ST Healing Love-IntoBalance October2022 - Flipbook - Page 35
Shadow parts of us serve a function. The work is for us to call them close, love them, acknowledge
them. Shadows, at times, blindside us because they bide for our attention and love.
Applying this understanding to our human digestion process, 5 we see it is not a pretty or simple one.
“Our digestive system breaks nutrients into parts small enough for the body to absorb and use for
energy, growth, and cell repair. Nerves and hormones help control the digestive process.”
Food that we consume breaks completely down inside our bodies into nutrients. In that process, like
a caterpillar inside its cocoon melting into liquid before emerging in the metamorphosis process as a
butterfly. We often don’t acknowledge this process that liquifies a caterpillar as we marvel at the end
result. The process of metamorphosis is at once life-ending and life-giving. Humans, we, go through
this every moment of every day. “Building the plane as we fly it…” yes, that’s a journey called life!
Imagine we apply that process of cleansing, purification and digestion to ourselves. Digest and then
compost the worst things we’ve done, learn and reflect on the lessons, excrete or proliferate what
serves more self-determination and freedom. Imagine what can happen when we see ourselves as an
integral natural element that belongs to the earth, our communities, our families and each other.
Awareness
(expose/
access/
acknowledge)
Manifestation
(change/
transformation/
results)
Intention
(envision/
clarify/
assert)
Attention
(cultivate/
attend/
practice)
What if we were to name
our shadows? Literally give
them names, wait for them to
come, honor them. Welcome
them like friends knocking
on our spiritual and energetic
doors. They evolved to
protect us, and are stuck at
the time of trauma. When
we’re triggered, they come
forward to protect us.
“One of my shadows is an
emotional abuser. That was
a way to get my father’s
attention, to emotionally
abuse my brother. The
inner child that got scared
and didn’t mature…to
get dad’s approval I had
to emotionally abuse my
brother to somehow make
sure
like me he got straight A’s.”
—Audrey
The healing comes when we speak to the child in us. We’ve got to name it to change it. Let the shadow
sides inside know they’re seen, honored and loved.
5 https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works
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