Why I Don't Offer Shadow Work Resources & Tools Anymore

The original post mentioned in this vid: / c_izqyioo6p
My Patreon vid "Descending Deeper: When Shadow Work turns into Shadow Conquering or Shadow Hoarding": / descending-when-49935685
-----------------------------------------
❤️‍🔥 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: polishfolkwitc...
❤️‍🔥 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐧: / polishfolkwitch •
❤️‍🔥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: / polish.folk.witch •

[@kelly-annmaddox]

I adore this video. So much to consider and your points are so well presented. I agree that there are functional/useful ways to approach the work and dysfunctional/fruitless approaches that will make you go around in circles. I am totally going to make a video response to this one. 😍 You have energised me with this convo. (Also, as someone who teaches and talks about shadow work, I appreciated how evenhanded this was.)

[@polishfolkwitch]

@@kelly-annmaddox Thank you so much! 🫶🏻 Glad to hear we have similar views on this matter. I’d absolutely *love* to see a VR from you - looking forward to it, it’s no doubt gonna be juicy as hell! 🔥🔥🔥

[@TalesOfBalkanMagic]

It is an interesting topic. I do share your thought that there is a certain "overconsumption" in shadow working among the wider occult community, which is very visible in social media. Almost like a trend - it is considered mysterious and desireable to have a shadow (we've all been there).

[@polishfolkwitch]

Right! It almost seems like some folks take it up as a personality trait. And sure, I also think many of us have been there in terms of being absolutely fascinated by what lurks in the shadow -- I just hope folks can keep their safety and actual progress in mind & steer clear of being stuck in an eternal cycle of "personal development" and "healing" without seeing much results. Thanks for watching, I appreciate you ❤

[@annakr9980]

Oh mother Mary, finally someone put nicely what's happening in the world of so called "psycho-analysis". Some bits indeed are important to dig into or ponder about for longer but I promise, nothing helped me more than the ACT therapy and focus on the shit that is actually waiting to change and stinky RIGHT NOW. Like relationships, career, and what kind of human being I am at the moment. My ACT therapist has to stop me all the time as my head got used to dwelling into hell-knows-how-far-past and my ass needs to be dragged back to present. As you say, you do you ppl but honestly, is any enlightenment regarding your shitty past more important than making the actual, measurable progress at present? Not to meeee 💩

[@polishfolkwitch]

@@annakr9980 Fucking AMEN to all this! 👏❤️‍🔥 Thanks a lot for chiming in!

[@grumpyschnauzer]

Well, the past becomes more relevant when people have kids and pass on maladaptive ways of existing and coping in the world... so yes, there's a time and place for it. I agree... using therapists to constantly complain about one's past for sympathy not received by parental care and nurture can be counterproductive when one is taking advantage of the opportunity and being less productive about it.

[@elysethefloralninja]

Some of these things I never though of. I've always felt when I feel myself start to spiral, I need to stop and do something to let in the light. It is very rare I do shadow work, because I qant 5o be strong enough to do, to recrivr the findings, it and especially to pull myself out of it. These last few years I've done so much.

[@polishfolkwitch]

Thank you for sharing your perspective! It's good to hear that you know when to stop yourself and take care of your well-being - having a skill like this is so so crucial to our safety!

[@thebeautifulseason]

Fantastic video. I find that when I go into that labyrinth I can usually tell when a path starts to feel inauthentic..like something kinda flimsy and cheap. That said, I haven't delved deep with shadow work so maybe I'm doing it "wrong!" I'm thankful regardless for this convo--I'll know to be particularly mindful if I ever do that work.

[@polishfolkwitch]

@@thebeautifulseason Seems like you have a strong inner compass, that is extremely helpful in avoiding dead ends when doing this work! 👏 Thanks a lot for watching, glad you enjoyed 🫶🏻❤️

[@wiccelady]

What Tyler Alterman has stated makes total sense! In my opinion, shadow work or the concept of shadow work, has been trneding since 2020, with many diving into it without realizing exactly what it is or what they are seeking through it, and as you explained, it becomes a fixation. Thanks for bringing this topic to light and thank you for your explanations. What you stated also makes total sense. 🧙‍♀💜

[@polishfolkwitch]

Thanks a lot for chiming in! I suppose especially the online world is not really conducive to this kind of work & it's easy to get lost in misinformation or not be able to verify if the source is good. But even with good sources, someone still might do more harm than good to themselves with these tools. This is why I strongly advocate for doing this kind of work with someone, in community or partnership. Let us hope that if the trend continues to be a thing, then at least perhaps povs like this help shed some light on it 🙂

[@johngross5224]

These are some reasons I haven't started a "shadow work" practice. I haven't found any resources that explaine how to work through or integrate the shadows. Specially in the occult scene. I don't want to find things just to retraumatize myself. And I don't want to explore the dark places in me as a sort of slum tourism. That being said, I know there are things from my past that are still effecting me. And I don't want to be totally unaware and beholden to them. Thank you for your insight on this.

[@polishfolkwitch]

Absolutely understandable! Yeah, I also noticed that many such resources mostly focus on digging things up and then leaving people to their own devices in terms of integrating the discoveries. My Shadow Journeying course that I hosted a few years back was very heavy on symbolic/ritual actions to integrate, but also the approach was much less intellectual and instead much more somatic and embodied. But generally I really feel that therapy with a professional is a better, safer choice.

[@Camille_Lee_Eon]

New subscriber ❤I am just someone who wants to find my purpose of existence. I have been in therapy since 2017 for several different reasons that I am not wanting to share at this point. Shadow work, is it something everyone should go through?...IMO..HECK NO!!! Not without guidance and a lot of reality checks. THERE IS something to shadow work though, (I have no words to describe it, other than the ability of stepping outside of yourself and seeing the three sides of truth with clarity, that is where acceptance, accountability and forgiveness comes in and you can let it go and move on). When you step out of just reacting to survive, undo the brainwashing, Feeling vs. Thought, there is a nanosecond of a chance of changing who you are. Any deep journey should not necessarily be done alone...sometimes you need a reality check. It isn't all about, "You", IMO...SORRY, I have so much to say, but find it hard to explain everything with words.

[@polishfolkwitch]

Beautifully said! Thank you so much for chiming in. I love how you described how "there's a nanosecond of a chance of changing who you are" when you step out of your reactivity - that is a very apt description of where shadow work can be really really helpful, if we know how to wield this in a healthy way.

[@GardenGoddessTarot]

💙💙💙

[@polishfolkwitch]

@@GardenGoddessTarot 🫶🏻❤️‍🔥

[@TarotUnbridled2]

Thank you, Joanna, for this enlightening discussion! I appreciate you sharing your insights. 💛 Your idea that "collecting shadows" is similar to collecting tarot decks -- wow. Fascinating. I agree that, after uncovering my shadows, it's vital to take that next step, which is doing something to change and improve my life. Thank you for your positvity!! 💛💛💛

[@polishfolkwitch]

Thank you for watching, I appreciate you 🫶🏻❤️

[@TarotUnbridled2]

@@polishfolkwitch Much love to you!!! ❤

[@grumpyschnauzer]

Hmm, I suppose what you are sharing here can also be applied to people seeking therapy and also, participating in tarot or horoscope readings (whether for self or from other). By this logic, it does not need to just speak to shadow work. Im not hearing a discrepancy in discerning between the drawbacks of shadow work as well as reading tarot just in a "non-shadow" way or seeking out therapy. If we didn't need to do shadow work so often, then the suggestion is it would be brief. If its part of a persons personality to gossip and that keeps coming up in shadow work they can work to stop gossiping but the shadow work will still point it out when it happens whether you've been doing shadow work for a month or for 10 years. So... maybe even this perspective you are suggesting is "looking too deep" into something that doesn't need the attention. My opinion may be unpopular here but I suppose that would be the point.

[@polishfolkwitch]

@@grumpyschnauzer I would not extend this logic to therapy or other forms of work that include the help of other people. I specifically made it clear I was referring to *solo* “self help” work and I don’t think it’s constructive to extend the context beyond what was clearly delineated. Sure, we could absolutely extend this to any forms of *solo* self help work because the mechanisms are similar. However, I don’t think it’s apt to extend this to tarot or astrology as a whole, because both tarot and astrology are primarily engaged with for reasons *other* than self help - they are traditionally forms of divination and communication with the spirit world & only used for self help within the modern psychological framework. I do respect your opinion on this and I can see where you’re coming from. Question based on your comment: If someone is doing shadow work for 10 years and still can’t successfully work through a trait such as gossiping, is the shadow work actually helping them in any way? Or is it just useless ruminating on the status quo without offering any incentive for change? Cheers ❤️