Podcasts about Windhorse

A reading from Windhorse, published April 2023. Approximately 11 minutes 30 seconds.

Inspired by: Angell Deer, Pema, The flight of Windhorse, the secret of the golden flower: the Chinese book of life.  Audiobook.  Mature listeners only (18+).

Join Charlie, a non-binary sci-fi fantasy writer and practicing Druid, alongside their husband Brian, as they explore the concept of the Wind Horse from Shambala teachings. Delving into mindfulness, basic goodness, and the transformative power of the five poisons into the five powers, they draw parallels with Druidic practices and other spiritual traditions. This episode encourages a thought experiment on riding the Wind Horse, aiming to harness the intrinsic energy of the universe for personal and spiritual growth. Practical mindfulness exercises and an in-depth discussion on faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom are included.Tips or Donations here: https://ko-fi.com/cedorsett patreon.com/cedorsett Substack: https://www.creationspaths.com/ For Educational Resource: https://wisdomscry.com For all of the things we are doing at The Seraphic Grove go to Creation's Paths https://www.creationspaths.com/ Social Connections: BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/creationspaths.com Threads https://www.threads.net/@creationspaths Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creationspaths/Transcript:[00:00:00] Charlie- New: When we were talking about what we wanted to do in this season of Lúnasa, We got to talking about the races. That used to happen. The chariot races, the horse races, the foot races. Brian asks, is there anyway, we can incorporate that into what we're talking about. My mind immediately went to an idea. From the Shambala teachings. The idea of the wind horse. Let's talk about that a little bit today. On Creation's Paths. Intro hello everyone. My name is Charlie. I'm a non-binary sci-fi fantasy writer. I'm also a practicing. Druid and priest a Bridget. I am joined today by my very silly husband, Brian. [00:00:51] Brian - New: Hello. [00:00:52] Charlie- New: Today we're going to be talking about the Lungta or the wind horse. I've really been trying to see if I could find a Celtic equivalent. Of this or something from the Irish or Welsh. Scottish. Myths that would. Fit, this kind of story. I'm struggling for that. So if you know of anything, do let me know. My experience with this idea comes from. Chögyam trungpa Rinpoche's Shambala. Of the ideas that are presented in that book. And so I don't have the strong cultural connection to it. That others would with this appearing on various net national flags. And whatnot. So I want to kind of say state this up front that from my practice of Shambala. That's where this is coming from. I mean, nothing but respect. To all of the communities that have a much deeper. Tied to this imagery. Then perhaps I do. In shambala. The Lungta or wind horse. Is defined as an expression of the basic goodness of the universe, the basic energy of the universe. In druidry it straddles the line between what we would call Arwin and Nwyfre. Between that creative breath. That is blowing through the world. And that energy that we can tap into. It might be right to say that the wind horse in the Shambala teachings is an expression of Nwyfre. It is an expression of how you connect to that basic goodness. And learn to ride it. And learn to harness it and. Bring that energy into your life. To help it to flow through all things and through practice. The wonderful magic that is discussed in the Shambala. System. We were told that. The element of wind. Reminds us of just how strong. And exuberant. This basic goodness of the world is. If you've not encountered this idea before you. It's also present in Buddhism. Stop for a minute. Unless you're driving. If you're driving, pull over to the side of the road or do this part of the exercise when you get home. Or to, to a parking lot somewhere , don't do this while driving. I want you to close your eyes for a minute. And just slowly. Breathe in. And breathe out. Breathe in. And breathe out. And just focus on your breathing anytime, a thought or feeling. Tries to distract you from. Your breath. Just. Go back to the breath. No struggle. No fight. Just go back to your breath. And then there was something happening inside of you. Yeah, this is the beginning of a mindfulness meditation. This is how we start learning mindfulness. But do you notice something else? There's an ease. There's a. Sensation that a lot of people feel. When they enter this mindful state. It might take you a bit to. Dig down into it. You might not be instant. Let's just breathe in. And breathe. Slowly at first until you. Been able to. Gather that focus on your breathing. Then let your breathing. Become more natural. Let it flow in and out. And you'll feel something. There are a lot of words for this. Basic joy. Basic calm basic goodness. All manner of words for you. Feeling. It's very. Present. That's the heart and the root of mindfulness. That's basic. Goodness. Now I, from a druidic perspective. Would tell you. That you were touching the very edges of. Oh, This is like when you're a kid in the car and you stick your fingers out. Not the full window, like the whole window hasn't opened the windows kind of cracked. You kind of stick your fingers out and feel the wind. Brushing against the tips of your fingers. Where you're standing by the edge of a stream and you just gonna dip your fingers in and you feel the water. Flowing by. That's what you're feeling. In this moment. That basic goodness. That gentle flow. Of the Awen. This isn't like when the wind hits us and we're raptured away into this creative. Fury. The other one isn't there just then. It's always there. Everyone has a different name for it. Everyone has a different way of talking about it. And here in the Buddhist and. Shambala tradition. It's basic goodness. Because everything's okay. That moment in meditation that you get to where you just feel everything's all right. Now. Imagine being able to. Ride that feeling. That's the image in Shambala. That's the image of the wind horse. It's been able to get into that. Place of basic goodness. And ride that current. To ride it forward. And to stay on it and to harness that. Intrinsic power of the universe. That basic goodness. For better. Is that a powerful image? Is that an image that moves you? It moves me. That's how. We can start getting into the Awen. That's how we can start getting into basic goodness. And that's. And what we mean when we say riding the wind horse in the title. Yeah. It comes from this basic image. What. Would it mean if we could actually do that? Let's just think about this for a minute. Let's have a thought experiment. The whole idea of the Shambala practices. We're trying to bring that realm of all the enlightened beings to Shambala here. To earth. The idea in Christianity is we're trying to bring the kingdom of God here. May your will be done on heaven. And on earth as it is in heaven. In. Kabbalah, You are. Restoring the world. So that it will be made perfect in the world to come. A lot of us have this. Idea. We're trying to perfect them. a, Bodhisattva takes the vow so that they will not enter their final Nirvana. They're very Nirvana. Until all beings are enlightenment. You're here for the long haul. They're going to be here until the end until this golden age. In the Shambala teachings. We're told that. Learning. This practice. I'll be able to ride that basic goodness. That's how we get there. Now in Druidry, we don't have that. Per se. We can talk about. tir na nog getting. The land of youth, the land of the living. That other world. It really is. Um, other world we're not trying to bring tir na nog here. I think you can experience. Glimpses. Of the other world here. We're not actually going to enter the other world until we enter the other world. We are trying to bring that inspiration. That Awen. Into the world. We're trying to find. The Mabin. The child of light. That's been stolen from the divine mother. So that. Life can be restored to the land. Then so doing the story. We travel around to the four oldest creatures trying to find. Where the Mabin has been hidden. Whereas the child. Where did you hide? Where's he hidden where. Where is it? But even that's not an eschatological idea, right? It's there's no end of the world. We don't know if there wasn't an end of the world. There so little that has survived of Irish Welsh. Scottish Manx Cornish. Mythology. We don't know if they ever had. An idealized state or. Uh, cyclical universe kind of like what happens after Ragnar rock, where. The old gods are dead. And the three gods, the three sons of. Oden survive and recreate the world. I don't know. We don't even know if that's how that story originally ended. It's the version that we have was written by a Christian. And they could have just Christianized. So we, we don't know. I like to think. When we look at the stories. We can see this. Balance. This ideal of balance. Between our world and the other world. The spirit in the material world. We're not always working for the, either the spiritual or the material work. Trying to bring the best of both together. That would involve writing the wind horse. [00:09:20] Brian - New: In addition to that, I'm thinking about writing. The wind horse. I found myself thinking about. The word. and how it breaks down. Too. Lung being space. Of the five elements. ta meaning horse. Horse being that transformation. Of purifying of taking something. Bad and making it. Good. After thinking about it for a while. It dawned on me that. In this practice. When I am riding the wind horse, when I'm actively doing this. It is the act of. Being mindful of the five poisons. Transforming them. Into the five powers. When I'm in a journey throughout my daily life, I tried to be mindful of. That. When I'm really engaging in that, I'm. Engaging in that transformative power. The five poisons. are doubt. Which we. Experience often. even right now, I'm facing doubt. laziness. Lisa, this is something that, you know, He constantly wrestled against it's okay to rest. But laziness is that overindulgence. heedlessness. Not paying attention to where you're going or what you're doing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Recklessly charging forth. Distraction. as one of the ADHD community members. Uh, Yeah, distraction. Definitely a poisoning challenge. And ignorance. Through lungta, through riding the wind horse, the exercise. I look towards faith. because faith removes doubt. [00:10:57] Charlie- New: The faith that we're talking about here in the Buddhist context. Is what I would consider true faith. And that's trust. It's I have faith in my friends. It's I have learned to rely on this, that this is reliable. It is an earned. Trust it is not necessarily wish fulfilling trust. No. The important thing is that it is built from one. You start with a, I'm going to test this and see if it works. But you only keep that faith. Once you've learned that it is trustworthy. [00:11:30] Brian - New: It's proving all things holding fast to that, which is true. It is also that trust. That comes from. The hope that. Things will happen. But knowing that it might not happen in the way that you expect it to, or the manner in which you expect it to. You do the effort along with that hope it's hope plus effort, which is the second power. Which is the second power. Energy. Energy and effort. Very, uh, very, uh, yeah. That effort. That's what controls laziness. When getting into the five powers, the five poisons you'll realize one tends to lead to the other. Effort. That'll control that laziness. So it's, okay to rest. We all need to take time to rest, to rejuvenate, to heal. Two. Build our energy, our power back up. But that is different from. Overindulging in. Too much, [00:12:26] Charlie- New: I would say it's differently. As somebody who has a lot of chronic pain. Issues. In my life. I don't like this idea of. Overindulgence being the phrasing there for me. I look at laziness as. This inattentive use of energy. It's a wild. The broken power line. That's just sparking around and not. Really doing anything. It's not allowing your energy to flow where it can flow. Whatever little bits of energy you may have. [00:12:59] Brian - New: Yeah. It can also be obstructed or poorly applied energy. Or poorly applied effort, which. Flows right into the next one. That heedlessness as the poison or mindfulness. as the power. in those moments, when you're being heedless, when you're your energy is just randomly zapping out. And you are. Electrocuting people around you. So to speak. that's when you want to give pause. And be mindful. Just being aware. Of where your energy is, how it is flowing. It is in a way that meditation, Charlie. Having us do earlier. Just a simple breathing. Is a mindfulness and an awareness that we're all on the wind horse. We're on it, no matter whether we want to or not, it's called the journey of life in its present moment. It's being in a present moment. Were there. Which. Then it leads us to the next power is concentration. Where the poison is distraction. When you're finding yourself in those moments of distraction. Mindfulness can help lead you back into concentration. So you take that pause. Like when I have that. Ooh, what's that? It's okay to take that moment, whatever, but I then have to be mindful and bring myself back. Into focus back into concentrating. On where my energy needs to be, what I am actually doing, choosing to do. Yep. Not reacting, but choosing to do. In that moment. Which leads us. To the fifth power that's wisdom. Which helps to control ignorance. [00:14:37] Charlie- New: I think ignorance is one of the most important things in the world right now. Because. I feel like so many of our problems. Our people refusing to admit what they're ignorant about. Very true, because we've turned ignorance into a vice ignorance is an advice it's a poison. And it's one that's in the water. It's all around us, all around us. It's in the water. It's in the air. We're all ignorant of so many things. We're ignorant to so many things. We have no idea how many things we're ignorant of. [00:15:03] Brian - New: The headlessness in distractions in our lives. This leads us to our ignorance. Yes. We're distracted by clicking on this and clicking on that and watching this, watching that and not being mindful and not. Concentrating. On what we need to know or knowing that we don't know a lot of what we need to know. [00:15:23] Charlie- New: Or thinking that we know a lot more than we actually do. Yeah. That. Really is. In so many ways, the opposite of wisdom, like with wisdom. Starts by knowing that you don't know. I forgot who said it but admitting that you don't know is the beginning of wisdom. It really is. You have to start from the place of, I don't know. [00:15:43] Brian - New: Yeah. This is where they flow back into each other. Because faith allows you to go, I don't know. But I know I have faith. That I could still do things. I could still be active in my life and in my community. And have the energy to move forward. And with mindfulness and concentration, I can get more wisdom. So that I can be wiser, but also at the same time have that faith that I can step out there and maybe be wrong. Which is okay. That's part of learning. That's part of gaining wisdom. In being wrong and then admitting and being aware that you are wrong. Once you're made aware. You can then learn and grow and gain that wisdom. [00:16:27] Charlie- New: We're going to be talking about the five powers a lot. Because. They are the engine. That spirituality runs off. It's important for us to have a very active understanding of how our spirituality works. All too often. We just pick up ideas and we put them down and we don't really know what we're doing with them. And this model of understanding. Really helps us to get to the root of it. We picked something up and that's faith. Does this work? Let's try this. When somebody tells you do mindfulness meditation, that'll help you out. Like I did earlier. In this episode. Well, if you have just a little bit of faith of, okay, I'll try it. So you put in the effort. Which will hopefully bring you mindfulness literally in this case. Well, you become aware of what is going on. Which allows you to concentrate and focus in. And then a little, little bit of wisdom. Oh, I did calm down. My mind did come down. I did get a small taste of that basic goodness, that basic reality. That is. Under all things. And that gives you trust. Which is faith. And the cycle continues again and again, and again. don't believe that you can lose your faith. I hear people say this a lot. It's a very common. Phrase in English. I lost my faith in, I lost my faith in. Uh, you can have your faith betrayed. You can. Realize you had never really had faith in something to begin with, but you can't really lose it. Unless trust is betrayed. It doesn't really go away. I know many institutions once had my faith and trust. And then betrayed my faith and trust, and I no longer have faith in those institutions. I didn't lose my faith in. Those institutions. That's that's internalizing that feeling way too much. Those institutions betrayed my faith. They betrayed my trust. And so they no longer have it. And have a lot that they would have to do to earn it back. These five powers. Which are the engine. That runs. All spirituality, whether people are Mo. Mindful of it or not. It really does. Help you get in touch with that basic good does. And learning to operate this machine. That is what riding the lungta is. It's something to operate this machine. It's learning. To tap into that basic. River that basic flow. Of goodness of life. Whatever you want to call it. Yep. That is running through all things. I hope that this episode has helped you out in some way. If nothing else, maybe give you something to think about. We are going to be talking about the five powers a lot. It comes up. And a lot of what I talk about and write. , I have an article up over on https://wisdomscry.com . And on https://www.creationspaths.com/ about the great work inviting people to join me. In that. And one of the. Sections of that is talking about how this actually functions. Within us and in our faith. And links out to other articles that I've written about the various aspects of the five. Power. So definitely go check that out. If this is something that interests you. And wherever you are, if you, if you've liked us at all, if. The app gives you the ability to like it. If you have followed or subscribed, do that. If. Yeah. Can leave a review. If you're listening to us on apple podcasts. Please leave a review of your life as it really does help out so much more than, you know, They don't actually take listens into effect that much. They do pay attention to. Number of reviews and number of stars and reviews. So it really does help out a lot. If you've got a few pennies that you can throw our way, if you go over to https://www.creationspaths.com/ . You can sign up and. We get a paid membership over there. And that helps us out a lot. Helps us keep these episodes coming to you. Helps us with all of the things that we're doing helps us pay for the basic necessities of life. And no. When we put the classes, you'll get first. Access to them. Thank you so much for listening. May you tap into that basic goodness and learn how to ride it. A better world. Amen. Amen. Get full access to Creation's Paths at www.creationspaths.com/subscribe

Ethan and David Nichtern discuss the priniciple and practices of Windhorse meditation, and how to ride the energy of one's life and emotions, especially when showing up to do something that is hard to do. This is the second part of their recent conversation. The first part appeared on David's Creativitiy, Spirituality and Making a Buck podcast.  Please remember to pick up a copy of Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds out everywhere! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor Dharma Moon, including the upcoming Course with Ethan on Confidence and Windhorse Meditation! David Nichtern is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books Awakening From the Daydream: Reimagining The Buddha's Wheel of Life and Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck. He mentors individual students both in person and online, and leads meditation teacher training programs around the world. He is also a four time Emmy-winning and two time Grammy-nominated composer and producer, as well as the founder of Dharma Moon Records and 5 Points Records.

Ethan interviews two teachers and co-authors of the bold new book How We Ended Racism: Realizing A New Possibility in One Generation, Justin Michael Williams and Shelly Tygielski. The conversation bridges optimism and pragmatism, along with inner and collective work. Take a listen! Justin Michael Williams brings people together across divides with a multigenerational message of hope, empowerment, and unity. He is an award-winning speaker, Grammy®-nominated recording artist, and author of Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us. For more, visit justinmichaelwilliams.com. Shelly Tygielski is a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher, speaker, and activist. She founded the CNN Hero-featured global grassroots organization Pandemic of Love, is the co-host and executive producer of the television series All Hands on Deck, and is the author of Sit Down to Rise Up. For more, visit shellytygielski.com. Check out their new book How We Ended Racism: Realizing A New Possibility in One Generation wherever you get your books. Please remember to pick up a copy of Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds out this week! The book is now out in Paperback, E-book, and Audiobook! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor Dharma Moon, including upcoming Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training starting June 14. Check out Ethan's Four Week Summer Course in July-August "Confidence and Windhorse."

Inspired by the Flight of Windhorse, Niema Ash, the Dalai Lama, Wisdom Seat, Chogyam Trungpa, and Ram Dass. Audiobook.  Mature listeners only (18+).

As she is preparing for a pilgrimage, Chameli reflects on the Buddhist terms Windhorse and Drip, and on how clearing clutter and being in integrity with your hearts wisdom, not only creates more flow, ease, and abundance in your life but ultimately brings you into union with your deepest self. For deepening studies with Chameli www.awakeningwomen.com Submit your questions and suggestions to Yoginiteam@awakeningwomen.com Follow Awakening Women on Instagram This podcast is produced by Shann Vander Leek PodcastBath.com

Following in the footsteps of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, Nikos Patedakis works with individuals, groups, and organizations, bringing to bear the most powerful and holistic teachings of the wisdom traditions in relation to our most daunting personal and global challenges. Nikos works with the unity of nature and culture, drawing from the sciences, the arts, and the wisdom traditions. His educational and consulting practice offers a genuinely holistic approach to creativity and critical thinking, ecoliteracy and true sustainability, achievement and excellence, mindfulness and attention, wellness and stress reduction, burnout recovery and prevention, and more. https://dangerouswisdom.org/

Inspired by the Yoga Sutras, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Duncan Trussell, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Ragu Markus, Alexandra David-Neel, MC Arthur, Ellie Anne, Maya Angelous, and Ram Dass.    Two great quotes from this episode: "And if you find yourself in that Samadhi, that higher state of absorption, material things may appear to collapse as the sign of our souls connection with spiritual fortune." "Practitioners, recognize that the most challenging aspects of life, the energies and play of confused emotions and frightening obstacles can be worked with as gateways to freedom and realization." Audiobook.  Mature listeners only (18+).

Dear Listeners, This Podcast series on the Windhorse practice of Basic Attendance explores the discipline as an expression of the wisdom, compassion and resulting reciprocity that can manifest in ordinary human relationships when cultivated within a ground of openness and relational warmth. I came to the Windhorse approach after graduating from the Naropa Institute—now University—in 1980, and I had the good fortune to be around when this was being envisioned with other Naropa graduates. My attraction to this vision and practice had to do with the emphasis on a person being fundamentally sane and healthy, as well as to the importance placed on having an engaging and supportive social environment as they work with their current life challenges. It also met my need to continue working with others in a setting where I could include my practice and understanding of Contemplative Psychotherapy. My exposure to the first Windhorse Team that had formed was at a social event in the therapeutic household of the “client”, and I was struck by the mutuality of connection among all members of the Team, including the so-called “client”. There was such a felt sense of closeness and camaraderie among everyone, as well as warmth and acceptance. It felt so wholesome to be in this environment. As a result, I became involved with this approach and was fortunate to be an active member of Maitri Psychological Services (as the Windhorse organization was named then) through its duration in the 1980's. The presentations and ensuing discussions included in this Podcast represent a window into the range of experiences that can occur when a Team member and “client” are spending time together for their Basic Attendance shifts. I have always felt that the possibilities of what can arise and be included during a shift is only limited by the collective and mutual imagination of the Team member and the “client” at that time, given that the entire community where it is taking place is available as a support and inspiration for their engagement. As a result, they can engage in household activities like attending to the physical environment, food preparation, or making art, to name a few possibilities. Also, activities can occur outside of the household, which could include taking classes together, going to the gym or for long hikes. The examples shared in the Podcast quite beautifully express the invitation to be present to what is arising within oneself and the “client” in the environment. This, to me, is the ground of the Basic Attendance practice, as an experience and expression of the co-presence between the Team member and the “client”. And given the Team member's sensitivity, this can unfold into very poignant and intimate relational sharing. So, the Art of this Practice—and it is precisely that, rather than a recipe or list of techniques to apply—is a very human endeavor which can bring out the best in each person. The invitation there also is to face the full range of one's experiences—i.e. fears and joys—as this unfolds, in a relational environment that supports this. We hope you enjoy this Podcast about these intimate and potentially healing encounters. Thank you for joining us, Kathy Emery

Kosha Countdown to Earth Day continues with a look at our relationship to the Earth through the lens of Pranamayakosha (the vital energy body).This conversation invites the living soil of Annamayakosha (Earth Body) into the realm of its energetic neighbor. In Yoga, Prana (life-force or vitality) rides the breath and is strengthened, expressed, and examined through pranayama (directed breathing exercises).The earth is not only our breathing partner, exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide, it is a breathing entity of its own. Systems on the earth ebb & flow, expand and contract, as do the systems of the body. This one simple reflection reveals an inextricable link that bonds us to each other.Noticing how the breath impacts energy and mood, providing tools to work with when in moments of anxiety or panic. The nervous system can be agitated or calmed by mindfully shifting the breath.This episode includes a brief discussion of the practice of raising Wind Horse; it also touches on the Yoga Vayus (Winds) as a way of deeper inspection.Wind HorseRaising Wind Horse can be a whole ritual (complete with altar & practices honoring the four directions,) or it can be a simple but powerful mantra meditation with five lines. While this is cursory teaching, barely touching the surface and lacking the greater context, it has merit as connection to Pranamayakosha, the Vayus, and the overall raising of the vibration. Finding a teacher is always helpful (whether in person or online). Raising Wind Horse helps cultivate unconditional confidence. It does not rely on achievement or acquisition; it is yours without cause or condition.“Literally, Wind Horse is a mythical Tibetan Creature symbolizing inner air or wind of the body. Lungta is associated with positive energy or “life force” and with “good luck.” (click for more information from Wiki)The following instructions are Sherry's best recollection from her Shambhala Training in 2001-2002:Ki Ki – Take your seat and feel the support of the ground beneath you.So So – acknowledge the earth and sky as representing duality.Ashe – collapse the concept of duality, earth and sky, to one horizon lineGhla – with a downward gaze touch on the universal heart of sadnessGyalo – lift your gaze and radiate outwardHere is what was read about the VAYUS, or winds (from no one source):In yoga, the Vayus are the five movements, or winds, of prana (vitality, life-force energy) within the body. Raising Wind Horse (Lungta) has roots in Tibetan Buddhism and can be related to the Vayus (the five vital energies) in the following ways:Prana Vayu: Moves inward and upward, governing breath and heart-rate. Raising Wind Horse can help increase the flow of this vital energy which is responsible for the respiratory system. Apana Vayu: Moves downward and outward, governing elimination and reproductive functions. Wind Horse can also help balance this vital energy which is responsible for the excretory system.Samana Vayu: Moves in a circular motion, governing digestion and assimilation. Raising Wind Horse can help activate this vital energy which is responsible for digestion and assimilation of food.Udana Vayu: Moves upward and outward, governing speech and expression. Wind Horse can also help activate this vital energy which presides over the vocal cords and speech.Vyana Vayu: Moves throughout the body, governing circulation and movement. Raising Wind Horse...

When life is like a rug pulled out from under you, and you find yourself without bearings for which way to go, what do you do? Tara Coyote had to figure this out.In this episode I interview Tara and we talk about how horses saved her. Also, about how today, after facing death, she made huge life changes. Tara is helping others from her island Kauai, navigate cancer and other obstacles such as facing fears, having courage to make changes, and the importance of releasing and expressing grief.The founder of Wind Horse Sanctuary, Tara Coyote is an Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor, Grief Facilitator, Stage IV Breast Cancer Thriver, and best selling author of Grace, Grit, & Gratitude: A Cancer Thriver's Journey from Hospice to Full Recovery with the Healing Power of Horses. She is also the author of Comanche the Wild Mustang, a children's book.LINKS TO TODAY'S EPISODE:Tara's horse sanctuary website: windhorsesanctuary.comHealth and healing cancer website: cancerwarrioress.comFollow her on Instagram: @taracoyoteFollow her other Instagram page: @windhorsesanctuaryFollow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cancerwarrioressBUY her book: Grace, Grit, & Gratitude (on Amazon)or buy a signed copy from Tara here.Her Youtube Channel :https://www.youtube.com/@TaraCoyoteBeautiful Second Act Info:Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beautifulsecondactFollow me on Instagram: @beautiful_second_actJoin Beautiful Second Act MEMBERSHIP HEREThe website: https://beautifulsecondact.com/GET MY FREEBIE - 10 Tips After 50 Thank you for listening. If you would like to support the show, please leave a REVIEW, a RATING, and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple, or FOLLOW from wherever else you listen. I so appreciate it.Much love,Patti

Levi Lives - Chapter 6: Windhorse. Audiobook. Mature listeners only (18+). Cover art by Jenna Faline (@falineave). Sounds and instruments by Arlyn Ruddy (@awaken_spanda) and Moochie (@b_overstreet).

Dear Listeners, Welcome to today's podcast, a first-person recovery story which we believe is a unique contribution to the resources on extreme state psychology—particularly around the phenomenon of cutting. In Part Three of this five-part series, we again join the members of Julia's long-standing Windhorse team—Janneli Chapin, Jack Gipple, and Chuck Knapp—as they discuss the 12 years of their working together, along with her psychiatrist, Dr. Green. Today's dialogue covers a wide and dynamic arc. Beginning with the horror and helplessness of Julia's former life having almost completely dissolved—still an uncomfortable reality all these years later. But in the depths of this meltdown, aspects of her health began to unmistakably emerge. Ordinary life was becoming more real—always powerful medicine—with checkbooks and keeping house. With this, glimpses of confidence began to flicker into view as she was feeling the uplift of small but sure successes. And Julia was also finding ways for her mind and body to reconnect, which brought forth a surprising array of positive consequences. Finally, as she reflected on this period where her natural sanity was beginning to flourish, Julia summed up the key to her healing: “the most important thing of all: relationship.” What's presented here is a beautiful emotional landscape of honesty and love—the kind that only exists in of such a powerful recovery path, especially at this stage. This is a rare glimpse into the working heart of a therapeutic team. Thank you for joining us

Hello friends and listeners, I am so glad that you are here, and I hope that you will enjoy today's podcast. Hopefully you have had the opportunity to watch the first 3 podcasts.  I was very excited to have been given the opportunity to make these podcasts with Windhorse, and in particular with Jack, Janneli and Chuck. In 1992 I took a medication that triggered a severe bipolar episode that sent me spiraling into a nightmare that lasted more than 20 years. You can hear about many of my experiences on the first 3 podcasts as Jack, Janneli , Chuck and I discuss our relationships over the first several years that we worked together. In fact, my relationship with my Windhorse team was only a part of a 23-year treatment plan that also included my psychiatrist, Dr. Michael Green. In many ways, my severe illness—and some of the treatments I was given by the mental health system—made my condition more difficult for me to manage, and without the continuing support of my Windhorse team and Dr. Green, I probably wouldn't have survived. I am thrilled to be able to make these podcasts all these years later. It is a real gift for me to look back upon my relationships with Jack and Janneli and see how I was able to rely on their support to help me re-learn life skills, develop coping abilities, and learn to live again as a productive member of society. This was an amazing experience, certainly for me, but hopefully for anyone who wants to bear witness to the strength of the human spirit, and to one's potential to recover and flourish if given the opportunity, the relationships, the skill and the love. I realize that everyone is different, and I was incredibly lucky. Some people might have every opportunity and still not make the recovery that I was able to achieve. I know that. But I also know that without Jack, Janneli and Dr. Green being the primary figures on my team, I wouldn't be here today. Many years ago, in about 2000, I started to write a book, which was also instrumental in helping me to heal. This book, ‘Raging Innocence' is available online on Amazon, and goes into my life history in much greater detail. I hope if you are interested, you might consider reading it. In my book, as well as on these podcasts, I discussed the many negative and harmful experiences I had while being a patient in several in-patient psychiatric hospitals. The mental health system, while it generally means well, is flawed and needs major re-evaluation and educational input for those workers who get overwhelmed or burned out by contact with severely mentally ill patients.   On several occasions, while hospitalized, I was intensely and unnecessarily traumatized. On occasion, this was intentionally carried out by disgruntled mental health professionals who were unable to deal with my repeated self-mutilation. It is my hope that this series of podcasts, and my book, will shine a light on the quality of care that is given to mentally ill patients. I am hopeful that the care I was given by my Windhorse team will be an example of what is possible and what should be aspired to. Those relationships are what allowed my fragile mind to recover, gain strength, and soar. Thank you for listening, Julia

How do we respond to a culture steeped in misogyny, patriarchy, homophobia and white supremacy? Rather than become overwhelmed, we can show up as our full selves and express our humanity through the energy of Wind Horse. On Tibetan prayer flags we find 5 animals: the Garuda, Tiger, Lion, and Dragon on the outer edges, and in the middle is Lunkta or "Wind Horse." Wind Horse is described as the energy of basic goodness we are born with and return to through our meditation. It gives us a sense of confidence without ego, the energy we feel when we are living aligned with integrity. In the absolute sense, Wind Horse is the expansive feeling we possess but but do not grasp at. It is not really ours, so we hold it loosely, allowing it spaciousness.  In the relative world we inhabit, we can use Wind Horse as inspiration to live out our values with integrity. It helps us transform doubt and anxiety into spiritual warriorship to live out our Buddha nature. ____________ Ari Lathuras has been practicing meditation for approximately 35 years. She has received teaching from many renowned Buddhist teachers over the years. Pema Chodron has been one of her main sources of dharma teachings. She studied and practiced with Ani Pema since the mid-90s. About 13 years ago she met Ani Pema's teacher, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and became a student of his. She has also attended several teachings with Mindrolling Kondro Rinpoche. As a professional sign language interpreter, Ari has interpreted for many dharma teachers over the years. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

The smallest bird in the world embarks on a quest to recover a lost gift left to him by his mother…his true name. Genre: Fable, Mystery, Mythology, Science Fiction   Excerpt: The thunderbird. The trickster raven. The creator heron known as Benu. He was in awe of them all. And he wanted to learn to acquire their qualities. Cleverness, strength, knowledge. And wings so magnificent that all creatures great and small were gripped with awe at their sight. But whenever he would voice such longings, he was always ridiculed, for he was so small that all who knew him called him the flea bird, and soon that became his name, “Flea.”   CREDITSStory: “The Flight of Flea” Copyright © 2018 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)   Music by Jonathan Shaw* “A Dream of First Flight” “Thoughts” “Afternoon Chat” “Midnight Creeping” “Checking Inventory” “A Fight in the Fields”   Music by TRG Banks “The silver bus” “Insideoutworld” “Above the Earth” “A Tale of Wind” “Horse ride 4” “Smooth jacket”   *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Jonathan Shaw is licensed from GameDev Market Music by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket   Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk and gamedevmarket.net Find more music by TRG Banks at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode art description: Digital drawing.  Composite image of various mythological figures associated with birds. Foreground center is a spark of light emitting a glow and a crown of tiny rays. Behind is a curled serpent with a frilled neck and tail facing right, representing Quetzlcoatl.   Behind Quetzlcoatl, facing left, is a glowing silhouette of a bird with an ornate tail just visible and a flowing crest, representing the Phoenix. Behind the Phoenix, top half of image, center, is a humanoid figure wearing gold jewelry, with a bird's beak for a nose, outstretched wings, and eyes closed, making the praying hands gesture, representing Garuda. Behind all the figures is the hazy outline of mountains in the distance. Watermark of the word “storyfeather” lies over the image.   Storyfeather-themed merchandise T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, and more featuring artwork from the stories and podcast episodes. STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

Poems from Windhorse, to be published later in 2022.

Dear Listeners, Welcome to today's podcast. In Part Two of this five-part series, we once again join the four members of Julia's long-standing Windhorse team as they continue to discuss their stark experiences and the realities of her recovery—particularly as this conversation takes them more vividly into her experiences of cutting. Speaking with unusual directness about the dynamics they experienced with each other and with the larger mental health system, this open-hearted discussion explores the power dynamics that harm and those that heal. Again, they speak about—and most importantly, model—the fundamental source of healing: genuine relationships and the care that held them together on their shared path of healing. Please be aware that in this discussion, Julia shares details of her cutting that may be uncomfortable to listen to. But we included them as we're confident that her candor and courage in sharing will create a powerful opportunity to learn more deeply about the state of mind that produced such acts of self-harm. Thank you for joining us, Jack Gipple

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tara Coyote. She is a breast cancer thriver with an amazing message of strength, inspiration, and joyful living. She is from the Bay Area in California but currently lives in Kauai, HI where she runs Wind Horse Sanctuary offering Equine Facilitated Learning and helping people process grief. Tara also wrote the book, Grace, Grit & Gratitude: A Cancer Thriver's Journey from Hospice to Full Recovery With the Healing Power of Horses. It has been a #1 Amazon Best Seller in 8 different categories. Her story is fascinating and she shares it with so much courage. We discuss mindset, the power of horses to process difficult emotions, and even dating after a cancer diagnosis. You don't want to miss this one.... You can reach out to Tara and/or venture into her wonderfully inspiring and magical world via any of the links below. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taracoyote/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/TaraCoyote Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cancerwarrioress/ Her main website: https://www.cancerwarrioress.com/ Book link: https://amzn.to/3lEJua3 Wind Horse Sanctuary: https://www.windhorsesanctuary.com/Thank you to everyone for all the love the podcast has been getting lately! If you are enjoying the show, I would be so honored if you could rate and/or review the show so more breast cancer survivors can find it. Don't forget to check out my new free resource, the Facts/Feelings Workbook: Tamoxifen if you are struggling to speak with your doctor about Tamoxifen treatment or considering going off of it. I love hearing from you (seriously, it makes my day!) Find me on Instagram, Facebook and NOW TikTok (@junibwell) or email me juni@junibwell.comCurrently, I am taking 1:1 clients only and you can book a free discovery call with me by emailing me or via my website: www.junibwell.com. I would be honored to walk this path with you! Wishing you well, Juni

If you were a regular in the Live Music Capital during the mid-late-aughts, you may remember the name Tody Castillo. Castillo self-released his eponymous debut in 2004 as well as his sophomore Windhorse in 2009, but he’s since shied away from the studio, at least on the surface. Turns out…that’s no longer the case. After […]

In today's episode we hear about George Ruth's journey to self discovery, their journey to an equestrian college in the midwest, why they came back, and how they found themselves back in Humboldt County starting a kids lesson program. Enjoy! Location: Blue Lake, California George's Links http://www.songhorseranch.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songhorseranch Instragram @song_horse_ranch Episode Links: William Woods University - https://www.williamwoods.edu/ Cloverleaf Ranch - https://www.cloverleafranch.com/ Medicine Horse Ranch - https://www.medicinehorse.net/ Wind Horse- http://www.windhorseranch.net/

On today's episode,  we're chatting with https://www.loreleiensemble.com/willer (Beth Willer) and https://www.loreleiensemble.com/riesenfeld (Anne Riesenfeld) of https://www.loreleiensemble.com/ (Lorelei Ensemble). Lorelei is an organization that creates and champions bold artistic work that points toward a new normal for women in music. Through commissioning, performance, and education, Lorelei is carving out a boundless new space for women to be among, and become, our most powerful and important creators. http://www.inunisonpodcast.com/episodes/s05e05#transcript (Episode transcript) Edited by https://www.inunisonpodcast.com/fausto (Fausto Daos) Music excerpts “MVT I & MVT II” from https://jessicameyermusic.com/i-long-and-seek-after/ (I long and seek after), by https://jessicameyermusic.com/ (Jessica Meyer), performed live by Lorelei Ensemble “https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction-1-crowns-mercy-seat/1173009955?i=1173010195 (Crowns)” from Reconstruction, by Joshua Bornfield from the 2016 album Reconstructed “https://music.apple.com/us/album/kaze-no-uma-vocalise-no-1/1435212369?i=1435212793 (Vocalise 1)” from Kaze no uma (Wind Horse), by Toru Takemitsu from the 2018 album Impermanence “https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-fail-version-for-womens-chorus-vi-you-will-love-me/1515765648?i=1515765656 (You Will Love Me)” from Love Fail by David Lang from the 2020 album love fail Episode references Lorelei Ensemble https://www.loreleiensemble.com/ (Website) | https://www.instagram.com/loreleiensemble/ (Instagram) | https://www.facebook.com/LoreleiEnsemble/ (Facebook) | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbb0ex8oFF9qCSMDg76cqcg (Youtube) Theme Song: https://music.apple.com/us/album/mr-puffy/1457011536?i=1457011549 (Mr. Puffy) by Avi Bortnik, arr. by Paul Kim. Performed by http://www.dynamicjazz.dk/ (Dynamic)

काठमाडौंमा स्वागत छ WELCOME TO KATHMANDU Before going to Nepal, I'd been told that this country has some very friendly people – that show a genuine interest in who you are and where you're from. And that was the case already in the taxi on the way from the airport to the city. In the car with Basu Rimal, he asked a lot about where I was from and what it was like there. He told me that he had been to Scandinavia. “I've been to Norway and Finland, but not Denmark yet. Scandinavia is really nice, I really liked it but it's very cold.” Basu works in tourism and has a tour company called Nepalaya Treks And Expedition, where he does trekking in Himalaya. YOU DECIDED ON NEPAL In last week's episode, I asked you where we should go. And there was a big majority in the votes that said that we should go to Nepal. Thank you all for being so active in saying your opinion on The Radio Vagabond on Facebook. I'm here with a good friend from Denmark, and we're staying in a guest house called Ambassador Garden Home in a vibrant lively area called Thamel in the heart of Kathmandu. Thamel have the biggest tourist market in Nepal and the biggest business hub with a ton of guest houses, restaurants, shops, and bookstores. Obviously, I found Ambassador Garden Home on Hotels25.com. LANGUAGE IN NEPAL Nepal has 122 major languages. Nepali is the most common spoken by 78% of the population either as first or second language and has official language status. But the other 121 languages are all recognized national languages. PATAN DURBAR SQUARE Patan Durbar Square is situated at the centre of the city of Lalitpur, around 10 km from the city center of Kathmandu in Nepal. This square is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, which are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples in the area. There is also a bell beside the main temples. It's a stunning and lively area. NEPAL EARTHQUAKE In April 2015 the square was heavily damaged by the big Nepal Earthquake.  The earthquake struck near the city of Kathmandu in central Nepal. About 9,000 people were killed, many thousands more were injured, and more than 600,000 structures in Kathmandu and other nearby towns were either damaged or destroyed. The initial shock registered a magnitude of 7.8, with the epicentre only around 77 km (48 miles) northwest of Kathmandu. And two large aftershocks, with magnitudes 6.6 and 6.7, shook the region within one day of the main quake. Here is a YouTube video shot right here when the earthquake hit. 7 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KATHMANDU Big City in the Valley Kathmandu is the capital city and largest city of Nepal with a population of 1.5 million in the city, and 3 million in its wider urban areas across the Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu is the 17th highest capital in the world Last week we were in La Paz, Bolivia – the highest capital in the world, and Kathmandu is also up there. Standing at approximately 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level it's number 17 on the list. City of Glory Kathmandu is known as Kantipur which means the city of glory. The rich ancient culture and diverse religion make this city as the city of glory. UNESCO Hot Spot Kathmandu valley is full of cultures and heritage sites. It has seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Kathmandu Valley itself was accorded the status of a World Heritage Site in 1979. The World's Biggest Mountain is Close Mt. Everest is 240 km away from Kathmandu and is seen from Kathmandu valley. Never a Colony Even though this country lies in between the two big countries India and China, which was ruled by the British, Nepal was never a colony and never ruled by any foreigners and other countries. Kingdom Nepal was a kingdom ruled by the Shah family 1768 to 2008. The beginning of the end for the kingdom was when the Crown Prince killed his father the king, his mother, brother, sister, and many other members of his family in 2001. ROYAL MASSACRE I'm visiting the place where it all happened. Narayanhiti Palace is now a museum, and used to be the royal palace. This is where most of the royal family got killed by the Crown Prince on the 1st of June 2001. Here's how the official story goes: The Royal family gathered on a Friday, as they usually did on Fridays for a family evening. The king, the queen, their kids and a few cousins and close friends. In total 24 people were invited. After dinner, the Crown Prince Dipendra was in the pool room playing pool alone while drinking whiskey and smoking a cigar containing a mixture of hashish … as he often did. When his brother Prince Niranjan and other family members noticed that he was starting to sway back and forth and had difficulty standing, they suggested that he went to bed. While he was in the bedroom, he made several phone calls to his girlfriend, Devyani Rana. She later said that she noticed that his voice sounded a little weak and very slurry, so she called his assistant and asked him to go and check on him to make sure he was okay. He and another assistant went into Dipendra's bedroom and found him lying on the floor. They helped him undress and then he went into the bathroom and started throwing up. He then turned to his assistants and asked them to leave the room and called his girlfriend one last time and said to her: “I'm going to bed. Goodnight, we'll talk tomorrow.” But he didn't go to bed. After this call, he put on an army uniform, and armed himself to the teeth with an MP5 machine gun, an M16 assault rifle, and a Glock pistol. And left the bedroom. He then started walking back to the pool room where the family and friends were chatting and having drinks. At this time, his father King Birendra, was sitting at the pool table, entertaining the guests with a story.  Dipendra reached the pool room and stood at the door. First fired one shot from the machine gun toward the ceiling. Conversation stopped and they all looked towards the door in disbelief. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SON? Dipendra then pointed the gun at his father, the King and shot and wounded him. Witnesses later told that the King just looked at him and said, “What are you doing, son?” – before he fell to the floor. Dipendra then opened fire again and killed half of his family in that one room. His mother and his brother managed to escape into the palace grounds. But Dipendra followed them and shot them dead too. In the massacre, he killed his father, his mother, his younger brother, his sister, and other close members of his family. In total nine members of the royal family was killed, and five others wounded. At the end, Dipendra turned the gun on himself. He didn't die intently and while coma at the hospital, he was crowned king – according to rules of succession. But died in hospital three days after the massacre without regaining consciousness.  WHY DID HE DO IT? No one really knows why he did this. Some say that he wanted to depose his father and install himself as king – bringing the monarchy back to absolute rule. Others say that he was put up to this by his uncle, the king's younger brother, who wanted to be king himself. Some say that he was angry at his family because they wouldn't let him marry the woman that he loved – Devyani Rani who was a member of a riveling dynasty. And then… some say that he didn't pull the trigger. He was described as an always smiling gentleman and a modernist who would be for democracy in Nepal. Much controversy and conspiracies surround the circumstances of the massacre. Even today. Many questions remain unresolved. Questions like the apparent lack of security at the event; the absence of the Prince Gyanendra, Dipendra's uncle who succeeded him. Also, the fact that Dipendra's self-inflicted head-wound was located at his left temple, despite him being right-handed. And the fact that the investigation only lasted for two weeks and wasn't very thorough. It didn't involve any major forensic analysis – despite an offer by Scotland Yard to carry one out. But according to a government-appointed inquiry team the Crown Prince Dipendra was named as perpetrator of the massacre. I've put a link to a video from Journeyman Pictures where surviving family members tell their eyewitness accounts of what happened. NARAYANHITI PALACE MUSEUM The visit to the Narayanhiti Palace Museum was absolutely fascinating! It feels like walking through the history of Shah dynasty of Nepal. Everything inside the palace makes you seem royal. Larger than life pictures and paintings of Royals of Nepal, and lots and lots of mirrors can be found on every place you look. You will get a lot of steps walking through each and every part of the museum and I encourage you to do so if you want the best experience. Entrance fee was 500 Nepalese Rupee (bit more than 4 USD, bit less than 4 Euro). You must hand in cameras and phones as photography is strictly prohibited. So, I don't have any pictures from the visit. They also told me that I couldn't bring my microphone – even though it was clearly not a camera. So, since I don't have any pictures from the visit, you'll have to go yourself when you're in Kathmandu, and don't forget to look for the bullet holes! WEATHER IN NEPAL What about the weather in Kathmandu? Well, the wet season is warm, muggy, and partly cloudy and the dry season is comfortable and mostly clear. I'm here in December – in what is called “The cool season” and normally lasts for two months, from early December. And I could feel it was a bit chilly when I arrived. In Nepal, there are different climates according to altitude: the sub-tropical climate with a rainy season in the southern flat strip, the temperate climate in the low mountains, and finally, the cold mountain climate in the peaks of the Himalayas. In the summer monsoon from June to early October they get a lot of rain. SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA – MONKEY TEMPLE The Swayambhunath Stupa (also called Monkey Temple) is one of most interesting places in the Kathmandu Valley, when it comes to architecture. And when they call it The Monkey Temple, there's a reason for that. Hundreds, if not thousands of monkeys run around here. And they are not shy. As you can see in the main photo of this episode, a monkey walked past me and pushed me a bit as I was doing some recordings while leaning against a wall. The Stupa itself is a perfectly proportioned monument in the middle that rises through a whitewashed dome to a gilded spire, from where four iconic faces of the Buddha look out across the valley in different directions. Above the stupa are thousands of prayer flags, with mantras, which are said to be carried to heaven by the Wind Horse. The site was also shaken severely by the 2015 earthquake, but the main stupa only got superficial damage. I'LL BE BACK My three-day visit to Kathmandu was coming to an end. Sitting in the airport I knew one thing: I'm doing an “Arnold” when I say that I'll be back. And this is not something, I say every time I leave a place (but often). In this case it's something, I know for sure. And when I do, I want to find a nice little quiet place in the mountains and stay longer. I want to be able to wake up and have my morning coffee with a stunning view. And spend some time getting close to the wonderful people of this country. And get some quality time with the people I already met, like Basu, and most of all someone, you didn't hear speak in this episode: Ajay. He appears briefly in the interview episode, I made here with another traveller, Robin when I was here. Robin is this young German backpacker, who met Ajay on a previous trip. Ajay was his tuk-tuk driver, he invited Robin home to meet his family and this time Robin was back. Ajay lives a bit away from Kathmandu and took time off from work to show us around his capital city. Since then, I've been in regular contact with Ajay, and he is one of the reasons, I really want to come back here. My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you.

Dear Listeners, Anyone who's considered the territory of recovery from extreme mental states knows this to be a vast and subtle topic. And if this is a concern of yours, it's also critical to reasonably understand—otherwise you may not recognize some of the key patterns as they're occurring. This podcast is the third in a four-part series. Senior Windhorse clinicians Gabrielle Bershen, Marta Aarli, and I (Jack Gipple)—along with our colleague and host, Chuck Knapp—take a deeper dive into the Windhorse assertion that “Recovery is the path of discovering and synchronizing with one's own health and sanity.” The four of us have worked together over two decades on scores of Windhorse teams. This podcast reflects the depth of our shared experience as we discuss a number of interconnected topics: starting where you are, the individual genuine path of recovery, creating conditions of recovery but without a guarantee of recovery, finding confidence, cycles of recovery and regression, the long arc of recovery, and finally, the choice between the solitude of illness and the challenge (and courage it takes) to tolerate living in the world of consensus reality. These and more subtle aspects of recovery from extreme states of mind are the substance of this conversation among Windhorse clinicians and old friends. We hope you find it engaging and enlightening. Jack Gipple

Dear Listeners, In this podcast, four long-time Windhorse practitioners discuss the 4th (and last) principle of recovery: “No matter how disturbed a mind has become, recovery is possible.” Gabrielle Bershen, Jack Gipple, and I (Marta Aarli) share our insights and experiences of working for over 20 years on Windhorse teams, with host and moderator, Chuck Knapp. The conversation touches on the loss of connection with self, others, and the world—and the unique path each person walks to reclaim and reintegrate those parts of themselves that are innate but covered over by confusion. Each team works to recognize the client's impulses toward health and support them in synchronizing with themselves through authentic relationships with the team members. This provides an antidote to isolation and loneliness while respecting each client's choices as they build their confidence and reassemble their life—which can take a very long time. Each person's recovery will be their own, and it may not look like what others want for them or what society defines as a normal life. Every team is a unique healing environment, a co-creation between a client and their team members. These principles are part of what makes the Windhorse approach so unusual—and the profound, long-term work that is possible in this setting. We hope what you hear leads to greater understanding and empathy. Marta Aarli

Dear Listeners, Welcome to this podcast discussion that explores the integration of the Windhorse approach with Dialogical Process that derives from Finland's Open Dialogue treatment approach. We are also fortunate to publish here an original paper by Phoebe Walker, The Evolution of Dialogic Practice within the Windhorse Project, that provides substantial background for this exploration. Chuck Knapp and I recently hosted this discussion with Phoebe Walker, Cat Sargent, and Elise White. Phoebe, Cat, and Elise have each received extensive training in Dialogical Process while working as clinicians with Windhorse Integrative Mental Health, Northampton, MA. They and others in their home center have been working on the integration of these two clinical approaches for the past twenty years. We appreciated their willingness and readiness to accept our invitation to explore their work with such enthusiasm. Both approaches to healing communication have areas of deep overlap. Both place a high value on authentic human dialogue that tolerates uncertainty, is open to hearing all voices as distinct yet interrelated, and intends to clarify the truth of emerging social realities. Both are an intentional shift from “doing to” a person in mental extremes to “being with” the person with one's embodied, responsive presence. This shift in stance frees the therapists' awareness to be more in the on-going process of communication, rather than fixed on preconceived goal ideas of what should and shouldn't happen. Both Windhorse and Open Dialogue share an abiding conviction in the inherent health in all people. This provides trustworthy ground for shared open inquiry that helps everyone involved to change and grow toward health. Thank you for your interest in the Windhorse Journal. Our team hopes you find this podcast and paper engaging and stimulating. Initially, you may feel you are passively absorbing the information and emotional energy of the five of us from a distance. As you go on, you may begin to naturally resonate in the dialogue field with us. We are all then changed by this encounter. May we listen well and read well, Jeffrey Fortuna

This presentation will describe how urban Mongolians navigate the capital city Ulaanbaatar’s chronic air pollution in relation to breath, clarity, bodily winds and purification. It will describe how blockages in breath relate to other kinds of obscuration and stagnation in the post-socialist period. In Ulaanbaatar the murky and obscuring nature of air pollution has become an active part of Mongolian religious and ritual life. This talk will illustrate how air pollution and related phenomena exist in dynamic tension with Buddhist purification practices, along with ideas about the renewing energies of breath, wind and movement. This presentation is part of the Buddhism and Breath Summit, which took place online in 2021, with a group of researchers exploring Buddhist practices of working with the breath or the “winds” of the body. The event was co-hosted by Frances Garrett and Pierce Salguero, and co-sponsored by the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Toronto and Jivaka.net. You can watch the video of this talk and find other resources from the Buddhism and Breath Summit at Jivaka.net

Is there gender equality in Buddhist traditions? What do Buddhist texts say about women? How have Buddhist women responded to misogyny? Alice Collett's new book, I Hear Her Words: An Introduction to Women in Buddhism (Windhorse, 2021), reviews both recent scholarship and original writing in an accessible and compelling format. She shows that core Buddhist doctrines provide no justification for the notion that women are inferior to men. But Buddhism was born and took root in societies that held traditional views of women, and social norms positioning women as inferior to men have found their way into Buddhist tradition. This book tells the stories of many inspiring Buddhist women who overcame attempted constraint to gain liberation and become esteemed teachers. Not only do we hear about them in this book, but we also hear from them in their own words. An ideal introduction to gender studies in Buddhism and the history of women in the tradition. Bruno M. Shirley is a PhD candidate at Cornell University, working on Buddhism, kingship and gender in medieval Sri Lankan texts and landscapes. He is on Twitter at @brunomshirley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there gender equality in Buddhist traditions? What do Buddhist texts say about women? How have Buddhist women responded to misogyny? Alice Collett's new book, I Hear Her Words: An Introduction to Women in Buddhism (Windhorse, 2021), reviews both recent scholarship and original writing in an accessible and compelling format. She shows that core Buddhist doctrines provide no justification for the notion that women are inferior to men. But Buddhism was born and took root in societies that held traditional views of women, and social norms positioning women as inferior to men have found their way into Buddhist tradition. This book tells the stories of many inspiring Buddhist women who overcame attempted constraint to gain liberation and become esteemed teachers. Not only do we hear about them in this book, but we also hear from them in their own words. An ideal introduction to gender studies in Buddhism and the history of women in the tradition. Bruno M. Shirley is a PhD candidate at Cornell University, working on Buddhism, kingship and gender in medieval Sri Lankan texts and landscapes. He is on Twitter at @brunomshirley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

Is there gender equality in Buddhist traditions? What do Buddhist texts say about women? How have Buddhist women responded to misogyny? Alice Collett's new book, I Hear Her Words: An Introduction to Women in Buddhism (Windhorse, 2021), reviews both recent scholarship and original writing in an accessible and compelling format. She shows that core Buddhist doctrines provide no justification for the notion that women are inferior to men. But Buddhism was born and took root in societies that held traditional views of women, and social norms positioning women as inferior to men have found their way into Buddhist tradition. This book tells the stories of many inspiring Buddhist women who overcame attempted constraint to gain liberation and become esteemed teachers. Not only do we hear about them in this book, but we also hear from them in their own words. An ideal introduction to gender studies in Buddhism and the history of women in the tradition. Bruno M. Shirley is a PhD candidate at Cornell University, working on Buddhism, kingship and gender in medieval Sri Lankan texts and landscapes. He is on Twitter at @brunomshirley. 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

Is there gender equality in Buddhist traditions? What do Buddhist texts say about women? How have Buddhist women responded to misogyny? Alice Collett's new book, I Hear Her Words: An Introduction to Women in Buddhism (Windhorse, 2021), reviews both recent scholarship and original writing in an accessible and compelling format. She shows that core Buddhist doctrines provide no justification for the notion that women are inferior to men. But Buddhism was born and took root in societies that held traditional views of women, and social norms positioning women as inferior to men have found their way into Buddhist tradition. This book tells the stories of many inspiring Buddhist women who overcame attempted constraint to gain liberation and become esteemed teachers. Not only do we hear about them in this book, but we also hear from them in their own words. An ideal introduction to gender studies in Buddhism and the history of women in the tradition. Bruno M. Shirley is a PhD candidate at Cornell University, working on Buddhism, kingship and gender in medieval Sri Lankan texts and landscapes. He is on Twitter at @brunomshirley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

The Wind Horse is a Tibetan Buddhism term that refers to a creature that can carry the wishes of the people and the gods using the wind. They are also known to appear in the popular multi coloured prayer flags that can be seen in images of the Himalayan regions. These Tibetan prayer flags are often strung around the Tibetan mountains and the greater Himalayas to symbolize the blessings of the ancestors. They are also quite popular amongst bikers in India who travel to Leh and Ladakh.Read more about the Wind Horse at https://mythlok.com/wind-horse/

Relentless & excellent, Wind Horse Records founder Hamza continues his journey by traversing worldwide waveforms through the ‘Banjara' series. Banjara Spain & South America illustrates the amazing repertoire that this sonic genius possesses, by introducing listeners to the sounds & vibes from Espana & the Americas. Link: @hamzarahimtula @wind-horse-records

How can mindfulness allow us to by-pass reactivity? How do we cultivate a sense of spaciousness? Buddhist teacher and author Bodhipaksa helps us find a sense of oneness, stillness, and perfectness. Bodhipaksa was born Graeme Stephen in Scotland and currently lives and teaches in New Hampshire. He is a Buddhist teacher and author who has been practicing within the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order since 1982 and has been a member of this order since 1993. Bodhipaksa runs the online meditation center, Wildmind, to increase awareness of the positive effects of meditation. His published works include The Wisdom of the Breath (CD) (Sounds True 2009), Wildmind (Windhorse 2010) and Living As a River: Finding Fearlessness in the Face of Change (Sounds True 2010)Interview Date: 10/22/2010 Tags: Bodhipaksa, retreats, mindfulness, happiness, fear, terror, management theory, reincarnation, karma, consciousness, self, virtual selves, clinging, Spirituality, Buddhism, Science, Meditation

Bodhipaksa was born Graeme Stephen in Scotland and currently lives and teaches in New Hampshire. He is a Buddhist teacher and author who has been practicing within the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order since 1982 and has been a member of this order since 1993. Bodhipaksa runs the online meditation center, Wildmind, to increase awareness of the positive effects of meditation. His published works include The Wisdom of the Breath (CD) (Sounds True 2009), Wildmind (Windhorse 2010) and Living As a River: Finding Fearlessness in the Face of Change (Sounds True 2010)Interview Date: 10/22/2010  Tags: Bodhipaksa, retreats, mindfulness, happiness, consciousness, Spirituality, Buddhism, Science, Meditation

Wind Horse label founder Hamza, returns with another swashbuckling offering on his effusive & eclectic imprint, titled ‘Banjara Series - Mali Edition', curating a 10-track offering that consisting of summery, ethnic & organic house music with subtle elements of disco inspired by the beautiful country of Mali. Link: @hamzarahimtula @wind-horse-records

Get vigilant with your own mind and use your anxiety for good! The post 084 Ride the Wind Horse | How to Outsmart Your Own Mind appeared first on Inspired Action Podcast.

Welcome to an opportunity to listen to a spontaneous discussion about the Lojong slogan training with a wonderful teacher. In this discussion, Polly Banerjee Gallagher and I join Dungse Jampal Norbu to address a few of these slogans and how they may be of use in society today and in the Windhorse community in particular. We discuss some slogans—such as “Don't be so predictable” and “Don't wait in ambush.” Dungse-la, as he is referred to in this discussion, and the group bring up Tonglen as a thread that runs through these slogans and how that practice (of taking in suffering and giving compassion) informs and deepens each one. The word ‘lo-jong' translates as “training the mind.” The slogans traditionally consist of a list of 59 pithy reminders about compassion and self-awareness. The slogans are at times deceptively simply, while offering a window into seeing one's mind in relation to self and other. I haven't always focused on these teachings, but whenever I take a fresh look, they are instantly useful in my life. I love how these short lines can really stick in my mind and can be reflected back by moments in my day. Wherever I get too comfortable with my routine and go to sleep, these slogans seem to know how to wake me up and remind I can slow down and show up. Raised in a Buddhist family and now a teacher in his own right, Dungse-la is an authority on these teachings; we were lucky to speak with him on this topic. This was a short time together, but I feel lucky and appreciative of the opportunity to share this conversation with the community and the larger audience of the Windhorse Journal.

From a recorded lesson: Alistair discusses thoughts and thinking with students. It is not thoughts that make us unhappy. Thoughts come and go but it is unconscious thinking, ego thoughts that cause suffering to arise. Soothing our minds soothes our thoughts. If the body is unified our thoughts ride the Windhorse of the bodys energy.

Dear Listeners, Welcome to a conversation about Inclusion, moderated by Chuck Knapp. Participants Sorin Thomas, Anne Marie DiGiacomo, and Polly Banerjee Gallagher consider the fears and faulty premises that lead us to value some identities and marginalize others. Binaries blind us to the range of human experience, causing needless suffering to those who don’t fit in the narrow band of acceptability. Windhorse’s contemplative roots remind us that what seems real or solid is illusory. In our work, we engage with people whose states of mind have been deemed pathological. A more expansive view allows us to acknowledge that mental health exists on a spectrum, and we are all capable of extremes. Sorin reflected on this theme of the space between binaries:  I grew up in-between. Between cultures on a U.S. naval base in southern Spain, between working and middle class sides of family, between genders. When I co-founded Queer Asterisk in 2016, I knew that in my clinical and educational work, I wanted to speak to the complexities of identity. I wanted to be a bridge person—helping people navigate scary or unfamiliar territory with curiosity and compassion. Today, I provide educational trainings on diversity, equity, and inclusion with a focus on supporting professionals to better understand and effectively serve everyone they encounter in their work. These issues are close to my heart. Those of us who live on the margins of society carry deep wells of wisdom, which—if cultivated—can benefit the lasting health of all of us. We hope that this conversation brings a bit of that wisdom—and a move toward lasting health—to you. Lori S. Heintzelman

I would like to thank you, dear listener-viewer, for finding your way to part 1 of this most recent podcast entry to the Windhorse Journal. Our panel discusses the book Healing Discipline, which has just been published as an e-book on the Windhorse Legacy Project website. The book is an edited collection of a three-seminar series taught by Dr. Edward Podvoll at Naropa University in 1985-1986. This is an exploration of three core areas of interpersonal healing: dream work, authentic communication, and life transitions. It seemed fitting for me to write the introduction to this first part of the podcast, as it involves a discussion of both contemplative psychology and dream awareness practice as it relates to working with extreme states of mind. Both of these areas of investigation are very dear to me, having studied and practiced them over the years with some depth and dedication, and having recently written a sizeable paper on dream work in psychotherapy.    So, it was to my great personal discomfort (even horror), that I found myself at a total loss for words on more than one occasion during the taping of this podcast, most notably during the discussion of the dream seminar! But having the opportunity to watch the unedited “rushes” before writing this introduction, I was struck by the care, kindness, patience, and gentle encouragement demonstrated by my fellow podcaster-friends.  My “dream” after taping the entry was that I’d somehow bombed, failed in my ability to communicate an understanding of the material properly, and the encroaching nightmare was that I may have singlehandedly turned viewers off to this gem of a book that elucidates the kind of work we do at Windhorse so beautifully. But the truth is that I wasn’t that bad, and my pod-mates—perhaps because I was able to absorb and act out in a fumbling, twitching, stuttering manner their own personal anxieties and inner demons—spoke to the wisdom of this book with exceeding intelligence, radiance, and confidence. Although I don’t want to do another one of these podcasts for at least 5 years, it was really fun. Please enjoy our full-spectacle discussion of Healing Discipline. You won’t regret it!

Learn more about this episode and see Special Offer: https://bit.ly/3apReFD​ In some cases, some of you are aware how past life impressions have dictated your response to certain situations without you being consciously aware of their influence on you. What you might not be aware is that we are in such a new time energetically that the past impressions of this lifetime up until this current year, what we will now call your former life, are also unnecessarily dictating your responses in this new era, until you consciously decide to change them. The angels have practical and farseeing advice on how to shape the world now as you want it. Adria Wind Horse Estribou will be taking live calls during the show and channeling Angels Ariel and Raphael in response.

Dear Listeners, Community Programs is, by its very nature, a place for Windhorse clients and staff to connect, learn, and celebrate together. When COVID-19 hit our hometown of Boulder in early March, and we all dispersed to our homes to protect our physical health and that of those around us, Community Programs was called to re-invent itself. In the words of Laura Hale, Peer Support Specialist, facilitators and participants had to “find structure out of ether.” Connecting in person was no longer an option, yet the need to connect was of utmost importance. Many of our community members found the initial isolation and stay-at-home orders overwhelming and downright frightening. So, with the help of Zoom, and the flexibility and persistence of our staff and clients, Community Programs became virtual pretty much overnight. We even found that a virtual format resulted in more community participation and an expansion of programming. Clients and staff dropped into Dinner Club, Yoga, or the Stress Management Class from the comfort of their own home and, in the words of Alicia Mandel in the following podcast, there was still connection with one another on the “spiritual and emotional level”, even when a physical connection was absent. Fast forward two months to the current podcast, in which we drop in on a conversation amongst those that have been living this reality: JoAnn Dorio Burton (Community Programs Administrator), Joe Calcagno (Peer Support Specialist), Alicia Mandel (Client), and Laura Hale (Peer Support Specialist). From losing connection to community, employment, and a sense of safety, these resourceful and resilient people discuss the journey from shock to adaptation to—in the words of Joe Calcagno—transformation during this time. Through anecdote and honest reflection, they paint a picture of how this time has been challenging yet enlightening. They reflect upon how they get through each day and how each has worked with their thoughts and utilized their coping skills ‘tool box’—not only to empower themselves but to support the greater Community Programs community. It is easy to get lost, overwhelmed, and siloed while isolating. However, this podcast illustrates the profound human potential to overcome atrophy simply by tuning in, daring to connect, and—in the words of Laura Hale—”not wasting precious peace of mind” by focusing on things outside our control. As Joe Calcagno puts it, “this wasn’t a vacation I necessarily wanted to go on . . . but all you ever want to do is try to get better.” Have a listen and take care of yourselves, Judy Halloran

Dear Listeners,  This week, we return to part two of the discussion published on May 16th, Lungta in the Time of Corona: Leadership During a Crisis. This recording took place on the first of May, 2020. That day I sat in my kitchen, about a month into this new “sanitized and separated” way of life, and pondered if my mountain internet was functioning enough to record a “Zoom podcast.” Nonetheless, I quickly became absorbed by this conversation that gracefully discusses the layers of vulnerability as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic: a consistent, invisible force, spreading throughout every aspect of life. This conversation exemplifies compassionate leadership—that holds space for reality while simultaneously offering seeds of hope. This offering brings together leaders of Windhorse Community Services and its sister entity, Windhorse Elder Care: Polly Banerjee Gallagher, Jack Gipple, and Stephanie Kindberg—joined by moderator Chuck Knapp. They invite us to appreciate this reminder of impermanence, of both the good and the bad, the fear and the pleasantries, and to remember what Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche discussed during his talk at Windhorse in March 2020: that “the present moment is the safest place to be.” As the conversation carried on, I became increasingly aware of the mysterious, novel fears and anxieties that had been creeping into my own body and mind as similar sentiments swept across many parts of the world. I had yet to let myself relax into it, to accept the communal vulnerability and sadness these circumstances were presenting. While exploring tangible approaches to maintaining some semblance of balance, Stephanie reminds us of the value of intention and routine, Jack recommends media hygiene, and Polly describes using Zoom “to not isolate in isolation.” We recognize the safe and comforting things that remain within our control even when a rabbit hole of unknowns threatens to swallow us up.  They also delve into the less tangible—yet equally important—suggestions for awareness: with the exchange of suffering within our homes, communities and throughout the world; and how to maintain a radical trust in our natural inclinations towards health, sanity and balance.  You will find within these words a reminder that although we may—at times—feel alone, we are all going through some version of this together.  Whether it is relaxing into putting germs aside for just one moment to offer a client the freedom to send a kiss to their husband through your cell phone (tune in to hear this heartwarming story from Stephanie Kindberg), or seeking connection from those you trust, there are so many valuable and uplifting ways that we can find faith within each moment and maintain consistency amidst inconsistent times.   Although life has dramatically continued to change since this recording took place, it provided me with comfort and timeless wisdom.  I hope that it gifts you with a similar sense of relief, and acceptance within this momentous challenge of our human experience.  Enjoy and take care,  Elysa Polovin 

Series 3 • Episode 03 Windhorse - lungta - is the subtile energy power of a shaman.The Third of three episodes about what it is, how to cultivate it and how not to lose it.Methods to increase Windhorse.(November 2020)

Series 3 • Episode 02 Windhorse - lungta - is the subtile energy power of a shaman.The seconds of three episodes about what it is, how to cultivate it and how not to lose it.Picking up and removing Energetic Contamination and Pollution.The Three Poisons.Our Personal History and resulting Emotional Contamination.(November 2020)

#33 David Salem - A Deep Dive into Capital Allocation   This interview is a true master class for anyone interested in capital allocation and manager selection. We had the great pleasure to speak to David Salem, the Co-Chairman of New Providence Asset Management, a firm that provides investment office solutions for endowments, foundations and family offices. David is also a contributor to Epsilon Theory, an online community in which he writes extremely thoughtful articles about investment management and combines it with his passion for the game of baseball.   Before assuming his current post, David served as a Managing Partner at Windhorse Capital Management, which merged with New Providence in 2018. For almost two decades before that, David served as the Founding President and CIO for the Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF), a non-profit investment cooperative that managed over $8bn on behalf of more than 700 endowed charities by the time he left. We discuss many different topics during our conversation, which includes the Yale Model, which then became known as the Endowment Model and why David thinks it may be dangerous for institutions to try to replicate it. We also discuss David's framework for selecting money managers, what his due diligence process looks like and what he focuses on when meeting a money manager for the very first time.   The topics discussed include: 02:00 – David's background 06:00 – David's opinion what it takes to become a great investor 10:00 – The Endowment Model and why David thinks it may be dangerous for institutions to try to replicate it 16:00 – How does David thinks about diversification, as well as his thoughts on how to design an investment program 24:00 – David's thoughts on how one should account for human biases in the measurement of risk tolerance 33:00 – David's thoughts on Private Equity and crypto currencies 39:00 – David's personal process on how to select investment managers 43:00 – Characteristics David looks for (and seeks to avoid) in vetting money managers 49:00 – How does David prepare for a first meeting with a money manager, and what he spends the first meeting on 55:00 – What David thinks about the use of Investment Committee in making investment decisions 59:00 – How does David decide on how when to part ways with managers he has invested in 62:00 – David's thoughts on mentorship   Please keep in mind this is not investment advice. Full disclaimer at the end of the podcast.    As always, make sure you share the podcast with anyone you think might benefit from the information. And don't forget to leave us a 5-Star review on iTunes!   Luke, Leo & Andy