Really lovely and meandering chat this week with the founder of Oikon Studios Mike Whang. Mike began Oikon Studios as a way of learning to walk in the unforced rhythms of grace.Through a gorgeous mixture of liturgy,spiritual formation, lectio divina, and music Mike invites us all to union with God, with true self, and with one another. Our attention is deeply rooted in what we’re attuned to and where our intention lies. What is calling you to divine union? 

Show Notes:

• Oikon Studios
• Phygital Fellows 
• Lectio Divina
• In the Name by Padraig O’Tuama

Chapters
00:00 In the Name of Community and Connection
02:50 Introducing Mike Wang and Oikon Studios
04:31 The Evolution of Liturgy and Ministry
07:20 The Importance of Liturgy in Spiritual Life
11:14 Unforced Rhythms of Grace
14:24 Liturgy as Practice and Reciprocity
17:45 Power Dynamics in Liturgy and Ministry
22:54 Moving from Scarcity to Abundance
27:34 Creating Beauty in Ministry
33:41 Practices of Attentiveness and Reflection
35:57 God's Work Beyond the Church
39:37 Advent Reflections and Ancestral Connections
44:05 Legacy and Ancestral Influence
48:11 Closing Thoughts and Resources

It’s hard to put this episode with Brooke Williams on his new book Encountering Dragonfly into words! The breadth and width of this conversation is vast. We talk to Brooke about dragonflies, prophetic dreams, listening to your inner knowing, animal guides, re-enchantment, imaginal ecology, the veils between worlds, and more! Grateful for this lovely book, and for Brooke’s ability to invite, enliven, and re-enchant. 

Show Notes:

• Brooke Williams Website
• Encountering Dragonfly : Notes on the Practice of Re-enchantment
• The Earth has a Soul - Meredith Sabini 
• Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front - Wenell Berry
• Fly, Dragonfly! By: Joyce Sidman
• W.S. Merwin

Chapters
00:00 The Enchantment of Dragonflies
06:19 Exploring Inner Worlds and Personal Truths
12:25 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality
18:49 Animals as Messengers and Guides
26:57 Archetypes and the Symbolism of Dragonflies
34:49 Imaginal Ecology and Natural History
35:41 Imaginal Ecology and Relationships
39:02 Consciousness and Collective Responsibility
42:37 Attention: The Key to Re-enchantment
47:23 Personal and Collective Re-enchantment
54:03 The Power of Passion and Connection
01:01:35 Facing Mortality and Purpose

We were so fortunate to meet Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy at The Wild Goose Festival! This chance encounter led us to reading their beautiful book Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees and to the lovely and deeply rooted conversation in this episode. The way Beth and Leah invite us back to nature, remind us that we are one with the trees, and embody looking to the trees as our teachers have inspired us so deeply. May we each find our love for all beings renewed and reinvigorated by these women and their gorgeous work. 

Show Notes:

• Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees 
• Save Our Soil
• Center for Spirituality in Nature
• COP 30
• BethNorcross.com
• LeahRampy.com
• Reweaving Earth and Soul - Leah on Substack
• When I am among the Trees by: Mary Oliver 

Chapters
00:00 The Spiritual Connection with Nature
08:59 Personal Journeys and Teacher Trees
18:17 The Wisdom of Trees: Literal and Metaphorical
26:52 The Role of Trees in Spiritual Practices
33:00 The Journey of Spiritual Practices
36:04 Nurse Logs and Ancestral Connections
42:40 Grounding Through Spiritual Practices
48:51 Reconnecting with Nature and Spirituality
57:32 A Message from the Trees

We chat all about relational flow today with eco spiritual director, soul guide, holistic psychotherapist, author, and two time Radical Sacred guest Melissa Fritchle! When we begin to build our relationships based on reciprocity and flow beautiful new pathways begin to emerge. Join us for this invitational conversation on interdependence, creativity, intimacy, and following our yearning. 
Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Melissa’s Website - Embody & Connect
• Melissa’s Substack - Soul Entwined with Earth 
• Center for Wild Spirituality - Wild Weavings
• Night on the Island by: Pablo Neruda

Chapters
00:00 The Poetic Introduction
02:39 Exploring Soul Guidance
03:36 Understanding Reciprocity
10:27 Transcending Expectations
16:15 From Scarcity to Abundance
22:56 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
27:26 Creativity in Discomfort
31:43 Reconnecting with Yearning
35:02 The Nature of Suffering and Happiness
37:38 Redefining Work and Retirement
39:33 The Importance of Intimacy
43:12 The Role of Ceremony and Ritual
55:29 Embracing Reciprocity in Relationships

Simon Fulford and Ame Mañon-Ferguson of Parrott Creek Child and Family Services chat with us about reimaging trauma healing and the expansive, gorgeous work they do for families and the 80 acres of land that surrounds their site. We were blown away by their care and intentionality with the folks they serve with and through their Cultural Ecology Project. We learn about treating all people with unconditional positive regard and about what happens when folks healing from trauma heal in an intentional community and heal with and alongside nature. Our hearts and minds were expanded by this lovely conversation.  

Cool stuff we mention on this weeks episode (or meant to anyways):

• Parrott Creek
• Cultural Ecology Project at Parrott Creek
• Donate to Parrott Creek
• [email protected]
• Find them on Instagram
• Sunrise by Joy Harjo

Chapters
00:00 The Power of Poetry and Introduction to Parrott Creek
01:25 Understanding Parrott Creek's Mission and History
05:35 Cultural Ecology and Land Stewardship
09:53 The Healing Power of Nature
14:36 Measuring Success Beyond Metrics
19:06 Unconditional Positive Regard and Trauma-Informed Care
23:26 Community Engagement and Restorative Justice
28:06 Finding Inspiration and Hope in Nature
32:30 Supporting Indigenous Communities and Local Initiatives
36:59 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

We are thrilled to welcome author, pastor, and thinker, Kenneth McIntosh to the pod! We chat about his book Oak and Lotus and how his life has been shaped by Celtic Christianity along with Buddhism. How might our spirituality shift and change in unexpected directions if we were open to new pathways? If you’ve ever been curious about interspirituality this lovely and invitational episode is for you. 

Cool stuff we mention on this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):

• Kennethimcintosh.com 
• Oak and Lotus 
• Kenneth’s Substack 
• Rumi’s Guesthouse

Chapters
00:00 Seeing Christ in Everyday Life
01:18 Introduction to Celtic Spirituality
02:16 Understanding Interspirituality
04:23 Kenneth's Spiritual Journey
12:50 Transcending Evangelicalism
16:18 Celtic and Eastern Spiritual Connections
24:49 Interspirituality and Personal Growth
32:38 Reconceiving Jesus: An Eastern Wisdom Teacher
35:34 Understanding Taoism: Flowing with the Divine
39:59 Everyday Mysticism: Trusting Intuition and Spirit
41:29 Thin Places: Encounters with the Divine
49:17 Reciprocity: Openness and Inter-Spirituality

Jarod K. Anderson, poet, thinker, author, and host of the podcast Cryptonaturalist joins us this week! Jarod chats with us about nature being his church from a very young age, the beauty and invitational nature of moss, writing poetry as a way of making sense of the world, and more. This conversation is not only a breath of fresh air but an invitation back to the forests that make our very breath possible. We are so excited to share with you Jarod’s lovely poems, the ways that nature can be a balm for depression and the weariness of the world, and all the wisdom shared in this gentle, thoughtful conversation. 

Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Jarod K. Anderson Website
• The Cryptonaturalist Podcast
• Jarod’s Substack
• Jarod’s Instagram
• Forsythia Poem 

Chapters
00:00 The Beauty of Nature and Poetry
02:58 The Journey of a Poet
05:48 The Role of Poetry in Mental Health
08:56 Influences and Inspirations in Writing
11:35 Finding Peace in Nature
14:35 The Importance of Presence in Nature
17:07 Unexpected Encounters in Nature
18:10 The Philosophy of Mushroom Hunting
21:02 Nature as a Teacher
23:39 Reciprocity Between Nature and Self
26:56 Reconnecting with Nature
30:40 The Magic of Trees and Moss
34:07 Finding Thin Spaces
41:11 The Nature of Love
43:16 Vulnerability and Healing
51:16 Creative Projects and Future Endeavors

In these wild times we earnestly believe that reconnecting with nature, self, and each other is the only route forward that will lead us into equality, equanimity, and hope. The practice of Terra Divina is a four part devotion that will lead you back to your truest you. In this episode we chat all about how to be present to self and nature, how to set aside deep judgment, and how to walk in the direction that our heart invites us. We hope that you will utilize this spiritual practice, that you will invite your family and friends into it, and that you will begin to know yourself through a different more natural lens. Journey with us into deeper knowing and expand your heart, mind, and spirit with Terra Divina. 

Cool stuff we mentioned this episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Terra Divina
• The Treatment by Jarod K Anderson
• Wild Goose Festival 

Chapters
00:00 The Healing Power of Nature
02:54 Terra Divina: A Sacred Practice
05:22 The Four Steps of Terra Divina
10:35 Deepening Connection with Nature
15:54 Embracing Discomfort and Transformation
21:06 Nature as a Teacher
26:09 Invitation to Self-Discovery

JD Stillwater takes us on a wild, imaginative ride in this week’s episode! JD is a Science Ambassador, author, speaker and a joy filled former science teacher who invites others into a worldview more aligned with how reality works. We visit all about embracing the flow of the natural world which is rooted in both science and spirituality and how being in the flow invites us into our own unique place in the vastness of the universe. How might it shift the current trajectory of our society if we begin to view science as not only being compatible with spirituality but as a profound source of our spirituality? 

Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):

• JD’s website
• Videos from JD 
• Sign up for JD’s newsletter
• Cosmology in Concert 
• Closing Poem - Wellsprings

Chapters
00:00 The Forsythia Metaphor: Growth Through Adversity
02:31 Introducing JD Stillwater: A Science Ambassador's Journey
06:57 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality
11:47 Curiosity as a Guiding Principle
22:43 The Gateway to Understanding: Touch and Connection
29:19 The Nature of Existence: Flow and Evolution
35:52 The Nature of Existence and Death
38:47 Diversity and Evolution
41:35 Bridging Science and Spirituality
47:03 Reciprocity in Nature
52:47 Interconnectedness of Life
57:22 Cultural Shifts and Learning from Nature
01:02:15 Closing Reflections and Future Directions

Note: This episode was recorded live at the Wild Goose Festival. The audio quality does not meet our typicaly standards, but isn't that life... a little messy and not always meeting the standard?

Welcome to Season 3 of Radical Sacred! In our season opener we find ourselves having a beautiful time at The Wild Goose Festival in Harmony, North Carolina. Spending 4 days camping under the stars, listening and learning from progressive speakers from vastly different backgrounds, meeting like minded friends, leading contemplative nature walks, and seeing butterflies of all kinds feels like the perfect start to our season of reciprocity. Moving towards a system that is mutually beneficial to all beings matters not only for our survival, but we believe will lead us on a pathway toward a more equitable, nature centered, kinder world. Join us as we speak to authors, thinkers, scientists, and naturalists this season as we explore the beauty of living reciprocally. 

Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Wild Goose Festival
• The Serviceberry, Gathering Moss, or Braiding Sweetgrass  by: Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Living Resistance Kaitlin B Curtice
• World as Lover World as Self Joanna Macy
• Terra Divina

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Season Three of Radical Sacred
03:31 Exploring the Wild Goose Festival Experience
06:01 The Spirit of Inclusion and Community
07:11 Introducing the Theme of Reciprocity
07:11 Understanding Reciprocity
15:21 The Importance of Reciprocity in Society
18:17 Nature's Role in Reciprocity
21:23 Personal Stories of Reciprocity
24:13 Reciprocity in Human Relationships
27:13 Exploring Literature on Reciprocity
28:39 Radical Sacred_outro.mp3