A review by hannahleelovestoread
The Shadow Work Experience for Beginners by Eleanor Diaz

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

The Shadow Work Experience for Beginners by Eleonor Diaz is a must-read for anyone interested in the hot psychology topic of the inner shadow. There was so much material I did not expect in this book, starting with the history of what is hardly a trend at all:  (in)famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung designated the parts of a person’s mind he or she downplayed the “shadow” in 1951. In addition to packing in the historical facts, Diaz often seems to take on the role of the therapist in her writing; she presents readers with benefits of various aspects of shadow work while reminding them of certain drawbacks. Perhaps the entire purpose of her book is summarized when Diaz writes, “You could easily become lost in the process without first grasping [shadow work]’s fundamentals.” Though even the beginner’s introduction to such a heavy topic can be difficult to read, I loved the way Diaz ties up loose ends:  “By embracing your shadow…you have the power to consciously choose how you want to show up in the world.” I recommend this book to anyone looking to do just that.