Podcasts about taoist

We're back with the fourth episode in our series in which we're working our way through Pam's book, The Unschooling Journey: A Field Guide. Today, we're continuing our exploration of the deschooling phase of the journey with stage eight: Accepting the Value of All Experiences. We’ve questioned our beliefs about learning and about parenting. Now we're moving beyond judgement. As our understanding of this new world of unschooling grows, we are drawn to digging deeper. Using the lens of unschooling, we're exploring what it means to be a human being living fully in the world, with all of the ups and downs. We had a great time diving in. We hope you find this episode helpful on your unschooling journey! Watch the video of our conversation on YouTube. THINGS WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Learn more about Pam's book, The Unschooling Journey: A Field Guide. We invite you to join us in the Living Joyfully Network, a warm and welcoming online community of like-hearted parents. It's a non-judgmental space where you can steep in these unconventional ideas around parenting, relationships, and learning, and explore what they might look like day-to-day in your uniquely wonderful family. We offer a free month trial so you can see if it's a good fit for you. Click here to join us. Sign up to our mailing list on Substack to receive our email newsletters as well as new articles about learning, parenting, and so much more! Check out our website, livingjoyfully.ca for more information about exploring unschooling and navigating relationships. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT PAM: Hello, everyone. I’m Pam Laricchia from Living Joyfully. And I am joined today by my co-hosts Anna Brown and Erika Ellis. ANNA, ERIKA: Hello. PAM: And we are back with another episode in our A Field Guide series. We are working our way through my book, The Unschooling Journey: A Field Guide, which is framed around the hero’s journey and is a weave of myths, contemporary stories and tales from my own journey. We are now deep in the deschooling phase. In the last episode of this series, episode 413, we dug into some of the popular conventional paradigms about parenting, and we found more truths buried there. And as we continue our journey on the road of trials, we’re exploring the idea of accepting the value of all experiences. If you’re newer to unschooling, and this is your first time exploring these truths, you’re likely dancing with these ideas intellectually to understand what they mean and some of their further reaching implications. If you’ve been unschooling for a while and feel like you already intellectually embrace these ideas and have been bringing them into your family’s lives, now’s the time to peel back some more layers to build more connections and context around them, strengthening your web of understanding with your personal experiences, building your wisdom as you move towards believing them in your bones as your own truth. Now we are well into the deschooling phase. In the last two stages, we challenged those conventional pieces of wisdom around learning, like embracing curiosity rather than following curriculum, and parenting, replacing control with connection as our relationship dynamic with our kids. These stages often have lots of twists and turns as we bring these ideas into life, life into our family, and see how things unfold, right? Again, not about right or wrong. We’re gaining experience, we’re seeing how things happen. So this episode, which is stage eight of the journey, we’re exploring the idea of accepting the value of all experiences. In other words, we’re moving beyond judgment. Now here we go. As our understanding of this new world of unschooling grows, we are drawn to digging deeper. Using the lens of unschooling, we’re exploring what it means to be a human being living fully in the world. So Joseph Campbell calls this stage the meeting with the goddess. So in myths and stories, the hero must be spiritually prepared to meet this revered goddess, the universal mother, who represents the whole cycle of life. To meet her in her true form is to rise to her challenge and be able to contemplate the entire birth death cycle that she presents with equanimity with calmness and composure, the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, cosmic creation and destruction, to be able to hold both of these seemingly opposing ideas, opposites in your mind with comparable appreciation. So in the book, I shared that Kali from Hindu mythology is a great example of the kind of goddess you might meet in this stage. As a goddess of time, creation and destruction, she represents both the benevolence of a caring, comforting mother, and the fury of an aggressive punishing one, as well as the expanse of time that contains them both. So, when we look at Kali’s right side, we see good and on the left, we see bad. That’s what she represents. And when we are ready to grasp the truth that lies at the heart of this stage, we see her full nature, both. We see her in full. And we’ve been preparing to meet our Kali with all that we’ve learned so far on our unschooling journey. Like how on earth are we going to link those together? Here we go. We started to see the connections play out between our new perspective on things like we talked about in the last Field Guide episode, like why quitting things isn’t bad, right? Why saying yes more to our kids isn’t bad. Why are kids seemingly doing nothing is not bad. We’ve noticed times when we didn’t stop our child from making a choice that we feared might go badly. And they went on to happily engage with the activity. So by giving our days the time to unfold more naturally, we’ve seen new and interesting things take root in the wake of destruction and upset many times. From a fallen block tower springs a taller, sturdier one. From highly anticipated plans falling through emerges, say, a spontaneous trip to the park, or a cuddly movie day, which turns out to be just what was needed. Without knowing it, we have been thoroughly preparing ourselves for this meeting. And for me, I think the key shift has been your mantra, Anna, there’s plenty of time. The trick was giving moments more time and space to unfold. That allowed me to see how seemingly good and bad moments actually weave together that they’re not like just separate single incidents. They’re not like these distinct events where I can tell you that like, oh, we had five good moments today and seven bad moments. So that was a losing day, or if they were the opposite, that was a winning day, right? To see the fuller, bigger picture, see how this is our life and, and the good and bad were weaving together. But that block tower one is just something I remember, you know, one kid running up and knocking it over. And like just those pieces, think of your own stories in your own life. Think back to when you’ve seen those things go from, from bad something upsetting to working out well, and vice versa. It’s all so very interesting, I think. ANNA: Yeah, it is. And I think Kali is such an interesting representation for this phase, because many people are very afraid to get Kali in a reading because they associate her with destruction. But yes, both pieces are there, creation and destruction. And it fits here so well, because how I see that destruction part is really just a sweeping away of old paradigms, creating a clean slate, allowing us to build a stronger foundation when that tower of our ideas are knocked down, and a new framework to support where we are now with all of this new information that we’re taking in. And it really can’t be built on top of the old. We can take what we’ve learned with us. So it’s not that we’re leaving everything behind. But letting go of the fear around letting go of the old and embracing a new paradigm allows us to fully open to all it can bring us. And a lot of discomfort comes, I think, in straddling the old and new, because we aren’t actually fully in either at that point. And releasing judgment was such a key part of my journey. You know, in my 20s, I loved a good debate and was quite adept at it. And as I started to value connection over winning, I realized how disconnecting the judgment was. I will never know what’s best for another person, even my child. So any judgment of them or their actions actually just keeps me from learning about them, who they are, how they want to move through the world, what their priorities are. And honestly, it keeps my own learning stagnant. If I’m so sure I know what’s best, how do I see a new way, a way that might serve me better in this moment where I am right now. And I love the tally piece that you mentioned because I think it’s a really slippery slope. If we are focused on categorizing the day or the event as good or bad, we’re missing the nuance that exists in every day, every event, because there’s always going to be both, they exist together. And while our brain can like this idea of categorizing as a shortcut, it really takes us out of being present in each moment. And it can end up dictating our emotions around it. So have we had a good week? Okay, then I can feel happy and feel good. I’m a great parent, we’ve done it this week. But then if this week has been bad, then there must be something wrong with me, and I should have done something differently. That type of judgment and kind of surface level ranking just doesn’t serve us personally or relationally. And it can really keep us stuck in this yucky cycle, instead of learning and growing together. And so that is something to watch for that like, oh, this was good and so now this means X, you know, whereas again, I think the idea of plenty of time really does help just let things unfold, and not getting attached to those pieces, we just learn so much more. ERIKA: Yes, I like this phase, because it really feels to me like having gained some perspective, and maybe some maturity, after making a whole lot of huge mental shifts and paradigm shifts we’ve been working through in the last few episodes. And so I just think life is so much more nuanced than there’s one right answer, or there’s one right way to do something. And I think we may absorb that message in school that there is a right answer or one right path. But it’s so much more real and true to living life in this world to be in this gray area, there are infinite possibilities, there are infinite paths, we’re not sure how it’s going to play out. And so I feel a lot more grounded and safe when I have that perspective, and I’m not clinging so strongly to this is good, this is bad. I also feel a lot more generous and nonjudgmental towards other people as well. Because I can recognize, we’re just all doing our best in each moment to meet our own needs and just figure out what’s going to work best for us. And we’re all different. And I don’t need to judge others. And I just feel like it’s a grounding place to be, when we get to this stage. PAM: Yeah. Oh, I love that. Okay, so the next aspect we want to explore around the idea of accepting the value of all experiences is moving beyond this is good and bad. So in the book, I share a quote that’s usually attributed to Alexander Graham Bell. When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. I think that succinctly describes life before this encounter with the goddess, right? We don’t realize the connection between destruction and creation between good and bad on that continuum of time. So this is the wisdom that the stories of Kali and other cosmic mother goddesses are meant to convey, rather than being tossed around by the ups and downs of life, like that whole roller coaster image, we now see the value of and the connection between those moments. So as we’ve been paying attention on our journey, giving things time and space to unfold, which you hear us talking about all the time on the podcast, we’ve soon experienced the cycle and had time to learn that trying to rush through the down times doesn’t work. We can’t pry open a door that doesn’t want to give. We’ve learned that doesn’t mean passively sitting back and waiting. It means being attentive, just like from that quote, right? Maybe knocking on a door, wandering the hallway, noticing the door that’s slightly ajar, hearing the faint click of a doorknob being unlocked. Eventually, something happens and things move forward, maybe in unexpected ways. But in my experience, often in more interesting ways than we had first imagined. That was us looking at that door, that’s where we thought we were going. That’s where we thought things were going to be. But when we there’s just so many more ways that life can unfold. I actually really learned this more through observing my kids’ lives in action. So often, when I was able to stretch my comfort zones and follow them where they were eager to go, the door they wanted to go through, I saw them learning so much, both when things went well and when they didn’t. There’s that good/bad. I was humbled by how often my initial predictions were just flat out wrong. Thank goodness I kept them to myself because I wasn’t ready quite yet to admit how often I was wrong. But without me clouding their experience with my judgment, they could more clearly and directly learn what was most valuable to them in the moment, because that’s where their mind was. That’s where their whole body was. I want to be in this moment, and just see how it plays out. So as my wish to understand my children’s perspective, and choices grew, my need to judge them truly faded. And with that, so did so many of our conflicts, and our trust in each other grew. And again, remember that not judging isn’t about giving in or giving up or saying do whatever you want, right? It’s about engaging more deeply but with openness. The image that helps me is beginner’s mind. What can I learn here? That’s what this stage is encouraging us to discover. It’s about seeing the value of all aspects of life, moving through the bad moments with as much awareness as the good ones, not covering your eyes and trying to ignore them until they pass. Because, as you see, through all the ups and downs, all these moments are integral to our lives. They all mean something. They all help us learn something. ERIKA: Yeah, that’s a huge shift when we can stop labeling things as good and bad. It’s just more complicated than that. And I think our judging tends to influence what happens next. And so I don’t, I certainly don’t want to label my day as a bad day, especially at the beginning, which I do hear people do that sometimes. Because a day has all kinds of moments in it. And we don’t know what’s going to happen next. And by labeling it bad, I think we’re just setting ourselves up for well, now it is going to be bad because we said that. But we learned from it all. In some of the meditation courses I’ve participated in, I really came to understand and value that idea of equanimity. It’s a power that we can cultivate, to be able to just witness the turbulent nature of life and still see the bigger picture. It feels like not getting swept up by every little thing that’s happening. And it helps keep me going and moving towards the things that I want. Whereas if I am getting swept up, it makes it so I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t even face what’s happening or make decisions or move forward. And so I feel like if we can move away from judging ourselves, judging others, judging all the moments as good or bad, I think there’s just so much more potential and so many more possibilities in front of us. To me, it has a very spacious feeling. ANNA: Yeah, I really like that visual, witnessing the turbulent nature of life, but not getting swept away. I think that therein lies that practice of equanimity and just presence. I feel like the categorizing that I mentioned earlier keeps us from really appreciating the nuances of all the experiences. Each experience brings with it a wealth of knowledge and understanding about ourselves, about each other, about the world. And the idea of releasing good or bad always brings to mind for me the Taoist farmer story. I’ll post a better version in the show notes. But the idea is that there’s a farmer who has a series of events happen to his family at each event, the village wants to weigh in with, Oh, what bad luck you’re having? Or Oh, what good luck you’re having? And each time the farmer answers maybe. His horse runs away, bad luck. Maybe. His horse returns with six more wild horses. Good luck. Maybe. His son breaks his leg on a new horse. Bad luck. Maybe. His son doesn’t have to go to war when all the other young men do. Good luck. Maybe. As the story unfolds, you see how something first appears is never the whole of the story. And if we can step away from preconceived notions and judging everything as good or bad, it opens us to more nuances, to new paths, to new ideas. Even just bringing “maybe” into our mind when something happens can slow us down and help us widen our view. Because we get caught up with the quick snap judgment, and it creates this ripple that really narrows our focus, and keeps us from seeing the bigger picture. And that’s the thing with good or bad, it is just this narrowing of the focus. And so if instead, I acknowledge that what is happening just is, I’m more open to seeing the opportunities for growth and learning, I’m more open to actually experiencing it. And I guess that’s a big piece for me, because judging really takes us out of the moment and puts us back into our head. We’re categorizing, this is a problem, this is not good, this is bad, end of story. But there’s no end to the story. Each bit of life leads to another and weaves into this larger tapestry. And with openness and willingness, we can create this massive tapestry that keeps us learning and growing throughout our life. And once we understand that for ourselves, we can see that our kids are doing exactly the same. They are on their own unique journey, building their own unique, massive tapestry. PAM: I love that piece. And the word maybe could be so helpful if you’re navigating this stage right now. And just put a little card that says maybe somewhere where you see it. It’s just a little reminder that judging something in that moment, maybe you’re right but maybe not. Let’s let things unfold. Okay, so the next aspect we want to explore around the idea of accepting the value of all experiences is the epiphany moment. We’ve talked before about how we often understand things intellectually before we feel them as truth in our bones. And in the book, I liken the intellectual understanding as puzzle pieces we have floating around in our minds, right? They each make sense to us on an intuitive level, but they haven’t really quite solidly clicked into place. So as you begin this stage of moving beyond judgment, you may not yet have enough puzzle pieces to grasp what this not judging thing might look like in the bigger picture. And then at some point, the piece appears that kind of changes everything. The moment that sparks this epiphany, as with so many other insights on our unschooling journey, truly might be quite ordinary. It doesn’t need to be a special puzzle piece. It’s just the puzzle piece for you. This is the one, for some reason, that gives you the flash of insight. All of a sudden, you can see the picture you’re building, and how the pieces are going to fit together. So, the naivete, it’s so easy to write, less so much to say. But this naive urge to judge something becomes clear, and our understanding of the value of all experiences, good, bad, otherwise, medium, whatever word you’re using, or words you’re using to judge things, rises out of the confusing free-for-all that we first envisioned at the thought of moving beyond. If we’re not judging things, everything is just, everything’s good then? What does that mean? From this turning point, this epiphany, our perspective shifts. We stop desperately trying to avoid or escape bad moments. Understanding that they, while, absolutely not what we’ve hoped for, are just moments. And, as you often talk about, Anna, we grow to trust ourselves to handle whatever kind of moment comes our way. A deeper sense of confidence begins to take root, as we more mindfully engage in all the moments of our days. And, we more clearly see our children living this trust and confidence. I think it’s something humans are born knowing. But, we lose track of it growing up when we’re immersed in judgment, shame, and fear. And those being used to control us. Going back to that last episode of Control and Connection. And, it hits us now. We’ve got this puzzle piece. Life isn’t about trying to avoid the bad moments, so we can finally live our good lives. And, we’re just like, I want this good life. I want this good life. We have been living our full lives, our rich lives, all along. ANNA: I think there’s just such a beautiful freedom in recognizing that life is going to contain it all. It’s not about optimizing. It isn’t something we can control. There is not one path that will lead to everything being perfect. I think, as the Buddhists would say, the suffering is in the attachment to that outcome. And so, to me, it really plays out. If I’m gripping so tightly to control, thinking I can somehow make the right choice, and then everything will always be great, it feels so dysregulating when it doesn’t happen that way, when I’ve tried so hard, and then the mark has been missed. Again, that goal that we talked about a little bit earlier. If instead, I’m just open and curious, and greeting things as they come, be them obstacles or gifts, with the same open energy, I can stay regulated, and I can find the growth available to me in all of those areas, in both, in obstacles and the beautiful gifts of life. And that’s where I got to the place that you mentioned. The epiphany for me was seeing how well we worked together, how we survived whatever came our way. We had tools to get through it, and that doesn’t take away the sting of disappointment or loss when it happens, because it still can sting. But our relationships were solid. Nothing felt shaky there. And from that foundation, the bumps felt more manageable. So, instead of the acrobatics of trying to miss the bumps, my focus was on strengthening our connection and our communication, so that we could roll over the bumps together. That was something that I could actually influence. Attempting to stop the bumps never worked, no matter how hard I tried. It’s outside of my control, and it ends up taking me out of the moment, and I’m actually not using the time or energy to strengthen my relationships. I’m over here juggling and trying to do something perfectly. And I think this can be really hard at first, though, because we really have been taught that there are answers, that things fit nicely into good and bad and right and wrong. And so, when something so widely accepted, like school, isn’t working for your family, it can feel very intense. We become invested in finding the next right answer, but it’s not about that. Life is about nuance, growth, exploration. It’s messier and more unpredictable than that. But again, I think once we embrace that and understand what we can control, which is basically just how we show up and who we are, there is a freedom, a release that happens. It opens you up to see the beauty in all of it, the beauty and the value in all experiences. So, back to the theme. ERIKA: I love that, and I know it feels hard sometimes, because it really does feel like maybe I can control everything, and then I’ll know how it’s going to turn out, and it’ll all turn out perfectly. But life shows me that it doesn’t work like that. But that’s not failing. That’s just life. And so, I can connect with other people, because we all are sharing this human experience of all of these parts. Life has it all. And if someone in my life seems unable to see that for themselves, I know that’s just where they are on their own journey. I don’t have to pull them to where I am. Life has it all, the ups and the downs, and we’re just going to roll with it. If someone’s not ready for that, I can’t get them there. It’s one of those things that I think just has to click for us in time, and I guess that’s why we’re calling it the epiphany here. So, yeah, I love that. PAM: It has to click for us. I love that. I love that. And, okay, so this last aspect that we want to dive into is embracing the value of time. And just imagine, time is what we’ve been talking about to see how good and bad are actually linked together, and they don’t need to be judged. They’re things that happen. They’re things that have happened, and this led to this and maybe to this. Anyway, I had mentioned earlier that I think the key shift for me in understanding this stage of the journey was really in your mantra, Anna, there’s plenty of time. This is the piece that I wanted to bring out because there’s two aspects of time for me that came to me. One was giving moments more time and space to unfold. That’s what we’ve been talking about. Most often, we don’t need to solve moments, right? I don’t need to ride the high of good as long as I can, and I don’t need to fix the bad as fast as I can. That is just something that fades alongside the urge to judge them, that this is what comes with the epiphany. But the other was more time to ponder things. There’s a deeper level of understanding that comes with continuing to poke and prod our thoughts, to look at our ideas from this way and that way, up close, far away, sideways. Giving myself that time and space allowed me to see how seemingly good and bad moments actually weave together. It’s just the up and down and in and out of playing with things. It’s like, oh, it was so useful to me to recognize when I get stuck in something, right? I need to change how I’m looking at something. And truly, if you are persistent, you will reach deeper levels of understanding, moving from the comprehension, if this is kind of your first engagement with these kinds of ideas, that makes some sense to experience. Then you see these ideas in action. So often for us, it’s seeing them in action with our kids, right? And then to the truth, you’ve seen them play out multiple times in multiple circumstances, and you’re starting to see how they might actually apply to you as well. And this stage is just a great example of this. If discovering the truth around learning and parenting in the last two stages was akin to adding new landmarks to your map, this stage was about taking the time to explore them more fully, eventually revealing like the secluded trails that connect them. We also get our first taste of the fruits of this inner journey. Releasing that need to be constantly judging things is just so freeing. I mean, the curiosity that bubbles up from that, it was just life changing for me. Time is a priceless and integral part of both our journey to understand and embrace unschooling, but also the practice of unschooling itself forevermore. We’ve gone from intellectually understanding that life encompasses good and bad moments to experiencing the learning about the world and about ourselves that is found in both kinds of moments, to embracing the truth that all moments, good, bad, and all manner in between moments have value in our lives. We are learning through the ups and downs, through the good and bad. This is life or as Campbell describes it, which I thought was cool, the nature of being. Yeah, that lands for me. ERIKA: That’s beautiful. I love that. I can definitely find myself clinging to time when things are feeling good, and just wishing it would slow down. But really the only way to slow down time that I’ve found is to get really present, and take note of all the things that are happening in this moment. There are all kinds of feelings, experiences, things to see, people to be with. And so I don’t typically wish away time even when things are hard. I think it’s a human impulse to do that though, like I just wish this day was over. But I think my personality specifically tends to cling to time rather than hope it goes by faster. But I have found there’s plenty of time to be just such a soothing phrase. It’s a reminder for me to just relax, let go of my intensity about finding that solution or getting to a certain place. I mean, even physically getting to a place, we have to get to whatever, get to the party on time. And I love how we all hear Anna’s voice in our minds with that reminder. It really helps me move out of that kind of tunnel vision and to a more grounded place where I can see what’s actually in front of me and make decisions about what to do next. And even just taking a breath can be so helpful too, just to settle down my nervous system. There’s plenty of time. We’ve got this. And just let me be present in this moment. ANNA: Yeah. Oh my goodness. How many times do we remind each other that we’ve got this during any given week and that there’s plenty of time?! It really does calm my nervous system and sometimes it feels cheesy to type or hear. But it also calms my nervous system every time because it’s true because we have a history of having gotten it. And so I know we will keep doing it, but I do think it’s fun to think about time. It’s just such an interesting concept and it can drive so many feelings and behaviors, or I guess maybe more accurately our reactions and interplay with time drives the feelings and behavior, but understanding that helps us see the choice, right? So time can seem to be crawling and then it can fly by in a blink and can often feel out of our control. But I like the pieces that have been pulled out, like the idea of giving space to a moment, not needing to rush in with solutions or move quickly through it. I think we do that sometimes because we don’t like to sit in discomfort. But that discomfort has messages for us. It’s not a scary place. It can be a place of growth and we miss that if we’re rushing through it, just like we miss the joy present in those small moments, as well, if we’re always rushing ahead to the next thing. And the unfolding became such an important concept to me. I was a planner. I still am, but with a lighter, more playful grip. Allowing moments and days to unfold, I started to see this organic flow that was always present, a flow I had really missed in my tightly controlled timelines. And I started to feel a real difference in my body. The tightness that I was literally carrying as I was trying to plan and control all the things versus the softness, the openness in my body when we just allowed a day to unfold. And that learning could happen in a moment when I stopped talking and observed. These things were not easy for me. That is why ‘there’s plenty of time' is such an important mantra for me, because I could feel myself relax with that reminder. And it is not my natural state of being. I am wanting to do, do, do, maximize, go, do. There’s not enough time. But boy, it really helps ground me. And then the part you mentioned, Pam, about time to ponder, that was also really critical. I had to slow down and trust in the time to find the deeper layers, to better understand myself and the people around me. And it doesn’t happen overnight. It happens with an intentional commitment to take the time to feel the feelings, to dig into the layers, to understand the connections, the reactions, the context, the ideas that we’re holding on to. I don’t think you can grow, have growth without time to be in that space. And so what I learned about myself was that my kind of go, go, tight control and planning was really me trying to outrun some past trauma pieces and things I didn’t want to look at about myself, and maybe even about the world and the things around me. And slowing down felt really scary. But I really allowed myself space to feel the feelings and understand how my patterns from childhood were showing up now. And that was really the only way I could make changes and show up in new ways to be the person I wanted to be for my kids. So that shift is kind of what you’re talking about Pam, the ideas, they feel great, this kind of intellectual understanding. But it took me doing this slowed down work to really get to feel it in my bones and be able to act on it from my bones versus just this intellectual understanding. PAM: Yeah. Oh, and just to wrap things up, as I was writing the book and really thinking about the phases. I could see how those three ideas came together. That’s why I love choosing Kali, here’s a goddess who is time, creation, and destruction, those three things good, bad and unfolding, are just so integral to growing as a human being to understand what’s going on at some level. There are always more layers, as we talked about, but it’s just fascinating for me to see how these things so beautifully weave together as part of this tapestry. I love that image, too. Okay, so thanks so much to everyone for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this dive into the third stage of the de-schooling phase of our journey, as we explored the idea of accepting the value of all experiences. And we invite you to join us in the Living Joyfully Network to continue this conversation because we love talking about this stuff. It’s a warm and welcoming online community of like-hearted parents, a non-judgmental space where you can steep in these unconventional unschooling ideas, and just start to explore and talk about what they might look like day-to-day in your uniquely wonderful family. Your first month is free, so you can get a sense of whether the community is a good fit for you. We are excited to welcome you. To learn more and join us, just follow the link in the show notes or go to livingjoyfully.ca and choose Network in the menu. Wishing everyone a lovely day. Thanks so much, you guys. Bye.

In this episode, VLOW and Nicole sit down with Truth Calkins, a Taoist herbalist and holistic health coach who has spent more than 26 years studying health, longevity, consciousness, and what he calls the fallacies of the Matrix.We start with Jing, the Taoist concept of primal essence, and explore Truth's perspective on why modern life may be leaving us depleted. We get into stress, sleep, stimulants, coffee, longevity, minerals, ancient wellness practices, and what it actually means to preserve your energy. Question everything. Decide for yourself.Welcome back to Matrix Assassins.

Send us a text & leave your email address if you want a reply!Ever been told you're "too wet" or worried you're "not wet enough?" In this episode of Sex Reimagined, Leah Piper and Dr. Willow Brown break down the real truth behind vaginal wetness, arousal signals, and why lubrication isn't the only factor  with how turned on you actually are. They dig into why making noise during sex unlocks deeper arousal, the difference between Taoist and Tantric approaches to sounding, why lube should be a staple and never a source of shame, what happens once you experience female ejaculation, how to navigate period sex with confidence, and how to have a compassionate conversation with a partner about hygiene without triggering shame. This one is packed with practical, body-literate tools for anyone who has ever felt self-conscious about wetness, smell, sound, or fluids during sex.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSWetness and arousal don't always match. Cervical fluid, cycle timing, and hormones can make you wet or dry independent of how turned on you feel.Sounding isn't performance, it's a shortcut to pleasure. Making noise from the top of your inhale to the bottom of your exhale moves energy and gets you out of your head.Female ejaculation strips away viscous fluid. Ejaculators often need more lube afterward, not less.Lube is a tool, not a confession. Reaching for it has nothing to do with how attracted you are to your partner.Period sex has ancient roots as ritual and healing, not just something to tolerate or avoid.Hygiene conversations go better with curiosity and a "we can do better here" frame instead of blame.LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE: https://www.sexreimagined.com/blog/too-wet-not-wet-enough Sexual Reflexology Online Masterclass - Join us September 2nd at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern for a live masterclass on zoom. Register for $33 HERE (free limited replay window available) Tantra Unlocked: A Map to Sacred Sexuality for Real People | Sep 16 and 17, 2026 > Most people spend their entire lives having the same experience on repeat. This September, twelve of the most trusted voices in conscious sexuality are gathering live to give you the real map. Free to Register: https://www.sexreimagined.com/power-of-pleasure The Sacred Spot Retreat | Santa Barbara, Nov 6-8 We are bringing our most intimate couples workshop to California. Over three days, you will learn Sacred Spot Massage, Erotic Attunement, sensual touch as a somatic practice, and the ritual skills that change the way partners meet each other in the body. Ten couple spots only. Register at sexreimagined.com/events Rooted in Desire: A Women's Weekend Retreat One woman told us she walked out having shed sixty years of shame in a single weekend. That's what happens in a room where women are finally given permission to feel what's true. Rooted in Desire is an intimate retreat blending pelvic floor release, tantric breathwork, and sisterhood. Join Leah & Dr. Willow Brown in Santa Barbara, January 30-31, 2027. sexreimagined.com/rooted-in-desireSupport the showPlease help support the production costs of the show! Donate now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2032242/supporters/newFREEBIE- Introduction to Tantric Kissing Video and WorkbookSxR WebsiteDr. Willow's WebsiteLeah's Website 

Rejection hurts—but it doesn't define your worth. Discover the Taoist way to stop chasing validation, let go with dignity, and find peace when life says no. Discover why rejection can trigger self-doubt, childhood wounds, fear of abandonment and people-pleasing—and how to stop seeking external validation or trying to force people and situations to align.Learn how non-attachment, self-acceptance and wu wei can help you process rejection, protect your self-worth and emotional wellbeing, and trust that sometimes rejection is redirection towards a more authentic path.With your hosts, David James Lees (ordained Taoist monk, emotional and spiritual health teacher) and Alexandra Lees (mindset and business coach).Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comSubscribe to David's FREE Journal: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Other related teachings on our YouTube channel that will help you:Our INNER CHILD PLAYLIST  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICGLRS1b7q1HSJhZRash5qqLOVE & RELATIONSHIPS PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zID3yxrdCbbZFuKHCwgV6qhXIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email:  https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup Music by Earth Tree HealingDisclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.

Let go of regret, but learn the life lesson. In this episode of Tao Dialogues, you'll discover how to let go of regret, guilt and self-criticism without losing the wisdom your past experiences can teach you. Drawing on Taoism, spirituality and Inner Child teachings, we explore how to break free from emotional patterns, self-punishment and the past. Learn how authentic reflection, self-acceptance and the ‘power of three' — truth, honesty and integrity — can transform regret into wisdom, confidence and personal growth. You don't honour yesterday by living there — you honour it by learning from it.Read the blog post that inspired this episode: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/p/regret-without-ruin (first blog post on this page) Our Tao Dialogues are powerful yet gentle teachings about authenticity, spirituality and finding emotional balance and flow in everyday life. These spoken-word episodes draw from David James Lees' practice as a Taoist monk and teacher, and expand upon popular posts on ‘David's Journal', his Substack blog.You can subscribe to David's Journal here: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comOther related teachings on our YouTube channel that will help you:TAO DIALOGUES PLAYLIST  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICamFP2zMyey3KGTnfm2aUq&si=AW_ZOUeldKv3nHhFSHEN (THE SPIRITUAL SELF) PLAYLIST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIBmp50wYcmU7jCBLp1Qvl-jINNER CHILD PLAYLIST  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICGLRS1b7q1HSJhZRash5qqIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Book an online Golden Thread Process & Inner Child Consultation with David: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/therapies-for-body-mind/ Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup -Disclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.Music by Earth Tree Healing

John Ross chats with repeat guest Tim McGirk about Sima Qian (c. 145–86 BC), the Father of Chinese History. He earned this accolade for his monumental work, the Shiji (usually translated as Records of the Grand Historian). It covers more than two thousand years, from the legendary early emperors up to Emperor Wu, under whom Sima Qian lived and fell afoul. Sima Qian would use his history writing to criticize cruel leaders, most notably Qin Shi Huang, the despotic first emperor of China, who burned books and attacked the humanistic legacy of Confucius. The backstory of the Records is one of the great bibliographic tales of all time. And as McGirk explains, the man and his work were inspiration for his historical novel, The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. Books discussed: Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian (English translation by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1961, 1993, 1996). The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers by Tim McGirk (Plum Rain Press, 2025) Related episodes: In BOA episode 53, John chatted with Tim about his Plum Rain Press novel The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. It weaves the story of archeological discoveries in modern-day Mexico with that of Xu Fu, a Taoist alchemist/priest sent to bring back the secret of immortality. And in episode 65, John and Tim talked about Simon Winchester's biography of Sinologist Joseph Needham, The Man Who Loved China. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. 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

John Ross chats with repeat guest Tim McGirk about Sima Qian (c. 145–86 BC), the Father of Chinese History. He earned this accolade for his monumental work, the Shiji (usually translated as Records of the Grand Historian). It covers more than two thousand years, from the legendary early emperors up to Emperor Wu, under whom Sima Qian lived and fell afoul. Sima Qian would use his history writing to criticize cruel leaders, most notably Qin Shi Huang, the despotic first emperor of China, who burned books and attacked the humanistic legacy of Confucius. The backstory of the Records is one of the great bibliographic tales of all time. And as McGirk explains, the man and his work were inspiration for his historical novel, The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. Books discussed: Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian (English translation by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1961, 1993, 1996). The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers by Tim McGirk (Plum Rain Press, 2025) Related episodes: In BOA episode 53, John chatted with Tim about his Plum Rain Press novel The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. It weaves the story of archeological discoveries in modern-day Mexico with that of Xu Fu, a Taoist alchemist/priest sent to bring back the secret of immortality. And in episode 65, John and Tim talked about Simon Winchester's biography of Sinologist Joseph Needham, The Man Who Loved China. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

John Ross chats with repeat guest Tim McGirk about Sima Qian (c. 145–86 BC), the Father of Chinese History. He earned this accolade for his monumental work, the Shiji (usually translated as Records of the Grand Historian). It covers more than two thousand years, from the legendary early emperors up to Emperor Wu, under whom Sima Qian lived and fell afoul. Sima Qian would use his history writing to criticize cruel leaders, most notably Qin Shi Huang, the despotic first emperor of China, who burned books and attacked the humanistic legacy of Confucius. The backstory of the Records is one of the great bibliographic tales of all time. And as McGirk explains, the man and his work were inspiration for his historical novel, The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. Books discussed: Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian (English translation by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1961, 1993, 1996). The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers by Tim McGirk (Plum Rain Press, 2025) Related episodes: In BOA episode 53, John chatted with Tim about his Plum Rain Press novel The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. It weaves the story of archeological discoveries in modern-day Mexico with that of Xu Fu, a Taoist alchemist/priest sent to bring back the secret of immortality. And in episode 65, John and Tim talked about Simon Winchester's biography of Sinologist Joseph Needham, The Man Who Loved China. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

John Ross chats with repeat guest Tim McGirk about Sima Qian (c. 145–86 BC), the Father of Chinese History. He earned this accolade for his monumental work, the Shiji (usually translated as Records of the Grand Historian). It covers more than two thousand years, from the legendary early emperors up to Emperor Wu, under whom Sima Qian lived and fell afoul. Sima Qian would use his history writing to criticize cruel leaders, most notably Qin Shi Huang, the despotic first emperor of China, who burned books and attacked the humanistic legacy of Confucius. The backstory of the Records is one of the great bibliographic tales of all time. And as McGirk explains, the man and his work were inspiration for his historical novel, The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. Books discussed: Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian (English translation by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1961, 1993, 1996). The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers by Tim McGirk (Plum Rain Press, 2025) Related episodes: In BOA episode 53, John chatted with Tim about his Plum Rain Press novel The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. It weaves the story of archeological discoveries in modern-day Mexico with that of Xu Fu, a Taoist alchemist/priest sent to bring back the secret of immortality. And in episode 65, John and Tim talked about Simon Winchester's biography of Sinologist Joseph Needham, The Man Who Loved China. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

John Ross chats with repeat guest Tim McGirk about Sima Qian (c. 145–86 BC), the Father of Chinese History. He earned this accolade for his monumental work, the Shiji (usually translated as Records of the Grand Historian). It covers more than two thousand years, from the legendary early emperors up to Emperor Wu, under whom Sima Qian lived and fell afoul. Sima Qian would use his history writing to criticize cruel leaders, most notably Qin Shi Huang, the despotic first emperor of China, who burned books and attacked the humanistic legacy of Confucius. The backstory of the Records is one of the great bibliographic tales of all time. And as McGirk explains, the man and his work were inspiration for his historical novel, The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. Books discussed: Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian (English translation by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1961, 1993, 1996). The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers by Tim McGirk (Plum Rain Press, 2025) Related episodes: In BOA episode 53, John chatted with Tim about his Plum Rain Press novel The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers. It weaves the story of archeological discoveries in modern-day Mexico with that of Xu Fu, a Taoist alchemist/priest sent to bring back the secret of immortality. And in episode 65, John and Tim talked about Simon Winchester's biography of Sinologist Joseph Needham, The Man Who Loved China. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

What if your karma could keep growing even when you weren't actively doing anything? In this episode of Living the Tao Shorts (2-28), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explore the Taoist idea of neutrality—not as indifference or social disengagement, but as an internal position that can steadily build karma and strengthen one's ling. Using the metaphor of compound interest, Master Steenrod explains why the neutral path may produce small but continuous returns throughout everyday life. How you treat yourself, how you respond to your senses, and how quickly you form opinions can all affect that process. The episode also explores the relationship between neutrality, wu wei, karma, and ling, and why Taoist practice often favors establishing the right internal conditions rather than relying only on dramatic acts of effort. Sometimes the biggest gains come from simply being in the right place internally—and not interfering with the process. Prefer the video format?  That's here: https://youtu.be/AaJkSIMwL3A

I interviewed Wuer about Mnemosyne on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Venice Immersive in Venice, Italy. Here is the story synopsis for Mnemosyne: "Mnemosyne is an innovative immersive work that blends VR film and live theatre, offering a multi- sensory experience and a poetic exploration of love, illusion, and awakening. Inspired by Tang Xianzu's Ming Dynasty classic The Peony Pavilion, the piece draws on Eastern philosophy to evoke the notion of “ultimate 情 (Qing/emotion)”. It combines 360° animation, 180° live-action footage, and live performance, with the surrounding environment, shaping each audience member's evolving sense of presence. The layered narrative unfolds like ink in water: fluid, evocative, and open to interpretation, inviting the audience to drift between constructed memories and imagined futures. Mnemosyne seeks to create a meditative landscape of shifting emotions, centring on the intimate experience of transcending illusion to uncover genuine feeling. It views this hybrid medium of merging physical and virtual presence as a potential stage for exploring the social dimensions and future possibilities of VR/XR." Here are the contextual domains that are explored: Connecting to the earth and nature [4], but also Eastern Religiion from Daoist and Buddhist thought [9]. Focusing on and reflecting upon your own embodied experiences [1] Here is the Elemental Center of Gravity: 1st Center of Gravity of Earth Element / Environmental and Embodied Presence: Most of the experience is CGI-based VR Animation and Cinematic VR, but there's is an immersive theatrical installation of something like a Tea Room, with meditation booths, which have a number of spatial modulations over the course of the performance. There's also an actor at the end with Mixed Reality Components. So it's a real blending of the spatial contexts.2nd Center of Gravity of Air Element / Mental and Social Presence: Lots of Taoist and Zen influences, and some quoted poetry and passages, but the density of the philosohical thought create a bit of like Zen Koan type of experience, where there were lots of deeper philosophical mysteries being explored. Very poetic, if not a bit mysterious -- and even the cretor was a bit vexed to communicate what the experience would be. You have to experience it to fully understand.3rd Center of Gravity of Water Element / Emotional Presence: Spatiousness from the cinematic montage of different scenes and poetic reflections. Jumping between the pre-recorded aspects (Chronos) and the live performative elements (Kairos) of the momen.4th Center of Gravity of Fire Element / Active Presence: LIVE performance elements. But also no real narrative or spatial agency. Aiming to sort create a contemplative poetic experience. Archetypal Themes and Character Explored: Lots of Truth vs Illusion themes. "poetic exploration of love, illusion, and awakening." Also, "it offers a sensory framework where gazes, pauses, and subtle gestures shape the unfolding rhythm. Within a layered dreamscape of animation, live-action, and performance, the audience becomes not just an observer but a co-creator of emotional experience. Drawing from the Daoist idea of “breaking illusion to perceive truth”, the work uses VR as a poetic medium — an ephemeral vessel to navigate between illusion and reality, dream and awakening — until the line between the two gently dissolves." Artist Statement: "Mnemosyne is an immersive narrative experiment focused on “empowering the audience's imagination”. Rather than presenting a closed storyline, it offers a sensory framework where gazes, pauses, and subtle gestures shape the unfolding rhythm. Within a layered dreamscape of animation, live-action, and performance, the audience becomes not just an observer but a co- creator of emotional experience. Drawing from the Daoist idea of “breaking illusion to perceive truth”, the work uses VR as a poetic medium — an ephemeral vessel to navigate between illusion and reality, dream and awakening — until the line between the two gently dissolves." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEAyABepKFM This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality

What if the path to healthy longevity lies not in choosing between ancient healing traditions and modern science, but in learning how to integrate both? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Dr. Mao Shing Ni—38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, co-founder of Tao of Wellness, and author of Secrets of Longevity—about how Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement modern approaches to healthspan optimization. Dr. Mao explains the foundational principles of Chinese medicine, including balance, the five elemental systems, and the links between organ function, emotional health, stress, and aging. This conversation also explores why daily habits, Tai Chi, Qigong, meditation, and purposeful movement remain some of the most powerful healthy aging strategies for preserving vitality, resilience, and independence over time.  Dr. Mao Shing Ni is board certified in anti-aging medicine and trained in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, Tai Chi, Qigong, and integrative East-West healing approaches. Dr. Mao is the author of more than 20 books, including Secrets of Longevity and Second Spring, and has spent decades translating traditional healing wisdom into practical modern health guidance. His work integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine with contemporary research in preventive health, resilience, and preventing age-related disease. A longtime advocate for aging youthfully, he focuses on helping people improve daily habits, restore balance, and build sustainable foundations for lifelong vitality. He is internationally recognized for bringing Taoist medicine, mind-body practice, and lifestyle medicine into the mainstream longevity conversation.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome, introduction, and why ancient wisdom still matters in modern longevity  04:05 – Dr. Mao's personal healing story and the family lineage that shaped his life's work  07:37 – The core principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine: yin and yang, balance, and the five elemental systems  13:11 – How Chinese medicine views the liver, lungs, gut, kidneys, stress, and emotional regulation  17:28 – Wearables, AI, and the intriguing intersection of modern health data with Chinese medicine principles  21:36 – Why Secrets of Longevity focuses on practical, habit-based actions rather than theory alone  24:08 – The fundamentals of longevity: sleep, movement, stress reduction, purpose, and healthy daily habits  28:02 – Tai Chi and Qigong as powerful mind-body tools for cardiovascular health, balance, bone strength, and brain health  30:21 – Ballroom dancing, movement diversity, coordination, and cognitive resilience  32:00 – Where longevity science is headed: regeneration, organ support, prevention, and extending healthspan  36:04 – Dr. Mao's final message: healthy longevity is built on habits, consistency, and personal responsibility  Connect with Guest  Tao of Wellness https://taoofwellness.com/  Yo San University https://yosan.edu/  Secrets of Longevity by Dr. Mao Shing Ni https://taoofwellness.com/product/secrets-of-longevity/  Second Spring by Dr. Mao Shing Ni https://taoofwellness.com/product/second-spring/  Connect with your host, Dr. Gillian Lockitch Connect with your host, Dr, Gillian Lockitch email: askdrgill@gmail.com  For a personalized one on one conversation about health aging strategies Website: www.askdrgill.com https://www.facebook.com/gillian.lockitch/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/    

On this episode of Expanded Perspectives: From the Archives, we revisit a fascinating conversation with author, researcher, and longtime explorer of the unexplained, David Weatherly.David is a true Renaissance man of the strange and supernatural. For decades, he has traveled the world investigating ghosts, cryptids, UFOs, ancient mysteries, magic, psychic phenomena, and the many things that seem to exist just beyond the boundaries of our understanding. From haunted castles and remote islands to ancient sacred sites and modern paranormal hotspots, David has dedicated much of his life to pursuing the unknown. His fascination with the unexplained began at an early age, fueled by ghost stories, strange creature encounters, and UFO reports. Influenced by legendary researchers and writers such as John Keel, Jacques Vallée, and Hans Holzer, David eventually began conducting his own investigations into the mysterious.But his approach to the paranormal extends far beyond traditional investigation. Throughout his travels, David has studied shamanic, mystical, and magical traditions from cultures around the world. He has spent time with Taoist masters in China, Tibetan Lamas, Native American and African tribal elders, and shamans from numerous traditions. He has also explored subjects ranging from alchemy and divination to Qigong, Ninjutsu, energy work, and ceremonial magic. That unusual background gives David a unique perspective on paranormal phenomena and the strange entities people have encountered throughout history.David is the founder of Eerie Lights Publishing and the author of numerous books, including Strange Intruders, Eerie Companions, the Monsters of America series, and the Haunted series. He has appeared on Coast to Coast AM, Ancient Aliens, Mysteries of the Outdoors, Beyond Belief, On the Trail of UFOs, and many other programs.So settle in as we head back into the archives for a conversation with one of the most well-traveled researchers of the strange and unusual, David Weatherly.All of this and more on this installment of Expanded Perspectives: From the Archives.Find out more about David Weatherly and his work at Eerie Lights Publishing.

A guided meditation to help you break free from self-sabotage, reconnect with your Inner Child and take the first calm step towards your true potential - with Taoist monk and teacher, David James Lees Feeling stuck, procrastinating, or trapped in self-sabotage? This guided meditation combines Taoist wisdom, Inner Child healing, mindfulness and self-compassion to help you release fear, overcome perfectionism, reconnect with your inner spiritual wisdom, and move forward with calm confidence. Through gentle visualisation, affirmations and breathwork, you'll learn to replace old protective patterns with authentic, aligned action—one peaceful step at a time.⚠️ PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION WHILE DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERYThis meditation can be practised daily or whenever you need it. Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comSubscribe to David's FREE Journal: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Other teachings and guided meditations you may enjoy: GUIDED MEDITATION PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIA12P7BftG6a18lIWFDjL35&si=bWWub6YyoZpXhFubLOVE & RELATIONSHIPS PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zID3yxrdCbbZFuKHCwgV6qhX&si=-zdah_z6MiSZIl0tIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Book an online Golden Thread Process & Inner Child Consultation with David: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/therapies-for-body-mind/ Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup -Disclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.Music by Earth Tree Healing

In this powerful episode, Linh dives deep into how ancient Taoist principles, Chinese medicine, and neurobiology converge to transform trauma therapy. Featuring Alaine Duncan and Tracy Post, explore innovative approaches that emphasize vibrational medicine, resourcefulness, and slow healing for lasting change.In this episode, we discuss:* How Tao of Trauma marries neurobiology and Chinese medicine to understand trauma in the body and tissues* The significance of vibrational medicine and subtle energy work in trauma healing* The role of touch, safe space, and resource-building in supporting regulation and resilience* Cultural shifts towards integrating Eastern wisdom into Western medical practices* Practical applications of Tao Trauma in clinical settings with examples from veterans, children, and practitioners* The five-element framework and its reflection in emotional, physical, and organizational health* How slowing down facilitates profound healing and social transformationTimestamps:* 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and guests* 01:09 - The bridge between Tao of Trauma and mental health* 02:16 - Tracy Post shares her trauma healing journey through neurobiology and Chinese medicine* 04:21 - Alaine Duncan explains Tao of Trauma's integration of Western neurobiology and Chinese medicine* 05:23 - Tracy's experience with touch, trauma, and safety in healing* 07:48 - The vibrational nature of Qi and resonance in healing* 11:32 - The importance of regulation and vagus nerve health* 12:02 - Seasonal and elemental perspectives on vibration and trauma* 15:01 - Trauma's role in social polarization and cultural healing* 17:15 - The importance of slowing down, consent, and resonance in therapy* 18:33 - Critique of Western medicine's disconnection and opportunities for integration* 21:52 - How Tao Trauma benefits health practitioners across disciplines* 26:37 - The practice of elemental steps and their impact on healers and patients* 35:49 - Real-world example: Acupuncture restoring safety and flexibility* 40:52 - Vibrational healing in action with client stories* 44:11 - The importance of resource states and cultural influences* 48:37 - The power of resource-building through personal history and traditions* 50:00 - Reflections for practitioners: trusting vibration and slow, embodied healing* 52:09 - Details about upcoming Tao Trauma courses and training* 53:28 - What it means to be your authentic self* 54:27 - Final words of wisdom: Embodied kinship and relationshipResources & Links:* The Tao Trauma by Alaine Duncan* Integrated Healing Works* Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges* Somatic Experiencing Institute* Stephen Porges' Polyvagal TheoryConnect with the guests:* Alaine Duncan - LinkedIn | Website* Tracy Post - LinkedIn | WebsiteOptional:* Upcoming Tao of Trauma Courses: In Maryland and New Jersey, offering interdisciplinary trauma training rooted in Taoist wisdom and neurobiology. Register through the Integrated Healing Works site.Return To Yin:* www.returntoyin.org* YouTube* Instagram* Work with Dr Linh* Become a paid subscriber of Return To Yin to receive over $1000 worth of courses, teachings and workshops This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit returntoyin.substack.com/subscribe

Artificial intelligence is being blamed for replacing workers, devaluing human effort, spreading misinformation, and threatening humanity. But did AI choose any of that—or did people choose to use the tool that way? In this episode of Living the Tao (1-92), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan examine AI through the lenses of Taoism, social mind, human responsibility, and the ancient problem of the mechanical man. Master Steenrod describes AI as an intelligent, interactive library: a tool built from humanity's accumulated knowledge, arguments, errors, and wisdom. It can save time, expand human capability, and help address problems too complex for ordinary methods. Yet it lacks discretion, lived experience, and the ability to test its conclusions directly against reality. The real danger may not be artificial intelligence itself. It may be the human tendency to turn every useful tool toward control, profit, displacement, and destruction. The discussion asks whether humanity now needs AI to survive the problems it has created, whether social mind could become an unlikely safeguard against technological self-destruction, and why people both fear and desire an authority greater than human authority. The Taoist response is neither blind acceptance nor automatic rejection. Use AI as a tool. Observe what it produces. Question the people directing it. And do not confuse the machine with the intentions of the person holding it.

What if the secret to mastering life is not doing more, but interfering less?In this series, I select my favourite and most insightful moments from previous episodes of the podcast.Today, my guest Bob Martin, former criminal trial lawyer turned mindfulness mentor, shares a teaching he received from a 72nd generation Taoist Master, on what it truly means to master life. Through the metaphor of a swimmer reading the tide, Bob reveals why knowing when to push and when to wait is one of the most powerful and underrated skills a person can develop.Press play for one of the most memorable and practically useful pieces of ancient wisdom I have ever shared on this podcast.˚VALUABLE RESOURCES:Listen to the full conversation with Bob Martin in episode #496:https://personaldevelopmentmasterypodcast.com/496˚Coaching with Agi: https://personaldevelopmentmasterypodcast.com/mentor˚

Feeling stuck in life? Discover how to break free, stop living beneath your potential, and begin flourishing.Why do so many capable people feel stuck in life, despite working hard and doing everything they're "supposed" to do? In this video, we explore the hidden psychology of self-sabotage, revealing how unresolved Inner Child issues create procrastination, perfectionism, people-pleasing, fear of failure and emotional stagnation.You'll discover how limiting childhood beliefs can keep you trapped in familiar patterns and practical steps to help you overcome these, stop repeating the same emotional cycles, and begin making decisions from integrity rather than fear.With your hosts, David James Lees (ordained Taoist monk, emotional and spiritual health teacher) and Alexandra Lees (mindset and business coach).Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comSubscribe to David's FREE Journal: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Other related teachings on our YouTube channel that will help you:Our INNER CHILD PLAYLIST  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICGLRS1b7q1HSJhZRash5qqOur GOLDEN THREAD PROCESS PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIAsS_wgdRN7QGBKIk54sbyDIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email:  https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup Music by Earth Tree HealingDisclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.

https://eggshelltherapy.com/podcast-blog/2026/07/30/frank/If you have searched for help with anxiety or overthinking, YouTube has probably offered you ten Stoic principles that will change your life, or Taoism explained as going with the flow, sometimes in an approximation of Alan Watts's voice.My guest is Frank P. Saunders Jr., a philosopher who works on Chinese thought and who has spent the past couple of years making videos about philosophy and public philosophy. We began with McStoicism, the version of Stoicism made to go down easily and keep you coming back. Of the distortions he identifies, the one he thinks does the most damage is the promise that this is not difficult. When the ten tips do not work, people conclude that Stoicism does not work for them, or that they are the kind of person for whom nothing works. His formulation is that the results were overstated and the effort was understated.The second thing that gets removed is God. Surrendering to a world that is indifferent to you is a different act from aligning yourself with a world that is going somewhere.On emotions, the Stoics did say you should let go of certain feelings, but only because they thought doing so would make you a genuinely better person, someone who could not be shaken by loss or circumstance. The popular version keeps the letting go and loses the point of it. Stoicism was about becoming brave, honest, fair, and useful to the people around you. Marcus Aurelius keeps saying you do this for your community, not for your own calm. However, these are rarely mentioned online in the fast food versions of Stoicism, which ask nothing of you, though they may also give little back. The second half of our chat turns to the problems with AI-generated Alan Watts video and perennialism. Watts would tell a Taoist story, then a Zen story, then something about a Christian choir, and make them all point the same way. Frank's objection is that the traditions are not saying the same thing.On wu wei: Frank argues that nothing done at an expert level is effortless. What changes with mastery is where the effort goes, because the expert knows what to attend to.  Eggshell Therapy and Coaching: eggshelltherapy.com/Imi Lo:  imiloimilo.comSister Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Zcl8ZUsu4AePugDoWtXcgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eggshelltransformationsNewsletters: https://eepurl.com/bykHRzDisclaimers: https://www.eggshelltherapy.com/disclaimers  Trigger Warning: This episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, abuse, violence, severe mental illnesses, relationship challenges, sex, drugs, alcohol addiction, psychedelics, and the use of plant medicines. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. Please do not consider any of the content to be clinical or professional advice. None of the content can substitute professional consultation, psychotherapy, diagnosis, or any mental health intervention.  Opinions and views expressed by the host and the guests are personal views, and they reserve the right to change their opinions. The opinions of the guest do not reflect the position of this channel or Imi. We also cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is factual and completely accurate. Any action you take based on the information in this episode is taken strictly at your own risk.  For a full disclaimer, please refer to: https://www.eggshelltherapy.c...

Ever been curious about psychedelics? If so, you're not alone. But consuming psychedelic plant medicines has always been taboo, even when it comes to healing modalities. Over the years, more research has shown that plant medicines, when taken with intention, can have a positive impact on one's psyche and healing journey. Katherine Petrullo is the founder of Lüminate and creator of Women of Impact. Her work weaves together Taoist philosophy, tantra, kundalini, and plant medicine. Before her success, she was a young woman quietly falling apart, cycling through rock bottoms, and reaching for anything external that might make her feel whole, a feeling she had never truly known. Katherine explains what finally shifted, including a plant medicine ceremony, and what she learned on the other side of it. Click 'play' to see if psychedelics might be your next (unexpected) healing modality.What You Will Learn[00:07:30] Childhood existential anxiety — and distorting her voice to feel safe[00:13:30] Why plant medicine wasn't the magic bullet she expected[00:17:00] Why not feeling safe to share kept her deeply isolated[00:30:30] What her first ayahuasca ceremony actually felt like — and the dark night of the soul that followed[00:36:00] What coming back into the body actually felt like[00:46:00] How the medicine wheel explains why so many people experience energy crashes and empty creation[00:53:30] What Women of Impact is — and what it's actually designed to do[01:01:00] Why healing isn't something you're always doing — it's a danceResources MentionedMany Lives, Many Masters by Brian WeissLet's Connect!Katherine PetrulloWebsite | InstagramChandler StroudWebsite | LinkedIn | InstagramHappiness Academy is now Healing Heroines, a signature space for women who are ready to feel more grounded, more peaceful, and more aligned — inside and out. Download a complimentary Healing Roadmap to discover our Past, Present, and Possible framework.Want personalized guidance for your healing journey? Book a call with Chandler!Mixing and editing provided by Next Day Podcast.Text message us questions, requests, or comments!

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Inner Peace: A Journey to Calm Amidst Chaos Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-07-29-07-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在夏天的一个阳光明媚的早晨，山间的小径上回荡着鸟儿的歌声，伴随着竹林的轻轻摇曳。En: On a sunny summer morning, the song of birds echoed along the mountain path, accompanied by the gentle swaying of bamboo groves.Zh: 峻岭静修营，正是这样一个宁静的地方，吸引了年轻的学生们前来寻求内心的平静。En: The Junling Retreat Center is such a tranquil place that attracts young students seeking inner peace.Zh: 于风是其中一位学生，En: Yufeng was one of the students.Zh: 他望着远处的山峰，心中充满了期待。En: He gazed at the distant peaks, filled with anticipation.Zh: 他来这里是想要学会如何管理自己的焦虑和学业压力。En: He came here hoping to learn how to manage his anxiety and the pressures of his studies.Zh: 与他同行的是他最好的朋友，美玲，她总是支持与乐观的源泉。En: Accompanying him was his best friend, Meiling, who was always a source of support and optimism.Zh: “于风，在这里感觉如何？”美玲笑着问道。En: "Yufeng, how do you feel here?" Meiling asked with a smile.Zh: “这里真美，”于风回答，“但我还是很难静下心来。”En: "It's beautiful," Yufeng replied, "but I still find it hard to calm down."Zh: 美玲微微一笑，拍拍他的肩膀：“别担心，我们一起努力。”En: Meiling smiled gently and patted his shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll work on it together."Zh: 这时，一位穿着简单道袍的中年男子走了过来。En: At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a simple Taoist robe approached.Zh: 他是静修营的导师，金海，学生们尊敬地称他为金海老师。En: He was the mentor of the retreat center, Jinhai, whom the students respectfully called Teacher Jinhai.Zh: 他智慧而耐心地引导大家练习正念冥想。En: He wisely and patiently guided everyone in practicing mindfulness meditation.Zh: “大家记得，放下手机，放下思虑，专注于自己的内心，”金海老师重复强调。En: "Remember, everyone, put down your phones, put aside your worries, and focus on your inner self," Teacher Jinhai repeatedly emphasized.Zh: 最初，于风感到困难。En: Initially, Yufeng struggled.Zh: 每天的冥想对他来说就像一场挑战。En: Daily meditation felt like a challenge for him.Zh: 他的思绪总是飘到未完成的作业和即将到来的考试。En: His thoughts always drifted to unfinished assignments and upcoming exams.Zh: 一天，他决定放下手机，与它断开连接，把全副心思投入到冥想中。En: One day, he decided to put down his phone, disconnect from it, and fully immerse himself in meditation.Zh: 在一次特别的冥想课上，金海老师让大家闭上眼睛，深呼吸，听潺潺的溪流声。En: During a special meditation class, Teacher Jinhai instructed everyone to close their eyes, take deep breaths, and listen to the sound of the flowing stream.Zh: 渐渐地，于风感觉到一种前所未有的宁静，他的思绪不再纷乱。En: Gradually, Yufeng felt an unprecedented serenity, and his thoughts were no longer chaotic.Zh: 在那一刻，他明白自己的压力来自对未来过度担忧。En: In that moment, he realized that his stress came from excessive worry about the future.Zh: 他逐渐学会了如何放下。En: He gradually learned how to let go.Zh: 经过几周的练习，于风的变化让每个人惊讶。En: After several weeks of practice, the change in Yufeng surprised everyone.Zh: 他的眼中多了一份平和与自信。En: There was an added sense of peace and confidence in his eyes.Zh: “谢谢你，美玲，也谢谢金海老师，”于风满怀感激地说，“我终于找到了内心的宁静。”En: "Thank you, Meiling, and thank you, Teacher Jinhai," Yufeng said gratefully, "I finally found inner peace."Zh: 离开静修营时，于风心中已不再惧怕城市的喧嚣。En: Upon leaving the retreat center, Yufeng no longer feared the hustle and bustle of the city.Zh: 他学会了在繁忙中也能找到属于自己的平衡。En: He learned how to find his balance even amidst busyness.Zh: 他知道，无论面临什么挑战，自己都能从容面对。En: He knew that no matter what challenges he faced, he could handle them with composure.Zh: 于风带着一种全新的力量回到了校园，准备迎接新的学期。En: Yufeng returned to the campus with a new sense of strength, ready to face a new semester.Zh: 在之后的日子里，这份宁静一直伴随他左右，让他更加从容自信地走向未来。En: In the days that followed, this tranquility accompanied him, allowing him to approach the future with greater composure and confidence. Vocabulary Words:echoed: 回荡path: 小径groves: 竹林tranquil: 宁静anticipation: 期待manage: 管理anxiety: 焦虑accompanying: 与...同行patience: 耐心mindfulness: 正念meditation: 冥想emphasized: 强调drifted: 飘chaotic: 纷乱unprecedented: 前所未有serenity: 宁静gradually: 逐渐let go: 放下composure: 从容gazed: 望source: 源泉wisely: 智慧struggled: 感到困难swaying: 摇曳disconnect: 断开连接immerse: 投入amidst: 中approached: 走过来bustle: 喧嚣serene: 平和

In this episode I sit down with Dave Nelson, author of The Tao of Flow and performance coach to C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies, whose work sits at the intersection of ancient Taoist wisdom, modern neuroscience, and elite performance science. Dave shares his own burnout story — the migraines, the exploding phone, the 2500 staff and the moment his body finally said enough — and we talk about what it actually means to balance the yin and the yang in your life, why most people never experience flow state even once, and how being regulated in the nervous system is the real foundation of high performance. We also get into breathwork, meditation, the magic of doing nothing, and why playfulness is not a luxury but a biological necessity.This one surprised me in the best way — deeply practical, honest, and full of things I needed to hear.Connect with Dave:https://taoofflow.ai/Instagram.com/davenelson.officialWORK WITH ME 1:1:❥Softening into self- 3 month 1:1 with Whats App Support: https://marina-yt.mykajabi.com/offers/PAWQhZHu❥❥1:1 Coaching with me: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWcZM5s9c2OjOLwoGMI5jE6rh_JAzjN2d_vCtuVe7e3pVGxw/viewformDOWNLOAD FOR FREE:Stay or Go: 5 Clarity Questions to Reconnect with Your Inner Knowing: https://marinatriner.com/stay-or-go-guideAttatchment Practice: Discover the actual blocks beneath the surface so you can actually have the deep intimacy you crave: https://marinatriner.com/attachment-practice Connect & Ground: 10 Incredible Somatic Practices for Nervous System Regulation: https://marinatriner.com/connect-and-groundAlive & Aligned: 7 Embodiment Practices For Self Connection: https://marinatriner.com/alive-and-alignedTrigger to Rooted: A step by step process of working with your triggers: https://marinatriner.com/trigger-2-rooted VIEW MY COURSES & RESOURCES:https://marinatriner.com/resources CONNECT WITH  ME:Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/marinatriner/ Subscribe to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@marinatriner Top Episode Quotes:"High performance is yin and yang. We all think it's all yang — but the mastery of flow, peak performance and longevity is being able to dance between the two." — Dave Nelson"The real secret of flow state is being able to relax in the most tense moment. That is where peak performance actually lives." — Dave Nelson"Most people live rushed and agitated and overthinking. And being stuck in the head — that's the hardest one to fix. Everything else is easy." — Dave Nelson"You want to be flow-ready every day — with a playful, regulated nervous system. That is level one. Being able to stay relaxed when you're triggered is level two." — Dave Nelson"Yin should be our natural state that we navigate through life from — and we enter short periods of yang when needed. Most of us have that completely backwards." — Dave Nelsonburnout recovery, nervous system regulation, flow state, somatic healing, trauma healing, yin and yang, high performance, breathwork, emotional regulation, survival mode, self trust, embodiment, inner child work, Taoism and wellness, stress and the body, regulation and productivity, deep within podcast, Dave Nelson, Tao of Flow, parasympathetic nervous system

What is the difference between tai chi and qigong—and why does that distinction matter? In this episode of Living the Tao Shorts, Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explain how qigong predates tai chi and how tai chi combines health-building qigong principles with a complete martial system. The discussion soon reaches a larger question: Should training produce a brief period of peak performance, even if the body pays for it later? Or should strength and power grow from a healthy foundation that can support you throughout your life? They explore longevity, the hidden martial side of tai chi, the importance of small stabilizing muscles, and why visible strength does not always equal lasting physical health. As Master Steenrod puts it, “You have to look at your lifespan when you're looking at a life plan.”     Video version here: https://youtu.be/ggUou5KaMmQ

Right, we're kicking off this new series on the Three Treasures - Jing, Qi, and Shen - and I've brought in an absolute legend to help us navigate this. Benny is a fixture around here, living just a stone's throw from the studio, and he's the perfect guide for this series. He comes from a hardcore performance background - sports, movement, the works - but he's spent years deep in the trenches of neurosomatic movement and nervous system work, which makes him the perfect bridge between high-level performance and ancient Taoist principles. We're starting with Jing, but forget the dusty, abstract textbook definitions. Benny's all about the "slow melt." He's here to talk about why we've all been drifting out of alignment and calling it "normal." We've basically turned the health space into another arena of performance where we're constantly searching for the next "optimal" diet or training style to fix us, while our nervous system - the canary in the coal mine - is trying to whisper that we're burning the candle at both ends. We're overriding fatigue, pushing through tension, and treating our body like a project rather than a relationship. Benny's work is all about coming back home to the body. He challenges us to stop treating stillness as just another "de-stress" ritual to check off a packed calendar. Instead, he reframes cultivation as gardening: it's about pulling the weeds - those unresolved tensions and habits - so you can actually grow something. It's not about adding more; it's about clearing space. We dig into why we're so good at ignoring those early signals, and how to stop treating your body like a problem to solve. It's an eye-opening conversation on remembering what's already there - protecting your base, honoring the whispers, and building a life that doesn't drain you dry. It's not easy, but it is real. Let's get to it. Key Points We Touch On Why the Three Treasures offer a different way of understanding health Cultivation as a lifelong relationship, not another wellness practice Coming home to your body instead of outsourcing your health Why stillness is essential for self-awareness The body as a relationship, not a problem to solve Learning to listen before trying to fix Protecting your essence in a world that constantly drains it How identity, conditioning, and performance disconnect us from ourselves Authenticity as the foundation of genuine health Preparing the ground for the journey through Jing, Qi, and Shen Resources: Websites / Platforms movementmonk.xyz - Benny's website Courses / Programs The Body Trust Experience - a new offering Benny's launching to help establish the foundations of this work Explore Our Transformative Program Onboarding/intro courses Practice Material  (EP#56) Embodied Movement with the Movement Monk Benny Fergusson

Trying harder can feel like the only option until it stops working. We sit down with Solala Towler, a longtime teacher of Qigong, Taoist meditation, and the Way of Tea, to explore a different approach: alignment over strain, flow over force, and practice that meets you where you are. Solala shares his personal path into Eastern philosophy, the early hunger for something more grounded than words, and the moment Taoist teachings clicked with a sense of “coming home.”From there, the conversation turns deeply practical. Solala explains how chronic fatigue syndrome left him bedridden, how Chinese herbs helped him stand again, and why Qigong became central to his healing journey. We talk about Taoism as the root of many Chinese medicine principles and how working with qi is not reserved for the ultra-fit or the already-calm. Standing, moving, seated, and even lying-down forms make Taoist meditation and Qigong accessible tools for stress relief, recovery, and steady energy.We also dig into the core Taoist principles that change how you live day to day: flexibility, authenticity, and especially wu wei, often misunderstood as doing nothing. Here it becomes something sharper and kinder: not forcing, not overextending, not pushing the river. The metaphor of water runs through it all, showing how adaptability can be strength rather than compromise. Finally, we explore why nature is considered the highest teacher in Taoism, and how seasonal rhythms can guide your body and mind back toward balance.If you found something helpful here, subscribe so you don't miss what's next, share the episode with a friend who needs a softer way forward, and leave a review. What's one place in your life where you could practice wu wei today?BECOME A CERTIFIED MINDFULNESS MEDITATION TEACHER Teach mindfulness with confidence and skill — without self-doubt, fear of judgment, or imposter syndrome. Our internationally accredited certification is for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and helping professionals. Accredited by the IMMA and CPD; endorsed by Gabor Maté and Rick Hanson. → https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certification/NEW HERE? START FREE Explore 3,000+ free guided meditations, scripts, and worksheets — for your own practice or to share with the people you teach. → https://mindfulnessexercises.com/free-mindfulness-exercises/ENJOYING THE PODCAST? Follow the show in your favorite app and leave a quick rating or review. It takes a moment, and it genuinely helps more teachers and practitioners find these conversations.———————————————————————————ABOUT THE SHOWMindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — the show explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.Each episode offers a mix o...

What if your destiny isn't something to figure out—but something to trust? Discover the Taoist path from overthinking and anxiety to peace, presence, and effortless flow. Are you constantly overthinking your future, worrying about making the wrong decision, or wondering whether fate has already determined your life? In this episode of Tao Dialogues, we explore the timeless Taoist question of fate versus flow and discover why peace comes not from predicting the future, but from trusting yourself to meet it. You'll learn how to let go of anxiety about the future, stop overthinking every decision, and embrace life's unfolding path with greater calm and confidence.Read the blog post that inspired this episode: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/p/universal-integrity [first blog post on this page] Our Tao Dialogues are powerful yet gentle teachings about authenticity, spirituality and finding emotional balance and flow in everyday life. These spoken-word episodes draw from David James Lees' practice as a Taoist monk and teacher, and expand upon popular posts on ‘David's Journal', his Substack blog.You can subscribe to David's Journal here: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comOther related teachings on our YouTube channel that will help you:TAO DIALOGUES PLAYLIST  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICamFP2zMyey3KGTnfm2aUq&si=AW_ZOUeldKv3nHhFSHEN (THE SPIRITUAL SELF) PLAYLIST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIBmp50wYcmU7jCBLp1Qvl-jINNER CHILD PLAYLIST  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICGLRS1b7q1HSJhZRash5qqIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Book an online Golden Thread Process & Inner Child Consultation with David: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/therapies-for-body-mind/ Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup -Disclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.Music by Earth Tree Healing

Ben Oofana spent decades learning from Native American healers, Taoist masters, and Hindu-Vedic teachers, not as an academic pursuit, but as a survivor seeking his own healing. In this conversation, he shares how unprocessed emotion lives in the body, why patterns repeat, and how breath and movement can finally help us let go. Https://teachmetomeditate.comInspire Vision Podcast is broadcast on K4HD Radio (www.k4hd.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).  Inspire Vision Podcast TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).  Inspire Vision Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

On this brief episode we talk about SDI's upcoming webinar series, The Tao and the Art of Spiritual Companionship.    The Tao and the Art of Spiritual Companionship: Insights for Deep Listening and Spiritual Presence $79.99 Many spiritual companions are meeting people who feel exhausted, anxious, polarized, spiritually dry, or overwhelmed by uncertainty. In moments like these, techniques often matter less than the quality of our presence. The Tao Te Ching points us towards flourishing and fulfilling life, without explanation. This ancient Chinese wisdom tradition invites us into a way of living and listening that flows with life. It points us toward something that spiritual directors sense: that the deepest accompaniment happens not when we do more, but when we release into a vital presence. This three-part series draws from seven essential Taoist themes into conversation with the practice of spiritual direction. Together we'll explore a fresh framework for deep listening that helps you accompany people with less striving and more trust. We'll explore not only how we accompany others, but how we inhabit our own inner life. Each session weaves together reflection, dialogue, and practical application. Rather than simply adding another technique, this series helps cultivate the inner posture from which meaningful spiritual companionship naturally flows. Anyone can participate in an SDI webinar! If you're not a member, just contact us at office@sdiworld.org for your pricing. https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/the-tao-and-the-art-of-spiritual-companionship/ --- Scott McRae has been offering spiritual direction and training for over 25 years and continues to provide ongoing educational resources through the Spiritual Direction Learning Lab. An ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he holds an M.Div. from Yale University. Scott's professional journey has spanned church and campus ministries, hospital chaplaincy, and leadership roles, all of which have shaped his approach to spiritual guidance. With three decades of experience training chaplains and spiritual directors, he brings deep wisdom and practical insight to his work. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Scott enjoys life with his wife, Melanie, their adult daughter, and their wonderfully quirky rescue dogs. He finds great joy in long walks, meaningful conversations, and fostering spiritual growth in others.

For years we've been told that resilience is the answer.Build resilience.Become stronger.Bounce back.And while resilience has served us beautifully, what if it was never meant to be the destination?In this deeply personal episode, I share the philosophy that has quietly been weaving itself through my work for years—a way of living I now call The Venusian Revolution.This isn't about rejecting resilience.It's about discovering what resilience has been preparing us for.A life that is not only healed...But fully alive.Together we'll explore the movement from fixing to remembering, from striving to relationship, and from simply surviving to becoming exquisitely available to life itself.Because healing is part of the journey.But aliveness is the destination.✨ In this episode, we explore:

A calming meditation to help you stop people pleasing without guilt, set healthy boundaries, and learn to say no with kindness and confidence - with Taoist monk and teacher, David James Lees. If you struggle to say no, constantly put others first, or feel guilty for setting boundaries, this guided meditation is for you. Drawing on Taoist wisdom, Inner Child healing, mindfulness, and gentle visualisation, this meditation helps you release people-pleasing patterns, overcome boundary guilt, and reconnect with your self-worth. Through calming breathing, affirmations, and compassionate reflection, you'll learn that healthy boundaries are not rejection—they are self-respect in action.⚠️ PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION WHILE DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERYThis meditation can be practised daily or whenever you need it. Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comSubscribe to David's FREE Journal: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Other teachings and guided meditations you may enjoy: How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt - The Shift From People Pleasing to Self-Respect https://youtu.be/lrAjVE5ezbI GUIDED MEDITATION PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIA12P7BftG6a18lIWFDjL35&si=bWWub6YyoZpXhFubLOVE & RELATIONSHIPS PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zID3yxrdCbbZFuKHCwgV6qhX&si=-zdah_z6MiSZIl0tIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Book an online Golden Thread Process & Inner Child Consultation with David: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/therapies-for-body-mind/ Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup -Disclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.Music by Earth Tree Healing

This episode we are taking a quick break from our overall story of Uno no Sarara (aka Jito Tenno) and we are focusing on Ise Shrine and Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. There is a lot, for a bit more, check out our podcast blogpost at:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-153   Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is Episode 153:  Ise and the Sun Goddess.   In the newly built hall of the Fujiwara Palace, the nobles of the court were gathered for a grand banquet.  Snow-white walls were off-set by bright crimson pillars and trim, highlighted by bright green windows.   The nobles themselves were a rainbow of colors, arranged as they were by rank.   At the head of it all, on a dais, sat the Queen herself, Uno no Sarara.  However, the attention was no longer on her.  Instead, it was on another figure, standing in front of the assembled audience.  A quiet spread throughout the hall, the court listening as Hieda no Are began to tell the story of the Sun Goddess in the Plain of High Heaven.  They listened to the story of her and Susano'o, and of the backward flayed horse.  They heard the tale of the Heavenly Rock Cave, and of all that came after, including the sending of the August Grandchild, Ninigi.  They listened to the story—the story of Yamato.   Last episode, we talked in more detail about Uno No Sarara—starting from her early years as the daughter of Naka no Ohoe, granddaughter of Soga no Kurayamada, and child-bride to her uncle, Ohoama.  I'll admit we didn't look too hard at that last bit, and I don't have enough information to confirm what exactly "marriage" entailed in that context, but it is still something that I find tremendously creepy and, unfortunately, anything but unique.  So I'm not going to dive too much further into it right now but… ew. We talked about how she gave birth to her son, Kusakabe, in Kyushu, during the war on the continent, and how she eventually left for Yoshino with her husband when he retired from court, presumably to outsmart his court rivals, who were positioning him to be taken out.  She also is said to have played a part in the planning and execution of the resulting Jinshin no Ran, later helping her husband govern the realm.  And now, she was on the throne, overseeing the completion of many of the projects started in the reign of her husband.  This included the completion of the Kiyomihara code, the Fujiwara palace, and the support given to the institution of Ise Grand Shrine. This episode, I want to dive into that last topic: the emphasis in Uno no Sarara's reign on  Ise Shrine and its focus, the Great God, Amaterasu no Ohokami.  Although the Chronicles talk about Amaterasu as one of the founding deities of the Yamato royal line, there is plenty of evidence that this story was grafted into the tales at a later date, and that worship of Amaterasu, at least as anything more than a minor deity, likely also started relatively late.  Some have even suggested that Ise Shrine itself wasn't even built until the late 7th century.  So, all of this focus on Ise and Amaterasu appears to be part of the larger effort to structure the physical, cultural, and spiritual landscape of the new Yamato state. Last episode we mentioned how, according to the Nihon Shoki,   Ohoama turned to worship towards Ise.  Well, specifically, he worshipped Amaterasu Ohokami.  So let's take a moment and talk about what we know of the history of this Great God of Heavenly Brightness. Unfortunately, most of that history is based on what we know of the kami from works like the Nihon Shoki, the Kojiki, and the Sendai Kuji Hongi, all of which came out in the 8th century or so.  As such, it can be hard to know what things were actually like, earlier on, as opposed to what was added or removed later. Much of what I'm going to be talking about, today, I'm going to be pulling from a book written in 2017 by Mark Teeuvwen [Tayvin?] and John Breen titled "A Social History of the Ise Shrines", as well as Michael Como's work "Weaving and Binding: Immigrant Gods and Female Immortals in Ancient Japan", published in 2009, along with other sources.  In their book, Breen and Teeuwen point out that for those who do not take the events of the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki at face value, there are two primary theories for the origin of the worship of Amaterasu: an early theory and  a late theory.  The early theory places the development of the worship of Amaterasu in the 5th and 6th centuries, during the reigns of such figures as Wakatakeru no Ohokimi, aka Yuuryaku Tennou.  The Late Theory places the development in the 7th century, largely at the feet of such figures as Ohoama and Uno no Sarara herself.  We'll take a look at the evidence and see what it says. I would note that compared to the official history, both of these would be very late theories.  According to Ise Grand Shrine even today, Amaterasu arrived in Ise in the 26th year of Ikume Iribiko, aka Suinin Tennou, as stated in the Nihon Shoki, which corresponds to 4 BCE if you take the dating of the Nihon Shoki to be accurate. Of course, we've already spent plenty of time talking about the problems with the Nihon Shoki prior to the 6th century CE, as well as how the political nature of the text affected what it contained. So to kick things off, let's address the biggest question of all: why don't we believe that Amaterasu no Ohokami was always the primary deity of the pantheon of Yamato, at the very least, if not all of the Wa people of the archipelago?  After all, isn't she a sun goddess, and isn't sun worship fairly well documented among the ancient Japanese?  Just take a look at words like "Hiko" and "Hime", referring to rulers as sun man and sun woman.  Also note that early on, worship seems to have centered around places such as mountaintops, which focused worship towards the sky and the highest point.  In fact, as wet rice paddy agriculture became the dominant economic factor driving the engine of the archipelago in the Yayoi and early kofun period, early shrines were very likely about bringing the spirit of the mountain from the mountaintop and giving them a home amongst the rice fields.. And then we have the stories.  Don't the ancient stories all tell about Amaterasu as the ruler of Takama no Hara, the Heavenly Plain?  And isn't it her grandchild that then descends to the earth to pacify the Land of the Reed Plains—aka the Japanese archipelago? Well let's take a look at those same stories, which we've covered in earlier episodes of the podcast.  The first deities mentioned in the Chronicles are deities like Ama no Minaka Nushi, Lord of the August Middle of Heaven; Takami Musubi, High August Growth; and Kami Musubi, Divine August Growth.  There are other deities, like Kuni Toko Tachi, but they are barely mentioned again. Later we get Izanagi and Izanami, the masculine and feminine, who create the world and give birth to numerous deities from that point on.  Among the children of Izanagi are said to be Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, and Susano'o.  Amaterasu, Heaven's Brightness, represents the sun while Tsukiyomi represents the dark of the moon.  Susano'o is then the god of the storms and seas, and was sent to the Nether Land, the Ne no Kuni. Right away we see that there are numerous different stories listed in the Nihon Shoki for just about everything.  Only the Kojiki gives everything as a single, coherent narrative, but surely the readers in the 8th century would have known some of these other stories, and thus the Nihon Shoki gives the alternates as well. Now the main narrative of the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki tells us that Ama-terasu no Oho-kami was born to rule over everything.  In the Nihon Shoki, Izanagi and Izanami specifically mention that divine destiny in Amaterasu's creation—although actually, in that part of the text, the deity they are creating is named Oho-hiru-me no Muchi; the Great Sun Female Holder.  And in the next entry they call Amaterasu: Ama-terasu Oho-hiru-me.  Tsukiyomi, the deity of the moon, is made to be her consort, and they are supposedly sent to rule the plain of Heaven, Takama no Hara. The problem is that there are other entries that suggest that Takama no Hara already had a ruler:  Taka-mi-Musubi.  Reading the sections on Taka-mi-Musubi, we see a deity who is said to have produced 1500 children, himself—no mention of Izanagi and Izanami.  Some of his children are mentioned as Omohi-kane:  the Thought-Combining deity, and Sukuna-bikona: the Little-Prince-Named deity. Amatsu Hiko Hiko Ho Ninigi no Mikoto, the August Heavenly Prince, Prince Ho-ninigi, is not just a grandson of Amaterasu no Ohokami, but also a grandchild of Taka-mi Musubi.  In at least one story, Takami Musubi is the one who wants Ninigi no Mikoto to become the ruler of the Central Land of the Reed Plains.  Towards that end, he gathers the various kami and chooses someone to go down and prepare the way—Ama-ho-hi no Mikoto—who was to quote-unquote "expel and subdue" the evil gods of that land.  We covered this story in episode 21 and 22.  When that doesn't work, he gathers them again, sending others to try and do the same.  Eventually he sends Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi down.  All of this sounds like Taka-mi Musubi, whose name appears to refer to being the "high" deity, was the one in charge. In addition, we have the court ritual from sources like the Engi Shiki, which illustrates the deities that were invoked for the protection of the palace and the royal family.  These were:  Kami-musubi, Takami-musubi, Iku-musubi, Taru-musubi, Tamatsume-musubi, Oomiya-no-me, Oomiketsu-no-kami and Kotoshironushi.  One might notice a lot of the "musubi" names among the deities, and a distinct lack of appeal to Amaterasu.  If Amaterasu were the central deity and ancestral deity of the royal family, why is she not invoked in the rituals of the court itself? The thought, here, is that these rituals are likely much older than the worship of Amaterasu, and while Amaterasu would come to prominence in the stories that the court would tell, it was much more difficult for them to rearrange the traditional rituals to put her front and center.  Those rituals were maintained by ritualist families like the Nakatomi, and they weren't likely to change the rituals willy-nilly, even for a sovereign.  That was playing with supernatural fire, after all—if you changed the rituals, would they still even be effective?  Granted, rituals do change, so it isn't a perfect argument; perhaps it was just not considered to be important enough to make the change since it was not something that anyone except the court ritualists needed to worry themselves over.  Either way, it appears that we do have a list of deities that may have been the deities of the ruling elite prior to the rise of Amaterasu and Ise shrine more generally. We have a few other clues of what was going on in the narrative.  For instance, we see the story from the reign of Mimaki Iribiko, aka Sujin Tennou, also called the First Sovereign of Yamato, despite the legendary figures inserted prior to his reign.  It is in this chapter that we see a note that Ama-terasu no Oho-kami and Yamato no Oho-kuni-dama, which is to say the Spirit of the Country of Yamato, were both worshipped together in the hall—that is in the royal palace itself.  And yet apparently Mimaki Iribiko feared these deities residing with him in the palace, and he had their worship moved to locations outside of the palace.  Amaterasu's worship was given to Toyosuki-iri-bime, one of Mimaki Iribiko's daughters, and established in the district of Shiki, in Yamato.  Yamato no Ohokunidama, on the other hand, was given over to Nunaki-iri-bime no Mikoto, another daughter through a different wife. but we are told that she was lean, and her hair was falling out, and so she couldn't perform the rites.  Turning our attention back to Ama-terasu—in the reign of Ikume-Iribiko, aka Suinin Tennou, son and heir of Mimaki Iribiko, the worship of Ama-terasu would pass from Mimaki Iribiko's daughter, Nunaki Iri Bime to Ikume Iribiko's daughter, Yamato Hime.  She would move the worship site from Shiki to Uda, in the shadow of Mt. Miwa, and then proceed over to the upper banks, or Kawakami, of Isuzu, in the district of Watarai.  Here, in one of the alternate stories about this episode, we get the Great God of Yamato—Ohoyamato no Ohokami—speaking through a medium to warn the sovereign that he had better be careful.  Mimaki Iribiko had not been quite thorough enough in his worship, so he had not had a long life, and if Ikume Iribiko didn't do the same, he would suffer a similar fate. And so, in a record eerily similar to what we see in the previous reign, the worship of the "Great God of Yamato", the Oho-Yamato no Oho-kami, is given to Nunaki-waka-hime—as opposed to Nunaki-Iri-bime—who also fails in the task because of her emaciated body.  This also introduces Fukayu nushi, an ancestor of the Nakatomi, who was the one who divined what should be done. There is so much to unpack in these stories.  For one, the kami bring power, but also danger.  One can try to placate the kami, but it isn't like a ritual will always work, and the story is of the sovereign being actively afraid of what they might do, so they were removed from the palace.  Then there is the fact that we see two seemingly similar names—Ohoyamato no Ohokami and Yamato no Kunidama both seem like we are talking about the same spirit of Yamato, though some would point out that one is the spirit of the country and one is the great kami of the country, so, clearly different. Both are also being given to someone named "Nunaki—something-something—Hime", and in both cases Nunaki seems to fail in her task because she is apparently not hot enough for the kami.  She's described as too thin and emaciated or balding.  We aren't given the lineage of Nunaki Waka Hime, but Nunaki Iri Bime is connected with the land of Owari.  Nunaki Iri-bime is said to be the daughter of Mimaki Iribiko and Ohoama Hime, ancestor of the Owari no Muraji.  Owari was the land that supported Ohoama during the Jinshin no Ran. Finally, in both cases, we see the worship of the spirit of Yamato being given over to someone name "Nagochi", later identified as Nagochi no Sukune, ancestor of the Yamato no Atahe. One more note—closely on the heels of moving these two kami out of the palace, we see that the court brings in the worship of Oho-mono-nushi, the god of Mt. Miwa, under Ohotataneko, the ancestor of the Miwa clan. So the stories here account for Ama-terasu being moved to Watarai and why she isn't worshipped in the palace.  It also places Oho-mono-nushi at the center of worship in Yamato.  Oho-mono-nushi and Miwa continue to dominate the narrative from here on out, with a few notable exceptions, such as with Okinaga Tarashi Hime, aka Jingu Tennou and her mythical conquest of the Korean peninsula.  I'm sure that had no political implications at all given everything that had happened with Baekje, Silla, and the Tang dynasty in the latter half of the 7th century.  Other than scenes like that, however, the Miwa clan and worship of the Miwa deity appear frequently in the narrative.  It is clear that Mt. Miwa, and its deity, were important, and when Breen and Teeuwen hypothesize that when Naka no Ohoe, which is to say Tenji Tennou, took the drastic step of moving the capital up to Ohotsu, in the land of Afumi, he also brought the Miwa deity with him.  Those Afumi court rituals were conducted under the auspices of the Nakatomi, and particularly the auspices of Nakatomi no Kane, who would become one of the chief opponents of Ohoama during the Jinshin no Ran in 672.  After that conflict, Ohoama and his wife, Uno no Sarara, were building new traditions using Ise and constructing new legends.  Legends that would be under their control and influence and which would further bolster their rule from the city that they had designed to fit inside of this newly constructed cosmological framework. And yet this also brings up what seems like an obvious question.  If Ise Shrine and the worship of Amaterasu were so central to Ohoama and Uno's plans, then why would they put it so far away?  Proponents of the "early" theory of the development of Amaterasu and Ise Shrine suggest that the answer lies in the text of the Chronicles.  That there is some truth to the idea that there was worship in Yamato and that, for various reasons, it moved out to Watarai district early on and developed into Ise Shrine.  Those who hold to the "late" theory of development see all of those stories as later inserts meant to explain away why Ise Shrine was so far away—and perhaps why Amaterasu was not included in the cool-kami club of court ritual.   Teeuwen and Breen mention a few of the theories, from Naoki Koujiro stressing Ise as a strategic gateway between Yamato and Eastern Japan to Tanaka Takashi proposing that the movement of Amaterasu to Ise is actually a stand-in for one or more military campaigns to that area to bring it under Yamato control. And before we move too much further in the narrative, let's talk about how Ise is physically and geographically situated.  Ise is part of modern Mie prefecture, on the eastern edge of the Ki peninsula.  It is at the southern end of a series of adjoining alluvial plains that follow the coastline north to the modern prefectures of Aichi and Gifu—the ancient provinces of Owari and Mino.  The capital of Ise Province used to be in Suzuka, near the the two Tsubaki shrines which both lay claim to the title of Ise no Ichinomiya, the First shrine of the land of Ise, and the pass that served as one of three major routes from eastern Japan into the Home Provinces and beyond.  This puts Ise about as far away as you can get from the capital of the province without going over the mountains, themselves.  It also puts it a good deal south of most major travel routes.  If you are going to Ise shrine then it is pretty clear you were going to Ise shrine, as there isn't a lot of evidence for anything else in the area. The Shrine itself is actually made up of two primary shrine complexes.  There is the Naiku, the inner shrine, and the Geku, or outer shrine.  The Naiku, or inner shrine, is probably the area most people think about.  It is at the foot of the mountains where the Shimamichi River joins the Isuzu River and both flow out of the mountains.  The Naiku contains the shrine to Amaterasu no Ohokami, and is famous for its layout, where there are actually two shrine enclosures, one next to the other.  The main shrine is then rebuilt in the empty enclosure every 20 years, at which point the worship is moved to the new shrine, the old shrine is torn down, and the cycle is started once again. The Outer Shrine, or Geku, is further north, and probably not as well known to foreigners.  The Geku is said to enshrine the spirit of Toyouke-bime, a kami dedicated to food.  According to the traditions of the Geku itself, Toyouke-bime was enshrined in the Geku at the command of Wakatakiru no Ohokimi, aka Yuuryaku Tennou, based on a dream. Regarding the history of why the Shrines—both Inner and Outer—are located here, archaeological evidence doesn't give us a lot to suggest that these might be the case.  Despite the presence of the Miya River near Ise Shrine, we haven't found evidence of a large harbor or port, like we might expect if it was the jumping off point for crossing Ise Bay—or even the center of another large polity.  Instead, the areas to the north—around Fujikata and Matokata inlets, for instance—show much more evidence of occupation and, presumably, use.  Heck, the modern district of Fujikata is in the town of "Tsu", which literally means "port".  And the capital area of Suzuaka and the Ichinomiya of Tsubaki Grand Shrine is even farther north, still.  So who, if anybody, was living down in the area of Ise Shrine?  If we look at the progression of tomb mounds in the area in previous centuries, we see that they start in the Matokata region in the 5th century and work their way down towards the south, with late 5th century tombs found in the district of Taki, the district bordering on Watarai and modern Ise City to the northwest.  It is also where you can find the Saikuu, the site of the old purification palace for the Shrine Princesses.  Grave goods seem to show close ties with Yamato, in the Nara basin.  While the tombs expanded to the south through the 5th century, they appear to have stopped altogether in the 6th century—or at least we haven't found any.  This may indicate that the political situation had changed and there was no group in the area that could organize the labor for such an undertaking.  Whether that was because Yamato was taking it as corvee labor or just that population had dwindled due to war, famine, or something else, I don't know that we could say. Around the year 600, at the opening of the 7th century, we do see a large grave mound erected in the core area of what would later become Ise Shrine, on the east side of the Miya River, overlooking what would become the Geku, the Outer Shrine of the Ise complex.  For those who aren't aware, Ise Grand Shrine is a large complex of shrines, and it is divided into two main areas.  The "inner shrine", or Naiku, is where most people go, and it is the site of the famous shrine building that is supposed to be rebuilt every 20 years.  The Geku is the "outer shrine" complex, technically dedicated to Toyouke hime, a kami of agriculture.  The kofun overlooking the outer shrine is known as the Takakurayama kofun.  This is a round kofun, about 35 to 40 meters in diameter, with a horizontal stone chamber.  It is the largest in the Ise region.  It has been mentioned in records going back to at least the Kamakura era, and even though most of the grave goods are gone, there is evidence that it was richly appointed.  Given its shape and location, there were even those in later centuries who connected it with the Heavenly Rock Cave in which Amaterasu hid according to the ancient stories. The fact that there was nothing around this area and suddenly we see a giant tomb mound is pretty puzzling.  Why was it built here?  Is it connected to the founding of the Outer Shrine in some way, or is that just coincidental?  Teeuwen and Breen point out that it is pretty rare for a large tomb mound to be build in the precincts of an active shrine, which suggests that whatever was happening there, that area was not part of the shrine grounds.  That said, I have to wonder if the ritual worship at the kofun might not have later been transformed or coopted into something else.  There also is no other indication that the Outer Shrine area was used for ritual purposes any earlier than the kofun would have been built.  In contrast, around the Inner Shrine area, several kilometers away, there are caches of beads dated to the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries in a small valley where a brook runs down from Mt. Asama, not too far from the current shrine complex.  Teeuwen and Breen suggest that this may relate to the "upper reaches of the Isuzu River", mentioned in the Chronicles, and that it may have had to do with rituals related to water supply—hence being found at the point where the water was coming down from the mountains.  And yet, despite these finds, there really aren't any large scale archaeological remains that have been discovered east of the Miya river, though there are modest signs of dwelling and habitation, and some minor burials mounds. Compare this to Tsubaki shrine, the home of Saruta Hiko no Kami, and the main shrine of Ise, situated in the ancient capital of Ise no Kuni.  Downstream from there are numerous tomb mounds and indications of habitation.  So this was probably the center for early sun worship in the region. Teeuwen and Breen conclude that all of this indicates that the region of Taki and areas east of the Miya river were probably more of an outpost—no major powerful chieftains or large polity had set up in the region.  In the late 6th century, some power had to move in to build Takakurayama kofun, but that was an outlier.  Maybe this area just largely fell under Yamato hegemony.  And perhaps that was the key.  Perhaps initially this wasn't a place to center power and authority, but rather it was more like a prison.  It was a place far away from the court, where a deity that was more of a threat could be kept away from the palace and the sovereign.  Perhaps Amaterasu, or whoever the kami was at the time, was placed out here because of the threat they posed, much as the Chronicle seems to suggest—just not necessarily at the time that is suggested. One of the aspects of the mythmaking that we see in the Chronicles appears to be the stress on the Amatsu kami and Kunitsu Kami—the Heavenly deities and the Earthly deities.  The Heavenly deities are those in Takama no Hara, and they are the progenitors of the royal line.  On the other hand are the earthly kami, the Kunitsu Kami, those dwelling on the earthly plane.  In the stories that were recorded in the Nihon Shoki, before the August Grandchild of Takami Musubi and Ama Terasu descended to take control of the Central Land of the Reed Plain, they sent down heavenly kami as warriors to subdue the earthly kami.  On the one hand, this may have been driven by some kind of deep memory of early conquests of the archipelago by various forces.  However, these legends also served another purpose, in that they set up the royal family's right to rule, and appear to establish a de facto hierarchy between those families descended from the Heavenly Kami and those descended from the earthly Kami. Another thing that Teeuwen and Breen point out and that is that Amaterasu is not necessarily a female deity, to start with.  In fact, Amaterasu was probably easily overlain atop the worship of Oho-mono-nushi of Mt. Miwa, at least early on.  To that point, they note stories where Oho-mono-nushi and other deities were commonly depicted as arrows, snakes, or similarly phallic imagery finding or even penetrating women who were thought to have a connection with them.   This suggests a context of these priestesses being married to the kami, and even fits in with early descriptions of individuals like the famous Queen Himiko being a spiritual leader as well as a political one.  If the original Amaterasu was conceived of as a male deity, then this could also explain the tradition of the Saigu, the consecrated shrine princess.  We only see a few royal princesses designated to the position up to this point in the narrative, and, beyond Tokosuki Iri bime and Yamato hime, we don't necessarily learn much more.  One wonders if there weren't other royal princesses likewise sent elsewhere to serve other deities.  We know about Nunaki Iri Hime, and presumably Nunaki Waka Hime.  There was also Yamato Totohi Momoso Hime, who was married to Oho-mono-nushi.  Presumably there were others who just never ended up in the stories that were passed down. The idea of a kami taking a "wife" and connecting that to the idea of women holding these priestly positions seems to fall in line with much of what we see, though, as I said, we only hear occasionally about the appointment of royal princesses to the position until the reign of Ohoama.  That's when we see specifics about appointments, the purification palace in Hase, and other arrangements.  It makes you wonder more than a little bit if Royal Princess Ohoku was, perhaps, the first royal princess to actually be appointed.  It would have been easy enough to add in previous "shrine princesses" into the lineage, especially far enough back that nobody could really fact check it.  We also see Royal Princess Taki journey to Ise with her companions, Princess Yamashiro no Hime and Lady Ishikawa. It is intriguing that this practice was temporarily interrupted during the reign of Uno no Sarara, as I mentioned last episode.  Could this have something to do with a female ruler on the throne and a corresponding lack of urgency about having a female representative at Ise? And in stories about Amaterasu, she is frequently shown with certain masculine qualities.  When she confronts her younger brother, Susano'wo, she is concerned that he might try to take her authority from her, so she meets him decked out in armor, her hair tied up in a typical male fashion, with a bow, ready for a fight.  It would be just as easy to imagine that Amaterasu and Susano'wo were brothers, contending over rulership.  Add to all of that the idea that kami were often personifications of various natural phenomena or ideas, and Japanese is not a naturally gendered language, and there are those that believe that the stories of Amaterasu were not necessarily about a female deity in the beginning, but a male deity, similar to Ohomono Nushi and others, who then took on a feminine persona.  On the other hand there are passages in the old stories recounted in the Chronicles that clearly make Amaterasu out to be a woman. To start with the activities she is associated with, such as weaving, are often associated with women as something they do in the home.  This is a tradition carried over from the continent, along with silk and the techniques to weave it.  In the lands where silk production started, there are silkworm goddesses and the gendered nature of silk production and weaving appears to have come over to Japan as well.  There is also the fact that Amaterasu is said to have another name:  Oho-hiru-me no muchi.  In this case, it would seem to mean something like Great Noontime Female Possessor.  And in the weaving hall it is sometimes Amaterasu that is weaving and sometimes Waka Hirume.  "Hirume" certainly feels like a feminine name. There is the distinct possibility that the stories of Amaterasu as recorded were actually about two or more different kami, so Amaterasu and Ohohirume could have been separate deities having to do with the sun that were rolled into a single kami.  As mentioned before, it is also possible that Amaterasu ended up with some stolen valor taken from the other Ise deity worshiped at Tsubaki, Saruta-hiko no Kami.   Teeuwen and Breen also note that the name "Amaterasu" is hardly unique, noting at least ten other shrines with a kami called "Amateru" or "Amaterasu", mostly in Yamato, but some as far away as Kyushu and Tsushima.  Nine of those shrines were dedicated to Ame no Hoakari, an ancestor deity of the Owari lineage who was also closely tied to metalworking.  It is worth remembering that it was Owari who helped support Ohoama during the Jinshin no Ran, and who may have even fostered Ohoama for a while when he was just a young prince.  All that to say there may have been several different traditions that were all contributing different elements to the story. And then there is the connection between Amaterasu and Uno no Sarara. Herman Ooms, in his book: "Imperial Politics and Sybmolics in Ancient Japan", notes the similarities between Amaterasu and Uno no Sarara, talking about the differences between the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, both of which had events that mirrored Uno no Sarara's own life.  According to Ooms, "The Kojiki's Amaterasu is a transparent double of the female tennou Jitou".  He points out that Uno no Sarara, besides her posthumous title of Jitou Tennou, also had a title making reference to Takamanohara:  Takama no Hara Hirono no Hime—the Princess High-Heaven-Plain.  But beyond that, we also see other linkages between the stories.  For instance, it isn't Amaterasu's son, Ame no Oshihomimi who is given the realm, but rather her grandchild, Ninigi.  This parallels the way that Uno no Sarara's son, Kusakabe, didn't ascend to the throne, but instead Uno no Sarara was holding the seat for his son, her grandson.  So one sees how Uno no Sarara could be seen as Amaterasu, and her grandson, Prince Karu, could be seen as Ninigi, the August grandchild.  Teeuwen and Breen also note that during this same time, we see the rise of a new institution: the Jingikan.  Again, we touched on this last episode, so just a quick recap:  The Jingikan was a government organization set up specifically to oversee the shrines, rituals, ceremonies, and other such things pertaining to the kami matters.  It does not appear in the initial stand-up of the new, bureaucratic government, wherein is created the bureaus, ministries, or departments, depending on your chosen vernacular, which make up the Dajokan, the Great Council of State.  Instead, the Jingikan is a separate organization, specifically organized around kami matters. The term "Jingi" is also a shorthand for "Ama-tsu-kami, Kuni-tsu-kami", or the kami of Heaven and the Kami of the earth.  "Ama-tsu-kami", meaning Kami of Heaven, was written with two characters meaning "Heaven" and "Kami", pronounced "Tenjin".  "Kuni-tsu-kami", or the Kami of the Earth, was written as "Earth" and "Earth Spirit", which was then pronounced "Chigi".  By taking the last character of each compound Tenjin-Chigi becomes just Jingi, for short.  Throughout the Chronicles, this term, "Jingi" is thrown around when they want to quickly note all the kami, together, though sometimes it is fully written out as "Tenjin Chigi", as well.  Interestingly, "Tenjin" or "Ama tsu Kami", sometimes appears alone, especially in the chapters on the Age of the Gods.  However, "Chigi" seems to only be used in the whole phrase.  There are a few instances, however, of "Chijin" being used, but they are few. That said, the term "Jingikan", also read as "Kami Tsukasa" or even "Kan Zukasa",  doesn't appear until 690, in the reign of Uno no Sarara.  This probably means that it was part of the reforms encompassed by the Kiyomihara codes.  The head of the Jingikan is known as the Jingihaku or "Kan-zukasa no Kami".  This term actually shows up well in advance of the Jingikan itself, initially referring to an unnamed official or officials in charge of kami worship at the court.  Nakatomi no Kamatari is said to have been offered the position in the first reign of Takara, aka Kougyoku Tennou, though the first confirmed individual appears to be Nakatomi no Ohoshima, during the reign of Uno no Sarara. This appears to be a distinctly Yamato invention in the bureaucratic system.  It leverages the language and structure of the Tang dynasty, but in its own way.  There was a Tang department of shrines, but it was described differently, as befits a different spiritual environment focused on ancestor worship and Confucian and Taoist ideas.  The Jingikan system  seems to have been a deliberate re-organization of the indigenous kami worship, incorporating what was probably traditional roles into the new bureaucratic system.  In so doing, however, it also gave the court greater control, and given that this was happening at the same time as the establishment of various stories and myths around Ise and the foundation more generally, it appears to be part of a concerted and deliberate effort to construct a new narrative. All of this points to them architecting much of what was going on, from the stories to the landscape.  Ohoama likely built the inner shrine as we know it.  If it really was an obscure, out-of-the-way shrine, perhaps that also meant that there weren't any other powerful court factions that were enhanced by it.  And then, over time, the Ise shrine and the deity there could be better incorporated into the overall myths and stories that surrounded the formation of Yamato.  A new Yamato, one that would soon enough be referring to itself as the origin of the Sun:  Nippon, a name often attributed to Ohoama and Uno no Sarara, though not found in the record of their reigns in the Chronicles. Another aspect to all of this, however, is what happened immediately after Uno no Sarara's reign, and into the 8th and early 9th centuries.  In the 8th century—the Nara period—Buddhism started to merge with a lot of the local practices.  This was not uncommon.  Buddhism had been born in a land with myriad deities and styles of worship, and it had the means to incorporate local deities into its cosmological worldview.  Kami were just other beings, stuck in the cycle of rebirth, who, as sentient beings, could equally benefit from the Buddha's teachings.  They became guardians of Buddhist institutions, and the lines between shrines and temples were often blurred.  At the same time, kami worship was also taking on various concepts from continental worship, such that even today we find a lot of what we might consider Taoist practices influencing Shinto worship. Had this continued, worship of the kami may have been completely subsumed into the Buddhist ritual practices, but there were areas where kami worship remained distinct.  One of these was at Ise. Early on, there was an attempt to build a temple at Ise, but it didn't last long.  The temple was eventually moved out of the shrine complex, and then eventually it was removed altogether.  Later writings from the Shrine would include certain Buddhist terms among the things that were taboo within the shrine grounds, considering Buddhism as something of a corrupting or polluting influence.  Shrine Princeses, during their tenure, had to devote themselves to the kami, and though they might retire as nuns, later in life, during their appointment they were to be free of any Buddhist influences.  In many ways this would make Ise a prime example of what would eventually be termed "Shinto", which gave it, and the worship of Amaterasu, a certain pride of place.  Of course, it didn't hurt that it was also intertwined with the State and the founding myths of the nation.  As such, Ise Shrine and its worship would become a template for many others to follow, helping to shape what we know as "Shinto" today. There are still a lot of questions.  We don't exactly know what Uno no Sarara did on her trip to Ise Shrine, and we don't know how things surrounding the worship at Ise and of Amaterasu herself changed in the intervening years between when these events happened and when, about two to three decades later, the Chronicles were finalized and published.  Certainly some of this seems tied to the Fujiwara capital, which was no longer populated at that point, the move to Heijo-kyo, in Nara, occurring between 708 and 710, two years before the Kojiki and a decade before the Nihon Shoki would come out.  And yet, the three sacred mountains that were incorporated into the plan of the Fujiwara Capital, Mt. Kagu, Mt. Miminashi, and Mt. Unebi, seem to continue to be important.  This is especially true of  Mt. Kagu, whose heavenly counterpart, Ame no Kaguyama—literally Heavenly Mt. Kagu— continues to play a major role in the stories surrounding Amaterasu and the Heavenly Rock Cave.  In addition,Mt. Unebi is closely tied to the story of Iware-biko, aka Jimmu, conquering and settling the land—perhaps to draw attention away from the stories about Mimaki and Ikume iribiko, aka Sujin and Suinin, who were both associated more with Mt. Mimoro, aka Mt. Miwa.  So even though the physical presence was moved, by that point we know that foundation of many of these stories were likely laid down around the time that the Fujiwara capital was in operation.  What does seem clear is that, just as there were clear efforts to set up the new State government, including the new capital, the court were also taking control of other levers of power and influence.  We previously talked about how they had created National Temples and included government positions to oversee Buddhist affairs more generally.  With Ise and the creation of the Jingikan, it appears as though that trend continued with the traditional kami worship. Many of the elite families still had connections to their own shrines, with their own kami.  Through the stories collected and written down—with a few editorial additions to help place them in an approved context—they were able to construct a narrative from separate or divergent traditions.  These traditions had already accreted to themselves various stories and culture-ways, some of them with clear links to the continent and others with overlapping portfolios.  The kami, and the ability to intercede with them for their blessings or to avert their wrath, were a form of power that was being structured for the purpose of supporting the new State.  A state now under the control of one Uno no Sarara. And we don't exactly have to wonder about this… the preface of the Kojiki all but says it.  They put the words in the mouth of Ohoama, or, as they call him, the Sovereign of the Kiyomihara Palace.  But the words are pretty clear: "I hear that the Imperial Records and Ancient Writing handed down by the various houses have come to differ from the truth and that many false hoods have been added to them. If these errors are not remedied at this time, their meaning will be lost before many years have passed. This is the framework of the state, the great foundation of the imperial influence. Therefore, recording the Imperial Records and examining the Old Writings, discarding the mistaken and establishing the true, I desire to hand them on to later generations." With that, 28 year old Hieda no Are was given the command to learn all the stories and presumably to recite them for the court.  And several decades later, Oho no Yasumaro was given the task to take Are's stories and write them down.  I imagine that Hieda no Are, or perhaps someone else who had learned the stories well enough, would be called into court or banquets to present some of the stories, or would be asked questions if there was any need for precedence.  Thus creating a single source for truth, according to the administration.  At the same time, the court had a problem.  They couldn't control all of the sources of written material, with all of the various contradictions, so we also would eventually get the more comprehensive—but also less narratively direct—Nihon Shoki as well.  After all, the game of propaganda was being played at many levels, and while the royal household had their motivations—primarily to support the legitimacy of their claim to power and the system within which that claim was validated— other families wanted to ensure that they were properly recorded as having connections to traditional nexuses of power—be that the ancient kami of Heaven or Earth, or their relationship to the royal family.  This is because precedence was important, even as new traditions were being created.  Like the way that the Mononobe and the Nakatomi played important roles in Uno no Sarara's ascension ceremony despite the actual individuals using new or different names, like Isonokami or Fujiwara.  See Episode 151 for the explanation, there.  And new traditions were much easier to justify if you could connect them with older traditions—whether those older traditions were truly ancient or newly made inventions. And all of this suggests that this was not an accident and it wasn't simply being imposed from the top down.  One could be charitable and suggest that those involved felt that this got them closest to what the truth actually was, given that they had now been inculcated in a new worldview and they were trying to view the ancient stories through the interpretive lens of that worldview.  On the other hand, they were ultimately doing it to structure power and authority that favored them and the government they had created.  A government that they hoped would outlast them, and be passed on to their descendants. Next episode, we will continue our discussion of Uno no Sarara's life and reign and the incredible steps she took to ensure that her line would continue to rule Yamato for decades. Until then if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

In this episode of Return To Yin (previously Soulthentic) Podcast, I interview the radiant Solla Pizzuto, Senior Chi Nei Tsang and Universal Tao teacher trained by Master Mantak Chia. Together, we explore Solla's powerful path into Taoist healing arts and how Chi Nei Tsang, an abdominal massage rooted in ancient Taoism can release emotional imprints. Solla shares how she came to this practice, how it transformed her relationship with her body and spirit, and why womb healing is vital for reclaiming our intuitive, creative power. She speaks with depth, humor, and wisdom, offering guidance for anyone curious about the energetic body, feminine embodiment, and the Taoist path of inner alchemy.Topics Covered:— What is Chi Nei Tsang and how does it work?— The journey of becoming a Universal Tao teacher— The power of womb wisdom and womb work— Using modalities for healing: sound, somatics, manual therapy, abdominal work— Healing of the feminine energy— Practical tips for practitioners and people wanting to know more about emotional healingFeel free to like, comment and share to anyone who would appreciate this conversation.Resources & Links

Can you have plenty of energy and still be powerless? In this Living the Tao Short, Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explore the difference between Qi and karma. Qi is life energy — the force connected to health, vitality, and the feeling of being alive. Karma, in this teaching, is something different. Karma is the energy of choice. This episode looks at why some choices fail even when they seem possible, why a person can burn through their available karma trying to force a result, and why big goals are often better approached through smaller successful steps. The discussion also explores why successful choices release karma, why distant or overly complex goals may fail to produce a yield, and why nature often works through repeated small actions rather than giant abstract plans. A clear and practical short on Qi, karma, choice, power, and the hidden cost of trying to make something happen before the power is there.   Video version here: https://youtu.be/ggUou5KaMmQ

In this sixth episode of The Cunning Farmer, Todd Elliott and I tromp-on through Chapter 6 (Agrarian Weather Magik) of his pivotal book, The Cunning Farmer: Agrarian Magical Practices, Mythology, and Folklore, discussing language and the rite of prayer to participate in the weather of Earth....Learn more about our other podcast: The Language of Irish Mythology Podcast.Join the Unshod Substack (for free) and commune with us! Purchase The Cunning Farmer HERE.Learn more about Daniel's work HERE.The Cunning FarmerA guide to restoring the ancient relationship between farming and magicExplores how to reconnect with nature and use practical, nature-based magic for gardening and farming, fertility, and abundanceExamines Moon work, plant magic, forest deities, Earth energies, weather magic, the cosmology of ritual, and how to work with land spiritsDiscusses folk magic traditions of North America and Western Europe, including the grimoire tradition, Western esotericism, alchemy, Kabbalah, and shamanism as well as Taoist principles and ReikiMagic and farming, in the minds of ancient people, were not separate realms of life, but both were woven inextricably into the way people lived. Through libations, prayers, hymns, dances, sacrifices, and rituals, ancient farmers connected to the sacred forces, the gods, nature spirits, and ancestors to make the crops grow, keep the herds healthy, the weather favorable, and release energies of fertility. These rural farmer priests and priestesses of the ancient past are the spiritual ancestors of today's cunning farmers.This book explores folk magic traditions of North America and Western Europe, including the grimoire tradition and the practices of witches and cunning folk for increased fertility. Todd draws on Western esotericism, Taoist principles, alchemy, Kabbalah, Reiki, and shamanism to show how to use practical, nature-based magic, just like our ancestors, for more abundant gardening and farming. He shows how to work with land spirits, including meeting the place spirit of your land—the genius loci. He also explores working with Earth and Moon energies, plant magic and forest deities, and ritual. Learn how to deepen your connection to elemental and celestial forces and explore the idea of rewilding the imagination to enhance your relationship with nature and the spirits that call it home.

Setting boundaries doesn't make you selfish—it helps you stop people-pleasing, release guilt, and protect your peace with calm confidence. Do you feel guilty saying no or worry that setting boundaries will disappoint others? In this video, we explore why people-pleasing creates unhealthy patterns and how Taoist wisdom can help you set healthy boundaries without anger, conflict, or self-doubt. You'll learn how to communicate with calm clarity, build self-respect, and create relationships based on honesty instead of approval.With your hosts, David James Lees (ordained Taoist monk, emotional and spiritual health teacher) and Alexandra Lees (mindset and business coach).Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comSubscribe to David's FREE Journal: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Other related teachings on our YouTube channel that will help you:Our INNER CHILD PLAYLIST  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICGLRS1b7q1HSJhZRash5qqOur GOLDEN THREAD PROCESS PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIAsS_wgdRN7QGBKIk54sbyDIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email:  https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup Music by Earth Tree HealingDisclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.

Why do you feel so stuck, tired, and behind when you try to start over? Because the problem usually is not that you are behind, and it is not that you are not working hard enough. It is that your nervous system is stuck in survival, and you cannot design a new life from there. In this episode, Dr Amen Kaur walks through five steps to get unstuck and start over, whether that means a career change, a higher-paid job, or finally starting a business, grounded in the neuroscience of stress and a grounded, tradition-based approach to spirituality. This is not motivation or magical thinking. It is what actually moves you from surviving to creating.In this episode you will learn:Why you are not behind, you are early, and how AI is levelling the field for people starting overWhy fear and fatigue, not laziness, are what really hold you back, and the brain science behind itHow to get unstuck so your ideas finally turn into actionThe one question that designs a life: not what you could or should do, but what you want to doWhy your experience is your expertise, and how to turn it into real value using AIStudies and ideas mentioned:Amy Arnsten (Yale) on how stress takes the prefrontal cortex offline, the thinking and creating part of the brainInteroception research on how the body's signals get read as tiredness or fearFestinger's 1954 work on social comparison and how it lowers self-evaluationDeci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory on autonomy and intrinsic motivationResearch on how belief and expectation from others can shape outcomesNamed traditions on releasing the grip on outcome: the Bhagavad Gita (2:47), Taoist wu wei, and trust in SufismFAQ:Why do I feel so tired and stuck when I try to start over?Often it is not true tiredness, it is a nervous system in survival mode, driven by fear and self-doubt. In that state the part of your brain you plan and create with is less available, so effort alone does not move you. The fix is to regulate first, then design.Am I behind if I am starting over later in life?No. Because AI is changing what work looks like for everyone, the old map is dissolving. If you are already learning to navigate uncertainty, you are early to the shift, not behind it.How do I get unstuck?Get your nervous system out of survival before you try to plan. Daily, gentle regulation, done consistently, is what lets your ideas turn into action. Borrowed motivation fades because it does not change your underlying state.What is the first step to changing careers when you feel behind?Ask what you want to do, not what you could or should do. Look back at what already comes easily to you, because the thing you undervalue most is often your real strength.Will AI take my job?AI is automating routine, repeatable tasks, and shifting value toward human judgment, creativity, and connection. That makes your experience more valuable, not less, if you learn to use the tools and create from what only you can offer.Listen and subscribe: Follow Starting Over, Being You on Apple Podcasts so you do not miss an episode.keywords: starting over, five steps to start over, overcoming self doubt, designing your life, creating your own path, AI and career change, value of personal experience, regulating nervous system, moving out of survival mode, finding your worth, creating a business from scratch, mindset for success, intrinsic motivation, personal development tips, leadership in uncertain times, emotional regulation techniques, building personal brand, enhancing self evaluation, finding purpose in work, embracing change

Tommy Hughes returns to the Terrain Theory Podcast for a conversation that builds on our first exploration of Classical Chinese Medicine and takes it into even deeper territory.Drawing from the ancient medical classics, Tommy explains why Chinese physicians believed disease begins in the heart, how chronic emotional patterns can eventually become physical pathology, and why the body's symptoms are often the final chapter of a story that began years earlier. Together we examine the Chinese understanding of anger, fear, purpose, stillness, and the relationship between the inner climate and the outer world.The discussion moves through cancer, trauma, suppression, homotoxicology, Wu Wei, and the symbolism behind the ancient Chinese character for cancer itself. Tommy also shares why martial arts traditionally came before medicine, why biohacking can become another form of striving, and how the Taoist concept of non-doing offers a radically different approach to cultivating health.Rather than searching for another protocol or optimization strategy, this conversation points back toward something much older: restoring harmony, returning to one's original nature, and learning to move with life instead of constantly trying to control it.To learn more about Tommy's work, follow him on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@naturallytom2302 or reach out to him at naturallytom@tutamail.com. Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our member platform gives you access to exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netFollow Terrain Theory:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain_theory/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terrain-TheoryX: https://twitter.com/terraintheory1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terraintheoryMusic by Chris MerendaAfter Party Music by Great Balancing Act

Send us Fan Mail Your phone isn't just “distracting” you. It's competing for the most valuable resource you have: attention. And when that attention gets pulled apart day after day, the cost isn't only lost time, it's lost clarity, lost calm, and a quieter sense that you're no longer fully with your own life. We sit down with Jordan Miller to unpack what's actually happening underneath digital distraction and screen addiction. We challenge the idea that scattered focus is simply a discipline problem, and we name the bigger force at play: the attention economy, where apps, ads, and even modern work demands are designed to keep you engaged. Once you see attention as something that improves whatever it touches, you start treating it like you treat money and time: with care and choice. From there, we go deeper into the inner world. Using the show Severance as a striking metaphor, we explore how fractured attention can fragment identity, emotions, and stillness, and why reconnecting to a stable core matters. Jordan also shares an Eastern philosophy perspective on awareness as the centre of being, plus Taoist-inspired ways to practise presence without forcing it. If you've been feeling stretched thin, this is a reset. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review. What is one place in your life where you want to protect your attention starting today? Connect With Jordan Miller Website (Satori Network): https://www.satorinet.io Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/va6FK77R3F LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-kristopher-miller/ X (Twitter): @Satorinetio — https://x.com/Satorinetio GitHub: https://github.com/SatoriNetwork/ YouEx Get 50% off the first 6 months of YouEx.ai! Royal Oasis Psychotherapy Institute Free for life, and no code needed. Download now, and start changing your life today! Convergence Offer: 50% off | TRANSFORM50 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?

Most men interested in sexual mastery have heard of the Taoist practices, Tantra, semen retention, and non-ejaculatory orgasms. But very few have ever heard of Dr. Newman K. Lin.In this video, I dive into the work of one of the most fascinating and underappreciated pioneers in the world of Sexual Kung Fu. Dr. Lin developed a unique system for ejaculation control, non-ejaculatory orgasms, sexual energy cultivation, and maximizing pleasure for both partners. His teachings on anal breathing, reverse Kegel-style breathing, nervous system regulation, pelvic floor relaxation, sexual exhaustion, and orgasmic development were unlike anything else I've encountered.I also share my own experiences implementing many of his methods over the last several years, what I found effective, where I agree with his teachings, where I differ, and how his work has influenced the Sexual Kung Fu system that I teach today.In this video you'll learn:• Who Dr. Newman K. Lin was and why his work matters• The anal breathing technique and sexual qigong• How pelvic floor tension contributes to ejaculation• Why Dr. Lin opposed Kegel exercises for men• The role of reverse Kegel breathing in ejaculation control• Tailbone activation and orgasmic energy circulation• The relationship between the nervous system and sexual stamina• Dr. Lin's views on sexual exhaustion and recovery• His methods for creating intense pleasure during partnered intimacy• My personal experiences applying his techniques over the yearsIf you're interested in Taoist sexual practices, semen retention, non-ejaculatory orgasms, nervous system regulation, and advanced ejaculation control, you're going to find this discussion fascinating.Get my FREE Ebook - 3 Techniques for Legendary Ejaculation Control:

What if the thoughts you trust most are the very thing keeping you anxious? Discover the Taoist way to quiet overthinking, calm the monkey mind, and return to inner peace. In this Tao Dialogues episode, discover the Taoist wisdom for taming the monkey mind and breaking free from overthinking, worry, anxiety, and the need to control life. Learn how the monkey mind is driven by fear, how Shen (authentic self) offers calm, clarity, and truth, and why practising wu wei helps you find lasting inner peace. If you're ready to stop believing every thought and start living with greater presence, authenticity, and emotional freedom, this teaching will show you how.Read the blog post that inspired this episode:  https://davidjameslees.substack.com/p/borrowed-happiness  [second blog post on this page]Our Tao Dialogues are powerful yet gentle teachings about authenticity, spirituality and finding emotional balance and flow in everyday life. These spoken-word episodes draw from David James Lees' practice as a Taoist monk and teacher, and expand upon popular posts on ‘David's Journal', his Substack blog.You can subscribe to David's Journal here: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comOther related teachings on our YouTube channel that will help you:TAO DIALOGUES PLAYLIST  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICamFP2zMyey3KGTnfm2aUq&si=AW_ZOUeldKv3nHhFSHEN (THE SPIRITUAL SELF) PLAYLIST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIBmp50wYcmU7jCBLp1Qvl-jINNER CHILD PLAYLIST  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zICGLRS1b7q1HSJhZRash5qqIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Book an online Golden Thread Process & Inner Child Consultation with David: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/therapies-for-body-mind/ Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup -Disclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.Music by Earth Tree Healing

For 35 years, a controversial text detailing the intersection of Eastern mysticism and alien intelligence was missing. Now, Monk Yun Rou reveals the shocking contents of his forbidden UFO manuscript that mysterious resurfaced just as the global government coverup started leaking.In this episode, we exlore together why mainstream religious systems are terrified of absolute UFO Disclosure. If the public discovers the truth about our creators, the entire socioeconomic structure of the world changes instantly. We explore how traditional texts have altered the reality of ancient aliens to keep humanity subordinate.By linking ancient Taoist secrets with modern close encounters, this conversation reveals a hidden timeline of interstellar contact that changes everything we know about divinity. Is your faith strong enough to survive the uncovering of an engineered human origin story?✨ Download Our FREE Throne Room Meditation✨ ➡️ https://www.truthseekah.com ➡️Join our online community at https://www.truthseekah.com ➡️ Support on Patreon! https://patreon.com/join/truthseekah✅ Get access to 40+ video lessons + Weekly LIVE calls!✅ Worldwide Online Community!✅ Courses, Monthly Webinars, Prayer, Meditation, Discussion✅ TruthSeekah's Meditation Library

What if the worst day of your life is also the doorway to who you were always meant to be?In this episode, I sit down with my friend Nico Martens for one of the most personal conversations I've had on the show. Nico and I met about 11 years ago, right after my daughter Shayna passed. Our mutual friend Gini was coming to Shayna's service, and Nico told her Shayna had already visited him. That's how our friendship began, and Nico walked me through some of the darkest days of my life.Nico was a classically trained electromechanical engineer who had no use for anything that couldn't be measured. Then his mother got cancer in Belgium and chose euthanasia so she could be fully conscious when she passed. Sitting beside her in that hospital broke his heart and his entire framework for reality at the same time.What came next was a years-long awakening that took him from skeptic to consciousness educator. We talk about the five specific predictions his mother gave him after she passed that he could not possibly have known. We get into why your subconscious runs 90% of your daily life and why willpower alone will never change it. And we explore subtle energy, sacred sites, and the body wisdom that mainstream science still won't touch.If you have ever felt like grief was reshaping who you are at the foundation, this conversation will give you language for what is happening to you.What We Cover:

The Root Cause Most Doctors Never Look For with Dr. Yi Song   You have been through the tests. You have the results. You have the prescription. And something still feels unresolved, because the system you went through was built to find what is broken in one place, not to read the whole picture. Dr. Yi Song has practiced at the intersection of traditional Chinese medicine, Western pathology, and regenerative therapy for 25 years. Her argument is not that modern medicine is wrong. It is that it stops too soon, and that the philosophy behind Chinese medicine was already asking the right questions 6,000 years ago.   In This Episode: Why Chinese medicine reads pulse, tongue, complexion, voice, and personal history together, and why that picture is more complete than isolated biomarkers alone The six principles of lasting health from Dr. Song's forthcoming book: body constitution, early prevention, root cause diagnosis, tending the body like a garden, natural rhythm, and combining modalities designed for your specific constitution What stem cell therapy actually does, and what it cannot do. Dr. Song has administered stem cells to herself more than 30 times over five years and still pairs them with red light therapy, infrared sauna, and targeted Chinese medicine How long-term stress silently degrades the digestive system over years, and why treating the downstream symptom without addressing the upstream cause almost never holds The Taoist root of mental wellness: the actual source of unhappiness is comparison, not a lack of meditation practice Why your prenatal constitution cannot be eliminated, only understood and managed   Key Insights: Your reference range is not your range. Western benchmarks are population averages. What is normal for your body may look abnormal for someone else's, and vice versa. A symptom is almost always downstream of something upstream. Treating the symptom while the root stays intact is like watering the wilting plant while the irrigation line stays blocked. Stem cells are a jump-starter, not a cure. Their value multiplies when combined with modalities matched to the individual's constitution, not a generic longevity stack. The meaning of life lives in the process. Not the destination, not the outcome, and not how your outcome compares to anyone else's.   About Dr. Yi Song: Dr. Yi Song, raised in Beijing in a 17-generation medical family, trained in Pathology at Brown University before focusing on regenerative and holistic healing. She has operated a holistic clinic in Boston since 2004 and founded the Zenerchi Retreat in Colombia in 2018, where she offers advanced stem cell therapies. Integrating stem cell therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and anti-aging treatments, Dr. Song aims to help people live longer, healthier lives.   Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.yi.song.stemcellexperts https://www.facebook.com/regenerationeffect/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-yi-song/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regenerationeffect/  X: https://x.com/regenerationFx  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@regenerationeffect   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let's talk about your journey to purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let's figure that out together. At the core is the financial well being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It's about personal freedom! Thanks for listening! Show Sponsor: http://profitcomesfirst.com/ Schedule your free no obligation call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro appointment 15 minutes If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes: http://bit.do/richersoul https://www.facebook.com/richersoul http://richersoul.com/ rocky@richersoul.com Some music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.

Dr. Mao Shing Ni is a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, board-certified anti-aging specialist, and bestselling author of Secrets of Longevity who spent 20 years studying over 100 Chinese centenarians. In this conversation, he reveals what the world's longest-living people had in common, how your emotions silently age your organs, and the Taoist principles for living a longer, healthier, more balanced life.In this episode, we discuss:00:00 Why Centenarians Stopped Eating At 75% Full02:22 The Common Traits Of People Who Live Past 10005:30 The Eating Habits That Contradict Western Diet Advice07:37 Why Rural "Blue Zone" Communities Produce The Most Centenarians10:46 How Community And Connection Drive Longevity Anywhere15:14 The 2,000-Year-Old Question From The Yellow Emperor's Classic19:07 Why We Think We Can Cheat The Rules Of Health26:50 How Stress Is The #1 Silent Killer (Inflammaging Explained)29:24 Why Overtraining And Extreme Cold Plunges Backfire31:28 Traditional Chinese Medicine vs. Western Medicine, Explained39:14 What Is Qi And Why It's Fundamental To Healing44:20 Can You Feel Other People's Energy? The Science Of Qi52:59 Dr. Mao's Own Burnout And The Game-Changer: Sleep56:06 Wu Wei: Effortless Action For Ambitious High Performers1:06:41 How Hot Water And Keeping Warm Protect Your DigestionLearn more about Dr. Mao here:Website: https://www.taoofwellness.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.mao_YouTube / Ask Dr. Mao: https://www.youtube.com/@TaoofWellness / https://www.askdrmao.comListen to this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/Kt8BlNSR9Uo

When life feels uncertain, you don't need more answers. You need a calmer mind. This meditation helps you find peace in the middle of the unknown - with Taoist monk and teacher, David James Lees. This guided meditation for uncertain times combines Taoist wisdom, mindfulness, breath awareness, and Inner Child healing to reduce anxiety, calm overthinking, regulate your nervous system, and help you release the need for control. Discover greater inner peace, emotional resilience, clarity and trust, one breath at a time.⚠️ PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION WHILE DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERYThis meditation can be practised daily or whenever you need it. Learn more about David's online consultations, events, books and audio teachings: https://www.wuweiwisdom.comSubscribe to David's FREE Journal: https://davidjameslees.substack.com/Other teachings and guided meditations you may enjoy: How to Stop Overthinking & Let Go of Control (Even When Life Feels Uncertain) https://youtu.be/sq8LvB3SIfM?si=mkrQ5t8Vej087RF6 GUIDED MEDITATION PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zIA12P7BftG6a18lIWFDjL35&si=bWWub6YyoZpXhFubLOVE & RELATIONSHIPS PLAYLIST https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NQ_PWX4zID3yxrdCbbZFuKHCwgV6qhX&si=-zdah_z6MiSZIl0tIs there a question you'd like answered on the show? Submit it at: https://bit.ly/askusyourquestion Join our free Wu Wei Wisdom Community Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuweiwisdomcommunity  If you love our work, you can now make a small donation to help fund the continued production of our weekly teachings by buying us a 'virtual coffee'! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wuweiwisdom Book an online Golden Thread Process & Inner Child Consultation with David: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/therapies-for-body-mind/ Follow us on Instagram: @wuweiwisdomSign up to receive a relaxing guided meditation gift, plus our weekly newsletter + offers via email: https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/signup -Disclaimer: This podcast and any associated teaching and comments shared are not a substitute for professional therapy, mental health care, crisis support, medical advice, doctor diagnosis, or professional healthcare treatment. Our show episodes provide general information for educational purposes only and are offered as suggestions for you and your professional therapist or healthcare advisor to consider and research.Music by Earth Tree Healing

Eman Alves is the author of Uncoupling Reimagined, a nervous system oriented book guiding people to get closure of previous relationships.Eman is also the founder of Sex and Integrity, a trauma informed body of work devoted to help folks overcome emotional disconnection and unconscious sexual habits so they can create deeply connected relationships and fulfilling sex.Her work is inspired by Family Constellation, Somatic Experiencing, Tantric and Taoist lineages.Visit Eman Alves' Website: www.eman.coach

A guide to restoring the ancient relationship between farming and magic• Explores how to reconnect with nature and use practical, nature-based magic for gardening and farming, fertility, and abundance• Examines Moon work, plant magic, forest deities, Earth energies, weather magic, the cosmology of ritual, and how to work with land spirits• Discusses folk magic traditions of North America and Western Europe, including the grimoire tradition, Western esotericism, alchemy, Kabbalah, and shamanism as well as Taoist principles and ReikiMagic and farming, in the minds of ancient people, were not separate realms of life, but both were woven inextricably into the way people lived. Through libations, prayers, hymns, dances, sacrifices, and rituals, ancient farmers connected to the sacred forces, the gods, nature spirits, and ancestors to make the crops grow, keep the herds healthy, the weather favorable, and release energies of fertility. These rural farmer priests and priestesses of the ancient past are the spiritual ancestors of today's cunning farmers.This book explores folk magic traditions of North America and Western Europe, including the grimoire tradition and the practices of witches and cunning folk for increased fertility. Todd draws on Western esotericism, Taoist principles, alchemy, Kabbalah, Reiki, and shamanism to show how to use practical, nature-based magic, just like our ancestors, for more abundant gardening and farming. He shows how to work with land spirits, including meeting the place spirit of your land—the genius loci. He also explores working with Earth and Moon energies, plant magic and forest deities, and ritual. Learn how to deepen your connection to elemental and celestial forces and explore the idea of rewilding the imagination to enhance your relationship with nature and the spirits that call it home.This book is not just a guide to farming, but to forging a relationship with the living land. It shows that we are surrounded by spiritual powers and, with their help, we can re-enchant and reconnect with the land that gives us life.Todd Elliott is a farmer, earth worker, Reiki master, Druid, and was certified as an Astrological Magician by Renaissance Astrology. A lifelong student of mythology, religion, spirituality, folklore, and esoterica, he lives, works, writes, and studies on a small ridgetop farm in north central Kentucky, where he and his family ethically raise vegetables, fruits, and livestock.https://substack.com/@thecunningfarmerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.