You may have noticed that the word “shadow” has been showing up with great frequency lately in popular culture and in the media. Most of these references do not refer to the literal definition of the word but use the term as a metaphor for what is known as the “dark side” of one’s personality. This includes those tendencies that are considered unattractive or even destructive by society.
The shadow refers to those aspects that we tend to deny or disown.
The shadow refers to both ourselves as well as others; the aspects that are deemed unattractive or even destructive by the culture in which we live. Since being seen by others as possessing socially unacceptable traits diminishes us in the eyes of others, it is natural to wish to conceal what we deem to be any negative qualities that we possess.
