Into the Mystery

As we enter the solstice, there is a quality of breakdown, a quality by which the shadow elements of our Being can emerge to be cleared, making way for that day represented by the solstice and by Christmas where the light return … something within us re-merges out of the dark. This episode is an encouragement to discover that inner luminosity again. 

What does it mean to live from the heart rather than the head? As we clear away the residue of past conditioning, traumas, desires, and resistance, it becomes increasingly possible to embrace and even love those aspects of our existence that we might otherwise avoid. And in doing so, we unlock the secret to experiencing a love we may have sought for a lifetime, and indeed one more powerful than we imagined possible.

In the second half of our masculine/feminine discussion, we dive deeper into the dynamics of Shiva and Shakti, clarify some concepts from episode 1 such as the “chaotic” nature of feminine/yin energy, and throw around the word “phallocentric.”  For first listens to future episodes plus bonus content and access to a monthly live event led by Adi Vajra, please join us on our Patreon page at Patreon.com/IntoTheMystery. As always, we welcome your questions, comments and feedback.    

Although society traditionally associates “masculine” with male biology and “feminine” with female biology, in truth every individual possesses and expresses aspects of both. When we look at the movement of Divine masculine and feminine energies independent of one’s sex, we begin to see the beautiful dance they create together. Humans need access to the full spectrum of masculine and feminine energies in order to enjoy a full, creative life, and trouble can arise when we overemphasize one side at the expense of the other. The beauty, as always, is found in the balance — whether in an individual or between two Beings in relationship.  MORE: For bonus “Into the Mystery” content and information on our monthly live events, visit our Patreon page at Patron.com/IntoTheMystery.

In spiritual work, we sometimes refer to “the Longing.” We can think of it as an inner sense of something we desperately want but can’t quite define; for many people it is this unspecified sense of craving that brings us to practice in the first place. In this episode, we explore: What is it? What does it want? How do we satisfy it? Can it be satisfied? As we dive deeper, we discover that this capital-L Longing isn’t about fulfilling the common desires of life for possessions, connection or status (though it is most often mistaken or that). Instead, our experience of this Longing can reveal to us the deepest truths of Creation.

Our defense mechanisms help protect us from experiencing our original existential wound, which is our sense of separation from our Divinity. If we are to overcome them, we must begin to allow ourselves to be vulnerable — to embrace those parts of our personalities we’ve split off and rejected, to stand calmly in the face of attack, and to grow more comfortable with uncertainty. Doing so will reveal our inherent inner peace, strength, and ultimate invulnerability as Spirit.

In one sense, what we commonly refer to as “ego” is simply a collection of defense mechanisms — the habits of seeing, interpreting, and behaving in the world that help us to preserve a feeling of security and well-being. These can be as simple as needing to be “right” or as complex as highly structured fantasies we maintain about the world we live in. We are usually unaware of our defense mechanisms, and if they remain unrecognized they can prolong unnecessary suffering.    In this episode, prompted by a listener request, we talk about different kinds of defense mechanisms, what we use them to defend against, and how tools such as the Enneagram can help us uncover our unique defensive patterning so that we can begin to dissolve it.

Krishnamurti reportedly said, ”It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society,” and as we go deeper into our practice, the accuracy of that statement becomes ever more apparent. As our devotion to Truth grows, it reveals how fiercely the default world remains slavishly committed to upholding delusion and untruth.    So: If we are to be “in the world but not of it,” we need strategies for remaining centered in our Awareness as outside forces pressure us to adapt to every new development. Discernment, commitment, and boundary setting are key. In this episode, we discuss what that means.

One of the strongest compulsions of the ego is to try to make itself “bigger” and “better” in comparison to others. But why? If we inquire more deeply into this process, we find that our drive toward the grandiose is actually a distortion of a deeper, natural instinct toward expressing the grandeur of our Being. How do we tell the difference?…and more important, how do we decrease the operation of ego and increase the embodiment of grandeur? We discuss in this episode.

(NEW: To listen to new episodes up to one month before they appear on any other platform, join us at our Patreon page, Patreon.com/IntoTheMystery.) In this episode: At some point in our practice we must address the inevitable question that has confounded human beings since the beginning of time: Who am I? — or, more accurately, What am I? Having long conceptualized ourselves in terms of a particular collection of egoic structures, we sense something more spacious, stable, and omnipresent calling, and we long to know ourselves as It. The question feels unsolvable at first, but as yogis we can learn to discern between the movements of ego and exquisite attributes of our Divine true nature. In this episode we explore the transition from egoic identification to Self-embodiment. We hope this speaks to you deeply.

—FOR first access to new episodes: Patreon.com/IntoTheMystery— …Since its introduction in the West in the early 20th century, Yoga has at times been regarded with deep suspicion by practitioners of mainstream Western religions. Although Yogic practices have since gained widespread acceptance in health and wellness communities, confusion about what Yoga actually is, and is intended to accomplish, still abounds. In this episode we try to unpack the perceptions around Yoga as a religion, as well as why the very idea seems to make some people so fearful.

Gandhi famously said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Jesus exemplified this with His life and death.  Both understood that we can’t expect to impose any kind of meaningful change from without — via systems, movements, or especially violence — because that amounts to simply “rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.” Real change can only come from the inside out, one individual at a time. We can only live our lives in such a way that we confront our own demons, question our own motives, and clarify our understanding such that we may embody the Truth and serve as an example to others. It’s hard work, and not for the faint of heart. In this powerful episode, we explore what that means.

As Awakening unfolds, we inevitably find ourselves facing the difficult “dark night of the Soul” — not just once, but multiple times. Layer after layer of ego dissolves, bringing us face to face with the issues we built it to protect us from in the first place, such as our fears of emptiness, meaninglessness, and oblivion. But we may find that if we can hold fast to Truth, on the other side of the dark night lies the most radiant gift.  **Want more? For early access to new episodes as well as bonus content and exclusive subscriber benefits, please visit us at our Patreon page.

We all have intimations that the world is not what it could be. When we take up spiritual practice we are facing the forces that keep us ignorant, asleep, and unaware. In this episode we explore the nature of the “fallen world” and our relationship to it.

What is mastery for one who wants to live in alignment with the Tao? Unlike more mysterious spiritual texts, the Tao Te Ching gives us some practical instructions on how we can live as its embodiment. This advice often sounds counterintuitive, but we break it down and offer real life examples. To quote Lao Tzu … “When the ancient Masters said, ‘If you want to be given everything, give everything up,’ they weren’t using empty phrases. Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.”

In the second half of episode 22, we continue our discussion of the Tao Te Ching verses 18-19. In this segment we consider topics such as justice, morality, and the fallibility of human systems -- especially when weighed against the parts of ourselves that are in touch with the Logos and the wisdom of the Tao.

On its face, the wisdom of the Tao often seems to contradict the “common sense” of consensus reality. But as always, we must look deeper. Verses 18 and 19 complement each other in that they point us toward the Logos, an inner understanding of Truth that can guide us more successfully than the definitions of “justice” and “morality” often established by our human systems. In this 2-part episode we consider topics such as patriotism, greed, loyalty to groups, and other dynamics relevant to this moment in history. Oh ... and we get a little silly, too.

In this episode, our third in the Tao Te Ching series, we explore verse 39. This beautiful verse describes the wisdom of allowing oneself to be shaped by the Tao and thus live in alignment with it. What does this mean for modern humans? Among other things, it means tempering our technology with awareness, such that it doesn’t create problems worse than those it purports to solve.  Flowing with the Tao also means coming to an orientation toward our life circumstances that generates wonder and appreciation rather than envy and cynicism. When we do, the Tao “notices” and supports us even more. “In harmony with the Tao ... all creatures flourish.” 

Verse 33 of the Tao Te Ching offers potent clues about self-mastery and how staying centered in our Divine Self helps us to transcend every challenge — up to and including the death transition. Problem? Societal conditioning, often packaged as “common wisdom,” points us toward fulfillment in egoic pursuits that run exactly counter to the Tao Te Ching’s counsel. In this episode, we talk about how to navigate this “School of Earth” in ways that produce ever deepening wisdom, and joy.

For spiritually awakened human Beings, figuring out how to balance our growing awareness with the challenges of the material world can be a tricky undertaking. The Tao is often translated to mean “The Way,” and unlike more rarefied spiritual texts, it offers us a deeply practical “users’ manual” on how to live successfully in alignment with Divine Truth. We begin our Tao Te Ching series with this episode exploring the wisdom of verse 8 and how we “householder yogis” can apply it to modern life. \r\n