“Our Fractured Realities,” Shadow Work Journal: A Mystic Guide into Inner Alchemy

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Have you stopped to think about the state of our society? It’s like we’re living in a dystopian novel, but the irony is that it’s our reality. The hustle and bustle of city life. People rush by, faces buried in their phones, disconnected from the world around them. We’re constantly connected, yet more isolated than ever. Social media was supposed to bring us together, but it’s tearing us apart.

We spend our lives chasing success, climbing the corporate ladder, but what for? To buy things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t even like? Our relationships are reduced to digital exchanges. Emoticons have replaced genuine emotions, and the art of conversation is fading away. Our healthcare system is a mess. Access to quality care is a luxury, and millions suffer because of it. It’s a basic human right, not a privilege.

My concern lies with the Caribbean community; we as a people are dealing with layers of trauma, pain fossilizing year after year, generation after generation, and for many, there is no reprieve in sight.

In an article titled, “Impact of mental health stigma on help-seeking in the Caribbean: Systematic review,” (2023), the author explains the increasing concerns over growing rates of mental health conditions that have been identified within the Caribbean community. Traditionally in the Caribbean, poor mental health and expressing emotions has broadly been culturally and socially stigmatized, and are associated with shame, personal weakness, and a lack of commitment to God. This in many ways have acted as a barrier to seeking help.

My research also had me stumble on an article titled, “The effect of parental trauma on child well-being in Trinidad and Tobago: A mixed-methods study,”(2023), where researchers found evidence from a number of countries suggests that the majority of adults have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime. A person’s traumas effects can be pervasive and can significantly alter the trajectory of a person’s life, even making an impact on future generations. The researchers share that regardless of their intentions, a parent’s experience of trauma can negatively impact children’s well-being in numerous ways, particularly through diminished parental well-being and compromised parenting behaviours.

Yes, we are dealing with a sad state of affairs, but amidst all this chaos, there’s hope. People are waking up, demanding change, and spending more time on healing their minds. Of course, in that healing, many of us are questioning the systems that brought us to this point.

“Dealing with your emotional trauma, it is an accumulation of everything that we have experienced in life that has stained our soul. We have all experienced some type of traumatic event.” Trisha Smith

Shadow work is not a new practice, and I became familiar with it during my studies of Carl Jung in university. Shadow work allows individuals to become more self-aware by exploring aspects of themselves that may be hidden, or denied, usually issues from childhood. This process helps uncover unresolved issues, fears, and desires, leading to a deeper understanding of one’s motivations and behaviors. By confronting and integrating the shadow, individuals can promote personal growth and development, as well as embrace previously neglected aspects of oneself, which leads to a more balanced and authentic life.

I was introduced to the book, “Shadow Work Journal: A Mystics Guide Into Inner Alchemy,” an Interactive workbook for those who are ready for their glow up, starting within. This journal (written by Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s Spiritual Contributor Trisha Smith) takes you on a journey of the author’s own relatable experiences that helps you to identify and dig deep into your own journey for healing and reconciliation. The time-tested applications that are shared in the journal are an integral part of Trisha’s own healing and she shares them in solidarity with the reader.

“It is the foundation for our quality of life. It determines how we feel when we wake up in the morning.”

“What is the foundation for our quality of life, Trisha,” I asked when I finally had a moment to catch up with her. With the release of the book, she has definitely had her hands full.

“Healing is,” Trisha replied. “Trauma is so common, and we dismiss it. The more you heal, the more you see how hurt people are. I find myself forgiving more, having more compassion, I am not as easily angered. I am not walking around angry or upset anymore.”

Trisha shared with me that since grade two, she has enjoyed writing, and when journaling was introduced to her, she found it to be soothing, comforting. “There were a lot of aha moments, it was an avenue of healing for me. It is healing for me to think about things so openly. People live with so much shame; I curated this journal, because if people who identify with my story see me sharing, it might inspire them to open up and go deeper.”

During our interview, Trisha taught me, opened my eyes up to our history as African people. “During my studies with Shamans from Burkina Faso, I learned that they see individuals who suffer from mental health, as individuals who struggle to exist in two worlds. Ancestral shamans emphasize the importance of seeking guidance and support from ancestors. They may believe that connecting with one’s roots and receiving blessings or insights from ancestors contributes to mental and spiritual well-being.

They incorporate traditional healing ceremonies and rituals into their daily lives, and these rituals are often employed to address mental health concerns. These rituals may involve drumming, dancing, chanting, and other practices aimed at restoring harmony between the individual and the spiritual world.

I come from a family where many of the women struggle with their mental health; what I once found shameful is now a source of power for me. I have taken the time to dig deep, and really hone the gifts that my ancestors were chastised for.”

Self-love = Shadow work

Shadow work can be a tool for healing emotional wounds and traumas from the past. By acknowledging and processing repressed emotions, individuals can work towards resolving unresolved issues and finding emotional healing.“The more you love yourself, the closer you come to God. In order to love yourself, you have to see yourself for who you really are. It is seeing the raw version of who we are. Now we have the power to rearrange the pieces of the puzzle in our lives. Filling that void, of nothingness that many of us are experiencing.”

“Now that you have come face to face with your pain; what next,” I asked Trisha.

“It is about action, and this book takes you step by step through shadow work. Remember, out of chaos, comes order! Darkness is an aspect of shadow work; it is challenging work, but what comes after that is beautiful.”

Ask yourself reader, are you ready, and is it time for that change?