Hello, hello, my loves.
Today I want to talk about something that’s been very present in my own life lately: shadow work. DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN!
Over the past year, I’ve been navigating some new medical challenges, and if you had told me a year ago that I’d be handling doctor’s appointments with even a fraction of grace, I would not have believed you. My medical anxiety used to be all-consuming, from the moment I made the appointment to the long aftermath of overthinking every outcome. It was exhausting but, upon reflection I noticed that it wasn’t random. So much of it was rooted in what I was taught as a child about my body, about trust, about safety.
Through the ongoing practice of reparenting my inner child and moving through my own shadow work, I’ve found a steadiness I didn’t know was possible, I didn’t think I cold even be as strong as I have been. So! because of that personal journey, I feel more called than ever to hold space for you as you move through your own shadows.
So, what is the shadow self?
The shadow self is the collection of parts of our personality that we unconsciously suppress out of fear of being seen, judged, rejected, or unloved. We hide these parts from others, and often from ourselves, building a careful performance of who we think we’re allowed to be.
Shadow work is the practice of bringing those hidden parts forward to understand, integrate, and ultimately heal them. When we leave the shadow unexamined, we leave ourselves fractured: the unhealed parts warring with the healed parts, our deepest wounds quietly driving the struggle bus.
Our shadows are the root of the voice that whispers you are not enough. You don’t deserve this. You are not loved. Shadow work is how we learn to talk back to that voice and eventually, how we silence it.
Where do you begin?
Journaling is one of the most powerful (and gentle) ways to begin this work. It’s private, it’s slow, and it gives your thoughts somewhere to land without judgment. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, I’ve put together 35 shadow work prompts to help you start.
35 Shadow Work Journal Prompts
- Which of my weaknesses could actually hold hidden potential?
- What brings me the most genuine happiness?
- How worthy do I honestly believe I am — and where did that belief come from?
- If I could speak to the version of myself from 10 years ago, what would I say?
- Why do I struggle with trust?
- The way I spend my days is the way I spend my life. How do I feel sitting with that truth?
- Do I truly trust myself?
- What would it take for me to trust myself more deeply?
- Which experiences have shaped who I am — and how?
- When I reflect on my childhood, what still makes me feel angry or deeply sad?
- What does my absolute dream life look like? Describe a perfect morning.
- Do I process my emotions in ways that feel healthy and constructive?
- Do I project parts of myself onto the people around me?
- Did my caregivers give me what I needed — emotionally, physically, spiritually?
- What makes me truly angry, and what is that anger protecting?
- Would I describe my childhood as happy? What shaped that answer?
- What makes me feel the deepest sadness?
- What do I find most challenging about being myself?
- Have I forgiven myself?
- Have I genuinely forgiven those who hurt me?
- If I wrote a letter to someone who caused me pain, what would it say?
- How do I respond when things don’t go the way I expected?
- If I wrote a letter to myself apologizing for years of self-blame, what would it say?
- How can I hold space for my sadness in a way that actually helps me heal?
- What harmful pattern do I keep repeating, even when I know better?
- How long do I dwell on my mistakes? Do I spiral — or do I shut them out entirely?
- Do I find it difficult to forgive?
- What does forgiveness actually feel like in my body?
- Am I honest with myself about how I really feel?
- Am I honest with others about my emotional world?
- Do I fully accept and love myself as I am — right now, not someday?
- Do I celebrate myself when I do something well?
- How do I move through failure?
- What do I most want to heal in this lifetime?
- What are my shadow traits, and when do they tend to surface?
Take your time with these. There’s no rush to work through them, hell even one prompt explored with real honesty is a powerful act of self-love.
As always, my inbox is open if you have questions or want to share what’s coming up for you.
Love you, be well,
Autumn || The Untamed Priestess 🌙
