Positive Energy Guide

Vampire Mystique and Character Disorders Judith Orloff, a well-known psychiatrist who is wildly intuitive, writes about narcissists as energy vampires. Narcissism is a character disorder—a serious and diagnosable personality issue. Narcissists do indeed drain energy. If they cannot get energy and attention by positive means they may go so far as to do obviously cruel […]

Unusually Intense Relationships Compulsive intensity fueled by the needs and desires I listed in Part 1 can make us feel that a relationship is “meant to be.” While enthralled (enchanted, fascinated) it is easy to feel that for our love to fully express itself that it has to be forever. Many also feel or believe […]

What is Real Love? Much media imagery–about vampires and in many other dramas throughout history–lends the impression that love is not real unless one is tortured by it. This message is toxic to teens and can carry on into adulthood. I can’t tell you how many people I have seen in my practice who, when […]

This post supplies context to put Parts 3 to 9 of this Vampire Series to the best use: Vampire dramas are gripping for many of us. Vampire dramas touch upon many important and basic needs and feelings, as listed in Part 1. If we are gripped by a drama, something inside us resonates with it: […]

Why Vampires are Popular and What they have to do with Healing The Vampire Mystique has become increasingly popular because it resonates with real life experiences that impact vast numbers of people. In this post series I present important insights and tools that apply to relationships in general, and troubled relationships in particular. Please read […]

What does it mean to do Inner Work? Doing Inner Work means confronting whatever is inside us with courage and love, with the intention of knowing ourselves deeply; waking up. It is the act of reclaiming all that we are. Inner Work is the opposite of denial. Inner Work includes the following and more: Embracing […]

Part 3 discuses dealing with destructive criticism. I know some of you may be in situations in which others criticize you ruthlessly and without constructive intent. Even mean and vile criticism can be used for good if you are strong enough to do so. If you are not, do your best to develop skills to […]

Criticism Can Be Used For: Learning where our hot buttons are Fuel for inner work Learning to strengthen our boundaries Practicing social skills Determining what is important to us Spiritual practice overcoming ego or learning to love Tips for dealing with criticism: –Stay WITH yourself so you can nurture yourself –Bring the neutral OBSERVER part […]

This is Part One of a three part series supporting your ability to use criticism as a positive. I start with general comments, then move into specific actions you can take inside yourself to keep yourself present and your energy intact if you encounter criticism. Criticism Can Indicate: Commitment Passion for change Involvement or investment Criticism […]

This post is about breakthroughs in perception in clinical practice. A decade or more ago I was astonished watching a certain doctor give workshops on an energy-based method that corrected body alignment. He would glance among class attendants and pick someone on whom to perform the next technique he wanted to demonstrate. He could do […]