The feminine mystical experience that resides in both men and women can guide us through these turbulent times. Starr says, “The primary practice is about learning to be present with things as they are and there are spiritual technologies available to us across the spiritual traditions that help us to cultivate that depth of heartful presence in everything we do.” She is the author and editor of many books including Dark Night of the Soul: St. John of the Cross (Riverhead 2003), The Interior Castle: St. Teresa of Ávila (Riverhead 2004), Devotion, Prayers & Living Wisdom (Sounds True - six-volume Christian mystics series 2008), God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity & Islam (Monkfish 2012) and Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics (Sounds True 2018)

Tags: Mirabai Starr, feminine wisdom, interspiritual, women saints, nondualism, Bhakti path, Miranda Macpherson, Teresa of Avila, Neem Karoli Baba, grief, sangha, Dharma, Buddha, Three jewels of spiritual expression, triple gem of spiritual practice, Shabbat, women’s march of 2017, namaste, Tikkun Olam, bereavement, Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion, Buddhism, Women’s Studies

Wheatley shares the importance of creating "islands of sanity" in disruptive times to restore and awaken the human spirit. She outlines five stages for solving complex problems: deep listening, understanding diverse perspectives, inviting missing voices, letting go of old patterns, and creating conscious communities. Margaret J Wheatley, Ph.D. is an internationally acclaimed writer, speaker, and teacher. She is cofounder and President Emerita of The Berkana Institute, a charitable foundation that works with people around the world to strengthen their communities using the wisdom and wealth already present in their people, traditions, and environment. Her many books include: Leadership and the New Science (Berrett-Kohler 1998) and Restoring Sanity: Practices to Awaken Generosity, Creativity & Kindness in Ourselves and Our Organizations (Berrett Kohler 2024)

Interview Date: 3/14/2025 Tags: Margaret J Wheatley, Meg Wheatley, dwelling mind, complex systems, Personal Transformation, Psychology, Social Change/Politics

Here we delve into Bolen’s Japanese-American heritage and some of the mystical moments that have been guideposts in her life including a transformative moment as a Girl Scout in the mountains and sleeping under the stars. Bolen emphasizes the importance of love, joy, and curiosity in life, and the potential for spiritual support and collective consciousness. Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D. is a psychiatrist, a Jungian analyst, and an internationally known speaker. She is a former board member of the Ms. Foundation, an advocate for a 5th UN World Conference on Women and a convener of the Millionth Circle Initiative, as well as a permanent representative to the UN for the NGO, Pathways to Peace. She is the author of many books, including Ring of Power: Symbols and Themes Love Vs. Power in Wagner's Ring Cycle and in Us: A Jungian-Feminist Perspective (Jung on the Hudson Book Series) (Nicolas-Hays, Inc 1999) and Ever Widening Circles and Mystical Moments (Chiron Publications 2025)

Interview Date: 2/14/2025 Tags: Jean Shinoda Bolen, Girl Scouts, Milky Way, mystical moments, Japanese American, resilience, spirit guides, synchronicity, life assignment, love, delight, joyfulness, Personal Transformation, Psychology

Here, prize-winning author and teacher of writing Houston takes us through the life journey that led her to buy a piece of ranch land in the southwest corner of Colorado. She knew nothing about ranching but with the help of many people and animals her wandering life became tethered to the land. She also gives insight into the process of writing. Her books include Cowboys Are My Weakness (W.W. Norton 2011), Deep Creek: Finding Hope in High Country (W.W. Norton 2019), Contents May Have Shifted (W.W. Norton 2012)

Tags: Pam Houston, Terry Tempest Williams, Irish Wolfhounds, Creed Colorado, donkeys, Fenton Johnson, wildfires, Milky Way, metaphor, Ecology/Nature/Environment, Animals, Writing

Microdosing involves taking small amounts of psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms to enhance physical health and cognitive function. Here, we discuss protocols, legality, safety, and other collective knowledge. James Fadiman, Ph.D. is a former president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and professor of psychology. Jordan Gruber was awarded a Juris Doctor degree, and has forged and sculpted authoritative volumes in forensic law. He is the author of The Bounce: The Complete SuperBound® Guidebook to 21st-Century Rebound Exercise (co-author Joy Daniels) (SuperBound 2020), James Fadiman and Jordan Gruber are the co-authors of Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are (Park Street Press 2020) and Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance (St. Martin’s Essentials 2025)

Interview Date: 2/21/2025 Tags: James Fadiman, Jordan Gruber, microdosing, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, autism, depression, long-COVID, Paul Stamets, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation, Psychology

In these days of fake news, it is more difficult to know whom to trust and what to believe. We have entered, what Singh describes as, a post-–trust era. Here we shine a light on how we can be more mindful of the role we play, sometimes unwittingly, in condoning and promoting fakery and how we can become more alert to how vulnerable we are to falling prey to fakeness. Shiv Singh's books include: Social Media Marketing for Dummies (coauthor Stephanie Diamond) (For Dummies 2014), Savvy: Navigating Fake Companies, Fake Leaders and Fake News in the Post-Trust Era (coauthor Rohini Luthra, Ph.D.)(Ideapress Publishing 2019).

Tags: Shiv Singh, post-truth era, post-trust era, fact, fiction, Morton Deutsch, media silos, fake news, negative bias, Deb Roy, twitter, negative news, digital advertising, Edwin Rutsch, judgements, prejudices, newsguardtech.com, snopes.com, politifact.com, dog-whistling extremist points of view, artificial intelligence, AI, driverless cars, Media, Social Change, technology, personal transformation

After having a life-altering dream of a dragonfly, Williams contemplates the re-enchantment of our world to rediscover wonder, mystery, and meaning in our relationship with nature and the environment. He invites us to consider new perspectives on nature, consciousness, and the practice of re-enchantment in our modern world. Brooke Williams is a naturalist and environmental writer who covers subjects such as evolution, consciousness, and his own ventures exploring both the inner and outer wilderness. He advocates for the preservation of wilderness. His writings also take us with him on his many treks into the deserts of Utah, where he lives with his wife and partner, the writer and New Dimensions guest Terry Tempest Williams. He is the author of several books including: Half-Lives: Reconciling Work and Wildness (Johnson Books 1999) and · Encountering Dragonfly: Notes on the Practice of Re-Enchantment (Uphill Books 2025)

Interview Date: 1/17/2025 Tags: Brooke Williams, Kathryn “Mimi” Blackett, dragonfly, enchantment, Galapagos, Desert Fathers, climate change, imaginal world, Ecology/Nature/Environment, Personal Transformation, Psychology

We have the ability to live longer but ultimately death is a reality and advanced medicine is not well set up to prepare us for a peaceful death. Here is specific advice, with resources for the patient and caregivers, about dying with dignity. Butler advises us to not wait for a health crisis to consider our wishes about dying and to have conversations with friends and loved ones in advance.She is the author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Scribner 2014) and The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life (Scribner 2019)

Tags: Katy Butler, dementia, conveyor belt medicine, Western medicine, pacemaker, resilience, advance directive, medical directive, active living, active dying, Dementia Directive, pharmaceuticals, chemotherapy, palliative chemotherapy, hospice, lotsahelpinghands.org, sharethecare.org, DNR, do not resuscitate, dying in the ER, death certificates, Death & Dying, Health & Healing, spirituality