Islands of Coherence

Joining us on the show this week is dharma teacher, author, and environmental activist, Cynthia Jurs. Cynthia is a teacher in Thich Naht Hanh’s Order of Interbeing as well as an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She is largely recognized for her work with the Earth Treasure Vase practice which has brought her all around the world to a diverse array of cultures and ecosystems. She released her first book, ‘Summoned by the Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel’ earlier this year which is now available wherever you order your books.

In this conversation, we explore the treasure vase practice as well as the reclamation of the feminine, householder practice, and collective awakening. 

gaiamandala.net

Show Topics
- What are the Earth Treasure Vases?
- The World as Spiritual Teacher
- Traveling to the World’s most Dangerous Places
- Why are we so Busy Minded?
- Reclaiming the Feminine
- Feeling Our Vulnerability
- Pilgrimage and Ceremony
- Intention Setting
- How To Practice in a Busy Life
- Householder Practice
- Needing to Awaken as a Community

Joining us on the show this week is author, LMFT, and professor from Naropa University, Bruce Tift! Having been in private practice since 1979, Bruce has served thousands of clients on the path toward becoming more in touch with their immediate experience in an effort to have better relationships to themselves and others. As a practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism for over 40 years, Bruce brings a unique perspective that combines Buddhist wisdom and the best that the Western Psychotherapeutic model has to offer. He’s given presentations all around the world on this material and has released a book called ‘Already Free” Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path to Liberation’.

In this conversation we talk about the merger of these two distinct and oftentimes contradictory paths of working with ourselves. Through that lens, we ask the question, what are our neuroses and is there really a problem with who I am today?

Show Topics
- Contrasting Religion and Spiritual Path
- How Can Western Therapy be More Effective?
- Non-Self and Therapy
- Embodied Emotional Vulnerability
- Is There Really a Problem with Us?
- Anxiety As a Method to Take Care of Ourselves
- The Various Styles of Therapeutic Change
- Self Aggression 
- Holding Acceptance and The Desire to Improve Simultaneously
- Confronting Neurosis
- Meditation and Staying Open

Links
https://www.amazon.com/Already-Free-Buddhism-Psychotherapy-Liberation/dp/1622034112

On this week's episode, I was fortunate enough to sit down with the founder of the Realization Process, Judith Blackstone, PhD. Combining her 35 years of private practice as a psychotherapist and deep spiritual investigations as a meditator and dancer, Judith has refined an incredible process of nondual spiritual awakening which she now shares with other practitioners.

She is also an author of several books including ‘Trauma and the Unbound Body: the Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness’, ‘The Intimate Life’, and ‘The ‘Enlightenment Process’. Her most recent book, ‘The Fullness of the Ground: A Guide to Embodied Spiritual Awakening’ released in the fall of 2023 and is available wherever you get your books.

In this conversation, we explore the outline of how the Realization Process works. Namely what Nondual Spiritual Awakening is and how we can incorporate it into a therapeutic model. It’s a conversation that focuses heavily on the theme of embodiment and the nature of constriction with an introduction to the method of releasing those constrictions so we can be more expansive.

If you want to check out Judith’s work, head on over to RealizationProcess.org or pick up some of her books from your online retailer of choice!

Show Topics
- What is Nonduality?
- Is Nonduality Inherent or Cultivated?
- The Obscurations of Nonduality
- How do we Embody Nonduality?
- Making Contact with Ourselves
- Relating to Challenging Situations
- Top Down vs Bottom Up Psychological Approaches
- Does Nonduality Mean “I” Disappear?
- Nonduality in a Therapeutic Context
- Fundamental Consciousness and Core Breath
- The Nature of Constrictions
- The Experience of Fundamental Consciousness

Joining us on the show today is Buddhist teacher, author, and podcast host, Ethan Nichtern! In this episode we explore some of the topics of his newly released book, 'Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds'. This is a timely book which aims to help us contact a place within us which allows us to navigate the often tumultuous waves of life with a sense of curiosity, buoyancy, and most importantly, kindness. 

Outside of the world of writing, Ethan is also the founder of the Interdependence Project, which is a nonprofit organization for secular Buddhist study as it applies to activism, arts and media projects, and Western psychology. He also offers numerous opportunities to help students deepen their understanding of the Buddha dharma - including the Year Long Buddhist Studies through the Dharma Moon platform. On top of this he is the host of the podcast, 'The Road Home' which is available wherever you tune into your podcasts. 

Show Topics
- What Is Confidence? 
- The Double Sided Coin of Hope and Fear
- How Hope Can Take Us From the Present Moment
- Confidence as a Response to Hope and Fear
- Mindfulness and Familiarity 
- The 8 Worldly Winds
- Relating to Pleasure and Pain
- Mindfulness and Boredom
- Confidence as a Practice
- The Tibetan Practice of Raising Windhorse

LINKS
ethannichtern.com
'Confidence' Amazon Link

Joining us on the 21st Century Vitalism podcast this week is cofounder of the Good Grief Network, LaUra Schmidt. In this episode we discuss their work in creating the '10 Steps to Resilience and Empowerment in a Chaotic Climate' program. Acknowledging the dire circumstances of our increasingly dangerous predicament, we explore some somatic practices that we can use to nurture our grief while making the necessary changes to show up for ourselves and others. 

LaUra's newest book, 'How to Live In a Chaotic Climate' is out now wherever you order your books. The preferred retailer is in the links section down below! 


Show Topics
- What is the Good Grief Network?
- Alienation of those Grieving the Planet
- Learning how to Face our Grief
- Why and How we Disconnect
- What is a Healthy Container for Healing?
- The Ten Step Program for Resiliency in a Chaotic Climate
- Reaction vs. Responding
- Learning how to Pause and the Frenetic Nature of our Culture
- Importance of Acknowledging the Severity of the Situation
- The Value of Grief
- Addressing The Mortality of All Things
- Hero Figures and Appreciating Ordinariness
- The Importance of Community

LINKS
How To Live In a Chaotic Climate Book
goodgriefnetwork.org

This weeks episode is with visionary floral sculptor, Anthony Ward! Most known for his elaborate performances on stage combining his extensive history of dance with his love for floral arrangement, Anthony has shared his art with thousands across the globe. Having had opportunities to collaborate with the likes of Michael Franti, Bobby McFerrin, STS9, Tipper, and a slew of spiritual teachers such as the Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, and Ram Dass; Anthony has secured his spot as one of the world's top contemporary floral artists. 

In this conversation, we discuss his life of working with flowers and the intersections between arrangement and dance. We then explore the lineages of floral arrangement, how we can begin our own practice, and the lessons he's learned from a lifetime of dedicating himself to this artform. 

If this inspires you to begin your own journey into the world of floral art, I'd highly encourage you to check out his book, 'Being With Flowers' (link down below)

Show Topics
- Anthony’s Story of Connecting with the Flowers
- The Intersection of Flower Arrangement and Dancing
- Floral Art as Spiritual Practice
- Impermanence and Flowers
- Ikebana
- How to Start Flower Arranging
- Forming Relationships with Individual Flowers
- Lessons from Flowers for Troubled Times
- The Universal Quality of Flowers
- Weeds and Gathering Materials
- Flowers and Masculinity
- The Enlivening Quality of Passion

Links
Anthony at Envision: https://youtu.be/3efXGXxEoKE?si=jCnQh93KbmmyXibn
Anthony Meeting the Dalai Lama: https://youtu.be/GPQs1lyCS1o?si=w9NUPxPRAFj3sbKK
Being With Flowers: Being With Flowers Amazon Link

Joining us on the show is meditation teacher, author, and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, Sharon Salzberg! With over 50 years of teaching experience, Sharon is largely attributed as one of the first western teachers to bring mindfulness based practice to the West. In this conversation, we explore a process she outlines her recent book, 'Real Life' in which she outlines the path of moving out of a constricted frame of mind and heart to one that is more open and expansive. Interweaving lessons from mindfulness, loving kindness, and a lifetime of guiding people toward recognizing their own innate brilliance; this conversation is sure to leave you feeling more open and inspired to engage with your world more fully. 

To start studying with Sharon, head on over to her website, sharonsalzberg.com to see her online offerings or order one of her many books! 

Show Topics
- What Makes Us Constricted?
- Passion, Aggression, and Delusion
- Managing Expectations for Meditation
- The Three Personality Types of Buddhism
- How Mindfulness Points Us Toward Service
- Addressing Hopelessness
- Preventing Burnout
- What is Love in the Buddhist Context?
- Is Love Unconditional or Cultivated?
- Metta Practice
- The Courage to Love
- Responding to the Suffering in the World

Returning to the show is movement specialist, author, and Structural Integrationist, Mary Bond! Most known for her contributions to the world of Rolfing Movement practice with her books, 'New Rules of Posture' and 'Body Mandala'; Mary has gone on to establish herself as a pioneer in reimagining the relationship between perception, sensation, and posture.
In this conversation we discuss how to become more embodied in the modern age; we explore the role of fascia in creating our perceptions, how to make an unbreakable connection to the body's midline, and how the energies of earth and space help us maintain our authenticity in trying times. 

If you wish to plug into Mary's work more thoroughly, check out her online workshops or order her books over at: 
healyourposture.com

Show Topics
- What is Embodiment?
- Fascia is a Sensory Organ
- What is Disembodiment? 
- Cultivating Intereoception
- Posture Change is Perceptual and Not Forced
- Exploring the Body's Midline
- Connecting to the Quality of Earth and Space
- Falling out of Sync with the Midline
- Sitting Tensegrity Practice
- Exploring the Core
- Space and Trust

Joining us on the show this week is the singer, composer, producer, dancer, and creative guide, Ayla Nereo. For this conversation, we explore her work with the Living Song project; a creative community aimed at helping people dissolve creative blocks and find their authentic voice. We then use that as a foundation to explore central themes in Ayla's work such as resiliency, vitality, and the role of our intuition in the creative process.

Ayla's music can be streamed wherever you find your music and her courses can be found over at thelivingsong.aylanereo.com

SHOW TOPICS
- What is the Living Song Project?
- What does it mean to be a Vessel?
- What is Writer's Block and How Can We Overcome it?
- Grasping Vs. Trust
- The Energetic Throat Center
- The Four Elements and Creativity
- What is Vitality and Intuition?
- Importance of Feeling Good
- What is Sovereignty in the Modern Age?
- Facing A Troubled World, What Can We Do As Creatives?
- Sovereignty and Motherhood

Joining us on today's show is the CEO of Dhama Moon and my personal meditation teacher and friend, David Nichtern! Dharma Moon is an online meditation community which specializes in teaching the next generation of mindfulness meditation instructors. As a senior teacher in the lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, David has gone on to write two books, be an Emmy winning and Grammy nomiated musician, and host of the popular, Creativity, Spirituality, and Making a Buck Podcast. 

In this conversation, we talk about some of the most compelling teachings that we've explored together which are commonly referred to as the sacred path of the warrior. They're a perennial set of teachings found in cultures around the world which are uniquely relevant for living a spiritually inclined life in the modern age. They ask us, how can we be fully awake, courageous, and authentic right now in the life that we're currently living? 

If you want to study with David he has many online offerings that can be found through the link below. I highly recommend his 'Mindfulness Teacher Training' course starting up in June for one of the most comprehensive deep dives into meditation you can find on the internet.  

SHOW TOPICS
- What is Warriorship?
- The Qualities of a Warrior
- The Strength of Being Gentle
- Seeing Clearly
- How to Properly Face Oneself 
- Meditation
- How Being Self Conscious Closes Off the World
- Discovering our Basic Goodness
- Moving out from the Cocoon
- The Profundity of Householder Practice
- Business and Warriorship

LINKS
dharmamoon.com