Crossing the Boundary - with Alan Levin

Cathy’s very multi-faceted career and continuing activities include earning a doctorate in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). At CIIS, she worked in a variety of administrative, leadership roles for 20 years and for the past six years she has worked with the CIIS Center for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research. She has served as president of Kepler College, (a state-approved college of astrological studies in Washington state) and as Director of IONS’ (Institute of Noetic Sciences) EarthRise Retreat Center. As a very respected astrologer, she works in private practice, as a coach, and lectures nationally and internationally on Western and Eastern (Jyotish) astrology.

She is a devoted mother, grandmother and author of the just released book, Ralph Metzner, Explorer of Consciousness – The Life and Legacy of a Psychedelic Pioneer published by Inner Traditions. We talk about the book, which contains dozens of tributes and illuminating stories from people whose lives were touched and deeply influenced by Ralph as friends, colleagues, students and family. It reveals a good deal about his life, his wide ranging interests and contributions to the fields of psychology, shamanism, eco-psychology, mythology, Western and Eastern mysticism, and of course, psychedelics, a field in which he was a pioneer and innovator starting with his association with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) at Harvard. 

In our conversation, we talk about Cathy’s early years growing up in a conservative, small town in Missouri, her opening to astrology, her move to California and the California Institute of Integral Studies, and her in thirty year marriage with Ralph Metzner. Cathy talks with openness about what it was like living with him, working alongside him, being with him through his dying, and now communing with him in the after-life. 

Cathy co-founded the Green Earth Foundation with Ralph that was a vehicle for Ralph’s teachings and books and through which Cathy continues to pass on his rich legacy
(www.greenearthfound.org).

For more information on Cathy’s astrological work – https://www.cathycolemanastrology.com/
The book, Ralph Metzner, Explorer of Consciousness – The Life and Legacy of a Psychedelic Pioneer is available through the publisher linked here as well as Amazon and most book sellers

My conversation with John Malkin, author of the book, "Punk Revolution! - An Oral History of Punk Rock, Politics and Activism." John describes his Jewish roots and early interest in punk music, his 25 year Santa Cruz radio program, "Transformation Highway," and his upcoming book relating punk music to spirituality. We discuss a wide range of topics including John's focus on non-violent resistance to authoritarian and militarist government, the war in Gaza as it relates to the Jewish people, and how to navigate having multi-faceted interests in a world out of balance.

Here are some links to John's work and also some links to punk music that he recommends.

Review of Punk Revolution!

John's book of great musicians talking about peace and justice -Sounds of Freedom https://books.google.com/books/about/Sounds_of_Freedom.html?id=0QEXoy5ufDwC

"The Art of the Individual" - Interview with John Lyddon of the Sex Pistols

"Music Without Restraint" - Interview with Henry Rollins of Black Flag

Music, Prayer and Action: Klee Benally leads mutual aid projects to help Navajo Nation during pandemic

Film produced by John Malkin - "Peacemakers at The Nevada Test Site" was produced in 1990 during nonviolent direct actions to stop U.S. government nuclear weapons testing in Nevada, USA.

A few of John's Punk Rock Music suggestions:

The Clash:
"Lose This Skin" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw6e1AB60fw

Empathy:
"Shelter" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXfBRCWiYchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXfBRCWiYc

Gang of Four:
"What We All Want" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmW6iLKmB3c

My conversation with Carla Detchon, Integration Coach and wise woman of all things psychedelic. Carla and I were participants for many years in ceremonial circles with a very unique and masterful psychedelic guide, Ralph Metzner. Here Carla shares about her journey from privileged, middle-class girl to San Francisco psychedelic party tripper, to entering the inner worlds with shamanic practices. You can learn more about Carla at Psychedelic Divas: https://psychedelicdivas.com/ Her integration coaching practice at: https://carladetchon.com/

Here is my conversation with Eva Dalak. Eva was born in Israel in a Muslim family. In our conversation she talks about her life as a child growing up as an Israeli-Arab, being educated at the Sorbonne, adopting Belgian nationality, working in crisis areas in Africa, finding spiritual psychology and working to heal the inner conflicts that mirror the conflicts in the world. Finally arriving at her identity as a Palestinian she likes to think of herself as a "peace activator", one who helps bring forth the peace from within ourselves. She devotes her work to helping Palestinians and Israeli Jews find the higher ground within themselves, where they are more human beings than they are their ethnic identity, where they can experience empathy and love for all humans and life.

She and her partner live in Costa Rica and have a healing retreat center where they have "PeaceActivation" workshops and trainings.

Please see the links below to see her fuller bio and find out more about her work.

 Eva's article on Medium - "Are You Ready.."   / are-you-ready-to-own-your-words-and-stand-... 

Peace Activation - www.peaceactivation.org To register for the weekly calls https://peaceactivation.org/weekly-zo...

To join workshops https://peaceactivation.org/event/exp...

For the upcoming retreat https://peaceactivation.org/event/exp...

For individual coaching with Eva http://www.evadalak.me 

More about Eva Dalak 

Eva's background includes growing up in Jaffa, Israel, in a Muslim family and going to a Christian Jesuit school. She studied in France and holds a double Master degree in International Relations and International Administration from the Sorbonne in Paris. She then moved to work in Brussels with an International NGO and later on as an independent consultant for the European Union.  She traveled extensively in Africa, and worked with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast.

zMy conversation here is with Zen Master Bon Soeng, aka Jeff Kitzes. Jeff shares his personal history growing up in a Jewish family in the Sixties, his start in meditation (influenced by the Beatles), and his introduction to his spiritual teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn of the Korean Kwan Um school of Zen. Given the name, Bon Soeng (original nature) he was initiated as a Zen Master and leads Empty Gate Zen Center with centers in Berkeley, CA, Boise, Idaho, and online. Jeff shares many of his views concerning the essential teachings of Zen, the role of psychedelics in spiritual practice, mysticism, death, and his role as a psychotherapist - his emphasis throughout on a curious openness to what is revealed through meditation practice. We discuss the problematic issues of control that spiritual groups face and finally take a look at how meditation and particularly zen practice relate to the problems of the world.

Elected as Chief of the Ramapough Indian tribe in 2008, Dwaine Perry tells of his childhood learning from elders, dealing with discrimination, and his later work as Chief of the Ramapough Lenape Munsee people. We talk about the struggles the tribe has had with their right to practice their ceremonies, with environmental racism and their bridge building with other tribes. We also discuss the nature of Native American spirituality and how it may play a role in the world today.

See more at: http://www.crossingtheboundary.org/keeping-the-sacred-fire-burning-chief-dwaine-perry/

This is a deep, 40-minute meditation for clearing and cleansing your body and mind. You learn to choose to focus your attention and experience a source of healing and purifying energy – light-fire – from within your own nature.  You are then guided to be with the flow of that energy through your entire body. 

The process is one of letting in light and letting go of that which obstructs the flow of your life force. It can be done at the start of a day or in the evening to clear. It's like taking an inner shower. 

May it bring you ever closer to the experience and expression of the One that you truly are.

Dr. Leonard Grob, Lenny, is a philosopher and author of numerous books and articles focusing on the lessons of the Holocaust as they relate to contemporary issues. He is an activist regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the issues of justice and democracy here at home. Lenny talks about his roots in the Jewish world and his evolving studies of philosophy, particularly Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas, and how those teachings have inspired and kept him motivated in his work. 

We discuss a range of issues including what brought about the loss of the idealistic spirit of the Sixties, where we are now, and how to move forward. Dr. Grob's latest book, co-authored with John K. Roth, is "Warnings - The Holocaust, Ukraine, and Endangered American Democracy." In our conversation we focus on the issues raised in this, his most political and polemical book. 

He is also the author or co-author of "Encountering the Stranger - A Jewish, Christian, Muslim Trialogue," "Losing Trust in the World - Holocaust Scholars Confront Torture," "Teen Voices From the Holy Land: Who Am I to You?," "Education for Peace - Testimonies from World Religions," "Anguished Hope: Holocaust Scholars Confront the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict," and "Women's and Men's Liberation: Testimonies of Spirit," as well as numerous articles.

This is my conversation with Joseph Tieger,  1960's civil rights activist who later journeyed with Ram Dass to find a path of service with an open heart. Joseph recounts some of the harrowing experiences facing, with non-violent passive resistance, the hatred of white Southerners towards him and other black and white civil-rights activists. We talk about him finding the need to soul-search his own heart to become more fully human and find compassion for those who continue to be victims of their own hatred in the current context.

Joseph's recently released books: Lately It Occurs To Me - A Memoir of the Civil Rights Movement and the Open Road (1963 - 1976) , Books 1 & 2, tell his deeply personal story with vivid details of the historical civil rights movement at the time and his personal journey. His accounts are filled with anecdotal encounters and events that will bring strong memories to some who lived through those decades and for some, it will be a total revelation.

You can order the books from Amazon at here.

Some previews of the  "How Then Shall We Live" video series can be seen the site devoted to Ram Dass: https://www.ramdass.org/howtolive.

You can sign up for the upcoming website launch of Joseph and Johanna's work at https://www.josephandjohanna.org/

My conversation with Human Kindness Foundation co-founder and spiritual director, Sita Lozoff. With support and encouragement from Ram Dass, starting in 1973, Sita and her husband, Bo, developed the largest prison ministry in the country, teaching meditation and yoga and offering spiritual guidance to thousands of incarcerated men and women. Sita shares her journey from childhood, through the LSD-filled Sixties, her connection with Ram Dass and the Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, and the spiritual wisdom teachings she practices and passes along to others. See the website of Human Kindness Foundation https://humankindness.org/ and in-depth interview with Sita from Moon Magazine: https://humankindness.org/moon-magazine-interview/.