Poem-Shadow Self and Learning About Shadows-Response to Word Prompt of Week 22
I love poetry. I am a lifestyle enthusiast and like to write articles and poems on lifestyle changes that benefit people.
Word Prompts Help Creativity-week 22
Brenda, esteemed author and a great poet herself, encourages us in our poetic journey by giving us word prompts every week. We can come up with either a poem, song, short story. This week Brenda gave us the word prompt ‘Shadows’. The moment I saw this prompt, I was reminded of the method we adopted to remove the fear of the dark and the shadows on the wall for my granddaughter. So I decided to write about it so that it may be of help to other parents of small children who may have to deal with their child’s fear of the dark and shadows.
My first poem is an acrostic poem.
This acrostic poem is about overcoming the hidden fears and anxieties by communicating with our inner shadow self to overcome the repressed feelings hidden in our subconscious. This way we can overcome the darkness within us and realize our true potential.
What is Shadow Self?
Famous psychologist Carl Jung defined our shadow as the dark side of our personality that is full of uncertainty and governed by base level animal type instincts. He was deeply invested in the research of ancient esoteric knowledge and spiritual scriptures to not only treat the mind but also the soul of man.
As per the psychologist, this concealed energy which is a part of the individual’s shadow is kept secret, locked away in the subconscious sometimes this shadow appears in our dreams. When we are able to connect with this shadow, we can recognize what we are holding back or repressing and address it. This way it can be a positive effect, freeing us and letting us enjoy life.
We all have different traits that make up our overall character. They are a combination of good and bad thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Every person’s character with his or her own mental and moral qualities is unique. These in turn influence our behavior in situations we face daily and the way we interact with people.
Among the different traits, one is more dominant which influences all our behavior and our overall nature. Other people recognize us due to this dominant trait. When we connect with our inner shadow self, we can successfully transform repressed parts of ourselves, creating more psychological and spiritual balance. Many spiritual seekers believe that all the negative qualities within ourselves can be transcended when we awaken our higher selves, or work through our karmas or become more enlightened.
Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life.
— C. Zweig & S. Wolf
Secret Shadow Self-An Acrostic Poem
Secret shadow self
Hidden in your subconscious
Allow it to speak to you
Discover your potential
Overcome the darkness
Work to bring out the best in you.
Fear of Shadows in Children
Small children are often afraid of the dark, and of the shadows on the wall. It is believed that children up to age six have difficulty telling the difference between the real and imaginary. So naturally when they see the shadows on the wall, they imagine fearful things and get scared. Many parents use shadow puppets nowadays to remove such fears in children.
These puppets can easily be made at home by cutting shapes out of black paper and attaching them to craft sticks. A kid friendly flashlight and a dark room are also needed. Create a lighted area on a wall with the flashlight in a dark room and show the child how the puppets cast shadows on the wall.
By describing how the light creates this shadow and how sometimes things look scary though in reality they are not, the child’s fear of shadows can be addressed. It is a form of play together with learning for children. Moreover, playing with shadows is great for developing focus, motor skills and self-control for young children. It also opens a whole world of imagination for them and is easily accessible as long as there is sun shine.
A Fun Way to Learn About Shadows
I decided on a fun way to teach my granddaughter about shadows. On our visit to the park on a bright day, I described to her how shadows are made and we had fun playing with our shadows. She learnt how shadows show the shapes of objects. We danced with the shadows and then took pictures of our antics. Her furry friend Ambar added to the entertainment when she tried to chase the shadows. We had a memorable, fun outing and some education that day at the park. This poem is about our visit to the park and how along with the fun, it was a learning experience about shadows for the child.


Poem-Learning About Shadows
On a bright sunny morning
I took out my camera
And along with my little girl
Went on a fun trip to the park.
She was fascinated by the shadows
She saw of things at the park
Of swings and lampposts
Of herself in different poses
And of her little furry friend.
We took pictures of the objects
And the shadows they made
While Ambar chased the shadows
She had fun running behind her pet.
Later we printed the pictures
And she enjoyed matching
The shadow to its picture
We called it the shadow game.
A fun way to learn about shapes
And the shadows they make
Also learn to be proud
Of her own unique shape.
She picked a picture
Of her own favorite pose
And added it to her scrap book
To gift it to her dad on his next birthday.
© 2021 VIDYA D SAGAR