Radical Sacred – Details, episodes & analysis

It’s hard to put this episode with Brooke Williams on his new book Encountering Dragonfly into words! The breadth and width of this conversation is vast. We talk to Brooke about dragonflies, prophetic dreams, listening to your inner knowing, animal guides, re-enchantment, imaginal ecology, the veils between worlds, and more! Grateful for this lovely book, and for Brooke’s ability to invite, enliven, and re-enchant. 

Show Notes:

• Brooke Williams Website
• Encountering Dragonfly : Notes on the Practice of Re-enchantment
• The Earth has a Soul - Meredith Sabini 
• Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front - Wenell Berry
• Fly, Dragonfly! By: Joyce Sidman
• W.S. Merwin

Chapters
00:00 The Enchantment of Dragonflies
06:19 Exploring Inner Worlds and Personal Truths
12:25 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality
18:49 Animals as Messengers and Guides
26:57 Archetypes and the Symbolism of Dragonflies
34:49 Imaginal Ecology and Natural History
35:41 Imaginal Ecology and Relationships
39:02 Consciousness and Collective Responsibility
42:37 Attention: The Key to Re-enchantment
47:23 Personal and Collective Re-enchantment
54:03 The Power of Passion and Connection
01:01:35 Facing Mortality and Purpose

We were so fortunate to meet Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy at The Wild Goose Festival! This chance encounter led us to reading their beautiful book Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees and to the lovely and deeply rooted conversation in this episode. The way Beth and Leah invite us back to nature, remind us that we are one with the trees, and embody looking to the trees as our teachers have inspired us so deeply. May we each find our love for all beings renewed and reinvigorated by these women and their gorgeous work. 

Show Notes:

• Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees 
• Save Our Soil
• Center for Spirituality in Nature
• COP 30
• BethNorcross.com
• LeahRampy.com
• Reweaving Earth and Soul - Leah on Substack
• When I am among the Trees by: Mary Oliver 

Chapters
00:00 The Spiritual Connection with Nature
08:59 Personal Journeys and Teacher Trees
18:17 The Wisdom of Trees: Literal and Metaphorical
26:52 The Role of Trees in Spiritual Practices
33:00 The Journey of Spiritual Practices
36:04 Nurse Logs and Ancestral Connections
42:40 Grounding Through Spiritual Practices
48:51 Reconnecting with Nature and Spirituality
57:32 A Message from the Trees

Colleen Moore is the director of Peace With Justice at the General Board of Church and Society for the UMC. She joins us today to talk about a recent Young Adult Pilgrimage of Peace she helped facilitate in South Korea. What can we learn from bearing witness to spaces and places where there has been great suffering?  How might walking with others in places very different from our usual bring about personal and communal transformation? Colleen shares about her own personal guides, her deep call to peace and dignity for all, and her commitment to sharing stories to shape real change. 
Stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Contact Colleen Moore
• Social Principles of the UMC
• Young Adult Pilgrimage of Peace - South Korea
• Korea Peace Now!
• Book - The Bridge at No Gun Ri: A Hidden Nightmare from the Korean War
• WomenCrossDMZ - Christine Ahn
• The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation
• UMC Action Alerts 
• Pages for Progress - UMC Book Studies (Faith in the Face of Empire study)

Chapters
00:00 Opening Reflections and Poetic Introduction
01:06 Acknowledging Global Pain and Unrest
02:26 Introducing Colleen Moore and Her Work
03:59 Personal Reflections on Heavy Times
06:39 Finding Joy Amidst Struggles
08:26 Understanding the Pilgrimage Experience
08:38 The Young Adult Peace Pilgrimage Explained
10:04 Witnessing History: The Gowlingeol Massacre Site
12:19 Activating Change Through Pilgrimage
15:43 Surprises and Emotional Impact of the Pilgrimage
18:43 Power, Empire, and Advocacy Challenges
24:24 The Importance of Storytelling in Advocacy
27:20 Personal Narratives and Activism
28:11 Guides and Mentors in the Journey
30:56 The Importance of Bearing Witness
33:56 Christian Nationalism and Its Implications
38:58 Pilgrimage as a Spiritual Journey
41:03 Connecting with Community and Action

Our journey with season 2 continues to meander in beautiful and unexpected ways as we have the extreme privilege of speaking with author, pastor, theologian, and someone well seasoned in the art of pilgrimage: Wes Granberg-Michaelson! Wes blows our minds and invites us into new and deeper understandings of pilgrimage. We delve into pilgrimage as response to empire, important movements that are inviting us back to our truest selves, and what can undergird us in the uncertain times we find ourselves in. This expansive conversation was a gift to us as are all of you, dear listeners! Thanks for making season 2 a wild and lovely pilgrimage. 
Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways): 

• The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks did about Mental Distraction by: Jamie Kreiner 
• Wesley Granberg-Michaelson Sojourners 
• Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage
• The Soulwork of Justice: Four Movements of Contemplative Action
• A Strategy for Christian Witness against Trump’s Autocracy 
• Summer Stars by: Carl Sandberg

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Radical Sacred and Summer Solstice
01:47 Meeting Wes Granberg-Michelson
02:24 Wes's Journey as a Pilgrim
07:43 Understanding Pilgrimage and Its Dual Nature
09:51 Integrating Internal and External Journeys
16:23 Intentionality in Pilgrimage
25:36 Four Movements of Pilgrimage
31:44 Navigating the Crisis in Seminaries
36:11 Creating a Holding Space for Spiritual Growth
39:50 Walking Away from Empire: The Power of Pilgrimage
50:33 The Role of Nature in Spiritual Connection

Today we leave our pent up indoor spaces and venture out for a walk together, apart. Can walking bring us closer when there’s literal distance between us? Can walking help us bridge the gap between our heart and our actions? Between where we are and where we’re meant to be? We talk about this season, the places and spaces we’ve been, our fabulous guests who’ve invited us into our own pilgrimages, and how we’re doing with all that’s shifting and changing.  

Join us Saturday June 21st at 8 am for a Conscious Nature Stroll!
Choose your favorite walking spot or find one brand new! Season 2 is drawing to a close and a lot of pilgrimaging has occurred for us since September. We’d love to walk together, apart as we reflect on all that’s been and that’s yet to come.

  We invite you to bring your favorite pal (dog or human, your choice), your favorite poem of the moment to begin your time, turn your phone to silent, and reflect on one or two of the questions below as you walk: 

1. What is drawing my eye to beauty this morning and where in my life am I being invited to bring forth, protect, or create beauty? 
2. What is drawing my eye to suffering this morning and where in my life am I being invited to relieve suffering? Suffering in my community, in myself, in the space I’m walking?
3. What journey in your life is ending or needs to end? Reflect on it. 
4. What pilgrimage is on your horizon? What is something new calling to you? 

Walk for however long and you’d like and share your reflections with us on Substack or Instagram. Thank you for walking with us this season!


Chapters
00:00 The Power of Walking and Connection
05:43 Embracing Change and New Beginnings
12:01 The Journey of Pilgrimage and Intention
17:45 Attention and Awareness in Nature
23:40 Navigating Endings and New Opportunities
30:57 Embracing Change and New Beginnings
37:02 Creating Without Fear: The Joy of Expression

Carolyn Whitney-Brown joins us in this playful and imaginative conversation around her and Henri Nouwen’s book Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom. Written more than 2 decades after his death and centered around Henri’s late in life experiences with the trapeze group the Flying Rodelighs, this book is a joyous invitation to expand our horizons and to follow our curiosity. What new, high flying adventures might be calling to you? Where are the communities in our lives that encourage us to live fully? Carolyn, Henri, and the Flying Rodleighs invite us all to be joyful risk takers, rooted deeply in self and community.

Show Notes:

• L'Arche Daybreak 
• Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom
• Carolyn’s Website

Chapters
00:00 The Poetic Prelude: Icarus and Love
01:24 Introducing Carolyn Whitney: A Journey with Henry Nowen
02:29 Creative Exploration: Writing and Illustrating Together
04:38 Joyful Risk-Taking: Embracing Change in Uncertain Times
09:11 The Trapeze: A Metaphor for Community and Connection
15:15 Balancing Joy and Angst: The Duality of Henry Nowen
18:47 Surprises in the Process: Reflecting on Henry's Legacy
21:18 Henry as a Guide: Lessons from a Life of Pilgrimage
27:04 The Role of Discipline: Structure in Creativity
31:31 Overcoming Inner Criticism: The Voices in Our Heads
34:46 Community and Creativity: Finding Support in Unlikely Places
40:03 The Artist's Role: Bringing Hope Through Creativity
44:51 Embracing Our Ancestors: The Interplay of Joy and Woe

This week we are joined by Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Vince Amlin of Bethany United Church of Christ in Chicago. We chat about partnership, creating healing spaces, and learning to move with the seasons of life and the ebbs and flows of our invitations from Spirit. Vince and Rebecca share about their journey with and honest ending of their beloved, queer, storytelling, bar-meeting church, Gilead. Every pilgrimage has a beginning and an end. What might we learn from ending things intentionally and with the Cosmic Christ in mind? And how might the things that truly matter to us transcend literal endings? 

Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):

• Bethany United Church of Christ (Find Vince and Rebecca here) 
• Earshot Stories 
• Vince Pilgrimages
• What Sucks About the Afterlife by Andrea Gibson 

Chapters
00:00 Reflections on the Afterlife and Personal Growth
02:06 Introduction to Gilead Church and Its Mission
03:47 Founding Stories: The Birth of Gilead Church
07:15 The Significance of the Name 'Gilead'
08:54 Queerness and Storytelling: Core Values of Gilead
15:53 Understanding Pilgrimage in the Context of Gilead
16:35 The Essence of Pilgrimage
20:52 Intentionality in Community
27:10 Embracing Endings with Grace
33:20 Transformative Experiences and Future Directions

We are thrilled to chat with Frank and Mary Frost who are partners in life and film making! Today we talk about their fabulous, Emmy nominated, documentary about French scientist and Jesuit Priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Teilhard was a feminist, a visionary thinker, a paleontologist, and a man way before his time. When met with new information that challenged his religious ideals, he didn’t shrink, but he expanded to meet the moment. What might we learn from his ecstatic, open hearted  way of moving through the world? Might Teilhard have something to teach us about the intersection of science and spirituality? Join this week's conversation to find out!

Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):

• Documentary - Teilhard: Visionary Scientist
• Teilhard Project
• American Teilhard Association
• Divine Milieu 

Chapters
00:00 The Vision of Teilhard de Chardin
05:32 The Journey of Filmmaking and Discovery
09:37 The Relevance of Teilhard Today
14:35 Loyalty and Steadfastness in Faith
20:27 The Complexity of Love and Relationships
24:07 Expanding Spirit and Curiosity
25:55 The Omega Point and Spirit-Matter Unity
28:17 The Omega Point and Evolution
31:41 Feminism and the Eternal Feminine
35:49 Paleolithic Emotions and Modern Challenges
39:49 Ecstasy and the Mystical Experience
45:04 Pilgrimage and the Search for the Divine

Chelan Harkin joins us today on this meandering and moving conversation about the path of ecstatic movement. When we dial in to our truest selves, what mystical downloads from the universe might we receive? When we follow desire, where might our destination be? And how can a seemingly small act, like learning to trust the gentle nudges of the universe, lead us back to us? Spending time with Chelan is like diving into the deep waters she’s named after, it’s inviting and cool and totally refreshing. We hope you’ll dive in with us, into all the spaces and places that make you, you.
 
Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Chelan Harkin Poetry
• Find Chelan’s Events on her FB page
• Chelan’s books
• Hypno-therapy
• Somatic Therapy
• To live in this World by Mary Oliver 

Chapters
00:00 The Ecstatic Spark of Creativity
02:39 The Journey of a Poet: From Hesitation to Expression
05:34 The Prayer Experiment: Connecting with the Muse
08:27 The Cosmic Connection: Co-authoring with Daniel Ladinsky
10:26 Listening to the Nudges: Intuition and Inner Guidance
11:35 The Pilgrimage of Refining: Embracing Pain for Growth
17:09 Nature as a Healing Force: Reconnecting with the Earth
21:57 Somatic Practices: Grounding in the Body
27:09 Finding Home in Nature: Personal Connections to the Land
28:33 Connecting with Nature and Desire
32:51 The Power of Surrender and Flow
36:14 The Evolution of God and Language
41:42 Myths and Collective Consciousness
46:01 Guides and Mentorship on the Journey

Announcement
Radical Sacred will be at this year's Wild Goose Festival leading a nature walk we are calling, "Walking the Illuminated Path: A Conscious Stroll in Nature." Using the practice of terra divina (reading nature as a sacred text) we will go for a conscious nature walk employing our 5 senses. When we slow down and center nature what might we hear from the Divine? From the depths of our own heart? From the earth? Invitations from our still wild selves are waiting for us in nature. How will we respond?

If you'd like to join us August 28-31 in Harmony, NC Radical Sacred listeners get a discount on their registration. When checking out use code A-RS for $50 off the total price.

Today we go on a journey back to our truest selves with Dr. Tamice Spencer-Helms. They talk to us about finding uncoerced worship amongst the redwood trees, the beauty in connecting with other folks who invite us into our own aliveness, and all the ways we are being asked to remember that we ARE nature. What if we started actually emulating Jesus? What beauty and healing could come from us wandering around in wild spaces with our weird friends? Tamice shares about finding a deep well of courage from their ancestors and from within in one of our favorite interviews of Season 2. 
Cool stuff we mention this episode (or meant to anyways): 

• Tamice Namae Speaks
• Website
• R.E.S.T. Mixtape 
• Faith Unleavened The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd
• Texas Methodist Foundation 
• Christian Community Development Association 
• Ryan Coogler
• Snake Plant by: KB Brookins
• Phygital Preaching Fellows 

Chapters
00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Growth
03:02 Embracing Ancestry and Nature
05:53 Navigating Identity and Belonging
09:04 The Power of Non-Coercive Worship
12:03 Reconnecting with Intuition
14:57 Expanding Spiritual Frameworks
17:54 The Great Awakening and Community
20:57 Wandering Together in Faith
30:07 The Power of Community and Flock Religion
31:04 The Hush Harbor: A Historical Perspective
34:47 Resurrection Technology: The Impulse for Freedom
42:34 Courage in the Face of Adversity
48:59 Rethinking Freedom and Resistance
54:52 Wrestling with Scripture and Spirituality