The Sacred Speaks

In this episode of 'The Sacred Speaks,' host Dr. John W. Price engages in a conversation with Dr. Miles Neale, a Buddhist psychotherapist and esteemed teacher. Dr. Neal, who specializes in Tibetan Buddhism and contemplative practices, discusses his book, 'Return with Elixir,' which maps out the pilgrimage through death and rebirth. The discussion explores the intricacies of ancient Greek dream temples, Jungian psychology, and Tibetan tantric practices. Dr. Neal also shares his personal journey, including the impact of a significant mentor-mentee relationship, and the transformative power of pilgrimages, both outer and inner. He reflects on a recent pilgrimage in the Sum Valley, emphasizing the importance of virtue and integrity in the present age. This episode invites listeners to explore the ancient wisdoms and methodologies that guide the path to self-discovery and holistic healing. In this episode (00:00) Introduction and Guest Overview (01:09) Host Announcements and Updates (03:09) Introducing Dr. Miles Neal (03:57) Exploring Ancient Healing Practices (05:54) The Journey of Writing 'Return with Elixir' (18:07) Critique of Modern Western Medicine (28:30) Personal Transformations and Pilgrimage (53:20) The Role of the Inner Guru (59:03) The Mythological Journey to Sun Valley (59:55) The Mission of Lama Zopa (01:01:08) Building the Stupa: A Symbol of Enlightenment (01:05:59) The Collapse of Civilization and the Role of the Stupa (01:09:16) The Importance of Virtue and Integrity (01:15:06) Pilgrimages and Inner Journeys (01:21:13) The Tibetan Art of Dying and Reincarnation (01:38:25) The Living Tradition of Tantra (01:52:07) Final Thoughts and Reflections Connect with Miles Neale Website https://www.milesneale.com/ Instagram @milesneale https://www.instagram.com/milesneale/?hl=en YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMilesNeale Website for John: www.drjohnwprice.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Check out John's new website https://www.drjohnwprice.com/ Join The Open Gate – A Monthly Journey Through the Emotional Underworld The Open Gate is a live, monthly membership circle where we explore what I call the Little Teachers—emotions like shame, jealousy, and anxiety—not as pathologies, but as sacred guides. Each gathering includes teaching, meditation, journaling prompts, and a chance to reframe suffering as initiation. If you're longing for community, rhythm, and depth—this is a space to walk that path. - https://www.drjohnwprice.com/the-open-gate-lt In this deeply reflective solo episode of The Sacred Speaks, host John W. Price explores the elusive and powerful principle of the feminine—drawing on insights from his previous interviews with Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles (author of Women in the Bible) and Elise Loehnen (author of On Our Best Behavior). John shares personal stories of his own initiation into the world of nurturing and care as a single father, and discusses how our culture's overemphasis on the masculine has led to the neglect and invisibility of feminine values like intuition, mystery, and nurturing. Through the lens of archetypes—not gender—John examines how both masculine and feminine energies exist in all of us, and why restoring harmony between them is essential for personal and collective well-being. Using metaphors from music, psychology, and mythology, he invites listeners to embrace the mystery, honor the feminine, and seek a sacred balance within themselves and the world. Some key takeaways: The feminine represents mystery, intuition, and nurturing—qualities often undervalued in our culture. Masculine and feminine are archetypal energies, not tied to gender, and both are needed for inner and outer harmony. Restoring balance means honoring both energies, embracing the unknown, and seeking integration rather than dominance. In this episode (00:00) Introduction and Episode Overview (01:06) Synthesizing Interviews: Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles and Elise Loehnen (01:50) Exploring the Feminine and Masculine Principles (05:16) Personal Reflections and Experiences (09:28) Cultural and Archetypal Analysis (19:46) Insights from Jamie and Elise (27:46) Concluding Thoughts and Call to Action

Join me for a live webinar – Reframing Suffering: The Little Teachers We'll explore anxiety, jealousy, and shame as sacred teachers. Date: Wednesday, May 14 https://www.drjohnwprice.com/littleteachers-event-2025 Make sure to check out the book Women in the Bible https://www.amazon.com/Women-Bible-Interpretation-Resources-Scripture/dp/0664234011 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, Dr. John W. Price speaks with Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, a New Testament professor at SMU and ordained Baptist minister. The discussion covers Dr. Clark-Soles' groundbreaking work on women in the Bible and her forthcoming book on psychedelics and Christianity. Dr. Clark-Soles shares her insights into translation, interpretation, and the often hidden or misrepresented roles of women in sacred texts. The conversation also delves into her personal experiences—including participating in a psilocybin clinical trial—which deepened her spiritual understanding and informed her scholarship. Together, they explore the complexity and richness of scriptural interpretation, the transformative possibilities of embodied reading, and the role of community, humility, and curiosity in authentic spiritual exploration.

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with Elise Loehnen—writer, researcher, and author of On Our Best Behavior, a book that explores how the ancient moral framework of the seven deadly sins has been internalized by women, shaping their identities, relationships, and sense of worth. This conversation is not just a review—it's a ritual inquiry. Together, John and Elise explore: The invisible “scripts” that define femininity in a patriarchal culture; How envy, pride, sloth, and other so-called “sins” reveal deeper spiritual truths; What Elise risked—and learned—by stepping out from her “invisibility cloak”; How patriarchal systems harm men as well, and the cost of emotional suppression; How men and women can co-create a future rooted in collaboration, not competition The role of grief, longing, and sacred agency in personal and cultural awakening; Elise also shares behind-the-scenes insight into her writing process, her podcast Pulling the Thread, and her evolving work around binaries, individuation, and collective healing. This episode is part of a broader arc on The Sacred Speaks focused on rebalancing the masculine and feminine within us and in our culture. Join John for the upcoming live webinar: Reframing Suffering – The Little Teachers Explore anxiety, jealousy, and shame as sacred messengers

Visit drjohnwprice.com to explore the new site and sign up for the free live webinar on May 14th at 7:00pm CST—a communal space to deepen this work together. In this first solo episode of The Sacred Speaks, I open the door to a new format—one that invites reflection, story, and personal encounter. We begin with mentorship. Drawing from Homer's Odyssey, we explore the sacred roots of the mentor archetype. I offer reflections on what mentorship has meant in my life—from the early days as a musician to the path of a seeker—and trace the thread through conversations with two giants in this work: Father Richard Rohr and Dr. James Hollis. We'll move through the terrain of masculine energy, myth, music, therapy, and spiritual awakening—touching on what it means to be shaped by others and what it might mean to become a shaping force ourselves. I also share where the podcast is headed, including an upcoming turn toward the feminine. You're invited to consider your own mentors—those seen and unseen—and how they've helped guide your becoming.

Check out Richard Rohr's latest book, The Tears of Things, where he explores the wisdom of the prophets and the realities of social sin. In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, I sit down with Father Richard Rohr—one of the most respected spiritual teachers of our time. We dive into the significance of prophecy, the necessity of self-awareness in transformation, and the ways in which religion can both illuminate and obscure the path to truth. Father Rohr shares insights from The Tears of Things, his latest book, which reframes the role of the prophets—not as finger-wagging moralists but as voices crying out against the deep, systemic sins that threaten to unravel society. Our conversation moves through themes of non-dual thinking, the dangers of religious idolatry, and how true spiritual growth requires both inner work and a commitment to the collective good. Throughout the episode, Richard offers deeply personal reflections on his own spiritual journey, the necessity of sadness and self-doubt, and the ongoing process of transformation that never really ends. Episode Timestamps (00:00) Introduction and Announcements (02:44) Richard Rohr's Spiritual Journey and Early Influences (08:21) The Franciscan Way and the Practice of Humility (13:39) The Trap of Dualistic Thinking and the Ego (18:43) The Power of Initiation and Rites of Passage (35:00) The Role of Prophets in Society Today (47:23) Understanding the Concept of Demons and Possession (49:14) The Father Wound and Healing Parental Relationships (50:23) The Prophets and Their Enduring Insights (50:52) The Remnant and the Wisdom of the Minority (53:27) The Problem with Majority Rule and Empires (57:29) Personal Struggles, Doubt, and the Spiritual Journey (01:06:17) The Role of Sadness in Awakening and Solidarity (01:10:55) Medicalizing Sin and the Social Consequences (01:14:49) The Prophet's Vision and Its Relevance Today (01:18:40) Reflections on Life, Death, and Spiritual Evolution (01:27:52) Final Thoughts: Reward, Punishment, and the Nature of Grace Watch & Listen: YouTube: The Sacred Speaks Instagram: @thesacredspeaks Twitter: @thesacredspeaks Facebook: The Sacred Speaks

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price welcomes renowned Jungian analyst and depth psychologist Dr. James Hollis to discuss his new book, 'Living with Borrowed Dust: Reflections on Life, Love, and Other Grievances.' The conversation explores significant themes such as confronting one's shadow, taking personal responsibility, and liberating oneself from societal and cultural scripts. Dr. Hollis shares personal experiences, including his own recent encounters with mortality and the importance of lifelong personal growth. The episode also explores the role of dreams in psychological insight and emphasizes the necessity of asking large existential questions to live a fulfilling life. Listen in and get some profound advice from Dr. Hollis, who has a truly impressive six decades of analytical work and authorship to draw from.

Make sure to check out Henry's book “Original Love” https://henryshukman.com/writing/original-love Also check out the meditation app “The Way” https://www.thewayapp.com/?source=us_traffic Welcome to The Sacred Speaks! In this episode, I sit down with Henry Shukman—a Zen teacher, poet, and co-founder of The Way meditation app. Together, we explore the profound mysteries of meditation, spirituality, and the human experience. Henry shares his journey from his early struggles with eczema and psychological challenges to his transformative awakening and his life as a Zen teacher. We dive deep into Zen concepts, the beauty of ordinary experience, and the intersection of poetry and meditation. Henry offers wisdom on navigating common meditation hindrances and shares practical advice for cultivating awareness, deepening meaning, and connecting with the unseen currents of existence. Join us as we uncover the power of meditation to transform both our inner and outer lives.

Interview begins: 3:40 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, Dr. John Price hosts Ayize Jama-Everett for a discussion on spirituality, religion, cultural identity, and the pervasive impact of colonization. Ayize shares insights from his journey, beginning with how his roots in Harlem and his work within the psychedelic space have shaped his perspective on community, healing, and cultural reclamation. Together, they examine how long-established cultural dynamics continue to influence our lives, often without our conscious awareness. Ayize discusses his efforts to influence these dynamics at a cultural level, reflecting on religious and spiritual practices as tools for both personal and collective transformation. They also explore the complexities of whiteness—not only as a cultural identity shaped by colonization but as an orientation that often perpetuates colonizing behaviors toward other cultures. Ayize shares the purpose behind his documentary, A Table of Our Own, which aims to expand access to healing practices for Black people and to highlight the important work already being done within these communities. The project seeks to de-stigmatize these substances, reframing them as natural balms that have served as spiritual and psychological support for Black people over millennia. The conversation touches on Black joy, the importance of reconnecting with land-based spiritual practices, and the need to decolonize healing spaces. Ayize's reflections offer a fresh lens on the healing power of connection, inspiring listeners to consider how we might engage in reclaiming and honoring our spiritual and cultural roots. Bio: Ayize Jama-Everett holds three Master's degrees: Divinity, Psychology, and in Fine Arts, Writing. He blends these degrees in all his work, often identifying as a guerilla theologian, a community-based therapist, and an afro-futurist in the same breath. He's taught at Starr King School for the Ministry, California College of the Arts, The University of California, Riverside, Western Colorado College, and several private High schools for over twenty years. His expertise includes working with adolescents, the history of substance use in the United States, the history of Sacred Plant medicines in the Maghreb, the religious roots of political violence from Ireland to the Middle East, educational arts pedagogy, and Afrofuturism. He's published four novels (The Liminal series) and two graphic novels (Box of Bones and The Last Count of Monte Cristo). www.atableofourown.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: www.thesacredspeaks.com/ WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: www.thecenterforhas.com/ Theme music provided by: www.modernnationsmusic.com/

Interview begins: 5:03 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, we explore the profound spiritual and social dimensions of gender with Rev. Cynthia Brix and Dr. Will Keepin, pioneers in the field of gender reconciliation and equity. Cynthia, an interfaith minister and wellness expert, and Will, a former quantum physicist turned healer and spiritual seeker, share their journeys and the transformative power of their work. Cynthia discusses her path from atheism to a dynamic spirituality grounded in activism and human relationships. She reflects on how her experiences and education led her to focus on bridging divides through dialogue and connection. Will, drawing from his background in quantum physics and mysticism, discusses the distinction between Newtonian and quantum physics, landing on what he refers to as an "epistemology of the heart," a way of knowing that transcends reason and embraces the interconnectedness of the universe. Will notes that his crisis of science was related to the conclusions of many radical scientists who determined that there is a deeper register to reality that is not subject to our scientific instruments, highlighting some of the limitations of our modern sciences. We discussed both of their understanding of spirituality, defining the concept and exploring how practice transforms our lived experience. Together, they explore duality and nonduality, the integration of spiritual wisdom with social engagement, emphasizing the healing potential of personal storytelling in their workshops. Cynthia and Will envision a future where a new civilization, built on reverence and understanding, can emerge through this powerful work. Bio: Dr. William Keepin and Rev. Cynthia Brix are co-founders of Gender Equity and Reconciliation International, an organization that has led 280 intensive trainings across twelve countries to foster healing and reconciliation among people of all genders. Cynthia, an ordained interfaith minister and Co-Director of the Satyana Institute, brings a diverse background in spiritual leadership and social justice. She holds an M.Div. from Iliff School of Theology and a double M.A. in wellness management and applied gerontology. Cynthia has led interfaith retreats and organized international conferences on spirituality and gender equity, including one that brought together women spiritual leaders from Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu traditions. Together, they have developed a transformative method for gender reconciliation, emphasizing compassion, deep listening, and mutual respect. Will, a former mathematical physicist with a PhD in applied mathematics, is also a scholar in sustainable energy, global warming, and the intersection of science and spirituality. He has testified before European and Australian parliaments and the U.S. House of Representatives and is a co-founder of the Satyana Institute. A seasoned spiritual practitioner, Will holds multiple degrees in East-West psychology and mathematical physics, and is the author of several books, including Divine Duality and Belonging to God. https://www.genderreconciliationinternational.org/ Link to Houston workshop: https://www.thecenterforhas.com/event/the-alchemy-of-reconciliation-a-workshop-for-women-men-healing-across-genders/ Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 3:11 In this episode, I sit down with Barry Taylor to explore the intersections of rock 'n' roll, counterculture, and spirituality. Barry shares his early experiences in the vibrant world of music and discusses how these experiences opened up a new language for understanding the invisible aspects of our world. Highlights of this episode include: • Music as a Gateway: Barry and I explore how music acts as a symbolic language that helps articulate the invisible, shaping our perception of the mystical. • The Famous Quote Explained: Barry elucidates the quote famously referenced by Pete Holmes, discussing how the invisible world is like a blanket we lay to give shape to what we cannot see. • Forensic Faith and Fluid Reality: We dive into the challenges of making spirituality overly concrete and discuss the benefits of embracing the fluid nature of reality. • Religion as Interpretive Framework: Barry articulates how religion should be approached as a framework for interpreting reality, rather than a rigid truth. • Transgression and Kindness: We discuss how simple acts of kindness can be transgressive in a culture that often overlooks them. • Culture, Tattoos, and Taboos: We examine how tattoos and fashion challenge cultural norms and serve as powerful expressions of individual identity. • The Digital as Divine: Barry makes a compelling argument that our technological advancements have taken on a divine-like role in society, shaping our responses to societal challenges and the concept of otherness. Closing Thoughts: As we wrap up, Barry offers insights into the future role of technology in spirituality and the potential illusions of growth in our digital age. Bio: Barry Taylor lives and works in London, having returned to the U.K. after many years in Los Angeles. He has committed his life to following his curiosities, which have taken many forms including music, fashion, art, religion, and academia. His interests primarily lie in the areas of religion, theology, and philosophy, particularly exploring how cultural shifts reshape our understanding of what it means to be human, our interactions with others, and our grappling with fundamental questions about human existence and ultimate meaning. His wide variety of interests currently converge around the impact of technology on society and culture. Taylor teaches for an online graduate platform, the Global Centre for Advanced Studies (GCAS), and writes extensively on his Patreon page (patreon.com/barrytaylor). He also engages with the complexities of contemporary life and shares his insights on Instagram (@ukbloke). https://www.patreon.com/barrytaylor Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 6:04 In this episode, comedian Pete Holmes meets theologian and former AC/DC road manager, Barry Taylor, for the first time, despite Pete having referenced a profound quote from Barry in his work for nearly a decade. The conversation kicks off with Pete diving into Barry's storied history with rock & roll, setting the stage for a deeper exploration into how both comedy and rock music act as catalysts for transformation, challenging societal norms and speaking truth to power during critical times. Together, they discuss the delicate dance between the sacred and the profane and how art masterfully navigates the lines of culture, taboo, transgression, and spirituality. As the digital age reshapes our world, creating divisions and highlighting polarization, Barry points out the unique role of the arts in cutting through these dynamics. Throughout the episode, the influence of Richard Rohr is evident, as all participants share their personal connections to his teachings and reflect on spiritual practice as an essential tool to combat the ego's pull. Bio: Pete Holmes is the creator and star of HBO's Crashing (produced by Judd Apatow) and TBS' The Pete Holmes Show (produced by Conan O'Brien). He's also the star of CBS' How We Roll as well as two HBO stand-up comedy specials. Pete's also the voice of the e*trade baby and was a guest writer/star on multiple episodes of The Simpsons. He's also proud to be the dumbest Batman on YouTube (Badman), the host of the wildly popular You Made It Weird podcast and the author of Comedy Sex God. Check out his Netflix special, I Am Not For Everyone. He wrote this bio in third person. He napped shortly thereafter. https://peteholmes.com Barry Taylor lives and works in London, having returned to the U.K. after many years in Los Angeles. He has committed his life to following his curiosities, which have taken many forms including music, fashion, art, religion, and academia. His interests primarily lie in the areas of religion, theology, and philosophy, particularly exploring how cultural shifts reshape our understanding of what it means to be human, our interactions with others, and our grappling with fundamental questions about human existence and ultimate meaning. His wide variety of interests currently converge around the impact of technology on society and culture. Taylor teaches for an online graduate platform, the Global Centre for Advanced Studies (GCAS), and writes extensively on his Patreon page (patreon.com/barrytaylor). He also engages with the complexities of contemporary life and shares his insights on Instagram (@ukbloke). https://www.patreon.com/barrytaylor Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

111: Ellen Petry Leanse – The Brain and Beyond by John Price

Interview begins @ 5:18 In this episode, we dive into the compelling journey of Greg Wrenn, author of the ayahuasca eco-memoir Mothership. Greg begins by sharing a poignant excerpt from his book that ties back to an early memory of his mother, illustrating the profound impact of growing up with an emotionally dysregulated parent. His memoir not only explores personal trauma but also the psychodynamics that have shaped his life. Greg, a former Stegner Fellow and an associate professor at James Madison University, discusses the transformative nature of poetry, suggesting that a poem is not merely read but experienced. This belief mirrors his view on life's most impactful experiences—they may not always be pleasant, but they are transformative. A central theme of our conversation is the role of psychedelics, particularly ayahuasca, in personal healing and growth. Greg offers insights into current research, highlighting how psychedelics can reopen critical developmental periods, fostering integration, trauma recovery, and creativity. He emphasizes the importance of being mindful about what we "feed" our brain during these malleable times, as the experiences can deeply sculpt our mind and consciousness. We also critique the modern education system's focus on outcomes over experiences, discussing how this emphasis can hinder deep, meaningful engagement with learning processes. Greg shares how his healing was profoundly influenced by his connections with nature and his experiences with ayahuasca, drawing a powerful link between ecological awareness and personal well-being. Bio: A former Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford University, Greg Wrenn is the author of ayahuasca eco-memoir Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis (Regalo Press 2024), an evidence-based account of his turning to coral reefs and plant medicines to heal from childhood trauma, and Centaur (U of Wisconsin Press 2013), which National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes awarded the Brittingham Prize. Greg's work has appeared or is forthcoming in HuffPost, The New Republic, Al Jazeera, The Rumpus, LitHub, Writer's Digest, Kenyon Review, New England Review, The Iowa Review, and elsewhere. He has received awards and fellowships from the James Merrill House, the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Vermont Studio Center, the Poetry Society of America, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Spiro Arts Center. As an associate English professor at James Madison University, he teaches creative nonfiction, poetry, and environmental literature. He also teaches in the low-residency MFA Program at Bennington Writing Seminars and in the Memoir Certificate Program at Stanford Continuing Studies. He was educated at Harvard University and Washington University in St. Louis. Greg is currently sending out Homesick, his second poetry collection. A student of ayahuasca since 2019, he is a trained yoga teacher and a PADI Advanced Open Water diver, having explored coral reefs around the world for over 25 years. He and his husband live in the mountains of Virginia, the ancestral land of the Manahoac and Monacan people. www.gregwrenn.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 5:03 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, we explore the pioneering work of Dr. Ross Ellenhorn, a visionary dedicated to reshaping mental health care. Dr. Ellenhorn introduces us to his unique "hospital without walls," a concept that challenges traditional mental health treatments and seeks to destigmatize the way we approach psychological well-being. Through his innovative psychedelic business, he emphasizes creativity and play as crucial therapeutic tools. Dr. Ellenhorn shares his personal journey, starting from being labeled as "not normal" by societal standards, and discusses how such labels feed into a detrimental power dynamic that fosters dependence and hopelessness. He critiques the pharmaceutical industry, conventional education systems, and the medicalization of mental health, prompting us to question whether mental health issues are truly "diseases." The episode explores the limitations of reductive diagnoses and the potential harms of treating mental health with a purely medical approach that overlooks the human element of healing. Dr. Ellenhorn highlights the significance of play in therapy, describing it as a process where rigid experiences of suffering can become malleable and manageable. Further, Dr. Ellenhorn recounts his personal struggles with learning differences and how these experiences fueled his passion for writing and advocating for a system that embraces playfulness and creativity as essential components of healing. Bio: Dr. Ellenhorn is a pioneer and leader in the development and promotion of community integration services, types of care that serve and empower individuals diagnosed with psychiatric and/or addiction issues while they remain in their own communities and outside institutional settings. Trained as a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker, Ross Ellenhorn, Ph.D., created the first fully operational intensive hospital-diversion and wraparound program in Massachusetts, and went on to establish and lead one of the first public Programs for Assertive Community Treatment teams in the state. He is the owner and CEO of Ellenhorn, the most robust community-integration program in the United States, which offers services outside of a hospital or residential setting for individuals experiencing addictive behaviors and/or extreme and complex states of mind and mood. Ellenhorn has offices in Boston, New York and Los Angeles. Dr. Ellenhorn has authored three books on human behavior: “Parasuicidality and Paradox: Breaking Through the Medical Model” (Springer Publishing, 2007) addresses psychiatric hospital recidivism and techniques for diverting hospital use; “How We Change (and Ten Reasons Why We Don't)” (HarperCollins Publishers, 2020) takes a deep dive into the dynamics that influence all human change; and “Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing a Life,” (HarperCollins Publishers, 2022) addresses play as a central and vital human activity in our modern times. He has authored numerous articles, gives talks and seminars throughout the country, and provides consultation to mental health agencies, psychiatric hospitals and addiction programs. https://www.ellenhorn.com https://cardea.net Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 5:58 Annie Lamott and Neal Allen invite us into the heart of their relationship, where creativity, curiosity, and vulnerability intertwine. Annie introduces Neal's latest book, "Better Days: Tame Your Inner Critic," while Neal shares insights into Annie's newest work, "Somehow: Thoughts on Love." As we delve into their dynamic, we're reminded of Annie's infamous KFKD radio – a familiar concept for anyone acquainted with her writings – and how Neal's exploration of the inner critic seamlessly complements Annie's work. Reflecting on the early days of their relationship, Annie and Neal recount moments of openness and vulnerability, testing the waters of acceptance and understanding. Their willingness to confront their deepest wounds and expose them to the world underscores their authenticity and likability. Neal challenges the corrosive nature of identity politics, emphasizing the importance of transcending rigid notions of identity to foster genuine connection. In a candid discussion, Annie shares her experience with cancel culture and the anxiety it breeds in our social landscape. Together, we explore the implications of cancel culture on personal relationships and societal discourse, pondering the importance of genuine communication and compassion. As we journey deeper into their relationship, Annie and Neal offer a masterclass in marriage, highlighting the value of acceptance, curiosity, and patience. They demonstrate how years of spiritual and psychological work pave the way for navigating conflicts with grace and understanding. Midway through the interview, Annie steps away, allowing Neal and John to explore the realm of the inner critic. Through an active Gestault exercise, Neal provides a firsthand example of confronting the superego and shedding the layers of defensiveness that obscure our true selves. Together, we explore the perception that shame and the superego serve as sufficient motivators for progress, while also examining the divisive nature of identity politics and its impact on our culture. Neal offers insights into the role of defensiveness in protecting against vulnerability, urging us to embrace authenticity over superficiality. Bio: Anne Lamott is the author of twenty books, including the New York Timesbestsellers Help, Thanks, Wow; Dusk, Night, Dawn; Traveling Mercies; and Bird by Bird, as well as seven novels. A recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and an inductee to the California Hall of Fame and Neal Allen is a spiritual coach, workshop leader, and author who began his transformative journey about ten years ago. Bob Birnbaum, introduced him to the teachings of notable figures like Fritz Perls, Carl Rogers, and Adyashanti, as well as spiritual practices such as Eckhart Tolle's neo-Buddhism and Hameed Ali's Diamond Approach. His exploration deepened into self-realization, guiding him through phases of shedding personal narratives and societal beliefs, embracing the absurd, and confronting the concept of death, which included volunteering at hospice and dealing with personal loss. These experiences have profoundly shaped his practice and writings, including his books "Shapes of Truth: Discover God Inside You" and "Better Days: Tame Your Inner Critic." www.shapesoftruth.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 4:06 In this episode Dimitri Mugianis shares his captivating journey from a tumultuous early life marked by drug use as a means to alleviate pain and delve into alternate states of consciousness, to a life-transforming encounter with iboga. This African sacrament catalyzed his confrontation with trauma, miraculously eradicating his heroin dependency post-experience. Our conversation navigates through the realms of alternate states of consciousness, religion, healing, harm reduction, and the significance of art in recovery. Dimitri highlights the spiritual longing inherent in addiction, resonating with Jung's insights on the quest for the divine. He reflects on the invaluable lessons and spiritual insights gained from his time within the Bwiti community in Gabon, Africa, underscoring the profound impact of music, specifically rock and roll and jazz, in his survival and healing journey. The discussion extends to the power of community, family, art, connection, medicine, and spirituality in fostering healing environments. We explore Dimitri's transformative work in Harlem, assisting individuals in overcoming opiate addiction through the principles of the Bwiti tradition and his innovative approach to harm reduction. This episode challenges conventional perspectives on addiction treatment, inviting a reevaluation of success beyond mere abstinence. Dimitri's insights into the fetishization of trauma and the creation of the experiential space, Cardea, in New York City, offer a fresh lens on healing and recovery. Join us as we dissect the modern "medical gaze," its limitations, and how it parallels with the "shaman's gaze" in its approach to healing. Dimitri's story is a testament to the potential for radical change, advocating for a broader understanding of addiction, treatment, and the essence of healing itself. Bio: Dimitri Mugianis, harm reduction advocate and psychedelic practitioner, musician, writer, and community organizer, became the face of using underground Ibogaine to kick heroin addiction in the United States. He developed a hybrid modality of administration that integrates the ceremonial and musical elements of traditional ibogaine ceremonies with the best safety protocols of Western medicine. His story is the focus of the documentary I'm Dangerous With Love and his work has been documented by The New York Times, The Rolling Stone, This American Life, HBO, and many more. Even though Ibogaine is still prohibited in the United States, it is attracting avid interest from researchers all over the world and becoming accepted among care providers and clinics. Dimitri has led over five hundred Ibogaine ceremonies and supported numerous individuals with their problematic habits. He's also performed thousands of ceremonies using sound, art and psychedelics – especially Psilocybin and MDMA – to help individuals break with their psychological suffering and to spark spiritual awakenings. Immersed in the psychedelic space for the last 20 years, Mugianis is an expert in both the potential and limitations of psychedelic medicines. A respected icon in the field of harm reduction, he co-created a holistic program at New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE), a groundbreaking Harlem-based community organization bringing together acupuncture, ritual, sound meditation, reiki, bodywork and other treatment modalities for people experiencing homelessness, active drug users, sex workers and the formerly incarcerated. https://www.dimitrimugianis.com https://cardea.net Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 4:08 In episode 106 of "The Sacred Speaks" podcast, John and guest Lisa Marchiano dive into the complex realms of anger, manipulation, rage, and their inherent values for the feminine in our conversation as we discuss her book, The Vital Spark: Reclaim Your Outlaw Feminine Energies and Find Your Feminine Fire. Our conversation starts with a focus on the feminine wisdom tradition, contrasting the masculine and feminine as psychological principles. These principles are hard to define precisely, and it's essential to clarify our terms to truly understand them. Lisa brings her clinical experience into the discussion, highlighting the subtle yet significant differences she observes in men and women, despite their underlying similarities. This episode explores the notion that, regardless of gender, we all have access to a spectrum of psychological attributes. Lisa illustrates how it might be easier for individuals to access certain aspects of these masculine or feminine poles, though we all possess the capacity for both. Within her book Lisa uses Lilith, a figure from early Jewish mystical lore, as an emblem of empowered women who challenge cultural and hierarchical norms. This discussion segues into Lisa's book-writing process, which she describes as a journey of self-discovery, particularly in the realm of claiming personal authority. We discuss the concepts of archetypes, developmental theories from Freud to Jung, and the role of archetypes in shaping our psychological expressions, family systems, and early environments. The episode further examines the use of fairy tales in Lisa's book as a means to illustrate these archetypal patterns and universal psychological themes. An intriguing aspect of our dialogue is the concept of the 'worthy opponent' and how gender polarities seek this dynamic in various relationships, be it professional, romantic, or otherwise. These relationships challenge us to express the fullest version of ourselves. We discuss the differences between men and women in sexual dynamics, the operation of these polarities, and the importance of mutuality in sexual relationships. Lastly, we touch upon the shadow aspect of the feminine, with Lisa providing insightful context and interpretations. This episode is a deep dive into understanding our inner selves and the psychological principles that shape our experiences and interactions. Bio: Lisa Marchiano is an award-winning author, podcaster, and certified Jungian analyst. Her highly-acclaimed books draw upon the healing wisdom of fairy tales to help women connect more deeply with themselves. Lisa is a host of the popular depth-psychology podcast This Jungian Life. With over 10 million downloads and a loyal following that includes artists, journalists, and celebrities, This Jungian Life is a top podcast in the US in the health and fitness category. Lisa obtained her BA from Brown University. She holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a Master of Social Work from New York University. She trained at the Inter-regional Society of Jungian Analysts. In addition to her books, Lisa's writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the Journal of Analytical Psychology. She is a sought-after speaking and workshop facilitator who has lectured widely both in the US and abroad. https://lisamarchiano.com www.spinningstraw.com https://thisjungianlife.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

105: Becca Tarnas – The Imagination and The Red Books of Tolkien & Jung by John Price

Interview begins @ 4:00 In this episode of "The Sacred Speaks," embark on an exploratory journey with Dr. Stephen Aizenstat, diving into the depths of the inner self. Our dialogue begins with the concept of the inner journey, ignited by curiosity, as seen through the lens of Dr. Aizenstat. A masterful storyteller, he intertwines compelling narratives from both his personal and professional realms, offering a glimpse into his distinctive worldview. Our conversation reveals the notion of 'genius' residing in each individual, transcending the bounds of the extraordinary. Dr. Aizenstat shares enlightening stories that demonstrate how engaging with our imagination can propel us beyond mere rationality, leading us into a life imbued with soulfulness and fulfillment. We confront the nature of resistance, both within ourselves and in others, discussing how a nondefensive, curious approach can pave the way for deeper understanding and personal growth. Dr. Aizenstat's methodology, marked by compassion and openness, provides a novel perspective on personal evolution. As we delve further, we examine the influence of depth psychology on Dr. Aizenstat's work, especially his interaction with inner figures and the transformative power of genuine curiosity. He champions a co-creative journey with these inner entities, illustrating how exploration and engagement can alleviate discomfort and enrich our inner world. A memorable segment of our discussion highlights Dr. Aizenstat's encounter with Joseph Campbell at Esalen, marking the beginning of a significant friendship. He recounts a fascinating story about Campbell's meeting with George Lucas, a pivotal moment that shaped the narrative of Star Wars, exemplifying the exploration of shadow and archetypes. Additionally, we explore the personification of emotions and the inner world, a central element of Dr. Aizenstat's approach. The episode culminates with an insightful discussion on the four quadrants of his Creative Matrix: Earth, Mind, Machine, and Universe, shedding light on the interplay of these elements in our lives. https://dreamtending.com Bio: Stephen Aizenstat, Ph.D., is the founder and Chancellor Emeritus of Pacifica Graduate Institute, Dream Tending, and the Academy of Imagination. For more than 35 years, he has explored the power of dreams through depth psychology and has devoted his life to understanding the profound wisdom and healing power that exist within each of us and has helped thousands of students, individuals, businesses, and organizations through the techniques revealed in The Imagination Matrix. His work centers on the insight that, through our dreams and imagination, we can access limitless creativity, innovation, improved relationships, and, ultimately, our human potential. He has collaborated with Joseph Campbell, Marion Woodman, Robert Johnson, James Hillman, and Native elders worldwide. He conducts dreamwork and imagination seminars throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 9:25 Father Richard Rohr explores his experiences with men and men's work. Growing up in a Catholic seminary surrounded by males, he became acutely aware of both the beautiful and neurotic facets of masculinity. His time working in an Albuquerque jail exposed him to the ways men suffer and express their pain, which deepened his understanding and prompted reflection on male-centric theories. This allowed him to better address the unique sufferings faced by men. He emphasizes the importance of healthy male role models for men to emulate, ensuring they engage with the world with integrity. Drawing parallels, he narrates a fascinating tale of aggressive young elephants in Africa that were pacified when elder bull elephants were introduced as positive male influences. The episode touches on the intricacies of the masculine archetype, navigating the sensitive conversation surrounding masculinity and femininity, and the unification of separated entities. Father Rohr elaborates on the four central male archetypes: King, Warrior, Lover, & Magician. The discussion then shifts to rites of passage, highlighting how certain traditions may miss the essence of such rites. Father Rohr points out that unlike females, who undergo a natural rite of passage with the onset of menstruation, males lack an equivalent biological marker, necessitating cultural rites to signal their transition to manhood. The conversation examines the significance of rites of passage in balancing the spirit and soul, the importance of shadow dynamics in personal development, and the paradoxical nature of a religion centered around divine incarnation yet suppressive of bodily pleasures. The conversation doesn't shy away from controversial topics, discussing the Catholic Church's history with pedophilia, the systemic issues that might contribute to such atrocities, and the cyclical nature of sin and redemption. This comprehensive discussion offers invaluable insights into masculinity, spirituality, and the complexities of human nature. Bio: Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher, Father Richard Rohr bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism and traditions of action and contemplation. Founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, Father Richard teaches how God's grace guides us to our birthright as beings made of Divine Love. He is the author of numerous books, including The Universal Christ, The Wisdom Pattern, Just This, and Falling Upward. www.cac.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

102: Connie Zweig – Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path by John Price

Interview begins @ 4:37 Join your host John Price as he welcomes Miriam Volat, the co-director of The RiverStyx Foundation, co-director of the Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund, and Executive Director of IPCI. Together, they engage in an eye-opening discussion that bridges the gap between ecology, indigenous traditions, and the Sacred. Episode Overview In this episode, we kick things off by learning about The RiverStyx Foundation, discussing its mission and vision for a more connected world. Miriam shares her extensive background in ecology, with a special focus on soil science. She reveals how her work in ecology has been a gateway to explore indigenous traditions, particularly entheogenic healing practices. Miriam argues that a deeper, more direct connection with the Sacred can serve as a catalyst to rekindle our relationship with our immediate environment. Key Points • Ecology as a Lens: Miriam explains how her expertise in soil and ecology serves as a unique lens to appreciate and investigate indigenous practices. • The Disconnect: We discuss the alarming separation people experience from their communities, the Earth, and the cultural touchstones that help define them. The absence of methodologies for navigating traumas exacerbates this disconnection. • Rethinking Extractive Models: Miriam and John scrutinize modern, extractive approaches to culture, community, and the Earth, highlighting their unsustainability and the damage they've done. • Colonialism's Impact: A look into how colonialism rejects the importance of context in understanding our environment, history, and relationships. • Cultural Lineage and Connection: Miriam emphasizes the importance of embracing your cultural roots, being aware of your environment, and valuing the connections you currently possess. • Consumerism vs Community: Both guests concur on the suffering caused when our inherent need for community and culture is supplanted by consumerism and symptom management. • Intellectual Property and Healing: The episode challenges the concept of patenting natural compounds, molecules, and healing processes, arguing that these should be communal rather than proprietary. • Death and Compostable Toilets: Borrowing from her background in ecology, Miriam discusses death and environmentally sustainable practices, including compostable toilets. • Sacred Medicines and Responsibility: The conversation wraps up with a discussion on how these sacred medicines are not only rites but also responsibilities that make us more aware of what we bring into the world. Bio: NON-PROFIT DIRECTOR Miriam Volat M.S. Co-Director of Riverstyx Foundation & Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund, Executive Director of IPCI, is an educator, organizer, facilitator and ecologist with a passion for soils and nutrient cycles. She works Nationally and Internationally to increase health in all systems. She is dedicated to the biocultural conservation of Peyote and other sacred medicines supported by the IMC Fund, and works in any way she can to ensure the conservation of these medicines for Indigenous communities and their precious ways of life. As a mom, she is fortunate her daughter, Cora, also supports her work. https://www.riverstyxfoundation.org https://imc.fund https://www.ipci.life Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

The interview begins @ 6:24 In this enlightening conversation with Dr. James Hollis, renowned Jungian analyst, we dive deep into the psychic underpinnings of our religious traditions and explore the profound concept of the soul. Using Jung's understanding of God as a starting point, we traverse the labyrinth of depth psychology, examining not religious theology but the spiritual essence embedded within our psyche. Dr. Hollis challenges preconceived notions of Western healing approaches, underscoring the importance of addressing long-term developmental tasks contributing to our life's suffering and our existential quest for meaning. We probe into the power of choice, its pivotal role in harmonizing our inner and outer worlds, and the necessity of viewing our lives through a transpersonal lens. In a contemplative reflection on his own life and the influence of Jungian theory, Dr. Hollis encourages us all to engage in a deeper dialogue with our lives, acknowledging the humbling realization that we aren't truly in control. Our discussion pivots to the human propensity for constructing theology, culture, and structures as conduits to the mystery of existence, bearing the psychological imprints of their originators. We navigate the intricate dynamics of resistance within the relationship between ego and the unconscious, emphasizing our responsibility for the choices we make. The existential query is central to our exploration: "What stirs your spirit to evolve and redefine your life?" We touch upon cultural sickness, institutional failure, and the potential for growth within tradition, culminating in a discourse on gender fluidity, the impact of consumerism, and the essence of a truly healing analysis. This exploration offers listeners the tools to navigate towards their own 'true north', fostering a stronger connection with their intuitive inner life. Join us as we transcend the diversions of popular culture, and dive into the depths of our collective psyche. Bio: James Hollis, Ph. D., was born in Springfield, Illinois, and graduated from Manchester University in 1962 and Drew University in 1967. He taught Humanities 26 years in various colleges and universities before retraining as a Jungian analyst at the Jung Institute of Zurich, Switzerland (1977-82). He is presently a licensed Jungian analyst in private practice in Washington, D.C. He served as Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center in Houston, Texas for many years and now was Executive Director of the Jung Society of Washington until 2019, and now serves on the JSW Board of Directors. He is a retired Senior Training Analyst for the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, was first Director of Training of the Philadelphia Jung Institute, and is Vice-President Emeritus of the Philemon Foundation. Additionally, he is a Professor of Jungian Studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston. He lives with his wife Jill, an artist and retired therapist, in Washington, DC. Together they have three living children and eight grand-children. He has written a total of eighteen books, which have been translated into Swedish, Russian, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Portuguese, Turkish, Italian, Korean, Finnish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Farsi, Japanese, Greek, Chinese, Serbian, Latvian, Ukranian and Czech. Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 4:00 In this episode, we explore the enriching journey of Bea Gonzalez, an accomplished novelist, and facilitator of a depth-oriented women's collective. Known for her innate ability to weave stories, Bea intertwines feminine wisdom with a holistic approach to understanding the world, as demonstrated in her widely acclaimed work on sophiacycles.com. Our conversation starts with Bea's early dreams of professional writing, a passion that has blossomed into several published novels with Harper Collins and beyond. We investigate the significance of writing as active imagination, taking cues from Jung's Red Book. Bea presents the intriguing notion that everyone should write a novel, an exercise in self-exploration and a canvas to observe the interactions of our inner personalities. Drawing from Jungian psychology, Bea highlights the value of this framework as a lens to perceive reality. Its influence manifests in her personal growth and resonates powerfully within the groups she leads. As we navigate through the intricate labyrinth of Jung's Collected Works and post-Jungian writers, Bea emphasizes writing as not merely a craft but a spiritual path. We discuss the potency of storytelling, the exploration of the self through narratives, and the harmonious dance of the masculine and feminine. Engaging with the profound insights of Iain McGilchrist, we uncover the junctures where his work converges with Jung's philosophy. The dialogue evolves to encompass topics such as the inner struggles we all face, the societal impacts of shadow projection in politics, and the significance of the multiplicity of the pantheon versus the social value of a monotheistic god. With her women's groups as a platform for meaningful conversations, Bea eloquently underscores the importance of discussing and writing about these explorations, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas that spur personal and collective growth. Tune in for a profound exploration into the heart of depth psychology. Bio: Béa Gonzalez is a writer, lecturer, and educator. Her first two novels were published in Canada by HarperCollins and seven other countries [the UK, USA, Spain, Germany, Holland and Serbia]. Her second novel, The Mapmaker's Opera, was adapted into a musical by Kevin Purcell which was featured at the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. She is also the founder of SophiaCycles, a project aimed at teaching metaphorical thinking through an examination of classical works, fairy tales and myths and can be found on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram @sophiacycles. Invocation is her third novel. https://www.sophiacycles.com www.esalen.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 3:29 Join us for a profound exploration of spiritual emptiness with Thomas Moore. Our conversation traverses the concept of kenosis, a process of spiritual emptying present in both Greek antiquity and Eastern philosophies. We challenge the notion of a 'purpose-driven' life, suggesting instead a life led by openness and spontaneity. Thomas endorses a religious attitude, permitting divine 'angels' to guide us, rather than our ego. We delve into the mystery of God, advocating for an open-minded approach to his ineffable nature. Thomas shares his personal journey, which included joining the monastery at a young age, and provides his insights into the image of Christ as it pertains to emptiness. We also discuss soul and spirit cosmology, the parallels between Dionysus and Christ, as well as the influences of thinkers like James Hillman and Carl Jung. We further examine how music can serve as a model for meaning-making, and the significance of 'emptying' a romantic relationship from egoic control. This conversation offers a fresh perspective on life's enigmas, inviting listeners to journey with us through these contemplative mysteries. Bio: Thomas Moore is the author of The Eloquence of Silence and 24 other books about bringing soul to our personal lives and culture, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Care of the Soul. He has been a Catholic monk and university professor and is also a psychotherapist influenced mainly by C. G. Jung and James Hillman. His work brings together spirituality, mythology, depth psychology, and the arts, emphasizing the importance of images and imagination. https://www.thomasmooresoul.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com Esalen Class: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/portals-and-pathways-ecstatic-experience-music-and-jungs-red-book-102323 WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com

Interview begins @ 3:30 In Episode 97 of The Sacred Speaks, Mary Cosimano begins with the question, "What is suffering?". Renowned for her heart-led approach, Mary aims to connect those she works with to their heart centers, facilitating a deeper understanding of their own experiences. Throughout our discussion, Mary shares her personal encounters with suffering, particularly as a professional in her scientific network and system. She highlights the constraints and limitations inherent within her field's foundational principles, which often hinder expansive thinking and inspiration. Mary also talks about her journey joining the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, shedding light on what prepared her for becoming a part of this vibrant community. We further examine the foundation of the psilocybin therapy process at Hopkins, including dosage, preparation, and procedural aspects. Mary emphasizes the importance of setting genuine intentions when individuals choose psychedelics as part of their healing journey. Since its inception, Hopkins has been at the forefront of psychedelic therapies, collaborating closely with the FDA to explore the efficacy of these natural compounds in contexts such as palliative care, treatment-resistant depression, eating disorders, and trauma healing. In this illuminating dialogue, Mary discloses the remarkable benefits of psilocybin interventions, including a notable depression study where subjects witnessed a 50% reduction in treatment-resistant depression symptoms. Our conversation broadens to encompass themes of love, safety, fear, laughter, play, and joy as potent forces for healing and transformation. We conclude with thought-provoking insights into forgiveness and death, rounding off a deeply profound exploration of human suffering and healing. Bio: Mary Cosimano, LMSW, has been with the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research since 2000 when they began research with psilocybin. She is currently a Psychedelic Session Facilitator and has served as Director of Clinical Services and as a research coordinator. She has been involved with all the psilocybin studies and has conducted over 500 study sessions including Club Drug studies with Salvia Divinorum and Dextromethorphan. Mary has trained post doctorate fellows, faculty, clinicians, and research assistants as guides and taught individual and group meditation to breast cancer patients in a Johns Hopkins research study. She is a teacher and mentor at California Institute to Integral Studies for their Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research (CPTR) certificate program and conducts trainings for therapists in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. In 2003 she started a meditation group for employees in her department. She also has 15 years of experience with direct patient care as a hospice volunteer. https://hopkinspsychedelic.org https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/research/psychedelics-research.html Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 3:53 In this enlightening episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John Price converses with Dr. Rachel Harris, who shares insights from her latest book, "Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground". Dr. Harris illuminates her interview process with 15 veteran female guides from the psychedelic underground, revealing their enduring commitment to the spiritual over the medicalized use of these compounds. The discussion delves into the reasons these guides remain in the underground despite societal changes and legalization, attributing it to their belief in the greater spiritual and religious value of psychedelics. The disparity between psychotherapy and the spiritually-oriented approach these guides embody is examined, with Dr. Harris emphasizing that the spiritual process stands alone, independent yet not exclusive of therapy. The conversation explores the ontology of the visionary or “unseen others”, often present in psychedelic experiences, the transformative power of psychedelics, the voices of doubly silenced women, the unique bond women share with these medicines, and the relevance of cultural frameworks for the sacred. They also touch on the importance of selecting an ethical guide, concerns about the healer's ethical wellbeing, and the profound link between death and the psychedelic experience, and the importance and nature of integration for psychedelic process. Bio: Dr. Rachel Harris is a respected psychologist, prolific author, and eminent figure in the realm of psychospiritual development. She spent thirty-five years in private practice, focusing on individuals seeking psychospiritual growth. Rachel has an impressive research career, having received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator's Award and publishing over forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals. She has also shared her expertise with Fortune 500 companies. Rachel participated in the 1968 Esalen Residential Program, an intensive six-month meditation and bodywork course. She also studied Structural Awareness, a movement system founded on Dr. Ida Rolf's Structural Integration. This awareness of body consciousness deeply influences her psychotherapeutic approach. In the mid-1980s to early 2000s, Rachel facilitated workshops at esteemed institutions like Omega Institute, NY, and Esalen Institute, CA. She is the author of "Twenty Minute Retreats," which details the exercises she taught in her workshops. A serendipitous encounter with ayahuasca in Costa Rica in 2005 sparked Rachel's interest in the therapeutic potential of this medicine. This led to a three-year research project, culminating in "A Study of Ayahuasca Use in North America," and her influential book "Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety." She has recently authored "Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground." https://www.swimminginthesacred.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

95: Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton – Black Chameleon: Memory, Womanhood, and Myth by John Price

Interview begins @ 6:02 In this episode of The Sacred Speak podcast, we explore the potential of the Christian church as a sanctuary for psychedelic healing. Our guests, Hunt and Jessica, seek to reconnect the worlds of psychedelics and organized religion, addressing the misinformation that has driven them apart for the past 50 years. They assert that the church must prioritize healing and work to rectify the damage caused by this disconnect. Throughout our discussion, we delve into the concept of the church as a nurturing environment for fostering profound experiences, self-love, and personal growth through the exploration of one's relationship with their body and the importance of firsthand experiences. We also lay the groundwork for defining a "psychedelic Christian" and how this integration could lead to a more comprehensive understanding of how a divine encounter can be paired with the Christian faith. Recurring themes in this conversation include social justice within the psychedelic movement, the democratization of psychedelics, the significance of mystical experiences, embracing one's true self within small community groups, the power of honesty and truth in community settings, the church's role in healing, and the experiences of people of color within psychedelic communities. Join us as we examine this thought-provoking and transformative topic. Bio: Hunt Priest is a priest in The Episcopal Church and the founding Executive Director of Ligare: A Christian Psychedelic Society, a non-profit network of Christian leaders educating themselves and those they lead about the intersection of open-hearted Christianity and the Psychedelic renaissance. A participant in a psilocybin study in early 2016, he had two life-changing mystical experiences under the care of a research team. His encounters with psilocybin opened him to the healing and consciousness-raising power of psychedelic medicines and changed the landscape of his work. Hunt believes the healing power of psychedelics should be in the toolkits of all who are healers of bodies, minds, and souls and can't wait to be part of providing access for legal, safe, and guided experiences in a Christian setting. In April 2021 Hunt took an extended break from full-time parish ministry to expand his priesthood out into the emerging psychedelic landscape. Jessica Felix Romero has over 16 years of experience in social justice advocacy, organizing, and communications. With a doctorate in conflict analysis and resolution, she integrates holistic system analysis and transformative design to help nonprofits advance social change. She is Vice President & Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at Sojourners, a faith-inspired nonprofit that works with Christians to put their faith into action in the passionate pursuit of social justice, peace, and environmental stewardship. Jessica loves all things about food and spirituality — her pioneering doctoral research in El Salvador documents the transformational possibilities of conflict-resolution oriented food systems that feed people and nurture peace. She is a student of somatic writing and practitioner of embodied leadership. Her current work explores the intersections of spirituality, ancestral wisdom, psychedelics, and Christianity. www.ligare.org www.sojo.net Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 6:17 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, we delve into the multifaceted world of magic, exploring its neurological, spiritual, and cultural aspects. Dr. Bever, provides insights and expertise throughout our discussion. We begin with the question, "what is magic?" and Dr. Bever offers a definition of magic and shamanism, setting the stage for the rest of the conversation. As we discuss the interplay between magic and popular beliefs, including the rational and irrational, we examine how these shape our understanding of the world. We explore the impact of Descartes's ideas on dreams and dualism, and how they have influenced our worldviews and ways of thinking. Touching on the concept of suppressed knowledge in the context of magic, we delve into how it has been perceived historically. We further investigate the role of alternate states of consciousness in witchcraft trials and the blurred lines between religion and magic. Analyzing the theory of mind from a rationalistic perspective, we discuss how it relates to the controllable aspects of religion. We then examine the value and potential pitfalls associated with the concept of "experience" in religious contexts. Exploring the relationship between power dynamics and the practice of magic in society, we consider the impact of population size on the development and evolution of religious beliefs and practices. We discuss the role of prophets in contemporary religious movements and the challenges they face in today's society. Looking at the resurgence of esotericism and magic in modern times, we inquire into their relevance and significance. Finally, we venture into the world of the paranormal, discussing topics such as poltergeists and the role of narratives in shaping our understanding of truth. Bio: Edward Bever earned a Ph.D. in History from Princeton University and is Professor of History and Director of the School of Professional Studies at SUNY Old Westbury. He specializes in the history of magic and witchcraft; is the author of The Realities of Witchcraft and Popular Magic in Early Modern Europe: Culture, Cognition, and Everyday Life (2008) and co-editor of Magic in the Modern World: Strategies of Repression and Legitimization (2017); contributed chapters to the Oxford Handbook of Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe and Colonial America, The Routledge History of Witchcraft, and Emotions in the History of Witchcraft; and published articles on the topics in The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, the Journal of Social History, and Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft. Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 5:00 Scholars who investigate paranormal, religious, philosophical, metaphysical, and other similar topics fall under the umbrella of the humanities. However, many professors are hesitant to delve into topics that cannot be explained through empirical data or scientific methods. Cultural historian and scholar of religion at Rice University, Jeff Kripal, has dedicated much of his work to exploring these questions. In his latest book, "The Superhumanities," Kripal argues that the humanities must expand beyond their traditional scope and engage with supernatural and paranormal phenomena that challenge our understanding of what it means to be human. Kripal suggests that the people we revere in the humanities were "weird" and had altered states of consciousness, embodiment, precognitive dreams, out-of-body experiences, and mystical experiences of unity with the cosmos. He argues that these alternate states of consciousness and embodiments were, in fact, the origins of their thinking. To fully understand and appreciate the humanities, Kripal believes we must embrace the strange and eerie in our academic and cultural discussions. In this interview, Kripal discussed his new book and the significance of embracing unconventional phenomena in the humanities. The conversation covers a range of topics, including the fractals of social systems, psychotherapy as a means of adapting to a sick social system, listening to the symbolic communication from experiences of the paranormal, metaphysics and the U.F.O., the beauty of not knowing, Christianity and the paranormal, Christianity as a modernized sociological tribal container, black critical theory, feminist theory, psychoanalytic theory, queer theory, post-colonial theory, & ecocriticism, and gender and the modern world. Overall, Kripal's work emphasizes the need for scholars in the humanities to expand their focus beyond empirical data and scientific methods to explore the strange and mysterious phenomena of life. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human and how we can navigate the complexities of the world around us. Bio: Jeffrey J. Kripal is the Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, where he chaired the Department of Religion for eight years and helped create the GEM Program, a doctoral concentration in the study of Gnosticism, Esotericism, and Mysticism that is the largest program of its kind in the world. He presently helps direct the Center for Theory and Research at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where he served as Chair of Board from 2015 to 2020. Jeff is the author or co-author of twelve books, eight of which are with The University of Chicago Press. He has also served as the Editor in Chief of the Macmillan Handbook Series on Religion (ten volumes, 2015-2016). He specializes in the study of extreme religious states and the re-visioning of a New Comparativism, particularly as both involve putting “the impossible” back on the academic table again. He is presently working on a three-volume study of paranormal currents in the history of religions and the sciences for The University of Chicago Press, collectively entitled The Super Story. https://jeffreyjkripal.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

91: Richard Rohr– The Universal Christ; ego development, forgiveness, & non-dual consciousness by John Price

Interview begins @ 4:43 The Red Book, also known as Liber Novus, is a manuscript created by Carl Jung between 1914 and 1930. It is a highly personal and symbolic work that documents Jung's exploration of his own psyche through active imagination and dream analysis. The book contains a wealth of material, including paintings and calligraphy, that Jung created as part of his self-exploration, and it is considered to be one of the most important works of Jung's career. The Red Book was not published during Jung's lifetime, but it was eventually edited and published posthumously in 2009. In this episode, Dr. Murray Stein and John discuss the impact of Liber Novus on the study of depth psychology and religion. We begin by exploring the anthology, Jung's Red Book for Our Time: Searching for Soul under Postmodern Conditions, created and edited by today's participant, Dr. Stein, and physicist, Dr. Thomas Arzt, who organized over seventy essays contributed to the process by various writers in the community of analytical psychology. We continue with the nature of Jung's suffering expressed through the process of active imagination, we discuss what Liber Novus has done for the Jungian field, and we continue by identifying the practice of active imagination as the key method for self-knowledge, psychedelics and the unconscious, the ethical obligation following an encounter with the unconscious – whether through dream work, active imagination, psychedelics, incubation, or any other ecstatic experience - depth psychology, the rational and irrational, alchemy and the unconscious, Dr. Stein explains the process of active imagination, mysteries traditions, Orphic tradition, subtle bodies and synchronicity, the encounter with Soul, and integrating the inferior function. Bio: Dr. Stein is a graduate of Yale University (B.A. and M.Div.), the University of Chicago (Ph.D.), and the C.G. Jung Institute-Zurich (Diploma). He is a founding member of the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts and of the Chicago Society of Jungian Analysts. He has been the president of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (2001-4), and the President of The International School of Analytical Psychology-Zurich (2008-2012). http://murraystein.com Eranos Symposium 2022: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXkVRxhi1xeS3Mwomyoszk4VqO8m-jFwV John's Esalen Workshop: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/portals-and-pathways-ecstatic-experience-music-and-the-red-book-022723 Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Interview begins @ 8:08 Today Dr. Miles Neale and Dr. John explore “ego death”, and a few issues with this language, we continue discussing the nature of the ego, the Buddhist frame for soul, returning from the mountaintop or a break-through experience, nondualism, Miles reveals several of his transcendent experiences and also a personal experience with death, “cheap” nondualism, addiction to the nondual, spiritual bypassing, grief, experiencing death, trauma and the unconscious, the healing relationship between teacher and student, holding suffering, the ego's avoidance, guru devotion, pilgrimage, psychedelic experience, sacred journeys, and we finish with Tibetan Buddhism and the infrastructure of the return from the “mountaintop”. Bio: Dr. Miles Neale, PsyD, is a Buddhist psychotherapist in private practice, founder of the Contemplative Studies Program, international speaker, and host of the Wisdom Keeper Podcast. He has taught psychology and meditation at prestigious university hospitals including Harvard, Columbia, and Cornell. Author of Gradual Awakening (Sounds True, 2018) and co-editor of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy (Routledge, 2017), Miles is currently writing his next book Return with Elixir: Journey of Conscious Death and Rebirth (Inner Traditions, 2023). With more than twenty years integrating the mind science of Tibetan Buddhism with psychology, trauma research, neuroscience, and mythology, Miles is a forerunner in the emerging field of contemplative psychotherapy, and leads pilgrimages around the Buddhist world. https://www.milesneale.com John's Esalen Workshop: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/portals-and-pathways-ecstatic-experience-music-and-the-red-book-022723 Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 4:36 In this episode I meet with Dr. Stephen Gray to discuss his latest book, How Psychedelics Can Help Save The World: Visionary and Indigenous Voices Speak Out. We begin by noting the cultural and individual issues that that psychedelic medicine is positioned to treat, we continue with the ways that we have lost our mythic and symbolic root and religious systems, overpopulation, planetary sickness, the universality of change and transformation, the Dunbar number and social systems, the nature of these reality revealing medicines, explore indigenous traditions as revelatory to the hegemony, healing cultural wounds, cultural dynamics exposed by psychedelic practice, psychedelic capitalism, medical and pharma intervention with psychedelics, the lost Mystery Schools, trusting what is, surrender as an attitude nourished by working with entheogens, and more. Bio: Stephen has been involved in spiritual work and psychedelics for 50 years. This includes more than 20 years as a student and occasional teacher of Tibetan Buddhism; a dozen years actively involved with Native American Church peyote prayer ceremonies; “guest” membership in the ayahuasca-using Santo Daime Church, and experience with a number of other entheogens. He is also the author of Returning to Sacred World: A Spiritual Toolkit for the Emerging Reality, and editor as well as one of 18 contributors to the popular Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer's Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally. Stephen teaches people about the spiritual benefits of intentional cannabis use and conduct cannabis meditation and sound-journeying ceremonies. Perhaps most relevant to the mission of StephenGray Vision, for the past 10 years, he's co-organized the influential Spirit Plant Medicine Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. That work has connected him to dozens of remarkable spokespeople on behalf of the skillful understanding and use of psychedelic/entheogenic sacramental medicines. About the book: Exploring the way forward for humanity in the face of unprecedented crisis, more than 25 contributors show how the wisdom of Indigenous peoples and the power of psychedelics can help us enact the radical shift in consciousness necessary to navigate the collapse of the old world order and the birth of a new consciousness centered on awakened-heart interconnectedness. We hear from psychedelic visionaries Christopher Bache, Zoe Helene, Wade Davis, Chris Kilham, Laurel Sugden, and others on the promise of psychedelic medicines for spiritual and healing work. We learn about Indigenous stories to support our transformation from Native American leader Solana Booth, ancestral memory from Grandmother Maria Alice Campos Freire, cannabis's role in world building from Minelli Eustàcio-Costa, the ritual roots of talking plants from Michael Stuart Ani, and alchemy across the arc of time from shaman Ya'Acov Darling Khan. We also hear from cannabis grower The Dank Duchess; Bruce Damer, a “mystic scientist” working on the question of life's origins and its future in space; Tyson Yunkaporta, Australian Aboriginal artist and scholar; visionary artist Martina Hoffmann; professor of religious studies G. William Barnard; activist Duane Elgin; Kohenet Rachel Kann, ordained Jewish priestess and ceremonialist; and several other wise leaders for our time. https://www.stephengrayvision.com John's Esalen Workshop: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/portals-and-pathways-ecstatic-experience-music-and-the-red-book-022723 Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 5:47 Hermes Trismegistus was believed to be one of the wise men of his time, and a study of his texts reveals, not a general philosophy, but a spiritual path for initiates who seek to achieve gnosis by direct acquaintance of the true nature of reality as we experience it. Dr. Wouter Hanegraaff begins this analysis by guiding us into the four-core dimension of his book, Hermeticism, spirituality, historical imagination, and altered states of knowledge. All of this knowledge circulated through small groups of people beginning in the first century A.D. Wouter explains how he landed a position as The University of Amsterdam chair of Hermeticism, and then began to “map” the field of esoterism, the two poles of his academic interests are Hermeticism and esotericism. We discuss the nature of esotericism, rejected forms of knowledge, monotheism and exclusion, the shadow of the collective, Isaac Newton's heresy, Western exclusion, nonduality, the experiential nature of spiritual practice, Diotima - the female visionary who taught Socrates, drugs in the ancient world, The East and the irrational, academic ideological orientation to Greek as rational, misunderstanding and misinterpretation of antiquity, gender, the spiritual nature of rebirth, life and death, immortality and “The Flip,” shoutout to Miles Neale and Jeff Kripal, music and the cosmos, tones and chanting, initiation, apprenticeship, magic, therapy, and more. Bio: Wouter J. Hanegraaff is Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as past President and now honorary member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism. Alongside numerous articles, he is the author of New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought (Leiden 1996/Albany 1998); Lodovico Lazzarelli (1447-1500): The Hermetic Writings and Related Documents (Tempe 2005; with Ruud M. Bouthoorn); Swedenborg, Oetinger, Kant: Three Perspectives on the Secrets of Heaven (West Chester 2007); Esotericism and the Academy: Rejected Knowledge in Western Culture (Cambridge 2012); and Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed (London 2013). He has (co)edited eight collective volumes, including the 1200-page Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism (Leiden 2005) and Hidden Intercourse: Eros and Sexuality in the History of Western Esotericism (New York 2011; with Jeffrey J. Kripal). His most recent monograph Hermetic Spirituality and the Historical Imagination: Altered States of Knowledge in Late Antiquity is forthcoming with Cambridge University Press in 2022. His current projects are focused on the history of consciousness in German Idealism and Romanticism, and the role of the imagination in Western culture. https://www.wouterjhanegraaff.net Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 6:31 We begin with a discussion of Sean's shift of consciousness during a psychedelic experience at a young age wherein he could map his experience onto what the traditions of chaos theory and Aldous Huxley's perennial philosophy explained. Following this experience and at the suggestion of a professor of mysticism, Sean followed the thread to help with his integration. With a deep history as a psychonaut combined with Sean's interest is in music and pop culture he therefore approaches the material of psychedelic experience from a different lens than one that we hear from traditional academia. Sean integrated his personal experimentation in both magic and psychedelics into a particular ceremony inspired by the archetype of the magician as imaged by David Bowie. Sean notes that when working with the medicine of mushrooms he experienced an archetypal messianic shift and worked to make sense of what Jung called, “holding the tension of the opposites” – not fully identifying with this experience, though not writing it off either. The middle path. We offer a disclaimer for the healthy use of psychedelics, noting how overwhelming these substances can be and the necessity to approach the use of these sacramental substances with care and reverence. We discuss cancel culture, anti-fragility, high-dose psilocybin practice, ceremonial magic, repurposing the energy of popular culture to help bring in awareness of the sacred, and more. Bio: Sean Manseau was born in Boston, MA, the son of a married Roman Catholic priest and a former Sister of St. Joseph. At various points he has been a mall janitor, a lounge act guitarist, a failed paratrooper, a San Francisco bike messenger, a video game animator, a Muay Thai instructor, homeless, an East Village NYC bartender, a failed novelist, a gym owner, and a video game industry executive. In addition to A.P. Psychedelics: Going Beyond Set and Setting to Achieve Visionary Virtuosity, he is the author of the spiritual autobiography Spotify the Gnostics, Here's the First Church of David Bowie, the coaching manual By the Numbers: A Practical Method for Instructing Multi-Modal GPP Training, the novel Lapdance, and the short story collection You Are Not a Planet and Other Stories. He lives in Portland, OR, with his dog Jones. to purchase book: https://www.amazon.com/P-Psychedelics-Setting-Visionary-Virtuosity/dp/B09X35NDQF/ref=sr_1_2?crid=34QIVK0FPWPW8&keywords=a.p.+psychedelics&qid=1664877430&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=a.p.+psychedelics%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-2 Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 8:25 How can we understand traditional accounts of visionary experience in terms of the neurophysiology of our brain? What are the scientific bases for shamanism and healing, cross-culturally, throughout history beginning with the Byzantine era to today? These are several questions posited by Dr. Winkelman within the first few minutes of the interview. We continue exploring the void experience of introverted mysticism and the narratives expressed in extroverted mysticism (and what are the differences?), spiritual practice and psychedelic use in youth, recreational vs. religious use of these substances, a session with the Mazatec healer, Maria Sabina, in his youth, we discuss the tendency toward reductionism when using a physiological lens to explain the phenomenology of consciousness, describe the neurophenomonological experience of the spirit world, extrasensory perceptions and the brain, what is real?, naive materialism, group consciousness and the development of religion and the religious impulse, belonging, religion and social control, symbol use and group dynamics, religious groups and social connections, western medicine, ritual in healing, placebo effect, cross-cultural analysis of shamanism, priests & witches. Bio: Michael Winkelman, PhD, University of California–Irvine; MPH, University of Arizona, retired from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University in 2009. Winkelman has engaged in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary research on shamanism, psychedelics, and altered states of consciousness, focusing principally on the universal patterns of shamanism and identifying the associated biological bases. His publications on shamanism include Shamans, Priests and Witches (1992), which provides a cross-cultural examination of the nature of shamanism; and Shamanism: A Biopsychosocial Paradigm of Consciousness and Healing (2nd ed., 2010). Shamanism provides a biogenetic model of shamanism that explains the evolutionary origins of spiritual healing in ancient ritual capacities. This biogenetic approach is expanded in an assessment of the evolutionary origins of religion in his co-authored Supernatural as Natural. These approaches provide a framework for understanding the contribution of psychedelics to the evolution of the human mind and social relations and their continued application in healing. Winkelman served as an expert witness for the defense in the Santo Daime case against the U.S. federal government, which won their right of religious freedom to use of ayahuasca as a sacrament. Winkelman received a Fulbright Fellowship for research on the health of ayahuasca church members in Brazil during 2009 ( https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00136 ). Winkelman is currently living near Pirenopolis in the central highlands of Brazil; he may be reached through his website: https://michaelwinkelman.com Articles: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael-Winkelman to purchase book: http://www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A2593C Referenced resources: https://www.ligare.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 4:15 The Santo Daime, a syncretistic tradition including parts of indigenous South American religion, African folk traditions, and Catholicism, is a new religion as of the early 20th century. All of this to say that in this conversation, we are invited into a deep dive to explore the nature and formation of religion in general as we look at the specifics of a sacred ayahuasca-based new religious tradition. We begin with Dr. Barnard's first-person experience within The Santo Daime, which is a real treat given that, as a professor of religious studies, he is quite experienced evaluating, comparing, & exploring religion and religious traditions from the third person, though in Liquid Light we benefit from his history as a comparativist, who analyzes his own tradition. In modern studies we often learn of first-person experiences with ayahuasca – the images, the process, the purging, though we do not often get a glimpse into the religion itself. Today's conversation explores these dimensions of ayahuasca and more, including the formation of the religion, the institution, the preparation of the sacramental substance, philosophical interpretations, metaphysics, an exploration of religious studies and comparativism, divinity with The Santo Daime, Christ Consciousness, panpsychism, William James, & mystical experiences - we end by briefly questioning the ontological nature of the Other, though read the book and take a deep dive into mediumship and encountering the More. Bio: G. William (Bill) Barnard is a Professor of Religious Studies, as well as a University Distinguished Teaching Professor, at Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas. His primary areas of research interests are the comparative philosophy of mysticism, religion and the social sciences, contemporary spirituality, religion and healing, and consciousness studies. For over 15 years (including his ongoing study of Portuguese), Professor Barnard has researched the Santo Daime tradition, a syncretistic, entheogenically-based new religious movement that emerged in Brazil in the mid-twentieth century. Professor Barnard is the author of Living Consciousness: The Metaphysical Vision of Henri Bergson as well as Exploring Unseen Worlds: William James and the Philosophy of Mysticism, both published by State University of New York Press. In addition, Professor Barnard is the co-editor of Crossing Boundaries: Essays on the Ethical Status of Mysticism. Professor Barnard has also written many journal articles and book chapters on a variety of topics, such as pedagogy in religious studies, the nature of religious experience, issues in the psychology of religion, and most recently, entheogenic religions and spirituality. https://liquidlightbook.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 7:26 This conversation begins with a discussion of the banisteriopsis vine (ayahuasca) featured in the background. We explore Dr. McKenna's first adventure down to South America to study and explore psychedelics used in the Amazonian medico-religious process. This endeavor would eventually connect him with several elder medicine men who created mixtures for Dennis to study – “We want to learn everything that you know about ayahuasca.” We discuss how the indigenous folks of the Amazon responded to the scientists who sought to investigate their sacramental plant, the rubber boom of the early 20th century, lost aspects of the Amazonian ethnomedical tradition, the hard problem of consciousness, the limitations of reductionism, the value of science, limitations of science, an overview of the journey to La Chorrera, building the temple for “spiritual” experience, or ecstatic/mystical experience, the body as apothecary, theories of consciousness, the molecule and the “trip,” scientific bias of the west, the Default Mode Network, the value of psychedelics to the scientific community, and the McKenna Academy. Bio: Dennis McKenna is an American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author. He is a founding board member and the director of ethnopharmacology at the Heffter Research Institute, a non-profit organization concerned with the investigation of the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelic medicines. Dennis also serves on the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council; as Founder and Executive Director for the Institute for Natural Products Research; as an Independent Research Consultant to the Phytomedicine and Nutraceutical Industry; was formerly on the Editorial Board of Phytomedicine, International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology; and is an adjunct professor in the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. In that role, he has taught graduate courses in Botanical Medicines and Ethnopharmacology and an inter-session ‘intensive' in Hawaii each January called Plants in Human Affairs. He has also taught summer field courses in Ecuador for the University of Arizona, and courses in the Amazon and Andes for Pharmacy doctoral students at the University of Kansas and the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dr. McKenna received his Master's Degree in Botany from the University of Hawaii in 1979, his Ph.D. in Botanical Sciences from the University of British Columbia in 1984, and continued into post-doctoral research fellowships in the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and in the Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine. His research has included the pharmacology, botany, and chemistry of ayahuasca and oo-koo-hé. He has also conducted extensive ethnobotanical fieldwork in the Peruvian, Colombian, and Brazilian Amazon. Since 2019, he has been working with colleagues to manifest a long-term dream: the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, a non-profit organization founded in the spirit of the ancient Mystery Schools and dedicated to the study of plant medicines, consciousness, intelligence in nature, preservation of indigenous knowledge and a re-visioning of humanity's relationship with Nature. Dr. McKenna is author or co-author of 6 books and over 50 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. https://mckenna.academy Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 4:31 We begin our conversation exploring José's background, and with the likes of Dr. Andew Samuels and Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés as mentors, his intellectual, professional, and spiritual orientation ranges from depth psychology and meditation to attachment and spiritually integrated psychotherapy. First up is one of José's papers on spirituality and psychotherapy wherein he takes a critical look at “Jungian” approaches and identifies some of the dangers of both ungrounded psychotherapy and spirituality. We discuss the nature of therapy, ways psychotherapy can support and transform suffering, the nature of the relationship in therapy, meditation, development of a private spiritual process, religion and defining related terms such as spirituality and mysticism, the taxonomy of healers and therapists, the shadow side of spiritual work and healing professions, shamanism, fairytales, the archetype defined, inflation in healing work, differences between mythology and fairytales, we analyze the fairytale “Sleeping Beauty,” or “Briar Rose,” and the importance of inviting the unexplored psychological aspects of self. Bio: José has an M.A in Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies from the University of Essex, where Andrew Samuels was his academic supervisor, and an MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy from the Milton Erikson Institute from Monterrey. Since 2013, he has trained with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. He works as a psychotherapist in private practice and writes the column ‘The Spiritually Ambivalent Therapist' for Thresholds, a Journal of Psychotherapy and Spirituality, from the British Association of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Class: https://junghouston.org/theevents/the-seven-gates-to-the-underworld-the-descent-of-inanna-online/ Journal: https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/thresholds/ Sleeping Beauty: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Beauty https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm050.html Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 6:29 “Ecstasy, trance, and soul flight … these powerful and potentially transformative elements of ancient experience have long been left to the fringes of archaeological research.” Dr. Sarah K. Costello and John begin with a question exploring the often unconscious issue of projecting modern perspective onto antiquity to support a current argument. As an archeologist, anthropologist, & art-historian, Dr. Costello's peak into antiquity is through the lens of the material content. We continue exploring the contributions of Dr. Costello's various disciplines, challenges of evaluating art in antiquity, symbols, Gobekli Tepe, interpretation of antiquity, carefully approaching one's intuitive assumptions about antiquity and the risk of projection and bias, the Transcendent as a cultural universal, challenging the idea of universals, narrativization of consciousness, cross-cultural studies, universals and the particulars, we discuss her creative process for the book, “The Routledge Companion to Ecstatic Experience in the Ancient World,” defining ecstatic experience, we discuss, The Immortality Key, & cultural containers for alternate states in antiquity. Bio: Sarah Kielt Costello, Ph.D., has taught art history at UHCL since 2014. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the humanities and the history of ancient art. She was the recipient of the UH Provost's Teaching Excellence Award in 2012. Dr. Costello's research focus is the visual culture of the early periods of the Ancient Near East. In her writing, she investigates the social contexts of visual culture, especially how people store and communicate ideas, and how imagery relates to religion. She is a project leader of a collaborative research initiative with Houston's Menil Collection, focused on the art of the ancient Mediterranean world. She has conducted field research in Cyprus, Turkey, Israel, and Greece, and in 2013 studied in Greece as a Fulbright Fellow in the summer session at the American School of Classical Studies. https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Ecstatic-Experience-in-the-Ancient-World/Stein-Costello-Foster/p/book/9780367480325 Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts 5:45 Growing up within a family lineage of community herbalists and healers, Dr. Hobbs leads us through his orientation to healing and medicine starting with an overview of medical and healing systems, in particular the intersection between eastern and western medicine. The central question that Dr. Hobbs asks is: “What is medicine?” This, an obvious question that, sadly, is not often reflected upon. Dr. Hobbs urges us to cultivate and source our own medicine within our daily lives. As a young man, Chris spent his time in the old forest looking for mushrooms and, given his family history and knowledge of healing modalities, he became acquainted with medicines that grow naturally. We continue with subjects ranging from the community of mycologists, mystical states through a scientific process, the religion of science, food as medicine, issues with modern medicine, factory farming, food tax, food as source of healing, medical response to Covid, vaccine rollout, the role of viruses in our biological network, humanity living out of balance, the dual split of the vaccine, understanding a vaccine and a virus, the scientific method, publication and interpretation of data, medicinal mushrooms, inviting mushrooms into your diet, the microbiome and the gut, fungi and the immune system, nutritional benefit of mushrooms, visionary mushrooms, value of subjective experience following many mushroom journeys, and the lack of cultural and ritual process to fold psychedelics and religious experience into a sacred practice. Bio: Dr. Christopher Hobbs is a fourth-generation, internationally renowned herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, author, clinician, botanist, mycologist, and research scientist with over 35 years of experience with herbal medicine. Christopher has a doctorate from UC Berkeley in phylogenetics, evolutionary biology and phytochemistry. He is also a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild. https://www.christopherhobbs.com https://www.facebook.com/chrisrhobbs https://www.tellurideinstitute.org/telluride-mushroom-festival/ Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com Information for Mark Plotkin: www.markplotkin.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts 8:36 We begin by exploring Dr. Kastrup's history with Jung and philosophers in the 19th and 20th centuries and very quickly move into antiquity through the classicist Peter Kingsley. We discuss the layers of meaning in writing throughout our cultural history, common misunderstandings of texts, positivism of the 19th at 20th century, assumptions within systems of thought and belief, the problem of abstractions and interpretations of reality, Aristotelian logic and conflicts with abstractions, quantum systems, maps and logic, intuitionism, maintaining mystery, Pauli & Jung, synchronicity, meaning, myth and language, & reality as mind. Bio: Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on 'Scientific American,' the 'Institute of Art and Ideas,' the 'Blog of the American Philosophical Association' and 'Big Think,' among others. https://www.bernardokastrup.com https://www.essentiafoundation.org https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/bernardo-kastrup/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeDZCa3VrRQvzBlVR-oVVmA John's Workshop: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/exploring-the-shadow-and-the-psychology-of-fame Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 8:15 What happens when the place where expansive, meaningful, transcendental, and just simply weird conversations becomes just as important and meaningful as the conversations that began there? Esalen. We begin our conversation exploring the birth and development of The Esalen Institute and then the boundaries of the geographical container dissolve and the ideas emerge to the foreground – religion, psychology, mysticism, & psychedelics. Jeff and I discuss the founders and the origin story of Esalen, religious comparativism, the counterculture in America, Russian & United States relations through the Cold War, diplomatic solutions through psychic research, the psychological and the social/political, the influence of Asian philosophy, Tantra, plant medicine, psychology, somatic process, Aldous Huxley, Abraham Maslow, social justice, sameness and difference, cancel culture, the need for unifying language and shared understanding of difference, and the 5-times jacket prize. Bio: Jeffrey J. Kripal is the Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, where he chaired the Department of Religion for eight years and helped create the GEM Program, a doctoral concentration in the study of Gnosticism, Esotericism, and Mysticism that is the largest program of its kind in the world. He is the Associate Director of the Center for Theory and Research at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where he also serves as Chair of the Board. Jeff is the author or co-author of eleven books, seven of which are with The University of Chicago Press, including, most recently a memoir-manifesto entitled Secret Body: Erotic and Esoteric Currents in the History of Religions (Chicago, 2017). He has also served as the Editor in Chief of the Macmillan Handbook Series on Religion (ten volumes, 2015-2016). He specializes in the study of extreme religious states and the re-visioning of a New Comparativism, particularly as both involve putting “the impossible” back on the academic table again. He is presently working on a three-volume study of paranormal currents in the history of religions and the sciences for The University of Chicago Press, collectively entitled The Super Story. https://jeffreyjkripal.com/life/ https://impossiblearchives.rice.edu/registration/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MG5gFtZ3U8&t=9428s John's Workshop: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/exploring-our-shadows-through-the-psychology-of-fame www.junghouston.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 5:38 Dr. Miles Neale offers us his breadth of knowledge about psychology, Buddhism, suffering, and psychedelics. We begin this conversation with Miles describing his early training, teachers, and practice as he traces the path of his development as a psychotherapist and teacher of Buddhism. Dr. Neale emphasizes a multidisciplinary dialogic process that is necessary to address the suffering of our time. We discuss The Four Noble Truths, a foundational insight and scaffolding of Buddhism, and use this frame to describe the problem, the cause of the problem, the potential for a solution, and the path for the solution, we explore materialism as a worldview that is the problem, define materialism and nihilism, the limitations and value of materialism and the overwhelming reliance on the scientific worldview – to the exclusion of religion, Tibetan history and practice, oracles, the confluence between easter and wester traditions, the Holy Grail, the Jungian Self and Buddhist no self, metaphysics, a spiritual path, the Three Jewels, and more. Bio: Dr. Miles Neale, PsyD, is a Buddhist psychotherapist in private practice and founder of the two-year online Contemplative Studies Program. Author of Gradual Awakening (Sounds True, 2018) and co-editor of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy (Routledge, 2017), Miles is a faculty member of Tibet House (US) and Weill Cornell Medical College. With more than twenty years integrating the mind science and meditative practices of Tibetan Buddhism with psychotherapy, trauma research and neuroscience, Miles is a forerunner in the emerging field of contemplative psychotherapy, and leads pilgrimages around the Buddhist world. milesneale.com John's Class: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/exploring-our-shadows-through-the-psychology-of-fame www.junghouston.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 7:50 This conversation begins by exploring the ground-level of psychedelics and it broadens to other aspects of the relationship between religion and psychedelics, continuing through the psychedelic renaissance, science and the sacred, consciously bringing these sacraments into the broader culture to heal and support those who seek out these transformative, a brief history of psychedelics in the U.S., mystical experiences setting the stage, the Perennial philosophy, social control and religion, misinterpretation and the birth of harmful aspects of religious dogma, a life trajectory of ritual, death and ritual, death and psychedelics, the nature of suffering, transpersonal psychology, agape and meaning, a report from the psychedelic field, and training clinicians for psychedelic. Bio: Mark Arey, born in Richmond, VA (1954) and raised outside Washington DC, Arey converted to Orthodox Christianity from the Episcopal Church when he was 22 years old. He graduated in 1975 from the University of Maryland (cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) with a BA in Latin Language and Literature. In 1976, he matriculated at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline MA. He graduated in 1979 receiving a M.Div. (with distinction) and was subsequently ordained both deacon and presbyter in October 1979. In the intervening 34 years, Arey served six parishes (last as interim Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York City), as well as parishes in Baltimore, MD, New Haven, CT, Nashville, TN (twice), Frederick, MD and New York City. In 2006 he was awarded the rank of Economos and in 2007 that of Protopresbyter. In 2013, he asked to return to the ranks of the laity in order to marry, and did so, marrying Lyn Cameron Hayes on December 9, 2013. Arey has one grown daughter, Zoë Arey, who lives in New York City with her three daughters, Lillian, Beatrice, and Evelyn. https://www.thehellenicinitiative.org Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine conducting FDA-approved clinical research with the psychedelic compound psilocybin for over a decade. Dr. Bossis was director of palliative care research and co-principal investigator on the 2016 landmark clinical trial demonstrating a significant reduction in emotional distress from a single psilocybin session in persons with cancer, specifically, a rapid decrease in depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and demoralization along with improvements in spiritual well-being and quality of life. He is study director and lead session guide on a clinical trial evaluating psilocybin-generated mystical experience upon religious leaders. His primary psychedelic research interests include the treatment of end-of-life existential distress and advancing our understanding of consciousness, meaning, and spirituality. Dr. Bossis is a training supervisor of psychotherapy at NYU-Bellevue Hospital Center and co-founder of the Bellevue Hospital Palliative Care Service. He is a faculty member for The Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research Certificate Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies and for The Art of Dying Institute in NYC. He has a long-standing interest in comparative religion, mysticism, and the interface of psychology and spirituality. He maintains a private psychotherapy and consulting practice in NYC. www.esalen.com www.junghouston.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com WATCH Get Centered https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbeVcDXWXezYMkHJg-2duw Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 4:10 This conversation begins by exploring the Dr. Laz's early history with dreams and lucid dreaming, hypnagogic dreams, why we dream, how to approach dreams and dream work, Tibetan Buddhism and dreaming, lucid dreaming and heightened consciousness, lucid dreaming and ego control, the paranormal and dreaming, symbolic and literal interpretation, archetypes and dreams, process to lucid dream, mysticism and dreams, leaning lucid dreaming, wake induced lucid dreaming, overwhelming images in the dreamscape, psychopomps, inner guides, dream and symbol dictionaries, Jung and dreams, and more. Bio: Athena Laz is a depth psychologist, dream teacher and 4th generation intuitive. Her debut book, The Alchemy of Your Dreams is out in the world on August 31st 2021. Having spent over a decade working one-on-one with clients in her practice, she moved online to create her heart's desire, which translated into www.athenalaz.com. During her time in practice, she worked extensively with trauma victims, as well as couples and individuals from all walks of life. She trained psychoanalytically with a particular interest in depth psychology. Her love has always been towards the transpersonal and symbolic aspects of life. As a natural intuitive and avid lucid dreamer; she feels the psychological aspects of life must be incorporated with the spiritual aspects of Self. To disregard one over the other is to be incomplete, and so, with any artful practice of wellness—we look to that which is wholesome—that which is whole. https://www.athenalaz.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com WATCH Get Centered https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbeVcDXWXezYMkHJg-2duw Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 3:01 In this episode, John interviews author, book editor, meditation teacher, and psychotherapist, Dr. Connie Zweig. We begin by exploring Connie's history with meditation and the value and importance that she places on maintaining a practice in order to be present with the often overwhelming affect of inner work. She cites the necessity of body practice to work with the shadow – the content, traits, memories, and affects that does not fit into the ego-ideal. Why do this? Because, as she states, “Shadow work is the process of development.” We can learn to become aware of these inner figures by personifying them to relate to them in ways that provides us an opportunity to integrate the content rather than act it out. We continue the conversation with the ways in which we identify with the shadow, the structure of the psyche, the origins of the shadow character, the protective aspects of shadow, ego development, family of origin, agism, the body/mind relationship, repression, consequences of shadow repression, identification with roles, becoming an elder, rites of passage, age as our curriculum, life completion, and more. Bio: Connie Zweig, Ph.D., is a retired therapist, co-author of Meeting the Shadow, Romancing the Shadow, Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality, and the novel, A Moth to the Flame: The Life of Sufi Poet Rumi. Her new book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends shadow-work into late life and teaches aging as a spiritual practice. Connie has been doing contemplative practices for 50 years. She is a wife and grandmother and was initiated as an Elder by Sage-ing International in 2017. After investing in all these roles, she is practicing the shift from role to soul. https://conniezweig.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com WATCH Get Centered https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbeVcDXWXezYMkHJg-2duw Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Conversation starts @ 5:00 In this episode, Dr. Price interviews Dr. Mark Ryan, and we begin with a quote from Dr. Ryan's book defining transpersonal psychology. “Our individual ego, our sense of a personal self, and the psyche that sustains it, is imbedded in an interconnected cosmos; our personal psyche reaches into, and is penetrated by, a collective consciousness, a natural ambience, a spiritual foundation and context” (p. 127). Through this conversation we explore the definition of transpersonal thought, meaningful perspectives at the root of religious and spiritual values, constructivism and perennialism, William James, Ken Wilbur, and other luminaries of religion, psychology and spirituality, North American thought and the history of mysticism in the United States and how this influences modern thought in the west, the science of the psyche, the influence of behaviorism and Freudian thought on religion and spirituality, cosmic consciousness, the science of the paranormal, psychical research, psychological reduction, materialism, a review of the founders of modern psychology and spirituality, the conscious and the unconscious, mystical experience, panpsychism, & psychedelics. Bio: An historian of American thought and culture, Mark Ryan was Dean of Jonathan Edwards College and a teacher of American Studies and history at Yale University for more than twenty years. Subsequently he was Titular IV Professor at the Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, Mexico, where he also served as Dean of the Colleges, Regente (Head) of José Gaos College, and Coordinator of the master's degree program in United States Studies. He holds Ph.D. and M. Phil. degrees from Yale, an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas. Mark is author of A Different Dimension: Reflections on the History of Transpersonal Thought (Westphalia Press, 2018), A Collegiate Way of Living (Yale University, 2001), articles in various journals on higher education, and articles in The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology and related publications on the history of psychology. He is certified by Grof Transpersonal Training as a practitioner of Holotropic Breathwork, served for fourteen years on the Board of Trustees of Naropa University, is past chair of the Board of Directors of Wisdom University, and past chair and current trustee of the Jonathan Edwards Trust at Yale. Living now in his native city of Houston, Mark teaches and lectures at the C. G. Jung Educational Center and other venues, and is a principal facilitator of Holotropic Breathwork Houston. https://www.holotropicbreathworkhouston.com Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com WATCH Get Centered https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbeVcDXWXezYMkHJg-2duw Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com