It's All Shadow work
Exploring the Sacred Grief of What Was Lost, What Must Be Released, and What We Are Called to Reclaim
It’s All Shadow Work: Holding the Grief of Colonization and the Hope of Decolonization
Grief is a universal experience, yet it often remains misunderstood, especially when it comes to the layered and collective grief tied to colonization and the ongoing work of decolonization. This Grief Awareness Week, we are invited to reflect not only on personal loss but also on the historical, cultural, and generational losses that continue to shape our world today.
Colonization has left a legacy of fractured identities, disconnection from ancestral roots, and the painful erasure of cultural practices. This grief, often unspoken and dismissed, lives in our bodies, our communities, and the systems we navigate daily. At the same time, the journey of decolonization—the process of reclaiming, unlearning, and rebuilding—is equally marked by profound grief.
To decolonize is to mourn what has been stolen, to let go of internalized systems that no longer serve us, and to face the vulnerability of imagining a liberated future. It is a process steeped in loss, but also in love—love for what was, what could have been, and what might still be possible.
As we explore the grief of colonization and decolonization, may we honor it as sacred, transformative, and necessary for collective healing and liberation.
Grief Awareness Week offers a profound opportunity to reflect on a less-discussed yet deeply resonant form of grief—the grief of colonization and the grief of decolonization. Colonization is not just an act of land theft or cultural erasure; it is an ongoing process that disrupts the connection between individuals, communities, and their ancestral roots. The healing process, decolonization, is equally layered with grief as we let go of internalized systems, mourn the loss of what was taken, and navigate the vulnerability of rebuilding.
Shadow Work and Liberation
Shadow work is the act of exploring and integrating the hidden, suppressed, and often painful parts of ourselves. In the context of colonization, shadow work takes on a collective and historical dimension, inviting us to uncover the deep wounds inflicted by colonial systems and to mourn what has been lost.
Colonization forces individuals and communities to suppress parts of themselves to survive. Shadow work in this context means grappling with the internalized messages of unworthiness, shame, or inferiority and understanding how those shadows manifest in our lives today.
But it’s not just personal; colonization creates a collective shadow—the parts of history, culture, and systemic oppression that remain unacknowledged. Decolonization, then, becomes shadow work on a societal scale, bringing those hidden truths to light and creating space for both mourning and imagining liberated futures.
For White-Bodied People: Reckoning with What Was Lost
White-bodied people often view colonization as something they have benefitted from, but it is also important to reflect on what has been lost in the process of Christianization and colonization. Many white communities were severed from their indigenous European practices, languages, and spiritual systems. These losses, though different in scope and nature, form a part of the collective grief that must be acknowledged to engage in true decolonization.
However, it is essential to recognize that decolonization is distinct from anti-racism work. Anti-racism is often a logical journey of learning the dos and don’ts, the how-tos of dismantling oppressive behaviors and systems. It is a necessary and vital process, but it operates primarily at the intellectual and systemic levels.
Decolonization, by contrast, is an embodied, ongoing practice. It requires white-bodied people to confront their internalized superiority and reckon with the ways in which they’ve been shaped by supremacy culture while simultaneously addressing its external impacts. This work is slower, deeper, and profoundly personal—it is shadow work in its truest form, where one must grapple with grief, identity, and the vulnerability of rebuilding what has been lost.
Decolonization is not just about addressing harm; it is also about reclaiming humanity—both one’s own and that of others. For white-bodied people, this means reconnecting with their ancestral roots in ways that do not appropriate but instead honor the traditions and practices that existed before colonization took hold.
The Grief of Colonization
Colonization inflicts a form of generational trauma that manifests as:
Disconnection from Ancestors and Cultural Practices: Colonialism systematically erased languages, spiritual practices, and traditions, leaving many without a sense of cultural belonging.
Displacement: Both physical (forced migration) and emotional displacement occur, severing ties to homelands and shared histories.
Internalized Oppression: Colonized peoples are conditioned to reject their identities, leading to self-hatred, shame, and a fragmented sense of self.
Community Fracture: Colonial systems foster division—colorism, caste systems, and socioeconomic stratification—that break collective solidarity.
This grief is often compounded by the invisibilization of these losses, where colonized peoples are expected to “move on” or assimilate, perpetuating unacknowledged pain.
The Grief of Decolonization
Decolonization is not just liberation; it is also a grieving process. The work of reclaiming what has been lost often reveals:
The Weight of What Was Taken: Fully reckoning with the scale of loss—languages, lands, ancestors, and opportunities—can be devastating.
Letting Go of What No Longer Serves: Dismantling internalized supremacy, perfectionism, and productivity-as-worth can feel like a loss, especially when these systems provide a false sense of security.
Rebuilding in Uncertainty: Decolonization often means stepping into the unknown—building practices and systems from fragments of memory and imagination.
Tension in Relationships: As individuals decolonize, there may be grief in witnessing loved ones resist or reject this path.
Honoring Grief in the Process of Liberation
Grief, in both colonization and decolonization, is a sign of love—for what was lost, for what could have been, and for the possibilities that remain. Here are some ways to hold space for this grief:
Acknowledge Grief as Sacred: Grief is a natural, necessary response to loss. By honoring it, we resist the colonial demand to suppress emotions and “move on.”
Reclaim Rituals: Incorporate cultural or ancestral grief practices, such as storytelling, ceremony, or communal mourning, as part of your decolonization process.
Connect with Community: Healing grief is not an individual journey. Build circles of support to share stories, hold space for emotions, and collectively imagine liberated futures.
Engage Somatic Practices: Grief lives in the body. Practices like breathwork, movement, or grounding rituals can help process the heaviness.
Allow Grief to Transform: While grief is heavy, it can also fuel growth and connection. Channel it into action, creation, and reclamation.
Grief Exercises and Journal Prompts for Colonization and Decolonization
Grief is not just emotional; it’s embodied, layered, and complex. These exercises and prompts are designed to help you hold space for your grief, process it in meaningful ways, and move toward healing with intention.