Category Archives: Chuck’s Blog

Welcome to Chuck’s Place! This is where Chuck Ketchel, LCSW-R, expresses his thoughts, insights, and experiences! Currently, Chuck posts an essay once a week, currently on Tuesdays, along the lines of inner work, psychotherapy, Jungian thought and analysis, shamanism, alchemy, politics, or any theme that makes itself known to him as the most important topic of the week. Many of the shamanic and psychological terms used in Chuck’s essays are defined in Tools & Definitions on our Psychotherapy page.

Chuck’s Place: Sense And Circumstance

We are multidimensional energetic beings…
-Artwork © 2024 Jan Ketchel

We are multidimensional beings. At the purely physical level of existence, we perceive our world through the five senses of our physical body.

Our ego, though actually a Spirit consciousness separate from the physical body, is largely identified with the body’s sensory inputs and the physical body itself.

Sensory data provide the building blocks and proving ground for the rational mind’s determination of what is real. Scientific method insists upon physical outcomes to substantiate truth and determine fact. If you can’t see, hear, touch, taste or smell it, it simply doesn’t exist.

Desire operates at another plane of existence. Although within a certain range it reflects the instincts and needs of the physical self, it can extend beyond the physical into emotional experiences, such as love and contentment.

Desire is also associated with the imagination, which, independent of physical reality, constructs illusions and dreams, alternative realities that preoccupy us, in addition to the desires of daily life in a physical body.

At the mental plane of existence, we can enjoy a level of detachment from the limits of both the physical senses and desire. The mind is freed to abstraction where it can study, analyze and play with the facts and illusions of both physical and nonphysical reality, as it seeks to understand the deeper principles of reality.

At the intuitive level of reality, the mind becomes a receiver rather than a doer. Thoughts, visions and circumstances reveal truths directly, without the necessity of thinking. At this level, ego accepts the existence of a Higher Self that knows and has wisdom that can deeply guide the self. This is the level where the ego truly transcends its narcissistic worldview, as it recognizes and has experiences with a being greater than itself.

The intuitive level also has access to our Soul’s more comprehensive journey through eternity. This includes past lives and an understanding of the karmic intent of its current incarnation in physical form.

These various dimensions of being are simultaneously present in every moment, though our consciousness may be largely limited to one dimension, as the other dimensions function without awareness and attention. These various dimensions of self generally interact and challenge each other at subconscious levels of existence. This is the stuff of dreams, which, through analysis, can shed great light upon the fuller state of the self.

Waking dreams are the circumstances of our daily lives. At the physical dimension, we understand outer events as the consequence of our physical actions. Thus, if I were to trip over a branch and fall, I would understand it as a failure to see the fallen branch on the path I walked.

At the desire dimension, I might judge the fall to be a confirmation of my unworthiness to be loved, or even to take up space in the physical world. In this instance, my imagination has spun an illusory story that constantly casts its shadow upon the physical events I encounter.

At the mental level, I might conclude that, yes, my attention was drawn inward and I did not see the branch, but, additionally, it might shed light upon the negative belief of the desire body and its impact upon my ability to be mindfully present. Understanding would also extend to the prejudice of the desire body and how it obscures interpretation of circumstances.

At the intuitive level, I might grasp the action of the High Self to distract my attention from the branch, causing me to fall, so that I might wake up to the veil and spiritual block generated from my frustrated desire body.

From this intuitive perspective, I feel gratitude and love for the support I am provided in all circumstances to go deeper into the truth of my Soul’s eternal journey. The shamans of ancient Mexico recommend highly that we suspend all judgments to arrive at the clarity and breadth of the intuitive dimension.

When I focus my awareness on the circumstances of the world at this time, I am impacted at all the dimensions of my being. At the physical dimension, I cannot deny the threat not only to democracy but to civilization itself, in addition to the fragile state of health of our planetary being, Mother Earth herself.

This perspective generates fear and sets up a conflict for me. As a therapist, I should do no harm by not sharing my apocalyptic forebodings. And yet, am I not remiss in my duty to validate to those who ask about the true state of things?

At the level of desire, I am well aware of the power of suggestion and its ability to attract the circumstances of its intent. From this level, I encourage the use of intent, in alignment with the greater good, to heal and change the world. I also strongly encourage that a healing intent be offered privately, canceling out the negative attractive power of self-importance.

At the mental level, I can take in the physical facts of climate change, as well as the season of Kali Yuga, a time when human civilization must live through a disintegrative state of possession by its collective shadow in order to not only survive but to also advance its evolution. This perspective affords me great detachment and objectivity.

From the intuitive dimension, I see the interconnectedness of all circumstances with equanimity. I feel blessed that my soul incarnated in human form at this magical time, as we collectively have the opportunity to intend a future that transcends the potential karma of current world circumstance.

Join that intent without announcing it. Send that suggestion to the world’s subconscious. See what happens.

With sense and circumstance,
Chuck

Chuck’s Place: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way

While fears inhabit Spirit waits…
-Artwork © 2024 Jan Ketchel

The word habit derives from the Latin word habitus, which means clothing or outer attire. In fact, the clerical attire of monks and nuns are actually called habits. Habit is thus a persona, which actually covers the real person. We are not our habits.

And yet, the word inhabit insists that to live in, or occupy a space, one must inhabit it. When a Spirit takes on life in human form, it must conform to the habits of that form.

At a core level, habits are instincts and archetypes that govern life in human form. These limitations control the expression of the life essence of Spirit while it resides in human form, but does not reflect the fullness of Spirit.

The shamans of ancient Mexico discovered that humans were not limited to one habitual form. Their version of shapeshifting involves the embodiment of a set of habits unique to another species. They utilize the practice of specific physical movements, called magical passes, and dreaming to accomplish these shifts. Some shamanic groups use power plants or psychedelics to facilitate these alternative perceptual experiences.

The shamans of ancient Mexico also emphasize the practice of recapitulation, or life review, to free oneself of habits that have crusted over one’s core identity and embedded it in a negative belief system. When we face our most feared issues, our energy is liberated from the constriction of defensive behaviors, allowing us to explore new possibilities of being.

The channel, Monitor, has suggested that the original intention was for the human body to live healthily until the human Spirit, that took up residence in it, had fulfilled its purpose in coming into human form. When, however, fears are suppressed and locked into body armor, the  vitality of the physical body is overtaxed, shortening its duration and ability to serve Spirit’s intent.

Humankind has currently inhabited many fears that result in belief systems that expect illness. It doesn’t have to be this way. If we truly neutralize our fears, our life essence is freed to exercise its creative potential and create the life we intended when we first inhabited human form.

The shamans of ancient Mexico fully accepted that they were beings who would ultimately die. They also discovered that they could fulfill their intention for life in human form and simply burn from within when it was time for Spirit to move on. The implication, beyond this metaphor, is that, freed of our fears, we can exercise tremendous control over the course of our living and dying.

The best preventive for illness is to create the life that aligns with our Soul’s intent. Of course, sometimes illness is integral to our Earth School tour, to advance the growth of our Soul. However, very often, illness is the byproduct of stuck fear.

Release of habits of fear redefine the human body and unleash the creative human Spirit. That’s the way it truly can be.

Rejuvenated,
Chuck 

Peace On Earth & Good Will to All

-Artwork © 2023 Jan Ketchel

Our Daily Soulbytes and weekly blogs are on pause while we pull inward after a year of beautiful interaction with the many people we are privileged to be in contact with and as we enter into a time of deep, soulful contemplation. If we are right within ourselves then our world also has the opportunity to get right as well.

First postings in the New Year begin on Monday January 8, 2024. We look forward to reconnecting then.

Peace on Earth and Good Will to All.

Love,
Jan & Chuck

Chuck’s Place: Retrograde in the Chaos of Creation

Practice patient introspection during Mercury Retrograde…
-Artwork © 2023 Jan Ketchel

The shadow of Mercury in retrograde hovers over this current holiday season,  between December 13, 2023 and January 1, 2024. Mercury is the planet of communication, hence miscommunications, poor communications, confused messages and misunderstandings in relationships are likely.

These events can cause frustration, anxiety and brain fog that can also disrupt communications within the self. On the first day of this current Mercury retrograde, I had three clients oversleep and nearly miss their appointments! Don’t take it personally, it’s in the stars!

During a Mercury retrograde, the technological instruments of communication, like cell phones, computers and printers, can also experience disruptions and breakdowns. In fact, all technological instruments and physical objects are vulnerable to breakdown.

The trickster quality of Mercury in retrograde counsels one to exercise caution and prudence when making important decisions, or entering into contracts, during this period. In effect, Mercury retrograde disrupts the homeostasis of habitual or planned life with objective occurrences that can, on a dime, create a traffic jam that precludes a coveted gathering.

The best guidance is to recognize the objective nature of the energetic impact of this astrological event; meaning, don’t be so quick to blame or take things personally, and surrender with patience to all things. They will ultimately pass.

If it’s not the time to greatly accomplish things outwardly, or in relationship, it is however the perfect opportunity to go inward and examine the thoughts, feelings and memories that are triggered by association to outer mishaps.

The other morning, I pulled the Tarot card of Ruin, the 10 of Swords. This card highlights mental states of despair, helplessness and hopelessness. It easily projects itself into matter and can generate first chakra fears of financial or relational collapse.

Guidance is to reflect upon old fears of ruin lurking in the shadow, which may be associatively activated by this current Mercury retrograde. From this reflective place of recapitulation, the opportunity presents itself to fully release and deactivate the energetic impact of old fears. This is the growth opportunity offered in a time of Mercury retrograde, which is particularly well-timed, as we clean house and prepare for New Life in the New Year.

New life is indeed the chaos of creation. Chaos is creative energy taking form in a new pattern of life. The I Ching represents this birthing process as the third hexagram, Difficulty at the Beginning. Amidst thunder and rain, the air is filled with teeming, chaotic profusion, as new life struggles to break through the earth’s surface.

Old life, where we’ve lived, has been dominated by repetitive, habitual patterns of behavior. When people set intentions for the New Year they conceive the intent for change in new, uncharted patterns of living.

The time of Mercury retrograde disrupts the trance of familiar life, as  the ground is prepared to nurture new life. Creative energy is freed from stuck places during Mercury retrograde, as it gathers around and prepares to serve new creative intentions.

Many a myth depicts this struggle for new life. The Titan god of time, Cronus, ate his children at birth to secure his continued rule. The subconscious mind is like Cronus, as it rules our lifetime with established archetypal patterns of behavior that can snuff out the spark of our new, conscious intentions.

It was the trickery of Rhea, Cronus’ wife, who gave her husband a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes to eat, instead of baby Zeus, that brought the change that gave birth to the rule of the Olympian gods.

For humans, the employment of trickery that will break through to new life consists in maintaining the faith of unbending intent, as suggestions are repeated to the subconscious mind that will eventually supplant the rule of habitual patterns.

When we light a candle on New Year’s Eve, we ignite the light of consciousness and affirm our intentions to expand beyond the dominance of purely instinctive reactions to life.

With the support of Mercury retrograde energy this year, already jarring us from the trance of the predictable, we are empowered to take life creatively in a whole new direction. May that be a direction that serves the greater good of all.

Peace on Earth,
Chuck

Chuck’s Place: You Never Disappoint Your Soul

The wisdom of many lives…
-Artwork © 2023 Jan Ketchel

The question arises: “Who is the You, that never disappoints your Soul?” That you is your personality. And what is the personality?

The personality is a combination of the ego self, which is largely identified with life in the physical body; the subconscious mind, which stores the wisdom of many lives lived; and the High Self, which supports the intention for growth in this life.

The Soul itself is the subtle body that has spawned many lives and many personalities. Each of these has collectively gathered experience and knowledge that contributes to the Soul’s growth. Those prior lives are all connected to the subconscious mind and are reflected, as well, in various ego states and characteristics of the physical body.

The personality’s life in a physical body is the Soul’s investing of its energy in the quest for growth. For growth to happen, the personality must have the free will to set up its own experiments and make its own discoveries in the life it is in, all of which ultimately contribute to the growth of the Soul.

The Soul grows through life experience, not through a personality seeking refuge in simply being good, whereby suppressing into its shadow the fuller spectrum of life’s desires.  Although, even such an attempt at a virtuous life is a life of experience that benefits the Soul.

In this case, the Soul discovers that such a one-sided life creates the karmic necessity of another life  that can more fully experience the shadow held in abeyance. The Soul does not judge any life to have been a wasted or failed life. All experience is golden and treated with equanimity by the Soul.

Critical judgment issues from the personality. Perhaps its value is to create a restlessness that spurs the personality to stay on point with its core mission in this life.

The ego, however, with its limited knowledge of, and limited connection to, the subtler dimensions of its being, as well as its reason for being in this life, tends to overly judge itself in the context of its achievements and failures in this life. It lacks the richer perspective of its Soul, which appreciates equally all experiences in life.

Growth for the personality requires the maturation of its judging function. The shamans of ancient Mexico were particularly helpful in this respect, in their dictum to suspend judgment. They discovered that self-criticism had the effect of immobilizing one’s vital energy, which is  essential to achieve expanded awareness.

It’s not that shamans don’t face the truth of their actions and their consequences; they are in fact ruthlessly insistent upon facing the truth. However, shamans do not define themselves as failures, or as good or bad people. They acknowledge their faults and mistakes and make adjustments in their life to avoid repetition. Or they continue to repeat the same behaviors, accepting the need to finish with a “bad” behavior so that they can then be freed to move on.

Shamans laugh at themselves and are in awe of their blind spots and sheer stupidity. Shamanic wisdom knows that the key to spiritual advancement is complete acceptance of self in every action, thought, and feeling experienced through an entire life. How can we advance to new life if we cannot fully accept ourselves and our entire lives lived?

That acceptance must equally extend to every person who has harmed us in our life. Refusal to accept anything that has happened to us will automatically generate a seed of karma that will attempt acceptance again in another life. Refusal to accept freezes our energy and blocks our advance.

To advance we must free ourselves of any notion of victimhood. Although we may have been victimized, the key is not to freeze ourselves in the self-definition of victim. Acceptance requires full mastery of every fact of our life, however tragic. The Soul does not judge. The Soul values every experience equally. May the personality be guided by this wisdom.

Carl Jung established that there are two ego functions that judge in order to navigate this life: thinking and feeling. Thinking employs the rational mind, and logic, to determine the truth. Feeling uses feelings to actively determine the worth of something. Both of these functions support the ego’s understanding and valuing of life experience.

To exercise these evaluative functions is necessary to navigate life with objectivity. But the emphasis in these functions is to understand and make decisions, not to condemn and define the self with judgments of  inferiority, inadequacy, and unworthiness.

The Soul is never disappointed with us. Can we internalize this insinuation from above, and rise to the level of never being disappointed in ourselves and others? This erases no facts or responsibility but does advance us fully in love, through total acceptance of everything.

From a path of heart,
Chuck