Wild Heart Revival

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"Psychedelic literally means ‘soul-revealing,’ a necessary distinction that sets our compass squarely in the direction of this inner domain."

— Simon Yugler

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Tickets to Roots of Resilience

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In this episode, Simon and I explore the evolving landscape of the so-called "psychedelic renaissance," delving into the soul-revealing potential of these powerful medicines and the importance of approaching them with respect, reverence, and an initiatory approach. We discuss the dangers of reducing psychedelics to mere mental health tools within a “business-as-usual” mindset, rather than honouring them as sacred guides for reconnecting with Soul.

Simon reflects on some of his personal journey—growing up in the U.S. and sensing a profound soullessness in the culture—and how psychedelics eventually played a key role in helping him access Soul, confront grief and shadow, and tap into deeper layers of the mythic. We explore the aliveness of myth and its power to reconnect us with our deep selves. We also discuss how psychedelics, when approached with reverence, can catalyze meaningful personal growth and spark collective transformation.

Throughout the conversation, Simon invites us to reflect on our relationship with psychedelics, Soul, land, myth, inner authority, and culture. He emphasizes both the complexity and necessity for cultural repair, the vital role of grief in culture-making, and how psychedelics can help awaken an animistic consciousness that honours reciprocity with the wild world.

Find Thematic Show Notes Here

Connect with Simon:

Book: Psychedelics and the Soul

Substack

Website

Instagram

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

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"I am a firm believer that we are all whole. Every single one of us is already whole."

— Seth Kaufmann

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Tickets to Roots of Resilience

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We begin by discussing the concept of the “multidimensional self”. Seth contrasts our authentic, soulful essence with the “relative self,” the persona we construct through our names, personalities, roles, and experiences. In a world that often encourages us to seek fulfillment in external things, Seth invites us to turn inward and reconnect with our pure, unshakable truth.

Our conversation touches on healing, embodied awareness, and the role of empathy in remembering our innate wholeness. Seth shares his insights on the body’s natural ability to keep us safe, how unconscious stress becomes trapped in our fascia, and how breath, touch, and awareness create the foundation for somatic healing.

We explore the dynamics of trauma, shame, and the suppression of sexuality—how these unprocessed emotions manifest in the body and shape our relationships with ourselves and others. Seth offers reflections on how to gently tend to rigidity and emotional blockages, guiding us to soften and realign with our core values.

This episode invites us to reconnect with and reclaim our wholeness, honour the wisdom of our bodies, and live in deeper harmony with the natural rhythms of life.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Seth:

Website

Instagram

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Multidimensional Self and Wholeness:

• Seth speaks on our inherent wholeness, contrasting the “relative self” shaped by experiences with our authentic essence.

• “We are all whole. Every single one of us is already whole.”

Embodied Awareness and Somatic Healing:

• Breath, movement, and awareness form the foundation of somatic healing, emphasizing the importance of listening to the body’s intuitive movements.

• “Forget about what modality... it’s breath, movement, and awareness. That’s the formula for healing.”

The Spine as the Superhighway of Consciousness:

• The spine as the central channel for consciousness, evolving from fluid origins.

• “The spine is the superhighway of human functioning.”

Trauma, Stress, and Shame:

• Seth discusses how unprocessed emotions and experiences are stored in the body, with shame, guilt, and anxiety as indicators of deeper wounds.

• “Shame is a protective mechanism to get into the deeper core emotions.”

Empathy in Reconnection:

• Empathy as a catalyst for reconnecting with our pure being and remembering our essential wholeness.

• “Empathy is essential for remembering our pure being.”

Sexuality and Suppression:

• Seth reflects on the challenges of embodying and expressing sexuality in a culture of repression, noting that suppressed desires manifest in toxic ways.

• “What is suppressed will be expressed . . . and it’s going to be toxic.”

Healing through Breath and Softening the Body:

• Approaching emotional blockages with breath and softening the stomach to release holding patterns.

• “Flexibility is about feeling safe in our bodies.”

The Dance of Growth and Stability:

• Growth requires grounding in stability, with patience for life’s rhythms.

• “Slow and steady will go far. We are a part of nature and we move in cycles and rhythms.”

Core Values as an Essential Guide:

• Core values shape how we navigate life and make decisions.

• “Our core values become a funnel that we get to make decisions through.”

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"Regeneration is about the dance of entropy and syntropy."

— Ganga Devi Braun

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Tickets to Roots of Resilience

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Ganga invites us into a timely conversation about regeneration, resilience, and reconnecting with our deep selves. Reflecting on her childhood in hurricane-prone Florida, she shares how these natural disasters revealed the power of community solidarity and the human spirit's connective potential. Raised in an inter-spiritual ashram, Ganga developed a rich relationship with both land and spirit, shaping her early understanding of a regenerative paradigm that emphasizes life-affirming growth and possibilities beyond problems. Her interests and passions have led her down an unconventional path of learning and discovery, positioning her as a regenerative advisor dedicated to stimulating and inspiring genuine regenerative culture work.

Ganga introduces the concept of “the golden shadow,” encouraging us to embrace and integrate the valuable, unexpressed parts of our authentic selves, often hidden due to fear and rejection. Her healing journey from chronic pain and fatigue involved cultivating a grounded presence and safety within her body, leading to renewed health, understanding, and resilience that have fundamentally shaped her life and work. Our conversation concludes with her reflections on her personal relationship with Ram Dass, a teacher whose timeless wisdom has touched countless hearts.

Ganga’s poignant insights invite us to reconnect with the Web of Life, our local communities, and our true nature, nurturing a life that is rooted, regenerative, and resilient.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Ganga:

Website

Instagram

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Resilience and Community in Times of Disaster:

• Ganga shares her experience growing up in Florida and navigating hurricanes, reflecting on the sense of community that emerged from devastation.
• “Disasters, natural or not, bring people together rather than apart—they reveal our essential nature to collaborate with compassionate hearts.”

Rootedness and Inter-spiritual Faith:

• Ganga discusses her connection to the land she grew up on and the inter-spiritual ashram that shaped her childhood.
• Her upbringing instilled a foundational relationship to land and community, grounding her future work in regenerative culture.

Regeneration and Regenerative Culture:

• Ganga introduces the regenerative paradigm as a dance between entropy and syntropy, fostering renewal and creation.
• “When we cultivate a regenerative orientation to the world . . . we begin to notice not the problems but the potential of whatever situation we are in.”

Exploring the Golden Shadow:

• The concept of the “golden shadow” encompasses the valuable, unexpressed parts of our authentic selves, often hidden due to fear or societal rejection.
• “Our shadows . . . are the aspects of our authentic self that we have rejected because we have been told or given the impression that those parts about ourselves make us unlovable.”

Power, Reclamation, and Healing Trauma:

• Ganga’s path to self-understanding included disentangling from the influence of a cult leader in her youth, ultimately finding power grounded in love and discernment.
• “Regenerative work and trauma healing allow us to turn old narratives into fertile soil that can bring new life.”

Honouring the Totality of the Self:

• Emphasizing the importance of remembrance and rooting deeply into one’s true nature, Ganga draws on Earth’s wisdom for guidance.
• “Those involved in regenerative culture work see the world full of potential because we are constantly tending to the soil.”

The Body as a Sacred Instrument:

• Ganga recounts her healing journey from chronic fatigue, finding safety and presence in her body through relationship and self-compassion.

Lessons From Ram Dass

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"I can create and weave stories around Belonging because I know the theme of 'lacking Belonging.'"

— Seth Hughes

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This episode is threaded with the theme of Belonging and its profound influence on Seth's life. He shares some of his journey of re-discovering his connection to the land, a revelation that underscores the painful depth of modern disconnection and diplacement. Seth explores how his experience of lacking Belonging fuels his storytelling and resonates with a broad audience, offering his online space as a breath of fresh air for those seeking reprieve from societal ‘norms’.

Seth’s reflections touch on rewriting personal narratives, the tension between individual integrity and community responsibility, and the necessity of cultivating love and stewardship for the wildness of Earth. His evolving relationship with both his human mother and our Earth Mother mirrors his deepening path of initiation, grief, and grounded authenticity. This conversation also challenges listeners to reconsider "men's work," the importance of slowing down, rooting into one’s immediate environment, and embracing vulnerability as an integral part of creativity and connection.

Seth concludes with a powerful invitation for listeners: to approach life’s essential questions with a sense of curiosity, to release control, and to embrace the joy that underlies all of Life.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Seth:

Instagram

Youtube

TikTok

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Belonging & Disconnection from Land:

• Seth reflects on the theme of Belonging and how it fuels his storytelling.

• “It felt like a revelation to find out that I was of the land. The fact that even needed to be a revelation speaks to the degrees of separation.”

Resonating with an Audience:

• Seth explains how sharing his experience of Belonging online allows others to “come up to breathe.”

• His channel provides a compassionate space for people to challenge societal norms and feel less alone in navigating environments that don't meet their needs.

Rewriting Narratives & Integrity:

• Seth speaks about rewriting inner narratives, especially around responsibility and integrity.

• “My threshold for integrity has changed.”

• We discuss the dynamic nature of integrity, grief’s role in expanding capacity for paradox, and holding space for these evolving concepts.

Grief & Love in the Wild:

• Seth recounts his experience in a traditional skills course, entering with grief and anger but emerging with love for the wildness of Earth.

• He emphasizes his mission to be a steward of local ecology, noting the importance of developing intuition through time spent on the land.

Reconnecting with Place & Slow Living:

• “The work is always where I am . . . my journey is to reindigenize and become a keystone species in my environment.”

Tending Relationships:

• Seth shares insights on deepening his relationship with his mother, noting the lack of models for this as an adult man.

• He reflects on initiation, his craving for initiation, and how the Earth and his father’s spirit now guide him through initiatory experiences.

Wild Foraging & Trust in the Land:

• Seth speaks about trusting the wildness of nature, from foraging to grieving in the elements.

• “I can go out and meet a storm. I can go out and eat food from the land. I can be held there. I can grieve in that place.”

Men’s Work & Brotherhood:

• Seth reflects on reconnecting with men in meaningful ways, reshaping his judgments, and exploring what masculinity looks like today.

• He advocates for bringing the lessons of brotherhood back home, grounding them in real relationships and communities.

Creativity, Vulnerability, & Authenticity:

• Seth describes the evolving nature of vulnerability and authenticity in his creative process.

• “I can’t grab

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"I believe that humanity does yearn to find that sense of purpose—Being, Becoming, Belonging—we need to be connected to something that feels utterly real and bigger. And I would suggest that is the Web of Life."

— Manda Scott

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Tickets to Roots of Resilience

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We begin this conversation with Manda sharing her guiding narratives, emphasizing humanity's need to reconnect with the Web of Life. She discusses the importance of becoming conscious nodes within Earth's living matrix and our sacred yearning for deeper connections beyond individualism. Manda critiques our current systems as unfit for purpose and calls for a collective reimagining of our futures.

We explore the significance of systems thinking in understanding individual and collective behaviours, along with the role of narratives in shaping our reality. Manda highlights the healing potential of connecting with the Ecological Self and the importance of deepening our felt-sense capacity to engage with the Web of Life. Our discussion invites listeners to consider the transformative power of community and reciprocity, along with the potential for regenerative futures from broken systems.

As we reflect on Belonging, Manda shares her shamanic experiences and the narratives that have shaped her understanding of purpose and connection. This episode inspires listeners to envision a future grounded in integrity, compassion, and a shared commitment to healing ourselves and the planet.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Manda:

Any Human Power

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Guiding Narratives & Connection to Life:

• Manda explores the narratives guiding her life.
• Emphasizes telling stories where connection is integral to being human.

Yearning for Belonging:

• Humanity’s desire to belong to something greater finds its most grounded and authentic expression in the Web of Life.
• “We need to be connected to something that feels utterly real and bigger.”

Critiquing Systems & Finding New Paths:

• Criticism of the current systems, especially capitalism, and the need for alternative, life-affirming ways.
• “In the ashes of its destruction are beautiful things that we can move forward.”

Healing Beyond Individualism:

• The limits of individual trauma healing and the need to connect with the Ecological Self.
• How to process the world’s trauma without becoming overwhelmed.

Feeling-Sense & Urban Connection:

• Deepening our felt-sense capacity to connect with the elements and Web of Life in any environment and at any time.
• “The world is speaking back.”

Reciprocity & Life-Affirming Thoughts:

• True reciprocity is about affirming life, not transactions.
• Aligning thoughts with life’s natural movements for a deeper connection.

Stories & Transformation:

• The power of storytelling to connect ancient wisdom with modern life.
• Manda’s shamanic experiences that shaped her writing and orientation toward Life.

Shared Values & Future Visioning:

• Envisioning shared values like integrity and compassion to transcend politics.
• Imagining life seven generations ahead and embracing our birthright of connection.

Final Prayer:

• Manda’s parting prayer encourages listeners to embrace their connection to the Web of Life.

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“Not turning away is the first step towards action.”

— Joshua Wright

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Joshua shares some of his journey as a young environmental activist, reflecting on how his early travels around the world ignited a deep passion for protecting the Earth. Along the way, he created Eden’s Last Chance, a film documenting his search for grounded solutions to the environmental polycrisis, featuring interviews with climate scientists and frontline activists.

In this conversation, Joshua and Tei discuss their involvement in the Fairy Creek Blockades, Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience, and explore the emotional and spiritual dimensions of activism. They highlight the courage required to confront difficult truths in the face of a powerful military-industrial complex. Joshua advocates for a degrowth-based society rooted in land, community, and connection, while inviting listeners to embrace their roles as agents of change and foster a compassionate relationship with the natural world.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Joshua:

Instagram

Youtube

Photography

Eden’s Last Chance

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Origins of Environmentalism and Activism:

• Joshua’s early travels with family shaped his environmentalism from a young age.

• His deep interest in trees led to researching old growth forests and the logging industry, particularly in Washington State.

• At 14, he rejected societal expectations, dropped out of high school, and began making the documentary Eden’s Last Chance.

Philosophy on Life and Activism:

• “We’re all going to die one day, so why does it matter how many toys or prestige we have?”

• Advocates for a degrowth-based society and living in relationship with the land.

• A richer life is one lived in communion with the Earth, rather than dominating it.

• Joshua’s time in Tanzania, surrounded by lions and elephants, solidified his commitment to environmental activism.

Balancing the Warrior and Lover:

• We reflect on what it means to be an environmental warrior, and the need for balancing love for the Earth as a guiding force.

Facing the Climate Crisis and Broader Problems:

• Joshua critiques mainstream climate discourse for failing to address the underlying issues of human supremacy, colonization, and industrial civilization.

• We emphasise the wisdom of elder forests and bioregions and their vital role for the climate of mind, heart, and soul.

• Radical accompaniment: Turning toward the pain of environmental destruction with the same compassion we’d show a loved one in their dying.

• “It’s not tragic that we’re going to die; it’s tragic that we’re destroying the processes of Life.”

Challenging the Mechanistic Worldview:

• Life and the cosmos are animate systems, not mechanistic structures. Joshua highlights that the universe itself is consciousness.

Fairy Creek Blockades & A Revolution of Spirit:

• Joshua played a key role in organizing the Fairy Creek Blockades, Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience, resisting colonial logging efforts.

• Tei shares personal experiences from Fairy Creek, including being arrested and the violence inflicted by the Canadian military industrial complex.

• We discuss the complex dynamics between law enforcement and activists.

• Joshua reflects on the spiritual revolution that emerged from the movement.

Activism as Contemplative and Creative:

• Tei advocates for a contemplative approach to activism, processing difficult emotions and experiences regeneratively.

• The power of peaceful, creative, artful, and feminine activism.

Final Messages:

• Joshua’s advice: love the land so deeply that you’d die to protect it.

• True allyship with the land involves understanding its living flows and forces.

• Joshua’s final call: don’t be a bystander—everyone can be an agent of change, protecting the places they love.

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"You start to live close to nature; you start to move toward your habitat. Then it becomes natural to live from the heart."

— Tim Matz

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In this carnal conversation, Tim shares his journey toward cultivating a heart-centred awareness in how he moves, lives, and loves. He reflects on how living close to the land and immersing himself in the wilderness have served as transformative initiatory processes, stripping away the noise and distractions of civilization to reveal a clearer, more connected, and reverent experience of life as a human animal. Tim discusses the significant role of horses in his self-cultivation and his heartfelt commitment to raising his children with a strong sense of belonging to Earth. He explores themes of shedding toxic masculine traits, embracing vulnerability, and the importance of deep embodied listening. Through his insights on holistic health, connection, discipline, and purpose, Tim invites listeners to reconnect with their inherent nature and rediscover the fundamental nutrients of life that arise from our profound interrelationship with the wild world.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Tim:

Website

Instagram

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Living from the Heart & Connection to Nature:

Tim's maturation and developing a heart-centred awareness.

Living closer to nature naturally leads to living from the heart.

He strives for intentional, humble living, deeply connected with the environment and elemental forces: “I want to grow smaller . . . and more into my landscape.”

Wilderness as Initiation:

Tim’s years of wilderness retreat, alongside human teachers and horses, was a powerful initiation.

“My heart is connected to this planet,” he says, emphasizing how nature stripped away noise, connecting him to his elemental body: “I am the tissues of the planet.”

Reverence for Life & Clarity:

Immersion in wilderness fosters a deeper reverence for life. Removing civilisational 'noise' allows greater clarity and depth of experience.

“Always be vigilant and moving your energy to maintain clarity so you can go deeper.”

Parenthood & Self-Cultivation:

Tim’s life is dedicated to self-cultivation, aiming to be a mirror for his children, raising them with a sense of belonging to Earth.

The Power of Horses & Wildness:

Tim’s relationship with horses taught him to surrender and connect harmoniously with nature, viewing it as an initiation into wildness: “Most of the world is not human.”

Rediscovering Our Nature:

Tim emphasizes our inseparable connection to our biology and habitat: “You are an upright walking mammal that needs nature. It is a fundamental nutrient.”

City life disconnects us from this, leading to illness and zooification of the human animal.

Shedding Stories & Cultivating Listening:

Tim reflects on shedding toxic masculinity and embracing sensitivity. He believes in the power of men expressing pain and grief.

His greatest skill: listening with the wholeness of his being, allowing for experiences beyond identity and story.

Discipline & Purpose:

Tim explores his discipline and what drives him, asking: What is he a disciple to, and what is his ‘why’?

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"The descent turns on the inner gaze; it turns on our seeing."

— Dajé Alōh 

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We open this deeply reflective episode with Dajé sharing how her move to New Mexico and the powerful ‘desert medicine’ of the land have shaped her in recent years. Together, we explore the energies of both Coyote and Wolf, examining their contrasting influences and the interplay between masculine and feminine polarities. Dajé offers profound insights on reclaiming creative emergence and Vision in a culture often at odds with deep Soul Work, highlighting the Heart’s essential role in the visionary process and the radical, inherent Belonging we all share as children of Earth. We also probe the importance of the mythic Descent to Soul in accessing our truest Essence. Dajé reflects on the often-overlooked downsides of feedback culture and her ongoing contemplation of how to align her work more closely with her Essence. This episode invites listeners to acknowledge and embrace their inner wildness and creative genius, encouraging them to rise in their creations from deep, rooted depths. It offers rich reflections on creativity, transformation, and visionary liberation.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Dajé:

Website

Instagram

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Finding Home in the Desert & Coyote & Wolf Medicine:

• Dajé’s experience settling in New Mexico and the impact of the land’s “desert medicine.”

• Exploration of Coyote’s trickster qualities and its role in dissolving binaries.

• Reflection on the interplay and contrasts between masculine and feminine energies through Coyote and Wolf medicine.

Reclaiming Creative Emergence:

• Discussion on reclaiming creativity and vision in a challenging cultural climate.

• Connection between essence and regenerative visionary creation.

• “We are all accessing the developmental arc of our Essence through vision and choose whether to engage or not.”

Essence, Purpose, and Alignment:

• Contrasting the concepts of essence, purpose, and alignment.

• “Alignment is momentary; purpose is situational. But Essence is forever.”

• The visionary process as a means to care for culture by liberating Essence.

Heart and Grief in Visionary Work:

• The heart’s responsiveness to the environment and its role in the visionary process.

• Exploration of grief as a key element in creative emergence and transformation.

The Inheritance of Belonging:

• Reflection on inherent belonging to Earth, emphasizing it as a fact rather than something to be earned.

• The importance of listening as an act of worship and connection.

Descent to Soul and Visionary Transformation:

• Exploring the descent to soul and its connection to visionary crises and creation.

• The violence and beauty of transformation likened to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.

• Critique of the biomedical paradigm in supporting deep soul work and the need for soulful guidance.

The Deep Earthiness of the Goddess:

• Examination of the rich, dark aspects of the Goddess and their contrast with modern Goddess movements.

Wildness of the Heart & Dajé’s Personal Journey with Work:

• Reflection on connecting with the wildness of the heart and embracing life’s depths.

• Dajé’s regenerative approach to work and the challenges of feedback culture.

Final Reflections:

• Dajé’s contemplation on balancing personal approval with following her soul’s calling.

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“Stories never end; they just continue, evolve, and become something new.”

— Iain McIntosh

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In this thought-provoking episode, Iain invites us on a transformative journey from Plato’s Cave to Pluto’s Cove. Beginning by introducing a dream-inspired analogy of a dilapidated theme park, he questions the deeper significance of this ‘broken-down’ setting and its metaphorical implications for our collective experience at this time. Iain reflects on the evolving nature of stories and underscores the importance of asking, “What happens next?” as a pivotal question in our current historical moment. We delve into the contrast between productivity and rest, consumerism and the Law of Reciprocity, and explore what it might mean to create in harmony with Natural Laws and Earthly powers rather than fighting against them or ignoring them. Iain also shares personal stories, including a serious car accident, weaving these experiences into the themes of our discussion. This episode offers a rich exploration of evolving perspectives, embracing transformation, the dance of time, and the deep mythic threads of connection that shape our journey of Becoming.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with Iain:

Instagram

Soundcloud

Youtube

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

The Dilapidated Theme Park:

• Iain introduces the analogy of a ‘broken-down theme park’ from his dreamscape.

• Key lessons from this dream journey are explored.

• We delve into the significance of what’s growing in the cracks and why these overlooked forces matter.

Plato's Cave to Pluto's Cove:

• Extends the Plato's Cave analogy into a new story, 'Pluto's Cove.'

• The evolving nature of stories is emphasized, along with the question, “What happens next?”

The Cosmic Giggle:

• Reflects on embracing ‘the cosmic giggle’ in navigating life’s ebbs and flows.

• This playful perspective is highlighted as a way to continue evolving beyond any perceived story’s end.

Hope as a Trickster:

• We discuss hope as a non-binary trickster, challenging conventional views.

• Iain encourages a nuanced and flexible understanding of life’s unfolding narratives.

The Spiral of Change:

• Change as a spiraling process with forward momentum.

• The significance of diversity of perspective in navigating this journey is underscored.

Ancestry and Wounds:

• The concept of being “an ancestor to yourself.”

• How our wounds shape us and the importance of carrying them forward.

• Iain encourages awareness of the lines of gold in our lives that are often overlooked.

Consumerism vs. Reciprocity:

• We contrast consumerism culture with the law of reciprocity.

• We explore the importance of creating in harmony with natural law and Earthly powers.

Undone to Grow:

• We discuss the necessity of being undone to grow, evolve, and become.

• The opportunity within the process of undoing and the difference between the Soul’s pace and the ego’s pace is emphasized.

The Dance of Time:

• Reflections on the dance between Chronos and Kairos.

• Presence is explored as a way to facilitate a different perception of time, crucial in the art of counsel and the path of Becoming.

Assault on the Senses:

• We connect the assault on the wildness of Earth to an assault on our sense-making.

• The importance of reclaiming our integrated, sensorial selves and reconnecting with Earth’s wilds is highlighted.

Final Reflections:

• The conversation concludes with a reflection from Iain, offering listeners a final take-away that ties together the diverse themes explored in the episode.

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“Myth is a map of being.”

— Vincent Stanzione

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In this episode, we accompany Vincent as he traces his journey from childhood curiosity to his dedicated study of the ancient K’iche’ Maya text, the Popol Wuj. Vincent reveals the vital connections between place, language, myth, and culture, showing how Indigenous storytelling and wisdom is essential for reclaiming our humanity. We explore the rich mythic narratives of the Popol Wuj, gaining insights into the lives and landscapes of maize-growing cultures in the Americas and discovering how the text invites modern readers to engage deeply with imaginal realms while refining their sense of place and sustenance. Vincent also reflects on the importance of reviving ancient knowledge and stories to strengthen our relationship with the land and deepen our sense of belonging, wherever we are. This episode encourages listeners to decolonize their perspectives and imaginal capacities to reconnect with the mythic dimensions and place-based stories that shape our existence, whether we recognize it or not.

Find Thematic Show Notes Below

Connect with WHR:

WHR Website

Coyotei Counsel Website

WHR/Coyotei Newsletter

WHR Instagram

Coyotei Counsel Instagram

Tei’s Instagram

Email - [email protected]

Thematic Show Notes

Vinnie’s Journey to the Popol Wuj:

• Vinnie's path from childhood to academia and Guatemala, leading to his deep study of the ancient Maya text, the Popol Wuj.

• The significance of the Popol Wuj in understanding ancient maize-growing cultures in the Americas.

The Importance of Place:

• Exploring the concept of ‘place’ and its importance in Indigenous cultures, particularly for the Maya.

• The necessity of teaching children about place and its associated stories and myths.

• Quotes: “Indigenous people have a very strong sense of place.” and “Myth is a map of being.”

Language, Culture, and the Land:

• Discussion on how language and culture originate from the land.

• Vinnie’s experience learning Mayan languages and their non-abstract nature compared to English.

• A brief history of the Popol Wuj’s translations and its original purpose.

• A brief overview of the Spanish conquest and its impact on Mesoamerican history, particularly the Mayans.

Key Themes and Stories of the Popol Wuj:

• Introduction to the Popol Wuj as the cosmogony of the K’iche’ Maya, a story of “the many-treed people.”

• The mythic meaning of ‘the twins’ and their connection to Maya land, animals, food, and life-ways.

• Discussion on the use of psychedelics (bufo, psilocybin, datura) and practices like live heart extraction (sacrifice) in ancient Maya culture.

• Emphasis on the idea of “reciprocity of sustenance.”

Reviving Ancient Wisdom:

• Vinnie’s reflections on how the Popol Wuj has shaped his understanding of self, other, and place.

• Invitation to listeners to engage in decolonizing the self.

• The importance of reviving ancient indigenous knowledge, with the Popol Wuj as a key text.

Belonging and Myth:

• Discussion on how myths expand our sense of self and resonate deeply within us.

• Encouragement to connect with the stories of the places we inhabit to foster a sense of belonging.

• Quotes: “When we belong to a place we are always going to treat it better.” and “The liberation of the Human Soul is up to each and every one of us.”

Closing Thoughts:

• The necessity of connecting with myth to find meaning and feel at home in the world.

• Vinnie’s final message on the power of myth and the journey to liberate the Human Soul.