A shadow work journal with an AI companion who sees what you avoid.
Soul Arc is a Jungian shadow work journal for iPhone. It is for people who want to understand their patterns, their triggers, and the parts of themselves they keep out of view.
Umbra is the AI companion inside it. Umbra reads what you write and asks the next honest question. No advice, no diagnosis.
Free to start. iPhone and iPad, iOS 17.6 or later.
From App Store reviews
★★★★★
This app truly helped me connect with myself on a deeper level by allowing me to reflect, build better habits, and stay intentional with my growth. It’s simple, effective, and something I actually look forward to using every day.
App Store user, April 2026 ★★★★★
Honestly one of the most helpful apps I’ve used really helps you get to know yourself.
Fairyspawn, App Store review, April 2026 ★★★★★
Was up late scrolling, a lot on my mind, couldn’t fall asleep. Ended up journaling about what was bothering me and ended up snoozing after. Terrible sleep cuz it was like 3am when I started and I had to get up early but was asleep by 4am when I wrapped up writing.
ForPeteSake_1, App Store review, May 2026
Meet Umbra, your AI shadow companion.
Umbra doesn't give advice. Umbra asks questions. Short, precise, and sometimes uncomfortable. The kind that cut through the noise and land somewhere real. Every session is shaped by your archetype, and every conversation ends with something to sit with.
- A session is 5 messages on the free plan and 10 on Pro.
- Umbra remembers your last 5 sessions, so you do not start from zero.
- Replies are written by Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic.
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
— Carl Gustav Jung
Soul Arc at a glance
- What it is
- A shadow work journal for iPhone with an AI companion named Umbra.
- Who it is for
- People who want to understand their patterns, their triggers, and the parts of themselves they keep out of view.
- Shadow work
- A practice rooted in Carl Jung's psychology: looking honestly at the parts of yourself you have pushed out of view. Read what shadow work is.
- What you do
- Take a 10-question quiz to find your archetype. Write from 144 prompts in 12 themes (40 of them are free to read here). Check in with your mood, log triggers as Shadow Flares, and work through 15 planets with daily quests.
- Umbra
- An AI companion that answers what you write with short, direct questions. Umbra does not give advice or diagnose. Replies are written by Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic.
- Privacy
- Your journal is stored on your iPhone. There is no account and no email sign-up. When you talk to Umbra, your messages and short excerpts of recent entries are sent to Anthropic to write the reply. Details are in the privacy policy.
- Requirements
- iPhone or iPad with iOS 17.6 or later. English.
- Not therapy
- Soul Arc is a self-reflection tool. It is not therapy and not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are in crisis in the US, call or text 988.
Free and Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Speak with Umbra | 1 session a day, 5 messages | 10 sessions a day, 10 messages each |
| Deep Dive on an entry | 1 a day, 5 turns | 10 a day, 10 turns each |
| Journal prompts | 3 a day | All 144, picked by archetype or theme |
| Planet journey and daily quests | Included | Included |
| Check-ins and Shadow Flares | Included | Included |
| Shadow Patterns | Not included | Included |
| Soul Report (PDF export) | Not included | Included |
| Price | $0 | $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year |
There is no trial. Umbra is free up to the daily limit, and Pro raises it. Prices are in US dollars and can vary by country. Subscriptions are billed by Apple and renew until you cancel. See how Soul Arc compares with other apps.
Shadow work journaling, guided
Your Archetype
A 10-question quiz places you in one of 12 archetypes inspired by Jungian psychology, such as The Seeker, The Guardian, or The Shadow Self. Your archetype shapes your daily prompts and how Umbra talks to you.
See the 12 archetypesShadow Work Prompts
144 journal prompts across 12 themes, from The Wound to The Call. The free plan gives you 3 new prompts a day. Pro opens the full library.
Read 40 of the 144 promptsGuided Journaling
Free write, check in with one of 12 moods, or log a Shadow Flare when something triggers you, with an intensity from 1 to 10.
Soul Journey
15 planets, from Origin Point to Infinity Core. Each planet has 3 Soul Quests. You earn XP, keep streaks, and move on when the work is done.
Daily Quests
You get 3 quests a day. One comes from your current planet. The others rotate from a pool that gets deeper as you progress.
Shadow Patterns Pro
See your entries, streaks, average mood, and the words that show up most in your Shadow Flares. Worked out on your device, not by AI.
Your descent, mapped
The journey runs through 15 planets. You start at Origin Point and reach the next planet by finishing the 3 Soul Quests on the one you are on.
- Planet 1Origin PointWhere your journey began
- Planet 2First LightYour first reflection
- Planet 3EmberFace what burns inside
- Planet 4Crystal MoonClarity through the dark
- Planet 5UmbrisThe deep shadow stirs
- Planet 6AuroraThe healer rises
- Planet 7SolaraThe ego dissolves
- Planet 8NyxenWalk through the void
- Planet 9Nova PrimeThe transformer emerges
- Planet 10Twilight RingsIntegration begins
- Planet 11Rose NebulaLove what you once hid
- Planet 12VeldaraAncient wisdom surfaces
- Planet 13SolethThe creator awakens
- Planet 14NyxaraWholeness within the dark
- Planet 15Infinity CoreUniverse Architect
Frequently asked questions
What is shadow work?
Shadow work is the practice, rooted in Carl Jung's psychology, of exploring the parts of yourself you've pushed out of view: patterns, reactions, and feelings you avoid. Naming them is how they lose their grip.
Is Umbra a real AI?
Yes. Umbra is an AI companion that responds to what you actually write. It doesn't lecture or diagnose; it asks the next honest question. Umbra's replies are written by Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic.
Is Soul Arc free?
Yes. Soul Arc is free to download and you can use it every day without paying. The free plan includes 1 conversation with Umbra a day (5 messages), 1 Deep Dive a day, and 3 journal prompts a day. Soul Arc Pro raises that to 10 Umbra sessions and 10 Deep Dives a day, opens all 144 prompts, and adds Shadow Patterns and the Soul Report. Pro costs $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year. There is no trial.
Is my journal private?
Your journal is stored on your iPhone, not on our servers, and there is no account. When you talk to Umbra, your messages and short excerpts from recent entries are sent to Anthropic to write the reply. We do not sell your data, and Anthropic does not use it to train AI models. The privacy policy has the details.
Is Soul Arc therapy?
No. Soul Arc is a self-reflection tool, not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you're in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
More answers on the FAQ page.
Start the work you've
been avoiding.
Free on the App Store for iPhone. Take the archetype quiz and write your first entry today.