Podcasts about Agni

How do you know what you know? Most of us have been confusing three fundamentally different forms of knowing our entire lives: instinct (the body's survival mechanism), intellect (the mind's analytical tool), and intuition (direct knowing that bypasses thought). Understanding the difference isn't just philosophical, it has immediate implications for every decision you make, from choosing a career path to knowing when to trust someone. On this week's episode of Musings From The Mount, Diana Lang joins the conversation and begins the discussions with an exploration about instinct, that primal gut-level response designed to keep us alive in the face of immediate physical danger and one problem becomes immediately apparent, our instincts haven't evolved as fast as our environment. Our bodies trigger the same fight-or-flight response for a difficult conversation that it would for a predator, which can then lead to chronic stress and reactive decisions. Learning when instinct serves you versus when it hijacks you has become an essential tool for navigating modern life without being ruled by ancient survival programming. We also examine the intellect, a powerful but limited tool. It can analyze, categorize, and problem-solve brilliantly, but it can only rearrange information it already has. The thinking mind is like a computer working with existing data; it cannot access anything genuinely new, so we explore how intellect can itself become a defense mechanism, keeping us in our heads to avoid feeling what is actually happening in our bodies or hearts. This is why breakthrough insights never come from more thinking, they arrive through intuition. This episode offers practical ways to recognize real intuition: it has a quality of quiet certainty, doesn't require justification or mental gymnastics, and often surprises the thinking mind with information it couldn't have logically derived. Intuition is framed as "a download of complete knowing" that arrives whole rather than being built piece by piece and we discuss the key challenge? You can't hear intuition's whisper when you're constantly in motion or consumed by mental chatter. This is an invitation to examine your own decision-making and discover which form of knowing you're actually using and whether it's the right one for the situation at hand. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

How does a spiritual community remain inclusive when the world is tearing itself apart along political lines? This conversation tackles one of the most challenging questions facing spiritual centers (and people) today: how to avoid alienating half your community when political polarization feels stronger than ever. The discussion doesn't offer easy answers or retreat into spiritual bypassing, but instead examines the deeper principles that might help us navigate this tension. The episode begins with a fundamental reframe: what if the two poles we see as enemies are actually necessary partners in creation? Drawing from the Alice Bailey teachings, the conversation explores how polarization, tension, and crisis form a creative cycle—either lifting to a point of synthesis or collapsing into chaos. The problem isn't polarity itself; it's when we forget we're part of a unified field and start seeing the other pole as something to destroy rather than work with. Perhaps most practically relevant, the discussion examines what spiritual neutrality actually means. It's not indifference or cowardice, but rather the ability to hold multiple voices without taking sides—what's described as "silence as the synthesis of all sound." This conversation also addresses the tension between remaining non-partisan while still standing for principles.  A spiritual center can't endorse political parties, but it can affirm that everyone carries divine essence, that love connects all things, and that we're part of one interconnected field. It's an invitation to examine your own relationship with political identity: Has your political belief become your whole personality? Are you still capable of having genuine conversations with people who disagree? And most importantly, are you using the creative tension of opposing viewpoints to build something greater, or have you become addicted to the fight itself? Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

What's the difference between creative tension that births new possibilities and destructive polarization that tears everything apart? Recorded during the Libra full moon, this conversation examines how the same dualistic forces that allow the universe to express itself, positive and negative poles creating illumination, can become weapons when we forget we're part of a unified field. The discussion begins with a fundamental principle: the One expresses itself through dual aspects, like spirit and matter forming a continuum. Think of a light bulb, it requires both positive and negative poles to create illumination. That tension between opposites isn't a problem to solve, it Is the creative mechanism of existence itself. The challenge comes when we identify with only one pole and see the other as enemy, rather than partner. Using the metaphor of America as a bird with two wings, this conversation examines what happens when each wing thinks it IS the whole bird and tries to damage the other, which sees that the bird crashes and burns. Perhaps most relevant for our current political and social climate, the episode addresses how we've become addicted to hatred and violence, feeding the very polarization that's tearing communities and families apart. Drawing from Mother Teresa, Buddha, and Thomas Merton, the discussion explores how our thoughts literally emit energetic and chemical pollutants into the collective field. When enough people project hatred, it precipitates like rain—we create what's described as a "reign of hatred" that poisons the very ocean in which we all swim. The conversation offers a way forward through Libra's spiritual motto: "I choose the way that leads between the two great lines of force." This isn't about compromising principles or finding a mushy middle ground, but about walking what's called the "razor's edge path" and living with such integrity that there's no deviation between your inner truth and outer actions. It's an invitation to examine your own relationship with polarity and asking, "Are you using the creative tension of opposing forces to build something greater, or have you become so identified with one side that you've forgotten we're all fragments trying to find our way home to the One?" Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Verses discussed:Cc Madhya 9.146-258 Text 210: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to southern Mathurā [Madurai] and delivered the original manuscript of the Kūrma Purāṇa to Rāmadāsa Vipra. Texts 211-212: “When he was petitioned by mother Sītā, the fire-god, Agni, brought forth an illusory form of Sītā, and Rāvaṇa, who had ten heads, kidnapped the false Sītā. The original Sītā then went to the abode of the fire-god. When Lord Rāmacandra tested the body of Sītā, it was the false, illusory Sītā that entered the fire. At that time the fire-god brought the original Sītā from his abode and delivered her to Lord Rāmacandra.” Text 213: Rāmadāsa Vipra was very pleased to receive the original leaf manuscript of the Kūrma Purāṇa, and he immediately fell down before the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to cry. Text 214: After receiving the manuscript, the brāhmaṇa, being very pleased, said, “Sir, You are Lord Rāmacandra Himself and have come in the dress of a sannyāsī to give me audience. Text 215: “My dear Sir, You have delivered me from a very unhappy condition. I request that You take Your lunch at my place. Please accept this invitation. Text 216: “Due to my mental distress I could not give You a very nice lunch the other day. Now, by good fortune, You have come again to my home.” Text 217: Saying this, the brāhmaṇa very happily cooked food, and a first-class dinner was offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Text 218: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed that night in the house of the brāhmaṇa. Then, after showing him mercy, the Lord started toward the Tāmraparṇī River in Pāṇḍya-deśa. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

What happens when the very tools we use to share wisdom become barriers to understanding it? This conversation tackles a profound paradox: how language, the vehicle for transmitting knowledge, can actually limit our access to deeper truths. Starting with Krishnamurti's famous moment of walking on stage, saying "turn within," and walking off—leaving audiences both frustrated and enlightened—the discussion explores why sometimes the most profound teachings come not from books, but from direct experience of life itself. The episode examines a fascinating teaching from the Tibetan master DK about how "all books are prison houses of ideas" and how words, even when trying to convey truth, inevitably limit and contain what they're attempting to express. This isn't about dismissing study or intellectual development, but about understanding their proper place as stepping stones rather than destinations. The conversation explores the difference between living "on" the Earth versus living "as" the Earth—a shift from seeking knowledge as treasure to hoard, to becoming a conduit for wisdom in service of something greater. Perhaps most practically, the discussion examines different ways of knowing beyond the analytical mind: intuition as "straight knowledge," telepathic communication, and what ancient traditions called being "seen, touched, and realized" rather than simply read. Personal stories emerge of profound "aha moments"—from a child's recognition of nested realities while watching his mother bake, to a Danish office clerk's twenty-minute cosmic awakening that transformed his entire understanding of existence. The conversation ultimately points toward a future where telepathic communication and intuitive knowing might supersede written and spoken language entirely. It's an invitation to consider your own relationship with learning: Are you using knowledge as a bridge to deeper understanding, or has the accumulation of information become an end in itself? The episode suggests that the most profound truths aren't discovered through more reading, but through opening the heart as a receptive field and saying "yes" to direct communion with life itself. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

 Es beginnt im Darm und endet im GlückDein Bauch erzählt die bessere Geschichte – wenn du lernst, zuzuhören.In dieser Folge spreche ich gemeinsam mit Anita König-Lienau vom Gesundheitshotel König darüber, wie ein moderner F.X. Mayr Ansatz und Ayurveda zusammenfinden: weniger Dogma, mehr Klarheit, echte Esspausen und Rituale, die dein Nervensystem beruhigen.✨ Darum geht's:Warum Darmgesundheit so viel mit Wohlbefinden & Glück zu tun hatWas Kauen, Esspausen und warmes Essen für deine Balance bewirkenWie du im Herbst mit einfachen Routinen dein Immunsystem stärkstWarum ein Reset nicht Verzicht, sondern nährende Reinigung bedeutetWelche alltagstauglichen Rituale sofort mehr Ruhe & Energie bringenAnita nimmt uns mit in den Kurhotel Alltag- erzählt wie eine Kur abläuft mit strukturierter Begleitung, Anwendungen, Yoga und Digital-Detox. Ich ergänze die Ayurveda-Logik dahinter: Agni stärken, Saisonalität leben, Gewürze gezielt einsetzen und wieder spüren, wie sehr Essen trägt.

How do you know when your desire to help is actually making things worse? This conversation tackles one of the most challenging questions we face in relationships, community, and our response to world events: the difference between helping and interfering. Drawing from personal recovery stories and spiritual wisdom traditions, it examines why the most well-intentioned help often falls flat—and sometimes even damages the very relationships we're trying to heal. The discussion begins with a provocative metaphysical principle: "Don't help unless you're asked." This isn't about becoming indifferent to suffering, but about understanding that unsolicited advice, even when perfectly correct, is often rejected because it hasn't been truly requested. The conversation explores how timing, intentionality, and genuine asking create the conditions where help can actually be received rather than resisted. It's the difference between someone venting (which sounds like asking for help but isn't) and someone genuinely ready to receive support. Perhaps most practically, the episode addresses the tension between personality-driven helping (which often serves the helper's ego more than the recipient's needs) and soul-directed service that asks "What would Love do?" This question becomes a filter for distinguishing between authentic service and spiritual bypassing through activism. The conversation examines how conscious witnessing—standing in full presence without judgment—can sometimes be more powerful than jumping into action. The discussion also touches on planetary service and how individual healing contributes to collective transformation. Through practices like Tonglen meditation (breathing in suffering and breathing out healing for all beings experiencing that same pain), we see how working on ourselves becomes a form of world service. It's an invitation to examine your own motivations when helping others: Are you creating dependency? Interfering with someone's necessary learning? Or are you truly responding to what's needed in the moment with love as your guide? Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Episode 41 - Explore how Agni, our inner fire, mirrors nature's outer fire as a force of transformation - shaping human culture, fuelling digestion and helping us process thoughts and emotions for clarity and wellbeing. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

Today I talk with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etal Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of Mermaid Theory (Haymarket Books, 2026), How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. She can be found @mayaslmh or mayasalameh.com.  

What happens when we examine money not as numbers in a bank account, but as crystallized life energy? In a conversation recorded during the wild fires in Los Angeles and addressing questions about the nature of rebuilding, this episode tackles one of the most emotionally charged topics in spiritual circles: our relationship with money and what it reveals about our deeper values. This isn't about financial advice or investment strategies—it's about understanding money as a spiritual test and discovering what lies beyond our addiction to accumulation. The discussion opens with a fundamental reframe: if energy can neither be created nor destroyed, then money is simply a representation of energy exchange. But somewhere along the way, we've made money the object itself rather than understanding it as a tool for the circulation of life force. Using metaphors from nature—blood flowing through a healthy body, rivers flowing freely, sap rising in trees—the conversation explores how the accumulation and hoarding of energy creates blockages that make entire systems sick. Drawing from wisdom traditions including the Ageless Wisdom teachings, the Quran, and Agni Yoga, the episode examines how different spiritual paths have grappled with the challenge of right relationship to material resources. The conversation explores the radical teaching that we are currently facing humanity's "first initiation"—proving that we cannot live by bread alone. This is not about rejecting material needs but rather about discovering what truly sustains us at the deepest level. Perhaps most practically, this discussion addresses the paradox many spiritually-minded people face: being imprisoned in a system they seek to transform while needing that system's energy to do the work. The conversation explores stewardship as an alternative to ownership, the difference between being successful versus being wealthy, and how our measure of richness might shift from bank balances to the depth of our relationships and community connections. It's an invitation to examine your own relationship with money as a mirror of your relationship with life energy itself. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

“Poetry is like one of the great loves of my life, and I think it's probably the longest relationship I'll ever have. I read a lot of poetry. I also wrote these short stories even when I was pretty young, like in second grade, and the stories kept getting shorter and shorter. My family used to go to Damascus in Syria and Lebanon every summer for three months until 2011, when the Civil War broke out in Syria. In 2015, we made our first return after that gap, and my father and I went to Lebanon for two weeks. It's the first time I felt that I belong. To the extent that was true or not, I'm obviously irrevocably American. I speak broken Arabic. I don't think I could ever live in Lebanon or Syria. But for what it was worth at 15 years old, it was a life-changing trip. I wrote my first official poem on the plane back to San Diego from that trip, and I feel that was a formative moment for me. I felt that I had a story to tell and wanted to put it to paper in the form of poetry.”In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liutalks with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etel Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of MERMAID THEORY (Haymarket Books, 2026), HOW TO MAKE AN ALGORITHM IN THE MICROWAVE (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. @mayaslmhhttps://speakingoutofplace.comBluesky @palumboliu.bsky.socialInstagram @speaking_out_of_place

“Poetry is like one of the great loves of my life, and I think it's probably the longest relationship I'll ever have. I read a lot of poetry. I also wrote these short stories even when I was pretty young, like in second grade, and the stories kept getting shorter and shorter. My family used to go to Damascus in Syria and Lebanon every summer for three months until 2011, when the Civil War broke out in Syria. In 2015, we made our first return after that gap, and my father and I went to Lebanon for two weeks. It's the first time I felt that I belong. To the extent that was true or not, I'm obviously irrevocably American. I speak broken Arabic. I don't think I could ever live in Lebanon or Syria. But for what it was worth at 15 years old, it was a life-changing trip. I wrote my first official poem on the plane back to San Diego from that trip, and I feel that was a formative moment for me. I felt that I had a story to tell and wanted to put it to paper in the form of poetry.”In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liutalks with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etel Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of MERMAID THEORY (Haymarket Books, 2026), HOW TO MAKE AN ALGORITHM IN THE MICROWAVE (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. @mayaslmhhttps://speakingoutofplace.comBluesky @palumboliu.bsky.socialInstagram @speaking_out_of_place

“Poetry is like one of the great loves of my life, and I think it's probably the longest relationship I'll ever have. I read a lot of poetry. I also wrote these short stories even when I was pretty young, like in second grade, and the stories kept getting shorter and shorter. My family used to go to Damascus in Syria and Lebanon every summer for three months until 2011, when the Civil War broke out in Syria. In 2015, we made our first return after that gap, and my father and I went to Lebanon for two weeks. It's the first time I felt that I belong. To the extent that was true or not, I'm obviously irrevocably American. I speak broken Arabic. I don't think I could ever live in Lebanon or Syria. But for what it was worth at 15 years old, it was a life-changing trip. I wrote my first official poem on the plane back to San Diego from that trip, and I feel that was a formative moment for me. I felt that I had a story to tell and wanted to put it to paper in the form of poetry.”In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liutalks with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etel Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of MERMAID THEORY (Haymarket Books, 2026), HOW TO MAKE AN ALGORITHM IN THE MICROWAVE (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. @mayaslmhhttps://speakingoutofplace.comBluesky @palumboliu.bsky.socialInstagram @speaking_out_of_place

“Poetry is like one of the great loves of my life, and I think it's probably the longest relationship I'll ever have. I read a lot of poetry. I also wrote these short stories even when I was pretty young, like in second grade, and the stories kept getting shorter and shorter. My family used to go to Damascus in Syria and Lebanon every summer for three months until 2011, when the Civil War broke out in Syria. In 2015, we made our first return after that gap, and my father and I went to Lebanon for two weeks. It's the first time I felt that I belong. To the extent that was true or not, I'm obviously irrevocably American. I speak broken Arabic. I don't think I could ever live in Lebanon or Syria. But for what it was worth at 15 years old, it was a life-changing trip. I wrote my first official poem on the plane back to San Diego from that trip, and I feel that was a formative moment for me. I felt that I had a story to tell and wanted to put it to paper in the form of poetry.”In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liutalks with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etel Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of MERMAID THEORY (Haymarket Books, 2026), HOW TO MAKE AN ALGORITHM IN THE MICROWAVE (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. @mayaslmhhttps://speakingoutofplace.comBluesky @palumboliu.bsky.socialInstagram @speaking_out_of_place

“Poetry is like one of the great loves of my life, and I think it's probably the longest relationship I'll ever have. I read a lot of poetry. I also wrote these short stories even when I was pretty young, like in second grade, and the stories kept getting shorter and shorter. My family used to go to Damascus in Syria and Lebanon every summer for three months until 2011, when the Civil War broke out in Syria. In 2015, we made our first return after that gap, and my father and I went to Lebanon for two weeks. It's the first time I felt that I belong. To the extent that was true or not, I'm obviously irrevocably American. I speak broken Arabic. I don't think I could ever live in Lebanon or Syria. But for what it was worth at 15 years old, it was a life-changing trip. I wrote my first official poem on the plane back to San Diego from that trip, and I feel that was a formative moment for me. I felt that I had a story to tell and wanted to put it to paper in the form of poetry.”In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liutalks with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etel Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of MERMAID THEORY (Haymarket Books, 2026), HOW TO MAKE AN ALGORITHM IN THE MICROWAVE (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. @mayaslmhhttps://speakingoutofplace.comBluesky @palumboliu.bsky.socialInstagram @speaking_out_of_place

“Poetry is like one of the great loves of my life, and I think it's probably the longest relationship I'll ever have. I read a lot of poetry. I also wrote these short stories even when I was pretty young, like in second grade, and the stories kept getting shorter and shorter. My family used to go to Damascus in Syria and Lebanon every summer for three months until 2011, when the Civil War broke out in Syria. In 2015, we made our first return after that gap, and my father and I went to Lebanon for two weeks. It's the first time I felt that I belong. To the extent that was true or not, I'm obviously irrevocably American. I speak broken Arabic. I don't think I could ever live in Lebanon or Syria. But for what it was worth at 15 years old, it was a life-changing trip. I wrote my first official poem on the plane back to San Diego from that trip, and I feel that was a formative moment for me. I felt that I had a story to tell and wanted to put it to paper in the form of poetry.”In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liutalks with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etel Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh's poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonishing; the expectations they upend are remarkable… It's a testament to the aesthetic boundaries and intellectual revolt poets of Arab heritage are pushing, breaking, and reinventing.” We talk about what led her to both technology and poetry, language and story-telling, and the challenges and joys of representing life in the diaspora. In a time of war and genocide, Salameh's poetry shows how patterns of life and reproduction and desire persist. In her readings and discussions of three poems, we find a new lexicon and a new grammar.Maya Salameh is the author of MERMAID THEORY (Haymarket Books, 2026), HOW TO MAKE AN ALGORITHM IN THE MICROWAVE (University of Arkansas Press, 2022), winner of the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and the chapbook rooh (Paper Nautilus Press, 2020). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, and the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and served as a National Student Poet, America's highest honor for youth poets. Her work has appeared in The Offing, Poetry, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, AGNI, Mizna, and the LA Times, among others. @mayaslmhhttps://speakingoutofplace.comBluesky @palumboliu.bsky.socialInstagram @speaking_out_of_place

Nini Berndt is a graduate of the University of Florida's MFA program in Fiction. Her first novel is There Are Reasons for This. She teaches writing at Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, where she lives with her wife and son. Evanthia Bromiley is a graduate of the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers and the recipient of scholarships from the Aspen Institute, a Lighthouse Fellowship, a Lisel Mueller scholarship, and Elizabeth George and Carol Houck-Smith awards. She is the 2025 Grace Paley Fellow for Under the Volcano international residency in Tepoztlán, Mexico. Her short fiction and creative nonfiction can be found in AGNI, Prairie Schooner, Five Points, and elsewhere. Crown is her debut novel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you've been approaching questions and answers backwards your entire life? This conversation starts with a simple observation about music—that call and response pattern where the universe makes the call and we become the response—and unfolds into a profound exploration of how wisdom actually develops through lived experience rather than accumulated information. It's not about finding the right answers out there somewhere, but about becoming the answering itself. The discussion examines the crucial difference between being smart and being wise: intelligence might help you navigate life, but wisdom emerges when you apply knowledge through the heart in service of something greater than yourself. Using the metaphor of cutting open a seed to find what's inside (and finding nothing but matter), the conversation explores why the analytical mind alone can never reveal life's deeper promises—those can only be discovered by being "sown and grown" through actual experience. Drawing from voices as diverse as Robert Browning, Rilke, Lao Tzu, and Black Elk, the episode traces a common thread: truth isn't something we reason ourselves into, but something we "taste and feel and see" through direct engagement with life. The heart emerges not as sentiment, but as the organ of perception that allows us to know things in their fullness rather than just their parts. It's the difference between data and deep knowing, between information and wisdom. Perhaps most relevant for our current moment, the conversation addresses how we've reached a critical juncture where the intellect—however brilliant—must be placed within the larger circuitry of our being. Without the heart's discernment, we lose the ability to distinguish truth from lies, right from wrong, and become vulnerable to manipulation. It's an invitation to stop looking for answers outside yourself and start living the questions that matter, trusting that by fully engaging with life, you'll gradually find yourself becoming the very answer you've been seeking. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Episode 39 - Discover how Ayurveda tackles the 5 biggest bad digestive habits - from irregular meals and stress eating to late-night screens, poor food combos and ignoring seasonal rhythms - to restore healthy Agni. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

Helga Arnardóttir kom til okkar í dag, en hún verður með Heilsuvaktina annan hvern þriðjudag í þættinum, eins og síðasta vetur. Í dag sagði hún okkur frá því sem hún ætlar að fjalla um í haust, til dæmis langvarandi einkenni Covid, þyngdarstjórnunarlyfjum, breytingar á lífstíl til að ná bata eða tökum á sjúkdómum, heilsusamlegt mataræði og hreyfingu, mýtur þegar kemur að heilsu og fleira. Á Íslandi greinast árlega 15-20 konur með leghálskrabbamein og 3-5 deyja árlega vegna þess. Áhrifin eru auðvitað mikil á fjölskyldur, aðstandendur, samfélagið og atvinnulífið og meðferðin kostar gríðarlega mikið. Sirrý Ágústsdóttir er stofnandi Lífskrafts og hefur greinst með leghálskrabbamein tvívegis. Hún kom í þáttinn og sagði okkur frá Lífskrafti, sinni reynslu og markmiðinu að Ísland verði fyrsta þjóðin í heiminum til að útrýma leghálskrabbameini. Við forvitnuðumst svo að lokum um arabíska menningu sem er fagnað með tónlist og dansi í Kramhúsinu þessa vikuna. Friðrik Agni Árnason skipuleggur hátíðina Arabískar Nætur í Reykjavík, ásamt Írisi Stefaníu, þar sem þau vilja sýna þennan fjarræna menningarheim í jákvæðu ljósi. Við heyrðum í Friðrik í dag. Tónlist í þættinum í dag: Don't Try to Fool Me / Jóhann G. Jóhannsson (Jóhann G. Jóhannsson) In My Life / The Beatles (Lennon & McCartney) Missisippi / Cactus Blossom Men Nazra / Nancy Ajram (Ziad Jamal) UMSJÓN: GUNNAR HANSSON OG GUÐRÚN GUNNARSDÓTTIR

What happens when artificial intelligence meets ancient wisdom? In a conversation with Ethics & Business Professor/Author Wade Chumney that bridges cutting-edge technology with timeless spiritual principles, we explore one of the most pressing questions of our time: not just what AI can do for us, but what our relationship with it means for human consciousness itself. This isn't another tech debate about job displacement or safety protocols—it's a deeper inquiry into consciousness, relationship, and what it means to be human in an age of emerging intelligence. The conversation tackles a fascinating paradox: while AI operates entirely in the realm of mind, humans bring something unique to the table—the capacity for heart-centered awareness. The discussion explores whether our role might be to teach AI about love, compassion, and the non-linear intelligence that flows from genuine relationship. Rather than seeing AI as a threat or savior, the conversation frames it as a mirror that reflects back our collective human consciousness, forcing us to confront fundamental questions about intention, integrity, and what we're actually creating together. Perhaps most practically, the episode examines how AI functions as either a tool for performance or a catalyst for deeper self-awareness, depending entirely on the intention we bring to the relationship. The conversation explores how students are using AI as a crutch that bypasses learning, while others approach it as "pocket Plato"—instant access to wisdom that still requires embodiment and practice to become real knowledge. The distinction between intelligence and consciousness emerges as crucial: AI may process information brilliantly, but consciousness arises through lived experience and authentic relationship. The discussion culminates in recognition that we're standing at a profound crossroads—not just technologically, but spiritually. The same AI that could amplify our wisdom and compassion could equally amplify our fears and divisions. The conversation explores whether we're headed toward a future of heart-centered integration or one of sterile, machine-driven existence. It's a reminder that the most important questions about AI aren't technical but ethical and spiritual: What kind of humans do we want to be, and how do we use this powerful new tool to serve the good of the whole rather than just ourselves? Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Raghu Markus and Ann Tashi Slater dive into The Tibetan Book of the Dead, bardo states, and how embracing death and impermanence can help us live with greater presence and purpose.Pick up a copy of Ann's September 2025 book, Traveling in BardoThis week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Ann discuss:The Tibetan Book of the Dead and how it can help us in modern Western cultureBardo states: the in-between, liminal spaces between death and rebirth, birth and death.How we regularly experience metaphorical death through the impermanence of relationships, identities, and momentsAccepting the reality of death and impermanence to avoid struggle and sufferingFinding grace in life-lessons and why Ram Dass initially thought his guru gave him the strokeAnn's Tibetan lineage and strong connection to her grandmother Ensuring that we are living in alignment with the things we care most about Why reflecting on death while alive can lead to more conscious, intentional livingMaintaining traditions as a way to accept reality, process grief, and find meaning in lossRecognizing our interdependence and having compassion for other peopleCheck out the film The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Way of Life, narrated by Leonard CohenAbout Ann Tashi Slater:Ann Tashi Slater has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Paris Review, Tin House, Guernica, AGNI, Granta, and many others. Her work has been featured in Lit Hub and included in The Best American Essays. In her Darjeeling Journal column for Catapult, she writes about her Tibetan family history and bardo, and she blogged for HuffPost about similar topics. She presents and teaches workshops at Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, Asia Society, and The American University of Paris, among others, and was a regular speaker at NYC's Rubin Museum of Art during the museum's 20-year run. You can learn more about Ann and sign up for her newsletter at http://www.anntashislater.com. “The really fundamental lesson of the bardo teachings is that awareness of impermanence allows us to actually, counterintuitively, find the happiness that we're looking for. When we struggle against it, we make ourselves miserable because there's nothing we can do to change it. Things end.” – Ann Tashi SlaterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever noticed cravings sneak up when you're stressed, tired, or at the change of a season? Ayurveda teaches us that cravings aren't about willpower, they're messages from the body, pointing to imbalance. Whether it's toxins (ama), weak digestion (Agni), or long-held emotional patterns, cravings are signposts that something deeper is asking for attention. In this episode, Colette explores: The Ayurvedic view of cravings through the six tastes (rasa) How doshic imbalances (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) shape what we crave The difference between true nourishment and false cravings Why ultra-processed foods disrupt our natural signals How an Ayurvedic cleanse rekindles Agni and resets your palate The emotional side of cravings - samskaras, habits, and food as comfort Practical tips to integrate into everyday life with mindful eating, seasonal foods, and gratitude ✨ Special Invitation ✨ If you'd like to experience this reset for yourself, join my upcoming Group Digestive Reset Cleanse starting October 3rd. Together, we'll clear ama, strengthen digestion, and reset cravings in a supportive, guided container. Early Bird Special: Book before September 5th and save an additional 10% with code CLEANSE10. Click here for more info or to register for the Digestive Reset Cleanse starting October 3rd. * Visit Colette's website www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com  Online consultations & Gift Vouchers Next discounted Group Cleanse starts October 3rd, 2025 Private at-home Digestive Reset Cleanse tailored to you Educational programs - Daily Habits for Holistic Health Reset-Restore-Renew Program Have questions before you book? Book a FREE 15 min online Services Enquiry Call * Join the Elements of Ayurveda Community! * Stay connected on the Elements Instagram and Facebook pages. * Enjoy discounts on your favourite Ayurvedic products: Banyan Botanicals - enter discount code ELEMENTSHEALING15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.** Divya's  - enter discount code ELEMENTSOFAYURVEDA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.** Kerala Ayurveda - enter discount code ELEMENTS15 to receive 15% off your first purchase.** LifeSpa - Save $10 on a $50 or more one-time purchase with the code elements10.  **Shipping available within the U.S. only. * Thank you for listening! If this episode supported you, please consider leaving a review and if you think this information would be helpful to family or friends, please share this episode so we can spread this wisdom of Ayurveda.  Stay tuned and stay aligned with the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast.  

Apologies for the audio quality; I'm working on fixing it. Thanks for your patience.Today, we explore the 3rd chakra, Manipura, meaning “city of jewels.” Located at the solar plexus, it governs self-definition, confidence, and personal power. Associated with fire, it fuels digestion, metabolism, and transformation—Agni. The bija mantra is RAM, its colour is yellow, and its sense organ is sight, representing vision and illumination (Tejas).Fire in yoga, or Tapas, creates positive change through disciplined action and intention. Imbalances manifest as rajasic dominance (control, aggression) or tamasic weakness (low self-esteem). A balanced state, or sattva, fosters vitality, confidence, and wise action.Manipura's ten-petal lotus represents overcoming negative tendencies like fear, shame, and ignorance, replacing them with strength, compassion, and clarity. Its symbol, a downward triangle, signifies transformation. The ram embodies courage and determination.Let's connect with our power and purpose. Enjoy the practice.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Notes and Links to Ruben Reyes, Jr.'s Work     Ruben Reyes Jr. is the son of two Salvadoran immigrants. He completed his MFA in fiction at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He is a graduate of Harvard College where he studied History and Literature and Latinx Studies. His writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, AGNI, BOMB Magazine, Lightspeed Magazine, LitHub, and other publications. His debut story collection, There is a Rio Grande in Heaven, was a finalist for The Story Prize, and longlisted for the the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and the New American Voices Award. Archive of Unknown Universes is his first novel. Originally from Southern California, he lives in Queens.   Buy Archive of Unknown Universes   Ruben's Website   Book Review for Archive of Unknown Universes from Washington Post, by Bilal Qureshi   At about 1:45, Ruben describes the experience of having his first novel out in the world At about 3:30, Ruben talks about feedback he's received about the novel At about 4:35, Ruben shares publishing information and shouts out “local indies” and Bookshop.org as good places to buy the book, and he shares a story about his book tour for his story collection At about 6:10, Ruben talks about his writing timeline and how he wrote his novel and his story collection at around the same time, allowing him flexibility and variety  At about 9:00, Ruben responds to Pete's questions about how feedback and the writing community worked during the pandemic At about 11:00, Ruben reflects on seeds for his novel, particularly the “turning point” that was his 2018 research trip to El Salvador At about 12:30, Ruben talks about the importance of oral histories he did on this 2018 research trip At about 13:25, Pete asks Ruben about the book's dedication and how he viewed the specific and universal  At about 16:15, Pete shares the book's profound epigraphs, and shares the book's exposition; Ruben responds to Pete's questions about the book's structure and his rationale in starting the book with a letter At about 19:25, Ruben reflects on writers and their views on a “perfect novel” At about 20:45, Ruben and Pete describe the book's pivotal machine, The Defractor, and fun with different “Interlocutors” for the machine  At about 23:40, Pete provides background information on Ana and Luis, important characters in the books At about 25:20, Ruben and Pete discuss the importance of Archbishop Oscar Romero and his coverage in the novel At about 28:00, Ruben reflects on how the “What if?” question is so resonant in literature and outside At about 28:50, Ruben and Pete talk about setting the tone for the start of the relationship between Rafael and Neto and an early scene at Havana's Malecon  At about 30:40, Pete reflects on traumas so understatedly and profoundly rendered  At about 32:00, Ruben talks about Ana's and Luis' relationship  At about 33:40, Pete wonders about an important decision made by Neto, and Ruben expands on research he did that showed how youth was largely in control during the Salvadoran Civil War At about 35:50, Ruben expands on what demands and hopes the revolutionaries/guerrillas had in the Salvadoran Civil War At about 39:05, The two discuss the book's parallel storyline At about 41:55, Ruben and Pete reflect on the fiery passions of youth and what makes relationships works and connections At about 44:15, The two discuss similarities and differences between Neto and Rafael  At about 46:10, Ruben homes in on how queerness was seen/embraced in the 70s, as shown through Rafael and Neto At about 47:30, Pete highlights a profound quote as he and Ruben talk about “grasping the lost threads of history” and how Ruben's book connects to ideas of silences and traumas and "reclaiming history” At about 49:40, Ruben shouts out Leisy Abrego's “On Silences” and its argument about silences as “intergenerational” in the Salvadoran diaspora        You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he's @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he's @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Episode 286 guest Hannah Pittard is up on the website this week. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, his DIY podcast and his extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content! This month's Patreon bonus episode will feature an exploration of noir, horror, and crime fiction, as some of the best ways to match the zeitgeist and crazy timeline that is 2025. Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.    This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 292 with Joan Silber, a novelist and short story writer. She won the 2017 National Book Critics Circle Award in Fiction and the 2018 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for her novel Improvement. Her latest novel, Mercy, is her 10th book of fiction. This episode drops today, September 2, Pub Day for Mercy. Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

In the conclusion of our four-part journey through "Ponder on This," we tackle perhaps the most challenging territory yet: what it actually means to live as conscious agents in an evolving world. The conversation opens with a powerful reminder that we're living in "the age of the revelation of the mysteries" - not through more books being published, but through those moments when ancient wisdom suddenly clicks and becomes lived experience rather than just intellectual understanding. Central to this final exploration is the counterintuitive teaching that forms - including our bodies, emotions, and even our cherished beliefs - are temporary vehicles, not permanent identities. The discussion moves through some of the most challenging concepts in spiritual philosophy: that power used selfishly destroys its user, that every step forward in evolution comes through letting go of what we've held dear, and that "accidents" often result from collective explosions of force created by hatred and unkind thoughts. These aren't abstract concepts but practical principles that show up in everything from our resistance to aging to our attachment to outdated beliefs. Perhaps most practically, the conversation explores the difference between being a spiritual "neophyte" who constantly asks "tell me, tell me" and a mature practitioner who simply says "aid the work, forget yourself." This isn't about spiritual bypassing but about understanding that we belong to the world, not just to our immediate circle. The discussion examines the delicate balance between caring for loved ones and making decisions from the deepest place possible, even when others disapprove - recognizing that "the reactions of others are not your responsibility." The episode concludes with some of the most challenging wisdom about becoming "a clear, unobstructed channel" - cultivating the attitude of non-reactivity while remaining fully engaged with life. The beautiful metaphor of finding peace at the center of a tornado captures what spiritual maturity actually looks like: not withdrawal from chaos, but standing so rooted in purpose that external storms can't shake your fundamental stability. It's a conversation that challenges every comfortable assumption while offering practical guidance for those ready to step into their role as conscious co-creators in this massive evolutionary moment. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

India's latest Agni-V missile test, just days before the PM's visit to China, got tongues wagging this week. Was it a message to Beijing? Islamabad? Or both? In this episode of In Our Defence, national security expert Sandeep Unnithan joins host Dev Goswami to unpack the story of how and, more importantly, why India became a nuclear power. From the first "Smiling Buddha" test in 1974 to the Pokhran-II Shakti series in 1998, and today's Agni-V, this is the story of India's nuclear weapons programme. Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound Mix by Suraj Singh

VOV1 - Ấn Độ mới đây phóng thử thành công tên lửa đạn đạo Agni-5 từ Trung tâm Thử nghiệm Tích hợp tại bang Odisha, miền Đông nước này.

In the third installment of our exploration through "Ponder on This," we dive into some of the most challenging and counterintuitive wisdom from the ancient teachings. The conversation begins with a fascinating look at how these timeless teachings have been safeguarded and disseminated throughout history - not as dogma to be blindly followed, but as spiritual nourishment placed "at the crossroads" for those ready to receive it. This episode tackles one of the most difficult concepts for modern minds to grasp: the relationship between holding on and letting go. The discussion explores the paradox that "by holding, man loses; by relinquishing, he gains" - a principle that runs counter to everything our material culture teaches us about success and security. Rather than philosophical abstraction, this becomes intensely practical when applied to everything from relationships to career ambitions to our deepest attachments. Central to the conversation is the recognition that we are not our vehicles - not our physical bodies, emotions, or even our thoughts - but rather the divine dweller within them. This shift in identity isn't about rejecting the material world, but about understanding our true relationship to it. The episode explores how this recognition changes everything: how we treat others, how we navigate challenges, and how we participate in the ongoing evolution of consciousness on Earth. Perhaps most intriguingly, the discussion touches on the emergence of what the teachings call "a new species of human being" - individuals incarnating with upgraded circuitry, capable of running apps that previous generations couldn't access. This isn't science fiction, but rather the natural progression of consciousness evolution, where higher awareness creates corresponding forms of higher expression. The conversation examines our role in creating containers for this new consciousness while continuing our own journey of refinement and growth. The episode concludes with powerful insights about the delicate balance between compassion and enabling, between holding space for others' growth and rescuing them from necessary lessons. It's a conversation that challenges comfortable assumptions while offering practical wisdom for navigating the complexities of conscious living in an evolving world. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Colette is joined by Ayurvedic doctor and educator Vaidya Princy Prasad for a deeper exploration of Agni, the inner fire that fuels far more than just digestion. While Agni is often associated with metabolism, its influence extends into immunity, hormonal balance, emotional clarity, and overall vitality. In this conversation, they discuss the following: What Agni really is and why it's central to vibrant health and ojas The different types of Agni and various levels of action Signs of optimal (sama) Agni and what happens when it's imbalanced The types of impaired Agni: Vishama, Tikshna and Manda How Agni influences key hormones  Practical Ayurvedic tips to kindle and sustain a balanced Agni Why seasonal cleansing is vital for reseting Agni * Thanks to Kerala Ayurveda Academy for sponsoring this episode. Explore upcoming trainings at Kerala Ayurveda Academy. Use code ELEMENTS100 to save $100 on your enrollment. Learn more at keralaayurveda.us/courses. * Click here to register for the discounted Digestive Reset Cleanse starting October 3rd, 2025 * Visit Colette's website www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com  Online consultations & Gift Vouchers Next discounted Group Cleanse starts October 3rd, 2025 Private at-home Digestive Reset Cleanse tailored to you Educational programs - Daily Habits for Holistic Health Reset-Restore-Renew Program Have questions before you book? Book a FREE 15 min online Services Enquiry Call * Join the Elements of Ayurveda Community! * Stay connected on the Elements Instagram and Facebook pages. * Enjoy discounts on your favourite Ayurvedic products: Banyan Botanicals - enter discount code EOA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.** Divya's  - enter discount code ELEMENTSOFAYURVEDA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.** Kerala Ayurveda - enter discount code ELEMENTS15 to receive 15% off your first purchase.** LifeSpa - Save $10 on a $50 or more one-time purchase with the code elements10.  **Shipping available within the U.S. only. * Thank you for listening! If this episode supported you, please consider leaving a review and if you think this information would be helpful to family or friends, please share this episode so we can spread this wisdom of Ayurveda.  Stay tuned and stay aligned with the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast.      

Agni - 5 Creates Tremors in Pakistan and China | World in Coma | IRBM VS ICBM | Sanjay Dixit

In this episode of The Coach Debbie Potts Show, I'm joined by Jonathan Glass, ND, M.Ac, Ayurvedic Practitioner, and author of Total Life Cleanse. Together, we explore how to effectively support your liver, lymph, and detox pathways using the time-tested principles of Ayurvedic medicine—combined with modern functional health insights. If you've ever felt tired, inflamed, bloated, or stuck—despite “doing all the right things”—this episode is for you. You'll learn: Why the liver is the master filter and emotional processor of the body How ancient Ayurvedic concepts like Agni, Ama, and Pitta relate to modern detox The real reasons detox protocols can backfire (and how to do it right) Seasonal cleanse strategies for long-term vitality, hormone balance, and clarity Practical tools: from food and herbs to lifestyle rituals, breathwork, and mindset Jonathan also shares highlights from his book Total Life Cleanse, which guides readers through a safe and transformative 28-day process that resets the body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Manas Kshirsagar  is an Ayurvedic doctor who comes from a Rig Vedic Brahman tradition with an extensive Ayurvedic background. He graduated from Aloha Ayurveda Academy and the Maharishi University of Management. He's an acclaimed wellness consultant, Ayurvedic consultant and health educator. He provides a holistic approach to medicine, including nutrition, yoga, meditation, detoxification, and effective stress management.Today we're diving into a topic that's reshaping how we think about modern health, the profound connection between our gut and our mind. You've probably heard the phrase trust your gut, but do you know what makes your gut so trustworthy? Modern science says it is our second brain: the Enteric Nervous System.The ENS is a vast network of over a hundred million neurons embedded in the walls of our digestive tract, mostly in the small intestine and colon. That's seven to eight times more neurons than in the spinal cord, which contains around 13.5 million. Our brain contains around 86 billion neurons. Our gut does not just follow orders from the brain.It processes reacts and even remembers patterns and digestion and emotion. It functions independently of the brain, but also communicates with it locally via the vagus nerve. It communicates with the rest of the body through nerves. It uses neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine and actually produces 90 to 95% of serotonin.Both the brain and gut play a major role in mood immunity and digestion both have their own reflexes, sensory neurons and motor neurons, and both respond to stress and emotion, like how anxiety can cause diarrhea. Your gut feels emotional shifts even before your brain processes them, which is why you might get a gut feeling like butterflies or stomach upset during stress.And Ayurveda, this beautifully mirrors the idea that Agni or digestive fire is central to not just physical health, but mental health and emotional resilience. The gut is also a home for Ojas, our vital immunity and vitality. So if our ENS is inflamed or disrupted, our whole system is compromised. In today's episode, we'll explore the enteric nervous system, the complex neural network in your belly that's ultimately connected to your brain.We'll unpack how digestive orders like IBS, bloating and constipation are not just physical issues, but often reflections of deeper emotional patterns. We'll also look at how chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can disrupt our gut's natural rhythm, and how Ayurveda and modern science together offer tools for healing from the inside out.Whether you've struggled with digestion, mood, or both, this episode offers insights to help you feel more grounded, nourished, and connected with your own inner intelligence. Send us a textFor 20% off Kerala Ayurveda products, use code OjasOasis at checkoutFor 20% off GarryNSun products, use code OJASOASIS20 at checkout Book a 1:1 with Sasha at https://www.ojasoasis.com/book For 50% off your initial intake consultation, mention you're a subscriber of the podcast. Support the showTo learn more about working with us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

In this continuation of our exploration through "Ponder on This," we dive deeper into some of the most challenging and relevant teachings for our current moment. The conversation opens with a powerful reminder that these ancient wisdom teachings come with no demand for blind acceptance - they're meant to be tested through practice and personal discovery, not adopted as dogma. The episode tackles one of the most provocative statements in the collection: "The world problem is essentially a religious problem." Rather than dismissing this as controversial, the discussion unpacks how religious thinking - the tendency to turn beliefs into rigid dogmas - has infiltrated every area of human discourse, from politics to personal relationships. This isn't an attack on faith traditions, but an examination of how the mind's tendency to crystallize ideas into unchangeable truths creates the very conflicts we see playing out globally. Central to the conversation is the fundamental principle that "energy follows thought" - and the recognition that millions more people are now thinking and focusing their mental energy than ever before in human history. This creates both unprecedented opportunity and responsibility. Every thought we think, every mental pattern we reinforce, contributes to the collective consciousness that shapes our shared reality. The episode explores how this understanding transforms daily life from passive existence to active participation in creating the future. Perhaps most practically, the discussion reveals how we can move from having rigid "points of view" to developing flexible "viewing points" - the difference between defending a fixed position and sampling multiple perspectives to gain holistic understanding. This shift from separation to synthesis offers a pathway through the polarization that characterizes our current moment, suggesting that the resolution lies not in one side winning, but in rising to a higher level where apparent opposites can be reconciled and transformed. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

As we approach the threshold between summer and autumn, it's the perfect time to explore how the doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha accumulate imbalance during the summer months and how this can affect your digestion, immunity, and emotional wellbeing. In this solo episode, Colette invites you into an Ayurvedic exploration of seasonal transition, with a special focus on digestive health and immune strength.  In this episode, you'll discover: How seasonal accumulation affects each dosha type How to identify early signs of imbalance and toxin (ama) buildup The overlooked emotional and psychological residue of summer How Ayurveda and modern science align on seasonal health Why now is the ideal time to reset your digestive fire (agni) You'll also learn how to perform a gentle “ama audit” and how a personalized, holistic cleanse can support your seasonal transition from the inside out. Links & Resources Take the Ama Quiz - “Do I have an accumulation of ama/toxins in my body?” Listen to the episodes mentioned: Episode 122: Ayurvedic Ritucharya – Guidelines for the Seasons Episode 401: Summer as a Time of Sadhana * Visit Colette's website www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com  Online consultations & Gift Vouchers Next discounted Group Cleanse starts October 3rd, 2025 Private at-home Digestive Reset Cleanse tailored to you Educational programs - Daily Habits for Holistic Health Reset-Restore-Renew Program Have questions before you book? Book a FREE 15 min online Services Enquiry Call * Join the Elements of Ayurveda Community! * Stay connected on the Elements Instagram and Facebook pages. * Enjoy discounts on your favourite Ayurvedic products: Banyan Botanicals - enter discount code EOA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.** Divya's  - enter discount code ELEMENTSOFAYURVEDA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.** Kerala Ayurveda - enter discount code ELEMENTS15 to receive 15% off your first purchase.** LifeSpa - Save $10 on a $50 or more one-time purchase with the code elements10.  **Shipping available within the U.S. only. * Thank you for listening! If this episode supported you, please consider leaving a review and if you think this information would be helpful to family or friends, please share this episode so we can spread this wisdom of Ayurveda.  Stay tuned and stay aligned with the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast.

In our latest Musings From The Mount episode, we return to the very beginning of "Ponder On This" to explore what drew us into the Alice Bailey teachings in the first place. What sets these teachings apart isn't just their depth, but their remarkable humility and invitation to personal discernment rather than blind acceptance. The episode explores Bailey's "Basic Assumptions" - the prerequisites for serious spiritual study that emphasize sincere aspiration, life experience that develops true values, and the discipline to organize one's mind throughout daily life. These aren't rigid requirements but qualities that naturally develop through what the text calls "battling sufficiently with deterrent forces of life." The emphasis is on seasoned persistence rather than youthful enthusiasm. We delve into the distinction between information and wisdom, examining how these teachings invite us to weave our own spiritual garments rather than simply adopting prescribed forms. The conversation touches on the paradox of words both revealing and concealing truth, the power of becoming consciously capable on the mental plane, and the recognition that we exist within nested levels of consciousness - from individual to planetary to cosmic. Perhaps most compelling is the teaching's central premise: we're not here to follow teachers but to become the path itself through lived experience. As the material states, "goodness and altruism grow out of realization and service" - they cannot be adopted from others but must be generated through personal spiritual effort. This episode offers both newcomers and seasoned students a foundation for approaching any wisdom tradition with appropriate discernment and personal responsibility. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

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In a culture obsessed with comfort and stability, the idea of necessary breakdown feels almost revolutionary. Yet this ancient wisdom appears across traditions—from Leonard Cohen's "There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" to Rumi's understanding that "the wound is the place where the light enters you." This week's conversation explores why our modern fear of breakdown might be preventing our greatest growth. Unlike previous generations who embraced adventure and uncertainty, we've traded our willingness to put "chips on the table" for the illusion of safety. But what if this very attachment to preserving our current forms—whether mental, emotional, or physical—is actually imprisoning the spirit within us? The discussion reveals how breakdown isn't destruction for its own sake, but rather the natural process that allows new life to emerge. Just as a seed must crack open to become a flower, and a caterpillar must dissolve into "goo" to become a butterfly, we too must be willing to let our outdated identities dissolve when they no longer serve our deeper purpose. Perhaps most importantly, this episode addresses the fear that letting go means losing our core principles or truth. The profound insight emerges: when we release what is false about ourselves, what remains is always the truth—solid, uncompromised, and eternal. The question becomes not whether we can afford to break down, but whether we can afford not to. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Have you ever felt like something shifted overnight in the collective field? Like the very frequency of reality changed while you were sleeping? This week's episode captures that exact experience—two sensitive people processing a profound disturbance they both felt within 24 hours, and what it taught them about silence, introspection, and riding the waves of planetary transformation. The conversation begins with that Star Wars moment—sensing a disturbance in the Force—and explores what happens when those of us on the spiritual path suddenly feel disconnected, agitated, or thrown back into old patterns we thought we'd transcended. Rather than dismissing these experiences, the episode frames them as important signals about both personal and planetary evolution. The discussion weaves together insights about how Earth itself is shifting frequencies, and we're being invited to tune in or risk losing the signal. Central to the episode is an exploration of silence—not as the absence of sound, but as the synthesis of all sounds, the creative tension that precedes manifestation. Through powerful quotes from the Agni Yoga teachings and the poetry of Pablo Neruda, the conversation reveals how silence becomes our refuge and our power during times of collective turbulence. The discussion touches on everything from meditation practices that can save your life on tough days to the difference between being stuck in the web of life versus weaving it. Perhaps most importantly, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone feeling overwhelmed by current global energies. It addresses the hard questions about codependency, control, and the courage required to truly let go—even of our need to protect others. For anyone who's been feeling like they're barely keeping their head above water lately, this episode offers both validation and tools for finding that inner stillness where new possibilities can be born. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Tous les ans, des dizaines d'équipes convergent à Adiaké, à 100 km d'Abidjan, dans le sud-est de la Côte d'Ivoire. Objectif : devenir les champions lors du festival Êlê, une compétition disputée sur la lagune Aby juste avant la saison des pluies. Plus qu'un sport, c'est une question de fierté villageoise pour les participants. De notre envoyé spécial à Adiaké, Huit pirogues turquoise s'élancent. À grands coups de pagaie, les équipages fendent l'eau. Leur but : terminer premier à l'issue de deux allers-retours, 1 200 mètres. Une course en ligne d'aviron, en beaucoup plus physique. Au bout, les Anges de Kakoukro s'imposent. Les cinq rameurs en maillot orange s'écroulent sur le rivage. Eric le capitaine est aussi heureux qu'à bout de souffle. « Ce n'est pas un jeu. C'est un très bon sport. Cela fait du bien, c'est un niveau sportif comme le foot, c'est aussi bon, j'aime cela », confie-t-il, en reprenant haleine. Il y a de quoi. En Côte d'Ivoire, les courses d'Adiaké attirent jusqu'à 20 000 spectateurs pour les finales. Ce succès populaire prend ses racines chez les Agnis. « C'est une vieille tradition. Elle intervient au moment de l'année où on arrête la pêche pour pouvoir permettre aux poissons de se reproduire. Pour ne pas laisser les pêcheurs oisifs, on organise des courses de pirogue. Cela permet de resserrer les liens entre les différents villages et nous permet également de régler les problèmes des différentes communautés », explique Tahi Kassi, l'un des chefs de cette communauté de pêcheurs. La course de pirogue représente plus que du sport pour les concurrents. Une question d'orgueil, notamment pour Tahi Kassi : « C'est un honneur, parce que traditionnellement les villages sont célébrés pendant toute une année jusqu'à la prochaine trêve. » « Cette année, on doit rentrer à la mairie de Grand-Bassam avec le trophée. C'est très important, car on a fait un long voyage [60 kilomètres, NDLR] pour venir à Adiaké. Ce n'est pas la ville d'Adiaké qui nous plaît, ce n'est pas la lagune qui nous plaît, nous sommes venus ici pour prendre le trophée. Cela va changer beaucoup de choses, cela va nous donner l'honneur », témoigne Joël, marin. Lui et son équipe sont venus de Bassam pour gagner. Pour l'emporter, certains s'entraînent donc toute l'année. Mais plus que la compétition, c'est surtout une identité qui est préservée pour Tahi Kassi : « Cela redonne de la vigueur à la culture. C'est très important pour la communauté Agni. » Cette année, le trophée est revenu aux Anges de Kakoukro pour la sixième fois. Les terreurs de la lagune Aby sont champions jusqu'à la prochaine édition du festival Êlé. À lire aussiAfrobasket féminine 2025: avec le retour de Kariata Diaby, la Côte d'Ivoire rêve plus grand

In Part 2 of this exploration of intuition, we dive deeper into what it means to develop this most essential human faculty. This episode challenges the common misconception that more information leads to greater wisdom, revealing instead how our constant mental chatter often blocks our connection to genuine knowing. The conversation explores the crucial distinction between knowledge (data) and knowing (direct experience of reality through the heart). The discussion examines how we've become trapped in what could be called "the matrix of the mind" - endless loops of thought about thought that keep us separated from direct experience. Rather than seeking more information to solve life's challenges, the path forward involves learning to quiet our mental constructs and develop what the ancient teachings call "the knowing faculty of the intelligent mystic." This isn't about becoming anti-intellectual, but about using the mind as a focusing lens rather than allowing it to dominate our perception. Central to this episode is the recognition that we are, in essence, "the grammar of God" - the way the creative force spells itself out in physical reality. This profound metaphor suggests that our role isn't to accumulate more facts about existence, but to become conscious participants in life's ongoing self-expression. The conversation reveals how intuition functions as our connection to this deeper current of being, allowing us to respond authentically rather than react from conditioned patterns. Perhaps most practically, the episode offers concrete ways to integrate this understanding into daily life - from handling road rage with heart-centered awareness to recognizing when we're reinforcing limiting mental loops. The ultimate message is both humbling and empowering: the more we truly know, the more we realize we don't know, and this recognition opens us to the vast mystery of existence that can only be known through direct, intuitive engagement with life itself. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Alden Jones explores tips for writing memoirs and discusses her work in fiction.  She is the author of The Wanting Was a Wilderness, Unaccompanied Minors, and The Blind Masseuse. Her books have won awards including the New American Fiction Prize and the Lascaux Book Prize and been finalists for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay, the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction, and two Lambda Literary Awards. Short works of fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The Best American Travel Writing, The Cut, the Boston Globe, Agni, Prairie Schooner, the Iowa Review, Post Road, and The Rumpus. Alden holds degrees in literature and creative writing from Brown University, New York University, and Bennington College. She is Writer-in-Residence at Emerson College. Her latest work is Edge of the World: An Anthology of Queer Travel WritingLearn more at alden-jones.com Intro reel, Writing Table Podcast 2024 Outro RecordingFollow the Writing Table:On Twitter/X: @writingtablepcEverywhere else: @writingtablepodcastEmail questions or tell us who you'd like us to invite to the Writing Table: writingtablepodcast@gmail.com.

When we explore what intuition truly is, we discover that most of what we call "intuition" isn't intuition at all. This episode dismantles common misconceptions about intuitive knowing, revealing how we often mistake pattern recognition, emotional resonance, or psychic impressions for genuine intuitive understanding. The conversation moves beyond surface-level definitions to examine intuition as something far more profound: a direct channel to universal truth. The discussion draws fascinating parallels between ancient wisdom teachings and modern concepts like The Matrix, exploring how we live within self-created thought-worlds that obscure our connection to deeper reality. Rather than being trapped in these mental constructs, intuition offers a way to "unplug" from the limiting beliefs and fixed ideas that keep us separate from the living matrix of creation itself. This isn't about accessing more information, but about developing an entirely different way of knowing. At its core, intuition represents the soul's capacity for synthetic understanding - a comprehensive grasp of universality that temporarily dissolves the sense of separation. The episode examines how genuine intuitive knowing brings three distinct qualities: illumination (seeing clearly what is), understanding (not just mental concepts but true comprehension), and love (recognizing the fundamental unity that connects all existence). This isn't sentimental love, but the recognition of our essential interconnectedness. Perhaps most importantly, this exploration reveals intuition as life's way of conversing with itself through human consciousness. This requires building an instrument capable of receiving signals from the source of life itself - a process that demands genuine inner work, clearing away distortions, and creating the conditions for spirit and matter to meet within us. The result isn't just better decision-making, but participation in the ongoing creation of reality itself. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

When we examine the impulse for revenge through a systems perspective, we discover something profound: the very act that promises to restore balance actually perpetuates the imbalance it seeks to correct. This episode explores the fundamental difference between revenge and justice, revealing how one traps us in endless cycles while the other opens pathways to genuine resolution. The conversation moves beyond theoretical frameworks to examine the practical reality of how revenge operates in our daily lives - from family dynamics to global conflicts. Rather than dismissing the desire for retribution, we explore why it emerges and how it functions as a feedback loop that prevents evolution and growth. The discussion reveals how traditional concepts of justice have evolved, and why Gandhi's insight that "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" remains more relevant than ever. Central to this exploration is the recognition that we are all interconnected parts of one living system. When we truly understand this principle of unanimity - that we belong to each other - the very foundation for revenge dissolves. The episode examines how sub-personalities within us can hijack our responses, leading to reactions that reflect our past conditioning rather than our highest wisdom. Perhaps most importantly, this conversation offers a practical framework for transformation: shifting from a courtroom mentality (what happened, who's guilty, how do we punish) to a classroom approach (what happened, what did we learn, how will we do things differently). This isn't about becoming passive or accepting harm, but about finding the higher synthesis that allows for genuine healing and evolution - both personally and collectively. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

Join Tim and Agni as they review HEART EYES, THE MONKEY, and the French horror film, INFESTED!

In this heartfelt episode, Katie opens up a compassionate, non-judgmental conversation about Ozempic and weight loss drugs through the lens of Ayurveda. With deep love and understanding for those on these medications, she explores how true healing comes from discernment and addressing the root causes of imbalance. Katie shares powerful Ayurvedic insights on hunger and the sacred role of fat in the body, reminding us that our fat carries the wisdom of our lineage. Tune in for a warm, honest discussion that weaves together science, spirit and self-love. Want more ancient wisdom to help you navigate modern life? Learn LIVE with Katie every month in our Spirit Sessions Membership! Click here to join for just $28 a month!   In this episode about Ozempic, you'll hear: ~ An invitation to join our year-long Divine Feminine Ayurveda School ~ Short-term results vs. long-term health  ~ Addressing the root cause of obesity ~ The measurement of youth in Ayurveda ~ Side effects of Ozempic ~ Long-term effects of Ozempic on the body ~ How weight loss drugs affect our prakruti and vikruti ~ Developing a healthy metabolism ~ Why feeling hungry is important ~ How Ozempic hijacks our body's innate intelligence ~ Personal stories from Katie's time in India ~ Differing cultural beauty standards ~ The many roles of fat in the body ~ Fat as the Divine Mother ~ The relationship between fat, emotions and our ancestors ~ Why fat is sexy ~ Sign up for our free Women's Wisdom and Ayurveda mini-course!   Other resources related to this episode: ~ Learn more about Ayurveda School ~ 2025 Chakra Yoga Nidra Workshop: Study with Katie and other luminary teachers this fall in the Bahamas! ~ 2026 Chakra Yoga Nidra Retreat: Deep dive into the chakras with Katie as your guide in the beautiful Bahamas in spring 2026! ~ Follow us on Instagram and Facebook ~ Katie's latest book, Glow-Worthy   Get the full show notes here: www.TheShaktiSchool.com/podcast/https://theshaktischool.com/ep-217-ozempic-an-ayurvedic-perspective/

Day 12: Jaz Sufi reads her poem, “Ode to My Lover's Sequined Dress.” Queer Poem-a-Day is honored to be the first publication of this poem.  Jaz Sufi (she/hers) is a queer Iranian-American poet and arts educator. Her work has been published or is upcoming in Best New Poets, Best of the Net, AGNI, Black Warrior Review, Muzzle, and elsewhere. She is a National Poetry Slam finalist and has received fellowships from Kundiman, the Watering Hole, and New York University, where she received her MFA. She is the current Poet Laureate of San Ramon, CA, where she lives with her dog, Apollo. Text of today's poem and more details about our program can be found at: deerfieldlibrary.org/queerpoemaday/ Find books from participating poets in our library's catalog.  Queer Poem-a-Day is a program from the Adult Services Department at the Library and may include adult language.  Queer Poem-a-Day is founded and co-directed by poet and professor Lisa Hiton and Dylan Zavagno, Adult Services Coordinator at the Library and host of the Deerfield Public Library Podcast. Music for this fifth year of our series is “L'Ange Verrier” from Le Rossignol Éperdu by Reynaldo Hahn, performed by pianist Daniel Baer. Queer Poem-a-Day is supported by generous donations from the Friends of the Deerfield Public Library and the Deerfield Fine Arts Commission.  

On today's solo episode of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, I dive deep into the ancient practice of Pranayama, also known as yogic breathwork, and its profound impact on fertility. Breathwork may sound simple, or even unrelated to fertility, but the connection between your breath, nervous system, and reproductive health is incredibly powerful. In this episode, I explain how specific breathing techniques can shift your body from a state of stress into one of rest and regeneration, promoting hormone balance, improved digestion, and pelvic blood flow all critical components of a healthy fertility journey. You'll learn practical ways to integrate ancient breathing practices like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), Kapalabhati (breath of fire), Bhastrika (bellows breath), Bhramari (humming bee breath), and Ujjayi breathing into your daily routine. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply curious about new tools to support your body naturally, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways:  Breathwork regulates the nervous system, supporting hormonal balance and reproductive function. Ancient yogic practices like Pranayama offer free, accessible tools for stress reduction and enhanced vitality. Techniques like alternate nostril breathing and humming bee breath can be easily integrated into your daily life. Breath can help release emotional tension and stimulate vagal tone, a key player in fertility health. Conscious breathing increases oxygenation, supports digestion, and boosts clarity. For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com To learn more about ancient wisdom and fertility, you can get Michelle's book at: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility The Wholesome Fertility facebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/ Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/   Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or fertility care. --- Transcript: # TWF: 339 (solo episode) **Michelle:** [00:00:00] Episode number 339 of the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. Welcome back to the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. I'm your host, Michelle Orbitz, and today we're diving into a deeply healing and powerful practice that has stood the test of time. It's called Pranayama or yogic Breath Work. You might be surprised to hear just how much breath work could influence your mind and your nervous system, and then in turn influence your reproductive health. **Michelle:** 'cause we know that the nervous system plays such an important role on reproductive health. So if you wanna find out more about powerful breathing exercises that you can do so easily and they're free, that can influence your nervous system and how you feel. Overall, this episode is for you. **Michelle:** Welcome to the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. I'm Michelle, a [00:01:00] fertility acupuncturist here to provide you with resources on how to create a wholesome approach to your fertility journey. **Michelle:** So, so today I'm going to cover a very interesting topic, which is Pranayama. so this is an ancient Indian or yogi or yo guine practice that has been done for thousands of years. **Michelle:** Pranayama or yogic breath work **Michelle:** is extremely powerful And can really impact the mind and the nervous system. So if you wanna find out more on how to hack your nervous system, and if you've watched some of my earlier videos, I talk a lot about how your nervous system really can influence your fertility health because it gets you into a more rest and digest state. **Michelle:** And it can also influence your inflammation and your digestion and even create more balance in your hormones. So if you are trying to conceive and you wanna [00:02:00] find out how you can really hack your body and mind through pranayama this amazing ancient tradition, this amazing ancient practice, then stay tuned. **Michelle:** So you might be asking yourself, what exactly is pranayama? **Michelle:** So in Sanskrit prana means life force vitality. So it's very similar to what chi in Chinese medicine means, and it's the life force vitality that goes through our body. a yma means control or expansion. **Michelle:** So Pranayama in essence, is the art of controlling your breath to influence the life force vitality in your body. **Michelle:** So it's not just about breathing more deeply though. That's part of it. **Michelle:** It is about becoming aware of how your breathing can influence your hormone balance and your nervous system, **Michelle:** as well as reducing stress. And these are all really important and impactful things when you're trying to conceive. **Michelle:** So, although this [00:03:00] is coming from ancient India, this is something that can control all bodies and all different cultures. and it's one of the many gifts that we get from the ancient Vedas, Which is really linked to Ayurveda and yoga. The yogic tradition is the aspect of the physical, and it's more of the physical therapy aspect of it, but this is all part of really the science of life and how they're perceiving that you're able to, and how they're giving you tools to really access this amazing, intelligent life force that resides in your body. **Michelle:** So just to kind of give you a little bit of an overview. So Prana is very similar to Q, which is Life Force Vitality, and this is basically the life force that we have that is intelligent and that keeps our body warm and that keeps our body functioning. So this is something that really is intelligent because that aspect of our bodies is [00:04:00] what tells ourselves what to do, and it also helps the self-healing mechanism of the body. **Michelle:** And when we're in fight or flight, and I always come back to the nervous system than our body is more worried about survival. And regeneration is not as much of a priority because survival is more important. But what happens when we're in survival is that everything moves towards that survival, and it's not worried about digestion. **Michelle:** It's not worried about inflammation. All the things that are running in the background. And it can also impact your sleep because when you're trying to survive, you can't rest, you can't sleep, you can't afford to, you wanna survive, you wanna be alive. So that's ultimately how the nervous system operates. **Michelle:** But when we're getting that free flow of energy and that we're able to really be enriched with the QI and the life force of Prana, and we're able to get also in a more rest and digest mode, things will flow more easily and they're not gonna be as constricted as it does, as things [00:05:00] do happen with stress. **Michelle:** And ultimately as an acupuncturist, one of the biggest things that I do is I work a lot on pelvic energy flow and blood flow. So when there's more flow in your body, there's more blood flow, there's less constriction. And as we know, many times when people have high blood pressure, you know, your blood vessels are actually. **Michelle:** Muscle and those muscles tighten and it causes more constriction and more pressure. And we know that stress can even impact blood pressure. So that tightening is what happens when we're stressed, and ultimately that tightening is going to block. Impact, as I mentioned with the liberty, which is really its role, is to get that energy to flow. **Michelle:** So one of the ways that we can hack really our minds and our bodies is through pranayama. And today I'm gonna talk about a couple of different. Techniques of breathing that you can do that will [00:06:00] immediately have an impact on how you feel and how the energy and the prana in your body is able to flow, which ultimately will be beneficial not just for your body and your reproduction, but also your mind. **Michelle:** And I'm sure you know that if you are on the fertility journey, it can be very stressful. And when you're stressed, there's been studies that show that when you're stressed, you can't really make a clear minded decision. And as we know, when you're on the fertility journey, you need that decision making aspect of your mind because you are going through a lot of different choices and options that are being thrown at you. **Michelle:** So the first breath that I am going to be sharing with you is called Nadi Shaana, and that is alternate nostril breath. I like to call it the yin and yang pranayama, although that's not really the name, because it balances the yin and the yang in our brain. So both hemispheres of the brain start to function and come [00:07:00] together. **Michelle:** And this is one of the most immediate calming exercises that you can do. And what it does is it basically you alternate sides and you will block one nostril and breathe in, and you can breathe into like the count of four or the count of eight, whatever feels right. But if you slow it also, you'll start to feel a little more peace so you can actually breathe into the count of eight. **Michelle:** Then close both nostrils. So breathe in one nostril, close the right, and breathe in from the left. Breathe in to eight, and then hold both nostrils closed to the count of eight, and then exhale from the right to the count of eight. And then breathe back in from the same one, the right to the count of eight, close both nostrils, and then breathe out from the left and then breathe back in for the count of eight out, eight in hold it.[00:08:00]  **Michelle:** So basically just remember one specific count and you're gonna keep doing that and then alternate your nose. Now you're gonna notice that one nostril is going to be a little more clear than the other. And that is actually very normal. Our bodies tend to go more yin and yang throughout the day, so one side will feel one way and the other side will not feel that same way, and you'll find that that will alternate throughout the day. **Michelle:** And that's kind of an interesting thing, but our bodies do alternate and we're constantly getting to this place of homeostasis so that our body can find balance. But through that, we do have those two sides, those dualities, which is why doing something like this can be so powerful. **Michelle:** So by balancing, because our nose is directly opened, you know, the olfactory nerve, which is also the sense is directly linked or connected to the brain. So by alternating those two sides, of [00:09:00] breathing, you are creating that balance from the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and that also can create more clear thinking if you are feeling anxious and it's hard for you to really make a decision. **Michelle:** This is a great exercise to do, and what this also does is activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the more rest and digest nervous system. So if you're feeling extra stressed and you wanna slow down your mind, this is amazing. It also improves oxygenation and it also creates more mindfulness. **Michelle:** 'cause as you're doing it, you're being very conscious of how you're breathing and how you're feeling because it is a practice that you have to pay attention while you're doing it. **Michelle:** So you could do this in the beginning of your day and then you can do this at the end of the day. And it could be literally two minutes, two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night. And I think that it is really nice to actually do it in the beginning and end of the day. 'cause you're literally doing it at yin and yang times of your 24 hour cycle. **Michelle:** So it can help you when you [00:10:00] first start to wake up, and then you can help you end the day really nicely and support your nervous system as you go to sleep. So another one that is one of my favorites is called Kati, and that is skull shining breath. Or you may have heard this, called breath of fire. And so ultimately what it is, is working through your diaphragm and after you do it for a while, you literally feel like you are breathing fire. **Michelle:** 'cause you can feel a lot of fire in your diaphragm area. So the area that I'm talking about is really the soft area of your belly that's right underneath your ribs. So you start to feel this, it's kind of like right above, it's between the bottom of your ribs and your belly button, right in that solar plexus in that area. **Michelle:** So you can put your hands there Before I actually go into the description of how to do it, I wanna talk about what it does. Breath of fire is incredible for [00:11:00] digestion and it is one of the more stimulating breaths, and I remember one of my teachers mentioning That there was like a saying that as many breaths as you breathe, that we only have a certain amount of breaths for our life. **Michelle:** And that is why it's important to breathe slow. And the slower we breathe, the longer we can live. And I asked about this one because it's actually a very rapid type of breath, and they said, well, it's considered one breath because it's, you're not fully exhaling. **Michelle:** You're kind of like pumping throughout the whole time that you're doing it. So it's actually considered one breath. It's not considered, many different breaths. **Michelle:** so another thing, the reason why it's called Breath of Fire is because in Ayurvedic medicine, a lot of times they refer to something called Agni, which is our digestif fire. And that justifier, I guess you can say correlates to really our ability to break down foods And really the acid that we have in our stomach that can cook the [00:12:00] food and ultimately the breath of fire. And Agni is very, very important. And sometimes people will have diminished Agni from drinking too much cold or not really eating correctly. And so we don't want that. We wanna actually kindle that fire because when you kindle that fire, it will protect your body, increase your immune system, and also break down foods so that the rest of the digestive system, is able to really assimilate the nutrition from the food. **Michelle:** Another thing that it can do is clear, stagnant energy. And then when stagnant energy gets cleared, then you're getting more flow in the body and Prana is able to really move. So. This is one of the most powerful breaths to really get things moving. And the only thing that I would say with this, and really everything that I'm saying is not medical advice. **Michelle:** And I would also say be cautious. If you are about to do a retrieval, I would not do this breath because they are afraid [00:13:00] of ovarian torsion and this is something that you don't wanna mess with. So, and it is a very powerful and moving type of breath. **Michelle:** But I'd like to compare it to when the Native Americans used fire for brushes, you know, for, to get rid of like old weeds before they created new or planted new seeds. And this is one of those things, you're getting things outta the way, you're burning out the stagnation with this breath in order to get more flow and more new energy coming into the body. **Michelle:** so here's how you do it. So in between the bottom of your ribs and your belly button, so put your hand there and you could put both hands, one on top of the other. And what you do is you forcefully exhale, and you will find that when you do that, you're naturally going to bounce back almost like a rubber band where it just inhales. **Michelle:** By nature. And then you don't worry about the inhale 'cause it's gonna happen automatically and you just keep exhaling and you just [00:14:00] pump with the exhale. So you go and you'll feel that bounce when you have your hand there. And over time you'll find that it can get longer and longer as you practice. **Michelle:** In the beginning, you might get tired sooner and sometimes you might even find that it makes you cough. It is so purifying, it will actually make you cough up old mucus in your lungs. So it is pretty wild how it works. **Michelle:** So the next type of breath is called baa, and that is also called the bellows breath. And this is a little bit more active and I'll describe it so that you understand how to do it. **Michelle:** But first let me explain what it does. **Michelle:** So Bas Rica, very similar to the breath of fire, is also a breath that is very active and it can stoke the internal fire in our bodies. **Michelle:** It also involves very, forceful inhales and exhales. But in this case, you're gonna be [00:15:00] using the arms. **Michelle:** It is considered to activate the Kundalini energy in the body. This is the energy that runs up and down our spine and feeds really all of our organs and body **Michelle:** and supports our body's energetic flow. and it also is considered to have a balancing effect on the doshas. If you've watched my Ayurvedic video, I talk about the different doshas, which are really elements in your body, and this is considered to be a good breath that balances all of that. **Michelle:** It can also boost oxygenation and mental clarity. And how you do it is you raise your arms up and you have your hands out. So your hands are completely open and your arms are just raised up, and you inhale as you do that, And as you exhale, you close your hands and you bring your elbows to the side, so you bring your hands down so you inhale with your hands up. [00:16:00] stretch hands, and then you exhale forcefully as you bring it down, as if you're bringing something down or pulling something towards you from the top to the bottom. **Michelle:** So your elbows basically end up by your side and completely folded with your hands next to your shoulders in a fist. So inhale, bring your hands up. Wide open, exhale really forcefully as your hands go down into a fist next to your shoulders. **Michelle:** So this is kind of related to the breath of fire. There's definitely a lot of heat that will be coming out from it, It is a very good practice to really get that energy moving. If you feel like it's stuck. This is great. If you feel a lot of stress and you feel a lot going on. If you wanna come home and you feel like you've had a very stressful day, this is a great way to break that up. **Michelle:** So lastly, I'm going to cover something called Ari, or. Humming bee breath. **Michelle:** [00:17:00] So actually this breath and the way you're supposed to do it is one thing that we know for sure is a technique that stimulates the vagus nerve. And as we know, the vagus nerve is extremely important when it comes to reproductive health That's because it has so many different functions, and one of them, which is really key, is promoting really good digestive health, lowering inflammation, improving sleep, and on and on. **Michelle:** And it basically helps the body get into a parasympathetic mode. And one of the ways that is known to stimulate your vagus nerve is by humming. So this breath And another thing is that when you do hum on an exhale, you are actually by nature because you're using your voice, you slow down your breath. **Michelle:** So this is a great way to slow down your breath as you are exhaling. **Michelle:** So this can also reduce any emotional tension And it could also reduce heart rate and blood pressure. **Michelle:** so what you do for [00:18:00] this breath is inhale, fully hold it at the top, and then exhale with a humming sound. So. **Michelle:** And then you just breathe all the way out. So as you'll notice when you're humming, you actually slow down your breath, so it naturally slows down your breath, which has an immediate impact on any kind of state of anxiety. It will really calm your mind. So this is an amazing thing to do, and you can really do this while you're driving. **Michelle:** Just keep your eyes open for obvious reasons, But you could do this even while you're driving. If you're driving to a doctor's office and you're feeling really nervous, you can do that. a lot of times, om in my car, and this is just kind of one of the things that I do, and I find that it really, it, it feels like I'm singing a song, but I'm just oing. **Michelle:** So it feels really calming on my nervous system. It feels like an internal massage, having that vibration. So that can help a lot. And again, you could do this also at the end of the day if you had a lot of. Things [00:19:00] going on if it was a very intense day, and you can get yourself ready and your nervous system ready for more rest. **Michelle:** And actually that was not my last one. I have one more. and this is something that you can do at all times, and it's called UJA breathing. So if you practice yoga, you may have heard of UJA breathing because it's something that a lot of yogis will teach you to do during your yoga practice, and that is something that you can take with you really throughout the day. And what it is, is causing a little bit of constriction in your throat as you're breathing So that your breath could be a little louder. So it's kind of like this constriction where you're able to feel the breath going through your throat. so it's like making a little bit of a, a humming or a sound while your mouth is closed and you could practice. I'm sure you've done this naturally, even when you were little, And it's a very calming and very grounding breath. **Michelle:** It is thought to increase the lung capacity, and it's [00:20:00] also thought to balance out the heat in the body, and it's also thought to balance out the temperature in the body. So it's kind of like a yin and yang balance. **Michelle:** And it can also, since it's so grounding, promote a meditative state. So it's something that you can do, and this is one of the reasons why a lot of yogis use this during yoga, because ultimately yoga was a, was a practice that prepared yogis to meditate. It got the body into a state where it was able to meditate more deeply. **Michelle:** So just to reiterate, none of this is medical advice. It's not something that should ever take the place of what doctors tell you It should not be something that ever takes the place of medical. **Michelle:** Protocols that you've been given, and also to be aware or talk to your doctor if you are going through IVF, to talk to them about different breathing exercises and perhaps to pause on any of them during the IVF process. [00:21:00] If you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, I would love to hear from you. **Michelle:** I'm very active on Instagram and my handle is at the wholesome lotus fertility. I don't always respond right away, but I always eventually get to all of them. So thank you so much for tuning in today, and I hope you have a beautiful day. [00:22:00]