Shadow work continues to become increasingly popular in a multitude of spiritual spheres, metaphysical approaches, and psychotherapeutic work. And for good reasons! Acknowledging and coming to terms with the shadow, in its all of its countless forms, allow us to develop a more complete picture of ourselves and the world around us.

When it comes to metaphysics and magickal practice, what do you think of when hearing the term "shadow?"

Perhaps the most obvious association, and undoubtedly the most important, is that of the inner shadow. In a Jungian sense, the shadow self is the unconscious aspect of the mind, where traumas, pain, and unresolved challenges are compartmentalized for the sake of survival. This, naturally, connects to dreams, intuition, and synchronicity. Interestingly, Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist who lived from 1875 to 1961, also argued that a person's creative potential and untapped greatness exists within the shadow self. In that sense, our shadows are certainly not all bad, and are designed to aid in life's functioning and personal evolution. Still, we can't properly evolve if we don't accurately and humbly face our shadows from time to time.

The force of shadow isn't merely restricted the unconscious mind alone. In my new book, Shadow Magick Spellbook, I was guided to craft and organize 144 workings into four distinct chapters, each containing three sections.

The presence of "shadow" can be approached in numerous ways. Baneful magick (such as cursing, hexing, and crossing) is most definitely a part of shadow magick, and working with ultra-dimensional demons and spirits is also certainly connected to this type of work. But that's just not where my heart personally lies, hence the book's subtitle: Spells, Charms & Rituals for Positive Change.

Think about those times when you are just falling asleep or waking up…When you experience the glory of autumn and the beauty of sunset…When you take a deep breath in a cemetery or experience the power of dreams. These are liminal spaces that awaken your magick and power, even when it goes consciously unnoticed.

When working with forces of shadow, it's important that we start with ourselves. Fear, trauma, addiction, burnout, loneliness, sorrow, and self-criticism are but a few of the things at which we can focus our shadow magick. When it comes to what I term the external shadow, the focus shifts primarily to protective magick, warding, cord-cutting, curse-breaking, social interaction, and even embarking on vows such as fasting from food, speaking, or technology.

Midway through Shadow Magick Spellbook, the focus turns to Mother Nature. It's here that we find shadow magick aligned with the lunar cycle, exploring poisonous herbs, and a variety of shadowy, Witchy tools of the trade. Finally, the book wraps up with a chapter concerning working with the Otherworld. This type of shadow work includes honoring the ancestors, guarding against harmful entities, and working with sleep and dreaming.

The following is a list of 10 pointers designed to help practitioners on the path of shadow magick.

1. Be entirely honest with yourself. Particularly in the case of those who aren't quite ready to approach, say, trauma work, consider taking other steps like therapy or counseling to better equip your magickal work. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable at the thought of a magickal procedure, alter it to fit your personal callings or simply shelve it for another time. Self-awareness is key!
   
   
2. Think before you cast. If, as much as you want to perform spell x, y, or z, your energy is not in the proper place to perform such a ritual, try reorienting your focus. Perhaps you need a sacred bath rather than to undergo a formal ritual. Just the same, if you get the inclination to work with shadow and haven't given yourself time to think through the entire procedure, your unconscious mind will interpret the work as sloppy, rendering it less effective. Modify prewritten spells to suit your own practice. Plan, prepare, and empower.
   
   
3. Enter an altered state of mind. When casting magick or communicating with deities, spirits, or ancestors, you'll want to be in somewhat of an altered state of consciousness. This doesn't mean chugging a bottle of wine or eating a handful of edibles, but rather to wisely discover what works best for your own constitution. For many, ambient lighting, incense, and meditation prior to casting is more than enough. It's important to know that you're safe, and to consciously take a little step back from your ordinary mind. This gives room for the work to do its thing and for your mind to cast with confidence. Also, don't forget to purify your working space and ground your personal energy afterward!
   
   
4. Push a few comfort boundaries. When we perform shadow work, whether by way of magickal work, psychotherapy, entheogenic healing, deep meditation, or other methods, we are bravely stepping into the terrain of our inner landscape. I'm not gonna lie: this can be a frightening process at times. It's also worth noting that this is a process, generally life-long, because few things in reality are instantaneous. It's not always easy to look within, much less work with tools, components, and forces that feel a bit overwhelming. If too many boundaries are pushed, it can lead to psychological distress. If too few are pushed, it can lead to lazy or predictive work. It's all about finding a balance. One example I can think of is, say that you've slowly gathered ritual tools all day, have a rough outline of what you're being called to perform, but are feeling stuck at the next step: actualizing the procedure. This sort of anxious buildup is natural in spiritual work, and (unless your intuition gives a decisive "no") is worthy of assessing and pushing through; you'll be glad you did.
   
   
5. Monitor your progress. It's a wise idea to keep a magickal journal, regular diary, or personal Book of Shadows that will allow you to reflect on your feelings and your work in the future. This is an act of self-awareness and magickal fine-tuning. Additionally, life itself is an unfolding process of evolution, so the challenges we face currently will take a different shape in the future. It's a rewarding feeling to look back on our work and realize that we took steps, both metaphysical and real-world, to better ourselves and those around us.
   
   
6. Choose your deities and spirits wisely. Everyone is different and has different proclivities. We also all have different spirit teams, past life resonances, and pantheons to which we're drawn more than others. There is no strict reason why one should or shouldn't incorporate deity work or spirit work with shadow magick, not least because so much of magick in general is psychologically based. Much deity work is itself considered a shadow practice. Think about the spellwork you're performing, and decide whether it's best to call upon your invisible spirit team, a certain deity or deities (if they are honored properly!), and/or helpful ancestors to assist in the work at hand.
   
   
7. Consider lunar, daily, and zodiacal timing. Naturally, when it comes to shadow work, the phase of the moon is of great importance. Shadow magick doesn't hinge on the lunar tide, necessarily, but it sure helps tremendously, seeing as Lady Luna oversees our emotions and inner landscapes. As for daily timing, dusk and midnight are common go-to times. If a spell requires an element of renewal and rebirth, dawn or noon could even be a wise choice! If it's your practice, you may wish to investigate what the planets are doing, who is in which sign, who is retrograde, and who is having any other sort of effect.
   
   
8. Select a conducive environment. Dim the lights, choose your candles and incense, have your tools set out before you, and get comfy when casting. If your spell is a bit more erratic, however, like a freezer spell or Witch bottle, you may wish to craft these objects outside of a sacred space and then empower them within afterward. It's totally up to you and your intuition! Another possibility is to play nonvocal music that feels aligned with your purpose, or to make your own music right there on the spot.
   
   
9. Pursue personal healing. Shadow magick is only one component of shadow work. You don't want to do a spell to banish the influence of an abusive ex and then text them the next day because you miss them. Spellcraft requires followup in the ordinary world, as well as paying strict attention to our thoughts and emotions. We all mess up sometimes, but life is always moving and there's always room for improvement. Also, never underplay the potential benefit of therapy, counseling, medication (pharmaceutical or natural), bodywork like massage or acupuncture, and other forms of professional assistance. We are all in this together.
   
   
10. Love yourself. You're not in charge of healing the world, and sometimes there's not much we can do about certain situations. However, we always have magick at our fingertips and can, at the very least, emanate positivity to ourselves and to those around us, even those who are not located geographically nearby. Don't forget to smile and to enjoy the wonder that surrounds us every day. Take comfort in nature, family, pets, trusted friends, art, and your own process of healing. We are the stars of our own show. You are a shining star. There's no shame in this. We can take care of ourselves and radiate our beauty (and yes, you are beautiful), without outshining anyone else. There is a limitless amount of love, kindness, and awareness to go around. Happy trails, my friends, and stay safe out there!