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BrainChemistry
Captain Obvious
Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 3,657
Loc: Mountains of N. America
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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Shadow side
#11167790 - 10/02/09 01:15 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Just curious for people who might know more on the topic than me.
What is, and exactly how does one find, their "shadow" side?
Here is how Jung describes it:
"The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge."
He always tends to describe it as the "dark aspects" of your conscious....but this is a relative term. Does dark mean....depraved thoughts?
I sometimes watch pornography. Is this part of my shadow side?
Sometimes I break the law....would that be part of my shadow side?
Or is it more complicated this. Is your shadow supposed to be mainly unconscious....causing you to take actions that are not in tune with your "non-shadow" or light personality?
This all seems very abstract. And yet Jung believes it is essential in becoming enlightened to be aware of your shadow and to incorporate it fully into your personality. But this whole shadow idea just seems rather fuzzy to me.
Any thoughts?
-------------------- Word to your mom.
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Noteworthy
Sophyphile
Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Im pretty sure he is talking about all the aspects of the psyche that are not included in your self-model. They are thus in the shadow of the self-model. Being conscious of your shadow thus means to bring it into the light. Essentially it seems that Jung is just saying to become more aware of aspects of yourself that you don't normally consider.
I don't think your breaking the law would be a shadow side.. there is nothing wrong with breaking the law and you are aware of it, too. perhaps though, if you thought of yourself as a good, loving person, and then got into an argument with an old lady at a supermarket about the last can of beans. Or of you thought you were a generous person but then declined to give change to a smelly bum.
The dark side of your personality does not have to be negative, though. It could be that you have a nack for something and don't realise it. Or perhaps you are more patient with children than you realise. Understanding your strengths is important because one ought to know how one is useful
Most shadow stuff probably involves personal attatchments or habits that go under your radar.
I think the 'moral effort' that he speaks of is the feeling that you get when you are trying to work out what is moral but then realise that you are not totally moral and thus may not be a good judge of morality. But only by understanding your own pitfalls can you understand the true motives of others that lie behind their more obvious actions.
I am pretty sure that he is writing in a way that makes a good read though.. if he was making a clear point, you will probably find the answer to your question in the rest of his writing?
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Diaboleros
Devil's spawn
Registered: 07/20/08
Posts: 1,856
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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The shadow side is the part of your personality you can not see because it is the exact opposite of everything you believe to be.
Basically, our personality contains paradoxes, and its through these paradoxes that the shadow side remains hidden. If you find the paradoxes in your personalty, you will figure out your shadow side.
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Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 13,679
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How many sides does 'I' have?
Many it seems...
I'd say forget about philosphy & psychology, jsut root out the 'I' & remove all its possible sides, let it lean on nothing
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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and exactly how does one find, their "shadow" side?
Well it's easy but you need a sunny day or a bright light.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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