Can wisdom be taught? What if it were more about questions than finding "the answer"? How might reading be a meditative practice? Can writing from earlier centuries provide inspiration without mediation by academic experts?

Valentin Gerlier is a scholar, musician and author, who is also the founder of the School of Sophia – a new hybrid educational platform that explores these sorts of subjects. “Inspired by the ancient Wisdom Schools”, its seminars are grounded in collective inquiry, with experiential insights as part of the process.

Our conversation considers how wisdom relates to worldly action. The school’s curriculum asks about power: “Can it flourish for the good, or is it something to surrender?” Could a deeper intelligence help? In addition to discussing that, we explore some of the influences on Valentin’s work, including:

* Mysticism, Joseph Milne and the Temenos Academy

* Krishnamurti, Theosophy and Brockwood Park School

* Satish Kumar, Schumacher College and Small is Beautiful

The texts for this term are The Tempest by William Shakespeare and Simone Weil’s Gravity and Grace. A recorded introductory meeting will be archived here. Weekly sessions are on Mondays from February 2, with in-person gatherings to follow.

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What exactly is Tantra, and how do modern teachings relate to traditions? Which other ideas inform intimacy workshops? Why is there often an emphasis on secrecy and power, and how is this exploited to enable abuse?

Tova Olsson is a scholar of religion, as well as a teacher of yoga and Tantra. Our conversation explores these questions, along with many others – particularly the prevalence of what Tova calls “erotic spirituality”, and the extent to which Indian sources inform its practices. We also consider why tantric empowerment involves crossing boundaries, and whether non-duality dissolves accountability.

In the process, we talk about scandals in multiple schools – from MISA and its offshoots (discussed in this Observer article and BBC podcast) to Siddha Yoga (the focus of a 1994 New Yorker exposé) and The New Tantra (whose founder features in this clip from Swedish public television).

Tova’s academic work is available here – including articles on MISA and a Siddha Yoga teacher. She is the author of a book about yoga and Tantra, and teaches online courses at Saraswati Studies, which is also her handle on Instagram.

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What would you like me to talk about in 2026? 🗣️

As another year draws to a close, I’m reflecting on new types of podcasts. Today marks my 75th episode and while I plan to continue with the interview format, I’m also working on other ideas – including answering questions about any topic.

So if there’s anything you want me to clarify, or to investigate, or if you have a dilemma you’d like to resolve from a yogic perspective, please get in touch – all suggestions and questions are welcome. Here are some from when I ran a “yoga problem page” a couple of years back:

* How (Not) to Fight Injustice

* Psychedelics, Yoga and Consciousness

* The Yoga of Discord

* Is the Truth of Yoga Communicable?

* Solitude, Solace and Community

There’s no need to replicate those, or to focus on yoga – I’m genuinely open to anything, though I won’t blag an answer if I’m clueless. But I will do my best to ground whatever I say in yogic teachings – as well as exploring what might need rethinking to make them apply to contemporary challenges.

I’ve shared some other examples in today’s podcast – responding to questions from Gabriel Maldonado, who hosts Living Yoga, and Peter Sterios and Crystal Ariel on My Inner Teacher (click the links for full versions of both conversations).

For now, I’d like to wish you a happy and healthy new year! 🥳

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🧘‍♂️ To explore the evolution of yogic traditions, join me online at truthofyoga.com

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What does it mean to choose wisely? Which kinds of values support this? To what extent are they related to ethics? How similar are Indian traditions to modern ideas about what to prioritise? Might teachings need reframing to speak to us clearly?

Simon Haas presents ancient wisdom for everyday life. He is the author of The Book of Dharma – subtitled “Making Enlightened Choices” – and Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul, which draws on ideas from the Bhagavad Gītā. He’s also spoken on these topics at the United Nations, and offers a wide range of workshops and seminars.

Together, we discuss what he calls the Dharma Code, a framework of principles informing wise conduct. These overlap with ethical precepts, and help people fulfil their potential. We nonetheless reflect on drawbacks to expecting any system to have all the answers, since it's helpful to find one’s own way.

Although Simon is adept at making subjects accessible, he is also a scholar with an Oxford PhD – you can find out more about his research here.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ancientfutures.substack.com/subscribe

What exactly is Kuṇḍalinī? It depends... What began as an energetic metaphor has morphed into a framework for transcending trauma, and much else besides. Does a snake-like entity really ascend? What sparks the experience? If it happens by chance, how should someone respond? There are few simple answers.

Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Anya Foxen are co-authors of The Serpent’s Tale, subtitled “Kuṇḍalinī, Yoga and the History of an Experience.” Both are scholars as well as practitioners – of Tantra (Sravana) and yoga (Anya) – and their research combines historical analysis with people’s experiences.

Together, we explore why it can be hard to differentiate the physical from the psychological and the spiritual. We also ask if there are limits to what Kuṇḍalinī stands for and reflect on the challenges involved in defining them. In the process, we consider why reports of Kuṇḍalinī awakenings are increasingly common.

Although The Serpent’s Tale is an academic book, it’s an engaging guide to some fascinating characters – along with cultural overlaps between East and West that explain the evolution of Kuṇḍalinī narratives over the centuries. As we discuss, the most famous of these is the story of Gopi Krishna.

🧘‍♂️ To explore the evolution of yogic traditions, join me online at truthofyoga.com

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What if change had more to do with relationships than miracle solutions? Which priorities help them work better? How does one take meaningful action without having the power to determine its outcomes? Who ought to act if not us?

In this podcast, I talk about these questions – along with many others – with Jessica Böhme, PhD. Jes is the founder and director of the Institute for Practical ekoPhilosophy, “a post-disciplinary research and education institute dedicated to cultivating wisdom as a way of life for personal and planetary transformation.”

She also writes wild:philosophy, a weekly Substack newsletter that offers “no easy answers, only better questions”, and runs a monthly PhilosophyGym, where people can “stretch their thinking” and “stay supple with uncertainty”. We consider how these qualities cultivate agency, and how that translates to effective activism.

Jes describes her priorities as “personal development in service of the whole”, and encourages people to think about life as a laboratory. Some of her experiments are listed here, including wearing one outfit for over a year. The point is not to find a magic answer, she says, but to be open to exploration.

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What distinguishes contemporary breath-control from earlier prāṇāyāma? 💨

To what extent have external influences shaped Indian practices? How have things changed since the mid-nineteenth century? How might that relate to broader trends in yoga history?

Lena Kraler is the author of Yoga Breath: Prāṇa and Prāṇāyāma in Early Modern Yoga. Her research explores the reinterpretation of breath-based techniques in light of ideas from Western occultism, fitness and science, as well as Hindu reform movements and nationalist responses to colonial rule.

Our conversation explores how these currents inspired new approaches – from the origins of “deep” and “rhythmic” breathing to reinvented metaphors for teachings that date back to the early Upaniṣads and beyond. As a result, we chart the many continuities that coexist with change.

Before her PhD work on prāṇāyāma, Lena’s focus was dance and music, which she now teaches – alongside religion – to early years educators. You can find out more about her research here. She also mentioned Karl Baier (who posts work here), and Anya Foxen (whom I interviewed here).

🧘‍♂️ To explore the evolution of practices, join me for a course at truthofyoga.com

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What distinguishes fiction from facts? John le Carré is renowned for Cold War spy thrillers, yet over half his books were published after 1990 and they tackled modern issues that he had to research. A new exhibition in Oxford documents his methods, and spotlights the networks of experts who helped him.

An accompanying book – titled Tradecraft: Writers on John le Carré – explores their experiences. Reflecting on her trip with the author to Congo, Michela Wrong sheds light on the collaborative process, while demystifying complex subjects such as the malevolent role of Rwanda in fomenting conflict.

Michela is an Africa specialist, whose books tell engaging stories for the general reader. However, as we discuss, the most compelling non-fiction rarely matches the reach of a bestselling novel. We nonetheless reflect on the importance of reporting, and the damaging impact of scaling it back on our shared understanding.

I’ve long been a fan of how le Carré – a.k.a. David Cornwell – laced his plots with psychological drama and moral ambiguity as people struggle to do the right thing. This has a few parallels with epic yoga narratives. Our conversation mostly covers worldly matters, but we also talk about the workings of human delusions.

Finally, for non-UK listeners, here’s some context on Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

🔎 To investigate truth from a yogic perspective, join me online at truthofyoga.com.

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What was the impact of the Osho / Rajneesh cult on the families of members? Why might some people struggle to heal old wounds? To what extent is abuse of children still unacknowledged? How can telling one’s story facilitate recovery?

Lily Dunn is an author, teacher and mentor of literary memoir. She explores its potential in her new book, Into Being, which cites many writers including herself – Lily’s last book, Sins of My Father, describes her enchantment with an absent parent, who joined the Rajneeshees and later drank himself to death.

Examining this tangled relationship revealed her father’s narcissistic avoidance of responsibility. This was common in communes, with painful effects on the children raised there – sex with minors was widespread, as Lily noted in an article that brought her into contact with survivors of abuse.

One was Maroesja Perizonius, a Dutch director with whom Lily worked to develop a film titled Children of the Cult – available here if you’re in the UK, with a trailer here. Their stories were ignored by the Netflix series, Wild Wild Country, which focused instead on other cult transgressions, such as bioterrorism.

Our conversation explores all these topics, along with some practical guidance on writing, and the value of external help – from editors, mentors and therapists – in reducing the risk of self-deception. In the process, we consider what distinguishes creative non-fiction from making things up.

🧘‍♂️ For a modern take on yogic traditions, join me for a course at truthofyoga.com

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What might scholars learn from yoga practitioners, as well as vice versa? To what extent do their worldviews differ? Are their methods of inquiry compatible? Since many academics also practise yoga, as well as educating teachers via courses and trainings, can these roles be compartmentalised?

Theo Wildcroft and Barbora Sojkova are the co-editors of a new book titled Yoga Studies in Five Minutes, presenting short summaries of scholarly knowledge from a burgeoning field. Each of its chapters – written by specialists – answers frequently asked questions, such as “what is samādhi?” and “is yoga a religion?”

Our conversation explores how the book came together, asks if it caters both to academic readers and curious practitioners, and considers why context and critical thinking are important. We also talk about some common misconceptions, while reflecting on limits to what can be known – or at least articulated.

If you’re in the UK, there’s an in-person book launch on November 5 at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Theo and Barbora are also preparing a round-table about scholarship and practice for the Yoga Darśana Yoga Sādhana conference in Paris next May. In the meantime, recordings of this year’s event are available here.

🙋‍♂️ To explore yogic wisdom from multiple angles, join me for The Path of Knowledge.

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