The Reiki Cafe 

Recently, I have been aware of thoughts I have and impulses taht are not particularly savory. Pretty awful in fact. I think I've had them all the time, but right now I can't run away from them and pretend they don't exist. Is this indeed facing my shadow? Is that how you come to terms with it, by admiting the dread things that lurk inside you? I hope so, I'm feeling a little shocked by myself.....

Blessings,
Roxy

I don't know that it 'HAS' a particular 'name', but it has reared it's head & has upset you that you 'could' feel & think this way!...hey your human too...
but by showing it's self this way it's telling you to 'FACE' your demons!!!...you will be a lot happier when you do...if you choose not to ,they may sink for a while, but 'THEY WILL' return, so TRACK them down & deal with them NOW..
IMHO,........... luv wendy ann xxx

roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- if you are inclined, read Marie-Louise von Franz's "Shadow and Evil in Fairytales or Shadow and Evil in Dreams. These are somewhat advanced Jungian writing but there is a lot one can glean out even with little background. A dictionary of Jungian terms at the reaedy might be helpful

>:-}}

- yes, it sounds as if you are dealing more openly with Shadow issues

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Dear Roxy,
The more spiritual I try to be the more Im faced with the fact that Im human. Just when I think Im getting this spiritual thing down, SMACK...right in the kisser!! That is when my path will get very rocky & I will be thinking very nasty thoughts. The White Queen with her " Off with her head" about sums it up. Long ago I faced the fact that given the right set of circumstances I could do what I used to believe would be beyond me. When we admit that we have certain thoughts or temptations we can at least face them. This can be like peeling back an onion,layer after layer pops up. It is difficult to accept & not get weighed down with guilt & regret. Being a Reiki Master can make it worse if you have expectations that your thoughts and behaviour will always be above reproach. Pushing aside the thoughts or denying them doesnt seem to work. Somewhere along the way we were taught to put a false face on & that causes some confusuon about who we really are. Acknowledging those awful thoughts with a tip of the hat & letting them go takes work. Many of us spend our whole lives running away from those thoughts, so Id say you are ahead of the pack in facing them. We are all in the same boat, Roxy. Some days Im the White Queen...some days Im Alice & some days, the Mad Hatter. :)
peace & joy,
holobon

Yay! Yay! This process has to happen for you to be whole.
I am not an expert on this, but looking at your shadows and holding them up to the light, sounds like a good idea to me. Hold them up there, examine them, for they will surely be curious and possibly even amusing. And if they are horrific, remember, you are in control - always, your shadows are not in control. Accept your shadows with the compassion you would show anyone else.

My latest take on this sort of thing is that things are neither good, nor bad. They just are.
It's what you DO about it that matters.

Also, a very good friend of mine, has a concept of 'speaking your evil', where he kind of fantasizes about an evil thought he may have, playing out the scenario to the end. This kind of has the effect of neutralizing any power such thoughts may have and he no longer has the evil urges. If you want to, you could put up shields to ensure that such thoughts do not send out energies and are contained within you.

Good luck! And well done!

Blessings
Natalie

Otoharo!

Roxy, there is another point to consider. That is, are those thoughts really your thoughts? One way ego has of interrupting us in our journey is to cause us to question what is not even us. This brings us back to really take a look at it. Do I really think that? Do I really feel that? It is possible for us to pick up thoughts from the environment. i have been at this place now for some time. I have gradually become able to discern more clearly whether this thought is really mine or not. But I have no way to pass this on. It is one which we each have to do to the best of our ability at any given time. I often say to myself, I am thinking thus and so, Is that really my thought? You often get a reply back, and then one has to discern whether the reply back is ego or your spiritual guide(s). It takes courage and persistance. And a willingness to see the facts, whatever they are. And then, one can immediately say to oneself, I do not wish to think this thought, I choose to think (and then state what I am now choosing to think). None of this is written in stone. what if I am thinking this dreadful thought, I do not have to keep thinking it!

finality

finality,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- you said in part: "what if I am thinking this dreadful thought, I do not have to keep thinking it!"

- if one stops thinking any thought (dreadful being, of course, a value judgement), >:-}} does that make the initial arising of the thought any less "our arising'??

>:-}}

- you also said something about "picking up thoughts from the environment"?? To what process were you referring??

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Dear Flametender,

Yes, I suppose I am facing the shadow issues more directly. I hope this is a step towards spiritual completion (or whatever). Have you gone through this? How long did it take, or is it an ongoing process.

Do you still want the haggis?

Blessings,
Roxy

Roxy, Dear Lass -

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- the steps we take toward enlightenment cannot occur without Shadow - so yes, an ongoing process for you , me, everyone

- but, of course, not everyone is ready to accept their Shadow and begion to deal with it's complexities

- every time I doubt I am doing the right thing (much less often now than earlier in my life) I am dealing with Shadow (because I might in fact do 'not the right thing')

>:-}}

- remember, too, my dearest Roxy - your Golden Shadow - it will accompany you always as well - and learning to express it is Key as well.

>:-}}

- I would be most honored to try the haggis (maybe just in time for Thanksgiving

>:-}}...

- I will consult with you by E-mail on payment and give you a shipping address - most kind that you remind me - I had forgotten your offer (dementia is so cruel) bagl

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Dear Firekeeper,

I'm not familiar with the term "Golden Shadow". Would you care to enlighten me?

Thanks, and blessings,
Roxy

Roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- Golden Shadow is an interesting set of Unconscious Complexes

- loosely, these are the compassionate, loving, ethical, creative, balancing, etc, etc aspects of ourselves of which we are largely unaware or have not developed when a seed of awareness begins to germinate

- hope this helps

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi Roxy,

I found this quotation taken from Martin Luther, in a book that was given to me one christmas. It has helped me many times when faced with my shadow side :).....

'Just as we can't stop birds from flying over our heads, but can stop them nesting in our hair, so we can't avoid evil thoughts, but we can stop them from taking root in our heart and giving birth to evil deeds.'

Gentle Blessings
Helen

Dear Helen,
That is a great quote!!

peace & joy,
holobon

Hey Roxy, *hugs you warmly**
The best thing we can do is accept where we are. Othewise were in the grip of our shadow's demands.
We have to feel our feelings. This is so important to healing. Learning not to squirm away is a great equalizer for the ego too. Quiets it right down. Don't give it fuel to make shame its tool of choice to keep you in that space of fear.

No matter your thoughts, you are not your thoughts. You are a beautiful child of Light. Keep remembering the Light part. Otherwise you will continue to dwell on the negative and that will sink you faster than anything.

If you have discovered something about yourself your not comfie with, let yourself feel the fear. Feel it and send healing to this part of you that calls for love.

It is said were in two frames of beingness.
Either giving Love or calling for love.

It is ok to be where you are and to be who you are.

I had a heck of a time for this one until one day when I was mad I just said, Ok, I'm mad. I'm going to let myself be mad! Its amazing when I gave Full Permission to my ego to be mad, it really wasn't wanting to be mad. It was really a hurt reaction. Hurt people lash out or project on others as to not feel the hurt their misaligned thoughts have caused them.
Be at peace my sister, all is as it should be and all is Holy. You are on Track. You are doing wonderfully. Just feel those feelings, stop in your writhing and ask where you are in the moment, do not go unconsious.. Ask yourslf what it means, what it is asking of you, this emotion, or thought.. It has merit, its worth it to discovery what the feeling/thought/emotion is trying to tell you.

Remember lastly you are so loved and you are so very brave for moving through this most difficult passage you are embarking upon..

i'll be holding the space for you sister, I know you can do it!!

Jahnavi

Dear Roxy,
Finding and facing the Shadow, even befriending it, can be very comforting ultimately. Especially when we begin to realize we are all pretty much in the same boat. Befriending our darker side humbles us and allows us greater compassion for our fellow humans. We are all not quite so perfect, and yet, perfectly loveable. I highly recommend The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, by Debbie Ford. Almost makes having a Shadow fun!
Peace,
Feather