I am in the process of writing a series of books on divine feminine archetypes. As a feminist and human being, it has been fascinating to think about the many different types of women who have existed—whether in history, mythology, or fiction—that taught us something about what femininity might mean. But my writing process also has me thinking about the divine masculine and what that has meant in the past and currently means in the present. Who should men be emulating today? What are the qualities of ideal masculinity?

The concept of masculinity has changed plenty over the many generations humans have been around and has tended to reflect a given culture’s history, religion, and connection to the land. A good man may have fulfilled the archetype of a just King, an abundant Farmer, a noble Soldier, or a Knight in Shining Armor.

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

—Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”

Do you ever wonder who you really are? Sometimes you’re kind and gentle, and other times you are irritable or need space. You’re proud of some things you’ve done, but maybe deeply regret some others. Maybe you’re trying to make a change and notice that, while a part of you really wants to, another part is resisting. So, who is the real you underneath all of that?

When dealing with a traumatized inner child, adults who were parentified as children may find deep healing working with divine archetypes in therapy.

Have you ever brought a goddess with you to therapy? Would you want to?

Therapy is a place where we can explore our inner landscapes, discover patterns and dynamics that are happening in our lives, and plant the seeds of change. It can be a place of healing and self-discovery, helping us to live lives that are richer, more connected, and closer to our goals.

Spirituality and therapy have been intertwined since before psychotherapy became a respected field of study. Explore some of the complexities at the intersection of spiritual life and therapy.

Since psychotherapy was essentially invented by Sigmund Freud in the 1900s, the therapeutic industry has tried to present itself as hard science; as something that can be studied and that can produce predictable results. This idea has been touch and go, with some therapies showing great promise in scientific settings, and others falling flat.

Empaths often have a history of childhood trauma. Explore how empathy is both a gift and a challenge, and learn how to navigate your past experiences for a brighter future.

Empaths are people who tend to be very sensitive to other people’s moods, emotions, and energy. They can tell when what you’re saying doesn’t match what you’re feeling. They’ll feel other people’s emotions—both good and bad—as if they were their own. You won’t tend to find an empath in a crowd—it’s so overwhelming to have everyone’s energy coming in at once that many empaths would rather stay home with a few people they feel safe with (or only in exactly the right crowd).

I was interviewed by Rabbi Rami, my colleague at Spirituality and Health Magazine, on an article I wrote for the print magazine on the concept of decolonizing therapy. It was a very interesting discussion about the model of therapy and how it’s changing in the modern world.