Today, I set out to write an article about how, and why over the years, I’ve cultvated a model of working with people that I describe as more collaborative, less “therapist/client”, less “expert”, less “specialist” – some might even say “less professional”, but I like to frame as more relational, and more human.
I began by writing what became a long-winded diatribe about the many problems with systems, the faults inherent in “professionalism”, the damage caused by enabling through “specialization”, and the tremendous harm caused when a person who is suffering projects the source of their fundamental well-being onto an “expert” of one kind or another – who in the end - is replete with blind-spots and trauma of their own; in other words, they are just as human and fallible as the one seeking help, but less aware of that fact.
After several pages, I realized I was writing all about what I was against, what I saw as the problem, what I don’t and can no longer uphold.
I wasn’t writing anything about how I practice with people that come to Monarch in the here and now.
So, I asked myself,
“Why do I do what I do, in the way that I do it? With what I have learned and experienced in my life, what do I believe?”
The following is what came up for me, and I wanted to share it here - with you - so that you can understand more about who I am and what I believe, so that you can more easily discern if engaging in Trancework practice with me is something that you want to do.
· I believe that every being is a unique combination of material, energetic, and spiritual components.
· I believe that every individual being is ultimately in the best position to intimately know what is effective for them in terms of their own health, learning, and realization – and is fundamentally the only being who can.
· I believe that ultimately the deepest healing, greatest learning, and most profound realization arises from within the unique being themselves, and cannot be separated from that uniqueness.
· I believe that ignorance (literally not knowing), trauma, and disease can obscure an individual being’s capacity to perceive clearly.
· I believe that it is of fundamental importance for the individual to alleviate ignorance, trauma, and disease so that they can perceive clearly.
· I believe that it is useful for an individual to engage and learn from others who have been successful in addressing issues/problems/challenges that are similar to your own – this involves learning and developing methods, skills, resources, and tools.
· I believe that by effectively utilizing appropriate learned and developed methods, skills, resources and tools, an individual can and will begin to alleviate ignorance, trauma, and disease – thus clarifying perception.
· I believe that by applying clear perception, a unique being can - and will - realize more intimately their own uniqueness of body, mind, and spirit; and will begin to utilize learned methods, skills, resources and tools in new, unique, and novel ways, and to create and experiment with new methods, skills, resources, and tools in order to deepen in their capacity to manifest their own uniqueness.
· I believe that this process rarely occurs in a linear or stepwise fashion, and much more commonly in a spiraling orbit that can both expand and contract at times.
· I believe that when seeking mentorship or support it is important to find someone who is proficient with, and can share a variety of effective methods, skills, resources, and tools that are relevant to alleviating your specific ignorance, trauma, and disease.
· I believe that when seeking mentorship or support it is essential that you find someone who understands the principles expressed here, and will accept the responsibility to mentor and support you, but not the fundamental responsibility, control – or power – for your unique wellness, learning, or realization; because they understand that these things are yours, and can ultimately only be arrived at from within.
Thank you for taking the time to read. I look forward to practicing together.
-Eshu