From the desk of Dr. Mark Pirtle.
Embrace wholeness by acknowledging all parts of yourself, including the shadow. Use shadow work to discover, heal, and transform towards a more authentic life.
In this reflective essay, Mark shares insights from a coaching session with a client who excels in golf, business, and mentorship. A fable comparing the journeys of a monk, a golfer, and an entrepreneur highlights shared principles of mastery: motivation, intention, awareness, and focus. Mark extends an invitation to his upcoming plant medicine retreat for those ready to align personal and professional growth with mindfulness and self-discovery.
In this heartfelt essay, Mark explores the universal resistance to hard tasks and shares the secret to overcoming it: embracing challenges willingly. Reflecting on experiences with clients and his daughter, Mark explains how dropping resistance and saying "yes" to responsibilities can lead to immediate happiness and long-term growth. He invites readers to share their experiences and consider joining his November plant medicine retreat for deeper self-discovery.
Mark shares his personal journey from material-driven success and devastating collapse to inner healing and growth through shadow work and mindfulness. After losing his business and health due to unresolved traumas, Mark found transformation at a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Today, he offers guidance to those seeking meaning and healing in the face of life’s challenges, inviting readers to explore shadow work and mindfulness as pathways to resilience.
In The Spiritual Life: Choosing the Path Less Traveled, Mark reflects on the universal longing for deeper meaning and spiritual connection, transcending material success. By exploring shadow work and inner transformation, Mark invites readers to embark on a spiritual journey, offering guidance through coaching and his November 21-24 plant medicine retreat as a catalyst for profound personal growth and alignment with authentic intentions.
This post explores emerging scientific evidence supporting the role of psychedelics in promoting health behavior change. Mark shares resources for those interested in transformative plant medicine journeys and invites readers to explore the connection between psychedelics, healing, and self-growth.
Discover the profound connection between lucid dreaming and plant medicine journeys. Through a vivid personal story, Mark shares how both practices allow access to the subconscious mind, unlocking insights and healing potential. Learn how facing shadow conflicts in dreams mirrors the transformational power of plant medicine retreats, helping participants release emotional burdens and reclaim their sense of strength and clarity.
This essay delves into the profound insights gained from the Change Your Story, Change Your Life retreat series. It explains Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and shadow work, highlighting their unique methodologies and complementary roles in fostering self-discovery and transformation. Structured into five sections, it provides an overview of IFS, practical applications within the retreat, and the importance of shadow work for breaking self-limiting patterns. If you’re ready to explore these powerful tools for personal change, learn more about the year-long, four-retreat series currently accepting applications for next year.
Last week, I guided five courageous participants through "Trauma School," the second retreat in the transformative year-long series, Change Your Story, Change Your Life. This retreat focused on resolving trauma in the present moment, a cornerstone of lasting emotional healing. Modeled after my PBS documentary, Is Your Story Making You Sick?, the series continues with "Our Shadow Selves" in November and concludes with "Our Many Perspectives" in March 2025. Applications for the 2025 series are now open—reach out to learn more about this life-changing journey!
This newsletter explores three common defense mechanisms—denial, rationalization, and projection—and how they manifest in everyday life. It explains how these mechanisms can hinder personal growth if overused and provides red flags that indicate overreliance. The newsletter also highlights the importance of shadow work in recognizing and transforming these unconscious behaviors. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their use of defense mechanisms and are invited to join an upcoming plant medicine retreat for deeper introspection and healing.
This post explores the journey of a client who battled addiction, found success in investigative journalism, and eventually faced the challenges of shame and isolation. Through a retreat focused on shadow work, the client began to confront and integrate the hidden aspects of himself, leading to deeper healing and personal growth. The post highlights shadow work's transformative power in addiction recovery and leadership development, inviting readers to explore these practices through retreats and coaching.
Discover how shadow work and parental guidance can help your child navigate challenges, cultivate independence, and build resilience.
Engaging in shadow work is crucial for business leaders. It helps them understand and manage their unconscious motivations, directly impacting their decision-making, relationships, and leadership style.
