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Metaphysics & Mystery

Exploring the intimate relationship between self, story, and reality.

Session 6: Entering a Different Reality

This session might be called “applied metaphysics,” because it is probably the most practical of the entire course. Here I offer my thoughts on the process of transitioning into another reality. It isn’t just about some kind of technique. Because reality is a relationship, for it to change, you have to change too; you have to be ready for a new kind of relationship. In this session I discuss a bit more about magic and miracle, cynicism and fear, readiness and willingness, and ceremony and prayer. The last 10 or 15 minutes I believe are the capstone of the whole course. They are dense with information on multiple levels and may reward repeated listening.

Session Videos

Session 6.1: Entering a Different Reality

Session 6.2: An Intimate Moment

Taking it back to the person, here are some reflections I offered after someone on our team received from alarming news about his father, which brought us into a reality prior to story. A real, human moment. Such moments are more important than any philosophy in undoing the foundation pieces of a death-denying death-dealing culture and transitioning into a culture of sacred life.

Review of This Session’s Invitation

The invitation for this session is not a willful action or practice. It operates on a subconscious level by bringing awareness to the preciousness of our moments with the people and places we love. Personally, I take those for granted a lot. By naming them and bringing special attention to them and holding that consciousness, we can together elevate their stature in our lives.

Audio & Transcripts for This Session

Many thanks to Aaron Grubbs and Patsy Eisenstein for their audio prep, and to Grimm Culhane for his time transcribing this session!

Transcripts:

Session 6.1: Entering a Different Reality (transcript)

Session 6.2: An Intimate Moment (transcript)

Additional Materials/References:

A Miracle in Scientific American (Shermer article)

Every Act a Ceremony

Orland Bishop on the Death Process and more
Episodes 26 & 27 from A New & Ancient Story podcast

Orland Bishop does peace work and mentoring with gang members and others in Watts, Los Angeles. He is also a mystic and philosopher with deep knowledge of African and Western esoteric traditions. In the first of these two conversations, we talk about the development of consciousness, inner life and social breakdown, initiation, the death process, and more. In Part Two of this conversation, we discuss the reanimation of materiality, ritual and attention, the nature of the ancestors, and the stage of life we call middle age. And also Orland’s extraordinary book, The Seventh Shrine. Listen deeply to Orland — his words will alter you on many levels.

Listen to part 1 on Soundcloud

Listen to part 2 on Soundcloud

Session 6 Additional Material