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Hello, mindful ones!

Here’s to Embodied Spirituality & the Integral Bodhisattva Vow

The underlying idea of many branches of yoga and the chakra systems, that we are spiritual beings in physical form, parallels embodied spirituality.

As described in the interview with Ferrer (2018), Freud contended for the sublimation of libido (Gay, 1992), while Jung (1939) argued for the integration of libido into personality. Whereas Freud based much of his psychoanalysis on sexual repression, Jung contended that there must be more to the psyche. This sharp difference of opinion is portrayed dramatically in the movie A Dangerous Method by Michael Fassbender playing Jung who stated “there must be more than one hinge into the universe.”

Freud’s polymorphous perversity theory, moving towards an orgasm focused on the whole organism, and not just genital as the peak of psychosexual development, falls in line with the work of Wilhelm Reich and links into the discussion by Ferrer on sexuality. In other words, “the compulsion towards orgasm disappears” and organic integral development can find expression in the ecstatic and erotic peak of a yoga pose, for example.

One danger within the world of transpersonal spirituality is known as spiritual bypassing. In this psychodynamic maneuver, a pathological manifestation of egoic narcissism can take hold. This is in contrast to an embodied, compassionate and heart-centered approach of healthy narcissism.

As Ferrer (2018) articulated, “open the doors and windows of your heart and body and let the light in.” Ultimately, the more integrated someone is, the less need there is to escape their physical home through dissociation. Spiritual practitioners would be well advised to acquire a knowledge of trauma theory and the basics of clinical application.

Gay, V. P. (1992). Freud on Sublimation: Reconsiderations. United States: State University of New York Press.

Jung, C. G. (1939). The integration of the personality.

Thomas, J. (Producer), & Cronenberg, D. (Director). (2011). A Dangerous Method [Motion Picture]. United States: Sony Pictures Classics.

Interactive embodied meditation experience. [ ]

INTRODUCTION: SACRED CENTERS OF THE SELF

Youth, inspiration, trees, forest bathing, home. A house, a future.

Discovering the Rainbow Bridge

Wheels That Heal

The Human Biocomputer Character Armor The Seven Rights The Seven Identities Demons of the Chakras Developmental Stages Adult Development

CHAKRA ONE: RECLAIMING THE TEMPLE OF THE BODY Shades of Red Unfolding the Petals Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Character Structure Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus Conclusion

CHAKRA TWO: SWIMMING IN THE WATERS OF DIFFERENCE Shades of Orange Unfolding the Petals Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Character Structure Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus Conclusion

CHAKRA THREE: BURNING OUR WAY INTO POWER Shades of Yellow Unfolding the Petals Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Character Structure Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus Conclusion

CHAKRA FOUR: FINDING THE BALANCE IN LOVE Shades of Green Unfolding the Petals Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Character Structure Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus Conclusion

CHAKRA FIVE: VIBRATING INTO EXPRESSION Shades of Blue Unfolding the Petals Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Character Structure Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus Conclusion

CHAKRA SIX: SEEING OUR WAY THROUGH Shades of Indigo Unfolding the Petals Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus Conclusion

CHAKRA SEVEN: OPENING TO THE MYSTERY OF HEAVEN Shades of Violet Unfolding the Thousand-Petaled Lotus Growing the Lotus Traumas and Abuses Excess and Deficiency Restoring the Lotus

CONCLUSION: RESTORATION OF THE SACRED The Many Shades of the Rainbow

Putting It All Together Kundalini Awakening

ENDNOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY Other Books by This Author

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Integral Health Network is on a mission to heal the soul of San Francisco. We hike the hills of Wisconsin and the eucalyptus and cedar of Glen Park canyon to restore health and vitality to individuals and our community. In this hi-tech world now isolated, nature treatment is needed now more than ever.

As summarized by Fauver (2018), “spending time with trees and opening to your intuition are integral parts of a Japanese practice called forest bathing (shinrin-yoku). Forest bathing involves quietly relaxing under the trees or casually walking through them, which research has found to provide a wide range of health benefits” (p. 6).

Among the evidence for this is work by Lee et al. (2011), in which young japanese male subjects participated in a nature-based experiment. The study used physiological and psychological measures, including heart rate variability analysis, that indicated the forest environment significantly increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, the rest and digest side of the autonomic nervous system, and significantly suppressed sympathetic, fight or flight activity of participants compared with the urban environment.

Levels of salivary cortisol, the stress hormone, and pulse rate decreased significantly in the forest setting compared with the city mileu. In psychological tests, forest bathing significantly increased scores of positive feelings and significantly decreased scores of negative feelings. Studies with other populations include middle aged and elderly individuals (Yu et al., 2017), middle aged females (Ochiai et al., 2015a), middle aged males (Ochiai et al., 2015b), and patients with fibromyalgia (Secundino et al., 2015).

Based on this evidence, we encourage people with anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder to get back to mother earth and the trees to find relief from their mental and emotional maladies.

Interpersonal neurobiology as described by Siegel in The Developing Mind (1999) is an interdisciplinary field which seeks to understand the mind and mental health.

Malkemus, S. A., & Romero, M. T. (2012). Sexuality as a transformational path: exploring the holistic dimensions of human vitality. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 31(2), 33-41.

Pinel, J. P., & Barnes, S. (2018). Biopsychology. Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Higher Education.

Small, M. (2011). Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent. United States: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

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Nature Deficit Disorder: How the great outdoors calms the body & mind

Ecotherapy, also known as nature therapy or green therapy, is the applied practice of the emergent field of ecopsychology, which was developed by Theodore Roszak. Ecotherapy, in many cases, stems from the belief that people are part of the web of life and that our psyches are not isolated or separate from our environment.

“Most people in our culture have been treated like objects all their lives. This is the source of the wound to the soul underlying most of the human misery that therapists encounter. Because people have come to experience themselves as objects, they in turn objectify other people and commodify the world. They feel alienated, isolated, and empty, believing their lives hold no meaning.”

― Linda Buzzell, Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind

Ideas for ImplementationMeditating in NatureGardening – Indoors or OutWalking a Pet in the WoodsConservation ActivismCamping, Day HikesSimply Sitting in the Sunshine

“Researchers at the University of Essex in 2007 found that, of a group of people suffering from depression, 90 percent felt a higher level of self-esteem after a walk through a country park, and almost three-quarters felt less depressed.”

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”

― John Muir

But down deep, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical.”

― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

How much grass green, sky blue or golden sunshine are you getting?

During this pandemic, getting outdoors can be a challenge.

I highly recommend it if you can get out in nature and experience these different eco-therapeutic approaches.

So what exactly is ecotherapy? Also known as nature therapy or green therapy and is the applied practice of the emergent field of eco-psychology, which Theodore Rosen developed. Ecotherapy in many cases stems from the belief that people are part of the web of life and that our psyches are not isolated or separate from our environment.

So what does this have to do with my psyche well according to this little infographic I got here which I will post a link to online different parts of our brain are kind of improved and our health is improved by connection with nature so for our entire brain we have increased mental health while gardening through increased neurotrophins production and then we’ve talked about that in our neurodiversity video as BDNF or a brain derived neurotrophic factor so being out and gardening helps increase those production of a hormone that increases neurogenesis also in our hypothalamus and pituitary gland our cortisol stress hormone is reduced so we get stress relief from gardening furthermore the very physical act of being in the soil we come in contact with Mycobacterium vessei which are healthy for us and actually help improve depression affecting the raphe nuclei brain and it says here that mycobacteria vac se is a harmless bacteria found in soil that boost serotonin in the brain working as an antidepressant so go get your hands dirty according to Linda Buzzle in eco therapy healing with nature in mind most people quote in our culture have been treated like objects all their lives this is the source of the wound to the soul underlying most of the human misery that therapists encounter because people have come to experience themselves as objects they in turn objectify other people and can modify the world they feel alienated isolated and empty believing their lives hold no meaning so as a graphic representation of this idea we can see how humanity often thinks of themselves at the top of the pyramid there and that all other creatures are beneath us and then we in turn treat other humans that way trying to one-up everyone and then eco psychology and therapy can help remind us that we’re a vast part of this interconnected web and that we don’t necessarily have to think of ourselves in our report little egos and our egotism as above nature we are an intricate part of it and we cannot survive or be healthy without a healthy planet or habitat in the wild life around us and without trees the provide us oxygen and we are in a symbiotic relationship with all of that what are some ways that I can implement this in my own life here are just a few ideas you can go out into a park or hike out into the woods and do some meditating and just sit down kind of watch what’s happening around you listen really get your senses involved you can also garden and whether it’s outdoors you have a plot of land or inside with some potted plants that’ll get you to have a little green in your life and if you have an animal instead of walking through the city maybe drive out into the country if you’re able to and then go for a walk out in the woods you can also get involved in a conservation organization of some sorts and then they’ll have a lot of events that’ll help get you in touch with why life and protecting our fellow creatures and that will help give a percent per pass and meaning which we know through positive psychology can increase well-being and help alleviate depression also if you’re able to or have any desire to you can go camping or take a day hike maybe instead of going to the movies and sitting in the dark and watching this artificial creation go out and see real creation or the evolutionary product of development and you know something that most of us are easily able to do if we take the time to do it it just go sit outside in the sunshine or you know open the window and just bask in the glow of those wonderful ultraviolet rays which are actually important for resetting our circadian rhythms in the morning and helping people have natural regularity in their sleep schedule so getting that sunlight is especially important for people with depression and on that note researchers at the University of Essex in 2007 found that of a group of people suffering from depression ninety percent felt a higher level of self esteem after a walk through a country park and almost three-quarters felt less depressed so if you can get out there and go on a walk so a few more bits of information here I’m a little tongue-tied today but we’ll get through this a chart on here the figure 8 of the connection between our body and our mind and I’ll just go through and explain this in a transcript that through this loop we think these stressful thoughts so first off our mind is something above you know many of the other animals and our cognitive capacity is often what leads us to think we’re above other animals but a mind can also get us in trouble it thinks these what if situations that might never occur and then our body reacts by tensing up and bracing for these potential catastrophes and in kind of somatic psychotherapy based on the work of Wilhelm Reich and it’s created some body armor and different tensions throughout the body and that body tension in turn tells our mind oh my god something’s wrong I gotta tense up there’s danger because our body can often pick up on danger and so it creates this positive feedback loop of constant tension in the body and in the mind and I contend if we actually add potentially a loop farther down on the bottom and ground our body in nature which is more at peace where we can more easily feel safe and we can thus relax our muscles relax our mind and kind of get out of this stuck loop and create the relaxation response which is another video that we have here for you so please do check that out as well and in conclusion I just wanted to quote a few people John Muir said that into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul which kind of reminds me of one my favorite Fritz Perls quotes of comes here lose your mind and come to your senses my mind and then the other quote here is from Carl Sagan and cosmos our quintessential scientist who says but deep down at the molecular heart of life the trees and we are essentially identical so next time you encounter a plant an animal think maybe I’m not so disconnected from them after all [Music] you

Sincerely,

Matthew Paul Breuer

Previously a PhD student in Integral & Transpersonal Psychology

Licensed Marriage & Family Psychotherapist #112850

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