The Shadow Self

Someone speaks up for themselves and you feel a stronger reaction than you expected. Is it the way they did it, or is there something about their confidence that you wish came more easily to you? The Shadow Self by Son of Lord uses questions like this to explore the qualities, emotions and desires we’re less comfortable acknowledging.

The shadow self offers a lens for reflecting on what you tend to keep out of view. That may include anger, envy or vulnerability. It may also include ambition, playfulness or assertiveness, particularly if you learned early that showing those qualities drew criticism or made other people uncomfortable. Looking at what you hide can be as revealing as looking at what you make a point of showing.

The book invites you to notice your reactions with some specificity. Which behaviours in others do you judge quickly? Which qualities do you admire from a distance? What feels at stake when you imagine expressing more of those qualities yourself? The value is in exploring the question carefully, with room for more than one explanation.

Choose The Shadow Self if you’re curious about shadow work and want to reflect on aspects of yourself that don’t fit neatly into the image you usually present.