Shadow - 1 © Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D. UNDERSTANDING THE JUNGIAN SHADOW By Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D. Minnesota State University, Mankato andrew.johnson@mnsu.edu www.OPDT-Johnson.com THE PSYCHE A light falls upon a surface. We see the surface clearly. We can identify it, perceive its texture, and get a sense of its characteristics. That which is behind the surface falls into shadow. We have a hard time seeing what is in shadow. Surface is neither light nor shadow, but is, dependent on light to bring its qualities to life. So it is with the nature of light, surface, and shadow. Light and Surface Carl Jung used this as metaphor for the psyche. In all humans there are light, surface, and shadow. Light is that to which we attend within the psyche. Shadow is that to which attention is withheld. Our attention focused in a specific area turns shadow to light and light to shadow. Surface contains our ego ideals. These are the standards of conduct or personal traits that a person values and to which he or she aspires. These have been shaped by the development of the ego or conscious personality and are derived in great part from one ’s interaction with society, peer groups, parents, and religious mores. Most people’s ego ideals pertain, in varying degrees, traits or conduct that serves to care for the self, others, and the environment. Often described as good, the Buddhist mystic, Thich Nhat Hanh (1999) instead calls these the wholesome seeds within our store consciousness. These seeds uplift, nurture, and help us transform our suffering. They are traits such as humility, self-respect, non-craving, non-anger, compassion, patience, understanding, concentration, diligence, equanimity, and non-violence. Shadow The shadow contains those traits within us that go against everything we stand for. It is the unwanted or repressed part of one’s personality caused by on over-identification with one’s ego ideals (Jung, 1933; Sanford, 1988). When we focus only on what we think we should be, we ignore what we are. Parts of our self become engulfed in shadow. There is also a part within each of us that also seeks to take and to destroy. Often described as evil, Thich Nhat Hanh instead calls these the unwholesome seeds within our store consciousness. These seeds are heavy, destructive, and seek to imprison us in our suffering. These are traits such as anger, greed, hatred, selfishness, self-centeredness, need to control, ignorance, and pride. PETRI DISHES We have a choice in every situation as to which seeds receive our attention and thus, become watered. Seeds create emotional states from which thoughts arise. Thought precedes action, thus, the fourth step of the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path, right action (good), is dependent on our attention (right-mindedness and contemplation). Thus, focusing on internal states is an important part of helping people to acquire the behaviors that nurture the self, others,