Tattoos and Torah

Marcy Crawford is founder of Embodied Teaching, one of the lead teachers at Unified Mindfulness, as well as a dedicated practitioner. She is a meditation teacher, but not just any meditation teacher. She is the the teacher that other meditation teachers come to to learn how to be an effective meditation teacher .In this episode of Tattoos & Torah, Rabbi Iggy and Marcy discuss the true essence of mindfulness, and the distinct and diverse ways the practice can truly change your life. They talk about its use in education, parenting, trauma-repair and many other aspects of life. Marcy shares not only about her own journey with mindfulness, addiction recovery and living into your life's mission, but also on how to train people who teach and lead others.If you're curious about how mindfulness can benefit your whole life, your service and your impact, then this episode is for you.

We count so many things in life:  money, possessions, real estate and other material things. We also count sobriety and recovery time.But, how do you count the things that matter? The things that matter include the values you hold dear, and the things you treasure in yourself and others.Counting the omer is a thousand year-old tradition that reminds us to improve, change, grow and focus on our individual selves. Rabbi Iggy talks about his 49 values that point to the 49 days of the omer. If you're interested in enhancing your recovery, join us in counting the omer.

Pastor Mick's journey is nothing short of miraculous.  Salvation came unexpectedly and dramatically for this British Christian Pastor, after overcoming a traumatic past and traveling the dark roads of addiction and violence.  Today, his life's work is fully centered on supporting highly vulnerable and marginalized people, including addicts and houseless people, in the UK.Rabbi Iggy and Pastor Mick talk about his story, his deep faith and some life changing street theology. Pastor Mick's story and mission carries both inspiration and a powerful message of hope and purpose for each and every one of us.

Have you ever felt enslaved in your life? To someone else, to craving, or even to a behavior?The question is: How do you cultivate an enduring sense of freedom in your life? Is freedom given to us, or do we have to claim it? Is it possible to be enslaved to your desires?These are just a few questions that Rabbi Iggy and Rabbi Mark Borovitz discuss in this episode. As an ex con and recovering addict, Rabbi Mark knows all too well what it means to me imprisoned from the outside AND the inside. Both Rabbis talk about liberation, recovery and why Passover is the holiday of recovery.If you're interested in understanding how Passover offers us a way into evaluating contemporary enslavement and freedom with the recovery journey, this episode is a MUST LISTEN!

The future is never secure. Many of us meet the future with a mixture of fear, excitement, trepidation and readiness.In this podcast episode, Rabbi Iggy talks about the spiritual nature of uncertainty, our attempts to control the uncontrollable and offers some ideas on how to meet what’s coming with equanimity and dignity.If you're looking for  a spiritual perspective on navigating the unknown with a sense of hope and overwhelm-prevention, then this episode is for you!

The reality we live in seems so solid, fixed, REAL. However, it's actually quite fragile and easily manipulated. We may find ourselves seeking the truth within the fake (and not even know we're DOING that), making meaning out of whatever we see (or don't see) in the world around us.For Laura Cosner, who works in digital special effects by day and maintains a rigorous meditation practice in her daily life, this tension is felt every day. Rabbi Iggy and Laura break down what it can look and feel like to live in that tension of 'real' and 'imagined' phenomena. How much can we trust reality? What do many of us reveal and conceal about ourselves as we move through our relationships, goals, career and daily lives? And how exactly does this tension between the 'real' and 'imagined' lead to increased equanimity and joy?If you're curious about the nature of reality, and want new perspectives on how to see yourself and the world, then this episode is for you.

The creative process is a complex one. Much like recovery, it's not linear: it has its ups and downs. Making your voice heard can be difficult, and creating your life's work or your art can be filled with excitement and peril.In this episode, Rabbi Iggy talks to musician and actor Michael C. Fox about music, the creative process, making meaning and fame. Together, they discuss process vs. outcome and making connections across the digital divide. If you're looking for new perspectives on the creative process, and ways to navigate it all while staying the course, then this episode is for you.

Why do we wear masks? What’s our fascination with pretending to be someone or something else? Does the mask create a barrier from the world, or does it offer connection?

We all feel anxiety, anger, frustration or even craving sometimes. We all have those 'freak out' moments once in a while (or perhaps too often!)How do we deal with emotion when it arises? What tools can we use to gain clarity and awareness, as well as address and recover from these moments in life? And how do we know if we're moving in the right direction, or when to change course?Rabbi Iggy and mindfulness coach Jessica Lipman discuss different ways we can emotionally self-regulate, from across psychological frameworks, contemplative traditions, and mindfulness techniques, in order to gain deeper self-mastery, access ease, resilience, and relief, and ultimate increase satisfaction in life. If you're looking for ways to develop an understanding of what’s going on in your mind, body and spirit, and ultimately deepen your sovereignty and recovery, then this episode is for you.

Prayer does not have to be a religious practice, but rather a tool to strengthen our recovery and our quest for more meaning in our lives. For many, prayer is a difficult skill to master. What are the different ways we can approach prayer? Who exactly should we pray to? What if no one is listening?