Shadowmancy: What it is, and what it isn't

So, one of the biggest questions I've gotten about Shadowmancy is, does it have anything to do with the Jungian Shadow Self? And for simplicity's sake, I always say no. But the actual answer is closer to, well, yes, but actually no. You see, Shadowmancy proper has two real aspects. First is the energetic component, which is like umbrakinesis. The goal of this aspect is the focus on direct control and manipulation of darkness. This is done for things like concealment, misdirection, illusion, and so on. This is considered the Pinnacle of shadowmancy, as it requires the greatest level of practice and the greatest amount of power. The second aspect is the spiritual component, which focuses on the conjuration and commanding of and communion with the spirits of the shadow. This includes things like shadow people, wraiths, spirits that dwell exclusively in darkness, and the shades or negative reflections of other spirits (i.e. shadow Naga, which exist as shadows of standard Naga). This is the more common form of shadowmancy, and is typically more than enough for most people. Somewhere in the middle of these two aspects is one of my favorite techniques, which you see listed in the shop as the Shadow Awakening, sending your own shadow out as a servant in the unseen world. However, before you can do any of this, you have to become comfortable with darkness, both in the physical world and within yourself. And the best way to do that is through the aptly named journaling technique, shadow work. Learning about your Jungian shadow, your inner darkness, is the prerequisite to proper Shadowmancy, though it is not necessarily a major part of the practice itself. So, I hope that clears things up and paves the way for our next discussion, where I would like to look at some of the various types of shadow spirits I've either encountered or studied. And as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.