Money work is shadow work. It’s a concept not often discussed in conversations about wealth or success, and yet it is at the heart of true abundant transformation. When you begin to work on your relationship with money, you're not just learning about budgeting, investing, energetics or manifesting more wealth. You’re diving deep into your inner world, facing the parts of yourself that have been hidden, suppressed, or unacknowledged. This is what we call the shadow.
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, described the shadow as the unconscious aspects of ourselves that we reject or fail to see. It’s the part of you that feels shame, guilt, or fear—especially when it comes to money. These hidden feelings often drive your money decisions, whether you’re aware of it or not. That’s why money work is inherently shadow work.
When you delve into your beliefs around money, you're opening the door to your shadow. You’re not just looking at how much you earn or save; you're exploring your deepest fears, insecurities, and limiting beliefs. These are the unconscious drivers that shape your financial reality, and until you bring them to light, they’ll continue to hold you back.
There are so many hidden emotions and beliefs behind money.
Money carries with it a powerful emotional charge. For many, it symbolises safety, security, or freedom. But for others, it’s tied to feelings of lack, shame, or worthlessness. This is where the shadow comes in. If you’ve ever felt undeserving of wealth or struggled with the fear of not having enough, these emotions are often rooted in your shadow. They are the parts of yourself you’ve pushed away because they’re too painful or uncomfortable to face.
For example, you might believe that you’re bad with money because you’ve always been told so by others. You internalize that message and it becomes part of your identity, lurking in the shadows of your subconscious. Even if you consciously desire financial abundance, that shadow belief—I’m not good with money—will sabotage your efforts.
At the core of your money shadow lies your self-worth. How you feel about yourself mirrors how you feel about money. If you believe you’re not worthy of receiving love, success, or recognition, it’s likely that you’ll struggle to receive money as well. The two are deeply intertwined.
For example, if you undervalue yourself, you’ll likely undercharge for your services, hesitate to ask for a raise, or avoid financial opportunities that could benefit you. This isn’t just a money problem—it’s a self-worth problem.
Money work requires you to look at the ways in which you undervalue yourself. Are you constantly undercharging for your services because you’re afraid of being seen as greedy? Do you avoid discussing money with your partner because it feels too uncomfortable? These are all signs that your shadow is at play. By bringing these issues to the surface, you begin the process of healing your self-worth—and by extension, your relationship with money.
Shadow work is not about judging or criticizing yourself for having limiting beliefs or negative emotions. It’s about recognising that these parts of you exist and embracing them with compassion. The more you can bring your money shadow to light, the more you can begin to change the patterns that keep you stuck in scarcity.
Money work is deep. Really deep. And if you are stuck at a level that is frustrating you, one of the most powerful things you can do to find out why, is to ask yourself what is it about being stuck in this struggle do I secretly love?
Two things happen when you ask yourself this question.
Your ego gets offended! How dare you suggest that I secretly love being stuck!
Your higher self, if given the chance, will reveal several benefits to staying where you are with money.
This exercise will blow your mind! Once you have seen this shadow, the great news is, that you’ve already reduced its power!
The beauty of money work as shadow work is that it invites you into a deeper relationship with yourself. When you face your money fears, insecurities, and limiting beliefs, you’re not just transforming your relationship with money—you’re changing your entire life. The more you uncover and embrace your shadow, the more space you create for abundance, empowerment, and freedom.
Money work IS shadow work, and it’s a powerful, transformative process.
Embrace it, and watch as not only your bank account, but your whole life begins to shift.
Eloise Burton, the Money Alchemist, is based in the UK. Eloise is the creator of Money Alchemy, a unique system for manifesting abundance. She is the author of The Magic of Money Alchemy and her mission os to reach 1,000,000 women worldwide to transform their relationship with money and themselves.
