Writings.
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Welcome to The Lapidary—where I regularly share my thoughts and gleanings on topics related to modern depth therapy, psychotherapy with soul, my specialties, and the modalities I use at Modern Depth Therapy, my psychotherapy practice. The Lapidary is also where I announce new workshops, groups, and publications.
The Lapidary: Then and now
The Lapidary started out as a blog on my former website when my private practice was called Lapis Healing Arts. New full articles are now available to subscribers of my Substack newsletter, which carries the torch of the name The Lapidary.
Old articles from the Lapis Healing Arts days are currently housed on this website in full. You can read excerpts of new articles on this website and access the full articles on my Substack.
What is the significance of the name The Lapidary?
According to Merriam-Webster, a lapidary (derived from the Latin lapis, meaning “stone”) refers to “a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones.”
My psychotherapy practice’s former name—Lapis Healing Arts—honored the alchemical heritage of the lapis, a legendary vivid-blue stone. In alchemy, the lapis was thought to be the philosopher’s stone that turns dross into gold. Speaking metaphorically, the lapis is the substance within and without that transforms the most challenging aspects of life into qualities such as grit, compassion for self and others, and wisdom in action.
Therefore, The Lapidary name pays tribute to the important work of both therapist and client in shaping, refining, and polishing the lapis, the stone of transformation. In this way, I see therapist and client as dedicated craftspeople and artisans of the mind, body, and soul.
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Reset Your Nervous System with a “Relax Snack”
While it sounds like some kind of tasty newfangled foodstuff, a relax snack isn’t something you necessarily eat. Rather, it’s a catchy phrase to describe a mini-break that gives your nervous system a chance to recalibrate.
In fact, relaxation breaks are so imperative for managing stress, increasing resilience, and supporting mental, cognitive, and physical health, we need to take them several times daily. It’s just as important as the other basics of daily self-maintenance, like staying hydrated and getting adequate sleep.
Art is an alchemical process that’s fed by emotional energy.
“The greatest opportunities for creative transformation are often lodged in our discontents. Art is an alchemical process that feeds on emotional energy.
When we realize that a perfect equilibrium in our lives might not be the best basis for making art, then we can begin to re-vision our stress points. So rather than try to rid your life of tension, consider doing something more creative with it.”
—Shaun McNiff