Why not try being Human? - A post about Shadow Work.

You’re in a school, why don’t you take the curriculum? Why don’t you try being human? - Ram Dass

This is one of my favorite quotes from Ram Dass. However, it’s Ram Dass quoting his formless friend, Emmanuel, which is pretty ironic, right? Nevertheless, it marked a poignant shift for him, one that I relate to deeply. This quote is part of what makes me see Ram Dass as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time. From everything I’ve gathered, he moved through all the planes of reality with such grace, honoring not only the vast richness of spiritual traditions, but also the messy, profane, sticky human experience within himself and in relationship with others. That’s a far-from-easy thing to do.

As you might know, there are many ways to take the curriculum, and no wrong way to do it, in my opinion. For me, however, my life’s curriculum can be outlined by these three phases: 

(1) unconsciously believing I was the center of the universe, 

(2) renouncing as much worldly attachment as possible in an attempt to merge with the One, and 

(3) journeying into my physical and energetic body so I can fully inhabit myself and relate to others in a Loving, compassionate, and connected way.

I’m in this third phase of my Earth School curriculum now, going deeper into the layers of energy, patterns, behaviors, and conditioning that live in my body. The work is profoundly beautiful, messy, hard, and rewarding. And this is what I feel I’m here to help others with.

People often say we are a soul having a human experience, and I agree. But my question has been: how do we honor both the soul’s ethereal, timeless nature and the very physical and tangible yet energetic conditions we were born into? For me, the modality that bridges these worlds, the grounded, spiritually rich, deeply embodied work, is Shadow Work.

So what is Shadow Work? One of the ways I describe it is: Shadow Work is the courageous act of moving toward the feelings and emotions that are denied, repressed, and hidden in the body and meeting them with the light of conscious awareness. What catalyzes transformation through shadow work is the mind-body-spirit connection. In sessions, the mind, body, and spirit work together as a vehicle on the road to what lives in the core. Along the way, we encounter layer after layer of emotions, sensations, memories, information, and even various characters. Using the mind’s intelligence and imagination, the spirit's connection to the Divine, and the body’s innate, earthly wisdom, we access an entire underworld that is naturally hidden from our waking consciousness.

This underworld holds our shadows, and are shadows enacts, influences, and motivates our reactivity, aggression, projections, emotional numbness, dehumanizing or caretaking tendencies, fight-flight-freeze patterns, self-sabotage, and decision making processes. And the wild part is: it’s operating all the time beneath the surface, dictating how we relate to the world… until we turn toward it with Loving awareness.

It’s safe to say the curriculum changes throughout a lifetime. I can remember each shift I’ve made. Starting with self-centered unconsciousness, to upward transcendence, to the present inward deepening into full-embodiment. With Gratitude and reverence for each phase and modality of living and learning, my path led me to the deepest and most reliable work I know. Through practicing shadow work personally and professionally, I continue to meet deeper parts of myself while strengthening my relationship with my known shadows. This has allowed me to do the work moment to moment, in a much more relaxed way.

I no longer feel the need to constantly scrutinize myself. I’ve learned to recognize my shadow elements as they arise and meet them with loving awareness so I can understand what they need instead of fighting them, a fight they would always win. I’m more present with my human experience now. I’m here in Earth School, in this body and mind, choosing to study it through awareness, not only on a meditation cushion, though I value that deeply and practice daily, but by being in the world, engaging in relationship, and doing the work when the work is needed.

So my question to you is this: are you taking the human curriculum in the way that feels like a more natural flowing river, or are you meeting life with resistance, struggle, and uncertainty?

Shadow work may be the shift you're looking for. Please reach out and let's talk.

All Love and Gratitude,

Ohl (Jacob) Albritton

Moon Mountain Healing