Shadow work prompt cards: 96 gentle prompts, one small card at a time

Shadow work prompt cards built as a full system in true 3 by 5 and 4 by 6 inch index sizes, so you can pick up one gentle question at a time rather than facing a whole workbook. The 34 undated pages hold 96 original prompt cards across six themes with crop marks, reflection and dotted reverse sides, grounding, trigger log, what I learned and aftercare cards in both sizes, and six tabbed theme dividers.

You get US Letter and A4 PDF files as an instant download. No printed cards are mailed.

How shadow work prompt cards keep each session gentle

Every card carries a single question from one of six themes: triggers, inner child, beliefs, emotions, relationships or self-compassion. Small boxes let you mark it Explored, Come back to or Not today, so passing on a card is always fine. Print the reflection side on the back and your writing lines sit directly behind the question, along with a quick check of how you feel afterwards.

When a reaction surprises you, the trigger log card guides you through the event, the emotion, a 0 to 10 intensity score, body sensations, the story you told yourself and what you were needing. A grounding card and an aftercare card help you open and close each session softly, and tabbed dividers keep everything sorted by theme in a 3 x 5 box.

Who this shadow work deck is for

• Anyone curious about shadow work who finds a thick workbook too much and wants one small question at a time
• Journalers already using the Shadow Work Journal who want a deck to shuffle alongside it
• People who keep meeting the same reactions, beliefs or relationship patterns and want to understand why
• Index card fans who like a neat box with theme dividers on the nightstand

Card sizes, design and printing

• Elegant, minimal style: white backgrounds with soft blush pink touches that use little ink
• Generous margins, so a home printer will not clip anything
• True trim sizes: 3 x 5 in (7.6 by 12.7 cm), with four prompt cards per page turned on their side, and 4 x 6 in (10.2 by 15.2 cm), two per page, all with crop marks, set on US Letter or A4 paper
• Undated, so you can begin any day and print any card again
• The reflection and dotted backs sit right behind the fronts when you print on both sides and turn the page along its long edge
• For sturdy cards, use 200 to 250 gsm (65 to 90 lb) card stock, keep the scale at 100 percent rather than fitting to the page, and trim on the crop marks with a paper cutter

Inside the shadow work prompt cards: 34 pages

1. 1Cover listing the contents
2. 2Guide to the cards: five steps for a session (settle, draw, write, notice, care), a chart of the six themes with card numbers and pages, a chart of what each card does in each size, a gentle safety note, four pacing tips and a checklist for printing and trimming
3. 3 to 6Triggers cards 01 to 16 at 3 x 5 in, four to a sheet with crop marks
4. 7 to 10Inner child cards 17 to 32
5. 11 to 14Beliefs cards 33 to 48
6. 15 to 18Emotions cards 49 to 64
7. 19 to 22Relationships cards 65 to 80
8. 23 to 26Self-compassion cards 81 to 96. Each one shows its theme and number, a single question and boxes for Explored, Come back to and Not today
9. 27Reflection backs at 3 x 5 in with a line for the card number, eight writing lines and a check for how you feel after writing (lighter, about the same, stirred up)
10. 28Dotted backs at 3 x 5 in
11. 29Four tool cards at 3 x 5 in: grounding, with five steps and your anchor words; trigger log, covering the event, your feeling, a 0 to 10 intensity, body sensations, the story you told yourself, what it reminds you of, what you needed and what you can do next time; what I learned, with what you noticed, a pattern, a belief you are questioning, the kinder truth and one small step; and self-care after journaling, with a six point aftercare checklist
12. 30 to 31The four tool cards again at 4 x 6 in, two to a sheet, with extra room: someone to call on the grounding card, seven feelings on the trigger log and an eight point aftercare checklist
13. 32Reflection backs at 4 x 6 in with eleven writing lines
14. 33 to 34Six tabbed 3 x 5 in box dividers for Triggers, Inner child, Beliefs, Emotions, Relationships and Self-compassion, each with lines to list cards to revisit

Files in your download

• Shadow Work Prompt Cards 3x5 & 4x6, US Letter PDF (34 pages)
• Shadow Work Prompt Cards 3x5 & 4x6, A4 PDF (34 pages)
• Read Me First, a brief printing guide (PDF)

How to download and print

• Check out with PayPal, a debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your download page opens as soon as the payment goes through.
• We email the same private download links to you, so you can download your files again later.
• Open the PDF in a free reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and print at 100% or Actual size.
• Print only the pages you need, as often as you like, for your own personal use.

Good to know

• You receive a PDF to print and trim at home. Printed cards and a card box are not included.
• This is a digital file only, and nothing physical is shipped.
• Printed colors may look slightly different from your screen.
• Personal use only. Please do not share, resell or pass along the files.
• Digital files cannot be returned. If a file will not open or print correctly, email us and we will help right away.
• The cards are a tool for self-reflection. They are not therapy, cannot diagnose or treat anything and do not replace a therapist, counselor or doctor.
• Take it slowly and pass on any question. If a card stirs up painful memories or distress, pause, turn to the grounding card and contact someone you trust or a professional. In an emergency, call your local emergency services.

How this was made

Designed and written by PetiteDiary. AI tools helped draft parts of the text, and some background scenes in the preview images were created with AI. Every page was designed, reviewed and checked before release.

Questions about the shadow work prompt cards

Related searches