Time can seem to come to a standstill when we are waiting. During my grade school days, I would stare at the clock above the classroom door silently pleading for the bell toll to release me. Sometimes, I would avert my eyes, hoping that more time would pass between my longing glances. I’d spot birds outside the window, and my jealousy grew as I sat in a hard plastic chair and ached to stretch my limbs. When I’d look back at the clock face, I was often disheartened to see how little time had passed since my last glance. I wondered whether the clock was growing too tired to make it all the way around the dial, or perhaps whether it had fallen asleep to the lull of my teacher’s voice.
Posts filed under Personal Growth
A Place to Breathe: How Emily Adama Found Herself at EarthWell Retreat Center
As far as the eye can see, there are acres and acres of a great nature preserve. Allow yourself to be consumed by it for a moment. Let it envelope you. Let it return you back to the beginning. Maple trees stretch far overhead--taller than any worry could ever be. Streams meander through the land—a burst of movement happening in this otherwise still place. There is a quiet, here, but a quiet that causes introspection. A quiet that feels intentional. A quiet that feels connected to something bigger if only one is willing to stop and listen.
Discerning the Pearl from the Glass Beads: Gifts and Challenges of Spiritual Community
Never in human history has the pull to wholeness and spiritual awakening been as strong and omnipresent as it is today. There is a growing appetite for freedom and truth, and a longing to experience oneness. This hunger for liberation has many sources of fulfillment. Even a cursory look at the internet will reveal the plethora of options yet, it requires powerful discernment and wise and loving support to guide an aspirant through the trials and joys of awakening to True Nature.
The Keys to Awareness: The Wholeness Work
Across many traditions, spiritual teachers have taught that the “ego” is not an entity, but an activity. What we call ego is ongoing psychological activity—memory, comparison, fear, desire—generated moment by moment. It is something that we are doing and not something we fundamentally are. Ego/self is a pattern of self-attention and linguistic framing—a contraction created through self-referencing.
Keeping the Faith—Even When it’s Hard
It’s easy to believe we are protected, loved, and supported by the divine when life is going well. But what about when we are treading in troubled waters and the tides threaten to sweep us out to sea? Thrashing in the waves, struggling to stay above water, sucked into the deep, our breath catching in our lungs— and the darkness finally overtakes us. That’s a different story. So, how do we keep the faith even when we feel abandoned?
An Interview with Psychotherapist on Authentic Masculinity and Embodied Healing
Daniel DeSena is a social worker and psychotherapist who has become active in leading male embodiment and self-mastery workshops locally, and also nationally on Zoom. He is passionate about the intersection of spirituality, meditation, energy work, martial arts, sexuality and embodiment. He and his twin sister, and younger brother, were raised in the Pittsburgh area. Now 52, he’s been in southeastern Michigan for 30+ years.
Core Transformation: The Treasure Map to the Wellspring Within
After decades of battling returning anxiety, I found Core Transformation: a step-by-step method to transform limiting parts, unconscious beliefs, and old coping strategies into profound inner resources. Learn how it works for deep, organic healing.
Vulnerable: Why I Stopped Fighting Back
After decades of building emotional walls with fists and sharp words, I learned to let go. Discover how embracing vulnerability brought real power and peace in this raw personal essay on healing and softness. Read my story of transformation.
Weekend Getaways: Heading Down South: Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House
Discover Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis: a peaceful urban oasis on 13 wooded acres with trails, labyrinth, and sacred spaces for spiritual renewal. Read my personal retreat experience—perfect for private reflection, all faiths welcome. Location, contact & tips inside.
Being Seen
Discover how a compassionate teacher can transform lives. Katherine Munter shares a moving story of mentorship, overcoming shame, healing from trauma, and paying it forward — inspired by Carl Jung's wisdom on the understanding heart in teaching. Who inspired you?
Catalpa Flowers and Steadfast Branches
This night, I climbed through the dark of my confusion to somewhere near the top quarter of the tree. I braced myself to sit on one branch, hooked my foot, and hugged the main trunk. It was solid but I could just make out a slight sway. I relinquished my human decision-making to a simple “just hold on”—something I’d later find out was a common moment (or phase) for most of humanity.
On Being Authentic
My sister’s death continues to be one of those events my life that frustrates me. I’ll never have the answers that I need to “move on” or “accept” the massive cave of despair her absence has created. It has, however, made me realize that despite the pain of not having her in my life, I have a responsibility and a need to be present for the people that I love, and I will continue to strive to be the best possible wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and therapist that I can be. My conversation with my cousin reminded me of the important and incredibly impactful moment I had with a client shortly after my sister’s death.
Book Review: Your Creator Matrix:How to Use Optimal Wellness and Quantum Healing to Master Your Story and Create Your Reality
Your Creator Matrix by author Cathleen Beerkens blends deep personal insight with cutting-edge science to offer a roadmap for taking control of your story and reprogramming your reality in the process.
Out of My Comfort Zone: My Cat Ate My Comfort Zone
This is the story of Margot, a recently rescued tuxedo cat, and how she curled up in my heart and broke it open.
What if You Are the Plucky Comic Relief?
I’d like to think I’m a relatively bright person. By traditional measures, this is certainly true. I have a wall full of degrees and fond memories of being a professor to prove it. And yet, I continue to surprise myself with the levels of idiocy I am capable of. I’m thinking about this right now as I can’t swallow, having tried to gulp down near boiling, extra spicy kimchi soup that I overheated in the microwave. So far, I’ve been too embarrassed to go to the doctor on this one, but I’m pretty sure I have second degree burns on my upper palate and throat.
Out of My comfort Zone: Finding Light in the Darkness
To jump or not to jump? As I stood in the corner of a six-story parking structure looking down, my thoughts were flooded with pain. Looking up from time to time I would notice the beauty of the colors in the sky as the sun started to set. These were fleeting moments with a heavy darkness and continual thoughts of all the horrors, terror, fear, and pain in the world and my own life.
Fifty Shades of Grey…(Hair) and Gratitude
In a box of Crayola crayons there is only one shade of grey. As for my aging body, there may be fifty shades of grey. As I’ve aged, I’ve learned that there is a skill set needed to age gracefully.
Spirit Seeds: Spring/Summer 2025
I’m feeling stuck in my shadow work, particularly around my past traumas. Are there specific crystals or energy-healing techniques that could help me move forward?
For deeper and more powerful healing, consider using moldavite and black tourmaline. Moldavite is known for its intense, transformative energy often called the “stone of transformation.” It can help accelerate spiritual awakening and deep healing by bringing to light deeply buried traumas. Black tourmaline is a robust, grounding and protective stone that can shield you from negative energies and transmute them into positive ones. In addition to these crystals, energy healing techniques like Reiki and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can be highly effective. Reiki helps balance your chakras by penetrating and clearing blockages with pure universal energy promoting overall well-being.
Ch-ch-ch-Changes (with Apologies to David Bowie)
While we are always changing—our cells replacing themselves, our children growing up, passing of beloved pets, places, homes and people—collectively we are entering new terrain. Our Earth, our only known home, the only known biosphere where humanity exists, crossed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold in February 2024. We live now in the warmest temperatures in pre-industrial recorded human history, in a world of new experiences, new dangers, and new uncertainties.
Imaginary Friend Revivals: A Return to Playfulness
Sitting alone in the dark in the back row of a movie theater, I sobbed relentlessly. I had just watched the movie IF. IF stands for Imaginary Friend. The movie was about adults reuniting with imaginary friends from their childhood at critical times in their life. The adults were transformed by acknowledging their previously discarded imaginary friends and became so much happier, creative, and productive. This movie touched me deeply. Perhaps my fearful inner child had come out of hiding for a moment looking for help. Or maybe I secretly hoped an old friend from my past would come back to rescue me. Following that experience, I became interested in learning more about imaginary friends and their relationships with adults.
