An exploration of the spiritual journey. Stories, conversations, and reflections from the other side of conventional religious belief and practice. A sanctuary for seekers along the Unknown Path.
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).Six years ago, when I retired from my ministry and left the church, I began chronicling my exploration of the soulful terrain on the far side of conventional religion. It was an extraordinary landscape and my experiences there began fulfilling many of the unforgotten longings of my heart. I felt like I was coming home.To capture that journey, believing others might be encouraged in their exploration to hear about mine, I assembled many of the personal essays I'd written and arranged them more or less chronologically, so that they could be presented in book form. This summer that book will become available. In this final episode of the season, I read the Introduction from Talking to Trees: A Journey into Soul. Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).As we ponder and discern where Life is calling us, it is useful, and sometimes inspirational, to see how someone else has heard the call. Sandy Wiggins established himself as a business executive in the real estate world. It was creative work and it was lucrative and it provided opportunities to use property development as a way to serve the planet. But it's not where Sandy was destined to stay. As he followed the subtle leadings of his soul, Sandy took one step, and then the next, toward a new life, facilitating people's awakening through breath work. For spiritual seekers, Sandy's journey models a way to wake up and move toward the work we're meant to be doing in the world. Sandy's Breath Work: https://www.inspirationcommunity.orgSandy's Retreat and Individual Work: https://jivanmukta.lifeSandy's email address: sandy@jivanmukta.life Margaret Wheatley's Pivotal Essay: https://www.margaretwheatley.com/articles/emergence.htmlPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).We might have thought just a little more would make us happy. More money, more time, more things. But that's the problem. Like a cat chasing its tail, 'more' will never give us what we seek. As meditation teacher Billy Wynne explains, 'more' is an illusory concept. Only in accepting the emptiness of all things will we receive what we desire--the extravagant fulness of this present moment ... and then of the next. Billy's Book: "The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment Through the Radical Art of Lessening" by Billy Wynne; New World Library, 2025Billy's Website: https://billywynne.comThe Zen Center of Denver: https://zencenterofdenver.orgPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).The archetypal feminine can be many things--fierce, wily, nurturing, creative, and deeply rooted in the natural world. But Alanna Kaivalya regards two qualities in particular, intuition and emotion, at risk of being lost in the modern age, where women are expected to be strong and independent, like men. "The Satisfied Woman," she says, reclaims her feminine power in order to uniquely gift the world. Links and ResourcesAlanna's book: "The Way of the Satisfied Woman: Reclaiming Feminine Power" by Alanna Kaivalya; New World Library, 2024Alanna's website: https://www.thesatisfiedwoman.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).It's not about working a dream, about unpacking its symbols and wresting from it its cryptic meaning. It's about allowing the dream to work you, which is a very different thing. Mary Marsden is a nature-based soul guide, a personal mentor, and a dream worker. She helps dreamers to reenter the world of their dreams and experience the sensually soulful dreamscape that has been created by Mystery uniquely for them. Something will happen in such an encounter. It always does. Mary's web site: https://beearthnow.comThe Animas Valley Institute: https://www.animas.orgPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).One thing that keeps people from exploring their spiritual path is fear of the dark. Not just darkness itself, but what darkness hides--ghosts, demons, spirits. The mere thought of such entities drives nascent seekers away before they even get started. But it needn't be that way. Jan Thompson, Jane Fleming, and Wade Prpich are spiritual guides who know the dark side, but who choose the light. In fact, each would say that the way we conquer our primal fears and discover our spiritual power is, precisely, to walk in the light. Then, they say, the darkness fades and the way opens. Links to my Guests and Their WorkJan Thompson: https://www.ascensionarts.caJane Fleming: https://www.calgaryfirstspiritualistchurch.caWade Prpich: https://calgaryshaman.com/index.htmlPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).We don't tend to think of the corporate world as 'soulful.' But some companies realize that paying attention to social and environmental values, and not just to the bottom line, is good for the workers, good for the world, and, as it turns out, good for business as well. Sona Khosla is Chief Impact Officer for Benevity, a tech company that brings working people and worthy causes together. The "impact" Sona seeks applies equally to creating a human work environment and making the world a better place. Please, can we have more of this?A Link to Benevity: https://benevity.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).How do we rekindle our love for the Earth? According to naturalist and eco-philosopher Lyanda Haupt, the smallest step does it. Her book, Rooted, is a compendium of such steps, from wandering barefoot in the woods to welcoming the mystery of animal "presence." The starting point is simply our curiosity and our willingness to take a step, no matter how small, in the direction of the natural world. Lyanda's Most Recent Book: "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit" by Lyanda Lynn Haupt; Little, BrownSpark, 2021Connections to her work and to all her other books: https://www.lyandalynnhaupt.comPhoto Credit: Tom FurtwanglerPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).To be alone in the world is a terrible thing, unless of course it is by choice. Especially for men, the heart may long for deep connection while all our social posturing creates the opposite--distance. When men discover deep friendship with other men it is a gift to be savoured and, in this instance, shared. Don McLeod, Barry Foster and I have met together for almost twenty-five years, dubbing ourselves, preposterously, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. We have no advice about how others might do this themselves, but by sharing our own story perhaps some wisdom will emerge for those who seek a similar experience. All we know is that the world, and our world in particular, is a lot better for having friends. Books referenced in this conversation:"Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom" by John O'Donohue; HarperCollins, 1997"To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings" by John O'Donohue; Convergent Books, 2008"Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words" by David Whyte; Canongate Books, 2019As well as any of the over twenty books by Jungian writer James HollisPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...Stories arrive on our TV screen daily, unbidden. We are momentarily entertained or diverted but rarely are we changed. The old stories, however, passed down from generation to generation, were meant to instruct us, to identify us with a tribe, and to change us. Natalie Pepin, a Metis artist and cultural educator, and Tad Hargrave, a European-Canadian marketer and cultural explorer, both experienced the dearth of life-changing stories in our modern culture ... until they stumbled upon traditional fairy tales. Smitten by their potency, they now offer workshops on these ancient stories, each one capable of both rooting and transforming us. More about Tad & Natalie:Natalie's Website: https://meetingmyancestors.comTad's Website: https://marketingforhippies.comAn Excellent Resource on Fairy Tales:"Origins of Fairy Tales from Around the World," a Ten-Book Series by Pook Press (UK), including: Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, and more, each edition comprising seven variants of popular fairy tales.Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...Whatever Soul is, it's not tame. That's why we seek Soul in the wild places, where something locked away can be released and we can remember who we are and why we're here. That's also why we need an experienced guide to take us there, someone who knows the wild places of the human heart. Michelle Rigling is such a guide. Her Cavewoman Way group programs and one-on-one counselling invite the Wild Woman to appear in the lives of those seeking a soulful awakening. The participants, and the world, may never be the same again. ResourcesThe Cavewoman Way: https://www.thecavewomanway.comBooks"Women Who Run with the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes; Ballantine Books, 1995"Courting the Wild Twin" by Martin Shaw; Chelsea Green Publishing UK, 2020"Becoming Baba Yaga" by Kris Spisak; Hampton Roads Publishing, 2024"The House with Chicken Legs" by Sophie Anderson; Scholastic Press, 2018Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...Positive karma makes the world a better place and lightens our load in both this life and the next. Negative karma harms the world and burdens us with destructive habits. Becoming conscious of the bad habits we accumulate is the first step toward making better choices, finding joy and liberation for ourselves, and becoming a positive force in the world. My guest Mordy Levine, the co-author of The Beginner's Guide to Karma, breaks it all down for us.ResourcesThe Beginner's Guide to Karma: How to Live with Less Negativity & More Peace by Lama Lhanang Rinpoche & Mordy Levine; New World Library, 2024The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners: A Guide to Living and Dying by Lama Lhanang Rinpoche & Mordy Levine; Sounds True, 2023Jingle Lingpa Center: https://www.buddhistsandiego.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...Here's a seasonal offering of word and song that will warm your heart, whether it's Christmas you celebrate, the Winter Solstice, Festivus, or any of the many other culturally rich wintertime observances. As we turn inward at this time of year, we also turn back, longing for the comforts of a home that is lost to us now. For those of us with Celtic or Western European roots, Peia's music is deeply evocative of those ancestral roots long buried beneath our fast-paced modern life. Here she shares her songs and talks with me about the soulful path to making such soul-filled music. PS. This is the 150th episode of The Mystic Cave. Thanks so much for listening! Tip: Use the Chapters tab to take you directly to Peia's songs. ResourcesPeia's website: https://peiasong.comPeia's two solo albums: Four Great Winds (2013) and Beauty Thunders (2016)Peia's collaborations: Wild Honey, Ali Ghamsari, Rising Appalachia & othersPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...With every new war and with every new natural catastrophe, we are being driven to consider new ways of being human on this planet. This search is not new, but perhaps it's never been so critical. Celtic spiritual teacher John Philip Newell has collected nine prophetic voices in his latest book, The Great Search, to help awaken within us the realization that not only is the Earth sacred, so is the human soul. It's as inspiring a message as it is timely. ResourcesJohn Philip's website: https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newellHis two latest books: Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell; HarperOne, 2022 The Great Search by John Philip Newell; Wild Goose, 2024Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...How many of us emerged from the last US presidential shaking our heads and saying,"There's gotta be a better way." There is, and there has always been. The Way of Council is the time-honoured method of gathering soulfully that doesn't leave the heart at the door. Psychotherapist and soul guide Peter Scanlan teaches this way, and he shares it with us in this rich conversation. ResourcesPeter's website: http://www.peterscanlan.comThe Animas Valley Institute: https://www.animas.orgThe "bible" of the Way of Council: The Way of Council by Jack Zimmerman and Virginia Coyle; Bramble Books, 2009"When Someone Deeply Listens to You," a poem by John Fox: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=2343Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...Does religion have a role in "The Great Turning," where humanity is rediscovering what it means to be creatures of the earth? Or are its own wounds and divisions too deep to allow it to see beyond its protective walls? Sarah Arthurs is both an earth activist and a religious peacemaker. Her answer, depending on the day, may be: Yes; Not yet; or No. But hope says: Soon.Links to Sarah's WorldGreen Exodus (the home of the Urban Earthlings Club): https://greenexodus.ca/sarah-arthurs/The Calgary Interfaith Council: https://www.calgaryinterfaithcouncil.orgPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...The Indigenous culture that European colonizers encountered here in the New World, and then so brutally suppressed, is the very repository of wisdom we now need. Elizabeth Buller Page knows this personally. Deep into a midlife descent, Liz turned to her family's Indigenous roots to discover not only the healing she sought but the path she'd lost. ResourcesThe book on Cree history and culture that Liz can't be without: The Plains Cree: An Ethnographic, Historical, and Comparative Study by David Mandelbaum; University of Regina Press, 1940 & 1978 (revised)The Calgary Gallery that features Liz's art: https://moonstonecreation.ca/elizabeth-buller-page-1/Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...Out here, on the far side of conventional religion, no path is more compelling than the one that leads us to know our natural place within the larger earth community. And there may be no better modern guide than Bill Plotkin, the author of four books on the subject and the founder of the Animas Valley Institute. The way is called "soul initiation," which is devastating to the ego but life-giving to the soul. And it just might help save the planet.Two TipsThis episode is longer than most, so you might find it helpful to reference the Chapters tab above and listen in convenient chunks.You might also find it helpful to read along with the poem with which we begin our conversation, "What to Remember When Waking," by David Whyte. Here's a link: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=994ErrataThe notion I mistakenly attribute to Stephen Jenkinson, that true elders consider today's actions in light of their effect seven generations out, is in fact a Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) principle I had read about in Robin Wall Kimmerer's excellent book, "Braiding Sweetgrass." I regret the error. However, both Jenkinson and Bill Plotkin assume a similar point of view, that elders seek to honour both the ancestors who have gone before and the generations yet to come when considering the actions we take today.Bill's BooksSoulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche; Soulcraft; New World Library, 2003Nature and the Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World; New World Library, 2008Wild Mind: A Field Guide to the Human Psyche; New World Library, 2013The Journey of Soul Initiation: A Field Guide for Visionaries, Evolutionaries, and Revolutionaries" New World Library, 2021The Animas Valley InstituteHome page: https://www.animas.orgPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me a text message ...We dwell within a realm of spacious possibility; and it dwells within us. The mystic experiences this firsthand. So does any seeker alert to the subtle movements of the heart. Cynthia Bourgeault knows the territory well. She's lived it, and she's written about it. But, being human, she's also continuing to learn about it, sometimes by trial and error. Fortunately, our spiritual education is not completed in this lifetime. ResourcesCynthia's Websites: https://wisdomwaypoints.org; https://wisdomwayofknowing.orgCenter for Action and Contemplation: https://cac.orgA Sampling of Cynthia's Books"Love is Stronger than Death;" Random House, 1997"Mystical Hope;" Cowley Publications, 2001"The Wisdom Way of Knowing;" Jossey-Bass, 2003"Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening;" Cowley Publications, 2004"The Wisdom Jesus;" Shambhala, 2008"The Heart of Centering Prayer;" Shambhala, 2016"Eye of the Heart;" Shambhala Publications, 2020Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Click here to send me fan mail, I mean, a text message ...Soul has only one agenda--that we live into who we really are and offer our unique gifts in service to the world. Soul is less concerned about the obstacles that that may plant in our path. So, for rugged mountain guide Bruce Howatt, the call to finally show up in the world--as Julianna--must have felt like the greatest, most intimidating climb of all. And yet, here she is, inspiring the rest of us to discover and to assume our own singular place in the Universe.ResourcesJules' Website (as Bruce): https://www.brucehowatt.com/Jules' Soul Guide Bio: https://www.animas.org/guides/24/jules-howatt/The Animas Valley Institute: https://www.animas.orgPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Intuition is our portal to knowing everything. What our rational mind doesn't know, and can't know, is available to us through those flashes of insight that solve problems, give us direction, and suggest meaning and purpose for our lives. Kim Chestney, author of The Illumination Code: 7 Keys to Unlock Your Quantum Intelligence, has spent her life trying to understand intuition and what it does. Only recently, with discoveries from the field of quantum physics, can we begin to answer the question, but how does it work? Her book gives us the keys to that answer. PS. Please note the new link below that allows you to respond to this episode by sending me a text message. I'd love to hear from you, for this or for any previous episode.5 Keys to Kim Chestney:Kim's recent books:The Illumination Code: 7 Keys to Unlock Your Quantum Intelligence; New World Library, 2024Radical Intuition: A Revolutionary Guide to Using Your Inner Power; New World Library, 2020Kim's Website: https://www.kimchestney.comIntuition Lab: https://www.intuition-lab.comKim's (free) Insight Cards: https://www.intuition-lab.com/insight-card-practice1 Key to Kim's mentor, Ervin László, for those ready to take a deeper dive:Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything, by Ervin László; Simon & Schuster, 2004Send us a Text Message.Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
By the time an author scores a major publishing deal they are usually beyond the reach of mere mortals. So, when it happens to a friend, there is a unique sense of privilege watching the process unfold from the inside. Such is the case with Jessica Waite, whose memoir, "The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards" is poised for release this summer. In this episode Jessica and I explore the writing and publishing of her personal story, described as a "lyrical, witty, and deeply moving memoir of tragedy and betrayal" ... and also, it should be said, of hope.About Jessica's Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Widows-Guide-to-Dead-Bastards/Jessica-Waite/9781668044858A Link to Jessica: https://jessicawaite.substack.com/subscribe?next=https%3A%2F%2Fjessicawaite.substack.com%2F&later=true&just_signed_up=true&subscription_id=292664320&referral_token=2ep3rf&requires_confirmation=&utm_source=cover_page&email=brianepearson%40shaw.ca&skip_redirect_check=truePhoto Credit: Phil CrozierSend us a Text Message.Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
So many writers hide their light under a bushel, thinking they don't deserve the term "writer." But writing groups can put the lie to that fear, coaxing us and our words out from hiding. The UnderStory Collective is the writing group I belong to. I invited them to the Cave to share the reassuring and emboldening benefits of having writerly friends. Members of the UnderStory CollectiveSuzanne Johnston, Allan Cooper, Jessica Waite, Anne Marie Nakagawa, Brian PearsonSome Local ResourcesWriters Guild of Alberta: https://writersguild.caAlexandra Writers' Centre Society: https://www.alexandrawriters.orgSome Online ResourcesThe Shit They Don't Tell You About Writing: https://www.theshitaboutwriting.comUnschool for Writers: https://unschoolforwriters.substack.comThe Writer's Bridge: https://thewritersbridge.comPandemic University: https://pandemicuniversity.comGeneral ResourcesPublic Library Writing Programs, eg: https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/digital-library/gale-courses/Writers-in-Residence at many Libraries and UniversitiesA Few Books on Writing (and one on motivation)On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King; Scribner, 2000Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, by Jessica Brody; Ten Speed Press, 2018Story Genius, by Lisa Cron; Ten Speed Press, 2016The Practice: Shipping Creative Work, by Seth Godin; Penguin, 2020Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
You can hear it in her voice. This is a woman who knows herself and her place in the universe. But fortunately for us, she believes that that place is to help others find their voice too. "Writing by Heart" is Meredith Heller's invitation to find the inner path to yourself ... through poetry. It's a book. But it's also a portal. And it's beckoning ... Resources:Meredith's latest book: Writing by Heart: A Poetry Path to Healing and Self-Discovery by Meredith Heller; New World Library, 2024Featured Song: "Come Undone" from Meredith's album, Soul SirenMeredith's other books and workshops: https://www.meredithheller.comMeredith's albums are available wherever you stream your musicPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Psychedelics can show us what's beyond our ordinary consciousness. Meditation can help us to live day by day from that place. But in the end all practices fall short: the spiritual journey requires a letting go, not a holding on. Zen teacher Ryushin uses words only to point beyond those words ... to the actual peace and enlightenment we seek. Resources relative to this conversation:"Healing with Form, Energy and Light," by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche; Snow Lion (Shambhala Publications), 2002Body-Mind Centering: https://www.bodymindcentering.com/Contacting Ryushin directly:Email: fusanryushin@gmail.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
The Ordinary Reality we experience every day may not be the only reality there is. It may not even be the real one. Non-Ordinary Reality is a fantastical cosmos populated by Spirit Beings—plants, animals, and people—who are devoted to our health and wholeness. It's the job of shamans like Wade Prpich to travel to that world and seek the help of those Beings for the sake of our spiritual healing here in this one. For real! LinksWade's Website: http://calgaryshaman.com/index.htmlThe Foundation for Shamanic Studies: https://www.shamanism.orgResourcesThe Way of the Shaman, by Michael Harner; HarperOne, 1990 (updated and revised).Cave and Cosmos: Shamanic Encounters with Another Reality, by Michael Harner; North Atlantic Books, 2013.Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
It's like we're walking around blindfolded. We feel we are alone in the universe while spirit guides hover close by, waiting for us to acknowledge them. We feel it all comes down to our wills and to our efforts while energy pours into our hearts from a cosmic Source. Reiki Master Jan Thompson knows those spiritual realms, relying upon them for the healing work she does. It makes her humbler than most, and wiser too. Because she knows we only live our lives on this plain because of the life-giving energies of another. CorrectionJan wants to offer the following clarification: Kuan Yin, who she mentions at the 15:42 mark in our conversation, is a deity from Chinese mythology (not Japanese) who is nevertheless revered throughout Eastern Asia as the Goddess of Compassion and the Bodhisattva of Mercy. Links & ResourcesJan's book: Divine Healing:Powerful Stories of Transformation with Higher Selves and Beings of Light, by Carol Anne Halstead, et al (including Jan's chapter, "All Our Answers Lie Within: Through Love and Forgiveness"); FriesenPress; 2023Jan's Reiki and energy work: https://www.ascensionarts.caJan's dowsing work (with Carol Anne Halstead): https://www.ascensiondowsing.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
There's something encoded in our souls that seeks hope even in the face of hopelessness. That spark, that gene, that impossible dream is what allows us to discover new stories to replace the old ones and to usher in the new world we seek. Activist, storyteller, and writer Gareth Higgins, in his book, How Not to be Afraid, evokes the life-giving possibilities that are hidden within our fears. Links to Gareth and his workGareth's book: How Not to be Afraid: Seven Ways to Live When Everything Seems Terrifying; Broadleaf Books, 2021.Gareth's Website: http://www.garethhiggins.netGareth's Online Community: https://www.theporchcommunity.net/orderPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Teresa Hanlon was doing ministry within her church long before she was ordained. But when she became a priest, her Church excommunicated her and inhibited her from doing the work she loved. Providentially, for her and the other women priests ordained within the Catholic tradition (if not in the Roman Catholic Church itself), it was not an ending. It was a beginning, signalling perhaps the rebirth of Christianity itself ... with women at the table. Acronyms & their links:LICCF (Lethbridge Inclusive Catholic Community Fellowship): https://liccf.caRCWPC (Roman Catholic Women Priests Canada): http://rcwpcanada.ca/CNWE (Catholic Network for Women's Equality): https://www.cnwe.orgWOW (Women's Ordination Worldwide): http://womensordinationcampaign.orgWOC (Women's Ordination Conference): https://www.womensordination.orgRecommended Resources:1) Womanpriest:Tradition and Transgression in the Contemporary Roman Catholic Church (New York: Fordham University Press, 2020) by Jill PeterfesoAvailable online https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/375282) VIDEO Pink Smoke over the Vatican: www.pinksmokeoverthevatican.com 20113) Mary and Early Christian Women by Ally Kateusz, Ally: ham, Switzerland, 2019 available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331185040_Mary_and_Early_Christian_Women_Hidden_Leadership4) A PERIODICAL which reviews relevant news with some original material (Teresa's story found here as well): The Review RCWP Canada online, twice monthly review of RC women topics including ordination. https://rcwpcanada.altervista.org/5) My Journey from Silence to Solidarity: The Life story of Roy Bourgeois, (Maryknoll priest of 40 years excommunicated and expelled from his order because of support for a woman friend's Catholic ordination). http://www.roybourgeoisjourney.org/book/book.pdf6) Interview of author of biography of RC women's ordination behind the Iron Curtain through a contemporary, online ministry called FUTURE CHURCH https://futurechurch.org/women-in-church-leadership/pope-francis-meet-your-priest-ludmilla-javarova-with-miriam-therese-winter/Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Everything we do reflects Soul. Because Soul is about what's inside. How we dress is one way we let our inner self out, to be seen. Barry Foster, known by some as "the best dressed man in church land," knows that our sartorial choices are so much more than fashion statements. They are about who we are. Resources"True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear," by G. Bruce Boyer; Basic Books, 2015"The Rake" magazine ("the modern voice of classic elegance"): https://therake.com/magazinePersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Here's a song I wrote a few years ago that has become special to me. I often use it to close my performances of music and storytelling. This version is just a demo, meaning the song is still in development. But I wanted to share it with you as is, as a small gift at New Years. Enjoy!Song Credit: Music and lyrics by Brian E Pearson; recorded in The Mystic Cave studioDouble bass performed by Cory HutchesonPhoto Credit:Photo by laura adai on Unsplash. Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Set in 1995, when people still smoked and few had cell phones, this retelling of the Christmas story imagines a young couple overwhelmed by circumstances larger than themselves and by a dark and inhospitable world seemingly incapable of welcoming their newborn. Until the city utility truck arrives, and then a carload of academics. Story Credit: Written, performed, and produced by Brian E PearsonSoundscape Credits:Copenhagen Streetscape by iwilhelm13; Attribution Non-Commercial License 4.0Old Station Wagon by Kyles; Creative Commons 0 licenseSchool Bus Old Rattly Idle by Kyles; Creative Commons 0 licenseIndoor Adult Murmur by SpliceSound; Creative Commons 0 licenseFluorescent Tube Sound by Garuda1982; Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 licenseTires Squealing by Rutget Muller; Creative Commons 0 licenseFast-starting Car by RobinHood76; Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 licenseHeaven Voices by RobinHood76; Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 licenseCelestial "Unknown Voices" by bolkmar; Attribution 3.0 licenseDon Nobis Pacem Cathedral by Klanlbeeld; Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 licensePersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
After days, weeks, even years of preparation, each Vision Quester headed off for a three-day solo fast on a mountainside in Southwestern Colorado. Every experience was unique. But everyone had an experience, a Soul Encounter, that awakened us to our place in the Universe. Here, Vincenzo Falone and I tell our own stories of going solo.Links to Vincenzo FalonePersonal and Group Mentoring: https://liveinfullexpression.comThe ManKind Project: https://mkpusa.org/crossroads/Links to the Animas Valley Institutehttps://www.animas.orgBooks by Bill Plotkin (all books published by New World Library)"Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche," 2003"Nature and the Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World," 2008"Wild Mind: A Field Guide to the Human Psyche," 2013"The Journey of Soul Initiation: A Field Guide Visionaries, Revolutionaries, and Revolutionaries," 2021Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Eleven days camping on a Colorado mountainside, three of those days a solo fast, seeking an encounter with Nature that might grant us a vision of our mythopoetic identities, our unique place in the Universe: it would have been an ambitious undertaking for someone half our age. But somehow Vincenzo Falone, from New Jersey, and I, a Canadian from Alberta, felt drawn to be there, both of us in our late sixties (and one of us pushing seventy rather hard). This is the story of what got us there. Links to Vincenzo FalonePersonal and Group Mentoring: https://liveinfullexpression.comThe ManKind Project: https://mkpusa.org/crossroads/Links to the Animas Valley Institutehttps://www.animas.orgBooks by Bill Plotkin (all books published by New World Library)"Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche," 2003"Nature and the Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World," 2008"Wild Mind: A Field Guide to the Human Psyche," 2013"The Journey of Soul Initiation: A Field Guide Visionaries, Revolutionaries, and Revolutionaries," 2021Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
A few gurus and spiritual leaders have given all the others a bad name. But yoga and meditation instructor Vickie MacArthur has a story to tell about Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen Master, whose gaze was all it took to change her life, filling her with divine love. It's a story we may need to hear. Vickie's book and web sites"A Lotus on Fire: How a Buddhist Monk Ignited my Heart": https://a.co/d/4PhkbLV https://www.vickiemacarthur.cahttps://spiritinmotionyoga.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
We might deny it, but we're all creative. We might not make a painting, but we might make a garden or a business or a home. Visual artist Jan Handy speaks with me about the challenges and the joys of following our Muse. It's everyone's calling.ResourcesJan's email address: jajhandy@gmail.comBooks mentioned in our conversation:"The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity," by Julia Cameron; Jeremy P. Tarcher / Random House; 1992, 2002, 2016"The Practice: Shipping Creative Work," by Seth Godin; Portfolio / Penguin, New York; 2020"The Creative Act: A Way of Being," by Rick Rubin; Penguin Press, New York; 2023Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Is our spirituality shaped by our sexuality? Or are we shaped more by the social constructs of that sexuality? Counselling psychologist and professor emeritus Kevin Alderson has spent his career specializing in LGBTQ+ issues and helping people to accept themselves, whatever their sexuality. Only when we love ourselves can we learn how to be "givers" rather than "takers" and become the people we are capable of being. About Kevin:Most recent book: Counselling Today: Bridging Art, Science, and Practice; Cognella Publications, January 2024.Upcoming book: The New Sex: An Exposé of What You Could be Missing (as yet unpublished).Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
What if our place in the Universe isn't a job, or a role, or anything the world might recognize as useful? What if it's more subtle and more fundamental than how the world sees us? What would that look like? And how would we even know if we'd found it? Celia McBride's memoir, O My God: An Un-becoming Journey, explores this territory as she shares the story of her passionate desire to become a nun, only to have Soul lead her somewhere else. Links to Celia McBrideCelia's book: O My God: An Un-becoming JourneyCelia's web site: https://www.celiamcbride.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Jesus told a parable about a wealthy man who increased his holdings and expanded his storage facilities for all his goods, until the day came when he was informed that his soul was required of him. Would that he had cared for his soul before it was taken away.James Hollis has been counselling, writing, and teaching for over fifty years. His acquired wisdom is simple, which doesn't mean it's easy: get to know your soul ... before it leaves you. Soul comes to us every day--in our dreams, in our neuroses, in our psychic disturbances--with an invitation to pay attention. If we do, Soul will lead us to the "interesting" life we're each called to live. Links to James HollisWebsite: https://jameshollis.netBooks: https://jameshollis.net/hollisBooks.htmlPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Prophets don't call themselves prophets. They speak their words or write their books until people start to notice. Then they may open a wisdom school or create magical live events or succumb to interviews with podcasters. All this describes Stephen Jenkinson. When he writes, or speaks, or performs, you feel your world opening up, shifting, changing. You'd be hard pressed to describe exactly what's happening. But something is happening. And that something was captured in our recent conversation. Links to the World of Stephen JenkinsonWebsite: https://orphanwisdom.comBooks, Music and Films: https://orphanwisdom.com/books/2023 Tour: https://orphanwisdom.com/nights-of-grief-and-mystery/Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Out here on the far side of conventional religion it is important that the seeker find a few guideposts. Otherwise the open landscape can feel overwhelming. Thomas Moore has been a seeker's lodestar for over thirty years, ever since he reintroduced us to the language of “Soul” in his best-selling book, “Care of the Soul.” His new book, "The Eloquence of Silence," gathers stories from around the globe and from across the spectrum of religious traditions to explore the spirituality of emptiness. Our conversation took us many places, from the need to let go of certainty and acquisitiveness to memories of his good friend and mentor, fellow Jungian James Hillman. Books:"Care of the Soul," by Thomas Moore: https://a.co/d/ePybyS3"The Eloquence of Silence," by Thomas Moore: https://a.co/d/71tRllQ"The Soul's Code," by James Hillman: https://a.co/d/1y5Rp1M"The Force of Character," by James Hillman: https://a.co/d/fyd0nUeSocial Media Links to Thomas Moore:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100044727171932 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thomasmooreSoul Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomasmooresoul/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billphilipps2751Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Darold Black loves people and he loves pictures. So it's no surprise that our conversation about wisdom turned into personal stories about life. Wisdom doesn't come to us as lofty ideas. It comes to us as images from the heart. Darold is working on a documentary series called "E5," an attempt to capture the wisdom of elders on film. It's not a gathering of wise sayings in twenty-second media clips. It's storytelling, where the seeds of wisdom have always been found. Links & ResourcesDarold's E5 project: https://e5.lifeDarold's Media Company: https://blackmediaworks.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Some would prefer to say spiritual "companionship" rather than "direction," and that would probably be more accurate. Because it's not about directing anyone anywhere, except, that is, to pay attention to the subtle movements within your own heart and soul. And that's what spiritual directors do.My guest on this episode is Lois Huey-Heck, a seasoned spiritual director whose natural bent for compassion, whose aptitude for the ways of Soul, and whose deep experience and training coalesce to offer the world a unique gift: the gift of holy listening. Resources:Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.orgJubilee: https://www.canadianjubilee.caPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Words fail us when we try to speak of the mysteries of life and death and the other soulful experiences of our lives. Except, that is, for the words of poets. In the modern age we turn to poetry as if to holy scripture, searching for the images and metaphors that help us express our deepest fears and our highest hopes. Three poets offer their own words in this episode as together we explore the Eastertide theme of death and resurrection. Rosemary Griebel, Paul Grindlay, and Juleta Severson-Baker consider the classic movement of an Easter weekend from the bleak cross of Good Friday through the numinous waiting of Holy Saturday to the colourful blossoms of Easter morning. At every turn their words give voice to our grief, our doubts, and our joy, as only the words of poets can do.Links and Resources:Rosemary Griebel's collection of poetry, "Yes." was published by Frontenac House in 2011: https://www.frontenachouse.com/product/yes/. Other poems are found in chapbooks published by Leaf Press. Paul Grindlay's three books of poetry are "Natural Selections" (2020), "'S Word Play" (2021), and "Currents" (2022), all published by Largemouth Basso Books: https://www.paulgrindlay.ca/largemouth-basso-books/. Paul is currently preparing an audio book of his fourth anthology, "Footfalls on the Path of Love." Juleta Severson-Baker's collection of poetry, "Incarnation," was published by Frontenac House in 2013: https://www.frontenachouse.com/product/incarnate/. Other poems are found in chapbooks published by Leaf Press, including "Every*Word*Spoken" (2013).Photo Credit: Nicolas Messifet on UnsplashPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Many men, having inherited the cultural expectations of former generations, feel they are being shamed in the modern age. Traditional male traits, such as protectiveness, leadership, and strength, are now denigrated for their toxic potential rather than celebrated for their social value. It's a difficult time for men as they try to break the old molds and discover a new way of being themselves in the world.Therapist Marv Westwood has spent years working at the very heart of traditional male culture--male military personnel who have been traumatized by war. In groups designed to provide therapeutic release, Marv has unearthed both the value of traditional male traits and also, critically, the emergence of openness, sensitivity, and compassion that reside in the souls of every one of us, regardless of gender. Links:Heads Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wAdJVxqzwoMale Psychology (UK): https://www.johnbarrypsychologist.com/male-psychology-homeBlueprint (David Kuhl): https://www.blueprint.ngoArticle:Shields, D. and Westwood, M. (2019). "In Counselling Male Military Personnel and Veterans: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Engagement." In Barry, J. (2019). The Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health. Palgrave PublisherPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
If we're searching for a connection with our souls, we needn't look any further than our voice. Quite apart from the words we use and the intentions behind those words, our voice reveals the state of things within. Are we anxious, are we confident, are we restful? The voice knows. Consequently, so does the world.Jennifer Mason is a trained singer and vocal coach who helps people discover and utilize the full dynamic range of their voice. As to her own voice, Jennifer is releasing a re-mastered version of "Mothers of the World," her haunting album of lullabies from around the globe. Credits (from "Mothers of the World"):1st Clip: Nana (Spanish trad, arranged by Mason)2nd Clip: Suo-Gan (Welsh trad, arranged by Mason, Gilman)3rd Clip: Sea Gypsies (by Mason, Gilman) Links to Jennifer's Web Sites:"Mothers of the World" web site: https://www.mothersoftheworld.orgJennifer's vocal coaching web site: https://www.vocalpresence.caListen to "Mothers of the World" online: On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0wXjoJMhEn63BgEdPuLLIs?si=358R6ZoaSBi09pj6-I7g9g&nd=1On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/mothers-of-the-world/1675713504Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Some say before we could sing, we drummed. Whether or not that's accurate, drumming is one of our most primitive forms of communication. Perhaps, it once helped us to "talk" across great distances. Perhaps, it brought us together to unify and strengthen the community. Perhaps, it was just ... fun. Julien Lepage leads modern-day drumming circles where we can re-experience a deep resonation with our own bodies, with one another, and with the Earth. There are no ideologies to label us, no religion or politics to divide us, and no boundaries to keep us out, not when we yield to the rhythm of the drum. Links and Resources'Circles of Rhythm' Web site: https://www.circlesofrhythm.com/community-drum-circles/Judy Atkinson's book: "The Drum Code: Living Well Between the Beats"; KDP Publishing, 2017Episode Credits1st Interlude: "Montreal Drum Circle" by georgeradio (http://www.georgemotoc.com); Attribution Licence 3.02nd Interlude: "Tokyo Drum Circle" by manuke; Creative Commons License3rd Interlude: "Hippie Hill" by SFINDIGO; Creative Commons LicensePersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Yoga is not just about poses and posers. It's about a soulful engagement with our own lives that includes both our bodies and our dreams. It's about the rediscovery of the connection we have lost with the Earth, and about the purpose that the Earth itself is dreaming for us.Rebecca Wildbear is a soul guide, a wilderness therapist, and a yoga instructor. Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration And Advocacy for the Earth is her new book on, in her words, "an embodied practice to help us love ourselves, deepen our relationship with the natural world, and stretch our consciousness". Links & ResourcesThe book (on Amazon.com): https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Yoga-Practice-Initiation-Veneration/dp/160868797XThe book (on Amazon.ca): https://a.co/d/7wmEZhbRebecca's web site: http://www.rebeccawildbear.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
"You can be so heavenly minded," the saying goes, "that you're of no earthly use." Ouch for all us lofty-headed idealists! But bringing together heavenly ideals and earthly resources--now that's useful! And that's what Howard Fischer is doing with Gratitude Railroad, his impact investment firm he started with his friend Eric Jacobsen: move investment capital from the safe and conventional financial world to a whole new world of environmental protection and social justice. It might not be heaven on earth ... yet. But it's a start. LinkGratitude Railroad: https://gratituderailroad.comPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
Many of us fear aging. We suppose that the long slow slide on the other side of the hill is a negation of the one life we've been given to live. But what if it's the opposite? What if aging is our crowning glory, all that experience finally adding up to something: meaning, depth, and even wisdom? Judy Steiert trains "sage-ing" guides and leaders, and she herself mentors those who want to welcome aging, rather than to fear it. For those of us retiring from our jobs and facing the next chapter of our lives, this is good news. It's not the end. It's a new beginning. Resources“The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul” by Connie Zweig; Park Street Press, 2021“From Age-ing to Sage-ing” by Zalman Schacter Shalomi; Balance (reprint edition), 2014Sage-ing International: https://www.sage-ing.orgPersonal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
What if the Earth is beyond saving? What if only the abandonment of hope will deliver us to the new world we seek? What if eco-grief is the portal we need to rediscover our role in the natural world, and in its healing? Jodi Lammiman is an eco-awareness counsellor and spiritual guide who connects our fears and sorrows to the work we've each been given ... to be in communion with the living Earth. This connection, in the end, may be our only hope. LinksRefugia: https://www.refugiaretreats.com"On Being" Podcast: https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/ ("A Wild Love for the World," with Joanna Macy)Resources (with two highlighted for quick reference)Martha Beck, "The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path of Your True Self;" The Open Field, 2021Thomas Berry, "The Dream of the Earth;" Counterpoint, 2015Kathleen Dean Moore, "Great Tide Rising: Towards Clarity and Moral Courage in a Time of Planetary Change;" Counterpoint, 2017Sarah Jaquette Ray, "A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep You Cool on a Warming Planet;" University of California Press, 2020Joanna Macy, "Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're In Without Going Crazy;" New World Library, 2012Sebene Selassie, "You Belong: A Call for Connection;" Harper One, 2020Francis Weller & Michael Lerner, "The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief;" North Atlantic Books, 2015Britt Wray, "Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis;" Knopf Canada, 2022Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022
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