The Dark Side of the Light Chasers

Knowing often prevents us from experiencing through our hearts. Shadow work is not intellectual; it’s a journey from the head to the heart.

I’ve heard it said that shadow work is the path of the heart warrior. It takes us to a new place in our consciousness where we have to open our hearts to all of ourselves, and to all of humanity.

Our society nurtures the illusion that all the rewards go to the people who are perfect. But many of us are finding out that trying to be perfect is costly. The consequences of emulating the “perfect person” can eat away at us, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Poet and author Robert Bly describes the shadow as an invisible bag that each of us carries around on our backs.

We have to uncover, own, and embrace all of who we are, the good and bad, dark and light, strong and weak, and honest and dishonest.

We project it onto the world, onto our families and friends, and onto strangers.

trying to be perfect is costly.

We all contain the imprint of the entire universe within ourselves.

Our shadow is here to point out where we are incomplete. It is here to teach us love, compassion, and forgiveness, not just for others but also for ourselves.