Shame-Death and Resurrection—The Phoenix-Dance to Our Authentic Self

Abstract

From the salutogenic, as well as from the shamanic point of view, shame in its largest intensity can be considered an emotional death experience, potentially leading to depression, addiction and suicide. ‘Felt’ death experience, encompassing the whole person, as a large stressor, implies the potential for dying or ‘rising from the ashes’, as a more empowered being. This has been described in the typical path of a shaman, as well as within the model of Salutogenesis, where the successful and often miraculous overcoming of a death (-like) experience leads to an increased Sense of Coherence and to empowerment. Shame occurs in everyone’s upbringing and life to different degrees. In this context, mainly intergenerational, unjustified and toxic shame is considered, especially in regards to female and racial shaming. In order to use the transformative power of shame, different cognitive steps are suggested. However, strong emotions and traumata, like shame, are stored in our body tissues. Therefore physical processes, like embodiment techniques, are essential for their transformation. The recreation of oneself after shame requires the seeing and feeling, which creates believing. Exemplary movement with rhythmic music and body awareness practices with their underlying mechanisms are described, which may be able to rebalance, reassemble and recreate one’s sense of self. The rebalancing and restoring of body, mind, spiritual and group-connection, which had been disrupted through shaming, based on new grounds and embodiment practices, is essential for transformation towards a more authentic self.