Kristina Rosen

*I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for an unbiased review from the Early Reviewers program.*

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not new to the concept of shadow work or how to implement it in my life, but after a certain point its easy to plateau on your own. It can be good to look into other methods of implementing shadow work in your healing journey, and I thought it was a good time to do so, which is why I requested this book (and luckily got selected lol). I really appreciated the show more contract at the very beginning of the book, which can be helpful if, like me, following through with long-term things can be difficult without something to hold you accountable. It's hard work being accountable to yourself, and taking on the responsibility of doing your shadow work can be very heavy. The contract makes things more official, to keep you accountable in doing the work and if nothing else, completing your journey through this specific book.

I think this book is best suited for a beginner, as a lot of it is dedicated to providing a gentle introduction into the concept of shadow work and instructions on how to get started. I think the explanation was really well done without falling too much into the self-help pitfall of shaming the reader before attempting to help them. This one felt more like a friend introducing you to something new, both in tone and in breakdown of instructions. Everything was very simple and easy to understand, and for someone brand new to the concept, the beginning of the book handled most of the common questions one would ask. I also liked that there were realistic instructions for other things to do in addition to the shadow work--it really felt more like a book on gradual self-transformation and growth rather than just heavy questions you ask yourself with nothing else to help you cope with what you learn. I appreciated that a lot.

Even though I am not a beginner, this book gave me a lot of really helpful tips for things I can add to my self-care and therapy repertoires, and daily coping mechanisms to do alongside the shadow work prompts. I love that so many things were offered as options to integrate into the reader's journey; this much variety almost guarantees that there will be a little something for everyone. The questions themselves were deep without being too overwhelming for someone first starting out, or like me looking to dive back into it. I also liked the space to journal our thoughts per chapter, as doing so will provide such an in-depth look at our journey when we read back through it later.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and will be recommending it to friends and family. This is an excellent resource to have when starting/restarting a growth journey and attempting to learn more about yourself. It also has a lot in there to help you make the necessary changes authentically and gradually over time rather than all at once. Thank you Kristina for allowing me to read and review a copy! show less

I received this copy to review through Librarything's Early Reviewers program.

This is a very interesting hybrid of self-help and coloring book. The format combines journaling with art therapy to encourage reflection. I found the book to be successful on both fronts. I first started to begin using coloring as a therapeutic tool nearly ten years ago and continue to find it helpful. The book uses Jungian psychology as a framework for the journal prompts. Animal characteristics are used in the show more journal prompts and the accompanying coloring pages. The illustrations for the coloring pages are beautifully done. As i am new to shadow work, I am excited to use the journaling exercises as a tool for my own personal exploration of these concepts. The book also includes affirmations and a feeling wheel. show less

This book will not be for everyone. Sometimes you just want mindless coloring. But challenge yourself and you’ll find out some new things! The first part of the book is a long introduction but hang in there. Download the PDF for the extra pages to color. They are worth it. This book will give you insight into some of your feelings that you may not be aware of and gives you food for thought. It can help you change some of those negative thoughts that can cause a bad day. Plus the fun of show more coloring! show less

I really enjoyed reading, learning and coloring Kristina Rosen's "Shadow Work Journal & Adult Coloring Book." The book was a perfect mix of self-discovery journaling with a way to also express myself via art/creativity, which can sometimes be easier than words. Rosen seems to have designed this wonderful approach to help readers delve into our subconscious, uncover hidden aspects of our personality, and foster personal growth while making it easier to “digest” by using practices of show more shadow work and coloring. I loved the color-wheel aspect as well as beautiful coloring pages and thought-provoking journal prompts. Will be adding this book to my list of “go-to” gifts for friends and family. show less