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Was Santa and Alchemist?

Quick recap

Brooke interviews Michael Van Sciver, Ayurvedic Physician, Clinical Herbalist, Alchemist + guest faculty for The Wild Temple School for this delicious insight into the seasons and holiday spirit. This is our second interview with Michael (the first episode was in our first season: Myths, Battles + Awe: A Cultural Incoculation of the Seasons, Episode 2). 

Michael Van Sciver is located in Nevada City, California, and can be found at [email protected].

He and Brooke discussed the myths and lore behind the festivities of winter and the holiday season as well as the Astro cosmological events within the wheel of time,  the power of still currents in alchemy + the Solstices, shamanic reindeer culture, the soma of life and entheogens, and much, much more. Please enjoy, follow if you like and share if you can!

Summary Overview:

Cosmic Wheel of Time: Sun-Earth Relationship and Its Impact on Seasons
Symbols such as yin/yang and the analemma figure 8 pattern of the sun

Solstice Themes and Symbolism
Michael explained that the winter solstice is about letting go of the old and calling in the new, themes of celebration and joy, and feeding the essence of one's being. They also described the summer solstice as a time of harmonizing with something outside of oneself, understanding one's deeper truths and desires, and expressing one's longings. Brooke added that this process is also about connecting with others and recognizing the importance of interdependence. They also touched upon the metabolic processes involved in the solstices and how plants can help with digestion and radiance.

Inner Light Practices and Symbolism
Michael discussed various practices to brighten the inner environment during the darkest time of the year, including burning resins and candles, bringing fresh trees into the home, and the use of entheogens like Amanita and ergot. 

Fractal, Holographic, and Heart-Centered Meditation
Michael discussed the fractal, holographic nature of the world and the concept of the Taurus, a donut shape with infinite loops of energy. They highlighted the symbolism of a tree in the house as representative of the energetic field and emphasized the importance of being in the heart essence at the winter solstice. 

Winter Solstice and Vedic Tradition Discussion
Michael and Brooke discussed the significance of the winter solstice, emphasizing the importance of rediscovering one's childlike nature and reawakening the genome in its highest state- exhalting our being through the power of the Solstice energies. They also discussed a breathing practice to regulate the nervous system and foster stability and resilience.

Origins of Santa and St. Nicholas the Timeless Alchemist
Michael and Brooke engaged in a deep conversation about the significance of the history of amanita mushroom in spiritual practices, particularly during the solstice season. They explored how these mushrooms are believed to awaken one's inner child and connect them with the divine. The discussion also touched upon the relationship between Santa Claus and the amanita mushroom, with Michael presenting a fascinating interpretation of Santa as a sage alchemist who has learned potions of immortality and resides in the Arctic (dreaming) realm.

The discussion concluded with the importance of joy during the holiday season.

Please visit www.thewildtemple.com to get on our newsletter for practices abs recipes related to these podcast episodes. And don’t forget to subscribe/follow and share if

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Apologies for the audio issues in the beginning..they smooth out, we promise, and we have figured out the issue for our next session.  

This is a talk with Bonne Gene Wallace on the applications + lifestyle practices of Tantra Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda,  Herbalism,  Functional Medicine and a window into Free Diving.

 Bonnie is a Holistic Gut + Mental Health Specialist, Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Functional Medicine Consultant, Tantra Yoga Practitioner, and Holistic Chef. Nedra Glover Tawwab is mentioned for her good work on boundaries and an inspiring book to read.

Transcript Summary

Introduction: Sacred Technologies

• • Brooke discusses her approach to yoga and wellness, which she calls "Twilight alchemy," drawing from ancient systems like Tantra and Ayurveda.
  • Brooke believes that applying sacred technologies, such as yoga and herbal wisdom, can help individuals improve their lives and have more impact in the world.
  • Brooke discusses how sacred technologies like flower essences help awaken our perception and make better choices in life.

Summary of Chat with Bonnie Gene Wallace 

• Brooke Sullivan and Bonnie discuss Tantra, yoga, Ayurveda, and functional medicine, exploring the similarities and differences between their approaches and how they integrate different modalities to create a holistic practice.
• They delve into topics such as Complex PTSD, multi-dimensional seeing, standardization of medical care, and the importance of embracing the subtle realm of plants and mental health care in their practices.
• Brooke Sullivan discusses the importance of labs in yoga nidra practice and how they can become a crutch or a helpful tool.
• Brooke and Bonnie discuss the similarities between the deep blue ocean and the pranic current in meditation and scuba diving.

Chapter Highlights

• Yoga, Ayurveda, and functional medicine. 10:07
  • Brooke Sullivan shares her love for nature and her passion for yoga, connecting with her dad through remedies and rituals.
  • Brooke finds a sangha sister in the speaker, feeling grateful for their synergy of similar interests.
  • Bonnie, a functional medicine practitioner candidate, combines Western and Eastern medicine approaches to provide personalized healthcare.
• Functional medicine approach to lab data interpretation. 15:27
  • Functional medicine focuses on root causes and prevention, while conventional medicine diagnoses and manages symptoms.
  • Speaker 3 highlights the value of functional lab testing in functional medicine, but also cautions against overreliance on expensive and potentially avoidant measures.
• Functional medicine, Ayurvedic practices, and reconnecting with body intelligence. 21:22
  • Focus on root causes vs. quick fixes in functional medicine practices.
  • Speaker 3 emphasizes the importance of understanding the body's responses to stress and disease, rather than viewing them as mistakes or failures.
  • Speaker 3 and Brooke Sullivan discuss the connection between functional medicine, lifestyle, nutrition, and alleviating stressors to promote healing and well-being.
• Yoga, tantra, and self-discovery. 25:49
  • Insight from yogic and tantric practices helps individuals understand themselves, set boundaries, and live authentically.
  • Br

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Happy Dhanteras, and Diwali!

In this episode, I talk about Dharma from a few different angles, mentioning the books below (the first, written by my husband for Audible in 2020) and the second written by Kripalu's Scholar Emeritus, Stephen Cope.

I also mention the ancient teaching from the Vedas called Purashchartas, or The 4 Desires of the Soul.

Word Is Born by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (Cactus) on Audible

The Great Work of Your Life Stephen Cope

Thank you for listening. Please follow for more episodes and share with those who would resonate:) 

Warmly,
Brooke

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In this episode, Brooke interviews two seasoned tantric practitioners, Jeanne Heileman and Rene Quenell, about Navaratri, Tantra and the Goddess. Some of the topics we cover are:

• Navaratri practice and its significance
• Overcoming hardships through spiritual practices
• Feminine energy and spiritual practices during Navaratri
• Yoga, spirituality, and personal growth
• Self-mastery and the divine feminine
• Self-mastery, love, and healing through inner probing
• Superficiality vs. depth in spirituality and personal growth
• Esoteric yoga teachings and their impact on physiology and psyche
• Yoga teaching methods and personal growth
• Yoga and Tantra Practice Effectiveness
• Grief, yoga practice, and turning 60
• Yoga and tantra differences and intersections
• Tantra and Yoga Practice in Everyday Life
• Tantric Yoga and the Divine Mother

You can find Rene Quenell at https://www.renequenell.com/ and on IG @renequenell

You can find Jeane Heileman at https://jeanneheileman.com/ and on IG @jeanneheilemanyoga

To see a visual transcription of the Shanti Mantra from the Yajurveda that Brooke begins with, please visit www.thewildtemple.com and sign up to become a member (its free). The Mantra will be in General Topics.

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This is a practice for grounding into the earth and connecting into the space (and spaciousness) of the Ancestors. 

This is a complementary, bonus episode to go along with the previous episode: Pitru Paksha: Dark Moon Fortnight For Ancestral Healing + Practice 

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Pitru Paksha (or Pitri Paksha) 

The Pitris are our ancestors, and so  Pitru Pashka means “Fortnight of the Ancestors”.  This window of time is devoted to a ritual tending to or honoring of the ancestors known as Tarpana, which means to gratify or satiate.

The practice varies, but in Vedic culture, largely follows these guidelines:

• Honoring the ancestors on the New Moon of each month, or this two week “dark moon fortnight” (from Full to New Moon) in the month of late September (sometimes into October).
• Uses 3 ingredients as offerings, a mantra, and a body of water or the earth
  • These ingredients are: Black Sesame Seed, Milk, and Water

In this episode, I  give a brief explanation of the importance and purpose of ancestor rituals, then provide some examples, offer practice, and suggest some journal prompts to ponder during this time of year. 

Visit www.thewildtemple.com for the full practice 

Warmly,
Brooke

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dharma, revolution, supports, revolutionary act, revolutionizing, soul mission, alignment, reductionist, world, dharmic, bhagavad gita, hungry ghosts, impartial, stand, sole purpose, patriarchy, accomplishing, capitalism

This is our new season our new incarnation, focusing now on the dharmic revolution and the sacred technologies of tantric alchemy, Ayurveda, yoga and herbal wisdom to help step you into your self-mastery and soul purpose.

I'd like to start us off with this thought that it is a revolutionary act, to stand up for who you are, and be who you are meant to be in this world in a time where we have inherited suppression, capitalism, patriarchy, reductionist thinking reductionist understand understanding of our world and how we act within the world.

This idea of revolutionizing your life and your being into a place of wholeness and connection and feeling supported and loved by those around you, as well as yourself is truly a revolutionary act.

And it's in doing this deep dive of understanding yourself that it allows you to step up for yourself to stand in your truth, to use your voice as a sword to wield the ways that you want to see yourself in the world and how you want the world to be.

It's a revolutionary act to do these things. And so this incarnation of the Wild Temple podcast is really focused on supporting you in your Dharma to stand in this revolution, and dharma means here soul purpose, or soul mission, which can be different stages or chapters in your life.

It's also the ways in which we align with nature so that nature supports us.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that it is better to do our Dharma poorly than to try to do someone else's well.

Unfortunately, we're still like sheep in society, where we're mimicking what other people are doing, even if it's impartial, even if it's not aligned with who we are. Maybe you see that they're accomplishing something, they're reaching great heights, or you don't have the inspiration or insight to do you. And so this revolution is about finding the ways that you can do YOU in your uniqueness, with YOUR voice and  perspective- in a way that gives back. 

It's not taking, it's not consuming. It's not feeding hungry ghosts, but it's giving back it's empowering you and others all around you. This is the dharmic revolution.

Please leave us comments and reviews. Share if you like, so that this podcast can serve others. Thank you from Brooke and the Wild Temple team. 

Enjoy today

www.thewildtemple.com
#dharmicrevolution

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SUMMARY KEYWORDS

feel, alchemy, Matangi, belonging, wound, stories, honoring, compost, place, dharmic, work, love, part, people, temple, wild, beautiful, nature, create, called, find, yantra

This is the last episode of the Mythic Apotheca season! Next episode will begin our Second Season, the Dharmic Revolution! Subscribe to stay tuned, and share with a friend or colleague!

01:48
In today's episode, we'll be talking with Chanti Tacorante Perez, a Cuban American Creatrix ritualist and author who believes that images speak a profound language.

With a master's in depth psychology currently in the process of getting her PhD. Chanti, is an amazing artist, the creator of the Yantra deck as well as many courses of study- including the power of rest in her virtual temple yantrawisdom.com.

Our new, most comprehensive apprenticeship called The Wild Sage Apprenticeship- which uses the dharmic revolution as a methodology that weaves all of the Wild Temple professional programs together for a 1:1 and intimate group guided experiences, Launches Nov. 1! Book a call by Sept. 4 and register to receive a Wild Alchemy Apothecary, Flower Essence Kit, 2 months extra content access and reduced rate!

To Schedule a call by Sept 4:  http://brookesullivan.as.me 

Check out the program at https://www.thewildtemple.com/wildsageapprenticeship

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✨ Today we air from Skaneateles, “skinny atlas,” NY in a small room at the bottom floor of a castle. Technically this room is a wine cellar but it also has this incredible magical quality to it…

The ceiling is a muted blood color with metallic gold flower prints that bring to mind elegance but also ancient bloodlines and the arched door of this cool stone room is a set of iron bars complete with a heavy padlock and skeleton key.

I think this is a very fitting place to be talking with Jessica Terry Burke. We are here at a surprise family gathering my sister has thrown her husband and are taking the time away from everyone to discuss finding Value and Worth in the stories that we personally have aligned with.

For both of us, it is a powerful opportunity to speak with another woman that appears to be (and operate) very differently on the surface, but deep down shares similar core values.

This is because she and I come from respectively, the viewpoint of the Christian faith from the West and the mystical viewpoint of Yogic spirituality  from the East. 

How she sees it: Christians have seen yoga as evil and the Yoga tradition feels the Church to be oppressive.

(We did not dissect this exact sentiment, however I feel it could be a great subject for a future discussion with her.)

Throughout our conversations over the years we have realized that we really aren’t so different from one another and that sharing our story to each other has only widened and healed old narratives. 

It is my hope this episode can give a window into the same for you, where we reveal a common language that can help us to heal old narratives and times that have not served us in the past along with:

1. What it means to be a strong woman in leadership roles-alone and alongside her husband 

2. Her journey of discovering the importance of being valued, not used

3. The structure and role community plays in their unique “roaming Christian pop up church” in Sacramento, where going Deep before Wide is key

*if you have any comments or curiosities about this episode, please reach out www.thewildtemple.com 

* And enjoy, like and share (in that order!) if it inspired you on some level…. as perhaps it can also inspire another ♥️

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In this episode Brooke shares about:

Guru Purnima: This Full Moon time of honoring the "teacher" or "sage" within and around us

Myth of the Sages + The Wishfullfilling Tree 

• A Creation Story
• Birth of Sri Sukta (from the Rg Veda)
• Birth of MUD

Salvia Officinalis

• A paradox of a plant
  • Medicinal Uses
  • Lore
  • Spiritual Uses

How viruses, plants, Nature and people are Teachers 

Our goal in yoga (with asana, breathwork, plant medicine, alignment with Nature (via both Yoga + Ayurveda) is to awaken the Sage Within!

Discount code brooke2023 for Love Shine Play Festival in Asheville, NC July 20-23

• Sat workshop with Brooke: Tantric Technologies
• Sun panel with Brooke, Nishita Shaw, Kennae Miller, Sierra Hollister + Nichole Falco on the Future of Yoga as it relates to yoga, nature, herbalism + ayurveda
• Sun workshop with Brooke: Fire + Flowers: Myth and Magic

(see our website www.thewildtemple.com for info)

Link to www.thewildtemple.com for preregistration early bird link for The Shakti School of Ayurveda, where Brooke is level 1 + 2 herbal teacher + using our affiliate link supports our BIPOC scholarship program. 

Please enjoy, like and share! In that order if you wish, and thank you for listening:)