Shadow Work

I am afraid that the closer you get to the Light, the more of your shadow you see. Thus truly holy people are always humble people. Christians could have been done a great service if shadow had been distinguished from sin. Sin and shadow are not the same. We were so encouraged to avoid sin that many of us instead avoided facing our shadow, and we ended up "sinning" even worse--while unaware besides! As Paul taught, "The angels of darkness must disguise themselves as angels of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). The persona does  not choose to see evil in itself, so it always disguises it as good. The shadow self invariably presents itself as something like prudence, common sense, justice, or "I am doing this for your good," when it is actually manifesting fear, control, manipulation, or even vengeance. Did anyone ever tell you that the name Lucifer literally means the "light bearer"? The evil one always makes darkness look like light--and makes light look like darkness.

Invariably when something upsets you, and you have a strong emotional reaction out of proportion to the moment, your shadow self has just been exposed. So watch out for any overreactions or overdenials. When you notice them, notice also that the cock of St. Peter has just crowed. The reason that a mature or saintly person can be so peaceful, so accepting of self and others, is that there is not much hidden shadow self left. (There is always and forever a little more, however! No exceptions. Shadow work never stops.) This denied and disguised self takes so much energy to face, awaken, and transform all one's life that you ave little time to project your fear, anger, or unlived life onto terrorists, Muslims, socialists, liberals, conservatives, or even hate radio.

FALLING UPWARD, Richard Rohr

Interesting thoughts, especially when he talks how our shadow selves are exposed when we have an overreaction to something that has upset us. That has happens a few times recently and my focus was more on how someone else had hurt me. I wonder now what was being exposed at those times. Definitely room for more thought or perhaps a different direction of thought when it happens the next time.