tranquilityseekers | Dream Interpretation Guide-- Part 3 (Rays Vs. Shadows)

[Originally posted May 2008]

A person can directly confront all those issues piled up in the subconscious through dreaming. I took the term "Shadow" from a well-known archetype-- the Shadow is the part of us we suppress in order to get along with our world, our selves, and other human beings. Shadows are the result of SOME repeated message that told us "NO" to some past impulse, desire, or behavior. I realized that my Shadows actually live on in my dreams, and I met and spoke with many of them. I was intrigued to find that so many of them were healthier than I was! That made no sense if "Shadows" are supposed to be bad...

... but then I realized that it all depends upon the messages (and the messengers) that created the Shadows in the first place. Since a Shadow can only be created by a cast light, I named the personalities who personified the Programs of my past (thus creating the Shadows) "Rays." Rays also live on in our dreams as well, and I've had more problems with unhealthy Rays in my psyche than any Shadows. Which makes sense given how I was raised-- not very well by alcoholic parents. And I was poor. And I was sickly. And I got picked on... Need I go on? That's a ton of crappy messages (which can become powerful enough to become automatic Programs) to create Rays from.

I quickly noticed that Rays had some easily identifiable traits in my dreams: They are always authoritative, playing parental or teacher or doctor like roles. They are often organized into heirarchal groups. (In my dreams, there is a entire segment of Rays that are likened to militaristic Nazis.) They tend to like rules, laws, and organization. They give a lot of orders. They like to punish and shame. We often feel intimidated by Rays, even run from them, in our dreams. They are often older characters (though not always!) We tend to listen to them and obey them quite automatically-- that is the nature of Programs-- and it takes a lot to confront them on an equal level basis. They seem sure of themselves and are often grumpy. The most powerful Rays we have are versions of our parents in most cases, although you can have Rays that represent your peers as well. Rays live in "normal" houses-- perhaps upscale and clean ones. Or they live in barracks like soldiers. Or malls. They tend to behave collectively, even when they have their own area.

Now, Shadows tend to live in dark, strange places. Tunnels, haunted houses, shacks, castles, orphanages (run by Rays, of course) -- anything old, ramshackle, abandoned looking or exceedingly strange for the most part. They're the low guys on the totem pole (usually). They are often children or teenagers. They dress and look either lost and faded, dark and depressed, or bold and crazy. Many of them are brats, or cry too much, or are endlessly rebelious, or angry. They are the parts of us that we decided NOT to be-- usually because we got punished for it by someone (or many people.) Shadows tend to seem familiar to us, though, if we're paying attention, because they're like us on our worst days, or because they seem to be a lost part of us that we wish we could be.

I'm not saying Rays are all bad and Shadows are all good. It's different for every person. People who had a generally healthy upbringing will have mostly good Rays and bad Shadows-- that's the way I believe the system is supposed to work ideally. The problem comes in when the authorities that create the Rays are screwed up themselves-- then, oh boy! Then you could end up with very bad Programs telling you to suppress parts of yourself that should not have been suppressed. Like the ability to stand up for yourself. Or creative abilities and desires.

In dreams, it has become obvious that Rays and Shadows are always in a deep level war of some sort much of the time. Shadows, resenting their lack of power, try to trick you into doing what they want to do, thus perhaps sabotaging the efforts of the Rays, who are only doing they think you should do. Perfect example: DIETING! Rays say, "You need to eat less in order to lose weight and be healthier." That Ray is completely correct, and you know this consciously. But then the Shadow (many an inner fat kid) will rebel against that and convince you that you might as well eat the bad stuff anyway.... We've all had that type of thing happen and then later wondered, "Why didn't I do the right thing?" Well-- in a dream you might find out why directly.

I've learned a technique for addressing Shadows, both damaging ones and undeveloped ones. I try to engage and talk to them and tell them we're partners and friends and we can work on stuff. One of my powerful dream Shadows manifests as "Vex"-- a smugly superior intellect who enjoys "winning." (Much like Lex Luthor on Smallville.) I befriended him and found my need to "win" diminish when I acknowledged there is a part of me that is very much like that. Another Shadow represented Towering Rage and I told her that I really needed her if I was ever physically attacked. I promised to unleash her and let her take over if I have a survival situation that requires her kind of wrathful behavior. (Self-defense baby!)

Rays are proving more problematic for me. Generally, when I tell them who and what I am, just like I do the Shadows, I get no respect (Shadows seem pleased to just have a little attention and so are much more willing to work with your conscious agenda.) I am currently figuring out ways to get new and healthier messages to the Rays who are following the damaging Programs. I'm still learning on this front. However, I notice my "issues" are losing their power over me the longer and deeper I work on them via my dreams.

2015 NOTE: In IFS Therapy, Shadows are called "Exiles" and Rays are called "Managers" most often. Another group is addressed that IFS called "Firefighters" but I call them "Berserkers" because its the most crazy acting parts of you run amok, or addiction Aspects.