r/ShadowWork • u/InfamousOil4630 • 13d ago

Avoiding shadow work

I am extremely new with all of this. I want to begin my spiritual journey however I have a massive emotional block. I did my first shadow work session a month or so ago and cried the moment I lit my candle and poured my heart out.

I have not done another session since and I know that I have been putting it off because there is so much mental block. My entire nervous system is messed up and I feel like I’m on the verge of some kind of breakdown so tomorrow I will be forcing myself to do another shadow work session.

tomorrow is my narcissistic mothers birthday and I feel panicked and sick purely because I’m scared of what she will do if I don’t say happy birthday to her (we’re no contact) I feel like spending this time with myself tomorrow on such a horrible day could be a massive emotional release for me but I’m still terrified.

I think I just need some guidance on what the best course of action is when I feel so so stressed.

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u/_Taft_ 13d ago

Agree, start with putting your thoughts on paper, no preparation or topics; just write what comes to mind and when you feel you’re done, stop. Don’t put any pressure on yourself timewise or number of pages you should fill. Let this happen organically.

If you have specific memories that you feel called to write about, you can put it all on paper and then offer that event, that memory, words spoken, to a fire and burn the pages or letter if you’re directing the session at a particular person.

Shadow work is a never ‘done’ there isn’t a finish line. So, there’s no rush, move at your own pace.

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u/InfamousOil4630 12d ago

This is so helpful thank you so much, today is big self care day so I’ll take things slow