I’ve worked at a ketamine clinic for four years now, and have used the treatment for my own healing several times; however, I had never before experienced the glamorized ‘ego death,’ which occurs when all sense of self is temporarily lost or forgotten, leading to a feeling of nonduality (total lack of separation from anything else). Recently, however, I finally did. Here’s my attempt at describing the experience.
Read moreFacing our Monsters
I specialize in trauma; and, as such, I have the humbling opportunity to sit with people as they confront the most painful aspects of their lives. Something I’ve noticed in clients is the desire to curl into a ball and look away when facing the sometimes-unbearable pain. But, this is the time when I remind clients that the fact that they’re seeing their pain means that it’s conscious enough that it’s no longer controlling them. It might still be affecting them, but it’s no longer in the driver’s seat, with the client being carelessly careened down treacherous paths.
Edgewater: Where Spiritual and Material Realms Meet. Part II
To illustrate the interconnectedness of material possessions and spirituality, I have a true story of quite a miraculous thing that happened to me a few years ago:
When I moved into my current studio apartment, I wanted to find the perfect painting for the wall above my altar. It’s a large wall, so I didn’t expect it to be easy to find. Because I am anti-consumerism and privileged to live in a community where my local Nextdoor and Buy Nothing groups have abundant free offerings of most things I might need, I’ve relied on my neighbors’ discards to furnish my entire apartment.
Read moreEdgewater: Where Spiritual and Material Realms Meet. Part I
I have a theory about material possessions and our connection to spirituality. When we feel connected to spirituality, we feel the interconnectedness of all things; but, there’s usually a focus on all living things. Instead, I believe this connection extends to material possessions as well. Let me give an example to explain what I mean.
I’ve been fairly minimalistic and anti-consumerist my entire life, but I’ve never formally articulated the connection I feel between non-consumerism and spirituality.
I admit I have racist moments, and you should too. A letter to other well-intentioned White progressives
Photo by Mike Von @thevoncomplex
These progressive White people can be the most harmful in perpetuating racism because they think they’re done doing their work. They think they get it, that they’re the choir to whom anti-racist people are preaching, and instead of searching themselves for micro-aggressions they unintentionally commit, they use their already-uplifted voices to showcase how ‘woke’ they are.
I can definitely be one of these progressive White people. I remember the moment I epitomized this idea:
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