You think you know your own life story—where you were born, the big events, the milestones. But what about the stories that hide in the shadows? The ones you don’t tell at dinner parties. The ones that surface in the quiet moments, triggered by a song, a scent, or the sight of an old, forgotten photograph.
That’s where The Raven’s Shadow comes in.
If you’ve been hanging around High Desert Raven Writing for a while, you know I love a good metaphor, and ravens are my go-to. They’re smart, mysterious, and let’s be honest—just a little bit nosy. (Much like me when someone starts telling a juicy story.) A raven’s shadow is always present, even if you don’t notice it. Just like the stories we carry, the ones we tuck away because they’re too painful, too complicated, or just too weird to explain without a flowchart.
Why Do Some Stories Stay Hidden?
Some stories get shoved into the corners of our minds because we’re not ready to tell them. They still sting. Maybe we don’t think they’re “important” enough. Or maybe we just don’t want to admit we once got stuck in a porta-potty at a music festival. (Not that I’m speaking from experience. Ahem.)
But here’s the thing—those stories, the ones we keep in the shadows, are often the ones with the most power. They shape us, teach us, and sometimes, they even demand to be told.
Bringing Light to the Shadows
How do you start exploring these hidden stories? You don’t have to shine a giant spotlight on them and announce them to the world (unless you want to). Instead, you can:
• Start small – Jot down a memory that keeps resurfacing. There’s a reason it won’t leave you alone.
• Ask yourself “What’s the real story here?” – Sometimes, what happened on the surface isn’t the real story. The way we felt about it, what we learned, or what it says about who we are, that’s the gold.
• Find the humor – Even painful stories have ridiculous moments. (Like when that Thanksgiving turkey took a nosedive that would’ve impressed Olympic judges.)
• Give yourself permission – Some stories take time. Some aren’t meant for public consumption. That’s okay. The important thing is honoring them in whatever way that feels right.
The Transformation of Telling
Once you start bringing these stories out of the shadows, something shifts. They stop holding power over you, and instead, you take the reins. (Or, in this case, the raven’s wings.) You begin to see how your past has shaped you—and how it doesn’t have to define you unless you want it to.
So, what’s in your raven’s shadow? What stories are waiting to be unearthed, reflected on, connected to, and—when you’re ready—transformed?
Take a deep breath, grab a pen, and let’s see what’s been hiding in the dark.
“The Raven doesn’t fear the dark; it finds wisdom in the shadows. So can you.”
