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What happens when we stop treating death as life’s great failure? In this conversation, Atilla Çidam explores what he calls an intimacy with death: a willingness to encounter aging, loss, heartbreak and impermanence rather than organizing our lives around their avoidance. His provocative idea of the “ecstasy of decay” asks whether the marks of time on the body might be approached with curiosity, tenderness and even celebration. The conversation moves through three kinds of death: the death of the body, the death of what we love, and the death of identity. Attila argues that facing impermanence can change how we love, loosening the impulse to grasp, manage and control the people around us. Rather than making life less precious, the knowledge that everything passes can make our participation in it more immediate and wholehearted. From tantric charnel-ground practices to contemporary transformational work, Simon Marvell and Atilla consider what it means to build the capacity to stay present with experiences we would rather escape. Their discussion ultimately expands beyond the personal: what might our communities, politics and economies look like if they were not built around a fear of death? For Attila, intimacy with death is fundamentally life-affirming: an invitation to recognise impermanence and commit more fully to being alive. About Atilla Çidam Atilla is an ISTA facilitator with a PhD in psychology whose earlier career involved designing programs with governments, the World Bank and UNICEF. He left that career to study dance, movement, Tantra and shamanism, shifting his work toward an integration of mind, body, emotion, soul and spirit. He is a co-founder of Dance Meets Tantra and Emergency Brotherhood, and his current work explores intimacy, transformation, embodiment and our relationship with death. In this episode Attila introduces three domains of intimacy with death: the impermanence of the body, the inevitable loss of what and whom we love, and the dissolution of the identities to which we cling.He describes an “Ecstasy of Decay” practice in which participants show one another where time has changed their bodies and are invited to admire and bless those signs of aging rather than reject them.Attila distinguishes pain from suffering, proposing that suffering emerges when we try to avoid painful realities rather than allowing ourselves to experience them.Discussing transformational spaces, he argues that participants should be empowered to choose their own “burn rate”: deciding how deeply and intensely they enter an initiatory process rather than having that intensity dictated by a facilitator.Speaking one day after the death of a close friend, Attila describes allowing grief, celebration, despair and gratitude to coexist, and how the loss strengthened his commitment to the life and work he feels called to.Support the show

Imagine if sexuality wasn’t separate from spirituality, but woven into the sacred landscape itself? In this episode, Simon speaks with ISTA faculty member Aya Kamānakai about her journey to reconnect with the ancient sexual and spiritual traditions of Japan. Born in Japan but raised largely abroad, Aya describes how returning to facilitate ISTA trainings in her homeland opened an unexpected path back to her ancestry. She rediscovered a culture in which sexuality, spirituality, nature, and ritual have long been intertwined. Their conversation traverses Shinto animism, erotic shunga art, sacred phallic and vulvic shrines, sexual festivals, kami, ritual rope, queer and transgender expression, and Japanese understandings of sexuality as life force. Aya shares about traditions that remain alive today, from shrines dedicated to sexual deities to festivals where enormous phallic omikoshi are carried through the streets. Aya and Simon also explore what happens when cultures become disconnected from these traditions. They consider the effects of religious suppression, Westernisation and modernity, and ask what it might mean to recover ancestral knowledge without romanticising or bypassing the more difficult parts of our histories. Perhaps we’re living through a time of increased cultural remembering, Aya suggests. She invites you to become curious about your own ancestry, the land beneath your feet, and the forms of embodied and animist knowledge that may still exist beneath the surface of contemporary life. Support the show

What if conflict wasn't something to dread, but a doorway to deeper intimacy?  In this rich conversation, Usha Rose sits down with Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates, intimacy and relationship coach, somatic practitioner, and creator of The REPAIR Process™.  With a PhD in Human Sexuality and over two decades of facilitation experience, Dr. Hazel-Grace blends nervous system regulation, kink-aware communication, and embodied practice to help people move from reactivity and shutdown into courageous, heart-open repair. At the core of their work is a simple teaching: conflict is not a failure of intimacy, it is the initiation into it. Dr. Hazel-Grace walks us through why slowing down before any difficult conversation is essential, how to resource your nervous system, and why it's valuable to acknowledge any power dynamics present before entering the repair conversation. From empathy and permission all the way to restoring integrity, this is a framework for finding your way back to trust and connection after any rupture, big or small.  Whether you're healing a deep breach of trust in your most intimate relationship or wanting to feel less activated when you run into someone in the world, this episode offers a compassionate, embodied map for finding your way back to each other, and to yourself. Find Dr. Hazel-Grace at drhazelgrace.com Or on Instagram: @drhazelgrace  Support the show

In this episode, our host Luis Pinto speaks to Arion Light about how to create your life, relations, and livelihood from your Eros. Arion's insights come from a lifetime of coaching clients and soul-searching. Most importantly, consistently letting go of any rigid identity and connecting with something deeper, what he calls our "Essence." He speaks about how he discovered his greatest Love through his wife's passing from cancer. He was left to raise their 2-year old without her, an experience which cracked him open to feel just how precious our life-force really is. He now calls this Love his "Boss."  The conversation also explores:  how YOU can get embodied references to transform your reality, and actual stories from his clients and friends.how he created the Embodied Business Institute and helps conscious entrepreneurs–or "Wisdom Business owners" as he calls them–build businesses from the ground up from the vibrating pulse in their core.Tune in for this alive transmission, especially if you've been searching for practical ways to live your life aligned to your true purpose. To get in touch with Arion, you can visit his website: www.arionlight.com or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/arion.light Support the show

Komala Lyra has been teaching the art of realness for decades. That might sound strange. Isn’t everything real? But Komala helps people distinguish between what is truly authentic for them and what comes from external expectations. She guides people to become sensitive to their inner experience, to what life is calling them toward, and to what is happening in their hearts and bodies. Following your impulses, she suggests, can lead you down the path of realness. In this episode, Komala speaks with Simon about how learning to trust those inner signals can open the door to a more liberated life. Along the way, she shares three powerful insights. When we listen to our impulses and say “yes” to them, we invite transformation. Ayurveda offers a framework for understanding how we digest not only food but also energy and experience. And when someone disappoints us, it can be a valuable opportunity to reflect on why we did not see it coming. These ideas may sound bold, even provocative, but Komala presents them with warmth, care, and deep humanity. She shares personal stories, including deciding to marry her partner after knowing him for just 24 hours, growing up in an environment where her body could move freely, and why she enjoys knitting, even in the height of summer. Simon and Komala also discuss her latest book, Intimacy: Ayurveda & Sexuality, as well as the immersive community experiences she hosts on her land in southern Portugal. Tune in for an intimate, thought-provoking, and joyful conversation. To learn more about Komala and her work, visit her links:  Website: https://www.komalalyra.com/ Land project, Monte California: https://www.montecalifornia.net/ Latest book: Intimacy: Ayurveda & Sexuality (2025) Instagram: @komalalyra And to learn more about ISTA, visit our website:  https://ista.life/ Or follow us on Instagram: @ista.community Support the show

In this episode, men’s coach Mischa Byruck shares how we can use our biggest mistakes as catalysts for profound personal transformation.  For Mischa, coming to terms with our mistakes leads to a deeper understanding of what true integrity means. Integrity is not just about following rules, but about aligning your actions with your foundational values and being in wholeness with yourself. It is a nuanced, lifelong practice, not a state of perfection. And there are many life-enhancing benefits of this inner work: a sense of calm, satisfaction, and the ability to walk through the world with pride in how you're living.  But this process cannot be completed alone. Mischa underscores the importance of having accountability structures and being open to feedback from others to maintain this integrity. Whether you're looking to deepen your own self-awareness and authenticity, or seeking to support others in this journey, this episode offers valuable insights. Mischa’s expertise as a men's integrity coach, combined with his humble, relational approach, make this a must-listen for anyone interested in personal transformation and building a more whole, integrated life. About Mischa:  Mischa Byruck is a men's integrity coach who supports his clients to turn their biggest mistakes into their greatest opportunities for transformation. He also consults organizations to bring accountability, power awareness, and trauma-informed practices into leadership. Mischa is certified in somatic trauma therapy with extensive training in harm reduction, counseling, sexuality, and anti-racism. His clients include Sacred Sons, ISTA, kink.com, and DanceSafe. Support the show

There are moments when effort ceases to have the effect it once did. When pushing, planning, and deciding create more tension than less. At these junctures, we can sense that the next step won’t come from thinking harder, but from listening more deeply. In this episode, Simon Marvell is joined by artist, creator, and transformational guide, Dane Tomas, for an exploration of how we can each embrace magick, release ourselves into sensitivity, and learn to listen to the current of life. Dane shares his understanding of magick not as spectacle or superstition, but as intentional action aligned with the deepest layers of self, cosmos, and consciousness. He guides us through the relationship between will and surrender, and the surprising overlap between the path of the magician and the path of the mystic. The conversation weaves through themes of cultural lineage and spiritual inheritance, questioning where our practices come from and what it means to work with traditions that genuinely fit our bodies, nervous systems, and lived realities. Dane reflects on his journey through Western esotericism, sex magic, shadow work, and non-dual practice, and on the moments where letting go of identity became a doorway to profound change. A central thread of the episode is listening to the current: learning to attune not just intellectually, but somatically and energetically, to what wants to move through us — in ritual, creativity, sexuality, and major life decisions. This episode invites a shift in orientation away from forcing clarity, and toward trusting the subtle movements already shaping our lives.    To learn more about Dane’s work, visit his links: 👉 https://www.danetomas.com/ 👉Instagram: @dane.tomas If you loved this episode, please rate the podcast and share it with your friends — it helps this work reach more people. To learn more about ISTA, visit our links: 👉 https://ista.life/ 👉 Instagram: @ista.community Support the show

Does it genuinely make you happy when your partner is enjoying themselves on a trip with their other lover?  Or perhaps you’ve felt a sense of elation when a friend or colleague receives a well-deserved promotion or prestigious award?  If you’ve ever been uplifted by someone else’s positive experience, even when it doesn’t directly involve you, then you’ve encountered "compersion". In today’s episode, Usha Rose delves into the intriguing concept of compersion with guest Dr. Marie Thouin, the author of What is Compersion? Understanding Positive Empathy in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships, the first comprehensive scholarly work on this topic. While compersion is often associated with non-monogamous relationships, it’s clear that anyone can benefit from understanding and embracing this experience. You might be wondering: Is compersion an innate trait, or can it be cultivated?Can you feel jealousy and compersion simultaneously?Is compersion a requirement in non-monogamous relationships?We address these questions and explore: The six factors that enhance compersionHow compersion manifests differently across contexts and situations, and strategies for navigating these variationsCommon barriers to experiencing compersion and techniques for overcoming themHow compersion can serve as a guiding principle in relationships, fostering growth, connection, and intimacy You can learn more about Dr Marie Thouin on her website:  https://mariethouin.com/ Or follow her on IG:  @drmariethouin To learn more about ISTA visit our website:  https://ista.life/ Or follow us on social media:  @ista.community Support the show

The tales of old tell us about the cruels of fate and great heroes following their destiny. Often, overcoming our fate is exactly how a fictional hero is made.  But, as ISTA facilitator Robbie Griffin explains, these are not just myths to be left in fantasy worlds. Fate and destiny are lodged in the DNA of human experience and reflecting on them helps us understand our very human lives.  Fate refers to the cards we are dealt in life, both good and bad. It encompasses our family make-up, our upbringing, the culture we’re from, and the opportunities we’ve had.  Destiny is both what we choose to do with those cards, and how we go about doing it.  As Robbie explains, it's important to take care of those parts of ourselves that feel hurt by fate. Likewise, we can connect to our destiny and find our genius, that inner spirit which is uniquely our own.  Through a beautifully spontaneous conversation, Robbie and Simon Marvell explore the tender feelings and vulnerable experiences that we often need to integrate in order to tap into our greatest potential, whatever that may look like.  We hope it brings inspiration and insight you can apply to your own journey.    Robbie Griffin is a founding member and facilitator of Emergence Brotherhood, the founder of Temple of Alchemy London, and supports people 1-on-1 to embrace their unique gifts.  https://www.robbiegriffin.life @robbiegriffinalchemy    To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life Or follow us on Instagram: @ista.community Support the show

You may have experienced a time in your life when you felt part of some great oneness. Not easy to explain to another person, right?  Mystics have grappled with these experiences for as long as there have been mystics, coming up with many poetic ways of referring to them.   In this episode, Simon Marvell speaks with ISTA facilitator and psychologist, Laura Deva, about a similar, poetic idea that has become prominent in recent years: it's called "the dark."  As Laura explains, "the dark" doesn't refer to shadowy parts of our unconscious, nor to evil. Rather, the dark is, precisely, a difficult-to-explain state of existence.  It can be distinguished from the personality and the soul in that it is what exists beyond their limits. And yet, the dark can be felt in them. Indeed, we can feel the dark in our daily lives, to our great benefit! While this might seem like an abstract topic, Laura brings it right down to earth for us, while still offering a taste of how the dark can be felt.  To learn more about Laura, visit her links:  Upcoming retreat: Living from the Mystery, 20-24 November 2025, Germany. Laura's Tandava online course6-month online mentorship with LauraLaura on Instagram If you loved this episode, please rate it and share it with your friends! And to learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/ Or follow us on social media: @ista.community Support the show

In this episode, Simon Marvell speaks with ISTA Facilitator Aaron Mandelbaum about the importance of integration after transformational experiences.  Going to a retreat for spiritual growth or personal development can be like shaking a snow globe. It can send flurries of emotions, thoughts, and experiences wildly into the air. At some point you need to let the snow settle into its new place.  Only then can sustainable shifts in how you live your life begin to establish themselves. Aaron reveals the different ways that ISTA teachers suggest people integrate and explains why each of them are so supportive.  He and Simon also discuss Aaron's unique approach to facilitation, his transition from the business world to spiritual work, and the significance of community and connection in personal growth.  They address the challenges that may arise after intense experiences, especially when shamanic practices are involved, and the power of navigating these emotions alongside other people. They also discuss:  How Aaron is like a cross between George Carlin and Mr RogersHow patience, presence, and process infuses all he doesThe perils of being a “shamasochist”What your loved ones might be experiencing when you’re awayThe ISTA Integration portal for graduatesThe global online groups accessible to graduates To connect with Aaron, visit his website: https://aaronmandelbaum.com/ ISTA offerings many trainings each month, all around the world. To learn more, visit our website: https://ista.life/ Or follow us on social media: @ista.community Support the show

In this episode, Usha Rose sits down with her longtime friend and colleague Kay’aleya Hunnybee, a clinical herbalist and integrative health coach, to explore the true power of herbs as aphrodisiacs, not just for boosting libido, but for supporting whole-body vitality, nourishing the nervous system, and enhancing pleasure from the inside out. Rather than offering a generic list of aphrodisiac herbs, Kay’aleya guides us through a holistic, nuanced approach to understanding our sensuality and sexual well-being. Together, we dive into how herbs work, why not all aphrodisiacs are the same, and how to choose the right plants for your unique body, lifestyle, and needs. Kay’aleya shares 5 core areas for enhancing pleasure from an herbal perspective, along with practical insights and examples of herbs that support each one. You’ll also learn how to develop an intimate relationship with herbs and plants as allies for long-term sexual vitality, not just quick fixes. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why aphrodisiac is an oversimplified term and what actually matters The importance of understanding your individual needs 5 key areas for using herbs to enhance pleasure and arousal Examples of herbs in each of those categories Creative, unexpected ways to work with herbs for sexual well-being If you’ve ever wondered which herbs might actually help you feel more alive, nourished, and sensually vibrant, this episode will give you a rich foundation to start your own herbal pleasure journey. About Kay’aleya Hunnybee   Kay’aleya is a clinical herbalist, bodyworker, and integrative health coach specializing in menstrual, hormonal, and sexual health. Her work supports everything from menstrual cycle care and breast health to postpartum healing and navigating menopause. She teaches an online Natural Contraception program, offers pelvic and abdominal bodywork & herbal care in midcoast Maine, and hosts the Herbal Womb Wisdom podcast. Her greatest wish is for others to experience the healing potential of their bodies and cultivate deep kinship with the earth and its plants. Learn more at: https://www.herbalwomb.com/ To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/ Support the show

In this episode, Jeff DeLone shares his journey from a conventional, yet emotionally suppressed, upbringing in the United States to discovering the power of feeling and releasing emotions. Growing up in a large Catholic family, Jeff was surrounded by people but often felt alone. Looking back, he recognizes signs of inherited depression and the impact of unexpressed emotions. After excelling in school and sports, he entered the corporate world, only to find it unfulfilling. His turning point came when he began attending transformational workshops, where he encountered tools that helped him navigate life’s challenges without relying on old patterns like drinking. This exploration eventually led him to become a teacher of the Release Technique, a method that helps people fully feel and then let go of difficult emotions instead of repressing them. As Jeff emphasizes, the technique is less about intellectual understanding and more about direct experience. In the episode, he guides listeners through simple yet powerful exercises for noticing and releasing stuck feelings. One of his key insights is about working with fear: rather than resisting it, we can meet fear with love and allow it to move through us. He also explains how the ego resists letting go, preferring to stay in the mind. In contrast, this practice opens the door to truly living, not just thinking or doing. Jeff also touches on: The history of the Release Technique What lies beneath our most difficult feelings How to release the grip of the mind Relating to emotions like musical notes Transforming fear into courage Heart-centered meditation practices It’s a rich and inspiring conversation with a down-to-earth teacher exploring some pretty “out there” ideas. Links from the episode: Release Technique Healing the Heart of America If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it and share it with friends! Learn more about ISTA at ista.life Support the show

Jasmeen Hana, Egyptian spirituality facilitator (and previous ISTA facilitator), speaks with Caitlyn Cook about her journey of self-discovery, spirituality, and community living. From a multicultural background, she has moved through crises of identity, spiritual revelation, and many years of global travelling, to finally settle in her community in rural Egypt.  Drawing deeply from her expertise in ancient Egyptian mythology and culture, Jasmeen explains the importance of bringing offerings to the land (not just taking) and of commitment. When we can let go of our striving and driving to achieve, she says, we can become like nature, allowing life to emerge from within.  Jasmeen emphasizes the importance of *taking action* to bring the mystical world, to which many of us are connected, into reality. As we aim to do this more, it seems, shadow work is essential, but so too is drawing on what is in our light. In fact, there are several things that could be in the way of us slowing down and committing to our chosen path...  Jasmeen and Caitlyn also explore:  How mythology helped Jasmeen find her place in the world.Respecting and listening to the land as we would a lover. Stability as a marker of power in ancient Egypt.Doubt as a block to right action in the worldHow our dreams matter and contribute to the collective vision for a better world. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jasmeen Hana and Her Journey 04:58 The Role of Land and Community in Spirituality 09:56 The Importance of Giving Back to the Land 14:52 Commitment as a Path to Freedom 19:47 Finding Balance Between Movement and Stability 26:58 The Nature of Commitment 29:31 Shadow and Light Work 31:57 Embracing Self-Worth 34:53 Life Beyond Materialism 36:35 Bridging Spirituality and Daily Life 39:58 The Power of Action 43:37 Community and Shared Vision 47:22 The Beauty of Imperfection About Jasmeen Hana Jasmeen is a Kemetic spiritual and shamanic facilitator, community builder, and founder of Bliss School, a digital platform offering holistic education, leadership development, and shamanic awareness programs supported by the ancient Egyptian wisdom teachings. She is currently based in southern Egypt, where she has co-founded the development of an Ancient-future regenerative village project focused on community well-being and sustainable living, as well as temple life.  Jasmeen’s website: https://www.bliss.school/ SPECIAL OFFER for ISTA podcast listeners: to receive a discount on online courses in Jasmeen’s Bliss School (link above), use the discount code “LOTUSGIFT” at check-out. Jasmeen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Blissschool-JasmeenHana Jasmeen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmeen_hana_/ And to learn more about ISTA, visit https://ista.life/ Or follow us on social media: @ista.community Support the show

In this episode, ISTA facilitator Usha Rose speaks with systemic therapist and transformational guide Lars Borgmann about how to engage in conflict with others in a better way.    As Lars explains, conflict can occur in any area of our lives, but our experiences of it are often so unpleasant that we aim to avoid it at any cost. Without being dealt with, it can fester underneath the surface of our relationships, causing even more problems.    What we should do is stop seeing conflict as an indication that someone has done something wrong. Instead, we should take a systemic approach and see that everyone has their own internal conflicts, and their own complex desires, that are influencing the tense interaction.   If we see conflict as an opportunity for us to grow in our relationships with others, then we can begin collaborating with those we’re clashing with and create new solutions to the problems we’re facing.    Lars speaks about how we can make this happen. He also addresses:  ·      Bringing love to conflict ·      Letting go of our need to control the truth ·      How conflicts are actually made-up of many smaller conflicts ·      The influence of past experience on present interactions ·      How 99% of our issues with others have already occurred within ourselves   If you loved this episode, why not rate it and share it with your friends!   To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: ista.life Or follow us on social media: @ista.community Support the show