Hades and Shadow Work: What We Sweep Under the Rug
When Uranian astrology comes up, the name Hades tends to make people a little uneasy. We immediately think of darkness, secrets, ruins, and the heavy weight of the past. But when we bring a little Jungian psychology and shadow work into the picture, things begin to look different. I see Hades as a powerful symbol for facing that familiar part of ourselves we call the “Shadow.” You know those parts we sweep under the rug, pretend not to notice, and do everything we can to avoid confronting? Those are the parts we’re talking about.
When I consider Alfred Witte’s astrological approach through this psychological lens, I also see a possibility for inner clearing in Hades’s symbolism. An opportunity to tend to what has accumulated, what we’ve neglected, and what has become too heavy to carry... Because sometimes, before we can make room for something new, we need to turn around and look at what has been piling up.
Think of compost in a garden. Things that are decaying, things that look like waste, gradually become fertile soil that nourishes new growth. But that transformation doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time and the right conditions. Sometimes, something similar happens in our inner world. When we make sense of an old hurt or acknowledge a need we’ve felt ashamed of, we may learn something new about ourselves. That’s what moves me most about the compost metaphor: something that once felt like a burden can eventually serve a different purpose.
You can use the places Hades touches in your chart to reflect on the subjects you’ve covered up with an “Ugh, let’s not go there.” A hurt you’ve kept to yourself, words you never managed to say, a desire you couldn’t allow yourself to have... Sometimes it’s a sense of guilt you’ve carried for so long that you no longer remember why you’re carrying it. Noticing what we’ve grown used to covering up is an important step in itself.
Then there are the strengths we’ve hidden in the shadow. The courage you silenced because “that wouldn’t be appropriate,” the no you couldn’t say because “I don’t want to seem selfish,” the dreams you made smaller by asking, “Who am I to want that?” These parts we’ve forbidden ourselves to express can end up in the shadow too. So when we look there, we may also discover a talent or a zest for life that hasn’t had room to emerge.
So, how does shadow work begin in everyday life? One of the first steps is to notice a difficult feeling without immediately judging yourself for it. Let’s say you feel terribly jealous of a friend’s success. Before you start telling yourself, “I’m such a bad person,” pause for a moment. Ask yourself: “What do I want to achieve? What are they allowing themselves to do that I still can’t give myself permission to try?” Perhaps beneath that jealousy is a goal you keep putting off. You can then turn what you’re feeling into a concrete step in your own life.
We can approach anger in a similar way. Sometimes, beneath that destructive anger rising inside you, there is a boundary that has been crossed over and over again. You’ve always been the understanding one, the accommodating one, the one who says, “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Noticing that feeling may help you understand what you’ve been accepting and what you now want to say no to. The next step is choosing how to communicate that to the other person.
Taking responsibility for our feelings is part of this process too. We can acknowledge our jealousy, listen to our anger, and make conscious choices about how we behave. Even writing a few lines can give you space to reflect: “What am I feeling right now? What do I need? What can I do today to address that need?” Don’t expect a major revelation every time. Sometimes, honestly admitting something to yourself that you haven’t been able to say for years is a big enough step.
Looking into your own darkness and saying, “I see you, and you belong to me too,” may not come easily. You might meet a feeling with understanding one day and feel ashamed of it again the next. Give yourself some time. As you make peace with your shadow, you may also make room for a strength that hasn’t had a place in your life for a long time. Perhaps that greatest treasure is right there, in the place you’ve been avoiding—a part of yourself waiting to be reclaimed.
With Starlight,
AstroSkylog
References:
Alfred Witte's Rules for Planetary-Pictures: The Astrology of Tomorrow
Christopher Perry, “The Shadow”, Society of Analytical Psychology.