Guided meditation · 21 min
Embracing the Hidden Self
Sit face to face with the part of you that you usually avoid, ask what it needs, and finish with a hug.
With
Katia KulykRated4.71.1K plays
- Level
- All levels
- Style
- Guided meditation
- Sound
- Voice only
- Best time
- Quiet, unhurried moments
About this session
- Builds self-awareness
- Softens self-judgment
- Grounds the body
- Leaves you calm
Katia Kulyk leads you from slow breathing into a quiet inner meeting. After grounding between earth and sun, and breathing through each part of the body, you count down from ten. Then a dark sphere grows from your core and drifts out in front of you, so you can greet it and ask what it wants.
It suits anyone curious about the sides of themselves they tend to push away, or who wants a gentler way into self-reflection. Choose a time when you can sit upright and undisturbed, perhaps during a period of change, or when you feel pulled by habits you don't understand.
After the session
01
A steadier, grounded body
Feel rooted, released and spacious inside.
02
Curiosity about your shadow
Meet hidden parts of you without fear.
03
Answers worth listening to
Hear what an avoided part needs from you.
04
Kinder self-acceptance
Hold your light and dark sides together.
Who it’s for
Yes, if…
- Anyone curious about the parts of themselves they avoid
- People doing inner work who want a gentle practice for self-acceptance
- Those who feel stuck in patterns they can't quite explain
- Anyone who wants to feel grounded before looking inward
Not now, if…
- Those looking for an energising or quick practice
- People who prefer silent meditation (this is guided)
- Anyone wanting to lie down and drift off, since you sit upright
Questions people ask
Still unsure? Ask your assistant anything about this session.
What is the shadow in this meditation?
Katia describes it as the darker part of you that you don't know yet. She frames going into your darkness as simply shining the light of your consciousness on something new. By the end, she calls it an unexplored part of you rather than an enemy.
Why breathe through the knees, shoulders and back?
After grounding with breath between the earth and the sun, you imagine inhaling and exhaling through the chest, knees, shoulders, back, feet and head. Then you breathe with all your skin, expanding on the inhale and contracting on the exhale. It helps you feel the whole body and settle before the inner meeting.
What is the countdown from ten to one for?
You breathe into the center of your body, pairing each number with an inhale and an exhale. Katia says that by the end you will be calm, peaceful and ready to face every part of you. It marks the shift from relaxing to looking inward.
What do I do with the black sphere?
A black dot appears in your center, grows from cherry to plum to apple to watermelon, then you breathe it up and out through your nose. It hangs in front of you and you say hi. You then ask two questions: dear shadow, what do you want, and how can I give this to you.
What if I don't hear an answer from my shadow?
Katia says not to worry if nothing comes right away. The answer may arrive now or later. You keep part of your focus on your body center while exploring the sphere, so you stay steady either way.
Why does the meditation end with a hug?
After you radiate light from your core in every direction, you open your hands, draw the sphere toward you and hug yourself. The hug holds both your light and dark sides, including things you love and things you reject. It ends the session with acceptance instead of analysis.