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Novelist and short story writer Alice Elliott Dark talks with Tess about long-term grief not as something to fix, but as an access point, a thin veil between us and the people we've lost. She shares her creative process, sunrise practice, the quiet art of becoming "receptive" rather than forceful, and why she believes it's okay to simply live inside grief rather than rush to move past it. A gentle, grounding conversation about loss, presence, and staying open to what — or who — is trying to reach us. Dark's story "In the Gloaming"—which first appeared in The New Yorker thirty years ago—was recently published by Scribner as a standalone book. Her forthcoming novel, Wherever You Are, returns to the same characters in an exploration of long-term grief as a paradoxical connection to deeper aliveness. (Scribner, fall 2027).  Alice Elliott Dark is the author of the novels Fellowship Point and Think of England, and two collections of short stories, In The Gloaming and Naked to the Waist. Her story, "In the Gloaming," was chosen by John Updike for inclusion in The Best American Short Stories of The Century and adapted for film by HBO and Trinity Playhouse (starring Glenn Close, directed by Christopher Reeve). Dark is the recipient of a Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a 2026 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. She is a Professor of English and the Director of the MFA in Creative Writing program at Rutgers-Newark.  Find out more about her work here: https://www.aliceelliottdark.com/ Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and novelist, author of American Dervish and Homeland Elegies, joins host Tess Callahan to talk about his new novel, The Radiance. The book follows a writer (also named Ayad) who wakes from a hit-and-run accident into an unbidden state of heightened perception that unfolds over eight months as he navigates an academic scandal in a politically divided town.  Ayad talks about writing as “melding” with a register of experience rather than executing a plan; the idea of autofiction as “doing the truth, but better”; the influence of Montaigne, Rousseau, and Plato’s cave; and what it means to come back down the mountain after a genuine experience of grace. He asks the political meaning of grace. We also get into Falstaff, Ayad’s father, and what constitutes greatness in a person. The Radiance was published September 29, 2026.  Ayad is touring 28 cities this fall, dates available here:  https://ayadakhtar.com/ Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Wake up at night with your mind racing? Or have trouble getting to sleep to begin with? This guided meditation uses breathwork and a gentle river visualization to help you let go of the day and drift back to sleep. Picture yourself releasing worry, heartache, and tension into the softly flowing water, until there’s nothing left but stillness. Audio editing and music by Eric Fischer. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

This guided meditation invites you to ride the waves of your life, the grief and the joy, the storms and the sun, trusting Life to hold you throughout.  I hope you enjoy. Music and editing by Eric Fischer.  Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Alternate nostril breathing or Nadi Shodhana is breathing technique from yoga that promotes relaxation, clarity, and stress relief. It involves inhaling and exhaling through one nostril at a time, alternating sides, and can benefit the cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. It aids in lowering blood pressure, improving heart rate variability, enhancing lung function, and activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Mentally, it calms the mind, reduces anxiety, and improves focus. Spiritually, it balances the body's energy channels (nadis), promoting deep states of consciousness and transformation. Practiced correctly, it can lead to a calmer, clearer mind and better sleep. Sound mixing by the fabulous Eric Fischer. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Though Savasana (or shavasana), the “Corpse Pose,” is a relaxation practice often used at the end of a yoga session, it can be done anytime to cultivate rest, rejuvenation, and wellbeing. It invites you to release tension, surrender to gravity, and allow the body-mind to come into a state of ease. Imitating a corpse helps you to release your grip on the impulse to alter or fix the present moment in any way. By symbolically surrendering to death, you relinquish worry and relax into stillness. Savasana fosters inner peace that can stay with you long after the practice is over. I learned this version from my yoga teacher, Tony Rivers, who was a student of B.K.S. Iyengar. My sound engineer Eric Fischer gets credit for the deeply relaxing soundscape. I hope you enjoy.  Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Dr. Andrew Holecek discusses Dark Retreat—a Tibetan Buddhist practice of spending extended periods in complete darkness—and its transformative effects on creativity, healing, and spiritual insight. Dark Retreat is “big medicine” not to be undertaken lightly. Like any retreat, its power relies on its integration. His new book on the subject is:  Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation Dr. Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions. He is the Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, and a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University. His work involves studies on dream yoga and the practice of dark retreat. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of nine books, and a concert pianist. He has completed the Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat and is a frequent subject in scientific studies on meditation and lucid dreaming. His work integrates ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary perspectives, aiming to help individuals navigate spiritual challenges and end-of-life experiences. He is currently writing a book on “gray” retreat—a more gradual approach to dark retreat. He holds degrees in classical music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery. You can find him at: https://www.andrewholecek.com/ Retreat Centers: Sky Cave / Oregon: https://www.skycaveretreats.com/ Dark Havens / Vermont: http://www.darkhavens.org/Chamma Ling / Colorado: https://chammaling.com/Menla / New York (coming soon): https://menla.org/Other Books by Holecek: Dreams of LightDream YogaLucid Dreaming WorkbookPreparing to DieI'm Mindful, Now What?Reverse MeditationThe Power and the PainMeditation in the iGeneration Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

What if every meal began with a moment of intimate connection? In this episode, I offer a short practice for thanking your food, a blessing that moves through the plants, water, sun, animals, and human hands that brought your meal to you. Simple enough to carry in your mind, deep enough to quietly change how you eat. May it nourish your soul! Music and sound mixing by Eric Fischer. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

This brief meditation encourages you to find moments of connection to yourself and to Spirit throughout your day, no matter what challenges you’re facing. The act of pausing supplies the calm clarity we need to address our challenges wisely. Be attentive to portals to presence, and observe the observer within. The meditation concludes with a quote from the 12th century Christian mystic Meister Eckhart about the unity of love. I hope you enjoy. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

There’s a lot going on—in the world, in us. So how do we hold it all? This meditation grew out of a friend’s morning and evening prayer: “whatever” and “oh well.” Simple, honest, maybe even a little funny—but also surprisingly profound. Together we explore what it means to release ourselves into the present moment, to notice what’s well and good even amidst what’s broken, and to make our hearts big enough to hold it all. Includes a reading of Rumi’s “The Guest House" and the Serenity Prayer. I hope you enjoy. Thank you creative genius, Eric Fischer, for the inspiration. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Yoga Nidra relaxes your body into deep restorative sleep while your mind, like a night-blooming flower, opens to formless awareness. Over the course of these 8 hours, the guiding voice softens into ocean waves, yet remains barely audible to guide you back to sleep should you awaken during the night. Drawn partly from the teachings of Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, this practice includes a complete body relaxation, 61-point exercise, and ascending breath practice. Yoga Nidra relaxes the body and mind, and unhooks the neuro-conditioning that keeps you stuck. Studies show regular practice alleviates stress, PTSD and improves wellbeing. I wish deep, restorative sleep.  Audio engineering and remixing: Eric Fischer Music: Christopher L Clarke Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

In this special episode of Heart Haven Meditations, Tess Callahan speaks with author George Saunders abou the intersection of meditation, writing, and his Buddhist practice. Drawing from his new novel Vigil, Saunders reflects on attention, revision as a form of meditation, and the challenge of inhabiting another person's consciousness with honesty and care. Saunders emphasizes the value of cultivating “a quiet mind” in writing and in life.  George Saunders is the author of thirteen books, including the novel Lincoln in the Bardo, which won the Man Booker Prize, and five collections of stories, including Tenth of December, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and the recent collection Liberation Day. Saunders hosts the popular Story Club on Substack, which grew out of his book on the Russian short story, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain. In 2013, he was named one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People by Time. He teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

This contemplative meditation draws from the fourth century BCE Taoist master Chuang Tzu, as retold by Thomas Merton. Through the ancient parable of wind moving through ten thousand holes in the earth, we listen to nature’s voice—a symphony of mooing, roaring, and whistling that emerges when the invisible breath of life moves through all things. The voice of the wind becomes a powerful metaphor for the higher power many seek in recovery and spiritual practice: an unseen presence speaking through us, singing the music of our lives. What is it that blows through these ten thousand holes? This teaching invites you to rest in stillness, to listen deeply, and to surrender to the mysterious power whose voice awakens all beings. Perfect for those seeking presence, peace, and connection to something greater than themselves. Based on “The Breath of Nature” from The Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton. Music by Eric Fischer and Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Audio by Eric Fischer. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

This talk/meditation invites you to access inner wisdom through sleep and the liminal spaces between waking and sleeping. In many ancient traditions, monks, yogis, and shamans dreamed worlds into being. These dreamed realms, called Pure Lands, Buddha Fields, and Fields of Spirit, exist outside of ordinary time and can be visited in meditation and dreams. They are, in essence, the Kingdom of God within you. This practice invites you to set an intention to visit these realms in dreams, releasing any expectations, and preparing the mind and body for deep, restful sleep. The meditation guides you into state of deep coherence and surrender. Relax and enjoy. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

This is a guided relaxation meditation for promoting restful sleep. If possible, aim for a dark, quiet, cool sleeping environment. The meditation invites you to recall a moment of gratitude from you day, followed by a full-body relaxation scan, and a short round of 4-7-8 breathing (inhaling for four seconds, holding for seven, and exhaling for eight). Then, you release your breath, letting the body breathe naturally as you visualize the heart and mind mingling. The main focus is on surrendering the mind to deep, peaceful sleep. The session ends with five minutes of ocean wave sounds. I hope you enjoy. Audio by Eric Fischer. Music by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Support the show Host: Tess Callahan Substack: Writers at the Well Interview Podcast: Writers at the Well Meditations on Insight Timer Meditations on YouTube Tess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/ Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd Clark Audio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening! DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.