Shadow Work Prompts
Choose a door: an emotion, a sign, a card, a situation: and get one prompt worth ten minutes of honest writing.
How to write shadow work
The rules are few. Write by hand if you can, or in a file no one reads. Do not edit as you go: the shadow speaks in the unpolished sentence. Ten minutes is enough; the point is to keep the pen moving past the polite answer. If a prompt makes you want to skip it, that is the one to write. Afterwards, close the page and do not reread it for a day: the second reading is where the pattern becomes visible.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is shadow work therapy?
No: it is a reflective practice. It can support therapy, but it does not replace it, especially for deep trauma. If a prompt opens something heavy, a therapist is the right next step.
How often should I do it?
A prompt a day is sustainable; a prompt a week is enough. Consistency matters more than intensity: the shadow is met in the regular return, not the dramatic session.