Letting Nature Take Its Course

Abstract

Through the use of ancient healing techniques, such as oracles, astrology, shamanism and collective ritual, contemporary therapists and counselors can enhance their work with women clients, whose natural condition may predispose them to "letting nature take its course." Tapping into unseen, energetic and magical realms can be the source of deep healing and illumination in the therapeutic process. Using nonrational knowledge techniques takes the pressure off the individual therapist to figure everything out and relieves the client of helplessness and despair.

Unidentified Allies: Intersections of Feminist and Transpersonal Thought and Potential Contributions to Social Change

“…The articles in the 2001 issue had a similar theme, building upon the platform established in the former issue: namely, the vital importance of spirituality in the development of a holistic understanding of the self (Funderburk & Fukuyama, 2001;Perlstein, 2001;Weiner, 2001). While none of the articles in either issue mentioned transpersonal theory specifically, Noble (2001) utilized alternative "nonrational knowledge techniques" (p. 193) and "ancient healing techniques" (p. 193) in her conception of bringing spirituality into the therapeutic setting. Such techniques included "ritual, dreams, oracles, hands-on healing, and other forms of shamanistic technique that are applied in hopes of disrupting the entrenched pathological patter and simultaneously stimulating a rebalancing to take place on its own" (pp.…”

“…Daly's work argued for women to abandon patriarchal religious institutions altogether due to the inability of such religions to truly value and honor women and women's experiences. Goddess traditions, Wicca, paganism, shamanism, earth-based spiritual traditions, and women's circles are also present in prominent literature in the field (Christ, 1979(Christ, /1992(Christ, , 1997Noble, 2001;Starhawk, 1979Starhawk, /1999Teish, 1988 April 6, 2009). The program is interdisciplinary and focuses on the archeological and mythological roots of matrifocal culture and goddess worship, as well as contemporary social and political issues affecting how and whom women worship (thus, reclaiming and renaming).…”