I went to one of his Wild Mind retreats that specifically explored these four directions in embodied parts work in the wilderness . It was very interesting as someone who has done a lot of IFS... I see the advantages of pointing to parts that we can then connect with within ourselves and cultivate further. Although some of the parts (in the way that he lays out) I had a difficult time getting truly in touch with.
YES! Yes, yes, yes to this, which is right up my alley, er, right up my forest path. I've been exploring engaging people in the experience of making Morning Altars™ (nature mandalas) as maps of consciousness, navigational tools, and symbols of integration. "Often the hands will solve the mysteries that the intellect has struggled with in vain." (Carl Jung). Nature and the Creative Process become a bridge towards integration of that which is experienced beyond or before words. Although I'm a trained therapist and Morning Altars teacher, the beauty of the Morning Altars process is that people can create nature mandalas on their own. (website, book, videos, social media - links at morningaltars.com) The models of psyche that Plotkin, Schwartz and Moreno (Psychodrama) developed plus the nature-immersed experience of Morning Altars™ work make for a wonderful path of integration and wholing. Would definitely like to see you explore these themes further for your readers!
Thank you for this excellent piece! Connecting inner parts to Nature/soul work and plant medicine makes so much sense 🙌🏽 as the medicines can naturally remove our barriers to self-discovery.
I'm eternally grateful to meet my parts (I now lovingly call them my Monkeys) through three inspirations. 1) Carl Jung's "Red Book;" 2) a friend's mythic storytelling of "The Lindworm Prince" around a sacred fire; and 3) Carolyn Myss' book, "Sacred Contracts," I discovered at a used book store. I expanded on her method for interviewing archetypal energies within through creative play and Arnold Mindell's dreamwork process. My inner characters helped me co-create a one-woman musical on overcoming the fear of singing, a few book manuscripts and a graphic novel/short film in the works. Later, I discovered Schwartz' IFS, and Plotkin's map, which felt like a homecoming! I continue to love this ongoing, juicy, creative healing process. Thank you for encouraging more of us to grow.
Wow, how beautiful! I haven't heard of either of those book. I love how you talk about your parts as a source of creativity - that's something I'm keen to explore in the future. It is such a powerful framework to relate to oneself. Thanks for the kind words 🙏
At the surface, in the cardinal directions (the structure of the model). But more so in the specific practices he suggests in the book for reconnecting with the different parts, many of them are nature-based.
The connection with psychedelic integration for me comes from the fact that the process of psychedelic healing often reconnects one by default with the different parts within, especially with the facets of the Self and the wounded child. But I can add a more explicit deep dive in the future if of interest :)
I went to one of his Wild Mind retreats that specifically explored these four directions in embodied parts work in the wilderness . It was very interesting as someone who has done a lot of IFS... I see the advantages of pointing to parts that we can then connect with within ourselves and cultivate further. Although some of the parts (in the way that he lays out) I had a difficult time getting truly in touch with.
Ohh that's so cool! It's on my bucket list! How was the experience? Which parts were more difficult to get in touch with for you?
YES! Yes, yes, yes to this, which is right up my alley, er, right up my forest path. I've been exploring engaging people in the experience of making Morning Altars™ (nature mandalas) as maps of consciousness, navigational tools, and symbols of integration. "Often the hands will solve the mysteries that the intellect has struggled with in vain." (Carl Jung). Nature and the Creative Process become a bridge towards integration of that which is experienced beyond or before words. Although I'm a trained therapist and Morning Altars teacher, the beauty of the Morning Altars process is that people can create nature mandalas on their own. (website, book, videos, social media - links at morningaltars.com) The models of psyche that Plotkin, Schwartz and Moreno (Psychodrama) developed plus the nature-immersed experience of Morning Altars™ work make for a wonderful path of integration and wholing. Would definitely like to see you explore these themes further for your readers!
PARTS WORK is BRAVE and CREATIVE.
Thank you for this excellent piece! Connecting inner parts to Nature/soul work and plant medicine makes so much sense 🙌🏽 as the medicines can naturally remove our barriers to self-discovery.
I'm eternally grateful to meet my parts (I now lovingly call them my Monkeys) through three inspirations. 1) Carl Jung's "Red Book;" 2) a friend's mythic storytelling of "The Lindworm Prince" around a sacred fire; and 3) Carolyn Myss' book, "Sacred Contracts," I discovered at a used book store. I expanded on her method for interviewing archetypal energies within through creative play and Arnold Mindell's dreamwork process. My inner characters helped me co-create a one-woman musical on overcoming the fear of singing, a few book manuscripts and a graphic novel/short film in the works. Later, I discovered Schwartz' IFS, and Plotkin's map, which felt like a homecoming! I continue to love this ongoing, juicy, creative healing process. Thank you for encouraging more of us to grow.
https://heartsquest.substack.com/p/how-i-met-my-monkeys
Wow, how beautiful! I haven't heard of either of those book. I love how you talk about your parts as a source of creativity - that's something I'm keen to explore in the future. It is such a powerful framework to relate to oneself. Thanks for the kind words 🙏
Where is the nature connection? I’m intrigued to know more about that aspect, as well the connections (anecdotes?) to psychedelic integration.
At the surface, in the cardinal directions (the structure of the model). But more so in the specific practices he suggests in the book for reconnecting with the different parts, many of them are nature-based.
The connection with psychedelic integration for me comes from the fact that the process of psychedelic healing often reconnects one by default with the different parts within, especially with the facets of the Self and the wounded child. But I can add a more explicit deep dive in the future if of interest :)
Yes, please! 😋
Thank you for this, I ordered his book, I'm so intrigued!
Amazing! Let me know how you like it 😊
I most definitely will, be well!