Shadow Work | Mindfulness | Artist Way | Synchronicities | Symbolism
Out of the Shadows with Spiritual Symbolism and Synchronicities
KTHT Writing Prompts November 13 to November 19, 2022
Old photographs and memories have played out significantly in my healing journey. I remember, vividly, one particular Easter weekend, when I was working through my 4th step in my co-dependency recovery, how a photographed memory changed the direction I would take. I was reading and doing the exercises from Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life. One particular exercise was to go back to get to know yourself as a child.
The next day, seemingly out of nowhere, I planned on cleaning my closet and going through old boxes tucked away. However, when I opened the closet door, smack dab in the middle of the floor was an old photograph of me at five years old, wearing an Easter bonnet and holding my basket and a large stuffed Easter Bunny. That photograph was my first experience with synchronicities and symbolism. Honestly, it kind of freaked me out. That photograph tapped into so many hidden memories, answered questions written during the exercises, and started my path of believing in something greater than myself.
Photography is like life. We develop from the negatives — Ziad K. Abdelnour
“Photographs and Memories,” written and recorded by Jim Croce, from his album, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”, played constantly on my record player when I was a teenager. I would sit in my room and draw when I was supposed to be doing homework. My favorite things to draw were people, particularly faces and eyes. I would practice for hours and hours trying to get the shading and perspectives just right.
In hindsight, I see that learning to be an artist isn’t just a talent; it is how I live and process my life. The basic skills of drawing is awareness of shapes, lighting, shadowing, perspectives, relationships, and how they relate to the big picture. Breaking down the pieces, focusing on the shadows and shading, the light source it is coming from, and the current perspective make up the components of a finished work of art when put together.
There is an exercise in the book, “Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain” — by Betty Edwards, that uses the technique of drawing the negative spaces. You are basically drawing the shadows and you get a more realistic drawing. (see the video below if this interests you) It makes the use of shadow work an art form.
Shadow work, often defined as working to uncover parts of yourself that you have disassociated from, repressed, or hidden from yourself. Within the context of shadows, we work with our unconscious mind to reveal things hidden in the shadows. Making the conscious decision to look at the perceived dark side of over selves can be overwhelming and scary as hell. But, it doesn’t have to be like that. Look at the collage above. One picture differs from the others. Can you see what it is?
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” — Aristotle
Symbolism shining beacons of higher knowing light on old shadows as the moment of today is yesterday’s tomorrow
childlike magic gifts deep knowledge beyond your years pegasus winged dreams soaring with friends of the muse buried beneath wings of doubt
winds of age and change higher-powered flight begins directional path back to what you always knew Before, you believed you did
©jules 2022 (poem first published at Amusing Responses)
“We do not create our destiny; we participate in its unfolding. Synchronicity works as a catalyst toward the working out of that destiny.” ― David Richo
The older I get, the more intrigued I become about life. I receive pure joy in the unfolding of my destiny. Looking up meanings of words and symbols leads me on the path toward authenticity and aligning with my destiny. I believe we are spiritual beings living a human existence and I believe it is each experience that is put in our path to re-connect us to living in spirit. Just this past week, a memory popped up, that shed more light on that truth for me. I have always used symbols and their meanings to guide me through certain phases. Dolphins, clowns, and of course, the Wizard of Oz. All of those things lead me toward learning to stop judging and criticizing myself and find joy, trust, and belief in the spirit I have for this trip around the sun.
Just this past week, a memory popped up to remind me of that spirit. A symbol that I used as a teenager to get me through the angst of those years. A pegasus. When I looked up the meaning I was in awe that I knew this way back then.
Pegasus, in Greek Mythology, was born out of the blood of Medusa and was close friends with the goddess of muse. It symbolizes imagination and unity with adventurous freedom to live with confidence and trust in the light. It is a sign of imminent success by uniting all the realms of earth and spirit. It was the reminder to continue to focus on the light in front of me not the shadows behind me.
Prompts for this week:
- Did you see the difference in the shadow pictures? The one that is different is when the light casts the shadow in front of you. How can you change your path by focusing on the light rather than the shadow?
- What is something you can draw from the negative spaces in your life, literally or figuratively?
- What is a symbol and its meaning that represents your life at this moment?
- Listen to Jim Croce’s Photographs and Memories and then share a picture and the memory it brings to mind.
Bonus Prompt: Use the quote below (or any in the post) and write about a time when synchronicity and symbols played a noteworthy part in changing an old belief.
“We learn our belief systems as very little children, and then we move through life creating experiences to match our beliefs. Look back in your own life and notice how often you have gone through the same experience.” — Louise Hay
Remember to link back to this post and tag me jules and/or the other editors Diana C., Spyder, and Ravyne Hawke at Know Thyself, Heal Thyself
