The Wild Temple

In this episode, Brooke interviews Michael Van Sciver, an Herbal Clinician, Ayurvedic Physician and modern-day Alchemist, on cultural myths and cleansing practices during the junctures of the seasons. They talk battles, astronomical events (that may make one vomit), teachings of specific myths (Tantric, Celtic, Jewish + Buddhist traditions) and plants. Best of all, listeners will receive insights around inoculating the colon and the land with cultures that can help us get back to our joyful roots.

Episode Timestamps:

(3.38) How looking to Equinox myths of different cultures, gives perspective to this time of year, noticing similar themes of clearing and cleansing (body, mind, etc..)

(5.00) Comparisons between Navarati (Tantric/Vedic), Mabon/Meán Fómhair (Celtic/Pre-Celtic), Roshashannah (Jewish) Celebrations + Festivities, and the storyline threads that unify the three

(8.00) The Wheel of the Year
-The Ascending + Descending Currents of Equinoxes/Solstices
-The Sun impregnating the Earth, and The Earth giving birth back to the Sun
-The lifecycle of a plant
-Yogic Practices that Help keep the Sun alive during darker seasons (tapas, agni sara)

(14.07) Too Much Fun?
-2nd wave of abundance, an invitation of pathogens + why cleansing is important at this time
-12hr. Photo Period
-Creating a new terrain of gut flora (microbiome) is key

(19.00) Summer: Soak Up the Luscious Prana in the Atmosphere Fall: Find Calm
-The purpose for fasting can be learned from our ancient myths
-Using Time as a key medicine for cleansing

(21.52) The Astronomical Phenomenon of Nature
-Ode to Prashanti De Jager, PhD(cand), MS, EMT, Ethnopharmacist, Founder of Dunagiri Foundation, Veda Mandala + Organic India
-Deeper meaning of Navaratri
-Restoration + Re-Story-ation
-The Dance of the Sun and the Earth (a roller coaster loop-da-loop that may induce vomiting)

(31.44) The Myth of Lucifer + Michael, Free Will and Ultimate Truth

(37.05) The Myth of Navaratri, A Battle of Desire
-Understanding how when we can transmute our shadows by listening to their essence we can work with them to empower ourselves and others

(42.03) Comparisons between Lucifer + Mahishasura (Ego + Desire) + Archangel Michel + Durga (Truth + One Pointed Focus)
-Themes of Fire: Being clear with oneself

(43.08) The Myth of Milarepa, The Cotton Clouded One
-A Nettles-drinking saint serves tea to his demons (shadow aspects of self) and learns that it is not fighting, or teaching, but listening  to them, that transmutes them

(49.20) Modern Psychology in Light of These Myths and the Therapeutic Art of Listening
-Integrating wholeness, through innocence (from the Fool to the Magician)
-Shifting the stories from patriarchal war lens to a softer, feminine version

(51.10) Ancestral Healing + Importance of Editing Wrongful Stories Passed Down
-Pitru Paksha
-The many layers of lineage
-Culture as a theme, activating healthy culture in our story and in our gut
-Connection b/t mysticism and alchoholism

(55.25) Inoculating Ourselves to Our Proper Culture
-Safe haven of mythic + mystic culture
-The Irish remember
-The bittersweet beauty of understanding ancestral pain + healing colonialism
-Inoculating ourselves to our proper culture
-Listening to the wisdom of the plants + elementals for re-indigenizing people divorced from their own ancestry

(101.53) Themes, Plants + Nutritive Focuses for Navaratri
-Strengthen digestion
-Nutrient dense
-Spiced
-Specific Herbs

Michael Van Sciver: [email protected]

In this amazing conversation with Irish yogini, herbalist, and storyteller Sarah Fox, we explore the concept of triplicities and compare the Celtic, yogic and herbal traditions as they relate to power, truth + the divine feminine. 

Highlighting the importance of Sila na Gig (especially in light of St Patrick’s Day) we look at collective and personal ideas that have suppressed and disconnected us due to religious and patriarchal suppression while also looking at stories that empower.

The Well of Sergais, The story of Lugh, Cu' Chulainn, and the Morrigan, as well as symbology in the form of snakes, cauldrons, dragons, and Kundalini, are only some of the topics we touch. We also shared personal stories of scientific and spiritual perspectives, lineage, and our own way of doing things.

Sarah shares sheds light on what Clarissa Pinkola Estes coined the "Medial Way" archetype, and (a new term for me) Samildánach  ("equally skilled in many arts"), which honors the many gifted aspects within us, that if we listen to and follow, can lead our purpose in life. We spiraled again and again to how the triplicity of yoga, herbs and Celtic practices help us to receive TRUTH from liminal spaces- such as in meditation, in the places behind the veil, or Otherworld… and most especially in the landscape… if we just tune in and listen.

Enjoy the end, where Sarah takes us through a delectable, shamanic style Triple Cauldron Meditation weaving yoga + Celtic techniques together for your own insightful empowerment.

**************

Transcription:

Intro: Introducing Sarah Fox and her “long and winding” narrative of education, professional training and practice of herbal medicine (science + spirit), yoga and Celtic spirituality 

12:13min: Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ “The Medial” Archetype

14:13min: Herbal Science Vs Plant Spirit Medicine + “Unverified Personal Notice”

22:17 Science as a spiritual path + Tantric Worldview 

26:42 Land Connection + Cultural Myths as Keys

27:38 The Well of Sergais Story

30:11 From ‘Spiritual Tourism’ to “Doing You’ in lineage and path 

35:21 The Story of Lugh: Samilda’nach (the Many Gifted) and how everyone is many gifted

37:39 The Cultural Narrative of St. Patrick’s Day, Divine Feminine + Triplicity 

42:46 The Serpent + Kundalini Power

43:50 Sila Na Gig as a rising feminist icon of Source power

49:23 Our personal stories on Sacred Truth and Answers from liminal spaces and storylines

57:19 Sarah shares a powerful myth and perspective in what is missing in the Hero’s Journey: Listening to the power of the Land, to not fight with the Dragon, and maybe that Maiden doesn’t need saving 

1:06:08 The Triple Cauldron as a crossover of yogic and Celtic spirituality 

1:11:46 Guided Visualization with Sarah: The 3 Cauldrons

1:29:46 How to connect to Sarah 

Connect to Sarah Fox

Sarahfox.ie (website & Instagram)

Oak and Willow School 

***
Plz also visit www.thewildtemple.com to see our upcoming retreat to Ireland (July 5-13, 2022): The Spirit of Ireland: Wild + Sovereign, Ancient Ruins + Holy Wells.

Brooke introduces the Wild Temple's new program The Yogi’s Apothecary within the broader paradigm of Tantric Herbalism. Listen Now!

In this episode, archeologist, storyteller, and Ban Draoi (Priestess of the sacred land + witch) Treassa Kerrigan shares the myths, the Deities, the sacred sites, and the importance of Samhain, one of the 4 fire festivals of ancient Ireland. The myths include tales of the Morrigan, the Cailleach, and Tlachtga (tclak ta). This podcast explores how the ancient stories have shaped our current views of reality, and how we can understand their power for personal + collective healing.