Glamours of the shadow functions: the descent into the Underworld

These are my nighttime musings, to be taken with a grain of salt.

My personal experience and observations coming upon the shadow functions...given one has mastered their 4 main conscious functions, especially the third and fourth, that is their doorway into the subconscious...

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. ― C.G. Jung 

Briefly stated, the shadow functions are not consciously expressed and often the seat of our pain, confusion, and failures in life. I believe everyone in their spiritual journey must confront the shadow, just as the initiates of the ancient Mystery Schools descended into the Underworld. 

Blindfolded in the dark, one has only God to guide him through. But he cannot stay in the Underworld forever, he must come up eventually. Ultimately he stays true to himself (the primary 4 functions.)

There is usually a reason for developing the shadow functions; one does not decide to attempt it on their own, they are guided to it. Usually in service of higher ideal ascertained by the aspirational function. 

• The conscious introverted functions (Ti, Fi, Ni, Si): Creative, but often without higher vision
• The conscious extraverted functions (Te, Fe, Ne, Se): Expansive, but uncreative as a result.

Each function is limited, hence coming pairs Ti-Fe, Si-Ne, Ni-Se, Fi-Te. The shadow functions also seem to develop all in relation with one another and in their relation with the conscious functions. 1-8 (or 1-5), 2-6, 3-7, 4-5 (or 4-8). They may also display things like feedback loops e.g. Ti-Ni. Critical parent function (6th) seems to come online first strongly. 

The esoteric meaning of Glamour, coined by Alice Bailey: An illusion intensified by one's lower nature, such as intense personal desire.

When shadow function is introverted (Ti, Fi, Ni, Si): Go within. Be outcome independent. Time moves slow here.

The glamours (illusory beliefs):

• fear of being selfish or indulgent, or a desire to maintain the image of selflessness [to this I'd like to say "one cannot give what one does not have." Have you ever encountered someone who is eager to help but would be better off putting that focus towards themselves?]
• fear of focus or narrowness, thus not having breadth of experience
• fear of disapproval or being alone in one's stance
• fear of not receiving external validation or never attaining a visible fruit of labor
• fear of meaninglessness or being irrational 

When developing the introverted shadow function, be careful not to interrupt the process by prematurely using the conscious extroverted function, which will create a "miscarriage" in the birth of the introverted function. Things must mature, and come to fruition at the right time.

When shadow function is extraverted (Te, Fe, Ne, Se): It's not about you anymore. Be impersonal. Be outcome dependent. Time moves fast.

The glamours (illusory beliefs): 

• fear of superficiality or inauthenticity 
• fear of losing control or losing one's self or identity 
• fear of sacrificing accuracy or precision 
• fear of excess visibility 
• fear of receiving unwarranted external validation  

When the extraverted shadow function is being developed, do not bring the personal elements from the conscious introverted function. The less  thinking the better.

As an INFP, below is how I would describe the experience of my shadow functions. There is a lot of discomfort and uncertainty in the process, like wading through dense fog in a forest. It's hard to even say what's right or wrong. Things just are. 

• Fe - still unsure of this one...maybe it is a fear of being forced to say things that are untrue.
• Ni - if I focus on too narrowly on a concept, I lose my ability to connect to the totality of the human experience. If I do not have enough experience (Ne-Si), I will not trust my vision of the future until I do 
• Se - I cannot give into the moment because I don't want to lose my connection to the past and my valuable memories 
• Ti - I cannot judge whether I am correct or have erred without external feedback...if I focus on details, I lose my ability to see the wider objective truths. I do not want to express thoughts that are not broad enough, I see them as incomplete. I am uncomfortable knowing things without being able to share them.

My guess on the other shadow functions, and the expression probably depends on in what slot it is in:

• Ne - I cannot reach my destiny if other people's experience bleeds into my life. By widening my narrow vision, I may catch a glimpse of what I have sacrificed to attain my position in life.
• Si - by focusing on the past, I lose my ability to act in the present. The past contains my mistakes or misdeeds. If I look in this direction, I realize the sum totality of what I have ignored.
• Fi - I cannot see anything behind my personal feelings other than the obvious, so I look no further. I will have no recourse to evaluate whether I am moral if there is nothing external to validate me so I rely on my place within social structures.
• Te - if I entertain a truth outside of myself, I lose my freedom to think and act how I choose. I cannot deeply explore a concept if I am bound to the universals.