Facing the Shadow as You Write and Share Your Work
Written by Stephanie Oswald, Ph.D. after listening to Episode 33 of the Podcast
Facing the Shadow as You Write and Share Your Work
In this week’s episode, number 33, of the Inspired Writer Collective Podcast, Elizabeth speaks with psychotherapist, Catherine DeMonte, about the presence of the shadow and how it can emerge in your life and through your writing.
What is “the shadow”?
Every one of us has shadows in our life. They’re the blocks that appear that prevent you from showing up fully in your life. They may come from past trauma, family narratives, or struggles you’ve faced. Shadows tend to show up when we step into the world to be seen. They present as your beliefs, and if you choose to listen to your thoughts you are more likely to stop yourself from moving forward and miss out on opportunities in your life.
How can writer’s show up authentically?
When shadows present themselves, they often appear through memories, and when you have a repetitive memory it’s important to stop and pay attention. Ask yourself: what is the theme of my memories? It’s the same idea of bringing your shadow into the light in order to move forward and show up for yourself. It’s very common to distract yourself from sitting down to write because of blocks that come up, but you want to take a step back and think about who needs to hear your words. It becomes more about your reader and less about you as the writer. Listen to the podcast to hear more about what Catherine DeMonte learned from writing her book and the benefits of writing memoir.
Catherine DeMonte’s Abundance Circles
Through her work as a psychotherapist in private practice, Catherine DeMonte, started offering Abundance Circles to help someone like you work through your blocks by calling in what your heart desires. When you take steps to bring your shadows into the light, it’s possible to understand where the belief is coming from and allow yourself to heal.
If you’re interested, especially after listening to the podcast, Catherine is offering one of her Abundance Circles groups starting Thursday, July 18th at 6:30pm PST. You’ll meet 8 times, discuss the 7 tools for powerful creation & living your unstoppable life, and devote two nights of discussion to shadow work. The group size is limited, but there are still a few spots left. Check it out here: https://www.catherinedemonte.com/8-sessiongroup
