🏮 e4 // A shaman & a wizard talk magic ⛲︎
Adventures beyond the rational. ✨
Ahoy friends, this is a fun one! Since I last wrote to you I have recorded two podcast episodes—one on the perilous state of corporate leadership development domestication, and another on how to use rogue skills to detect multipolar traps. Both of these podcasts amounted to about three hours worth of listening. Neither have been published.
Why? Because it just didn’t feel right—something was off. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I am learning to trust these intuitions more. Which brings me to this exquisite conversation with Simon van der Els; a molecular biology PhD turned inner development guide and shamanic healing practitioner.
We’ve danced adjacent amidst the sterile landscape of LinkedIn, and I’ve been inspired by how authentically he shows up in the world. We share similar narrative elements, too—academia then metacrisis insight-cascade-into-despair, followed by recovery that opens to living systems and the more-than-rational world (coupled with post-doom sensibilities), etc. I don’t want to oversell the conversation but... there were some really quite special moments amidst.
I’m presenting this to you in its raw form, effectively unedited. This is how I personally relish podcast conversations—I want to savour the pauses, appreciate the stumblings and figurings, and to generally experience a conversation that is warm, emergent and real (rather than cool, familiar, and performative). The unedited version of Krista Tippet’s conversation with Joanna Macy is a prime example of such.
Simon is a beacon amidst the liminal web, and his coaching is worth considering if, like me, you find yourself desirous of the kind of inner-regeneration and developmental depthwork that isn’t readily available outside of the liminal.
Enjoy!
A misleading episode summary (by shoggoth)
In this conversation, Simon van der Els and the foxwizard explore the themes of shamanism, wizardry, and the metacrisis. They discuss the importance of embodiment, intuition, and the dangers of Naming in complex systems. Through their exchange, they highlight the significance of nature, trust, and the role of plant medicine in personal growth and transformation. This conversation delves into the complexities of plant medicine, exploring their chaotic nature and the transformative experiences they can induce. They discuss the importance of context, and the role of ego in shaping these experiences. The dialogue shifts to the concept of entities and egregores, examining how collective intelligence and social dynamics influence our reality. They reflect on the shadows cast by modernity, the need for discernment, and the intentional relationships we can cultivate with plant medicines.
Keywords: shamanism, wizardry, metacrisis, embodiment, intuition, naming, complexity, self-discovery, plant medicine, psychedelics, entities, egregores, collective intelligence, modernity, healing, discernment
Chapters
00:00 An intro from foxwizard
14:16 Embodied Experience and Energetic Healing
17:16 The Role of Naming and Understanding
20:21 The Complexity of Mapping and Abstraction
23:22 The Interrelation of Nature and Self
26:11 The Challenge of Digital Presence and Identity
29:24 The Nature of Consciousness and AI
47:29 Exploring the Nature of Creativity and Intuition
52:32 The Role of Shamanism and Wizardry in Personal Growth
58:22 Navigating Plant Medicine Experiences
01:06:04 The Dangers and Misconceptions of Ayahuasca
01:13:14 Understanding Entities and Egregores in Modern Contexts
01:20:24 Collective Intelligence and the Nature of Money
01:23:22 Navigating Chaos and the Role of Tricksters
01:26:18 Illumination and Shadows in Modern Society
01:29:22 Perception of Reality and the Influence of Entities
01:32:32 Exploring Plant Medicines and Consciousness
01:45:28 Intentionality in Plant Medicine Use
01:51:40 The Nature of Living Conversations
Remember: you can also watch this episode on YouTube.
PS: This is the first episode in which I didn’t painstakingly edit the captions/transcript. I’m hoping I can get away with it, but... let’s see. 🧡