Even if our (step)-parents are no longer alive, the body remembers our experiences with them, and our psyches can be stirred. With Mother’s Day recently past and Father’s Day upon us, these days often evoke comfortable and uncomfortable feelings (regrets, guilt, resentments, disappointments and even anger). Why not approach these (and any) days as consciously […]
The Blame Game
The concept of blame deals with not taking responsibility or ownership of our actions and intentions. Blame is an excellent defense mechanism. Whether we call it projection, denial (“I didn’t do it!”) or displacement, blame helps preserve our sense of self-esteem by avoiding awareness of our own flaws or failings (shadow material). It’s often easier […]
Active Imagination – Dreaming the Dream Onward
Time for some detailed work with dreams. [We can also use active imagination without using dream material, in a process discussed later in the article.] We’ll look at how to use Jung’s concept or approach called ‘active imagination’ in working with dream characters (people, creatures, animals). This process can be especially helpful when dreams are […]
Individuation: Becoming Who We Truly Are
You may be familiar with author Henry David Thoreau’s saying, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” Thoreau metaphorically advises one to ‘be yourself,’ but what does it mean […]
Unsolicited Advice: Why We Give It & Why We Don’t Like Getting It
According to John Bradshaw, “co-dependency is the most common family illness.” Co-dependence is a set of maladaptive, compulsive behaviors learned by a person in order to survive in a stressed or dysfunctional family. We learned these behaviours from a dysfunctional family which involved a primary stressor such as the presence of alcoholism, depression, passive/aggressiveness, actual illness or death, […]
Knowing is Over-Rated
For the most part, knowing is over-rated and over used. Knowing IS necessary for being in touch with and clarifying our feelings, wants, values, purpose, what brings us meaning and what matters. We need to know these in order to set healthy boundaries. However, in other situations, needing to know often gets in the way. […]
