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 entangled with ideas of mysteries, traumaand, in astrological circles, with signs like Scorpion or planets like Pluto.

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

MysteriesAlthough they are mysterious and kept out of sight, they are NOT shadows.

… traumaalthough he is pushed into unconsciousness to protect himself, he is not at the center of the Shadow process.

…and in Pluto’s underworldthere is no shadow whatsoever; It cannot exist, 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 but embedded part of the experience of our inner world, the The shadow is completely unknown to us..

We are not aware of our Shadow.

When we say “Shadow” or “I have met my Shadow,” we are often actually referring to repressed psychic material, taboos, compulsions, or wounds: all those areas in which we are almost conscious or we can access it with effort, but we are NOT in Shadow territory.

The very nature of the Shadow is that it is invisible to our consciousness. Once the Shadow lands in our consciousness, it is no longer a Shadow in the first place.

So what is Shadow then?

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

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

Projection is what makes us feel irritated, have a knee-jerk reaction, feel critical, or even repelled. It’s what we I can’t stand in others.

Shadow is also what we find fascinating in others. We can’t help but be drawn (irresistibly) to people who exude qualities we haven’t yet possessed in ourselves.

Both our attractions and our repulsions come from the same source: the parts of us that belong to Being but are outside our conscious identity.

Shadow in the natal chart

If we want to understand the Shadow astrologically, we want to focus on the dynamics of the charts that generate the projection in the first place: the Descendant and the seventh house, the polarities, the oppositions and the only opposition we all have in our charts: the lunar nodes.

While the 7th house It is the gateway to the Shadow, the whole 3rd quadrant of the graph participate in the Shadow development process. Shadowing is the process that unfolds through others: a process of feedback, reflection, and course correction.

He social planets Jupiter and Saturn play a special role in the work of the Shadows because They shape our ability to interact with the world, obtain feedbackand translate our Ego and our latent personality traits and abilities (symbolized by the personal planets) into functional and integrated capabilities.

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

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

Each house sign and 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, etc.

He lunar nodes They are another opposition that we all have on our lists; As shadow points themselves, the Nodes describe how our identity evolves over time, integrating the natural resources of the South Node, which have been passed down or developed instinctively, with the opportunities and experiences of expansion represented by the North Node.

Shadow – 3 Week Live Course

We will explore all of these topics, and more, in the course “Shade”course, which begins December 2, 2025.

“Shade“is part of Transform your life with astrologywhich is the psychological and archetypal study track of Astro Butterfly School.

Unlike our other learning paths, such as Birth 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 offers a unique framework rooted in psychological knowledge that will change the way you understand Shadow and help you get to know parts of yourself, perhaps for the first time.

This is what makes “Shadow” unique:

1. “Shadow” is a comprehensive exploration with psychological roots.

In the course you will learn Shadow from a framework based on psychological insight – rather than the usual shortcuts based on graphs or symbolic assumptions.

This is a unique approach that differentiates “Shade” and “Transform your life with astrology” of an education purely based on astrology.

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

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

we are talking about More than 15 hours of learning where not only Study the ins and outs of Shadow.but also Apply it and receive feedback in real time.

2. Comprehensive teaching: two teachers + a Jungian analyst

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

You will learn about the Shadow in:

Carolina Martina consulting astrologer with over 30 years of experience who works with Shadow material every day in sessions with clients.
Rebecca Eigenthe expert on Shadows in Astrology, rooted in Jungian psychology and author of several books on Shadows.

3. Shadow archetypes and graph structures.

In the course, we cover concepts and shadow dynamics on the chart:

The Descendant and the 7th house as the root of the Projection/Shadow process
The social planets (Jupiter + Saturn) and its role in self-formation and shadow integration
The entire third quadrant of the graph as the Shadow development scope
The lunar nodesthe only opposition we all share in the graphic
The 10 planets explored through the Shadow lens.
Case studies, conceptual frameworks, and psychological concepts you won’t find anywhere else

If you are interested in this topic, this is your only opportunity to come together and get to know your Shadow through a unique and psychologically grounded exploration of your birth chart.

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

Here is the course description page, where you will find the syllabus, logistics and registration link: