Dr. Marilyn Tran, ND - Emotional Healing

05/01/2024

This weekend, I had the honour of emceeing a ceremony commemorating the Journey to Freedom of the Vietnamese diaspora after the end of the Vietnam War—marking the solemn occasion of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment in history, a turning point that forever altered countless lives, including mine.

As I reflect on the significance of this day, I'm moved by its profound impact. The ceremony, with its tributes to the guards, the solemn raising of the flag, and the stirring strains of the national anthem of the Republic of Vietnam, stirred something deep within me.

Despite its weighty importance, the day also carries an undercurrent of grief—a facet often overlooked or unspoken. I can only imagine the anguish of witnessing the collapse of one's world, of fleeing across treacherous seas with uncertainty as the only companion.

My father once recounted arriving in Canada with nothing but the clothes on his back—a stark reminder of the sacrifices and hardships endured by so many.

In our culture, there's a tendency to shy away from discussing pain and suffering, as if silence could shield us from further harm. But as we've come to understand, ignoring trauma doesn't make it vanish—it festers, haunting us in unseen ways.

While we rightfully celebrate our resilience as a people, it's essential to acknowledge the deep wounds and losses suffered—the lives lost, the families torn apart, the injustices endured. These feelings, if left unaddressed, can linger, shaping our behavior and even impacting our health.

Beneath the fight for democracy lies a reservoir of pain, an unspoken burden carried by generations past and present.

Today, I choose to honor this pain—for the sacrifices endured by my parents, my family, my people. It's a part of our collective identity, woven into the very fabric of our being. And while we don't dwell in it perpetually, we must recognize its presence and create space for healing and remembrance.

04/17/2024

My intentions in the work I do.

James Baldwin

01/16/2024

Last night I had a dream. I was talking to my mom. The details now escape me, but I woke up from the dream in tears.

My parents are Vietnamese refugees. I was born in Canada. For other children of immigrants, perhaps you can relate to the disconnect. The gaps in feeling seen and understood as a result of being raised in different cultures.

When I woke up, I had a strong realization that my parents too must feel a loss. A loss in raising children that will be quite different from how they are.

These are the unseen wounds of war—the intergenerational traumas of disconnection. Not only traumas from oppressive regimes, which colour and mold one’s trust in the world and others, but then as a result the closing in of one’s belief in the potential of life, the hurt that is too painful to face and so the disconnection from self. Then, inevitably, the disconnection to others, even to those we love the most. It wasn’t their fault

The good news is that despite it all, it is possible to heal.

This is the reason I do the work that I do.

I know what it feels like to carry pain and suffering. I know the feeling of wanting it to stop. I know the work it takes to pull through until I can look back now and see how far I’ve grown. I know what it feels like to surrender, to enter the vulnerable space of asking for help, and to be deeply touched when it arrives. I know what it’s like to wrestle with myself to break patterns that once protected me. I know what it’s like to find strength and embrace all the parts of me I’ve once hidden in the shadows. I see my light now.

In my dream, I was pleading… to be understood? I don’t quite remember it was cathartic and I believe represents a shift in my subconscious.

What I have learned is that our biggest pain is our rejection of self. The path of healing is the path of self-acceptance. We can be that place of understanding that we needed. To sit with the pain of what was, the uncontrollable factors that impacted a people, hold the real experiences of disconnection, and be our own soothing balm.�
It’s a skill that I’ve learned, and it’s a skill that anyone can learn. It’s a skill that I hope to spread because we all deserve to be free from suffering.

01/01/2024

Last forest walk of 2023.
First forest walk of 2024.
Not for a lack of trying to find something to do, this is where I ended up.
I guess it was meant to be.
Amidst the sounds of fireworks all around,
I was reminded that this has been my “happy place”
And that sometimes the things that make us really joyful, like deep in our core, aren’t things that are particularly fancy or difficult to access.
They can be quite in reach.
Maybe even right in front of us.
Or by our side.
The people in our lives.
The places we frequent.
Maybe even just the trees.
Seeing the trees covered in a fresh blanket of snow made me happy.
And they weren’t doing anything special.
Just being trees.
Happy new year!

P.S. It was cool to see my footsteps coming in as I was coming back out… not sure why but I did snap a photo as a keepsake.

12/21/2023

In many indigenous cultures, winter is regarded as a sacred time that goes beyond cold weather and shorter days. It is often seen as a period of reflection, learning, and spiritual growth.

I love this perspective on connection to the natural world where seasons are not just climatic shifts but rather cycles that influence various aspects of life.

As the winter season starts today, I am going to happily share my offering for the new year: Coming Home to Wholeness, a 12-week online series based on the transformative book No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems.

Imagine this as a cozy book club with like-minded acquaintances, but with a twist—professional guidance and a support group as you go on a journey to self-discovery and explore the hidden parts shaping your life.

Do you ever think about the different sides of yourself?
Do you ever notice how these sides sometimes chat or argue with each other?
Do you ever wonder why these different parts even exist?
How about diving a bit deeper into getting to know them and explore how they shape your life?
Imagine unraveling the mystery of who you are and why you do what you do.
Ready for a little self-discovery adventure?

For more information, visit my website: www.drmarilyntran.com/coming-home-to-wholeness

12/21/2023

The Winter Solstice, marks the Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day and longest night. The term “solstice,” rooted in Latin, refers to the sun briefly pausing before its shift toward the equator, heralding the gradual lengthening of daylight.

All over the world, diverse cultures celebrate the Winter Solstice, emphasizing themes of renewal and reflection, anticipating extended daylight and warmer temperatures. While festivals differ, they share a collective emphasis on light’s triumph over winter’s darkness.

In Vietnamese culture, Tết Đoan Ngọ, coinciding with the Winter Solstice on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, is seen as a time to harmonize with nature. Customs like hanging medicinal herbs and donning vibrant silk threads serve the purpose of protecting against evil spirits and diseases.

Tết Đoan Ngọ aligns with other Vietnamese celebrations, fostering familial unity. Families gather to prepare and enjoy traditional delicacies like sticky rice dumplings (bánh ú), strengthening bonds and preserving cultural traditions.

Do your cultural or familial practices involve Winter Solstice celebrations or similar events? How does your culture acknowledge seasons and express optimism for brighter times? I would love to know!

06/24/2023

Registration is open for our Women's Retreat happening in September! https://www.drmarilyntran.com/wild-sacred-retreat/

You’re invited to join us on a sacred retreat to explore and reconnect with a very important person--your lovely Self.

Come to magical Muskoka where the flow of the river and the dancing of fire will remind you to connect within to the elements that animate all life.

Our accommodations will be a private cottage on the Muskoka River—the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Wild and Sacred: Coming Home to Our Natural Selves Women's Retreat - September 14-17, 2023 Spend four days intentionally disconnecting from life's ong

06/09/2023

A common misperception is that when you seek help, you are just digging up the past.
The reality is that the past is with you whether you realize it or not.
From your triggers to how you cope with stress, your past colors your present experiences.
Trauma treatment teaches you how to bring these influencers (things you probably don’t even realize or have tried to push away), to your awareness.
Trauma treatment is about learning how to build a relationship with what’s always been there.
You’ve probably tried to ignore it all your life—doesn’t mean it’s gone.
The only way out, is in.

06/07/2023

I have mixed feelings today. On the one hand, I was feeling quite grateful entering into the forest for my morning walk. At the beginning of the path, the tree branches come together from either side and create an arch of leaves. It’s like a doorway leading to something sacred.

I looked up and noticed the sun was quite orange, and then think back to a conversation I heard this morning between Apollo’s teacher and a parent about having the kids stay indoors today. There was also an email that the city track and field event has been cancelled. This piqued my curiosity so I decided to look if there are any environmental warnings in the city. Of course, there is an air quality warning for residents to stay indoors because of the smoke fumes from forest fires to the north east of us and the province over.

I remember when forest fires seemed to be a shocking event. Now, they happen quite regularly. Before it was in provinces far enough away that here in Ontario we weren’t affected. We’d hear of people losing their homes, and of course felt sympathetic—but it didn’t affect us.

Well, here are the signs loud and clear that it’s not only at our doorstep, it has arrived. We learned quickly during the pandemic that what happens in one part of the world will affect the rest. It’s all connected.

Yet, do we willfully forget or is it less painful to ignore the truths of how we are harming our planet. More importantly, we are harming ourselves because our planet will survive. She has gone through much worst. But we? As a species? Well, we are going to perish.. and all the shows we’ve been so attached to illustrating a post-apocalyptic world as entertainment may be more real than we can swallow.

The fear in the world is real. There is real injustices and people in places of power making decisions that only benefit themselves. It’s for profit. For greed. For power. Corruption isn’t new. Many of our families came to North America hoping for democracy, yet our democracy is being chipped away. Are we noticing?

Or have we become so distracted by the shiny distractions and purposefully spotlighted issues that are easy to get us riled up, like the Trans movement, that we ignore the bigger issues.

Are we so easily fooled?

Well, yes and no. I believe there is mass trauma in the world. Our disconnection to ourselves and each other is traumatic. Trauma is a pretty buzz-y word these days, but it doesn’t take away from it’s significance. Just like “Love”. Overused, maybe, but sill significant and at the core of who we are, and frankly what will get us through.

When we are traumatized, we are easily influenced and swayed. We are run by our anger, fears and anxieties and so anything that triggers these raw spots will heighten the uncomfortable feelings. And then we go looking to find blame.

There are easy victims to blame of course. The immigrants. The criminals. The q***r folk. The trans folk. THEY must be what’s wrong with the world.

But actually no. The issue is so much bigger. If we could process our own wounds and pain, we would be able to see more clearly.

I obviously don’t have all the answers. I play my part to help hold space for the pain that people feel so that it may be released because I believe that when we can process our own pain, it will open our hearts, and we can then really take care of ourselves and each other… instead of this divisiveness, mistrust and hatred we feel towards each other. Then, we can direct our energies that can make a real difference, hold the people responsible accountable and save our species and life on our planet.

The truth is, we are making this planet more and more unlivable for ourselves and the life on it. We are heading down a course of destruction… Do we realize?

And as much as we may feel like we are powerless, we are not. There are people already taking action. Even the decision to take care of our pain and traumas is resistance.

I want for Apollo to not have to be forced indoors because the air quality is bad. I hope the trees and forests remain intact in his old age. What has been such a sanctuary to me I hope will be available to him and the generations to come.

Do you know of the story of Easter Island? What was once a lush island supporting so much life became tree-less and inhospitable. Did the people realize when they cut down the last tree?

Easter Island is a microcosm of our beloved planet Earth.

May we learn to cherish her and each other. 🌎💗

04/08/2023

I’m familiar with Dick Schwartz’s work (life-changing) and looking forward to learning from Thomas Hubl on ancestral and intergenerational trauma.
So much of the disconnection and fragmentation we see in the world today are due to these unhealed legacy wounds.