Part I
The Shadow
What the Shadow is, how it forms, and why the parts of you that you've been taught to hide hold the very energy you've been missing. The lineage from Jung through the writers and teachers who took the work further.
/ The Book /A field guide, not a program
Shadow JournalingA Field Guide to Personal Alchemy
A book for you who's read the books, done the work, followed the roadmaps, and somehow, still feels stuck in overthinking and intellectualising.
These are symptoms of great self-awareness, but missing the next step: self-acceptance.
Shadow Journaling is a process where you create your own roadmap to the change you've been searching for.
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What's inside
Three parts. One practice.
Part II
The Practice
The three-phase method at the heart of the book. Reveal, Reclaim, Rewrite. How each phase actually feels on the page, what to expect, and what to do when it gets uncomfortable.
Part III
The Tools
A working set of prompts, sentence stems, and structures you can return to for the rest of your life. Not a program to finish. A practice to keep.
Endorsed by
Amie McNee · Lynda Monk, MSW, RSW, CPCC · Jackee Holder · Gloria Kempton
/ Reviews /From readers
What people find when they start.
Honest reader reviews, unedited, in their own words.
Finding gold in your shadow!
I've read many self-help and personal development books over the years, but Shadow Journaling by Oliver Mann stands out as one I'll return to time and again.
Oliver has a gift for explaining complex ideas such as self-sabotage, fear, emotional triggers, projection, and the ego in a way that's easy to understand and, more importantly, easy to apply. Rather than simply explaining these concepts, he provides practical journaling techniques that help uncover what's hidden in the unconscious mind.
A fantastic read for anyone interested in no BS, no ready-recipe personal development
Overall. Oliver's crisp, clear and fluid writing style makes for an enjoyable reading experience.
First part. I'm impressed how he intertwins his personal story with concepts, and succinct lovely "cards" making it relatable and appealing to different types of readers.
A Powerful Guide for Turning Self-Awareness into Real Change
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of Oliver Mann's Shadow Journaling, and I loved it. This is much more than a book about deepening your journaling practice, it is a practical guide to turning insight into action.
Rather than stopping at the temporary satisfaction of self-awareness, Oliver helps readers translate what they discover into meaningful, lasting shifts in their work, relationships, and lives. Thoughtful, practical, and genuinely transformative, Shadow Journaling will be a valuable companion in my own personal and professional development.
Don't Skip This Book
I had the honor of being an advanced reader, and part of the book made me feel uncomfortable. But then that is the point! You will be journaling, either longhand or on any application that works best for you.
One of the most valuable sentences in the book is "once we can accept that thinking something does not lead to taking action on it. We can extend the kindness to ourselves many of us have been missing", that is powerful as in so much more in this book!
A Recipe for Chrysopoeia of Self
After receiving the gift of an advance copy of this book, I discovered the actual gift: a chance to find my true self. Oliver's framework offers an alliterative compass to reveal, reclaim, and rewrite the stories we tell ourselves and the world. As a supportive mentor, he offers the courage to face and examine the stories we have developed, inherited, and echoed internally to intentionally start shaping them anew. In the true spirit of the alchemist, his "field guide" invites us to mine the self for "base metals"; yet unlike the alchemists' lore, he provides a clear, step-by-step recipe for the chrysopoeia of the self. Ultimately, this is a guide to transmuting the stories we tell ourselves into the deepest truth we dare to live!
An excellent book to explore your shadows and extend your journaling practice
I have just finished reading Oliver Mann's book Shadow Journaling and I thought it was amazing! I loved the way the book was set out and thought it was clear and easy to follow. I also loved that Oliver shared personal examples throughout the book which provided thoughtful examples of each point or technique for the reader.
I have started working through the exercises that were provided in each chapter and am finding new or unexpected insights emerge in my journaling. I also loved the "Tools" section with an outline and example of the different journaling techniques to use to delve into our shadows, a very useful summary to refer back to. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to explore your shadows and extend your journaling.
Best book about journaling & writing
Brilliant book, a great read, cant wait to pack this in my hand luggage and get stuck into journaling on my holidays. Probably the most practical journaling books I have ever read, far more useful than any other writing course I have read. Highly recommend!
A thoughtful, authentic path to real change
Oliver has a very thoughtful and authentic way to approach the darkness inside: with curiosity and self compassion. His personal stories help you have a clear picture of the method and the process and the prompts give you sooo much ground to work on. I found to be very useful the way he explained the steps of the process and the questions to use when you feel stuck were exactly what I needed. I believe this book is meant to get you out of the run for insights and get you ready for real change, without pressure and haste, but with awareness and with the courage to face the discomfort.
A fantastic and gentle way to step into shadow work
I have been wanting to explore the subject of Shadow Work for a long time now, but I have always felt unsure of where to start as there are so many different types of information out there & it can seem very overwhelming! But Oliver's book is a fantastic & gentle way to step into the world of shadow work journaling, and additionally the sharing of his own lived experiences alongside each chapter is so helpful and inspiring. I intend to use this all-rounder of a book to begin my own personal journey to discovering & embracing my shadow-self.
Equally, if you are already established on your shadow-work path; then Oliver's book will be able to offer you a more in-depth perspective, and a fresh, updated & meaningful guide to delving even deeper in to your current journaling practice.
A book you'll come back to.
Read it once. Work the prompts. Then come back in six months and see what a different self finds there.