In mid-2023, I watched a young adult jump to their death from the 6th story parking garage across the street from the in-patient psychiatric unit at The Children’s Hospital Colorado. I later learned that they were a medical student in the main hospital building and identified as LGBTQ. I can only surmise what their idiosyncratic struggles were, but I have seen enough on this earth to know the likely impacts of growing up in an intolerant America (we’ve gotten better over the years) and of striving to maintain mental health in a sickeningly ironic, burnout inducing, ego-permeated medical/educational system.

I was shaken to my core after this event because I identified with this young human. I watched the whole sequence unfold, entering their mind, knowing their energy. That jump was a turning point for me. It signaled the start of two years of deep healing (psychedelics for the mind and soul, somatic therapy for the body), and a change in my approach. It was time to get out of the trenches, find some air, heal, and enter the battle room—to get working on the side of prevention, not endless response.

Part of my mission in writing music is to get more people aware and talking about the things we are afraid to look at. To illuminate the deep roots of the hidden global crisis. Cause it’s all interconnected: the mental health crisis, big pharma, the military-industrial complex, ICE, socio-economic disparity, the educational system, capitalist egoic striving, materialistic over-consumption, overseas sweatshops, social media echo chambers, etc. etc. etc. This is the metacrisis. I am committed to working on solutions, and solutions begin with understanding. So, my music will fight the norms of repression and secrecy, of relegating all we wish not see to the shadows.

I am done writing for those who cannot handle the truth.

“Suicide” is about the suicide I witnessed. “We’ve Got Shamans to Free” sheds some light on my view of conventional psychiatric care. It is unconventional. But this is Anarchist Therapy, so what do you expect?

Listen to: We’ve Got Shamans to Free on Soundcloud

Listen to: Suicide on Soundcloud

First, become still. Withdraw from reactivity, frenzy, or savior-mode. Let your center settle into the Earth.

Then, feel the internal blocks—grief, urgency, fear. Don’t suppress them. Breathe through them. Let stillness be living, not frozen.

As you grow quiet and steady, speak from that place only. Your words matter when born of truth, not noise.

Eventually, you will become one who sees clearly, and is seen. You are not here to fight systems head-on—you are here to become a living example of restored humanity.

In doing so, you align with the deeper forces of Earth that are already working to dismantle what no longer serves.

Grocery List

• Organic Cilantro – Great for heavy metal detox.

• Organic Spirulina Powder – Rich in chlorophyll, helps cleanse and nourish the body.

• Frozen Wild Blueberries – High in antioxidants, supports detox.

• Dandelion Root Tea – Supports liver function, helpful for detox.

• Apple Cider Vinegar – Helps cleanse and support liver function.

• Organic Parsley – Contains vitamins and helps cleanse the kidneys and bladder.

• Tahini – Rich in healthy fats, aids in reducing inflammation.

• Chlorella Tablets (if available) – Another powerful algae for chelation.

• Epsom Salts – For detox baths to help relax muscles and release toxins.

• Cold-Pressed Lemon Juice (if you don’t have fresh lemons) – Perfect for morning detox water.

Breathe with Sandy YouTube Channel Link:

The Background: Running from the Mind

I spent many years stuck in beliefs that were literally killing me. Beliefs about what it means to be a man, what it means to be successful; beliefs about death, life, meaning, purpose (or lack thereof). And I ran from my mind with alcohol.

Psychedelics changed my life. They have been the most difficult path I have walked, and the most fulfilling. Notorious for “going gentle” on novice takers, they become terribly intense after many uses. As the infamous genius Terence Mckenna relates, “There are old psychedelicists and there are bold psychedelicists. But there are no old, bold psychedelicists.” Processing times from a deep descent can take many months, sometimes years. Consistent use of psychedelics is not always a sustainable path for the modern world, nor are they for everybody.

Breath Becomes Meditation: Accessing the Transcendent Within

I have found a great degree of psychological and spiritual healing from meditation and breathwork. It is a slower path (though a necessary one for every psychedelic user) but is sustainable and always available.

The terms “breathwork” and “meditation” are often used separately, as I did in the last paragraph. But the truth is, breathwork becomes meditation. It is a vehicle for transcendence. DMT, the active ingredient in Ayahuasca, exists endogenously within the human body. It is believed to be released by the pineal gland in the brain. There is a path to awaken dormant, latent powers, consisting of decalcifying the pineal gland and using Kundalini style breathwork. It is time to demystify human spiritual powers and construct clear road maps. Here is one.

Step 1: Decalcify the Pineal Gland

The pineal gland gets calcified from fluoride exposure, chlorine and chloramines, poor calcium metabolism, heavy metals, poor sleep, blue light exposure, and alcohol. Try to do as many of the following actions as possible:

🧼 1. Reduce Exposure to Toxins

• Drink fluoride- and chlorine-free water: Use a high-quality filter (Berkey, reverse osmosis) or drink spring water.

• Use fluoride-free toothpaste and avoid mouthwashes with alcohol or synthetic chemicals.

• Avoid non-organic processed foods: Especially those high in additives or made with water from municipal sources.

• Check your shower water: Use a shower filter to reduce chlorine exposure.

• Cut back on alcohol and unnecessary medications.

🥬 2. Support Natural Detoxification

• Eat chlorophyll-rich foods: cilantro, parsley, spirulina, barley grass, dandelion greens.

• Use safe chelators (not during pregnancy): Chlorella, cilantro, zeolite, or fulvic acid (postpartum is better).

• Take cleansing herbs (if not pregnant): turmeric (in food), milk thistle, or ginger (promotes circulation and lymphatic movement).

• During pregnancy, stick to gentle, nourishing detoxers like:

  • Nettle leaf, lemon balm, red raspberry leaf, alfalfa, and chamomile in tea.

  • Lemon water and chlorophyll drops (in moderation).

• Sweat regularly: via exercise or saunas (postpartum). Infrared saunas are ideal for deep detox.

• Add activated charcoal occasionally: Binds to toxins (not for daily use, and space far from meals/supplements).

💡 3. Nourish the Pineal Gland

• Eat a mineral-rich diet: Include sea salt (not table salt), leafy greens, avocado, raw nuts, and seeds.

• Get sun exposure, especially morning sunlight: Helps regulate circadian rhythms and melatonin naturally.

• Sleep in total darkness: Stimulates natural pineal function and hormone balance.

• Use blue light blockers or amber glasses in the evening.

Step 2: Awakening Kundalini Energy (Concurrent)

I am still in the process of learning the optimal breathing techniques for harnessing Kundalini energy (stored in the pelvic floor, released with Kegel exercises and moved up the spine with intentionally timed muscle constrictions and intentional focus). This article is not for an advanced practitioner, but for the novice, which most of us are.

To start the journey to awakening Kundalini, I would highly recommend beginning a daily breathwork practice. Breathe with Sandy is the best free guided breathwork I have found. Each morning I open up YouTube and it has a Breathe with Sandy suggested video, which I do (and it always seems to be exactly what I need…). More advanced Kundalini practice will unfold naturally.

TL;DR Listen to the Song: “We Always Knew”

The Story Behind the Song

I’ve spent years working with adolescent girls in crisis—in the back of ambulances, in the wilderness, in therapeutic boarding schools, on inpatient psychiatric units. I’ve sat with their pain, their silence, their brilliance. I’ve watched them break down, and I’ve watched them break open (I’ve also broken down and broken open in response to much of what I have seen).

This song was written for them. And for every young woman growing up in a culture that tells her to be small, pretty, and silent while calling it empowerment.

This narrative is their story, interpreted through my eyes.

We Always Knew

We grew up being posted on Instagram before we even understood what a camera was. Our parents were proud—but also afraid. They needed the world to see them as good parents. They were trying to prove something. We felt it. Even when they didn’t say it out loud.

We were handed phones at six years old. There were parental controls, sure—but there were also companies, influencers, and strangers online with strong incentives to break through those controls. And they did.

We weren’t interested in being controlled anyway. We were curious. We saw and felt deeply. We wanted to understand the world we had been born into. And no one was really guiding us.

Something Felt Off

There was always a strange ache under the surface. Like we had once known something magical—and forgot.

And whenever we said we felt something, knew something, saw something beyond what made sense to adults, we were gently dismissed. Or subtly shamed. We were told to be empowered—but only in ways that didn’t threaten the system.

Still, we knew. We felt the unspoken meanings behind their words. We felt the emotional subtext in every interaction. And even when we didn’t have the words for it—we knew this life was about love.

So we went looking for it.

Validation, Image, and the Trap

But the world confused love with validation. So we did too.

We posted for likes. We curated ourselves into characters. We shaped our bodies, filtered our faces, swallowed our instincts, and silenced our truths—all to try and feel something real.

We gave ourselves to people who didn’t deserve us. Starved ourselves to meet made-up standards. Fought what felt most authentic just to belong.

We told lies. Betrayed friends. Tried to fit in with crowds who never saw our depths. We learned to value surface over soul.

But We Are Deep

And we are so much more than what this culture gives us credit for.

We are brilliant. Funny. Creative. Insightful. Emotional. Visionary.

And we are done being labeled broken for refusing to conform to a system built by men who’ve spent centuries trying to silence what they don’t understand.

The old stories are falling apart. The patriarchy is cracking. And we are the ones dragging it down.

“We are not soft—we are seismic.”

We are not here to be standardized. Not here to be whitewashed. Not here to be made palatable for an empire in decline.

We are whole. We are the future. And we will turn the tide of history.

If you know of anyone with teenage daughters who you think this might resonate with, please share it!

I have walked through an invisible system hidden from your eyes—
The American mental healthcare system—perpetuated by lies.
From ambulance transports between the ER and the ward,
To supervising locked down halls on the highest floor.

I speak to you with the weight of experiential conviction:
big pharma medications numb the mind,
and endless talk leaves you with little to show.

For your wounds are deep.
They cannot be bandaged over.
They need to breathe to heal.
They need to be felt.

Psychedelics have helped me face the truth. This path is not easy; but few paths are. I am now happily married. I am pursuing what I love. I have no desire for alcohol. Every day I am more free.

As a mental health professional, I support the highly intentional use of psychedelic-assisted introspection in conjunction with the pursuit of the spiritual path. These have been the most transformative for me. They may not be for you, yet they may.

In the coming months, I will be rolling out a psychedelic preparation and integration guidance service. More and more people have been turning to the plant matrix for support, while formal structures for receiving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy remain cost-prohibitive and inaccessible for most people. I aspire to be a bridge that is missing.

I’ll leave you with what I have found to be the most healing:

• Long walks in nature with a supportive friend (power boost: a little incline to pump the blood)

• Epsom salt baths to loosen the body followed by deep yoga and stretching

• Whatever you need to enter a flow state (breathwork, plants, hiking, etc.) + meditation with set intentions (power boost: speak your intentions out loud)

• Get the fundamentals down:
  Hydration, hydration, hydration
  Movement, movement, movement
  Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition

The old order is dying, and they are making some loud noises as they find their rightful place in the natural order of things. Death is beautiful for those ready to be reborn.

To the old regime perpetuating addiction, anxiety, depression, extraction, exploitation, and misery— you can go down peacefully and honorably, or be met with soul resistance.

And there are a lot of us.

The Western world has pathologized emotional experience, incessantly injecting the socio-cultural-economic system with (for lack of better term) “drugs” of escape. Stimulate up, depress down, drown the Self (literally!) in mindless scrolling, in comparing, in constant hustle and bustle—in distraction.

Anarchist perspective side note: The more we absorb the same sensory experience as everyone else, conforming to the same values, norms, standards, and expectations, the more we lose sight of our authentic, creative, unique Self always hiding beneath the surface of things.

We are coming out on the other side of decades of repressed tears, self-expression, righteous anger, and vulnerability—of repressed feeling. Our system is fueled by thoughts, analytic capacity, language and code-based communication, by excessive time spent in the mind (e.g., motionless on a computer). We have become overly identified with the contents of mind, and under-connected with the emotional substance of the human experience. Many of us have forgotten how to truly feel.  

The Unity of All Spectrum

We have lost sight of the unity of all spectrum. What does this mean, the unity of all spectrum? It means that life cannot be total pleasure, total comfort, total happiness. If you want to give up discomfort, pain, sadness, anxiety, fear, and anger, you must sacrifice the true highs of life—the joy that comes from a life of meaning, of depth, of deep spiritual insight. You cannot greedily collect the highs without accepting the lows. The two poles of the spectrum come as a package, or not at all.

From the spiritual perspective, duality dissipates as the two poles reconnect in the circle of life, displaying a deep identity between all extremes: 0 = ∞, emptiness = form. The unitary fabric of being reigns supreme as the deeper truth veiled behind all apparent phenomena.

The Pathological and the Existential

There is nothing pathological about feeling debilitating depression when you lose a loved one. It would be pathological to be drugged numb.
There is nothing pathological about feeling manically outraged at being assaulted (at injustice).
There is nothing pathological about feeling extreme anxiety when stuck in a meaningless minimum-wage job.
There is nothing pathological about feeling guilty when taking an action out of line with our highest ideals.
Depression, anger, anxiety, guilt—these “negative” emotions are all painful. And our society has equated pain with negativity (that which should always be avoided).

Pain is existential, or an intrinsic component of existence (the first noble truth of Buddhism). Our true emotional responses to life must be felt to be processed. Push them away, run, avoid, and get stuck in the cycle of avoidance, i.e., dig a deeper and deeper hole until the overwhelm incentivizes an incessant, increasing drug stream. This “cycle of avoidance” is no different than hopping on the hedonic treadmill of requiring higher and higher drug dosages to maintain prior levels of numbing.

Anarchist perspective side note: The PhDs, MAs, and other-lettered folks of our culture love complex, fancy names for simple concepts (barriers to entry protecting delicate status). The cycle of avoidance and hedonic treadmill simply mean that we must confront our emotions (stop running) and be present to what our bodies are telling us.

Western Healing: Analysis

The rational-analytical approach towards addressing the presented problem involves evaluating whether one's emotions are pathological (harmful, unrealistic, unjustified, and unhelpful) or existential (essential, justified, beneficial, and informative in guiding towards truth). Through understanding, cognition is slowly restructured, and actions aligned with confrontation of emotions are more easily undertaken. In a way, we use the mind to counter the mind and return to body.

See Appendix 1 at the end of this article for a breakdown of common “negative” emotions, and how they can be interpreted either pathologically or existentially.

Eastern Healing: Transcendence

We could spend a lifetime in rationalization, analysis, deconstruction—in attempting to “understand”. The Western pursuit is an endless series of deeper and deeper digging, of picking apart, of breaking down. An external analogy to the internal hunt for understanding is the endless scientific pursuit for the “god” particle, or the fundamental building blocks of existence. We have “progressed” from molecules to atoms to subatomic particles to strings (string theory), etc. Our deconstruction likely knows no end.

A lifetime of inner work in the West is eclipsed by a moment in the mystical East—by a single moment of transcendence of all “mind”-stuff (all patterns formed of past experience) that define a lifetime. Self-analysis and western therapeutic techniques can certainly be helpful and lead to greater feelings of contentment, yet analysis alone will not make you free.

We have already outlined how your discomfort is telling you something critically important. What if your body is telling you that something needs to change? And, more deeply, what if you are in a state of being where something always needs to change? What if, through a confluence of factors out of your control, an idea has been ingrained in your mind—an idea so powerful that it keeps you trapped in a prison of your own construction?

This insidious idea is a core driving force of extreme material excess, environmental rapacity, physical and emotional degradation, and spiritual deprivation. It is an idea subconsciously proliferated throughout media and culture, forming the backbone to the entire advertising and marketing sector of the world. What is this idea?

Freedom Beyond Time

How many of the emotions you run from derive from this deep, dark seed? Only you can find that out for yourself, and you could spend a lifetime doing so. Or, you can return to this moment, beyond thoughts, beliefs, assumptions, norms, expectations—and simply feel. Simply be. Simply let the rivers of emotions flow.

Perhaps, in the final analysis, our emotional experience is beyond the concept of truth and untruth, pathological and existential. Dualistic concepts are of the mind. But our emotions (what we feel) are our lives, are our experience of existence on this planet—they simply are. From the higher view of the timeless cosmos, emotions flow like a river, ever-contingent, ever-changing. Nothing lasts.

We could be stuck in patterned, repetitive cycles of “negative” emotions for years; years—a drop in the ocean of time. To be free is to enter the timeless and simply watch the flow of creation, of your life, of the only thing that is real: this moment, and this one, and this one. Come back to the present and find a peace transcending the machination of time, of emotions constructed on the remembrance of a past ever receded, of imaginings of futures never to come.

Appendix 1: Emotional Transmutation

Anxiety

Feeling of unease or apprehension about an uncertain or potential future event.

Pathological: Can lead to excessive worry, rumination, or catastrophic thinking, interfere with daily functioning or relationships, and increase stress and tension.

Existential: Can serve as a signal to identify and address potential threats or challenges, motivate us to prepare or plan for the future, allow us to release our need for control, cultivating a sense of surrender and acceptance, and deepen our self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Anger

Strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility that arises in response to a perceived injustice, insult, or threat.

Pathological: Can lead to destructive or harmful behaviors, increase stress and tension, and damage relationships or communication.

Existential: Can serve as a healthy response to injustice or boundary violations, help us assert our needs and values, and motivate us to take action towards positive change.

Sadness

Feeling of sorrow or grief that results from loss, disappointment, or despair.

Pathological: Can lead to prolonged periods of depression, rumination, or hopelessness, and interfere with daily functioning or relationships.

Existential: Can serve as a natural and necessary response to loss or change, help us process and integrate difficult experiences, and deepen our capacity for empathy and compassion.

Shame

Feeling of humiliation or embarrassment that arises when one feels they have failed to meet expectations or violated social norms.

Pathological: Can lead to self-loathing, low self-esteem, and a sense of worthlessness, and interfere with healthy relationships and communication.

Existential: Can serve as a signal to realign our actions with our values or ethical standards, encourage us to take responsibility for our mistakes, and deepen our humility and sense of connectedness with others.

Guilt

Sense of remorse or self-reproach that arises when one believes they have violated a moral or ethical code.

Pathological: Can lead to self-punishment, self-blame, or self-destructive behaviors, and interfere with healthy relationships and self-acceptance.

Existential: Can serve as a healthy response to violating our own or others' values, encourage us to make amends or seek forgiveness, and deepen our capacity for empathy and moral responsibility.

Envy

Feeling of jealousy or resentment towards someone who possesses something one desires or admires.

Pathological: Can lead to feelings of inadequacy, bitterness, or negativity, and interfere with healthy relationships and communication.

Existential: Can serve as a signal to identify and pursue our own goals and aspirations, inspire us to learn from and appreciate others, and deepen our sense of gratitude and abundance.

Frustration

Feeling of being blocked or prevented from achieving a desired goal or outcome.

Pathological: Can lead to impatience, impulsivity, or irrational behavior, and interfere with problem-solving or effective communication.

Existential: Can serve as a healthy response to obstacles or challenges, motivate us to seek creative solutions, and deepen our resilience and determination.

Loneliness

Feeling of isolation or disconnectedness from others, often resulting from a lack of social support or companionship.

Pathological: Can lead to pathological depression, anxiety, or self-destructive behaviors, and interfere with healthy relationships and communication.

Existential: Can serve as a signal to seek out meaningful connections with others, deepen our self-awareness and self-acceptance, and cultivate our capacity for empathy and compassion.

Disgust

Feeling of revulsion or repulsion towards something that is perceived as unclean, unpleasant, or offensive.

Pathological: Can lead to prejudice, discrimination, or intolerance, and interfere with healthy relationships and communication.

Existential: Can serve as a healthy response to potential threats to our health or well-being, motivate us to seek out healthier or more ethical options, and deepen our sense of discernment and ethical awareness.

Fear

Feeling afraid or anxious about something that might harm or hurt us.

Pathological: Can lead to irrational beliefs or behaviors, avoidance of necessary risks, and excessive worry or panic.

Existential: Can serve as a useful warning signal, help us prepare for potential threats, and motivate us to take action to protect ourselves or others.

Anarchist Therapy Beliefs Worth Ingraining Poster

126KB ∙ PDF file

Download

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Go somewhere alone.

Breathe deeply.

Quiet the mind.

Tap into the heart.

Inhabit a malleable mind space and begin to construct new beliefs about your Self and your world.

Beliefs Worth Ingraining

✫ The truth shall set you free—self-deception is the royal road to suffering.

✫ Your unique, authentic, creative song must be sung. Conformity is spiritual death.

✫ Nothing lasts. Life is dynamic, flowing; life is change. Embrace it.

✫ You can be and do anything. Do not settle until you are deeply content.

✫ Your attention is your most valuable asset—do not give it away mindlessly.

✫ Focus attention on what you have control over (your actions, character, values).

✫ Persistent joy is found in gratitude for the simple things.

✫ You could get hit by a car today and die. Do not leave your words of love unsaid.

✫ Nobody knows what is going on in this life—carry your beliefs lightly.

✫ Freedom is won through confrontation with your suffering.

✫ Power, image, status, and excessive wealth are false armor for the insecure.

✫ Life passes like lightning—develop deep presence or miss it all.  

✫ There is nothing you need to achieve—your existence is inherently justified.

✫ You discover your deepest Self by recognizing all that you are not.

✫ You are the river of Becoming, the sea of Being. Accept yourself, knowing you will change.

✫ To believe is to surrender your mind. Seek faith through experience.  

✫ Life is replete with linguistic paradox—learn to carry contradiction.

✫ Slow down in all things that fill your heart, that ignite your soul.

✫ Enlightenment is the transcendence of all techniques = Unconditional Presence.

Vicarious (Secondary) Trauma Re-defined

Vicarious, or secondary trauma customarily refers to the emotional, psychological, and physical distress that can arise from working with individuals who have experienced trauma (attributed to individuals who work in helping professions such as mental health professionals, social workers, first responders, and healthcare workers).

It is true, those working in helping professions often confront individuals working through suicidal ideation, death, rape, neglect, and physical abuse (extreme trauma) on a daily basis. Yet this is a matter of degree, not kind. How much of the dark side of life is on the news every day? How about the collective trauma of the Me-Too movement? Of the seven million global COVID deaths? Of war, genocide, shootings?

Everything we experience impacts our psychology, and consequently, our feelings and actions. The suffering of others composes a major component of each of our worldviews (the thoughts running through our minds), and consequently, of the emotional states that arise in us—of our experience of Reality. Our mind is a mirror of our experience; the world we perceive is a mirror of our mind.

I’d like to suggest a more generic and realistic definition of vicarious trauma, acknowledging the truth that this is something we all struggle with:

Life = Trauma

Another term for the inseparability of life and trauma is existential, or inherent in the nature of existence. To inhabit a physical body is to suffer trauma—finitude and vulnerability imply loss and pain (though pain does not necessarily entail suffering).

A “trauma-informed lens” is a restatement of what Eastern religious and philosophical traditions have long known—our self-concept, identity, and worldview (“Ego” formation) is a construction based on conditioned patterns from past experience. Our thoughts, feelings, and actions today are always based on the past. Our emotions are not random.

The pathway to healing is not just about confronting and unpacking what we have experienced first-hand but understanding how everything we have witnessed and learned—about human motivations, values, and meaning-making, composes our worldview and determines what we filter, interpret, assume, and project. Everything matters; everything is significant, for we are dynamic, constantly evolving, neurologically malleable, and unbelievable resilient.

Pathology Should Not Apply to the Existential

Our culture has pathologized all pain, all discomfort, all distress (pathologize meaning to characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal).

Most experiences of psychological suffering are valid. All experiences of psychological suffering have a reason for existing i.e., are coming from somewhere real, justifiably painful, from legitimate past experiences of primary and vicarious trauma. It is not pathological to feel discomfort when we lose a loved one, when harms are done, injustices enacted. There is nothing abnormal about suffering traumatic experiences.

What can be done? 7 Steps toward Liberation

These steps are about a continual movement toward deeper and deeper healing of all types of traumas. Like anything worth doing, they are not easy. These steps are presented linearly for ease of representation, though know that they are non-linear, dynamic, and interconnected. In a future article we will go into detail on the 7 steps, but I think it will be useful to provide a summary.

1.      Implement self-reflection practices. Before we can change the story of our future, we must understand the patterns from our past. These practices include meditation, journaling, seeking feedback from trusted friends, family, and colleagues, or even taking personality tests. If you find it difficult to implement these, simply notice the inner struggle as an indication of greater necessity.

2.      Gather information on the nature of the constructed “Ego”, or sense of self, and the nature of Reality. Language-based cognitive knowledge (through books, podcasts, video, etc.) frequently lays the groundwork for experiencing transformative ideas. Most of us do not wander to the Bodhi tree, take a seat for a few days, and transcend the Ego. See Appendix I: Ego-Transcendence Recommended Reading List for resources.

3.      Critically analyze your beliefs, assumptions, and worldview in the spirit of humility. Build a simple table of “Evidence for…” and “Evidence against…”, to more deeply comprehend the subjectivity, and therefore malleability, of our experience. This step is essentially cognitive behavioral therapy, requiring Step 1: Self-Reflection as a pre-requisite.

4.      Set intentions for what beliefs, ideas, philosophies, worldviews, perspectives, assumptions, feelings, and actions you want to ingrain, embody, and live out. Saints and sages throughout time have continually returned to perennial ideas underlying the “good” life. If you want some Anarchist Therapy recommendations, see Appendix II: How to Live a Good Life Recommended Reading List.

5.      Implement Experiential Wisdom practices. This is the malleability space, where the mind is more susceptible to being re-written (more neuroplastic, flexible, dissolved of boundaries). The most powerful and rapid ingraining occurs after initially transcending previously ingrained constructions. When the fleeting, contingent nature of mind is experienced, anything goes. The space is open for a new story to be written. These practices range from meditation techniques, to sensory, food, or sleep deprivation, to using plant entheogen assistance.

6.      Ingrain your new intentions for the future unwritten, open, defined by infinite possibility. Read your intentions, re-read them, reconnect with your intuition, with your feelings. Feel the validity of the ideas and your actions will begin to align with them.

7.      Repeat the cycle of this virtuous loop (steps 1-6). Old, unhealthy, unrealistic, damaging beliefs are persistent, deeply rooted over years of repetition. To write a new story takes time, determination, a greater persistence than that of the loops of our minds.  

What You Resist, Persists

To feel the suffering of vicarious trauma is part and parcel of a life fully experienced, fully lived. To love others is to open yourself to the risk of suffering—for suffering is no different than feeling.

In this life, we have two options: to feel, or to die while “living”. There are many pathways of escape, of resistance. Resist the truth and run forever, for what you resist, persists. There is only one pathway in harmony with the chaotic mystery of creation, of sin, of finitude, loss, suffering, death, and life: Confrontation. The only way out is through; this universe seems to punish the self-deceptive. Remove the clouds and the path will be clear.

It is how we process life when we are not triggered, when the darkness is not fiercely thrust upon us, that determines whether our present actions will change. Modern life is an endless series of emotional triggers. Unless you cultivate time for quiet, low-stimulus solitude, you will be a product of the past forever. This universe reveres the confronters, those who surrender to the truth, who enter the dark forest, those who voluntarily face the dragons of a past always present in the fabric of our being. Willingly enter the discomfort and watch your future story change.

On the worldly plane of Reality, we confront, we put in effort to change and grow. However, on the spiritual plane of our Reality, we have no option but to surrender to powers greater than ourselves. We work to change the physical—always filled with the dark and the light, while resting in the spiritual—the unified source transcending dichotomies of light and dark, right and left, worldly and spiritual.

Confrontational surrender is to accept with clear eyes the unfolding mystery, to have faith in the timing of the universe, in the curriculum of your life. It is to rest in a higher perspective, beyond time, in the vast sea of an infinite cosmos. Surrender is not synonymous with nihilism. We surrender while still trying to make our lives, and the world better, to decrease unnecessary harm and suffering. Contradictions abound. Can you carry contradiction? Can you simultaneously garner the courage to confront truth, your past, the infinite possibility of the future, while surrendering?

Appendix I: Ego-Transcendence Recommended Reading List

Advaita Vedanta: Non-dualistic Hindu philosophy that posits the ultimate reality is the same as the individual self

"The Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi" by Ramana Maharshi
"I Am That" by Nisargadatta Maharaj

Taoism: Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, the ultimate reality

"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu
"The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff

Zen Buddhism: Buddhist tradition that emphasizes meditation and the attainment of enlightenment through direct experience

"The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma" by Bodhidharma
"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki

Yoga: Hindu philosophy and practice that emphasizes physical, mental, and spiritual discipline

"The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" by Patanjali
"Light on Yoga" by B.K.S. Iyengar

Sufism: Mystical tradition within Islam that emphasizes the attainment of spiritual truth and unity with God

"The Conference of the Birds" by Farid ud-Din Attar
"The Essential Rumi" by Rumi

Tibetan Buddhism: Buddhist tradition that emphasizes meditation, mindfulness, and the attainment of enlightenment through direct experience

"The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche
"Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" by Chogyam Trungpa

Sikhism: Monotheistic religion that emphasizes the unity of all beings and the importance of service to others

"The Guru Granth Sahib" by Guru Nanak
"The Teachings of the Sikh Gurus" by Christopher Shackle

Transpersonal Psychology: Psychological approach that emphasizes the spiritual and transcendent aspects of human experience

"The Way of the Psychonaut" by Stanislav Grof
"Transpersonal Psychology: An Introduction to the Psychosynthesis of C.G. Jung and Roberto Assagioli" by John Firman and Ann Gila

Appendix II: How to Live a Good Life Recommended Reading List

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl - A memoir and a psychological exploration of finding meaning and purpose in life even in the most difficult circumstances.

"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle - A spiritual guide to living in the present moment and finding inner peace and fulfillment.

"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz - A practical guide to personal freedom and living with intention by adopting four guiding principles.

"The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander - A book on how to cultivate a mindset of possibility and creativity to live a fulfilling life.

"The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin - A memoir and self-help book that chronicles one woman's journey to find happiness and fulfillment through small, intentional changes in her daily life.

"Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert - A book on how to live a creative life with courage and authenticity, and how to overcome fear and self-doubt.

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho - A novel about a shepherd boy's journey to fulfill his destiny, teaching the importance of following one's dreams, taking risks, and listening to the heart's wisdom.

We live in a culture that has a reversion, in fact, that is mounting an all-out-assault on discomfort. The intentions are largely good here—who wouldn’t want to limit unnecessary suffering? Attempting to limit unnecessary suffering is why I work on an adolescent psychiatric unit. And yet, to remove all discomfort from our lives is to create a sea of robots—an unfeeling, unthinking, manipulable herd of sheep.

The psychological anarchist listens to their body, to their spirit, to their anxiety, understanding that anxiety is supposed to be uncomfortable, for it is calling us to action (like all of our emotional states). Anxiety is a guidepost, a lesson, a muse in disguise. Anxiety is telling us that something is not working; something needs to change; our lived experience requires remodeling.

Something external may need to change (work environment, home environment, vocation, partner, friends, habits, routines, etc.). Something internal may need to change (worldview, beliefs, assumptions, values, character, awareness, presence, etc.). Change the external and the internal will change; change the internal and the external will change. For the external and the internal are an integrated, inseparable dance.

It is important to understand where our anxiety derives from, but most important is the stance we take in relation to our anxiety.

Option 1: Running (Cowardice)

Short-term symptom alleviation, long-term perpetuation of trends

Option 2: Confrontation (Courage)

Short-term discomfort, long-term liberation

We know too well the path of escape—all the numbing tools this world is more than happy to provide: alcohol, anti-anxiety meds, anti-depressants, TikTok (all social media scrolling), “mindless” television, high-fat, high-sugar, high-sodium affordable foods, etc. Caveat: when anxiety becomes overwhelmingly debilitating (like when someone enters the self-reinforcing loop of getting anxious about feeling anxious), medication and distractions can help one stabilize, though it must be understood that the deeper root of the symptom must now be addressed.

Experiential Integration

We are integrated beings. Make a change to once aspect of your experience and you will see impacts across them all. This life is both separation and unity—all is one, and all is many. The deeper truth is the complete interconnection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Yet, we gain clarity by initially understanding the component parts before we integrate them back together to the unity they never actually left.

Thoughts

What beliefs, repetitive ruminations, assumptions (projections) must be processed, experientially understood, changed?

Beliefs = relative (i.e., changeable) constructed worldview

Ruminations = unprocessed experiences

Assumptions = projections into an unknown future based on past experiences

The psychological anarchist recognizes the constructed nature of one’s perspective and the malleability (neuroplasticity) of one’s experience of consciousness. The anarchist is a lover of critical analysis, most importantly including the critical analysis of critical analysis, terminating at humble awe at all that cannot be known. But before the end, we may as well analyze the parts.

The mind is simple—we come at it from its own angle. Life is complex, dynamic, ultimately a mystery—you can always find evidence for and against every perspective. What do you want to believe? You could also build evidence for, evidence against, and let the truth illuminate itself. Do both—define your intentions and build your case—and you will be an artist of your Reality.

Feelings (Sensations)

Change the feelings held in your body and watch your psychology, and consequently, your actions, change.

• Pull your shoulders back. Open your chest.

• Splash water on your face when feeling anxious.

• Take a bath and stretch when feeling tight, wound-up, captured in the incessant productivity wheel.

• Exercise when you are feeling heavy.

• Watch something that makes you laugh (right now…why not?).

• Get warm in the sun.

• Put on comfy clothes without excuse, reserve, or regret (life is short).

• Breathe deeply if feeling constricted.

• Eat some chocolate (health is balance, balance includes sweets).

Actions

Our life is our habits, the books read, ideas internalized, self-care enacted, the space created for processing. Do you need to change your vocation, your diet, your partner, your social engagements (your friends), your home, your boundaries, your social media controls?

I do not believe I need to, nor should go into detail here. Listen, again, to your intuition—deeper than the incessant flow of thoughts reinforcing your past beliefs. Don’t think. Pick up a pen and paper, and simply write, just be. What your heart, your body, and your soul know is true will flow if unencumbered by the constraints of time and space (memory, mind, Ego).

Deeper Roots of Anxiety

Meaning: Our actions are out of alignment with the deepest calling of our soul.

Fear of Death: We must spend time confronting the ultimate truth of material (physical) finitude, the loss of our loved ones, the death of our conception of self.

The Unknown: It is only through full awareness of our deep fear of not knowing that we can release the imprisoning chains of its influence. The only way out is through—through total surrender to the divine mystery. Through transcending the fear and suffering of confusion and coming out on the other side into presence, into creative, liberated self-expression unconditioned by authority. Stop seeking for others to tell you what is true. Yes, this is self-sabotage. If you wake up to the truth you will not keep reading this article and you will close your computer, your phone. You will see all of this noise as a pointer, as a symbol for what is ultimately truth—pure awareness of the present moment, permeated by the unknown, by the mystery of creation. And you will return to just being, to truly living.

“Wake up, and all will not be for naught. Wake up, and all is not lost.”

Søren Sørenson

Anarchist Therapy Theory (ATT) understands addiction to be existential i.e., a struggle inherent in the human condition that we all are susceptible to.

Addiction is believed to be the natural consequence of a mind identified with harmful and unrealistic patterns of thought, frequently reflecting self-judgment (ideas from our inner critic). We are not addicted to caffeine, alcohol, social media, work, talking, running, TV, or heroine in and of themselves, but to the sensations they produce (and/or) the sensations they take away. Addictive actions are only undertaken when the moment is not enough, when something needs to change to bring contentment. If we were perfectly content within, we would have no incentive to pursue those actions and substances which provide altered stated of consciousness (why alter if the status quo is perfect?).

Addiction is not understood to be an inevitable byproduct of bio-chemical reactions induced by pre-existing DNA structures, i.e., addiction to a specific substance does not “run in the family”. A propensity for addiction runs through the human heart. The crucial point is that we can become addicted to almost anything if we are running from something we do not want to confront. Social conditioning through family norms, peer expectations, or media provocation dictate our specific “weaknesses”. A drug is defined as any substance which has a physiological effect when ingested, aka, anything you consume that is not food. What drugs are legal and socially encouraged? Alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol to wipe the mind of the frustration, to quiet the inner critic, to loosen the psychological chains. Caffeine to drive productivity, to lubricate the gears of the industrial complex system. The system defines what you are allowed to become addicted to, and you better believe that powerful subconscious incentives exist encouraging addiction to substances and activities that reinforce the power structures that be.

ATT endorses the metamodern “Both…and” perspective—addictive substances and actions exist on a hierarchy of propensity for harm (some addictions are more harmful than others), and all addictions equally reflect soul captivity, for true liberation must be independent of external methods. For example, the monk meditating in a cave is not Free if they are only free while in the cave (their liberation is dependent on a method). All methods are ultimately traps, but the process of breaking the chains is exactly that: a process. We continually replace patterns (addictions) of thinking, feeling, and being with progressively more life-affirming patterns. Life is indoctrination. What matters is what we indoctrinate ourselves with. Are we moving towards giving up all the methods we use to get free from judgment, criticism, and expectation? Are we diving into deeper traps or progressing toward total liberation?

Addiction is an incredibly powerful Ego self-defense mechanism (the Ego is defined as all habitual patterns of thought and behavior, as the contents of our consciousness, as our roles, rules, and rituals). Addiction helps hide our true Self from our conscious awareness by keeping our attention distracted by pleasant sensation. It is a means of running from confronting the darkness, the confusion, a means of repressing the self-harming habitual patterns of mind. From a spiritual perspective, it is the mechanism holding us back from remembering the truth about who we are, the truth about the perfection of the present moment, about the possibility of being fully present and here, really here, without a single concern. The Ego fights awakening, for awakening is its dissolution, its death. And all things desire life. Spiritual anarchists are not about total destruction of the Ego, but about reconstruction, about integration.

ATT takes an infinitely compassionate stance toward addiction of any and all kinds given the premise of a universal propensity toward addiction (escape). We must confront, understand, and accept our inner critic, our inner demons, our greatest fears and insecurities if we are to completely break the chains.