Written by Joann Malanga, Soul Integration Coach, Alchemist, Energy Healing
Staying empowered on the path of spirituality and doing the inner work to live a better life where you are thriving! I will hold energy for you so that you dissolve the root of suffering and pain of where it all started. We will bring the trauma and stories to life and revive the wisdom. There has never been a better time to do this inner work!
The "Dark Night of the Soul" refers to a deeply challenging period in a person’s spiritual journey. It's when someone feels a profound sense of emptiness, confusion, or loss, often feeling disconnected from their sense of purpose or from the divine (however they may understand it). This experience can be unsettling because it feels like losing touch with the comfort and certainty they may have previously known.
For someone new to spirituality, it might help to imagine going through a tough time where nothing feels right anymore, and familiar sources of happiness or meaning seem to disappear. This phase is difficult, but it's also considered an important part of spiritual growth. It pushes people to let go of old beliefs and patterns, so they can emerge with a deeper, more authentic connection to themselves and the world around them.
In essence, the Dark Night of the Soul is like a painful but necessary transformation that often leads to greater self-awareness and spiritual clarity, though it can feel overwhelming while it's happening.
Shadow work involves facing and integrating the hidden or suppressed parts of your psyche, often bringing up unresolved emotions, past traumas, or aspects of yourself you've ignored.
As people navigate this process, it can manifest in different areas: mentally, physically, and emotionally.
What are some symptoms people experience during this time?
1. Mental symptoms
Increased self-doubt or confusion: As buried aspects of yourself surface, you may start questioning your identity or purpose.
Ruminating thoughts: Repeated thinking about past mistakes, regrets, or unresolved conflicts can intensify.
Mental fatigue or overwhelm: The emotional processing can be exhausting, leading to feelings of being mentally drained.
Heightened awareness of internal dialogue: You may notice more negative self-talk or long-held limiting beliefs coming to the surface.
2. Physical symptoms
Fatigue or lethargy: As the mind processes suppressed emotions, the body may feel heavy or exhausted.
Tension or body aches: Unresolved emotional tension often manifests as physical pain, especially in areas like the neck, shoulders, or lower back.
Sleep disturbances: Insomnia or vivid dreams might arise, sometimes reflecting the emotions being processed.
Appetite changes: Stress from emotional work can lead to overeating or loss of appetite.
Digestive issues: The gut often responds to emotional stress, leading to issues like nausea or digestive discomfort.
3. Emotional symptoms
Mood swings: You might experience fluctuating emotions, from sadness to anger, anxiety, or joy, as suppressed feelings rise to the surface.
Irritability or frustration: Dealing with suppressed parts of yourself can trigger frustration or irritability, especially when confronting unresolved issues.
Feeling of vulnerability: Opening up to shadow aspects can leave you feeling emotionally raw, vulnerable, or exposed.
Guilt, shame, or regret: These emotions often arise as you confront past actions or decisions that were once buried.
Heightened sensitivity: You may find yourself more easily triggered by interactions or situations that touch on unresolved issues.
Additional experiences
Old memories resurfacing: As shadow work progresses, long-buried memories, sometimes from childhood, may emerge.
Isolation or desire to withdraw: Some people feel a need to be alone to process their emotions, withdrawing from social interactions.
Sense of disconnection: During intense periods, you may feel disconnected from yourself or others, unsure of how to navigate your feelings.
While these symptoms can be challenging, they’re often signs that you are engaging in deep inner work. With time, patience, and self-compassion, these phases can lead to greater self-awareness, healing, and personal growth.
What if the inner work becomes too intense? Now what?
If shadow work becomes too intense, it's important to approach it with care and ensure you're not overwhelming yourself.
Shadow work can stir deep emotions, past traumas, or uncomfortable realizations, so knowing how to manage it is key.
Here are some strategies and resources that can help
1. Pause and ground yourself
Take a break: Shadow work doesn’t have to be done all at once. If it feels overwhelming, step back to allow yourself time to rest and recover.
Grounding exercises: Simple practices like focusing on your breath, going for a walk in nature, or engaging in physical activities can help bring you back to the present moment and calm your mind.
Body movement: Activities like yoga, stretching, or gentle exercise can help release tension and connect you with your body, which is often helpful when emotions feel overwhelming.
2. Practice self-care
Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and emotions can help you process what’s coming up during shadow work in a structured and safe way.
Mindfulness and meditation: These practices can help you observe your thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them. Apps like Headspace or Insight Timer offer guided meditations that can help calm intense emotions.
Engage in comforting activities: Do something that brings you peace and relaxation, whether it’s reading, painting, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones.
3. Seek support from others
Talk to a trusted friend or family member: Sharing what you’re going through with someone who listens without judgment can help ease the emotional burden.
Support groups: Joining a community where others are also engaging in personal growth or shadow work can provide emotional support and validation. Look for local spiritual or self-development groups, or even online communities.
Therapy or counseling: Sometimes the emotions that surface in shadow work are too complex or painful to navigate alone. A therapist, particularly one trained in trauma or Jungian psychology, can help guide you through difficult emotions and provide coping tools.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help you manage overwhelming thoughts.
Somatic therapy can be useful for releasing emotional trauma stored in the body.
Trauma-informed therapists specialize in safely handling deep emotional work.
4. Use structured shadow work resources
Guided shadow work journals: Books or workbooks specifically designed for shadow work can provide structure and questions that help you gently explore your emotions at a pace that works for you. Examples include:
"The Shadow Work Journal" by Keila Shaheen
"Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature" by Connie Zweig and Jeremiah Abrams
Courses and workshops: Many online courses are available that guide you through shadow work in a more structured way, often including support forums or coaching. Look into platforms like Udemy, Insight Timer, or specialized personal development programs.
5. Create boundaries with the process
Set a time limit: If you’re finding shadow work overwhelming, set a time limit on your sessions (e.g., 20-30 minutes) and give yourself permission to stop when that time is up.
Avoid late-night deep work: Doing shadow work before bed might intensify emotions or disrupt sleep. Try to do this work earlier in the day so you have time to unwind afterward.
6. Spiritual or energetic support
Energy healing modalities: Practices such as Reiki, acupuncture, or sound healing can help release stored emotional tension and promote energetic balance.
Spiritual teachers or mentors: If you have a spiritual guide, healer, or mentor, they can offer insights or practices to help manage the intensity of the emotions arising.
Visualization and affirmations: Practicing positive affirmations or visualizing yourself safe and grounded can help counterbalance the intensity of shadow work.
7. Maintain balance in your life
Balance shadow work with light work: Engaging in practices that celebrate your strengths, joys, and accomplishments (sometimes called “light work”) can balance the intensity of shadow work and provide relief.
Practice gratitude: Focusing on things you’re grateful for can shift your mindset, especially during emotionally heavy periods.
Limit external stressors: If possible, reduce other stressors in your life while doing shadow work to avoid compounding emotional challenges.
Conclusion
If shadow work becomes overwhelming, it's essential to take breaks, ground yourself, and seek support. Self-compassion and patience are crucial—there’s no rush to complete the process. With the right resources and support, you can navigate shadow work in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Take it from a soul integration coach, “Small steps are the key to loving the self whole again.”
Joann Malanga is a Soul Integration Coach who takes Shadow Integration and brings it down into simple terms for Humanity while supporting the energetic clearing that is no longer serving you. Bridge into the new world today!
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Read more from Joann Malanga
Joann Malanga, Soul Integration Coach, Alchemist, Energy Healing
Joann worked in the Healthcare Operations for 30 years, which pushed her into her own awakening 15 years ago. On her journey of self-discovery of dark and light – she found the only way out of the dark was through facing herself and the many lives she had within herself.
She is certainly a spiritual powerhouse with abilities beyond this world. She is an experienced healer with 30 years of practice in the field. Her intuitive abilities encompass clairvoyance, clairsentience, shamanic healing, and alchemy. Joann offers Soul Integration Coaching, specializing in shadow work integration and hands-on healing.
To assist in the process of ascension, Joann helps you utilize the power of self-awareness and incorporate angelic light. Her Soul purpose as a Soul Integration Coach and Healer is driven by the desire to support others on their spiritual journeys.
When you seek a healing session from her, expect to receive clarity, inner guidance and cut through any bullshit. She supports cutting cords, removing any implants, attachments, and trauma cording, or any programming that are ready to go. The cutting through dense energy is absolutely necessary and helps you uproot emotions that have been dormant and suppressed. She believes that every individual possesses their own wellspring of intuition, and her role is to empower you to access that innate wisdom and become your own medicine. As a servant in her soul style, she is dedicated to serving your highest good and working with all of your 12 bodies and allowing the Rays of light to come through a gentle cleansing of your 12 bodies and clearing karma.
Direct, sassy, and fun, she is committed to cutting through illusions and presenting you with the unfiltered truth. With her Coaching skills and leadership qualities, she will guide you and serve as a way-shower on your path – grit and grind girl who will also help you flow with the energy of the divine feminine healing and attract what your soul needs. Her personality embodies authenticity and humor, creating a nurturing and supportive environment for your spiritual growth.
What sets her apart are her unique insights and her deep ability to hold sacred space of integrating spirituality into our three-dimensional lives while lifting your consciousness. Joann is passionate about helping others weave their spiritual journeys into their everyday existence. With her keen self-awareness, strong intuition, and servant leadership skills, she is able to relate on profound levels with all people, at any age, and every religion and every ethnic background. Her ancient wisdom of healing can uproot many traumas that we suppress from childhood all too often causing physical /mental manifestation of pain. She shows you ways to unfold everyday life, as opposed to resisting it. She carries the energy to support you to move your consciousness to the next level as she has.
During her sessions, you can expect a professional and nurturing atmosphere. Her goal is to help you uncover your own truths, overcome obstacles, and embrace your highest potential. She will help you extract, and clear away energy in the way of living your highest potential, along with mother love guidance to light the way. Together, you will clear the old and will create a life filled with purpose, alignment, and joy.
