Shadow Work Through Memories

Nanowrimo is National writing month, every November. I try to stick to the goal of writing a thousand words a day. So far this year I'm on track! Today is day six and here I am.

With intention, you can dig through your memories. Instead of shying away from the pain, I can embrace it, knowing that doing shadow work through memories can unlock hidden truths. It hasn't been easy. Writing is pretty easy for me but writing through memories means really sitting with whatever comes up. Allowing that memory to surface and stay. I allow its voice to come forward and say whatever it needs to say. Sometimes it can be a good memory, like making up stories while walking alone, or knowing how to ride my bike without using my hands.

Then there are feelings of isolation, the weight of self-doubt. The more I write the more pain is released. It can take days for this release. It's not always the same day. It's sometimes taken days, sometimes months for an epiphany to show itself. But I know each word transforms my pain into a bridge, connecting my present self with the little girl who felt so alone. Sometimes that little girl is not so little and she's the woman in my 30's or even in my 40's.

Exploring memories can be a powerful tool for shadow work. It’s not just about dredging up the past; it’s about understanding it. My shadow journey helps to reveal patterns that shape my decisions and reactions today. The shadows began to shift as I recognize their origins, allowing me to reclaim my narrative. My triggers are no longer the same. Sometimes they aren't even triggers any longer. Or I can breathe through them instead of instantly feeling attacked by something someone said. So much work has gone into this and sometimes it doesn't feel like any work at all.

Sometimes when I stop writing I feel lighter. Memories, once shackled by pain, now serve as stepping stones toward healing. In this intimate dance of reflection and acceptance, I discover that embracing my shadows was not a burden, but a path toward wholeness.

Shadow work, through the lens of memory, became my own empowerment story.