Shadow Dance

Rating:
Summary: A LOVING LOOK AT OUR DARKNESS AND OUR LIGHT
Review: "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 Waddell

Shadow 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.

Rating:
Summary: Teachings on how to make peace with ourselves, and the world
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Teachings on how to make peace with ourselves, and the world
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: An act of compassion and love in the form of a book.
Review: David Richo has written what I believe is the most comprehensive book I've ever read on the subject of the human shadow, both personal and collective. This is not a quick read however since Shadow Dance is richly loaded with information that takes time to digest. It is a journey to the depths of soul as well as a thorough guidebook for that journey. It is uplifting with numerous positive ideas and programs to assist in the transformation of our seemingly negative qualities and habits into something useful, by showing us the kernel of goodness within any dark trait. This is not to say that it justifies the darkness but that there is another side to the coin of any human behavior. In Shadow Dance we learn to trace over our negativities and transform them into sketches of value. Anyone who is interested in getting at the root of their own darkness so as to mine the untapped human potential hidden there can't miss if they read Shadow Dance. David Richo has created a work that is full of original thought, stated in a very unique and at the same time very clear manner. He has performed what I feel is an act of compassion and love for those of us attempting to live an integrated and whole life.

Rating:
Summary: This is a MUST- READ personal guidebook ...
Review: I've read a lot of self help books over the years, however, David Richo has a way of cutting to the chase and making it possible to "do the work" and take the material into the real world... He makes it safe to look at challenging issues and fascinating at the same time... This gentleman has a true gift. I have read all of his books and in my humble opinion "Shadow Dance" is his best, as far as literary quality. Do youself a favor and embark on this journey with David Richo as your guide. It changed my life in ways I could never have even imagined. Steffani Adams

Rating:
Summary: This is a MUST- READ personal guidebook ...
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great book on applied Jungian theory!
Review: This book is typical of David Richo's work: pretty good. His writing is very very scholarly and intellectual. I often wish he'd step out of his head more often and more frequently share how what he's saying directly can effect me as a person. (For application of work presented here the reader might also want to read Susan Campbell's "Getting Real", as that would give you the skills to own your anger in the moment, for example). As a therapist, I often find that some clients know a lot about whats going wrong, but they need skill building to go along with the insight. He starts applying the shadow material, and the book really gets going, only at about page 150. I felt there was too much background material on how the shadow works, which leaves me afraid to offer this book to a client; Its boring in the beginning. All in all, its a really great expository work on Jungian theory and the Shadow, and he does a great job applying Shadow concepts to real life. I love how he frames projections, and I think this is one of the better works on understanding how projection works in our lives. From a theoretical perspective I learned a lot about the shadow and applications to other cultures and sometimes my own life. After reading this book I felt intellectually overwhelmed, tired, and smarter. Fundamentally a great scholarly work, even though not really a true self-help book.

Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointed
Review: This book was very easy to understand and very clear. . Very helpful in helping understand what we are scared to admit or what we have denied, or just what we don't like about ourselves. It is a voyage into the lowest point of our souls and a manual for that voyage to our own wholeness or personhood. Anyone who is interested in getting at the core of their own darkness can't miss if they read Shadow Dance It is extremely uplifting with several positive ideas and agenda to assist in the renovation of our apparently negative traits and routine into something useful, by showing us the root of goodness within any dark trail within any of us. Having read the book , I am now eager to begin the practices suggested by the author .

Rating:
Summary: A Journey Within!
Review: This book was very easy to understand and very clear. . Very helpful in helping understand what we are scared to admit or what we have denied, or just what we don't like about ourselves. It is a voyage into the lowest point of our souls and a manual for that voyage to our own wholeness or personhood. Anyone who is interested in getting at the core of their own darkness can't miss if they read Shadow Dance It is extremely uplifting with several positive ideas and agenda to assist in the renovation of our apparently negative traits and routine into something useful, by showing us the root of goodness within any dark trail within any of us. Having read the book , I am now eager to begin the practices suggested by the author .

Rating:
Summary: Great book on applied Jungian theory!
Review: This is an excellent book for self-exploration and self-development. It provides a thorough explanation of the concept of the shadow in Jungian theory and introduces us to various practical exercises to explore our own shadow. Though I'm not really a Jungian, this was a very interesting book that gave me lots to think about. If you'd like a more simplistic but nevertheless absolutely excellent explanation of the psyche, try reading "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. It is an amazing book that explains almost everything you wondered about in a concise and down to earth way! Five stars may not be enough for this one.