River Kenna, an inner work practitioner and mythodynamics researcher, shares his journey from mental chatter to inner peace through somatic meditation. They discuss somatic resonance, imaginal practice & dream work, mythopoetic cognition, systematic vs. spontaneous mode, and devotional productivity.
Somatic meditation dissolves inner criticism and brings deep inner peace through a focus on physical sensations.
Mythopoetic cognition bridges intellectual and intuitive realms, influencing our interpretation of reality.
Dream work is a transformative tool for resolving unconscious issues and accessing deeper layers of being.
Deep dives
Somatic Meditation: Finding Deep Inner Peace
Somatic meditation is discussed as a powerful practice that has the ability to dissolve inner criticism and bring deep inner peace. The speaker shares their personal experience of practicing various forms of meditation before finding somatic meditation, which allowed them to finally quiet their incessant mental chatter. Somatic meditation is described as a practice that focuses on checking in with the body, bringing awareness to physical sensations and moving away from constant mind-centered thoughts. The speaker emphasizes the importance of patience and staying with the process, allowing it to unfold without rushing or expecting immediate results.
Mythopoetic Cognition: Exploring the Unconscious Mind
The concept of mythopoetic cognition is introduced, highlighting the power of our imagination, archetypes, and narratives in shaping our perception and understanding of reality. The speaker explains how different individuals have their own unique cosmologies and mythologies that influence their interpretation of the world. Mythopoetic cognition is described as a bridge between the intellectual and intuitive realms, allowing us to explore the unknown and embrace uncertainty. The speaker acknowledges that mythopoetic cognition can be challenging to teach and learn, relying on personal experiences, dream work, and spontaneous modes of thinking to delve into the mysteries of the unconscious mind.
The Power of Dream Work and Imaginal Practice
Dream work and imaginal practice are explored as powerful tools for inner exploration and personal growth. The speaker describes their own journey with dream work as a process of patiently attending to the symbols and imagery unfolding in their dreams. They emphasize the importance of allowing dreams to unfold naturally rather than trying to forcefully interpret them. The speaker discusses the transformative potential of dream work, highlighting how unresolved patterns or unconscious issues can be resolved and integrated through engaging with the imagery and themes that arise. They also touch on the connection between dream work and mythopoetic cognition, emphasizing that dream work is a way to tap into the unconscious and access the deeper layers of our being.
Balancing Spontaneous and Systematic Modes of Thinking
The speaker delves into the concept of balancing spontaneous and systematic modes of thinking. They explain how systematic mode seeks to solve problems, while spontaneous mode embraces uncertainty and allows things to unfold without grasping for certainty or predefined outcomes. The importance of cultivating patience and openness is emphasized, as well as the role of different modalities like somatic meditation, dream work, and parts work in accessing the spontaneous, imaginative, and intuitive realms. The speaker highlights the need to approach these practices with a willingness to let go of control and expectations, allowing the process to naturally unfold and reveal deeper truths.
Importance of the Right Hemisphere's Full Body Experience
The importance of the right hemisphere in experiencing the body as more than just an object in space is discussed. Unlike the left hemisphere, which views the body as something separate and manipulable, the right hemisphere has a fuller body image and experiences the body as an integral part of existence. This understanding can be helpful in somatic meditation and accessing the spontaneous mode of the right hemisphere.
Challenges of Goal-Setting and Achieving in Creative Work
The podcast explores the challenges of goal-setting and achieving in creative work. The traditional mindset of pushing through and forcing progress is questioned, as creative work often doesn't follow a linear, predictable path. The idea of devotional productivity, which involves deeply understanding the purpose and intention behind each project, is introduced. By cultivating a relationship with the work and allowing it to unfold in its own time, individuals can tap into the imaginal realm and experience a more aligned and satisfying creative process.
River Kenna is a writer, inner work practitioner, and a mythodynamics researcher. He spent the first 24 years of his life dealing with an incessant mental chatter which he tried to address with various meditations. Most of them had little benefit and it was only when he came across Somatic meditation that was he able to dissolve his inner critic and find deep inner peace. Today his work explores somatic resonance, mythopoetic cognition, and experiments in graceful non-linear living. He teaches the Somatic Resonance course and conducts one-on-one sessions in somatic and imaginal practices. In this episode, we speak about somatic meditation, imaginal practice & dream work, mythopoetic cognition, systematic vs. spontaneous mode, and devotional productivity.
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