logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
43m 11s

Roger Walsh (Part 1) - The Mysterious Wo...

Deep Transformation Podcast
About this episode

Ep. 139 (Part 1 of 2) | Author, psychiatrist, professor, and Deep Transformation podcast co-host Roger Walsh was drawn to explore the remarkable world of shamanism—a tradition of opening to altered states, intuition, and profound insights and wisdom—when he found it was the one great world tradition he didn’t understand. He was intrigued by Romanian scholar Mircea Eliade’s description of the core feature of a shaman being “ecstatic flight,” and recognizing the lack of any easy to understand book on the subject, Roger was inspired to pursue this subject in depth and write the book himself! In his book and in this conversation, Roger provides us with a brilliant, big picture perspective, pointing out that at the heart of shamanism (and every great world tradition) are psychospiritual technologies—actual practices—that lead us to the doorway of the Great Mystery, and that service is the culmination of each tradition, both as a means to and an expression of one’s realization.

The dialogue is warm, open, and personal—Roger shares his experience of realizing the vastness of the inner world for the first time (“I felt like I’d lived my entire life on the top six inches of a wave on top of an ocean I didn’t even know existed!”), his realization that “as a culture, we are sleepwalking through life, unaware of the resources, capacities and gifts we bear within us,” and his coming to terms with the Great Mystery. John, too, shares his experiences within the Native American spiritual tradition: the power of the vision quest, prayer, drumming in ceremony, death medicine, and enduring trials in service to one’s people. Roger’s wonderful curiosity, integrity, graciousness, and keen intellect are all in evidence as he discusses the indeterminacy of spirit, mediumship, journeying, and death, and as he marvels at the bottomless, boundless mystery that both surrounds us and is us. Recorded June 27, 2024.

“Shamans were our first general practitioner, spiritual guide, tribal counselor, psychopomp—all rolled into one.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1

  • Introducing Deep Transformation podcast co-host Roger Walsh, professor, psychiatrist, and author of The World of Shamanism and Essential Spirituality, among others (01:18)
  • Roger’s book, The World of Shamanism—on the oldest spiritual tradition we know of, found all around the world (04:09)
  • How was Roger drawn to write about shamanism? (06:36)
  • Realizing at the heart of the world’s great religious traditions are psychospiritual technologies—actual practices—to induce the same states of consciousness the founders had discovered (09:31)
  • Shamanism was the one tradition Roger couldn’t understand—after waiting for a good book on it to come out, Roger decided to write it himself (10:46) 
  • John’s experiences with Durwin White Lightning and Wallace Black Elk of the Lakota tribe, and the shamanic effects of connecting with nature (13:35)
  • Roger’s investigation of shamanism included intensive training with Michael Harner, gnostic intermediary who introduced shamanism to the western world (18:38)
  • Through direct experience and a lot of study, including the integral framework of Ken Wilber, Roger brings a big picture perspective to shamanism (22:54)
  • Native American spirituality, death medicine, and the transformative power of the sweat lodge (23:39)
  • The power of the rhythm of the drum in ceremony (27:27)
  • The suffering in our world today reflects the artificial environments in which we live (30:17)
  • The shamanic tradition is closely wedded to nature; going through endurances in the wild to help your people (35:08)
  • John’s experience with vision questing and wolves (37:15)

Resources & References – Part 1


* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

---

Dr. Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. DHL, is an author and longtime professor of psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology, and religious studies. Roger’s research and writings span several areas, to include the nature of psychological health and well-being, meditation and contemplative practices, religion and spirituality, wisdom and other virtues, Integral studies, and the psychological roots of our current global crises. He is deeply immersed in contemplative practices as student, researcher, and teacher.

Roger’s books include Paths Beyond Ego (one of Common Boundary’s “Most Influential Books”), Meditation: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (“Outstanding Academic Book of the Year Award”), Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices with a foreword by the Dalai Lama, and The World of Shamanism. He is currently editing The World’s Great Wisdom: What Sages Say about Living Wisely and Well

---

Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Up next
Jun 12
Miranda Macpherson (Part 2) - Wake Up and Love: Becoming Vessels of Grace
Ep. 186 (Part 2 of 2) | In this lively, mind and heart-opening conversation, Miranda Macpherson, contemporary spiritual teacher and author, shares the extraordinary wisdom she has gained from experience—both from the initial life-changing transmission of boundless love she receiv ... Show More
47m 41s
Jun 5
Miranda Macpherson (Part 1) – Wake Up and Love: Becoming Vessels of Grace
Ep. 185 (Part 1 of 2) | In this lively, mind and heart-opening conversation, Miranda Macpherson, contemporary spiritual teacher and author, shares the extraordinary wisdom she has gained from experience—both from the initial life-changing transmission of boundless love she receiv ... Show More
47m 24s
May 29
A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series (Dialogue 10, Part 2) – Opening to the Absolute: The Mystery That Liberates
Ep. 184 (Part 2 of 2) | In the tenth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali addresses what co-host Roger Walsh calls perhaps Inner Journey Home’s most profound chapter of all, the chapter on True Nature, as well as subjects he writes about in his autobiographical ... Show More
41m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Dr. Lisa Miller: Will Gen Z Spark a Spiritual Revolution?
Dr. Lisa Miller joins Rainn Wilson to explore the intersection of spirituality and science, delving into the hardwired nature of human spirituality. They discuss the unique spiritual journey of Gen Z, the role of suffering in personal growth, and the profound ways in which consci ... Show More
1h 6m
Jan 2025
108 The Shocking Truth About Personal Growth That Nobody Wants To Talk About
📺 Watch & Subscribe on YouTubeIn this episode of "A Changed Mind" our host David Bayer, shares three powerful tools that transformed his approach to personal growth. He discusses the importance of downregulating the nervous system, addressing limiting beliefs, and developing a s ... Show More
45m 7s
Jul 2024
How to release your emotions and train your awareness to the life you want with Mariana Fresnedo
On today’s episode, I sit down with Mariana Fresnedo - an engineer and passionate about Quantum Mechanics. She was a true skeptic about all the mystical energetic world; until she found spirituality - or like she says: “the Spirirt found her” through the bridge of science, quantu ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2024
Navigating The Recognition Sutras
In this episode, join Deepak Chopra and Hareesh Wallis for a thought-provoking conversation that merges science and spirituality. With Hareesh's deep understanding of Sanskrit and Deepak's insatiable curiosity, together they explore the profound nature of consciousness and its re ... Show More
53m 30s
Feb 2023
The Revolution Will Not Be Psychologized
Once upon a time, psychologist James Hillman spoke of anima, the breath of life, the soul of the world, as something that had to be rescued by psychologists from theologians. Now, with pop-psychology vernacular inundating all aspects of life, it may be time for the breath of life ... Show More
1h 37m
Jun 12
#130 Spiritual Shadows: Scott Kiloby & Toshi Matsunaga
Today on the show, we welcome Scott Kiloby and Toshi Matsunaga, authors of Awake But Sick, to explore the hidden emotional pain that can persist even after profound spiritual awakening. Their work challenges the common myths of nonduality and mindfulness, offering a deeper path t ... Show More
57m 6s
Feb 2025
#181 - Peter Crone: THE MIND ARCHITECT Exposes The Hidden Mental Patterns Blocking Your Healing Journey
➡️ Join AwakenU: https://www.dannymorel.com/awakenu If you’re ready for more—more clarity, abundance and alignment—AWAKENU is your next step. Whether you want to awaken spiritually, heal emotionally, attract your dream relationship, or unlock true financial freedom, AwakenU is yo ... Show More
56m 49s
Jul 3
Samuel B. Lee MD - Spiritual Healing. Your Power Is Within
Dr. Samuel B. Lee, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, author, and pioneering voice in the evolution of mental health and human consciousness. With over a decade of clinical experience and advanced training from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Lee is forging a n ... Show More
56m 58s
Jul 2024
Sam Harris, PhD: Cutting Through to Consciousness Without a Center
How do meditation and mindfulness accelerate moral progress? Is spiritual insight alone sufficient to solve today’s problems? Dr. Sam Harris is a five-time New York Times bestselling author, philosopher, neuroscientist, and host of the popular podcast Making Sense. He is also som ... Show More
1h 27m
Oct 2021
Engaged Buddhism: Applying the Teachings in Our Present Moment (Episode #9)
Welcome to episode nine of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our liv ... Show More
57m 36s