Ignoring Shadows

When I read the energy of a room, I feel how open the people inside are to their shadows. Often the case, they will say that this space is welcoming for all, but the energy will say otherwise. It’s not like they are completely lying. They aren’t consciously saying that you are welcome only if you believe in so and so, but that is what they are saying unconsciously through their energy. The more nuanced message they are emitting is that as long as we pretend that we are good people, everything will be ok. But I cannot feel safe to be fully authentic in these spaces. In a room full of people who are afraid of their own shadows, how can they help me feel authentic and safe in mine?

They can label the community as inclusive or respectful by saying that we must leave our “-isms” at the door. But that is the same as telling you that you are not welcome in your fullness—your shadows and the trauma stored in your body must be rejected in order to come in. This is spiritual bypassing. We don’t confront our shadows by leaving our “-isms” at the door. We heal by allowing the misguided stories of these “-isms” to surface into our consciousness.