Living the Tao-A Spiritual Podcast

What does positive power actually mean in Taoism?

In this episode (1-160), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explains why positivity is not about denying reality or forcing optimism. Instead, it’s about where you place your attention, how you process experience, and how much failure you can tolerate without giving up.

Topics include:

Why negativity often feels justified—but limits your life

The difference between motivation and long-term damage

How childhood conditioning shapes what you focus on

The Taoist idea of fail tolerance and endurance

Why most people set goals that guarantee failure

A practical, no-nonsense discussion of positivity as a trainable skill, not a personality trait.

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Access the video form of the episode here: https://youtu.be/0oLwJE07uXY

Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com

Is Daoism something you’re supposed to feel rather than understand? Does talking about it ruin the experience?

In this Living the Tao Short (2-12), Master Steenrod examines a common modern belief—that authentic Daoism requires no study, no method, and no examination. He explains where this idea comes from, why it doesn’t hold up historically, and how Daoist development has always depended on effort, method, and choice.

Nature can teach—but it isn’t the Dao. And walking away from method comes with consequences.

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Access the video form of the episode here: https://youtu.be/DM4Bo0tX_Xo

Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com

In this subscriber-only episode (1-159) of Living the Tao, Master Steenrod examines a quiet but widespread problem: why clarity, restraint, and spiritual insight seem to disappear when life becomes stressful — even when we understand the teachings.

From a Taoist perspective, the issue is not discipline, belief, or willpower.

This episode explores how higher thought, ethical behavior, and spiritual stability are energy-dependent states. When qi is depleted, advanced behavior becomes unavailable. Choice narrows. Reactivity replaces agency. What feels like moral or spiritual failure is often an energetic condition.

Drawing from classical Taoist understanding — and contrasting it with how many spiritual systems are applied today — this talk reframes struggle without blame and restores a missing sequence: energy first, clarity second.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why low energy collapses higher behavior

How modern life quietly drains qi

Why many spiritual teachings fail without an energetic foundation

How ethics and insight naturally emerge from sufficient energy

Why restoring energy must come before higher practice

This is not motivational content. It’s structural explanation — intended for listeners ready to examine why understanding alone doesn’t translate into lived stability.

🎧 Full episode available to subscribers on Supercast.  Subscribe now at https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

Originally released as Episode 10, Poison of Immortality remains one of the most powerful teachings in the Living the Tao archive.

In this brief trailer, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod offers a sharp preview of the timeless insights within—on mortality, time, and the path to clarity.

If you missed it the first time, or you're ready to revisit it with fresh ears, now is the time. The updated episode now includes a full transcript and study guide for deeper reflection.

🎧 Listen to the full episode at:

Get the podcast episode, episode guides, and commentary here: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com/ep-10-poison-of-immortality/

Winter has long been a season for Taoist storytelling — a time when teachers set aside instruction and let stories do the work.

In this short trailer, Master Steenrod introduces a subscriber-only episode(1-158) of Living the Tao built around three traditional winter Taoist tales: a man untouched by cold, a hermit who sits through winter snow, and an immortal who waits calmly as change unfolds.

These stories aren’t about endurance or technique. They explore yin, alignment, and the wisdom of not forcing the moment — themes especially relevant as the year comes to a close.

🎧 Full episode available to subscribers on Supercast.  Subscribe now at https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

Why do Taoist masters fly in legends—but not in real life today?

In this Living the Tao Short, Master Mikel Steenrod explores the idea that some extraordinary abilities once attributed to Taoist practitioners depended on conditions that no longer exist. Rather than fantasy, the discussion focuses on history, training, and the Daoist principle of time and place.

This short episode separates cinematic myth from classical Daoist understanding, offering a thoughtful look at why certain abilities faded—and what Taoism actually teaches instead.

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Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com

Living the Tao – Episode 1-157 (Subscriber Trailer)

There are times when following an established path leads to success—and times when that same path begins to fail.

In this short trailer for a subscriber-only episode of Living the Tao, Taoist Master Michael Steenrod introduces a classical I Ching dyad that frequently appears together: Hexagram 17, Following, and Hexagram 18, Repairing What Has Been Spoiled.

Rather than treating the I Ching as symbolic abstraction, this episode explores it as a practical system of pattern recognition. Following is not blind obedience, but an aware alignment with momentum that conserves energy and produces results. Repair becomes necessary when that momentum decays, calling for assessment, effort, and intelligent adaptation.

The episode also introduces the “karmic bus driver” metaphor—explaining when it is appropriate to lead, when it is wiser to follow, and when repair or withdrawal is the correct response.

This subscriber episode is especially relevant for anyone navigating change in personal practice, leadership, work, or life systems, and clarifies a common misconception: Taoism is not passive surrender—it includes decisive action when conditions call for it.

🎧 Full episode available to subscribers.

Subscribe now at https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

Why do some people seem to catch every break while others struggle no matter how hard they try?

You’ll learn:

This episode blends practical living with classical Taoist insight, offering a grounded, realistic way to understand the “hidden mechanics” shaping everyday life.

If you’ve ever wondered why luck feels unfair—or how to position yourself where prosperity naturally gathers—this conversation offers a clear, Taoist-informed answer.

The video version of this episode is also available on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Ue1_VvpHmZQ

🎧 Subscribe for full archives and bonus content: https://living-the-tao.supercast.com

Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: Incompetech.com

What is Taoist power really—and how do you recognize it in your own life?

In this episode of Living the Tao Shorts (2-10), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores De, the form of spiritual power described in the Daodejing. Instead of treating De as serendipity or good luck, Master Steenrod explains how true Taoist practice produces alignment, insight, and direct Dao interaction.

Inside this episode:

What De actually means in classical Taoism

How Taoist “sagecraft” shapes your life and decisions

The Four Ascendant triangle of Dao → Teacher → Student

Why tiny “signs” aren’t reliable indicators of spiritual growth

What creates Dao intrusions—and what they mean for your path

Why the Dao responds as if you already know the rules

This short episode is ideal for listeners exploring Taoist spirituality, personal transformation, inner alignment, or the deeper teachings behind the Daodejing.

The video version of this episode can be found on youtube: https://youtu.be/oI-7InGpQs4

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Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com

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Show Notes

In this lecture, we explore the concept of 'de' or power in Taoism, as presented in the Tao Te Ching. The discussion centers on what precisely this power signifies and how it manifests in the lives of those who align themselves with the Tao. The lecture delves into the idea of sagecraft, where a sage represents the epitome of being in perfect harmony with the Tao, allowing for both effortless movement within the world and the ability to influence its course. This concept bridges the connection between individual agency and the fundamental laws of the universe, illustrating how actions taken in accord with the Tao can yield significant changes in one's reality.

Discover the Taoist meaning behind giving.

In this trailer, you’ll hear a preview of the ideas discussed in the full episode—including why Taoism views gifts as something far deeper than objects exchanged. Whether the offering is grand or humble, the true weight of a gift lies in the intention behind it, and the state of mind of the giver.

If you’ve ever wondered why some gestures resonate and others fall flat—even when you mean well—this story sheds light on what really matters.

The full episode is available now for subscribers at https://living-the-tao.supercast.com.

✨ What subscribers get:

Full access to deep-dive Taoist lessons

Exclusive commentary and extended teachings

A growing archive of private episodes

Early access to new content

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