amateurscholar
Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2024
- Messages
- 13
ive come across this whole thing of "shadow work" some times and this morning i realized, this concept might have been what possessed the catholic priests as well as other respected public figures as they are doing what they can to appear as pure as possible as so they must entirely sinful
i also knew one woman who uh, "worked" with rich men, at their jobs they would be very dominant. high paid positions. but with her they would pay her to be submissive in all sorts of embarrassing ways and enjoy it
this could be called the shadow taking over you
but is this socalled shadow not just demons talking to you trying to get you to do something, and the further you neglect their ideas, the harder they come onto you- and as with the catholic priests they eventually fail and just become a walking sin machine?
"Shadow work is the process of exploring the unconscious reasons behind your feelings or behaviors, particularly uncomfortable emotions that seem out of character or beyond your control."
for instance, i think my shadow would be my violent tendencies which had great success when i was a child. a number of times kids tried to declare a part of kindergarten or school as belonging to them, i retracted in silence only to come back with a huge log and throw on them or just straight up beat them into the ground. in hindsight i think i did them a valuable lesson, they were all humbled. it worked very well. i didnt go out of my way to be violent
sometimes i feel that im being too passive in my adult life, i honestly dont care about much, i really "turn the other cheek" which is currently making my entire workplace hate my diabolic diabetes coworker that doesnt miss a chance to trashtalk me, lately he has decided that im a gypsy. its quite fun how hes digging his own grave since i dont have issues with anyone else in the whole workshop but him
i understand where hes coming from, hes miserable for so many reasons such as his old age, his disfigured physique, his sexless marriage, his extremely repentless wife and daughter- but he has crossed the line many times
sometimes i do have some ideas of humbling him
is this socalled shadow valid in gods eyes, is this shadow work just demonic influence trying to present itself as valid subconcious stuff?
Thanks for opening up about this—it’s a raw and honest post. The whole “shadow work” idea can feel like a tricky thing to navigate, especially when you’re trying to see it through a faith lens. I hear you wrestling with those old violent tendencies and how they clash with the “turn the other cheek” approach you’re trying to live out now. That tension is real, and it’s something a lot of us face when dealing with tough emotions or situations, like with your coworker.
Your instinct to question whether this “shadow” is just demonic influence or something else is a great starting point. The Bible talks a lot about the battle in our hearts—between the flesh and the Spirit—and it sounds like you’re feeling that pull. I love how you’re reflecting on not wanting to go back to old ways, even though it’s tempting when someone’s pushing your buttons. That shows a heart that’s seeking God’s way, even when it’s hard.
The situation with your coworker sounds rough, and it’s amazing that you’re seeing his behavior might come from his own pain. Maybe instead of “humbling” him, you could pray for him or find small ways to show kindness that don’t compromise your peace. That’s not weakness—it’s strength rooted in Christ. Keep leaning into God’s wisdom for how to handle this. You’re asking the right questions, and that’s a solid step toward clarity.
Great post, man—thanks for sharing your thoughts. Excited to see where this conversation goes!