In a compelling dialogue, Connie Zweig, a retired Jungian therapist and author, shares her profound insights on shadow work and its significance in midlife. She discusses how confronting the unconscious can unlock creativity and spiritual growth. Highlighting the importance of vulnerability, Zweig explores how integrating our shadow nurtures deeper connections in relationships. She also addresses societal divisiveness, advocating for personal accountability as a means to foster understanding. This conversation weaves together memory, myth, and the courage to embrace our inner selves.
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insights INSIGHT
Understanding the Psychological Shadow
The shadow is the unconscious part of us hidden from awareness that affects behavior and sabotages intentions.
We form shadows early by repressing traits disapproved by parents or society to gain love and approval.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Friend Feedback Kickstarted Shadow Work
Connie asked close friends for honest feedback and learned she was too judgmental.
This courageous inquiry launched her lifelong exploration of her shadow and inner work.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Shadow Cues to Identify Patterns
Identify shadow cues by noting thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations before a compulsive behavior.
Personify and trace these cues back to their origin to work consciously with those shadow parts.
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Connie Zweig's "The Inner Work of Age" explores the spiritual dimension of aging, extending the concept of shadow work into midlife and beyond. It examines how aging can be a catalyst for profound personal transformation and spiritual growth. The book offers insights into integrating the shadow self and embracing the wisdom that comes with age. Zweig emphasizes the importance of shifting from societal roles to a deeper understanding of one's soul. The book provides a framework for navigating the challenges and opportunities of aging with grace and acceptance.
Meeting the shadow
Connie Zweig
Jeremiah Abrams
Connie Zweig's "Meeting the Shadow" offers a comprehensive exploration of the shadow self in Jungian psychology. It delves into how the shadow manifests in various life areas, including relationships, work, and societal structures. The book provides practical tools and techniques for integrating the shadow, fostering self-awareness and personal growth. Zweig emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting the shadow as a crucial step towards wholeness and psychological well-being. The book's insights are relevant to both personal development and understanding collective dynamics.
Romancing the Shadow
Romancing the Shadow
Connie Zweig
Steve Wolf
Connie Zweig's "Romancing the Shadow" explores the dynamics of shadow work within the context of relationships. It examines how unconscious patterns and projections can sabotage love, commitment, and intimacy. The book offers practical strategies for transforming these patterns into opportunities for deeper connection and understanding. Zweig emphasizes the importance of conscious communication and empathy in fostering healthy relationships. The book's insights are valuable for individuals seeking to improve their relationships and deepen their self-awareness.
In this episode, Béa sits down with author and depth psychologist Connie Zweig to explore what it really means to “romance the shadow.” We speak about the lifelong task of making the unconscious conscious, the myths that still live in us, and how shadow work becomes even more essential as we age.
Drawing from her decades of writing and teaching—from Meeting the Shadow to The Inner Work of Age—Connie offers insight into how the parts we reject hold the keys to our vitality, our creativity, and even our spiritual growth.
This is a conversation about memory, myth, inner figures, and the radical courage it takes to turn toward what we’ve exiled within.
Connie Zweig, Ph.D. is a retired Jungian therapist and author of Meeting the Shadow (A New Edition is now available) and Romancing the Shadow (A New Edition is now available). Her award-winning book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends Shadow-work into midlife and beyond and explores aging as a spiritual practice. Her book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening, extends shadow-work into religion and spirituality. Her new PODCAST, Dr. Neil’s Spiritual Awakening to Non-Duality, posts on all podcast platforms. See her new SUBSTACK for livestreams and new writing: https://www.shadowworkawareness.com/about.
Gatherings 
