Standing whole in the first light is not about erasing the dark. It is about integrating every part of yourself and letting the sunrise touch it all. Shadow work ends not in fixing, but in freedom. You are not light despite your darkness. You are light because of it.

Shadow work begins not by silencing discomfort but by listening to it. In this opening post of Week 2, we explore the voice beneath the surface — the hidden truths, unmet needs, and exiled parts that speak through our darkness — and learn how dialogue transforms inner conflict into growth.

We chase what we hate in others, only to discover it’s often what we’ve disowned in ourselves. This piece explores projection as a psychological map, guiding us toward deeper self-understanding. By following our judgments inward, we turn shadow into insight and transform “the stranger” into a part of home.