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🌑 What Is Shadow Work? — Full Teaching Transcript by Mihai Algiu
Shadow Work. What is it?
Someone asked me today: “What is this shadow work?” It’s become a big buzzword. People sense it's important—but what is it, really?
The shortest definition of shadow work comes from Carl Jung, who said:
“Shadow work is making the unconscious conscious.”
It’s about shining the light of awareness into the layers of psychological content, beliefs, emotional repression, and core imprints that live in our unconscious. These imprints—subconscious beliefs about ourselves, about life, about trust, love, men, women—are formed through ancestral inheritance, early childhood experiences, trauma, and the general pain-body environment we grew up in.
For example, a child whose father was violent, drunk, or absent might develop a core belief like:
“Something’s wrong with me,” or “I am unworthy.”
Even worse, if they were repeatedly told by overwhelmed adults, “You’re bad,” or “You’re a burden,” these become shadow beliefs—subconscious structures that distort our sense of self and reality.
We adapt to a world full of unconsciousness and pain. We build defenses. We repress.
As Eckhart Tolle calls it, this becomes our pain-body.
Though it lives mostly in the unconscious, it drives the show—our behaviors, impulses, relationships, and suffering.
As Jung said:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate.”
Shadow work is the process of bringing this material into the light. And not through force—but through investigation, presence, and loving awareness. These imprints, when held in the light of acceptance and truth, begin to loosen. They dissolve. The suffering tied to them fades. And what remains is space—freedom, clarity, and presence.
🌀 Why Do Shadow Work?
You might ask:
“This sounds complex. Why do this? What’s the point?”
Shadow work isn’t just a healing technique. It’s essential for the pursuit of true happiness.
It frees us from the repetitive thought loops, the inner critic, the false self-images, and the inherited rules for life that don’t serve us.
It allows us to reclaim our inner freedom—the freedom to live in alignment with our authentic self instead of outdated conditioning. Instead of following the fear-based maps handed down by society or our parents—maps that didn’t work for them—we get to rediscover our inner compass: the enthusiasm of the heart.
Shadow work helps us dissolve the illusions of “shoulds” and “musts”—who we think we have to be to be safe or accepted. And we begin to live from the inside out.
It also dismantles our triggers—the ways we project our wounds onto others—and reveals the true source of our reactivity. We stop blaming the outside and begin to see clearly within.
🛤️ Shadow Work in the Context of Conscious Evolution
But shadow work doesn’t stand alone. It’s part of a larger process:
The evolution of consciousness.
To evolve consciously means to wake up from sleep. The normal state of humanity is a kind of semi-consciousness—reactive, distracted, asleep to the deeper truth of who we are and how we live.
True evolution requires us to become aware—aware of our thoughts, emotions, bodies, relationships, and behaviors. This is where mindfulness, self-observation, and inner practice come in.
As we become more conscious, we inevitably uncover the skeletons—traumas, wounds, reactive patterns, inherited shadows.
Thus begins the cleaning up phase of evolution—
and shadow work is a central pillar of this cleaning up.
Eventually, this leads us to deeper inquiry:
Who am I really? What is this presence that hears, sees, feels right now?
We come to recognize that this presence—the one aware of these words right now—is not personal. It is not limited to the body or the ego. It is timeless, impersonal, universal.
It is the Being of the Divine.
But to realize that fully, we must first become integrated as human beings.
We must become people of integrity—not ruled by our shadows.
Not driven by trauma, by triggers, by reactivity, by addictive loops.
So whether your path is toward healing, spiritual awakening, or simply becoming a more free, whole, and real human being—
shadow work is essential.
🌒 Join the Journey Below the Surface
That’s why I created this 10-week journey:
"Below the Surface: A Somatic Shadow Work Training"
—starting this Saturday, in person and online.
It’s an invitation to begin or deepen your journey into the art and science of awareness-based somatic shadow work.
We’ll explore your inner terrain.
We’ll release what no longer serves.
We’ll uncover the freedom that was always there.
See the flyer for details.
Your authentic self is waiting beneath the surface.
watch video on watch page
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Join us for an 8-Week Series: An Introduction to the Teachings & Practices of the Fourth Way (The Gurdjieff-Ouspensky Work)
📍 WHERE: Nevada City, CA & Online/Zoom
📅 WHEN: Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm
April 26th
May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 31st
June 14th, 21st (1-Day 8 hr. Meditation Intensive), 28th
Each week, we will spend 3 hours in an immersive, closed container dedicated to the experiential study and practice of the Fourth Way System of Consciousness Evolution.
💰 COST:
$40 per 3-hour meeting
$150 for the One-Day Meditation Immersion (June 21)
$300 for the full series (includes all sessions + 8 Hour Meditation Immersion)
Limited in-person space. Register early!
HERE is a brief synopsis of the Fourth Way system.
HERE is a full playlist with more Fourth Way related content in the form of in-depth talks with Mihai Algiu and Peter Ingle (knowledge and practical guided exercises).
Please register to attend and pay via Meetup/Paypal directly. Online participants will be granted the Zoom meeting code in the Meetup event itself after registration/payment is complete.
Alternative ways to sign up and pay:
Venmo: venmo.com/u/searchingwolf
Zelle: Mihai Algiu 530-632-7513
Questions? Email: [consciousness_research@yahoo.com](http://mailto:consciousness_research@yahoo.com/)
www.circleofbeingsomaticshadowwork.com
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INTRODUCTION TO THE TEACHINGS & PRACTICES OF THE FOURTH WAY (The Gurdjieff - Ouspensky Work)
WHEN: Saturday April 19th | 11 am - 2 pm
WHERE: In person & online | Nevada City, CA
COST: $30
The Fourth Way is a powerful, time-tested path for inner transformation—brought to the West over 120 years ago by the mystic, spiritual teacher G.I. Gurdjieff. Though he adapted it for modern seekers, he emphasized that this Work is an ancient path, offering a profound system for conscious evolution within the demands of everyday life.
For over 30 years, the Fourth Way teachings—as transmitted by Gurdjieff, P.D. Ouspensky, Rodney Collin, Jeanne de Salzmann, Maurice Nicoll, and others—have been central to both my personal evolution and clinical work in guiding others through healing and transformation. While I have explored many spiritual and therapeutic modalities, I have found that the Fourth Way provides a stable, foundational framework—both for personal growth and for deep inner work with others. It offers a solid base for self-discovery and Awakening, or as Gurdjieff might say, for truly “going up the mountain".
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This event is OPEN to anyone interested. It will be an opportunity to have a fresh look at this ancient yet, highly practical approach for consciousness evolution. The Fourth Way is designed for a seeker living in modern conditions of being immersed in busy life, rather than special conditions of an ashram or monastery.
WHAT YOU'LL EXPLORE:
This three-hour immersive introduction will weave together theory, discussion (Q&A), and experiential practice, providing a direct, hands-on experience of Fourth Way exercises. Given the depth and richness of the Fourth Way system, this session will focus on its core teachings, offering a practical foundation for further explorations. Key topics include:
Four States of Consciousness – Recognizing sleep vs. wakefulness
The Six Obstacles to Awareness – And how to overcome them
The ‘Machine’ (Body-Mind System) – Understanding the 5 centers & 2 higher centers
The Many ‘I’s Within Us – Exploring essence, false personality, true (work) personality and Presence
Core Fourth Way Practices – Self-observation, self-remembering & transformation of suffering
Breaking Free from the False Self – Chief feature, ego, and reactive patterns
Witnessing & Self-Study – Practical tools for deeper self-awareness
Transforming Suffering – Shifting reactive emotions into conscious growth
This event will be an opportunity to see yourself more clearly, ask questions and engage in real-time practices designed to cultivate presence, awareness, and transformation
Join us for this unique introduction to one of the most practical and
profound systems of consciousness evolution.
HERE is a brief synopsis of the Fourth Way system.
https://youtu.be/GtOEB4spL_U?si=Ey1-a...
HERE is a full playlist with more Fourth Way related content in the form of in-depth talks with Mihai Algiu and Peter Ingle (knowledge and practical guided exercises).
www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Please register to attend and pay via Meetup/Paypal directly. Online participants will be granted the Zoom meeting code in the Meetup event itself after registration/payment is complete.
Alternative ways to sign up and pay:
Venmo: venmo.com/u/searchingwolf
Zelle: Mihai Algiu 530-632-7513
Questions? Email: consciousness_research@yahoo.com
www.circleofbeingsomaticshadowwork.com
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Wake Up | Clean Up | Grow Up | 3-Month Group Immersion
3-Month Group Module (weekly) | Circle of Being Somatic Shadow Work
~ Starting Saturday, Dec 7th, 11am-1:30 pm (Pacific time), Nevada City, CA
~ 12 weekly meetings in person and online
~ Guidance in between meetings, recommended exercises/practices
~ Cost: $40 per meeting (pay as you go) or discounted rate $430 for the entire module
The aim of this 3-month group module is to guide work on oneself by combining Eastern teachings (Gurdjieff’s Fourth Way & Non-Duality) with Western somatic therapeutical modalities (Hakomi, Somatic Processing, Shadow Work) with the purpose of freeing oneself from conditioned limitations, learning how to skillfully navigate our thoughts, feelings and subconscious patterns and reaching our full potential from the point of view of consciousness evolution.
Practical Cap for Inner Exploration and Growth, Inspired by Ken Wilber’s model of working on oneself on 4 distinct lines: ‘waking up | cleaning up | grow up | showing up
Register to attend HERE. www.meetup.com/circleofbeingfourthwaynonduality/ev…
You can pay for the entire 3 month module at a discounted rate of $430 or pay as you go, $40 per meeting.
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Circle of Being Somatic Shadow Work | 3-Month Group Module (weekly)
Starting Saturday, Dec 7th, 11am-1:30 pm (Pacific time), Nevada City, California
~ 12 weekly meetings in person and online
~ guidance in between meetings, recommended exercises/practices
~ Cost: $40 per meeting (pas as you go) or discounted rate $430 for the entire module
The aim of this 3-month group module is to guide work on oneself by combining Eastern teachings (Gurdjieff’s Fourth Way & Non-Duality) with Western somatic therapeutical modalities (Hakomi, Somatic Processing, Shadow Work) with the purpose of freeing oneself from conditioned limitations, learning how to skillfully navigate our thoughts, feelings and subconscious patters and reaching our full potential from the point of view of consciousness evolution.
This module is inspired by Ken Wilber’s model of working on oneself on 3 distinct lines:
WAKING UP ~awareness, mindfulness, being present, meditation practices, self-observation, self-remembering & self-inquiry
CLEANING UP ~ becoming aware and releasing/deprogramming subconscious painful, self-limiting programs and deficiency stories originating in our unprocessed wounds and traumas as well as being raised in a toxic culture
GROWING UP ~ Developing essential soul skills to develop integrity, accountability, sense of mission and discipline to actualize it, emotional literacy, allowing feelings without resisting or bypassing them, being in touch with inner compass, being real, true and authentic in all relations.
See video below for more in depth explanation on the scope of this Work:
https://youtu.be/NKiXnaRk_fY
Contact me directly here or by email consciousness_research@yahoo.com for any questions or to sign up use payment links below:
Venmo: venmo.com/u/searchingwolf
PayPal: www.paypal.me/searchingwolf
Contact Mihai if in need of sliding scale
Mihai Algiu
MA LMFT #138872
Awareness based Somatic Psychotherapy
Fourth Way | Non-Duality
Kiloby Inquiries | Hakomi
Somatic Shadow Work
(530) 632-7513
circleofbeingshadowwork.com/
Book 1:1 or couples session:
circleofbeingshadowwork.as.me/
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Hello friends,
Happy to share this upcoming event with you.
Also, see a flier with upcoming events with Mihai for Spring-Summer
Immersion Into Being | 1-Day Meditation Retreat Sunday
Sunday, May 19th | 10 am - 6 pm | $150 | In person & online Nevada City, CA
See video below for my understanding on ‘meditation’, sharing the context of this immersion, as well as foundation principles of a more skillful, helpful meditation, while outlining some of the traps and pitfalls of unskillful meditation practice.
Whether you are a seasoned meditation practitioner or a newbie, this 1-Day (8 hour) meditation immersion, will be an opportunity to put aside your busy life, by using some of my most favorite meditation techniques to go beyond the ‘monkey mind-heart’ state and access 'the quite place within', the refuge of your true nature to be found below the agitation of the ceaseless past and future tripping, images, voices, emotional reactivity and resistances to feelings which comprise our normal state.
There will be 8 hours of silent presence sitting practices, walking meditation, body practices (Qi-Qong, Yoga, Breath Work), guided inquiry, as well as several sessions of Q&A on the topic.
My approach is a hybrid blend of Zazen, Vipassana, Fourth Way Self-Remembering practice, Non-Duality Direct Path and Tantra.
In person or via zoom
To sign up:
circleofbeingshadowwork.as.me/meditation
Contact Mihai if in need of sliding scale at:
consciousness_research@yahoo.com
See video below:https://youtu.be/ZF_TDs4t7gE
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NEW FOURTH WAY STUDY GROUP
Still possible to join this module, no later than this Saturday 13th of Jan.
Contact Mihai directly: consciousness_research@yahoo.com
“THE FOURTH WAY CIRCLE OF BEING”
module beginning Saturday 6th of Jan, 2024 | 11-1:30
PM Pacific
• 9 online workshops (2.5 hours each) with Mihai Algiu & Peter Ingle
• A deeper look at the core ideas of the fourth way system.
• Suggestions for specific practices.
* Guided awareness, self-observation & self-remembering
* Learn basics of self-processing according to the fourth way system of the harmonious development of man.
• Questions and answers.
to learn more, write to Mihai consciousness_research@yahoo.com
Fourth Way Study Group 9-week introductory course
Sign up below 👇
circleofbeingshadowwork.as.me/4thway
For more Fourth Way related content as well as the full dialogues or other parts of the talks with Peter Ingle (knowledge & practical guided exercises) check this playlist:
Re-igniting the Fragments of the Fourth Way:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG...
Find Peter Ingle's books exploring the nature of consciousness and the spiritual path here:
pantheonprosebooks.com/
To be kept current with Circle of Being events (Immersions or new group modules, subscribe to the newsletter:
www.circleofbeingsomaticshadowwork.com/
To be kept current and received the weekly Circle of Being Somatic Shadow Work guided meditations, guided psycho-somatic processing, talks & dialogues
~Subscribe to the Circle of Being Shadow Work Youtube channel:
m.youtube.com/channel/UCK-QE8...
Mihai Algiu
MA LMFT #138872
Somatic Psychotherapist
Fourth Way | Non-Duality
Kiloby Inquiries Facilitator
Hakomi | Shadow Work
Book 1:1 or couples session:
circleofbeingshadowwork.as.me/schedule.php
#spirituality #spiritualawakening #meditation #mindfulness #nonduality #painbody #selfinquiry #whoamI? #Fourth Way #Gurdjieff #nonduality
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Circle of Being Somatic Shadow Work ~ is an awareness based somatic ‘de-programming' modality which combines various psychological and spiritual approaches such as the Fourth Way System (G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky Work), Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dulaity) Tibetan & Zen Buddhism, Sufism, Kiloby Inquiry (KI), Hakomi (mindfulness based somatic psychotherapy), Shadow Work & Trauma Work.
This approach employs a variety of experiential tools and processes employed for the purposes of de-programming ourselves from conditioned unconscious thought/feeling patterns as well as for the discovery one’s true essential nature, as source of peace and conscious harmony within.
For more info on the upcoming Circle of Being Shadow Work groups, intensives or 1:1 sessions, check out:
www.circleofbeingsomaticshadowwork.com/
Mihai Algiu
MA LMFT #138872
Awareness based Somatic Psychotherapy
Fourth Way | Non-Duality
Trauma & Emotional Repression Release
Somatic Shadow Work
18 August 2018