HSP Researcher Dr. Elaine Aron says we need this depth work to flourish.
I dove into shadow work and Jungian psychology over three years ago. Now, as I learn more about being highly sensitive, I understand why HSPs feel drawn to the individuation process.
“Because HSPs have such close contact with the unconscious, such as vivid dreams, and such an intense pull towards the imaginal and spiritual, we cannot flourish until we are experts on this facet of ourselves,” writes Aron in “The Highly Sensitive Person” book.
Aron inspired me to see numerous assets stemming from my capacity to notice subtleties. The HS trait feels like a superpower that requires honing, protecting, and sharing.
Aron says HSPs fill a “royal advisor” role, differing from the “warrior king” types with more aggressive approaches. Our strengths look more like wisdom, intuition, and strategy.
Describing Jungian depth work, Aron says it’s like “Training for today’s royal advisor class.”
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My Individuation Journey
I started doing shadow work with a friend and an online course in early 2020. As I unraveled layers of conditioning, I soon felt overwhelmed. I found a depth therapist with a spiritual inclination to help with accountability and structure.
“The purpose of Jungian therapy or analysis is first to provide a container in which frightening or rejected material can be examined safely. The therapist is like an experienced guide in the wilderness. It teaches the client to be at home in that wilderness too,” writes Aron.
Over the last three years, I worked with a Jungian therapist for a year and a half, immersed in Marion Woodman’s work, studied shadow work and practiced techniques, and took two Pacifica Graduate Institute workshops, one on the feminine psyche and one on dream tending.
My therapist often told me how brave I was to pursue such deep work. Addressing root causes felt like the only way. Studying Aron’s work, I realize my HS trait likely impacted my choices.
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Individuation and Spirituality
Shadow work led me to reconnect with spirituality more deeply. My earlier spiritual experiences felt less rooted. Without connecting with my unconscious, spirituality felt like bypassing real healing, like putting a bandaid on an infection.
“The Jungian approach adds the spiritual dimension by understanding that the unconscious is trying to take us somewhere, to expand our awareness beyond our narrow ego’s consciousness,” shares Aron.
In dream-tending work, I felt more open to a higher power. My unconscious seemed to send me encouragement and inspiration through wise characters or moving imagery. During my “dark nights of the soul” time, these experiences felt comforting.
Unlike solution-focused therapy, depth therapy takes a more holistic approach to healing. We focused more on discovering my authentic self than curing symptoms, which felt so aligned.
“Jungians do not seek cures, but a lifelong engagement in the process of individuation through communication with the inner realms,” writes Aron.
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A few books helped immensely along this journey:
- “Addiction to Perfection” by Marion Woodman
- “Dark Nights of the Soul” by Thomas Moore
- “The Highly Sensitive Person” by Aron
To explore more Jungian psychology, you can read my other shadow work articles:
I share more about high sensitivity in these two posts:
I used to feel selfish for spending so much time in my inner world. Now I realize how important and valuable this process has been for everyone around me. As my Bhakti yoga teachers say, every time we show up to practice, there’s a positive ripple effect on the world.
Photo Credit: Unsplash, Xuan Nguyen
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