Working with Your Shadow Animal: Summary

(Hourglass Dolphins)

My blog "Animal Wisdom" at Witches and Pagans features "Working with Your Shadow Animal: Summary"

"Our shadow animals are the dynamic that brings change to our lives. They test us, and give us the energy to change ourselves. They break us out of our comfortable places, and push us out into the world. Our shadow animals help us to integrate ourselves. Without our shadow animals, we would be incomplete.

By challenging us, shadow animals also teach us many life lessons. They help us with family legacy issues, and resolve feelings of shame and guilt. Not only that but they guide us through a life of chaos to one of empowerment.

As I have indicated in my other blog entries, there are several types of shadow animals. (I list them at the end of this blog.) They range from the shadow archetype to the dark trickster. Therefore it is also important to know what type your shadow animal is. This will help you in your shadow work."

Read more at:  witchesandpagans.com: working with your shadow animal (summary)

Shadow Animals:The Trickster and the Bringer of Death

"The Raven" from E.A. Poe's poem

My blog at Witches and Pagans is up featuring shadow animals: the trickster and the bringer of death.

From the Blog:

Two difficult types of Shadow Animals are the Trickster and the Bringer of Death. Most Pagans are familiar with Tricksters since they know about Coyote and Loki, who transgress societal norms. The Bringer of Death is an animal who causes a near-death experience. People who undergo a Near-Death Experience (NDE) often gain more spiritual power by dying and then being reborn.

Read the rest at : Witches and Pagans: Animal Wisdom

Shadow Animals: Nahualli and Heyoka

My blog at Witches and Pagans features the following:

Shadow Animals: Part Three
In my series on types of Shadow Animals, I am introducing two terms that may seem unfamiliar to many Pagans: “nahualli” and “heyoka.” People may have heard these terms as they are common to New Age beliefs. Nahualli and the more familiar “nagual,” are often discussed in New Age Toltec writings. I prefer nahualli as defined by Caelum Rainieri and Ivory Andersen in their discussions about Aztec religion. The common usage for heyoka is to denote “crazy energy.” However, this Lakota term also refers to the person, a sacred clown who is touched by Wankan Tanka (the Great Mystery). To the Lakota, the heyoka holds the sacred duality of the universe.


Read more at animal-wisdom:shadow animals nahualli and heyoka

Shadow Animals: terms defined: Darkness, Shadow Archetype

My latest blog at Witches and Pagans is up.
Some of what I wrote:

The term “shadow” has many connotations, depending on its use. When working with your “Shadow Animal,” you will probably want to explore what type of shadow the animal is. That will determine how you work with Them. I will define the terms: “darkness and light,” “the shadow archetype,” “nahualli,” “heyoka,” “trickster,” and “shaman’s death” in several blog postings. Finally, I will conclude with how to work your “Shadow Animals.”

Darkness and Light
In Christian thought, which permeates much of Western philosophy, is the concept of the duality of “light and dark.” Life is divided into two separate and distinct parts of light (good) and dark (evil). These two parts war with each other over the control of the universe. However neither will overcome the other, but instead remain in a dynamic balance, that shifts back and forth.

...
Shadow Archetype:
First defined by Carl Jung, the term “Shadow” describes the repressed or denied part of ourselves. Our shadows are those parts that we have split off, repressed or denied, usually the parts that we are afraid to publically show.

Read the rest at Witches and Pagans: Animal Wisdom

Shadow Animals (Part 1)

 My New Post on Animal Wisdom is up at "Witches and Pagans."

I discuss Shadow Animals - what they are and what they do.

"People fear snakes, and run from spiders. When we see these particular animals, we shrink in fear. Certain types of animals make our skin crawl. These animals are the “creepy crawly” ones or the ones we only see at night like owls. The ones that we feel the queasiest about are the animals that are the most alien or radically different from us.

Animals that elicit such a strong response from us are our Shadow Animals. These animals represent the part of our inner landscape that we want to keep in perpetual darkness. Shadow Animals are the manifestations of the unacceptable aspects of ourselves. They hold the aspects of ourselves that we dislike. Since many people feel uncomfortable in embracing their dark side, fear of certain animals is one way to keep it at bay. Hence, we invest our dark qualities in spiders and snakes.

What do Shadow Animals do? They give us permission to love the unacceptable parts of ourselves. When we work with Them, we take back our lost power to forgive ourselves. Once we embrace our Shadow Animals, we will be reunited with these missing parts of our being. They show us that our most hated, feared, and shameful qualities are actually our keys to living the life of our dreams. Shadow Animals call you to make peace with yourself."

Read more at Shadow Animals Part One at Animal Wisdom.

Working With Your Shadow

Our shadow animal is the dynamic that brings change to our lives. They test us, and give us energy to change ourselves. They help us break out of our comfortable places, and push us out into the world.

Welcome the animal into your life. Regard it as an ally. Remember you do not have to cuddle up with your shadow animal or feel warm feelings towards them. Accept that they are there to help you.