Shadow Work practice

Today, I'll use "The Work" by Byron Katie to demonstrate  his use for a trivial question - (but is there anything as a trivial question?) - so here's my take to question the belief that Santa-Claus is Real or not :

Belief: Santa-Claus is real

1. Is it true? (Yes or no. If no, move to question 3.) 

Yes (I'm joking)

2. Can you absolutely know that its true? (Yes or no.)

No

3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

If I believe that Santa-Claus is real then I feel like a kid

I feel like it's Christmas and everything will be ok

I feel like "believing in fairy tale" is possible, like being naive, is being innocent and possibly happy

a) Does that thought bring peace or stress into your life?

Fun, excitement, everything is possible, ..

b) What images do you see, past and future, and what physical sensations arise as you witness those images?

I see an old jolly smiling fellow with white hair, rosy cheeks and a big belly - I feel I'm portraying something creating and conceived  by Coca-Cola in the 50s

I see a man going through chemney with present - I feel like it's weird and intrusive - why not coming through the front door?

I see a man with a long list of "good kids" and "bad kids" - I feel all the discrimination and injustice

I foresee the presents in the morning - and I feel like some won't have presents and that makes me feel sad.

c) What emotions arise when you believe that thought?

Anger, because it's another incarnation of the Patriarchal society.

Another way to force into our kid mind that we have to behave otherwise you won't get anything.

d) Do any obsessions or addictions begin to appear when you believe that thought?

The urge to go shopping and at the same time this awful sensation that it's all a big scam.

Drama, instead of peace

Being forcefed the thougth that in order to have fun we have to have lots of food and many presents to open. That happiness is in the having, not the being.

e) How do you treat the person in this situation when you believe the thought? How do you treat other people and yourself?

Santa Claus is like all the teachers, or any authority that I have encountered as a kid - he judges and condamns - and use his authority to spoil the good kid and punish the misbehaving kids. 

Creating a world of injustice, where some people get desperate because they have nothing and other have too much, and always want more.

I want to have a minimal christmas, just a glass of hot wine with honey

And making our own presents out of our own creations - and avoiding at all costs any shopping center.

I love myself I don't need a big fat guy to tell me I have behave correctly (according to what?)

4. Who would you be without the thought?

If I wouldn't believe in Santa-Claus ; I'll be an adult - everything is dull and magic is gone. The only thing left is to enjoy is the week-end.

Turn around:

1. To the self. 

I'm real.

Yep, that makes me my own authority - no need for Santa Claus

2. To the other. Other are real

Other people are real, they can totally do what they like as well.

3. To the opposite. Santa-Claus isn't real

And that's the truth - now, why do we persist on cramming this idiot story to our kids? Maybe so they can figure this out by themselves? And find out that the adult world is playing trick on them from an early age - so they can understand that they have to question everything... 

Well, maybe that's not too bad then.