Some people call it a “bad trip.”
Carl Jung might have called it shadow work.

Psychedelics and the shadow self are deeply connected. Psychedelics have a way of bringing hidden parts of ourselves to the surface – the emotions, memories, fears, and traits we usually avoid. Sometimes this can feel uncomfortable or confronting, but these experiences can also become powerful opportunities for healing, self-awareness, and emotional growth.

What Is the Shadow Self in Jungian Psychology?

The concept of the “shadow” comes from Jungian psychology. The shadow refers to the parts of ourselves we reject, suppress, or deny – traits we’ve learned are “bad,” unacceptable, shameful, or unlovable.

As we get older, we learn which emotions and behaviors are treated as acceptable and which are not. Over time this results in us hiding parts of ourselves in order to feel loved and accepted. However, these hidden parts come out to play when we are emotionally triggered or our confines of the ego start to fall down. Feelings of jealousy, shame, resentment, insecurity, or self-sabotage are often indicators of a deep trigger and a part of your shadow.

The shadow is not necessarily bad, it is simply our unconscious mind trying to protect us in situations we may no longer need protection. It is the parts of ourself we need to accept if we want to become fully actualized human beings.

Shadow work is becoming aware of these aspects of ourself without judgement or shame, but with understanding and acceptance. This helps us become:

  • Less emotionally reactive
  • More self-aware
  • More compassionate towards ourself and others
  • More authentic in how we operate in the world

The goal isn’t to make these parts of ourself disappear, but to integrate them into our conscious being so they no longer control us.

How Psychedelics and the Shadow Self Are Connected

Psychedelics can reveal the unconscious parts of our minds and separate us from the usual workings of our ego. They can reveal:

  • Emotional wounds
  • Suppressed grief
  • Insecurities
  • Unhealthy coping mechanisms
  • Internalized shame
  • Relationship patterns

These shouldn’t be labelled as negative aspects of ourselves, but rather as finally meeting unresolved emotional material and allowing yourself the space to digest it. While for some, this experience is a “bad trip,” it may simply be not being ready for this confrontation and not having the tools to deal with this depth of clarity.

Psilocybin mushrooms and magic truffles in particular can give the courage to lean into the discomfort and pain that might arise in shadow work without immediately avoiding it. This creates space between ourselves and our emotions as we can observe them without fully identifying with them.

While psychedelics are a seemingly reliable way to unlock our shadow selves, as they fundamentally change how we see and perceive our inner and outer world, they are not a panacea. They can bring to light deeply buried trauma or psychological wounds. As Jung warned, “beware of unearned wisdom.” The insight alone does not create transformation. The door may be opened to our shadow, but it is up to us to integrate and learn from this experience.

How to Practice Shadow Work After Psychedelic Experiences

Shadow work is less about finding out what is wrong with you, and more about understanding your emotional depth and losing your shame.

Observe Your Emotional Triggers

A strong emotional response can indicate the presence of your shadow – shame, jealousy, anger, insecurity. Ask yourself:

  • Why did it trigger me?
  • Have I felt this emotion before?

Using these prompts, see if you can connect this experience to an older experience or unmet emotional need from your childhood.

Journalling

Some prompts to connect with your shadow self include:

  • What traits in others bother me the most?
  • What parts of myself do I hide?
  • What was I praised for as a child?
  • What was I punished for?

Sometimes the traits we judge most harshly in others are the traits we unconsciously reject in ourselves.

Meditation

Meditation helps create a distance between your identity and ego with your observing, nonjudgmental self. This is the practice of learning to observe your thoughts without emotion and shame, but simply observing with curiosity.

How to Integrate Your Shadow After a Psychedelic Experience

Without integration, even the most profound psychedelic experiences can become confusing and create a desire to avoid or escape. Integration means asking yourself:

  • What did I learn about myself in this experience?
  • Why might I have these emotional and behavioral patterns?
  • What coping mechanisms once protected me but no longer serve me?

Shadow behaviors are often developed in response to survival – responses to fear, trauma, and shame. Understanding the totality of self and these “negative” aspects can slowly reduce their power over your life.

Integration Practices
  • Journalling
  • Therapy or coaching
  • Meditation
  • Time in nature
  • Honest conversations with loved ones
  • Microdosing with our McMicrodose Starter Kit

You will know when your shadow is integrating when you can be triggered by the emotions or behaviors of others and, instead of explosively reacting or feeling avoidant, you can accept the moment without pain or denial. You feel less shame and guilt, and the need to hide aspects of yourself begins to diminish.

Jung said that most psychological problems come from the shadow, so creating an understanding and acceptance of these parts of yourself can have rippling effects on your daily behaviors, attitudes, relationships, and emotions. For an alternate understanding, you can also read Shadow Work for Emotional Healing article.

The most important thing to know in this process is to go slow – not forcing change overnight, but gradually becoming more aware, compassionate, and honest with yourself.

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