The Forensic Theologist

What are You “Taking On” for Lent?

2012-02-21T16:02:00.000-08:00

I must admit, Lent has not every really been one of my favorite seasons of the Church Calendar. It has always seemed to me to be misplaced in the context of the climate cycle of the area in which I live. Think about it for a moment: after just passing through the dregs of Winter, and just when things appear to be turning around (after the Groundhog has had his say), The Church challenges us with a period of reflection upon suffering.

The little boy inside of me screams: “But I don’t want any more Winter. I want the new life that Spring has to offer.”

Ah, but isn’t that what Lent is really about? Yes, there is commemoration of suffering. Yes, there is a joining to the passion of Christ, but it doesn’t stop there. Lent is a time that is “pregnant with promises.” It is a ritual time that seeks to carry us to a place of deeper authenticity in person and a greater transcendence of circumstances, and it represents the culmination of our time in the cocoon state as we await our continued personal metamorphosis.

Lent is an experience that says “soon, but not quite yet.”

Perhaps these considerations will encourage us to turn the tables on our previous perceptions and attitudes about Lent. Perhaps we will no longer feel dread or lamentation about what we are about to enter, but will instead be encouraged to adopt it as a challenge and opportunity to grow deeper spiritually, not so much through “giving up” something out of some perceived DUTY, but rather by “taking on” something new as a matter of DESIRE.

May we desire to carry our crosses this Lent, not because we are told we HAVE TO, but because in our hearts we WANT TO connect with the full spectrum of our incarnation experiences. May the sacrifices and mortifications we practice this Lent be not grievous, but may they instead become our “road to redemption.”

May we “give up” DOING Lent, and “take on” BEING Lent.

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Supplemental: Happy New Day's Day

2012-01-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

No, it is not a typo, I did indeed intend to write "Happy New Day's Day" for the title of this entry. What is Dr. Mik up to this time? :-)

Let us take a moment to consider the concept of “Holidays” (Holy Days):

Many religions follow something known as a Liturgical Calendar, which is a way of ordering time in a manner that sets aside various days and seasons for particular commemoration. This is a beautiful thing, and living liturgically can foster a wonderful sense of connection to Soul while bringing a certain rhythm to our lives. I personally order my own life via the Roman Catholic Liturgical Year, and there is no doubt in my heart and mind that this has greatly enhanced my life via its means of connecting me to our history, and a sense of my place within the “community of the faithful.”

However, I want to for a moment offer an alternative view on this very worthwhile tradition. Have we ever stopped to consider that the word “Holiday” might be a little misleading? While Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials are indeed special, is not EVERY DAY holy, and therefore a Holiday?

As I write to you on this New Year’s Day of 2012, I also wish you a happy “New Day’s Day,” and tomorrow I will do likewise. I do this because I believe we need to be encouraged to grasp the incredible value each new day holds for us, and how miraculous it is to be a “spiritually animated incarnate soul.” Yes, that is what we are at this moment, “spiritually animated incarnate souls,” and when you think about it in this way, life can take on an entirely new meaning, and each and every day comes to be realized as something extraordinarily special. Never again in eternity will this current moment be repeated, and for me, that makes it a Holy Day indeed.

Okay, but in all fairness to the “special” nature of today as the first day of a New Year, let us engage one of the traditions that adds even more beauty to what is already precious. Allow me, if you will, to share with you my New Year’s resolution:

“To live every day of 2012 as a Holiday, inviting “special days” to provide particular focus upon the beauty of commemoration, respect, and tradition.”

Remember: “The purpose of life is to live, the secret to life is learning how to truly be alive!”

I wish you an incredibly BLESSED and PROSPEROUS New Year, and a very Happy New Day’s Day,” today, and every day!

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

From Release to Revelation: The Next Stage in the Journey to Wholeness

2011-12-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

It is good to be back. My readers may have noticed that I have not posted an entry here since mid October, and the break has been both challenging and fruitful. In sum, let is suffice to say that these months have been a time of preparation for some very positive evolutions in my research and practice, and they have led to some very meaningful refinements and clarity in the direction my work is heading.

First, readers may have taken notice to the change in the subtitle of this Blog. The addition of the words "scientific" and "rational" refer to the grounding of psychological knowledge and religious wisdom through the application of “balanced reason.” I am sure we have all seen enough examples of how both fields can go awry with speculation and even delusion, and it is wonderful how their purposeful integration can be a means of balancing the other. Science remains philosophically humbled via religion, and religion remains empirically grounded via science. As I have said repeatedly, religion and science need not be mutually exclusive, but are designed to co-exist and operate together in our Quest for Truth.

Second, the reader may realize that we are ready to move on from our discussions regarding the dynamic and stage known as RELEASE in order to venture into the world of REVELATION. It does indeed seem like the right time, especially with the coming of a New Year, to make this powerful transition where all that has been released via the therapeutic journey begins to “reveal” new insights leading to enhanced understanding and deeper clarity.

So, let us now continue the Journey to Wholeness by beginning a series of discussions regarding the dynamic and stage of REVELATION, which I consider to be one of the most meaningful and powerful gifts we can garnish from the therapeutic process. I encourage the reader to review the previous posts on RELEASE due to the fact that I will be referring to many of the concepts discussed there. REVELATION and RELEASE are inherently tied in that one rarely occurs without the other.

Very well, I thank everyone for their patience with my re-fueling and re-orienting process, and it is now time to leave the Oasis and resume the Quest. REVELATION can sometime be a “stormy sea” and a “dry desert.” There is very little that is easy about facing certain truths and realities about ourselves, but failure to do so can only leave us stranded on a deserted island (aren’t Journey metaphors fun?) J

So, pull up your bootstraps and fasten your seatbelts, because we are getting ready to enter some challenging territory and some stormy seas. It is time to unravel the mystery of our egos as we continue to seek the deepest truths of our authentic selves as we begin to sort out “what was done TO us" and "what is now done BY us” in response to our developmental experiences.

Onward and Upward!

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Supplemental: A Litany Of Gratitude

2011-10-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share something that came to me this morning during my Prayer/
Contemplation time. I pray it is some value in assisting us all in realizing how blessed we really are, and why we have reason to celebrate each and every day:

A Litany of Gratitude
(To be recited in the Morning upon waking)

For awakening from sleep, when others have not.
Lord I give you thanks.

For the ability to breathe, when for many each breath is a struggle.
Lord I give you thanks.

For the opening of my eyes to see, when many are blind.
Lord I give you thanks.

For the ability to stand, when another is disabled.
Lord I give you thanks.

For a roof over my head, when many are homeless.
Lord I give you thanks.

For a bed to lie in, when others sleep on the floor or ground.
Lord I give you thanks.

For the warmth of clean blankets, when another shivers in the cold.
Lord I give you thanks.

For hot water and a shower, when others have no running water at all.
Lord I give you thanks.

For food to eat, when many will die this day of starvation.
Lord I give you thanks.

For partners and family, when so many are completely alone.
Lord I give you thanks.

For work to attend to, when others are unemployed.
Lord I give you thanks.

That I might avoid the temptations of the world and the
lure of lust and greed.
Lord grant me the grace to fulfill it.

That I may live in thanksgiving, and avoid complaining.
Lord grant me the grace to fulfill it.

That I might find joy in all that I have, and want
for nothing more.
Lord grant me the grace to fulfill it.

That I might take only what I need, and give freely of all that
remains.
Lord grant me the grace to fulfill it.

That I might never take one single breath, step, provision,
or opportunity for granted.
Lord grant me the grace to fulfill it.

Father, I pray for those who have not, that they might also have. I lie prostrate before you in humility and thanksgiving for your incredible grace and provision. With my own needs well met, teach me to serve and give out of my abundance, that I might not be counted as one of the world, but as one seeking to bring Heaven to earth.

Amen.

(Litany written and offered to the Church by Dr. Mik Ludwig)

Releasing "The Blame Game"

2011-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

The "Blame Game" - We've all played it at some point in our lives. How quickly we resort to seeking a reason outside of ourselves for the difficulties we encounter. We blame circumstances, people, and even God for everything under the sun as we constantly resort to "buts" and "if onlys."

"Yes I did that, but . . . "

"I would have followed through if only . . ."

Remember Adam’s excuse given to God in the Garden of Eden?

In psychology, this tendency is often captured via the concept of defense mechanisms, which are the internal “tactics” that the mind uses in order to avoid something unsettling or anxiety producing. In the case of “the blame game,” two particular defenses known as projection and displacement are usually at work. Projection and displacement describe a tendency we all can manifest in which we are unable to see and/or accept something about ourselves and therefore attribute it to another. What this means is that what we tend to see and blame in others is very often what we are unable to reconcile within ourselves.

But why do we do this? What do we have to gain from this un-realistic behavior?

Very often the reason we blame is in order to escape the anxiety and disappointment we feel from having fallen short and/or having failed. Rather than sit with and work through these feelings, we bundle them up into a nice little package and send them off to another. Emotional struggle averted, right?

Well, “yes,” but more importantly, “no.”

While the immediate effects of the experience can be diverted through this behavior, the long term affects cannot. I am fond of saying that defense mechanisms are great in the “short term,” but that they can become highly dysfunctional when adopted as a “way of being” in the “long term.”

Over time, the denial we practice through blame catches up with us when we discover that we have failed to attend to the realities of our own character and conduct, and we have typically alienated ourselves from others who have caught on to our behavior long before we have. Eventually, there will be no one left to blame, because there will be no one around to blame.

Very well, so what are we going to do about it?

My suggestion is that we take an honest, hard look at ourselves and highlight areas where we see blame playing a role. We can then learn to accept personal responsibility for our shortcomings, not for the purpose of condemnation, but for the benefit of our personal insight and growth. Remember: “Name it, claim it, tame it.” J

Okay, but someone out there is saying, and rightly so, “But sometimes others ARE to blame.” This is certainly true, and the aforementioned references to projection and displacement would not apply to situations in which another truly has been the cause of a situation or happening. These kinds of situations require another approach, which can take us to even deeper levels of understanding and growth.

When others cause us harm, we have (temporarily) become victims of that harm. With this comes all of the experiences and feelings of having been wronged, and it hurts. Let us not miss the reality and/or empathy regarding the many wounds we have all incurred in our lives and the resulting challenges they have imparted unto us.

However, blame will still emerge as detrimental even in cases of actual wrong doing. Even when we are innocent victims, our healing process calls us to a place of releasing the anger and resentment through a process of forgiveness. This is a tall order indeed, but one that is essential if we hope to truly achieve healing and wholeness in our lives.

And with that, we arrive at a place of consensus where we understand that when we are wrong, we must own it, and when others hurt us, we must release it. While the pathways may be different, the outcome is the same:

“I thank God for my faults, for they have become opportunities for “growth and change.”

“I thank God for those times when others have hurt me, for they have taught me how to forgive as I have also been forgiven.”

+AMDG+
Dr. Mik Ludwig

Releasing "Things"

2011-07-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been spiritually challenged to examine my relationships with "things." As I look around and see all of the "stuff" I have accumulated over the years, I cannot help but wonder if these items belong to me, or if I belong to them? Please allow me to illustrate my point:

One of my favorite movie scenes is from the film "The Mission," a story of the Jesuit missions in South America. In this scene, a Nobleman is traveling with a Jesuit Father and his Native Guides to a remote mission in the Andes Mountains. The Jesuit Father carries nothing but a small pouch and the cassock he is wearing. The Nobleman is dragging a large fishing net behind him full of armor and weaponry. As they climb the mountains, the Jesuit Father and the Native Guides move effortlessly, while the Nobleman is severely fatigued and exhaustion as he tries to pull his possessions behind him like a ship's anchor. Finally, the Nobleman makes to to a summit on the mountain, but in his exasperation he accidentally lets go of his net, and all of his possessions plummet and fall into the river below.

This brief scene communicates so much to us, if we are paying attention. It presents us with two options: We can travel encumbered, or we can travel light. We can place importance upon "things," or we can learn to embrace "experiences."

I do not know about you, but the more "encumbered" I become, the more "light" I wish to become. I am ready to throw my armor and weapons into the river, and just be. I hope to dig myself out of the "pile of stuff" I am under and come up for air. :-) I want to be more like my Lord, who owned a single garmant, and who was free to be completely about His mission.

A friend of mine recently posted a story regarding the "Tiny Home Movement." I have also been studying a concept known as the "100 Things" agenda. Could it be that there is a new consciousness emerging that is carrying us away from materialism? Are we finally seeing the value of a lay version of the Monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience?

Unfortunately, I do not believe I can say that these movements have fully caught on, especially in America. Materialism and Hedonism seem to remain the dominant philsophies in secular society, and this may be the very reason for our possible downfall (remember Rome). However, there are those who are emerging from this paradigm with a renewed sense of the true value of life, and the lesser value of things.

Please allow me to close with the following thought as I continue my own journey away from "stuff" in favor of a deeper experience of "soul" (and Spirit):

“The answer to our ultimate fulfillment is not found in acquiring more “things,” but in achieving more meaningful “experiences." The only materials we really need are those that assist us in our continuing journey, and in fulfilling our highest purpose."

+AMDG+
Dr. Mik Ludwig

Releasing Expectations

2011-06-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

As I continue to explore the concept of release, I am moved to consider a situation that arises quite regularly within the therapeutic process, that being the issue of expectations.

Certainly we all have them (expectations), and it is clearly not wrong to hope and dream for all that is good and wholesome in our lives. In fact, most modern trends in psychology and spirituality are indeed promoting a more positive orientation to our current-day life experiences, and this can be a very good thing.

However, as many of you know, my two favorite sayings; veritas in trutina est (truth lies in the balance) and virtus in medio stat (virtue stands in the middle), serve as constant reminders that hyper-expressions of any “good” thing can ultimately become quite a “bad” thing. This means that the positive can actually be overstated to the degree that it can become Pollyannaish, irrational, and can even lose touch with reality.

For example, I have worked with persons in the past who have adopted concepts like “The Power of Positive Thinking” and “The Secret” for the un-conscious purpose of denying the realities of their lives. Essentially, they had become addicted to the prospect of the positive to such a degree that they were unable to identify and process real and present dangers in their lives and relationships. They had become “positively delusional,” if you will.

Now please do not get me wrong here. As many of you know, I am by no means a negative dude, and I am very much about encouraging the positive experiences of joy, fulfillment, and contentment in our lives. Ah, but the operative word here is CONTENTMENT.

I often surprise folks by telling them that I am not “there to make them happy.” There is often a very awkward moment of silence and bewilderment. What kind of therapist does not want his patients to be happy? This one! J Allow me to explain:

I am not much of a fan of short-term, shallow, and fleeting moments of “happiness.” In fact, I believe that the pursuit of these experiences is very much what is wrong with modern society. Everyone is chasing his or her immediate sensation of bliss, and we have become a nation of “spoiled brats.”

It has gotten so bad, in fact, that even psychological and spiritual professionals are encouraging attitudes and actions that foster temporary moments of self-absorbed ecstasy as a way of life. “Not happy with your spouse? Divorce him. Not happy about that pregnancy? Abort her.” What incredible destruction has been unleashed upon the history of humanity in the interest of those seeking their own self-centered happiness! (Caveat: This is not to say that all who fall victim to divorce or abortion are always acting out of purely selfish motivations).

I once told a teen with whom I was working that “there was no “I” in TEAM.” He quickly retorted, “But there is an "ME."” Isn’t this the very plight of humanity: The pursuit of “I” in the interest of “ME,” and to heck with everyone else, right?

WRONG! Oh, so wrong, not only for others, but also for ourselves. Consider this:

True experiences of contentment and fulfillment are found in collective experiences that embrace something higher than our base needs for stimulation and pleasure, and addiction to base needs for stimulation and pleasure ultimately lead to destruction. Study any addictive process and you will discover that this is truth.

Therefore, let us lower our expectations that we are always going to be ecstatic, and accept the reality of the “ebb and flow” of our lives through experiences of great joy, as well as moments of deep sorrow. As Josh Groban sings in Canto Alla Vita:

“I sing to life
To its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife
Let all that dance through me
The rise and the fall I lived through it all”

Let us deny ourselves the expectation of constant highs, and accept our temporary lows. Let us find the true bliss of a life lived in “beautiful balance,” where the lows are so much more bearable, and the highs are so much more meaningful. In fact, let us go even further by no longer embracing the bi-polarity of “highs” and “lows” in favor of a posture that “endures through the worst, believes for the best, and accepts what is given.”

+AMDG+
Dr. Mik Ludwig

“Acting In,” “Acting Out”, or “Talking it Through”

2011-05-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

I would like to devote this post to a return to the concept of release. I remind the reader that I have been exploring the Seven Stages and Remedial Dynamics of the Pastoral Paradigm that I developed in 2005 (see http://www.mikludwig.com/research.html). These stages and dynamics include: surrender, co-journey, release, revelation, renewal, authenticity, and transcendence. To date I have addressed surrender and co-journey, and a few aspects of release.

What I feel inclined to share in this post is that release (and all seven dynamics and stages) can be understood as both a therapeutic experience and an ongoing attribute. What I mean by this is that we can experience release in concentrated form via an intensive therapeutic process, but we can also make release a constant in our lives.

I alluded to this in my last post on The Spiritual Aspects of Release, and I provided the story of the Two Monks, the Woman, and the River to exemplify it. I would like to add to that a psychological concept that describes how we might learn to practice release as a constant in our daily lives.

I often share with directees, clients, and patients that there are three ways we can address a thought, feeling, or impulse in our lives. We can “act in,” we can “act out,” or we can “talk it through.” The option we choose determines the outcome we will experience.

First, there is the choice to “act in,” which is a process often described with the word, “stuffing,” and clinically as “suppression.” When we "act in,” we try to hold and maintain an impulse within and deny it manifestation. The problem is that this comes with a cost, usually in the form of anxiety, and/or some somatic disturbance.

“Acting in” (suppression) has been linked to a wide variety of health problems to include hypertension, chronic fatigue, issues of the digestive tract, and others. It also leads to a great deal of psychological distress and pressure. Hence, “acting in” does not present itself as a “best practice” for us if we want to be well.

The other “non-adaptive” option is “acting out,” which is a process through which we impulsively respond to our thoughts and feelings by enacting them through some abrupt external action, Examples of “acting-out” include substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, gambling, physical aggression, and others. These behaviors are maladaptive in that they often lead to relational isolation and social sanctions.

Very well; if we cannot hold it in, and we cannot burst it out, what are we to do with our everyday thoughts, feelings, and impulses? Yes, you guessed it: Talk them through! J

Humans are the only species with a fully developed verbal ability and complex language, and I believe this is by design. Imagine what it would be like to have the cognitive ability we have, but not means to release and implement our thoughts and ideas? Imagine if we were never able to mobilize feelings via verbal expression? I believe we would all be ready to trade in our "advanced brains” for a more basic model. J

My point is that speech and language are essential abilities for humans, and that it is a means through which we maintain homeostasis and health. This verbal intelligence and ability lies at the very foundation of psychotherapy. Talk is medicine, and verbal release heals.

Hence, I seek through this post to encourage us to begin to seek insight into how we manage our thoughts, feelings, and impulses, and it is my hope that all will come to understand the power inherent in “talk therapy,” and open communication.

Do we “act in,” ‘act out,” or have we discovered the power inherent in “talking it through?”

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Supplemental: Commentary on “There Be Dragons”

2011-05-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

Typically, when a movie ends at the theater, the viewers rise and steadily make their way towards the door. Not the case with There Be Dragons.

After a very powerful ending, I noticed how we, the audience, just “sat there.” I myself remained for several reasons. First, I did not want to be seen in public with the tears that were still flowing from my eyes (yes, “big boys do cry”). Second, because there was something more; an energy, if you will, that simply held me patiently in my seat and caused me to have no desire to leave, even as people were entering for the next showing.

From a psychological standpoint, I would classify this experience as one of “sensory overload.” There was so much to take in and process, and the movie contained numerous scene and time period shifts (and blends). Additionally, the plot of the movie was such that one could not guess (or even have time to guess) what would be the outcome. I was quite literally pulled into the action and suspense such that thinking backward or forward was just not possible. This is a situation that only a master director like Roland Joffe could have created, but he (Joffe) also did so much more (intentionally, or not), which constitutes the spiritual nature of what is conveyed through this film.

My first words after (finally) leaving the theater were, “Take that, Ron Howard!” Many of you may recall Ron Howard’s film, The DaVinci Code in which Opus Dei was vilified and even criminalized, and where many very false and slanderous ideas were implanted into the minds of the public regarding Saint Josemaria Escriva and “The Work.”

I do believe that There Be Dragons was able to effectively “set the record straight” regarding the true purpose and nature of Opus Dei, which I would characterize as “an open and honest pursuit of personal holiness within the world, so that the world might come to know the TRUTH of God’s love, so that people might learn to share it with one another.” Throughout the film we witness conflicting ideologies, severe challenges, and powerful emotions, yet the message of love and forgiveness stands true to the end. Clearly, this is a message still needed in the world today, and the Spanish Civil War is one of hundreds of examples where humanity continues to fail to learn these critical lessons.

As a Roman Catholic Knight and affiliate of Opus Dei, I am blessed to see the true nature of “The Work” and the “saintly humanity” of Saint Josemaria presented to the world in a realistic and factual manner. The fantasy of The DaVinci Code has been confronted by the truth of There Be Dragons. (a bit ironic, eh? :-).

Will people prefer to remain within the fantasy of intrigue or the reality of TRUTH and LIGHT? Ah, the answer to this question is the very key that will unlock the door to our continued survival, or our swift demise.

Saint Josemaria, pray for us!

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Spiritual Aspects of Release

2011-05-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

My previous post “dug in” to the psychological aspects of this concept of release and suggested ways in which this process can contribute to our overall emotional health. In this post, I would like to focus upon some spiritual implications and applications of release.

I remind my readers that when I speak of release, I am referring to a process of “opening our hearts and minds to a deep and unabashed examination of our developmental histories and experiences, how these experiences have impacted us in our lives, and how we might come to experience an easing of psychological tension as a result of this process of uncovering and understanding.”

Release existed spiritually long before it was ever articulated in psychology. We read numerous accounts of this dynamic in the Old and New Testaments, and within other religious writings. Some examples might include the lamenting of Job, and the cries of King David through the Psalms. Jesus himself practiced release by retreating to secluded prayer and speaking openly with the Father.

In fact, if we study the lives of any of the saints and mystics, we will discover that they all walked the entire Journey to Wholeness (surrender, co-journey, release, revelation, renewal, authenticity, transcendence), and release can clearly be seen in their lives and teachings.

The Christian Faith contains many provisions to aid in the process of release. Personal prayer, Sacred Scripture, spiritual exercises, and the sacrament of Reconciliation are all very powerful means through which we can encounter the process of letting go of that which we have been carrying for so long. One might say that release is actually a primary concept in Christianity, and that this experience is central to the ongoing Christian experience.

Therefore, release is not a singular action, but a spiritual way of proceeding. It is a framework for living a peaceful and harmonious life. The less we carry, the lighter we travel, and the freer we become to be present to our lives and engage life “in the moment.”

Please allow me to share a powerful story that addresses the concept of release:

Two very ascetical monks were traveling on a road to a monastery. Arriving at a river, they encountered a small young woman who also needed to cross the river, but could not due to her light frame and the power of the current. One of the monks told the woman to climb on his back, and the three made their way across the river. Reaching the other side, the monk who carried the woman put her down and continued on the way with the other monk.

A few miles down the road, the monk that did not carry the woman said to the one who did, “How dare you have physical contact with a woman! It is against our vows!” The monk who had carried the woman said nothing.

A few miles more down the road, the monk who had not carried the woman exclaimed, “I am appalled that you would neglect your vows so carelessly!” The monk who had carried the woman held his peace.

Further still down the road, the monk that had not carried the woman repeated his displeasure. This time, the monk who had carried the woman across the river calmly interrupted, “Stop, he said. I put the woman down 10 miles back. Why are you still carrying her?”

What might we be carrying this day that equates to useless baggage? How encumbered might we be with things we have no business carrying any longer? Release teaches us to let these things go, so we can run and dance in the joy and freedom that God has intended for us.

Isn't it time to let go, and let God?

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

The Process of Release

2011-04-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

One of several ways in which psychotherapy heals is through a process known as catharsis, a concept posited by Freud that attempted to describe the mechanism through which repressed and/or suppressed memories become conscious. Within this conceptualization, it is believed that repressions and suppressions cause dysfunction due to the fact that they require a certain amount of psychological energy to attend to the task of maintaining them. Essentially, it was suggested that the mind must allocate a certain amount of drive energy to the task of holding repressions and/or suppressions in place, and that this created a deficit in the amount of drive energy that would be available to the mind for the tasks of normal healthy living.

In response to this understanding, Freud developed the technique of “free association” as the primary method of intervention that seeks to stimulate the release of repressions and suppressions. Within this process, the patient simply says whatever comes into the mind, without judging or filtering the thoughts. The analyst's function is to then interpret the content of the material the patient presents, the idea being that these interpretations might lead to the catharsis of more repressions and/or suppressions. Therapy ended when “everything had been said.”

While the analytic process is much more detailed and involved than this, what I have described here is pretty much a “nutshell” version of the underlying premise of the psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy, which is one of the four major schools that I referenced in my research and formulation of the Pastoral Approach. However, within the Pastoral Approach, I capture the concept of catharsis with the word release.

What I am going for here is something that includes the psychodynamic concept of catharsis, but which deepens and expands it to address more than repressions and/or suppressions. In the Pastoral Approach, the concept of release captures any and all emotional experiences that have never before been experienced and/or processed within the context of a helping relationship. This includes repressions and suppressions, but also many different kinds of perceptions and conceptualizations.

Many people are living with notions and belief patterns that are not based in TRUTH, but are the result of "lies" that were told to them through the faulty teachings and mis-guided actions of others. For example, a former patient of mine who was raised in the streets of the Bronx once told me that he had been “raised with a false truth” upon which he had based all of his choices and actions. Through release he was able to externalize these dynamics, and later examine them in light of other possibilities (the next stage, called revelation). The result was a more enlightened, better behaved, and ultimately happy and fulfilled young man.

Therapy is an open invitation to experience the release of anything and everything that could be serving to impede our physical, emotional, and/or spiritual health. By “showing all of our cards” and “laying it all out on the table,” we can experience a process that “leaves no stone unturned” in our Quest for authentic self-knowledge and personal healing. The Quest is initiated with Surrender, is guided through Co-journey, but truly begins with a process of Release. From there, the Journey continues through revelation, renewal, authenticity, and transcendence, stages that will be addressed in future posts and other writings.

I know of few experiences in my own life that have been more powerful than the opportunity I was given to learn about release, to have actually done it, and to continually do it. Imagine what it might be like to no longer carry all of that extra weight, all of that useless baggage, and all of those deceptive and self-defeating beliefs? Now, make that vision a reality by getting started with your own therapeutic journey through release.

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Change Now? But How?

2011-03-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have shared earlier that I believe an individual (and collective) therapeutic process can be summarized using the metaphor “name it, claim it, tame it.” While I have discussed a great deal regarding the “name it” and “claim it” stages, more discussion is needed regarding the process of “taming it.”

If “name it” refers to a process of discovery, and “claim it” to the task of acceptance, then “tame it” stands as a call to ACTION, action that fosters identified and needed CHANGE. It is not enough to think about doing something, or to even talk about it. At some point, the proverbial “rubber must hit the road” and something pro-active must be set in motion. Hence, the task at hand is to articulate how one actually ENACTS change.

If we truly INTEND to change something, we must activate the conscious intention of the will and ACT. My apologies if this sounds over simplistic, but it really is as basic as that: change occurs where action is taken.

Notice that I said it is “basic,” but I did not say it is “easy.” Clearly it is not easy, or we would all have changed already. J No, change is not easy for a multitude of reasons, yet this can not be an excuse to never attempt it, or to remain entrenched in un-healthy ways of being.

What is often needed is “drive.” I often encourage those with whom I co-journey to “push through” their resistances as a matter of self-discipline. Sometimes we just need to put our head down and run the gauntlet as a gesture of our intention. In so doing, we announce to our circumstances that we are not going to just go away and accept injustices that seek to rob us of our TRUTH. No, we intend to stay, stand, and FIGHT with MIGHT, and for RIGHT.

But, is this spiritual? Doesn’t the FAITH call us to be passive, accepting, and yielded to whatever happens to us? After all, is it not God’s will for us to suffer in the world? Are we not all promised a Cross of our own?

Once again, I must return to the natural law concept of balance. It is true that we are called to surrender and very often, acceptance. However, this is not to say that we are expected to sit around and do nothing, or to be the "punching bags" or "pin cushions" of the world. God has also infused us all with life, and with purpose. He invites us to develop (Holy) intentions, to evolve strategies and plans, and to take ACTION. Further still, he invites us to ask of Him what we need to get the job done.

However, the other pole of this continuum is the idea that humans possess absolute power and are “forces unto themselves.” This is one of the dangers of the film documentary, "The Secret.” “Humans living as Gods” is a deception as old as the Garden of Eden, and this post is not about equality with God, but about living as partners with God.

Hence, I am not a fan of either extreme, and prefer an approach that “endures through the worst, believes for the best, and accepts what is given.”

Yes, negative things do happen, but this is not to be the norm. Our FAITH is one that predicts an ultimately positive outcome for humanity, and calls us to become participants in promoting this agenda. We begin with “Change Now,” and now we know “How:”

“Name it, Claim it, Tame it”

Discover, Accept, and take (Holy) ACTION.

And with this, I will return the Blog from this political side journey to the original discussion of the "Journey to Wholeness" as expressed through the "Seven Stage Model." I believe we left off at "Co-Journey." (see February 2, 2011).

Next topic: Release!

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

What Now? Change Now!

2011-03-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting teleological (moving towards some end) quality to the past several posts of this Blog. As I re-read them, I am aware that there is a kind of summation taking place as I have been seeking the crux of the current world situation. I seem to be in search of a “perennial philosophy,” a “bottom line” from which to continue to build. Hence, I offer this summation of what it is I think it is that I have been trying to say. J

What I believe I have said is that a) The world is crazy, b) People are dazed and confused, and c) We are in need of critical intervention.

As I have written and said before, forgive me if this seems pessimistic, but these are Truths that we had better accept and understand if we ever hope to move optimistically forward. It is not enough JUST to think and dream positively for a new world or a bright future. We must do something about it.

I believe my first set of suggestions have been about assisting each individual in seeing, understanding, and accepting these challenges. Second, I have worked towards offering some suggestions regarding how we might learn to “live well and be well” amidst the chaos, and while I believe that these are in and of themselves powerful means of fostering transformation, something more is needed. Therefore, our newest question becomes, “What Now?”

Existential psychology has generated a wonderful adage to guide us in articulating this “next step” that needs to be taken. The saying is “Name it, Claim it, Tame it.” What this means is that any process of growth and change begins with understanding, proceeds with acceptance, and is fulfilled through action. It is not enough to know and own something. If we hope to experience any kind of individual or collective healing, we MUST seek active change via the conscious intention of the will. In other words, we must DO SOMETHING about it. J

I have co-journeyed with many people who have come to this very important place of standing on the brink of transformation. Having invested much time and effort regarding the history of their situation, and having accepted it as reality and truth, a very important step remained. It was now time to take action.

This is often referred to as “change work” in psychotherapy, and my own term for this stage of the therapeutic process is “renewal.” Here, the releases and revelations that have occurred through the therapeutic process are re-integrated into the psyche in a manner that reflects new understanding both cognitively and affectively, and new behaviors either evolve naturally as a result of the process, or they are addressed through the newly developed power of intention. Much healing happens (spontaneously) as a result of the process itself, but some requires an ongoing process of active intervention and choice. Healing is a process, not a product.

Very well, let me see if I can bring all of this into focus and congruency with the topic at hand:

If we want to change the world, we must first change ourselves. However, we do not do this only for the sake of ourselves. Personal integration is a gift not only for us, but for our world. “Changed people” must become “change agents” for our humanity and world. This is the concept of “paying it forward” that emerged from the film industry some years ago. In the Twelve Step Model this is the twelfth step: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, I try to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all my affairs.” In the catholic Faith, this is known as the “New Evangelization.”

What the world needs is a spiritual awakening (NOT a radical conversion), and the only way this will happen is if spiritually awakened people begin to seek active change beyond a personal level, and on a grander scale. An integrated and whole world will result when enough individuals have become integrated and whole, and have assisted others in doing the same.

In response to this post, I ask my readers to consider and contemplate two key questions:

1) What have I done today to become "the best me I can be?"

2) What have I done today to help create "the best world the world can be?"

These are our tasks, and so the answer to "What now?" becomes a resounding:

"Change now!" J

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

I Give Up!

2011-03-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought it, or said it? Have you ever felt that no matter how hard you tried, nothing was working? Have you ever come to a place where you wondered if any of it really mattered, and if it were even worth trying at all?

If your answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” then I am HAPPY for you!

“What?” “Happy for me?” “What kind of therapist are you, Dr. Mik? “Happy when people get close to the end of their rope?” “Pleased to see people frustrated and beaten down?”

NO, I am not at all happy to see people sad, angry, or frustrated, and my entire career is devoted to creating quite the opposite experience in the lives of those with whom I co-journey. Please allow me to explain why I am happy for the person who has come to the crossroads of “pressing on" or “giving up.”

Unless we live in a shell, or have replaced reality with some grand delusion, we must acknowledge that life can often be very frustrating, and that the world is a very confusing, un-predictable, and dangerous place. In the midst of this evolving chaos stands each and every one of us as a singular human soul, trying to make sense of it all.

I believe that as we grow and mature, we eventually come to a place where we must work through the essential paradoxes of life. We must solidify our understanding of WHO we are, WHERE we are, WHAT we are going to do about it, and HOW we are going to go about doing it. Therefore, coming face to face with “I give up!” stands as a very powerful threshold in our emotional and spiritual lives where we make a true assessment of what it is that we face, and decide to “press on” and “push through,” in spite of it all. :-)

A critical reframe can occur here. We can choose to approach our lives as “at the mercy of” our circumstances, or we can choose to embrace life as an “epic challenge” and a “glorious struggle” as we race towards the victory of knowing that we have indeed “pressed on” and “pushed through.” In so doing, we come to realize that we have made a difference on the Earth, and in the lives of our collective humanity. Just by “being here” we make an impact upon the lives of others, and we often have no idea how profound an influence we can have through the smallest gesture, or even a single word.

And so, the next time you find yourself saying, “I give up,” consider following up with the statement, “and I go on.” “I give up, and I go on,” and in so doing I continue to run the race of FAITH and LOVE, a picture that is sketched in challenges, but painted in miracles.

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Supplemental: “The Adjustment Bureau” Continued

2011-03-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

I have been writing some reflections on the current film entitled, “The Adjustment Bureau.” Please see the previous post in order to get “up to speed” on the current analysis.

To continue:

A second “agenda” that I observed within the film is in regard to the psychological consideration of cognitive (thoughts) versus affective (feelings). In the movie, there is a segment in which one of the top Agents (Richardson) is trying to reason with David by sharing that feelings must be overridden in the interest of a cognitive orientation to life that favors absolute reason above all else. David argues against this and insists that what he feels for Elise “can’t be wrong.”

This concept is something I have been tracking as a trend within modern psychology in which the cognitive orientations (CBT, Reality Therapy, Positive Psychology) to research and intervention seem to be more in favor these days than the affective approaches (Psychoanalysis, Gestalt Therapy, Existential Psychology). My concern regarding this trend revolves around the idea that humanity is becoming more and more desensitized by technology and we are ourselves becoming more mechanical in our ways of relating to each other, and even to God.

As a therapist, I am more than convinced that each and every human person needs to honor BOTH thinking and feeling in their lives in order to be a whole and complete person. I see modern robots in my treatment room all of the time, usually after they have broken down. My work is to help restore a healthy balance where feelings are honored by bringing them into co-operation with thinking.

The “agents” in the “Adjustment Bureau” are very cognitive (except Harry), and the innuendo here is that a “master race” is a stoic and mechanistic race, and that humans will never reach their full potential unless they “erase the feelings.” In reality, nothing could be further from the truth, and David demonstrates that feelings are what make humans human, and that feelings can also be a pathway to certain levels of truth in our lives.

Consequently, what I like best about the movie is that LOVE wins! While I take issue with the “Alien Origins” and “Stoic Master Race” agendas that covertly persist within the film, the lesson that “Love Prevails” is an important message for humanity to see and hear, and it is the saving grace that renders the movie timely and useful. In the end, even God (if only He were truly portrayed as GOD) is moved to honor the love between David and Elise, and to make "adjustments" accordingly.

We can only hope that this message will catch on, and that more people in the world will begin to “live for love.” We can also pray that the message shared in the final discussion between David and Thompson plants seeds within the minds of viewers that we do indeed need to become more responsible and accountable for our choices and actions as a collective species. It is true that we have in many ways “wreaked havoc” upon the earth, and yet we seem to feel that we are so evolved. From this perspective, it is a good exercise for us to imagine what we might “look like” to anyone (God, the departed) who might be looking down upon us.

Are we proud of who we have been, and what we have become?

Are we proud of what we have done, and what we continue to do?

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Supplemental: Commentary on "The Adjustment Bureau"

2011-03-06T18:29:00.000-08:00

I would like to offer some comments on "The Adjustment Bureau," a current film now showing in theaters. I will not write a "review" per se, but will focus more upon an analysis of the movie's psychospiritual (psychological/spiritual) significance. In order to accomplish this, a bit of background on the film is necessary.

The film takes place in contemporary times, but reveals a futuristic presence in the form of “The Adjustment Bureau,” which is comprised of either aliens or angels (the film seeks to make them synonymous), who are charged with the task of keeping each human person on the path the “Chairman” (either God or a Chief Alien) has created.

David Norris (Matt Damon) finds himself face to face with the otherwise covert and invisible organization when he manages to deviate from his “life plan” when he seeks out a woman “The Bureau” had intended for him to encounter only once for the purpose of keeping him “on track.” The woman, contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blount), quickly becomes the focus of David’s life in that he has fallen deeply in love with her, and he intends to stop at nothing to find her again.

While the “Adjustment Bureau” attempts to do everything in their power to prevent this deviation from the "master plan,” David fights back and takes his destiny into his own hands by working against “The Bureau,” despite threats that his mind would be “reset” (erased) if he did not desist. David is aided by Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie), an agent of “the Bureau” who seems to be wrestling with the prevailing ethics of his profession.

The film proceeds as a series of conflicts between “free will” and “pre-destination” through a series of very intriguing twists and turns that render the film quite entertaining and philosophically intriguing. Blended in are some additional paradoxes and innuendos that I will not reveal so as not to “spoil” the film for those who have yet to view it. Suffice it to say that the plot culminates in a nearly direct confrontation between David, Elise, and “The Chairman,” which leads to a surprising turn of events.

At this point, I believe there is enough background to allow me to discuss the psychospirituality of the film:

Forgive me if I sound cynical, but I believe that what comes out of Hollywood is inexorably tied to "agendas." One can observe throughout history how the film industry and the political realm are connected, and I am a firm believer that what makes it to the “big screen” has been passed through an “Adjustment Bureau" of its own. J

In the case of this film, it seems that the best way to hide is “in plain site” (i.e., Poe’s The Purloined Letter) and the film very cleverly, almost subliminally, introduces several theological and psychological concepts that its writers and producers seem to hope to promote. I will break these analyses down into two separate blog entries due to the complexity of each domain.

First, the film delves into the theological anthropology by taking on the paradox of “free will” or “pre-destination.” I might also argue that the movie also throws the concept of “randomness” (chance) into the mix. What emerges is a triangle where “Chance,” “Destiny,” and “Free Will” stand as possible explanations for how everything works. Things get very tricky here.

It seems to me that the film is presenting us with a God (“Chairman” in the film) that is 1) Very active in the affairs of humans (which counters Atheism/Agnosticism), and 2) very open to the role “free will” can play in the interaction. The movie seems to hope to blend the concepts of Pre-destination, Free Will, and Randomness into one in the form of a God who is willing to “change course” and calculate a “new plan” based upon human input. Rather than assert that there is a plan written in stone, or that there is no plan at all, the film suggests that “The Chairman” is writing the script as we go along in a manner that blends the Divine Will and human freedom. I believe many contemporary theologians might find this intriguing, and it may very well represent a rather nuanced understanding of how God works with humanity.

The problem lies in the fact that the voices behind this film have embedded it with the concept that God is a superior of an alien race, and that angels are actually alien “adjusters” among us. There is a “quick switch” happening here, a “sleight of hand” that carefully implants the possibility that everything we know and say about God is actually true of an alien race. This would mean that we are a merely a “human experiment” of a master race, rather than a Created people infused with life by a loving God.

If you go back and review the top films of the past 5 years, you will observe a trend that seems to be pushing this “alien agenda.” I believe that there is also a popular television show that has been dispensing this belief as well. Is this simply because of sensationalism and the fact that this kind of thing is in vogue and sells, or is there an attempt to program this kind of thinking into the minds of persons? I will leave you to ponder this question, and will open my next post with the psychological considerations inspired by ‘The Adjustment Bureau.”

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

The Fulcrum of TRUTH

2011-03-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

I have been discussing the concept of balance and the consideration that our conceptualization and understanding of what it is and how it functions has gone askew. The original meaning and purpose of balance has become distorted in the mileu of rhetoric, so much so that people no longer seek truth, but simply take liberty in defining it for themselves, not matter how far off balance their opinion might be.

Rather than think of this as a scale, where balance is determined by what is placed on the ends, try to envision a sea-saw, where the fulcrum is the key to the balance. If one person is heavier than the other, the board is moved so that the fulcrum is displaced from center. The result is the balancing of inequalities.

This is what I believe has been happening in human history regarding the TRUTH of human meaning (metaphysics) and conduct (morals/ethics). Steadily (and covertly) the fulcrum of TRUTH has been displaced, steadily being moved to the left in order to balance the extra weight that is being added to the LEFT. Consider this: Imagine if we were able to transport a person from 50 or 60 years ago into the present, and the first thing we did was sit them in front of a televison that was receiving a public television station. How do you think they might react to what is seen and heard? Do you not feel they would be appalled at what is currently permitted on television?

Additionally, I believe it would be FASCINATING to be able to conduct psychological interviews with persons from the past. My hypothesis is that we would be able to demonstrate a steady change in views regarding morality and ethics that would demonstrate a steady decline in dignity, honesty, respect, piety, charity, and religiosity. I believe we could demonstrate that values are not only changing, they are utterly in decline.

And what if we would share with the person from the past some statistics regarding abortion? Would they even be able to perceive and understand how abortion could even exist, let alone be publically sanctioned? My guess is that they would be shocked.

My point? The world is moving towards chaos and destruction because the true understanding of balance has been lost. I repeat that balance is NOT the process of placating and/or mollycoddling human depravity. Balance is a matter of restoring the "fulcrum of TRUTH" to its original position as defined by the DIVINE WILL and the NATURAL LAW.

However, a society that denies God can effectively remove itself from any concept of Divine Will or Natural Law and replace it with Human Will and Secular Law. This is what socialism seeks to do, and this is what is currently unfolding in our world, especially in the USA.

So, why is the Forensic Theologist so interested in these matters, and what does it have to do with anything psychological or spiritual? EVERYTHING!

Bottom Line: Our healthy spirituality and rational psychology is under fire as we continue to lose touch with truth and reality, which most people now believe to be something that should change as societies change (cultural relativism). The fulcrum is being moved beneath us, so carefully and so subtlely, that most do not even notice, and once this is fully realized, it may be too late (if it is not too late already).

Someone needs to shout an alarm, and call a "Halt!" to the madness, and encourage persons to slow this machine down so that medicine and ethics can catch up. Technology is moving so fast that "humanness" cannot keep pace, and if left unchecked, we will experience ruin, as we sit perplexed, wondering "what just happened?" I urge that we do not downplay what certain science fiction visionaries have projected in their portrayals of the future. Look at what Gene Rodenberry was able to predict: Communication devices that flip open (cell phones)? Weapons that fire bursts of energy (lasers)? Space ships that can go up and return to earth (space shuttles)?

Consider then "The Matrix" and "Surrogates." :-)

This is why the Forensic Theologist is pursuing this line of inquiry. Consider it therapy for the collective humanity, and at no charge. :-)

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Veritas in Trutina est, Virtus in Medio Stat

2011-03-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Having opened the proverbial "can of worms" regarding the current state of affairs in our world today, and having suggested a diagnosis for our collective humanity, I am now called to the task of offering some kind of prescription to address the problem.

While I have meditated somewhat intensively upon this issue over the past few months, and have immersed myself in a quest to understand and articulate the constitutents of a just society, you may be surprised to know that I am actually not terribly fond of politics. In fact, my previous attitude was one of disdain for and disconnection from anything related to the political realm. I was of the mindset that the world was "going to Hell in a handbasket," and that the best we can do is set ourselves apart from "the world" and seek personal happiness and contentment through a private life of Faith.

And then Saint Paul knocks at the door again with his masterful "in the world, but not of the world" philosophy, and we are forced to confront our calling to be "real and present" witnesses to the world of a better way. Seconding this notion are the Catholic teachings of Vatican II and the "New Evangelization," which encourage Christians to become active in governance and politics so as to infuse them with a Godly presence.

Very well, I have accepted the challenge to leave my comfort zone and apply what I know of psychology and spirituality to the concept of governance and politics, and it is time now to discuss some possible solutions to what I have presented as humanity's " collective dissociative identity disorder (DID)."

The quintessential focus of treatment with individuals experiencing DID is the concept of integration. All treatment is designed to work towards fostering the unity and integrity of the "self." This is accomplished by raising awareness within the individual to the truths of the disorder including how it came about, how it functions, why it is dysfunctional, and how it can be changed.

Regarding the "collective DID," I believe the previous posts have addressed all but the "how it can be changed" piece, so let us now delve into the prescription:

There is a Latin saying from the Catholic tradition that states that Virtus in Medio Stat (Virtue Stands in the Middle). A modern saying that might compare would be the idea that "balance is key." Oddly enough, the concept of balance constantly comes under fire from both sides (liberal and conservative) of the fence. Liberals claim that balance does not go far enough, while Conservatives argue that balance means "lukewarm." Meanwhile, the battle rages on, and no agreement is possible because each side is so entrenched within its position.

Balance is not a "bad" thing, nor is it "wrong" to seek it an apply it. In fact, balance is the reason why everything is and remains. The Natural Law's very foundation is balance and equillibrium, known in science as homeostasis. Life lies in the balance of opposing forces and organisms, so anything that contradicts balance actually promotes death. In fact, when speaking of living organisms, the parameters are so extremely tight so that a deviance of, for example, one or two degrees of temprature can spell the difference between life and death.

The problem with the modern concept of balance lies within the fact that it has been unnaturally applied in rhetoric. Here, balance has come to represent a compromise between points of argument, which relegates balance to nothing more than a tool of relativism and subjectivism. Balance becomes an antonym of truth, which actually could not be further from the truth! The result becomes that we can no longer say anything with surety, we cannot speak of any kind of absolute, and we can not put forth any strong opinion. If we do, we are not "balanced." What then is left other than chaos and randomness?

What we need is a balanced understanding of balance! Balance does not mean blending a bit of folly with a bit of reason, or a little sin with a little righteousness. Balance is a process of finding the "balance point," which is nothing other than the "fulcrum of TRUTH." We experience balance when and where we honor TRUTH.

Humanity will not know healing until we find a way to balance differences in the light of TRUTH. Hence, both realtivism and absolutism are irresponsible! No, TRUTH is not that random, nor that convenient. Uncovering Truth is a process, not a product.

Veritas in Trutina est! (Truth lies in the balance)

Virtus in Medio Stat! (Virtue stands in the middle)

More to come on this subject . . .

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Principalities, Powers, and Agendas

2011-02-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

"For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens" (Ephesians 6:12, NAB).

I pray my readers might be patient with me as I continue to examine some aspects of our current world situation. I promise that this is not going to be merely a political blog, and I will continue to develop the themes of "Journey to Wholeness" and "Sacred Psychology" moving forward. However, it seems that what is most needed now is an application of psycho-spiritual interpretation regarding our COLLECTIVE psychology and spirituality - A Dx, Rx, and Px for the World, if you will.

I frame this inquiry around the following questions: How might we assess the current series of events in our world today? What would be the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for the consolodated "mind of humanity?" What would "Sacred Psychology" say regarding the best way to discover the "Journey to Wholeness" for our collective human family?

Let's focus this post upon diagnosis:

At this point, my diagnostic formulation is best captured by the concept of AGENDAS. Label me a conspiracy theorist if you must, but I assure you my motives are not so much about looking for intrigue as much as they are about uncovering truth. Hence, I will not be going into "Alien Infiltration" or "Para-Normal Take-overs" in this post :-) What I will go into, however, is the FACT that our world is clearly experiencing a clash of AGENDAS.

Someone once asked me if I believed that there was a single elite group of individuals (i.e., Illuminati, Freemasons, Bilderbergers, etc.) who were holding meetings and developing/implementing plans for world control and domination. The answer I shared then is the answer I still hold to now: I believe there are several competing factions currently engaged in a struggle for superiority and power, and this has been the story of humanity since "The Fall?" Any survey of human history will support my opinion as the human saga reveals an "age old" compulsion for dominance.

In the midst of these clashes, societies become polarized, and ideologies are implanted, The "every day citizen" becomes a virtual pawn on the chessboard of generational elites. Some simply follow along, not really giving any real thought to world events as long as their cable and internet are still connected and working. Others have a sense that something is wrong, but have not clue where to get started with doing anything about it. Then there are those whose eys are wide open, and intend to confront the situation. These individuals are often labled "eccentric" or "cuckoo" by the "powers that be," because the "powers that be" do not like anyone raining on their parade.

Very well, so, who are these "factions" and how would we describe their agendas? Now that is a project! Truth is, there are probably hundreds, but I believe we might isolate the struggle as existing between two specific ideologies: The (ultra) SECULAR and the (hyper) SPIRITUAL.

The ultra-secular axis is typically not interested in religion, unless it can be utilized as a means to an end, which is typically the hoarding of assets and the seizing of power and control over wealth. In some cases, religion is disfavored altogether by these groups with the State replacing God. Socialism, Communism, Facism, and Globalism are examples of some of the philosophies that drive these factions.

The hyper-spiritual axis ranges from fundamentalist extremists, to non-violent absolutists. These are they who believe that the world must be united under one particular religious system (Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, etc.). The "Crusader Mentality" is very strong among these movements, and "right is right" (and it often leads to might). The only answer these groups pose for the healing of humanity is that everyone becomes whatever they are, and believes exactly how they do - period.

From these two opposing forces we discover a diagnosis that can explain the situation and provide a pathway to intervention and treatment. While many possibilities have been suggested that range from the Philosophy of Chaos to the Consequences of Sin, I prefer to liken the diagnoses for humanity to the individual psychiatric diagnosis of "dissociative identity disorder."

Just as an individual experiencing this problem dissociates and experiences self in a fragmented way, so also the the people of the world are distracted and disconnected, while competing "others" struggle to exert their identity and dominance. The result? People either join the mileu and play the game, or they renounce the world altogether and withdraw to either become a ward of the State, or to attempt to tough it out independently.

However, a third possibility exists that mediates the many dualities I have articulated here. There is indeed a pathway that can balance the polarities and heal the divisions. This will be the subject of my next Blog entry. For now, I invite you to pray, meditate, think, and feel on all I have written here, and decide for yourself if my assessment rings true with all that you see taking place around you. Also, feel free to comment.

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Supplemental: Weighing in On LiveAction

2011-02-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

There is a great deal of controversy arising around the figure of Lila Rose and her LiveAction apostolate. Various authorities have released comments regarding the recent investigative reporting that LiveAction conducted in which several "sting operations" were carried out in order to reveal evidence that Planned Parenthood has been participating in questionable and illegal practices.

The main issue that seems to have arisen is the question of the morality and ethics of LiveAction's means of obtaining their information and video footage. Several commentors have gone so far as to implicate Lila Rose as having lied, and have therefore partially, or fully condemned her actions.

I thought it might be a good time for a Forensic Theologist to weigh in on the subject in order to address some of the psychological elements of these recent events. While many have considered the theological and philosophical angles on the issue, I have not heard much regarding some of the psychology at work here. Please allow me to add my two-cents to the collection:

First, I have to wonder if there isn't a bit of envy or even jealousy at work here. Let's face it, a young "whipper-snapper" has accomplished more in the Pro-Life field within a matter of months than many of us have been able to accomplish in several years. Not only that, this novice has nowhere near the credentials and experience of many of us currently working in the Pro-Life ministry, and who does she think she is, anyway? :-)

If we are to be truly honest (and not lie ourselves), I think we need to take ownership of the fact that Lila Rose both outwitted us and outshined us in the field. Her brilliance and bravado enabled her to expose one of the greatest frauds on earth: Planned Parenthood. This leaves us wondering if we want to embrace her, or smack her, as our own egos scream: "Why didn't I think of that?"

Hence, my first point is that we need to "tip our hats" to Lila, and acknowledge her achievement. She nailed it, and in doing so she has achieved a major victory for the Pro-Life cause that will be remembered in history. Good job Lila!

Unfortunately, some ego's are driven to find a way to criticize and devalue her work via the "morality card," and it has not taken long for philosophers and theologians to raise the Thomistic ethics debate. It is now important that we register as either "classical natural law" adherents or "new natural law" subscribers. Are we deontological or situational ethicists?

One comparison that has not yet been made regarding this issue is the drawing of a parallel between LiveAction's action, and the failures in action that took place regarding our own "Clergy Abuse" scandal. I wonder if we are wishing someone had done what Lila did with Planned Parenthood in order to have exposed clergy sexual abuse? I also wonder if people would have questioned the morality or ethics of that investigation?

Here are a few questions for your consideration as you consider the morality and ethics of the LiveAction situation:

Is a husband lying if he does not tell his wife that she has gained a few pounds if he observes it?

Is a wife lying if she does not reveal a surprise party she has planned for her husband?

Does a soldier lie if he refuses to reveal secrets under interrogation?

And finally: Was Jesus being dis-honest when he waited until the Wedding Feast at Cana to reveal His special status? (Did he not know he was the Messiah before this?)

Congratulations, Lila Rose, and THANK-YOU! You acted justly, and powerfully for the cause of LIFE, and I pray Our Holy Father will himself congratulate you soon.

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Early Morning Musings from a "Forensic Theologist"

2011-02-16T02:10:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine once introduced me to a group of philosophers as a "Forensic Theologist." Since that day, the title has remained, and my friend revealed his brilliance in that this term captures the very essence of "what I do" via the integration of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality.

It is 3am, and trust me when I tell you that I am no enemy of sleep. However, today finds me in my fifth day of illness with this horrendous East Coast "bug" that is going around.

So, what does a Therapist-Philosopher-Theologian do when ill and unable to sleep? He muses, he Blogs, he "Tweets." and he "Face Books," hoping that he doesn't write anything too "out there." :-)

My thoughts have recently turned to an attempt to get to the bottom of what we are all currently experiencing in the Geo-political realm. Politik can be one pathway that calls us to truth, especially when there is so much volatility, and there are so many lives at stake.

Hence, here are my (now 4am) musings. Feel free to attribute them to fever, or to inspiration :-)

"Secular-Humanism is nothing new. It is as old as the first sin of Heaven (Luciferian Rebellion) and the first sin on Earth (The Human Rebellion). Trace the timeline of human history with this in mind, and you will come to understand what is really going on in our world today." ~ Dr. Mik Ludwig

What we are experiencing today is nothing new. It all got started with "The Falls."

Descartes: "I think, therefore I am"
God: I AM, therefore Descartes thinks"
~ Dr. Mik Ludwig

We then see the weeds of Humanism spring forth, culminating in the sinister statement from Descartes. I have re-dacted it to reflect a deeper Truth.

"We speak of the "Culture of Death" or the "Culture of Life," but have we traced the roots of these phenomena? I submit that, at their most intrinsic level, they are the "Culture of "I"" (protest), or the "Culture of We" (assent). Better still, let us locate these historically as the "Pseudo-Enlightenment" (Secular-Humanistic), or the "Path of Illumination" (Religious Humanism) ~ Dr. Mik Ludwig

And so, here we all are, in this "world gone mad" with itself. We have become so disconnected from our roots that they are no longer visible or detectable. We attempt to grow, but we are not firmly planted.

"If I had to "bottom line" it for you, I would say that it all boils down to this one question: Who came first: God or man?" ~ Dr. Mik Ludwig

So, what would I want to pass on before I pass on? That God came first, and in Him we have our being, thinking, and feeling. Not the other way around.

May we always keep God at the center of our being, and honor Him above ourselves. AMEN!

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Blog Evolution

2011-02-16T01:59:00.000-08:00

As a novice to the field of blogging, I very quickly fell prey to the vortex that blogging can be. Suddenly, I am managing three blogs with a thought of a fourth! Therefore, in the interest of quality, I will condense these blogs into one that I will call The Forensic Theologist: Integrating Psychotherapy, Philosophy, and Theology in Theory and Praxis.

No worries, I will continue to discuss the same material that I had set out to address in the previous blogs. All that is occurring here is a matter of logistics. The only "side affect" I can imagine would be the fact that the blog will be a bit broader in scope and subject matter.

So, onward and upward as we continue to discuss and develop this wonderful field of integrational science and wisdom that we might refer to as Pastoral Integration, Psychospirituality, or tongue in cheek as Forensic Theology.

+AMDG+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Co-Journey with a Helper

2011-02-02T12:45:00.000-08:00

I have been writing on the topic of Co-journey, and today my thoughts rest upon a very special kind of co-journey interaction: the therapeutic relationship.

A therapeutic relationship occurs when one engages another who has been academically trained and professionally prepared for the work of spiritual, psychological, and/or physical healing. These kinds of relationships are typically referred to as "Helping Relationships," in that the their goal is for one party to assist, and for another party to be assisted via a process of discovery and guidance. Some examples would include a family physician, a psychotherapist, a marriage counselor, and/or a spiritual director. I will focus here upon those helping relationships that focus upon the emotional/spiritual realms.

There are some specifics about the "Helping Relationship" that should be mentioned. First, it is typically a one-sided situation in that the focus is exclusively upon the one being helped. This means that the purpose and procedure of the interaction remains directed towards the recipient, and the care-giver is specifically trained in keeping his or her own struggles and needs out of the equation.

Second, a therapeutic relationship is typically a time sensitive situation, meaning that the helper is usually seen once per week or less, and for a designated period of time. Also, the helping relationship is not typically a permanent situation, and usually comes to closure after a season of time.

Third, the helping relationship is a professional situation that involves an exchange of compensation for the service rendered. The helper is therefore being formally employed as a neutral party in order to attend to the one seeking help in what is typically a more objective than subjective manner.

Based upon these factors, a therapeutic relationship differs greatly from a regular friendship where both participants share and suggest, and where the goal is fellowship and commraderie versus assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Therefore, friends cannot be therapists, and therapists cannot be "friends" in the usual sense of the word.

However, I am not fond of orientations that force a stoicism upon the therapeutic relationship and treat it as if it were an emotion free and cold clinical situation. My way of addressing this is by thinking of a therapist as what is termed an "anam cara." Anam Cara is Gaelic for "soul friend," and I believe that a helper in our lives deserves nothing less than this title.

A "soul friend" is more than an aquaintance or casual friend. A "soul friend" is someone with whom we become deeply connected for a higher purpose. In the context of counseling or therapy, the counselor or therapist indeed becomes someone who knows us on a very deep level and works constantly towards our healing and advancement.

In this way, there is indeed a kind of bond that forms, and it would be an error to assume that a Therapist does not care about his or her patients, or that patients should not care about their Therapists. What matters most here is that the relationship be understood for what it is and what it should remain: a professional and purposeful interaction in which a trained and prepared helper assists one in need of assistance.

Who is it that is in need of such assistance, you may ask? My answer is EVERYONE!

I firmly believe that everyone can behefit from having many different helpers in their lives. All can benefit from having a physician to care for the body, a therapist to care for the mind, and a spiritual director to care for the soul. Also, one need not have a particular problem in any of these areas in order to engage a helper. Each can assist in making a good situation even better.

So, what am I saying in this post? First, I encourage you to consider the helpers you currently have in your life. Have they been helpful? Why or why not? Have you given your fair share to the interaction? Do you accept and follow through on the guidance offerred? have you said "Thank-you?"

Second, I would suggest that you make a list of your current "team" of helpers. Is it complete? Is each area of your life being attended to? If not, consider filling that gap with a suitable professional.

We are all here to help each other, and each of us posesses certain skills and abilities that make us able to bless one another. There is no shame is receiving help, so if you need it, why not receive it?

These are my thoughts today on "Co-Journey with a Helper." I pray they may be of some help :-)

+Salve Maria+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Co-Journey with a Life Partner

2011-01-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

Human relationships are incredibly complex and can be quite troublesome at times. I believe it is quite clear that this is one of several dimensions in which human beings are found wanting in regard to our overall development and progress. We are just not very good at relating to one another, a concept supported by our history of constant conflicts and struggles with "the other."

At its highest level, this dynamic manifests within the realm of international relations. However, I would argue that any problem we see on a grand scale finds its roots in its most basic elements. In this case, international relations are a reflection of individual relations, the subject of this week's blog entry.

I believes that there would be a general consensus among counselors and therapists that of all the work we do, couples counseling can be one of the most challenging. Stepping into the middle of a relational conflict can be both intimidating and overwhelming. Usually, we are being called upon far too late in the game, and by the time the couple seeks to work with us, the relationship has already reached critical mass.

There are many orientations and working models available for use in couple's counseling, each of which is based upon some general philosphical and/or psychological approach to human interactions. Some of these models follow a very secular-humanistic approach that stresses individual happiness and contentment above all else, and it is my opinion that many clinicians make divorce the "easy option" for many couples who struggle with issues of compatability.

A Catholic-Centered approach to couple's counseling proceeds along a very different line of reasoning. As Catholics, we come to accept that it is not just about US (the individual). It is also not just about our own personal HAPPINESS. Our Faith is a faith of community, compassion, and sacrifice, which calls us out of self-ish-ness and into self-less-ness, which does not always foster short term happiness, but which does indeed promote a long term experience of contentment and ultimate fulfillment.

In a Christian context, marriage is not about finding the right person in as much as it is about becoming the right person via a process of emotional maturity and spiritual sanctification. Ultimately, our partners become the mirrors through which we come to view our own imperfections and personal "growing edges."

Very quickly, we want to point a finger at "the other," but the truth is that much of the blame ought to rest upon our own egos. Relationships often become embattled when the blame game takes over, and we lose hope when we feel our partner is never going to change. What if the truth of the matter is that the change that is needed falls upon us?

To co-journey with a Life Partner is to enter into a process of self-confrontation and personal sanctification. I often joke with couples about the "Three Rings of Marriage," which are the "engagement ring," the "wedding ring," and the "suffer-ring." While I am not intenting to paint a negative picture of marriage, it is true that if we are going to be successful, we had better be prepared for things to not always go our own way, and for there to be times when "self" must give way for the benefit of "other."

I must also add the caveat here that I am not prescribing a "martyr model" of marriage. The concept I am hoping to get across here is that marriage is a MUTUAL process of growth in holiness via a process of MUTUAL surrender and sacrifice. When each is working selflessly for the blessing of the other, harmony is the result. When partners are selfish, conflict and destruction unfold.

Hence, let those of us who are currently Co-journeying with a Life Partner take stock of oursleves and consider how we have been approaching the Journey. Are we truly open to the process of self-sacrifice and sanctification through the challenges posed to us by living with the "other," or have selfishness and individual expectations led to resentment and discord?

There is no "I" in the word LOVE."

+Salve Maria+

Dr. Mik Ludwig

Co-Journey with Others

2011-01-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

I apologize to my readers for the manner in which I am going to jump into the concept of Co-Journey. I would prefer to provide an introductory post in order to ease into the concept, but recent events, and my own experience and discernment, prompt me to orient this post towards a plea: a plea for peace.

I awoke this morning with a deep sense of grief for the way we humans treat one another. Why do we work so hard to find ways to hurt and destroy? How is it that we can be so "advanced," yet still so primitive? So much of this is a "no brainer," yet we pass it by, afraid to look at how lost we really are.

We shoot each other, we starve one another, we steal, we use, we abuse, we gossip, we cheat, we judge, and yet almost every system of human religion and philosophy encourages the opposite. Voices upon voices have spoken to this issue throughout the ages. Is anyone listening?

Please allow me to join my own voice with those who have called out to humanity, begging us to STOP THE MADNESS! Perhaps one day, one of us who speak and write about this issue will discover the right combination of words that will finally break through the hardened hearts and the stiff necks of the people of this generation? We must keep trying, and it is not good enough to pass it all off as "human nature" or the " fallen world."

We must accept that we are a communal species and we are intended to care for and ultimately love one another. This is Christianity 101: LOVE. We must learn to co-journey with one another in dignity, and with mutual respect. The time has come to discard our petty differences and our need to be right. We must realize that our "sects" and "factions" have become walls that separate us, and which justify the process of the de-humanization of those who differ.

Where will this generation draw the line between right and might? Where will we set the boundary between opinion and oppression? When will we drop the scales from our eyes that lead us to absolut-ize and total-ize our beliefs and opinions?

The local news was reporting on the Arizona shooting today, and they referred to Rep. Giffords as "the Democrat." Pardon me, but I do not give a hoot about her political alignment at this point. What matters most is that this woman is a child of the living God, a dear soul who has been tragically wounded. Let us also remember the others whose lives were taken in this incident, those who were not congresswomen or judges.

More appalling is the political diatribe that has emerged from this incident - one more example of how we have become so polarized and blinded by our fear of those who differ from us. People have actually had the nerve to place blame upon persons and systems not even remotely related to the incident.

My assessment of this situation is that we are all afraid. The trauma and instabilty of our times are creating a climate of fear and paranoia, causing persons to faction and isolate in preparation for what they fear is to come. Everyone is essentially afraid of everyone else, and trust has gone out the window. The natural human tendency in these kinds of situations is to seek safety in affiliation and to become entrenched in some new doctrine or ideal (Please remember that these were the very conditions that led to the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany). Conflict follows.

What then would I propose as a solution? First, we must slow this all down and take stock of where we are. We must assess our situation and how we are reacting and enacting in response to it. Second, we must get back to basics by allowing the foundational understandings of our Faith and our form of government to stand as a beacon of Truth for our current struggles. We must never lose sight of the teachings of love and compassion, and we need to return to the basic tenets of human purpose and interaction (are we seeing the results of removing prayer from schools and the Ten Commandments from the public sphere?).

Most of all, the times call for an increase in Faith, Hope, and Love. Without these principles, human beings will never be able to co-journey effectively, and healing will not be in our future. Therefore, may we each vow this day to live our Faith in its fullness as we avoid the pull towards the fear and reaction cycle we see occuring all around us. May we be a people who run the risk of loving in a world that has become so full of hate. May we stand strong as a community of faith that understands the power of LOVE, and the neccessity of co-journey.

+Salve Maria+
Dr. Mik Ludwig