Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche - Owning Your Own Shadow

I read one of Johnson's previous works, his memoir, Balancing Heaven and Earth, and I found it mildly substantive...it being a memoir, but I thought I would get something more valuable from this work. I have never, and I use this term honestly, been more disappointed. This book is a cut and paste of his other works and has, in its entirety, no value. I am an open-minded reader and I felt incredibly ripped off by this book. The one reviewer pointed out the constant reference to Christian theology, and I agree. It limits the scope of Jungian analysis to have so narrow a compass. Stick to the writings of James Hollis. This book makes me want to find a shredder. I DO NOT know how this piece of egotistical sermon deserved four stars. What an hypocrisy.

This book has some profound insights--truly meaningful. But the author's understanding of Christianity and the teachings of Christianity is so syncretistic with other religions and philosophies and colored by some of his own bad experiences and stereotypes that I would only recommend it for those who have a really solid theological understanding and can wade through the contradictory, competing philosophies/theologies that he seems to try to make one in the book. For example, his discussion of guilt and how to be free of guilt, while often quoting Scripture, completely misses the very core teaching of Jesus. Therefore, one is left with no solid basis upon which to deal with guilt other than a nebulous idea of integration of good and bad that is somehow more intelligent or helpful. I found some pieces of the book to be really helpful, fascinating and a few times he seems to accidentally understand Christian scripture within the realm of orthodox interpretation. But other times he imposes on the interpretation of Scripture ideas from Jung or eastern religions that are contradictory to Christian teaching forcing the meaning into what he wants to say and totally ignoring what the meaning is of the Scripture in it's context.

I couldn't quite understand this book maybe because it was too dark. Maybe someday down the road I will re-read this book again and get some understanding out of it but as for today I cannot make heads or tails of it.

This is what my book looked like, except the background was turquoise, not pink.
There is a school of thought that says we ALL have a shadow side that we try to sublimate or push down. It often comes up when we are partying & do something really stupid that we normally would never do. Or if someone is attracted to children, they act on it when the urge becomes too strong.
I believe the original idea comes from Carl Jung, but Robert A Johnson writes about it in "Owning Your Own Shadow.
He says that we all need to find a creative way to let our dark side out. Otherwise, we will be either self-destructive OR destructive of others.
Even before reading Johnson's book I had a sense of this idea. (Honestly, I don't really understand Jung so I sat mutely through many conversations with grad students when I was younger.)
When I went to Iceland at around 25 years of age, I discovered a country where everyone is encouraged to express themselves creatively, whether it be dance, painting or photography. (I didn't meet any writers, but I did visit a farm house that was filled with books!) Sadly, it occurs to me now as I write that most countries don't want us to feel good so they convince us that only the chosen few are artists. That way, they have plenty of unhappy young men (& now women too) who are willing to express their dark side by going to war. Also, content people don't buy as many products to try to make themselves happy.
Later, I discovered the Popul Vu, which is the Mayan bible. The Mayans believed that we are all little creators. The Popul Vu was filled with little creators of art, whether it was clay dolls they made or paintings or houses. I was fascinated with this idea.
Later, I went to Agape in LA, the one with Michael Beckwith. I learned there that we could heal and in the process, make art that expressed that healing. Rev, Michael's wife was the chorus director, as well as the musical director for the Agape International Spiritual Center and not only did the chorus travel the country (and sometimes the world), but Ricki Byers Beckwith brought musical groups to Agape every Sunday, often more than one.
The lesson I learned was "Don't try to push down your 'shadow side' or act it out by getting drunk and going home with a stranger." "Instead use that dark side to make the world a better place through your art."
These ideas may have saved my life!
Peace, love & Art,
Sherrie

This is a very good and easily accessible presentation of the shadow aspect of our psyche (the part of our conscious personality that has been rejected by the ego - often as a result of rejection by our family and society when we are growing up - and so becomes an uncomfortable and undesirable aspect of our sense of self). Johnson writes simply and sensitively and makes it extremely clear how the negative shadow will always equal out the positive we create and more willingly embrace, and so needs to be acknowledged and pacified not through acting out but through symbolic ritual (like with the Catholic Mass). He also writes about the golden (and often harder to accept) aspects of our shadow, as well as the related issues of projection and the overarching paradoxical nature of reality.

I've been studying these subjects for decades but this was the clearest and most practical presentation I have ever read, and made me appreciate how I have created positive (and playful) compensatory methods of integrating and placating my shadow in daily life. The shadow is, after all, the expression of both our deepest positive and negative qualities!

"This is one of Jung's greatest insights: that the ego and shadow come from the same source and exactly balance each other. To make light is to make shadow; one cannot exist without the other. To own one's shadow is to reach a holy place - an inner center - not attainable in any other way. To fail this is to fail one's own sainthood and to miss the purpose of life." (p.17)

"To consent to paradox is to consent to suffering that which is greater than the ego. The religious experience lies exactly at that point of insolubility where we feel we can proceed no further. This is the invitation to that which is greater than one's self." (p.94)

Very short read. Mostly talks about what the human shadow is, why it should be addressed, but doesn't go super in depth on how to address it. I enjoyed the explanation for what it was, but it explains a mandorla as a concept to use for healing (your light and dark overlapping, therefore healing can occur), and using ritual. He insightfully points out that the subconscious doesn't know real from unreal, so acknowledging your shadow by expressing it in a way that doesn't hurt anything is healing as well. Though short, i thought it was a satisfying read.

This is an uncomfortable read for anyone who thinks at all about they own behaviour. Everyone has a shadow - that is qualities in their personality which they are not aware of and which they often project on to other people. Anyone we meet and take an instinct dislike to could be the recipient of a shadow projection from us.

As human beings we tend to be very good at recognising other people's bad qualities while being totally blind to those same qualities in ourselves. The author makes clear that it is not just the unacceptable aspects of our own personalities which we project and we may be projecting qualities which could be of immense value in our own lives if we could only recognise and reclaim them.

We need to accept all of our own personalities and characters or we will constantly find them coming back to bite us in unexpected ways. This is a lifetime job and most of it will never completely acknowledge all of our own qualities but we need to make the attempt. A thought provoking read.

This was the first book by Johnson I read, though my mentors and teachers spoke of him often. The information about the mandorla was particularly helpful, giving a visual and archetypical model for holding the energy of the apparently opposite forces in a space of new possibility.

Johnson writes that if I can be with the opposites, at the point of their intersection and stay with my conflicting thoughts and impulses long enough, the two will teach each other something and produce an insight that serves both... produce something utterly new instead of win, lose or compromise.

The key appears to be that every real solution has to grow from the unique situation I face. Formulas, how-to's, devices and processes can never be enough in such moments. Referring to my own past for an experiential reference or to another's experience or advice can't do it, either, because it prevents or sidetracks the point of unlimited potential that wants to appear in and emerge out of each unique encounter.

I liked what Maria had to say in her post: "Meet your shadow", dated November 22, 2003. She said she gave it only 4 stars because he doesn't tell how to DO that is described as possible in the book... I felt a little of that, too. And I have since appreciated the blessing of not being told how until I've done a bit of my own struggle with my own opposites in many life situations.

A book I found to be a perfect companion to this one is "I of the Storm - Embracing Conflict, Creating Peace", by Gary Simmons. I highly recommend it in addition to this book. It addresses some of the questions I felt about the nature of conflict after finishing Owning Your Own Shadow, in a way that shed light into my life. I am very appreciative of both books.

This is an easy to read, intelligent, provocative summary of ideas relating to the worth and power of examining and honoring our "dark" side, both individually and culturally. Rather than vainly trying to split the two, which causes much of the unbalance in our life and world, the author points to the essentially sacred work of balancing our growth with a foot on each side of our nature. In this way, assent is truly transcendence, and heaven and hell together reach toward God. A short book, Johnson makes his points without undue fanfare or setup. The last chapter moves into statements that challenge initial comprehension, such as, "To make any well formed sentence is to make unity out of duality......One makes a mandorla every time one says something that is true." Yet, upon contemplative re-reading, a deeper sense of Johnson's meanings emerges. On whole, this is a bracing, friendly and yet serious account of Work that faces us all.

This little book offers ideas and images in helping to accept aspects of ourselves that needed to go underground/unconscious (ie: into a shadow). What we consciously accept and value stands on one end of a see-saw while something "opposite" rests on the other end. It talks about the importance of tolerating or holding the discomfort/tension of opposites until something emerges that includes both sides. For example, "Probably the most troublesome pair of opposites to reconcile is love and power - Power without love becomes brutal; love without power is insipid and weak - It is only too easy to embrace one at the end expense of the other; but this precludes the synthesis that is the only real answer - Failure invites a breaking apart - divorce, disunion, quarrel - What has paradox to do with shadow? It has everything to do with the shadow for there can be no paradox - that sublime place of reconciliation - until one has owned one's own shadow and drawn it up to a place of dignity and worth" (pages 89-90). Perhaps Stephen Covey touches on some of this when he quips "Two people can see the same thing, disagree, and yet both be right. It's not logical; it's psychological."

My biggest complaints here are that the information is VERY basic - like entry level Jungian psych. This is a book for laymen, not anyone with a serious interest for psych, for just that reason - you probably already know what is inside.

Also, the book is tiny. I pay $4 for a 300-400 page novel, and they want >$9 for this book? Waste of money.

The book had a lot of potential, but the authors seemed that they were simply skimming for money with these mini-books.

this book can't be read in a fundamentalist/superficial way. you can't learn about the 'shadow' from a philosophical/academic stand point. usually, the people attracted to this book are those who are looking for an explanation of what is already happening to them. there is no objective point of view of the shadow. it has to be experienced to be known. it's ok that not many will understand and get this book. but for those who need it, it is a game-changer.

this is not for those who are merely curios... this is for the ones who need answers to life-long questions about behaviors that can't be quantified by the conscious part of the mind.

My biggest complaints here are that the information is VERY basic - like entry level Jungian psych. This is a book for laymen, not anyone with a serious interest for psych, for just that reason - you probably already know what is inside.

Also, the book is tiny. I pay $4 for a 300-400 page novel, and they want >$9 for this book? Waste of money.

The book had a lot of potential, but the authors seemed that they were simply skimming for money with these mini-books.

this book can't be read in a fundamentalist/superficial way. you can't learn about the 'shadow' from a philosophical/academic stand point. usually, the people attracted to this book are those who are looking for an explanation of what is already happening to them. there is no objective point of view of the shadow. it has to be experienced to be known. it's ok that not many will understand and get this book. but for those who need it, it is a game-changer.

this is not for those who are merely curios... this is for the ones who need answers to life-long questions about behaviors that can't be quantified by the conscious part of the mind.

I am a therapist who comes from a Jungian perspective, but I would not yet call myself an "analyst." I am very impressed with Johnsons discussion on ones shadow. I found that it was a little off beat from classicaly Jungian thought, but not in any serious ways. I found his discussion of projecting ones shadow to be a great introduction. If however you have read Jung himself you will find the ideas fairly basic. The real strength of this work is the authors ability to reduce complex concepts into a form which can be so easily read.
The biggest error a reader can make is to try to read the book as a step-by-step manual. This book should be read for the big picture which appears when all of the details are assembled, otherwise the apparent contradictions will become very confusing. The reader would do well to remember that any discussion on the shadow is a discussion of opposites. You must therefore be able to focus on both opposites to understand the essence of the shadow. If you read other reviews you will notice that at least one of the reviewers seemed to be unable to make this leap.
I was surprised with the authors heavy use of Christian symbols. Normally Jungians draw from several spiritual systems with thier systems, but I suppose it fits with Christianities repeated attempts to demonize the shadow in the first place.

I am currently ordering from the store all the books by Robert A.Johnson, so this was the next one. This is a good general axplanation of the jungian concept of shadow illustrated, as it is usual in Johnson, with examples of western literature and art in general. The explanation of the mandorla (a typically mediaeval figure representing two circles that overlap, and that symbolizes the union of the opposites or paradox) is especially interesting. However, I have to give this book 4 stars because, after insisting so much on the importance of examining our shadow, honouring our shadow and balancing ego and shadow, he never gives a clue of how we can do do this.

One of my favourite books, especially about Jungian understanding. Any book by Robert A Johnson is a bur gem. This was part of my introduction to understanding the subconscious / shadow nature and letting go of old programs fears about such things. The perfect text for beginning to understand self and one's inner psychological nature.

Johnson provides many engaging illustrations of the shadow aspect of personality from myth, culture, history and religion. The "golden" shadow is also mentioned, that brightest and most noble aspect of ourselves often projected before it is integrated.

Johnson captures the relevance of shadow work for this time in a line on page 27: "Any repair of our fractured world must start with individuals who have the insight and courage to own their own shadow."

A must for those of us headed into an "ownership" society!

Robert A. Johnson, a Jungian analyst wrote a self-help book (I would hesitate to call it psychology) on discovering your shadowside, or the being not in your everyday awareness. Some call this demons, others reflections or perhaps repressed emotions or "drives." Whatever the case may be the book is a good introduction to Carl G. Jung himself on the subject of shadows, as well as helping oneself understanding and becoming aware of their own shadows that they may have repressed some time ago. Overall a short and sweet book.

Why does Johnson state that the Shadow is developed during the cultural process? --"we all are born whole and let us hope will die whole. But somewhere, early on our way, we eat one of the wonderful fruits of the tree of knowledge, things separate into good and evil, and we begin the shadow making process; we divide our lives." when Jung [addressing the concept of the Shadow as an archetype] specifically states in "Aion", chapter 3, the Shadow that "whereas the contents of the personal unconscious are acquired during the individual's lifetime, the contents of the collective unconscious are invariably archetypes that are present from the beginning". It appears to me that, if I am correct, Johnson mistakes the basic concept of the Shadow and his book is built on a false premise. I hesitate, as a layman, to make a statement critizing Johnson, but I am confused over what I see as a basic mis-statement of the nature of an archetype and would like someone to tell me why I must be wrong, thanks, John

I, too, picked this book largely because it had been recommended by Tori Amos. I didn't happen to care for the Christian slant but was able to ignore it for "the sake of finding the rest of the value of the book." I didn't agree with Johnson's thoughts on Nietzche --he is way off base with that one! It is a good introductory book, if you're looking for some (light) Jungian theory.

Johnson did a fine job explaining the shadow and what unholiness beats. However, the book is short of how one reconciles the shadow. How are the religious rites helping us express our shadow in an un harmful way. Also he could better explain the concept of projecting one's shadow onto another person, place, or thing.
BC 1/27/15

I have read Robert Johnson's autobiography, and have recently become intrigued by the concept of a "Shadow", so I looked forward to reading Robert's own thoughts on this particular archetype. I wasn't disappointed. The writing style is story-like, unfolding slowly right up until the conclusion. The only disappointment was the section on the Shadow in romantic relationships, which I don't think was covered particularly extensively. Nevertheless, the book was full of wisdom and insights into the role of the Shadow in our lives, and hammered home the important message that this archetype needs to be integrated into, not rejected from, our lives if we are to live holistically.

This was an easy read for someone trying to understand this part of their Phsycology. Understanding why we may suddenly become angry (and usually aim it at someone else). Helps us to have an understanding of creating balance and acceptance of all parts of ourself, good and bad, and how to creatively express the shadow self.Teach Yourself Jung (Teach Yourself)This book is a great companion and takes you to a different understanding of your self and the conscious and unconsious.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Owning Your Own Shadow. Johnson presents concepts in an easy to understand manner and in situations most people could relate to. I learned about myself when I read this book; I learned how to recognize my shadow. A quote from page 37 plainly demonstrates a concept everyone should understand, "You can refuse a shadow projection and stop the endless cycle of revenge if you have your own shadow under conscious control."

I just finished this book and recommend it to everyone. I love Robert Johnson's work, I've read several and want more! This one in particular really dives deep into the human psyche that we don't want to reveal, and brings us to the balance point. An insightful way to look not only at the human way of being, but at all of life. We all have a dark, light and middle ground.

After reading the back cover, you'd expect this book to be an analysis of the psyche from a Jungian perspective. Well, you will have been fooled. It's actually a Christian sermon, and if you're not a Christian, you may find the book offensive. A few examples:
Page ix: "Nazareth is now holy to us, the birthplace of the Savior;" Who is "us"?
Page 5: "This is our legacy from having eaten of the fruit of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden." Whose legacy?
Page 70: "If one were to possess it, one would likely announce that he was God, or equally outlandish, that God was dead. Nietzsche came perilously close to this and paid for it with his sanity." So if one questions the existence of God, one risks going insane? The more prosaic - and accurate - explanation is that apparently Nietzsche had untreated syphilis and this is what led to his mental breakdown.
Page 73: " . . . we must stop and honor the divine as the source of all relationship." So if someone doesn't believe in a Christian god, they don't deserve to be in a relationship?
Page 114: "Christ himself is the intersection of the divine and the human. He is the prototype for the reconciliation of opposites and our guide out of the realm of conflict and duality." Whose guide? Is Johnson saying that because one is not a Christian, he or she is doomed to live in conflict for the rest of his or her life?

Don't say I didn't warn you.

My therapist always had great book recommendations, and this is one of them. I actually went on to read Robert Johnson's "We" and "She" because of this book. It's a very insightful book, and it isn't too heavy on the psychological jargon for someone who isn't studying to be a therapist or psychologist. Easy to understand and filled with stories and references to myth that make it engaging as well. I've recommended his books to lots of friends who are struggling with themselves or relationships...or both.