Confluence Formation

By Aram Mitchell

Principles, practices, and prayers for living life to the full.

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FAQs about Confluence Formation:

How many episodes does Confluence Formation have?

The podcast currently has 62 episodes available.

Confluence Formation episodes:

August 20, 2025 Day 18 | The loving voice of wisdom (& Mary Oliver)
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“In my house there are a hundred half-done poems.
Each of us leaves an unfinished life.”
(Mary Oliver, Thinking of Swirler)
From my heart:
Isn’t that glorious, beloved one?
You fill your days with purpose and your nights with reaching out—with arms and dreams—to the life you love living, and still more time flows in behind you.
More days flow in from the expanse of what hasn’t been.
And they will keep flowing long after your days flush through this world,
like a bubbling in a mossy wood, perhaps,
or like a mighty river,
or a waterfall.
All of them heading to the ocean.
And whatever you don’t complete, whatever you leave unfinished
—so long as you truly started it—
will get picked up again, after you, by the clouds, and cycled back into life.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 19, 2025 Day 17 | The loving voice of wisdom (& Mister Rogers)
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“How many times have you noticed that it’s the little quiet moments in the midst of life that seem to give the rest extra-special meaning?” (Fred Rogers)
From my heart:
That’s where you’ll find me, as often as not.
That’s where you’ll find what you need.
And not that you have to go hunting for them, those little quiet moments.
Really you just need to notice them.
And then notice your own sweet heart when you notice them; what happens there.
You don’t have to wait until later.
The chittering of the birds just now…
The velcro crash of the waves over your shoulder…
The way that the shoes are piled up by the front door over there…

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 18, 2025 Day 16 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“The fourth myth is the belief that it is possible to be totally logical, rational and objective.” (I forget where I read this)
From my heart:
The challenge for you, my darling, is to live among men who are deeply invested in the fourth myth, and to see the harmful effects of that myth on your own heart, while also continuing to believe that it is sometimes possible to benefit from trying to be partially logical and rational and objective.
Absolutism is the spectre that hovers over and in any totalitarian belief.
The very exciting challenge is to be whole, rather than ever totally anything.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 15, 2025 Day 15 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“The professional masters how, and leaves what and why to the gods.” (Steven Pressfield, The War of Art)
From my heart:
You aren’t alone, there, scraping your every effort against every day, vying of your own will for results that’ll amount to something.
The gods are there too.
It’s actually quite beautiful if you believe in the gods, which is to say, if you believe that you are not alone in your longing and your efforts to make of this world something awesome, something worthy to pass along.
Believe that you’re alone, and you’ll run ragged with unnecessary struggle.
Believe in the company that is available to you, and you’ll rest from time to time in the joyful grace of the work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 14, 2025 Day 14 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“We do not think ourselves into a new way of living, but we must live ourselves into a new way of thinking.” (Richard Rohr)
From my heart:
You can sit there in that rocking chair and run your thoughts through your head all morning until the soles of their feet bleed, but they’ll still have miles to run, and it’ll be circles they’re running in, until you give yourself something to act on.
You can do the same with your fears, your doubts, your worries—and I’m not saying you never should take those things for a run around the block—but taking an actual step, out here in this world of constraints and hardship—taking an actual step, often precisely in the direction that you’re dreading the most—will free your mind to help you make new worlds.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 13, 2025 Day 13 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“Every step and every strain and hard breath and heart pump is an investment in tomorrow morning’s strength.” (Terry & Renny Russell, On the Loose, I think)
In my mind, I responded:
Ok. Then I’ll walk on.
Though I’m done living for perpetual tomorrows.
I need to be absolutely clear what it is that I’m up to, because doubts creep and there is no such thing as a clear path.
Only the path as it is. Often jumbled.
And knowing why I’m walking helps.
Are you there, my why?
From my heart, I heard:
I am the walk.
My mind:
So, tomorrow’s strength isn’t the why that I’m after?
So, strength is a by-product then?
My heart:
Yep. Strength is a by-product.
And a young man’s game.
You’re already strong.
Whenever you’re doing what you’re here to do—no matter your pace, no matter the stretch of your stride—you’re moving with strength.
Trust that your heart will pump, your blood will flow, to feed the next step you need to take.
And take it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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3min
August 12, 2025 Day 12 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“...men of intelligence who formerly possessed an ordinary amount of refinement.”
From my heart:
And what is the ordinary refinement that you are shedding?
I know you care a lot, my hearty soul, about the hopes and dreams, desires and priorities, the wants and needs of others in your near orbit; of those especially who, through admiration and gratitude for your gifts, stake some claim on your time and your attention.
But care a little bit less today.
Give more thought to what is yours to make and offer, and do that a little bit more today.
No one has a viable claim on your time, unless you elect to give it to them.
Give your time and your care to whom and what you wish. Trust that.
This is your next level of growth.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 11, 2025 Day 11 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“It’s giving until the giving feels like receiving.” (Mary Oliver, To Begin With, the Sweetgrass)
From my heart:
Like the rough Father says, though a little bit gentler.
Like Jesus said, more or less.
Like the Mother does, when the babe screams.
Like I’ve shown you all along.
Like you yourself recite everyday: “...to freely give themselves to the world.”
Eventually no sacrifice remains.
Eventually I’ve consumed all sacrifice in the fire of my truth:
That when you give, in just such a way, you will receive it back.
I love the sound of your cries, my beloved.
I love your protestations, my darling.
They tell me of your heart and of your appetite—and there is nothing more that I would rather know.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 08, 2025 Day 10 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“Rest thee by many brooks and hearthsides without misgiving.” (Henry David Thoreau, Walden)
In my mind I responded:
But I don’t feel okay. I don’t feel at rest, at ease. Everything’s just a little bit uphill.
From my heart:
It’s been that way ever since you started walking uphill, hasn’t it?
What’s up there, do you think?
What’s up there worthy of the slog?
Is there any other route to the magic?
I hear you thinking:
“If it’s going to be like this, then I don’t want to do it.”
So: Do it different.
And I know. I know you’re trying to. I see your efforts, dear heart.
You’re doing great.
And don’t forget: You can do better without having been bad.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
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2min
August 07, 2025 Day 9 | The loving voice of wisdom
Everyday I ask the loving voice of wisdom, which dwells in our hearts and in this world: “What would you have me know today?” And then I listen. This is what I heard one day, not long ago…
From elsewhere:
“For afterwards a man finds pleasure in his pains, when he has suffered long and wandered long.” (Homer, the Odyssey)
From my heart:
I know, my love, you think of others first when you read of the hope that pain may amount to life, even pleasure.
But you see it for yourself as well, don’t you?
You see it, and can barely begin—but surely must begin—to see that it is actually so.
Your pains tinge your life with growth, which gives life its arch and its hues, which is pleasant to behold.
“Afterwards,” the young man says.
While: “Now,” is the utterance of the elder.
You, my child, are somewhere in between.
You have not been long enough at anything to know its culmination. But you will.
You will.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arammitchell.substack.com
...more
2min

FAQs about Confluence Formation:

How many episodes does Confluence Formation have?

The podcast currently has 62 episodes available.