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Authentic power emerges when we embrace all aspects of ourselves—even the parts that growl. In this fascinating conversation with Thayer Cuson Case, we journey from Zen monastery halls to trauma therapy rooms, exploring how spiritual practice and trauma work can integrate to create whole-person healing.
Thayer's remarkable path began with teenage meditation, led through college football and a career-ending injury, then to 18 months living in a Zen monastery. This winding road eventually guided him to trauma therapy after experiencing firsthand the aftermath of 9/11 as an EMT. Throughout our discussion, he reveals how these seemingly disparate experiences created the foundation for his psycho-spiritual somatic approach to healing.
The heart of our conversation explores aggression—not as something to suppress, but as vital energy essential to fully embodied living. "Waking the tiger isn't about making people calm," Thayer explains, challenging common misconceptions about trauma work. Instead, he describes how truly embodied aggression feels "powerful, sexy, and full of life," while offering practical insights into recognizing when our relationship with aggression becomes either explosive or repressed.
We dive into fascinating territory when discussing the unexpected value of sometimes blocking tears to allow necessary aggression to emerge, especially for those conditioned to discharge emotion quickly. This nuanced understanding extends to exploring how athletes often struggle with identity and energy regulation when formal sports careers end—a transition that left both of us navigating challenging emotional terrain.
The conversation culminates with Thayer sharing how group therapy creates powerful opportunities to "play through" developmental wounds in real-time settings. His explanation of uncoupling relational trauma through authentic interaction offers hope for deeper healing than individual work alone sometimes provides.
Whether you're interested in trauma healing, spiritual practice without bypassing, or understanding your relationship with aggression, this episode offers profound insights from someone who walks both contemplative and therapeutic paths with equal dedication. Listen now and discover how embracing your inner tiger might be the key to authentic wholeness.

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