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This article explores the psychological and symbolic dimensions of war, particularly the Russian invasion of Ukraine, through a Jungian lens. Two Ukrainian psychotherapists in the diaspora discuss the experience of war, wondering whether it has a ‘golden shadow’ or a hidden meaning beyond its terrible darkness. The article examines the processes, particularly archetypal ones, observed within ‘Social Dreaming Matrix’ groups to process trauma and foster a sense of mutual support. The authors share their own practices for finding resilience and meaning in the shadow of war, such as cold water swimming, silent retreats, and lucid dreaming. Finally, the article suggests that even in the darkness of war, a form of beauty or transcendence can be found, and that individual change is a key factor in transforming collective psychology.