Tantra Illuminated with Dr. Christopher Wallis The Mandala of Relationality with Josh Schrei from The Emerald
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Sep 12, 2025 
In this enlightening discussion, Josh Schrei, a visionary creator of The Emerald podcast, shares insights from his rich background in spirituality and philosophy. He explores the idea that awakening is woven through our relationships with others and the world. The conversation highlights how intimacy, conflict, and community serve as gateways to deeper awareness. Schrei emphasizes the importance of animism, interconnectedness, and integrating sacred experiences into modern life, advocating for a more relational understanding of ourselves and the universe.
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Early Immersion Shaped Worldview
- Josh grew up immersed in spiritual communities, from the Rochester Zen Center to living in India at 13.
- Early exposure to myth, ritual and nature spirits shaped his lifelong animist view.
The Mythic Drive For Ecstatic Union
- Humans have a primal longing for ecstatic union that myths and rituals satisfy.
- When sacred and ecstatic are split, culture produces empty ritual or secular substitutes for meaning.
Anchor Festivals With A Sacred Center
- Build or join practices that place a sacred center at the heart of communal ecstatic events.
- Anchor peak experiences in rituals or deities so the effect persists after festivals end.
