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Sitting here by the sea in
the beautiful August sunshine, my shadow sits
with me. Not crowding
my space, but just down and to the right shading
the pebbles on the shingle beach. The first
thing that occurs to me as I watch and wait
for inspiration to strike is that shadows
are naturally created by light, they are defined
by light and depend on light for their very
existence. So to understand the nature of
the shadow we must first contemplate and understand
the nature of light.
Light is information, expansion, warmth, heat
and love that is available to all. It is out
there in the open for all to see, it has many
facets both visible and invisible and contains
properties that even now we do not fully appreciate
or understand. Light is our very nature containing
the trinity of number, colour and sound and
all the movement in-between.
Light
is the truth of who we really are and when
our whole spectrum of being begins to become
lit from within then it is inevitable that
we will come into the awareness of our shadow.
The shadow therefore is an aspect of the light.
Just as the waves are an aspect of the sea,
the waves do not change the essential nature
of the sea, nor are they a negative aspect
in relation to the sea. Shadow is to light,
not an opposite and opposing force but a result
of light itself.
If
we are tempted to focus our attention solely
on the shadow, then we tend to see only the
imperfection of our-selves which is a limited
part of the story. There is a danger of missing
the big picture, the ‘light and shade’
that gives texture to our experience. After
all what would life be without the beauty
of dappled shadow on a sun filled day, there
would be no depth to our perceptions, no hidden
nooks and crannies to explore, no more opportunities
to play hide and seek!
Light
has created shadow as its gift. We step into
the shade of shadow to escape and be protected
from the glare of the sun, the heat that causes
change and transformation. By stepping back
into the shadows we step into safety of the
past, of habits and actions that have served
us, things that feel more comfortable for
us, the tried and tested ways of being that
we are not yet ready or willing to change.
Sometimes we embrace the shadow to slow down
the relentless transforming effect of the
sun.
Like plums not yet ready to experience the
prune or the droplet of water not yet ready
to merge into nothingness from whence it came.
The shadow is about choice and choosing the
quality of our experience according to our
deepest need. Our shadow is designed so that
we are unable to sit in it hide in it or under
it in fact our shadow is connected but not
attached. We may walk in another’s shadow,
walk in the shadows of other living creatures,
trees, houses etc. But we can never rest in
the shadow of ourselves, nor disconnect from
it.
It is interesting to observe that when we
stand in the shadow of another our own shadow
is temporarily obliterated. Whilst sheltering
in the shadows we can re-play, re-live, and
re-member until we are ready to venture on
again. To embrace the shadow is to dance over
the waves of time (maybe this where the coral
pomander comes in handy), to do the same thing
but perhaps choose to experience it slightly
differently.
Although
the shadows hold a wealth of interesting and
important experiences we must not lose our
sense of purpose. Part of the challenge that
occurs if we focus on resting in the shadows
for too long is that our eyes grow less accustomed
to the light. We become reluctant to expand
into the new and are in danger of losing the
definition of who we are in relation to the
light. If we are not careful, we begin to
forget that our shadow helps us to define
who we are as a whole but is not a creative
entity in its own right.
It
is apparent as you witness the movement of
light, that shadow and darkness are very different
energies and should not to be confused. Darkness
hides within the shadows where the boundaries
of shadow merge and blur, it thrives on secrecy,
fear, contraction, ignorance and mis-information.
The urge to merge into the shadows rather
than embracing the full force of the sun is
very tempting. It is easy to fall back to
sleep in the seductive shade of another’s
shadow to lose oneself in the shady maze of
illusion.
When
darkness is present and unlimited as it ever
can be in the world of shade then, the true
nature of an individual shadow can never be
seen. Without the safety of illumined definition,
darkness finds it easy to masquerade as shadow
and cause untold chaos to be perpetrated in
its name. As light workers we must be aware
of the possibilities.
Shadow
contains the energies of darkness within a
boundary, the boundary that perhaps, we as
souls have chosen to contain the alchemy of
experience that we need for this lifetime.
A non-intrusive and self-selective process,
I would guess! Maybe then the shadow aspect
of ourselves is a vehicle designed to enable
each soul to bring their chosen aspects of
darkness into balance with their own potential
of light.
Aura-Soma
and its gift of colour and light can help
us and help us to help others to crank up
the light level now needed for transformation
- by nurturing the inner-tuition and inspiring
the creative power with love. For in order
to see the true definition and purpose of
our shadow, we must first have the courage
(and be en-couraged) to step fully into our
own light.
‘There
is no such thing as darkness only a lack of
light’
Vicky Wall
The Energies of Colour and
Light
by Sue Shattock
Everything
is energy, even the keyboard on which I
am typing this is made up of millions of
tightly packed energetic parcels. So tightly
packed that the plastic feels firm and
solid under my fingers. Everything is made
up of this energy, bound together to a
greater or lesser degree, packed together
to make the world that we see around us.
We,
as human being are also made up of energies
and it is the free flowing nature of these
energies that help us to remain well and
free form dis-ease. Which is really another
name for free flowing energies becoming
blocked and stuck. These energy centres
are known as chakras.
If
we take the idea of chakra energy further
then a system such as colour consultation
can expand us into a fascinating world
of energy that is expressed through colour
and light. This energy extends into our
home environment and the areas where we
choose to spend our time. They say that
you can tell what sort of a person you
are by the company you keep and when we
look at the living space around us, our
inner self is reflected by our everyday
surroundings. That not only means the home
environment but the work place and where
we hang out with our friends. Talking about
friends it is also our relationships with
other people that reflect much about how
we see ourselves in the world.
The
wonderful thing about colour is that it
is a tool that can start helping and illuminating
any situation depending upon our intent
An Aura-Soma consultation for example can
be focussed on the home environment, on
the hidden soul aspects or anything else
that takes our fancy - for it is simply
a key to unlock the parts of ourselves
that are needing to be nurtured and loved.
Sometimes
we turn to our environment as a first unconscious
step to becoming whole within ourselves.
Colour consultation is not the new FengShui,
it is not really new at all, it is an ancient
system that brings old teaching for a new
age, whether it be through coloured bottles,
scarves, sprays or creative painting. Perhaps
you could say that it is a system perfectly
attuned to the moment that we are in.
So
let's just take a look at the possibilities
of seeing colour and light, not just as
shades and tints but as living energies
that affect our every day lives. Instead
of feeling that we have to introduce a
colour into our lives maybe be can explore
instead how to introduce the energy of
that colour instead. Energies are the fabric
of life and like Joseph and his amazing
technicoloured dreamcoat, our lives are
filled with hidden energies and energetics
that we often don't understand and cannot
comprehend. Maybe if we explored and understood
some of the feelings and energies related
to each colour we could empathise a bit
more with what our energy body really needs
and wants rather than guessing.
For
example take that craving we often have
for sugar or chocolate - those sweets that
we can't say no to. (Did you know there
is a colour association with yes and no
and I don't know? Well there is) Sometimes
we need the energy of a particular colour,
the problem is that we have no real idea
of the language of colour so we often misread
the signals. Sometimes, the reason we crave
the sugar is because we have gone for too
long without eating or we might have low
energy levels. Energy is very much connected
with the colour red, the colour we need
when our get up and go has got up and left.
Every single colour means something different. Isn't
it a lnaguage worth getting fluent!
The
home environment is a constant reminder
of how we are relating in the world. I
know that when things are chaotic, often
they are chaotic within, but the home environment
is only one aspect and we must look beyond
into the energetic illusions of the world
to help us. Sometimes the problem is that
there is so much going on! But in every
situation we would do well to keep remembering
that the greatest guide is within and although
the trend seems to be to ask others for
guidance and help, ultimately we can only
find our path by going within.
Because
the information outside of ourselves is
so prolific we naturally see the teachers
as having answers. And although the opportunity
to tap into inner answers is enhanced in
a group environment, it is only when a
individual holds his or her own centre
that the greater truth can emerge. Group
energy, when focussed on an individual
or a teacher who does not acknowledge the
power and importance of every member of
the group means that the danger is that
we keep going around in circles instead
of building up the momentum needed to create
an onward spiral.
If
we can apply this situation of creating
harmony within a group environment and
bring the principles into the home environment
maybe we can become aware enough to make
changes with the help that can be obtained
by things like colour and light
Colour
is a language that we can all learn and
it provides and opportunity to provide
ourselves with a non intrusive, self selective
way to help ourselves. It is a wonderful
stepping stone for us all but the ultimate
teaching of the colours is that we are
the colours and therefore have everything
within us that we need to grow. So it seems
important for us at this time to start
to release our own wisdom into the world
to enable each to read our own energy messages
and act on them for the future.
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