Season of Self: Shadow Work and the Path to Renewal
Embracing the lessons of winter’s darkness to clear space for growth and transformation
We’re entering the final phase of winter, where the cold, dark days ask us to continue shedding, examining, and uncovering the deeper truths we often avoid. This is shadow work—the practice of acknowledging the parts of ourselves we’ve suppressed, ignored, or been ashamed of. As we move toward spring, we do this work not just to sit in the darkness, but to clear space for renewal and rebirth.
This next phase of the Season of Self series will guide us through the shadow and into the light, offering reflections, practices, and prompts that allow us to embrace our full selves—flaws, fears, and all.
A Note on Patience with the Process
Shadow work can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, the truths we uncover are heavy, and the shedding process feels like an unraveling of everything we thought we knew about ourselves. But it’s important to remember: this work doesn’t happen all at once, nor should it. Shadow work is a process of trust—trusting that every layer we peel back brings us closer to wholeness, even if we can’t see it right away.
I remember a time when I was frustrated, certain I wasn’t making any progress. I had been journaling, meditating, and reflecting, but it felt like I was stuck in the same emotional cycle. I couldn’t see any signs of “healing.” But months later, in an unexpected moment, I realized I had responded to a familiar situation in a completely different way—with peace instead of anger, with clarity instead of confusion. The work had been working beneath the surface all along.
This is the quiet magic of shadow work—it changes us in ways we don’t always notice until we’re ready to see it.
Reminder: Be patient with yourself. There’s no rush to “heal” or “fix” anything. Trust that the work you’re doing now will bloom when it’s meant to.
A Reminder of Collective Healing
You’re not meant to do this work alone. Shadow work, while deeply personal, is also deeply communal. Many of the shadows we carry—shame, fear, and the need to overachieve—are products of the systems we live under. When we share our stories, we lighten the load, dismantling the illusion that we are meant to carry our burdens in silence.
I think back to the many healing circles I’ve been a part of, spaces where people gather and share what they’re carrying. Every time someone speaks their truth aloud, something shifts—not just within them, but within everyone listening. We realize we’re not alone in our struggles, that our shadows are not unique to us, and that there’s collective power in acknowledging them.
Practice: Find a trusted community, whether it’s a close friend, a group, or a safe online space, and share one thing you’re working through. Sometimes, saying it aloud is the first step to releasing its hold. I invite you to join the Make Shi(f)t Happen Online Healing Community
The Power of Seasonal Energy
Just as winter is a time of rest and hibernation in nature, it’s a time for internal rest and exploration within ourselves. Honor this season’s invitation to slow down, even if it feels like you’re not “doing enough.” The work of winter is invisible, but its impact will bloom when spring arrives.
One of my favorite winter rituals is lighting candles and sitting by the window with my journal or a cup of tea. I let the stillness of the season guide me. There’s something comforting about knowing that the trees are resting, that the earth is quietly regenerating, and that I, too, am allowed to rest without needing to “produce” anything.
Create your own winter ritual: Light a candle, wrap yourself in a blanket, and sit quietly with your thoughts. Let the season remind you that rest is not an interruption of growth—it’s part of it.
The Gifts of Shadow Work: Gratitude for the Shadows
Thank the parts of yourself that have been brave enough to emerge in this season. Shadow work isn’t about rejecting the darker parts of ourselves—it’s about embracing them as part of our humanity. By meeting them with compassion, we integrate them into our journey, allowing them to guide us rather than control us.
I’m still learning to thank the parts of me that I once resented. The part that feels anger when I’m disrespected—it’s trying to protect me. The part that feels afraid when I take a risk—it’s trying to keep me safe. When I meet these parts with gratitude instead of judgment, they soften. They don’t disappear, but they lose their power to control me.
Reflection: What part of your shadow has been showing up recently, and what message might it be trying to send you? How can you meet it with gratitude instead of resistance?
Outline for the Next Few Articles
1. The Shadow Knows: Embracing What We’ve Suppressed
We’ll dive into what we’ve hidden and why, exploring how to meet these parts of ourselves with curiosity rather than judgment.
2. Shedding What No Longer Serves: The Art of Letting Go
Just as trees shed their leaves, we’ll reflect on the stories, habits, and identities that no longer serve us and practice releasing them.
3. Reclaiming Power: The Shadow as a Source of Strength
We’ll explore how the parts of ourselves we once feared or avoided can actually become sources of wisdom and strength.
4. Preparing for Renewal: Setting Intentions with Clarity
As spring approaches, we’ll shift into setting intentional, aligned goals rooted in self-awareness, not pressure or perfectionism.
A Vision of Renewal and Integration
Imagine entering spring not with the weight of unresolved shadows but with the lightness of clarity and self-acceptance. Shadow work isn’t about “fixing” ourselves—it’s about making peace with who we are so that we can grow into who we’re meant to be.
May this season be a reminder that even in darkness, there is growth. Even in shedding, there is renewal. And even in the parts of ourselves we’ve tried to hide, there is wisdom waiting to be reclaimed.
If you’ve been following along, you know that this series is designed to take us through the work of winter—shedding, releasing, and making space for the cycles of spring renewal. Mondays are free for everyone, but to dive into the exclusive heart of this work, I invite you to join as a paid subscriber. And if finances are a barrier, please email me at scholarships@desireebstephens.com, because this work should be accessible to everyone.
Let’s continue this journey together—uncovering, shedding, and planting the seeds of a new season. ✨
In solidarity and liberation,
Desireé B. Stephens CPS-P
Educator | Counselor | Community Builder
Founder, Make Shi(f)t Happen