The Numinous Podcast

Today I'm talking to my girl, Jessie Hemphill, and we're having a warm and wonderful conversation. It's like we're all sitting down for tea and Jessie's telling us stories about growing up Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxd'axw and Métis in rural coastal Canada while passing for white. We hear a bit about 'Nakwaxd'axw mythology, what her Indigenous name means, how she became a politician, and what it means to do urban planning using culturally-based Indigenous planning processes. Finally, I tell the story of how I became infatuated with met Jessie and she changed the course of my life with some magic words. Then we dish about our unhealthy ways of coping with grief and rage. In the end, it's abundantly clear how much we love each other and this whole show is just a meeting of our mutual appreciation society. You should definitely learn more about Jessie and recommend her company to any community that is looking for a facilitator who can sit in the truth and hold space in the heart of the matter.

This special episode is a recording of an hour-long keynote address I gave in the fall of 2016. The title of the talk is, "Learning To See In The Dark: Reclaiming Our Power, Transforming Our World". It's a deep dive into the Dark Woman archetype, how she shows up in our lives, why she is so feared and what her purpose is in transforming our lives and our world. For further reading: Charlene Spretnak Jean Shinoda Bolen Demetra George Caroline Casey Carol Leonard & Elizabeth Davis Peggy Reeves Sanday Marije Gimbutas

Explore the spiritual dimensions of abandonment and its emotional challenges. Learn a transpersonal therapy approach tailored for spiritually intuitive clients. Delve into the five stages of abandonment, processing pain, and nurturing the inner child. Discover techniques for self-compassion and acceptance, along with creative visualization tools for emotional growth. A metaphorical journey using a house guides listeners to rebuild their sense of self, fostering resilience and joy in the healing process.

Dive into the complexities of attachment and its deep ties to addiction and emotional health. Discover how childhood experiences shape our relationships and influence self-esteem. The podcast also examines the historical context of abandonment and its effects, including a fascinating look at the Orkney Islanders and their struggles. With thought-provoking insights, personal stories, and recommended readings, listeners gain a richer understanding of how connection and community play pivotal roles in healing and overcoming trauma.

Dive into the deep-seated effects of abandonment wounds and the primal fears they evoke. Explore how trauma and addiction intertwine, with insights from groundbreaking research like Bruce Alexander's Rat Park experiments. Discover a structured five-step healing process using hypnotherapy and learn how cultural influences can lead to chronic dissatisfaction. The journey unfolds as spirituality intersects with trauma, emphasizing holistic healing and the importance of understanding intent versus impact.

Lindsay Rose is a Reiki Master and intuition development teacher who has experienced more than her fair share of loss and tragedy in her life. In this episode, Lindsay shares the intimate story of her healing journey along with a host of techniques and tools that helped her cope when the sadness, pain and anxiety was overwhelming. This is an excellent episode for anyone who's struggling with the pain of death, a break-up or any form of abandonment. Learn more about Lindsay Rose at her website or on her blog. Find out about Love School at Locate Your Soulmate.

I chat with living occult encyclopedia, John Michael Greer, author of popular blogs, The Archdruid Report and The Well of Galabes. John is Past Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America and current head of the Druidical Order of the Golden Dawn, and the author of more than thirty books. (Makes you wonder what the heck you do with your time, doesn't it?) In this second conversation with John, we talk about why ritual sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. I ask him about the placebo effect in relation to ceremony and healing. He tells me about a Druid communion ceremony (???) in more detail, including a description of the use of solar and telluric currents of the cosmos. We talk about the impact of reclaiming the gods of nature. And then he schools us on "decensus" and genetic drift. It's a broad, sweeping and thought-provoking conversation about how and why the universe works the way it does and how humans behave in relationship to the greater realms. Whew!

My marketing crush, Carrie Klassen, shares the story of a heart-wrenching experience that occurred while she was volunteering at a shelter for abused girls and women in India. How We Met I first came across Carrie's work some time around 2009. When she released her workbook, How To Write a Loveable Homepage, she became the go-to adviser that I recommend to any entrepreneur who feels icky when it comes to sales and marketing.  

When she was 19, Shayla Logan was homeless and suffering from severe depression with suicidal tendencies. For six months, she lived on the street while working her way through the court system to take control of her life. A near-death experience changed everything.

What is the size and shape of the wound of absence? When she was 11 years old, Sheila Webster's mother died of cancer. With tender open-heartedness, Sheila shares her story of navigating her mother's death and the impact it had on her life as she became a woman and a mother. This show was created in response to a previous episode on the Mother Wound. Sheila commented that she couldn't really relate and I was intrigued. How We Met I'm not sure I remember exactly how I met Sheila - I think she saw me speak at a conference and then booked an appointment with me. I know it was about four years ago and we've since woven in and out of each other's paths. When I think of Sheila, the word "alignment" comes to mind. She's one of those people you meet and instantly know she's a good, solid, dependable person with a strong moral compass. Considering her story, that seems quite a feat, no?