Evolving Door

Jean Griesser (spiritual name Visakha Devi Dasi) is the first female temple president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, a beautiful period house in the Watford countryside given by George Harrison of the Beatles to the Hare Krishna people in the 70's.

Join us for this wonderful conversation where we hear from jean about growing up in America in the '60s, how she felt like an outsider growing up, about her passion for photography and early success in that area as well as traveling to India on an epic adventure to document the Hare Krishna movement as it developed through photography along with her then-boyfriend (now husband) John Griesser (spiritual name Yadubara Das) who was filming.

She was curious but skeptical and in particular, was not at all sure about some statements and behavior which seemed to be discriminatory towards women.

Do remember to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, it is so encouraging to see those come through. If you don't have Apple podcasts please share your thought with me through social media, looking forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.

You can also check out her wonderful book 'Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love' which has so much more depth on her adventures on this link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Years-Eleven-Months-Lifetime-Unexpected/dp/1522838449

In this second part of our conversation Mat shares how ignoring the signals and what his body was telling him led to a breakdown. 

What you will see when you follow Mat on Instagram @matwakeham is a man who is working through and doing well, a man who is learning from what's come before and sharing his lived experience which I have found really valuable. 

A lot of his work now is about integrating the wisdom of the body with the wisdom of the mind and soul towards a truly integrative practice. As someone who has spent a lot of time seeking to develop a spiritual practice, I can say from experience that the body is often overlooked or ignored in that process so I have found what he shares refreshing and helpful.

Together with his wife Marcella they have started a great podcast which you can check out on Instagram and all good podcats platforms @thebodyknows_podcast

Mat is also passionate about art and inspired by his time with @gorillaz he has started an account to share the cool anime-style art of that period of his life @phoo_action

Please do share your thoughts, insights, reflections on the episode with Mat and me on social media @beinspiredrav (Instagram) @ravinol (twitter) facebook.com/ravinol (Facebook) or by email [email protected]

In this episode I speak with Mat Wakeham about his life growing up in a household in flux, his passion for art, getting into TV and Film, and helping with the graphics and website for the music group 'The Gorillaz'.

He shares that drugs, alcohol, and party life were constant companions throughout much of his life and how a perfectionist streak and the pressure to develop the perfect manly physique as well as succeed in the way he thought was expected of him, led him to breaking point.

Make sure to check out part two for Mat's transformation to a much more integrated practice of well-being won through his real-life battle to find a better way. He is a great example for all of us, a beautiful and inspiring work in progress.

Make sure to check out the podcast he does with his wife Marcella called The Body Knows Podcast for great insights, stories and ideas for a healthy integrated life.

Sarah shares what it was like living on a canal boat for 10 years during the time she and her husband Chris had their son Jay and developing her career in teaching.

At 18 she found her voice to speak out against things she had felt were wring since the age of 6 but didn't know how to express at that age.

Her expression sometimes came in the form of anger. 

This led Sarah to try and understand how she could best effect change in her life and those around her.

Make sure to listen to hear how she did this and made it her vocation.

Sarah Fletcher:

Sarah is a life long educator, an ex secondary school headteacher, and now oversees a group of schools.

We talk about growing up in the '80s in an army town in the midst of a council estate and the violence of the era and how it shaped her.

Her interest in art, literature, and surrealism has helped her consider life in a nuanced way from different perspectives.

The thread that runs through everything is her passion and commitment to education and helping create better life opportunities for young people.

Show Note Links:

Paul Willis, British Social Scientist - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Willis

Paul Nash, British Surrealist Painter - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Nash_(artist)

Frida Kahlo, Mexican Folk Art Painter - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo

Jay really stepped into his own when he recognised what value he offered to people's lives - synthesizing science, psychology and wisdom and explaining it in a simple way so everyone can benefit from it.

We briefly take a look at the structure of the book and some of the sections and Jay shares how much he has put into it so that people can make progress to thinking like a monk without having to give up their life.

He shares some real insights into the huge highs we all saw on social media and how behind the scenes there were still many uncertainties even though externally it didn't look like it could get any better.

Jay shares the three things that saved him from burn-out and how they continue to support him in his growth every day.

Make sure to get your copy of his new book 'Think Like A Monk' I have already started reading it and it is brilliantly laid out with lots of practical exercises and stories to help you benefit from thinking like a monk in your everyday life. 

You can get a copy at www.thinklikeamonkbook.com

Jay really stepped into his own when he recognised what value he offered to people's lives - synthesizing science, psychology and wisdom and explaining it in a simple way so everyone can benefit from it.

We briefly take a look at the structure of the book and some of the sections and Jay shares how much he has put into it so that people can make progress to thinking like a monk without having to give up their life.

He shares some real insights into the huge highs we all saw on social media and how behind the scenes there were still many uncertainties even though externally it didn't look like it could get any better.

Jay shares the three things that saved him from burn-out and how facing criticism has helped him to become more professional in how he and his team operate.

Make sure to get your copy of his new book 'Think Like A Monk' I have already started reading it and it is brilliantly laid out with lots of practical exercises and stories to help you benefit from thinking like a monk in your everyday life. You can get a copy at www.thinklikeamonkbook.com

Jay shares having to 'let go' to become a monk and again having to 'let go' to stop being a monk and how of the two stopping was much harder.

We talk about the difficulty of re-adjusting to normal life after being a monk and how Jay realised what he had learnt as a monk was even more relevant and important to his life in the world.

Jay shares some of the key breakthroughs in becoming who he is today and how it felt on the inside.

Sima shares how her near-death experience impacted her and her work going forwards.

She explains how when we open our hearts to others we can always find the connection.

This is illustrated through the stories she has documented as a filmmaker from tower blocks of flats in Birmingham to the Suffragette movement to classical ballet with a troupe of disables dancers. 

Being a mum has been a challenge at times and Sima is really open about the phases and feelings that come with that. Her daughter makes a guest appearance and we reflect on growing up in the world as a girl past and present.

Sima brings us on the inside of what it was like growing up in Blackburn as one of few Indian kids, learning to integrate but also knowing you were different.

Finding herself and her voice leads her to set off on a bicycle around Thailand, Vietnam and Laos without telling her parents. 

She finds herself on the side of a mountain with a machete in her face and no clear way out.