I was watching a guy on Youtube a while back, who opens his latest book with the statement, "I am a Shaman." Well that's a dead give-away. But anyway, he talks about the shadow, and more than once owns up to having one himself. Thank heavens for that 🤣 But that is an easy thing to say, if you are not specific about it, and why would you even think it necessary to say something like that?
And this leads on to my main point: I think the best type of teacher is one who talks quite straightforwardly about themselves as part of whatever it is they are teaching. It can be a natural temptation to think you have a responsibility to set some sort of example. I guess that is true, but only if it includes being open, in a specific way, about the usual human difficulties that we all struggle with. The self-doubt, the guilt, the anger, the anxiety, the grief, the envy towards other teachers. And all this in a spirit of self-observation rather than judgement.
You do people a great service, if you are the teacher, when you can include quite naturally all this sort of stuff about yourself, in a specific way. It is saying to people look this path is not about becoming a higher being, it is about being true to yourself in an open and everyday way. There is nowhere else to go. This is about the most powerful teaching there is, and it is dead normal. But also extraordinary.
I get the point, but also know it is harder to say "I'm a Shaman" in some places & times that in other places and times. Similarly acknowledging that one has a shadow-side without going into specifics can simply & efficiently signal solidarity with those being addressed. IMO discernment is more useful than judgement of self or others.
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