25 Heavy-Duty Shadow Work Journal Prompts

Kelly-Ann Maddox

Shadow work is wondrous. You already know
that – you wouldn’t be reading this workbook
right now if you didn’t! But damn, it can also be
messy and scary and just plain hard work.
As you move through these slap-in-the-face,
shake-you-by-the-shoulders journal prompts, don’t
forget to celebrate the strength you are showing.
Don’t forget to remember how awesome it is
that you’re showing up in this big, bold way,
shining light into the forgotten corners and
under the bed – looking for monsters at the back
of the wardrobe. You are a warrior of the
psyche and that’s epic! You are at the very
centre of your own story – the hero around
which the narrative collides and unfurls.
You are taking charge. You are seeking out
what you could just as easily hide away from and
ignore. That is worth your recognition.

You can steal little slices of time to get your
journal prompts done, or you can create a
schedule to complete them in a kind of self-made
rhythm. You can decide on an intense weekend
of shadow work and self-care, resulting in 25
completed prompts which can be revisited as you
move along in your shadow work journey, or you
can just complete a couple and see how you feel
afterwards. It’s up to you – there is no ‘right’
way. Lean into this work and find something
that feels effectual to you, honey.
You might want to dedicate a candle to your
shadow work journey and light it each time you
sit down for a journaling session. You might
choose to do a meditation before beginning or a
little release ritual after wrapping up each time.
You could try chanting a mantra to open and
close your journaling time, or you might want to
time each session to coincide with your favourite
moon phase. The possibilities are deliciously
endless!

Remember that you can always add more paper
if you feel that a lot of words need to come forth,
or take your scribblings onto the back of the page
you’re using– it’s up to you.
If you find that full sentences aren’t coming
easily, try writing in a more fractured, poetic
style or just jotting down key words. You can
always revisit the writing and add some sticky
notes to clarify things. If you want to use the
prompts again in the future, make another print
out. Compare the two journeys and see how
differently you answered the prompts – it’s
amazing how time changes things, especially
when it comes to perception and attitude!
Above all, remember that the time you spend
doing shadow work is a sacred gift to yourself
but also to the people in your life – everyone you
come across benefits from your sincere
dedication to your personal development.

‘Every new
beginning comes
from some
other
beginning’s
end.’
Seneca