Mary Shutan, an acclaimed author and spiritual teacher, dives deep into the transformative practice of shadow work. She discusses the rising trend of spiritual emergencies and the psychological implications of dark fairy tales. Shutan challenges common misconceptions about shadow work, while offering insights on navigating nihilism and the dark feminine. She emphasizes the need for self-reflection and warns against spiritual bypass, encouraging listeners to embrace their shadows for personal and societal healing.
The rise in spiritual emergencies highlights the need for understanding and supportive networks during times of existential despair and nihilism.
Collective shadows reveal how shared societal issues impact individual emotional responses, emphasizing the importance of personal reflection for communal healing.
Shadow work encourages embracing both light and dark aspects of the self, promoting integration and personal growth through the exploration of myths and archetypes.
Deep dives
Rising Spiritual Crises
There has been a significant increase in individuals experiencing spiritual emergencies, often characterized by feelings of hopelessness and nihilism. This uptick may be attributed to societal isolation and disconnection from spiritual communities exacerbated by recent events such as the pandemic. Many people find themselves struggling without a supportive network to process their crises, leading to prolonged periods of darkness and despair. Mary emphasizes the need for discernment and acknowledgment of these experiences, encouraging affected individuals to seek understanding and healing.
Understanding the Collective Shadow
The concept of collective shadow illustrates how shared societal issues manifest in individuals and their reactions to news and popular figures. Understanding these collective energies, which can arise from fear and anger, allows for both personal and societal healing. When individuals react strongly to certain news stories or public personalities, it often reflects unresolved issues within themselves. Through this lens, one can identify and engage with their own shadows, recognizing the interconnectedness of individual and collective experiences.
Exploring Shadow Work
Shadow work involves delving into the repressed and denied aspects of the self, which can lead to greater self-awareness and acceptance. It acknowledges the existence of both positive and negative elements within individuals and emphasizes integrating these parts into a holistic understanding of oneself. By examining archetypes in myths and fairy tales, people can relate personal struggles to universal patterns, providing a roadmap for healing. This process allows individuals to confront their fears and misconceptions, ultimately leading to personal growth and enlightenment.
Navigating Spiritual Bypass
Spiritual bypassing refers to the tendency to use spiritual practices as a means to avoid confronting difficult emotions or issues, often resulting in a false sense of superiority or enlightenment. Mary warns against the dangers of neglecting personal truths in favor of an idealized spiritual existence, leading to a disconnect from one's authentic self. Recognizing and addressing this bypassing is crucial in fostering true spiritual growth and acceptance of one's human experience. Ultimately, embracing vulnerability and emotional honesty paves the way for genuine healing.
Acknowledging the Dark Feminine
The rising prominence of the dark feminine reflects a societal acknowledgment of previously suppressed energies related to creativity, rage, and fear. This cultural shift invites individuals to confront and integrate these darker aspects within themselves, leading to profound transformation. As healing progresses on both personal and collective levels, recognizing the importance of the dark feminine can facilitate a reorganization of societal structures and belief systems. Ultimately, this movement encourages a more balanced understanding of human experiences, blending the light and dark within.
In this episode I am once again joined by Mary Shutan: author, occultist, and spiritual teacher.
Mary discusses her new book “Shadow Work for the Soul”, shares her lifelong fascination with the psychological power of dark fairytales, and explains the function of social masks and personae.
Mary remarks on a notable increase in spiritual emergencies, a rise in nihilism and the “dark feminine”, and offers advice for those facing spiritual crisis.
Mary then takes a deep dive into shadow work, challenges common misconceptions, and offers surprising reflections on both new age masculine-feminine trends and “The Work” of Byron Katie.
Mary also reveals how to perceive the shadow in popular culture, warns about the danger of spiritual bypass, and explains how to identify and disarm the ego defences to go beyond one’s limitations.
…
Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep294-shadow-work-for-the-soul-mary-shutan
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
…
Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - An notable increase in spiritual emergencies
03:51 - Nihilism and other trends on the increase
05:30 - Collective shadows and the dark feminine
07:25 - How to work with nihilism
08:27 - Mary’s advice for those in spiritual crisis
09:39 - The psychological power of myths and fairy tales
11:26 - What can myths and fairy tales teach us?
12:19 - Archetypes and mythic figures
13:18 - Princess and the Pea and Sisyphus
15:21 - Seeing oneself reflected in myths and fairy tales
16:50 - Trauma isolates
18:00 - What is the shadow?
19:43 - What is shadow work?
20:08 - How concepts change when they become mainstream
21:36 - The evolution of acupuncture
23:51 - Limitations of the pop-culture version of shadow work
26:58 - Comments on Byron Katie and “The Work”
31:27 - The healthy ego and ego defences
33:33 - How to identify the ego’s defence mechanisms
34:33 - Intellectualisation vs embodiment
35:32 - Superiority/inferiority loop
37:09 - The world as a mirror
40:02 - Pop culture and politics
41:29 - Dangers of spiritual bypass
45:50 - Masks, personae, and perfectionism
47:36 - The importance of mentors
48:47 - Self enquiry traps and the dangers of labels
50:47 - Identifying with spiritual attainments
53:30 - When did Mary call off the search?
55:35 - Letting go of the high-achiever identity
58:03 - Anima, animus, and the masculine-feminine continuum
59:34 - Masculine and feminine dynamics in the occult
01:02:13 - Identifying collective shadows through pop culture figures
01:04:12- Today’s cultural focus on narcissism
01:05:41 - Noting your personal reactions to celebrity
01:06:02 - The cultural phenomenon of Taylor Swift
01:08:36 - Shadows of light
01:10:02 - Dark feminine rising
01:10:56 - Why “dark feminine?”
01:12:48 - How do we emerge from times of change?
01:14:48 - Mary’s view of the future
…
Previous episode with Mary Shutan:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shutan
To find out more about Mary Shutan, visit:
- http://maryshutan.com/
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
