The Sacred Speaks

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, Dr. John W. Price sits down with Timothy Morton, philosopher, writer, and Rita Shea Guffey Chair in English at Rice University, for a wide-ranging conversation about hell, ontology, and what it means to live without an "outside." Morton is the author of Hell, along with numerous works on ecology, object-oriented ontology, and the entanglement of human and nonhuman worlds. Together, John and Morton explore hell not as an afterlife destination but as a lived condition of felt distance from the divine and deep entanglement with the biosphere. This conversation moves through ontology and how things exist, the critique of holism and mastery as tied to fascism and colonial habits of thought, the distinction between panic and grief as pathways to change, and why mystery, irony, and hesitation may be the most honest responses to reality. Morton frames social media as a continuation of 18th-century politics of sensibility, critiques metaphysics of presence and gnostic hierarchies, and suggests that paradise is not elsewhere but something we build inside hell. Rather than offering resolution, this episode invites listeners into an uncomfortable and generative encounter with the structures we inhabit without seeing. Key Takeaways: Timothy Morton defines ontology as how things exist and argues that our deepest assumptions about reality shape everything from ecology to politics. The conversation frames holism and mastery as colonial and fascist habits of thought, suggesting that ecology requires giving up the fantasy of total comprehension. Morton distinguishes panic from grief, proposing that panic is an ontological shock when our worldview cracks, while grief is the doorway through. The interview explores hell as an embodied, cultural structure rather than a metaphysical location, and suggests irony, hesitation, and mystery as reality signals. Morton reads William Blake as a poet of infinite narrators and weaponized gentleness, connecting the Lamb and the Tiger to questions of presence and paradox. Timestamps (00:00) Welcome and Guest Intro (01:26) Workshops and Community Updates (03:38) Substack and Upcoming Book (04:26) Jumping Straight Into the Recording (05:34) Writing Without Forcing (07:54) Why Hell and Ontology (13:22) Ontology Explained Simply (14:41) Holism and Fascism Critique (18:53) Ecology Against Mastery (23:02) Building Heaven in Hell (25:22) Trauma and Meaning Saturation (26:48) Mystery and Opacity of Truth (33:01) Colonizer Mind and Worldviews (39:00) Panic as Ontological Shock (41:19) Panic Before Grief (42:28) Mockery and Woke (43:26) Grief Breaks Control (44:24) Worldviews as Weapons (45:52) Frog Versus Soldier (49:02) Initiation and Identity Loss (52:37) Phenomenology Explained (56:46) Glitches and Consciousness (58:44) Gods of Decay (01:01:45) Evolution Without a Plan (01:06:34) Trust Made of Mistrust (01:08:29) Art as Emotional Poison (01:12:27) Social Media Sensibility (01:15:46) Irony Hesitation Reality (01:18:47) Online Irony Lacks Democracy (01:19:29) Blake Tiger Infinite Narrators (01:23:02) Lamb Poem Weaponized Gentleness (01:24:34) Hell as Flipped God Presence (01:27:04) Buddhism Fixation and Bypass (01:31:33) VIP Paranormal Double Speak (01:36:37) Hell Not Just State of Mind (01:39:35) Metaphysics Presence and Hierarchy (01:50:32) Embodied Paradox as Divine (01:52:28) Closing Reflections and Thanks Connect with Timothy Morton Rice University Faculty Page: Timothy Morton, Rita Shea Guffey Chair in English, Rice University Book: Hell by Timothy Morton Website for John http://www.drjohnwprice.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W Price sits down with mythologist and storyteller Dr. John Bucher, Executive Director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, to explore how story functions as a living force that shapes our lives, culture, and sense of meaning. They trace John's early "graduate degree in storytelling" in a small Texas video store, move through themes like the quest to come home, reconciliation with the father, and the "magical orphan," and show how our favorite films reveal the deep mythic patterns we're unconsciously living. The conversation dives into archetypes, subtext, AI as a new cultural story, the loss of shared myths in a hyper-individualized media landscape, and the possibility of a "collective heroic journey" where groups answer a shared call of desperation rather than a single hero saving the day. John also offers very practical tools for "telling a better story" in our own lives, from changing our information diet to small daily rituals that reorient us toward hope, connection, and agency. Key Takeaways: John Bucher: Telling A Better Story Stories and myths are the "operating system" of the human mind, shaping how we make sense of everything from traffic to transcendence. What truly draws us into stories is not plot but theme, like coming home or reconciling with the father. Our favorite movies quietly reveal our core genres, themes, and unresolved psychological material. We are losing shared cultural stories, which contributes to loneliness and fragmentation. Finding a "better story" starts locally: in our media diet, daily practices, and small collective actions. Timestamps (00:00) Meet Mythologist John Bucher (00:58) Housekeeping (03:45) The Storytelling Almanac & Why Story Matters (05:52) East Texas Video Store as a Storytelling School (09:36) Theme Over Plot (Homecoming & Other Motifs) (12:56) Genre as a Mirror (18:27) Cinderella, Hope, and "Telling a Better Story" (20:45) So What Is Story? (23:49) Myth vs History: When Religion Literalizes Story (29:13) Subtext, Symbol, and What's Unsaid (31:56) Stepping Outside Old Stories, Grief, and Trying on New Identities (37:48) Grace, identity & the 'fedora guy' (39:21) AI as a cultural story (41:06) Ritual and the last 'collective story' (42:37) Beyond the Hero's Journey (44:26) What we lose with curated, individualized media (46:09) Addicted to hope: choosing a better collective future (48:43) History & pop culture (51:56) Why stories repeat (54:19) What is an archetype? (58:15) Back to AI: tool vs. threat (01:06:55) Hearing the local call and joining the collective journey (01:10:22) Practical antidotes to despair (01:16:53) Closing gratitude & where to find John's work Connect with John Bucher Website: https://www.tellingabetterstory.com Link hub (books, podcast, etc.): https://linktr.ee/tellingabetterstory X (Twitter): https://x.com/johnkbucher Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/johnkbucher Instagram (Telling a Better Story): https://www.instagram.com/tellingabetterstory Joseph Campbell Foundation profile / team page: https://www.jcf.org/about-joseph-campbell-foundation/team Pacifica Graduate Institute faculty page: https://www.pacifica.edu/faculty/john-bucher "Learning to Tell a Better Story" YouTube interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLIOUw4dAB0 Connect with John Price Website: http://www.drjohnwprice.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, Dr. John Price sits down with Molly Carroll, therapist, writer, and host of the podcast Cracking Open, for a searching conversation about intuition, rupture, and the cost of inner honesty. Molly is the author of Trust Within: Letting Intuition Lead and Cracking Open. Her work grows out of lived dislocation, from moments when the life she was building no longer aligned with what she knew in her body. Together, John and Molly explore intuition not as a slogan or guarantee, but as a capacity that often becomes audible only after something in our lives refuses to continue as planned. The conversation moves through engagement endings, grief, codependency, therapy, and the subtle tension between anxiety and knowing. It considers whether intuition steadies us or unsettles us, and whether following it restores coherence or quietly dismantles the identities we once relied upon. Rather than offering formulaic guidance, this episode invites listeners into a more honest and discerning relationship with their own interior life. Key Takeaways: Molly Carroll describes the first “white picket fence dwindling moment” when she realized the life she planned (including an engagement) wasn’t the life she truly wanted. The conversation frames intuition as a lived capacity shaped by rupture, grief, and risk rather than a simple gift or guarantee. The hosts emphasize integration of experiences—personal, spiritual, and professional—rather than retreating from discomfort after rupture. Molly recounts leaving an engagement with a fiancé visa in play, choosing honesty with herself over social expectations. The interview situates therapy and healing arts as pathways to listen to deep truths, even when those truths disrupt established life scripts Time-stamps (00:00) Introduction and Guest Overview (00:41) Housekeeping and Announcements (02:44) Introducing Molly Carroll (04:31) Molly's Journey and Intuition (07:16) Cracking Open Moments (11:28) The Role of Intuition and Personal Growth (22:53) Victimhood and Personal Responsibility (33:01) Connection and Compassion (43:05) Exploring Emotional Expression (43:53) The Healing Power of Tears (46:32) Creating Space for Vulnerability (49:20) Understanding Codependency (52:57) Intuition vs. Codependency (54:41) The Role of Intuition in Decision Making (01:08:56) Money, Worth, and Intuition (01:18:17) Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Connect with Molly Website https://molly-carroll.com/about/ Book https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Open-2nd-Molly-Carroll/dp/1320934374?keywords=cracking+open&qid=1572021083&sr=8-1 Website for John http://www.drjohnwprice.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, we explore what it means to embrace the full range of our humanity — including shadow, aggression, sexuality, contradiction, and desire — not as something to be corrected, but as something that longs to be understood. My guest, Dr. Douglas Thomas, joins me for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about BDSM and kink through the lens of depth psychology. Rather than approaching these practices as pathology or spectacle, Douglas invites us to see them as symbolic, archetypal expressions of the psyche — places where power, surrender, ritual, and imagination reveal what we most often exile from consciousness. Together, we explore why sexuality and kink function as cultural “third rails,” why moral rigidity so often masks unconscious shadow, and how ordinary people can participate in extraordinary harm when disowned material is projected outward. This conversation moves beyond questions of “good” and “bad” and instead asks what wholeness actually requires of us — personally, culturally, and spiritually. At its heart, this episode is an invitation into a more courageous ethic: facing the darkness within so that we reduce hatred, loosen moral certainty, and relate to ourselves and one another with greater honesty, humility, and compassion. 👉 Key Takeaways Wholeness matters more than appearing morally “good.” Denying our darker impulses fuels projection, rigidity, and violence. Projection is largely unconscious, which is why “ordinary” people can participate in extraordinary harm while believing they are righteous. Sexuality and kink operate as cultural shadows, exposing fear, shame, and control dynamics we often refuse to confront directly. Cultivating curiosity instead of certainty around our shadow opens space for intimacy, ethical responsibility, and collective healing. Episode Timeline (00:00) — Introduction and orientation (00:46) — Announcements and resources (03:50) — Introducing Dr. Douglas Thomas (05:36) — Douglas’ background and personal journey (11:31) — Entering the leather community (14:44) — Masculinity and hyper-masculinity (23:39) — Transgressive necessities and psychological wholeness (32:37) — Sexuality, kink, and cultural taboos (36:27) — The complexity of kissing and biting (37:37) — Historical context of sexual disorders (39:35) — Fetishes and their psychological meaning (40:30) — Defining healthy and unhealthy sexual behaviors (42:52) — Introducing kink and BDSM (46:44) — The Theatricality of BDSM BDSM as embodied theater — where ritual, archetype, and imagination shape experience. (49:47) — Spiritual and Transformative Dimensions Erotic intensity as a doorway into altered states, presence, and transformation. (56:29) — Negotiation and Consent Consent as sacred contract — how boundaries and negotiation create safety and depth. (01:01:15) — Trauma and Empowerment Moving beyond simplistic narratives to explore reenactment, reclamation, and integration. (01:08:06) — Personal Reflections and Broader Implications What this work has revealed personally — and what it offers our wider culture. Connect with Dr. Douglas Thomas Website https://www.drdouglasthomas.com/ Practice (Jungian-based psychotherapy, Pasadena, CA): https://www.drdouglasthomas.com/abou Check out the book “The Deep Psychology of BDSM and Kink: Jungian and Archetypal Perspectives on the Soul’s Transgressive Necessities – https://www.drdouglasthomas.com/book Website for The Sacred Speaks: http://www.drjohnwprice.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Dr. Jennifer Freed joins host Dr. John W. Price on The Sacred Speaks for a wide-ranging and intimate conversation at the crossroads of psychological astrology, Jungian depth psychology, and lived mysticism. Jennifer shares her personal journey—from early childhood visions and psychedelic experiences, through trauma, therapy, and decades of clinical and spiritual work—to her current understanding of astrology as a living, symbolic map rather than a fixed fate. Together, we explore how the birth chart functions as an invitation into “divine possibilities,” revealing our growth edges, shadow material, and evolving expressions across a lifetime. Our dialogue moves through themes of shadow integration, relational devotion, nervous system regulation, and cultural upheaval, including reflections on Pluto in Aquarius and what this moment asks of humanity. Jennifer offers a sobering yet hopeful vision—one that calls for discernment, humility, and deeper participation in the unfolding mystery of being human. Key Takeaways Astrology as Invitation, Not Determinism The birth chart reveals our cosmic DNA—a range of primitive, adaptive, and evolving expressions—inviting conscious participation rather than passive identification. Shadow Integration and the Nervous System Owning projections and shadow material brings regulation and clarity, helping us think more clearly amid ideological rigidity and identity fixation. Romance as Daily Devotion True intimacy is not sustained by chemistry alone, but by ongoing self-care and a quiet, consistent service to the subtle needs of the beloved. Cultural Crossroads Under Pluto in Aquarius, humanity faces a profound threshold—between fragmentation and unity—with discernment, responsibility, and imagination required. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction and updates (00:27) Upcoming events and community initiatives (01:27) Special mentions and acknowledgements (02:51) Introducing Dr. Jennifer Freed (04:13) Jennifer’s journey and body of work (06:51) Early mystical experiences (08:35) Psychedelic insights and Jungian influence (10:58) Therapeutic journey and personal growth (16:35) Astrology and personal insight (36:53) The role of intuition in astrology (42:47) Adding value, embodiment, and ecstatic dance (43:08) Mars in Pisces: challenges and opportunities (43:58) Rigidity, discipline, and devotion (44:57) The joy of dance and energetic freedom (45:21) Astrology as a path of growth (50:08) Self-care and relational health (50:31) Serving your partner with presence (52:18) Astrology in romantic relationships (01:05:12) The human experiment and the future (01:08:18) Extraterrestrial encounters and meaning (01:12:59) Closing reflections Website & Offerings: https://www.jenniferfreed.com (Includes her Substack, courses, and retreat work) Books: Use Your Planets Wisely — exploring planetary expressions from primitive to evolving Beyond Aquarius — a romance novel emphasizing inner work and conscious relationship Learn more about this project at: http://www.drjohnwprice.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ Twitter: Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

In this solo episode, I explore the deep significance of ritual—especially as we move through the season of descent and into the longest night of the year. Modern culture has stripped ritual of its heart, reducing sacred rhythms to holidays and surface forms. What once rooted us in mystery has become spectacle or habit. In this conversation, I want to return to the essence of ritual as something alive—something that helps us remember what we’ve forgotten. I share personal stories and reflections from my own spiritual practice, from early meditation experiences to what I’ve learned through depth psychology and comparative religion. We’ll look at how genuine ritual serves not as superstition, but as an act of remembering, reconnecting, and transforming—an embodied way of saying yes to the unseen life moving through us. This episode explores how ritual bridges matter and spirit, how mystical experience can reorient the psyche, and how remembering the sacred in everyday life is both an act of rebellion and a return home. Ritual invites us to tend what still burns within us—to live in rhythm with the mystery that underlies all things. Key Reflections Ritual anchors the sacred in the rhythms of everyday life. Modern culture often forgets the true essence and transformative power of ritual. Mystical and peak experiences ask to be honored, integrated, and lived—not chased. Remembering and reclaiming ritual is an act of rebellion, renewal, and belonging. In This Episode (00:00) Introduction to Ritual and Peak Experience (00:59) The Cultural Disconnect with Rituals (03:34) Personal Story: Meditation and Transformation (07:48) The Dual Structure of Human Experience (10:12) The Importance of Mystical Experience (14:34) Ritual as Rebellion and Remembrance (16:02) Invitation to Free Webinar on Ritual (17:08) Conclusion and Closing Reflection WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with pioneering therapist and author Terry Real, whose decades of work have redefined how we understand men, relationships, and emotional life. Nearly thirty years after the release of his groundbreaking book I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, Terry reflects on the evolution of men’s inner worlds, the cultural forces that still shape them, and the courageous work required to heal. This conversation moves between the personal and the collective—between the suffering of individual men and the systems that taught them to suffer silently. Together, John and Terry explore how patriarchy has halved both men and women, severing men from their emotional lives, and how healing requires a return to connection, empathy, and embodied relational practice. Through heartfelt stories, clinical insight, and grounded wisdom, Terry calls us toward a new model of masculinity—one rooted not in dominance or disconnection but in courage, accountability, and love. This episode is an invitation to anyone longing to understand the hidden pain of men and the pathways toward relational wholeness. Key Themes -Male depression as a covert epidemic—often masked by addiction, anger, or withdrawal rather than sadness. -How patriarchy teaches men to fear vulnerability and equate worth with production, control, and performance. -The intergenerational inheritance of silence and shame between fathers and sons. -Why true intimacy depends on empathy, humility, and repair—not dominance or emotional avoidance. -The call for a new relational culture that honors interdependence and shared healing. Time Stamps 00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation 03:00 – Revisiting I Don’t Want to Talk About It nearly 30 years later 06:30 – How patriarchy harms men and the women who love them 10:45 – Understanding covert male depression 16:20 – The producer model: when net worth becomes self-worth 22:10 – Loneliness and the erosion of male friendship 29:40 – Family systems, shame, and the father wound 37:15 – Relational Life Therapy: a model for repair 44:00 – Vulnerability as strength 50:30 – Healing through accountability and compassion 58:00 – The future of masculinity and relational wholeness Connect with Terry Real Explore Terry’s courses and trainings in Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for both professionals and general audiences: 🌐 terryreal.com 🌐 relationallife.com Connect with Dr. John W. Price Website: https://drjohnwprice.com Podcast: https://thesacredspeaks.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnwprice/ If this conversation resonates, please like, share, and subscribe to The Sacred Speaks to support these ongoing dialogues at the crossroads of psyche, soul, and the sacred.

In this heartfelt episode of The Sacred Speaks, John Price sits down with longtime spiritual guide and Franciscan friar, Father Richard Rohr. Together they explore the deeper dimensions of happiness and meaning—moving far beyond cultural clichés. Drawing on Richard’s decades of integrating psychology, spirituality, and mysticism, the conversation challenges conventional ideas of happiness as mere pleasure or circumstance. Instead, Richard invites us to embrace a “just right mind”—a way of living that balances ego, suffering, and joy. Speaking with candor and humility, he reflects on aging, facing death, and the transformative power of love, community, and humor. This conversation is a profound invitation to shift from sin management to radical compassion and participation in a bigger, joyful universal flow. Key Takeaways True happiness emerges from a “just right mind” that balances enough ego to appreciate life without judgment or denial. Happiness is not external comfort, but the capacity to meet suffering with grace and mindfulness. Radical acceptance and surrender open us to a joy larger than the self. Humor and community sustain lightheartedness and connection in the face of life’s challenges. In This Episode (00:00) Welcome to The Sacred Speaks (03:57) A Deep Dive into Happiness (05:33) The Concept of "Just Right" Mind (10:49) Sin Management and Spiritual Growth (14:40) The Role of Ritual and Authority (18:27) Balancing Ego and Humility (25:47) Order, Disorder, and Reorder (27:45) The Illusion of Happiness in Modern Culture (28:44) The Shadow Side of Comfort and Entertainment (29:51) The Interplay of Happiness and Suffering (33:28) Personal Reflections on Happiness (36:11) Finding Joy in Simple Pleasures (47:06) The Role of Humor in Happiness (50:41) Nature as a Source of Happiness (53:32) Final Thoughts on Happiness and Meaning Connect with Richard Rohr Official Website (Center for Action and Contemplation): https://cac.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cac_abq/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/richardrohrofm Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rohr CAC Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/re-release-father-richard-rohr-falling-upward/id1080170463 CAC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMkqKAtSgijU439fJUNHnkA Connect with Dr. John W. Price Website: https://drjohnwprice.com Podcast: https://thesacredspeaks.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnwprice/ If this conversation resonates, please like, share, and subscribe to The Sacred Speaks to support these ongoing dialogues at the crossroads of psyche, soul, and the sacred.

Explore the new site: www.drjohnwprice.com Join us in The Open Gate: https://www.drjohnwprice.com/the-open-gate-lt In this solo episode, I explore what it means to build a rhythm of spiritual practice—not as an escape from life, but as a way of showing up for it. I draw from my background growing up in a socially engaged religious community, my years as a psychotherapist, and the long process of returning to a deeper, embodied spirituality. We’ll look at the difference between outer ritual and inner transformation, between spiritual performance and real participation. Along the way, I weave in ideas from Jungian psychology, the necessity of emotional honesty, and the quiet work of remembering the sacred within ordinary life. This conversation is about developing a living rhythm, a pattern written in the soul, that keeps us connected to meaning, community, and presence. Key Themes Spiritual practice is both an inner path and a shared human process. Rhythm matters more than perfection. Emotional experiences—grief, fear, longing—are not obstacles; they are initiations. Nature and everyday ritual reawaken a sense of belonging and presence. Community, teaching, and discipline form the architecture of a spiritual life. In This Episode 00:00 — Introduction to Spiritual Practice 02:06 — Defining Spirituality 03:53 — The Importance of Contemplative Practice 08:44 — Personal Experiences and Insights 18:07 — Challenges and Misconceptions 23:56 — Practical Steps and Final Reflections Follow: Instagram — @thesacredspeaks Facebook — The Sacred Speaks Brought to you by: www.centerforhas.com Theme Music: www.modernnationmusic.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price welcomes Mirabai Starr—acclaimed translator of the mystics, teacher of interspiritual wisdom, and luminous guide to the sacred woven through daily life. Together, they explore the heart of ordinary mysticism: discovering holiness not only in monasteries or mountaintops, but in the tender rhythms of our own existence. Mirabai opens her story with radical honesty—her countercultural Jewish upbringing, alternative education, and the teachers and traditions that shaped her. The conversation turns to how rigid ideas of “being spiritual” can keep us from true intimacy with the divine, and how humility, humor, and embodiment restore us to a living spirituality. Mirabai shares how the death of her teenage daughter became a devastating but sacred initiation, revealing grief as one of the deepest portals into divine love. Moving between ancient voices and her own life, Mirabai offers a mysticism that is fiercely tender, humble, embodied, and accessible to all. This dialogue invites us to see our own lives as sacred ground—woven with loss and beauty, pain and joy, shadow and wonder. Key Takeaways Mysticism is accessible in everyday life, not just in monasteries or religious settings. Rigid religious or cultural ideas of “spirituality” can block authentic spiritual experience. Embodiment and emotions—especially grief—are sacred entry points into deeper connection. Translating the mystics is less about history than entering a living dialogue across time. Friendship, humor, humility, and even money can be part of an integrated spiritual life. In This Episode (00:00) Introduction and Welcome (00:20) Introducing Mirabai (01:14) Mirabai’s Background and Influences (02:30) Personal Tragedy and Grief (03:21) Housekeeping and Announcements (05:26) Interview with Mirabai Starr Begins (07:33) Ordinary Mysticism and Everyday Spirituality (08:54) Critique of Organized Religion (13:38) Counterculture Upbringing and Influence (18:39) Alternative Education and Teaching Philosophy (23:29) Feminine Mysticism and Embodiment (38:32) Translating the Mystics as Living Companions (43:33) The Supernatural and the Natural (45:55) Writing as Dialogic Spiritual Practice (51:27) Grief and the Sacredness of Loss (01:00:21) Writing as a Spiritual Path (01:14:02) Navigating Money and Spirituality (01:18:17) Closing Reflections & Resources Connect with Mirabai Starr Company: Wild Heart Community: Holy Lament (online support for grief; opens twice yearly, next in Nov 2025) Book: Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground (HarperOne, Sept 2025) Earlier Works: Wild Mercy, Caravan of No Despair, her translations of Dark Night of the Soul and The Interior Castle, and more - check out Mirabai's website: mirabaistarr.com Connect with John Come and join, The Open Gate. Link on website Website: https://drjohnwprice.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnwprice/

What does it mean to think impossibly? How do paranormal events, mystical visions, and encounters with the unknown reshape our understanding of what it means to be human? In this episode, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Kripal — J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, and one of today’s most daring scholars of religion — to explore the borders between the possible and the impossible. Together, they trace the line where scholarship meets the mystical, where imagination bends into healing, and where our deepest worldviews determine what we are even able to see. From UFOs and near-death experiences to William Blake, dual-aspect monism, and the future of spirituality, this is a wide-ranging conversation about living at the edges of reality. Be sure to check out Jeff’s latest book, How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else. Key Takeaways Embracing the impossible expands not just our knowledge, but our capacity for awe, healing, and transformation. Worldviews — personal and cultural — filter what counts as “real,” shaping how we encounter extraordinary experiences. Paranormal phenomena aren’t just curiosities; they are symbolic invitations into deeper practice and meaning. Thinking impossibly is less about belief and more about orientation — a way of living that opens us to mystery. Dialogue at the borderlands of science, religion, and imagination may hold the key to the future of spirituality. In This Episode (00:00) Introduction & Guest Bio (01:59) Housekeeping & Announcements (05:13) The Origins of “Thinking Impossibly” (09:52) Stories of the Impossible (13:16) The Role of Worldviews (16:34) Religion, Science, and the Paranormal (22:14) Healing, Suffering, and Transformation (28:32) The Power of Story & Magic (35:12) Teaching the Impossible (42:39) The Future of Spirituality (46:06) Closing Reflections & Resources Connect: Jeffrey: https://jeffreyjkripal.com John: https://www.drjohnwprice.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, John sits down with Adele Getty—spiritual teacher, author, and cultural bridge—to explore the urgent, timeless wisdom of her book A Sense of the Sacred. Though written nearly 30 years ago, Adele’s work feels more relevant than ever in a world hungry for meaning, ritual, and reconnection with the more-than-human world. Together, John and Adele reflect on the lost world of animism, the power of symbolic action, and the aching grief of cultural severance from the sacred. Adele shares her path as a modern-day rite-maker, offering personal stories, cross-cultural insights, and poetic invitations to remember what it means to live in a living world. The conversation moves fluidly between anthropology, personal spirituality, indigenous wisdom, and the transformative potential of ceremony—especially in a time of ecological crisis and soul loss. This episode is both an intellectual dialogue and a soul invocation. If you've ever felt the quiet mourning of a life unlived—or sensed the sacred just beneath the surface of ordinary things—this conversation is for you. Key Themes: Animism as a lived cosmology—not a belief system, but a relationship The grief of modernity and the longing for reconnection Ceremony as both personal healing and collective repair The sacred role of women, humor, and voice in ritual How to begin building meaningful ceremonies in contemporary life Why symbolic acts matter in a disenchanted world Reflections on the psychedelic resurgence and ritual ethics Episode Timeline: (00:00) Introduction and Guest Announcement (00:37) Podcast Updates and Announcements (02:25) Introducing Adele Getty (04:02) The Book as a Lament and a Love Song (09:05) Adele’s Personal Background and Influences (11:56) Animism and the Cosmology of Connection (16:44) Ceremony as Daily Practice and Communal Healing (24:54) Spirit, Voice, and Song in Ritual Work (35:32) Historical Context and Cultural Amnesia (47:34) The Psychedelic Explosion and Western Disconnection (50:26) Modern Psychedelics, Integration, and Ethical Ceremony (51:24) Nature as Teacher and Ceremony Ground (52:35) Creating Sacred Spaces in Ordinary Life (01:14:21) The Role of Humor, Play, and the Trickster (01:18:51) Symbolic Acts and Soul Reenchantment (01:19:57) Final Reflections on Ceremony and Belonging (01:26:44) Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Offerings Connect with Adele Getty & The Limina Foundation: Website: https://www.liminafoundation.org/ Facebook: @liminafoundation Instagram: @liminafoundation

In this unforgettable episode, Dr. John Price sits down with writer, ritualist, and mytho-technologist Sean Manseau, whose work bridges depth psychology, psychedelics, performance, and esoteric theology. Together, they explore Entheogenic Fitness Training (EFT)—a radical spiritual system designed for the metamodern age. EFT combines physical resistance training, psychedelic states, mythic storytelling, and ritual performance to create a structured path of transformation. At its core is the archetype of the Phonomancer—a shamanic superhero trained to channel divine energy through movement, voice, and ecstatic states. Sean also shares the inner journey behind his visionary book The Devil You Know, a Jungian-style self-analysis written as a dialogue between two imagined selves. This conversation offers a deep dive into imagination, magic, trauma, shadow work, and the struggle to maintain integrity while mapping new sacred ground. From ayahuasca visions to ecstatic dance, from black magic to simulated belief, this is a conversation for those willing to question what’s real, what’s possible, and what the future of spiritual practice might become. Topics Covered: How suffering can become sacred resistance Psychedelics as initiatory stressors (not just therapy) Make-Believe vs. Make-Belief as spiritual technology Designing a religion for the age of simulation The adversary as a real force in consciousness Ritual performance as a container for ego death From anima to AI: dialoguing with the inner divine Addiction, psychosis, and how to build inner structure The idea of “Functional Enlightenment” and training spiritual capacity Gnosis, the Christ archetype, and becoming a conscious myth-maker In This Episode (00:00) Introduction and updates (06:35) Ayahuasca, ritual, and the origin of EFT (13:00) Phonomantic method and psychedelic training (17:00) Make-believe, religion, and sacred play (22:00) Ecstatic states, magic, and the imaginal (30:00) Dark magic, possession, and archetypal rage (35:00) Writing The Devil You Know as active imagination (41:00) Addiction, psychosis, and safety in altered states (49:00) Resistance, shamanic ecology, and loving the adversary (57:00) What is Functional Enlightenment? (1:14:00) Christ 2.0 and the collective evolution of soul (1:26:00) Ending the psychedelic Tower of Babel Subscribe to stay connected to conversations on psychology, mysticism, imagination, and the evolving face of spiritual practice. Find Sean at: https://www.phonomancer.com/home Learn more: www.drjohnwprice.com Sign up for the newsletter Follow on Instagram: @thesacredspeaks Check us out at www.thecenterforhas.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, I sit down with Dr. Gregory Shaw—renowned scholar of Neoplatonism and author of Hellenic Tantra and Theurgy and the Soul—to explore a forgotten path of spiritual transformation: theurgy. Together, we investigate: What theurgy actually is—not as abstract philosophy, but as a living practice. How modern culture’s loss of a mythic worldview creates both psychological pathology and spiritual hunger. Why Iamblichus taught that the divine does not live “elsewhere” but is present within matter itself. How ancient rites and rituals can restore a sense of sacred participation in our lives today. Gregory Shaw’s work bridges ancient philosophy and contemporary spirituality, showing how ritual, sacred embodiment, and symbolic consciousness can help us recover the animistic worldview our culture has lost. This conversation moves beyond ideas—it’s a call to remember. Subscribe to The Sacred Speaks for more conversations at the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and myth. Learn more about Gregory Shaw: • Hellenic Tantra: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVN69KY7 • Theurgy and the Soul: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0271023228 • Interview on The SHWEP Podcast: https://shwep.net/podcast/gregory-shaw-on-the-phenomenology-of-iamblichean-theurgy/ Connect with me: • Website & offerings: https://www.drjohnwprice.com • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ • Podcast archive: https://www.youtube.com/c/thesacredspeaks

In this episode of 'The Sacred Speaks,' host Dr. John W. Price engages in a conversation with Dr. Miles Neale, a Buddhist psychotherapist and esteemed teacher. Dr. Neal, who specializes in Tibetan Buddhism and contemplative practices, discusses his book, 'Return with Elixir,' which maps out the pilgrimage through death and rebirth. The discussion explores the intricacies of ancient Greek dream temples, Jungian psychology, and Tibetan tantric practices. Dr. Neal also shares his personal journey, including the impact of a significant mentor-mentee relationship, and the transformative power of pilgrimages, both outer and inner. He reflects on a recent pilgrimage in the Sum Valley, emphasizing the importance of virtue and integrity in the present age. This episode invites listeners to explore the ancient wisdoms and methodologies that guide the path to self-discovery and holistic healing. In this episode (00:00) Introduction and Guest Overview (01:09) Host Announcements and Updates (03:09) Introducing Dr. Miles Neal (03:57) Exploring Ancient Healing Practices (05:54) The Journey of Writing 'Return with Elixir' (18:07) Critique of Modern Western Medicine (28:30) Personal Transformations and Pilgrimage (53:20) The Role of the Inner Guru (59:03) The Mythological Journey to Sun Valley (59:55) The Mission of Lama Zopa (01:01:08) Building the Stupa: A Symbol of Enlightenment (01:05:59) The Collapse of Civilization and the Role of the Stupa (01:09:16) The Importance of Virtue and Integrity (01:15:06) Pilgrimages and Inner Journeys (01:21:13) The Tibetan Art of Dying and Reincarnation (01:38:25) The Living Tradition of Tantra (01:52:07) Final Thoughts and Reflections Connect with Miles Neale Website https://www.milesneale.com/ Instagram @milesneale https://www.instagram.com/milesneale/?hl=en YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMilesNeale Website for John: www.drjohnwprice.com WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Check out John’s new website https://www.drjohnwprice.com/ Join The Open Gate – A Monthly Journey Through the Emotional Underworld The Open Gate is a live, monthly membership circle where we explore what I call the Little Teachers—emotions like shame, jealousy, and anxiety—not as pathologies, but as sacred guides. Each gathering includes teaching, meditation, journaling prompts, and a chance to reframe suffering as initiation. If you’re longing for community, rhythm, and depth—this is a space to walk that path. - https://www.drjohnwprice.com/the-open-gate-lt In this deeply reflective solo episode of The Sacred Speaks, host John W. Price explores the elusive and powerful principle of the feminine—drawing on insights from his previous interviews with Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles (author of Women in the Bible) and Elise Loehnen (author of On Our Best Behavior). John shares personal stories of his own initiation into the world of nurturing and care as a single father, and discusses how our culture’s overemphasis on the masculine has led to the neglect and invisibility of feminine values like intuition, mystery, and nurturing. Through the lens of archetypes—not gender—John examines how both masculine and feminine energies exist in all of us, and why restoring harmony between them is essential for personal and collective well-being. Using metaphors from music, psychology, and mythology, he invites listeners to embrace the mystery, honor the feminine, and seek a sacred balance within themselves and the world. Some key takeaways: The feminine represents mystery, intuition, and nurturing—qualities often undervalued in our culture. Masculine and feminine are archetypal energies, not tied to gender, and both are needed for inner and outer harmony. Restoring balance means honoring both energies, embracing the unknown, and seeking integration rather than dominance. In this episode (00:00) Introduction and Episode Overview (01:06) Synthesizing Interviews: Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles and Elise Loehnen (01:50) Exploring the Feminine and Masculine Principles (05:16) Personal Reflections and Experiences (09:28) Cultural and Archetypal Analysis (19:46) Insights from Jamie and Elise (27:46) Concluding Thoughts and Call to Action 🌎Find John W. Price WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: https://www.thecenterforhas.com Theme music provided by: http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

Join me for a live webinar – Reframing Suffering: The Little Teachers We'll explore anxiety, jealousy, and shame as sacred teachers. Date: Wednesday, May 14 https://www.drjohnwprice.com/littleteachers-event-2025 Make sure to check out the book Women in the Bible https://www.amazon.com/Women-Bible-Interpretation-Resources-Scripture/dp/0664234011 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, Dr. John W. Price speaks with Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, a New Testament professor at SMU and ordained Baptist minister. The discussion covers Dr. Clark-Soles’ groundbreaking work on women in the Bible and her forthcoming book on psychedelics and Christianity. Dr. Clark-Soles shares her insights into translation, interpretation, and the often hidden or misrepresented roles of women in sacred texts. The conversation also delves into her personal experiences—including participating in a psilocybin clinical trial—which deepened her spiritual understanding and informed her scholarship. Together, they explore the complexity and richness of scriptural interpretation, the transformative possibilities of embodied reading, and the role of community, humility, and curiosity in authentic spiritual exploration. 🧠 Connect with Jaime: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimeclarksoles/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaimeclarksoles/ Website: https://www.jaimeclarksoles.com/ In this episode: (00:00) Introduction and Guest Overview (00:29) Exploring Women in the Bible and Psychedelics (02:25) Invitation to Upcoming Webinar and Resources (03:52) In-Depth Conversation with Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles (06:19) The Intersection of Religion and Psychedelics (07:59) Personal and Professional Journey (12:02) Challenges and Misconceptions in Christian Communities (17:48) Hermeneutics and Interpretation of Scripture (28:40) Fear and Pride as Obstacles to Learning (38:49) Calendar Confusion and Community Building (39:53) Psychedelics and Spiritual Experiences (45:10) The Mystical Side of Christianity (56:33) Women in the Bible: A Deep Dive (01:13:13) Exploring Greek and Hebrew Language Nuances (01:14:42) Patriarchy and Gender in Biblical Context (01:17:13) Women’s Roles in Ancient Societies (01:23:30) Reevaluating Female Biblical Figures (01:28:16) Challenging Traditional Interpretations (01:39:26) Finding Community and Hope in Faith 🌐 Website: www.drjohnwprice.com 🎥 WATCH on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ 🏛️ Brought to you by: The Center for Healing Arts and Sciences https://www.thecenterforhas.com 🎶 Theme music provided by: Modern Nations http://www.modernnationsmusic.com

In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with Elise Loehnen—writer, researcher, and author of On Our Best Behavior, a book that explores how the ancient moral framework of the seven deadly sins has been internalized by women, shaping their identities, relationships, and sense of worth. This conversation is not just a review—it’s a ritual inquiry. Together, John and Elise explore: The invisible “scripts” that define femininity in a patriarchal culture; How envy, pride, sloth, and other so-called “sins” reveal deeper spiritual truths; What Elise risked—and learned—by stepping out from her “invisibility cloak”; How patriarchal systems harm men as well, and the cost of emotional suppression; How men and women can co-create a future rooted in collaboration, not competition The role of grief, longing, and sacred agency in personal and cultural awakening; Elise also shares behind-the-scenes insight into her writing process, her podcast Pulling the Thread, and her evolving work around binaries, individuation, and collective healing. This episode is part of a broader arc on The Sacred Speaks focused on rebalancing the masculine and feminine within us and in our culture. Join John for the upcoming live webinar: Reframing Suffering – The Little Teachers Explore anxiety, jealousy, and shame as sacred messengers 📅 Wednesday, May 14 https://www.drjohnwprice.com/littleteachers-event-2025 or see @thesacredspeaks on Instagram 👉 CONNECT WITH ELISE LOEHNEN: Website: https://www.eliseloehnen.com/about Check out Elise Loehnen’s powerful book: On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good https://www.amazon.com/Our-Best-Behavior-Seven-Deadly-ebook/dp/B0BN574QYK Substack: https://eliseloehnen.substack.com/ Podcast: Pulling the Thread 🧭 CHAPTERS: (00:00) Introduction and Guest Announcement (00:12) Book Recommendation and Feminine Focus (00:36) Upcoming Episodes and Personal Projects (00:49) Cultural Excavation and Feminine Scripts (03:30) Interview with Elise Loehnen Begins (04:27) Exploring the Seven Deadly Sins (06:00) Patriarchy and Cultural Conditioning (16:54) Masculine and Feminine Archetypes (20:04) Podcasting and Personal Growth (25:33) Psychedelics and Personal Experiences (41:25) Writing as a Transformative Process (45:16) The 'Me' Story vs. The 'We' Story (46:52) Individualism vs. Collectivism (47:31) Individuation and Awakening (48:36) The Matrix and Cultural Narratives (50:24) Exploring Envy and Its Origins (52:17) The Seven Deadly Sins and Their History (56:45) Navigating Envy in Men and Women (01:13:40) Patriarchy and Its Impact on Men (01:19:26) Building a Bigger Tent for Everyone (01:20:31) Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks 🎧 Interview begins at (03:30) 🔗 THE SACRED SPEAKS: Website: http://www.thesacredspeaks.com WATCH: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg FOLLOW: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: www.thecenterforhas.com 🎶 Theme music by Modern Nations @ www.modernnationsmusic.com