What is Somatic Shadow Work and Shadow Alchemy?

What you’ll get out of this:

This is your backstage pass to the stuff most people avoid talking about—the shadows running the show behind your self-sabotage, procrastination, and fear (yep, they’re sneaky like that).

Here’s what we’re diving into:

• What shadows actually are and how they keep you (and your clients) stuck in the same frustrating loops.
• Why mindset hacks aren’t cutting it—and how somatic shadow work gets to the root of it all.
• How shadow alchemy flips fear, doubt, and anger into your biggest strengths.
• Real-life examples of shadows in action, so you’ll start spotting them everywhere (you won’t be able to unsee it).

If you’re tired of surface-level fixes and ready to go deeper—for yourself or your clients—you’re in the right place.

Ok let’s get into it:

Picture this: You’re sitting at your desk, staring at your laptop, and that big, bold move you’ve been putting off – posting your offer, pitching your dream client, finally raising your prices – feels like it’s taunting you. 

Your chest tightens, your palms sweat, and the thoughts start rolling in: What if I fail? What if they think I’m a joke? You tell yourself, Tomorrow. I’ll do it tomorrow. But tomorrow comes, and that same sinking feeling is waiting for you, holding you back like it always does.

Or maybe it’s not you..it’s your client. 

They sit across from you in a session, frustrated and stuck. They say they’re ready to change, but every time it’s time to take action, fear, procrastination, or self-doubt pulls them back. 

You’ve tried every tool in your kit—mindset work, action plans, all the strategies—and nothing sticks. Deep down, you’re wondering, What am I missing?

Here’s the truth: whether it’s your own struggles or your clients’, these patterns aren’t just bad habits or “blocks.” 

They’re shadows. The hidden parts of the self that have been buried, rejected, or silenced. And until you bring those shadows into the light, no amount of willpower, strategy, or mindset work will truly set you free.

This is where somatic shadow work and shadow alchemy come in.

Why you (and your clients) need shadow work

Let’s talk about those moments when you feel stuck. Maybe you can’t stop people-pleasing in your business, afraid that saying “no” will cost you clients. Maybe you’re terrified of showing up online because what if someone judges you? Or maybe you’ve got a client who constantly self-sabotages, even though they say they’re ready for change.

Here’s what’s really happening:

• You’re procrastinating because your shadow is screaming “If you fail, everyone will see you’re a fraud.”
• You’re over-delivering for free because a part of you believes your value is tied to how much you give.
• Your client can’t take action because deep down, they’ve learned that success will bring judgment—or worse, rejection.

These shadows don’t just show up in business. They creep into every part of life:

• Relationships: You avoid tough conversations because you’re terrified of being abandoned.
• Money: You blow through your savings because your shadow believes having money makes you selfish.
• Self-worth: You hustle until you burn out because resting feels like failure.

For coaches, these shadows show up in your clients as well:

• The client who’s stuck in a cycle of underpricing because they’re afraid of being seen as “too much.”
• The client who jumps from one idea to the next, convinced they need to be perfect before they take action.
• The client who freezes every time it’s time to sell because they’re scared of rejection.

The shadows are always there, pulling the strings behind the scenes. And until you (or your client) work with them, you’ll keep hitting the same walls, no matter how much you “know” better.

Why mindset work isn’t enough

Let’s be honest: traditional mindset work often feels like slapping a band aid on a bullet wound. You can say the affirmations, visualise success, and reframe the thoughts, but if your body doesn’t feel safe, your nervous system will shut it all down.

Why? Because your shadows don’t just live in your mind—they’re stored in your body.

• That lump in your throat when you try to speak your truth? That’s your nervous system remembering a time when using your voice led to rejection.
• That tightness in your chest when you think about raising your prices? That’s your body bracing for the judgment you fear will come.
• That heaviness in your stomach when you look at your bank account? That’s years of conditioning telling you that money is “unsafe.”

This is where somatic shadow work comes in. It’s not about analysing your shadows—it’s about feeling them, working with them in your body, and creating safety for change.

The transformation of shadow alchemy

If shadow work is about uncovering what’s been holding you back, shadow alchemy is about flipping the script entirely. It’s not just about integrating your shadows—it’s about transforming them into strengths.

Here’s how it looks in real life:

• Fear of failure: You’re terrified of trying because you’ve decided failure means you’re “not enough.” Shadow alchemy reframes failure as feedback and growth, giving you the courage to take risks and learn from them.
• Anger: You’ve been told your anger is “too much,” so you’ve buried it. Shadow alchemy helps you see that anger isn’t the enemy—it’s your fire for setting boundaries and creating change.
• Imposter syndrome: That nagging voice telling you you’re not good enough? Shadow alchemy reveals it as a sign you’re stretching into new territory, turning self-doubt into self-trust.

For coaches, shadow alchemy lets you guide clients through their deepest fears and blocks—not just helping them manage their challenges, but teaching them to transform those challenges into power.

Real-life shadows: what they look like

Let’s get even more specific.

For you:

• You can’t bring yourself to post on Instagram because you’re convinced people will roll their eyes. You tell yourself you’re just “not good at social media,” but your shadow is whispering “What if they judge you?”
• You feel guilty for charging for your services, so you undercharge and overdeliver, even though it leaves you drained. Your shadow is screaming, If you charge more, people will think you’re greedy.
• You sit on a new idea for months because it’s “not ready yet,” but really, your shadow is saying, “If it’s not perfect, people will see you fail.”

For your clients:

• Your client avoids launching their program because they’re terrified no one will buy. Their shadow is tied to a lifetime of being told they weren’t enough.
• Another client freezes every time they try to talk about money with their partner, reliving an old belief that money conversations lead to conflict.
• A client burns out over and over again, convinced that if they stop hustling, they’ll lose everything they’ve worked for. Their shadow is rooted in a fear of not being worthy without constant effort.

These aren’t surface-level problems. These are shadows at work.

Why you can’t ignore this work

Here’s the deal: if you’re not addressing shadows—your own or your clients’—you’re only scratching the surface. You can hustle, journal, and strategise all you want, but those same patterns will keep coming back.

When you dive into somatic shadow work and shadow alchemy, everything changes.

• For you: You stop hiding. You stop people-pleasing. You stop letting fear of failure, judgment, or rejection hold you back. You show up fully, unapologetically, and powerfully in your life and business.
• For your clients: You become the coach who can hold space for their deepest fears, their rawest emotions, and their biggest blocks. You’re not just teaching them how to cope—you’re leading them through true transformation.

Final thoughts

Shadow Alchemy is about unlocking the parts of yourself (or your clients) that have been waiting to shine. It’s about taking the things you’ve been running from and turning them into the foundation of your power.

So, if you’ve been hitting the same walls or watching your clients struggle to break free from their patterns, this is your invitation. Stop avoiding the shadows. Shadow Alchemy Coaching is an excellent place to learn to start working with them. Because on the other side of the shadow is everything you’ve been searching for.