I have been studying Integral Theory for a while now. Part of my newly designed integral practice includes "shadow" work. This type of examination can be attempted alone or with the assistance of an analyst or psychotherapist.
The shadow has always intrigued me. Since I was a child, I have always remembered my dreams and have many in the course of a night. While in grad school in psychology, I favored a Jungian orientation to dream analysis and therapy in general.
Some believe the shadow is our dark side. I like to consider it merely as the "trickster." There is so much valuable information here for us.
The Shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge, and it therefore, as a rule, meets with considerable resistance. Indeed, self-knowledge as a psychotherapuetic measure frequently requires much painstaking work extending over a long period of time. CG Jung
Jung developed a technique called "Active Imagination." This practice is varied and described in various ways in the literature. I am finding it fascinating and have begun utlizing this on my own. I noticed a while back that as I was drifting off to sleep, I would actually be an observer or "wittness" to both states - unconsciousness and consciousness. At first I thought I was just imagining it; however, now I believe I was not. And, this is actually a way to use Active Imagination. The key, however, is to record what you observed and since I often have trouble getting to sleep, I hate to wake myself to take notes!
I would love to hear from you on this topic. What AI techniques do you use? How has shadow work improved your waking state of consciousness?
Sheila
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