Keene Murray Therapy

Yes, envy burns. Rage burns. Shame burns. But their fire consumes our connection, burns our bridges to other beings, to our Mother Earth, to the universe. Love, on the other hand, is the fire of the stars; the universe is ablaze with its light. . The fire of love needs tending. It needs fuel and air. When we open our hearts to receive the love of others, the beauty and bounty of the earth, the radiating energy of the heavens, flames of gratitude brighten. When we engage our passions for creating, serving, study, contemplation, exploration, we feed the fire of love. When we hold space for the dignity and sanctity of other beings and our Mother Earth, we let the light of the fire of love shine. . May you find within your being the spiritual fire of love, tend it, and allow it to shine.

Defenses usually don’t feel like defenses; they feel like the only possible way to respond to what has happened. They are connected to all the Sticky Beliefs we have about ourselves, others, and life. As we say in sessions They feel truer than true. It took many decades of introspection for me to really comprehend the extent to which I identified as a victim and how that entrenched habit was passed down through my family and supported by others I brought into my world. The ...idea that if someone felt sorry for me I would: 1 not be hurt by them, 2 - make them love me more and 3 not be responsible for actions some might define as failures or mistakes. I would become a version of Poor Pitiful Pearl a doll I remembered from my childhood. I realized how I would call on that part of myself to elicit the attention of sympathy. Like a hen pretending to have a broken wing, I was protecting my vulnerable self by this exaggerated and, in a way, false sense of vulnerability. The perfect mask is one that doesn’t look like a mask. Behind the mask I was strengthening my tendency towards judgment of myself and others. Now when I feel Poor Pitiful Poor begin to emerge I understand why she exists and I thank her for all the times she tried to protect me. I tell her: It’s okay now. I've got this. Who are some of your bodyguards? See more

Crows and Ravens are often viewed as spirit guides and are associated with mystery and magic. According to West Coast Native American myth, Crow was the trickster creator of the Universe. In Celtic and Norse mythologies they were the messengers able to go between the worlds of life and death. They are one of the most intelligent birds on earth and are also associated with having a higher perspective and greater insight as well as the tendency to say unwanted truths. They work with wolves, guiding them to prey and then picking at the remains. Like wolves, crows can be both solitary or work in groups. A flock of crows is called a murder. . What are you associations to crows? Do you identify any bird or animal as your spirit guide?

A few days ago I was feeling dark and growly. The weather was cold and sleeting and there were so many irritating details demanding my attention. I wanted to howl. So I did. I told Bill how I was feeling and I howled. A few times. The howl and sharing of my feelings felt good. I had successfully communicated my state of mind and heart. Bill... heard me and suggested a spontaneous trip to local pub. It was crowded and three of the top things I wanted weren’t available on the menu. But we finally found a seat and ordered food. A couple sat down to share our table and we ended up having a really fun conversation. Mood shift! I made choices that had an impact on my inner landscape. Sometimes it is useful to howl!! See more

It's an urge that's as old as human existence -- to express ourselves by making objects, images, sounds, movements, words. What marks are you making to describe and celebrate the mystery of being alive? Illustration by Bill Murray