Salish Wolf

In this episode, Kim Barta casts light on some of our most hidden aspects, our shadows. Kim is an internationally-recognized psychotherapist, coach, and spiritual guide with extensive experience in shadow work and spectacular results in his psychotherapy practice. During this conversation, Kim defines what shadows are and indicates that the risk of not recognizing and integrating them is not fully fulfilling our destiny. He supports this concept with clear examples of how shadows can continually sabotage our journey through life. Meanwhile, they also provide beautiful opportunities for growth and healing when we choose to steer our journey through them. Kim highlights how shadows impact society and cultures, especially our projection onto others of our own inborn shadows. We see the ill effects of projection in all areas of life including politics, media, and right at home in our families. The collective familial trauma that we choose to carry forward by not assimilating our shadows perpetuates those traumas and sadly breeds new ones. When we align our identities with the darkness in our cultural history, we block out the light and cast the next generation in shadows. Kim’s unique background has deep spiritual roots, including a reverence for shamanism. He not only lived with a Native American shaman, but he also did his master’s thesis on shamanism in modern psychotherapy and continues to use aspects of it in his clinical practice. Alongside his sister, Dr. Terri O’Fallon, Kim presents workshops and trainings at STAGES International, the platform they co-created to offer training and resources informed by the STAGES Model of human development developed by Dr. O’Fallon. Be prepared to explore deeply the potential light hidden in the dark in this episode of Salish Wolf with Kim Barta. Episode Links: Stages International Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions Men’s Group at Anchor Point Expeditions Grief Recovery Program with Brea Segger

Benjamin Fox is back on Salish Wolf with an enriching and fascinating conversation about astrology. This is an area where I have very little knowledge and experience, and Benjamin expertly guides my skeptical and curious mind through the universe of astrology – and what a complex and telling universe it is. Benjamin cover topics such as his path to now, mapping out the fundamentals of astrology, the ever-deepening lessons he gains from revisiting his own chart, the interconnectivity of all things, and astrology as a tool for fulfilling our unique destiny. To put a rocket booster to this astral journey, Benjamin came equipped with my chart and we put the telescope to where I am living up to my potential and to where imbalances are presenting opportunities for growth. As thought-provoking as this interview was in real-time, in the vortex of post-interview analysis, which can often endure, I am learning that there are stories I tell myself and others that reflect not so much where I currently am, but where I hope to pass through and beyond. In other words, when my ego gets too big for my space boots, gravity has a way of reminding me that I have not yet learned to moonwalk. Benjamin is co-founder of A New Possibility, a learning and healing community that helps people develop a conscious relationship to their inner life. He is also co-author of the new book The Alchemy of Inner Work. Whether you are a seasoned traveller of your astrological chart or considering new ways to explore your inner space, I hope this episode constellates for you in a way that bring about greater alignment. As captain of this starship, Benjamin guides with deep compassion and an obvious conviction to help others navigate this incarnation in a configuration that best allows destiny to unfold. Please enjoy this episode of Salish Wolf with Benjamin Fox. Episode Links: A New Possibility Instagram: @anewpossibility Facebook: @anewpossibility  The Alchemy of Inner Work by Lorie Eve Dechar and Benjamin Fox The Alchemy of Inner Work book review Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions Men’s Group at Anchor Point Expeditions

Jordan Wylie is not good at one thing in particular: being idle. This man does life-threatening adventure like most people go to the store. When Covid restrictions put a halt to his attempt to run 10 marathons in the 10 coldest places on the planet, Jordan rapidly switched plans to attempt to circumnavigate the United Kingdom on a stand up paddleboard. To add to the extreme level of difficulty in this quest, Jordan had to first learn to paddleboard, in less than 7 days. What may seem like pursuits of madness, for Jordan are in reality pursuits of purpose. He does not focus as much on how he is going to accomplish something as he does on why he is going to accomplish something. His “Why” for this sea voyage was a little boy in Africa who he had promised to build a school for. So his fundraising paddleboard expedition was to him not a choice but a duty. While England was in lockdown, Jordan took to the seas. Despite superhuman credentials, Jordan humbly makes it clear that he is not resistant to suffering and struggles. He details his harrowing experience with divorce that eventually led him to contemplate his final journey from a skyscraper in Dubai. The man who had once climbed Kilimanjaro barefoot and had fought off Somali pirates had nearly lost both his “why” and his will. With renewed determination, he is now trying to remove the stigma of mental illness and also to provide education for children who have few options. In my opinion, Jordan is superhero-like, and he is also remarkably human, in ways that enable him to change lives. His newest book, The Power of the Paddle, is an account of his world record-breaking paddleboard journey and will be released this fall. Be prepared to be deeply moved in this episode of Salish Wolf with Jordan Wylie. Episode Links: Jordanwylie.org Books by Jordan Wylie FaceBook: @mrjordanwylie Instagram: @mrjordanwylie Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions Men’s Group at Anchor Point Expeditions Grief Recovery Program with Brea Segger

After our riveting conversation in the last episode, Lorie Eve Dechar and I are back again, this time to drop more deeply into archetypes, and into the world of dream interpretation. In a real-life dream consultation, Lorie unweaves the chaos of an hours’ old dream to help me find within the thread of my shadow archetype and stitch together a logical narrative of its message. And I am not talking about an oh-that’s-cute-but-useless message. Instead, it has me turning tricks trying to maneuver a successful landing, my head spinning with thoughts of integration and of the potential magnitude of all the other dreams I have given barely a passing notice. Dream time is not the only focal point of this conversation. We also continue with the exploration of archetypes that we began last episode, and, because of my dream interpretation, we specifically examine the concept of the Shadow archetype and those of the Trickster and Mercury. Using her alchemical healing wizardry, from the leaden material that we throw into the discussion, Lorie extracts gold. Along with her husband Benjamin, Lorie is co-founder of A New Possibility, a learning and healing community designed to help people develop a conscious relationship to their inner life. As a renowned acupuncturist and author of three books, including the recently-released The Alchemy of Inner Workthat she co-authored with Benjamin, Lorie offers insights that are priceless instruments in the quest for inner transformation. Please enjoy yet another spellbinding episode of Salish Wolf with Lorie Eve Dechar. Episode Links: A New Possibility Instagram: @anewpossibility Facebook: @anewpossibility  Books by Lorie Eve Dechar and Benjamin Fox The Alchemy of Inner Work book review Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions Men’s Group at Anchor Point Expeditions

Inner Alchemy is about transforming emotional lead into gold – not just healing, but braving the darkness to find the divine purpose and light of life. This is the weighty material that Lorie Eve Dechar, Benjamin Fox and I discuss in the laboratory of this episode as we forge a kindred-like bond. Lorie and Benjamin are not just professional practitioners and teachers of inner alchemy, they also live it to their core. Alone and together they have mined their wounds for glints of gold, and their transformations have become priceless resources for their widespread teaching. In this episode we excavate heartrending childhood trauma, examine many subtleties of relationships, and begin to pick apart the role of archetypes. We also deeply explore the concepts of life purpose and destiny and how we can carry on with integrity even when we lack clarity of our mission. Benjamin and Lorie are co-founders of A New Possibility, a learning and healing community where they help people develop a conscious relationship to their inner life. Benjamin is an astrologer and community builder, while Lorie is a renowned acupuncturist and author of three books, having co-authored the third, The Alchemy of Inner Work, with Benjamin. These two have so many gems to offer, and here we only scratch the surface of astrology and dream work, areas of their expertise that we will put under the microscope in future episodes. Get ready to have your consciousness stirred in this episode of Salish Wolf with Lorie Eve Dechar and Benjamin Fox. Episode Links: A New Possibility Instagram: @anewpossibility Facebook: @anewpossibility  Books by Lorie Eve Dechar and Benjamin Fox Book Review Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions Men’s Group at Anchor Point Expeditions

This is the second part of a riveting interview with the remarkable and wise shamanic healer Dar Pan. We pick up in this episode right where we left off in episode 37. Dar Pan wastes no time taking us into his vision for a more harmonious future in which we pry off the shackles of guilt, shame, and fear and emerge into the freedom of the healing power of love. This isn’t just a far-fetched, kumbaya utopia that he is offering but a realistic and attainable path forward that begins with the transformation of each of us personally, and he lays out the tools and benchmarks that we can apply to our individual journeys. We explore many contentious topics in this episode, including the injurious concepts of Original Sin and Settler’s Guilt, the fear-mongering propaganda of a controversial pandemic, and the ancestral shame that society affixes so incessantly to our psyche that perhaps only love and forgiveness will allow us to shed the labels that are rendering us incompatible with fellow beings on this planet, and at times, even with ourselves. As Eckhart Tolle demonstrates, there is an undeniable healing power of living consciously in the now. Dar Pan explores the virtue of human consciousness and how conscious communities can help restore our relations, bridging chasms that have been carved by our departure from living in the moment in exchange for technology that leaves us bereft of genuine connection. This is a powerful episode that can help guide us back to small- and large-scale communities that will thrive on that which unites us: our collective humanity. Welcome to a new vision forward on this episode of Salish Wolf with Dar Pan. Episode Links: Darpan.com Instagram @dar_pan369 Metamorphosis on YouTube A New Vision on YouTube Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions

If this episode had a subtitle, it could be “Everything you ever wanted to know about Ayahuasca without taking it, and then a whole bunch more.” Based in a beautiful rainforest oasis in Byron Bay, Australia, Dar Pan has been co-creating with Ayahuasca for nearly thirty years. Having mentored under some of the most renowned “psychonauts” of modern times, including Terence McKenna and Stanislav Grof, Dar Pan has held Ayahuasca ceremonies for thousands of individuals committed to a deeper connection to spirit. This is the first of two parts of a mind-blowing and heart-opening conversation, and each part is dripping with the nectar of psychoactive plants and the teachings they offer. After pursuing formal university studies in psychology, Dar Pan then went into theatre and acting for a dozen years and began his “real” psychological education in situ from the stage. What he learned about people and himself helped give him gifts that he would later use as a guide during countless plant medicine journeys. Dar Pan lays out copious information in this episode, including the history and chemistry of Ayahuasca, indigenous healing practices, variations on plant healing ceremonies, and his experimental research with the healing power of the acacia tree. He also talks about personal preparations that can be advantageous prior to ceremonies, such as a traditional diet and deep personal growth work. His careless hero’s journey one night with LSD makes for an astounding tale and carved into his psyche a deep lesson that he never forgot. Dar Pan is a beautiful man with profound connection to the healing powers of our planet, and also the healing powers that lie, sometimes dormant awaiting the right catalyst, within each of us. Please enjoy this episode of Salish Wolf with Dar Pan. Episode Links: Darpan.com Instagram @dar_pan369 Terence McKenna Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions

A native of Hong Kong, Stephanie Wang spent her formative years in a traditional culture steeped in mysticism, herbal medicine, and consciousness, and, on a personal level, one rife with challenges such as family unrest and emotional suppression. Eventually settling in New York City and later leaving behind a successful career in corporate finance, Stephanie found true alignment through plant medicine. She served as the president of The Alchemist’s Kitchen, which is dedicated to plant-based wellness and personal transformation, and Director of Evolver Holdings Corp, a leading conscious lifestyle company serving the post-new age transformational market. This conversation is strongly rooted in plant-spirit medicine, and specifically Stephanie’s healing journeys with ayahuasca, and psychedelic healing in general. We also explore the new herbal line of confectionaries that Stephanie is creating, which is a nod back to traditional plant-based “candies” such as marshmallow, licorice, and ginger that promoted health rather than today’s toxic and addictive sugar-laden, synthetic versions. Explorations in consciousness, which for Stephanie have included work with mediumship and channeling in addition to plant medicines, have always reinforced for her concepts of connection, unity, and love to all beings, not just humans. She shares these explorations in her podcast, How Things Connect, where she promotes authentic empowerment and conscious transformation with incredible guests. Stephanie is travelling a powerful path of healing and is dedicated to broadly sharing her insights for the benefit of all. I think you will enjoy the “sweetness” of life that she has to offer. Please enjoy this episode of Salish Wolf with Stephanie Wang. Episode Links: StephanieWang.com How Things Connect Podcast Instagram @stephaniewang5d Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions

I don’t know by what criteria National Geographic Society selects its six “Explorers for the Millennium”, but I imagine standards are fairly stringent. My guest in this episode, Ian Baker, earned a spot on that list for his extraordinary explorations in Asia, in particular through the Tsangpo gorges of Tibet. He also earned the trust and friendship of the Dalai Lama, from whom he has gained much wisdom and clarity. Always the adventurer, Ian takes us on a profound journey that covers topics such as Tantric Buddhism, the Tibetan art of healing, psychoactive plant medicine, and his team’s discovery of a Himalayan waterfall that had been the source of myth for more than a century, the daring details of which he recounts in his incredible book The Heart of the World. Ian also discusses his forthcoming book that will detail his journeys with the alchemist wizards of Burma and their intimate relationship with mercury. In what I found to be extremely fascinating, Ian also takes us inside numerous Himalayan caves where he has collectively spent many months in isolated meditation, including one three-month stint doing an esoteric practice prescribed by the Dalai Lama himself. In a world where most people turn outward for distraction every few seconds, Ian turns inward for months at a time for deep introspection and growth. Ian is the author of seven critically acclaimed books on Himalayan and Tibetan cultural history, environment, art, and medicine, including his most recent release, Tibetan Yoga: Secrets from the Source. Ian also leads private expeditions in India, Tibet, and Bhutan. This episode is deeply profound and enriching and has left me wanting more exposure to the teachings and wisdom of this remarkable man. Please enjoy this episode of Salish Wolf with Ian Baker. Episode Links: Ianbaker.com ian@ianbaker.com Books by Ian Baker Daniel Reid Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions

Dan Reid returns to Salish Wolf with another incredible interview during which we traverse the intense highs and occasional lows that have comprised the landscape of his life. Following narrative trails that he maps out in his 2-volume memoir, Shots from the Hip, we explore some of his most impactful experiences. Dan is best known as a leading author of all things related to Chinese culture, including Taoism, tea, herbal medicine, and qi gong. As I indicated in episode 25, The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity, Dan’s most popular book, greatly influenced my life and garnered legions of fans. Readers will find his memoir as expertly crafted as his other books, but likely far more entertaining, as Dan pulls no punches in telling the mind-blowing history of his life. We begin this episode with a look at the influence of drugs, namely plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and opium, on Dan finding his Tao. We explore philosophies and spiritual practices that have helped shape him such as Dzogchen, mediumship, and channelling. And we discuss how he has used much of his experiential knowledge, alongside his wife, to create a detox program that they have offered in many countries with incredible success. The valleys in his life have been quite deep, and Dan does not shy away from sharing some of the more harrowing periods, including three near-death experiences that rattled and rocked him to nearly the brink of no return, and the power of sound healing that helped to bring him back. Dan is a living testament to the magical and mighty journeys life can lead us on when we open to the spontaneity of the heart. His journey has been wild and exotic, with not even a trace of the mundane. Please enjoy this episode of Salish Wolf with my friend Daniel Reid. Episode Links: https://www.danreid.org/ Books by Daniel Reid Oolong-tea.org Anchor Point Links: Men’s Retreats at Anchor Point Expeditions