Sounds of SAND

In this panel from the The Eternal Song 7-Day Global Gathering Schedule, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo speak with Dr. Diana Kopua, a  Māori psychiatrist, Mark Kopua, a cultural leader and master carver, and Tina Ngata, an advocate for indigenous and environmental rights. The conversation explores the significance of revitalizing indigenous knowledge, ancestral connections, and reindigenization. They explore the effects of colonialism, the doctrine of Christian discovery, and the urgency of collective wellbeing practices. The conversations weaves reconnection with ancestral stories, the environment, and indigenizing oneself as crucial steps towards collective healing and resilience. Find out more about The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass and the SAND film Mauri which features all three guests from today’s show. Topics 00:00 Introduction of Extraordinary Voices 01:50 Personal Introductions and Backgrounds 07:09 Current Issues in New Zealand 12:24 Colonial Impact on Māori Wellbeing 18:42 Traditional Māori Wellbeing and Ancestral Connections 33:29 Healing Through Ancestral Stories 34:56 Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Mindset 37:04 Reconnecting with Ancestral Wisdom 40:55 Understanding Racism and Education 44:26 The Role of Christianity and Wealth 52:51 Indigenizing vs. Decolonizing 53:35 Practical Steps to Re-Indigenize 56:38 Final Thoughts and Reflections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Ancestral Bone Mapping & Healing: Reweaving the Soul Through Bone, Beauty, and Ancestral Nourishment with Iya AffoThrough rhythms of beauty, grief, and intergenerational wisdom, this presentation and conversation explored healing through the languages of somatic ritual, trauma-informed neurobiology, and ancestral remembering. Iya Affo is a Culturalist and Historical Trauma consultant. She earned Western certification as a Trauma Specialist and is a descendant of a long line of traditional healers from Bénin, West Africa. Iya serves as an Executive Board Member for the Arizona ACEs Consortium, is an Adjunct Faculty member at the Arizona Trauma Institute, and is the founder of Heal Historical Trauma Culture & Indigenous Wellness Academy. She has visited more than 30 countries; living in Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Native American, and Yoruba communities, embracing aspects from each culture for personal evolution. She strives to transcend tolerance through cultivating love and respect in hopes of facilitating the decolonization and subsequent healing of indigenous people from all over the world. Iya advocates for the harmonization of Traditional Medicine and Western Medicine for true holistic healing. ALTÆR is a sacred invitation into ancestral medicine, where the body is honored as shrine, and the bones are read as living scrolls. Culturalist and Historical Trauma Consultant Iya Affo brings her deep-rooted knowledge and ceremonial practice to this space. As a featured presence in The Eternal Song film and founder of the Heal Historical Trauma Culture & Indigenous Wellness Academy, Iya carries experience across many Indigenous communities and advocates for the harmonization of Traditional and Western medicine as a path to collective wholeness. ALTÆR: The Bones Remember – Eight week course with Iya Affo Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:42 Introducing Iya Affo 01:44 Acknowledging Ancestral Lands and Ancestors 04:25 The Importance of Ancestral Healing 09:38 Understanding Coherence and Healing Practices 18:06 Exploring Bone Mapping 28:11 Personal Story: Ancestral Memory and Birth 32:45 A Difficult Labor and Ancestral Memory 34:33 The Impact of Historical Trauma on Black Women 38:47 Bone Mapping and Spiritual Genetics 43:57 Roles of Men and Women in Ancestral Healing 49:53 Healing Practices and Rituals 57:31 Integrating Indigenous Knowledge with Western Therapy 01:03:20 Closing Reflections and Future Courses Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Please join us along with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ashira Darwish, Rae Abileah, Shahd Abusalama, Omid Safi, Reverend Michael Yoshii, and Iyas Sartawari for a reckoning. A collective refusal. A gathering of those who cannot stay silent while genocide is livestreamed. We do not come together to be informed. We come because we already know. We come because we refuse to normalize atrocity. We come to grieve every stolen Palestinian life—every child starved, every family erased. We come to grieve the collapse of our shared humanity—and to ignite what remains. This grief is not weakness. It is fire. It is clarity. It is a declaration: we will not look away.  Topics 00:00 Opening Remarks and Introductions 01:24 Shahd Abusalama's Testimony 07:46 Raif Ziada's Poem Recitation 19:53 Rabbi Lynn's Address 28:30 Omid Safi's Prayer and Reflections 40:03 Introduction and Greetings 40:07 Reverend Joshi's Reflections 42:10 Prayers and Songs for the Martyrs 46:09 Ashira's Call to Action 51:28 Rae Abileah's Contributions 52:12 Small Group Discussions 56:21 Project Hope Overview 01:03:59 Final Reflections and Call to Action 01:08:39 Closing Remarks SupportTogether, we call for the return of UNRWA and the shutting down of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Funds from the gathering will go to Project Hope, providing aid to Gaza. Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

In this live recording from The Eternal Song Seven Day Premier broadcast, hosts Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo engage in a deep discussion with guests Francis Weller, a psychotherapist and soul activist, and Orland Bishop, a spiritual teacher and founder of ShadeTree Foundation. Exploring themes such as indigenous wisdom, the impact of colonialism, communal grieving, and the necessity of reconnecting with ancestral roots. The dialogue also covers the significance of embracing grief as a communal and necessary process for healing and transformation, and reflects on what it means to enter a 'long dark' period — a time of significant societal and personal upheaval. We Explored grief as a sacred threshold, not a pathology, remembering the soul’s place in a world of fragmentation and reclaiming reverence, slowness, and deep belonging in troubled times. The Eternal Song film series and All-Access Pass Francis Weller ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation (Orland Bishop) Topics 00:00 Introduction to The Eternal Song and Today's Guests 02:05 Opening Invocation and Reflections on Grief 04:36 Historical Context and the Impact of Colonialism 07:37 The Role of Rituals and Ancestral Wisdom 14:38 Communal Grief and Healing Practices 26:06 Entering the Long Dark: A Time of Transformation 39:41 Connecting with Ancestors and Concluding Thoughts Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Lama Rod Owens, a Black Buddhist Southern Queen and Harvard Divinity graduate, discusses radical self-care and compassion in a world facing turmoil. He emphasizes the necessity of personal healing to drive societal change, particularly in light of global conflicts. The conversation touches on the concept of 'new saints' who work altruistically within their communities, and the power of representation in spiritual writing. Finally, Owens highlights the transformative role of prayer in fostering connection and nurturing resilience.

Renowned spiritual leaders Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Rev. Deborah Lee, and Pir Zia Inayat Khan come together in a powerful interfaith gathering to express solidarity with Palestinians. They emphasize shared humanity, dignity, and peace with justice in Palestine, offering inspiration to embody ethical and moral principles across diverse spiritual traditions.

Alixa García, a Colombian-born multi-disciplinary artist and passionate activist, discusses the intersection of art, culture, and environmental issues. She emphasizes the importance of Indigenous resilience and the transformative power of creativity in facing climate crises. The conversation explores themes of enchantment, collective grief, and futurism. Alixa shares insights from her experiences at Burning Man, highlighting community, ritual, and the urgency of nurturing our planet. She invites listeners to reconnect with the cosmos and envision a harmonious future through her upcoming course.

Today on the show, we welcome Scott Kiloby and Toshi Matsunaga, authors of Awake But Sick, to explore the hidden emotional pain that can persist even after profound spiritual awakening. Their work challenges the common myths of nonduality and mindfulness, offering a deeper path through emotional repression, physical illness, and the illusion of immediate freedom. In this conversation, we explore the gap between awakening and true healing, the dangers of spiritual bypassing, and how to reconnect with the body’s wisdom to find lasting peace. Links  Kiloby.com Nondualship with Toshi Matsunaga Nonduality & KI Monthly Meeting with Toshi   Awake But Sick   Emotional Repression Test Inquiry Topics 00:00 Introduction to Guests and Their Work 01:34 Scott and Toshi's Journey to Collaboration 02:31 Understanding Kiloby Inquiries (KI) 03:12 The Dimensions of Spiritual Practice 04:54 Addressing Spiritual Bypassing 08:48 The Connection Between Awakening and Suffering 12:26 The Role of Repressed Emotions 15:28 Integrating Non-Dual Teachings with Modern Psychosis 25:49 The Iceberg Metaphor and Emotional Repression 29:13 The Role of Spiritual Practices in Repression 31:35 Identifying Patterns of Avoidance and Spiritual Bypassing 32:49 Signs of Repression in Meditation and Spiritual Practices 36:31 Understanding and Addressing Anger Repression 46:54 The Importance of Community in Spiritual Work 52:20 Connecting with the Speakers and Their Work Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen, a historian of religion with a PhD from Uppsala University, dives into the fascinating world of Nordic animism. He discusses the vital connection between ancestral traditions and modern environmental activism. Rune emphasizes the importance of decolonizing perspectives to revive indigenous practices amid contemporary challenges. Listeners learn about the emotional ties to ancestry, the role of reciprocity in spiritual practices, and how animism can offer solutions to issues like isolation and polarization in today's society.

Wendy Elisheva Somerson, a non-binary Jewish somatic healer and activist, discusses their new book on anti-Zionist Jewish healing. They delve into the impact of Zionism on Jewish historical trauma and advocate for healing practices that acknowledge both personal and communal struggles. The conversation highlights the intertwining of activism and spirituality, emphasizing solidarity with marginalized communities. Somerson also shares somatic practices to process heavy emotions and promote resilience, fostering a hopeful vision for a liberated future.