Psychology and spiritual healing meet in this important book that explores the nature of the human psychological 'shadow.' Eminent psychoanalyst Carl Jung first used the term "shadow" to designate the dark side of the human personality: the part of ourselves we try to hide from or deny. Paradoxically, denying our shadows leaves us stuck on our spiritual paths-a condition that V. J. Fedorschak identifies and addresses in this contemporary approach to spiritual psychotherapy. Tracing the development of the shadow from Freud through the present, The Shadow on the Path offers four approaches to help readers understand and face their shadow-and thereby regain clarity and growth in their lives. An indispensable tool for spiritual and psychological growth, and eminently readable, The Shadow on the Path discusses *The "shadow" in the works of Freud, Jung, Reich, Alice Miller and other notable therapists *The principles of inner spiritual development in the major world religions, and how these traditions address the "shadow" *Examples of the disowned "shadow" in contemporary religious movements *Methods of spiritual psychotherapy that can be useful in the healing process *Case studies of clients in spiritual groups who have worked with their shadow issues. The Shadow on the Path is a daring book that offers insight into the ramifications of the denied shadow, from individual suffering to corruption within spiritual groups.
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Submitted by amber on Mon, 10/04/2010 - 6:20pm.
An exploration of the dark or hidden aspect of the persona--what it is, how it originates, how it is formed, and how it can be used to bring wholeness to the personality. Now in trade paperback.
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Submitted by amber on Mon, 10/04/2010 - 6:11pm.
Everyone knows it, everyone pretends not to know it, everyone sincerely believes it's not true ©¤ everyone knows it really is true. The romantic feelings don't last. Sooner or later, partners become judgmental, fearful, critical, withdrawn, controlling, dependent, overbearing, angry, rejecting¡ªwhich really means they become fully themselves, rather than showing only the pretty parts. But these darker feelings bring havoc to romance.Successful authors Douglas and Naomi Moseley expand their theme of the "dirty little secret" of romance and relationship in their newest book, updating their knowledge of relationships. How to deal with this inevitable tarnishing of romantic luster? Therapists Douglas and Naomi Moseley suggest some practical, straightforward answers in their masterful new book. The Shadow Side of Intimate Relationships rejects the notion that the end of romance means failure. Rather, the authors say, the romantic phase inevitably ends, but it can be superseded by a profound experience of the passionate, ongoing love that makes an adult relationship truly worthwhile.The secret of success is found in the partners' being aware and truthful in their discovering and acknowledging the gritty truth of each other's hidden aspects: the insecure, fearful little girl and the insecure, fearful little boy who live inside adult bodies and control the adults' behavior. The inner little boy who wants mommy and acts like daddy and an inner little girl who wants daddy and acts like mommy. These emotionally young, power-hungry, control-seeking inner children will do anything to win, regardless of the cost. These subpersonalities, declare the Moseleys, are not to be damned or expunged. Rather, as parts of the whole human being, they need to be recognized and acknowledged. When they are not acknowledged when they operate unconsciously they are certain to be destructive. The Shadow Side of Intimate Relationships gives special attention to sexuality and anger, detailing the connection between chronically unexpressed feelings and failed sexual intimacy, and explaining the remarkable healing value found in honest expressions of anger. It also describes, in a significant contribution to the current dialogue on child abuse, what occurs when two emotionally immature partners have children, and how, tragically, the seeds of continuing dysfunction are planted in those children. This is a book for grown-ups, to be avoided by those who are afraid of themselves, to be eagerly embraced by all who wish to explore the deep, healing truths of life with an adult partner in intimate relationship.
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Submitted by amber on Mon, 10/04/2010 - 6:01pm.
Wish I could be there. Very well spoken.
Katrina,
I wish you all the blessings and power you need on your journey. Thank you for these words. It is good to remember that returning to work (and thus returning to grace) bring a chance for us all to rest and have joy.
Wishing you joy in the Work.
David
Dear Katrina- Thorn reposted your blog and happy am I. Your passion, always so immense, comes blowing out in these words. So akin to my own heart and soul that it makes me have a bittersweet smile.
The Storm is only now coming to the edges of our universe and yet it will sweep and consume all that is. In the end, our beautiful universe will be so much...more? Different? Complete? Who knows?
All I do know is my soul came here to witness and be part in this period. I cannot shrink from the work. I am here with you, fae sister!
Thought-provoking piece, Katrina. Thanks.
I don't know what to call myself either. In Pagandom, I've taken to referring to myself as a Witch at Large. In the interfaith world where I'm active, I call myself a Pagan. Sometimes I call myself an uppity woman or a Second Wave Feminist. I've never really thought to publicly identify myself by my sexuality, het woman, which is very "white bread" and old-fashioned. Not only het, but serially monogamous for the most part. It seems almost a liability these days to say you're het, but I am proudly and happily so. I tend towards intellectualism but only have a BA, which doesn't carry much weight, at least in public and professional worlds, no matter how much you've studied, trained, and can articulate, even teach.
My biological heritage is Irish, Dutch, French Huguenot, Euro-mongrel. My social heritage is Roman Catholic on one side and conservative Methodist, temperance-crusading, women's rights and education on the other, with distinct East Coast sensibilities, now mellowed by more than half a century living on the Left Coast. My maternal political heritage is conservative Republican (altho what my relatives might think of current trends in the GOP I cannot imagine, since they did have brains and they did think and they did have a social conscience), yet I am much farther left in my outlook than any elected official I know. My paternal political heritage is blue collar Democratic, except that my dad broke with his family on politics and allied with my mother's family's conservatism.
I'm a former hippie, a home-birth advocate, a home death and green burial advocate, an opponent of capital punishment and resorting to warfare to resolve humankind's differences. I support the right to conscious self-deliverance. I rejoice in any and all consensual expressions of love and eros. I'm a lover and a mom.
I have never missed voting in an election and I disrespect those who don't avail themselves of this hard-won right. (I have ancestors who fought the Brits in the American Revolution.) I support workers' rights. I recognize our interdependence on this planet, so could be called a greenie. I'm a committed environmentalist in my day-to-day life (in terms of eating locally grown food, expanding public transit, recycling, preserving open space and wildlife, opposing exploitation of natural resources [strip mining, oil-drilling, nuclear facilities, agribusiness, monocultures, clear-cutting timber, overuse of pesticides, genetic modification, etc.]) I want to make the city streets "safe for dancing," as my old friend Tony Serra said when he ran for mayor of SF on the Platypus Party ticket.
Well, you got me going there, my friend. Thought-provoking read, as I said. ;-)
xo,
Macha
Lovely azaleas!
[cough][gag][snort][sneeze]
Just lovely...
I know what you mean.
I feel you. There is too much bs- particularly when people decide that their temperament is tantamount to truthful and ignore everyone else.
I get irked by immature extroverts or closet introverts who ignore you REPEATEDLY and then pretend you're out of line for being upset by the time they can't pretend you didn't say anything anymore. I find that the same people will ignore you if you blow up right away, too, and that it's because they just don't think that honoring what you value is important to maintaining a relationship, or even worse: that you don't know what you value at all and that it's all a mind game for their pleasure or annoyance. Then they call you passive-aggressive, aggressive, moody, touchy and temperamental. I call them "not listening".