🌑 The Season of Shadows

October is a month of shifting light. The days grow shorter, the nights longer, and the veil between worlds thins. For witches, this is not just the season of falling leaves—it’s the perfect time to turn inward and face the parts of ourselves we often keep hidden. This practice is known as shadow work.

Shadow work isn’t about chasing away your darkness or pretending it doesn’t exist. Instead, it’s about holding up a mirror and asking: What within me needs healing, compassion, or transformation?

🔮 What Is Shadow Work?

The “shadow” is a concept rooted in psychology, often described as the unconscious parts of ourselves—fears, desires, wounds, and beliefs we’ve tucked away. For witches, shadow work is a spiritual practice that aligns beautifully with the cycles of the Earth and the wisdom of the Dark Goddess.

When we face our shadow, we:

• Acknowledge the pain and stories we’ve carried.

• Reclaim the energy we’ve hidden or suppressed.

• Integrate all aspects of ourselves into wholeness.

Shadow work is not punishment—it’s empowerment.

🕯️ Simple Shadow Work Ritual to Begin

You don’t need an elaborate setup to start. Here’s a simple way to open the doorway to your shadow:

You’ll Need:

• A black candle

• A mirror (hand mirror works fine)

• A journal and pen

Steps:

1. Light the black candle and place the mirror in front of you.

2. Take a few deep breaths and look into your own eyes in the mirror.

3. Ask yourself: What am I afraid of seeing in myself?

4. Let whatever rises come forward. Write it in your journal—without judgment.

5. Close with gratitude, snuffing out the candle and affirming: I honor all parts of me, light and shadow.

✍️ Journaling Prompts for Shadow Season

• What beliefs or patterns do I carry that no longer serve me?

• What emotions am I most uncomfortable with—and why?

• If my shadow could speak, what would it want me to know?

🌙 Why Start Now?

October is the perfect month to begin shadow work. The natural world is entering a time of release and death, reminding us that letting go is part of the cycle of life. As we build toward Samhain, the witch’s New Year, we prepare ourselves for renewal by making peace with what lingers in the dark.

This is just the first step. In the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into rituals for healing, working with ancestors, and transforming shadow into power—all leading up to a Samhain practice that ties it all together.