Shadowdancing: Fear as a pathway to transformation

This article explores the toxic dynamics of our public sphere today through a lens of the inner, soul-psychological work necessary to alter human reactivity to the sensations of fear. It employs a playful term, shadowdancing, (i) to invite curiosity into what we do not know that we do not know, (ii) to deepen our perceptions of self and other through the natural and avoidant use of projection, and (iii) to examine the ancient-new wisdom of the circle way as a “container” in which to lean into the collective dance of shadow and projection. Rooted in Jungian and object-relations psychological perspectives, each term is defined and examined in the hope of inviting fear to become a pathway to transformation within, and in circle-way gatherings of those willing. Guiding principles of invitation, not obligation; every voice is equal; catching courage from one another; and presume goodwillattempt to pique interest in finding ancient and new ways of becoming more and more conscious, and less and less reactive to the overwhelming flows of fear in our world today.