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Sharing insights from decades of sitting with the dying, RamDev explores how to live and die with awareness and an open heart. Pick up a copy of RamDev’s new book, How to Live So You Can Die Without Fear and check The Living Dying Project’s numerous, free support groups for grief, illness, and more.  In this episode, Chris and RamDev have a conversation on: Ramdev’s extensive work with the dying Learning to live while remembering our mortality Open hearted joy that transcends suffering Seeing the same patterns in different traditions Leaning into what’s difficult rather than shying away from itDeepening our practice into the fabric of our beingRam Dass and returning to presence after we’ve veered off the pathGrief and feeling separate from others, separate from the divineRecognizing the universality of grief and the many forms it arrives in “With very few exceptions, the most beautiful Americans I’ve ever met are people who are almost dead because they’re more willing to be themselves. It’s not like ‘am I having a good hair day or not, or how much money do I have, how’s my body looking today or my personality.’” –RamDev About RamDev: RamDev Dale Borglum is the founder and Executive Director of The Living/Dying Project. He is a pioneer in the conscious dying movement and has worked directly with thousands of people with life-threatening illness and their families for over 30 years. In 1981, Dale founded the first residential facility for people who wished to die consciously in the United States, The Dying Center. He has taught and lectured extensively on the topics of spiritual support for those with life-threatening illness, on caregiving as a spiritual practice, and on healing at the edge, the edge of illness, of death, of loss, of crisis. Check out RamDev’s podcast, Healing at the Edge, on the Be Here Now Network. “How deep is your practice? It’s not the books you’ve read, it’s not what you’ve got in your mind, it’s what’s really deep in your soul. It makes me think of when Ghandi was assassinated—he was saying ‘Ram Ram’. How can he say ‘Ram Ram’ if he was unexpectedly shot in the chest? Because he was saying it all the time. He wasn’t saying it because he was shot, he was saying it and he was shot.” –RamDev See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this expansive discussion, integrative healing practitioner Dr. Robert Krause explores consciousness, philosophy, and saying ‘yes’ to life.  Tune into Ep. 144 of the Indie Spiritualist Podcast for a conversation around mental health, psychedelic therapy, and integrative healing with Chris, Dr. Krause, and psychiatric nurse practitioner Vicki Marnin. In this episode, Chris and Robert have a conversation on: Tantra vs. Buddhism and unique views of pleasure and sufferingAcceptance and commitment to the experience of all thingsHow to sit with pleasure without graspingSaying ‘yes’ to life with arms wide openThe power of breathwork Consciousness, philosophy, and the material world Reconciling with our own mortality in order to live a fuller lifeAbout Dr. Robert Krause: Robert Krause DNP APRN-BC is the Director of Clinical Services & Co-Founder of Centered, a unique mental health center for integrative healing. Dr. Krause pursues his work through various schools of philosophy, psychotherapy and pharmacology, as well as meditation, yoga, tantra, sex therapy and psychedelic therapy. Dr. Krause holds a BA in Philosophy from WCSU, a certificate in Nursing and a Master of Science degree from the Yale School of Nursing, and a doctoral degree in nursing practice from Quinnipiac University. His doctoral research work was focused on using a program of yoga and meditation to decrease incidents of aggression in an inpatient psychiatric unit. He also holds certifications in Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery from Harvard University, and certificates in both Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research and Sex Therapy from the California Institute for Integral Studies. Robert has been a faculty member of the Yale School of Nursing and the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. At Western Connecticut State University and Quinnipiac University he has lectured in their philosophy programs; and at the Graduate Institute, he has lectured in Holistic Health and also in the Consciousness Studies Department. “Knowing that it’s perfectly safe to die can also let us know that it’s also perfectly safe to live. One of the practices in tantra is in order to know what your yeses are, you first have to be able to say no. In the same way, when you’re able to reconcile yourself to your mortality, then, you’re in a place to say yes to life.” –Dr. Robert Krause See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Holistic healer Erik Harris explores the benefits of natural medicine and how it can support healing across mind, body, and spirit. This time on The Indie Spiritualist podcast, Chris and Erik chat about: Perspectives from both alternative and Western medicine Erik’s first experience with energy work and alternative healingOvercoming emotional and physical pain Inspiration from A Course in Miracles Healing in mind, body, and spirit Getting to the root cause of what is causing us painChris’s own journey with neurodivergence Honoring the part of us that questions thingsThe relativity of being ‘better’ Connecting to plants, trees, and mushroomsAbout Erik Harris: Erik is a holistic healer dedicated to helping people with chronic pain and illness uncover the root causes of imbalance and create sustainable paths toward wellness. His own healing journey through spinal injuries, digestive issues, and Lyme disease led him to explore natural medicine, herbalism, Chinese medicine, energy healing, and other holistic modalities. He completed a five-year apprenticeship with Dr. Ming Wu and graduated from the Connecticut Institute of Herbal Studies in Chinese Herbology. With over 10 years of experience, Erik is a certified Qi Gong Instructor, Chinese Herbalist, Tui Na Therapist, Medicinal Aromatherapist, Auriculo-therapist, Reiki Therapist, and Tong Ren Therapist. He integrates these practices with his background in psychology to support the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Erik’s mission is to empower others with practical tools and personalized holistic approaches that help them take an active role in their own healing and wellness. Learn more about Erik and book an appointment with him HERE. You can also check him out on Instagram.   “Listen to people when they tell you what’s going on. There are all sorts of mystery illnesses and chronic conditions. Chronic conditions are at an all-time high. You would be surprised how many people you know are dealing with something. Give them a little grace and try to support them. If you haven’t had it, you don’t understand, but try to listen, try to be there.” –Erik Harris See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Snyder, pioneer of guitar pedals and founder of Electronic Audio Experiments, explores the intersection of engineering, creativity, and the endless pursuit of great sound. This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and John discuss: John’s journey as a musician, creating guitar pedals and altering soundWhat it was like finishing a PhD in an electrical engineering program during the coronavirus pandemicHow Electronic Audio Experiments took offBlurring the lines between art and scienceGuitar gear as an extension of the instrument itself Navigating creative burnout and the gap between efforts and outcomesHow neurodivergent traits can be valuable in the creative industry and beyondAbout John Snyder: John Snyder is a long-time guitarist with a PhD in electrical engineering. John combined these passions and became the owner and head designer at Electronic Audio Experiments (EAE). EAE  is an exploration in sound and texture via electronics. EAE focuses primarily on stompboxes for electric guitar and bass, with occasional ventures into amplification and synthesis. Check out this article from Boston University on John and his work. “It’s very edifying to do something like this that is really blurring the art that I want to make with the science background that I have. There’s so much subjectivity to it that it feels like an art project rather than an engineering project much of the time.” –John Snyder See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Atheist spiritual director Britt Hartley explores climbing out of the void and building a life that is worth experiencing rather than focusing on what comes next.  This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Britt explore:  Deconstructing truth claims and focusing on momentary experienceHow Sufism reopened Britt to spirituality The brain’s struggle to make choices without a direction or faithExistential bravery and challenging the religions we inherited The beauty of living in deep honestyLiving a life that is worth living, even if nothing comes after we are goneAmerica’s movement from theological religion to political religionNot claiming an “ism” and putting all options on the table Imagination and overapplying agency outside of ourselves Looking into the connection between Autism and Nihilism  “I would rather suffer and see than accept some story and never question it and live and die according to some story that I inherited.”–Britt Hartley About Britt Hartley: Britt Hartley is an Atheist spiritual director and secular spirituality content creator. She holds a masters degree in theology and considers herself a nihilism survivor and Sufi mystic. She is also a published author, religious deconstruction coach, and program director for Spiritual Direction Training. Check out her book No Nonsense Spirituality and keep up with her on Instagram. “Mysticism, what still allowed that to take root in me even with all my skepticism, is mysticism is the focus on the experience of what people have called God without having to put specific language around it or a box around it or put it into a manual. That has been really helpful for me to focus on experience as a place you can build even in the void, even in existential crisis. The one thing we can know is that there is something to be experienced.” –Britt Hartley See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring the vital role of boundaries, Dr. Lissa Rankin calls on the medical and wellness fields to confront power imbalances and deepen their understanding of trauma. Check out Dr. Rankin’s numerous books on trauma, medicine, healing, and more HERE This week on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Lissa explore  Moral injury and Lissa’s transition out of the medical worldWhat the medical world misunderstands about traumaCult-type dynamics within the wellness community Naive compassion and recognizing that sometimes we are responsible for our own harmWaking up to spiritual bypassing and developing a trauma-informed awarenessHow medical training forces you to dehumanize in order to detach and perform in surgeries etc.Going through a reckoning of power imbalance Internal Family Systems as a wonderful healing modality for traumaStanding up for ourselves and asking for what we needAbout Lissa Rankin, MD: Lissa Rankin, MD, is an OB/GYN physician, author of 7 books, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute and the non-profit Heal At Last, and an encaustic artist who researches radical remission, trauma-informed medicine, and spiritual healing. She teaches memoir writing for therapeutic purposes, in addition to being an educator of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Her TEDx talks have been viewed over 6 million times, and she starred in two National Public Television specials. Lissa is currently co-writing her eighth book with Harvard psychiatrist Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv about the link between relational trauma and medical illness, focusing on how healthy boundaries and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can help reverse diseases related to nervous system dysregulation caused by traumatizing relationships. Lissa lives with her partner Jeff Rediger and her housemate April Sweazy in the Bay Area, now that her daughter has flown the nest. She thrives on daily hikes in nature, dancing with her Bay Area dance community, singing, writing, DJ’ing music whenever she can, and healthy gourmet cooking. Check out Lissa’s website HERE. “I was using my naive compassion to enable and tolerate some of the most narcissistic people on the planet without good boundaries and consequences to that behavior. It was shattering to realize that I was responsible for my own harm, I was continuing to keep the door wide open. I was a porous, boundaryless, gap. That was part of the ecstatic part, it was ‘it’s all one, we’re all connected.’ I wasn’t seeing the boundarylessness of that and the boundary wounding that came from my boundaryless mother.” –Lissa Rankin, MD See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blending together the clinical and the beautiful, Dr. Robert Krause and Vicki Marnin discuss mental health, psychedelic therapy, and integrative healing. Check out Centered, a pioneering mental health center offering affordable, multidisciplinary care designed to empower individuals on their path to healing. From traditional therapy to advanced psychiatric care and ketamine-assisted therapy, they provide a full spectrum of services to meet diverse needs.   This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris, Robert, and Vicki discuss: Bringing together different healing perspectives rather than being strictly clinical Considering what it means to be centered Ketamine as a therapeutic modality and how treatment changed Chris’s lifeConsidering set & setting in mental health spacesThinking of ketamine-assisted therapy as a gradual tool for change (not a cure-all or quick fix)The psychological benefit of creating sharp contrast between everyday life and the psychedelic experience Surrendering into ego dissolution for emotional healingHolistic care, trauma-work, and setting boundariesAbout Dr. Robert Krause: Robert Krause DNP APRN-BC is the Director of Clinical Services & Co-Founder of Centered, a unique mental health center for integrative healing. Dr. Krause pursues his work through various schools of philosophy, psychotherapy and pharmacology, as well as meditation, yoga, tantra, sex therapy and psychedelic therapy. Dr. Krause holds a BA in Philosophy from WCSU, a certificate in Nursing and a Master of Science degree from the Yale School of Nursing, and a doctoral degree in nursing practice from Quinnipiac University. His doctoral research work was focused on using a program of yoga and meditation to decrease incidents of aggression in an inpatient psychiatric unit. He also holds certifications in Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery from Harvard University, and certificates in both Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research and Sex Therapy from the California Institute for Integral Studies. Robert has been a faculty member of the Yale School of Nursing and the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. At Western Connecticut State University and Quinnipiac University he has lectured in their philosophy programs; and at the Graduate Institute, he has lectured in Holistic Health and also in the Consciousness Studies Department.  “When I started studying psychedelic therapy about ten years ago, one of the things that was really front and center was the importance of set and setting. The setting for psychiatric work should be as important, but the setting for psychedelic work is very important because if we’re going to give people medicine that’s going to really open them up, in order to do that, they have to feel like they’re in a safe environment.” –Robert Krause About Vicki Marnin: Vicki Marnin, RN, CNM, APRN-BC, is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner.  She has been assisting with ketamine assisted therapies for the past two years at Centered. Vicki has developed her skills for holding space for journeys in her practice as a midwife for the past 27 Years. Her path has turned toward helping people with personal growth, and mental health concerns.  “The day before your ketamine session, I want you to clean up your space so that when you come home it’s beautiful for you. I want you to make some food so you don’t have to struggle. You’re greeting this new, vulnerable, potential self. Put some flowers in your room, make sure your sheets are clean. I want it to signify a beginning that people may hold onto as a sign post, as a commitment to themselves.” –Vicki Marnin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author, speaker, and harm reduction advocate Ryan Hampton discusses the importance of addressing the social needs of individuals struggling with addiction. Learn more about Ryan’s perspective on the overdose epidemic in America through his 2024 book, Fentanyl Nation. This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Ryan chat about: The state of the world and the ongoing opioid and overdose epidemic Harm reduction and how recovery has changed throughout the generationsThe peer support model and the critical role of community in addiction recoveryPromoting harm reduction initiatives as a life-saving alternative to punitive approachesPsychedelic therapy and integration sessions Balancing clinical addiction treatment with addressing social determinants like poverty and homelessnessShort-term solutions to addiction versus long-term sustainable strategies for recoveryTackling the root causes of addiction instead of focusing solely on substance useReleasing the identities we cling to pre-recoveryFreedom of thought and freedom of choiceAbout Ryan Hampton: Ryan Hampton is a national addiction recovery advocate, author, media commentator, and person in long-term recovery. He has worked with multiple non-profits nationwide to end overdose and served in leadership capacities for various community organizing initiatives. Hampton is in recovery from a decade of active opioid use and is a leading voice in America's rising recovery movement. He is the author of Unsettled, American Fix, and Fentanyl Nation. Ryan lives in Nevada with his husband, Sean, and their two boxer dogs. Connect with Ryan through his website and check out his work with Mobilize Recovery. “The act of reducing harm in any fashion should never be under political assault...I believe in bodily autonomy. If somebody is consciously making those decisions, then let's help them make better decisions so they are not harming other people and themselves, or reducing harm to themselves. We can support harm reduction, or, we can support death.” –Ryan Hampton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Environmental activist Robin Greenfield explores why separation is the biggest threat to humanity and how to become a servant to all. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. Check out Robin’s newest book, Food Freedom, and learn more about sustainable living In this episode, Chris and Robin have a vulnerable conversation about: Living a life of sustainability and protecting the earthThe illusion of separation as a core threat to humanity Healing our relationship with ourselves and others Truth as Robin’s ultimate inspiration and considering what the world could look like if we were all transparent The need for healing, taking responsibility, and righting any previous wrongs Celebrating progress in all forms, from small steps to major breakthroughsNon-violent communication and practicing from both the heart and mindBeing born into chaos, giving ourselves grace, and learning along the way“My objective since the beginning of my awakening has been to bring my life into alignment—to live my beliefs to the deepest level that I can: simply living on this earth in a way that doesn’t destroy the very home that we have, plants, animals, my fellow humanity.” –Robin Greenfield  About Robin Greenfield: Robin Greenfield is a truth seeker, activist, social reformer, author, and servant to Earth, humanity, and our plant and animal relatives. Robin Greenfield lives simply and sustainably to be the change he wishes to see in the world and in active resistance to destructive and exploitative systems. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity. He is dedicated to liberation and basic rights for all. Check out Robin’s website to learn more about his many projects. You can also pick up one of Robin’s numerous books HERE. “If we don’t have wholeness and completeness within, we’re going to create a shattered society around us.” –Robin Greenfield  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guitar innovator Joel Korte joins Chris to share how loss, creativity, and community shaped his journey, from founding Chase Bliss and redefining analog-digital sound to discovering freedom by following his bliss. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. [sc name="youtube"]nBfzpCv0ggg[/sc] In this episode, Chris and Joel have a heart-to-heart about: Joel’s profound experience of losing his brother to a drunk driving accident Living each moment with the inner knowing that it could be our last Joel’s guitar pedal and gear company, Chase Bliss Following your bliss and seeing doors open in front of you Mixing together analog technology with digital control in the guitar industry Parallels between the process of creating guitar pedals and the process of music creation Working through introversion and finding comfort in community Holding onto a positive outlook for the future “We’ve gotta get out of these echo chambers and see the humanity in one another. After you share space with someone and you’re reflecting on it, you feel this goodness that is indescribable about that connection and community amongst humans. We just need to be around other humans.” –Joel Korte About Joel Korte: Joel Korte is the founder of Chase Bliss, one of the most creative, cutting-edge guitar gear companies. As a builder and innovator, Joel Korte is changing the way musicians shape sound from deep textured effects to the intersection of analog and digital creativity. More Be Here Now Network Podcasts: [div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"][div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-column is-layout-flow"]Lama Rod Owens covers the dharma of freedom, loving ourselves, ancestral work, and the power of meditation: Dedication to Liberation Through bearing witness, love & service, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee shares how we can collectively heal the crisis of disconnection & ecological devastation: Love & Service [/div][div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-column is-layout-flow"]JoAnna Hardy shares a guided meditation all around the first foundation of mindfulness – mindfulness of the body: First Foundation Guided Meditation Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh explores how we can joyfully bring mindfulness into everyday activities like phone calls, driving, and walking: The Ojai Foundation Presents: Under the Teaching Tree with Thich Nhat Hanh [/div][/div] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Somatic singer and teacher Marisa Michelson shares information on the powerful work of connecting to the body through song and uninhibited self-expression. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode of The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Marisa have a conversation about: Vocal ‘de-armoring’: working with voice, the body, and the psyche to release blocksBringing somatic relationship and embodiment into the classical music worldHow Marisa discovered that singing could bring her into transcendent blissNavigating information overload in our fast-paced, tech-driven ageA roadmap to reconnect with the body and relearn the language of direct experienceLetting spontaneity flow through the liberating practice of somatic singingA jaw-focused practice for releasing tension and unlocking full expressionTrust and vulnerability to open up our bodies, hearts, and mindsSimple somatic practices to weave into day-to-day lifeAbout Marisa Michelson: In addition to being a sought-after somatic singing teacher, Marisa is an award-winning composer of music-theatre, experimental musicals, oratorios and choral works, and was the founding director of the psychedelic singing ensemble Constellation Chor | an immersion in voice, movement, and spirit. Marisa has written four full-length musicals, two of which were produced off-Broadway by Prospect Theater Company. Her most personal composition project to date was her Desire|Divinity Project, a three part music-theater piece exploring the connection between sexuality and spirituality through an exegesis of the Song of Songs and a musicalization of Sappho’s poetry fragments.  She currently travels around singing with the vocal quartet, Agrol Agra, which performs Hungarian folk songs and Bartok arrangements of said folk songs. Marisa is beyond grateful to live and work and teach on acres of land in Upstate New York (Ancram/unceded Mohican land).  Marisa gives her gratitude to the trees, red-winged blackbirds, deer, hares, water and wind, dirt, bees, and non-human life for the profound support. Connect with Marisa on her website. “It’s been such a gift for me to work with processes, particular exercises, and practices that are developing my understanding of how energies are moving through my body, how muscles are moving in coordination with each other, and how emotions are coordinating with the physical body, the nervous system, the energy body. Getting to go deeper into this is like learning a language that can then allow us to have more and more clarity in our own direct experience.” – Marisa Michelson See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Musician Craig Wedren reflects on his rise to fame in the D.C. hardcore scene, blending together punk rock, spirituality, and healing.  In this episode, Chris and Craig converse about: From punk rock roots to a spiritual path: how Craig’s musical journey shaped his creative and personal lifeCraig’s first exposure to meditation in his 20sThe origins of music, sound, and vibration How music transcends language, culture, and generations to connect all peopleTranscendental Meditation and inspirational tricksters Searching for deeper meaning and spirituality in modern, often soulless societyCraig’s improvisational practices: free writing & free-form guitar playingCraig’s work creating original music for a therapeutic ketamine clinic called Kanopy Ketamine treatment for addiction recovery Craig’s rise to fame in the D.C. punk scene with his band Shudder to ThinkThe synergy between performer and audience How Craig’s cancer diagnosis brought him back down to earth and showed him what truly mattered“I found a lot of punk rockers or hardcore people are particularly drawn to eastern religions. A friend of a friend said once, ‘the search for something deeper in a world increasingly devoid of it’. It makes perfect sense that I am meeting people that later on get drawn to different paths, traditions, and teachings.” – Chris Grosso  About Craig Wedren: Craig Wedren first gained notice as the dynamic, multi-octave-wielding frontman of Shudder to Think – one of the first Washington, D.C. bands to make the transition from the revered Dischord punk label to the majors during the grunge era. Wedren has released a series of solo albums and related collaborative projects. At the same time, Wedren’s music has become an essential part of some of film and television’s most popular and lauded shows. In recent years, Wedren’s endlessly creative spirit has also seen him release Adult Desire 360--a VR app comprised of 360° panoramic music videos featuring songs from his album Adult Desire; share the limited edition hard-bound book My '90s, featuring photos he took on his Polaroid Spectra in the 1990s and early 2000s that documented his late nights and early mornings on the road with Shudder to Think and time with friends including Fugazi, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, members of The State and more; and Sabbath Sessions, his multi-episode podcast featuring musical meditations that represent his first explorations of ambient choral music, where Wedren’s technique of sampling and looping his famously elastic voice results in a unique kind of sound bath. Check out Craig’s website.  “In general, the playground of my work, the sandbox of it, is pretty regulating I would say. I’ve been programming playlists and now I am starting to write original music for some friends of mine who have a ketamine therapy clinic.” – Craig Wedren See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blending together hardcore punk and spirituality, Ray Cappo inspires listeners to deflate the ego and serve something bigger than themselves. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Ray delve into: The powerful intersection between hardcore punk and spiritualityLiving on the fringes of societyHow the hands of God can touch anybody, even in the most unexpected placesThe beginning of Ray’s spiritual path and being inspired by Harley Flanagan of hardcore punk pioneers Cro-MagsShifting inward: moving beyond the senses and the mind into subtle awarenessFrom chaos to calm: being in Samadhi rather than emotional turmoilKirtan and serving something bigger than ourselves instead of being the center of attentionThe presence of ego even in yogic and spiritual communities Finding oneness and connection with all beings, beyond outer labelsLetting go of idolizing people or things and reserving reverence for the divineConsidering how being in the spotlight can inflate the ego if one does not offer praise back to God and surrenderRecognizing rock bottom as a spiritual turning point and a hidden blessing"Nothing else will fit in that God shaped hole. If you make your spouse your God, or your dog your God, your house your God, that God is always going to let you down." –Ray Cappo About Ray Cappo: As a teen in the 80s, Ray Cappo founded the hardcore punk band Youth of Today, which championed the principles of clean living, vegetarianism, and self-control. After experiencing a spiritual awakening in India, he formed a new band, Shelter, devoted to spreading a message of hope through spiritual connection. Ray currently leads yoga retreats, trainings, and kirtans at his Supersoul Farm retreat center in Upstate New York, as well as annual pilgrimages to India. He is the co-founder and co-host of Wisdom of the Sages, a daily yoga podcast that has been ranked #1 on Apple for podcasts about spirituality. Check out Ray’s recently released memoir, From Punk to Monk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teaching us to relax back into being held by spaciousness, Lama Rod Owens discusses the forces that help us remember real love, awakened freedom, and who we truly are.  In this episode of the Indie Spiritualist Podcast, Chris and Lama Rod explore: The practice and embodiment of real love as revolutionaryTranscending violence and harm and the yearning for all to be freeHolding brokenheartedness with a lot of care and viewing it as a teaching Continued practice even as an awakened being Returning to a space of fluidity and opennessRiding the middle line between form and emptiness Cultivating a stronger relationship with Earth, even in an urban environment Mystical breakthroughs and navigating mental health through the lens of spirituality Getting distracted by euphoria / believing we are hyper-special instead of taking spiritual experiences as an opportunity to connect more deeply with humanity Meditative experiences that can be found in daily life and in our pre-existing hobbiesAllowing space for Western medicine when it is needed Untangling the notion that we have to like something or someone in order to love Returning agency back to community and the enduring spiritual traditions that will aid in our survival  This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp & Dharma Seed: Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. Join Krishna Das, the most well-known voice of Bhakti chanting (Kirtan) in the West, and David Nichtern - a senior Buddhist teacher, founder of Dharma Moon, guitarist in Krishna Das’ band, and producer of several of his albums - for a warm and engaging conversation about these two paths, their shared roots, and how they intersect in contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - THE HEART & MIND OF PRACTICE: BUDDHISM & BHAKTI About Lama Rod Owens: Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care. Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is to show you how to heal and free yourself. A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod is highly respected among his peers and the communities that he serves. From these intersections, he creates a platform that’s very natural, engaging, and inclusive. Check out Lama Rod’s most recent publication, The New Saints, and his podcast on the Be Here Now Network, The Spirit Underground. For current offerings and programs, click here. “Is it taking you out of this moment, out of relationship with others around you? Are you having thoughts of being special and extraordinary? Is it helping you to be more human, or is it leading you towards this idealized state that seems to take you out of the messiness of humanity? I think that the real spiritual breakthrough brings us deeper into the experience of being human, of empathy." – Lama Rod Owens See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Levy, a pioneer in spiritual emergence, chats with Chris Grosso about the concept of Wetiko and healing our collective malady. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode, Chris and Paul explore: The diagnosis of our collective malady and defining WetikoWaking up through the darkness Life as a collective dream we are all manifesting The mind virus we are all suffering from and what it can reveal to us The primary importance of the psyche in creating world eventsAccessing our divine inheritance and divine power Psychologist and Dream Analyst Carl Jung’s exploration of Wetiko The danger of turning a blind eye to our shadowsQuantum physics as a dreaming phenomena Shedding light into our unconscious mind Compassion as the ultimate dissolver of Wetiko About Paul Levy: Paul Levy is an author, speaker, and facilitator who describes himself as “a wounded healer in private practice, assisting others who are also awakening to the dreamlike nature of reality.” Paul brilliantly synthesizes wisdom streams from quantum physics, Carl Jung, Buddhism, alchemy, shamanism, Kabbalah, mystical Christianity, and the work of science fiction author Philip K. Dick. He has been a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for over 35 years, was the coordinator for the Portland Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, and is the founder of the “Awakening in the Dream Community.” Paul’s books include The Quantum Revelation: A Radical Synthesis of Science and Spirituality, Dispelling Wetiko: Breaking the Curse of Evil, and Awakened By Darkness. Learn more about Paul on his website.  "Wetiko is a Native American term but every spiritual tradition talks about it, just in different languages. This is the diagnosis. We've made a huge breakthrough. There's been a diagnosis of what's at the bottom of our collective malady. We're in the middle of a collective psychosis of titanic proportions, that is what Wetiko is.” – Paul Levy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.