This brilliant and comprehensive psychological work by Connie Zweig and Steve Wolf presents a convincing case for befriending our uncontrollable pleasures, unpleasant thoughts, and hidden fantasies. These two psychotherapists agree that "when shadow-work is invited into a life, the soul feels welcomed, alive in the gardens, aroused in passion, aware in sacred things." To romance the shadow is to practice light side, dark side thinking — to hold opposites together. It also means finding "gold in the dark side" by confronting our self-sabotaging behavior, reading messages in everyday events, and tapping the storehouse of creativity which lies within.

Zweig and Wolf begin with brief accounts of their own shadow work and then go on to examine shadow in family (secrets and stultification of soul), dating (looking for the beloved), romantic partners (shadow boxing), marriage (shadow dancing until death do us part), friends, work, and midlife. Throughout the book the authors use case histories and mythic tales to illustrate the dark side of the soul. Again and again, they explore the ways in which the urge for money, power, and sex carry the projection of the soul. Romancing the Shadow is a wide-ranging and eye-opening treatment of a complex subject.

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