Buffalo seasons Awareness in life
Being in Alignment with Oneself: An Existential Task
In existential depth psychology, the concept of being in alignment with oneself is a central tenet that speaks to the essence of human authenticity. This idea suggests that individuals often live—often unconsciously—in ways that contradict their true nature, acting out of alignment due to external influences and learned belief systems. The structures and values imposed upon us by society, culture, family, and education frequently take precedence over our innate feelings and desires. Consequently, we become estranged from our authentic selves, leading to internal dissonance and confusion about our emotions. This essay explores the process of misalignment, its consequences, and the path toward self-reconciliation through existential awareness and authenticity.
Holding the Whole Person: Depth Therapy for Trauma, Grief, & Meaning-Making
As a psychotherapist with training in depth psychology, existential philosophy, narrative theory, and Buddhist practice, I have found that integrating these perspectives provides a flexible and deeply humane foundation for clinical work. Clients often arrive in therapy not only seeking relief from symptoms, but longing to understand themselves, repair internal fractures, and live with a sense of purpose and authenticity. These traditions, when held together in dialogue, support that process by inviting the individual to meet their suffering with awareness, responsibility, and symbolic depth.
Finding the power in Myth: Hecate, Goddess of Illumination
By embodying Hecate’s attributes and drawing lessons from her mythology, women can find strength, wisdom, and empowerment to navigate their own journeys with confidence and agency. Like all of us in different periods of our life, Hecate stands at the crossroads. Connecting to our inner Self through meditation and active imagination, we can gain inspiration from ancient archetypes and mythological figures such as Hecate as we bravely navigate our own paths, accept the weight of our choices and the responsibility of creating our own essence.
On Earth Day, The Minds of Gray Whales & Our Shadows
Nature is our teacher, every day. We only need listen, smell, taste, touch, and observe. On this 53rd Earth Day, reading our profundity can lead us into a verdant chartreuse and emerald-painted forest, where we can chase our Shadow amidst spring’s dew drops and cadmium yellow rays of sunshine.
Coming to understand the self in connection to our natural world and to others is an enlightening journey into waters and forest floors that we inhabited eons ago. Well before the study epigenetics, Carl Jung posited that a hidden and repressed part of the self, aka The Shadow, “reach[es] back into the realm of our animal ancestors.” [2]