From the desk of Dr. Mark Pirtle.
Embrace wholeness by acknowledging all parts of yourself, including the shadow. Use shadow work to discover, heal, and transform towards a more authentic life.
In this post, Mark reflects on a recent dark night of the soul—triggered by the state of the world and the absence of mature leadership. He connects the dots between global chaos and collective underdevelopment and offers shadow work as a path to emotional maturity. The post ends with an invitation to join him on retreat or through coaching.
This week’s post tells the story of a woman who’s spent her life doing for others but never learned how to prioritize herself. Through coaching, she’s begun exploring her internalized guilt and rescuer identity. Shadow work is helping her uncover why saying no feels so difficult—and why creating space for herself is essential. This post invites anyone who gives too much and wonders when it’s finally okay to choose themselves.
In this short reflection, Mark shares the story of a long-time coaching client—a successful CEO in her sixties—who continues to struggle with prioritizing her inner life. The post raises thoughtful questions about time, value, and the need to honor our spiritual and emotional wellbeing before it's too late.
Many people associate shadow work with personal healing, but what happens when an entire culture or country refuses to face its past? In this post, Mark reflects on the 50th anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam as a powerful example of avoided reckoning. He explores how the absence of public reflection mirrors unprocessed shadow—leading to repetition, division, and silence. Mark invites readers to view shadow work as a communal and national responsibility, not just a personal one, and offers retreats as a space to begin this deep and necessary work.
Life-altering events can shake us to our core—but they can also shape us in powerful ways. In this post, I reflect on two major turning points in my life: the loss of my business and my divorce. Both left me disoriented and hurting. But through extended retreats—first at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and later through plant medicine—I found perspective, healing, and a path forward. If you’re navigating a personal upheaval, this post offers insight into the psychological toll of big change and the quiet power of stepping away to reconnect with what matters.
Talking to yourself in the third person (Illeism) may feel odd at first, but it creates instant distance from swirling emotions. In this post I share how “Name It to Tame It” carried me through a rough divorce, why it works neurologically, and how you can use it for quick, compassionate shadow work. I also invite readers to go deeper through one‑on‑one coaching or an upcoming plant‑medicine retreat at Tubac Ranch.
In this honest and uplifting reflection, Mark shares a personal story about a friend whose daily commitment to his artistic calling brought unexpected healing. He weaves in insights about depression, procrastination, and the voice that says “not today”—and how shadow work helps us meet it with curiosity. The post ends with a powerful call to reconnect with what matters, even if you’ve fallen off track. Because saying yes to the grind, over and over, is what unlocks the goodness.
In this heartfelt post, I reflect on a powerful teaching I received during my time at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery: “Love is wanting someone to be happy.” This simple definition has shaped the way I understand love, connection, and fulfillment. I explore how true happiness often comes through attunement—offering genuine, present attention to others and ourselves. By weaving in the tools of shadow work, I share how we can move closer to authentic self-love and invite readers to consider retreating with me this year as a way to return to what matters most.
We all face big decisions—whether to stay the course or make a bold change. In this post, Mark explores how shadow work can open up the inner space to sit with life's biggest questions. You’ll learn why logic alone won’t get you there, how unconscious patterns and external pressures shape our choices, and why stepping away—on retreat or into reflection—might be exactly what’s needed to rediscover your next “right” step.
Loss has a way of resurfacing old wounds, blending past and present grief into a heavy emotional weight. In this reflection on losing my beloved cat Ramses, I explore how the Polyvagal Theory explains the way our nervous system processes grief and how Shadow Work reveals the deeper layers beneath our emotions. Through Skillful Awareness, I’ve learned to feel my pain without amplifying it—to let grief come, be, and go. If loss is weighing on you, this post invites you to explore your emotions with self-awareness and mindfulness, offering insight into how we can process life’s most challenging moments with resilience and grace.
In this heartfelt blog post, Mark shares the emotional experience of saying goodbye to his beloved cat Ramses, who succumbed to cancer. Through his story, Mark explores the themes of love, loss, and the preciousness of moments shared with our loved ones. He reflects on the lessons learned from Ramses about caring deeply and the significance of cherishing every moment. This narrative serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of holding onto the love and memories we create with those who touch our lives.
In this insightful post, Mark Pirtle explores the crucial role of making and keeping agreements in both personal and professional relationships. Drawing from the experiences of a client, he introduces the "Six Stages of Oversight," a model illustrating the progression of employee empowerment and responsibility. This model not only applies to business but also reflects the foundations of trust and accountability necessary for thriving relationships. Mark discusses how shadow work can help individuals understand and overcome the subconscious barriers that prevent them from keeping their commitments. He invites readers to join him for a Plant Medicine Retreat in May, where they can explore their relationship dynamics and learn to apply these insights for significant personal growth and relational success.
