By Dee Rowe

Many associate shadow work with fall and winter, when the days are shorter and the nights darker. However, in this article, I advocate for summer as another powerful time to explore and work with this side of yourself. Then, I offer seven ways to use summer's light to illuminate and integrate your shadow. If you're ready to face your so-called dark side, keep reading.

What is the Shadow?

Carl Jung introduced the concept of the "shadow" in psychology. The shadow refers to the parts of ourselves that we tend to hide, repress, or deem unacceptable. These are aspects we may not be proud of, or fear could cause rejection or ruin if revealed. For women, this can be our sensuality, assertiveness, anger, or intuition, as we are conditioned to distrust and edit out those sides of ourselves.

However, the process of shadow work, which involves acknowledging and integrating these hidden parts, can lead to profound personal growth and healing.

"Shadow work is letting go of who you should be so you can be who you actually are." - Christie Inge.

If you wish to dive deep into the concept of Carl Jung's shadow work, Udemy offers an affordable online course on the subject.

Why is Summer a Good Time to Illuminate and Integrate Your Shadow?

With its unique blend of abundant energy, longer days, and warmer weather, summer offers a distinct advantage for engaging in this inner work. You can harness the season's vitality to illuminate your inner darkness. Just as a shadow disappears in the right light, illuminating and integrating the parts of yourself that make you cringe is how you heal.

How Can I Use Summer's Light for Shadow Work?

Here's a practical guide on how to use the energy of summer to illuminate and integrate your shadow side:

1. Use Nature as a Mirror: Summer is a time of growth and abundance in the natural world. Draw inspiration from the flourishing life around you. Just as plants reach for the sun, let this season inspire you to grow by integrating all parts of yourself, even those that are difficult to accept.

Find a quiet spot in nature with minimal distractions. Allow the peaceful surroundings and nature's energy to act as a mirror for your inner self. Commit to not shrinking or hiding from what comes to light. Instead, see if you can offer acceptance to whatever surfaces.

2. Use Sunlight to Find Clarity: Just as sunlight reveals the details of the landscape, it can symbolically help to uncover hidden aspects of your psyche. Use the bright summer days to journal or meditate on the parts of yourself that you usually avoid.

Use sunlight's clarity to illuminate your inner thoughts. Sit in the gentle morning or evening rays and write down thoughts and feelings that surface, no matter how deeply buried.

3. Find Solace in Summer's Warmth: Summer's warmth can provide a comforting environment for confronting uncomfortable truths about yourself. It's easier to face your shadow when you feel physically warm and nurtured. The season's embrace offers a safe space for your self-discovery journey.

Let the summer warmth envelop you as you gently confront the parts of yourself that need healing. The physical comfort of warmth can provide the emotional strength to face internal challenges.

4. Let the Long Days Symbolize Opportunity: The extended daylight hours give you more time to practice mindfulness and self-reflection. Use this time to engage in activities that promote self-awareness and shadow integration. Whether through meditation, yoga, journaling, walking, or simply being present, use this time to connect with yourself on a deeper level.

5. See Social Interactions as Mirrors: Summer often brings more social engagements. Pay attention to when FOMO or burnout pops up. Observe your reactions during social interactions. These can be a powerful reflection of your unconscious self. Use these experiences to gain insights into your hidden traits.

6. Fuel Creative Self-Expression: Summer's energy can fuel creativity. Use this energy to help you channel any negative emotions or traits into creative projects as a way of expressing and understanding your shadow side. Paint, write, dance, sing - let your creativity flow as an expression of the often unspoken parts of you.

7. Anchor with Affirmations and Mantras: Create positive affirmations and mantras that acknowledge and accept your shadow traits. Repeat these out loud throughout the day all summer to help integrate these aspects into your conscious self. Let this non-toxic positivity anchor you throughout the season and beyond.

What Happens When You Illuminate and Integrate Your Shadow?

When you follow these steps, you use the beauty and energy of summer to foster a deeper understanding of yourself and emerge from the season feeling more integrated and whole.

By engaging in shadow work, you transform what you are ashamed of into a source of strength. This integration can lead to a more authentic and whole version of yourself as you learn to embrace all you are, both light and dark. Remember, the aim of shadow work is not to eliminate but to illuminate and integrate your shadow so that you better embody the multi-faceted divine being you are.

As you embark on this journey, be patient and compassionate with yourself. Healing and integration take time, and the energy of summer can be your ally in this transformative process. Embrace the warmth and light of the season to explore the depths of your inner world and emerge more integrated and whole.

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the dark conscious." - Carl Jung.

Want someone to hold your hand as you venture into the dark to meet your shadow? I've got you! Click here to schedule a 15-minute call to discuss the support and guidance I can offer you.

The Goddess in me sees and honors the Goddess in you. 🤩

Dee Rowe is a Certified Reiki Practitioner and Women's Circle Facilitator based in Santa Clarita, CA. She leads Reiki-infused Circles in the general Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas. To get information on upcoming Circles and more, use the form below.