07Jul 2025 by Jenny

The CAPER Dynamics of Abuse

General
Control, anger, power, entitlement, and revenge (CAPER) are five powerful dynamics that allow someone to be abusive to another. These dynamics, interestingly, can be used against oneself, also. For example, if I make a mistake and embarrass myself, and I could be along or with others, I may say, “how can I be so stupid! You are an idiot!” That is part of me that is turning on myself to shame me and undermine my own integrity. Can I make mistakes? Yes, all the time, every day. Should I be aware of my mistakes? Absolutely. Should I take responsibility for my mistakes? Most assuredly. But there is a way to do that without undermining my own character. I have just used the power of part of my personality to shame…
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22Nov 2017 by Jenny

I am the Tree

General
I just finished reading one of my favorite books, LAB GIRL, by Hope Jahren.  She grew up in Austin, Minnesota and has become a scientist.  Her main focus of research is trees.   And she is filled with metaphors about trees and light. "People are like plants:  they grow toward the light."  Such a lovely metaphor, I think, for our desire as humans to understand ourselves, others, the meaning and source of life. I think it is one of the reasons people come to therapy.  Something along the way in life has brought clouds of doubt, depression, anxiety, any number of life situations that can obscure the path, can obstruct what one felt like the direction one's life was taking. Hope Jahren studies these little seeds that fall from trees…
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07Aug 2017 by Dawn Strommen

Prickly Bushes

General
I have finally discovered the prickly bush, an insidious vegetation that has happily grown in my little wild wood, unnoticed and unscathed, for decades.  I have turned my eyes to this bush this year with as much determination to weed it out as it is determined to grow. It hides next to little indigenous trees, behind ferns, under other bushes.  And its bark has thousands of little nettles, and one nettle burns if it connects to human skin. So, it's not an easy opponent. Day after day, I have tromped into my little wood with my wood cutter in hand and waged battle.  I am feeling mildly triumphant, if not a little battle weary. Now, however, I am noticing that there are open spaces  and bare spots in my woods…
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20Jun 2017 by Dawn Strommen

Summer Solstice–2017

General
We are moving into the longest day of the year in Minnesota, light brightening our days and often, lifting our spirits and mood.  I know I like it.   But I don't often think about what light is.  However, for thousands of years, humans have pondered the nature of light, pushing and pulling all areas of art, science, religion, philosophy, and play to try to understand its nature and power. Finally, we know light dances in paradox. When scientists study light and expect it to act as a particle, it is a particle. When scientists study it as a wave, it is a wave. Of course, this is impossible because a particle has mass, and a wave does not. One scientist said light becomes the answer to the question we ask.…
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