Regular spiritual practice can support positive growth by cultivating our personal integrity, which can become our moral barometer and guiding voice. Unfortunately, a moral code can become restrictive and legalistic, leading to a variety of psychological and spiritual problems, including disconnection from our Real Self. Some of our needs and conscious understandings of ourselves become unacceptable, thus fostering the development of a shadow part of our personality. By remaining unaware of our shadow parts, we feel safe from anxiety in the short-term, but do so at great peril in the longer-term. We are likely to act out our shadow needs in ways that contradict our personal integrity.

A sustainable moral vision must include a realistic and holistic understanding of all parts of our personality. We must be aware of and integrate our shadow. When accepted and assimilated, our shadow can become a great source of creativity and balance. In this chapter I discuss how and why restrictive moral visions develop as well as the theoretical and practical significance of integrating our shadow.