Normally we are told that empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Some scholars describe its attributes in terms of perspective taking, staying out of judgement, recognising emotions and communicating skilfully. But I’ve never found conventional definitions of empathy to really capture its essence. They explain what it ‘looks like,’ […]
As we navigate and individuate in the modern world, understanding and recognising the concept of ego inflation takes on increasing importance. Key to personal evolution, or what Carl Jung defined as ‘individuation,’ is the ability to discern this phenomena. The world will judge our discernment to be judgement, and lobby us to ignore our conscience
There’s a difference between: What is right vs. What is true Being wrong vs. Being inaccurate Defending against evil vs. Defending your self-image “Forgiving” someone who takes responsibility vs. One who doesn’t A psychologist vs. Someone who understands the mind Spiritual leadership vs. Entertainment Freedom vs. Gratifying every whim Acceptance vs. Passivity Wholesome vs. “Good”
The foundation of any genuine personal and spiritual growth path is the need to take responsibility for your mind. Unless you take responsibility for your own mind, any movement in the direction of growth will be happenstance and temporary. Responsibility is how we turn our encounters and challenges in life into material that helps us
For many centuries, there has been a growing disconnect in Western culture from the essence of spiritual growth, wholesome conduct, and the practice of living without conflict. While the healing and coaching professions have the potential to be powerful catalysts for change, they too often fall short of recognising this disconnect. Spiritual influencers and communities
If you’ve ever had a numinous spiritual experience, fallen in love, experienced joy at your sports team winning, or even become trapped in an abusive relationship or cult, then you will have experienced ‘Participation Mystique.’ Jung described Participation Mystique in many places, building on ideas by Lucien Lévy-Bruhl. It is is a powerful concept for
There was much I had to learn during my own exit and recovery from the inner circle of an exploitative Buddhist cult. In my months of untangling all the useful lessons from the poison, I probably acquired the equivalent of a Masters degree in Buddhism. Although I did not change my name. This task was
It can be tempting to think that the wholesome response to malevolence is to ‘let it go’ by ‘doing nothing’ – To show antagonists a holier way of being by graciously “turning the other cheek.” But true “Letting go” is not the same as “doing nothing.” Our mind brought this challenge about for good reason.
The challenges faced by civilization today are not bad luck or random coincidence. The real challenge is not climate change, biodiversity, pandemics, social media, war, nuclear disaster, politicians, political divide, inequality, prejudice or discrimination or malignant artificial intelligence. Attempt to ‘solve’ any one of these issues and the real challenge will simply re-emerge in a
Individuation, becoming one’s True Self, is not achieved by complying or being accepted by the world. This does not mean we begin breaking laws or chasing our impulses. It means acting from a place of integration and wholeness, rather than the ego and the feelings it conjures. The difference is that the unconscious and reactivity
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