A lot has been said about the subjects of karma, fate and destiny. Is the course of our lives predetermined? How is it that some people seem to live a life of abundance while others face huge difficulties? Most of us have probably experienced a bit of both. Is it possible to change our karma? What is the difference between choice and choicelessness? In this episode Gangaji also shares her thoughts on responsibility and the power we have over our karma.

In October of 1998, a talented musician named Craig Johnson, along with millions around the world, was rocked to his core by the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard. It was a hate crime, a hate crime against gays. In the years that followed Matthew Shepard's death, although they never met, he and Craig would become brothers in the deepest sense. At the core of Craig's story is the question, is love present in the midst of the unthinkable?

Coming up this month on Epiphany Grammy Award winning musician Craig Hella Johnson takes us on a journey that began with the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.  It asks the question, can love be found in the midst of the unthinkable? Look for it on February 15th.

The bubble of me is made up of my body, my thoughts, my worries, as well as my hopes, dreams and desires. In and of itself, it's neither good nor bad. It's just part of being human. But sometimes there can be a preoccupation with this bubble of me, which perhaps is a distraction from a deeper anxiety. In this conversation, Gangaji also looks at the bubbles we create around our political, social or spiritual beliefs. Is it important to reach beyond our own bubbles? And if so, how do we do that?

 When we feel back into a corner, asking for help can be seem difficult. In fact, it can be sort of an act of courage to do it. In those moments when we call out for help, if we let go of what that might look like, is there a guarantee that our prayer's will be be answered? What about other categories of help, like giving help? When does offering help serve and when does it interfere? When is it actually a distraction? When we move beyond our daily hopes and fears, is there a final prayer just to be free?

Mica Carew comes from a long lineage of medicine women. Her
grandmother taught her that if you quiet the mind you can hear another
person's body.  From the age of nine, that's the medicine she practiced. In her twenties, she turned her back on her native medicine.  It was a sincere and desperate prayer for help that took her on a journey she never could have imagined.

To say that the US presidential election of 2016 has created a firestorm around the world would be an understatement. While some people are happy with the outcome, the election of Donald Trump has left many shocked, angry and in fear of the future. In this special episode, Gangaji responds to some of the questions and reactions that have naturally come to the surface. Do we have the capacity to bear the fallout from this, no matter what side we're on? Important questions for the sobering times we find ourselves in. Some of us feel blindsided. Where do we go from here?

It's easy to think that a sudden and profound awakening has more meaning than more subtle awarenesses that happen over time. It's like a thunderbolt versus an onion. It's natural to want to compare the two but the question is, are those comparisons worthwhile? Could it be that it's  ordinary moments that are the true openings to realizing who we are? Could these moments be the final call for us to stop trying to fix ourselves and realize what has been here all along?

To bring our conversation from August's episode, When We Disagree, full circle, we've included this special bonus clip.  This monologue from Gangaji's compilation Being in Peace shows us where war originates from within ourselves and how it is then projected out into the world.  In this lucky lifetime, Gangaji points to this rare opportunity to call off this war on ourselves and finally be at peace.  

Pro-choice, pro-life, pro-guns, anti-guns, racism, immigration, sexuality, financial equality, the debate around different social and political issues that have stirred a heated debate for many. What if our disagreements lead to hate, even if our hate is a result to those who say hateful things? Who's right and who's wrong? What happens if we throw away the requirement that we have to agree with each other at all? In the midst of these heated emotions and passionate opinions, is there room for love and respect?