A Fun Way to Learn about Shadow Work
I’m absolutely in love with the Groundhog Day holiday. I celebrate every year, and I’ve even headed out to Punxsutawney a couple of times to see the whole Phil extravaganza. BTW, Phil actually has a fairly large and comfortable burrow there in Punxy (in town, not in the fake tree over in Gobbler’s Knob). When I was in grad school, I used to frequent the Prairie Dog preserve and watch those little critters live their lives. I’m just a fan of burrowing creatures, I guess.
Lately, I’ve been playing around with the idea of using the groundhog burrow as a metaphor for shadow work, and that’s when this event was born. Shadow Work has become a buzzword lately. You’ll see it all over, mostly in New Age circles, but it’s creeping its way back into psychology and even leadership training. I say “back into psychology” because the psychological roots of the shadow lie with the work of Jung (though the concept of the shadow predates his writing). My training in shadow archetypes comes from a Jungian background but also from my doctoral work in narrative psychology.
Many people shy away from shadow work. It has this scary feel to it, conjuring up ideas of shadowy monsters lurking in the dark and out to get us. But I take a more playful approach to shadow work (I am a play researcher after all), as you can see from my most recent post on the Nutcracker as an archetype for the shadow.
I take a more playful approach to shadow work
Shadow Work from the Ground(hog) Up
In this imaginative event, Gertie the Groundhog will take you deep into her burrow to teach you how she handles seeing her own shadow. Like Phil, she also dives down when she sees her shadow, but she uses that time to face her fears and really do the inner work. Six more weeks of winter is the perfect time to get still and really transform. So she’s the mascot for our training (I’m just the facilitator), and she’ll help you get answers to questions like:
- What is my shadow? What is the point of shadow work?
- Is shadow work scary? (Spoiler: it doesn’t have to be)
- How do I find a qualified and ethical professional to guide me through shadow work?
Plus you’ll get a free Gertie themed journal download to get you started on your own “burrow journey.”
With a few simple steps, you’re on your way
To accommodate your busy schedule, I’ve created an opportunity to see this event live, with access to replays for all who sign up. The live event is Friday 2/2/24 at 2pm CST. When you sign up, you’ll receive access to my secure portal, where you’ll find materials and a link to the call itself. And you’ll get it all for $22.
Make a small commitment to yourself to learn about shadow work and start your journey toward empowerment and wholeness. Save your seat here.
Disclaimer: This event is psychoeducational. We will not be doing actual shadow work in the event itself, just learning about it. Shadow Work doesn’t have to be scary, but it is crucial to have someone professionally trained help you work with these parts of yourself (i.e., a qualified coach, therapist, or Shaman).
