Comments on: Abbey Bookshelf: Shadow Work http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/ Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:29:54 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Wren http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/comment-page-1/#comment-13503 Wren Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:28:56 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/#comment-13503 It was exciting for me to find out that part of my shadow side was actually kinder and more gentle than the me I was letting myself see, so intent was I on being right and on top of things. A beautiful picture, by the way. I swear, it seemed to change to a later time of day, a brighter background from one look to the next. Now that would be a real trick! It was exciting for me to find out that part of my shadow side was actually kinder and more gentle than the me I was letting myself see, so intent was I on being right and on top of things.

A beautiful picture, by the way. I swear, it seemed to change to a later time of day, a brighter background from one look to the next. Now that would be a real trick!

]]> By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/comment-page-1/#comment-13446 Christine Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:45:42 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/#comment-13446 Thanks Sue, your art therapy program sounds grand! Very exciting! kigen, thanks for this moving passage filled with vivid images. Such wisdom to be found in ancient paths. Thanks Sue, your art therapy program sounds grand! Very exciting!

kigen, thanks for this moving passage filled with vivid images. Such wisdom to be found in ancient paths.

]]> By: kigen http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/comment-page-1/#comment-13416 kigen Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:19:58 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/#comment-13416 "We must approach our shadow aspects as a mystery to be explored, rather than a problem to be solved. " A wonderful, wonderful spiritual direction, Christine! The Tao Te Ching is also a marvellous book to help explore places of hiding, and lowliness, as very good places to be, filled with gentleness and wonder. Here's one of 81 poem-chapters, all about flourishing in the shadows: Tao Te Ching: Chapter 15, translated by Ursula K. Le Guin (the great science fiction author) Once upon a time people who knew the Way were subtle, spiritual, mysterious, penetrating, unfathomable. Since they're inexplicable I can only say what they seemed like: Cautious, oh yes, as if wading through a winter river. Alert, as if afraid of the neighbors. Polite and quiet, like houseguests. Elusive, like melting ice. Blank, like uncut wood. Empty, like valleys. Mysterious, oh yes, they were like troubled water. Who can by stillness, little by little make what is troubled grow clear? Who can by movement, little by little make what is still grow quick? To follow the Way is not to need fulfillment. Unfulfilled, one may live on needing no renewal. "We must approach our shadow aspects as a mystery
to be explored, rather than a problem to be solved. "

A wonderful, wonderful spiritual direction, Christine!

The Tao Te Ching is also a marvellous book to help explore
places of hiding, and lowliness, as very good places to
be, filled with gentleness and wonder. Here's one of
81 poem-chapters, all about flourishing in the shadows:

Tao Te Ching: Chapter 15, translated by
Ursula K. Le Guin (the great science fiction author)

Once upon a time
people who knew the Way
were subtle, spiritual, mysterious, penetrating,
unfathomable.

Since they're inexplicable
I can only say what they seemed like:
Cautious, oh yes, as if wading through a winter river.
Alert, as if afraid of the neighbors.
Polite and quiet, like houseguests.
Elusive, like melting ice.
Blank, like uncut wood.
Empty, like valleys.
Mysterious, oh yes, they were like troubled water.

Who can by stillness, little by little
make what is troubled grow clear?
Who can by movement, little by little
make what is still grow quick?

To follow the Way
is not to need fulfillment.
Unfulfilled, one may live on
needing no renewal.

]]> By: Sue http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/comment-page-1/#comment-13415 Sue Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:15:16 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2008/02/27/abbey-bookshelf-shadow-work/#comment-13415 Oooh, this post drew me so much. Have been thinking a great deal about the shadow side these last few months. That quote by Jung punched me in the stomach, basically :) I start art therapy classes on Monday. Can't begin to tell you how excited I am about it. She does dream work from a Jungian framework also, which makes me just about vomit with excitement hehe :) Great post Christine. That picture is delish. Oooh, this post drew me so much. Have been thinking a great deal about the shadow side these last few months. That quote by Jung punched me in the stomach, basically :)

I start art therapy classes on Monday. Can't begin to tell you how excited I am about it. She does dream work from a Jungian framework also, which makes me just about vomit with excitement hehe :)

Great post Christine. That picture is delish.

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