Podcasts about pointers

As the Fifa World Cup finally kicks off in Mexico City, James Emmett and David Cushnan run the rule over the major business storylines, commercial implications and ever-present politics to keep eyes on in the opening phase of the tournament. Building on the first edition of Scroll Stoppers, our new series on digital content with Ten Toes, they consider who the breakout content stars in and around the tournament could be, from established football pundits to as-yet undiscovered creators. Plus, what role will Donald Trump have on the tournament now the action has started? And why Iran's unlikely and restricted presence in the US will be one of the major stories of the opening round of games --- Leaders Week London takes place on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th October, at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC. For more on who's speaking, who's attending and what to expect visit: leadersinsport.com/leadersweek

On this episode of the Hunting Connection Podcast, I'm joined by Matt Wright from On Point Hunting Adventures. Matt is a passionate hunter with a particular love for chasing sambar deer behind his team of pointers. We first crossed paths at the Mansfield Hunting Expo in 2024 and have kept in touch ever since. Although it took us a few attempts to line this episode up, with life continually getting in the way, we finally managed to sit down for a chat—and it was well worth the wait. We dive into Matt's hunting background, his passion for working dogs on sambar, and plenty of stories from the Victorian bush. This was a great conversation with a genuine hunter who lives and breathes the lifestyle. I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.

In this episode, we explore The Wind by Chee Hua Tan, a beautiful early intermediate piano piece featured in the Grade 1 Favorites Piece Pointers course inside Vibrant Music Teaching. Discover practical teaching ideas for developing expression, musical storytelling, improvisation, pedal work, phrasing, and technique with beginner pianists. Whether you teach exam students or not, this episode is packed with creative strategies you can apply to many pieces at the elementary level.Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.

Packing a guitar for a move is a delicate operation - far more so than boxing up a stack of plates. Moving experts offer tips on preparing a guitar for the road; if you value your instrument, you won't want to miss them.Info: https://www.truefriendsmovingcompany.com/nashville/corporate-employee-relocation/ True Friends Moving Company City: Nashville Address: 700 East Old Hickory Blvd Website: https://www.truefriendsmovingcompany.com/

 Patrick McManus on Harmony, History and Pugs [caption id="attachment_15774" align="alignleft" width="399"] Patrick McManus judging the Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty.[/caption] Host Laura Reeves sits down with pug breeder, AKC judge and artist Patrick McManus to explore the fascinating intersection of fine art, breed type and the living history of purebred dogs. The ultimate Renaissance man, McManus is known as a dedicated pug breeder and judge, as well as an incredible artist whose unique Cubist renderings of dogs are breathtaking. Purebred dogs serve as "living history," representing a specific place, people and time. As humans evolved and migrated across the globe, dogs followed and were selectively bred by people to perform specific services or to provide "pure exotic joy." Today, breeders and judges act as the curators of this ongoing historical record. For an artist and breeder like McManus, studying the history of fine arts and the history of dogs are "one and the same thing". Observing how dogs were historically depicted and bred helps artists and judges alike understand the "why" behind a breed's unique shape, ensuring they can accurately evaluate if every physical part of the dog is functioning in complete harmony. This evolution of purebreds is deeply intertwined with fine art, as historical art provides a continuous visual thread of canine development. The presence of dogs is documented everywhere from the ancient bas-reliefs of Welsh castles to the masterpieces of renowned painters. For example, Edgar Degas frequently featured Brussels Griffons—which belonged to fellow painter Mary Cassatt—in his pastels and paintings of horse races. Georges Seurat also famously incorporated dogs into his pointillist works. Sometimes, a breed's history is tied directly to other art forms, such as the Dandie Dinmont Terrier being named after a character in a novel. This visual history helps trace the lineage and geographic journey of ancient breeds. The ancient Lhasa Apso from Tibet, for instance, eventually influenced the development of the Pekingese in China. This lineage of "exotic" or brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds—which includes Pugs, Japanese Chins and Brussels Griffons—reflects generations of human selection. [caption id="attachment_15775" align="alignleft" width="495"] One of many of McManus' paintings and artworks.More topics from McManus:[/caption] From "Pug Boy" to Judge:Patrick recounts his early entry into the dog world, starting with a childhood fascination for Pointers and Setters before buying his first Pug at age 15 and earning the affectionate nickname "Pug Boy".The Artist's Eye in the Ring:Patrick explains how studying art and movement naturally translated to evaluating dogs. He discusses how the principles of Cubism and observing how pieces fit together help him assess whether a dog is moving in true harmony and balance.The Importance of Mentorship:Patrick shares his emotional gratitude for the icons of the dog show world, including "Mama" Charlotte Patterson, who took the time to mentor him when he was just a teenager starting with a pooper scooper.

(00:00) Felger, Mazz, and Murray start hour No. 2 by breaking down the Celtics' shooting, continuing their stance that the team shoots too many 3-pointers. (15:03) We debate if the Celtics understand that their playstyle is an issue in the playoffs. (24:54) It's time for a Lightning Round on an Agenda Free Friday.(39:30) We empty the phone lines to conclude hour No. 2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start the show by touching on the latest twist in the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini affair story.(11:21) We react to Jared Stillman questioning whether the public knows everything about Vrabel and Russini at this point.(22:48) The crew continues to question where this story will go and why Zo is in a difficult position.(36:06) We finish calls on everything from the first hour.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start the show tuned into Brad Stevens' press conference after the Celtics got bounced from the playoffs.(31:23) We react to Tracy McGrady's comments about Jaylen Brown being frustrated with the Celtics.(42:29) We finish the hour reacting to Brad Stevens' comments about needing more of a presence in the paint.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kayla Burton joins Chris Forsberg two days after the Celtics were eliminated by the 76ers in the first round to discuss what went wrong in the series. They discuss Joe Mazzulla's lineup decisions and other questionable choices. They address Jayson Tatum's injury and how big of a hit his absence was in Game 7. They also talk about Jaylen Brown sounding off on officials on Twitch less than 24 hours after the Celtics' loss.   0:00 - Reaction to Celtics' loss 48 hours removed from it 3:42 - Questionable Joe Mazzulla decisions in the series 8:34 - Celtics' 3-point woes 14:35 - Looking at Tatum's injury 18:45 - Jaylen Brown sounding off on officials WATCH every episode of the Celtics Talk podcast on YouTubeFollow NBC Sports Boston:NBCSportsBoston.comX @NBCScelticsFacebookInstagramTikTok Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast, shareholders Kevin Bland (Orange County) and Karen Tynan (Sacramento), who is chair of the firm's Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, discuss the unique aspects of Cal/OSHA discovery, which differs significantly from federal OSHA and civil litigation discovery processes. Karen and Kevin cover practical strategies for both the inspection phase and appeals process, including tips on document requests, witness demands, subpoenas, and depositions. The speakers review key practice points, such as requesting inspector training records, obtaining related case files for multi-employer or repeat citations, and understanding that California does not permit interrogatories or requests for admissions in OSHA proceedings.

self-preservation or Self Realisation? The Living Soul Book Webinar from Apr 2026. In this webinar we take a deep look at the 'bioligical gambler' that the identity self becomes in it acts of self-preservation, dopamine highs, the lows and most importantly that which is before and beyond all of this. A series of metaphors are used to share the message in quite a different way to usual to aid providing you with a new way to look, see and realise the deepest truth. Watch this on video here. 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:05 Theme for today: self-preservation Or Self-Realisation? 00:06:38 The identity self is always on a journey of small safe-preservation00:11:12 (Short meditation - Who am I without or before identity?)00:13:09 Past event question inquiry00:16:09 Neil - "A deeper name I've never heard"00:22:07 We can go deeper into the identity self preservation00:29:14 Feelings and emotions00:32:19 Inner knowing00:35:05 Cashing out00:36:12 (Short meditation - Are you the phenomena or are you the one who is aware of the phenomena?)00:44:02 End of meditation00:44:30 Julie - I am now aware what is aligned with me…00:52:12 Pointers to realisation00:53:10 The Book - 28th May Release00:56:14 Neil - Announcing change01:00:33 Julie - Changing dynamics01:02:15 Through awareness and silence the mistaken identity will be dissolved01:02:59 Outro For a free fourteen day trial of Philip's Self Realisation App: The Living Soul use this Smartlink here. Monthly Episodes, Next: 5 June 2026, released at 4pm latest but usually takes until about 5pm to find its way to the various outlets.    

Hello Interactors,It's been a while. Traveling for family, and a bit flooded by the relentless sneaker waves of unsavory world events — the kind that usually inspire me to write but lately threaten to pull me under.Spring in the northern hemisphere means Interplace turns to geographic information science and spatial analysis. How might we look at the complex unfolding of world events through this lens — and what happens when we push it further than emergence alone can carry it? That's what I attempt to explore here.PATTERNS PRECEDING PHYSICAL PLACESGeographic information science is a relatively recent field. It emerged from mid-20th-century cartography and land-use planning. Computer cartography and quantitative geography of the 1960s is often considered the first true digital Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It became a science (GIScience or GISc) in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Michael Goodchild questioned if there was a genuine scientific discipline lurking within the software.His answer was yes. He built an institutional home for that argument at the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis at the University of California, Santa Barbara, my alma mater. Goodchild was my senior advisor in 1989 as UCSB was becoming a generative intellectual hub in the field. UCSB's geography department continues to push the question of what space means analytically, not just how to map it. I'm personally invested in better understanding how GISc may be a natural partner for complexity science, a field I've been attracted to since I started researching and writing.This partnership isn't new. GISc provides a powerful framework for dissecting the spatial dimensions of complexity, where systems defy reductionist analysis and emerge through nonlinear interactions. In the early 2000s, geographer David O'Sullivan, and others, articulated this as the study of “the behaviour of macroscopic collections of many basic but interacting units endowed with the potential to evolve in time” emphasizing these characteristic elements of complexity science: self-organization, path dependence, and the irreducibility of wholes to their parts. Around the same time, sociologist John Urry (and others) extended this to global scales, portraying globalization as co-evolving systems marked by unpredictability, irreversibility, and positive feedback loops that amplify disorder within pockets of order.These parings are a good start, but computational biologist Michael Levin offers what can be seen as a genuinely unsettling upgrade. His recent work on the origin of cognitive and morphological patterns suggests the dominant appeal to emergence as an explanatory endpoint may itself be, in his words, a “mysterian” position — one that “does not facilitate further advances.” When a surprising pattern appears in a complex system, the emergentist says “that's just what happens” and catalogs it.But Levin proposes these patterns are not random facts to be noted and admired. They are part of an ordered, non-physical space that physical systems, when configured the right way, ingress into. Ingression is a term Levin borrows from mathematician Alfred North Whitehead as a potential that timeless abstract objects possess to become actual concrete experiences. “Red” only becomes red when its potential is realized. These ‘ordered spaces' of potential are portals into what Levin calls a Platonic Space. Plato argued that the objects we encounter in the world are imperfect instances of perfect, eternal Forms that exist independently of any physical thing. The most primitive form being the triangle. Levin's argument is the triangle participates in a kind of Triangleness; it realizes it's potential to exist.Nature keeps arriving at triangles independently, across wildly different substrates, as if drawn by the same attractor. The triangle is the only polygon that is inherently rigid: push on any corner and the shape holds, which is why trusses, bridges, and bones all rely on triangular geometry for structural strength. Radiolarians, single-celled ocean organisms with no brain and no blueprint, construct intricate skeletal lattices of triangulated geometry at microscopic scales.In Levin's terms, nature is ingressing Triangleness — repeatedly, across billions of years and countless lineages — because the Form has properties that reward any physical system stable enough to express it. The truth that a triangle's angles sum to exactly 180 degrees owed nothing to the first organism that built one.Physical systems are, in this sense, less like containers and more like pointers — a term borrowed from computer science. Pointers are variables that hold the addresses that reference more information. Levin's framework requires a specific kind of pointer: not a pointer to stored data, which retrieves a static value, but a pointer to a subroutine that calls up a routine that executes complex actions and outputs beyond the pointer itself. The pointer is small, while the executed routine may be vast and behave unpredictably.Think of a street address. The address itself contains nothing — it is a short string of numbers and words that fits on an envelope — but hand it to the right system and it retrieves a house, a history, a neighborhood, everything that has ever happened inside those walls. This is Levin's claim about physical structures. A genome, a city, an institution doesn't contain its pattern so much as it points at one — and when the pointer is well-formed, you get considerably more out than you put in.What does this mean for GISc? It means that spatial configurations — cities, borders, trade corridors, migration routes — are not merely sites where local interactions produce global outcomes. They are interfaces into a latent pattern space. When a hub city emerges, when a colonial border persists for centuries past the empire that drew it, when a pandemic spreads exactly along the topology of air travel, we are not only witnessing the consequential mechanical emergence of patterns derived from local rules. We are watching physical structures act as pointers that summon — ingress — specific patterns of collective behavior, whose full complexity exceeds what was put in. Levin's core observation about biological morphogenesis translates here with uncomfortable precision.Consider one of his more unsettling tadpole experiments. The creation of its normal bulging eyes are suppressed (by microscopically manipulating cellular ‘software') and a replacement eye is instead induced — ingressed — on the tail. The optic nerve growing from that tail-eye doesn't connect to the brain — it terminates somewhere around the spinal cord. By any conventional account, the animal should be blind. It isn't. The tadpoles can still see and perform well in visual tasks. Somehow, the system routes around its own abnormal wiring to recover function. The pattern being pointed to — sight — was never housed in the eye itself, or in the specific neural pathway, or in any single component. The eye on the tail is a wildly improbable pointer, and yet it retrieves something far richer than its own structure contains. You get considerably more out than you put in.Some GISc tools — like agent-based models or network analysis — already detect this excess in a geography context. A single infected traveler tips a system toward chaos not because of arithmetic addition of local interactions described in the GISc analysis, but because that traveler's position in a network acts as an interface to a pattern of contagion whose scope was latent in the structure all along. The “geographic advantage” O'Sullivan, and crew, describes — GISc's relationship to multi-scalar processes and human-environment couplings — is, in Levin's vocabulary, a sensitivity to how physical arrangements act as pointers into a rich space of possible collective behaviors.This reframes world events not as linear narratives but as navigations of morphospace — the full landscape of forms a system could take, where some configurations are reachable and others are not, and where attractors pull trajectories toward specific patterns regardless of starting conditions.What pattern are current geopolitical configurations pointing toward? What is being ingressed by the particular architecture of today's global institutions, communication networks, and urban densities? While GIScience sharpens our sight on outcomes, it leaves uncharted the deeper question of what is the shape of the latent space these material forms slip into.BORDERS STORE WHAT BODIES KNOWLevin's work suggests at every scale of organization, we are dealing not with mechanical aggregation but with collective intelligence. To understand what he means by that, it helps to borrow an image from Einstein.Because nothing travels faster than light, any event you could possibly influence — or that could possibly influence you — is bounded by how far light could travel in the available time. Draw that boundary in spacetime and it forms a cone. Everything inside it is causally reachable, everything outside it is not. Levin borrows this image to describe the reach of any cognitive agent. A single cell's light cone is tiny — it can only sense and respond within its immediate chemical neighborhood, over milliseconds. A brain's light cone is vastly larger — it can model consequences years out and coordinate behavior across great distances. The cone is simply a measure of how far an agent's agency actually extends. And just as the body is a nested hierarchy of such agents — molecular networks, cells, tissues, organs — each operating within its own cone, pursuing goals whose scale its parts cannot perceive, so too is human society.A city is not simply a dense clustering of individuals whose local interactions produce urban dynamics. It is, in Levin's sense, a collective intelligence with a cognitive light cone that vastly exceeds that of any constituent. It pursues goals (economic growth, defense, habitability) across spatial and temporal horizons no individual cell — or individual person — can access. Institutions, legal codes, infrastructure, and cultural norms function as bioelectric memory — rewritable pattern memories that store the target morphology of the social body and guide error-correction toward it. Colonial borders, or the Great Wall of China, persist not merely through inertia but because they function like historic bioelectric setpoints. That is, they encode a spatial pattern that downstream processes continuously re-instantiate, even after the circumstances that produced them have dissolved.Levin's planarian flatworm experiments demonstrate this in biology. When bioelectric circuits are disrupted, the worm grows heads of other species — without any change to its genome. The pattern being expressed was latent in the space of possible forms, and a change in the interface (the bioelectric circuit) changed which pattern was ingressed. Geopolitical history offers analogies. How much of what we call a nation-state's “character” is not in its people but in the pattern stored in its institutional circuitry? When those circuits are disrupted — by revolution, invasion, or collapse — new patterns rush in from the adjacent possible, sometimes from regions of the latent space that are recognizable, sometimes shockingly novel.Pandemics also embody this scalar nesting. Viral replication is a molecular-scale process; its spread is topologically determined by the network of global mobility; its political consequences are mediated by institutional pattern memories about sovereignty, solidarity, and resource allocation. The COVID-19 pandemic did not merely “emerge” — it ingressed a set of patterns whose latency was already encoded in the physical architecture of 21st-century globalization. Competitive resource hoarding and cooperative vaccine-sharing were not just policy choices but different attractors in a landscape of a kind of “social morphospace”, pulling collective behavior toward different setpoints.GISc tools (like spatial game theory and network percolation models) map the surface of these landscapes. But Levin's framework asks us to go further. He wants us to not just map the attractors, but to ask what structured space those attractors are features of, and whether that space can be systematically explored.The scalar interplay extends outward. Local ethnic tensions, mapped via GIS hot-spot analysis, interact with what social theorist Zygmunt Bauman might term “global fluids” — arms, money, diasporas — to produce cascades that reflect not random chaos but path-dependent trajectories through a space of historical patterns. History's “nightmare on the brain of the living” becomes, in Levin's terms, a pattern-memory etched into the social substrate. Territorial borders, attempted genocide, human displacement are held as bioelectric setpoints, where trauma lingers as a morphogenetic field, quietly organizing the tissue of the present long after the original wound.MAPPING WHAT MATTER MERELY MISSESComplexity science, via GISc, forecasts world events as probabilistic landscapes rather than deterministic paths. Urry describes global systems as “adapting and co-evolving,” with attractors drawing trajectories amid chaos. GISc simulates this through fitness landscapes like agents navigate peaks and valleys of viability, local adaptations generating global patterns like economic booms or institutional collapses.Levin's framework intensifies this picture in two ways. First, it insists that the attractors are not randomly distributed. The latent space of possible social patterns — like the latent space of morphogenetic outcomes — has structure. Evolution, as Levin argues, progresses rapidly precisely because the space has “a relatively smooth character” in which “past interactions with it carry non-trivial information about the adjacent possible.” The same may be true of cultural and institutional evolution. The reason certain forms of governance, urbanism, or economic organization recur across independent civilizations is not purely because of convergent environmental pressures, but because they represent attractors in a structured space of collective intelligence patterns that sufficiently complex social interfaces tend to ingress.Second, and more provocatively, Levin's framework suggests that we do not simply make the social forms we inhabit. We invite patterns to temporarily inhabit our collective embodiments. To see why, consider one of his most uncontroversial and disarming experiments. Levin's lab studied simple sorting algorithms — the kind computer science students have used for decades. These are short deterministic procedures that take a jumbled list of numbers and rearrange them into sequential order. Nothing mysterious here but made for many an interview question at Microsoft!When Levin's team visualized the algorithm's progress as a movement through an abstract sorting space, unexpected behaviors emerged that nobody had noticed in all those decades of use. When the algorithm encountered a number that refused to move — a piece of broken data blocking its path — it didn't simply halt. It temporarily de-sorted the rest of the array, moved things around the obstruction, and then recovered its progress. It was exhibiting something resembling delayed gratification — the capacity to temporarily move away from a goal in order to reach it more completely later. Like a soccer player kicking the ball backwards to advance it forward.This ability was not written into the algorithm. Nobody put it there. Then, when the team ran a distributed version where each number ran its own variant of the algorithm, numbers sharing the same variant spontaneously clustered together — a kind of social behavior, emerging without a single line of code instructing any number to notice or prefer its own kind. The algorithm was doing something it was never designed to do, and had been doing it, unobserved, for decades.Now, imagine a democracy is not constructed from scratch by rational agents but an interface that, when configured appropriately, ingresses a pattern of distributed decision-making whose properties exceed what any designer or participant imagined or specified. Cities, constitutions, and international institutions become pointers. The patterns they summon may even surprise their architects — and may have been quietly surprising them and us all along.This has immediate consequences for how GISc could approach attempts at predicting futures. For example, prospective spatial modeling — Markov chains, scenario planning — maps the probability surface of possible trajectories. But a Levin-inflected GISc would ask this: what new pointers are being constructed right now, and what regions of the latent pattern space are they configured to access?The answers could become bewildering in a world of AI-mediated governance, hybrid human-machine urban systems, and the synthetic biological constructions Levin's team pursues. These are vehicles of exploration into regions of Platonic space we have not navigated before. “We are now fishing in regions of Platonic space we have never explored before,” he writes — with implications not only practical (”what will it do to us”) but ethical (”how do we fulfill the opportunities and duties of an ethical synthbiosis with beings who are not quite like us”).For GISc, this need not be merely philosophical. Spatial planning and governance literally configure the physical interfaces through which collective intelligence patterns are ingressed. Urban density fosters certain attractors of solidarity and innovation while sprawl ingresses different ones. Green civic infrastructure designed to buffer floods mechanically also reconfigures the relationship between human settlement and ecological pattern space which invites a whole different class of emergent resilience. The question is no longer only “what will happen here, probabilistically” but “what are we building a pointer toward?”Fatalists may see the latent space as already barring our options. Pessimists will amplify the risks of novel pointers we cannot control. Realists might attempt to quantify via more Monte Carlo simulations. And techo-optimists may try to engineer and configure interfaces to access and profit from whatever attractors emerge. But what I like most of all about Levin's framework is that it offers something more nuanced than any of these: structured humility. We do not know the full topology of the space we are pointing into. Every new city, every new institution, every new technological architecture is, in some sense, a bioengineering experiment — and like Levin's Xenobots and Anthrobots, it may manifest competencies and patterns nobody designed or predicted.If Levin's intuition is correct, we are but temporary self-organizing forms that hold together for a time, perform actions that exceed their physical composition, and then yield to the impermanence built into any pointer's relationship with the patterns it accesses. Humility does feel like the appropriate response. But more importantly, the recognition that mapping the structure of the space we are ingressing into is, at this moment, among the most important things we could do.The information embedded in Geographic Information Science has the potential to demystify fatalism, especially when death's certainty yields to spatial agency. Levin reminds us that information, at its Latin root, means to give form — to in-form. That is what geographic information has always done, long before it became a science. It did not merely transmit data, but impose structure on space, render the implicit geometry of human existence legible and actionable. Every map is an act of in-forming. The world is no doomsday script, but a co-evolving field — its attractors mappable, its interfaces legible, its vectors steerable — if we aim with care, with intent, and with the humility to know what we summon may exceed what we design.REFERENCESLevin, M. (2025). Ingressing minds: Causal patterns beyond genetics and environment in natural, synthetic, and hybrid embodiments. PsyArXiv. O'Sullivan, D., Manson, S. M., Messina, J. P., & Crawford, T. W. (2006). Space, place, and complexity science. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space.Urry, J. (2003). Global complexity. Polity Press. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit interplace.io

Some things only exist to point us to something else.

POINTERS:  Rider education is a necessity throughout the lifespan of any motorcyclist. That's not hyperbole, and it's also the first thing you'll hear Mark say in this episode. He believes it deeply, and by the time you're done here, you will too. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

Off The Ball's Rachel Sheehan was in Croke Park for the announcement of Batchelors as the Official Beans Partner of the GAA and Gaelic Players Association. She spoke with Aishling Sheridan, Ruairi Kinsella, Niamh Rockett & Adrian Mullen.

The regular season is mercifully drawing to a close for the tanking Grizzlies, but in the last week they have made some headlines despite stacking losses. Rayan Rupert recorded a historic triple double, and also the Grizzlies set a new franchise record and tied the all-time NBA record for made 3-pointers in a game.This episode discusses those feats, plus the recent high impact minutes of Cedric Coward, and also examines how the NBA's proposed anti-tanking reforms will make a big impact on the Grizzlies next season.Join the listener slack at Patreon.com/FastbreakBreakfastPlease subscribe to this podcast on Youtube!Use promo code FBBF and get bonus cash at Underdog Fantasy: play.underdogfantasy.com/p-fastbreak-breakfastCheck out the NBA and Grizzlies merchandise at teepublic.com/stores/fastbreak-breakfastGet $20 off your first purchase at SeatGeek with promo code: FASTBREAKBREAK

This is the second of a series of posts about the literary alchemy of J. K. Rowling, a discussion jumpstarted by a post by ‘Iris' at a Strike fan website, an article that championed a Jungian perspective on this subject. The first post in this series, Literary Alchemy – A Primer for Those Interested in J. K. Rowling's Artistry, both explained what the ‘Iris' post asserted and reviewed much of the critical literature that the brevity of the S&E Files article prevented her from discussing. See that post for links to this material. The conversation between Nick Jeffery and John Granger above was recorded in the same spirit as the first post was written, namely, simultaneously a welcome to Strike fans and Rowling readers who have learned about literary alchemy only recently and an introduction to the work of the last twenty five years on this subject. Upcoming posts in the series will include a counter-point discussion in the debate Rowling is fostering about whether a psychological or spiritual perspective is better for understanding art and life and a review of the alchemical signatures that crowd Rowling-Galbraith's Hallmarked Man.This post is largely links to sources for points Nick and John discuss in their naturally enthusiastic and contrarian conversation, question by question. Enjoy!1. Welcome to the Conversation! (Nick) I just sent out an article about literary alchemy, John, in response to an article written by ‘Iris' and posted on the Strike-Ellacott Files website, a piece titled ‘What is Literary Alchemy? Spotting symbols that map Strike and Robin's growth.' What advice or guidance would you give to, say, Cormoran Strike readers who are brand new to the subject? * There are three types of alchemy and it is important to understand the common ground they share and the differences between them;* The first type is alchemy proper, which is to say ‘metallurgical alchemy,' the sacred science of purifying metals and the adept's soul via the creation of a Philosopher's Stone that will transform lead to gold and exude an elixir of life, the drinking of which will bestow immortality;* The second and third types of alchemy derive from interpretations of metallurgical alchemy's aims and the symbolic texts detailing the work in the hermetic laboratory;* Literary alchemy is the use of metallurgical alchemy's language, colors, sequences, and symbols in plays, poetry, and story to foster an edifying and transformative experience in the artist's theater or reading audience;* Psychological alchemy is Carl Jung's use of metallurgical alchemy's texts during and after WWII to illustrate his ideas of the integration of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the human mind;* Metallurgical alchemy was practiced in China, the Levant, India, and Europe within the revealed religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity until its degeneration in the late Medieval period and eventual evolution into the strictly materialist chemistry we know today;* Literary alchemy has been a continuous stream in literature from Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and the Metaphysical poets through to Dickens, Yeats, the Inklings, Joyce, Nabokov, and J. K. Rowling;* The academic study of “alchemy in literature” was the province of Baconian and allegorical readings of Shakespeare (cf., Beryl Pogson, Peter Dawkins, Martin Lings) until the late 20th Century and the advent of academic specialists in ‘Hermetic Studies,' e.g., Stanton Linden, Lyndy Abraham, and Charles Nicholl (cf., Cauda Pavonis: A Journal of Hermetic Studies, 1982-2000).* Jung and his followers used their psychological interpretations of metallurgical alchemy as allegories of the soul to interpret mythology (cf., Erich Neumann, Marie-Louise Von Franz, Robert Johnson);* Jungian analysis of story using Jung's ideas of subconscious archetypes within a collective unconscious was popularized by Joseph Campbell in his guides to Joyce's Ulysses and his more well known works on mythology (e.g., The Hero With a Thousand Faces);* ‘Isis' in her S&E Files article, ‘What is Literary Alchemy?,' suggests that Rowling-Galbraith is writing an allegory of soul transformation in the Cormoran Strike series using metallurgical alchemy's symbols and sequences as understood by Carl Jung and his disciples rather than as used by English writers since the 13th Century;* It's a challenging theory, the depth of which is hard to grasp without an appreciation of the types of alchemy, what they have in common, and their differences in approach and subject matter.2. The Lake: (John) What I found most fascinating in your post, Nick, was your best guesses about where Rowling would have learned about literary alchemy. She claimed in 1998 that she'd read a lot of alchemical texts from which she set the “magical parameters” of the Hogwarts Saga; if you had only three chances to name one of those books, what would you choose? * Charles Nicholl's The Chemical Theatre;* Titus Burckhardt's Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul (or Mirror of the Intellect: Essays on Traditional Acience and Sacred Art);* Lyndy Abraham Summerhaze's Marvell and Alchemy or her Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery;* Martin Lings' The Secret of Shakespeare3. Carl Jung, Alchemy: (Nick) I see you're chafing at the bit, John, with book titles I haven't mentioned so let me name-drop the author not on my list because, as you pointed out, he wasn't really a literary alchemist so much as a psychologist who discussed alchemy as a means of illustrating his own ideas about the ‘Great Work.' You've written, though, that literary alchemy as with metallurgical alchemy is a subset of soul-allegories or Psychomachia. Don't Jung's ideas jibe with that? * Yes and no!* Jung's ideas of the soul and archetypes (or archetypal forms) are based on late 19th Century Volkischer German ideas, which is to say, modern and materialist (some say ‘vitalist') premises. His hostility to Christianity and Judaism was grounded in his acceptance of Darwinian evolution and derived philosophically from Nietzsche (see Richard Noll's The Jung Cult and The Aryan Christ).* He conflates the spiritual with the psychological, consequently, and embraces integrated individual psychological health as the telos of human existence, none of which is consistent with traditional metallurgical or literary alchemy (see Titus Burckhardt's Mirror of the Intellect, Philip Sherrard's ‘An Introduction to the Religious Thought of C. G. Jung,' and Harry Oldmeadow's ‘C.G. Jung & Mircea Eliade: ‘Priests without Surplices'? Reflections on the Place of Myth, Religion and Science in Their Work.'* Psychological alchemy, insomuch as it is ‘Jungian,' is well removed from the other two types of alchemy. Which is not to say that Rowling is not a Jungian and hence a Jungian psychological alchemist.4. Back into the Lake: (John) You covered in your article, though, Nick, the several reasons to think it possible, even probable that the evidence from Rowling's life suggests she is using Jungian ideas in her literary alchemy. Iris over at S&E Files obviously thinks that is the case. What are the for and against ideas with respect to Rowling being a Jungian? There's Plenty of Evidence That Rowling IS a Jungian Writer:John Granger's discussion in Troubled Blood: A Jungian Reading* Robin's name-dropping Jung in conversation about astrology;* The Jungian notes sounded throughout Strike 5: Archetypes, Synchronicity, Persona;* The connection between Jung's illustrated ‘New Book' and Talbot's ‘True Book;' and* Pointers to Cupid-Psyche myth as understood by Jungians (see below)The Advent of Prudence Dunleavy, Jungian Psychologist, in Ink Black Heart* Hard to imagine a more sympathetic portrait of a Jungian than half-sister Prudence!* She clearly was the genius behind the Rokeby reconciliation in Hallmarked ManThe Cupid and Psyche myth underpinning the Strike series* A Mythological Key to Cormoran Strike? The Myth of Eros, Psyche, and Venus (note the discussion here of the Jungian understanding of this specific myth)* Ink Black Heart: Strike as Zeus to Robin's Leda and as Cupid to Mads' Psyche* ‘Rowling Points to Myth of Cupid and Psyche in order to Console Strike Fans Disappointed with Hallmarked Man‘* The Hallmarked Man‘s Mythological Template (Nick Jeffery, John Granger)Anything Else? Oh, yeah —* Rowling studied mythology in her ‘Classical Studies' program at UExeter and almost certainly encountered Jungian interpretation of myths there (e.g. the work of Neumann, Johnson, Campbell).* Rowling told Val McDermid if she had not become a successful writer she would have sought training and certification as a psychologist. * Her work reflects a broad reading in psychology (cf., Louise Freeman Davis' ‘J. K. Rowling and the Phantoms in the Brain,' ‘Cormoran Strike and the Itch that Cannot Be Scratched') and it is likely that she has read her fair share of Jung and Jungian authors during her studies.* Rowling benefited from psychological therapy and exercises herself when suffering from depression, the experience of and recovery from which she depicted in story via the Azkaban Dementors and Robin Ellacott's treatment for PTSD in Lethal White.And There is Plenty of Evidence That Rowling Is NOT a Jungian Writer:* Rowling has never been asked or revealed how she learned about literary alchemy; this includes, of course, any reference to Carl Jung, whose work was not focused on literary alchemy per se but a psychological interpretation or explanation of metallurgical alchemy's symbolism.* All that Rowling has revealed about her experiences as a patient seeking help with depression are about Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which treatment modality owes nothing to Jung or to Jung's students.* It is possible that Rowling encountered esoteric metallurgical alchemy, the precursor to literary alchemy, in her study of astrology, the complementary traditional sacred science to alchemy, a skill-set with which we know she was accomplished. That route to alchemy would have led her to Perennialist interpretations of alchemy, most notably Titus Burckhardt‘s Alchemy, Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul; the paperback cover of the Penguin Metaphysical Library edition of that book (1974) features an androgynous giant named REBIS standing on a dragon and a winged golden sphere (i.e., Rubeus, Norbert, Snitch).* As mentioned above, it is more likely that she encountered literary alchemy in her study of Shakespeare. The year she was studying for her A Levels, she traveled to see a production of King Lear which has prompted the idea that it was on her list of texts to prepare for her tests. The most challenging interpretation of Lear then in print was Charles Nicholl's The Chemical Theatre (1980), a book that explains almost every scene in perhaps Shakespeare's greatest tragedy as a parallel step in the Great Work of alchemy. If the budding astrologer was fascinated by this allegorical interpretation of the Bard, the most popular work in print at that time that championed reading Shakespeare as the author of soul allegories was Perennialist Martin Lings‘ The Secret of Shakespeare (1984).* Literary Alchemy is a tool set employed not only by Shakespeare but by a host of Rowling favorite authors to include Dickens, Nabokov, Lewis, and Tolkien. This view of alchemy, that is, as an allegorical depiction of the soul's transformation that affects that same cathartic experience in its theater or reading audiences, is the one found in Rowling's work, which is well removed from psychological alchemy, an analytic art which, though it springs from metallurgical alchemical texts, does not aim at the transformation at work in the sacred art or the science of traditional alchemy. * Rowling's use of chiastic structures and psychomachian allegory, tools that complement literary alchemy in spiritual perspective and aim, make a Jungian rather than a literary and Perennialist view of alchemy seem unlikely.* Alchemy: Jung, Burckhardt, or Maclean? John Granger, April 2007* Rowling's Soul Triptych Psychomachia: Is It From Shakespeare's ‘Macbeth'? John Granger, September 20245. The Debate at King's Cross: (Nick) So, John, you've mentioned Jung quite a few times in your posts about the Mythological framework of the Strike series and even written about the Jungian ideas of animus and anima with respect to Cormoran and Robin's relationship. You seem fairly confident, though, that Rowling is writing from the traditional esoteric ideas of alchemy a la Shakespeare rather than Jung's. Why is that? * Everything you just said!* As noted, Jung's ideas are modern and psychological while the stream of literary alchemy in English Literature is almost exclusively more Medieval and pointedly spiritual;* The Most Notable Exception: Angela Carter's The Passion of the New Eve (1977), that reads like a Jungian ‘Red Book' slide-show (think Bombyx Mori) or a transgender Odyssey written for feminists. Rowling has never mentioned her to my knowledge but it would be surprising if she hadn't read this book more than once. What Alana Bolton Cooke wrote about Carter's Passion could be said about Rowling's literary alchemy if she is a Jungian writer (or about Galbraith's fictional Elizabeth Tassel?):Angela Carter in The Passion of New Eve (1977) uses the exoteric phases of alchemy and Carl G. Jung's theory of esoteric alchemy as a means of demonstrating allegorically the idea ofrebirth and renewal. The purpose of this allegorical method is to produce an 'alchemical' change of thought in the reader about sexuality and gender associated with women's repression and liberation. In the novel Carter develops themes and ideas explored in her essay, The Sadeian Woman: An Exercise in Cultural History (1979), an analysis of the Marquis de Sade's pornography and its affect on the roles of men and women in society. The clash of opposites involved in combining alchemical symbolism, feminism and pornography within the fiction can be seen as representative of the state of chaos present in alchemy before the beginning of change. The circular narrative and alchemical structure of the fiction creates a literary version of the alchemical process as it brings together opposites involved in chaos, represented by events and characterisation that the protagonist, Evelyn/Eve, experiences, until, in the manner of alchemy, harmony is reached. The harmony created represents women's empowerment. Carter uses Evelyn's individuation process to encourage growth within the reader by altering patterns of thought to bring about change through self-confrontation and self-knowledge. The structure of Carter's fiction, thus, corresponds to the process of esoteric alchemy contained within the structure, imagery and symbolism of exoteric alchemy. The fiction is designed to stimulate the unconscious of the reader and make conscious hitherto unknown and repressed thoughts about gender and sexuality to bring about change in the lives of men and women.* I think what Rowling said she was trying to do with Harry Potter's meeting with Dumbledore at the dream-like King's Cross strongly suggests she is aware of the two approaches and wants readers to discuss them – but that she has made her own choice, however conflicted she may be.* In her 2008 interview with Adeel Amini, Rowling said that her hope for Harry's post-mortem conversation with Dumbledore at King's Cross was to stimulate “a debate” among readers about whether it was a psychological moment, that is, a fantasy in which Harry understands what he's been missing all along, or a spiritual event in which he is actually speaking with the late Headmaster:Enough Potter-plot, I think. Moving on to a slightly more contentious issue, Rowling has categorically said that she does believe in a higher power, a statement reinforced by her childhood church-going (“Till I was 17,” she clarifies). It must be difficult to reconcile her religious beliefs with those that denounce Harry Potter as anti-Christian, I wonder aloud. Rowling's expression does not change a fraction. “There was a Christian commentator who said, which I thought was very interesting, that Harry Potter had been the Christian church's biggest missed opportunity. And I thought, there's someone who actually has their eyes open.“I think he said it before the publication of the seventh book, and with the publication of the seventh book I think that clarified a lot of people's view on where I was standing. But I should emphasise that I am not pushing a specifically Christian agenda, and indeed till the very last moment in book seven, one can interpret what happens to Harry after he presents himself with death as him going into an unconscious state in which his subconscious reveals to him what he already knew.” I hum in faux-comprehension of what she's referring to; luckily my clued-in companion is nodding wildly. Proceed. “Any re-reading of Chapter 35 will show you that there's nothing that the Dumbledore he sees tells him that he couldn't have guessed for himself or already realised, and of course there's a key piece of information that Dumbledore doesn't articulate that Harry has realised. So you can deliberately interpret it that way, or you can say that he did go into a state of limbo beyond which there was another life, and that idea was expressed repeatedly, and most explicitly at the end of book five, Order of the Phoenix, where Harry understands that there is an ‘on', that you do go on. “I wanted there to be a debate there, so of my three main characters - when they come into the room which examines death at the Ministry of Magic - Hermione, the ultimate sceptic and a hyperrational person, hears nothing behind the veil and is scared of it. Ron is just uneasy; Ron is someone who does not grapple with anything deeper than beer, if he can avoid it. Harry's drawn to it, and therein lies Harry's slightly reckless, almost morbid streak, because Harry does have a hint of that dangerous adolescent trait which is the attraction to death.” Heavy. Obviously with this ambiguity, you do get a fair degree of misinterpretation as well; there is a certain section that does dislike Harry Potter intensely. “Oh, vehemently,” says Rowling, before muttering under her breath “…and they send death threats.”* I think that “debate” she's trying to foster is between the psychological, call it ‘Jungian' “just inside your head” subconscious perspective, and the authentically spiritual view of her work (well, of art and human existence, too, of course). And that this debate is one she has had for most of her life. Check out her comments about the “greatest missed opportunity” and explain to me how that doesn't line up with her preferring the spiritual, albeit “not explicitly Christian,” to the psychological and humanist. 7. Jungian Readings of Rowling's Work: (Nick) John, you're familiar with what has been written by Potter Pundits because of your PhD critical literature surveys; what are the better ones about Rowling and Jungian psychology and what do they emphasize? Here are seven off the top of my head (and Thesis ‘Works Cited' drafts):* Grynbaum, G.A. (2000). The Secrets of Harry Potter. The San Francisco Jung Institute Library Journal: Reviews From a Jungian Perspective of Books, Films and Culture, [online] 19 (4) pp. 17-48* Patrick, Christopher and Sarah (2007), ‘Exploring the Dark Side: Harry Potter and the Psychology of Evil,' in Mulholland (ed.), The Psychology of Harry Potter, BenBella Books, pp 221-232* Gerhold, C. (2011). The Hero's Journey Through Adolescence: A Jungian Archetypal Analysis of “Harry Potter.” PsyD. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. * Rectenwald, Bob (2019). ‘Carl Jung's Impact on the Work of J. K. Rowling' * Skipper, Alicia and Kate Fulton (2021) ‘Out from the Shadows into the Light: Persona and Shadow in Harry Potter‘ in Anne Mamary (ed.) The Alchemical Harry Potter: Essays on Transfiguration in J. K. Rowling's Novels, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2021, pp 79-96* The Unfolding Journey, Jung's Shadow Self in Harry Potter: Confronting the Darkness Within (YouTube video)* My own Troubled Blood: A Jungian ReadingBob Rectenwald's piece is the best of the six I didn't write but it shares the several faults all the Jungian pieces make:* the first failing of even the best Jungian readers is the assumption that Rowling is a Jungian, which is an open question;* the next is that Jung's ideas (and Joseph Campbell's) are indisputably true; and* the last is, when alchemy is mentioned, the critics do not clarify either the commonalities of or the differences between literary alchemy, psychological alchemy, and Jungian analytic psychology. * Note, though, that Rowling, while aware of such Jungian tropes as the Hero's Journey, tweeks it shamelessly, adding a symbol of Christ and resurrection scene in every Potter story (cf., How Harry Cast His Spell, ‘The Harry's Journey,' pp 21-28).* Read her brief PotterMore piece on alchemy and note that it is written in such a way that it can be read as confirmation of either a psychological or spiritual perspective on alchemy and art:One interpretation of the ‘instructions' left by the alchemists is that they are symbolic of a spiritual journey, leading the alchemist from ignorance (base metal) to enlightenment (gold). There seems to have been a mystical element to the work the alchemist was engaged upon, which set it apart from chemistry (of which it was undoubtedly both an offshoot and forerunner).This “original writing” by Rowling, especially the words “spiritual” and “mystical,” suggests that she is a Perennialist rather than a Jungian, at least with respect to her understanding of alchemy. But the debate is still possible with Jungians who read those words as cyphers for the subsconscious contact they hold we have with archetypes.8. Back to the Alchemy: (John) I think the real question of whether Rowling's literary alchemy is predominantly literary and spiritual or psychological in orientation comes down to the postmodern confusion about the immaterial aspects of the human person, which is to say, the soul (or mind, psyche) and the spirit. Rowling's recent work may seem prosaic or secular to a casual reader who compares it to the relatively otherworldly and “obviously” symbolic Potter books, but she loads each Strike book with Shakespearean romance of soul and spirit, i.e., alchemical dramas, and hermetic tropes. I'm writing a piece now about the lions, dogs, incest, and the red man and white woman in Hallmarked Man, each of which are touchstones of alchemy. I think, though, that your work with Rowling's favorite books and her epigraph sources, Nick, point to a strong spiritual rather than psychological foundation in Rowling's work —* Louisa May Alcott, Little Women* Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle* The Victorian Women Poets in Running Grave* Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh* Robert Browning, The Ring and the Book* The Jungian love of the I Ching, Running Grave's epigraph source9. Jung in Running Grave: (Nick) Rowling's favorite writers, from Shakespeare and Nabokov to C. S. Lewis and Victorian Women poets, all clearly believe in a world-transcending spiritual realm. Given the quantity of the Jungian scholarship in Rowling Studies that Iris referred to and you've mentioned, it's curious -- if Rowling is aware of it and is resistant to it -- that she doesn't push back against it explicitly in her work. Can you think of a character that seems something like Jung in the books, someone as bad as Prudence Dunleavey is good? I can think of three:* United Humanitarian Church's guru Jonathan Wace in Running Grave: his “psychologizing of religion,” the comparative religion avenue to denial of any true faith, the psychological critical analysis of a patient using mythological tropes (”Artemis”), the cult leader, and the abuser of women and children -- he's a ringer for Jung! * Paul Satchwell, one-eyed serpent with a one-track mind, in Leamington Spa, a true Jungian artist working psycho-sexual motifs graphically on canvas:Naked figures twisted and cavorted in scenes from Greek mythology. Persephone struggled in the arms of Hades as he carried her down into the underworld; Andromeda strained against chains binding her to rock as a dragonish creature rose from the waves to devour her; Leda lay supine in bulrushes as Zeus, in the form of a swan, impregnated her.Two lines of Joni Mitchell floated back to Robin as she looked at the paintings: “When I first saw your gallery, I liked the ones of ladies…”Except that Robin wasn't sure she liked the paintings. The female figures were all black-haired, olive-skinned, heavy-breasted and partially or entirely naked. The paintings were accomplished, but Robin found them slightly lascivious. Each of the women wore a similar expression of vacant abandon, and Satchwell seemed to have a definite preference for those myths that featured bondage, rape or abduction. (Troubled Blood, 542)* And then there are the Masons, kind of an old school Jungian cult in Hallmarked Man. Like the UHC and “harmless” fraternal and charitable group with Christian touches but which doesn't change a man or human nature per Hardacre (and which harbors the rich and powerful like Lord Branfoot). * Coupled with Prudence, the Front of Jungian Beliefs, we get the front and back of Jung in Rowling's work, a characteristic touch of Rowling nuance as she did with Islam in Hallmarked Man.10. Conclusion: (John) I'm obviously not a Jung fan and I don't think Rowling is writing Jungian psychomachia in alchemical symbols a la Angela Carter, but I see how people would come to a contrary conclusion; Rowling's ‘spiritual not religious' public statements and political positions with respect to Same Sex Attraction and abortion line up much more easily with New Age and Jungian types than with any kind of orthodox Christianity. The great thing about essays like Isis' at S&E Files is that it brings more people into the conversation of what literary alchemy is and the various approaches to it. You've been reading about literary alchemy for several years now, Nick; what do you think the person whose first encounter with the subject was the S&E Files article do to hone their alchemy detection skills? * “Read your books and online talks, John!”* How Metallurgical Alchemy Worked and How it Became Literary Alchemy (from Deathly Hallows Lectures, Chapter 1):Alchemy, in a nutshell, was the science for the perfection or sanctification of the alchemist's soul. This heroic venture I need to say straight off is all but impossible today because the way we look at reality, at ‘things' per se makes the Great Work itself almost an absurdity. Unlike the medieval alchemists, we moderns and postmoderns see things with a clear subject/object distinction, that is, we believe that you and I and that table are entirely different things and between them is there is no connection or relation. The knowing subject is one thing and the observed object is completely ‘other.'To the alchemist that is not the case. His efforts in changing lead to gold are based on the premise that he as the subject will go through the same types of changes and purifications as the materials he is working with. In sympathy with these metallurgical transitions and resolutions of contraries, his soul will be purified in correspondence as long as he is working in a prayerful state within the Mysteries (sacraments) of his revealed tradition.Now, historically there was an Arabic alchemy, a Chinese alchemy, a Kabbalistic, as well as a Christian alchemy; each differs superficially with respect to their spiritual traditions but in every one, the alchemist was working with a sacred natural science or physics to advance his spiritual purification. This was only possible because he looked at the metal he was working with as something with which he was not ‘other' but with which he was in relationship, artifex and artifact in sacred art imitating and accelerating the work of the Creator creating a bridge, so that, as lead changes to gold or material perfection, his soul was going through similar transformations and purifications.The common ground is the logos in every created thing, to include persons (cf. John 1:9), which are all continuous with the Logos fabric of reality. As much as the alchemist identifies with this metaphysical ground, purifying himself of the ‘old man' or ego-driven individual and identifying himself with the spiritual Heart or light within him, that light will become his dominant quality, hence his “illumination” or “enlightenment”. And lead or solid darkness turning into gold, hard light.How does this edifying magic become the scaffolding for Harry's adventures? Largely through the genius of William Shakespeare. Hermetic wisdom and alchemical efforts were such commonplaces in Elizabethan England that Shakespeare and his contemporaries recognized, I think. that the magic of staged drama is essentially alchemical. If we groundlings are all watching what's going on up on the stage and everything is working the way it's supposed to, the subject-object distinction dissolves inasmuch as we identify with the characters and their agonies through our logos-imaginations. As they go through their changes, like the metals in a crucible, we identify with them and pass through the same cathartic moment.As the great dramatists of that period realized, “if what we're doing is alchemical, why don't we use alchemical imagery and language, too?” And, voila, literary alchemy is born. This stream of English literature in which narrator or characters and the reader or audience in correspondence pass through the stages of the alchemical work, the black the white and the red (basically dissolution, purification, and then perfection) runs through the next five centuries of poetry, stage work, stories and novels. You may not have recognized it, but its a big part of things you have read.* Literary Alchemy: Sacred Science, Sacred Art, and ‘The Alembic of Story':A Perennialist Explanation of J. K. Rowling's Signature Hermetic Symbolism This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

Faith, hope, and love: these three virtues are at the core of the Christian life. But what do they actually look like in everyday life? And why does the Bible say that love is the greatest of them all? In this message from 1 Corinthians 13:13, Pastor Dave breaks down the meaning of faith, hope, and love and how each one is meant to shape not just your relationship with God but also your impact on others. This isn't just a familiar passage; it's a call to live differently. Discover how these three lasting virtues go beyond temporary gifts and become the foundation of a life that truly matters.

Send us Fan MailJoseph and Eric talk about how to prepare for a pipe club meeting and pointers on how to get the most out of your experience if you visit the Houston Pipe Club.  If you are interested in the Houston Pipe Club, visit us at HoustonPipeClub.com

These 6 Amazing Pointers can make or Break West Bengal Elections - दीदी हार सकती हैं चुनाव

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three powerful stories: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each one reveals the heart of God: He pursues what is lost and celebrates when it's found. This message from our 3-Pointers series challenges us to see people differently—not by their past, but as deeply loved and worth pursuing. If you've ever wondered what God is really like, or how He sees you, this message is for you. Follow us for more weekly messages from Eastside pastors!

Do you struggle to see the relevance or point of parts of the Bible? If you could comprehend all of it and succinctly present its entirety, what is it about? Listen to Pastor Kevin's exploration of Jesus' interaction with the disciples walking to Emmaus, SOME POINTERS.

This is an invitation to remember the freedom you were born with. In this episode of the Rose Woman Podcast, we sit down with Lixuan An to explore what true freedom feels like in a real, lived body and life. Lixuan was born in Beijing, China, and came to the US at the age of 15 to enter University. After a 20 year stellar career in marketing and tech which took her around the world, a near death experience in 2005 completely changed the course of her life. Lixuan left the business world to embark on a two-decades long intensive study of philosophy, psychology, mysticism, religion, and a myriad of healing modalities, including ancient rituals, hypnosis and plant medicine. Today she is a highly regarded art curator, public speaker, spiritual teacher and mystical healer, and has helped thousands transform their lives. With her empathy, compassion, intuition, and guidance from ancestral and cosmic realms, Lixuan helps individuals to investigate and comprehend the root causes of their sufferings and to help them remove obstacles on their path to joy, peace, fulfillment, and unconditional love and wellbeing. Lixuan resides in Silicon Valley and in Sweden. She regularly leads transformational retreats and workshops worldwide. She works with individuals, groups, and organizations, and dedicates her life to the humble and simple joy of facilitating and witnessing the healing and expansion of humankind.So press play, come with an open heart, and let this episode be a gentle experiment in your own freedom. In this episode, we cover so many topics, including:(00:00:00) Opening Definition of Freedom(00:00:20) Introduction to the Episode(00:03:18) Stanislav Grof's Contributions and Holotropic Breathwork(00:05:40) Breathwork as a tool for Freedom(00:09:02) What is Freedom?(00:13:20) Compassionate Self‑Inquiry(00:17:02) Prayer: Healing through Love(00:21:07) Triggers as Soul Curriculum(00:22:57) Shift the Story & Take Action(00:24:53) Importance of Parenting and Ancestral Healing(00:27:19) Practical Steps in Achieving Freedom(00:30:18) Unwanted Recurring Events are Pointers to Areas Lacking Freedom(00:35:48) The Role of the Body in Freedom(00:41:08) Embodying Freedom and Transformation(00:44:44) Practices for Achieving Freedom(00:47:09) Impact on Art Making(00:49:10) Closing ThoughtsHelpful links:Lixuan An - To book private sessions, group workshops or retreats contact lixuanlive@gmail.comStan Grof - psychiatrist with over sixty years of experience in the research of non-ordinary states of consciousnessArlene Saman - Founder of One Heart WorldwideThich Nhat Hanh - Global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activistYour host:NEW Book by Christine: Mantra, Tantra, Ayahusaca: Ecstasy, Devotion, and the Return of the Holy Body. Available on Amazon and Spotify AudiobooksNEW Book by Christine: The Mystic Heart of Easter: A Four-Day Journey Through Love, Death, and Rebirth. Available on AmazonEaster Intensive: A Holy Week Journey with Christine Mason and Elizabeth Arolyn Walsh on April 2-5, 2025Bhakti House Immersion with Christine Mason and Adam Bauer, with Special Guests Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis and Peter Dawkins on May 17–27, 20262026 Living Tantra Online Course: An Introduction to Tantra, Neo Tantra and Sacred Sexuality, Starts March 10, 2026.Good Gathering Events at Sundari GardensBrought to you by Rosebud Woman, Award Winning Intimate and Body Care:Log in to the Rosebud Woman WebsiteThe Rosewoman Library: The Embodied Menopause & Intimacy LibraryBody Love Journal: The 9-Week Body Love JournalChristine Marie Mason@christinemariemason@rosebudwomanFounder, Rosebud WomanCo-Founder, Radiant Farms and Sundari GardensHost, The Rose Woman on Love and Liberation: Listen, Like, Share & Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcasts | Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does God actually want from us? In Micah 6:8, the prophet gives one of the clearest summaries of the Christian life in the entire Bible: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. In this message, we explore the powerful message behind this verse and why God is not interested in empty religious rituals or simply “checking the boxes.” Instead, He desires transformed lives marked by justice toward others, faithful love for Him, and humble obedience. Join us as we unpack the context of Micah's message, the warning of judgment, the promise of hope, and what it looks like to live the kind of life God truly desires. Follow us for more weekly messages from Eastside pastors!

The Kelly Alexander Show delivers the latest entertainment headlines and exclusive artist conversations and this episode is packed with music news and a powerful interview with one of Canada's most celebrated Celtic-folk bands. First, Kelly breaks down some of the biggest stories in entertainment including buzz about a possible comedic reunion at the Academy Awards, wedding plans for pop superstar Lady Gaga and new music from Jennifer Lopez and David Guetta with their collaboration “Save Me Tonight.” We also talk about the album Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally from global pop star Harry Styles. Then we welcome Jake Charron from the JUNO Award-winning band The East Pointers to discuss their latest album Schoonertown. Jake opens up about how the band moved forward after the heartbreaking loss of bandmate Koady Chaisson and how he and fellow member Tim Chaisson are keeping his spirit alive through music that balances grief, resilience and celebration. Jake also shares stories from touring across Canada and internationally, performing with legendary Canadian artist Alan Doyle and receiving recognition from Mumford & Sons after they covered one of their songs. Plus, he talks about covering tracks from Olivia Dean, Justin Bieber and The Goo Goo Dolls and offers advice for emerging artists hoping to break into Celtic and folk music. If you love Canadian music, Celtic folk, entertainment news and behind-the-scenes artist interviews, subscribe to The Kelly Alexander Show on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, iHeartradio and Spotify for new weekly episodes.   Follow The Kelly Alexander Show  YouTube: youtube.com/kellyalexander Instagram: @kellyalexandershow  TikTok: @kellyalexandershow

What were the first questions God asked humanity? In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve commit the first sin in human history, God doesn't abandon them; He moves toward them. Instead of condemnation, God asks three questions that reveal His heart and invite humanity back into relationship. In this first message of the 3-Pointers series, we explore the meaning behind God's questions: “Where are you?” “Who told you?” and “Have you eaten?” Each question reveals a step toward restoration: coming out of hiding, choosing God's truth over deception, and honestly confessing our sin. Even after the fall of Adam and Eve, God's desire was not distance, but forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration, and that invitation still stands today.

Panicking about packing? Moving home comes with more than its share of pain points. Don't fall to pieces - experts have your back with packing pointers that keep your possessions in one piece.Info: https://www.truefriendsmovingcompany.com/hendersonville-tn-movers/ True Friends Moving Company City: Nashville Address: 700 East Old Hickory Blvd Website: https://www.truefriendsmovingcompany.com/

Are Leicester or West Brom really heading to League One? It doesn't look good for at least one of the midlands giants who are stuck in a battle for survival at the bottom of the Championship.At the top it is four on the spin for Coventry and their Christmas wobble seems a long time ago. They look well set for promotion to the top flight. Ipswich are chasing Middlesborough in second...is the rest of the top six how it will finish? Or are Hull and Wrexham still ripe to be picked off by the likes of Watford or Southampton?In League One Lincoln City are a point off the top but perhaps just as significantly they're ten point clear of third place Bolton. from fourth place down it is any one's guess with seven teams fighting for the three remaining play off places. Title, play off's and relegation are all still up for grabs in League Two...who has the momentum?Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up all the latest from the EFL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey friend — quick recap of the wild weekend: All‑Star Weekend actually delivered, Lillard's shooting show, Kawhi going off, and yeah, the slam dunk contest still needs help. We also dig into Orlando's big 2030 plans, MJ's Daytona 500 win, and some celeb moments courtside that had everyone talking. Grab a drink and hang out — it's the kind of sports gossip you'll wanna bring up with your crew.

February 16, 2026 ~ Jamie Edmonds and Steve Courtney talk Michigan State basketball with Head Coach Tom Izzo. They discuss the Wisconsin game, team performance, and upcoming tough schedule. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I removed last week's episode because I made too many errors in talking about red leads and black leads on e-stim devices.   This episode covers the difference between Direct Current and Alternating Current, the advantages of each and the safety reasons for Electric Stimulation Acupuncture devices to be AC Biphasic. I talk about the differences between the Pointers, the ITO ES-130 and the Pantheon and a little about microcurrent.   Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com  

Brandon finally finished his Full House introYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/barstoolyak

Hour 3- Dirty Work: An epic interview with Frank Caliendo, also the boys talk to Drew Remenda on the Sharks first half of the season and much moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having received his Ph.D. in mathematical logic at Brandeis University, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb went on to become Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. Today he is a senior faculty member at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. An accomplished author and lecturer, Rabbi Gottlieb has electrified audiences with his stimulating and energetic presentations on ethical and philosophical issues. In Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Dr. Gottlieb, we are invited to explore the most fascinating and elemental concepts of Jewish Philosophy. https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ podcasts@ohr.edu

Hour 3- Dirty Work: An epic interview with Frank Caliendo, also the boys talk to Drew Remenda on the Sharks first half of the season and much moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New show format alert! Here are Dan's favorite ADDS out of the last few days, ordered by priority! Names on the show: Kelly Oubre Jr, De'Anthony Melton, Ayo Dosunmu, Daniel Gafford, Ty Jerome, Sam Hauser, Isaiah Collier, Isaiah Hartenstein TRADE DEADLINE LIVE SHOW PAGE - Bookmark/Like it today and don't miss our 6 hours of mayhem on February 5th! https://youtube.com/live/ldtMbcI9EMQ?feature=share The Old Man Squad has a PATREON now. It's $1 and doesn't get a single benefit. It is entirely to support the mission here but won't change anything we do. https://www.patreon.com/cw/oldmansquad Follow Dan Besbris on Twitter: https://x.com/danbesbris Find Dan on the brand new BlueSky social network: https://bit.ly/3Vo5M0N Check out Dan's Google Sheet with Ranks, Weekly Streaming Schedule Charts & Injury Replacement Adds FREE! https://bit.ly/3XrAdEW Listen and subscribe on iTunes: https://apple.co/3XiUzQK Listen and subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ACCHYe Float on over to the new Old Man Squad Sports Network YouTube page to watch videos from the network's top talent: https://bit.ly/46Z6fvb Join the Old Man Squad Discord to chat with Dan and all the other hosts: https://t.co/aY9cqDrgRY Follow Old Man Squad Fantasy on Instagram for all our short videos: https://bit.ly/3ZQbxrt ChatGPT Timestamps: ️Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Timestamps 0:49 – Kelly Oubre Jr. | Fantasy Basketball Waiver Add (Paul George Suspension Boost) 3:50 – De'Anthony Melton | Minutes Trending Up = Fantasy Upside 6:42 – Ayo Dosunmu | Bulls Injuries Create Waiver Wire Value 9:20 – Ty Jerome | Elite Per-Minute Fantasy Producer (Short-Term Add) 11:33 – Daniel Gafford | Minutes Spike = Fantasy Basketball Breakout Watch 14:16 – Sam Hauser | 3-Pointers, Rebounds & Starter Minutes (Hold/Add) 17:55 – Isaiah Collier | Burger Play of the Week (Assists Streamer) 21:10 – Isaiah Hartenstein | Injury Return Buy-Low / Waiver Wire Check Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gareth and Jake disrupt a helpful mother's morning routine. Then, they do battle with a Taekwondo Troll. Plus, a follow-up from Ep 250 "Dog Danger on the Gator Walk (with Ed Helms)."See images from the episode here: https://www.heretohelppod.com/post/episode-256Want to call in? Email your question to helpfulpod@gmail.com.PATREON: https://patreon.com/heretohelppodMERCH: heretohelppod.comINSTAGRAM: @HereToHelpPodIf you're enjoying the show, make sure to rate We're Here to Help 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.Advertise on We're Here to Help via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From throuple to couple.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, Beyond Sunday listeners! Today we're tackling part two of our mini-series on Spiritual Growth for 2026. Are you limping along in your prayer life?  Do you often feel too busy or distracted to pray, or simply don't know where to start? Tune in to hear practical tips from our team on how to strengthen your prayer life in the coming year. We're excited to be joined this week by Harvest elder Elliot Cunningham!Afterwards, join us as we journey through the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus shows us in vivid and specific terms what it means to obey him from the heart and how to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are using John Stott's The Message of the Sermon on the Mount to guide our conversation this season — click here to purchase a copy of your own: https://bit.ly/4bzYgZI

Sienna's Mom is helping potty train her niece and is looking for some ways to help speed up the process. Do you have any recommendations? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Sienna's Mom is helping potty train her niece and is looking for some ways to help speed up the process. Do you have any recommendations? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Sienna's Mom is helping potty train her niece and is looking for some ways to help speed up the process. Do you have any recommendations? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

In this episode we look at the published version of Chapter 22. We talk about how proactive Anne is in these final chapters, the arrival of Charles, Mary and the Musgrove clan, Louisa's change in personality, how the Musgroves all want Anne to be with them, and the first time Wentworth actually refers to the time he and Anne were together.The characters we discuss is are Charles and Mary Musgrove. In the historical section, Michael talks about the shooting, and for popular culture Harriet looks at two books that retell Persuasion from the point of view of another character.Things we mention:General discussion:Janet Todd and Antje Blank [Editors], The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen: Persuasion (2006)Sheila Kaye-Smith and G.B. Stern, Talking of Jane Austen (1943) and More Talk of Jane Austen (1950)Historical discussion:E. W. Bovill, English Country Life, 1780-1830 (1962) ‘The Thing About Willoughby's Pointers with guest Dr. Stephanie Howard-Smith‘, The Thing About Austen podcast, Episode 73Popular culture discussion:Amanda Grange, Captain Wentworth's Diary (2007)Dorothea-Sofia Rossellini, Mrs Clay: The Austen Expert's Companion to ‘Persuasion' (2016) Diana Birchall, In Defense of Mrs Elton (1999) Creative commons music used:Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 12 in F Major, ii. Adagio.Extract from Joseph Haydn, Piano Sonata No. 38. Performance by Ivan Ilić, recorded in Manchester in December, 2006. File originally from IMSLP.Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 13 in B-Flat Major, iii. Allegretto Grazioso. File originally from Musopen.Extract from George Frideric Handel, Suite I, No. 2 in F Major, ii. Allegro. File originally from Musopen.Extract from Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major. File originally from Musopen.

Pastor Greg Laurie has the opportunity to share the Gospel with countless people each year. He does so through films, crusade events, through social media and right here on A NEW BEGINNING. We’ve seen more than a million professions of faith in the 50 years of Harvest Ministries. So there must be a secret formula for successful evangelism, right? Pastor Greg would be the first to say there is no secret formula. But there are some practical pointers, and he explains them today. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Greg Laurie has the opportunity to share the Gospel with countless people each year. He does so through films, crusade events, through social media and right here on A NEW BEGINNING. We’ve seen more than a million professions of faith in the 50 years of Harvest Ministries. So there must be a secret formula for successful evangelism, right? Pastor Greg would be the first to say there is no secret formula. But there are some practical pointers, and he explains them today. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why isn't he retrieving well? This time in the season, it seems like everyone is wondering what happened to their dog. From not bringing birds all the way back, dropping birds or just going hunting again, many upland dogs are just not delivering, literally, these days. Retriever Hall of Fame inductee, pro trainer, and now successfully transitioned into pointing breeds, Jim Van Engen of Right Start Kennel has answers to our pressing questions. Simply put: force fetch. He'll hit the critical points in a dog's retrieving training whether flusher or pointer, and how to teach those important steps. Of course, we'll talk all things hunting and hit some of the high points of this new phase in his training career. Listeners sound off on safety practices in the field, and "Fix It" has a suggestion when the walk-in spot looks crowded. And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Pointer shotguns, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Advertising has always been a little out of control, but making people watch ads in order to wipe their ass might be just a bit over the line. Let's talk about that, redundant things we all say like stupid idiots, sticking your arm under the lap bar of a rollercoaster to keep a stranger from flying out, pouring coffee all over yourself... again, and more on today's episode of Can You Don't?!*** Wanna become part of The Gaggle and access all the extra content on the end of each episode PLUS tons more?! Our Patreon page is LIVE! This is the biggest way you can support the show. It would mean the world to us: http://www.patreon.com/canyoudontpodcast ***New Episodes every Wednesday at 12pm PSTWatch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/l5E1t02zAvgSend in segment content: heyguys@canyoudontpodcast.comMerch: http://canyoudontpodcast.comMerch Inquires: store@canyoudontpodcast.comFB: http://facebook.com/canyoudontpodcastIG: http://instagram.com/canyoudontpodcastYouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3wyt5rtOfficial Website: http://canyoudontpodcast.comCustom Music Beds by Zach CohenFan Mail:Can You Don't?PO Box 1062Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816Hugs and Tugs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.