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Existential Kink: Unmask Your Shadow and Embrace Your Power; A Method for Getting What You Want by Getting Off on What You Don't
A smart, sexy guide to embracing the repressed, tabooed, and often unwanted aspects of ourselves so we can discover our inner power and finally live the life we deserve.
“We always get exactly what we want; but often, though we may not be aware of it, what we most want is dark - very dark.”
Each of us has a dual we are light (conscious) and dark (unconscious). The dark side of our personality - the “other”, the shadow side - is made up of what we think is our primitive, primal, negative impulses - our “existential kink.” Our existential kink also drives the dark or negative repeating patterns in our always choosing the abusive partner or boss, settling for less, thinking that we’re undeserving, not worthy. But it also is the source of our greatest power.
In Existential Kink, Carolyn Elliot, PhD, offers a truth-telling guide for bringing our shadow into the light. Inviting us to make conscious the unconscious, Elliot asks us to own the subconscious pleasure we get from the stuck, painful patterns of our existence.
Existential Kink provides practical advice and meditations so we truly see our shadow side’s “guilty pleasures”, love and accept them, and integrate them into our whole being. By doing so, Elliot shows, we bring to life the raw, hot, glorious power we all have to get what we really want in our lives.
“We always get exactly what we want; but often, though we may not be aware of it, what we most want is dark - very dark.”
Each of us has a dual we are light (conscious) and dark (unconscious). The dark side of our personality - the “other”, the shadow side - is made up of what we think is our primitive, primal, negative impulses - our “existential kink.” Our existential kink also drives the dark or negative repeating patterns in our always choosing the abusive partner or boss, settling for less, thinking that we’re undeserving, not worthy. But it also is the source of our greatest power.
In Existential Kink, Carolyn Elliot, PhD, offers a truth-telling guide for bringing our shadow into the light. Inviting us to make conscious the unconscious, Elliot asks us to own the subconscious pleasure we get from the stuck, painful patterns of our existence.
Existential Kink provides practical advice and meditations so we truly see our shadow side’s “guilty pleasures”, love and accept them, and integrate them into our whole being. By doing so, Elliot shows, we bring to life the raw, hot, glorious power we all have to get what we really want in our lives.
- GenresPsychology
Audible Audio
Published March 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 31, 2025
Sitting with this one for now. I gave it 4 stars because while I deeply love the concept, I've often struggled with shadow work. This is shadow work on acid, so I'm still contemplating how I'm going to incorporate it into my life when I struggle with the basics! I'm willing to try though, great book. As above, so below. ✌️
October 22, 2025
Some interesting concepts, but it's very redundant and could have been greatly shortened and better organized. Still, it holds some valuable lessons
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews