A Shadow Practice Intensive for Men

Led by Jim O'Neill
at Still Point Retreat Cabin
November 20-22, 2009
7pm Friday night - Sunday lunch

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious" -- C.G. Jung

Rage, jealousy, lying, resentment, blaming, greed -- these forbidden feelings and behaviors arise from the dark, denied part of ourselves- the personal shadow. Everyone has a shadow, which begins in childhood as a result of stuffing away negative feelings in order to build a proper ego. We encounter our shadow when we feel an unexplainable dislike of someone, when we uncover a long-buried, unacceptable trait in ourselves, or when we feel overwhelmed by anger, envy, or shame.

Jim O’Neill has been involved in menswork for the past 20 years. He has lead bible study groups, lectured on Male spirituality, and co-founded Mid-Atlantic M.A.L.E.s (Men as Learners and Elders). He has been active in the Philadelphia area Mankind Project New Warrior training and has been a teaching elder at a Men’s Rite of Passage held in NY in 2008. He has studied Jungian psychoanalysis under Robert Moore, Ph.D. and has recently completed a graduate course of study on Shadow at John F. Kennedy University. He has an Integral Life Practice of yoga, reading and study, meditation and shadow work. He is a professionally trained chiropractor and has been a sales consultant for the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation for the past 23 years. He has a passion to bring a daily shadow practice into the lives of men on a spiritual path. He is a husband of 34 years, a father of two grown daughters, and lives in West Chester, PA with his wife Claire.

This shadow practice intensive is designed to create a safe container for men to explore the nature of their own shadow and learn one or two practical techniques that can be used on a daily basis to engage shadow as it shows up in daily life. This Friday night through Sunday afternoon intensive is intended for a man who is serious about his spiritual journey. A recommended reference text is the book, Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature, Zweig and Abrams, Tracher/Penguin, 1991.

Cost of retreat is $75 for lodging, food and program expenses. Please contact Bob Sabath for more information: bsabath@rollingridge.net