Tucked into our unconscious are the repressed, tabooed, primal, uncomfortable, and unwanted aspects of ourselves, which, when they manifest in our lives, can cause stuck, painful patterns of existence. Why do we always find ourselves choosing an abusive partner or boss, settling for less, thinking that we're undeserving? It's because, argues Carolyn Elliott, PhD, we refuse to acknowledge the unconscious pleasure we derive from the taboo side-the shadow side-of our being, what Elliott calls our "existential kink." This "dark side" can make us feel powerless and often holds us back from our life's goals. But it also holds profound transformative power. In Existential Kink, Elliott offers practical advice and exercises for loving and accepting our shadow side's "guilty pleasures," and shows how to integrate them into our whole being. When we do the uncomfortable work of bringing these unconscious desires into our consciousness-by giving them a vast, taboo-level approval-then they lose their fateful power to mess with us. When we unleash the transformative magic of our existential kink, we turn all of its "raw, hot/glorious power" toward getting what we truly desire so we can live the life we deserve. Book jacket.