Bend, OR, USA
From The Fortress
The Fortress
The Fortress often symbolizes psychic wholeness, safety, and belonging. Yet, as The Tower of Tarot reminds us, the pursuit of fortress-level impermeability and protections can become a prison. The structures and system of old are collapsing. Let us liberate ourselves and be guided by The Star and The Moon to experience the wisdom, wonder and wellness that awaits us in the dark forest, beyond the fortress walls!
What's In A Name?
Hello, I'm Brenda Burke! My Irish last name means "From the Fortress." Following dream guidance, noting ancient fortress symbolism, and considering the relation to The Tower of Tarot, I thought the name made for a proper mystical venture. I am here to hold your hand through the dark, scary bits on your individuation path of remembrance.
Pillars of The Fortress
Story
Symbol
Symbol
"It is of life-saving vitality to make a connection to a story...It is nothing less than a university of the soul... These stories are telling us how to live." ~Martin Shaw, Courting the Wild Twin
Story is not bound by time and offers immense wisdom and deep medicine. My most recommended and healing books are full of myths and timeless ta
"It is of life-saving vitality to make a connection to a story...It is nothing less than a university of the soul... These stories are telling us how to live." ~Martin Shaw, Courting the Wild Twin
Story is not bound by time and offers immense wisdom and deep medicine. My most recommended and healing books are full of myths and timeless tales told from a Jungian perspective. They speak directly to the soul and guide us onward.
Symbol
Symbol
Symbol
"As a plant produces its flower, so the psyche creates its symbols. Every dream is evidence of this process." ~Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream! If life is a dream, as many ancient spiritual philosophies and quantum theories suggest, shouldn't we consider this experience of life to be
"As a plant produces its flower, so the psyche creates its symbols. Every dream is evidence of this process." ~Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream! If life is a dream, as many ancient spiritual philosophies and quantum theories suggest, shouldn't we consider this experience of life to be a symbolic representation of our unconscious material yearning to surface? We can begin to feel into life as we would a dream or psychedelic journey to unpack rich meaning, gain heightened awareness, and live with more lucidity and wonder.
Soma
Symbol
Soma
"A felt sense contains a maze of meanings, a whole textile of facets, a Persian rug of patterning—more than could be said or thought." ~ Eugene Gendlin
"Soma" has 3 significant meanings to me.
1) Somatic therapy: We're here to feel it all, but what we don't allow ourselves to fully feel and express stays inside, becoming toxic dis-ease.
2)
"A felt sense contains a maze of meanings, a whole textile of facets, a Persian rug of patterning—more than could be said or thought." ~ Eugene Gendlin
"Soma" has 3 significant meanings to me.
1) Somatic therapy: We're here to feel it all, but what we don't allow ourselves to fully feel and express stays inside, becoming toxic dis-ease.
2) Plant Medicine: "Soma" was an ancient hallucinogenic plant beverage. There is an immense amount of wellness on offer with psychedelic healing.
3) Brave New World: In Huxley's book, "soma" is a drug given out by the State as a powerful method of distraction and social control. Pay attention...
Meet Brenda "From The Fortress"
About Me
A few years ago, I heard the "Call to Adventure" and left my career in education to figure out where I'm going in this life. Around the same time, I went through a breakup and heartbreak that unearthed many old wounds. I was lost, broken and confused. In the darkness, I met many Shadow parts of Self (which tended to be my feminine aspects), discovered incredible Jungian psychology books and media, and experienced the powerful lessons of plant teachers.
As a seeker, I have an insatiable desire to know myself and experience the Divine through personal gnosis and direct revelation. It has been my pleasure to share soul-opening books and sacred medicines that help each of us find our inner feminine and create union between our Psyche & Eros for more soulful, embodied, conscious living.
Brenda's Studies & Credentials
- Credentialed Educator: 12 years of teaching, course creation, intervention coaching and group leadership
- Certified Somatic Attachment Therapy Practitioner through Embody Lab with teachings from Peter Levine, Gabor Mate, and more!
- Somatic Regenerative Alchemy Coach, trained by Dr. Sarah Coxon.
- BA in Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology and History)
- Psychedelic therapy practitioner training through MycoVision
- Archetypal Immersion program (1-year) via ReWilding with Sabrina Lynn
- 2+ years of full time soul/shadow work with an emphasis on Jungian/depth Psychology, global shamanism, plant medicine, energy techniques for somatic healing, dark goddess archetypes, healing the witch wound, and esoteric mysticism teachings
- Creator and Facilitator of the Central Oregon Psychedelic Society Book Club and Wise & Wild Women's Book Club.
- Paul Levy's live Dreaming Ourselves Awake course through The Shift Network
- Andrew Holocek's Tibetan Book of the Dead course through Embodied Philosophy
- Certified Professional Organizer (Magic of Tidying believer)
- 20 years of dedicated yoga practice (vinyasa, yin, kundalini +)
- Many years of global anti-human trafficking education & community building work. Your contributions go toward this cause!
Experiences From The Fortress
