For Australian author and clinical psychologist Chris Mackey, compassion healing begins with self-compassion. In his book The Positive Psychology of Synchronicity, he writes movingly of the depression that hospitalized him. As a young adult, Mackey went through two episodes of depression. But the third bout in his 30s resulted in his hospitalization. And it was ultimately the event that launched his work with positive psychiatry. He’s convinced that synchronicity and self-compassion helped heal him.
“Sometimes things are so bad you can’t imagine anything good ever coming from them. Being hospitalized with severe depression wold typically be one of those times,” Mackey wrote. “But through that living hell and my recovery, I learned some of the most valuable lessons, certainly for my work life but also for my life generally.”
In fact, fifteen years later, he rented a cabin in Marin County where he intended to write his book. He felt the peaceful setting stacked the odds in his favor. But as he reached the part about his hospitalization, he felt daunted writing about “the grueling topic of going through a severe depression as I knew it would take a lot out of me. But I also knew if I wrote about it, I wouldn’t have to go through the story again and again, and it might help others.”
So as he tried to write, he was thinking about how badly he lacked self-compassion at the time of his depression, how he’d been “self-rejecting.” But then he saw a strange and unexpected dot of light form on the page next to where he was writing. It became more intense and then formed a distinct heart shape. (The photo at the top). “It felt like a response to that memory, some form of consciousness outside myself. I felt I had just received a ‘cuddle from God’ as a counterpoint to the lack of compassion I had previously felt.”
And from that moment on, Mackey felt greatly fortified and found it much easier to write. “The words flowed and I easily wrote thousands of words through the day with minimal breaks. I felt connected and integrated within myself, insightful, assured, and a bit uplifted. In psychological language, I felt a high level of mindfulness.”
Once he finished the chapter, he felt “light and free and energized” and took a selfie on the cabin balcony. When he looked at it, he was startled to see that shafts of light rained over him.
“It felt like I had been through an enlightening and illuminating experience and the writing hadn’t taken much out of me at all. It was exquisitely satisfying to have done so. To this day I still think of the heart shape, the cuddle from God, as having played a big part in that.”
What a marvelous story of synchronicity and spirit contact! And the photos are extraordinary! I believe it was Joseph Campbell who said that if you are “following your bliss” (by which he means your work you feel passionate about) you receive “invisible means of support” often. So I have also found. Thank you for sharing this story!
This story is one of my all time favorites.”
Thanks for posting the story, Trish and Rob! There was more synchronicity after that too. After writing that section and encountering the heart of light I went to a psychology conference in Peru a couple of weeks later. The final presentation I attended turned out to be about compassion, and specifically on how being on the receiving end of compassion can help your mindfulness. I had been struck by how my encounter with the heart had helped me write more easily and freely. It was interesting to hear of research echoing my recent powerful experience.
Wow, from Australia to Peru! Where in Peru? Was the conference in English or Spanish? What a confirmative synchro in a country so far form home, Chris. I think it reallkyk shows the interconnected nature of everything.
It was a world congress on behaviour and cognitive therapies in Lima. And yes – it seems to show that universal connectedness you describe. Funnily enough, when I told that story about the heart of light at the Geelong library, unbeknownst to me there was a psychologist in the audience who had done her thesis research on compassion and mindfulness. She was so pleasantly surprised to hear the topic raised, a rare experience, that she chose to join our practice. It was a real boon as we had just started to look for a new psychologist. She has been a terrific colleague for five years since. The universe provides.
There’s a place in Peru, Chris, that has always fascinated us. Markawasi. Kathy Doorer, who introduced the rest of us to this place, died several years ago but her book captures photos and the spirit of the place. It’s a plateau about 30 miles north of Lima,at around 14,000 feet. Nothing there except stone statues, many of which resemble animals. Origin unknown. When you go there, it’s by horseback – and you haul everything you need up there – including Jiffy Johns. On my bucket list…but with Covids…
I just wrote a post about hearts and solar power that Chris might like, and he’ll need a hug after his footy team the Geelong Cats got smashed by Port Adelaide Power last night –
https://brizdazz.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-heartwarming-video-from-coldest-town.html
My footy team the Brisbane Lions play the Melbourne Demons tonight, and the last time we played them we got beaten and I got a flat tyre from running over a nail just before the game (which I’m still to get fixed, so I don’t need another one tonight 🙂 ).
Although Chis probably won’t find much comfort in this old post of mine either –
https://brizdazz.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-melbourne-demons-are-minor-premiers.html
Ironically, I missed about 20 minutes of the Cats game last night on TV because of a blackout in our suburb, or in other words a loss of power. 🙂
I was going for the Power too, sorry Chris.
I zsent him the link to the post. Hope he stops by! I’ll check out your links, Daz. Many thanks!
I know his son Rowan produces a podcast for the Geelong Cats, which is the team that ended my team’s season last year when they knocked the Brisbane Lions out of the finals.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-start-podcast-rowan-mackey?trk=public_profile_article_view
And oddly enough the AFL played the 2020 grand final in my hometown for the first time in history because of the Covid outbreak in Melbourne, and it was between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers.
I was there on the night wearing my Lions gear, but wearing a Geelong scarf which I had bought on the night as a souvenir , because I didn’t want to see the Tigers go back-to-back and possibly get a 3-peat by winning the 2021 grand final (which they can’t now anyway) –
https://brizdazz.blogspot.com/2020/11/gabba-lockdown-special-never-say-never.html
Hi Daz, I really like your link with the video of the sheep creating a heart! I saw an interview on TV with the farmer who created it, and he seemed like a delightful guy with a lovely dry wit.
It’s good to see the spark you get from synchronicity, as well as footy! Sadly you’ve opened some recent wounds with the football references. I think both of our teams have a tough path ahead, but at least yours still has a double chance.
Yes, Rowan enjoys producing the Cats podcast. We also do a podcast together called Psych Spiels and Silver Linings. A couple of episodes are about synchronicity, including at https://www.chrismackey.com.au/synchronicity-and-psychology/. Good luck for tonight’s match!
The Schrodinger’s Cats aren’t dead yet Chris.
In fact I fear crossing paths with them and the Cats knocking us out again this year.
Hopefully we can shake the Demons off our back tonight in the city of churches. 😉
Mind you if the Lions weren’t playing the Dees, I’d be cheering them on tonight.
But I say GO THE LIONS!!!
P.S. How ironic was it that Melbourne produced a comeback worthy of a Furphy Beer comercial to win the minor premiership in the heartland of Furphy Beer and with a Furphy Beer ad on the wall of their Geelong dressing room when they were singing their club song at the end of the match?
Doh!!!
Damn those Demons to hell I say 😉
Now we have to take on Chris Hemsworth’s team the Western Bulldogs, and if we win that one we have to do what the Cats failed to do and beat Port Adelaide in Adelaide to make to to the grand final.
If the Lions get knocked out I’m going for the Dees to win the GF.
Good luck against GWS Chris, not that you’ll need it against those losers.