Are all higher density beings the same?

[Unbound]

Well, that is one approach to working with the shadow self and probably one of the most intensive, but it's not really about just bringing up things that seem negative to you because it is easy to be overwhelmed that way and can also sometimes just lack direction.

To me, the shadow is more about what you are "not" or the aspects of personality which you have yet to acknowledge as part of yourself. Frightening images are helpful in that they assist you to discover what frightens you and what your fears are. If you take that approach the key is to be able to observe how you are feeling in the moment of fear and to attempt to realize what exactly it is that is making you feel fearful, getting to the root of the matter. However, that is a matter of technique and not the heart of the matter.

More to the point is to examine your biases and comforts/discomforts and see where you sway heavily one way or another. Finding the equal opposites in the mind is a helpful exercise for this. The key to working with the shadow self is learning to examine the self objectively. Usually I start focused on positive, light aspects of the self prior to doing any shadow work so that the work and self is well grounded in the use of the catalyst towards growth and transmutation through acceptance. Then, as you start to pull represses or rejected parts of the self to the forefront you face, accept and develop peace with those aspects using the techniques of light such as forgiveness, compassion and unconditional love. However, it requires the wisdom to be honest about yourself and not want to change the shadow aspect in to something else before you have even come to terms with it. Getting raw and in to the dirty business of your own personality and consciousness is what shadow work is about.