# Umbra: Shadow Work Journal for iOS

> Umbra is a minimalist shadow work journal for iOS, rooted in Jungian psychology. The app provides guided prompts to help users explore repressed emotions, track emotional patterns over time, and confront what they avoid. Umbra is fully offline-first — all data is stored locally on-device using expo-sqlite, with no cloud sync, no accounts, and no tracking. Umbra is not a replacement for therapy.

Umbra is built by Arcadia, an independent software studio based in Krakow, Poland. The app is available exclusively on iOS.

## Core Concepts

Shadow work is the psychological practice of exploring the "shadow" — the unconscious parts of personality that have been repressed, denied, or judged as unacceptable. The concept was pioneered by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. Umbra structures this practice through five intent categories: Anger, Shame, Fear, Ego, and Envy. Users select an intent, respond to a psychologically-driven prompt, and over time recognize patterns in their emotional triggers.

## How Umbra Works

1. Choose an intent (Anger, Shame, Ego, Fear, or Envy) as the emotional territory to explore.
2. Respond to a guided prompt — a psychologically-driven question matched to the chosen intent.
3. Recognize patterns — Umbra tracks the distribution of reflections across intents over time.
4. Integrate — pattern recognition creates awareness, the core of Jungian shadow integration.

## Features

- Guided Confrontation: Deep prompts rooted in Jungian psychology to surface hidden aspects of the self.
- Emotional Pattern Tracking: Visualization of emotional trigger distribution across intent categories.
- Absolute Privacy: Offline-first architecture, local expo-sqlite storage, no cloud, no accounts, no tracking.
- Biometric Lock: FaceID, TouchID, or PIN code protection available on all tiers.
- Daily Reminders: Configurable notifications to maintain a consistent reflection practice.
- Ritual of Reflection: A structured journaling flow designed as a daily practice, not a one-time exercise.

## Pricing

- Free: Up to 15 journal entries, shuffled prompts, all privacy and lock features.
- Umbra Premium: Unlimited entries, advanced analytics, full prompt library, manual intent selection.

## Important Context

- Umbra is a self-reflection tool, not a replacement for professional therapy or medical advice.
- All journal data is private and stored locally on the user's device. Umbra cannot read user entries.
- The app is available exclusively on iOS.
- Arcadia is an independent software studio. Website: https://byarcadia.app

## Pages

- [Umbra Landing Page](https://umbra.byarcadia.app/): Main page with app description, features, how it works, who shadow work is for, and FAQ.
- [Privacy Policy](https://umbra.byarcadia.app/privacy/): Data handling, offline-first architecture, and privacy commitments.
- [Terms of Service](https://umbra.byarcadia.app/terms/): Usage terms and conditions for Umbra.

## FAQ

- Q: Is my data truly private? — A: Yes. Umbra is built on an offline-first architecture. Reflections, triggers, and secrets never leave the device and are stored in a local expo-sqlite database. There are no accounts, and Umbra cannot read user entries.
- Q: What is the difference between Gratitude and Shadow Work? — A: Gratitude focuses on positivity. Shadow work (rooted in Jungian psychology) is about integrating repressed parts of personality — like anger, shame, or envy — to achieve wholeness and clarity.
- Q: Is Umbra a replacement for therapy? — A: No. Umbra is a tool for self-reflection and pattern recognition, designed to complement professional therapy, not replace it.
- Q: How does the "15-entry limit" work? — A: The free version allows up to 15 entries in the entire history. Umbra Premium unlocks unlimited reflections, advanced analytics, and full prompt selection.
- Q: Can I lock my journal? — A: Yes. FaceID, TouchID, or a PIN code can be enabled to protect journal entries. This feature is available on all tiers including free.
- Q: What are "Prompts" and "Intents"? — A: Intents are focus areas like Anger or Ego. Prompts are psychologically-driven questions designed to trigger honest reflection. Free users get shuffled prompts; Premium users can manually select their focus.
- Q: What is shadow work and how do I start? — A: Shadow work is the practice of exploring unconscious parts of personality that have been repressed or denied, a concept popularized by Carl Jung. Journaling is the most accessible entry point. Umbra provides guided prompts to make the process structured. A practical first step is identifying a recurring emotional trigger and writing about its earliest memory.
- Q: Is shadow work journaling safe? — A: Shadow work journaling is generally safe, though it can surface intense emotions. It is important to approach with self-compassion and pause if feeling overwhelmed. Umbra is not a substitute for professional therapy. For deep trauma or mental health crises, consult a licensed therapist.
- Q: Can I do shadow work on my own without a therapist? — A: Yes. Many people practice shadow work independently through journaling. Umbra is designed to support independent practice with structured, psychologically-driven prompts. A therapist is recommended for processing deep-seated trauma.
- Q: What are shadow work prompts? — A: Shadow work prompts are psychologically-driven questions designed to surface unconscious patterns, biases, and repressed emotions. Umbra categorizes prompts by Intents (Anger, Shame, Ego, Fear, Envy). Free users get a selection of prompts; Umbra Premium provides access to the full library.
- Q: What makes Umbra different from other journal apps? — A: Umbra differentiates through three principles: a structured Jungian psychology framework, absolute privacy (offline-first, no cloud, no accounts), and emotional pattern tracking. Unlike gratitude journals, Umbra uses prompts for confrontation work, and visualizes emotional triggers over time.