60 Deep Shadow Work Journal Prompts For Healing & Growth + Free Printable

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Journaling has long been considered a form of self-care, and for good reason. The act of writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you process them, release them, and build your resilience. Whether you’re looking to work through personal issues or deal with stress at work, journaling can be a powerful tool for healing and growth.

In order to maximize the benefits of journaling, it’s essential to find a method of journaling that resonates with you. This is where Shadow Work journal prompts can come in, as they will encourage you to express your thoughts and feelings on a deeper level.

Shadow Work journaling is particularly powerful because it combines the benefits of journaling with psychology methods some professionals use for actual therapy.

What is Shadow Work?

Shadow work, a form of psychotherapy, also known as transpersonal therapy or therapeutic regression, helps people heal from their past traumas. But for it to work, the person must open up their mind to the possibility of repressed memories.

Shadow work is all about exploring the darker aspects of yourself, and the prompts included in this post can help you do just that. They’re also great for self-healing and growth.

You’ll even find a free printable version that you can grab and print at home to get started with them quickly! Click here to jump straight to them.

What You Need to Know About Shadow Work Journal Prompts For Healing

In order to access the potential of Shadow Work, it is necessary first to know and understand what the Shadow self is:

What is the Shadow Self?

Do you ever feel like you’re not living up to your potential? Like something is holding you back, but you’re not sure what it is? You might be dealing with your Shadow.

The Shadow is a part of our personality that we often try to ignore or push away. It can include traits such as being extroverted, impulsive, and fantasizing. However, these traits aren’t always bad – they can also be strengths.

For example, being extroverted can make you more social and outgoing, while being impulsive can make you more spontaneous and creative. Fantasizing can help you come up with new ideas and be more imaginative.

It’s essential to embrace all aspects of our personality, including the Shadow. By acknowledging and working with our Shadow, we can learn more about ourselves and grow as individuals. The Shadow Work journal prompts printable included in this post can help you do this. These prompts are designed to help you explore your Shadow and understand its role in your life. They’re also a great way to start the self-awareness and healing process.

By accepting, understanding, and working through the Shadow aspects of yourself, you can become more fulfilled and confident in who you are. As well as begin the process of self-healing from past traumas.

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What Are the Characteristics of My Shadow?

Everyone has a Shadow self, whether they are aware of it or not. The Shadow self is not a negative thing, but it does have characteristics that can be difficult to deal with. Some of the common characteristics of the Shadow self include: anger, jealousy, envy, lust, greed, pride, and gluttony.

The Shadow self is often what we don’t want to admit exists within us. It’s the part of ourselves that we keep hidden away because we’re ashamed or afraid of it.

However, if we can learn to accept and embrace our Shadow selves, we can use its energy for positive change. We can use the power of our shadows to become more authentic and alive.

Your Shadow will be unique to you, so you’ll want to explore the many different ways to explore your Shadow self and discover its characteristics.

One simple way to learn about your Shadow self is to spend time each day writing in a journal. Write about your feelings and thoughts, and be honest with yourself about what you’re hiding from or trying to ignore. You can also do Shadow Work exercises such as visualizations or meditations.

Self-awareness is key to growth and healing with Shadow Work. The shadows are a part of who we are, and they can be a great source of insight and growth when we are ready to face them. These prompts are designed to help you explore your shadows and begin the process of healing and growth. They can be used as writing prompts or simply as a way to get in touch with your innermost thoughts and feelings.

How Do I Find & Work With My Shadow Self?

The key to working with your Shadow self is first to become aware of its existence. This can be done by paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, as well as any behaviors that conflict with your values and ideals. Once you have become aware of the Shadow self, you can begin the process of integrating it into your conscious life.

Shadow Work journal prompts are particularly effective at helping to pull aspects of your Shadow into your conscious mind. However, sometimes this is easier said than done. After all, the Shadow self is part of who we are but is unconscious, making it difficult to recognize without the right techniques.

Key things to keep in mind when working with your Shadow:

• You need to identify your “personal Shadow” using the techniques below.
• You must accept that you have a Shadow self, and as part of the healing process, you will need to learn how to live with your Shadow. This requires that we be willing to explore the hidden parts of ourselves.
• You must realize that the Shadow self is not a negative thing. It is just part of you and has its own unique characteristics. It’s critical to understand and accept your Shadow. This means learning how to incorporate your Shadow into who you are without allowing it to control you or define you.

How Do You Practice Shadow Work?

Here are 6 simple steps for how to do Shadow Work:

1. Get Clear on What Shadow Work is and Why You Want to Do it.

Shadow Work is all about exploring the parts of yourself that you don’t usually show others. It can be uncomfortable, but it’s also incredibly healing. If you’re not sure why you want to do Shadow Work, take some time to reflect on it. Maybe there are some situations in your past that you haven’t healed yet. Doing Shadow Work could help with these. Or perhaps you’re ready to start living more authentically, and Shadow Work is the next step on your journey.

2. Set up a Safe Place Where You Can Do Your Shadow Work.

Shadow Work is a powerful tool that can help you explore and understand yourself in ways that are sometimes difficult or uncomfortable. However, it’s vital to make sure that you have a safe place to do your Shadow Work, as this process can be intense and may bring up feelings of anxiety or fear.

It might be a quiet room at home or in your office, or maybe it’s just somewhere where you’ll feel comfortable. Consider putting on some music that reminds you of your childhood and lighting some candles. You can do this in the morning, in the evening, or at any time that is convenient for you.

3. Do a Little Bit of Shadow Work Every Day.

Make it a habit to reflect on your Shadow Work and process the emotions that come up daily if you can, as it will make the process easier to get the best results. You can do it at the end of your shower, when you’re having your morning coffee or any time that is convenient for you.

The idea is to do a little bit each day, so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Make sure you set aside some dedicated time to reflect on things regularly, as Shadow Work isn’t usually a quick process. (If you’re looking for shorter journaling ideas that can boost your positivity, then I recommend taking a look at gratitude journaling or incorporating some of these quick printable affirmations cards focused around Shadow Work.)

4. Use Shadow Work Journal Prompts To Record & Identify Your Shadow Self

Shadow Work journaling prompts are an incredibly powerful way to bring your Shadow into the light of your conscious mind. When considering prompts, look for those that resonate with you but don’t be afraid of those that feel hard to answer either. Sometimes it can take a day or two of mulling over certain questions before you’re ready to answer them.

For every prompt you use, always try to answer as fully as possible and ask why you think or feel you wrote what you did. You can also consider how your thoughts and feelings might relate to other aspects of your life. But don’t stress too much about getting things written down perfectly the first time, as you can always come back later with new thoughts and ideas. Remember – you’re not writing an essay in high school, so as long as you can read and understand it the way you write, spelling mistakes and grammar don’t matter.

If you’re looking for more prompts to get started with, then click here to jump to the ones included in this post. Or if you’d like 300+ thought-provoking Shadow Work journal prompts ready to print and go with tons of extra resources to help you get started, then this Shadow Work Journal Kit is just what you need.

5. Take advantage of Shadow Work Workbooks & Other Activities to Pull Everything Together

Shadow Work is challenging and overwhelming that just knowing where to start or whether you’re actually doing it right can feel like you’re trying to throw spaghetti at the wall until it sticks.

This is why after spending some time doing Shadow Work journal prompts, you should move to the next stage of piecing together all that valuable information you’ve recorded into actionable steps that will help you heal and become a more authentic version of yourself.

My RIFT Shadow Work Journal kit has a whole workbook section dedicated to this. Including activities for:

• Identifying patterns and triggers between your Shadow Self and situations in your life.
• Discovering your inner child’s characteristics and influences
• Shadow self tracking for traits and behaviors
• Tackling limiting beliefs
• Identifying traumas
• Finding ways to express your emotions in healthy ways
• And much more!

6. Practice Self-Care or Meditation After Doing Shadow Work

In order to maintain mental and emotional health, it is important to practice self-care or meditation after completing Shadow Work. While doing Shadow Work, you’ll likely dig up emotions that feel negative. Dealing and working through these is a big part of Shadow Work, but you may feel unbalanced, drained, and even agitated as a side effect. This is why after each Shadow Work journaling session, it’s vital to incorporate some self-care or meditation into your routine to calm yourself.

This can be as simple or as complicated as you like, from a few deep breaths to a whole yoga routine. Just make a plan and use it to take action, as you’ll better reap the benefits of Shadow Work this way.

What are the Benefits of Shadow Work Questions? Why Should We Use Them?

One of the benefits of Shadow Work is that it can help you become more self-aware. When you start to become aware of what you’ve been hiding from yourself, you can begin to address them and make changes in your life.

Another benefit of Shadow Work is that it can help you heal emotional wounds. Many of us have unresolved emotions from childhood or past relationships that we haven’t dealt with. Shadow Work can help you process these emotions and move on from them.

Finally, Shadow Work can help you grow as an individual as it’ll allow you to explore the parts of yourself that you’ve been afraid to face. These are just a few of the benefits though, for a more comprehensive list of all the benefits check this Shadow Work for beginners post.

Overall, Shadow Work journal prompts are a great way to help yourself grow, heal and become more self-aware. They can be used as a form of therapy or simply reflect on your life. The prompts are designed to help you access parts of yourself that you may not normally see or acknowledge.

You can find a variety of different prompts online, including these free ready-to-print ones here, or you can create your own. There is no right or wrong way to do Shadow Work – the important thing is that you allow yourself time and space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

How Do You Use Shadow Work Prompts?

There are many different ways to do Shadow Work, but one popular approach is to use prompts and questions. This can involve writing or journaling about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences in response to specific questions or prompts. Alternatively, you can use these prompts as a way to start conversations with loved ones or friends about difficult topics.

Here are some tips for using Shadow Work journal prompts:

1. Choose a prompt that resonates with you.

2. Take some time to read through the prompt, and allow it to sink in. (Sometimes, this can take a few days!)

3. Sit with the prompt in your mind, and imagine that you are a movie camera recording your thoughts and feelings.

4. Allow yourself to go deeper into the prompt, and be honest with yourself even if it feels awkward or silly. If Shadow Work doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable, then your Shadow is probably still hiding things from you.

5. Be curious about what happens next and why you think and feel the way you do. Always come back to the question of why.

What Are Some Shadow Work Prompts to Help You Heal and Grow?

The best way to get started with Shadow Work is by using writing prompts. In fact, one of the first things I teach as part of my RIFT Shadow Work Journal is to always start with some prompts, as they’ll often make other Shadow Work exercises much easier to complete if you’ve already spent some time discovering your Shadow self.

Free 60 Shadow Work Prompts for Healing and Growth

1. Name a time you’ve felt like giving up on something. Why was this? What was the end result? Were they any other consequences? Did you regret your decision? How does it make you feel now?

2. Do you consider yourself intelligent? Why do you think of your intelligence in this way? Are you being overly critical or confident with your self-evaluation? How does intelligence make you feel? If someone referred to you as intelligent, how would you take it?

3. Do you consider yourself mature? What positive or negative meanings can be related to it? How do you feel when others refer to you as mature?

4. Name something you feel should be illegal but isn’t. Why is this, and how does it make you feel? Does this influence your view of the law and authorities?

5. Define what you consider to be a lonely person. What makes you feel lonely? Does your definition of loneliness contradict or match what makes you feel lonely? Why do you think this is?

6. Write a letter to your child-self. Tell them about things they should make the most of as a child and take the time to enjoy.

7. What emotions have you tried to avoid recently and why?

8. Pick a positive emotion/trait from the list or come up with your own. How do you deal with it? Can you think of anyone who reacts similarly, including from childhood? Do you think there’s a connection?

(happy / lucky / optimistic / fast / efficient / creative / intelligent / calm / content / kind / supportive / helpful / generous / tidy / attractive / agreeable / patient / strong / brave / gentle / giving / responsible / reliable / confident / humble / mature / accepted / energetic)

9. What things in life are you taking for granted?

10. What physical things about other people trigger you?

11. Name a word that would make you happy if someone described or called you with it. What’s good about it being true?

12. Name a big way in which you feel you have let yourself down. Describe how it makes you feel and why it happened.

13. Write down your worst personality trait. Why do you think it’s bad? Are there any positive aspects it can bring?

14. If everyone was accepted for how they are, how would your life be different? What could you be more open about?

15. How did you deal with your emotions as a child? What did you do when you were sad, angry, confused, etc.?

16. How do you deal with negative emotions right now? How has it changed compared to when you were a child?

17. Name someone who you haven’t forgiven. How has it affected your life? Does it still feel justified?

18. Name a relationship you have or had that felt unhealthy or toxic. What happened, and why do you think it felt this way?

19. Name a time you’ve made a mistake. What were the consequences, and how did you feel?

20. How do you feel and perceive yourself as a person? Why?

21. Write down one positive comment someone has said about you in the past. Was it warranted? What did you do, and how did it make you feel?

22. What negative aspects of your mother have you noticed? Do you feel you have any of these yourself? How does this make you feel?

23. If you were to become just like your parents in 10 years, how would this make you feel?

24. How is your relationship with your siblings now compared to when you were a child? Why is this?

25. How do your friends react to your failures? How does it make you feel? Did they react differently to others? Was their reaction fair?

26. Pick a positive emotion from the list or come up with your own. How do you deal with it? Can you think of anyone who reacts similarly, including from childhood? Do you think there’s a connection?

(happy / lucky / optimistic / fast / efficient / creative / intelligent / calm / content / kind / supportive / helpful / generous / tidy / attractive / agreeable / patient / strong / brave / gentle / giving / responsible / reliable / confident / humble / mature / accepted / energetic)

27. When are you most frustrated with yourself, and why

28. What were your parents’ core morals? What did they value the most? How do these make you feel compared to what you know now?

29. Name a trait someone you know has that you wish you could have yourself. Why do you want this trait? Why do you feel you don’t have it?

30. What would make you feel valued, and why?

31. How do you feel about your childhood overall? What are some positive and negative aspects of it?

32. How do you feel about asking for help? Do you struggle, or is it easy? Why is this?

33. How do you view stubbornness? Is it a negative or positive trait? How do you define too much stubbornness? How stubborn would you describe yourself?

34. What was your last negative or judgemental thought? How did you handle it? Why do you think you had this thought and was it justified?

35. Name a person of authority that you respected growing up. What traits about them do you admire the most and why? Do you still feel the same about them now?

36. What did you dream about recently? How did it make you feel? Does it relate to anything in your day-to-day life?

37. Name one thing you love about your body. What’s positive about it? How does it make you feel, and why?

38. Name a relationship you’ve walked away from. Why was this, and how was it positive towards your life?

39. Name someone you’re jealous of. Why are you jealous? What do they have that you want? How can you acquire these for yourself?

40. Describe how you think other people see you. What do they say? What words do they use? Are they justified? How do they make you feel?

41. Write how you define intelligence. Do you think that intelligence can be measured? Are there ways intelligence can be unfair or ways intelligence isn’t always helpful? Do you feel there can be different types of intelligence? Would you treat someone differently based on how intelligent you perceived them?

42. What expectations do you feel your significant other’s parents have of you? Do you agree with them? How do these expectations make you feel, and why?

43. Name a book that gave you a strong emotional reaction that you feel was negative. How does it make you feel, and why do you think it makes you feel this way?

44. What would you say are your core morals? Why are they important, and how do they make you feel?

45. How do you define being lazy? Do you consider it a negative or positive trait? How does dealing with someone you define as lazy make you feel?

46. Name a situation at work that makes you feel emotional. How does it make you feel, and why do you think this is?

47. Name something you’ve said that you’ve ended up overthinking afterward. What do you think triggered this? Did thinking about it help you in any way?

48. Name a time you wish you could’ve done more to help someone. How could you have helped more? Are your expectations practical? Evaluate if you had managed to help more; would it have made a difference to the outcome? Write why you should forgive yourself for not doing more at the time.

49. Write a time that you felt jealous. What was the situation around it? Why do you think you felt this way? Were your feelings justified?

50. Name a time in your childhood that you were scared for your safety. Describe the situation, what led to it and what happened as a result. How did it make you feel, and how do you feel this situation affects you today?

51. Name someone or something that always makes you angry. How did it start, and why does it upset you? Does your reaction feel justified? If so, how?

52. Name a time you’ve eaten food in response to a positive or negative emotion. How did it make you feel, what do you associate the food with, and do you think this is good or bad behavior?

53. Name someone who has passed away that you dream of often. Who are they, and what do they mean to you?

54. Name one trait you feel people should use when describing you. How does it make you feel? How important is it? How do you feel if people don’t describe you this way?

55. Name someone who’s passed away who influenced your life. How do you feel about them now? What regrets do you have? What do you secretly think would be different if they were still around today?

56. Name 3 emotions that you feel are positive. Why do you think they are negative, and what past experiences can you relate to this? Is there any way they could be seen negatively?

57. Name 3 emotions that you feel are negative. Why do you think they are negative, and what past experiences can you relate to this? Is there any way they could be seen positively?

58. Name one “bad habit” you think you have. When does it happen, and what triggers it? Why do you think it happens, and how does it make you feel?

59. How do enclosed and tight spaces make you feel? What childhood events or experiences do you think could have influenced your feelings about this?

60. What emotions and feelings do you associate with Mondays? Why do you think this is, and do you feel your emotions towards Monday change depending on how far away it is?

And that’s all the Shadow Work journaling prompts we’ve got for you here. If you’d like more be sure to check out our Shadow Work writing prompts packs here.

Free Printable Prompts for Shadow Work

Here are some free printable prompts for healing, self-awareness, and growth. Use them to explore your Shadow and start your journey of self-discovery.

What is Shadow Work Based On? Who Invented Shadow Work?

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychologist who spent much of his work on the primary archetype known as the Shadow. He defined it as the “dark side” of the human personality because it’s parts of us that we don’t normally like to acknowledge as it makes us feel weak and ashamed.

The Shadow is one of the main archetypes that Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, focused on the most. The Shadow represents all aspects of ourselves that we don’t like or are afraid of. It’s often the part of us that we try to ignore or suppress. However, by doing this, we only make the Shadow stronger. The Shadow is a powerful archetype because it contains all of our negative feelings and emotions. It’s essential to face and embrace the Shadow because only then can we begin to heal and grow.

Carl Jung defined the Shadow self as the unknown dark side of our personalities because its traits are usually subconscious and not identified as being a part of us by our conscious ego.

These Shadow aspects are hidden from us by the ego for a reason. Most often, this is due to a negative association with the trait. However, what can sometimes be revealed through Shadow Work is that these traits may not actually be as negative as first perceived.

For example, individuals with low self-esteem, false beliefs, or anxiety can sometimes suppress positive traits within their Shadow simply because childhood experiences or other influences taught them they were bad.

If you’re constantly told you’re too loud as a child, you might learn that being noisy is a negative trait. On the other hand, being noisy might actually just be that you’re very extroverted and outgoing, which could be seen as positive by changing your view.

The same could also be true if stubbornness is one aspect of your Shadow self. As a child, you might have been scolded for being stubborn or difficult, so your perception is that it’s a negative trait that your subconscious tries to suppress even in adulthood. But in contrast, it could be positive in that you are someone who holds steady in your beliefs or someone who is determined to complete your goal no matter the obstacles you face.

Overall, the process of Shadow Work is to unveil such traits within ourselves so that we can accept and forgive them. It’s essential to face and embrace the Shadow because only then can we begin to heal and grow.

What Does Shadow Work Mean Spiritually?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as Shadow Work can mean different things to different people. In general, though, Shadow Work refers to any process of exploring and working through the darker, more difficult aspects of our lives. This can involve exploring our hidden motivations, confronting our fears and doubts, and dealing with the parts of ourselves that we’d rather not see.

Shadow Work tends to have a more psychology-based nature to it. Still, some also associate it with the Law of Attraction because of its tendency to help you connect with your inner self and become a more authentic version of yourself.

For many people, Shadow Work is essential for their spiritual growth and self-awareness. It can be a way of understanding who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we still need to work on.

No matter which perspective you take, Shadow Work is a powerful tool for healing, growth, and releasing trapped emotions.

If you’re interested in exploring Shadow Work further, plenty of helpful resources are available online. This includes my printable RIFT Shadow Work Journal with over 400 pages of prompts, activities, and guidance to help you get the most out of your time spent Shadow Work Journaling.

Conclusion: Shadow Work Prompts For Healing & Growth

Shadow Work is the process of exploring the darker, more hidden aspects of our psyche. It can be a powerful tool for healing and growth, but it can also be challenging. If you’re ready to start exploring your Shadow, these prompts can help get you started.

We all have a shadow side. We keep hidden away parts of ourselves because we are ashamed, embarrassed, or simply don’t know how to deal with them. These are the parts of ourselves that we bury so deep we often forget they exist. But they are always there, waiting for the right moment to rear their ugly heads.

If you’re ready to face your shadow self head-on, then check out these free Shadow Work Journal Prompts For Healing & Growth. And if you’re ready to take Shadow Work journaling to the next stage, consider upgrading to our 400+ printable pages kit.

We all have things we avoid. For some, it’s the dentist. For others, it might be public speaking. Whatever it is for you, know that there’s a good chance you’re not alone. And more importantly, there’s a good chance that whatever you’re avoiding can be healed through Shadow Work. Sometimes all we need is a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles, and there are tools out there that can help us heal.

More Shadow Work Resources

• RIFT Shadow Work Journal for guided journaling, exercises, and prompts
• 60 FREE Printable Shadow Work prompts to jump into your journey of self-discovery
• Even more Shadow Work tips for developing your skills with
• 14-Day Shadow Work Challenge for beginners