Psychotherapist's Journal - Thoughts and Tools to Inspire Wellness in Mind and Body - by Karen Gorrin

Attunement with Nature

Just about the time the clouds shifted, and the beautiful blue sky that was hidden all morning emerged, three black crows landed on the tree next to me and started singing. Their concert continued for more than twenty minutes, lulling me into peaceful contentment.

If you squint you'll see the trio of crows sitting close together on the lower left branch in the photo. Without a zoom feature on my phone it looks like the birds are far away, but I could feel and see them as close neighbors.

Relaxing into the cadence of the music I wondered about the influence these sounds were having on my brain. I had just spent two days at the Wise Heart, Mindful Brain conference with Dan Siegel and Jack Kornfield learning about interpersonal neurobiology. Research now shows how mindful awareness stimulates very similar areas of the brain as listening to jazz music. Both have the ability to place us into a state of gentle self-attunement. Noticing my experience while listening to these birds, I felt an inner bliss and joy. It was a kind of recognition that expanded my sense of me to include my interconnection to the natural environment around me. I felt "in-tune" with the birds, the environment, and myself. When was the last time you celebrated the emerging light with your feathered friends?

I started to wonder if these were in fact crows or ravens? I didn't know the difference. A visit to wikipedia gave some background, but I found myself much more interested in the symbolic meaning of both birds in folklore and occult circles. In Buddhism, for example, the crow is associated with protection. The Dharmapala, the protector of the Dharma, is represented by the crow in one of his physical forms. The crow has also heralded the birth of several Dalai Lama. I will reflect on these qualities of my trio of visitors today. Whatever their purpose in sharing space with me, I warmly welcome the tradition of protection they bring. What are the symbols of protection in your life?

Sacred Space

I believe the places where we spend our time affect who we are and who we become. If we wish to cultivate compassion in our lives, creating sacred space may be one way to begin.

Sacred space is healing. Sacred space can help us facilitate a sense of renewal and hope. It can be our sanctuary of peace and beauty, our personal oasis of stillness. Sacred space can be the retreat we create for ourselves right within our own homes. It is like slowly breathing out ... as we release what we no longer need and make room to fully drop back into ourselves.

One of my sacred spaces is my outdoor deck that overlooks Tiger Mountain. (Click the pictures to see the whole photo.) This is my sanctuary. It is the place I come to meditate, to write, to reflect, and to reconnect. I consider it a room within my home, and although outdoors it is not really separate at all, but connected to the whole of me. Cozy and comfortable, this place feeds my soul and warms my heart.

I carefully selected the pieces that adorn this place, and arranged them with intention to radiate nourishment, positive energy and healing. Wind chimes, flowers, candles, comfy chairs, and artwork. Sometimes my sanctuary is a place of solitude only for me. At other times it is a place I open to share with friends and loved ones. At ALL times, I find comfort and renewal in this place. I am deeply grateful for this unique and sacred space. Ahhh...

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

I believe I met Jonathan Livingston Seagull this evening.

I was taking the ferry home from Harmony Hill Cancer Retreat Center, where I had just spent this beautiful day facilitating a Tools for the Journey retreat for MultiCare patients and thier caregivers.

While on the top deck watching the sun set over the Olympics, I stood in amazement as Jonathan flew just inches above my head for the entire hour-long fery ride.

I had never been quite so close to a bird in flight, and I am still somewhat at a loss of words to describe the sensation, other than magnificant. It was flow and power and grace and beauty. Just simply MAGNIFICANT.

The experience brought my attention back to the story I had read so many years ago. Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a talented young gull, befriended the wisest gull in his community, named Chiang. Chiang took Jonathan beyond his previous learning, teaching him how to move instantaneously to anywhere in the universe. The secret, Chiang tells him, is to “begin by knowing that you have already arrived”.

Great advice for achieving one's dreams. Thank you dear Jonathan, for coming to share your wisdom with me. I feel blessed for the experience.

Colleague Projects: Integrative Healing

Some of my friends/colleagues are working on very exciting integrative healing projects, and I want to take this opportunity to tell you about some of them:

Esther Cohen, director of Seven Bowls School of Nutrition, Nourishment, and Healing, will be offering Energy Medicine, Nourishment & Personal Healing Energetics of food, Introduction to the Vibrational Body February 21-25, 2007 in Longmont, Colorado.

Leesa Sklover-Filgate, psychologist and music therapist at Optiself Center for Counseling and Wellness in Connecticut and New York, was in the pacific northwest last week to record her new chanting CD with all-inspiring musician Jim Nollman. Leesa shared the rough cut with me as we sat drinking lattes at Elliot Bay Books. Let's just say tingles of recognition swirled through my body, as Leesa's angelic voice joined the sounds of whales, lobster, and glaciers in perfect harmonic resonance.

Kudos to both of you, for following your heart's desire while helping to transform our world.