All right everyone, I said was going to expand beyond formal essays here on Substack, so here are some reflections on things I’ve been reading, hearing, and watching. (1) To Speak for the Trees, by Diana Beresford-Kroeger. This is the extraordinary memoir
Thank you Charles!!! It is so kind of you, I am very moved by the mention.
Also, this whole past year and a half led so many new connections, friendships, and intellectual discoveries under the pressure of mass insanity. The bulldozer came with perks. :)
Actually, in the Spartacus letter, the author said the things you mentioned Charles, were “speculative” so you need to give him/her credit for that. It wasn’t stated as “provable fact.” The Spartacus letter was written by someone or someones who really know their medicine. As a provider in internal medicine for over 30 years, I very much related with what Spartacus said. It was spot-on correct.
Just a note regarding a statement made by Jeanice Barcelo on the Sherrill Sellman podcast regarding Primal Therapy: (this is not quoted verbatim)
"A word of caution: Primal Therapy can be re-traumatizing."
This was not my experience with PT, nor was it Sherrill Sellmans'. Barcelo did not mention having undergone Primal Therapy at the Janov Center and so her words of caution would appear to be based on hearsay rather than personal experience.
Primal Therapy can no more "re-traumatize" someone any more than the memory of an auto accident can break ones' bones and lacerate ones' skin.
Sherrill Sellman says in this podcast "I re-lived the trauma of my birth". While that is definitely one way to describe what happens in Primal Therapy, it is not at all accurate in that one is not experiencing again, for example, actual oxygen deprivation that babies commonly experience at birth. Rather, one experiences the raw terror associated with this occurrence that the babies' vulnerable brain was unable to comprehend without it shocking the newborn nervous system to the point of death. An emotion-oriented, "pressure-release survival mechanism", of sorts, kicks in and short-circuits the life-threatening neural transmissions and body functions are thus protected.
Primal Therapy is a method of clearing nervous system blockages/pain created by inherent traumas that happen in the life of a child and restores (as much as it can) emotional wholeness through the courage of the subsequent, willing adult to submit their matured (stronger) brain/nervous system to the process and return to "the scene of the crime", as it were. One does not so much "re-live" the actual traumas so much as one fully comprehends the totality of it on a raw feeling, emotional level-- something that the nervous system of a child simply cannot do.
This causes some folks to place a value on PT on par with hypnotherapy. While similar in appearance, the underlying difference is that PT goes deeper into the area of the brain where ones' sense of self (who I am, that which is my authentic uniqueness) has been distorted and re-wired into an adaptive survival function in sync with its' toxic social environment as opposed to bringing forth the actual being. As yet, it is not understood why hypnotherapy does not appear to do this deeper healing. There is insight, but what is gained is soon lost and the deeper pain driving the system remains in place.
The deep emotional pain that PT attempts to resolve, (sadly, as Dr. Janov himself admitted to me personally, PT is not a total "cure") we are all living with it to a greater or lesser extent. Nobody passes through birth/childhood/adolescence unscathed. One might even say that everything we do (apart from base physical survival) is an attempt to escape it. Our nervous systems are always trying to "work it out", one way or another, making us aware, however dimly, to bring about re-integration/re-connection and restore our bodies to a healthier state.
Real, Janovian PT cannot and does not "re-traumatize". I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt-- feeling things that your little child brain wouldn't allow you to can be quite distressing to folks who aren't ready for it, but "re-traumatizing"? No. This is simply not possible. The adult nervous system is not the child nervous system.
My assessment of PT is that it cuts through all the distraction & waffling around that a human soul in pain encounters on its' wandering journey home. 10 years of weekly, 1-hour sessions on a couch talking to the best of shrinks will likely not do for you what a 3 week PT intensive can do. PT steers you right into the core of yourself where you are able to let go of everything and allow your body do the healing that needs to happen. If you are someone on a soul journey and what I've said rings true for you, I'd say drop everything else and go for it.
Sherrill Sellman would appear to enthusiastically recommend it as well. On her podcast you can hear her spirit sparkle and sing with real childlike joy in contrast to the voice of Barcelo speaking soberly and clinically. This is what Primal Therapy does. I've seen it happen to people.
To Speak for the Trees - although I haven't read it - jumped instantly into my heart. Here's my story and why I love my trees and leave them unpruned and as they are.
I am a wildlife carer - of nocturnal marsupial tree dwellers to be exact (possums and flying foxes). I care for them from a very, very young age, when they are found in their dead mum's pouch (or hanging on a dead mum in the case of flying foxes), until they are ready to be released back into the wild. I feel very privileged to do this important work. What I get back is a private window into their wildling ways.
A bond must be established within the first 24 hours for the bub to feel less anxious and loved enough to grow well. I sleep with them, I spend weeks forgetting my other life and just giving them what they need to flourish in the most awkward of situations: a room where nothing moves, where there’s no breeze and it’s silent. We grieve together for the loss of their mum (most times it's some human cause which killed mum, whether it's barbed wire, cat attack or car hit, and I feel their grief very strongly). I trust them because it needs to go both ways. So, when they are a little older (300 grams for a possum) I take them into my very small but very wild garden. It’s full of large trees I planted 20 years ago. There, I show them the love of trees (trusting that they won’t run away). In nature, they are in mum's pouch or riding her back, but as much as I want to, I can't go climbing the trees (not that high anyway). So I stay hugging the tree while bub is riding my arm. Initially they want to go on the tree, but they are too young to get off me. Slowly, with a lot of patience, bub learns to hug the tree too. This first time is really magical. You can see their little feet feeling the bark beneath. Their toes twitch as if they are being zapped by mamma tree's energy. It gives me goose bumps just remembering this moment: the long hug between bub and mamma tree. I am just a witness and a comforter, a protector. I don't leave their sight. I also don't talk to my babies. Sometimes a very quiet word of encouragement but we talk in vibes.
From observation and experience I learned that mum must have a very quiet way of vocalising to their young. So I made up my own very intimate sounds to make, that only they can hear. This is our language. And slowly, slowly they walk a few steps further. In the first few weeks they usually run back to me after one metre but gradually they explore further. The excitement is palpable and infectious. I want to share it with everyone, but in order for the wilding to stay wild they must not think of humans as things to go climb on and seek food or comfort from. They know only me (even my husband doesn't get a peep until they are much much older). Every day they get to know the tree better, practicing their skills: hanging on their tail, running upside down under the branch, running as fast as they can, swerving, jumping from one branch to another. I'm just a delighted (and proud) observer. The tree canopy is reached after a few months of nightly exploration. Trees are superb sound conductors and if I hug the tree and put my ear to the trunk, I can hear my baby anywhere on the tree, walking, jumping or crunching something, as clearly as if he is right beside me.
Another really interesting part of my experience: if I take my mobile phone with me and get distracted, he doesn't like it. He wants my full attention on him (for safety and for him to show off his newfound skills?) When I’m distracted he comes down and starts to harass me, nibble me and attack my clothing. He goes wild at me, so I put my gadget away and he’s immediately pacified. It’s like: ‘mum watch me ... see what I can do’, and he does his finest new tricks. Does that sound familiar? Kids are all the same.
Letting go of my babies always comes with some anxiety for their survival success but the soft release program in our area (NSW Australia) is fantastic and very gentle, allowing these babies to find their feet in a new forever forested home with support until they are standing on their own four feet.
"... environmentalism needs to decouple from the carbon-reductionistic global warming narrative." Maybe environmentalists created that language because they need to convince those folks who see only the dollar value in trees, land, etc.? I've never talked to an environmentalist who does not believe these things are "sacred in their own right". How can we stop the desecration of nature if those engaged in it just write us off as daydreaming treehuggers?
Totally agree we need to move the environment discussion away from "climate change" (a topic of dissent) and back to "pollution", where it started. Nobody wants a polluted environment. Everyone wants clean water to drink and bathe in, clean air to breathe and clean soil in which to grow our food. By default this requires moving away from polluting fossil fuels which are, by their very nature, running out anyway, so let's get ahead of that inevitable shift, right? Win-win.
Hi Charles, thanks for checking in around the media places.
What you were reading about genetics is really important to think into a little with all the information spread around about genetic behaviour.
From epi-genetics, now quite an old topic but well worth reflection by people, especially about what influences genes to open up, for groups of genes to jump out or swap place 'unexpectedly'; together with current research around the current virus (considered as un-intelligent) and how cells are penetrated and what causes them to 'open up' their cell wall defenses to invaders.
Something smells...which in saying that, the fact that smells can by-pass the defense systems of our bodies and mind to get free entry, is quite extraordinary.
Sweet scented roses to you, or maybe vanilla beans.
Interesting stuff. I need about 10 times as much time as I have to follow all the interesting threads and do research, so i particularly value when someone - you for example - writes about so many of these other things I may not have come across. That last "What Is Life" particularly catches my attention and I plan on looking it up. Thanks, Charles.
Charles I am so proud of your voice, it is an heroic act. Censorship has always existed and kept growing so much that every thought of our life is control. They know perfectly our weaknesses and play them against us. These people, dictate who we are, who we should hate, what we should believe.
You reminded me of two books I read a few years back called "The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World" by Peter Wohlleben, as well as . "The Overstory", a novel by Richard Powers. The Overstory radically changed my perceptions of the world while I was reading it - thanks for reminding me that I need to re-read it.
To Speak for the Trees is wonderful! And rage inducing. I have the audiobook because it is read by the author. I would love to go visit her sanctuary. I've just been listening to Martin Shaw's newest, Smoke Hole, and I recommend it in audio form as well as his previous, Courting the Wild Twin.
Thank you Charles!!! It is so kind of you, I am very moved by the mention.
Also, this whole past year and a half led so many new connections, friendships, and intellectual discoveries under the pressure of mass insanity. The bulldozer came with perks. :)
Actually, in the Spartacus letter, the author said the things you mentioned Charles, were “speculative” so you need to give him/her credit for that. It wasn’t stated as “provable fact.” The Spartacus letter was written by someone or someones who really know their medicine. As a provider in internal medicine for over 30 years, I very much related with what Spartacus said. It was spot-on correct.
all good points, thanks. I read Tessa Lena, too. And will be posting the Spartacus Letter and will include what you said, also Breggin. thanks again.
Just a note regarding a statement made by Jeanice Barcelo on the Sherrill Sellman podcast regarding Primal Therapy: (this is not quoted verbatim)
"A word of caution: Primal Therapy can be re-traumatizing."
This was not my experience with PT, nor was it Sherrill Sellmans'. Barcelo did not mention having undergone Primal Therapy at the Janov Center and so her words of caution would appear to be based on hearsay rather than personal experience.
Primal Therapy can no more "re-traumatize" someone any more than the memory of an auto accident can break ones' bones and lacerate ones' skin.
Sherrill Sellman says in this podcast "I re-lived the trauma of my birth". While that is definitely one way to describe what happens in Primal Therapy, it is not at all accurate in that one is not experiencing again, for example, actual oxygen deprivation that babies commonly experience at birth. Rather, one experiences the raw terror associated with this occurrence that the babies' vulnerable brain was unable to comprehend without it shocking the newborn nervous system to the point of death. An emotion-oriented, "pressure-release survival mechanism", of sorts, kicks in and short-circuits the life-threatening neural transmissions and body functions are thus protected.
Primal Therapy is a method of clearing nervous system blockages/pain created by inherent traumas that happen in the life of a child and restores (as much as it can) emotional wholeness through the courage of the subsequent, willing adult to submit their matured (stronger) brain/nervous system to the process and return to "the scene of the crime", as it were. One does not so much "re-live" the actual traumas so much as one fully comprehends the totality of it on a raw feeling, emotional level-- something that the nervous system of a child simply cannot do.
This causes some folks to place a value on PT on par with hypnotherapy. While similar in appearance, the underlying difference is that PT goes deeper into the area of the brain where ones' sense of self (who I am, that which is my authentic uniqueness) has been distorted and re-wired into an adaptive survival function in sync with its' toxic social environment as opposed to bringing forth the actual being. As yet, it is not understood why hypnotherapy does not appear to do this deeper healing. There is insight, but what is gained is soon lost and the deeper pain driving the system remains in place.
The deep emotional pain that PT attempts to resolve, (sadly, as Dr. Janov himself admitted to me personally, PT is not a total "cure") we are all living with it to a greater or lesser extent. Nobody passes through birth/childhood/adolescence unscathed. One might even say that everything we do (apart from base physical survival) is an attempt to escape it. Our nervous systems are always trying to "work it out", one way or another, making us aware, however dimly, to bring about re-integration/re-connection and restore our bodies to a healthier state.
Real, Janovian PT cannot and does not "re-traumatize". I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt-- feeling things that your little child brain wouldn't allow you to can be quite distressing to folks who aren't ready for it, but "re-traumatizing"? No. This is simply not possible. The adult nervous system is not the child nervous system.
My assessment of PT is that it cuts through all the distraction & waffling around that a human soul in pain encounters on its' wandering journey home. 10 years of weekly, 1-hour sessions on a couch talking to the best of shrinks will likely not do for you what a 3 week PT intensive can do. PT steers you right into the core of yourself where you are able to let go of everything and allow your body do the healing that needs to happen. If you are someone on a soul journey and what I've said rings true for you, I'd say drop everything else and go for it.
Sherrill Sellman would appear to enthusiastically recommend it as well. On her podcast you can hear her spirit sparkle and sing with real childlike joy in contrast to the voice of Barcelo speaking soberly and clinically. This is what Primal Therapy does. I've seen it happen to people.
To Speak for the Trees - although I haven't read it - jumped instantly into my heart. Here's my story and why I love my trees and leave them unpruned and as they are.
I am a wildlife carer - of nocturnal marsupial tree dwellers to be exact (possums and flying foxes). I care for them from a very, very young age, when they are found in their dead mum's pouch (or hanging on a dead mum in the case of flying foxes), until they are ready to be released back into the wild. I feel very privileged to do this important work. What I get back is a private window into their wildling ways.
A bond must be established within the first 24 hours for the bub to feel less anxious and loved enough to grow well. I sleep with them, I spend weeks forgetting my other life and just giving them what they need to flourish in the most awkward of situations: a room where nothing moves, where there’s no breeze and it’s silent. We grieve together for the loss of their mum (most times it's some human cause which killed mum, whether it's barbed wire, cat attack or car hit, and I feel their grief very strongly). I trust them because it needs to go both ways. So, when they are a little older (300 grams for a possum) I take them into my very small but very wild garden. It’s full of large trees I planted 20 years ago. There, I show them the love of trees (trusting that they won’t run away). In nature, they are in mum's pouch or riding her back, but as much as I want to, I can't go climbing the trees (not that high anyway). So I stay hugging the tree while bub is riding my arm. Initially they want to go on the tree, but they are too young to get off me. Slowly, with a lot of patience, bub learns to hug the tree too. This first time is really magical. You can see their little feet feeling the bark beneath. Their toes twitch as if they are being zapped by mamma tree's energy. It gives me goose bumps just remembering this moment: the long hug between bub and mamma tree. I am just a witness and a comforter, a protector. I don't leave their sight. I also don't talk to my babies. Sometimes a very quiet word of encouragement but we talk in vibes.
From observation and experience I learned that mum must have a very quiet way of vocalising to their young. So I made up my own very intimate sounds to make, that only they can hear. This is our language. And slowly, slowly they walk a few steps further. In the first few weeks they usually run back to me after one metre but gradually they explore further. The excitement is palpable and infectious. I want to share it with everyone, but in order for the wilding to stay wild they must not think of humans as things to go climb on and seek food or comfort from. They know only me (even my husband doesn't get a peep until they are much much older). Every day they get to know the tree better, practicing their skills: hanging on their tail, running upside down under the branch, running as fast as they can, swerving, jumping from one branch to another. I'm just a delighted (and proud) observer. The tree canopy is reached after a few months of nightly exploration. Trees are superb sound conductors and if I hug the tree and put my ear to the trunk, I can hear my baby anywhere on the tree, walking, jumping or crunching something, as clearly as if he is right beside me.
Another really interesting part of my experience: if I take my mobile phone with me and get distracted, he doesn't like it. He wants my full attention on him (for safety and for him to show off his newfound skills?) When I’m distracted he comes down and starts to harass me, nibble me and attack my clothing. He goes wild at me, so I put my gadget away and he’s immediately pacified. It’s like: ‘mum watch me ... see what I can do’, and he does his finest new tricks. Does that sound familiar? Kids are all the same.
Letting go of my babies always comes with some anxiety for their survival success but the soft release program in our area (NSW Australia) is fantastic and very gentle, allowing these babies to find their feet in a new forever forested home with support until they are standing on their own four feet.
"... environmentalism needs to decouple from the carbon-reductionistic global warming narrative." Maybe environmentalists created that language because they need to convince those folks who see only the dollar value in trees, land, etc.? I've never talked to an environmentalist who does not believe these things are "sacred in their own right". How can we stop the desecration of nature if those engaged in it just write us off as daydreaming treehuggers?
Bless you Charles for focusing on the Femine. I hear trees sing. How Spartacus got on here saddens me.
Thank you for all you are doing, saying and sharing.
Totally agree we need to move the environment discussion away from "climate change" (a topic of dissent) and back to "pollution", where it started. Nobody wants a polluted environment. Everyone wants clean water to drink and bathe in, clean air to breathe and clean soil in which to grow our food. By default this requires moving away from polluting fossil fuels which are, by their very nature, running out anyway, so let's get ahead of that inevitable shift, right? Win-win.
Hi Charles, thanks for checking in around the media places.
What you were reading about genetics is really important to think into a little with all the information spread around about genetic behaviour.
From epi-genetics, now quite an old topic but well worth reflection by people, especially about what influences genes to open up, for groups of genes to jump out or swap place 'unexpectedly'; together with current research around the current virus (considered as un-intelligent) and how cells are penetrated and what causes them to 'open up' their cell wall defenses to invaders.
Something smells...which in saying that, the fact that smells can by-pass the defense systems of our bodies and mind to get free entry, is quite extraordinary.
Sweet scented roses to you, or maybe vanilla beans.
Regards, Pete
Interesting stuff. I need about 10 times as much time as I have to follow all the interesting threads and do research, so i particularly value when someone - you for example - writes about so many of these other things I may not have come across. That last "What Is Life" particularly catches my attention and I plan on looking it up. Thanks, Charles.
Charles I am so proud of your voice, it is an heroic act. Censorship has always existed and kept growing so much that every thought of our life is control. They know perfectly our weaknesses and play them against us. These people, dictate who we are, who we should hate, what we should believe.
You reminded me of two books I read a few years back called "The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World" by Peter Wohlleben, as well as . "The Overstory", a novel by Richard Powers. The Overstory radically changed my perceptions of the world while I was reading it - thanks for reminding me that I need to re-read it.
To Speak for the Trees is wonderful! And rage inducing. I have the audiobook because it is read by the author. I would love to go visit her sanctuary. I've just been listening to Martin Shaw's newest, Smoke Hole, and I recommend it in audio form as well as his previous, Courting the Wild Twin.
Thank you for the other items.
Write a comment
Hi Charles, thank you for all your writing. you inspire me. I recently put out this album and I think you might enjoy some of the lyrics/ideas
https://emilymasson.bandcamp.com/releases