You may have experienced a time in your life when you felt part of some great oneness. Not easy to explain to another person, right? 

Mystics have grappled with these experiences for as long as there have been mystics, coming up with many poetic ways of referring to them.  

In this episode, Simon Marvell speaks with ISTA facilitator and psychologist, Laura Deva, about a similar, poetic idea that has become prominent in recent years: it's called "the dark." 

As Laura explains, "the dark" doesn't refer to shadowy parts of our unconscious, nor to evil. Rather, the dark is, precisely, a difficult-to-explain state of existence. 

It can be distinguished from the personality and the soul in that it is what exists beyond their limits. And yet, the dark can be felt in them. Indeed, we can feel the dark in our daily lives, to our great benefit!

While this might seem like an abstract topic, Laura brings it right down to earth for us, while still offering a taste of how the dark can be felt. 

To learn more about Laura, visit her links: 

• Upcoming retreat: Living from the Mystery, 20-24 November 2025, Germany. 
• Laura's Tandava online course
• 6-month online mentorship with Laura
• Laura on Instagram

If you loved this episode, please rate it and share it with your friends!

And to learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/

Or follow us on social media: @ista.community

In this episode, Simon Marvell speaks with ISTA Facilitator Aaron Mandelbaum about the importance of integration after transformational experiences. 

Going to a retreat for spiritual growth or personal development can be like shaking a snow globe. It can send flurries of emotions, thoughts, and experiences wildly into the air. At some point you need to let the snow settle into its new place. 

Only then can sustainable shifts in how you live your life begin to establish themselves.

Aaron reveals the different ways that ISTA teachers suggest people integrate and explains why each of them are so supportive. 

He and Simon also discuss Aaron's unique approach to facilitation, his transition from the business world to spiritual work, and the significance of community and connection in personal growth. 

They address the challenges that may arise after intense experiences, especially when shamanic practices are involved, and the power of navigating these emotions alongside other people.

They also discuss: 

• How Aaron is like a cross between George Carlin and Mr Rogers
• How patience, presence, and process infuses all he does
• The perils of being a “shamasochist”
• What your loved ones might be experiencing when you’re away
• The ISTA Integration portal for graduates
• The global online groups accessible to graduates

To connect with Aaron, visit his website: https://aaronmandelbaum.com/

ISTA offerings many trainings each month, all around the world. To learn more, visit our website: https://ista.life/

Or follow us on social media: @ista.community

In this episode, Usha Rose sits down with her longtime friend and colleague Kay’aleya Hunnybee, a clinical herbalist and integrative health coach, to explore the true power of herbs as aphrodisiacs, not just for boosting libido, but for supporting whole-body vitality, nourishing the nervous system, and enhancing pleasure from the inside out.

Rather than offering a generic list of aphrodisiac herbs, Kay’aleya guides us through a holistic, nuanced approach to understanding our sensuality and sexual well-being. Together, we dive into how herbs work, why not all aphrodisiacs are the same, and how to choose the right plants for your unique body, lifestyle, and needs.

Kay’aleya shares 5 core areas for enhancing pleasure from an herbal perspective, along with practical insights and examples of herbs that support each one. You’ll also learn how to develop an intimate relationship with herbs and plants as allies for long-term sexual vitality, not just quick fixes.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why aphrodisiac is an oversimplified term and what actually matters
  
  
• The importance of understanding your individual needs
  
  
• 5 key areas for using herbs to enhance pleasure and arousal
  
  
• Examples of herbs in each of those categories
  
  
• Creative, unexpected ways to work with herbs for sexual well-being
  
  

If you’ve ever wondered which herbs might actually help you feel more alive, nourished, and sensually vibrant, this episode will give you a rich foundation to start your own herbal pleasure journey.

About Kay’aleya Hunnybee
 

Kay’aleya is a clinical herbalist, bodyworker, and integrative health coach specializing in menstrual, hormonal, and sexual health. Her work supports everything from menstrual cycle care and breast health to postpartum healing and navigating menopause. She teaches an online Natural Contraception program, offers pelvic and abdominal bodywork & herbal care in midcoast Maine, and hosts the Herbal Womb Wisdom podcast. Her greatest wish is for others to experience the healing potential of their bodies and cultivate deep kinship with the earth and its plants.

Learn more at: https://www.herbalwomb.com/

To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/

In this episode, Jeff DeLone shares his journey from a conventional, yet emotionally suppressed, upbringing in the United States to discovering the power of feeling and releasing emotions.

Growing up in a large Catholic family, Jeff was surrounded by people but often felt alone. Looking back, he recognizes signs of inherited depression and the impact of unexpressed emotions. After excelling in school and sports, he entered the corporate world, only to find it unfulfilling. His turning point came when he began attending transformational workshops, where he encountered tools that helped him navigate life’s challenges without relying on old patterns like drinking.

This exploration eventually led him to become a teacher of the Release Technique, a method that helps people fully feel and then let go of difficult emotions instead of repressing them. As Jeff emphasizes, the technique is less about intellectual understanding and more about direct experience. In the episode, he guides listeners through simple yet powerful exercises for noticing and releasing stuck feelings.

One of his key insights is about working with fear: rather than resisting it, we can meet fear with love and allow it to move through us. He also explains how the ego resists letting go, preferring to stay in the mind. In contrast, this practice opens the door to truly living, not just thinking or doing.

Jeff also touches on:

• The history of the Release Technique
  
  
• What lies beneath our most difficult feelings
  
  
• How to release the grip of the mind
  
  
• Relating to emotions like musical notes
  
  
• Transforming fear into courage
  
  
• Heart-centered meditation practices
  
  

It’s a rich and inspiring conversation with a down-to-earth teacher exploring some pretty “out there” ideas.

Links from the episode:

• Release Technique
  
  
• Healing the Heart of America
  
  

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it and share it with friends!

Learn more about ISTA at ista.life

Jasmeen Hana, Egyptian spirituality facilitator (and previous ISTA facilitator), speaks with Caitlyn Cook about her journey of self-discovery, spirituality, and community living. From a multicultural background, she has moved through crises of identity, spiritual revelation, and many years of global travelling, to finally settle in her community in rural Egypt. 

Drawing deeply from her expertise in ancient Egyptian mythology and culture, Jasmeen explains the importance of bringing offerings to the land (not just taking) and of commitment. When we can let go of our striving and driving to achieve, she says, we can become like nature, allowing life to emerge from within. 

Jasmeen emphasizes the importance of *taking action* to bring the mystical world, to which many of us are connected, into reality. As we aim to do this more, it seems, shadow work is essential, but so too is drawing on what is in our light. In fact, there are several things that could be in the way of us slowing down and committing to our chosen path... 

Jasmeen and Caitlyn also explore: 

• How mythology helped Jasmeen find her place in the world.
• Respecting and listening to the land as we would a lover. 
• Stability as a marker of power in ancient Egypt.
• Doubt as a block to right action in the world
• How our dreams matter and contribute to the collective vision for a better world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jasmeen Hana and Her Journey

04:58 The Role of Land and Community in Spirituality

09:56 The Importance of Giving Back to the Land

14:52 Commitment as a Path to Freedom

19:47 Finding Balance Between Movement and Stability

26:58 The Nature of Commitment

29:31 Shadow and Light Work

31:57 Embracing Self-Worth

34:53 Life Beyond Materialism

36:35 Bridging Spirituality and Daily Life

39:58 The Power of Action

43:37 Community and Shared Vision

47:22 The Beauty of Imperfection

About Jasmeen Hana

Jasmeen is a Kemetic spiritual and shamanic facilitator, community builder, and founder of Bliss School, a digital platform offering holistic education, leadership development, and shamanic awareness programs supported by the ancient Egyptian wisdom teachings. She is currently based in southern Egypt, where she has co-founded the development of an Ancient-future regenerative village project focused on community well-being and sustainable living, as well as temple life. 

Jasmeen’s website: https://www.bliss.school/

• SPECIAL OFFER for ISTA podcast listeners: to receive a discount on online courses in Jasmeen’s Bliss School (link above), use the discount code “LOTUSGIFT” at check-out. 

Jasmeen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Blissschool-JasmeenHana

Jasmeen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmeen_hana_/

And to learn more about ISTA, visit https://ista.life/

Or follow us on social media: @ista.community

Chris Burris is an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist with decades of experience helping people to release themselves from adverse experiences and create freedom in their lives. 

The IFS model involves inviting people to see themselves as composed of many parts. Sometimes these parts are in harmony with one another, and at other times they can be in conflict. 

For Chris, following the guidance of nature and understanding ourselves as beautiful, messy, complex ecosystems is the key to finding resolution of this conflict and finding balance as we move through the challenges of our journey. 

But exploring these parts of ourselves in an intentional group setting can be especially potent for healing. Doing so allows us to express the parts of ourselves that need expressing in real interactions with others. 

Groups can be potent medicine because, in contrast to self-guided work, it is so hard to hide in a group, or to otherwise waylay the process. When the space is held skillfully, and the people there share an intention, the chances of meeting parts of ourselves needing attention is high. 

In this sensitive conversation, Chris and Caitlyn explore: 

• How it is common to develop coping mechanisms to survive
• How to explore alternatives to these coping mechanisms
• Removing agitation and bringing care as the basics of healing
• The elements of a healing group
• Tips for group facilitators
• Guidance for group participants
• Slowing down so we aren’t hijacked by strong feelings
• Focussing on impact rather than intent when repairing relationships

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Learn more about Chris at his website: https://burriscounseling.com/

Chris’s upcoming workshops and trainings: https://burriscounseling.com/workshops-trainings/

Podcasts featuring Chris: https://burriscounseling.com/podcasts-featuring-chris/

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To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ista.community

Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.ista.life/

In this episode, ISTA facilitator Usha Rose speaks with systemic therapist and transformational guide Lars Borgmann about how to engage in conflict with others in a better way. 

As Lars explains, conflict can occur in any area of our lives, but our experiences of it are often so unpleasant that we aim to avoid it at any cost. Without being dealt with, it can fester underneath the surface of our relationships, causing even more problems. 

What we should do is stop seeing conflict as an indication that someone has done something wrong. Instead, we should take a systemic approach and see that everyone has their own internal conflicts, and their own complex desires, that are influencing the tense interaction.

If we see conflict as an opportunity for us to grow in our relationships with others, then we can begin collaborating with those we’re clashing with and create new solutions to the problems we’re facing. 

Lars speaks about how we can make this happen. He also addresses: 

·      Bringing love to conflict

·      Letting go of our need to control the truth

·      How conflicts are actually made-up of many smaller conflicts

·      The influence of past experience on present interactions

·      How 99% of our issues with others have already occurred within ourselves

If you loved this episode, why not rate it and share it with your friends!

To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: ista.life

Or follow us on social media: @ista.community

It's not just the stuff of science fiction. As ISTA Lead faculty member Michal Maayan Don explains, bending time is possible when we drop deeply into what we love to do. That may be easier said than done. But if we aim to be more authentic, and practice healthy boundaries, we might be surprised by how quickly that sense of timelessness can come about. 

In this spontaneous and bubbly conversation, Michal and Simon Marvell also explore themes of vibrations, connection, and uncaging eros. They delve into the importance of touch in fostering aliveness and the collective intelligence that emerges in group settings. 

Overall, the emphasis is on our need to reconnect with the spirit in matter and the significance of love and land in our lives. 

TAKEAWAYS

• Vibrations signify a higher level of aliveness in our bodies.
• Touch is essential for genuine connection and communication.
• Sexual energy can be uncaged and expressed in unconventional forms.
• Timelessness can be experienced in deep connections with others.
• Love and connection to the land enhance our experiences.
• Collective intelligence emerges when groups vibrate together.
• Spirit is present in matter and can be felt through our bodies.
• Reconnecting with our instincts is crucial for healthy boundaries.
• Vulnerability in groups fosters deeper connections and love.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Vibrations and Aliveness
03:10 The Power of Touch and Connection
06:31 Uncaging Eros: Redefining Sexuality
12:44 The Intelligence of the Body and Instincts
19:57 The Role of Boundaries and Emotional Energy
25:30 Experiencing Timelessness in Connection
31:31 Love and Connection with the Land
39:30 Acknowledging Indigenous Connections to Land
43:01 The Spirit in Matter and Animal Instincts
51:44 The Vibrational Intelligence of Groups

Aténougha is an Nganga (teacher) and bridge to the Bwiti Missoko tradition of Central Africa, where he helps people find transformation through this ancient spiritual science.

In this conversation, Caitlyn Cook asks him, in a world that seems more and more chaotic, warring and disconnected, how do we relate to it as spiritual people? How does a spiritually mature person act or perceive this without being overwhelmed, disheartened or paralysed?

Recorded in Libreville, Gabon, Aténougha explores the link between inner and outer conflict—and how everything begins from within...

Rather than being overwhelmed, a spiritual person learns to understand their “position”, embracing both light and dark and choosing grounded ways to create change.

The conversation includes..

• Spiritual views on war & crisis: Why war is not only political but energetic—and how to relate to it without fear or paralysis.

• The importance of position: How recognising — and possibly shifting — your internal stance can change your outer experience.

• From overwhelm to action: Why change starts small (in your home, relationships, and community) and grows from there.

• Recognizing symptoms early: War doesn't just happen 'out there', it starts inside of you. Notice signs of conflict or misalignment and the role of daily practice in becoming more attuned...

• Balancing and accepting light and dark: How to meet life’s polarities with wisdom, understanding that everything is part of the whole.

To find out more about the Bwiti tradition and initiations, contact: 

[email protected]

Learn more about ISTA: https://ista.life

Follow us on Instagram: @ista.community

Kamela Love is an integrative mediator, transformational relationship coach, and former lawyer who blends diverse teachings—from mystical Sufism to neuroscience and Tantra—to explore personal and organizational growth. 

She is the founder of Transform Into Love and co-founder of Queer Tantric Arts. With over 15 years of experience identifying as queer and poly, Kamela is passionate about awakening humanity to societal justice and divine love.

In recent years, she has worked with ISTA faculty and organizers as a mediator, helping to improve their conflict resolution skills and capacity to take accountability. 

In this conversation with Usha Rose, Kamela speaks in depth about the importance of taking accountability. She emphasizes that good leadership is actually founded on the ability to acknowledge where harm has been caused, entering into a process of repair, and seeing if there is a way for all to consensually move forward. 

It’s a rich exploration, relevant to leaders everywhere, indeed to anyone participating in a relationship where power dynamics are at play. It might be between a manager and employee, teacher and student, coach and client, or facilitator and group. It could even be within personal relationships like parent and child, or between romantic partners.

Topics Covered Include:

• Responsibility vs. Accountability and Why It Matters: The distinction between fulfilling duties and taking ownership of the outcomes of those actions, especially when things go sideways.
  
  
  
• The Importance of Accountability in Leadership: Why some leaders might shy away from accountability and how those who embrace it see it as a path for deeper growth and collective empowerment, fostering trust and integrity within their leadership and communities.
  
  
  
• Practical Tips for Leaders: Key practices for preventing harm, addressing it effectively when it happens, and steps to minimize the need for future accountability processes—such as trauma-informed approaches, proactive feedback systems, and cultivating emotional intelligence.
  
  
  
• Understanding Power Dynamics: A look into the responsibilities and vulnerabilities inherent in both “up power” and “down power” roles, highlighting how understanding and navigating these dynamics is crucial for fostering healthier relationships and communities.

Learn more about Kamela Love here: https://www.transformintolove.com/

To learn more about ISTA visit our website: https://ista.life/

Or follow us on social media: @ista.community