Fire and Light

Tessa and Dave begin by remembering the “before” and “after” of their lives in Sedona, Arizona and relate this to “before” and “after” the dropping of the atomic bomb. They respond to “Oppenheimer", the latest film by Christopher Nolan, about the father of the bomb. Hear their reflections on how the arts help us face shattering memories that many would rather forget or whitewash. Consider the paradox of a cruel and wondrous world. Then celebrate Hope as radical openness for the unimaginable with a Ute poem about earth’s wisdom.

Where do you place yourself? How does it taste? Tessa and Dave share a taste of the Sonoran Desert as they savor picking saguaro fruit with guidance from local Tohono O’odham neighbors. They relish the physical act of picking fruit with a traditional tool and preparing it to eat. And they ponder the spiritual meaning of the sticky red fruit for native communities. In gathering the fruit, Desert People bring down the clouds that release life-giving monsoons in July. How does your land nourish you?

We welcome the month of June by remembering the summers of our youth: Dave in Indiana and Tessa in Connecticut. We explore how leisure, not work, is the basis of culture. Our conversation includes insights from Tricia Hersey, “the Nap Bishop.” Her book, Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, encourages us to nap, dream again and escape the “grind culture,” as the Jewish people escaped Pharaoh a long time ago. We think you’ll find our monthly practice “assignment” very easy! Our meditation is guided by the poem “On June,” by James Russell Lowell. If you fall asleep listening to us, our mission is accomplished

Tessa and Dave introduce the Irish saying, “my story, your story.” They explore how the concrete details, joys and sorrows of our unique life stories have an uncanny power to communicate across time and cultures. Allow yourself to slow down and ponder the meaning of “destiny” and how your years unfold along themes that weave in and out of your life’s seasons. Tessa and Dave note major landmarks or thresholds in their own lives and lead you through a meditation to help you discover and celebrate your own destiny and the legacy you hope to leave for future generations.

Tessa and Dave explore ways to create breathing room for our spirits in a world of speed and utility. They describe a recent desert camping trip and Dave recites “Superbloom Toast,” a poem celebrating the spectacle of a desert bursting with flowers. Since April is National Poetry Month, they ponder the value of poetry and its relationship to contemplation. This month’s meditation creates breathing space for the spirit by helping us slow down, pay attention, and enjoy everyday wonders.

Tessa rhapsodizes on the beauty of compost. She celebrates the season of Lent as alchemy: allowing the cast-off peelings, the inedible “garbage” of our lives to be transformed into fertile soil for future flowers. She recommends we get our hands dirty and grow something green in this month that Tohono O’Odham people call the Green Moon. Dave celebrates Women’s History Month by commenting on bell hooks, Naomi Shihab Nye, Valarie Kaur, and desert elder Lorraine Eiler.

Tessa and Dave explore the beauty of candlelight and the Feast of Candlemas. In honor of Black History Month they reflect on the spirituality of civil rights activist and congressman, the late John Lewis. Noting the universal appreciation of candlelight in spiritual ceremonies, they suggest a candle blessing practice and offer a meditation by Howard Thurman, author and mystic whose wisdom helped guide the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

In this first episode Tessa and Dave say why the podcast is named Fire and Light and what are the life questions they will be addressing. They describe who they are and where thay have come from. Each episode offers a simple contemplative practice and ends with a brief meditation.