Why Shadow Work Feels So Hard — and What to Do About It

by Jeffrey Goldstein June 05, 2025

Why Shadow Work Feels So Hard — and What to Do About It

Why Shadow Work Feels So Hard — and What to Do About It

Shadow work sounds mystical — until you’re sitting with your journal, face-to-face with your inner fears, past wounds, and patterns you didn’t ask for. It can feel like you’re falling apart before you even begin to heal.

But here’s the thing: that’s not failure. That’s progress.

The heaviness is part of the process — and it means you’re doing the real work.


🔍 Why Shadow Work Hits So Deep

  1. You're meeting your past without filters
    Shadow work doesn’t coddle you. It puts the mirror right in front of you — and that can feel like too much, too fast.

  2. It demands honesty instead of quick fixes
    Most personal growth is about “getting better.” Shadow work is about getting real. That’s harder… and more honest.

  3. Your ego resists emotional risk
    The parts of you that show up in anger, fear, guilt, or shutdown — those aren’t flaws. They’re defenses. Shadow work helps you understand, not erase them.


💡 How to Gently Begin the Process

  • Start small. Don’t dive into your biggest wound first. One question. One emotion. That’s enough.

  • Use a framework. Structure creates safety. Our workbook offers prompts and spreads that guide, not overwhelm.

  • Let the insights unfold. You don’t need to “fix” everything today. Let the pages open you slowly.


🎥 Watch: A Look Inside the Shadow Work Workbook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG7t3aKkx5o&t=663s


📘 Ready to Start?

The Shadow Work Tarot Workbook includes 39 spreads designed for deep reflection, emotional processing, and self-healing.
It’s printable, self-paced, and gentle — with no live sessions, no pressure.

👉 Get the Shadow Work Workbook

https://ripecolor.com/collections/meditations/products/shadow-work-tarot-workbook-digital-copy

(Or grab it bundled with the Tarot Decoded eBook for just $22.)

https://ripecolor.com/collections/meditations/products/the-shadow-work-tarot-workbook



 





Jeffrey Goldstein
Jeffrey Goldstein

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