Those who are just starting to learn or have tried and just can't get it this exercise is for you. Even I still use it to keep my magicks up to par.

When in a completely dark room should this be attempted. Stand within the center of the room and visualize (you may close your eyes if it helps) you drawing in the shadows. When you have this moving in a steady pace then you must begin to actually draw the shadows or darkness in. Your eyes must remain open for this. Do not draw into yourself too many but enough to almost fill your whole being.
Do not release any what so ever.

Hold the shadows within your being. A starter should begin with holding for 15- 20 minutes working themselves up progressively to being able to hold them for up to weeks, months and even years.

When your time is done then slowly and steady release the shadows back. You then release your visualization from earlier by visualizing the shadows leaving.

Once you have accomplished this and can hold the shadows for a couple of hours. You can now advance to actually starting to manipulating them by concentrating. Your first step should be when releasing them to make it come out simple as smoke rings or in puffs at a time. To start do not use difficult and alternating shapes and forms. After some time start swirling it inward or making more difficult shapes and forms on release. The more you can make the more you are ready to. In an advancement of this you can be capable to make a cloak about you making you seem for a moment invisible to all others.

Please note that shadow magicks must be maintained or you will lose strength in it. You must always practicie it to keep it at the levels you want to obtain.