In Search of Wisdom

Musings on wisdom, experience, ideas and a life well lived.

Soul Story: A Provocative Conversation with Tim Freke

Soul Story: A Provocative Conversation with Tim Freke

This episode features T!M Freke is a pioneering philosopher & bestselling author of 35 books. In Tim's latest book 'Soul Story’ he offers a revolutionary approach to awakening for the 21st century and a visionary new understanding of the nature of reality. Tim and...

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Archetypal America

Archetypal America

I'm happy to announce that a new audio lecture is available from my friend, mentor and fellow Archetypal Counselor, Jim Curtan.   This set of recordings from his workshop for the Minnesota Jung Association last fall is an examination of American Mythology and...

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Embracing the Grace of Change

Embracing the Grace of Change

“Tell me, what is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver I am so very excited to present this new Archetypes & a Movie course to you! The third edition of Archetypes & a Movie examines what happens when our old story has...

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The Way: A Journey of Healing & Self Acceptance

The Way: A Journey of Healing & Self Acceptance

I am super happy to announce that another edition of the Archetypes & A Movie course is now available.  As the Producer of this series it's an especially joyous occasion, not just a 'job done' elation but gratitude for how much I have learned throughout the...

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Books That Saved My Life

Books That Saved My Life

Into each life comes information that changes the course of your life, in tiny ways and gargantuan ones.  For me, books have always been a source of life-changing information.  Fiction and non-fiction alike have turned the rudder of my life for as far back as I can...

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Harvesting from this year’s season

Harvesting from this year’s season

I've been contemplating the fact that we are now almost half way through 2014.  How did that happen and where did the last 5 months go?   More importantly, what season is it? I mean this metaphorically.   It's almost Summer here in my part of the western United States...

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Heart Break Through

Heart Break Through

Heartbreak is a term most often associated with the unfortunate end of a romantic relationship.  It's also a pervasive pattern that intersects every single human life everywhere.  When we hear a friend say, “My heart is broken,” we can relate in an instant without...

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Who are you really?  A Halloween Experiment

Who are you really? A Halloween Experiment

Halloween is such a great archetypal holiday.  What other time do people get to dress up and show their alterna-selves?   When my clients are trying to figure which of two similar archetypes fits them the best, I often suggest they try each one on and see how they...

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The Networker Archetype and the Tipping Point

The Networker Archetype and the Tipping Point

Are you the hub that connects a diverse group of people?  If someone mentions they are looking for a new job or a place to have great Korean Barbecue do you have a list of suggestions for them? Do you make it a habit of never throwing out business cards or deleting...

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Hedonist Revolutionary

Hedonist Revolutionary

I haven't found a more potent and exciting combination of the Hedonist and the Revolutionary archetypes than in Jamie Oliver (formerly know as the Naked Chef).   One of the the UK's brightest culinary exports is  taking America by storm and I for one love him all the...

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Part of us is grouchy and lives in Florida

Part of us is grouchy and lives in Florida

Understanding archetypes goes much deeper than a chat about a movie and beyond the confines of a psychology textbook.  An archetype is not just a pattern "out there" in theory but it is a recurring set of experiences that unfold through the course of a human life....

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DMC and the Angel

DMC and the Angel

"Everything happens for a reason." Says Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, who is one third of the pioneering rap group Run DMC and one of the most influential rap artists of all time.  At the age of 35, DMC made a startling discovery and suddenly, everything he thought he knew...

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What keeps you in the cave? Archetype of the Zombie

What keeps you in the cave? Archetype of the Zombie

We find ourselves in the middle of the first month of the New Year. The air is still fresh, dreams are new, and heartbeats run fast. Maybe, like me, you are starting to slump under the abundance of material on keeping resolutions for the next twelve months. Instead of...

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An Artist Walks into a Monastery

An Artist Walks into a Monastery

How do archetypal motivations become passions that bring something new into the world? Sometimes one enriches another so much as to create a whole new experience. Inspiration is the deity of the Artist and contemplation the mark of the Monk/Nun. These two archetypes...

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Myth and Motivation of the Martyr Archetype

Myth and Motivation of the Martyr Archetype

Know a Martyr? Most people have had the experience of working with or knowing someone with a  Martyr archetype,  or maybe you even see it in yourself.  I'd like to provide some information in order to help understand and work with this pattern. Bad Reputation The...

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The Poet

The Poet

I try to make a point to write about what could be called the 'unsung' archetypes.  One's that don't seem to have a popular or even a very present place in our culture.   Last month I wrote about the archetype of the Scribe to illuminate it's presence and potential...

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Chaos Calling

Chaos Calling

The ingredients for a resilient, empowered and purposeful life are within you.  That knowledge is at the heart of my practice and my vocation is to provide the tools and guidance to not only learn more about the wonderful person that is you, but to live more fully by...

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Mothers and Bears Oh my!

Mothers and Bears Oh my!

I recently came upon a blog post by Arianna Huffingtoncalled  Sarah Palin, "Mama Grizzlies," Carl Jung, and the Power of Archetypes . Huffington points out the use of the shadow aspects of the Mother and Bear archetypal symbols being used by Palin and her cadre, the...

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Summertime and the Child Archetype

Summertime and the Child Archetype

It's summertime here in the northern hemisphere and it seems our Child archetypes are clamoring to go out and play.  I remember as a child, summer was about being outside and hanging out doing whatever we fancied at the time.   For most of us, childhood was the only...

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What counts? Does productivity = happiness?

What counts? Does productivity = happiness?

How do we measure what makes life worthwhile?  When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what...

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Storyfied: The Storyteller Archetype

Storyfied: The Storyteller Archetype

This is a true story about one woman, the Storyteller archetype and it's power for both good and tragic.   I came across it on a podcast recording from The Moth which is a not-for-profit storytelling organization. When Nancy Finton was in her early 20's she had a job...

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Reunion: How We Heal Our Broken Connection to the Earth

Reunion: How We Heal Our Broken Connection to the Earth

Reunion: How We Heal Our Broken Connection to the Earth by Ellen Gunter and Ted  Carter. This is an incredible and practical guide to reconnecting with our planet co-authored by one of my colleagues from the CMED Institute. Highly recommended! Click here to purchase...

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Facing the Bully: A New Karate Kid

Poke fun all you want, but I am totally cool with their being a new Karate Kid movie (coming in June).   I've no doubt that Jackie Chan can pull off the Mentor role first played by Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi).  He's made an entire career playing Fools and Warriors with a...

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Ok Go! music to get the funk out

I love coming across wisdom and inspiration in musical form!  Nothing is better than some poignant lyrics accompanied by and infectious groove.  Double the fun with a highly entertaining video. Ok Go, the band that brought us the clever and highly entertaining music...

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