Shadow Work: Remedies for Rebirth

There is a dark, damp, chill in the air and the nights are filled with silence. The clouds roll slowly, lavishly, across the moon, and somewhere in the distance an owl hoots their life's tale. This is the space where you cocoon; where you are wrapped safely into a device of your own making. The world is unfolding around you, but now is the time for deep inward reflection. You are in the chrysalis. You are in the shadows.

When winter arrives, so too does a slower pace. So too does the worldview turn from outward gazing to inward reflection. With this dark stillness comes the awareness of another presence that isn't as loud when the sun is beaming down; your shadow is stepping forward to make themself known. Here lies an invitation and a gift to the witch; the hand of your shadow reaching out in camaraderie, asking you to go on the journey of meeting them. To go through the transformative winter process of acceptance, of befriending this shadow and embracing the parts of you that you don't always want to be seen. This is the embodied definition of shadow work, getting to know the aspects of yourself that exist beyond the surface. While shadow work can be deep, and intense, it also offers the gift of radical self acceptance- making space for all parts of you to exist is a beautiful and healing gift you can give yourself. An embodied witch is one who holds all facets of self closely and with reverence, and their magic is exceptional because of it, not in spite of it.

You might find it supportive to create a container for this type of energetic work, noting when the themes of shadow work arrive for you and deciding on a date where you will emerge from the head space of deep reflection. An example of this could be noticing that your mind gets deeply reflective after Halloween, and deciding that after the New Year you will shift your perspective outward instead of inward. (This is just an example- your magic and your mind will move at a pace that is completely unique to you). While the winter months stretch for a span of three, sometimes longer depending on how seasons shift where you live, you get to decide how much is enough and at what pace you move. You might try embracing the darker parts of the year with a slow and steady pace, moving curiously and in a way that makes you feel deeply supported and cared for. And remember your agency, babe- you don't need to sit with themes that feel disruptive or soul splitting.

Consider this the chrysalis phase of the moth, a period of deep transformation. When you re-emerge from this deep soul work, you'll be a different version of you. As you exist in this container of your making, bring to the front the toolbox of supports that can help you tend to yourself with a soft and compassionate lens. These are some remedies that can support you in the process of rebirth.

Shadow Work Supports!

Transformation can feel so profound that it needs a ritual to accompany it. If there's one thing Seagrape loves, it's creating space and time for self-care! Here are a few of our favorite practices for this work.

Supportive Tea Blend

Mix together equal parts of:

• rose petals: offers a soft elegance that is supported by boundaries
• lemon balm: soothes your nervous system and offers a light at the end of the tunnel
• chamomile: serves as the playful encourager, gently coaxing you through this metamorphosis

These darker months bring a cold chill- perfect for turning inward and preserving body heat, not so encouraging for reaching out of the confines. Make yourself a hot cup of tea, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, and envision your limbs slowly stretching outward, taking up space and reaching into a new phase of life. Know that you can tuck back in whenever you want, just as you can reach out whenever you want.

Supportive Tinctures

Tinctures and essences are another amazingly supportive way to incorporate herbal care. You may try putting a dropper-full in your first glass of water for the day, or mixing it into a recipe as a hint of kitchen witchery.

Kitchen Witchery

Hearth magic is a supportive practice year round, but especially in the winter months. Turning to the kitchen space creates a setting of utmost support, turning to different herbs and recipes to nourish. As you support yourself through deep reflection and transformation, try making a large batch of soup that you can keep in the fridge and use as nourishment throughout the week.

A Bath Ritual for Shedding

You will need

• a bath tub
• a dry body brush
• body oil
• a bath soak for aroma therapy (optional)
• a cold beverage

Start by drawing your bath and adding your bath soak to the water. As the tub fills, focus your attention to your body. Use the dry body brush in upwards motions, starting at your ankles and working your way up your body. Make sure your strokes are being pulled upward toward your heart, that way blood is encouraged to flow in that direction. As you brush your body you are exfoliating, removing the dead skin. Think of what you'd like to release, what you'd like to let go of. When you have brushed your body from head to toe, sink into the bath. Soak here and reflect on what you are releasing and what you are calling in. Stay here for as long as you'd like.

Find the complete ritual in our Babes community!

Shadow work is a deeply transformative process that may have you feeling raw and vulnerable while you're in the thick of it. Know that your vulnerability is a gift both to the world and yourself, and that you are allowed to exist as a messy human, you are allowed to exist as a human navigating intense emotions. You have the power to be your most supportive tool during this phase, but also know that you are worthy of the community that exists around you, and reaching out for support from your loved ones might be exactly what the shadow doctor ordered. Curiously explore what feels nourishing to you throughout this process, both on a physical and emotional level, and bring that in as often as you need it. And remember, babe- your shadow is a part of you and is worthy of love, kindness, and compassion. Just as you are.