“brought it on themselves” – imagine how sociopathic that sounds when you say it to someone who is suffering. “You attracted that situation” – The problem with this belief: this notion suggests that those, for instance, who get discriminated against due to the color of their skin, sexuality, age, mental/physical ability, etc.“ Good vibes only” – The problem with this mantra: it denies the importance of anything going on around us that is “low vibe” and encourages us to escape into a spiritual dreamworld.“Focus only on the positive” – The problem with this idea: it denies reality and shames those who have legitimate issues that need space and compassion.Here are some ways that modern spirituality denies and also contributes to the Collective Shadow: Let the layers be stripped back with gentle surrender. So just be aware of these tendencies, reconnect with your heart, and keep going. It’s normal to feel ashamed, guilty, angry at ourselves, disgusted at others, reactive, and defensive when being challenged. I know it can be hard to read articles like this as they challenge us in a deep, visceral way.īut please know that this is done with compassion. My goal in this article is to come from a place of care, concern, and humility, acknowledging my ignorance, knowing that I have a lot to learn, unpack, and process – and always will. Let’s take a moment to breathe deeply, ground ourselves, and connect with our hearts. How Modern Spirituality Denies and Contributes to the Collective Shadow Not only that, but I discovered not just a total neglect of exploring the Collective Shadow (again, apart from a rare few exceptions), but also a flat-out denial of it. Yes, I could see a lot of feminist and goddess-type focus, but it was usually centered around rich, white women with enough cash and time to invest in expensive mala beads, yoga classes, and smoothie cleanses. No one was talking about issues like ageism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, and other ways of rejecting and diminishing our brothers, sisters, and fellow souls. (Or at least, apart from a very few rare and exceptional individuals.) No one was talking about how our spiritual practice helps or hinders racial equality or justice. I’m striving to include these vital issues in my shadow work exploration now, although I’m not an expert on anything I’m diving into and I’ve definitely got a lot to learn.Īnd then, I looked around me and saw that this collective silence wasn’t just endemic to me, but a pandemic infiltrating most of the spiritual, wellness, and self-transformation circles. So I’ll stand up, own this ignorance, and take self-responsibility. I didn’t connect the dots between what was going on in my internal world and in the society around me. Up until a few years ago, this was my blindspot too – I totally overlooked the importance and essential need to examine Collective Shadows such as ingrained racism and ableism. And that silence surrounds the importance of Collective Shadow Work. That’s great … But there is a silence filling the spiritual community, and it is deafening. There are so many teachers, mentors, and other spiritually-inclined folks out there who will encourage you to take a good, firm look at yourself and what’s lurking in the unconscious depths. But regardless of whether it is blatant or subtle, the Collective Shadow appears everywhere and in all groups of people.Įxamples of the Collective Shadow include religious discrimination, racism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, and anything that “others” or condemns, rejects, or diminishes certain individuals/groups.īy the way, if you’d prefer to listen to the rest of this article, you can do that here:Ĭollective Shadow Work: Our Biggest BlindspotĪt some point during our spiritual paths, we’ll be exposed to the idea of shadow work. This darkness is not always glaringly apparent as it is so ancient and so ingrained into the fibers of our societies. It is the sum total of past and present atrocities, cruelties, tragedies, and horrors perpetrated by humankind and stored at a deep, unconscious, cellular level. The Collective Shadow is humanity’s dark side. Take responsibility and practice humility Ask yourself, “In what way am I othering that person or group of people?” Observe your ingrained prejudice and negative conditioning Listen to those who lead different lives and have a different context from you Download FREE Collective Shadow Worksheets!.How Modern Spirituality Denies and Contributes to the Collective Shadow.
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