How One Ancient Mystery Tradition Influenced Modern Trauma Care.

Dr. Peter Levine is a world renowned author, psychologist specializing in trauma recivery.

He developed a unique approach to healing trauma that incorporates esoteric and occult practices.

In his book “Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma,” Dr. Levine writes extensively about the connection between trauma and the body and how these practices can help individuals release trapped energy and move toward healing.

One of the key ideas in Dr. Levine’s approach is the belief that trauma is not just a mental or emotional experience but a physical one as well.

As he writes in “Waking the Tiger,” “Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.”

This means that to heal from trauma, it’s essential to address the physical sensations and experiences associated with it.

To help individuals release this trapped energy, Dr. Levine incorporates esoteric practices into his therapy rooted in an ancient Egyptian philosophy.

Levine expanded his focus often using crystals and chakras to help balance the energy in the body.

As he writes in “Waking the Tiger,” “Each crystal has its unique energy that can be used to balance and harmonize the energy in our bodies.”

He also uses chakras to identify areas where energy may be blocked and to help individuals release that energy.

Another esoteric practice that Dr. Levine uses is past-life regression therapy. In “Waking the Tiger,” he writes,

“I have found that past life regression can be a potent tool for releasing blocked energy and healing trauma.”

He believes that past traumas from previous lives can manifest in the present and that by accessing these memories and experiences, individuals can release the trapped energy associated with them.

Some may be skeptical, but Dr. Levine’s work is rooted in a deep understanding of the mind-body connection and the importance of releasing trapped energy to heal from trauma.

Levine stands in good company. Leading trauma specialists such as Bessel Van Der Kolk, Author of the popular book, The Body Keeps the Score, and Gabor Mate author of The Myth of Normal share the same philosophy.

Levine writes in “Waking the Tiger,”

“Healing trauma means reconnecting with the life force within us and around us, and restoring the resilience that is our birthright.”

By incorporating esoteric or some may even describe as ancient occult practices into his therapy, Dr. Levine is helping individuals connect with that life force and move toward healing and recovery in ways people find helpful, therapeutic bringing about meaningful change.

Interestingly, Dr. Levine also references one of my favorite go to books I recommend as an excellent introductory primer to the bedrock teachings attributed to the ancient Egyptian god Thoth or his Greek cognate Hermes Trismagustis (Hermes).

“The Kabalyon” in “Waking the Tiger,” is a classic esoteric text exploring the principles of Hermetic philosophy.

The Kabalyon’s wisdom is based in and expressed by the ancient axioms, “as above, so below” and “as within, so without” appearing written in the cryptic text the Emerald Tablet or in Latin is refered to as the Tabula Smaragdina. The bedrock texts for Hermetic philosophy.

Levine writes,

“The Kabalyon is a powerful reminder that the mind, body, and spirit are intimately connected, and that true healing can only come when we address all three.”

By incorporating these principles into his work, Dr. Levine is helping individuals heal on all levels — physical, mental, and spiritual.

Dr. Peter Levine’s approach to trauma using his model Somatic Experiencing has proven to be a successful approach to integrating the effects of trauma.

By transforming traumas negative affects held in the body by experiencing the energy move in and through the body is an empowering and expansive instead of limiting and disempowering.

This modern method of displacing blockages and beliefs attached to a past event helps to free people from victim identity, and limiting beliefs where a new personal mythology can bloom into a testament to strength and compassion.

“Trauma may be a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence.” — Levine

Citations:

Levine, P. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.