Astrology and Shadow Work: Unlocking the Power of Your Subconscious Desires
- Shanae Smith
- May 18, 2022
- 10 min read
Updated: Mar 10
Are You Subconsciously Enjoying Your Bad Behavior? Exploring the Astrology of Your Shadow Self
Have you ever wondered why you feel a thrill—or a jolt of recognition—when faced with certain challenges or behaviors you know aren't entirely good for you? It’s that subtle pull of your subconscious, coaxing you toward something that might feel contradictory, messy, or even a little dangerous.
This could be anything. It could be addiction, quitting jobs, picking fights, manipulating people, binging (anything), love affairs, complaining, self harm. I'm not here to judge what lives in your pain body and shadow, I'm here to help you bring it to the light—so you can decide if it still serves you, or if it's time to release it.
Astrology offers us a lens to understand this dynamic—our relationship with struggle, conflict, and the deeper truths we often avoid. The themes of Saturn, Pluto, Chiron, and more play a central role in this story. These energies highlight our hidden desires, wounds, and the transformative power of embracing them.
Hey By The Way ...
Shadow work isn’t just about uncovering what’s hidden—it’s about reclaiming the parts of yourself that have been shaped by external expectations. If you’ve spent years suppressing your true self to avoid judgment or criticism, you might not even realize how much of your shadow has been built around what other people think of you. This post will help you break free from that conditioning—so you can stop filtering yourself, trust your own instincts, and build unshakable confidence in who you are.
Why Should You Read This Post? - Solving the Inner Shadow
By reading this post in its entirety you'll be well on your way to ...
Recognize the subconscious conflicts shaping your choices: Your subconscious is not just working to protect you—it is also crafting an interesting, emotionally charged life, so you can recognize where your patterns are pushing you toward chaos or keeping you stuck in fear, allowing you to take control of your own narrative.
Use astrology to decode your shadow work: Your chart reveals where conditioning, wounds, and hidden patterns are shaping your life, so you can stop feeling confused by repeating experiences and start identifying the deeper forces influencing your thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
Stop fearing your shadow and start working with it: Shadow work is not about eliminating parts of yourself—it’s about integrating them, so you can embrace all aspects of who you are, rather than rejecting the parts of yourself that feel inconvenient or uncomfortable.
Transform your subconscious patterns into conscious choices: The more you understand your subconscious tendencies, the less control they have over you so you can break free from limiting cycles and actively create a life that aligns with your true self.
Why Do We Gravitate Toward Conflict? - Shadow Work and Subconscious Priorities
Oh, you thought your subconscious wanted you to have a peaceful, easy life? A sweet, harmonious little existence free of chaos? Absolutely not. Your subconscious is a thrill-seeker, a drama connoisseur, an absolute menace when it comes to keeping things interesting.
And let’s be real—there’s basically no difference between terrifying and tantalizing when it comes to getting your heart pounding.
That sharp, electric rush when you're in conflict? The way your stomach drops as you wait for someone’s response, knowing things might explode? That isn’t just a reaction—that’s your subconscious strapping itself into the front row of a rollercoaster with its hands in the air screaming “LET’S GOOOOO!”
Because for your subconscious, boring is the enemy. And excitement—whether fun or freaking terrifying—is the drug.
Astrology reveals that we are deeply drawn to conflict and complexity because they create transformation. Take Pluto, the planet of the underworld: it governs themes of power, control, and rebirth. Or Saturn, the taskmaster of the zodiac: its harsh lessons force us to grow through restriction, discipline, and the occasional brutal reality check.
We don’t just experience these energies externally—they are a part of us. Saturn might reflect where you impose unnecessary restrictions on yourself, while Pluto shows where you seek control yet fear losing it. And if we lean into them? They can become tools for immense growth.
Many of the wounds, fears, and unconscious patterns that make up your shadow have roots in your astrological chart. Each placement holds a piece of the story, showing where you’ve absorbed conditioning, internalized pain, or hidden parts of yourself just to be accepted.
Check out this post to read more about spotting and undoing conditioning. By understanding these placements, you can begin to work with your shadow, rather than feeling controlled by it.
Why Do We Sometimes Hold Ourselves Back?
There’s a paradox in human nature: we crave growth but often resist it. Why? Because it’s easier to stay where we are, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Wait! Are We Saying Two Different Things?
At first glance, YES—it seems contradictory to say that:
The subconscious craves chaos, thrill, and an interesting life (Pluto, shadow work, the rollercoaster analogy).
The subconscious also wants to keep us "safe" by maintaining comfort zones and avoiding growth (The South Node, Saturn, self-limitation, lizard brain).
But actually… both are true at the same time. It’s just that different parts of the subconscious have different jobs.
The subconscious doesn’t have just one desire—it has competing desires. It wants safety, predictability, and control, but it also wants intensity, emotion, and transformation.
The “Lizard Brain” Part of the Subconscious (Saturn, fear of change, comfort zone)
Wants you to fit in and stay in familiar territory because survival depends on stability.
Triggers resistance when you step out of your comfort zone because change = danger.
Manifests as fear, procrastination, self-sabotage, or perfectionism (i.e., "If I don’t take action, I don’t risk failure.")
The “Storyteller” Part of the Subconscious (Pluto, rollercoaster, shadow work)
Wants your life to be interesting, meaningful, and emotionally intense.
Doesn’t actually care if something is good or bad—it just wants the full range of experience.
Manifests as self-sabotage, attraction to drama, or creating unnecessary obstacles (i.e., "This situation was stable, but now I’m going to unconsciously stir the pot.")
The Core Truth: Your subconscious is both a protector and a chaos agent—which is why it’s so confusing to navigate especially without astrology.
In astrology, Saturn shows where we feel limits imposed on us, whether circumstantially or self imposed. For instance, if Saturn squares your Venus, you might subconsciously believe love must be earned through hardship. Similarly, if Pluto aspects your Moon, you might find yourself revisiting emotional patterns that feel both destructive and oddly comforting.
Astrology offers profound insight here. It doesn’t just show your strengths—it maps out your contradictions. Look to placements like your North Node (your soul’s purpose), your Moon (your subconscious needs), and your Venus (what you find pleasurable). Together, they reveal where hesitation and yearning collide—and how to reconcile them. Don't worry, we're going to talk a lot more about astrology below.
Life Is a Story You’re Writing
You wouldn’t watch a movie with no conflict or suspense. A story with no challenges isn’t engaging. And whether you realize it or not, your chart reflects your dynamic narrative: moments of growth, struggle, climax, and resolution.
Understanding your chart reveals how to navigate these cycles. Are you in a chapter of striving, one of reflection, or a turning point? This awareness brings peace and clarity, showing you how to align your actions with the story your soul wants to tell.
If you'd like to read an entire book about this (without the astrology) check out Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliot.
The Thrill of Dynamic, Messy Growth
Astrology isn’t about bypassing your challenges. It’s about recognizing them, embracing them, and using them as tools for transformation. There’s immense power in acknowledging and even enjoying your struggles—not because you want to stay stuck in them, but because they offer a mirror to your deepest desires.
You are not just a sum of your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. Your entire chart is a symphony of energies, harmonizing and clashing to create the unique masterpiece that is you. By exploring your chart’s shadowy corners—its Saturn, Pluto, Chiron etc—you can start to understand why you’re drawn to certain conflicts and how they can help you evolve.
While generational planets like Pluto and Chiron reveal deep-rooted shadows, your personal planets also hold clues about where shadow themes show up in your daily life. Your Moon can highlight emotional wounds and attachment insecurities, Mercury can expose where you suppress your voice, and Mars can show repressed anger or blocked or misdirected assertiveness and confrontation. Recognizing these patterns helps you integrate shadow work into your everyday choices, not just your deepest transformations.
Decoding the Astrology of Your Shadow: Where Shadow Work Lives in Your Birth Chart
Shadow work isn’t just about acknowledging your wounds—it’s about understanding where they came from, why they keep repeating, and how to break the cycle. Your astrology chart holds clues to your deepest fears, self-sabotaging tendencies, and hidden desires.
Each of these placements reveals a piece of your shadow story—and once you learn to work with them instead of against them, everything changes.
Pluto – The Fear of Power & Transformation
Pluto is the planet of death, rebirth, control, and personal power. It governs the places in life where we are forced to transform—whether we like it or not. If left in the shadows, Pluto’s energy manifests as obsession, manipulation, power struggles, or a fear of change.
Pluto’s Shadow Expression:
Where do you try to control everything because you fear losing it?
Where do you hide your power because fully stepping into it feels too intense?
Are you unconsciously attracting toxic or high-drama situations to test your own strength?
Example Manifestations:
Pluto in the 3rd House (Shadow of Words & Knowledge) – You might feel compelled to “win” every conversation, fear being misunderstood, or manipulate how others perceive your intelligence.
Pluto in the 7th House (Shadow of Relationships) – You may attract power struggles in partnerships, fear true intimacy, or subconsciously pick controlling partners to feel "safe."
Chiron – The Wound That Won’t Heal (Until You Work With It)
Chiron represents your deepest wound—the part of you that has felt unworthy, broken, or rejected for as long as you can remember. While this pain might never fully go away, it holds the key to your greatest wisdom and healing.
Chiron’s Shadow Expression:
What emotional pain do you try to cover up or rationalize instead of feeling?
Where do you tell yourself you’re “not good enough” no matter how much you achieve?
How do you respond when others mirror this wound back to you?
Example Manifestations:
Chiron in the 2nd House (Shadow of Self-Worth & Resources) – You may feel like you never have enough—money, beauty, talent—no matter how much you accumulate.
Chiron in the 10th House (Shadow of Public Image & Career) – You might sabotage success because deep down, you don’t believe you deserve recognition.
The 12th House – What You Hide from Yourself
The 12th House is the subconscious, the unseen forces shaping your reality. Planets here tend to operate in the background, influencing you in ways you don’t always notice. This is the house of past lives, karma, dreams, and self-undoing.
The 12th House’s Shadow Expression:
What habits feel impossible to break, no matter how hard you try?
Where do you unconsciously self-sabotage just as things are going well?
Do you feel a pull toward escapism, secrecy, or avoiding confrontation?
Example Manifestations:
Venus in the 12th House (Hidden Desires & Love) – You may attract unavailable partners, sabotage good relationships, keep your true desires locked away, or feel like love is meant to be sacrificial.
Mars in the 12th House (Hidden Anger & Action) – You might repress your ambition, struggle to take action, or avoid conflict until it explodes unexpectedly.
Saturn – The Shadow of Restriction & Harsh Lessons
Saturn represents discipline, responsibility, and structure—but in the shadow, it becomes limitation, guilt, and self-criticism. This is where you feel blocked, burdened, or like nothing comes easily. But Saturn’s gift is that when you master it, you gain unshakable confidence.
Saturn’s Shadow Expression:
Where do you hold yourself to impossibly high standards and then punish yourself for falling short?
What part of life feels like the hardest lesson, no matter how much effort you put in?
Do you constantly feel like you have to prove yourself to be worthy?
Example Manifestations:
Saturn in the 5th House (Creativity & Joy as Work) – You might feel like fun is unproductive and struggle to allow yourself to relax.
Saturn in the 8th House (Fear of Depth & Vulnerability) – You may fear emotional or financial dependence, rejecting intimacy to maintain control.
Aspects: How Shadow Work Becomes Even More Complex
So you’ve found your shadow placements—but what if they clash with each other or other placements? That’s where aspects come in.
Conjunctions: Intensified Energy
A conjunction represents an indistinguishable blending of the planetary energy. Pluto–Moon conjunction might make emotions overwhelming and create an all-or-nothing approach to relationships.
Squares: Internal Conflict
A square shows a place where we are striving to take action to solve disharmony and conflict. Chiron–Mars square could create a push-pull between wanting to take bold action and feeling deeply insecure about it.
Oppositions: External Conflict
An opposition is representative of an energetic tug of war that needs to strike a balance. Saturn–Venus opposition might create a cycle of craving love but always feeling like it has conditions.
These aspects make shadow work unique to you—because no two charts will experience shadow patterns the same way. This is where a consultation comes in.
Astrology and Shadow Work - Ready to Embrace Your Shadow Self?
Understanding your shadow placements is just the first step—but working with them? That’s where real transformation happens.
Your chart isn’t a diagnosis—it’s a map to healing. Your wounds don’t define you—they show you where your power is waiting to be reclaimed. Your subconscious isn’t sabotaging you—it’s creating an interesting life. Now, it’s your turn to steer.
Astrology can help you uncover and integrate the hidden sides of yourself so you can move forward with clarity and self-acceptance.
🔹 New to astrology? My Natal Chart Tour gives you a beginner-friendly breakdown of your chart, helping you explore the deeper layers of your personality with curiosity, not judgment.
🔹 Want to align your growth with astrology’s cycles? My 5-Day Mini Course: Setting Aligned Goals That Work for You helps you work with your chart’s patterns—so you can create real, lasting transformation.
Need deeper guidance? A one-on-one astrology consultation can help you understand where shadow work is most active in your chart and how to integrate these lessons with self-compassion.
Your shadows don’t define you—they just hold the keys to your next level of growth.
Key Takeaways
The subconscious is not solely designed to keep you safe—it also seeks intensity, emotion, and transformation. These competing desires often lead to cycles of resistance and self-sabotage.
Astrology provides a powerful lens for shadow work, revealing where unconscious fears, wounds, and conditioned behaviors are shaping your experiences.
Pluto, Chiron, Saturn, and the 12th House each hold distinct shadow themes, showing where you experience power struggles, deep wounds, self-imposed limitations, and hidden fears.
The aspects in your chart add complexity to shadow work, showing where tension and internal conflict exist between different parts of your personality.
Shadow work is not about erasing difficult emotions or past wounds—it is about understanding and integrating them so they no longer control you.
Once you recognize the patterns your subconscious is creating, you gain the power to work with them instead of feeling trapped by them.
