Shadow figures in dreams represent the parts of yourself that have been rejected, suppressed, or remain unconscious. These dark, often featureless figures embody qualities you may consider negative or unacceptable. Encountering a shadow figure can be frightening, but it signals an opportunity for psychological growth. The shadow contains not only negative traits but also positive qualities that were suppressed. Confronting rather than fleeing from shadow figures in dreams initiates the important process of psychological integration.