Shadow In The Natal Chart

Shadow has fascinated astrologers, psychologists, and spiritual seekers for decades.

Originally derived from Carl Jung’s understanding of the psyche, the term has become tangled with ideas of secrets, trauma, and, in astrology circles, with signs like Scorpio or planets like Pluto.

But that’s not what shadow is about – at least not in the way its father and original architect, Carl Jung, defined it.

Secrets, while mysterious and kept out of sight, are NOT shadow.

… trauma, while pushed into unconsciousness for protection, does not sit at the core of the Shadow process.

… and in Pluto’s underworld, there is no shadow at all – it cannot be, because in the absence of light, nothing can cast a shadow.

Unlike secrets, which are deliberately kept out of sight, unlike trauma, which is often a sensitive, yet experientially rooted part of our inner world – the Shadow is utterly unknown to us.

We are not aware of our Shadow.

When we say “Shadow,” or “I’ve met my Shadow”, what we’re often actually referring to are repressed psychic material, taboos, compulsions, or wounds – all those areas we are quasi-aware of or can access with effort – but we are NOT in Shadow territory.

The very nature of Shadow is that it is invisible to our awareness. Once the Shadow lands in our awareness, it stops being Shadow in the first place.

So what is Shadow then?

From a psychological perspective, Shadow is the parts of ourselves we project outward when we cannot yet hold them consciously.

The key word here – almost synonymous with Shadow – is Projection.

Projection is what makes us feel irritated, have a knee-jerk reaction, feel judgmental, or even repulsed. It’s what we cannot stand in others.

Shadow is also what we find fascinating in others. We cannot help but be drawn – irresistibly so – to people who exude qualities we haven’t yet owned in ourselves.

Both our attractions and our repulsions stem from the same source: the parts of us that belong to the Self but sit outside our conscious identity.

If we want to understand Shadow astrologically, we want to focus on the chart dynamics that generate projection in the first place: the Descendant and the 7th house, polarities, oppositions, and the one opposition we all have in our charts: the Lunar Nodes.

While the 7th house is the gateway to Shadow, the whole 3rd quadrant of the chart participates in the Shadow developmental process. Shadow is the process that unfolds through others – a process of feedback, mirroring, and course-correction.

The social planets Jupiter and Saturn hold a special role in Shadow work because they shape our ability to interact with the world, get feedback, and translate our Ego and latent personality traits and skills (symbolised by the personal planets) into functioning, integrated capacities.

All planets have a Shadow complex – from the Sun and the Moon all the way to Pluto – but if we want to understand the mechanics of Shadow formation and Shadow integration, the social planets are the bridge that makes this possible.

Oppositions and Polarities are at the core of shadow work. The opposition aspect is the hallmark of projection, often manifesting through relationships, where we see in others the qualities we deny in ourselves.

Every sign and house axis represents a balance of opposites. For example, Aries-Libra explores the tension between independence and partnership, Taurus-Scorpio between personal resources and shared resources, and so on.

The Lunar Nodes are another opposition we all have in our charts; shadow points themselves, the Nodes describe how our identity evolves over time, by integrating its natural South Node resources, which have been passed down or instinctively developed, with the opportunities and stretching experiences represented by the North Node.

Shadow – 3 Week Live Course

We will explore all these topics – and more – in Astro Butterfly School’s “Shadow”course, which starts on December 2nd, 2025.

“Shadow” is part of Transform Your Life With Astrology, which is Astro Butterfly School’s psychological and archetypal study track.

Unlike our other learning tracks like Natal Chart Mastery, Transform Your Life With Astrology – and the Shadow course – are less about technical astrology and more about using astrological archetypes for our own personal growth.

Shadow brings a unique framework rooted in psychological insight that will change the way you understand Shadow and help you meet parts of yourself, perhaps for the first time.

Here’s what makes “Shadow” unique:

1. “Shadow” is a comprehensive, psychologically-rooted exploration

In the course, you’ll learn Shadow from a framework based on psychological insight – instead of the regular chart-based shortcuts or symbolic assumptions.

This is a unique approach that differentiates “Shadow” and “Transform Your Life With Astrology” from purely astrology-based education.

Comprehensive without being overwhelming, the material is layered in a way that builds insight step by step.

Each week (there are 3 weeks in total) includes a 90-minute webinar (offered at 2 different times), plus recorded materials, case studies, and a Saturday practice workshop.

We’re talking about 15+ hours of learning where we not only study the ins and outs of Shadow, but also apply it and receive real-time feedback.

2. Well-rounded teaching: two teachers + a Jungian analyst

With a dedicated talk from Jungian Analyst, plus 2 different teachers throughout the program, “Shadow” offers a rich, multidimensional experience.

You’ll learn about the Shadow from:

Caro Martin, a counselling astrologer with 30+ years of experience who works with Shadow material every day in client sessions
Rebeca Eigen, the go-to expert on Shadow in Astrology, rooted in Jungian psychology, and author of several Shadow books

3. Shadow archetypes and chart structures

In the course, we cover concepts and Shadow dynamics in the chart:

The Descendant and the 7th house as the root of the Projection / Shadow process
The social planets (Jupiter + Saturn) and their role in Self-formation and Shadow integration
The entire 3rd quadrant of the chart as the developmental arena of Shadow
The Lunar Nodes, the one opposition we all share in the chart
All 10 planets explored through the Shadow lens
Case studies, conceptual frameworks, and psychological concepts you won’t find anywhere else

If you’re interested in this topic, this is your one chance to join and meet your Shadow through a unique, psychologically rooted exploration of your natal chart.

We won’t be running a live Shadow course again anytime soon – at least not in the next 2 years.

Here is the course description page, where you’ll find the syllabus, logistics, and the enrolment link: