“But that shadow has been serving you!
What hurts you, blesses you.
Darkness is your candle.
Your boundaries are your quest.
You must have shadow and light source both.
Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.”

― Rumi

Most of us walk through life trying to be our “best” selves: kind, compassionate, loving, generous. But lurking underneath the surface is a quieter part of us. A side we often ignore, suppress, or even fear. This part is called the shadow self, and believe it or not, it holds the keys to some of our deepest healing and transformation.

So, what exactly is the shadow self? How can Reiki, a gentle energetic healing modality, help us work with it in a loving, conscious way?

In this blog post, I explore the shadow-self more deeply; and I explain how Reiki can support us in uncovering the hidden parts of ourselves. The ones we tend to suppress but must gently face to truly heal and find inner peace.

What is the Shadow Self?

The concept of the shadow self was popularised by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who described it as the unconscious part of our personality that holds everything we’ve rejected, denied, or disowned, things like anger, jealousy, shame, guilt, and fear.

But it’s not just the “negative” stuff. Our shadow can also contain our power, confidence, sensuality, creativity, or wildness. Qualities we may have buried because we were taught, they were “too much” or “not acceptable”.

The shadow forms over time as we learn what parts of us are “safe” to express in the world. As children, we absorb the messages from family, culture, religion, and society. Anything that doesn’t fit in gets tucked away. Out of sight, out of mind… but never truly gone.

The shadow doesn’t disappear. it shows up in our lives as:

• Emotional triggers
• Self-sabotage
• Projection onto others
• Inner conflict
• Repetitive patterns in relationships
• Chronic anxiety or depression

Working with the shadow isn’t about getting rid of it, it’s about bringing light to it so we can integrate, accept, and reclaim the parts of ourselves we’ve lost along the way.

Reiki’s Role in Embracing the Shadow Within

Reiki is an energy healing modality that channels Universal Life Force Energy through the hands. It works on all levels: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. It supports healing, release, and balance.

But Reiki is more than just “relaxation” or “energy clearing.” It’s a deeply soulful practice that creates a safe and sacred space for you to face the parts of yourself that need love the most, including your shadows.

Here’s How Reiki Supports Shadow Work:

Creates a Safe, Non-Judgmental Space

The shadow often hides because it fears being judged or rejected. Reiki sessions create a gentle, nurturing energy that feels like being wrapped in unconditional love. In this space, your inner self begins to feel safe enough to reveal what’s been buried.

When the body and nervous system feel calm, we can access deeper emotional truths that the mind might otherwise block out.

Brings Awareness to Suppressed Emotions

As Reiki energy flows through the chakras and energetic field, it can stir up old memories, emotions, or sensations you haven’t felt in a long time. This is part of the healing process.

You may suddenly remember a childhood wound, feel grief or anger rise, or have insights about why you’ve been stuck in certain patterns. Reiki helps you step back and observe your emotions, letting them rise without getting caught up in them or feeling overwhelmed.

Balances the Chakras Linked to Shadow Aspects

Each chakra holds different aspects of our psyche, including imbalances which can point to where shadow energy is hiding. For example:

Root Chakra: fears, survival patterns, ancestral trauma

Sacral Chakra: shame, sexual repression, emotional suppression

Solar Plexus: self-worth issues, control, inner critic

Heart Chakra: grief, abandonment, walls around love

Throat Chakra: repression of truth, fear of expression

Third Eye/Crown: disconnection from intuition, denial of spiritual truths

Reiki helps clear and balance these centres, allowing repressed energy to move and integrate. When our energy flows freely, we feel more whole, aligned, and empowered.

Supports Inner Child and Ancestral Healing

Much of the shadow forms during childhood, when we first learn what’s “okay” and what’s “not okay”. Reiki can be a beautiful way to connect with the inner child: to hold them, listen to them, and give them the love they needed but didn’t receive.

Reiki also supports ancestral healing, helping to clear inherited beliefs which don’t serve you. It also assists with releasing and clearing emotional baggage passed down through generations. Often, the shadow isn’t even ours, it belongs to those who came before us.

Fosters Self-Compassion and Integration

Ultimately, shadow work isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about loving yourself more fully. Reiki teaches you to approach yourself with compassion, softness, and presence. As you continue to receive Reiki (or practise it on yourself if you’re attuned), you begin to see that all parts of you, light and dark, deserve to be acknowledged, honoured and integrated.

Integration is the key. When the shadow is seen and accepted, it no longer has to act out through fear, projection or sabotage. Instead, it becomes an ally – offering strength, creativity, intuition, and deep authenticity.

A Final Note: Healing the Shadow Is Coming Home to Yourself

The journey of working with the shadow is not always easy, but it is one of the most powerful paths to personal liberation and spiritual awakening.

Reiki gently guides you back to your essence. It holds your hand as you walk into the darker places within and reminds you: You are still loved here. You are still whole here. You are still divine here.

Your shadow is not your enemy. It is the wounded part of you that longs to be seen, held, and healed.

And Reiki? It’s the light you carry with you into the darkness, showing you that even your shadow is sacred.

Many blessings,

Olga

Intuitive & Reiki Australia Accredited Reiki Treatment Practitioner (ARTP)

Usui Reiki Practitioner/Master Teacher