Daily Angel Oracle Card: The Shadow, from The Gospel Of Aradia, by Stacey Demarco artwork by Jimmy Manton

The Shadow: “Umbra”

“We all have a shadow side. Find balance in all things. Rest in the positive aspects of your shadow, like you would rest in the void of the dark moon. Some events and people leave a long, dark shadow over future happiness. Shine a light on a dark situation. Is your shadow actually your strength?”

“The shadow looms dark,

The shadow looms long.

Its siren call beckons,

It sings its seductive song.

 

You may not see it within you.

It hides away in the blind spot,

Behind you, within you,

Squeezing your will in a knot.”

“People may run from just the idea of working with their shadow! But our shadow is not always negative. In fact, it can be the very aspect of ourselves that makes us unique and wonderful – even if others do not always appreciate this part of us.

Seen from the perspective of the dominant – and dominating – culture in which Aradia lived, one could say that, as a witch, her shadow was implicit – and big. However, this was entirely subjective. What the larger society of the time perceived as her dark shadow was both part of Aradia’s own power and an aspect of herself she used to empower other women.

We can take a lesson from this and examine our own shadow from different perspectives. Doing so can help us to be more objective about our shadow side, and allow us to distinguish between its positive and negative aspects. The dark of the moon is the lunar aspect under which to delve gently and safely into work with your shadow side.”*

~ By Stacey Demarco

Mercury retrograde is the perfect time to look deeper into our shadow side. It is natural for us to try to hide this aspect of ourselves, as we see it with fear. Fear of exposure leads to fear of rejection, judgment and possibly even ridicule. We build up this shadow side through these fears, making it the big bad side of us that we would like to banish. Yet it would be like trying to banish one arm, or one leg. It is a part of us that we need in order to function in balance. The yin and the yang, the light and the dark, the polarity of being. That is to be human.

As much as we strive for perfection, we do not understand that we are, in fact, that very perfection. We are not hiding demons, we are hiding vulnerabilities, weaknesses, worries, doubts and fears. These come from our survival instincts, and we hide them in an effort to maintain the status quo. We hide them because we have been taught to hide that which might be deemed unacceptable, rather than work to strengthen our weaknesses.

What is one weakness that you would like to work with in order to better yourself? Bring it up from the depths of the shadows within. Is it a habit that has lead to a certain lifestyle choice you are not really proud of? Is it something that could be sabotaging your health and wellness? Is it a survival mechanism that you developed in a time of chaos or stress that can be used to manipulate others to get what you want? Have you been playing the victim when you are more than capable of taking care of yourself? Or is it a deep desire that you have been hiding away in the closet, hoping no one finds out about as it tears you apart?

Only you know, and only you can work to accept this aspect of YOU. Only you can heal and integrate it.

Only you can understand it fully and love it into the Light.

Namaste

Dee

~Archangel Oracle

*The Gospel Of Aradia, by Stacey Demarco artwork by Jimmy Manton