During a recent seminar the topic of "Standing in the Shadow," came up for experiential work. Standing in the shadow of some authority figure can be protective for some time in our life, and stifling or growth stunting in others. The shadow can be created by a positive authority figure; someone who is famous, wealthy, funny, beautiful... and somehow we feel inadequate next to them, and never step out of the positive shadow they cast. For others the shadow is more negative in nature, the actions of the authority figure are shaming, fearful, depressive, angry... and we feel bound to that same shadow.
It is a very powerful contemplative practice to feel if you are standing in someone else's shadow. If we find we are standing in a shadow, then it becomes our duty to step out of that shadow, and into the light of our heart and mind. Freed from mental and emotional attachments we have developed towards authority. Then we are free to live our own authority, to be who we are at the deepest levels of expression.
Standing in the Shadow, will be a weekend seminar in the coming year; thank you to everyone who participated in the Furstenfeld seminar in Austria!