What she said...

I was absolutely delighted to read this LinkedIn post from one of the participants on my 'Meet Your Shadow' retreat in April this year.

What made it so special was to experience the absolution depth of reflection...insights that have passed from head through heart and then back again!

Over to you, Zoe!

🌟 Meet Your Shadow: Key Takeaways🌟

It's been 7 hours and 15 days (well, 13 days actually, but let's allow for poetic license) since I set out for the 'Meet Your Shadow' retreat in sunny Oxfordshire, guided by the brilliant Teresa Wilson.

Why the delay in sharing? Well, to quote Sinéad, 'nothing compares' to the depth of this learning experience.

I've been on many brilliant and expansive learning adventures over the years, but this one was truly exceptional. It was a revelation. Not only did I spend the weekend surrounded by amazing, soulful coaches, but the post-retreat reflections were like mental gymnastics, and have taken a while to integrate and digest.

Shadow work isn't a walk in the park. It's a bit like that dream you have when you're younger—showing up to an exam in your PJs with zero preparation. Yet, with Teresa's guidance and the support of my fellow shadow warriors, we had some really powerful learning and loads of laughs as well.

I even made a new friend—hello, small self. We've had a rocky relationship over the years—she's been a bit of a pest, and I've often wished she'd buzz off. But here's the light bulb: our shadow, our small self, is actually our greatest ally.

Here are my top takeaways:

🌟 Embracing the Shadow: What doesn’t fit our ideal self-image becomes our shadow. Our shadow is like the yin to our ego's yang, balancing us out.

🌟 Self-compassion: It isn’t just about feeling better; it's about being kind to ourselves when it's all going south.

🌟 Mirror, Mirror: We attract people and situations that reflect forgotten parts of ourselves that we have ignored, disowned, or not integrated. So, until you face that part and integrate it, it will keep coming back to you.

🌟 Nature's Balance: Everything in nature has its opposite. When we find harmony in opposites, the tension dissolves, and we can breathe, expand, and grow.

🌟Hug Your Small Self:  Give them a break; they have been lugging all your baggage for eons.

🌟 Projection Alert: Ever thought someone else was being annoyingly stubborn, only to realise it's your own stubbornness staring back at you? That's projection for ya!

🌟 Self-Acceptance: We’re a mishmash of many different parts. Loving and accepting all those bits is key to inner peace.

🌟 Life's Flow: It isn’t a series of events happening to us; it’s more like a river flowing through us.

🌟 Alchemy of Pain: Transforming pain into growth is the ultimate superpower. Go Shadow Warriors!

If you're a coach on the hunt for an eye-opening, empowering experience, I wholeheartedly recommend attending Teresa's next 'Meet Your Shadow' workshop.

It's not just about confronting your shadow; it's about giving it a bear hug and making peace with every part of yourself – go on I dare you to light up those dark corners💫✨