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Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow: Magickal Tools and Tarot to Confront Your Fears and Free Your Potential
Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow provides the tools and guidance necessary to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing with the added benefit of using magickal tools as a way to gently explore the depths of our psyches—both challenging (the dark) and positive (the golden).
Shannon Knight’s approach to shadow work is deeply rooted in secular, therapeutic, and psychological principles, but she recognized the valuable role that magick, archetypes, and symbolism play in this process.
Unlike other books on the subject, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow incorporates the use of tarot as a prominent tool that serves as a method of self-reflection, offering a portal to our subconscious and helping us access parts of ourselves that we otherwise may have been unable to. The imagery and archetypes help facilitate a dialogue with our shadow, making it easier to converse with the repressed and hidden parts of ourselves.
To create harmony and reduce tension between the logical and mystical aspects of ourselves, we need to be curious about multiple ways of being, experimenting with how these impact us—for better or for worse—and then figuring out what to do with this information. Through exercises, techniques, and insights, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow allows you to gently explore the depths of your psyche, uncover different parts of yourself, and navigate the path toward greater self-acceptance. It’s the ultimate process of “looking in the mirror.”
Shannon Knight’s approach to shadow work is deeply rooted in secular, therapeutic, and psychological principles, but she recognized the valuable role that magick, archetypes, and symbolism play in this process.
Unlike other books on the subject, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow incorporates the use of tarot as a prominent tool that serves as a method of self-reflection, offering a portal to our subconscious and helping us access parts of ourselves that we otherwise may have been unable to. The imagery and archetypes help facilitate a dialogue with our shadow, making it easier to converse with the repressed and hidden parts of ourselves.
To create harmony and reduce tension between the logical and mystical aspects of ourselves, we need to be curious about multiple ways of being, experimenting with how these impact us—for better or for worse—and then figuring out what to do with this information. Through exercises, techniques, and insights, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow allows you to gently explore the depths of your psyche, uncover different parts of yourself, and navigate the path toward greater self-acceptance. It’s the ultimate process of “looking in the mirror.”
- GenresSpirituality
208 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 30, 2026
This book combines two of my very favorite things, tarot and depth psychology, and it's absolutely blowing my mind. Thank you, Shannon, for writing this absolute gem! I will return to this book always! I highly recommend Shannon's podcast, "The Tarot Diagnosis," which led me to her book.
February 22, 2026
If you’re anything like me and immediately hit play whenever a new episode of The Tarot Diagnosis drops, picking up Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow by Shannon Knight feels like a natural extension of that experience. This book carries the same thoughtful blend of psychology and tarot that makes the podcast so compelling, but invites you to slow down and turn that lens inward.
What stood out most to me was how approachable the shadow work felt. As someone who has been steeped in both psychology and tarot for years, I appreciated that Shannon doesn’t oversimplify the concepts but also doesn’t let them get lost in academic heaviness. Instead, she creates this grounded, compassionate space where exploring your shadow feels less intimidating and more like a conversation with yourself you’ve been putting off.
The exercises and tarot prompts were easily my favorite part. They felt intentional and reflective rather than performative, offering real entry points into self inquiry. There were moments where a spread or journal question hit a little too close to home in that “okay wow, I see what you did there” kind of way, which is exactly what I want from shadow work. The balance between acknowledging the dark and honoring the golden shadow added a refreshing sense of hope and integration instead of staying stuck in the heavy.
Overall, this felt like sitting with Shannon’s voice and guidance in a quieter, more personal setting. It’s insightful without being overwhelming, affirming without bypassing, and practical in a way that makes you want to keep your tarot deck and journal within reach long after you finish a chapter.
If you love psychology informed tarot, gentle but honest shadow work, and that signature Tarot Diagnosis depth, this one will absolutely earn a spot on your shelf and probably end up full of sticky notes.
What stood out most to me was how approachable the shadow work felt. As someone who has been steeped in both psychology and tarot for years, I appreciated that Shannon doesn’t oversimplify the concepts but also doesn’t let them get lost in academic heaviness. Instead, she creates this grounded, compassionate space where exploring your shadow feels less intimidating and more like a conversation with yourself you’ve been putting off.
The exercises and tarot prompts were easily my favorite part. They felt intentional and reflective rather than performative, offering real entry points into self inquiry. There were moments where a spread or journal question hit a little too close to home in that “okay wow, I see what you did there” kind of way, which is exactly what I want from shadow work. The balance between acknowledging the dark and honoring the golden shadow added a refreshing sense of hope and integration instead of staying stuck in the heavy.
Overall, this felt like sitting with Shannon’s voice and guidance in a quieter, more personal setting. It’s insightful without being overwhelming, affirming without bypassing, and practical in a way that makes you want to keep your tarot deck and journal within reach long after you finish a chapter.
If you love psychology informed tarot, gentle but honest shadow work, and that signature Tarot Diagnosis depth, this one will absolutely earn a spot on your shelf and probably end up full of sticky notes.
April 21, 2026
It was good
January 30, 2026
This was such a satisfying read. It's one of the few books that I enjoyed simultaneously reading and working through the exercises. And the exercises hit home. It's something I'll use as a reference and return to. I love that Knight works with the dark and the golden shadow because that provides a fuller picture of the card and aspects of the Self. There's something hard to look at, something positive to take away, and always something to reflect and work on. And not the sort of "work" where there's something wrong with you that needs fixing. There's no blame or shame, just you continually learning, understanding, evolving.
As she writes, "Tarot can be a powerful tool for exploring the shadow because it allows us to externalize our internal struggles and engage with them in a more tangible, accessible way."
As she writes, "Tarot can be a powerful tool for exploring the shadow because it allows us to externalize our internal struggles and engage with them in a more tangible, accessible way."
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews