Podcast appearances and mentions of Mark Vernon

How has the figure of the outsider or eccentric has been used to explore English culture, history, politics, and our relationship with nature and the countryside? Matthew Sweet discusses, including a re-reading of Sylvia Townsend Warner's 1926 novel Lolly Willowes, in which a middle aged woman leaves her suburban life behind to become a witch. With philosopher Charles Foster, literary historian Jade Munslow Ong, political philosopher Sophie Scott Brown, and psychotherapist Mark Vernon. Producer: Luke Mulhall

What does it take to put a fractured world back together? Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon joins Evan Rosa to explore William Blake as the great counter-Enlightenment guide for our anxious, divided age. "The world comes to be seen as it truly is, which is infinite, and that can embrace distinction difference as much as similarity and sharing." In this episode with Evan Rosa, Vernon explains how to read William Blake, and reflects on Blake as the most important post-Reformation Christian mystic—a poet, painter, and philosopher offering not just a diagnosis of modern division but the beginnings of an antidote. Together they discuss Newton's long shadow and the withdrawal of inner life; the fragmentation of humanity from itself, nature, and the divine; the marriage of heaven and hell; cleansing the doors of perception; imagination as abundance rather than scarcity; desire rightly ordered; and Blake's Christ, who acts from impulse rather than rule. ——— Episode Highlights "I think he's the most important post-Reformation Christian mystic." "We need these oppositions in order to create the dynamism of life and hence the Marriage of Heaven and Hell." "The task is to align, align with the goods in the melee, and see how that which is seemingly different for you, might have something to offer you." "The world comes to be seen as it truly is, which is infinite, and that can embrace distinction difference as much as similarity and sharing." "The fullness of the love, the fullness of the goods, paradoxically, it can seem, is only revealed when it reaches out to that, which seems to be the opposite of it." ——— About Mark Vernon Mark Vernon is a writer, broadcaster, and psychotherapist with a private practice in London, and a former Anglican priest. His studies began with a physics degree at Durham University, followed by two degrees in theology and a PhD in ancient Greek philosophy from the University of Warwick; he has also worked at the Maudsley Hospital. He contributes to the BBC, the Guardian, and Church Times, and podcasts frequently. His books range across friendship, wellbeing, ancient philosophy, Dante's Divine Comedy, and the Inkling Owen Barfield. His most recent book, Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (Hurst, 2024), has drawn praise from Rowan Williams and others as among the finest recent studies of Blake. Learn more and follow at markvernon.com, his Substack A Golden String (markvernon942268.substack.com), and @platospodcasts on X. ——— Helpful Links and Resources Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination, by Mark Vernon: https://www.markvernon.com/books/awake-william-blake-and-the-power-of-the-imagination A Secret History of Christianity: Jesus, the Last Inkling and the Evolution of Consciousness, by Mark Vernon: https://www.markvernon.com/books/a-secret-history-of-christianity-book Dante's Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey, by Mark Vernon: https://www.markvernon.com/books/dantes-divine-comedy-book The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, by William Blake (The William Blake Archive): https://www.blakearchive.org/work/mhh Mark Vernon's website: https://www.markvernon.com A Golden String (Substack): https://markvernon942268.substack.com ——— Show Notes Underappreciated, often typecast visionary 1827—approaching the 200th anniversary of Blake's death approaching Tumultuous age: Seven Years' War, American and French Revolutions, Napoleonic Wars London quadruples in size; Hindu, Islamic, and global ideas arrive "I think he's the most important post reformation Christian, mystic" Polymath—poet, painter, philosopher, didact Counter-Enlightenment response to rationalism Isaac Newton's influence "can't be overstated" One law binds falling apple and orbiting moon Locke, Bentham, utilitarianism, calculation as the moral measure "withdrawing the inner life of human beings"—the objective as gold standard Fragmentation: dividing humanity from itself, nature, the gods Reading Blake now offers "the beginnings of an antidote too" Feeling and imagination complement reason; imagination as the shape of energy Marvel superheroes analogy—one superpower detached goes wrong Bacon's dream: tools to restore Eden, and its tragedy Magnet's two poles—the marriage of heaven and hell Angels grow complacent, devils too dastardly; tension creates beauty and exuberance Cleansing the doors of perception; a world in a grain of sand "align, align with the goods in the melee" Division never purifies society—"it just leads to a mess" "embrace distinction difference as much as similarity and sharing" Heaven and hell as states of mind; participative epistemology Education that teaches students to divide themselves from learning Imagination as abundance, not scarcity Desire rightly ordered—"less than all cannot satisfy man" Blake's Christ acts from impulse, not rule Fountains of living water; the closing lines of Jerusalem ——— #WilliamBlake #MarkVernon #ForTheLifeoftheWorld #Imagination #MarriageOfHeavenAndHell #CounterEnlightenment #ChristianMysticism #Theology #Poetry #DoorsOfPerception

A friend relates the stresses of getting up in the morning. Her child has stubbed a toe but is it broken, poor kid? Simultaneously, the radio on, there is news of bombs again in the Middle East. And then, another worry: the erratic weather and what that might mean for a shifting climate. On top of that again, a background of disturbed domestic politics. Where is that leading? A hotch-potch of anxieties mount up. My friend and I talked about how to handle these confused concerns, some smaller, some massive; some nearer, some afar. They crash in on us. Little wonder that some people become politically frazzled or mentally fatigued – or over-stimulated or drop out altogether. The wisdom traditions offer advice on how to deal with such turbulence. A label often given to this advice is non-attachment. The idea is not to not care. But rather to learn a skilfulness in how you care. Jesus was one figure who taught as much, captured in sayings such as: “Give no thought for the morrow.” To be preoccupied with what might happen, or how things might go, is paralysing. And freezing in the present moment, or conversely over-reacting, is a disaster because the present moment is the only one to which you can respond well. The advice continues with caring for the soul, or how we are in the world, which effects how we act in the world. Or to put it another way: tend to the jostling facets of ourselves, what might be called our temperamental inner community. That internal unrest shapes our interactions with the wider community that exists around and about us. How we are inside will much effect how we are in the outside world. Cultivating a non-attached attention also opens up awareness of something spiritual. Staying with what is present is an admission that there are many things that we cannot control and, crucially, that we will let them be. This is not a failure but the gaining of a wider perspective. And then, it is possible to see that the modest good we can do is part of a wider good, which can be called God. There is a mental cost to feeling trapped in myriad troubles, but there is a spiritual liberty to find. Care with our attention brings that freedom – which is what I found with my friend. Her child with the stubbed toe was OK. The wider world certainly knows suffering, but there is also a goodness in the world that we can find and amplify.

Susanne Sklar and Mark Vernon explore William Blake's late, great poem, "Jerusalem the Emanation of the Giant Albion""Of the Sleep of Ulro! and of the passage through Eternal Death! and of the awakening to Eternal Life," Blake tells us the epic is about.Albion features, as does the heroine Jersualem, as well as Jesus.So how did Blake weave together these figures? How can the poem be read? What is its message and theology? What insights does it offer today?Susanne's book is "Blake's 'Jerusalem' As Visionary Theatre: Entering the Divine Body".Mark's book is "Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination."www.markvernon.com

Manja Ristić tells the story of growing up in a sports family, with her famous water polo dad and Croatian freestyle swimming champion mom. In the overlapping narrative between two places – Belgrade and the small town of Korčula in the Southern Adriatic – the story tackles the golden times of Yugoslavian water polo, the community-built island's club KPK, where her parents first met, and the only small-town club that won a major European championship, producing some of the most important players in the history of Yugoslavian water polo. It is the story of her father, the family, post-WWII Yugoslavia, her early childhood, the culture, and the society that vanished savagely with the outbreak of the ex-Yugoslav conflicts in the 1990s. The story is narrated by Manja, her son Luka, and British sound artist and radio producer Mark Vernon. (SONIC SPORTS, 2024)

What if the deepest encounters with the divine are not dramatic or ecstatic, but quiet, steady, and hidden in ordinary life?Mark Vernon returns to Nomad to explore silence, mysticism, and the search for God after disillusionment. Reflecting on his own journey through priesthood, contemplative practice, psychotherapy and spiritual direction, Mark speaks about finding a form of Christianity rooted less in performance or certainty, and more in attention, presence and the inner life.In this conversation, Tim and Mark discuss The Cloud of Unknowing, Julian of Norwich, William Blake, spiritual homelessness, and why the mystical tradition may still have something vital to offer those who feel drawn to Christ but no longer fit easily within institutional church life.Following the interview Nomad hosts Tim and Anna reflect on their own relationship with mysticism, and the way it has shaped their evolving faith. Interview starts at 12m 48sBooks, quotes, links →The creation of Nomad's thoughtful, ad-free content is entirely funded by our equally thoughtful and wonderful listeners. By supporting us, you gain access to Nomad's online spaces—like the Beloved Listener Lounge, Enneagram Lounge, and Book Club—as well as bonus episodes such as Nomad Contemplations, Homegrown Conversations, and Nomad Revisited.If you'd like to join our lovely community of supporters, head over to our Patreon page. You might even be rewarded with a Nomad pen or our coveted Beloved Listener mug!If a monthly commitment isn't possible right now, a one-off donation is always deeply appreciated—you can do that here.Looking to connect with others nearby? Check out the Listener Map or join our Nomad Gathering Facebook group.And if you're up for sharing your own story, we regularly post reflections from listeners on our blog—all with the hope of fostering deeper understanding, connection and supportive relationships. If you'd like to share your story on the blog, contact us for more information here.

Many people report apparitions of their loved ones after death, and even of loved dogs and cats. But how do these after-death communications align with the Christian teaching of the resurrection of the body? In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon explore the evidence for the post-mortem appearances of humans and non-humans, and ask how it fits with the accounts of Jesus's resurrection in the Bible. The appearance of Jesus to the disciples and others is often taken as evidence of a physical revival of Jesus after his crucifixion but a subtler, arguably more compelling interpretation is that after-death communications are relatively common - which is the experience the disciples had. Then, the resurrection of Jesus shows something about the nature of the spiritual body,  as Saint Paul calls the body that awaits us. But what to make of the empty tomb that had contained the body of Jesus and the variety of activities Jesus reportedly engaged in after his resurrection, and what this might mean for existence after death and the presence of other worlds that are also here and now?Find 100 more conversations with myself and Rupert online.

Psychotherapist, writer, and podcaster Mark Vernon joins us in the Dark Room to talk about Clive Staples Lewis, Owen Barfield, the Inklings, and his own work. Get ad-free Core Episodes, the After Dark episode, and more at patreon.com/artofdarkpod or substack.com/@artofdarkpod. x.com/platospodcasts x.com/artofdarkpod x.com/therewillbbooks x.com/kautzmania Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Good morning. The strike by resident doctors highlights the severe tensions faced by the National Health Service. The tragedy of the dispute, and any disruption experienced by patients, is that all sides involved no doubt very much want health services to improve. So as resolution is sought can this also be a moment to ask again an increasingly pressing question. What exactly is health? The issue often came to the fore when I worked in the NHS. My role was as a psychotherapist in a psychiatric hospital. We worked with older adults who had often suffered for not just years but decades. Their pain was substantial and entrenched. What could be offered to such folk? What did we mental health professionals think we were doing? There were no easy answers. Suffering is hard. But a light might flicker in the darkness when a patient felt heard. They realised, even momentarily, that they were with someone who didn't have any immediate remedy but did appreciate the depth of their torment. Many doctors will know such moments. There is a glimpse of connection that is potentially healing and powerful. But why? The answer provides a clue to a notion of health that is not only about an absence of symptoms, valuable though that most certainly is. With a patient who feels heard, you together enter a field of existence that is wider than the previously isolated, suffering soul knew was possible. A dimension of life, not determined by having solutions, is discovered as a release or expansion. The word “health” itself recognises the possibility as it comes from the old English for “whole”. Believers in God will recognise that wholeness as an intuition: our existence as individuals is actually a sharing in the existence of God. We are as many reflections of the one divine light. A shift of perspective, a kind of conversion, is required for this transcendent awareness to become a steady part of life. The difference with this fuller notion of health or wholeness is that you don't privately possess it, let alone control it, but rather it holds you and you might collaborate with it more fully. The NHS will likely continue to struggle with the demands it faces, even as - and perhaps because - remarkable improvements in treatments will continue, too. In this context, a cultural and spiritual conversation about the wider nature of health is crucial. Like the patient who feels better because they are heard, a more expansive vision of what health entails, and indeed what it is to live well, will alleviate stresses on us all.

„Oma kuulsas mõtteeksperimendis kujutles Einstein end valguskiirel justkui vagunis sõitva lapsena. See esmapilgul naiivne kujutluspilt viis ta lõpuks äratundmiseni, et valguse kiirus on universumi suurim, ning aitas tal seeläbi välja töötada erirelatiivsusteooria. See on väga hea näide sellest, et looval kujutlusel on keskne koht mitte ainult kunstis, vaid ka teaduses, kui see vanast paradigmast välja üritab murda,“ ütles Tähenduse teejuhtide selle aasta veebruarinumbrile antud intervjuus briti psühhoterapeut Mark Vernon [1]. Kõnealune number sisaldas seitset kujutlusvõimele pühendatud artiklit. Füüsikanurgas astus üles Jaak Kikas, kes kirjutas muuhulgas teadusliku kujutlusvõime spetsiifilistest vahenditest – mõtteeksperimentidest [2]. Umbes samal ajal pidas Laur Järv Vabas Akadeemias loengu „Ämber, lift ja tulemüür: mõtteeksperimentide rollist füüsikas“ [3]. Veebruari lõpus saime kokku Kuku Raadio Tartu stuudios, et mainitud teemadel üheskoos edasi mõtelda. Kahjuks tekkis meil väike tehniline rike. Millalgi teise pooltunni alguses tuli pulti sisse Raadio Elmar heli ja kuivõrd mul polnud kõrvaklappe peas, ei pannud ma seda tähele. Taustaheli järjest valjemaks ning teine pool saatest ei kannata paraku enam kuulamist. Avaldan juhtunu üle kahetsust ja püüan edaspidi hoolikam olla.Mis vestlusesse puutub, siis kõigepealt selgus, et Einsteini noorpõlve valguskiirega kaasa sõitmise mõttemäng ei olnudki tegelikult otseselt rongiliiklusega seotud. Einstein kujutles, et kui ta liiguks valguslainega sama kiirusega, peaks laine paistma talle paigalseisvana. Maxwelli elektrodünaamika võrrandid annavad aga lahendusi ainult valguse kiirusega liikuva laine kohta. Einstein tegi siit radikaalse järelduse: Maxwelli teooria on korrektne, üldistamist vajavad meie ettekujutused ajast ja ruumist. Teises mõtteeksperimendis tabasid kaks välgulööki rongi esi- ja tagaotsa. Perroonil seisva vaatleja jaoks toimusid need üheaegselt, kuid rongi keskel viibiva vaatleja jaoks tabas välk kõigepealt rongi esiotsa. Seega – järeldas Einstein – ei ole lisaks ajale ja ruumile absoluutne ka samaaegsus; see, kas kaks sündmust toimvad samal ajal, sõltub vaatleja liikumisest. 1905. aastal avaldas Einstein artikli „Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper“, kus ta esitas oma erirelatiivsusteooria. Einstein väitis, et aeg ja ruum moodustavad ühtse terviku, mille mõõtmine sõltub vaatleja liikumisest, kuid valguse kiirus ja loodusseadused on kõigi vaatlejate jaoks samad.Pärast väikest kõrvalepõiget vahest veelgi kuulsama mõtteeksperimendi juurde Achilleusest ja kilpkonnast, arutasime selle üle, mis teeb suvalisest kujutlusest mõtteeksperimendi. „Me võime endale ette kujutada igasuguseid asju, millest ei saa suurt midagi tuletada,“ ütles Laur (16. minut). Seetõttu rõhutas kuulus füüsik ja teadusfilosoof Ernst Mach 19. sajandi lõpus, et mõtteeksperimendid peaksid käima tuttavate asjade kohta, mida rong, välk, Achilleus ja kilpkonn muidugi ka on.40. minutil jõudis Jaak nüüdisaegse füüsika ühe suurima mõistatuse juurde: tumeaine ja -energia. Nagu ta märkis, on nende olemus püsinud selgusetuna juba ligi pool sajandit – tumeaine annab endast märku gravitatsioonilise mõju kaudu, samal ajal kui tumeenergia seostub universumi kiireneva paisumisega. „Võib-olla mängib kujutlusvõime meile siin vingerpussi,“ kostis selle peale Laur, kelle sõnul sulab fundamentaalfüüsika praegu ühte arvutiteadusega. „Füüsikaseadused ei olegi võib olla mitte niivõrd füüsika kui arvutamise seadused.“ Lauri sõnul peaksime seetõttu otsima lahendusi abstraktsioonitase kõrgemalt. „Igal pool on algoritmid, igal pool on bitid, mille jaoks on omaette seadused, mis rakenduvad kord ühes, kord teises valdkonnas. See on see, kuhu teaduse tipu kujutlusvõime on praegu liikunud.“Head uudistamist!H.——[1] https://teejuhid.postimees.ee/8419733...[2] https://teejuhid.postimees.ee/8419695...[3] • Vaba Akadeemia loeng 30.01.2026: Laur Järv... . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the 100th episode of The Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon considered the role of harmony, wholeness and hope in the modern world. The event was held in-person as well as streamed online.The evening took as its inspiration the work of King Charles, who can be called a philosopher king. It follows the February 6 release on Amazon Prime of the documentary “Finding Harmony: A King's Vision”. But what is this philosophy?Rupert and Mark explore new ways that are old of looking at the world, aided by science, poetry, and perennial wisdom traditions. How is diversity transformed by awareness of unity? How might the unfolding of life aid transformation? Spirit, imagination and intelligence much matter.The conversation was held in the Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead.For more of Mark and Rupert's conversations see - https://www.markvernon.com/talks

Episode Summary:We begin Season Six of Holy Heretics in a world coming undone. Evil is on our doorstep. Our democratic norms are no more. A sociopathic madman and his predatorily ghouls are raping and robbing their way through our common life. An entire system of life is cracking beneath our feet.We are standing at the threshold of an old world that is dying and a new world yet to be born. The only real way through is inner: to awaken, to unfold, to cultivate a new humanity from the inside out.To open this season, I sit down with 88-year-old mystic John Butler—British author, retired farmer, and lifelong seeker whose gentle presence has become a sanctuary for millions. Formed by silence, shaped by prayer, and seasoned by decades of wandering across continents and inner landscapes, Mr. Butler speaks from a depth rare in our dopamine-driven age. Many have come to know him by a name he never claimed but quietly embodies: “Mr. Nothing.” It's a title that gestures toward the ego‑less simplicity he embodies—a way of being that asks nothing, claims nothing, and yet reveals everything essential. He reminds us that the ground of our being is never unstable, we've simply forgotten how to tap into it.Besides farming and meditation, Mr. Butler has lived an extraordinarily interesting life, including much spiritual insight, emotional ups and downs, long periods in Peru, Africa and the USA besides several years in Russia, all of which have been part of the far from easy journey to where he is now.This season is, at its core, a season of spiritual health—of learning how to live from a deeper center when the world around us is fraying. Along the way, we'll be joined by voices who have spent their lives tending the sacred: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, whose moral clarity has guided many through storms; Stanley Hauerwas, whose fierce honesty cuts through our illusions; Mark Vernon, who maps the inner terrain of consciousness with philosophical grace; Martin Shaw, who calls us back into mythic imagination; KJ Ramsey, who helps us inhabit our bodies with courage and tenderness; and Matthew Fox, who has spent decades reminding us that we were not born in sin, but in original goodness.Season Six is an invitation—to slow down, to listen, to return to the place within you that no propaganda can distort and no authoritarian can reach.We're back! And we're beginning with a conversation that asks you to breathe, to soften, to sit in silence, and to remember that your personal transformation begins in the one place the world cannot colonize—your inner life.Connect with Mr. Butler on his website, https://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk, for articles, interviews, and additional resources on the contemplative life. Please Follow us on social media (use the buttons below) and help us get the word out! (Also, please don't hesitate to use any of these channels or email to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback.)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review, or share on your socials

Saints, bodhisattvas and genii locorum, or spirits of place, are the names in various wisdom traditions given to guardian beings who protect, assist and inspire. So what does it mean to call on these sacred beings? In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss the role of patron saints who are associated with churches and shrines, days and names. What powers might figures from Saint Mary to Saint Nicolas bring to us? How do we call upon them and how is their presence understood? Rupert and Mark explore the ways in which saints connect heaven and earth in individual lives, particular places and at various times of the year.ANNOUNCEMENTThe next episode of The Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues will be the 100th!In celebration, Rupert and Mark will talk with an in-person audience that people will also be available to join via live streaming.We will meet in the Parish Church of St John, Hampstead, on Sunday 15th February. The dialogue itself will start at 6.15pm and you are warmly invited to attend Choral Evensong at 5pm before. DETAILS OF TICKETS - https://buytickets.at/thesheldrakevernondialogues/2010539Rupert and Mark will consider the role of harmony, wholeness and hope in the modern world. Themselves inspired by the book, Harmony, co-authored by King Charles, they will inquire into new ways that are old of participating with the living cosmos, aided by science, poetry, and perennial wisdom traditions. How is diversity transformed by awareness of unity? How might the unfolding of life aid transformation? Spirit, imagination and intelligence much matter.

In this conversation, psychotherapist and writer Dr Mark Vernon is joined by philosopher Dr Robert Rowland Smith to explore the imaginative world of J.R.R. Tolkien and the often-overlooked influence of Owen Barfield - friend of C.S. Lewis and another Inkling.

It's an honor to be joined by Mark Vernon to discuss his new book, Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination. Explore the profound philosophy of seeing through the senses rather than merely with them to uncover a world that is inherently infinite and divine. This discussion delves into the life of William Blake, a “local mystic,” who traversed the streets of London while witnessing angels in trees and perceiving the vitality of the entire cosmos. By examining the power of imagination as a shared divine presence rather than a private possession, we investigate how to awaken from a state of mental fragmentation and “Newton's sleep.” You're invited to follow a “golden string” toward a spiritual renovation of everyday life, learning to find eternity's sunrise within every particular minute. Get the book: https://amzn.to/4bDRlyC More on Mark: https://www.markvernon.com/ Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ Gnostic Tarot Readings: https://thegodabovegod.com/gnostic-tarot-reading/ The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Vernon is a British psychotherapist and writer In this episode we discuss his book A Secret History of Christianity: Jesus, The Last Inkling, And The Evolution Of Consciousness and the philosophy of Owen BarfieldBook link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-History-Christianity-Evolution-Consciousness/dp/1789041945Vernon's site: https://www.markvernon.com/---Become part of the Hermitix community:Hermitix Twitter - ⁠⁠ / hermitixpodcast⁠⁠ Hermitix Discord - ⁠⁠ / discord Support Hermitix:Hermitix Subscription - ⁠⁠https://hermitix.net/subscribe/⁠⁠ Patreon - ⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/hermitix⁠⁠ Donations: - ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod⁠⁠Hermitix Merchandise - ⁠⁠http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2⁠⁠Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLKEthereum Donation Address: 0xfd2bbe86d6070004b9Cbf682aB2F25170046A996

In this episode, John welcomes Mark Vernon to discuss his two books, 'Dante's Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey' and 'Awake: William Blake and the Imagination'. They explore the profound psychological, philosophical, and spiritual insights offered by Dante and Blake, touching upon topics like pilgrimage, the imaginal, and the role of the imagination in renewing perception. Mark shares his experiences and how these works resonate with contemporary cognitive science and spirituality. The conversation delves deep into understanding the connections between ancient wisdom and modern thought. Mark Vernon is a writer, psychotherapist, and philosopher whose work explores the meeting point of spirituality, psychology, and philosophy. Based in London, his background in physics, theology, and psychotherapy shapes a multidisciplinary approach that bridges ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary understandings of the mind and meaning.  

In a world in perpetual crisis, how do we live our lives in a way that is both ethical and fulfilling? How do we keep from being buffeted by fear and other negative emotions? William Irvine and Mark Vernon discuss what ancient philosophy can offer us today. The post Fund Drive Special: Wisdom from Antiquity appeared first on KPFA.

Mark Vernon is an author, psychotherapist and public intellectual. His books often focus on the work of luminary thinkers such as Owen Barfield and Dante. We discussed his new book Awake! about William Blake.https://www.markvernon.com/

The mood has shifted. Subjects that were once taboo - like God - are now discussed openly. So if a new theism is abroad, what might it bring? In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon ask why individuals engaged in pursuits from cultural critique to theoretical biology are now actively interested in traditions such as Christianity and Platonism. What is new about this turn and what is old? What does it mean in terms of understanding our humanity, the sciences and wider cosmology? And how can these new currents be best assessed and discerned?Rupert and I have almost 100 dialogues online.For more on Rupert see - https://www.sheldrake.orgFor more on Mark see - https://www.markvernon.com

An interview with Mark Vernon at the Harvard Divinity School with Adam Walker.Mark Vernon's book is "Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination".Adam Walker's YouTube channel is Close Reading Poetry.

At a time of renewed interest in the spiritual, what could challenge the uninspiring notion of ‘cultural Christianity'? One answer is by embracing the esoteric. William Blake, the painter and poet, has become a model for a new kind of rebellious spirituality. Though he spent his life in poverty and obscurity, Blake's radical vision of the divine is now a cornerstone of modern mysticism. Psychotherapist and podcaster Mark Vernon, author of ‘Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination', and religion researcher, Esmé Partridge, talk in a masterclass, hosted by Unherd in London, on the meaning and mythos of Blake.0:00 What world Blake was responding to2:15 What did Blake mean by Newton's sleep?5:28 How did Blake see the natural world?8:30 Why did Blake react against the Christianity of his day?11:50 Understanding “The Garden of Love”13:50 Understanding “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell”16:50 Blake against the ills of today: sentimentality and unforgivingness18:40 The road of excess and erotic desire21:47 Navigating the contrary tensions of life25:15 Blake's mythological figures29:30 What about Los and Jerusalem?32:30 What about Blake's view of politics and revolution?36:50 How do you cleanse the doors of perception?40:20 So in what way was Blake Christian?43:46 How did William and Catherine support themselves?46:52 How do we distinguish between imagination and fantasy?49:51 How can Blake be helpful to modern psychology?52:30 How can Blake help us reach for the eternal?56:10 How can Blake bring meaning to life?57:30 What would Blake make of Nietzsche?1:00:00 What would Blake make of Spinoza?1:01:30 Can we diagnose Blake and his visions?1:03:20 What about Blake and cultural Christianity today?1:05:30 What did Blake make about violence?1:07:43 Can you say more about Catherine Blake?1:09:30 Blake's wit about his visions1:10:54 Can you comment on Blake and Englishness?

A psychotherapist, philosopher and writer drawn to the wellsprings of both ancient and modern philosophy and the illumination of the inner life. His work moves between the timeless and the modern, exploring friendship and belief, wellbeing and wonder, and the quiet art of living with depth in a restless age.His recent books trace paths through the visionary landscapes of William Blake, the awakening of spiritual intelligence, the pilgrimage of Dante's Divine Comedy, and the Christian imagination as seen through Owen Barfield — the Oxford Inkling and close companion of C.S. Lewis.You can find out more about Paul via his website - www.paulwilkinson.co.ukYou can find out more about Mark via his website - www.markvernon.com

In this episode, we discuss modern spirituality, reframing intellect and the crisis with the natural world. Mark Vernon is a British psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest.If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation, then please email us: unquestionablepod@gmail.comFind us here:Twitter: @unquestionpodInstagram: @unquestionablepodTik Tok: @unquestionablepodFacebook: @unquestionablepodcastYoutube: @unquestionablepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone is chasing more... more money, more success, more status. But what if, as William Blake said, “more, more is the cry of the mistaken soul”? In this powerful conversation, psychotherapist and author Mark Vernon joins Jack Frimston and Zac Thompson to explore why so many of us never feel like we have done enough, and how Stoicism, philosophy, and spiritual intelligence can help us break free from the treadmill of modern life. We cover: ✅ Why Stoicism surged during the pandemic ✅ How breakdowns often spark spiritual awakenings ✅ William Blake's warning about endless accumulation ✅ The role of myths, stories, and religion in shaping meaning ✅ Whether free will actually exists (and why it matters) ✅ Practical first steps if you are feeling lost or burnt out If you have ever asked yourself, “When will enough be enough?” this episode is for you.

“Man has no Body distinct from his Soul,” declared William Blake. “Nature is imagination itself!” The human face is the “countenance divine”.Inspiring, yes. But what can we make of his sayings?Mark Vernon sat down with poet Malcolm Guite to discuss how Blake's ideas about the imagination challenge modern ways of perceiving the world. They stress that dismissing Blake's converse with angels dismisses the radicality of what he has to offer. They explore how the division between the subjective and objective, which Guite calls “epistemological apartheid”, is false and has terrible consequences for human beings, personally and politically. They argue that theology needs a revival of the imagination as the way we apprehend truths that put the fire into rational comprehension.For more on Mark's book, “Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination” see www.markvernon.comFor more on Malcolm Guite see https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com0:00 Ways of knowing01:46 Don't medicalise Blake!3:30 The senses are inlets of soul5:25 A fundamental, false division12:07 Imagination makes real not makes up16:35 Demystifying the imagination20:48 Eternity in the present and particular26:58 Reason the bound of energy: Geoffrey Hill on Blake32:09 Blake's aphoristic philosophy33:20 The renewal of Christianity42:56 The generative teaching of Jesus 44:46 Energy and the Holy Spirit: Barfield on Blake48:17 Albion crucifies the imagination54:21 Contraries that create not conflict58:29 Selfless perception

Mark Vernon returns to discuss his new book, “Awake: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination,” presenting Blake not […]

How can William Blake's vision of imagination help us see life in a new way today? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Mark Vernon on his new book Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination. Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.comMark Vernon is a writer, psychotherapist and former Anglican priest. He contributes to programmes on the radio, writes and reviews for newspapers and magazines, gives talks and frequently podcasts. His books cover themes including friendship and God, William Blake and Dante, ancient Greek philosophy and wellbeing. He has a PhD in ancient Greek philosophy, and other degrees in physics and in theology.  https://www.markvernon.comFor more show information visit: https://www.mariannepestana.com/

Note: This upload is a correction to the previous file uploaded under this title!The imagination is often regarded as a valuable but fanciful capacity. But what if imagination were not an optional extra, or even the possession of human beings alone, but a fundamental feature of reality?In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon draw on the ideas of William Blake to explore Blake's insistence that “nature is imagination itself!”. They discuss how the understanding of the imagination has contracted in recent times, though also how modern science is a remarkable exercise in the imagination. They consider matters from how the Platonic notion of ideas relates to cosmic and evolutionary novelty, to whether angels can be said to be imaginative and creative. Mark's new book is "Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination". For more information see https://www.markvernon.com/books/awake-william-blake-and-the-power-of-the-imagination.

In this episode, we turn to the radical vision of William Blake with brilliant scholar and psychotherapist Mark Vernon. Mark argues that Blake isn't just a historical curiosity—he's a guide for rewilding our humanity in an age of spiritual flatness. We explore how Blake saw the collapse of cultural imagination coming 200 years ago, offering us a way out of what Mark calls the "narrow deadening" of modern life. Blake's answer isn't to retreat from the world, but to cultivate what he calls "innocence"—not naivety, but a kind of perceptual openness that can see angels, spirits, and the infinite in a grain of sand. We talk about his critique of the mechanistic worldview, his understanding of imagination as something that has us rather than something we have, and his deeply orthodox yet mystical Christianity that treats Jesus as the imagination itself. Mark shows us how Blake's "hermeneutics of energy" offers a different way of relating to money, love, death, and the divine—one that moves from possession to participation, from control to collaboration with the creative force of reality itself. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube. Mark Vernon is a scholar, psychotherapist, and public intellectual who bridges the worlds of ancient wisdom and contemporary life. He works as a psychotherapist while writing extensively about philosophy, spirituality, and the intersection of psychological insight with religious tradition. His latest book Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination presents William Blake as a prophet of re-enchantment for our disenchanted age. You can check out his previous visit to the podcast here.  UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The God of Justice: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Contemporary Longing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This transformative online class brings together distinguished scholars from biblical studies, theology, history, and faith leadership to offer exactly what our moment demands: the rich, textured wisdom of multiple academic disciplines speaking into our contemporary quest for justice. Here you'll discover how ancient texts illuminate modern struggles, how theological reflection deepens social action, and how historical understanding opens new possibilities for faithful engagement with our world's brokenness and beauty. Join John Dominic Crossan, Peter Enns, Casey Sigmon, Aizaiah Yong, & Malcolm Foley As always, the class is donation-based, including 0. INFO & Sign-Up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.FaithAndPolitics.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get info and tickets here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. _____________________ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 70,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination is now available worldwide.To celebrate, Mark Vernon and Robert Rowland Smith discuss all things Blake from angels and images, to poetry and prophecy.For more on the book see https://www.markvernon.com/books/awake-william-blake-and-the-power-of-the-imagination

I very much enjoyed speaking with Jason Whittaker, a profound lover of Blake, because we have our differences about how Blake speaks to us and, I hope, that is illuminating.We discussed Blake the visionary and mystic, and resisting forcing Blake through the sieve of more recent psychology. We thought about how Blake speaks to us now, as a poet and analyst of the modern spirit. We examined the significance of the imagination and the nature of God for Blake.For more on Jasons's work see - www.jasonwhittaker.co.ukFor more on Awake! and Mark's work see - www.markvernon.com0:00 Introductions1:36 How Blake speaks to us5:35 Mystic or visionary?7:45 On not psychologising Blake9:40 Reading Blake's poetry11:54 Blake as a prophet of now15:40 Understanding Blake's characters19:20 The significance of the imagination in Blake23:12 Blake and God27:03 Why deism matters32:55 Infinite perception37:46 Against the church43:05 Dialogues and the expansion of perception

Send us a textMark Vernon is a British psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. He is the author of the new book: Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination.I wanted to speak to Mark to learn more about William Blake and understand how tapping into our spiritual side more, and our creative side, can aid us in our pursuit of faith in God.Some highlights from this episode include what Blake really meant by 'dark, satanic mills,' why imagination doesn't just mean daydreaming, and what Blake would have thought about our modern technology.--You can find more of Mark's work at the following links:- https://www.markvernon.com/books/awake-william-blake-and-the-power-of-the-imagination- https://www.youtube.com/@UC4WL1Pbg-dwtG9C85TAkZ2w Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspodhttps://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Qhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on InstagramConversations to Refresh Your Faith.For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring his writings, artwork and life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview and shows how his thinking is still relevant for us today.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.

In the 200 years since Blake's death, the visionary artist, poet and writer has become a household name, often beloved. Yet many struggle to comprehend his kaleidoscopic ideas; how they speak to human longings and the challenges of living in anxious times. Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring this brilliant thinker's passionate writings, arresting artworks and fascinating life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview. Like us, he lived in a tumultuous era of war, discontent, rapid technological change, and human estrangement from nature. He exposed the dark sides of political fervour and social moralising, while unashamedly celebrating love and liberty. But he also conversed with prophets and angels, and was powerfully, if unconventionally, religious. If we take this seriously--not easy, in secular times--then Blake can help us to unlock the transformative power of imagination. Written for both longstanding fans and unfamiliar readers, Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (Hurst & Co., 2025) reveals Blake as an invigorating and hopeful guide for our modern age. Mark Vernon is a London-based psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. A keen podcaster and a columnist with The Idler, he speaks regularly at festivals and on the BBC. He has a PhD in Philosophy, and degrees in Theology and Physics. Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

In the 200 years since Blake's death, the visionary artist, poet and writer has become a household name, often beloved. Yet many struggle to comprehend his kaleidoscopic ideas; how they speak to human longings and the challenges of living in anxious times. Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring this brilliant thinker's passionate writings, arresting artworks and fascinating life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview. Like us, he lived in a tumultuous era of war, discontent, rapid technological change, and human estrangement from nature. He exposed the dark sides of political fervour and social moralising, while unashamedly celebrating love and liberty. But he also conversed with prophets and angels, and was powerfully, if unconventionally, religious. If we take this seriously--not easy, in secular times--then Blake can help us to unlock the transformative power of imagination. Written for both longstanding fans and unfamiliar readers, Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (Hurst & Co., 2025) reveals Blake as an invigorating and hopeful guide for our modern age. Mark Vernon is a London-based psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. A keen podcaster and a columnist with The Idler, he speaks regularly at festivals and on the BBC. He has a PhD in Philosophy, and degrees in Theology and Physics. Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In the 200 years since Blake's death, the visionary artist, poet and writer has become a household name, often beloved. Yet many struggle to comprehend his kaleidoscopic ideas; how they speak to human longings and the challenges of living in anxious times. Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring this brilliant thinker's passionate writings, arresting artworks and fascinating life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview. Like us, he lived in a tumultuous era of war, discontent, rapid technological change, and human estrangement from nature. He exposed the dark sides of political fervour and social moralising, while unashamedly celebrating love and liberty. But he also conversed with prophets and angels, and was powerfully, if unconventionally, religious. If we take this seriously--not easy, in secular times--then Blake can help us to unlock the transformative power of imagination. Written for both longstanding fans and unfamiliar readers, Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (Hurst & Co., 2025) reveals Blake as an invigorating and hopeful guide for our modern age. Mark Vernon is a London-based psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. A keen podcaster and a columnist with The Idler, he speaks regularly at festivals and on the BBC. He has a PhD in Philosophy, and degrees in Theology and Physics. Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

In the 200 years since Blake's death, the visionary artist, poet and writer has become a household name, often beloved. Yet many struggle to comprehend his kaleidoscopic ideas; how they speak to human longings and the challenges of living in anxious times. Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring this brilliant thinker's passionate writings, arresting artworks and fascinating life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview. Like us, he lived in a tumultuous era of war, discontent, rapid technological change, and human estrangement from nature. He exposed the dark sides of political fervour and social moralising, while unashamedly celebrating love and liberty. But he also conversed with prophets and angels, and was powerfully, if unconventionally, religious. If we take this seriously--not easy, in secular times--then Blake can help us to unlock the transformative power of imagination. Written for both longstanding fans and unfamiliar readers, Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (Hurst & Co., 2025) reveals Blake as an invigorating and hopeful guide for our modern age. Mark Vernon is a London-based psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. A keen podcaster and a columnist with The Idler, he speaks regularly at festivals and on the BBC. He has a PhD in Philosophy, and degrees in Theology and Physics. Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

In the 200 years since Blake's death, the visionary artist, poet and writer has become a household name, often beloved. Yet many struggle to comprehend his kaleidoscopic ideas; how they speak to human longings and the challenges of living in anxious times. Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring this brilliant thinker's passionate writings, arresting artworks and fascinating life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview. Like us, he lived in a tumultuous era of war, discontent, rapid technological change, and human estrangement from nature. He exposed the dark sides of political fervour and social moralising, while unashamedly celebrating love and liberty. But he also conversed with prophets and angels, and was powerfully, if unconventionally, religious. If we take this seriously--not easy, in secular times--then Blake can help us to unlock the transformative power of imagination. Written for both longstanding fans and unfamiliar readers, Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (Hurst & Co., 2025) reveals Blake as an invigorating and hopeful guide for our modern age. Mark Vernon is a London-based psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. A keen podcaster and a columnist with The Idler, he speaks regularly at festivals and on the BBC. He has a PhD in Philosophy, and degrees in Theology and Physics. Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/poetry

You may agree that the so-called hard problem of consciousness exposes the deep inadequacies of a materialist worldview. But the alternatives - various forms of panpsychism, panentheism and idealism - raise rich and fascinating questions, too. In this episode of The Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon explore the leading edge of consciousness research, with Rupert just back from The Science of Consciousness Conference 2025 in Barcelona. They discuss the impact of Indian researchers of consciousness and the proposals of microchip inventor, Federico Faggin. They consider trainings in extra-ocular vision and questions thrown up by the hit podcast series, The Telepathy Tapes. One thing is clear: when the materialist paradigm passes, the science of consciousness will have only just begun.For more on Rupert's work see - https://www.sheldrake.org/For more on Mark's work see - https://www.markvernon.com/

Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word. Exploring his writings, artwork and life, Vernon illuminates Blake's vivid worldview and shows how his thinking is still relevant for us today.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

James Harpur's new book, "Dazzling Darkness: The Lives and Afterlives of the Christian Mystics", begins with an account of a mystical experience that happened to him - “an implosion of light”, as he describes it. That led to his book, Dazzling Darkness, in pursuit of the path that leads to ultimate reality: God.Mark Vernon's new book, "Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination", is the result of Mark's engagement with his local mystic, William Blake, as well as practices based on encounters and texts including The Cloud of Unknowing.In this conversation they explore the nature of mystical experience, as well as the mystics that speak powerfully to them, from Saint Columba to William Blake, via Marguerite Porete and Teresa of Avila, Ramana Maharshi and Krishnamurti.For more on James's book, Dazzling Darkness - https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/dazzling-darkness/For more on Mark's book, Awake! - https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/awake/0:00 Two books on mysticism!01:55 James's mystical experience07:00 Mark's encounter through contemplative practice11:58 The Irish mystics that speak to James18:00 Living the porous life22:49 Mysticism after monasticism29:30 Church life and mystical life32:01 Seeking spiritual directors33:00 The voice of Krishnamurti40:32 The presence amidst the diversity42:30 What happens after the ecstasy?52:00 Sustaining the double vision

Mark Vernon is a British psychotherapist and writer In this episode we discuss his book Awake! William Blake and the Power of the ImaginationBook link: https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/awake/Vernon's site: https://www.markvernon.com/---Become part of the Hermitix community:Hermitix Twitter - ⁠⁠ / hermitixpodcast⁠⁠ Hermitix Discord - ⁠⁠ / discord Support Hermitix:Hermitix Subscription - ⁠⁠https://hermitix.net/subscribe/⁠⁠ Patreon - ⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/hermitix⁠⁠ Donations: - ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod⁠⁠Hermitix Merchandise - ⁠⁠http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2⁠⁠Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLKEthereum Donation Address: 0xfd2bbe86d6070004b9Cbf682aB2F25170046A996

Episode Summary:Growing up evangelical required a preoccupation with external behaviors and moral performance, or what I now understand as sin management. My spiritual life was fear based. Behaviors like sexuality, masturbation, swearing, or drinking were litmus tests of spiritual maturity. The more you controlled, hid, or projected your external behaviors onto others, the closer you were to God. Behavior modification, external conformity, and the avoidance of sin was my ticket out of Hell. In evangelicalism, I was a problem to be fixed, not a person to be loved. What an anemic and harmful understanding of spirituality.Leaving white evangelicalism meant finding deeper streams of spiritual wisdom. Instead of this hyper-fixation on what I was doing, inner Christianity helped me recognize God's eternal presence at the core of my being, no matter what I was doing. God isn't some external deity I need to placate, God is the lover of my soul. As I spiritually mature, I'm coming to realize the importance of cultivating my inner life instead of worrying about external behaviors. Or as Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, “The only journey is the one within."External Christianity is about salvation in the afterlife. Inner Christianity is about personal transformation in this life. Contemplative or inner spirituality doesn't ignore sin—it just approaches it differently. Instead of managing sin, it invites us to be still, to listen, and to let God transform us at the root. “Christ did not preach a mere ethical or social gospel but an uncompromisingly spiritual one. He declared that God can be seen, that Divine perfection can be achieved,” writes Swami Prabhavananda in his seminal work The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta. Where does this leave us? How do we cultivate our interior life instead of focusing so much on externals? How do we focus on roots instead of fruits? I rarely quote Augustine, but he's on point about this. "Do not look outside; return to yourself. In our interior the truth resides.” I'll give that an amen. In this final episode in season five, I'm honored to be joined by psychotherapist, philosopher, and mystic Dr. Mark Vernon. Mark is a writer, psychotherapist and former Anglican priest. He contributes to programs on BBC radio, writes and reviews for newspapers and magazines, gives talks and frequently podcasts. His books cover themes including friendship and God, William Blake and Dante, ancient Greek philosophy and wellbeing. He has a PhD in ancient Greek philosophy, and other degrees in physics and in theology. Dr. Vernon's writings and teachings are deeply rooted in the inner life, exploring how we can cultivate spiritual depth and meaning in the modern world. You can connect with Dr. Vernon here!Thanks for listening!Please Follow us on social media (use the buttons below) and help us get the word out! (Also, please don't hesitate to use any of these channels or email to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback.)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review, or share on your socials

Iain McGilchrist calls William Blake “the least cosy of poets and one of the most insightful that ever lived.” Blake is cited more often than most figures in Iain's great book, "The Matter With Things".So what did Blake express that might much matter now? How did he understand key features of our humanity such as the imagination and inspiration, as well as the character of our day?In this conversation, prompted by the publication of "Awake!", Iain and Mark often land on wonderful quotes of Blake to unpack them. ”To the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.” “As a man is, so he sees.” "If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite."They explore Blakean imagery such as the spiral shape of Jacob's Ladder. Contemporary concerns are central too, from architecture to AI. Above all, they celebrate Blake as a figure who can guide our desires, aid us with the contraries of modern life, and sustain our faith that life is good, for all the ills that surround us.For more on Iain's work - https://channelmcgilchrist.comFor more on Mark's work - https://www.markvernon.comMark's new book on William Blake is “Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination” - https://www.markvernon.com/books/awake-william-blake-and-the-power-of-the-imagination0:00 No-one has imagination!05:27 The narrowing of imagination08:36 Fantasy and uncoupling11:55 The misenchantment of the world13:08 Place, space and architecture16:26 Spiritually aware consumerism19:43 The glowing presence of infinity21:13 Cleansing the doors of perception24:38 Speaking from the outside in26:38 The failure of empathy and need for the sacred31:24 Primary connection not separation33:10 Blake's orthodoxy34:37 Jacob's Ladder as a spiral38:12 The good can hold the bad39:55 Data, memory and AI42:33 Memory that inspires45:44 The enlivening of ritual48:10 Blake on divine science53:37 The character of things and insights57:17 Distinctions without difference59:28 Illuminating Blake and Dante

The conviction that the natural world is obedient, adhering to laws, is a widespread assumption of modern science. But where did this idea originate and what beliefs does it imply? In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss the impact on science of the Elizabethan lawyer, Francis Bacon. His New Instrument of Thought, or Novum Organum, put laws at the centre of science and was intended as an upgrade on assumptions developed by Aristotle. But does the existence of mind-like laws of nature, somehow acting on otherwise mindless matter, even make sense? What difference is made by insights subsequent to Baconian philosophy, such as the discovery of evolution or the sense that the natural world is not machine-like but behaves like an organism? Could the laws of nature be more like habits? And what about the existence of miracles, the purposes of organisms, and the extraordinary fecundity of creativity?

A taste of Blake's genius and what he might mean for us. Celebrating the release of "Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination" by Mark Vernon.The full countdown:10. I'll sing to you to this soft lute, and shew you all aliveThe world, where every particle of dust breathes forth its joy.9. I give you the end of a golden string; Only wind it into a ball, It will lead you in at Heaven's gate, Built in Jerusalem's wall.8. Monos ho Jesus7. The ruins of Time build mansions in Eternity. 6. If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.5. To see a world in a grain of sandAnd a heaven in a wild flower,Hold infinity in the palm of your handAnd eternity in an hour.4. How do you know but every bird that cuts the airy way, Is an immense world of delight, clos'd by your senses five?3. It is right it should be so Man was made for Joy & Woe And when this we rightly know Thro the World we safely go Joy & Woe are woven fine A Clothing for the soul divine Under every grief & pineRuns a joy with silken twine2. He who binds to himself a joyDoes the winged life destroy;But he who kisses the joy as it fliesLives in eternity's sun rise. 1. There is a Moment in each Day that Satan cannot find,Nor can his Watch Fiends find it, but the Industrious findThis Moment & it multiply, & when it once is found.

Were the all-embracing visions of William Blake shaped by Indian philosophy?

A live conversation with Mark Vernon, Katy Carr and Dexter Bentley from the Hello Goodbye Show.Who was William Blake? What might his music have sounded like? What did he say about the imagination? Why might he understand our predicament today?Mark Vernon and Katy Carr joined Dexter Bentley on Resonance FM to talk William Blake on Saturday 31st May 2025. Katy played six songs - her settings of the Introductions from the Songs of Innocence and also from the Songs of Experience, as well as The Lamb and TheTyger, and finally London and The Blossom.For more on Mark see - https://www.markvernon.com/For more on Katy see - https://katycarr.com/For more on the Hello Goodbye Show see https://hellogoodbyeshow.com/For more on the Idler -  https://www.idler.co.uk/Mark's book is Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination (out June 2025 in the UK, September 2025 in the US).

In this episode, I am joined by Mark Vernon to discuss the relationship between spirituality, science, and meaning in the modern world. Mark explores how our conception of religion has narrowed to focus primarily on doctrines and morals rather than experiential dimensions, which is a relatively recent development in human history. Vernon describes how human spiritual intelligence evolved not merely as a survival mechanism but as a form of "niche exploration" that allowed humans to discover immaterial realities. He contrasts the dominant enlightenment epistemology of mastery and control with spiritual traditions that emphasize receptivity and participation. Throughout the conversation, Vernon weaves together insights from his background in physics, theology, philosophy, and psychotherapy to argue that reconnecting with our inner lives and recovering a sense of wonder might be essential for addressing our current meaning crisis. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Mark Vernon is a psychodynamic psychotherapist, philosopher, and author who previously served as an Anglican priest. With a background spanning physics, theology, and ancient Greek philosophy, Vernon has dedicated his career to exploring the intersection of spirituality, science, and human meaning. He hosts regular dialogues with scientist Rupert Sheldrake, writes extensively on philosophical and spiritual topics, and maintains an active presence through various media platforms including YouTube and Substack. Vernon's diverse intellectual journey reflects his ongoing exploration of how head and heart can connect to address fundamental questions of human existence. You can check out his books here. Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025 3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends. ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up! _____________________ Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices