Today I sit down with Mary Shutan, a spiritual teacher specializing in awakening and shadow work. Our conversation focuses on the weirdness, emotional volatility, darkness, and other challenges that inevitably accompany serious spiritual practice. Along the way, we talk about the diverse range of awakenings, the difficulties of managing kundalini energy, and what to do in the case of a spiritual emergency.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out our members-only benefits on blackberyl.substack.com. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned:

Lan Li, Body Maps: Improvising Meridians and Nerves in Global Chinese Medicine (2025)
Pierce Salguero, A Lamp Unto Yourself (2025).
Mary Shutan, Shadow Work for the Soul: Seeing Beauty in the Dark (2024).
Mary Shutan, The Spiritual Awakening Guide (2015).
Mary Shutan, The Body Deva: Working with the Spiritual Consciousness of the Body (2018).
Mary Shutan, Working with Kundalini: An Experiential Guide to the Process of Awakening (2019).
Mary's website: maryshutan.com
Mary's YouTube channel: @MaryShutan

Resources provided on blackberyl.substack.com:

Chapter 23 of Mary's new book ("Engaging the Deep Wild")
Preface & Chapter 1 of Pierce's new book ("Preparing for the Journey")
Plus, sign up with a paid subscription before the end of the month to receive a bookmark in the mail from Lan Li!

A Lamp Unto Yourself: A Beginner's Guide to Asian Spiritual Practices from Advaita and Buddhism to Yoga and Zen

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