Shadow Dance: Liberating the Power and Creativity of Your Dark Side

This book is excellent. I have read many self-improvement type books; most of them are written well but are superficial, or are deep and insightful, but are not written well at all. This book by Richio is the exception - it is well written AND very deep and insightful. The book is about recognizing the "shadow" element in us, bringing it to light, and then "befriending" it; that is, coming in terms with it and figuring out how to live a purposeful life despite our shortcomings. The perspective of the author is that of a Jungian psychologist with a slight Buddhist tinge. His analysis and explanations of why we act the way we do are right on target and I learned much from reading this book. The author has included several exercises at the end of each chapter, and almost all of them are very good and by going through them I learned many things about myself I did not know. While working through this book I kept a notebook, and wrote down several quotes from the book and wrote out all the exercises; altogether I wrote out about 250 pages! I found it best to go through this book very slowly, and don't rush through the exercises. I HIGHLY recommend this excellent and extremely insightful book, and I am very interested in reading more books by this author. If you are interested in doing your own self examination, buy this book now...you will gain many insights into your self, your hidden self, and the motivations which underlie your day to day behavior.

"To be human is to be born into the world with something to achieve, namely, the fullness of one's human nature, and it is through the virtues that one does so...the virtues are the only guarantee against a wasted life." -Paul WaddellShadow Dance is an easy to understand and very helpful text for those wishing to find and then befriend all those elements we don't like about ourselves, are afraid to admit or maybe even unaware. In addition, each chapter also provides exercises that allow us to search for and accept all our positive and untapped potentials that prevent us from living a genuinely satisfying life and engaging in authentic relationships withourselves and others. Shadow Dance is an exciting journey of mindfulness that takes you into the untapped areas of your mind and soul.

David Richo formerly practiced as a Catholic priest, and in this book he displays the true, original meaning of the word "catholic." His learning is truly ecumenical--he draws on his readings of the poets, Greek and other mythologies, Hinduism, Zen, and his experience of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the path into the dark parts of our human nature. Unlike many Catholic clergy whom I've met over the years, he is definitely not afraid of his shadow! Or yours or mine....he sees the shadow as containing great power and beauty, if we can only stop avoiding the teachings contained within it.The book contains essays which lead you down the path of doing "shadow work," with each essay followed by a section of journal exercises and topics to think about. These "to do" sections help the reader to work with the ideas in the book, rather than just read about them. Not all the exercises will appeal to everyone, but there is such a wide range offered in each section that there is surely something for every reader.My only problem with the book was that at times it was repetitive and wordy. However, Richo offers so much that is wise and profound that I readily forgave him and kept reading. One of the things I found most helpful in this book was his excellent chapter on the positive shadow, an idea with which I was unfamiliar. The positive shadow needs attention just as much as the negative, and providing that attention is pleasant work--thus it balances out the sometimes toilsome aspect of dealing with one's darker side.This is not a book to read and set aside. It's meant to be worked. The more people do this work, the more compassion and harmony there will be in our world.

Shadow Dance shines light on our darkest edges and gives us a way to accept and love ourselves and others to the nth degree. Following these practices can help us to release the excitement and personal power that give meaning to our daily existence. This truly is a book with the wisdom and practical know-how to change the world, one person at a time, one act at a time. A great book to gift yourself, and then to gift to others whom you care about.

This is without a doubt the best synthesis of major pathways to wholeness which I have yet to read. Dr. Richo pulls together the shadow concepts of Jung, the ways of Buddha and Christ, Zen meditation practices, the "mindful awareness" of Thic Nat Hahn, Joseph Campbell and mythology, the works of Shakespeare andpoets, smatterings of Islam and Freud--all this and more. And out of this amalgam, he constructs practical guideposts meant to help the individual on his or her way to wholeness or individuation. Having read the book through, I am now ready to begin "the practices" suggested by the author throughout the book's pages. All I can say is "thank you!"