Overcoming the Shadow

One of the key tasks on the road of developing awareness is reducing the shadowed part of the Psychocosmos.

We have already said more than once that the shadow formed in the mind is, on the one hand, a dwelling and a cover for predators and parasites, and on the other hand is itself a kind of predator, since it requires energy for its existence.

Let us recall once more that any unrealized desire, any unfinished affair, any unresolved bond, any unfulfilled promise and similar “tails” impede the flow of the Light of mind, leaving a residue of unrealized potential, and thereby form the shadow.

The shadow, thus representing the “unfulfilled” part of existence and remaining a “potential” supplement to actual realizations, becomes a kind of “black hole” that draws in energy and is therefore a constant cause of loss of power both during embodied existence and after its completion.

We have already mentioned that the general word describing the way of overcoming the shadow is responsibility. It is no accident that the way of spiritual evolution is called “enlightenment.” That word points precisely to the diminution of the shadow in the mind.

However, the question of the shadowing of the Psychocosmos is so important that it deserves further attention.

First, note that the Magus’s primary task is to avoid any shadow-forming situations. The Magus strives to finish all endeavors and fulfill desires as fully as possible.

Yet no one has ever completely avoided falls.

So the question arises: what should be done about an already formed shadow?

The first thing is to acknowledge the very existence of the shadow. Without this acknowledgement — which must not be merely verbal or superficial, but definitive and obvious — it is impossible even to begin to overcome it. In this acknowledgement, it is very important not to get carried away by one’s own “sinfulness,” “worthlessness,” and so on, and to accept one’s imperfection not as a reason to regret but as a stimulus for growth. Everyone knows that suffering can sometimes seem pleasurable. As mentioned, subjectively, pleasure is the perception of any large-scale movement of Power. All too often those who are lazy or for other reasons cannot take pleasure in expanding awareness — the gaining of Power — learn to take pleasure in losing power, becoming, in a sense, addicted to suffering.

Therefore, having recognized the fact of the fall and the shadowing of the mind, it is very important to resist getting hooked on feelings of powerlessness and to avoid reveling in loss of power.

If this can be avoided, the time comes for the next step: make amends. Active measures must be taken to neutralize the consequences of one’s fall. Use power to prevent further loss.

Note that the payment need not be an equal exchange; what matters is to perform an action that is equivalent energetically. The question of price is conditional. It should be determined by the value of what one sacrifices. One may perform any constructive act: plant a tree, feed the hungry, paint a fence, or simply ask for forgiveness. Of course, the ideal option is to correct the mistake itself, to restore everything “to its original state,” but this is relatively rare. What is important is that the compensatory action expresses readiness to change one’s state from destructive to constructive and aims to reduce suffering.

The next step is to learn the lesson. A repaid debt no longer holds sway, and thus a chance appears to clarify one’s vision. It is very important to attempt to understand the causes of the shadow’s formation and, if possible, not merely to understand but to become aware of them — that is, to change one’s behavior so as to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Naturally, a stable change of behavior does not always occur, but at the very least it is important to create the impetus for change.

Finally, a very important stage of successful realization is anchoring it in an anchor point. This stage is often underestimated, and that reduces the effectiveness of the entire process.

In order for the result of any action to be lasting, it is necessary to create an anchor point for it. This is an unequivocal assertion of the Great Arcana of Magic. There is no reason to neglect this requirement. Such an anchor point can be anything: an amulet or talisman, a simple keepsake; what matters is that it be physically tangible and contain a clear intention to preserve and reinforce the achievement and to prevent a recurrence of the fall that led to the formation of the shadow.

Clarity of action, which turns the process of dissolving the shadow from mere rumination or self-scrutiny into a magical ritual, makes it possible to achieve significant progress in overcoming internal barriers. And the Magus must be able to rise after each fall, turning that fall into a victory, extracting the necessary lessons and thereby becoming stronger and more aware.