If you’re looking to get into shadow work or just learning a little more about yourself, this is the perfect book for you. This book will make you think about a lot of your personal traits and characteristics in a different light and perhaps maybe bring or shed a little bit of light on why you do the things you do or act the way you act. This is a great starter for someone looking to get into shadow work or a great continuation piece for someone who already knows or has done some shadow work. It’s clear, to the point, and easy to read and use.

Face hidden fears, heal trauma, and awaken your dream life by Danielle Massi. Licensed mental health specialist specializes in the practice of Shadow Work.
A wonderful introduction to shadow work. A term that we are currently seeing a lot of via social media platforms. Which intrigued me to read and review this book. Danielle Massi, created Shadow Work to also be a journal. With prompts to guide you on your own Shadow Work journey.

The benefit of seeing how the author came to learn and practice shadow working is important. It is helpful that the person recommending you to do something has also used it to heal themselves and navigate some difficult situations. That is what you find with this book, Shadow Work. You are guided into developing techniques to access your subconscious and learn about yourself. Providing you with tools to heal and uncover more about yourself than you could ever imagine possible.

Using Shadow Work and doing the work following the advice of Massi will help you create and curate your life on your terms.

Healing From Within

Danielle Massi provides background information on Shadow Work and explains why she began her journal on this topic, which was the fact that she had previously been diagnosed with cervical cancer the week before her thirtieth birthday. She states that her book Shadow Work is a book about using the power of the unconscious mind to unlock our potential. The shadow (also known as the unconscious) is a mechanism of the brain designed to repress information that is potentially too intense for the psyche. When it goes unchecked, the shadow builds up continually over time, creating a domino effect of negative consequences within the mind and body. Because this process is unconscious, it’s hard to trace the consequences back to the root cause within the shadow. This unconscious material weighs us down and causes us to act out emotionally, behaviorally, and mentally. By entering the shadow, we can begin the healing work desperately needed to create coherence between all aspects of the self, allowing us to feel lighter, embodied, and free.

Further, the author states that she began doing extensive research on the unconscious mind, and during this search, she found that chronic stress is the number one cause of disease, including cancer, and she knew she had to start unpacking what unconscious material might have caused her body to create an environment where cancer could thrive.

The author states that after practicing shadow work for several years, she made a discovery: shadow work is the missing link in the manifestation process.

She discusses several aspects of exploring our subconscious, in terms of how we handle trauma and things that negatively affect our shadow/subconscious. She discusses techniques we can use to relieve stress, such as meditation, working with our spirit guides, ways to create balance, and various other techniques.

The author states that we should dive into our shadow self and recreate life on our terms. This is a good read for anyone going through a difficult time, whether it be anxiety, depression, or even a form of disease or sickness, who just want to balance their energy and life.

This was pretty much a beginner’s guide to shadow work. It encourages the reader to interrogate their thoughts patterns and the way they view themselves. I liked the scientific aspects of this book however, the misappropriation and white washing of South Asian religious concepts like Karma and Chakras irked me. Overall an okay read but I probably won’t recommend to anyone seriously wanting to learn about shadow work in depth.

Going back to work has certainly slowed my reading down quite a bit, but that hasn't stopped me from picking up some upcoming books to review for you. This week I finished Shadow Work: Face Hidden Fears, Heal Trauma, Awaken Your Dream Life by Danielle Massi. The title and description immediately piqued my interest and knew that it would be one many of you would have questions about. Shadow work is growing in popularity, so it's no surprise new books are coming out on the subject. Before I jump into the review, let's take a look at what shadow work actually is. Shadow work is accessing the unconscious mind to reveal hidden truths and traumas that need healing or attention so that you can live your fullest life. Sometimes these traumas are from this life, while other times they come from past lives or our ancestors. Massi does a fantastic job exploring the different facets of shadow work, combing science, spirituality, and personal experience in the process.

First and foremost, Massi is a woman of science. She holds a degree in Psychology and practiced as a counselor and therapist for many years before becoming a shadow work practitioner, eventually opening her own holistic healing practice, The Wellness Collective. I mention this because Massi's book is full of the science of the mind and how this science helps support shadow work. Current therapy methods are limited and by expanding our practices to include shadow work, we can treat the whole person and break patterns and cycles, not just for ourselves but for our descendants as well. As a fellow scientist, I loved these sections of the book, highlighting many sections on my Kindle as I read. Massi combines science with her personal experiences. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I love reading about people's lives and personal experiences. This provides me and others with examples of what practices look like in real life, providing a blueprint to work with. I never give my students a project without an exemplar and I always appreciate it when authors do the same. Massi has definitely survived some traumatic events and has been able to successfully overcome this trauma through shadow work and manifestation. While this technique might not work for everyone, it has certainly worked for her.

Within each chapter, Massi not only provides background information and her personal experience but exercises you can practice to get started on shadow work. These exercises include such things as meditating to meet with your spirit guides and explore what needs to be healed, journaling to rewire your neural pathways, journaling and meditating to manifest your dreams, and a short guide to connecting to your past lives. These exercises were comprehensive and foundational to a successful shadow work practice. However, they are not the end-all-be-all. Shadow work takes continuous work, as mentioned in the book, and often requires a partner or therapist to help guide you through the work. That isn't to say you can't shadow work alone, but having someone help you navigate your journey is helpful.

While I enjoyed this book, I was disappointed in its length and depth. Shadow Work is definitely an introductory guide that will have to be followed up with more in-depth reading and work. There is also some cultural appropriation and whitewashing throughout the book (and her business). Massi discusses karma and chakras throughout, especially in the sections regarding past lives and womb work. These practices belong to Hinduism and are much more complex than the whitewashed, Westernized version popularized in modern spiritual and neo-pagan circles. I would tread these sections carefully and find alternative views and practices. Despite this, Massi does create an inclusive practice open to all. She makes it clear that all facets of shadow work are open to everyone, including womb work. Her inclusivity of non-binary and transgender peoples in wellness is wonderful and something we need to see more of in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about shadow work and the science behind it all, I encourage you to pre-order your copy of Shadow Work: Face Hidden Fears, Heal Trauma, Awaken Your Dream Life by Danielle Massi now. Shadow Work will be available on September 20, 2022.

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

A really good beginner’s guide to analyzing your own thoughts and behaviours and overcoming challenges. Full of exercises to practice mindfulness and clarity.

It also has chapters on exploring past lives and versions of yourself.

I have to admit that some of this stuff confused me, but in a good way. It had me looking more inward and I loved that.