Joseph Nicholas Mach is an accomplished musician, visual artist, Gestalt coach and meditation enthusiast based in Austin, TX. He studied for 5 years with Steve Flynn, MA/CMT, training in Gestalt therapy, bio-energetics, Reichian therapy and qi gong. In 2023 he founded InnerWork ATX, an organization dedicated to sharing and teaching these profound tools through private sessions, group workshops and retreats.
Become A Clearing
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NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2025 Hello Reader, A phrase I often heard my teacher, Steve Flynn, use was “become a clearing.” He would say it with a deep, expansive resonance. I heard the words, but more importantly, I felt the words. This past week, my family and I spent the week at Ruby Retreats in Wimberley, TX, house-sitting for some dear friends. One of our daily tasks was to take their two pups on long morning walks around the 100-acre property, visiting the cow pasture and the grotto and through the enchanted forest. Our last morning there, we boldly decide to explore the LONG loop, the Sunset Tower Loop. I have Wilder in the baby-bjorn, and am starting to feel some crankiness creep in due to the June heat and lack of sleep. We cross over the dry creek bed and deeper into uncharted territory, with thick Hill Country scrub-land on all sides. The further into the woods we go, the more snarled my crankiness becomes. I recognize the familiar grumbling of my dad’s surliness tensing through my system, growing stronger with each step. And then, we reach the Clearing. All around, endless fields of honey-colored feathergrass, a cool sweet-smelling breeze and 360 degrees of blue Texas sky. In the distance Julie Andrews belts out the “the hills are alive…”. My mood lifts as our bold endeavor pays off. But what strikes me most, and what inspired me to write this - was the internal FEELING of reaching that clearing. The contrast. The vastness. Unhurried, easy, at peace. Most of us spend our days in an ever-tangling swirl of mental chatter, sensory distraction, and general noisiness. It is often overwhelming. It often has a dimness to it. “Becoming a clearing” isn’t about being high-vibe or happy-go-lucky - so much as it is about a quality of inner spaciousness. (This idea applies to interpersonal dynamics as well. To be “in a clearing” with a spouse or friend - ahhh what a pleasant space that is.) So, take a moment - close your eyes and breathe, and feel yourself circling in the woods. Then, open up your inner space. Feel the breeze on your face. Become a clearing. Now Accepting New ClientsI love this work. I love sharing the tools I have learned; helping my clients navigate their inner world and then watching that ripple out into their external world in remarkable ways. And I also remember feeling SO NERVOUS to begin my inner exploration. It might not be time. But if you are feeling that call - what the Gurdjieff work calls "magnetic center" pulling you towards working on yourself - then I would love to explore with you.
I do Virtual Sessions as well as In-Person, and I also have packages available. Full details are on my website www.josephmach.com. Upcoming Workshops & TalksJuly 30, 2025 - Tools for Psychedelic Integration | 7pm Kuya Wellness Joseph's MusicJoseph's Art
For those of you that follow my coaching account, @InnerWorkATX, on Instagram - you may have noticed it has changed to @tenoxcoaching. I will be sharing more on this in next month's newsletter, but I am excited to start this new chapter and share more about the "Ten Ox" name with you. As always, I'm so glad we get to stay connected in this way and I'm grateful that you are in my life. Feel free to share this with anyone in your world, and I would love to hear how you are doing. |
Joseph Mach
Joseph Nicholas Mach is an accomplished musician, visual artist, Gestalt coach and meditation enthusiast based in Austin, TX. He studied for 5 years with Steve Flynn, MA/CMT, training in Gestalt therapy, bio-energetics, Reichian therapy and qi gong. In 2023 he founded InnerWork ATX, an organization dedicated to sharing and teaching these profound tools through private sessions, group workshops and retreats.
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2025 Hello Reader, Today I want to share a recent God-wink I experienced. Because walking the spiritual path can sometimes feel discouraging - and for me, acknowledging moments of synchronicity and grace can provide counterweight to the difficult moments. Difficult moments--such as traveling home on a crowded airplane with a toddler after spending 10 days visiting with family. My wife and I are sleep deprived. I feel fried. My patience has already been maxed out multiple...
NEWSLETTER - JULY 2025 Hello Reader, For most of my 20’s and 30’s, my primary occupation and identity was that of musician/songwriter. As such, one part of my mind was always scanning my surroundings for clever phrases or potential song titles. Every once in awhile I would feel a big ol’ lightbulb go off and the idea would nestle itself into my creative psyche. Most of my best songs came about in this way. About 9 months ago, I was reading David Hawkins Power vs. Force, and in one section he...
NEWSLETTER - MAY 2025 Hello Reader, One of the practices that has become central to my daily routine is that of meditative walking. Like any modality, there are many variations - but the essential idea is to slow down and bring mindful attention to each step, instead of hurrying from one thing to the next. A few nights ago, I received a rare gift of free evening time; my wife and son had gone to bed early and it was still light out. I started with some good ol’ phone-scrolling, a short...