Constellations of the Self - "We are the Sum of Our Parts"

Magical Guest Series with Scientist, Therapist & Psychospiritual Healing Guide Linnea Butler

Our Magical Guest Series here on Mystery, Magic & Mayhem continues!

While I’m wandering the wild landscapes of France, seeking codes and discovering historical mysteries… I’ve asked some of my favorite magical writers to fill my shoes here on Substack with articles that invite you deeper into your own awakening.

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Today’s guest—Linnea Butler—has consistently impressed me since I discovered her work here on Substack.

Her background is in traditional psychology (like mine!) with a strong foundation in the sciences, but the way she uses this knowledge is anything but traditional. With a keen vision for the whole human, Linnea brings profound insight into the interplay between the psychological and the sacred parts of us—two parts of an integrated whole which are constantly dancing and playing together.

Today, she is diving deeply with us to explore how embracing the many parts of ourselves creates the magnificent, magical beings that we are.

… AND

… drumroll, please

You can discover, uncover, and recover ALL the sacred parts of yourself to integrate the totality of your magic with a powerful meditation that Linnea has created for our community!

DISCOVER LINNEA’S SUBSTACK
thegoodpsychotherapist.substack.com

Constellations of the Self

We live in a culture that prizes the idea of a single, solid identity. But the truth is, we are never just one thing and we ALL have parts.

We are layered, shifting, made up of many different parts. Some are bold, some fearful, some hurting, and some wise.

Wholeness is about belonging to yourself fully, just as you are, and welcoming all of those parts.

I want to offer you an experience of that fullness today. So make a cup of tea, grab your journal and snuggle in.

We are the Sum of Our Parts

Once I stopped trying to be “One Unified Perfect Person”, the blinders came off and the doors swung open. I could see and honor all the different parts within me, without prioritizing one or shaming another.

There’s the fearless part that loves to try new things. Right next to her is the anxious part, clutching a clipboard labeled, “All the Ways This Could Go Horribly Wrong.” The loving part that offers selfless compassion, and the critical part who is, well… challenging, even when she is right.

This inner gathering isn’t a flaw or evidence that we are broken. It’s how humans are designed: beautifully complicated, shaped by every experience, every loss, every moment of love or pain.

We are a system of parts and wholeness is welcoming everyone back home.

When Parts Step Forward

If you’ve ever felt hijacked by an inner critic, or found yourself zoning out during a hard conversation, you’ve already met some of your parts. You just didn’t think of them that way or realize they were trying to help.

Parts don’t show up because they're trying to ruin our lives (even if sometimes it feels that way). They step forward because somewhere along the way they learned it was the safest thing to do.

The inner critic thinks it’s protecting you from humiliation.

The numb, checked-out part decided a long time ago that feeling less was safer than feeling too much.

The perfectionist may have appeared when you realized that love was conditional on performance.

The frozen part may have arrived the first time the world proved it could hurt you and there was no escape.

The rebel? Maybe they crashed onto the scene when you realized you needed to protect your freedom, no matter the cost.

Every part has a history and a reason, even the ones that are loud, messy, or inconvenient. And it all makes sense when you hear their story. Even the parts you wish would just... take a long vacation.

“Wholeness isn’t about fixing the pieces. It’s about weaving them together with love.”

If you listen carefully, you’ll hear that beneath their behavior, every part is trying to keep you safe, seen, or whole.

Whispers from Inside — a Guided Meditation to Meet Your Parts*

I'd like to invite you to step into a different kind of space, one where you can meet your parts not as problems to solve, but as sacred visitors with stories to tell.

Ready?

(Background music is Faiths Hymn by Beautiful Chorus)

Take a slow, deep breath in. Let it out with a long sigh, like you’re releasing something heavy and old. Aaaaaahhhhh…

Now, close your eyes if you’re comfortable, or just soften your gaze.

Imagine you’re standing in a beautiful, peaceful place, maybe a meadow, or a clearing in a forest, a cozy room, or a quiet beach at sunrise. Someplace spacious and inviting.

Make an internal announcement, for example: “I want to ask every part of me to come into a meditation circle... this is not to criticize or judge or control you. I want to get to know you. I want to know when you’re having a hard time. I want to know what’s bothering you so I can help.”

As you stand there, a wide circle begins to form around you, drawn in light. One by one, different parts of you come into the circle.

You don’t have to force it. Just notice who shows up. Do you recognize anyone? Are you surprised at who shows up or at how they present themselves?

Maybe you see a small, scared version of yourself hiding at the edge.
Maybe a fierce protector walks right in, arms crossed.
Maybe there’s a playful, barefoot child spinning in circles and laughing.

Maybe you see a fierce child gripping a stick like a sword.
Maybe you glimpse an older, wiser version of yourself smiling from the shadows.
Maybe you sense a tired figure, weighed down by burdens they’ve carried too long.

Let them come. All is welcome here.

If you like, offer them a greeting such as a nod, a smile, a hand over your heart, or a simple hello.

Once you have an image or sense of parts in the circle, you can gently ask:

• “What are you worried about?”

• “What do you want me to know?"

• "What do you need from me?"

• “How can I help?”

Listen without needing to fix or change anything. There’s no rush. Just be with them, however they are.

Try to listen deeply to what they’re telling you about themselves. Take their fears and feelings seriously. Be an “equal opportunity welcomer” and try to accept all of feelings and beliefs expressed by the parts as natural and normal given their experiences.

To the extent that you can, try to offer the support and validation they need:

“I will remember how scared it makes you when people get angry—maybe you can stand behind me so you don’t have to worry about someone blaming you.”

“Maybe I can help you look out for bad things—maybe I can promise to protect you.”

“You’ve been alone a long time—I won’t forget that.”

Try to keep the focus on today or right now. You might say, “Notice that right here, right now, I am here and I’m not leaving.” Traumatized parts have many fears, and it doesn’t help them to open them all up at once or try to solve them all at once. It is natural that some parts won’t trust you at first, will hesitate to hear you, or even be angry. You can tell them, “Every time we meet, you can tell me more about your worries and what I can do to help. Maybe over time, you will trust me… There is no rush—take all the time you need.”

When it feels complete, thank them for showing up. Promise to keep listening.

Take another deep breath, wiggle your fingers and toes, and come back whenever you’re ready.

Take a moment and reflect on the experience. Jot down a few notes in a journal if you like.

The Many Stories You Carry

Now that you’ve met some of your parts in the meditation, let’s add a visual component. The following images are invitations, mirrors for your inner world. They come from an oracle deck by Autumn Skye I’ve chosen for this reflection.

As you softly gaze at the images, let yourself feel rather than think.

Notice if an image reminds you of someone you met in the circle, tugs at your heart or stirs a memory.

Focus on that image and notice what comes up for you. You may want to pul our your journal again, or simply sit quietly with whatever arises.

Below are invitations for each of the cards, in the same order as above. Identify the invitation that matches the location of the image you selected.

Does the invitation resonate with you?

Remember: The most important message is the one that speaks directly to your body, your memory, your soul.

Welcoming Everyone Home

True healing is about creating a home inside yourself where every part is welcome.

Not every part will agree. Not every part will behave the way you wish they would.

But every part deserves a seat at the fire where they can be seen, heard, and honored.

“Your healing does not require you to become someone else. It invites you to become more fully yourself.”

The more we come to know our parts, the more we learn that none of them are mistakes. Healing isn’t erasing these parts or silencing them. It’s creating space for all of them to belong.

And maybe the real work of becoming whole is simply learning to listen, to soften, and to welcome ourselves home.

Parts work is a sacred conversation that unfolds across a lifetime. When you sit with your parts, when you greet them with curiosity and kindness, you are weaving your Soul back into wholeness.

Feel free to return to the Circle, to the images, to your journal as often as feels right.

Healing, like all living things, moves in cycles. Trust your own rhythm.

🌿✨

(*parts meditation adapted from Janina Fisher)

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How Healing Happens is a space where science meets spirit, and where the journey toward wholeness is honored in all its beauty and messiness.

Soon, I’ll be opening a deeper layer of connection to How Healing Happens subscribers who feel called to walk this healing path even more closely.

Thank you for being here. 💜

If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love Linnea’s Substack:
thegoodpsychotherapist.substack.com