Each of us walks through life with a narrative etched into our being—a collection of moments, memories, and meanings woven together to create a sense of identity. From the earliest days, we are handed scripts: told who we are, what we’re meant to achieve, and where our limitations lie. These imprints, handed down by family,…
Read moreBirds of a Feather: The Counterculture and MAGA
In the aftermath of the recent election—marked by an unexpected landslide victory for Donald Trump—political analysts and social commentators find themselves grappling with the deeper implications of a seismic political shift. Perhaps most startling is the swell of support for Trump among young voters, including a diverse cross-section of young people of color. This trend…
Read moreIndigenous Populations Worldwide: Why European Descent Isn’t Considered Indigenous
Let’s put something to bed: no, most “white people,”* you are not indigenous. The term “indigenous” in modern usage refers to groups that are the original inhabitants of a region and have experienced historical marginalization, displacement, or oppression, often due to colonization by external powers. These populations possess distinct cultural, linguistic, and social traditions that…
Read moreLiving at Work: Awakening from the Self-Imposed Dream of Endless Hustle
It’s strange how often our lives seem like a dream—or a nightmare—that we’re somehow wide awake in but powerless to change. I keep having this reoccurring dream, and it’s like some deep part of me is throwing up a flare, saying, “Wake up; there’s more to see.” The dream always starts the same. I pull…
Read moreFinding Resilience on the Road: The Enduring Spirit of ‘Touch of Grey
“Touch of Grey” by the Grateful Dead carries a profound resonance with those who have endured hardship yet find resilience in moving forward. It is a theme that echoes powerfully in This Is How It Feels to Heal, where survival becomes both a choice and a practice. As someone who once lived much of a…
Read moreShadowboxing the Apocalypse, and Wandering the Land
In the cool haze of morning light, I’m walking. Not to anywhere particular, just walking. Shoes hitting the dirt like a steady rhythm, beating out the thoughts rattling through my brain. There’s something about this world, this time, that feels so caught up in its own demise. Like it’s rushing toward some inevitable end, but…
Read moreToday’s Heat Records in Context
A 130-Year Perspective Let’s take a moment to put on our “geological time glasses”—the kind that make a century look like the blink of an eye. Now, as we gaze through these lenses, the 130 years of climate records we hold so dear suddenly look like a teeny, tiny speck in the grand, sprawling timeline…
Read moreAn old current conversation
With the completion of The Healing Pathways facilitator and companion manuals, I am cleaning out my notes used along the way. Below, is a transcript of a conversation I had with David Boothe in 2001. I was in Cali, Colombia where I had just finished the final version of This is How it Feels to…
Read moreEthical Use of Animal Totems in Shamanism
Perhaps my biggest inspiration for changing the way I perceive the world during the early days of my long illness was Lujan Matus’ book, The Art of Stalking Parallel Perception and Shadows in the Twilight: Conversations with a Shaman. Recently, Lujan was interviewed on a podcast, where he discussed the ethical use of animal totems…
Read moreThe Unique Musical Legacy of Jerry Garcia: An Exploration of Style and Influence
Jerry Garcia, renowned as the frontman and lead guitarist for the Grateful Dead, remains a towering figure in American music. Despite his profound impact, discussions about the greatest guitarists in rock history often overlook Garcia. This oversight can be attributed to his unique approach to music, the niche the Grateful Dead carved within the music…
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