Dark Inside - Exploring the Shadow Self (Story Behind the Song)

Dark Inside (featuring Singer-Songwriter, Natalie Nokomis) was composed and written to embrace and honor the shadow self – the side of ourselves that we often reject or resist.

Natalie wrote Dark Inside to admit to herself she has darkness; a subconscious shadow that often overtakes her conscious mind. And she needed to make peace with that darkness.

Exploring the Shadow Self

After studying the work of Carl Jung, she learned that “the shadow self” is a term he coined to describe our unconscious minds and repressed thoughts, feelings, and emotions contained within.

This concept resonated with her to the point of making it the topic of her creepy, yet enlightening song.

The darkness Natalie describes in Dark Inside is the shadow everyone carries within themselves. Contrary to what it sounds like, the shadow self isn’t a negative thing – nor does it represent a bad omen.

Additionally, it’s not about demons, angels, religion, satan, and/or god. Instead, it’s basic (yet advanced) psychology.

We are All Dark Inside!

The shadow self is a mirror image of the irritating, annoying, or even disgusting things we see in other people. An ironic reflection of characteristics and personality traits we carry within ourselves that we usually reject.

Realizing and understanding this reflection can be quite brutal – as it’s much easier to judge others than to take a deep look within.

The bittersweet reality of life is that we are all dark inside. However, we’re all humans, and although we tend to see the darkness, we can train ourselves to see the light. Establishing a relationship with the shadow self takes some work. But once we take it on, our ego starts to have less of a hold on us.

As imperfect human beings, we sometimes experience hateful, negative, or jealous thoughts – it’s in our nature. Denying these innate feelings is like denying our humanity.

When we stop making ourselves wrong and start accepting our dark aspects, we begin to cultivate more tolerance and acceptance of ourselves and others.

The Shadow Self is a Remedy for Emotional Constipation

By embracing and honoring her shadow self, Natalie has created more compassion and empathy in her life. Those two traits are desperately needed in our emotionally constipated society. She understands how unhealthy it is to suppress any part of ourselves, even if we perceive it as negative.

Innately, we want to believe that we’re all “good people.” And we don’t want to admit that we can have thoughts, feelings, or beliefs that may occur as unacceptable by societal, political, cultural, moral, or personal standards.

Interestingly, the more we deny or suppress our darkness, the more dark we become.

Without our Darkness, we Could Never See the Light…

Dark Inside is a tribute to our subconscious mind. An ode to everything that human beings collectively suppress. It’s an invitation to discover the shadow self at a deeper level and dig into the dark corners of our mind.

A celebration of seemingly unwanted fears, feelings, and thoughts – exposed by the light.

Acknowledging and accepting our darkness enables us to experience the fullness and richness of who we are as a planetary species.

“Without our darkness, we could never see the light”
~Natalie Nokomis