‘Owning the Shadow’
A Seven-Day Residential Experiential Workshop
with
The Fool’s Dance Gestalt Company – Paul Rebillot Group in Ireland.
Slí an Chroí, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow
14th February– 20th February 2026
We’re delighted to offer our first residential workshop of 2026 on the theme of The Shadow.
Of this work, Paul Rebillot wrote:
“I have come to recognise in my work that one of the most important and frequently unrecognized or avoided themes in people’s lives and in their work is the ability to own the part of themselves that they don’t like, the part Jung called ‘the Shadow’.
The more we limit ourselves by not experiencing, not owning, whatever we determine to be negative features, the more these energies are suppressed, repressed, and finally go out of consciousness. We become projectors of our own disowned energy … It seems to me that most of the destruction, racism, and terrorism in the world is the work of the disowned shadow.”
How can we reclaim that part of ourselves we have been busy projecting out onto other people whom we call 'different, 'not one of us', 'evil' or 'enemy'? How can we rediscover the fullness of ourselves and bring into our awareness that denied shadow aspect, that troubling shadow energy, so that it can be dealt with where it belongs - in ourselves and in the here and now?
In this workshop we will work with respect and humour to get to know, and to own our shadow self in a variety of creative ways using drama, movement, music, mask-making, Gestalt process, and ritual.
This workshop, then, has a double purpose. The first is to help us to own our own Shadow, the negative, dark, and often violent energies within our being.
The second is to learn to talk to those onto whom we have projected these negative aspects of ourselves, to discover how to communicate with them - not as enemies, but as human beings like ourselves - a significant move towards healing the divisions in ourselves and also in society at large.
“We have met the enemy and they is us.” (Walt Kelly, Pogo, 1971)
What previous participants said:
“Absolutely amazing. Got so much out of it on so many levels. I feel I’ve really expanded my sense of myself over the week. Facilitation delightful – gentle and human”.
“I have learned a lot which will benefit my relationships and my way of being in the world.”
“Excellent, well-structured, well held. I will come back for more.”
We invite you to meet yourself in a new way and to experience the joy of connection in the beautiful surrounds of Slí an Chroí.
To find out more visit
http://foolsdancegestaltcompany.ie/workshops/owning-the-shadow/
To apply for a place, visit
http://foolsdancegestaltcompany.ie/next-workshop/
Places are limited – book early to avoid disappointment.
