James Burke is a contemporary Bard and music producer with a devotion to the throbbing Now. A pilgrim of the in-between, he is at home on the paradoxical path of Christ yet drawn to the wisdom of the old pagan Earth, and his work explores the reconciliation of these estranged worlds. Through writing and song, he inhabits the thresholds where myth and daily life meet.

James returns for Part 2 to tell the full story of his 500-mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago — the desperation that drove him there, the woman who broke his heart open, and the soul encounter that changed everything.

Follow James Burke:

Substack — The Bard's Field Notes: https://substack.com/@jamesanthonyburke

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_anthony_burke_/

The Creaking Door: https://thecreakingdoor.netlify.app

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[00:00:00] The Creaking Door.

[00:00:33] A sophisticated Christian, a former conspiracy theorist.

[00:04:10] The gift of Martin Shaw's new book.

[00:05:35] Setting the scene — 26, Ireland, Colombia, falling apart.

[00:07:30] Six albums, severe illness, no heart.

[00:10:25] "I think I need to be homeless on the streets."

[00:11:55] Why no top-down fix could work.

[00:16:00] The Camino de Santiago — the way of St. James.

[00:18:53] Selling everything, sleeping in the car.

[00:24:09] The artistic ritual of self-hatred.

[00:26:38] The hellish now, the hoped-for future.

[00:28:16] Starting the pilgrimage.

[00:31:00] Pre-Christian roots, witchy and Christian fused.

[00:34:03] Day one — medieval villages, the road starts walking you.

[00:39:46] The holy man bestowing a quest underground.

[00:42:00] The father wound mirrored in cathedrals.

[00:44:30] Saints over magicians — the role of humility.

[00:46:30] Microdosing trauma in the West.

[00:51:30] Falling in love at the long table.

[00:54:09] The fast, the fall, the eye contact.

[00:56:08] The seminarian who could go toe to toe.

[00:58:11] She held him while he wept for the first time in a decade.

[01:00:53] "Hobby art" — the most generative gift.

[01:03:58] Synchronicity as a mode of perception.

[01:05:30] The river, the song, the call to Ireland.

[01:08:36] The cowboy hat stoner with twelve Caminos.

[01:12:27] Three days fasted, last day barefoot.

[01:13:46] Arriving Good Friday at the bones of the saint.

[01:16:29] The reframe for inherited Christianity.

[01:18:35] Saint Teresa of Ávila and the women of the tradition.

[01:19:43] The Old Testament mindset he had to leave behind.

Erick Godsey is a writer, podcaster, and teacher. As a former founder of Fit For Service, he has been called a cult leader and he agrees. He has gone on to start a new cult called the 'Dharma Artist Collective' where he helps artists and entrepreneurs reclaim their focus from the infinite digital casino in our pockets. He has taught thousands of students over the last decade, specializing in Jungian psychology, dreamwork, and how to live a soul-led life in a collapsing culture. He doesn't respond to emails but he writes semi-regularly on Substack and Instagram @erickgodsey. He is the host of The Myths That Make Us podcast and author of The Art of Dharma. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Caitlyn and their two huge cats, Arcana and Astraeus.

Follow Erick Godsey:

Website: https://www.erickgodsey.com

Blog: https://www.kathedraling.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erickgodsey/

Newsletter: https://erick-godsey.ck.page/profile

Support the Podcast:

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