Naila Hayat Noon (or her spiritual name Amat-nu-Nur) is Pakistani Sufi mystic and spiritual guide to my colleague Aneeqa Malik (also a Sufi living in London) share her insights and wisdom about what we could do now in the midst of the Cororavirus pandemic and the economic challenges facing our world.  In this time of self-isolation we have an opportunity to listen to our inner calling and voice that calls us to re-imagine a new life and a new economy.

We are blessed to be joined by 80-year old John Hillbery, a former banker and co-creator of 'real management' principles of corporate governance who lives in Sesimbra, Portugal.

Our conversation was recorded on April 8, 2020.

Marilynn Hughes (Catholic mystic) and I have an extraordinary and important conversation about what she sees happening on the spiritual and worldly level as much of the world sits in self-imposed isolation. Is this the time of the illumination of conscience. Marilynn discusses that NOW is the time to remain calm, at peace in our hearts, protecting our light and praying. These are dangerous and dark times yet a moment of conscious awareness that we are LOVE, one in BEING to God who is LOVE. All else is illusion and distraction at best.

Our special guest on our podcast And Then What? Is Nelson Abreu.

Nelson joins Marilynn Hughes and I today from Los Angeles.

Nelson Abreu is an electrical engineer, entrepreneur, inventor, author and educator.

For years, Nelson has been exploring the intersection of well-being being, society and technology.

He has been exploring how extraordinary states, including OBEs or Out of Body Experiences and Near Death Experiences, facilitate new technical and social solutions and how technology can facilitate such states.

He has been developing novel technologies and techniques to induce states of creativity and well-being.

Nelson has also championed numerous process improvements for the electrical industry that have created millions of dollars of value.

Nelson continues to develop novel ways to reduce stress, anxiety, and pain and to improve creativity, performance, self-knowledge and intuition.

Nelson and his wife Manori Sumanagsingh operate a Los Angeles-based collaborative studio pursuing their passions in architecture + design, technology, and well-being.

St. Francis of Assisi and his friend St. Clare (a young noble woman of Assisi) were practical mystics of their time in the 12th Century in Assisi, Italy. They both rejected the material lure of their parent's wealth, stripped themselves of the worldly things and created a new generation of followers of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Francis, born in 1182 during the time of the Crusades, had profound mystical experiences including receiving the stigmata (the five wounds of Christ) in 1224, four years before his death in 1228. He had a profound relationship with Nature, speaking to the animals, birds and plants, and is considered the patron saint of animals and the natural environment. He wrote the Canticle of the Sun where he mentioned the "Brother Sun" and "Sister Moon", the wind and water. 

Pope Francis, whose name-sake is St. Francis of Assisi, noted that St. Francis offer Christians an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation ..." He went on to make the point that: "As a friend of the poor who was loved by God's creatures, Saint Francis invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honor and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples."

Marilynn Hughes and I ponder the question "what would St. Francis (and St. Clare) say about the current state of the world and climate change?" How can we re-discover the wisdom of St. Francis who prayed 'make me a channel (instrument) of Your peace'? Like St. Francis, to seek a better world, to turn away from the glamour of materialism, and follow a path of love is possible; it is a choice we can all make. 

Marilynn Hughes and I discuss her over 30-years of experience with Out of Body 'travel.' Marilynn shares her insights into the nature of out of body mystical experiences. What are they? Are they more normal than we might think? How might we apply our out of body experiences to build a better world?

In this inaugural Podcast episode we call And Then What? Practical Mysticism, Marilynn Hughes (a Christian Mystic) and Mark Anielski (author of The Economics of Happiness) discuss the subject of Freedom and Anxiety. How, in a world so polluted with fear and anxiety, can we live in a place of freedom from anxiety and live in a state of greater hope and joy?

We love this definition of mysticism that Franciscan Friar Richard Rohr has shared with us:

Mysticism is a special consciousness of the presence of God that by definition exceeds description and results in a transformation of the subject who receives it. It’s not enough to have wonderful theories about God. Authentic mystical encounter radically changes us and our way of living—our politics, relationships, economics. Otherwise so-called mysticism is just metaphysical rumination. Beverly Lanzetta, a contemporary theologian and monk within universal spirituality, shares the practical implications of mysticism. -- Bernard McGinn 

Christian mystic Marilynn Hughes (outofbodytravel.org) joins me on a previously recorded Economy of Well-being podcast (April 30, 2019) show to discuss some of the practical things we could do in our world to build a new economic model based on love and well-being. What gives us hope? Marilynn says its a simple as deciding to get on the next boat (the Love boat?).

Christian Mystic Marilynn Hughes (outofbodytravel.org) joins (May 1, 2019) happiness economist and author Mark Anielski to discuss the state of our world today and the practical things we can do to build a new economy based on well-being, happiness and love.  What does the future hold in a world that seems so dark and apocalyptic?  Where do we find hope and genuine happiness? How do we stay hopeful and move forward through prayer, contemplation and action?How do we (as countries) work better together?