What Bad Sandy Can Teach Us About the Shadow
As we honor Olivia Newton-John’s departure this month, I’ve been thinking about Sandy. Her character in Grease showed good girls everywhere how to get in touch with their dark side. As a recovering good girl myself, this archetypal story resonates with me. Let’s review:
Good girl has summer fling with bad boy, says a teary farewell at summer’s end, coincidentally finds herself at boy’s high school in the fall, is rejected by bad boy, ridiculed by cool girls, falls into a depression, gets in touch with her shadow, undergoes a hot makeover, gets the guy and her life becomes a musical.
It’s all there.
Before and after.
Reclamation of the shadow.
Sandy’s descent into desire is a path to get curious about. Her template shows an uninitiated woman who is willing to feel uncomfortable things, face her own shadow, embrace her darkness and become self-realized in the process.
Know this: There is tremendous power in our darkness.
The concept of the shadow comes from Jungian psychology and refers to the parts of ourselves that we repress and deny. The ego is uncomfortable with the shadow self because it doesn’t fit its personal brand. Shadow work is the process of uncovering the parts of yourself that have been shamed and integrating them into your being. In essence, it is bringing your darkness into the light.
Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious, conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” That might look like, “This kind of thing always happens to me” or “I can’t believe I fell for another narcissist”. These old stories are under the surface running the show, taking up energetic and psychic space. These unfelt things don’t just go away on their own.
By going within and making what is unconscious conscious, you can free up energy which will allow you to tap into your aliveness and lead your most vibrant life.
The things we hide about ourselves — from ourselves — hold the medicine.
What if there was a way to go safely into the dark to reclaim these lost parts of yourself?
There is.
The VITA Coaching methodology I work with supports women to explore and integrate these lost selves. We’re constantly chipping off parts of ourselves as we move through life. The good news is that it’s possible to magnetize yourself back to the present and become whole.
Through the somatic experiencing I facilitate, we let the body lead the way. We use pleasure to help facilitate trauma release. It may sound counter-intuitive, but pleasure can melt away trauma. A spoonful of sugar, after all, helps the medicine go down.
That’s the journey that I’ve been on for the last decade. Excavating my underworld. Making peace with my darkness. Reclaiming my voice. And becoming a messenger, in true Gemini fashion. Gemini, after all, is the sign ruled by Mercury who is the messenger between the living and the dead.
Sometimes the dark is terrifying.
Sometimes it’s sexy as fuck.
Another way into the shadow may be to dress the part.
Last year I dressed up as Bad Sandy for Halloween. I donned a blonde wig, liquid leggings, a black leather jacket and bummed a cigarette. I adored who emerged in me. My man didn’t want to let me out of his sight.
It’s well known among performers that once they’re in costume, they can more easily channel the character’s essence. The quickest way to change your energy is to change your appearance.
What if you played dress up and let your shadow light the way? What if shadow work could be shadow play instead?
Are you up for a fun challenge? Go to your closet, tap into your shadow and ask her what she wants to wear. Let her decide. What would make her feel delectable? Put it on and see what happens. See who you become.
Maybe blondes have more fun. Or maybe they’ve just done more shadow work.
