of this post. This isn't stuff you do for fun. It isn't something you do out of convenience either. Its something you do when you don't have a choice.
Before I start, I must stress that this Work is FAR more dangerous and advanced than anything I've written about previously - hence the warning at the top of this post. This isn't stuff you do for fun. It isn't something you do out of convenience either. Its something you do when you don't have a choice.
We're complicated creatures, and there are times that we seem to be half angel, half demon. We've got a side of us that wants to lie, cheat, steal, murder, rape, drink, and drug ourselves into a stupor. Its dedicated, in many of us, to taking the easy way out and gets a thrill out of harming someone else in the process. We've also got a side to us that's good-natured, caring, compassionate, loving, and aspires to doing good deeds for the benefit of others. Its a lot like the story of the two wolves, pictured below.
We're all different, and some of us have an easier time tapping one of those wolves over the other. That's natural and normal, but it just because its the way of things doesn't mean that you're doomed towards dealing with one specific side.
In the end, its a bit like dealing with the angel on one shoulder and the demon on the other. (Much like Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove)
In the Nature VS Nurture argument, the eventual realization is that our leanings are a product of Nature and Nurture, and as a result, eventually choice has a great deal to do with it. In my experience, I have found that strength comes from being able to utilize the powers of both sides while still keeping them in balance. This is why we have rites like the Banishing Rituals of the Hexagram, Middle Pillar, grounding, and centering exercises.
Most everyone is familiar with the "Holy Self" or "Higher Self" in one form or another - some even go so far as to call it the "Holy Guardian Angel". The other half isn't really talked about.
In the Nature VS Nurture argument, the eventual realization is that our leanings are a product of Nature and Nurture, and as a result, eventually choice has a great deal to do with it. In my experience, I have found that strength comes from being able to utilize the powers of both sides while still keeping them in balance. This is why we have rites like the Banishing Rituals of the Hexagram, Middle Pillar, grounding, and centering exercises.
Most everyone is familiar with the "Holy Self" or "Higher Self" in one form or another - some even go so far as to call it the "Holy Guardian Angel". The other half isn't really talked about.
Your shadow, on the other hand, (also known as your Evil Genius, Evil Daemon, or doppelganger) is the part of you that's typically kept deep inside of you. It serves the functionality of a spiritually alive storehouse for all of your worst traits, your fears, your insecurities, It represents the abused, the liars, the broken, and the incomplete. The shadow is comprised of pure, unadulterated fucked-upedness, and working with it is often one hell of an unpleasant ride......
Your shadow makes even the denizens of the Qliphothic shells look cute and cuddly - this is doubly so if you've been through extreme trauma in your past.
Working with one's shadow, however, can be very fulfilling when one's reached the appropriate stage of awareness and ability - knowledge of and communication with your HGA is mandatory. Mastering it does have its benefits, though mastery of one's shadow is an ongoing process that is repeated as one lives his or her life. Its a set of practices that can, eventually, lead to some amazing realizations about one's self and the universe around them, and, as a result, be a major reservoir of power that can be tapped on demand.
Your shadow makes even the denizens of the Qliphothic shells look cute and cuddly - this is doubly so if you've been through extreme trauma in your past.
Working with one's shadow, however, can be very fulfilling when one's reached the appropriate stage of awareness and ability - knowledge of and communication with your HGA is mandatory. Mastering it does have its benefits, though mastery of one's shadow is an ongoing process that is repeated as one lives his or her life. Its a set of practices that can, eventually, lead to some amazing realizations about one's self and the universe around them, and, as a result, be a major reservoir of power that can be tapped on demand.
Below is a ritual format through which one can connect to, work with, and overcome the portions of their shadow. It follows a strict flow and I would not recommend straying from it, lest you endanger yourself. The sigils for each part of the shadow self can be found at the bottom of this article, and I would suggest that you only utilize one at a time. Do not draw them unless you intend to use them.
Ritual Outline
- Provide offerings to your guardian spirits
By this point, you should have a pretty decent handle on the nature of your guardian spirits, both local and ancestral, as well as the allies you've cultivated through your ongoing spirit work.
- Perform an Invocation of your Higher Self
By this point, you should have your own method for getting in contact with your HGA/HS for ritual use. Proceed with it, as you will need the essence of this portion of you present to balance out the extreme negativity that will be raised as you progress through this rite.
- Draw the sigil for the aspect of your Shadow that you intend to invoke
You will need to use consecrated parchment paper for this purpose. I would suggest that you trace out the sigil, then pray over it to empower it.
- Prayer to the Keystone
The Keystone an entity I've worked with for quite some time. Its purpose is simple: to watch over the keys so that they are not accidentally activated through tracing them, visualizing, etc.
Keystone, bearer of possibilities
Stir, waken, hear, and become available to me
I invoke thy name and call for thy presence
Stand alongside me as I work through the Umbric Keys
Face me so that I might face my Self
[Seal the invocation by tracing a lemniscate in the air]
- Evoke or invoke the Shadow's aspect
How you proceed here is up to you. Evocation tends towards being gentler than invocation, but invocation will allow you to do more than simply wrangle with that aspect of your Self.
- Complete the rite and dismiss all invoked forces
Dismiss that which has been conjured and ground yourself in the manner of your choosing.
- Deal with the outcome of the rite
If you did the work right, you will have stuff to deal with. You'll learn about certain things that motivate you, how to diffuse your temper, etc. That's the real reason behind this work, after all. If you should need help, which you may, you'll want to reach out to me through my contact page.
The Shadow Sigils
If you choose to follow this path I've laid out here, good luck. You will need it.
As mentioned previously, should you need help, feel free to contact me.
Regards,
SE
As mentioned previously, should you need help, feel free to contact me.
Regards,
SE