Week Thirty-Nine: Shadow. September 24 – Meeting the Shadow
The one who knows himself knows God. Clement of Alexandria
Gregg’s Reflection
Robert Johnson tells us your shadow is closer to God than your False Self, at least it is authentic. That’s a sobering thought. The shadow forms as we find there are parts of ourselves we deem unacceptable. We try to pretend it does not exist, but it follows us everywhere.
I’ve learned that my shadow is not simply “bad stuff” to get rid of — it’s the unseen part of me that longs for recognition and grace. The shadow hides in what I deny, suppress, or project onto others. Left unacknowledged, it exerts a quiet but powerful influence over my choices and relationships.
When we ignore our Shadow, it gets bigger and bigger like the monster under the bed when we were kids.
Naming the shadow takes courage, because it often reveals anger, fear, or selfishness I would rather ignore. Yet every time I bring these hidden parts into God’s light, I discover that God is not shaming me, but freeing me. The shadow is not something to hate, but something to integrate.
Carl Jung once said that until we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our lives and we will call it fate. My experience has confirmed that: what I refuse to face in myself eventually shows up in my reactions to others. Grace helps me see that the shadow is not my enemy — it is a teacher, inviting me into honesty, humility, and deeper wholeness.
Scripture
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
Hebrews 4:12–13
Ancient Quotes
The one who knows himself knows God.
Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 2.1
Modern Quotes
Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.
C. G. Jung, Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self
The shadow is that part of us we refuse to acknowledge, yet it is often the doorway to our deepest transformation.
Richard Rohr, Immortal Diamond
Journaling Prompts
- What part of yourself do you find hardest to face or admit?
- How has unacknowledged shadow shown up in your relationships?
- Where might God be inviting you to bring hidden parts of yourself into the light of grace?
- How could your shadow become a teacher rather than an enemy?
Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 39 Reflection: Shadow Work/Own Your Shadow