The Damo Mitchell Podcast

Shkar Sharif, a martial artist from London, shares his expertise in Tiger Crane style Gong Fu and Shuang Yang Taiji. They discuss the San Zhan form/system, Sufism, the Dan Tian, Hermetics, exploring the three battles in the Tiger Crane system, the role of the Dan Tian in martial arts practice, balancing tradition and innovation, spiritual paths, staff training significance, and establishing a full-time martial arts center in London.

A short talk on the nature of teaching the mechanics of the inner arts (such as Qigong, Yoga and Meditation) versus claiming to be a spiritual teacher. The term 'spiritual teacher' is a term Damo does not apply to himself at all and increasingly is a term that he deems less relevant in the wider picture of spiritual cultivation. 

Exploring the commercialization of Qigong turning into contemporary Yoga with short-term online teacher training courses, the risks of diluting the authenticity of the practice, pitfalls of quick certifications, and the importance of ethical considerations in teaching these traditional arts.

Exploring teaching approaches in Qigong, highlighting core principles and differences between systems. Discussing WUJI posture, traditional practice, and building the dantian. Emphasizing gradual chi development over quick energy boosts and critiquing short-term teacher training.

Dr. Cindy Engel, a therapist specializing in somatic empathy, discusses understanding others through felt-knowing, visual phenomena in therapy, and the complexities of using somatic empathy in life. They explore the embodied sharing of emotions, subliminal perception, non-verbal communication, emotional contagion, brain coupling, bioelectricity, emotional responses, and the intersection of somatic empathy and compassion.

Delve into the division of mind and Qi in Qigong with the principle of 'Shen Up, Qi Down'. Explore the balance of energy flow and attentiveness for mental clarity. Discover the alchemical transformation through balancing energies and maintaining awareness in Qigong practice.

Damo Mitchell chatting with famed explorer and film-maker, Dr Lawrence Blair at his home in Bali. The discussion looks at Indonesian culture, mythology, religion and even UFO's! Dynamo Jack is discussed along with the connection between subtle energy and spiritual experience. For more information on Dr Lawrence Blair, please visit his website at: https://www.drlawrenceblair.comWe highly recommend watching the groundbreaking series, the Ring of Fire which can be found here: https://www.ringoffireseries.com. It is downloadable from Apple TV and other similar sources. 

Damo Mitchell, expert on dream teaching and sleep visitations, explores the concept of dreaming about teachers and emphasizes the need for understanding. He discusses limitations and potential issues of dreaming about being taught by teachers. He also explores the relationship between dreams and the mind from a Chinese medicine perspective. Additionally, Mitchell discusses the influence of external factors on dream content and the concept of a field in internal arts training.

A talk by Damo on the subject of Bai Shi and the accepting of disciples. He looks at the difference between Bai Shi in the martial arts and the spiritual arts, the nature of having multiple lineages and the expectations of Bai Shi. Also explored are the implications of translating Chinese customs over into western culture and how these things may become misunderstood. Obviously, this is all based on Damo's personal experience and so different schools may interpret the Bai Shi ritual in their own ways. 

A short discussion of the nature of Zi Fa Gong or 'Spontaneous Qi Flow'. This is to help with some of the confusions around the topic. Spontaneous Qi flow is when the body moves free from conscious control and this is often something that manifests within practices such as Qigong, Yoga and Meditation. It should always be approached with a degree of mental detachment and freedom from overlaid conscious or subconscious models such as ideas of Kundalini or Deity involvement.