Involuntary Civil Commitment & DSM: Medicine or Mechanism of societal Control?
The civil commitment process does not operate on an individual’s lived experience, emotions, or truth. It operates on a story—a carefully constructed narrative written by those in power. The psychiatrist, the social worker, the court evaluator—each plays a role in crafting an official account, one that transforms a person from an autonomous individual into a psychiatric subject.
The Power of Story: Who Holds the Pen That Writes Our Reality?
Stories shape the world we live in. They whisper in our ears, build the walls around us, and determine who holds power. Some stories nourish us, help us grow, allow us to find ourselves in their pages. Others are written for us—imposed, rigid, inescapable. They become our cages.
Beliefs in action: Understanding our worldview and asking ourselves … Is our mind & Heart in a cage?
Nature, to me, is a reflection of the world we construct around us. Our beliefs shape our perception of reality, and through the stories we tell—both individually and collectively—we reveal our underlying worldviews. If we listen carefully, we begin to see the currents beneath the surface: what is valued, what is dismissed, what is protected, and what is forcibly controlled.
Stories are powerful. They shape how we situate ourselves in relation to others and to the world. Yet, society does not encourage deep self-reflection. Instead, most people are conditioned to operate within rigid structures—often without questioning the foundations upon which these systems are built.
Unveiling the Sacred: Reflecting on Our Way of Knowing
In the quiet moments of dawn, as the first light of day begins to weave its golden threads through the tapestry of night, there lies an invitation to reflect deeply on our way of knowing. This sacred reflection beckons us to journey inward, to become conscious of the underlying beliefs that shape our perceptions, decisions, and actions in the world. To unwrap the stories we have been told that bind us and to release stories that no longer serve our evolutionary path of enlightenment by shedding light on beliefs and stories that create blockages that starve us of our freedom and joy. It is an invitation to awaken to the profound interconnectedness of all life, to honor the wisdom that flows through us, and to align our actions with our deepest values and truths.
From Flames to Renewal: The Redwood Tree’s Teaching On Resiliency And Thriving
In honoring the redwoods, we honor the resilience within ourselves. We are reminded that, like these ancient sentinels, we have the power to withstand the fires of life and emerge stronger, our spirits renewed by the very trials that sought to consume us. In the heart of the redwood forest, let us find our own strength, our own resilience, and our own ability to transform adversity into triumph.