Woven Wings Live

Talking about and reflecting on death can feel morbid, scary, dreadful even. Today we sit with Matt Segall, Professor of Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness to explore the concept of death from the lens of philosophy, and do our best to bring the conversation to a practical place:- Why is talking about death powerful? What does it unlock for us?- What does it mean to “cross the threshold” of death while we live, and to “die before dying”? - How does contemplating the death of our ego-centric sense of self enable us to better connect with others?- How do we even go about participating in this contemplation? How do we tackle our fear? How do we challenge or suspend our assumptions about the nature of life and death?- What does it give us access to that they wouldn’t otherwise?What we find nestled within a contemplation of our death - both literal and figurative - is a powerful connection to living more vibrant, connected, and meaningful lives.Join our newsletter: https://www.wovenwings.net/newsletterReach us at: live@wovenwings.netAbout Matthew David Segall: Matthew is a transdisciplinary researcher and teacher applying process philosophy across the natural and social sciences, including the study of consciousness. He is Assistant Professor in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA. He is the author of Physics of the World-Soul: Whitehead’s Adventure in Cosmology (SacraSage, 2021) and Crossing the Threshold: Etheric Imagination in the Post-Kantian Process Philosophy of Schelling and Whitehead (Revelore/Integral Imprint, 2023)Follow Matthew’s Work: Website: https://Footnotes2Plato.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/ThouArtThatFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/footnotes2plato/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@footnotes2plato

Roman Hanis shares an eclectic spiritual philosophy built on the concepts of essential humanity and a shared human heart, which mirror core tenets of the Woven Wings philosophy: the idea that we’re all connected at a very deep level, and that coming together in harmony and support for both each other and the world that we inhabit is essential to the planetary healing that we so innately crave.What is essential humanity? What do we all share in common? How do we accept our identities, but also not feel bound by them?What is the shared human heart? How do we access it? How can we know that it exists?How do these ideas contribute to planetary healing?Furthermore, in an age where many people are piecing together their spiritual philosophy - a topic we continue to explore more frequently on this show - Roman talks about how there is no manual or shortcut for your own pursuit of truth, and how you must do the work to open your consciousness and access your innate wisdom. He defines that truth not as a philosophical concept, but as a state of being characterized by essential human qualities: vulnerability, receptivity, resilience, and openness, to name a few.. Join us in this inspiring conversation with someone who walks the walk, and leave energized to connect with your own deep sense of humanity!Join our newsletter: https://www.wovenwings.net/newsletterAbout Roman Hanis:Roman Hanis has been working closely with the indigenous Peruvian cultures in the Amazonian rainforest and Andean mountains since 2001. During this time he has devoted his life to learning the ancient healing ways of these cultures while seeking possibilities for creating ecological sources of sustenance for local populations and working to preserve the rainforest and its spiritual heritage that includes a skillful application of sacred medicinal plants.About the Paititi Institute: “Paititi”, in Quechua, is an enlightened realm manifested through the awakening of our shared human heart. Through the awakened spirit of the individual comes the greatest potential for the transformation of the planet. The Paititi Institute for the Preservation of the Environment and Indigenous Culture is committed to embodying this paradigm shift and demonstrating what is possible through ordinary human efforts, in service to Mother Nature and the infinite human potential.Through all of our programs, we dedicate our efforts to supporting a society of deep, nurturing and true values. We serve as an intercultural bridge, supporting individuals and communities to live activated, responsible and joyful lives in harmony with both inner and outer landscapes. As humans, we are inexorably linked to the earth and each other. As part of this magnificent symbiotic organism, we are dedicated to co-creating the enlightened world we all have in our hearts.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

Bill Richards - renowned psychologist, theologian, and pioneer in the research of psychedelic-assisted therapy - is in the unique position of being able to speak to mystical experiences with both spiritual and scientific authority. In addition to delving into his research journey around psychedelics, he shares how grounding in our interpersonal relationships, engaging in curious exploration of our consciousness, and letting go of our egos can lead to a liberating sense of surrender, overcoming fear, and living a life of enduring presence.What is sacred knowledge? How is all of our life and humanity interrelated? What is the history of psychedelics in our society, and why are they inextricably linked to the sacred?How do we marry these ideas with a modern, research driven sensibilityWhat does all of this mean for us individually, and for society, as we pursue a global awakening?Join us in exploring these questions, and more, with one of the giants in the field!About Bill Richards:William A. Richards (Bill), author of Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences, is Director of Therapy at Sunstone Therapies currently focused on psilocybin-assisted therapy in palliative care. He also is a psychologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, where he and his colleagues have been pursuing research with psilocybin since 1999, and teaches mental health professionals to work safely and effectively with psychedelics at the California Institute of Integral Studies. His graduate degrees encompass the psychology of religion, theology, comparative religion and clinical psychology. His involvement with psychedelic research originated  at the University of Göttingen in 1963.  From 1967 to 1977, he pursued research with LSD, DPT, MDA and psilocybin at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center.Join our newsletter: https://www.wovenwings.net/newsletterReach us at: live@wovenwings.net

Join Gabe Crane and Rahul Deedwania in the virtual studio to hear from them on what season 2 of Woven Wings Live is all about!We breakdown what we mean by "Wisdom and Tools for Vibrant Living", and recommit to you - dear listener - our aim to spark reflection and growth through conversations on spiritual traditions and practices, psychology, social science, activism, community building, adversity and triumph, creativity, and planetary healing.We believe we’re all woven together in the spiritual fabric of life. What we do matters. Together, let’s seed a transformation in global culture.

What exactly is trauma, and how can we talk about trauma in a healthy way? How does one become aware of where trauma is present in their own lives, in their families, and in their communities?How does unpacking the trauma in our lives open us up to possibility, and what can we do to create structures and environments to help us live our best lives?In this wide ranging conversation about this complex topic, Dr. Agrawal paints a picture of optimism, and how, through practice, we can unlock both our agency and creativity in pursuit of a hopeful future.About Dr. Neha Agrawal:Dr. Agrawal is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Agrawal works from an integrative and multicultural framework to address current and intergenerational social and cultural factors that impact recovery, wellbeing, and resilience. She is interested in the intersection of complex traumatic stress and severe mental illness. Dr. Agrawal believes in collaboration among various disciplines and draws inspiration from artistic, musical, and spiritual traditions to contribute to a web of wisdom to support one another in collective healing. Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

What does it really mean to be “in process,” or “with our process?” Why is process important? And what are the tools and structures that make being in process fruitful and supportive to our lives? On today’s episode, Process Work facilitator, coach, and consultant Elsa Henderson illuminates the core tenets of this psychological discipline. What emerges is a rich inquiry into the acts of observation and following what we discover to find something meaningful and life-giving. About Process WorkProcess Work is an interdisciplinary form of awareness practice. Developed by psychologist Arnold Mindell, the modality has applications to individual therapy, group facilitation work, and large group inquiry, as seen in the practices of Deep Democracy and Open Forums. Process Work has an international community and following with centers in numerous countries. The Process Work Institute in Portland, OR offers trainings, certifications, and masters-level degrees.For more information about Process Work, click here.About Elsa HendersonBased in Portland, Oregon, and Bristol, England, Elsa Henderson works internationally. She is on faculty at the Metavision Institute, a facilitator at Converge for Impact, and Becauz. She holds a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Process-Oriented Psychology, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Studies, with a focus on the nature of mind, complexity, and sense-making. In her work, Elsa moves between the roles of facilitator, coach, and consultant. In each role, her focus is on supporting individuals to cultivate their awareness, reconnect with their inner knowing, and develop their capacity to engage with complexity (life in all its fullness) at the individual and group level. Her work includes 1:1 coaching, team facilitation, leadership development, and teaching. She believes that people are inherently dynamic and hold a broad spectrum of potential. She brings an attitude of curiosity, respect, and care to all her work. When she’s not working, she enjoys running in the forest, reading books on systems thinking, cognitive science, and myth, and exploring new and familiar places. Each of these experiences informs her work.For more information about Elsa, click here.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

Where do the phenomena of personal growth and spiritual life coaching come from? What’s underneath the hood of social media stardom and the quest for personal fulfillment and satisfaction? Dr. Molly Worthen, professor at the University of North Carolina, joins us to discuss the history of religion in America, including the decline of religious institutions and the rise, for better and worse, of hyper-individualism in the spiritual marketplace. Drawing on Dr. Worthen’s expertise, this episode looks expansively and critically at what we may really be seeking through avenues such as coaching, as well as the nature of true freedom. For anyone interested in working with a spiritual life coach or developing their spiritual life in general, this episode is a must listen!About Dr. Molly Worthen:Molly Worthen’s research focuses on North American religious and intellectual history. Her most recent book examines American evangelical intellectual life since 1945. Worthen teaches courses in global Christianity, North American religious and intellectual culture, and the history of politics and ideology. In 2017 she received the Manekin Family Award for Teaching Excellence in Honors Carolina. She writes regularly about religion, politics and higher education for the New York Times and has also contributed to Politico, the New Yorker, Slate, the American Prospect, Foreign Policy, and other publications. She has also created courses for Audible and the Teaching Company on the history of charismatic leadership as well as the history of global Christianity since the Reformation. Worthen is currently working on a book about the history of charisma in America since 1600.Some of Dr. Worthen’s Notable Publications include:-Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism (Oxford University Press, 2013)-The Man On Whom Nothing Was Lost: The Grand Strategy of Charles Hill (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)-“The Chalcedon Problem: Rousas John Rushdoony and the Origins of Christian Reconstructionism” Church History 77 No. 2 (June 2008)- NY Times article: 400 Years Ago, They Would Be Witches. Today, They Can Be Your CoachReach us at: live@wovenwings.net

The first half of today’s episode covers the story of the exuberant and passionate Steven Wynbrandt, and how we went from backyard garden to finding purpose, passion, and profitability as the King of Compost (as deemed by the L.A. Times).In the 2nd half, we go deeper with Steven into a core tenet of the Woven Wings message: that engaging in a conscious process to do good - both individually and collectively - is how change happens, and even though it might be uncomfortable, inconvenient, or sometimes unclear, what we do, and what we put out in the world, matters. Steven’s energy and vitality inspires us and creates an imperative and call to action to nourish ourselves and the world.About Steven Wynbrandt:Steven Wynbrandt is the founder of Wynbrandt Farms, a micro-farm that has become a one-of-a-kind gem of urban agriculture in Los Angeles, CA. Celebrated locally by many of L.A.’s most esteemed garden professionals and connoisseurs as “the highest expectation of health, vitality and intensity,” Wynbrandt Farms is known for the remarkable results of its compost, signature growing techniques, the quality and the quantity of its vegetable production, and the wildly passionate “King Of Compost” (L.A. Times) behind it all - Steven!Steven consults nationally and internationally, teaching best composting practices to and creating custom soil fertility programs for farms, communities and organizations of all kinds. His agricultural career includes growing specialty produce for chefs and restaurants, creating a hyper-local farm direct CSA, and teaching in-class lecture and hands on workshops for academic institutions and organizations including UCLA, the UCCE Dept. of Ag. and Natural Resources, Santa Monica College, L.A. Unified School District, Demeter USA, The National Heirloom Expo, The L.A. Green Festival, Hazon, L.A. Community Garden Council, and a plethora or public and private community organizations.Get started with composting:- Small scale composting: http://www.carryoncomposting.com/- Check your county office! LA County as reference: https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/sg/webinars.cfmSome notes from Steven:- Lay a piece of 1/4th inch hardware cloth underneath square or circular compost containers that extends past all sides so pests cannot crawl in from underneath. - Have a stockpile of “browns” - high carbon ingredients - such as wood chips and leaves - next to your container so you always have browns to layer with your “greens” - high nitrogen ingredients, such as food waste. - No matter what other browns I am including (such as leaves) I like to use wood chips because they make it easy for the pile to maintain an aerobic environment - an environment where oxygen flows. Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

For those that don’t automatically continue with a spiritual community that they’re born into, the notion of joining one may feel all together daunting, especially in this day and age.Kaitna Shankar, a Buddhist Practitioner who became an active member of a Buddhist community at 21 years old, shares what led her to feel ready to seek and commit to a spiritual community. - How did she choose her practice?- What are the benefits she experiences as a practitioner?- How does she navigate fluctuations in her practice as a mobile, young urban professional?- And how is her spiritual practice embedded in her experiences of day-to-day life?About Kaitna Shankar:8 years ago, Kaitna was drawn to Nichiren Buddhism in the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) at a time in her life when she was looking for meaning, purpose, and an outlet of self-development. After experimenting with chanting, applying Buddhist scriptures to her modern life, and embracing a spiritual community, Kaitna decided to join the practice as a member. She has since taken on numerous, volunteer-based leadership roles within the SGI, helping support other young women in their daily lives through applying Buddhist practice and scripture, and planning Buddhist meetings for the neighborhood community to participate in. Outside of her Buddhist practice, Kaitna lives in San Francisco with her husband and works at Samsara, where she leads a team of talented Product Marketers focused on building and marketing products to help Samsara’s customers operate safely and protect their frontline workers. Kaitna is also a leader of the AAPI at Samsara Employee Resource Group, where she helps create a network, celebrate the contributions and influence of the AAPI community, and raise awareness of important topics. In her personal life, Kaitna enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and leading an active lifestyle, including pursuing a fitness instructor certification and training.About Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA)The Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA) is part of a global community-based network of more than 11 million people in 192 countries and territories that practice the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism centered on respect for the dignity of life. Members of the SGI are committed to dialogue and nonviolence based on the conviction that individual happiness and the realization of peace are inextricably linked.The basic daily Buddhist practice, carried out in members' own homes, is chanting the phrase “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” and reciting portions of the Lotus Sutra as a means to embrace and bring forth our Buddha nature, our limitless reserves of wisdom, courage and compassion and apply them to our daily lives. In the U.S., SGI represents one of the most diverse Buddhist communities with more than 2,500 monthly neighborhood discussion meetings and some 100 Buddhist centers throughout the country. Members and guests gather monthly for small-scale neighborhood discussion meetings where they study Buddhist principles and share  experiences of applying Buddhism to the challenges of life. As religion journalist Clark Strand notes: “At an SGI-USA discussion meeting, every voice is heard. Such meetings are egalitarian in spirit, democratic in practice and decidedly life-affirming in their vision of how Buddhist practice might contribute to the happiness of the individual and, in so doing, provide the foundation for a happy society.”Based on core Buddhist principles such as respect for the dignity of human life and the interconnectedness of self and the environment, the SGI engages in various peace activities, including human rights education, the movement to abolish nuclear weapons and efforts to promote sustainable development.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

A message that you may hear a lot these days is that our world is more volatile, uncertain, complex, and  than ever before. What happens to us internally in the face of a changing environment?How do we build our capacity to co-exist with change? How does leaning into our strengths enable us to better handle change?And how can we, collectively, work together to ensure that change leads us to a brighter future?About Susan Levin: Susan Levin is a global facilitator, coach, trainer, mediator, and organization development practitioner with more than 30 years of experience. She has worked with thousands of employees in a variety of organizations in over 40 countries, including the US Agency for International Development, the United Nations, the Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) Center, the Middle East Regional Platform, the Central Asia Mission, and the Latin America and Caribbean Learning and Rapid Response (LACLEARN).She focuses on maximizing individual and organizational strengths to get great results. She uses an appreciative approach to help her clients leverage their best practices to achieve their future vision. Whether abroad or in the US, she’s mindful that her work is culturally relevant.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

In today's far ranging conversation, Andy Couturier illustrates - through his own story, and those of people he’s profiled - what it could look like to be deeply aligned with values of conscious consumption, rolling up our sleeves for our basic needs, and creating abundance of space and spirit through simplicity and elimination. We also delve into writing as a powerful personal practice, and how any expressive pursuit can act as a container for us to feel and live our lives more deeply.About Andy Couturier:Andy Couturier is the author of Writing Open the Mind and A Different Kind of Luxury, now going into its fourth printing. He loves teaching writing, and is the founder and creative director of The Opening, a private writing school which offers courses in-person and online.  Andy and his partner built a house with hand tools in the mountains. In his personal life, he enjoys doing hand work such as tree-planting, splitting firewood, home scale gardening and food production. He loves to spend mornings reading classical Chinese poetry, or twentieth-century experimental, imagist and nature poetry.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

Unlikely guest, Zsuzsánna Balogh, joins us to share a life in service to being a positive and additive force in people’s lives regardless of both her own individual circumstances, and the context of her interaction with someone. In meeting her for the first time just last week, it wasn’t an active conversation or anything of the sort that created a connection, but rather, the hidden transmission of Zsuzsánna’s positive energy that left a lasting impression and brought her to our show. Join us today in experiencing an example of someone who lives their mission from a place of internal peace in every moment, and leave reminded of the power of doing so yourself.About Zsuzsánna Balogh:Zsuzsánna is a Hungarian from Transylvania, who left the Communist company to move to Nepal, and then eventually to Maui, where she felt a spiritual connection to the place. Mandalas - sacred geometry - and symbols came to her life 11 years ago, and since then she has been experiencing them working on herself and helping others as well, including holding workshops in New York City and New Jersey for 7 years. She has used these tools for a better understanding of self, tapping into creativity and co-creation, healing, sharing, discovery of purpose, and freeing up the soul and opening up enjoyment and creation of a better reality. In her own words: “I am a cherubim, who is on her/his mission on this planet Earth, like everybody else enjoying and co-creating that reality. For some people I am a silk-painter, mandala queen, for some people I am their caregiver or their cleaning lady… how they experienced me but this is not who I am, this is what I choose to do in the present moment. We are all teachers and healers at the same time, and we heal and learn only when we are ready to open ourselves to it."Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

Our 2nd episode in the “Weaving in Action” series focuses on the story of Yash Akasha and the Worldchangers Organization, an effort that he and a friend conceptualized back when they were children and brought to reality as young adults. Their story is one of multi-front, collective action built on 2 foundational pillars acknowledging the relational nature between ourselves and the world: 1) Inner Work for Global Change, and 2) Global Work for Inner Change.This has led them to develop a 40 acre, community eco-village; host a family-friendly festival focused on spiritual learning, transformational workshops, music, and creativity; and to create an academy for learning both ancient traditions and modern psychology.Tune in to learn what motivated their effort, how they maintain their inspiration, what the foundation of their philosophy is, and how they brought it all together. We close with a surprise artistic demo from our guest as well!About WorldchangersWorldchangers Organization 501(c)3 for Inner World Peace is an interdisciplinary nonprofit, international movement, and interspiritual school. We are dedicated to the vision of a new planetary paradigm, where people live in harmony with the cosmos, nature, each other, and themselves. We recognize community service as a vehicle for consciousness expansion and personal maturation, which also leads to collective transformation on a larger scale. Therefore, our Two Pillars are Inner Work for Global Change and Global Work for Inner Change, and our Eight Limbs are Creativity, Healing, Education, Sustainability, Spirituality, Leadership, Diversity, and Reciprocity.About Heartfire Festival - Re:Emergence: Next Steps for People & Planet  September 15-18, 2022 at Sanctorum Ecovillage, CO4 days on 40 acres with Indigenous Wisdom, Live Music, Permaculture Education, Psychosomatic Practices & so much morePlease enjoy watching the full length video or the shorter promo cut and to include / share it if you feel inspired:- Full Length: https://youtu.be/jPqRuTkCNNo- Promo Cut: https://youtu.be/-Mm7JrdgawcLearn more about the EcovillageAbout Yash Akasha (aka Yasha):Yasha is an emcee, polymath, and founder of Worldchangers Organization 501(c)3 and of its many initiatives — such as Sanctorum Ecovillage, HeartFire Festival and more. Having completed his Bachelor’s in World Wisdom Traditions at Naropa University and his Master’s in Jungian Psychology and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute, Yasha is now completing his PhD in Psychology, in the research and dissertation writing stage. As a Zakir with the Inayati-Maimuni Order, a student of the Initiatic College, a Karma Yogi and a certified instructor with Rocky Mountain Tai Chi Chuan, Yasha also guides meditations and practices, interprets dreams, and facilitates retreats and rites of passage. Born to an immigrant family of Jewish dissidents from the Soviet intelligentsia, Yasha has been continuously traveling around the world since early childhood while sharing a wide range of multilingual creative work — from large music concerts to public murals on multiple continents. He lives happily with his beloved wife and community in Colorado, where he continues unlearning daily for the benefit of all. Lately, this means digging trenches for solar power, building yurts, growing gardens, and producing The Colorado Sustainable Living Conference.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

What is the Enneagram? What are its unique benefits?Who is it for?How does one’s Enneagram type develop?What does knowing my, or someone else’s, type enable?What should someone skeptical of typology systems take away from this conversation?How does someone interested in this path get started?Yamini Deen shares that the types in the Enneagram are not binding, but rather are meant to be windows to a place of choice. And how some playful curiosity, experimentation, and willingness to explore ourselves and others through that lens of choice can help create more compassion and peace in the world. About Yamini Deen: Yamini Deen is a Jungian Analyst trainee at the International School of Analytical Psychology, working in private practice in Zurich and online. She has worked with the Enneagram system in diverse contexts in India and Europe, including corporate training, therapy, supporting couples, and social work. As a therapist, Yamini uses the Enneagram as a map to offer highly individualised therapy tailored to each person's unique potential. Her approach integrates Jungian talk therapy with eastern wisdom traditions tapping into the profound intelligence of the body, dreams and the unconscious to find inner guidance. As a woman of colour, Yamini is highly attuned to the effects of systemic and social factors on her clients' lives.Yamini is also the co-director of the award-winning feature documentary Delhi Dreams. You can learn more about her work at www.yaminideen.com. Resources- www.enneagraminstitute.com- www.enneagramworldwide.com- Book: The Essential Enneagram- The Definitive Personality Type and Self-Discovery Guide  by David DanielsReach us at: live@wovenwings.net

Conflict is a force we encounter regularly: in our own lives, in our communities, across society, and across the world. - How does the experience of conflict play out?- What drives conflict?- How do people typically respond to conflict? - What are ways for us to build our capacity to handle conflict over time? - And how can conflict actually lead to growth and vitality in life?Jenny Besch - Experienced mediator, trainer, and lecturer - shares how to change our relationship with conflict by taking a step back and channeling a mindset built on curiosity, listening, and acknowledgement, and how that enables us to access a sense of creativity in the conflict resolution process… All, while making sure we stay true to ourselves. Listen on for how we can all grow through conflict.About Jenny Besch: Jenny is a State Certified Mediation trainer, with special expertise in Family Court mediation and Restorative Justice. She is a Former Director of the Westchester and Rockland Mediation Centers of CLUSTER, has served on the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, and was instrumental in New York’s RAISE THE AGE campaign. She was foundational in establishing mediation programs throughout Westchester County’s public middle and high schools. Jenny began teaching at Columbia in 2009, joining the faculty as an adjunct in the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program. She also teaches Adaptive Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Teachers College as well as Advanced Mediation for Bioethics. Before entering the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Jenny had a 25 year career in the theater and movie business.Reach us at: live@wovenwings.netBooks mentioned on the call:Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

What does it look like to weave together your talents, your heritage, and your sense of connectedness to benefit our interrelated world? We dive into the powerful story of Xochitl Bernadette Moreno and Ashel Seasunz Eldridge, who at the start of the pandemic, came together over their passions for service, spirituality, and community by forming the organization, Essential Food and Medicine. Through the lens of both their organization and their rich individual histories, we explore:- What role did their spiritual heritage play in informing their work?- How did they form an authentic set of guiding principles?- How did their approach lead to a community movement around their efforts?- How can someone with an intent to serve get started?Tune in and get inspired!–About E-FAM: https://www.essentialfam.org/about-usRe-indigenizing our community's relationship to land, food and medicine working with the houseless, reservations, and incarcerated. IG: @essentialfamAbout Xochitl Bernadette Moreno (Co-founder and Co-director of EFAM)Xochitl has a background in healing arts from around the world, bridging herbalism, curanderismo, massage, and more, with activism. She is a long time media maker and activist cutting her chops in the anti-globalization movement and many years of on the ground community organizing from Oakland, CA to Deep in the Amazon.About AshEL SeaSunZ Eldridge (Co-founder and Co-director of EFAM)AshEL is Chicago born, living in Oakland by way of NY, with West African/Blackfoot ancestry. He works intentionally with various shamanic practices including Peruvian plant medicines since 2005.  His work in ceremonial leadership includes Dagrara divinatory and ancestral healing, Japanese spiritual purification, (www.sukyomahikari.org), and Galactic Language Activation/soul cleansing via Tian Gong. He is also the founder of Soulestial Church, a community of healers, medicine carriers, musicians, artists and activists that offers gatherings, workshops, and retreats honoring ancestral medicines and teachings to support the healing and purification of mind, body and spirit. You can learn more about him at: http://www.ashelseasunz.com/Reach us at: live@wovenwings.netOther References: - Movies: Voices of the Wisdom Keepers  |  The Women of the White Buffalo- People: Vandana Shiva (Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, ecofeminist and anti-globalisation author)- Learning: The Yoga Sutras

In a world of ever-increasing complexity and polarity, have you ever wondered: what is one thing that could change and take us into a place of harmony? Rabbi Pesach Stadlin shares how we must celebrate that we as a people are needy and that as part of our interdependence, we need to take, whether it’s time, attention, resources, or anything else. What matters, then, is bringing a spirit of consciousness, consent, and grace when we take, as opposed to mistaking selfishly, forcefully, and without grace.We explore: what is the art of taking? What are personal practices around improving the way in which we take? How does conscious taking contribute to sustainable bliss for ourselves and humanity at large? What are the unique challenges about this practice, and how do we overcome them? Pesach remarks that contrary to what popular sentiment might suggest, we’re closer to unlocking a harmonious way of being than we might think. Join us in learning about the art of taking, and how you can apply it in your own livesAbout Rabbi Pesach Stadlin:Pesach is a founding member and Rabbi of Eden Village Summer camps. He is a big fan of creator and creation and his favorite spiritual postures are closeness and balance. He has lived up in the Redwood trees, on sailboats, and led 17 international trips with the American Jewish World Service. He has lived on a quiet homestead in a forest deep in the hills of Jerusalem, and now lives on a sailboat in Greece. In the winter months he can often be found by his wood stove fire pondering a thought and jotting it down. He is the author of Sustainable Bliss, Kuntres Baal Tashchit, and just finished the manuscript for his upcoming book, Light in Vessels, a practical and spiritual guide book to the Jewish holidays and beyond. He received smichah/ordination from Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo in Jerusalem and (unofficially) from his campers.Sustainable Bliss: ​​https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Bliss-Paradigm-Pesach-Stadlin/dp/1329757505Reach us at: live@wovenwings.net

In today’s episode, we explore the concept of a mind-body-heart connection through the lens of Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese practice to cultivate and balance Qi, or “life energy.” We learn from the personal experience of Qi gong and Ren Xue practitioner, Norberto Rodrigues, and explore a wide range of questions: What is Qi? How do we think about the idea of the mind, body, and heart being connected? What is the practice of Qi Gong? What are the challenges that people experience with Qi Gong? How can we bring these principles into our lives? About Norberto Rodrigues:Since childhood, Norberto has been fascinated by meditation, martial arts, consciousness work, wisdom, healing and learning how to improve his life and help others. This led him to practice Chinese martial arts (Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Tang Lang), Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, meditation and Muay Thai, while also studying ancient wisdom, energy and healing texts. A search for truth, combined with a passion for science, inspired him to do a Master’s in Physical Activity and Health, with research in Biochemistry and Physiology.Following years of searching for a solution to a severe spinal energy in his lower back - and having already tried medical and holistic therapies - Norberto came across Yuan Tze and Ren Xue in 2010. He not only found a path to healing his body, but also uplifting his life at all levels, including the possibility of realization and wisdom. He turned this into his dream: to help people to improve their lives at all levels and to realize their own Pure Hearts and True Self.Reach Norberto: https://purehearttrueself.com/Already Free Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4m-qlgsj2kReach us at: live@wovenwings.netCredits: Intro music by David Deedwania

If you’ve ever reflected on how well your actions align with your goals, you’ve likely encountered the idea of motivation. How does motivation work, and where does it come from? How can I identify my true motivations? How can I be more motivated?In today’s conversation with Barry Sommer, a licensed Educational Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist, and faculty member at Columbia University, we explore these questions. We also talk about how to reconcile this idea of seeking motivation, with the idea of living a life of flow and ease, and how the key is tying your motivation to what really matters to you. Barry shows us how autonomy, mastery, and a sense of purpose are crucial in building motivation for a goal, and it is this last point of connecting to a sense of purpose, and a deeper one at thatAbout Barry Sommer:Barry Sommer is a licensed Educational Psychologist, certified school psychologist, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Visalia, California. He serves as the Director of Lindsay Leads for the Lindsay Unified School District, in Central California. Teaching, training, consultation and facilitation for schools, non-profits, and health organizations are special interests. His primary goal is to support personal, family, community, and organizational development and health.Barry is a graduate from Cornell University and Queens College of the City of New York, with degrees in Human Development, Psychology, and Education. Barry serves as faculty for Columbia University, teaching graduate courses in conflict management and psychology, and is the co-author of You Can Choose Your Own Life, a decision-making curriculum for middle grade students (Consulting Psychologist Press, 1994; B. Kerr and B. Sommer, 2021), and Beyond Reform: Systemic Shifts to Personalized Learning (Marzano Research, 2017).Barry’s recent book, You Can Choose Your Own Life: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Choose-Your-Life/dp/0891060588References: - The Surrender Experiment: My Journey Into Life’s Perfection- Punished by Rewards- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us- SMART goalsReach us at: live@wovenwings.netCredits: Intro music by David Deedwania

Today’s episode welcomes to the studio Sampada Wakhlu, co-host of the 2022 Global Bhagavad Gita Convention, to discuss engaging sacred texts in the modern world. Sampada’s approachable nature and rich background with this iconic text of south Asian culture serves as a jumping off point to consider the benefits sacred texts and traditions can bring to our lives in the modern world. Along the way, we look at some of the specific guidance and advice available in the Bhagavad Gita, as well as examine the range of feelings and responses that can be evoked when we begin looking at religious and traditional sources. About the Global Gita Organization: http://www.globalgita.org/ About the Bhoomananda Organization: https://www.bhoomananda.org/swami-bhoomananda-tirtha/About Sampada Wakhlu:The itinerant nature of her childhood shaped Sampada Wakhlu’s passion for exploring diverse cultures as an adult. She channels this curiosity for discovery between her two worlds — India and the United States — in a fluid way to allow for harmony and connection. Fueled by the urgency of the pandemic, Sampada began her search for a path towards greater emotional tranquility, one that would resonate with today's generation. Reflection, research, and collaboration with spiritual teachers in the space ultimately led Sampada to study the vedic scripture of the Bhagavad Gita. A deepening sense of commitment led her to serve as a host of the Global Bhagavad Gita Convention in Feb 2022, focused on the theme of Mental Harmony.When not working at Handshake to democratize opportunity for early talent, Sampada spends her time on her side projects: Mélange, a cultural coaching offering for non-native english speakers and an upcoming recipe digest that recreates ancestral Kashmiri recipes for the modern kitchen. Sampada lives in California with her husband (and numerous plants).Reach us at: live@wovenwings.netCredits: Intro music by David Deedwania