Dark Shadows

I mentioned a couple weeks ago about the whole idea of shadow work showing up for me recently.  It’s a bit annoying, really.  I don’t feel that drawn to it, and still, it shows up.  And some really smart people advocate doing it on a regular basis.  It’s the fourth module of practices (in addition to Body, Mind and Spirit) in Ken Wilber’s Integral Life Practice.   (Like I said, really smart people!)

It’s not the discomfort of the shadow practice that I’m resisting, I don’t think.  There’s something about even giving validity to the thoughts and beliefs; there’s something about putting any attention on the old story that just bores me.  In one shadow exercise this week, I come up with an awareness that a part of me feels that if I show up as who I really am, I risk disapproval, or worse maybe: abandonment.  oh, blah, blah, blah… 

Really.  What has all the understanding, processing, rebirthing, therapy, coaching, personal growth work done to shift that?  Not a lot. 

I recently heard a recording of Marianne Williamson reading the famous passage from A Return to Love:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

Stop. 
Don’t just scan over those familiar words. 
Stop and read them. 
Take them in.

Powerful     
        beyond      
                 measure. 

What does it mean to step into that?  To not attempt to shift what’s lurking in the shadows?  To  just turn on the Light.