1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:12,239 Speaker 1: M from grandmothers who whispered in their baby girl in 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: two fathers on dimly lit street corners, instructing young soldiers 3 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: to always keep their eyes open. You be queen, you 4 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: were fired. You will pass through centuries on the hands 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: of your daughters. They called you wisdom. Proverbs on the 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: backs of diamond eyed school children who growing into hymnals 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: recited by amethyst holding urban philosophers who recited neighborhood commandments 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: out of the windows of restored ALCHEMYO cheriots to keep 9 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: the warmth of their blood. Be wise, be smart, being black, 10 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: Opal Brown courts bloodstone and prayer. Be every form of 11 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: jim se King told, scribe, scribe, told son, son, told wife, 12 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: wife told her daughter, and daughter told the ass. This 13 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: is at the ancestors told me that you would come 14 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: to give wisdom of thousands. They said you would come. 15 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: It's rocking. It's rocking. Welcome to The Dropping Gem's podcast. 16 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: I'm Debbie Brown. Thank you for being here. It is 17 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: such a joy always for me to come and do 18 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: this show and share with you. Oh today, Okay, I'm 19 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: gonna be one honest with you. This might be the 20 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: episode I'm most excited about in my whole history of 21 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: doing this show, and it's for a couple of reasons. 22 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: The amazing woman that I'm having on the show today 23 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: is truly a spiritual pioneer, and she has been existing 24 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: in this world for decades and decades, but specifically at 25 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: the gorgeous intersection of spirituality and feminism. That is what 26 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: her life's work is centered on, and it has been 27 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: a profound expander for myself in my life. So I 28 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: want to get right into this show. Highly recommend taking 29 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: a second right now to get a notebook, candy, or 30 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: just have access to the notes in your phone in 31 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: case you want to jot a couple of things down 32 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: and get comfortable. Really, Saver, Savor, Saver. This episode today's 33 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: show has a very special guest. Her name is Elizabeth Lesser. 34 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: She's the best selling author and the co founder of 35 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: the Omega Institute. She's the author of several best selling books, 36 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: including Cassandra Speaks, When Women Are the Storytellers, The Human 37 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: Story Changes, my personal favorite, which I know you'll recognize 38 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: the title of Broken Open, How difficult times can help 39 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 1: us grow and marrow, love, loss, and what matters most. 40 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: She's the co founder of Omega Institute, which is recognized 41 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: internationally for its workshops and conferences and wellness, spirituality, creativity, 42 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: and social change. And she's given two extremely popular TED 43 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: talks and is one of Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul One 44 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: d a collection of a hundred leaders who are using 45 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: their voices and talent to elevate humanity. H here is 46 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Lesser. Welcome to the show. Thank you for having me. 47 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: It's like a delight. Oh my gosh, Okay, I might 48 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: cry right now. This episode to date is I think 49 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: the episode I'm most nervous and really excited about on 50 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: the deepest level possible. You changed my life in so 51 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: many ways, in so many ways, I am such such 52 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: a deep admire of your work, all of your hands 53 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: on her truly. Um. When I first read your book 54 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: Broken Open about ten years ago, it changed the trajector 55 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: ray of how I thought I was allowed to feel 56 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: about my pursuit of self, what I thought i'd be 57 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: able to investigate. It gave me courage to use pain 58 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: as really a profound spiritual tool and to use grief 59 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: as a tool. And being able to shift my perception 60 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: was the piece that allowed my life to evolve into 61 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: what it is now, So I just want to start 62 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: this show. Was saying, I am so grateful for your existence. 63 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful for your work, and I'm so so 64 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: grateful for just the courage you've had for so many 65 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: years to introduce people to themselves. Oh wow, that might 66 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: be the nicest intro I've ever gotten. You know, it's 67 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: so funny us human beings and us women and our 68 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: impostor syndrome. Like when I got your introduction and I 69 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: saw all the people you've had on your show, and 70 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: I felt like, Realish wants to have me on the show. 71 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: Everybody's so like hip and young and into it, and 72 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,679 Speaker 1: I'm just such a woman in her sixties, so out 73 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 1: of it, you know. So I was just like, wow, 74 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: this is an honor. So it's an honor for me too. 75 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: So we can dispense with the like, you know, oh 76 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: you're so amazing, or you're so amazing, and just be here, 77 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 1: as I say in my book, Broken Open, just bozos 78 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 1: on the bus. We are. But you know, I would 79 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 1: love to offer to you. I think it is important 80 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: that you hear that. Even and I know you're so 81 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: not an ego and so it's you're just like I'm 82 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: a channel for the divine and and it's a gift 83 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: to do this work. But that receptive flow, like I 84 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:52,799 Speaker 1: just hope you received, thank you recognized. Yeah, both both 85 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: of those things are so important. Thank you. Yeah. So, 86 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: something I love so deeply about your work is you've 87 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: really walked two main paths in your life, this beautiful 88 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: road of spirituality but also very deeply the feminist path 89 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: and the way that I've created to so many of 90 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,679 Speaker 1: the ways that you offer your work. It's it feels 91 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: like you have spoken to and really recognized some of 92 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: the deeper, more burrowing questions and conflicts as women we 93 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: have about even attempting to go on a journey of 94 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 1: self or being in our internal worlds, and so many 95 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: of the things that you expressed, especially in Broken Open 96 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: but also your observations and the Seekers Guide, it's just 97 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: I had never heard anything expressed before, but especially said 98 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: in such a way where there was so much depth 99 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: of language but also so much simplicity. So it's just like, 100 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: let me start applying, let me soak it um. So 101 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: I would love to start with emotional depth, like having 102 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: access to language, building our way to understand ourselves. How 103 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: did you begin to understand that as such a powerful pathway, 104 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: and how can people even begin that journey? Mm hmm. Wow, 105 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: that's that. That is abut all the answers to your question. 106 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: We're in your question that Tally said, Uh, you know, 107 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: as a writer, I spend so much time with words, 108 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: and words are such powerful vessels for the truth. They 109 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: can never fully wrap around the truth, you know, the 110 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: essential truths. That's why the poets, that's why hip hop artists, 111 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: that's why the most stripped down words that really pack 112 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: it are. That's why we love them so much. You know. 113 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: That's why something like the Bible and the Beatitudes, what 114 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: Jesus said, and all the great words continue. They're like, 115 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: it's the word, it's the beginning with the word. So 116 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: for me writing, I just feel very blessed that I 117 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: love to write and that um, I have spent my 118 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: life trying to find words. I remember when for quite 119 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: a while I worked with Oprah and I um, she 120 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: got in touch with me because she wanted to take 121 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: these very complicated spiritual books and find a way to 122 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: pack them into webinars that might allow people who hear 123 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: the words spiritual or mystical and think that's not me. 124 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: I don't know anything about that. That's too much for me, 125 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: you know. I'm just trying to live my life. Don't 126 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: be the spiritual on me. And so someone had told 127 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: her about um, not only my books, but the work 128 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: I've done at Omega Institute describing other people's work. So 129 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: I worked as a producer with her for a long time, 130 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: and and I had a little radio show on her 131 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: serious XM station. And one day she heard me using 132 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: the word conscious and consciousness. And afterwards she said, don't 133 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: use that word because so many of the people and 134 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: I would granted this was about fifteen years ago, but 135 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: so many of the people who listened to my stations 136 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: and read my magazine and watch my TV show. To them, 137 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: the word conscious is the opposite of in a coma, 138 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: you know. So you lose them right away. If you 139 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: say conscious, are you conscious? They think, yeah, of course 140 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: I'm conscious. I'm breathing. So let's what do you mean 141 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: by conscious? What do you mean by a week? And 142 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: and and I love to ask myself that all the time. 143 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: I'm mean by the feminine principle, like you just throw 144 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: that around and you're not really asking yourself to live 145 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: up to what it's all about. So I'm always asking myself, 146 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: what does that even mean? How do I walk that talk? 147 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: You know, I think and what I'm hearing and what 148 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: you're saying to It's it's the mastery that's found in 149 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 1: the crevices, like the daily crevice work of why did 150 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: I just feel that way? Or what came up with me? Right? 151 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: What do you think is so different about being able 152 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: to be in that more real time process versus I 153 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: think the way many people experience those discomforts. It's then 154 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: let me spend an hour on it in the shower, 155 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: running back, the conversation, running through. But it seems like 156 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 1: it's more through what ego lens when that happens. So 157 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: what is the importance of kind of that momentary processing? 158 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: M Yeah, a lot of times, especially because I have 159 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: worked at Omega Institute of Conference and Retreat Center outside 160 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: of New York, which is all about teaching people the 161 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 1: skill of mindfulness and body awareness and healing and all 162 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: the things you are such a masterful speaker about. Um. 163 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: I I have noticed over and over people come and 164 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: take workshops, you know, workshop junkies who are like, I'm 165 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm coming to this yoga class. I'm gonna really perfect 166 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: the pose, and I'm gonna have the best yoga pants 167 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: and the newest kind of meditation map, and like this 168 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: what's called spiritual materialism. Like if I I just buy 169 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: the right things, or learn the right Sanskrit words, or 170 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: do the right things, then maybe I'll have this thing 171 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: called self cares or self reflection or enlightenment. When indeed, 172 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: as you say, it's when the rubber meets the road 173 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 1: of real life. So meditation is a practice. I mean 174 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: I used to have three sons and they were all 175 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: basketball players, and I used to watch them, like practicing 176 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: their drills all the time. You're just out there bouncing 177 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: that freaking ball over and over. Try not so they 178 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: became great drill players, but so that they could do 179 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: the art of basketball well, meditation and yoga and prayer, 180 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: whatever you do. It's just like that. You're not doing 181 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: it to become a great meditator or even to become 182 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: a great yogi. You're doing it so you can play 183 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: the game of life, real life. So you're in a 184 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: room with your kid who's having a tantrum. You need 185 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: her to put on her shoes to get her to camp. 186 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,559 Speaker 1: Or whatever it is she's doing and she won't do it, 187 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: and you feel that thing rising in you where you 188 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: just want to like haul off and yell or yank 189 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: or whatever. And that's when your practice comes in. Like 190 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: meditation teaches you to the pause. It's called like take 191 00:12:56,040 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: a pause and become that person within you who can 192 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: very quickly, right now observe the whole situation in a second. 193 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: Oh she's hungry, Oh her feelings are hurt. Oh she 194 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,239 Speaker 1: needs a hug, or oh she really does need firmness, 195 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: and your higher self immediately is downloaded into the moment. 196 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: That's why we meditate, not so that what people think 197 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: we're so cool. It's like I would like to be 198 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: a a nerd dork who meditates because I'm not doing 199 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: it to be cool. I'm doing it to be a 200 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 1: really fine human being every day. Ah wow, so beautifully said. 201 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,320 Speaker 1: And I found that it's it's the pause that actually 202 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: changes your life. And that was a big shift for 203 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: me because even when I started meditating, I was very 204 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: much meditating the way of Okay, I'm gonna meditate for 205 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: twenty minutes, then I'm gonna do this. Then I'm mediate this, 206 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: you know, and you're really just caught up in in 207 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: like the method of it or or in the structure 208 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: of it. But when coming into that surrender of it 209 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: and just the beautiful disarray that it sometimes is, it's 210 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,839 Speaker 1: like you find that peace and that pause and that 211 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: that is the shift. The world is not going to shift. See, 212 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: that's the thing. And boy are we learning that now. 213 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: I mean, look at what this year has been. This year. 214 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: If it's not going to catch you here, it's gonna 215 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: catch you here. If it's not you know, racial reckoning, 216 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: it's climate change, it's the pandemic, it's losing your job, 217 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: it's it's everything. And so that's that's our work. That's 218 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: our worked, but our our source of of aliveness is 219 00:14:56,160 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: inside us and then we bring that out to do 220 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: the work in the world. Yeah, we are. We are 221 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: entrenched in opportunity after opportunity right now to really learn 222 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: some self referral. And it sucks. It's not like meditation 223 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: makes it seem fun, but it gives you some ground. Yeah, 224 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: you know. Speaking of Omega Institute, Um, wow, first it 225 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: I'm really excited because I'll be on campus for the 226 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: first time in October. I'm going to be a speaker 227 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: on the Raicky Retreat with William rand I wasn't really 228 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: aware of this. I can't keep it all straight in 229 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: my head. Well, I hope you are in the area, 230 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: because I will be searching for you. I will be there. 231 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: I will come say hi to you. That will be 232 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: so incredible. You know, you co founded this really phenomenal 233 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: campus over forty years ago, and it blows me way 234 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: to even think that something I've I found myself off 235 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: and on in deep thought about over over the last 236 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: year is people such as yourself, these really huge paradigm shifters, 237 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: like you saw forty years ago the work that was 238 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: needed on this planet, and then not only did you 239 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: apply it to yourself, but you created structure so that 240 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: masses of people could awaken. It's just mind blowing to 241 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: me to think about in this moment, especially when almost 242 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: forty years ago, having conversations like this out loud was 243 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: so incredibly rare and really perceived as very strange. What 244 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: are you noticing about the moment of awakening forty years 245 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: ago versus what we're standing in now, and are you 246 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: seeing any differences and how we're on the spiritual path um. 247 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: I'm seeing massive differences, and then of course no differences 248 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: because I'm so level. You know, all you have to 249 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: do is go back and read the most ancient texts 250 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: that whether it's a bagavad Gita, or the Koran, or 251 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 1: or the Bible or or the Taoists, you know, it's 252 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: like it's fresh. The poetry of Roomy, twelfth century Persian 253 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: poet is the biggest selling poet in the world now. 254 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: So that's enough to tell us nothing really changes when 255 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: it comes to the mystery of being being alive. I 256 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: often think about the cave men and women sitting around 257 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: the cave, our oldest ancestors on the savannahs in Africa, 258 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: looking up at the sky and having very little language. 259 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: But I know their first questions to each other were 260 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: what where did we come from? What do we do 261 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: now that we're here? Where do we go and we die? 262 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: How do we have relationship? You know? What what does 263 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: it mean to purpose? People asking and not answering this 264 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: question for ever? So has anything changed? No, but have 265 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: the way it's been integrated into culture and used to 266 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: mitigate the challenges of the times. I have so much 267 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: hope for these times. I think it's an amazing situation 268 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: we're living in right now. I mean, to me, my 269 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: hero at the moment is Simone Biles. Simone Biles took 270 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: the warrior code and lived it her whole young life. 271 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: Because the best competitor in the world in her sport, 272 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: she knows how to win, she knows how to prevail, 273 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: she knows how to push. It's very much sort of 274 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: the g the masculine energy. And then she showed us 275 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 1: how to be an integrated human being because all this 276 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: work people like you and me have been doing on vulnerability. 277 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 1: I know that you stepped down from a lot of 278 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: of intense responsibility because you listen to your body and 279 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: your heart, Davy and and and you said, I'm going 280 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: to honor what my mental health and physical health asks. Now, well, 281 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: she did this on the world's large stage, and I 282 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: swear I cry about it every time I talk about 283 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: it or think about it. Like she said, this is 284 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: what a warrior looks like to I'm going to take 285 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: care of myself. I'm going to hand over to my team, 286 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: and it's I don't have to be the special one. 287 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: And and what really excites me isn't only that she 288 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: did it, but that most of the world men women athletes, 289 00:19:55,080 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: observers said, you go simone, thank you than cute. Now, 290 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: of course, there's the grumpy dudes, for whom this threatens 291 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: everything about them. The code of never give up, always fight, 292 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: you know, sort of the militaristic, the mistaken idea that 293 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: to be masculine is to be violent and to be 294 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: always fight or flight. Um, she's challenged that, and most 295 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: of the world said yes, mm hmm, so give me 296 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: that's hopeful. That's a sign that that spiritual practice is 297 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: bearing fruit and we're looking at a new way to 298 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: be a hero. I love that, and I think it's 299 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: a sign of hope because the whole world needs to 300 00:20:48,800 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: take a break. What I feel is really shifting in 301 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: this moment um, especially as it relates to like this 302 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: this intense kind of awakening that's happening on the planet 303 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: or deepening in people compared two years ago. It's it's 304 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: really we had this huge foundational shift over the last 305 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: six years, from the Me Too movement to all the 306 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: social injustice that not only came to the forefront in 307 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: new ways, but people had to witness it no matter what, 308 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: which means everybody is getting cracked open in these small ways, 309 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: but it feels like at least in the way I'm 310 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: experiencing it, And I love your thoughts for women now 311 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: on the spiritual path, it seems that some new veils 312 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: were removed that have been collectively understood that we're not 313 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 1: going to operate in that framework, specifically like this role 314 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: of martyrdom or this idea that women have to deplete 315 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 1: their existence in order to be worthy. Um, and that 316 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: has felt so powerful I think for me on this 317 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: path and and for many on this path, um, So 318 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: I would just I would love your thoughts even on 319 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: the spiritual journey for women, um. And and even dismantling 320 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: some of that, some of those structures and some of 321 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: those systems that we even put our souls into the 322 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: confines of right, dismantling our inner patriarchy, just like just 323 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: for women, I mean, dismantling patriarchy is a whole other subject. 324 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: Happy to talk about activists in me who would like 325 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: to go out there and does go out there, but um, 326 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: dismantling our the way the messages still stick to us 327 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: is the spiritual work women. I mean, this is what 328 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: and I feel are our teachers now, in particular are 329 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: black women because I feel the code dismantling you have 330 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: to do with white supremacy is has has I don't know, 331 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: I just I just think this that these are the 332 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: leaders now black women. I mean just you don't even 333 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: have to think that or want that. Just look around. 334 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: These are this is what's happening now. So I how 335 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: do we dismantle our inner patriarchy? And by that I 336 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: mean women. We have gotten our foot in the door 337 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: of so many industries and areas, whether it's business or politics, 338 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: or just being the heads of our family. But I'm 339 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: not interested in that anymore. I'm interested in we do 340 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: when we get in the door, when that door opens, 341 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: do we want to just walk into it and become 342 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: the patriarch? Or do we want to do power differently? 343 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: And there is a way to do power differently. And 344 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 1: but that doesn't mean just because we're women who now 345 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: have a lot of influence in the world, that we're 346 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: going to do it differently. We got to make sure 347 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 1: that we do it differently, and we have to devote 348 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: ourselves to self reflection. To Um. I quote at the 349 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: beginning of my book, Um Cassandra speaks my new book 350 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: about women and storytelling, I quote Tony Morrison, who says, 351 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:50,479 Speaker 1: as you enter positions of trust and power, dream a 352 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: little before you think. And what she means by that, 353 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: I think is we have been told forever that our 354 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: dreams are second Our dreams are too emotional. They're about 355 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: things like love and connection and relationship. That's all like 356 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 1: kind of touchy feely. Leave that in the kindergarten room 357 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: or Valentine Day cards. You know, like your dreams are 358 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: too small there, they don't have backbone. They're about caring 359 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: and things like that. Well, what Tony Morrison tells me 360 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: in that quote is that trust our dreams. Our dreams 361 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: are going to save the world. Our dreams that have 362 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: been called second rate forever now have to be first 363 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: the dreams of caring, of creating a caring economy, creating 364 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: emotional intelligence as the intelligence men and women both need. 365 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: We tell boys, we tell girls you can be anything 366 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 1: a boy can be. Now we've got to tell boys 367 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,959 Speaker 1: you can be anything a girl can be. Like, how 368 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 1: about if we tell how a bud if that's all 369 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: we did, those of us with son say, honey, you 370 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,120 Speaker 1: can be anything a girl can be. If you think 371 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: a girl is all about um being kinder or nicer, 372 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 1: or talking more or nurturing more. Not that that's the 373 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: only thing girls can do, but like you can do 374 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: that too, that is what a hero does. Wow. Wow, 375 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: that made me think of my son. He's three, and 376 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: part of the way that I am looking to give 377 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: him access to himself is by really being intentional, by 378 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: not like kind of adding sexism to the language that 379 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: I use with him. So like, I love calling him beautiful. 380 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 1: I'm always like, you are so beautiful, You're gorgeous, You're 381 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: you know, you're so kind. What a great way, you know, 382 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 1: I like to highlight those qualities that you just said, 383 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 1: So that that felt so beautiful to hear, you know. Um, 384 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: when I was researching for the book, of Course, I 385 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,719 Speaker 1: was going back into all these old myths and stories 386 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: and video games and the stories that our culture is 387 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: built upon, so many of them only featuring men, written 388 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 1: by men, and I came across a different kind of story, 389 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:24,239 Speaker 1: a science story I call it, which is that in 390 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: the nineteen thirties and forties, Harvard professor doctor of psychology 391 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: brought people into his lab at Harvard and he wanted 392 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:39,639 Speaker 1: to measure what happens two people under stress so he 393 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 1: stimulated these stressful situation situations and then measured the hormones 394 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 1: and blood chemicals, and he was the man who came 395 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: up with the phrase fight or flight. Under stress, human 396 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: beings either aggress or retreat. And then fast forward to 397 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: the early two thousand's, a woman net U c l 398 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: A named Dr Shelley Taylor noticed that the only people 399 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: Dr Taylor brought, i mean Dr Dr harvard Man brought 400 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: into the lab were men, because that's the only people 401 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: that medical studies were done on really until recently, you know, 402 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: even heart disease was they realized recently, only men have 403 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: been studied, so we didn't even know what the symptoms 404 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: were in women or what medication doses we should use. 405 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,120 Speaker 1: So the we came up with fight or flight from 406 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: studies only done on men. So Dr Taylor brought women 407 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: into the lab and replicated the studies, and yes, sometimes, 408 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: but not that frequently, understress, women's hormones show elevated fight 409 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 1: or flight. But also something she ended up calling tend 410 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: and befriend. Women have an instinct, as measured in hormones 411 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: when the go and gets rough, to tend to the 412 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: to the most vulnerable in the community. How are the kids? Hey, 413 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: mom and dad? Come here? And how can I care? 414 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 1: From you? Looking up? How do you take care of 415 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: someone under COVID? And and bringing the family together? And 416 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: that's the tend and then befriend under stress, women have 417 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: an instinct to want to create circles of friendship. You know, 418 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: you have a hard day, what do you do? You 419 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 1: don't come home? Usually grab a beer and just watch TV. 420 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: You call your friends, this happened, that happened. What would 421 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 1: you do? This is what I did? And you create 422 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: communities of caring. Anyway, this is not all women, all men, 423 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:50,959 Speaker 1: but hormonally women do have a tenden befriend instinct that 424 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: is elevated under stress. And what I take from that is, Okay, 425 00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: we created this story, starting with the Odyssey and other 426 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 1: Greeks and Chinese myths, that there's only one way to 427 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: deal with the problems of life conquer fight or run 428 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: away and let the other victor have it, you know, 429 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: fight or flight. But there is a whole other way 430 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: that we have subjugated and devalued, and it's called tandenby 431 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: friend and which is what now I feel is the 432 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: instinct that's got to prevail. Wow, Mic Drop, Wow, Wow. 433 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 1: You know that is so incredible, and it this further 434 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: for me something I've been thought about a lot, and 435 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: I want to highlight for everyone a couple a couple 436 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: of pieces of work that really touched me HER's recently, 437 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: a few articles. You have an article right now that 438 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 1: everyone write this down if you have a notebook, Candy, 439 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: and please look it up to spend time with in 440 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 1: the Sunday Paper. It's called Facing the Grief of Gathering 441 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: in our Hearts. And another article that I just read 442 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: of you was women Power in the Shadow and really 443 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 1: connecting too much of what you were saying around this 444 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: this more inherent way of being that we were created 445 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 1: with or that we incarnated with, but using that softness, 446 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: that reason, that nurturance as the guiding force for what 447 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,479 Speaker 1: we're doing and what you're explaining to me feels like 448 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: what is so different about this shift in this moment 449 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: in time, Like we went from this kind of hero's 450 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: journey structure which was so rooted in that power in 451 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: that warrior two more of like the gentle warrior, the 452 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: silent power, the the way I experienced it as like 453 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: the invocation, like we are able to use our radiance 454 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 1: and our nurturance as a healing balmb for ourselves in 455 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 1: the world in this moment. Yeah, and and that's not 456 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: to say that sometimes the backbone of the of the 457 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 1: ancient warrior isn't something we need and want to cultivate. 458 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 1: We don't want to just replace one archy with another, 459 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 1: you know, we don't want to. Now it's gonna be 460 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: matriarchy and the dudes are all bad and the girls 461 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: are all good. Like, we don't want that that dualism. 462 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 1: We we want to be full human beings in the 463 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: In the end part of my new book, I teach 464 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 1: a practice and I describe it in the book. I 465 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 1: don't have to describe it now, but um it's called 466 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 1: the do no harm but take no Ship meditatement. And 467 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:39,960 Speaker 1: I use this this ancient Hindu Mudra hand gesture where 468 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 1: one hand is making the stop sign. And you a 469 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: lot of you who have garden statues of Buddhas will 470 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 1: recognize it. One hand is making the stop sign, the 471 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: other hand is like a cup holding the rein and 472 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: you hold those two gestures and you can feel it 473 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: in your body. The stop sign is like take no ship. 474 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: Like I know my boundaries. Okay, I know who I am. Also, 475 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 1: I value who I am. Also I'm going to be 476 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: who I am and then the other one. But do 477 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,680 Speaker 1: no harm. You can do all that, take no ship 478 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: business and do it with love, and you can you 479 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 1: can understand the other person in front of you, who 480 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: may be feeling the same thing like no no boundaries, 481 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 1: and you took together can soften those boundaries while respecting 482 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 1: each other. So I like to to sit with these 483 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: hand gestures and say to myself, maybe before a meeting 484 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 1: or something, I can do no harm and I can 485 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 1: take no ship. I can do both of these. I 486 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 1: can be both of these. M m m yeah, that 487 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 1: inner union of both aspects of ourselves and knowing that 488 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: we can fully stand in both. God, that is so free. 489 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 1: I think about women in history so often, Elizabeth, and 490 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: your latest book, as Sandra speaks, when women are the 491 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 1: storytellers the men's story changes, is such an exciting read. Um. 492 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 1: I think a lot about it in context, especially with 493 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 1: Mother Mary and with Mary Magdalene and with Christ and 494 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:15,920 Speaker 1: with that beautiful teachings that they all did, but then 495 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: only one got credit, right, you know, And and it's 496 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:25,799 Speaker 1: so interesting and even in the way that Mary Magdalene 497 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 1: was placed into this this false system of you know, 498 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 1: being called a sex worker in ancient times, but that 499 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 1: wasn't necessarily her truth, but the way that that was 500 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 1: just sprinkled into human history and then became the prevailing story. 501 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: Like it fascinates me and you sharing specifically around how 502 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: we came up with fight or flight and are applying 503 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: all of these things and all of these kind of 504 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 1: silencing of the way that women operate. It's so interesting 505 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,879 Speaker 1: because it is it is hit every facet of our 506 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 1: being in existence, like even in a sexual a world. 507 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 1: The clitterest was just mapped in the last couple of 508 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,799 Speaker 1: years for the first time ever. Why do I know 509 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: what male genitalia is like in out how? No? Really? 510 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,320 Speaker 1: And the fact that Mary we can only love Mary 511 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 1: because she was a virgin, which makes no sense. Hello, 512 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 1: but that was the only way they could fit a 513 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 1: woman into the Godhead because she was a virgin. I mean, 514 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: really break that down that which is so it was 515 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:43,239 Speaker 1: married like why I don't understand, Like how how is 516 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: that even? How did that even this idea of of 517 00:35:48,719 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: this male view of purity. It is just so fascinating 518 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 1: all of these layers and who was this team of 519 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:59,720 Speaker 1: man Elizabeth that one day thousands of years ago changed 520 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: everything about the history of women. They are the same 521 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: men who today I want to go back to the 522 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: way it was, And there's lots of them, Like so 523 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: much is changing, but it requires a certain vigilance to 524 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 1: keep things changing, because it'll go back that way if 525 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:22,960 Speaker 1: we don't stay awake and be the the do no 526 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 1: harm but take no ship kind of activist type people. 527 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:32,479 Speaker 1: I mean, look at look at I mean all all 528 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 1: honored to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. 529 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure they're nice people, or maybe they're not. But 530 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 1: why do they want to take a gazillion billion dollars 531 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: and continue this myth of the explorer, the warrior, the exploiter. 532 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: It's like, oh what, we already dug all the stuff 533 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: out of the earth and polluted it. We better go 534 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 1: somewhere else and do it like, no, no, can we 535 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:05,360 Speaker 1: change the story here? Can we make heroism the hero 536 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:10,800 Speaker 1: myth is now about caring for the forests and trees 537 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 1: and animals and babies and men and women. We're gonna care. 538 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:19,000 Speaker 1: We're gonna make it really cool to care. Do not 539 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:23,640 Speaker 1: have to go and to another planet and extract everything 540 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:27,800 Speaker 1: from there to continue the hero myth. I'm so done 541 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 1: with it. I'm so over it. It has a very 542 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:40,560 Speaker 1: bad ending, dude, right, it doesn't end well, Oh my gosh, 543 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:43,200 Speaker 1: this has been so amazing for me. So I'm just 544 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: gonna say that again, and I'm gonna say it when 545 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:48,520 Speaker 1: you on campus that a mega and I really just 546 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:52,920 Speaker 1: what are you excited about right now? I'd love to 547 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:55,440 Speaker 1: end with that, what are you excited about as it 548 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:59,520 Speaker 1: relates to the energy that's available on Earth in this moment, 549 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: the t chains that are that are coming out, you know, 550 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:06,120 Speaker 1: you speaking especially to black women as being leaders in 551 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:08,760 Speaker 1: this space is so powerful for me because I think 552 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,040 Speaker 1: when I think of some of the ways that I've 553 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:15,799 Speaker 1: cultivated my teaching or my deep desire to serve, it's 554 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:19,439 Speaker 1: really rooted in the fact that, you know, so many 555 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:24,480 Speaker 1: of us have been able to become ourselves with so 556 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:28,880 Speaker 1: much less um. But that also that that kind of minimalism, 557 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,880 Speaker 1: even deep in the intimacy of the process for me, 558 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:34,759 Speaker 1: um and for many women that I know that are 559 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:38,560 Speaker 1: of color in this space, So that for me is exciting, UM, 560 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: so exciting, is doing this work. But you've been such 561 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 1: a just a profound trailblazer in so many ways, through 562 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 1: the storytelling of women, through the sharing of spirituality, through 563 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:53,919 Speaker 1: the founding of this epic campus forty years ago. I mean, 564 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 1: my god, you're just everything. So what are you excited 565 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 1: about right? Well, I don't I don't say this as 566 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:08,239 Speaker 1: a way of false humility. I really mean what I'm 567 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 1: about to say. I'm sixty eight now, I feel excellent 568 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,840 Speaker 1: and healthy and maybe healthier than I ever have. But 569 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:22,440 Speaker 1: I you know, when you're when you're a serious quote 570 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:28,720 Speaker 1: unquote spiritual practitioner, the work is really feeling deeply into 571 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:33,040 Speaker 1: what is so for me right now culture tells me, 572 00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:36,239 Speaker 1: not what my fear tells me. What is here for 573 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 1: me right now? And aging is a really fascinating part 574 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 1: of the human journey. And if I'm honest with myself 575 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:48,640 Speaker 1: and with you right now, because you ask that question, 576 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:53,319 Speaker 1: so sincerely, it is my time to step back and 577 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 1: to step aside, not like you take over this crap 578 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:00,399 Speaker 1: now I'm tired of it, Not like that. It's like 579 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:04,319 Speaker 1: I did my thing. I love what I did. I 580 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,960 Speaker 1: stand with pride by what you said I did. Like 581 00:40:08,719 --> 00:40:11,719 Speaker 1: but I'm also kind of not only a little tired, 582 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:17,279 Speaker 1: but also like when I was writing Cassandra Speaks, I 583 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:20,840 Speaker 1: was very aware, Wow, there's so much going on in 584 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:25,120 Speaker 1: the world of sexuality and gender now. I don't kind 585 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:29,240 Speaker 1: of get a lot of it, gender fluidity, trans work, 586 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:31,600 Speaker 1: like a lot of it is. It's not that I'm 587 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:36,040 Speaker 1: against it, It's like I wasn't born with the chip 588 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,360 Speaker 1: to understand that I was wanting to do something else. 589 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:44,200 Speaker 1: I don't want to try to smash my self into 590 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:50,279 Speaker 1: the new energy. I really want to feed you and 591 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,319 Speaker 1: the next women and men coming up. I want to 592 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:57,120 Speaker 1: be here with what I literally can give and not 593 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:00,479 Speaker 1: try to pretend that I can give something else. So 594 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:04,919 Speaker 1: what I'm excited about is you. I'm excited about the 595 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 1: next coming up group of spiritually awakened and politically woke 596 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:17,160 Speaker 1: human beings, especially women, just because I'm a woman and 597 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:19,759 Speaker 1: I get what women are all about. I mean, I've 598 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:23,359 Speaker 1: been married to two different men, not at the same time, 599 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:27,120 Speaker 1: of course, and um, I have sons, I have grandsons, 600 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:30,360 Speaker 1: So I love men, and I'm so impressed with what 601 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,360 Speaker 1: a lot of men are doing now, I really am. 602 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:39,640 Speaker 1: But I'm excited about younger women opening the door and 603 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:48,480 Speaker 1: walking into the old world with new dreams. I love that. 604 00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:52,439 Speaker 1: That is what it feels like to it. Really, it's 605 00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:56,240 Speaker 1: just there. There's just so much beautiful merging in this moment. 606 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:58,759 Speaker 1: And I'm so grateful to hear you say that. And 607 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:02,239 Speaker 1: I see that also as as just a call to 608 00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:04,880 Speaker 1: continue to deepen in my work and stand in my 609 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:08,600 Speaker 1: power and presence. I know I stand on the shoulders 610 00:42:08,680 --> 00:42:13,200 Speaker 1: of amazing people, and so i'm I'm I'm ready to 611 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: be a shoulder mm hmm. Thank you so much. Thank 612 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:22,080 Speaker 1: you for your time, thank you for your work, thank 613 00:42:22,120 --> 00:42:28,160 Speaker 1: you for your life, thank you for your courage. I'm really, really, 614 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: really grateful to be connected with you and to have 615 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:33,800 Speaker 1: read your books and to be reading your new book. 616 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:37,640 Speaker 1: Thank you, keep you connection. Let's keep it going. I 617 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:40,400 Speaker 1: would love that, and I will. I will see you 618 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 1: in October. Yes, yes, I cannot wait. Uh. Elizabeth Lefser, 619 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:48,480 Speaker 1: We are so grateful for you coming on this show everyone. 620 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 1: Her latest book, Astandra Speaks When Women Are the Storytellers, 621 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:55,279 Speaker 1: The Human Story Changes, is in stores right now, and 622 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:58,120 Speaker 1: as I have shared on this show so many times, 623 00:42:58,200 --> 00:43:01,600 Speaker 1: I make this next book I mentioned required reading in 624 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:05,400 Speaker 1: a lot of the workshops that I teach um broken 625 00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:09,400 Speaker 1: Open that to me is a mainstay for the spiritual 626 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:12,080 Speaker 1: journey and should be in everyone's sacred space and on 627 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:16,719 Speaker 1: everyone's shelf. So please connect to Elizabeth Lesser's work Omega. 628 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:20,880 Speaker 1: Go to the website they have Omega Institute has incredible, 629 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:25,880 Speaker 1: incredible courses on everything your heart could possibly desire to 630 00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:28,440 Speaker 1: connect you to spirit. So I hope everyone gets a 631 00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:31,520 Speaker 1: chance to check that out. And so much gratitude and 632 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:34,000 Speaker 1: love to you. Thank you, you too, thank you for 633 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:40,200 Speaker 1: having me. Wow, what a powerful episode. Huge gratitude to 634 00:43:40,239 --> 00:43:45,040 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Lesser. I yeah, I'm a lover, guys, and so 635 00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:48,960 Speaker 1: when I get a chance to be in conversation with 636 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:52,400 Speaker 1: people whose work has deeply touched me, I am like 637 00:43:52,440 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 1: a river of love, just gushing. Um. So it felt 638 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:01,160 Speaker 1: really incredible to share this episode with such a powerful 639 00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:04,319 Speaker 1: voice who has been in this space for so so 640 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:08,520 Speaker 1: many decades, lighting the way fearlessly. If you get a 641 00:44:08,600 --> 00:44:10,920 Speaker 1: chance share this episode with a friend, I know there 642 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:14,880 Speaker 1: were a lot of notes, potentially a lot of aha 643 00:44:15,120 --> 00:44:18,839 Speaker 1: moments um that may have come in. So really don't 644 00:44:18,960 --> 00:44:22,719 Speaker 1: underestimate your power to be a force of light in 645 00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:25,279 Speaker 1: the life of someone else. Our healing journey is not 646 00:44:25,360 --> 00:44:28,080 Speaker 1: to be hoarded. It's far self and others. So if 647 00:44:28,080 --> 00:44:31,320 Speaker 1: there's anyone you think this episode could resonate with, maybe 648 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:36,640 Speaker 1: even a parent figure who is accessing new pieces of 649 00:44:36,680 --> 00:44:40,320 Speaker 1: themselves in this new time, or if it's a friend 650 00:44:40,440 --> 00:44:44,280 Speaker 1: or a coworker, take a second, share it as a text, 651 00:44:44,440 --> 00:44:47,000 Speaker 1: share it as an email. Um, and if you have 652 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:51,080 Speaker 1: the time, go ahead and head to our podcast page 653 00:44:51,160 --> 00:44:53,400 Speaker 1: which is just an apple, or however you listen to 654 00:44:53,400 --> 00:44:57,720 Speaker 1: your shows and give us a review five stars. Yes, 655 00:44:58,280 --> 00:45:01,600 Speaker 1: and if you have the time, I'm I'm always so 656 00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:05,880 Speaker 1: incredibly grateful and really moved to read all of the 657 00:45:05,960 --> 00:45:09,439 Speaker 1: reviews that you take a moment to write, So thank 658 00:45:09,480 --> 00:45:11,200 Speaker 1: you for those that have taken the time to do that. 659 00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:13,080 Speaker 1: If you get a chance to do it today, huge 660 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:16,880 Speaker 1: thank you and we will be back next week. In 661 00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:19,319 Speaker 1: the meantime, don't forget. You can always connect with me 662 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:23,040 Speaker 1: in meditation on the choper app. I lay daily meditation 663 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:26,160 Speaker 1: on that beautiful app there, so join me for meditations 664 00:45:26,239 --> 00:45:30,360 Speaker 1: ranging from five to twenty minutes and hit me up 665 00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:32,759 Speaker 1: on the gram at Debbie Brown, Big Love and I 666 00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:37,160 Speaker 1: Must stay Hey. Find me on social let's connect at 667 00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:40,480 Speaker 1: Debbie Brown. That's Twitter and Instagram, or go to my 668 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:44,200 Speaker 1: website Debbie Brown dot com. And if you're listening to 669 00:45:44,239 --> 00:45:48,680 Speaker 1: the show on Apple Podcasts, please please please don't forget 670 00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:54,040 Speaker 1: to rate, review, and subscribe and send this episode to 671 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:57,239 Speaker 1: a friend. Dropping Jim's is the production of I Heart 672 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,560 Speaker 1: Radio and The Black Effect Network. It's produced by Triple 673 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:04,360 Speaker 1: and Me Debbie Brown. For more podcasts from My heart Radio, 674 00:46:04,600 --> 00:46:08,240 Speaker 1: visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 675 00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:09,800 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.