Shadow Conversations:
Race and Activism
Please enjoy the below video of me reading a Shadow work guided meditation to help you target aspects of your activism that need to be developed. It is designed to initiate a conversation with yourself about fears, anxieties, and insecurities that are inhibiting your ability to be a more-effective activist. I hope you will take what your Shadow provides you and develop it into your strengths.
Prep Suggestions:
Find a comfortable space
prepare some tea and a snack for later
have your journal handy
Aftercare:
enjoy a comforting and nourishing snack
journal about your experience
call a friend to discuss what you felt
** don’t forget to message me about this meditation to be entered to win! **
Text Transcription:
Begin by getting comfortable. You can sit in a meditative pose, lay down, relax in your favorite chair-- any position in which your body is the most comfortable. During this meditation you will not be leaving your body, but will rather be journeying within, and so you can relinquish any fears of getting lost or losing control as you will be here and be present the entire time. If you are feeling nervous or afraid take a moment to honor and assess your feelings. Consider where these anxieties are coming from. Thank your fears for protecting you. If after this moment you are still feeling anxious about this meditation I would urge you to sit back and listen through to this meditation in its entirety before proceeding. You can also read the transcript listed below the video, or have someone you trust read it to you as your guide. If you have a ritual you normally do before connecting with your Shadow, now is the time to perform it. If this is your first time reaching out to your Shadow, then I welcome you on this journey. Remember that this journey is one designed to promote healing and increase the love you have for yourself. Confronting the darker parts of your self is difficult work, but it is one of the greatest acts of love you can do for yourself, so be proud and appreciate the kindness you are doing for yourself before we begin.
We will begin by relaxing. Take three deep breaths. Let them out slowly. Settle into your comfortable position. On your third exhale, try to be still. Continue breathing at whatever pace feels comfortable for you, but do your best to bring in as much air as is comfortable. We will relax the body from the outside in. On this next breath, wiggle your toes and let them fall into a relaxed position. Then do the same with your eyebrows. With each breath we will relax another part of your body. When you inhale, wiggle your fingers and let your hands fall into a comfortable position. On this breath, flex your calves and adjust your ankles. On this one, relax the jaw and neck. Take a resting breath and on the inhale thank yourself and your body for helping you on this journey. Next, breathe deep and relax your thighs. Breathe again and adjust your arms. Dedicate this breath to your shoulders. Breathe in and relax your butt. As you exhale, release any tension in your groin. Breathe in and let your back settle in. Exhale and release any tension in your stomach. Rest. Take three more deep breaths. Feel the weight of your body. Let your body anchor itself to the spot. Feel the protection your skin offers. Know that you are safe. Let go of any tension in your ears or face.
As we begin to journey inward, remember that you have created an anchor with your body. Envision ropes or roots tethering you to the spot. Open up your heart to receiving the truth and wisdom you are looking for. Your mind may drift during this meditation and you will be aware of your body. If you get distracted you can circle back-- this doesn’t mean you have failed or done poorly. It is a natural part of meditating. Now that you are grounded and anchored to this place, we will begin pulling our consciousness inward. As you inhale, feel yourself pulling in toward your heart. As you exhale, hold that space. You will slowly be less aware of the sensations on your fingers, in your toes. The feeling in your legs. With each breath, you get closer and closer to your heart. As you become less attuned to your body, we will begin building a space for your shadow in your mind. Picture a door. Feel the energy of the door. This door will lead you to your shadow self. If the energy of the door feels off, then picture another door. When you feel in your heart that you have found the correct door, touch the handle. Behind this door will be a staircase. It will extend up and down. We will start walking down the stairs. Before you open the door, confirm with your intuition that this is the correct door. When you are sure, open the door. Breathe in deeply as you begin to walk down the stairs. While you cannot see the bottom of the staircase, you know that at the end there will be another door. On the other side of that door is a safe place for your shadow. Begin building that space as you walk down the stairs. Imagine a dwelling in which you would be completely protected. You can model it off of a castle keep, a woodland cottage, your childhood home, anything. The only requirements are that it is comfortable and safe. As you build, remember that you are walking down the staircase towards this structure. Feel the walls or railing, notice the sound your footsteps make, and don’t forget to breathe. Gradually you see the end of the staircase approaching. You arrive at the door. Remember that you have built the structure behind this door for your Shadow. It is your gift to the most injured parts of you. After you open the door, you will walk up the path to the front door of the dwelling you built. When you are ready, open the door and walk through. Walk up the path to the front door of the dwelling. Knock and your shadow will invite you in the safe space you’ve created for it. Your shadow may look just like you. It may look like a past you. It may look nothing like you. When you are ready, embrace your Shadow. Greet it with love. Understand that it is you and is there to protect you. Allow your Shadow to lead you through the house, ultimately arriving at a comfortable place to speak. If you have prepared questions for your Shadow, the time to ask them is now. Remember that you can return to this place any time. Today we have come to bring this gift of safe dwelling, perhaps to introduce ourselves for the first time in a long time, and to ask what exactly we may have trouble confronting in discussions about race, activism, allyship, and so on. Take this time to connect with your Shadow and find the answers you seek. Do not get frustrated if you are having difficulty understanding what your Shadow is communicating. Be open to communicating through images, feelings, memories, and sensations instead of words.If the message is unclear, sit and absorb what it is showing you. You can dissect and revisit this experience later through meditation and journaling. You do not need to understand everything right now. For now, be in the moment and soak up all that your Shadow is teaching you.
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The time has come to begin the journey back to your outer consciousness. Know that you can return to visit your Shadow any time. Thank your Shadow for sharing with you its concerns and wisdom. Give yourself a parting embrace. As the door latches behind you and you walk back to the door to the staircase, honor the feelings your meeting with your Shadow stirred up. Carry them with you. Put them in a backpack if you need to. You can open your backpack at any time. Recognize that these feelings are probably ones that you’ve been avoiding, but they will help you accomplish your goals. As you open the door to the staircase, you look up the stairs, and see the light above. You are filled with the promise of renewal, hope, and progress. As you climb the stairs you bring with you the love and gratitude your Shadow shared with you, as well as the anxieties which you can now examine, and name, and control. The fear and apprehension you once held is replaced with understanding and compassion. You arrive at the door back to your heart with the understanding that these emotions exist to protect you, and avoiding them actually puts you at a greater risk than confronting them. Remember that you can always return to this journey and work with your Shadow to process these feelings together. You open the door to your heart and once again focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath in and hold it for three seconds before slowly releasing. As you breathe in again, become more aware of your lungs filling. Of the rising of your chest. Feel your lungs press into your stomach and slowly feel your back straighten with your next deep breath in. On your next breath use the rising of your chest to stretch your arms out wide, waking them up. On the exhale feel the sensation returning to them. On this inhale stretch your legs far and feel yourself stretching out back into your body. Blink your eyes open and if you need to wiggle your entire body.
Thank you for taking this journey with me, and thank yourself for nourishing your soul with love. I invite you now to write down your thoughts and feelings about this experience and when you’re done feel free to message me with anything you’d like to share.
Thank you.