🗝️I've moved into the neighbourhood 🖤
— and I'm still unpacking ...
Hey, I’ve just moved over to Substack - so from next week-ish, you'll start getting regular posts from me here.
A core mission to my work is this: to remember that the path we walk is a spiral one, and to pray that we can recall this truth when we feel lost. Everything I write and offer reflects this spiral journey and supports us-you in finding y/our own answers to y/our problems and foibles along the way. Not forgetting the essential connections to joy and grace.
There are a few reasons I've decided to move.
1) I must write - this move is an activation of that desire
For a few years now, I’ve been writing articles and musings and offerings that circle themes around psychology, embodiment and somatics, soul and spirit, religion and theology, myths and fairytales, and esoteric practices including tarot, metaphysics, energy medicine ...
But, the themes and method is a bit higgledy-piggledy at the moment - Often written with a very fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants attitude, which can be exhilarating, but also undisciplined.
I’ve already moved many of my earlier website articles and full moon tarot articles here ... and will pick through my newsletter musings (from my other platform) and begin to move some favourites from there too - still unpacking and arranging the new space 🌀 .
what to expect from these posts from now ...
For a little while, I’ll experiment with how to deliver this writing and multi-media project with consistency, interest, relevance and creativity - to find a rhythm.
Expect an ongoing mix of mostly articles and short notes, images and art, the occasional voice note (I’ll experiment), and audio and video practices. You’ll get invitations to workshops and courses too.
I'm open to your suggestions on specific topics to deepen into and questions to respond to. That would be so helpful! And dialogical!
A major research, writing and teaching project right now is on the Rites of Passage and psycho-spiritual Initiations of girls and women across the lifespan. So there’ll be more frequent explorations here.
Let me know if you are interested in this project and work. I have free videos and an e-book. Just direct message me, and I’ll send you the link.
I've called my Substack "Any thread" in honour of my 'other mother' and elder Dr Estes.
"Any thread you pull will lead you somewhere"
Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes-Reyes from The Heart of the Wounded Healer training, Colorado, 2024.
This was one of the things she said that struck me at the last training and speaks to trust in the process, being open and curious to what arises, and being ok with following breadcrumbs that head to somewhere-you-don't-know-where.
I'll continue to honour this intuitive and eclectic root, but want to give space to articulating my ideas with more clarity and consistency.
—Who have been your most important teachers? Your ‘other mothers’? ‘other fathers’?
2) Substack has greater potential for community engagement.
I’ve realised I don’t like writing into a void. I liken this to my therapeutic work, where a new experience is held and created within a resonant field. Me-and-other are in collaboration and dialogue. Without the other, it's just me .... a dull echo chamber.
So I encourage you to like and comment if something strikes you, as this will help me refine and titrate the material.
I think of this as an energy exchange. And I don’t mean for approval!
I value your experiences of the material, your storyline, and anything new that the writing opens up in you - whether it’s a memory unlocked, fresh insight, or if it taps into your creative project, knowledge or wisdom base. I’d love to hear about it as it can also unlock something new in me, or someone else who reads your note.
I see this as not just my platform, but one I’d like to build with community.
— What interests you about the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and esotericism? or
— Ask me anything.
3) It’s a public test of my professional mettle
My writing and offerings circle an eclectic but certainly complementary range of topics and interests that serve contemplation, self-knowledge, connection to Greater, new action and dare I say that much overused “H” word - healing.
But some of these domains aren’t ones that a psychology professional should admit to pursuing, let alone going public - tut tut me. I hinted toward this in my recent article "Taboo or not taboo" .
My relationship to traditional psychology, which I feel has lost its way (at least for me - a big story here) - is ambivalent, and this is evident in how I practice and my approach, which is transpersonal, transtheoretical, and underpinned by spiritual and mystical roots. I walk a narrow bridge of professional respectability.
It feeeels like I’ve been doing this secretly and quietly - “shhh, lest I get found out”. So my shift here to Substack signals an emergence and a new chapter of writing and teaching that is open and public. This might not sound risky to some, I know there are far more subversive and edge-riding writers here - but it’s something that can give groin quivers to psychology professionals. The threat of ‘punishment’ is REAL!
Any other closet psychologists delving into esoterica?
4) Substack is reader-supported - no ALGORITHMS here
This last reason is important as I extract myself from social media. I've tried to like IG and TT, there is a lot there that is enjoyable and creative. But its a time and vitality suck for me to post and participate. Not to mention a conscious divestment from Meta and algorithm-based media.
Substack is still social media, I suppose, but it works through reader-writer participation and recommendations. So once again, if you like a piece, don’t be shy about putting your energy into a piece - comment, like, and share.
I also encourage you to explore other writers, particularly those without established journalism or published status. I'll be getting my recommended list sorted soon.
For the moment, all posts are FREE for all subscribers.
But also ... I spend a lot of time thinking, reading, researching, creating and writing - even if it is fly-by-the-seat. It’s been my choice to sacrifice 50% of my income from 1-1 psychotherapy to dedicate time to this.
I’m listening to the thrum of deepest guidance. Doing so keeps my creative fire tended and soul approves.
So I won't hide that I’ll switch to a mix of free and paid content at some point.
Thank you for being here, if you’re new, and sticking with me if you’ve followed the journey for a while🖤