The Shadow

The Shadow

By Andreas Mamet

©2006

Where there is light, there is shadow.

Our shadow is that which we are not conscious of but nevertheless influences our thoughts, speech and action.

The shadow arises from the belief that separation and duality – are real.

It then results in competitiveness and the desire to be bigger, better and superior in relationship to the rest of the world.

The shadow is the self-absorbed state of mind: Me is first and nothing comes thereafter. Everybody on this planet has a shadow.

In order to permeate the shadow with light and awareness, the existence of the shadow must first be acknowledged. This constitutes the first hurdle and this hurdle is huge and massive.

It is in the nature of the shadow to pretend that it is light and understanding. In its ultimate phase the shadow will claim that it operates entirely in the service of God.

Thus it can be explained that we see the most ungodly actions possible – committed in the name of God.

The Vatican is responsible for millions of deaths, unspeakable tortures and suffering because it is ruled by the shadow.

Islam is controlled vastly by the shadow and caused similar suffering on an equally large scale.

Attribution deficiency is the very nature of the shadow. The word “attribution deficiency” means the inability to assume responsibility for one’s actions. The individual who operates in that mode will forever declare: ”You made me do this!”

This behavior modality permeates interactions on every level of societal exchange and is at the base of all conflict. The need to recognize the existence of this modality is of tremendous importance.

Once we acknowledge that each of us has a shadow, we then can begin to send light and awareness into the parts of our psychological and emotional realities that indeed are governed - by the Dark Force.

With the arising of this awareness we can then start to correct our behavior on the basis of illuminating the shadow.

But, as said before, denial is the very essence of the shadow. To get past this wall of denial is an enormous undertaking. The shadow exists in us. It exists everywhere.

In the New Age it exists in the way of wanting to “ascend” and not wanting to deal with our negative emotional and psychological realities. In fact, one pretends that they do not exist. One pretends there is no anger and rage. One pretends there is no deceptive behavior.

As long as this denial is nourished, the shadow will continue to play the field. And while it can exist hidden and undetected for a long time, when a situation of extreme stress arises, that is the moment when it will emerge from its camouflage. At this point it will break loose and kick into action, powered by emotional charge.

To deal with the shadow is especially difficult, if not impossible, for a person who identifies with attempting to live a “holy, religious” life. The hidden, negative dimensions are in such stark, tremendous contrast in relationship to the “holy ideal” which the individual is aspiring toward. The shadow, in fact, is very busy signaling this aspiration toward, and achievement of, the “holy” to the entire world in order to establish its superiority.

The dynamics of the shadow have not been talked about much and I feel it is time to address this subject matter. Only by looking the shadow straight into the face can we begin to create meaningful and comprehensive transformation in ourselves. And once we trigger this transformation within, it will automatically stream into the world and there trigger the transformation so direly needed.

A spirituality that ignores and bypasses the truth of the shadow’s existence is impotent at best, and lethally dangerous at the worst. To deal with the shadow, we need courage and strength. May we all have this courage and strength.