Do the Shadow Work: And Find Lasting Self-Love and Acceptance

by Charlie Morley

Learn what shadow work really is and how to reclaim and integrate your shadow self for healing and personal growth.To do the shadow work is to face all the parts of yourself you might not like – the bits that make you embarrassed or feel lonely or shameful. In this transformative guide, Charlie Morley will show you how to really look at who you are, to hold yourself accountable, and uncover the stuff you’ve hidden away or suppressed due to pain or trauma.Integrating ancient techniques with contemporary spiritual and psychological practices, this book offers a roadmap to embrace your shadow to finally learn to truly love every single part of yourself. You will shadow work is and isn’tThe different types of shadow, such as the golden shadow, the ancestral shadow, and the sexual shadowThe transformative advantages of shadow work, such as healing the inner child, moving through shame, and finding self-love and acceptanceFull of practical exercises, visualizations, and meditations, Do the Shadow Work will take you on a life-changing journey to befriend your shadow self and reach your highest potential. This is how you heal.Parts of this book appeared in Dreaming Through Darkness ( 9781781807354).

Genres: Psychology

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[LH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful book! Near the end of his introduction to the book, Charlie states "In writing this book I have set out to reveal the truth of my own shadow too, fully and authentically, as a way of inspiring others to do the same ... I believe it is vital that I unmask myself fully if I am to ask you to do the same."
Having attended several of Charlie's live workshops and also his online meetups, I can vouch for the fact that these words sum up Charlie as a person, as a teacher, and a writer.
Even though I already have the prior version of this book, Dreaming Through Darkness (another wonderful book!) which, as Charlie points out in his Author's Note at the beginning, has a wider focus than this "abridged and fully revised version," after some thought, I chose to purchase and read this one as well, because, having been on his workshops (one focused on Shadow Work and one focused on Lucid Dreaming), I am aware of how Charlie's perspective on the vital importance doing the tough shadow work has evolved over the years since he wrote Dreaming Through Darkness and I wanted to read this newer book, both for the additional new practices included here and to immerse myself in Charlie's sharing of his deepened understanding and experience of doing serious shadow work, both for one's individual growth and integration, as well as a path towards practicing greater kindness and compassion towards all with whom we come into contact.
And, in reading this new book, I'm finding the shifted emphasis (interweaving of lucid dreaming practices as tools to shadow work, rather than the other way around) is very appealing and empowering to me personally.

[Irfan Kortschak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Work is vital for ... well, everyone really. But particularly if you are involved in any sort of spiritual practice. You can sit on your arse on a mat for eight hours a day, and if you don't deal with your shadow, it will still be there when you leave the meditation hall. In fact, your meditation practice may be feeding your shadow and making it stronger. It's like gravity: it isn't going to go away, so you might as well make friends with it.

I really liked Charlie's book. He's a good story teller, he knows his stuff. There's a bit of theory, some stories, but the exercises are best of all. Not all of them worked for me, but even when they didn't, I gave some of them a shot. Hmm. Talking to myself in the mirror, wearing a mask, about my sex life every day for ... I forget, but I did it. It was quite difficult, and I didn't really reach any sort of break through. Still, interesting. The one about interviewing parents to get their story, to find out your own story, worked brilliantly.

I'm interested to see that Charlie has omitted the stuff on lucid dreaming. Interesting. I wonder why he did that? I can see why he doesn't want to focus exclusively on achieving lucidity while dreaming, he was already moving away from it with his "mindfulness of sleep and dreaming" thing.

Good book. Good exercises. Accessible writing style. Recommended.

[Tristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing about the complexities of shadow work is not easy. It is such a unique and personal experience with so many individual layers that change from person to person (and at different times in our lives as well!). Charlie Morley's book tackles all of these layers with clarity, kindness and empowerment. He is also very transparent and honest about his own shadow integration which is so impressive and definitely the sign of a brilliant shadow worker and teacher. My only critique is that the exercises could go even more deeply into the darkness. It was almost like he didn't want to push things too far for the beginners? But regardless of that, if you are new to shadow work or are just beginning, this book definitely has something to offer you.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[KAPP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just started this and loving it. Like all of Charlie's books it is easy to read. It is full of fantastic exercises and awesome insights.