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What happens when meditation goes wrong—and what might be missing from the modern, secular approach to mindfulness? In Part 2 of our discussion on The Dark Side of Mindfulness, we dig deeper into the research on meditation and mindfulness, exploring both their potential benefits and their psychological risks. From the importance of using the right medicine at the right dose and at the right time to the possibility that intensive meditation can destabilize a person's sense of self, we examine why these practices deserve a more nuanced understanding. We explore the role of a healthy ego structure in navigating the barrage of influences from modern society, the risks of pursuing meditation without adequate psychological integration, and the deeper question of what it means to search for your core self. We also examine the limitations of secular mindfulness. What happens when meditation is stripped of the broader philosophical, ethical, and spiritual frameworks in which it developed? Can a practice designed to cultivate awareness become another tool for self-optimization while leaving deeper questions of identity and meaning unanswered? In this conversation, we explore: - The research on mindfulness: What do meditation studies actually tell us about its benefits, limitations, and potential adverse effects? - Meditation as medicine: Why the right practice, at the right dose, at the right time, matters. - The healthy ego: Why a stable psychological foundation may be essential for navigating modern society and its competing influences. - Meditation and personality: Whether intensive meditation can contribute to psychological destabilization or personality changes in vulnerable individuals. - The search for your core self: What are we really looking for when we turn inward? - The limits of secular mindfulness: What might be lost when meditation is separated from its traditional philosophical, ethical, and spiritual context? Building on our previous conversation about the work of psychologist and meditation researcher Dr. Willoughby Britton and The Atlantic's examination of meditation's darker side, we continue to question the assumptions surrounding mindfulness culture. Rather than dismissing meditation or accepting its promises uncritically, we ask a more fundamental question: How do we engage with meditation in a way that supports genuine psychological development rather than undermining it? This is a conversation about the complexity of the human mind, the importance of discernment, and the difference between becoming more mindful and becoming more whole.

What is mindfulness actually? In this episode we explore The Atlantic's reporting on the darker side of meditation and the work of psychologist and researcher Dr Willoughby Britton. We discuss Her research on some of the pitfalls of a meditation practice and some of where the Articles framing may fall short. From there we look at the rise of corporate mindfulness as a movement and the idea of using meditation as a salve for unhealthy workplace cultures. We also examine the Idea around the book, 10% happier, and whether mindfulness and self optimization can sometimes distract from the deeper work of developing a strong sense of self and psychological core. Ultimately, this conversation is about meditation, not simply a Wellness tool but a powerful practice that deserves a more nuanced understanding. Topics: Mindfulness, meditation, Willoughby Britton, the Atlantic, meditation research, adverse meditation experiences, corporate mindfulness, 10% happier, psychological development, sense of self, contemplative practice.

What happens when Carl Jung's Philosophy and Psychology meets Buddhist empowerment? In this episode we explore the fascinating relationship between Jungian archetypes and Buddhist iconography, examining how symbolic images become living forces within spiritual practice rather than mere religious art. We discuss how empowerment transforms practice from something external into something deeply personal, allowing practitioners to cultivate an inner world capable of reshaping their experience of reality. Along the way we unpack the role of imagination in both psychology and Buddhism, asking whether the world's we create internally can genuinely influence the world we inhabit. Using examples from Lord of the Rings, we explore how mythology, story and archetypal journeys illuminate the path of spiritual transformation and why these narratives continue to resonate across cultures today. We also introduce the traditional stages of Buddhist empowerment, explaining their purpose, symbolism and how they serve as gateways into a deeper contemplative practice.

What do Carl Young's concept of the Daimon And the Buddhist Yidam have in common? In this episode we explore the fascinating overlap between Jungian psychology and Tibetan Buddhist practice period two traditions that recognize the power of connecting with a guiding spiritual presence in your life. We discuss what is a Yiddam And meditational deities in Tibetan Buddhism. Also, we Discuss the inner guiding force that calls us toward our destiny. We also begin our dissection of a Tibetan Buddhist empowerment and what it means to receive and embody a spiritual practice from a living teacher. We discuss inviting in the archetypes and enlightening energies into your life as well as seeing Tantra as a path for transformation not escape. Whether you drawn to depth psychology, Buddhism or the places where they meet, this is a conversation where a doorway into working with the sacred figures that shape us are possible.

Why do we distract ourselves? Why does anxiety feel disconnected from logic? And can the body express memories the mind has buried? In this episode, we impact Carl Jung's ideas on metaphysics, the unconscious, and the hidden relationship between the body, mind and spirit. From 7 sermons to the dead to the process of becoming conscious of what drives us, we explore how symptoms, addiction, emotional flatness and creativity may all point towards something deeper... This is a conversation about inner life and what happens when we stop avoiding it.

This is the second part of our conversation with Professor Robert Thurman and we get into a lot!  We start out by highlighting how it can be easy to feel overmatched by life and the oft difficulties in finding happiness, Einstein's spooky action at a distance, the human potential and the challenge of conquering oneself, rebelling against your surroundings and challenging conventional education.  We examine secularism and make the point that one cannot see what is dark... nor what is transparent.  We are very grateful to have Professor Thurman on again with us, enjoy the episode. We are re-uploading a couple episodes with a good friend of ours who has recently passed, Robert Thurman. Thank you for all of the lessons friend.

In this episode of Gin and Tantra we discuss Professor Thurman's New Book, Wisdom is Bliss and a link can be found in the description of this video if you are interested in it.   We do a sort of verbal Rorschach  with Professor Thurman and get his thoughts on a wide variety of topics in the book and so much more including...the importance of education and the suffering of change, experiencing all gain and NO pain, having fun on the spiritual path, happiness pushing people away from positions of power, the orgasmic potency and some plans for West Virginia. We are lovingly re-uploading a couple episodes with one of our favorite people, Robert Thurman. Honoring his life and his teachings. May your journey be fruitful friend.  https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Bliss-Friendly-Facts-Change/dp/1401943438

What if the forces shaping your life are more than unconscious physiological processes? In this episode we continue our exploration of Carl Jung's model of the psyche, examining the mysterious concept of the Daimon. Which can be described as a guiding, intelligent force that appears throughout mythology, religion, and depth psychology. We discuss whether these experiences are merely symbolic expressions of the unconscious or evidence of something genuinely transcendent operating within human life. Together we explore the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind, individuation, Destiny, synchronicity, spiritual encounters, and the possibility that the psyche is connected realities beyond the personal self. Topics include Carl Jung, the daimon, Archetypes, individuation, synchronicity, consciousness, spirituality, metaphysics, depth psychology, And the intersection of psychology and transcendence. All mixed in with a little Buddhist twist.

In this episode we do a deep exploration of Carl Jung's understanding of the psyche, consciousness and the unconscious mind. We examine Bernardo Kastrup's metaphysical perspective, the fragmentation of the self, and how chronic stress patterns affect both the body and the mind including the role of dysfunctional breathing and nervous system regulation. A conversation at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and human healing.

In this episode, we continue our discussion on religious trauma and the psychological forces that keep people attached to harmful belief systems. We explore belonging, indoctrination, perfectionism, hyper vigilance, emotional suppression, internal fragmentation, and the struggle to develop an authentic moral compass outside rigid doctrine. We also discuss identity, fear, circumcision as male genital mutilation and how trauma becomes internalized within both individuals and communities. We are happy to once again have on Dr. Bahareh Sahebi to discuss this and her own personal experiences growing up in Iran, you can ding more of her work on Instagram @ dr._.bahar and on substack @ drsahebi .

In this episode we have on Dr. Sahebi to discuss religious trauma. In this conversation we explore the difference between religious trauma and simply being raised with a strict belief system. We discuss how fear based ideology can fracture identity, shape personality through constraint and organize entire family systems around obedience and belonging. The episode also examines gender dynamics, intersectionality, systems theory and Buddhist perspectives on interconnectivity. We ask how individuals can reclaim authenticity while remaining deeply connected to others. This is a nuanced discussion on trauma, belonging, identity, psychology, and the human need for meaning. Dr. Sahebi's substack - https://substack.com/@drsahebi

In this episode we open the door to our retreat experience and the deeper architecture behind our work. We explore what it means to build a space that is free, accepting, safe and even pleasurable without losing the rigor or depth. This conversation moves through the intentional design of our community, where processing is not isolated but shared, and where individual insight becomes collective movement. We also recount the Cacao ceremony and What it represents, how it functions psychologically and symbolically and why it serves as a threshold experience rather than a performance. This is not about spectacle but about direct encounter with fear, identity and the possibility of deliberate transformation. This episode is less about answers and more about orientation on how to live, practice and relate when the systems we inhabit are both the source of our conditioning and the field in which we attempt to wake up in. If you've attended our retreats you'll recognize the terrain if not, this serves as an entry point into the work. Please feel free to share this with anyone interested in community based practice, psychological transformation or the question of whether real change is possible within the systems we repeatedly recreate. I N S P I R E - Breathwork & Cacao CeremonyJoin us for this three-hour journey through cacao, breathwork, movement, and sound as you return to the Being beneath the noise. June 19. Toned Yoga, Kenilworth. Tix - https://events.humanitix.com/breathwork-and-cacao-ceremony-fgsrxn6q/ticketsWe open with a heart-centering cacao ceremony and a shared intention. From there, ecstatic dance to release what's been held, breathwork to shift the nervous system, and sound and stillness to integrate. Each piece feeds the next — a single arc of release, movement, and return. Harmony.This is an invitation to let go, drop in, and reconnect with the self that lives beneath the noise. Words can only hint at it. You have to feel it to understand.Your facilitator: Daniel Domoleczny — licensed acupuncturist, 500-hour yoga instructor, with a background in shamanic practice and breathwork traditions.

we finalize our dissection of the lingering effects of COVID and the ramifications on today.

In this continuation on our series on How Covid Changed Society, we explore deeper and more subtle transformation that continues to shape our world today. Covid did not create decentralization, rather it accelerated a shift that was already under way. Technology had already begun disturbing power across individuals, but the pandemic intensified this movement dramatically. Work became more decentralized. Geography became more flexible. Information became more fragmented. Healthcare decisions became more individualized. Education moved outside of traditional institutions. But this shift produced what we call the boomerang effect... As individuals gained independence and increased their capabilities, institutions simultaneously increase their control. Thus creating a paradox. We then explore epistemic decentralization where knowledge itself becomes decentralized. When everyone has access to different sources of information, trust erodes in authority. This fragmentation creates tension that continues to fluctuate back and forth across society. And when a shared reality dissolves, people increasingly see themselves as separate from each other. This reinforces a belief that we are independent individuals rather than interconnected beings. This fuels division, distrust, and disengagement from the collective responsibility. This is not just a social shift. It's a psychological shift. And ultimately, a spiritual one.

In this episode we explore the profound societal shifts that emerge from Covid and not just in policy or behavior but in how we understand truth, authority, and trust itself. Crises Have always revealed deeper forces operating beneath the surface of society. Covid accelerated these forces shift it at unprecedented speed. Messaging scaled rapidly. Behavior changed quickly. Enforcement strengthened. But legitimacy weakened. As tools of power grew stronger, public trust eroded. As belief systems diverge, alliances shift. As authority weakens, individuals must develop deeper discernment. This conversation examines how Covid may have accelerated the broader transformation, one that is still unfolding, where truth is contested, institutions are questioned, and society reorganizes around competing narratives. This episode is not about politics. It's about power, truth and the human search for meaning during times of crisis.