Shadow

Neuroscience

Shadow
by Peggy La Cerra, Ph.D

Our conscious experience lags behind the neural even that created by a few milliseconds. Before the calculus of our brain generates a conscious experience in our mind, the selfishness of our motivation is already associatively translated into a socially acceptable explanation for our behavior. In order to even begin to see our own selfishness, jealousy, envy, and hatred, we have to operating from a higher-order self-representation, which enables us to ‘see’ ourselves. Spiritual people are more familiar with their shadow than non-spiritual people because they can observe it much more easily. Many spiritual practices deal with ‘embracing the shadow’ – feeling our worst feelings about ourselves without trying to mitigate the feeling with drugs or mindless activities; in doing so they are automatically cultivating compassion for others who exhibit these negative characteristics, because our mind-brains associatively yoke our self to others who are in situations that we recognize.

Rabbi Rami's Reflections

Shadow
by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Doesn’t spiritual practice eliminate our shadow, our dark side?

We live in a binary world of yin/yang, on/off, good/bad, light/dark, etc. You cannot have one of these without its opposite. There is no “up” without “down;” you can’t have “fronts” without “backs.” As long as you live you will live with light and shadow.

So what is the value of spiritual practice regarding the shadow?

Spiritual practices around the idea of shadow teach us how to work with shadow energies, how to use them to enhance our awareness, and to open our hearts to the suffering of others.

So shadow is a positive thing?

The shadow is where we stuff all our fears and insecurities. When we learn to work with these things we can become free of them. But never once and for all. The more shadow material we bring to light, the more subtle the still remaining material becomes, and the harder it is to work with them.

What if we choose not work with the shadow?

Then we will be continually manipulated by it. The more unconscious we are of our shadow side the more apt we are to unknowingly project onto others what we fear and despise about ourselves. The less we confront the shadow within, the more we will confront it without. It is much easier to work with the shadow before it is projected outward.

Many spiritual teachers claim to have erased their shadow. Is this possible?

People who claim to have erased their shadow are more likely simply to be ignorant of it. Such people do not recognize their flaws and do not realize they are projecting them onto others. I think these people are dangerous. I want a spiritual teacher who is cognizant of her shadow, who knows when she is projecting and can take ownership of her errors and work to live differently.

How do we respect the shadow?

By daring to plumb its depths, by learning what it has to teach us about ourselves and about life, and by refusing to use it to do evil.

Best Practices

The Sacred Paus
By Tara Brach

As with any addiction, the escape from pain of our shadow self only increases our suffering. Our strategies amplify the feeling that something is wrong with us and stop us from attending to the parts of ourselves that most need our attention to heal.

One of Carl Jung's key insights was that the unfelt parts of our psyches are the source of all neuroses and suffering. A vicious cycle: the more ashamed we feel, the more we may be driven to attack others to protect ourselves.
When we learn to face the fear and shame we habitually avoid, we begin to awaken from a trance. By pausing and accepting our experience, we free ourselves to respond to our circumstances in ways that bring genuine peace and happiness.
A pause is a suspension of activity, a temporary disengagement when we no longer move toward any goal. It can occur during almost any activity and last for an instant, for hours, or for seasons of life. We may pause from our responsibilities by sitting down to meditate. We may pause during meditation to let go of thoughts and reawaken our attention to the breath. We may pause by stepping out of daily life for a retreat, to spend time in nature, or to take a sabbatical. We may pause in conversation, letting go of what we're about to say to genuinely listen to and be with the other person. We may pause when we are suddenly delighted or saddened, allowing the feelings to play through our hearts.
In a pause, we simply discontinue whatever we are doing. We become wholly present, attentive and, often, physically still. Try it now: Stop reading and sit there, doing "no thing," and simply notice what you experience.
A pause is by definition limited. We resume our activities, but with increased presence and more ability to choose. In the pause before sinking our teeth into a chocolate bar, we might recognize the tingle of anticipation, and perhaps a background cloud of guilt and self-judgment. We may then choose to savor the chocolate, or we might decide to skip the chocolate and go out for a run. By disrupting our habits, we open ourselves to new and creative ways of responding to our wants and fears.
Taking our hands off the controls and pausing lets us clearly see the wants and fears that drive us. We become conscious of how the feeling that something is missing or wrong keeps us leaning into the future. We can continue our futile attempt to manage our experience, or we can meet our vulnerability with the wisdom of what I call "radical acceptance."

Recommended Articles

The Power of the Pause
By Tara Brach, Ph.D.

A folktale tells of a man so frightened by his own shadow that he tries to run away from it. He believes that if only he could leave it behind, he would be happy. He grows increasingly distressed because no matter how fast he runs, his shadow never once falls behind. Not about to give up, he runs faster and faster until finally he drops dead of exhaustion. It never occurs to him to step into the shade and sit down to rest. If he had paused for even an instant in the shade, his shadow would have vanished. Continue with the article

Casting Light on the Pitfalls of 21st-Century Spirituality
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Narcissism: There's a thin line between narcissism and "following your bliss." Without some degree of sacrifice for the greater good, self-discovery eventually leads to plain old self-indulgence. Be aware of your tendency toward excessive self-centeredness even as you work to heal and love your self. Continue with the article

The Generative Game of Life
By Stephen Kiesling

Fifty years ago Eric Erikson's great phrase "Identity Crisis" became the cry that baby-boomeranged around the world. But until recently it seemed our famous population bulge wasn't ready for the eminent psychoanalyst's more demanding charge: Generativity, or "a concern in establishing and guiding the next generation." Now, as data pours in on just what makes some people truly good for their communities -- what empowers the people who are giving shape to some slice of the future -- one idea is coming clear. Generative people tend to be those who have worked through their identity crises. Their life stories -- good or horrible -- tend to be coherent. They're dealing with their stuff, figuring out who they are. In other words, self-help isn't selfish. It's an ongoing first step in simply knowing that there are definite stages of change -- and that each stage takes its own time and dedication -- will help give you the strength and faith to keep moving forwards... Continue with the article

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