James Wogan LCSW

Tag: Native

  • See. Be. Do.

    Western psychology often focuses on behavior (doing). In contrast, Eastern and Native approaches emphasize seeing, and being, before doing. Many cultures place high value on being (and learning to be) in community w each other vs. individual orientation.

    In therapy, people from diverse backgrounds find that incorporating perspectives of different cultures (anthropological / ecological context) helps to free up different ways to reflect and see self, and w self determination consider how to be with others. This helps to prepare people to make healthy changes in behavior and thought. Photo is image of #GuanYin, “relaxed composure.”

    Guan Yin “relaxed composure”

    See it.

    🌘

    Feel it

    🌓

    Be it

  • GONA

    Was invited to gathering of indigenous teenagers in Marin Headlands retreat center at Point Bonita.  Was 4-Day Native community-building wellness retreat called “GONA” for about 20 teenagers from SF.  

    A indigenous woman shared about the healing properties of feathers,🪶 🪶 and how different feathers can be used medicinally for different circumstances.  

    She answered questions and shared, for example, that one “might not always want an eagle feather, it depends on the situation.”   

    For peacefulness, she recommended feathers of a pheasant. One teenager asked about owl 🦉 and she paused … said people from some tribes don’t want to be near owl feathers bc of their meaning and energy.  

    She had light-hearted way of talking w kids; showed them how to wrap feathers in different ways (see photo) they were into it. touch each feather and notice how tactilely different (and similar) each feather is … brings us closer to nature therefore in community w each other. 

    The theme for Friday was “generosity.”  Some of the kids offer feathers they made as gift to community.  They had also done beading and painting in previous days. Gifts are put in community circle and could go to anyone.  

    Native youth leader Crystal from Oakland painted pine nuts from backyard, made a necklace; this will be her gift to someone in community.   

    💫 Hope you see some birds (and feathers 🪶 ) soon.