Trauma, Shadow, and the Slow Return to Inner Authority

The long road to individuation is not a concept only learned in books — it’s lived, step by step, through experience, mistakes, grief, and small victories. This post is about what I’ve discovered on that journey and how those lessons can be shared, or “paid forward,” to help others move a little closer to themselves.

Becoming aware of our metacognition is important because it enables us to step outside our immediate experience and see what our mind is doing. This creates freedom, clarity, and choice rather than automatic reactions.

Reclaiming agency and reconnecting with the personal spirit.

Symbolisation is not abstract. It is not decorative. It is not optional. It is the very mechanism by which the body says, “I need you to know something,”and the mind feels safe enough to listen.

Trauma can leave deep wounds, and it is normal to struggle with anger, grief, shame, or guilt. Healing often comes from acknowledging those feelings, creating safety, setting boundaries, and validating our experiences rather than trying to force forgiveness because someone else says it is the right thing to do.

Reflection on Repetition Compulsion (Freud, 1920)

Freud first introduced the idea of repetition compulsion in 1920, suggesting that people unconsciously repeat past traumatic experiences as an attempt to gain mastery or understanding. I disagree with this idea, particularly from my own lived experience.

Rediscovering Imagination, Dreams, and Inner Work: A Conversation with Nick Pearson

Reflections on Trauma, Thought, and the Flow of Consciousness (inspired by Paul Levy’s ideas on mind and quantum reality)

Introjects are the internalised voices of people or authorities from our past. They often come from parents, caregivers, teachers, or society, and they shape the way we think, feel, and act without us realising it. Some introjects are supportive and nurturing, guiding us with encouragement. Others are critical or controlling, creating self-doubt, guilt, or anxiety.

The Voices We Inherit

Many of the beliefs we carry are not really ours. They come from early conditioning — from parents, teachers, or cultural expectations. Over time, these voices can become so internalized that we mistake them for truth:

• You should be better.

• You mustn’t fail.

• You’re not enough.

Left unexamined, these voices clutter the mind and narrow our perspective.

Have you ever found yourself saying, “I want to heal” — but nothing seems to shift? You try therapy, affirmations, energy work, or even trauma-informed practices… and yet, something inside still resists. You may feel blocked, stuck, or like you're quietly sabotaging your own progress.

Pain and Presence … learning to trust our body and ourselves.

Taking care of ourselves can sometimes feel overwhelming. Human Garage whom you can find on Instagram, shared a helpful idea for when we’re in physical pain:

Place your fingers gently on the area that hurts, focus there, and say:

“Body, I am safe. I’m okay with this.”