GRAYWOLF: On Alternative Psychotherapy - Natural Healing

Written by Tammie Byram Fowles, PhD, LISW-CP

During this time I worked on what I called the Shaman-Therapist model. I still have an uncompleted book on the topic in my old abandoned computer. Its fundamental notion was that to have greater depth in healing you need two models or world-views operating simultaneously, much like you need two eyes for depth in visual perception. One eye is that of the scientist, analyst, therapist. The other eye is that of the shaman, mystic, spiritual healer. Both need to be operating at the same time for this depth to realize. This distinguished it from the methods I had seen practiced in Transpersonal Psychology which were like alternately opening one eye and then the other.

I could go on with the many other details but the above should give you a fairly complete idea of my concerns about psychological science and current treatments, and my discontent with them. At the conclusion of my shaman studies, I went through a similar process with shamans practice. This led to my discovery of and development of the Chaos-REM Process of Natural Healing.

Tammie: I'm struck by your adventurous spirit and both the professional and personal risks you've taken in your life. I'm wondering what in retrospect you might consider your greatest risk thus far to have been and what lessons the experience has taught you.

Graywolf: At the time I was "taking risks," they didn't seem like risks at all. In fact they seemed like the most reasonable thing to do at the time. In retrospect, I see that they did appear to be risky but if I were to remain true to myself they were directions I had to follow. While going through them, it was often as though I were watching myself do what I was doing. It didn't feel like dissociation or denial so much as being guided and watched by a powerful and loving presence within which was a deeper and wiser self. Given that disclaimer I offer the following.

My dropping out as a business executive and engineer was very risky. I had an assured future but the cost of that assuredness was too high. Better to live on poor than to die soon wealthy and successful.

My venture into the North Woods of Canada where I met Graywolf was risky and life threatening. But it seemed less so than living with insecurity within myself about my ability to survive.

My abandoning my practice and career as a psychotherapist was also risky as was taking the name Graywolf. However, I was drawn strongly to this path and knew it was the best thing for me to do to further my interests and studies of healing process.

I suppose, looking at my answers so far, I could summarize. I was always moving on to something more interesting and exciting in my life and was able to let go of the past very easily because of this draw. I was generally done with what I was leaving behind and the draw seemed to be coming from deep within (intuitive). I later found a guiding principle given me by Al Huang. He told me that the Chinese cipher for crisis is made up of two ciphers: one meaning danger, the other meaning opportunity. I guess also that I have a pretty deep level of self confidence that tells me "no matter what you can handle it!" So in all they weren't really risks at all but the only reasonable thing to do to get where I needed to go.

As for lessons this has taught me? I suppose I have always been adventuresome. From defying authority to play Rock Music in the fifties to taking on the task of changing the basis of healing sciences, I have always tended to follow the truth, as did the little boy in the Emperors New Clothes. And taking on giants is no problem for little David, he toppled Goliath with a small stone put in the right place. The main lesson is that this is a very viable and satisfying way to live one's life, and authority means nothing more than having power, it doesn't imply correctness or truth.

Tammie: Recently, you've managed, it seems, to combine your experience and training as an engineer, as a psychotherapist, and your ventures in the wilderness and utilize them in some fascinating ways in the study of consciousness. I would love to hear more about where this particular venture is leading you.

Graywolf: In a sentence it is leading me into REM studies, Holographic theory, combined with consciousness explorations. For example I am about to embark an a project to develop the mathematics of consciousness. I am attaching my two most recent articles which will provide more details.

I do offer comment on the important concepts in my work.

1. The science that currently drives the healing professions is out of date and not really appropriate to complex systems. New science provides far better models for the human condition. I.e. relativity, quantum, chaos and holographic theories.
2. Healing and disease are matters that involve senses more than mind and are matters of consciousness and its structures.
3. Complex systems are self regulating (homeostasis principle) and will generally do so given the opportunity.
4. Healing depends far more on the connection between the practitioner and client than it does on the particular practice.
5. Symptoms are at their base attempts by the organism to solve problems. As such their isolated eradication can result in further symptoms arising in answer to the unsolved deeper issue.
6. There are only self-healers, the best one can do is find and encourage that process in another.
7. Consciousness prevails throughout all reality and is a basic field that is part of all structure in the space time continuum.

Graywolf Swinney is a dream therapist, consciousness mentor, author, lecturer, scientist, and the founder and director of ASKLEPIA FOUNDATION and THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED CONSCIOUSNESS SCIENCE. He operates Aesculapia Wilderness Retreat in Southern Oregon where he offers training in the Creative Consciousness Natural Healing Process. He spends part of each month offering the Creative Consciousness Natural Healing Process in the Puget Sound area as well. Graywolf is also a whitewater river guide on the lower Rogue River.

You can reach Graywolf at:

P.O. Box 301,
Wilderville OR 97543

Phone: (541) 476-0492.
E-mail: asklepia@budget.net

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