Your Wild Mind - The North + Protectors

<p>This week, I’m going to be referencing one of my fave models of the human psyche, proposed by Bill Plotkin. It’s really good medicine for many of the individual and societal challenges we are undergoing.</p><p> </p><p>In his book, <i>Wild Mind: A Field Guide to the Human Psyche</i>, Bill describes a nature-based map of the human psyche, using it to emphasize what can be right about us humans and where we can go wrong. Its basic premise is that our minds have amazing resources, untapped potential, and limitless depth - the extent of which we may not even be aware of.  Those “potentials” of our psyche are called the <i>four facets</i> of the self, the four dimensions of our innate home wholeness.</p><p> </p><p>Our innate Buddha nature, as I see it.</p><p> </p><p>Healing involves incorporating <strong>all</strong> parts of ourselves again. The goal in this work with our Wild Mind is to fully integrate all aspects of us - the whole of our multifaceted minds - and commit ourselves to our purpose so we can better serve our people. This helps us feel fulfilled, purposeful, and have a deep sense of belonging.</p><p> </p><p>The approach that’s used here incorporates the cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. Each has various qualities similar to those found in nature relating to these directions (and I’ve found they also correlate to elements we see in Classical Chinese Medicine and other constitutional and elemental-based traditions like Ayurveda).</p><p> </p><p>I can’t cover all the facets in one pod, so this week, we’re going to start with the <strong>North</strong>. It’s described as the Nurturing Generative Adult. Examples of this are how you felt when you’ve cared for someone close to you (a parent, a pet, a kid, yourself). You might have noticed how good it felt to do so, and what an honor it was to do it.</p><p> </p><p>It also relates to when you feel satisfaction from bringing something from an idea to reality - an inspiration into a piece of art, a song, a book, a poem, an invention…</p><p> </p><p