Peter Pan's Secret: Shadow Tracking
Remember the story of Peter Pan and his shadow?
Peter was convinced his shadow was a separate entity from himself.
And he went on wild adventures trying to catch it, but eventually, his shadow is sewn back onto his feet after Wendy discovers it and helps him reattach it.
Peter eventually learns to accept it as a part of himself.
The same goes for our inner shadows.
These are parts of ourselves that we try to disconnect, hide, or ignore like our fear of failure, worthiness, or quick temper where the concept of the shadow describes the unconscious and repressed parts of our personality.
Like Peter Pan's shadow, it's a part of us.
And like him, we may be disowning these aspects and also missing out on the power they have locked within.
It can be uncomfortable and painful to face these aspects, but the truth is, only by embracing and integrating our shadow can we become truly self-actualized and live a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Integrating our shadow is not just a tool, but a necessity for personal growth.
By tracking our shadows, we can start to understand ourselves better.
Picture this: your boss, partner, in-laws, kids, or [insert-demanding-person-in-your-life] sends yet another request your way, and you're left feeling burdened and unsure of how to respond.
The struggle of being assertive and standing up for yourself can feel alienating and daunting.
Leading to situations of feeling taken advantage of—unable to advocate your needs.
Struggling to assert yourself or prioritize your own needs may indicate a shadow that you haven't fully integrated your value and worthiness. This can of course potentially lead to conflict and obstacles in both your personal and professional relationships where boundaries are necessary.
It’s a common pattern.
By tracking your shadow, you can start to understand when and where this happens.
And with that, you can better prepare to handle these events and learn the skills to respond more effectively, rather than freezing up or contorting yourself to meet others' expectations.
Tracking your shadow isn't easy, but the benefits are worth it.
Once you understand the root, you can start to work on it.
Embracing and integrating the parts of yourself that you may have disowned or rejected can lead to a more nuanced and balanced understanding of who you are, allowing you to navigate life's challenges with greater resilience and self-awareness.
Remember the map from your ISTA journey to help navigate:
- Sweetness
- Cunning
- Patience
- Ruthlessness
Just as Wendy helped Peter, we too can benefit from the support and assistance of the ISTA community in our own journey of exploring and integrating our shadows.
Join us for a transformative group call with guest speakers Crystal Dawn Morris and Avishag Maya on Saturday, May 13th at PDT 11 AM who are teaming up to share their knowledge on Shadow Tracking. (convert to your time zone by clicking here)
Together, we'll explore how to identify and work with the disowned parts of ourselves that we project onto others and learn practical skills to integrate this awareness into our daily lives.
Remember, even if you can't attend the live session, you can still sign up now to receive the recording in your Integration Portal when it's ready!
Explore your shadow and see what you can discover about yourself.
Who knows what kind of adventures await you?
Register through your Integration Portal by clicking here
With love,
Ria and the ISTA Integration Team
PS: Live Monthly Group Calls
Each month, ISTA faculty facilitate a new topic exclusively for graduates, providing expert guidance on embodiment practices and an opportunity to connect with a supportive community.
