On the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, we allow ourselves space for our memories and our grief about those we’ve lost — as well as for joy, and even humor, around the continuity between life and death. While many cultures try to tiptoe around death, the rituals of Día de Muertos ask us to look clearly at it, recognize death’s place in our ... Show More
Nov 18
Magic is a serious business, by Gracia María
<p>Gracia María is a modern-day medicine woman, practicing community rituals in the tradition of her Peruvian ancestors. In connecting with her ancient roots, though, she realizes she also needs to rebuild the bonds with her immediate family, in order to share with them the perso ... Show More
38m 23s
Nov 11
The strength we seek is all around us, by Mirna Valerio
<p>As a runner of marathons and ultramarathons, author and advocate Mirna Valerio knows a thing or two about finding reserves of power within herself. When she makes the decision to leave her job as an educator and build a new career around inclusivity in the running world, she m ... Show More
37m 8s
Nov 4
What holds the world together, by SG Goodman
<p>As a young girl, mowing her neighbor's lawn in the Kentucky heat, SG Goodman learns many important things: how to avoid running into the chain-link fence, the art of blowing the grass away from the house ... and the way these small, regular acts of community become the glue ho ... Show More
29m 15s
Dec 2023
Ep. 281 Grief & Letting Go
<p>In this episode, Lacy, Jessica, and Dr. Tara delve into the profound landscapes of grief, unveiling how it intertwines with blind spots, manifestation, and healing. Grief and loss come in all forms: from experiencing a loved one passing on, to the end of an era in your life, t ... Show More
1h 3m
Feb 2025
Krishnamurti on Grief and Loss
<p>‘When there is grief, we try every form of escape, but it is always there. Apparently, humanity has not resolved grief.’</p>
<p>This episode on Grief and Loss has four sections.</p>
<p>The first extract (2:35) is from Krishnamurti’s first talk in Amsterdam 1981, and is titled: ... Show More
1h 7m
Sep 23
Ep. 287 – The Secret of Compassion
<p><strong>In this powerful lecture on responding to suffering, Ram Dass draws on the wisdom of the Buddha, Trungpa Rinpoche, and Wavy Gravy, and offers his insight into the secret of compassion. </strong></p><p>The Ram Dass community gathers regularly to engage in mea ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2025
Magic, Death, and Necromancy with Justin McDaniel
**Warning: This episode contains potentially disturbing content!**
On this episode of the Black Beryl, I sit down with Justin McDaniel, a scholar of Theravada Buddhist literature and art. Together we explore the darker side of Thai Buddhism, including meditation on decomposing bo ... Show More
56m 39s