Shadow Work (Another Perspective) - Jungian Psychology - Carl Jung 

Thank you for the encouragement! :) I'm glad my work has benefited you.

You're welcome! I've struggled with that one too.

Video idea: synchronicity in terms of Jungian teachings

Thank you!

Thanks! :)

Thank you! :) You could definitely use any of these negative feelings as a starting point for shadow work. Now, there is a difference between judgment and discernment which I'll be doing a video on soon. So, judgment is to say "I'm nothing like that." and discernment is simply to notice how things are. But if you find yourself reacting negatively to someone's traits or demeanor on a visceral level, it's a good idea to turn inward and see if those traits or tendencies also exist in yourself.

@@TheDiamondNet you have a video that goes into attributing. I think one example you gave was leadership, and applied to someone like JFK and then Hitler, who were both well developed leaders, who both had a quality most people would say is good but one of them being evil. I've paid attention to things like that ever since. I try not to say if things are good or bad, unless I'm in a casual conversation, but just try to see how it is. It's hard though because there are things I want to be, like morally and ethically and even as I am as a person. The other day I made sure an elderly woman with an obvious limp crossed the street okay. I didn't hold her hand, but she knew I was paying attention to her and traffic as we crossed. I wouldn't have done that for most of the 20-40 year olds I meet when taking the bus, but that means there's a bias which means an imbalance at some level, right?

I wouldn't say so. It's important to do things that are conducive to the happiness, health, and harmony of individuals and society at large. So, this is practicing compassion, and it makes sense on both the levels of heart and mind. So, you were noticing that the old woman needed more help, so you gave her more help. With regard to shadow work, unconditional love, and acceptance, it comes down to recognizing all things as valid to exist and to recognize that they are inextricably connected to you. And in realizing that, genuinely having their best interests at heart and being compassionate to them. So, in this it's recognizing that the old woman is an extension of yourself as is everyone and everything else. So, because you would naturally want the best things for yourself, in recognizing this you grow to want the best things for everyone and the greater good... even for those that do destructive things. So, in this case, the best thing you could do for the woman is to walk with her. But a 40 year old wouldn't really need that most of the time. The main thing is to see them as an extension of yourself and practicing wisdom in what best serves them.

@@TheDiamondNet I'm not sure how to phrase this. I don't have a lot of experience interacting with people, and a lot of times I seem to do things others don't like. I can see it in their eyes and behavior. But what I can't see is what it is that I do that they don't like. I have recognized one thing, I react to slightly sexual actions quickly and heavily. I've backed into people completely by accident and I get this sensation in my chest. I swear it's adrenaline, it starts like between my breasts and rises up to this little rounded indent at the base of my neck and it feels like tiny bubbles filling that area up. It's a very strong feeling and I've done things with my body that really feel hard to control. I don't want to be like this because I think it's keeping me from having friends. The last time this happened I kept thinking "don't" but it took a length of time to get out of that mind set. My eyes kept half closing and I kept imagining things but I snapped myself out of it finally by maintaining eye contact with this girl I was talking to. I don't think this is all there is to it though, and there's a lot more I'd like talk to you about. I can't do the Skype chats otherwise I'd sign up for the 1 on 1. I've been trying to learn what I can from your channel and channels like yours but I always hit a wall, like I think I've gotten to a point where I can just be me but then I get in a situation where I realize I haven't thought about X and then I get lost in what to do.

Thank you Marshall! :)

You're welcome! I'm glad you like them. :)

Thank you :)

There is a difference between judgment and discernment. I made a video on the topic that explains this conundrum in depth. I think I titled it "Two Common Misconceptions About Shadow Work." It's one of my most recent videos.

Thank you! :)

Just my own insights into the shadow on this one. I seldom do research for my videos because 95% of it comes from my own insights, scaffolded upon things I’ve learned in the past.

Thank you! :) I'm glad it was helpful.

Thank you! :)

From what I understand rejection from trauma is still rejection. All rejection of self comes from pain or is painful in itself. No difference between trauma rejection and the shadow. You supress something either way that needs to be acknowledged and integrated

@@pallavisingh62 , thanks a lot! ☺

Thank you! I'm glad to hear that it rang true to you. :)

Thanks always Emerald ⚘

It is certainly difficult, and it's important to distinguish between practicing unconditional love and engaging in enabling behaviors and apologism. But it is only with the ability to recognize the inherent perfection and validity, even in that which causes disgust that enables us to be whole and toe be capable of truly loving ourselves and others. If we make even the slightest exception in our love, and our hearts are any heavier than a feather, we will not experience things as they are and this will cause suffering to ourselves. It might sound like mumbo jumbo to you, but it's true. It's hard to see though without having had such an experience of unconditional love before, as the societal assumptions about love are different than what it is.

@@TheDiamondNet This sounds as if you assume I've not experienced u love. You don't know that. I entered Jungian analysis 40 years ago and have traversed some inner landscape and this issue is difficult to explore and sometimes very muddy. In my experience the people who talk about unconditional love are often challenged to even love. Yes ultimately you are correct but in the end that end comes about via process.

You're welcome. :)

Thank you! :) So, when it comes to unconditionally loving and accepting others who are actively doing negative things toward you, it doesn't mean allowing them to walk over you or refraining from asserting your personal boundaries. It comes from realizing that your existence as you is arbitrary. That which is aware of your experience could just as easily have been born as those people. And due to factors of nature and nurture (which are both out of everyone's conscious control) you would come to behave in the same manner that they do now. And then you can be grateful that you've had the luck to come out landing on your own two feet in the way that you are now. And from this understanding of the fragility of the human experience, you can feel genuine compassion toward anyone... even the most vile of individuals. You could have been born as Hitler or a serial killer or me or a billionaire or a homeless orphan that dies of starvation. And in realizing this lack of control, there can blossom a deep feeling of compassion and gratitude for the circumstances of your own life. But as I had said, it doesn't mean that you should repress how you feel about being treated poorly. You can have compassion and still call a spade a spade, and assert your boundaries. You can still practice discernment, and you should. But when you understand how a person comes to be the way that they are, it becomes much less personal and you can learn to love an accept in more and more radical ways... which will in turn help you recognize and shine the light on your own shadows.

@@TheDiamondNet why can't you just simplify it instead of trying to sound intellectual and think you are Carl Jung.

But how you consider deception, betrayal, jealousy then? Are these neutral or wat. its obviously that these traits do not make the world nothing but hell.

+Tom Verona - I'm actually going to go over this in the third video in the series. It's basically about making the distinction between discernment and judgment. Judgment is to say, "I'm nothing like that." and discernment is simply to call a spade a spade and to see things as they are.

@@TheDiamondNet and how do you know things are as they are if you don't know your own delusions, what I have pointed out to you previously is exactly how it is, but yet you are still living the denial lol, so either you believe they are my issues and I am talking nonsense when I say you cannot teach this stuff on RU-vid without causing harm, or its discernment and I am pointing out facts.

@@Solar73529 I once heard a warning to be careful reading Jung. To paraphrase an old quote, as you stare into the abyss the abyss stares into you. When fighting monsters it's important to not become one yourself. Her videos could be damaging I guess to people who developed a certain way, but I don't think she's making these for them and on top of that you could look at those people who are hurt by self reflection as just their karma, which would actually help them grow if they respond to it appropriately.

Thank you! :) I'm doing shorter videos now because I know it impacts people's desire to watch and watch and also to really be able to grasp in one sitting, as the topics are quite complex. So, I'm trying to keep my videos under 20 minutes now instead of cramming everything on the topic into one video. This one would have been like a 45 minute video if I had put everything that I wanted to say into it, and that's why I'm making the other videos. So, I'm just trying to streamline my videos now as much as possible.

@@TheDiamondNet :-) I like it, like a Netflix serie instead of a movie LOL

No. If you judge your neighbor for being stupid, you may repress and ignore times in the future when you’re behaving stupidly for fear of seeming like that neighbor. Or you may be pushing back on aspects of yourself (even positive aspects) that you associate with your neighbor. Let’s say your neighbor is also into art and creativity... which you would normally be open to. But then, you come to associate art and creativity with your ‘stupid’ neighbor. Then, you come to repress your interest in art/creativity... because you don’t want to look stupid like your neighbor .

Thank you and you're welcome! :)

Thank you! I'll definitely do that. :)

Thank you and you're welcome! :)

I'm glad that the video has brought some clarity about the topic of shadow work. There are definitely many different perspectives to view the shadow from. This perspective is one of them, and it's simple to understand. But you can definitely get more granular with the understanding of how the shadow works. But this is a good foundation for understanding it with some broad strokes. For another perspective on shadow work, you can check out my other video on the topic... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SZ90jN2R9n8.html

@@TheDiamondNet Definitely will do, thank you!!

You're welcome. :)

Yes! And very soon. Probably in June I'll release a video on dreamwork.

In next week's video, I'm going to share the process of active imagination to help with shadow work. So, this should give you one method for it, though there are many others as well (inner child work, contemplation, etc.).

Great question. We can notice that the collective shadow is coming up in the form of what I call "communities of pain". And because of the internet, these communities of pain gain traction and grow stronger because they form their own echo chambers. And this is very uncomfortable to watch unfold, unless we ourselves are mired down in these communities. And we have the counterpoint to those communities acting a bit like the super-ego trying to bring us forward, but not knowing how to do so in such a way that is integrative but rather compounds the shadow effect. So, the integrative solution is to find out what the source of the pain is in those communities of pain, and then try to validate the feelings (not the interpretation of the feelings) and alter the structure of society to meet their needs and help them heal. So, right now, let's take neo-nazis as a community of pain as an example. No one gets to that point of being a neo-nazi without being in extreme pain themselves. So, it's important as a bystander (without engaging in apologism) to validate the pain as all emotions are valid, but to also understand and help them understand that their interpretation of what's causing them pain and the solution to that pain is distorted. So, the neo-nazis may perceive people of different races as being the source of their pain, and retaliation against those groups as being the anti-dote to that pain. But of course, neither of those things are true... it's a mis-attribution and a scape-goat. And not only is this incredibly destructive to other people... it simply isn't possible to resolve the pain felt in those communities of pain on that level. So, the solutions is to give them what they're needing and seeking in the ineffectual and destructive ways, in a manner that's both effective and constructive. Maybe they feel the need to belong so much that they find themselves in the clutches of such a community... so give them belonging. Maybe they are feeling self-conscious and this makes them compare themselves to others and get extremely hierarchical with their thinking to the point that it leads them to fascist conclusions. So, help them resolve their issues with being self-conscious. But the very first thing is to be aware of what they people who get swept up and radicalized actually are looking for an need.

@@TheDiamondNet that's exactly what I was thinking of, the neo-nazi types vs the people who make it their job to fight against them (antifa). Not being a fascist is already the default, so adding that "anti" just perpetuates it's opposite by perpetuating itself. So the more we "call out" white supremacists and others is only driving them further into their pain. I don't think I'd be exaggerating to say that the neo-Nazis actually get off on their own pain. The pain of embodying this demonic, shadow archetype. Most of them would've chosen any other ideology: the same type of person often becomes a jihadi. The only thing that matters is the rage. So I almost want to talk to them, except I'm not brave enough, as I haven't fully dealt with my own shadow. It takes a really amazing person to go in and just talk to them. Maybe I'll write them an anonymous, open letter or something. Someone should do something: other than just yelling at them. Someone needs to teach them what being a man actually means, before they self-destruct and take us all down. Incels are another example. There are many people who need help, badly, and ASAP. They just don't ask for help directly, so they resort to violence, like a kid who's "acting out". Put them in time out and then deal with them patiently. I'm guessing next weeks video could sort of vaguely address them, just not directly. Just getting tolerance into people's heads is a start!

It's difficult because there's the backfiring effect that can happen. And on the other side of the horse is apologism and giving more of a platform and validity to their views. I think, for now, creating more clarity is the thing that's going to help the most. For neo-nazi types and others engaged in communities of pain, it continues because they're unaware of what they really want. And so they go around and around and around, self-soothing and coping in those communities without actually getting their needs addressed... because they're not aware of what they actually want. So, if you can create an "aha!" moment in those groups, many of them will seek healthier outlets for those needs to be met just because it becomes clear that that solution is more effective and superior to coping and self-soothing through collective anger they're engaged in in the communities of pain. But right now, because their needs are in the shadow, it's only shadowy communities that are catering to those needs.

Thank you Emerald⚘

@@TheDiamondNet you must be the part of my shadow I find extremely dull and boring, it's like reading a dictionary and has no real meaning lol.

You may be A-Romantic or A-Sexual, which are a real orientations.

I haven't, but I have heard the name Eric Neumann before.

@@TheDiamondNet oh it's an awesome and penetrating survey of what he terms the "scape goat psychology." I would highly recommend you get a copy, since you're already so deeply insightful and knowledgable about the shadow. Also, as for the anima/animus, have you read The Invisible Partners, by John Sanford? If not, I highly recommend that one too. I'm actually sitting here right now re-reading it. Those are the two most profound and comprehensive books I could find a few years ago as I was just starting to about these archetypes.

I've read some from John Sanford but not that particular book. I'll have to check these out. Thank you for the recommendations! :)

@@TheDiamondNet yup no problem, highly recommended

Haha! I like the spoiler alert idea. Thank you. :)

You're welcome! :)