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Is it possible to be a rational thinker and still embrace the spiritual side of life? In this episode, I sit down with Trish Blain, author of the article "Life is Woo," to bridge the gap between material success and spiritual development.

Here's the article that inspired me to reach out to her: https://beiner.substack.com/p/life-is-woo

We discuss the conflict between being a "rational materialist" and having experiences that simply can't be explained by logic alone. Trish breaks down her "Four Forces" framework - Connection, Expression, Purpose, and Growth and how we can use these to navigate all aspects of life.

We also touch on the dangers of "spiritual bypassing," why trying to kill your ego or achieve "no self" can actually be dangerous, and how to use your desires as a creative force rather than suppressing them.

Topics covered:

• Why we are conditioned to reject "woo-woo" spiritual experiences.
• The problem with "ascension" narratives that reject our humanity.
• The Four Forces Framework: Connection, Expression, Purpose, and Growth.
• How "Authenticity" can sometimes just be emotional dumping.
• The "Desire Gap": How to use what you don't have to create what you want.
• How to handle the fear of losing yourself in relationships.

Links:

• Read "Life is Woo": https://beiner.substack.com/p/life-is-woo
• Trish Blain’s Website (Alive Edges): https://aliveedges.com/
• Shane’s Integrity Audit Crash Course: https://shanemelaugh.com/integrity/

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:09 I know this sounds crazy, but...

07:49 Escaping Upwards

12:43 The Next Step of Spiritual Evolution

18:50 The Four Forces Explained

21:46 Non-Ordinary Experiences Are Ordinary?

26:07 How to Find Balance

29:20 Directing Our Attention

32:14 Focus and Openness

33:13 Self Expression as a Primary Need

36:53 Have a Strong Ego and Do Less Selfing

40:26 How do You Get What You Want

44:10 Relating Beyond Trust

45:17 The Problem With Authenticity

47:17 Cultivating Your Experience Without Bypassing

52:03 How to go from frustrating conflict to constructive desire

59:13 How to prompt life like you prompt ChatGPT

01:03:25 Moving towards a new spirituality

01:05:38 Problems help you reconnect with original desire