When the sun of summer calls on us to come out and play, to feel the ocean breezes or the mountain coolness, our Shadow Woman may be filling our heads with messages of unenlightened shoulds, can’ts, oughts, and past regrets. The dark recycling of our mind’s conditioned messages can keep us from the joy of bringing our free, light-worthy selves into fully playing the summer game of life.

What are these shadowy messages and how do we allow the bright warmth of summer light to shine and expose them without unnecessary embarrassment? For example, if you are feeling a world of guilt because you have yet to complete a project that you have been meaning to finalize for months and it affects your best friend, how can you even begin to think about a summer relaxation hiatus for yourself? Or if you promised your neighbor that you would help her create a garden on both your properties and it is already June, how can you plan a time away for yourself?

In both of these instances Shadow Woman in her most beautiful and stunning garb of “Dark” is allowed to keep you “safe” in the place of non-play through assumptions and feelings of “not enough.” The floodlight of articulating the truth and the courage to bring it into the open helps dissipate the shadow. The heartfelt language is in you and so is the courage. Here are a couple of catalyzing suggestions to entertain: “You know that project that I said that I would complete so that you could move on with your part…? I dropped the ball and I can’t seem to get it in the air again…. I really need some help and it may sound silly but I’ve been afraid to ask for it.” And, “Although I thought gardening was a great idea for me this summer, I’ve discovered that even thinking about it drains my energy…. I way over-promised to you…. Can you forgive me?”

Being able to articulate our mistakes can be our portals to feeling free to play.