Shadow Alchemy Writing Prompts: Core Exercises

Before you embark on the main shadow writing exercises, take a moment to ground yourself in what lies ahead. This section is your alchemical syllabus, a sequence of 31 deeper dives to build on the warm-up prompts and practice exercises you’ve already completed.

Here’s how to get the most out of this journey:

  • Mindful Progression
    Although the exercises are numbered, they’re not a rigid hierarchy. Feel free to follow the sequence, jump to what calls you most strongly, or circle back to any prompt that resonates. Revisit prompts that cover areas where you need more awareness.
  • Set Your Intention
    At the start of each new exercise, pause for a quiet moment. Breathe, recite your personal affirmation, and remind yourself of your commitment to yourself.
  • Journalling & Reflection
    Keep a dedicated notebook or digital file open. For each prompt, take at least five minutes to free-write any insights, emotions, or questions that arise.
  • Ground & Integrate
    Some exercises will stir deep emotion or vivid imagery. Always close with a grounding practice, like three deep breaths, a short walk, or a brief meditation, to anchor your experience in the present.
  • Honour Your Pace
    These aren’t homework assignments; they’re invitations. You may choose to tackle one exercise per week, one per day, or immerse yourself in several at once. Listen to your own rhythm.
  • Witness & Share
    If you’ve found a trusted companion for your shadow work, consider sharing key discoveries. Witnessing and being witnessed amplifies the healing and keeps you accountable.

Below you’ll find links to each of the 31 shadow writing exercises. Click any title to dive straight into the next chapter of your alchemical transformation.

Shadow Writing Prompts

Exercise NumberExercise
1Getting Stuck in the Past
2Personal Unconscious
3The Archetypes
4Coping Mechanisms
5The Inner Sanctum
6The Mirror of Relationships
7The Depth of Dreams
8The Collective Unconscious
9Taboos and Shadows
10Reprogramming Core Beliefs
11The Divine Feminine and Masculine
12The Projection of the Shadow
13Mortality and Impermanence
14The Alchemical Transformation
15Enter: Inner Critic
16Digging Up Repressed Memories
17The Power of Creativity
18Sacred Spaces and Rituals
19Paradox and Cognitive Dissonance
20Ancestral Shadows
21Exploring Attachment Styles
22The Hero’s Journey Within
23Silencing Negative Self-Talk
24When We Act Like Someone Else
25Pulling Back the Veil of Illusion
26The View from Above
27Transcending Time and Space
28Desensitising Triggers Using Reverie
29Mystical Revelations
30Identifying Manipulation in Yourself
31Celestial Alignments

Once you’ve worked through all 31 exercises, visit the Wrapping Up & Integration page. There, you’ll find guidance on weaving these insights into your everyday life, safeguarding your growth, and staying connected to the practice of shadow integration. When you’re ready, click below to step into the concluding rites of your transformation and celebrate how far you’ve come.

Go to Wrapping Up & Integration

 

 

 

 

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