Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Podcast
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73 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Money as a spiritual practice with Raffaello Manacorda
5 november 2026 · 1 uur
Money, like sex, is charged with shame and guilt, rarely discussed at the dinner table, and impossible to opt out of. In this episode, Simon welcomes back Raffaello “Raffa” Manacorda: ISTA lead facilitator, member of ISTA’s governing council, and a self-described practical philosopher who has spent the past decade exploring money as a portal to self-knowledge and embodied living. Lees meer
Raffa spent more than ten years living in communities with very little money, and he shares how a repressed desire for more ease with it eventually pushed him to stop avoiding money and start studying it with the same curiosity he brings to sexuality.
Raffa makes the case that much of our pain around money comes from a mismatch between our bodies and an increasingly abstract, digital financial system. Our nervous systems evolved to handle food, shelter, and land, not numbers on a screen, yet money remains deeply emotional. He explores the pull between fear and greed in the markets, why money is one of the most ruthless and honest mirrors for shadow work, and what it means to keep your sense of self steady whether your account is up or down.
The conversation also gets practical:
Why knowing the exact details of any debt you carry is non-negotiable.
Retirement as a question of values: do you want to keep working, or sit in a garden writing poetry?
Cryptocurrency as the “electric ether” element, and a gateway into wider financial education.
Why understanding compound interest and inflation is a basic survival skill.
Starting points for learning, from Investopedia to YouTube to mentorship.
For anyone living paycheck to paycheck and feeling the world slip away financially, Raffa offers a grounded first step: not investing, but getting informed.
This episode is for anyone who has avoided their bank balance, felt torn between spiritual values and financial needs, or wondered what an embodied relationship with money might feel like.
Find Raffa at raffaello.life, where you can join the w…
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Different minds, same space: making workshops work for neurodivergent people with Javi Martinez
20 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 16 min
What does it take to make a transformational space work for people whose nervous systems process the world differently? In this episode, host Simon Marvell speaks with Javi Martinez, a licensed mental health counselor, ISTA faculty member, and caretaker of ISTA's feedback stream. In her day job, Javi works mostly with autistic clients, and she brings that clinical experience into a frank conversation about how neurodivergent people experience workshops, retreats and trainings like ISTA's, and what facilitators and participants can do to make those spaces better. Lees meer
Javi describes autism as a different form of intelligence rather than a disorder, often marked by intense emotional depth, literal thinking, and a longing to know "the rules" of flirting, touch and connection. She broadens the discussion to ADHD, complex trauma and borderline personality disorder, looking at both their challenges and their gifts, from rejection sensitivity to the "superpower" of hyperfocus.
The real gold here is where Javi gives tips on how to make these spaces more accommodating for people with neurodivergencies. She speaks about:
Sensory load: emotional release sounds, loud music, incense and essential oils, and several people talking at once.
Course descriptions that state the real level of intensity, including practices like extended eye gazing.
Welcoming stimming, pacing and comfort items.
Reading silence as possible deep presence rather than disconnection, and seeing lots of questions as a way of arriving at genuine consent rather than "being in your head."
The episode closes with a question that applies to everyone: when we feel discomfort, is it showing us a real edge to grow through, or a nervous system that needs care? Javi explains why participants, not just facilitators, need tools to tell the difference.
This episode is for facilitators, space-holders, and anyone who has felt out of step in a group process.
Find Javi through her faculty profile at: https://ista.life/pr…
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Leadership, energy, and the shamanic path with Juan Es Alzate
1 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 18 min
Born in Medellín, Colombia, and raised in Chicago listening to hip hop, ISTA facilitator Juan Es Alzate never imagined he would become a shaman. In his early adult years, he ran a successful club-night promotions company, immersed in a scene that didn’t seem to require traversing subtle worlds in the way that only shamans can. Or so he thought. Lees meer
A first awakening through Reiki, followed by a dramatic second encounter with the plant medicine ayahuasca, sparked Juan Es’s discovery of his gifts as a healer. He found that he could clearly hear his inner guidance and finely attune to the needs of others. These were powerful moments—strikes of lightning, as he describes them—but they marked only the beginning of his training.
What he has discovered in the decades since, and what he shares with us in this episode, is an approach to leadership grounded in the energetic and environmental awareness he has developed along his path. For Juan Es, leadership is very different from “being the boss.” It requires a wider vision, an orientation towards synergy, and a willingness to take responsibility for the change you want to see in the world.
Any leader might align with these values. Bringing a shamanic perspective to them, however, means learning to trust your capacity to perceive and engage with subtle energy. That can require a leap of faith—and, for Juan Es, one place to begin is by turning inward and working with the seemingly unsolvable problems within yourself.
Juan Es speaks about his own journey from nightlife promoter to healer, shaman and facilitator, and about the importance of following the path that genuinely calls you. It may look very different from the paths others are taking. But, as his story suggests, much of our difficulty can arise when we ignore or resist that calling.
Find out more about Juan Es:
https://www.luminoushealer.com/
@juan.es.alzateAnd find out more about ISTA:
https://ista.life/
@ista.communitySupport the show
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You're going to die: get intimate with death
29 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
What happens when we stop treating death as life’s great failure? In this conversation, Atilla Çidam explores what he calls an intimacy with death: a willingness to encounter aging, loss, heartbreak and impermanence rather than organizing our lives around their avoidance. His provocative idea of the “ecstasy of decay” asks whether the marks of time on the body might be approached with curiosity, tenderness and even celebration. Lees meer
The conversation moves through three kinds of death: the death of the body, the death of what we love, and the death of identity. Attila argues that facing impermanence can change how we love, loosening the impulse to grasp, manage and control the people around us. Rather than making life less precious, the knowledge that everything passes can make our participation in it more immediate and wholehearted.
From tantric charnel-ground practices to contemporary transformational work, Simon Marvell and Atilla consider what it means to build the capacity to stay present with experiences we would rather escape. Their discussion ultimately expands beyond the personal: what might our communities, politics and economies look like if they were not built around a fear of death? For Attila, intimacy with death is fundamentally life-affirming: an invitation to recognise impermanence and commit more fully to being alive.
About Atilla Çidam
Atilla is an ISTA facilitator with a PhD in psychology whose earlier career involved designing programs with governments, the World Bank and UNICEF. He left that career to study dance, movement, Tantra and shamanism, shifting his work toward an integration of mind, body, emotion, soul and spirit. He is a co-founder of Dance Meets Tantra and Emergency Brotherhood, and his current work explores intimacy, transformation, embodiment and our relationship with death.
In this episode
Attila introduces three domains of intimacy with death: the impermanence of the body, the inevitable loss of what and whom we love, and the …
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Japan's Forgotten Sacred Sexual Rituals
13 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 17 min
Imagine if sexuality wasn’t separate from spirituality, but woven into the sacred landscape itself? Lees meer
In this episode, Simon speaks with ISTA faculty member Aya Kamānakai about her journey to reconnect with the ancient sexual and spiritual traditions of Japan. Born in Japan but raised largely abroad, Aya describes how returning to facilitate ISTA trainings in her homeland opened an unexpected path back to her ancestry. She rediscovered a culture in which sexuality, spirituality, nature, and ritual have long been intertwined.
Their conversation traverses Shinto animism, erotic shunga art, sacred phallic and vulvic shrines, sexual festivals, kami, ritual rope, queer and transgender expression, and Japanese understandings of sexuality as life force. Aya shares about traditions that remain alive today, from shrines dedicated to sexual deities to festivals where enormous phallic omikoshi are carried through the streets.
Aya and Simon also explore what happens when cultures become disconnected from these traditions. They consider the effects of religious suppression, Westernisation and modernity, and ask what it might mean to recover ancestral knowledge without romanticising or bypassing the more difficult parts of our histories.
Perhaps we’re living through a time of increased cultural remembering, Aya suggests. She invites you to become curious about your own ancestry, the land beneath your feet, and the forms of embodied and animist knowledge that may still exist beneath the surface of contemporary life.
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The Art of Repair: healing ruptures and deepening intimacy with Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates
21 juli 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
What if conflict wasn't something to dread, but a doorway to deeper intimacy? Lees meer
In this rich conversation, Usha Rose sits down with Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates, intimacy and relationship coach, somatic practitioner, and creator of The REPAIR Process™.
With a PhD in Human Sexuality and over two decades of facilitation experience, Dr. Hazel-Grace blends nervous system regulation, kink-aware communication, and embodied practice to help people move from reactivity and shutdown into courageous, heart-open repair.
At the core of their work is a simple teaching: conflict is not a failure of intimacy, it is the initiation into it. Dr. Hazel-Grace walks us through why slowing down before any difficult conversation is essential, how to resource your nervous system, and why it's valuable to acknowledge any power dynamics present before entering the repair conversation. From empathy and permission all the way to restoring integrity, this is a framework for finding your way back to trust and connection after any rupture, big or small.
Whether you're healing a deep breach of trust in your most intimate relationship or wanting to feel less activated when you run into someone in the world, this episode offers a compassionate, embodied map for finding your way back to each other, and to yourself.
Find Dr. Hazel-Grace at drhazelgrace.com
Or on Instagram: @drhazelgrace
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Creating from Eros with Arion Light
30 juni 2026 · 55 min
In this episode, our host Luis Pinto speaks to Arion Light about how to create your life, relations, and livelihood from your Eros. Lees meer
Arion's insights come from a lifetime of coaching clients and soul-searching. Most importantly, consistently letting go of any rigid identity and connecting with something deeper, what he calls our "Essence."
He speaks about how he discovered his greatest Love through his wife's passing from cancer. He was left to raise their 2-year old without her, an experience which cracked him open to feel just how precious our life-force really is. He now calls this Love his "Boss."
The conversation also explores:
how YOU can get embodied references to transform your reality, and actual stories from his clients and friends.
how he created the Embodied Business Institute and helps conscious entrepreneurs–or "Wisdom Business owners" as he calls them–build businesses from the ground up from the vibrating pulse in their core.
Tune in for this alive transmission, especially if you've been searching for practical ways to live your life aligned to your true purpose.
To get in touch with Arion, you can visit his website: www.arionlight.com
or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/arion.lightSupport the show
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Following Your Impulses with Komala Lyra
26 februari 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Komala Lyra has been teaching the art of realness for decades. That might sound strange. Isn’t everything real? But Komala helps people distinguish between what is truly authentic for them and what comes from external expectations. She guides people to become sensitive to their inner experience, to what life is calling them toward, and to what is happening in their hearts and bodies. Lees meer
Following your impulses, she suggests, can lead you down the path of realness. In this episode, Komala speaks with Simon about how learning to trust those inner signals can open the door to a more liberated life.
Along the way, she shares three powerful insights. When we listen to our impulses and say “yes” to them, we invite transformation. Ayurveda offers a framework for understanding how we digest not only food but also energy and experience. And when someone disappoints us, it can be a valuable opportunity to reflect on why we did not see it coming.
These ideas may sound bold, even provocative, but Komala presents them with warmth, care, and deep humanity. She shares personal stories, including deciding to marry her partner after knowing him for just 24 hours, growing up in an environment where her body could move freely, and why she enjoys knitting, even in the height of summer.
Simon and Komala also discuss her latest book, Intimacy: Ayurveda & Sexuality, as well as the immersive community experiences she hosts on her land in southern Portugal.
Tune in for an intimate, thought-provoking, and joyful conversation.
To learn more about Komala and her work, visit her links:
Website: https://www.komalalyra.com/
Land project, Monte California: https://www.montecalifornia.net/
Latest book: Intimacy: Ayurveda & Sexuality (2025)
Instagram: @komalalyra
And to learn more about ISTA, visit our website:
https://ista.life/
Or follow us on Instagram: @ista.community
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Repair in relationships: the key to living in integrity with Mischa Byruck
30 januari 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
In this episode, men’s coach Mischa Byruck shares how we can use our biggest mistakes as catalysts for profound personal transformation. Lees meer
For Mischa, coming to terms with our mistakes leads to a deeper understanding of what true integrity means. Integrity is not just about following rules, but about aligning your actions with your foundational values and being in wholeness with yourself. It is a nuanced, lifelong practice, not a state of perfection.
And there are many life-enhancing benefits of this inner work: a sense of calm, satisfaction, and the ability to walk through the world with pride in how you're living.
But this process cannot be completed alone. Mischa underscores the importance of having accountability structures and being open to feedback from others to maintain this integrity.
Whether you're looking to deepen your own self-awareness and authenticity, or seeking to support others in this journey, this episode offers valuable insights. Mischa’s expertise as a men's integrity coach, combined with his humble, relational approach, make this a must-listen for anyone interested in personal transformation and building a more whole, integrated life.
About Mischa:
Mischa Byruck is a men's integrity coach who supports his clients to turn their biggest mistakes into their greatest opportunities for transformation. He also consults organizations to bring accountability, power awareness, and trauma-informed practices into leadership. Mischa is certified in somatic trauma therapy with extensive training in harm reduction, counseling, sexuality, and anti-racism. His clients include Sacred Sons, ISTA, kink.com, and DanceSafe.
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Magick: listening to the current of life with Dane Tomas
8 januari 2026 · 1 uur 17 min
There are moments when effort ceases to have the effect it once did. When pushing, planning, and deciding create more tension than less. At these junctures, we can sense that the next step won’t come from thinking harder, but from listening more deeply. Lees meer
In this episode, Simon Marvell is joined by artist, creator, and transformational guide, Dane Tomas, for an exploration of how we can each embrace magick, release ourselves into sensitivity, and learn to listen to the current of life.
Dane shares his understanding of magick not as spectacle or superstition, but as intentional action aligned with the deepest layers of self, cosmos, and consciousness. He guides us through the relationship between will and surrender, and the surprising overlap between the path of the magician and the path of the mystic.
The conversation weaves through themes of cultural lineage and spiritual inheritance, questioning where our practices come from and what it means to work with traditions that genuinely fit our bodies, nervous systems, and lived realities. Dane reflects on his journey through Western esotericism, sex magic, shadow work, and non-dual practice, and on the moments where letting go of identity became a doorway to profound change.
A central thread of the episode is listening to the current: learning to attune not just intellectually, but somatically and energetically, to what wants to move through us — in ritual, creativity, sexuality, and major life decisions.
This episode invites a shift in orientation away from forcing clarity, and toward trusting the subtle movements already shaping our lives.
To learn more about Dane’s work, visit his links:
👉 https://www.danetomas.com/
👉Instagram: @dane.tomasIf you loved this episode, please rate the podcast and share it with your friends — it helps this work reach more people.
To learn more about ISTA, visit our links:
👉 https://ista.life/
👉 Instagram: @ista.communitySupport the show
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The joy of others: unlocking compersion in relationships with Marie Thouin
17 december 2025 · 1 uur 8 min
Does it genuinely make you happy when your partner is enjoying themselves on a trip with their other lover? Lees meer
Or perhaps you’ve felt a sense of elation when a friend or colleague receives a well-deserved promotion or prestigious award?
If you’ve ever been uplifted by someone else’s positive experience, even when it doesn’t directly involve you, then you’ve encountered "compersion".
In today’s episode, Usha Rose delves into the intriguing concept of compersion with guest Dr. Marie Thouin, the author of What is Compersion? Understanding Positive Empathy in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships, the first comprehensive scholarly work on this topic.
While compersion is often associated with non-monogamous relationships, it’s clear that anyone can benefit from understanding and embracing this experience.
You might be wondering:
Is compersion an innate trait, or can it be cultivated?
Can you feel jealousy and compersion simultaneously?
Is compersion a requirement in non-monogamous relationships?
We address these questions and explore:
The six factors that enhance compersion
How compersion manifests differently across contexts and situations, and strategies for navigating these variations
Common barriers to experiencing compersion and techniques for overcoming them
How compersion can serve as a guiding principle in relationships, fostering growth, connection, and intimacy
You can learn more about Dr Marie Thouin on her website:
https://mariethouin.com/
Or follow her on IG:
@drmariethouin
To learn more about ISTA visit our website:
https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media:
@ista.community
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How will your genius appear?: Robbie Griffin
2 december 2025 · 58 min
The tales of old tell us about the cruels of fate and great heroes following their destiny. Often, overcoming our fate is exactly how a fictional hero is made. Lees meer
But, as ISTA facilitator Robbie Griffin explains, these are not just myths to be left in fantasy worlds. Fate and destiny are lodged in the DNA of human experience and reflecting on them helps us understand our very human lives.
Fate refers to the cards we are dealt in life, both good and bad. It encompasses our family make-up, our upbringing, the culture we’re from, and the opportunities we’ve had.
Destiny is both what we choose to do with those cards, and how we go about doing it.
As Robbie explains, it's important to take care of those parts of ourselves that feel hurt by fate. Likewise, we can connect to our destiny and find our genius, that inner spirit which is uniquely our own.
Through a beautifully spontaneous conversation, Robbie and Simon Marvell explore the tender feelings and vulnerable experiences that we often need to integrate in order to tap into our greatest potential, whatever that may look like.
We hope it brings inspiration and insight you can apply to your own journey.
Robbie Griffin is a founding member and facilitator of Emergence Brotherhood, the founder of Temple of Alchemy London, and supports people 1-on-1 to embrace their unique gifts.
https://www.robbiegriffin.life
@robbiegriffinalchemy
To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life
Or follow us on Instagram: @ista.community
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What is the Dark... Really?: Laura Deva
2 november 2025 · 52 min
You may have experienced a time in your life when you felt part of some great oneness. Not easy to explain to another person, right? Lees meer
Mystics have grappled with these experiences for as long as there have been mystics, coming up with many poetic ways of referring to them.
In this episode, Simon Marvell speaks with ISTA facilitator and psychologist, Laura Deva, about a similar, poetic idea that has become prominent in recent years: it's called "the dark."
As Laura explains, "the dark" doesn't refer to shadowy parts of our unconscious, nor to evil. Rather, the dark is, precisely, a difficult-to-explain state of existence.
It can be distinguished from the personality and the soul in that it is what exists beyond their limits. And yet, the dark can be felt in them. Indeed, we can feel the dark in our daily lives, to our great benefit!
While this might seem like an abstract topic, Laura brings it right down to earth for us, while still offering a taste of how the dark can be felt.
To learn more about Laura, visit her links:
Upcoming retreat: Living from the Mystery, 20-24 November 2025, Germany.
Laura's Tandava online course
6-month online mentorship with Laura
Laura on Instagram
If you loved this episode, please rate it and share it with your friends!
And to learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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Stop Shaking the Snow Globe: Integration with Aaron Mandelbaum
15 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 11 min
In this episode, Simon Marvell speaks with ISTA Facilitator Aaron Mandelbaum about the importance of integration after transformational experiences. Lees meer
Going to a retreat for spiritual growth or personal development can be like shaking a snow globe. It can send flurries of emotions, thoughts, and experiences wildly into the air. At some point you need to let the snow settle into its new place.
Only then can sustainable shifts in how you live your life begin to establish themselves.
Aaron reveals the different ways that ISTA teachers suggest people integrate and explains why each of them are so supportive.
He and Simon also discuss Aaron's unique approach to facilitation, his transition from the business world to spiritual work, and the significance of community and connection in personal growth.
They address the challenges that may arise after intense experiences, especially when shamanic practices are involved, and the power of navigating these emotions alongside other people.
They also discuss:
How Aaron is like a cross between George Carlin and Mr Rogers
How patience, presence, and process infuses all he does
The perils of being a “shamasochist”
What your loved ones might be experiencing when you’re away
The ISTA Integration portal for graduates
The global online groups accessible to graduates
To connect with Aaron, visit his website: https://aaronmandelbaum.com/
ISTA offerings many trainings each month, all around the world. To learn more, visit our website: https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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Beyond Aphrodisiacs: 5 Herbal Approaches to Enhancing Pleasure
26 september 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
In this episode, Usha Rose sits down with her longtime friend and colleague Kay’aleya Hunnybee, a clinical herbalist and integrative health coach, to explore the true power of herbs as aphrodisiacs, not just for boosting libido, but for supporting whole-body vitality, nourishing the nervous system, and enhancing pleasure from the inside out. Lees meer
Rather than offering a generic list of aphrodisiac herbs, Kay’aleya guides us through a holistic, nuanced approach to understanding our sensuality and sexual well-being. Together, we dive into how herbs work, why not all aphrodisiacs are the same, and how to choose the right plants for your unique body, lifestyle, and needs.
Kay’aleya shares 5 core areas for enhancing pleasure from an herbal perspective, along with practical insights and examples of herbs that support each one. You’ll also learn how to develop an intimate relationship with herbs and plants as allies for long-term sexual vitality, not just quick fixes.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why aphrodisiac is an oversimplified term and what actually matters
The importance of understanding your individual needs
5 key areas for using herbs to enhance pleasure and arousal
Examples of herbs in each of those categories
Creative, unexpected ways to work with herbs for sexual well-being
If you’ve ever wondered which herbs might actually help you feel more alive, nourished, and sensually vibrant, this episode will give you a rich foundation to start your own herbal pleasure journey.
About Kay’aleya Hunnybee
Kay’aleya is a clinical herbalist, bodyworker, and integrative health coach specializing in menstrual, hormonal, and sexual health. Her work supports everything from menstrual cycle care and breast health to postpartum healing and navigating menopause. She teaches an online Natural Contraception program, offers pelvic and abdominal bodywork & herbal care in midcoast Maine, and hosts the Herbal Womb Wisdom podcast. Her greatest wish is for others to experience t…
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Techniques for Releasing Stuck Emotions: Jeff Delone
12 september 2025 · 1 uur 11 min
In this episode, Jeff DeLone shares his journey from a conventional, yet emotionally suppressed, upbringing in the United States to discovering the power of feeling and releasing emotions. Lees meer
Growing up in a large Catholic family, Jeff was surrounded by people but often felt alone. Looking back, he recognizes signs of inherited depression and the impact of unexpressed emotions. After excelling in school and sports, he entered the corporate world, only to find it unfulfilling. His turning point came when he began attending transformational workshops, where he encountered tools that helped him navigate life’s challenges without relying on old patterns like drinking.
This exploration eventually led him to become a teacher of the Release Technique, a method that helps people fully feel and then let go of difficult emotions instead of repressing them. As Jeff emphasizes, the technique is less about intellectual understanding and more about direct experience. In the episode, he guides listeners through simple yet powerful exercises for noticing and releasing stuck feelings.
One of his key insights is about working with fear: rather than resisting it, we can meet fear with love and allow it to move through us. He also explains how the ego resists letting go, preferring to stay in the mind. In contrast, this practice opens the door to truly living, not just thinking or doing.
Jeff also touches on:
The history of the Release Technique
What lies beneath our most difficult feelings
How to release the grip of the mind
Relating to emotions like musical notes
Transforming fear into courage
Heart-centered meditation practices
It’s a rich and inspiring conversation with a down-to-earth teacher exploring some pretty “out there” ideas.
Links from the episode:
Release Technique
Healing the Heart of America
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it and share it with friends!
Learn more about ISTA at ista.life
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How commitment expands freedom, community & growth: Jasmeen Hana
28 augustus 2025 · 56 min
Jasmeen Hana, Egyptian spirituality facilitator (and previous ISTA facilitator), speaks with Caitlyn Cook about her journey of self-discovery, spirituality, and community living. From a multicultural background, she has moved through crises of identity, spiritual revelation, and many years of global travelling, to finally settle in her community in rural Egypt. Lees meer
Drawing deeply from her expertise in ancient Egyptian mythology and culture, Jasmeen explains the importance of bringing offerings to the land (not just taking) and of commitment. When we can let go of our striving and driving to achieve, she says, we can become like nature, allowing life to emerge from within.
Jasmeen emphasizes the importance of *taking action* to bring the mystical world, to which many of us are connected, into reality. As we aim to do this more, it seems, shadow work is essential, but so too is drawing on what is in our light. In fact, there are several things that could be in the way of us slowing down and committing to our chosen path...
Jasmeen and Caitlyn also explore:
How mythology helped Jasmeen find her place in the world.
Respecting and listening to the land as we would a lover.
Stability as a marker of power in ancient Egypt.
Doubt as a block to right action in the world
How our dreams matter and contribute to the collective vision for a better world.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jasmeen Hana and Her Journey
04:58 The Role of Land and Community in Spirituality
09:56 The Importance of Giving Back to the Land
14:52 Commitment as a Path to Freedom
19:47 Finding Balance Between Movement and Stability
26:58 The Nature of Commitment
29:31 Shadow and Light Work
31:57 Embracing Self-Worth
34:53 Life Beyond Materialism
36:35 Bridging Spirituality and Daily Life
39:58 The Power of Action
43:37 Community and Shared Vision
47:22 The Beauty of Imperfection
About Jasmeen Hana
Jasmeen is a Kemetic spiritual and shamanic facilitator, community builder, and founder of B…
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Doing Conflict Better: Lars Borgmann
24 juli 2025 · 54 min
In this episode, ISTA facilitator Usha Rose speaks with systemic therapist and transformational guide Lars Borgmann about how to engage in conflict with others in a better way. Lees meer
As Lars explains, conflict can occur in any area of our lives, but our experiences of it are often so unpleasant that we aim to avoid it at any cost. Without being dealt with, it can fester underneath the surface of our relationships, causing even more problems.
What we should do is stop seeing conflict as an indication that someone has done something wrong. Instead, we should take a systemic approach and see that everyone has their own internal conflicts, and their own complex desires, that are influencing the tense interaction.
If we see conflict as an opportunity for us to grow in our relationships with others, then we can begin collaborating with those we’re clashing with and create new solutions to the problems we’re facing.
Lars speaks about how we can make this happen. He also addresses:
· Bringing love to conflict
· Letting go of our need to control the truth
· How conflicts are actually made-up of many smaller conflicts
· The influence of past experience on present interactions
· How 99% of our issues with others have already occurred within ourselves
If you loved this episode, why not rate it and share it with your friends!
To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: ista.life
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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How to Bend Time: Michal Maayan Don
1 juli 2025 · 59 min
It's not just the stuff of science fiction. As ISTA Lead faculty member Michal Maayan Don explains, bending time is possible when we drop deeply into what we love to do. That may be easier said than done. But if we aim to be more authentic, and practice healthy boundaries, we might be surprised by how quickly that sense of timelessness can come about. Lees meer
In this spontaneous and bubbly conversation, Michal and Simon Marvell also explore themes of vibrations, connection, and uncaging eros. They delve into the importance of touch in fostering aliveness and the collective intelligence that emerges in group settings.
Overall, the emphasis is on our need to reconnect with the spirit in matter and the significance of love and land in our lives.
TAKEAWAYS
Vibrations signify a higher level of aliveness in our bodies.
Touch is essential for genuine connection and communication.
Sexual energy can be uncaged and expressed in unconventional forms.
Timelessness can be experienced in deep connections with others.
Love and connection to the land enhance our experiences.
Collective intelligence emerges when groups vibrate together.
Spirit is present in matter and can be felt through our bodies.
Reconnecting with our instincts is crucial for healthy boundaries.
Vulnerability in groups fosters deeper connections and love.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Vibrations and Aliveness
03:10 The Power of Touch and Connection
06:31 Uncaging Eros: Redefining Sexuality
12:44 The Intelligence of the Body and Instincts
19:57 The Role of Boundaries and Emotional Energy
25:30 Experiencing Timelessness in Connection
31:31 Love and Connection with the Land
39:30 Acknowledging Indigenous Connections to Land
43:01 The Spirit in Matter and Animal Instincts
51:44 The Vibrational Intelligence of GroupsSupport the show
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Spiritual Maturity and the Bwiti Missoko Tradition with Aténougha
11 juni 2025 · 40 min
Aténougha is an Nganga (teacher) and bridge to the Bwiti Missoko tradition of Central Africa, where he helps people find transformation through this ancient spiritual science. Lees meer
In this conversation, Caitlyn Cook asks him, in a world that seems more and more chaotic, warring and disconnected, how do we relate to it as spiritual people? How does a spiritually mature person act or perceive this without being overwhelmed, disheartened or paralysed?
Recorded in Libreville, Gabon, Aténougha explores the link between inner and outer conflict—and how everything begins from within...
Rather than being overwhelmed, a spiritual person learns to understand their “position”, embracing both light and dark and choosing grounded ways to create change.
The conversation includes..
Spiritual views on war & crisis: Why war is not only political but energetic—and how to relate to it without fear or paralysis.
The importance of position: How recognising — and possibly shifting — your internal stance can change your outer experience.
From overwhelm to action: Why change starts small (in your home, relationships, and community) and grows from there.
Recognizing symptoms early: War doesn't just happen 'out there', it starts inside of you. Notice signs of conflict or misalignment and the role of daily practice in becoming more attuned...
Balancing and accepting light and dark: How to meet life’s polarities with wisdom, understanding that everything is part of the whole.
To find out more about the Bwiti tradition and initiations, contact:
bwiti.calling@gmail.com
Learn more about ISTA: https://ista.life
Follow us on Instagram: @ista.community
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Accountability in Leadership: Embracing Growth and Collective Empowerment with Kamela Love
26 mei 2025 · 1 uur 21 min
Kamela Love is an integrative mediator, transformational relationship coach, and former lawyer who blends diverse teachings—from mystical Sufism to neuroscience and Tantra—to explore personal and organizational growth. Lees meer
She is the founder of Transform Into Love and co-founder of Queer Tantric Arts. With over 15 years of experience identifying as queer and poly, Kamela is passionate about awakening humanity to societal justice and divine love.
In recent years, she has worked with ISTA faculty and organizers as a mediator, helping to improve their conflict resolution skills and capacity to take accountability.
In this conversation with Usha Rose, Kamela speaks in depth about the importance of taking accountability. She emphasizes that good leadership is actually founded on the ability to acknowledge where harm has been caused, entering into a process of repair, and seeing if there is a way for all to consensually move forward.
It’s a rich exploration, relevant to leaders everywhere, indeed to anyone participating in a relationship where power dynamics are at play. It might be between a manager and employee, teacher and student, coach and client, or facilitator and group. It could even be within personal relationships like parent and child, or between romantic partners.
Topics Covered Include:
Responsibility vs. Accountability and Why It Matters: The distinction between fulfilling duties and taking ownership of the outcomes of those actions, especially when things go sideways.
The Importance of Accountability in Leadership: Why some leaders might shy away from accountability and how those who embrace it see it as a path for deeper growth and collective empowerment, fostering trust and integrity within their leadership and communities.
Practical Tips for Leaders: Key practices for preventing harm, addressing it effectively when it happens, and steps to minimize the need for future accountability processes—such as trauma-informed approaches, proactive feedback sy…
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Power in Groups: Lessons from the Blockchain with Jamie Zigelbaum
12 mei 2025 · 54 min
In this first episode of the 6th season, Simon Marvell talks to blockchain pioneer and ISTA ally Jamie Zigelbaum about how the evolution of digital governance models can help us create smarter organizations and communities. Lees meer
Jamie's insights come from his career as a researcher, artist, and from contributions to billion-dollar Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) projects. Most of his work has been carried out under an online pseudonym, so the name might be unfamiliar!
His message is that while the sophisticated blockchain technology that has been developed in recent years might not have many real-world applications yet, it promises to provide solutions, in the future, to some of the most complex problems we face.
And these problems and solutions are not only technical ones. Jamie says that how we communicate with each other, how we trust one another, how we arrange ourselves into groups, and how well we work together in those groups can be enhanced as a result of these innovations.
Tune in for this thoughtful and clarifying conversation, especially if you’ve previously been turned off by the subject of digital technology!
To get in touch with Jamie, please email us and we will link you up: media@ista.life
If you love this episode, please rate it and share it with your friends!
And to learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/
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Jealousy as a Pathway to Intimacy: Joli Hamilton
30 september 2024 · 1 uur 10 min
It’s a situation straight out of the movies, or a teen magazine: jealousy causing a rift between two lovers. It could be as simple as your partner mentioning getting close to one of their co-workers, or as complex as negotiating the ups and downs of an open relationship. No matter how big or small the circumstance, or how experienced the people involved, jealousy can come on strong! Lees meer
In this episode, researcher and self-described relationship counsellor “for people who color outside the lines,” Joli Hamilton, talks with Usha Rose about how jealousy can be an incredible force for growth, pleasure, and increased connection in your romantic relationships.
They focus on how to create non-monogamous partnerships without shrinking away from the difficult feelings they can bring up. These are feelings Hamilton knows well. She had been in only monogamous relationships until having a sudden awakening into the possibility of relating with more than one person at once.
And in her research, Hamilton has found that the people who have the most successful experience with non-monogamy know how to notice the sensations of jealousy and then name it. This, she says, is one of the first things we can do to embrace non-monogamy in a supportive way.
They also discuss:
Five steps for processing jealous feelings
How jealousy relates to shame and fear
The archetypal nature of jealousy
Paying attention to the way jealousy arises in the body
Creating relationship agreements to care for each other through jealousy
The unique pleasure of jealousy
We hope you enjoy the episode!
To learn more about Jolie, follow her on social media: @drjoliehamilton
To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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Integrating Altered States of Consciousness: Amánda Argot
19 juli 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
It’s one thing to summon the courage and create the safety to dive into an altered state of consciousness. It’s another thing entirely to know how best to care for ourselves, and be cared for, after the experience is over. But as our guest in this episode, psychedelic integration coach, Amánda Argot, explains, this post-experience phase is vital to being able to bring the gems we uncover in altered states into our non-altered reality. Lees meer
In this rich conversation, Simon and Amánda explore the therapeutic potential of altered-state experiences like breathwork, psychedelics, and other methods. Amánda emphasises the importance of intention-setting and preparation in shaping the quality and outcome of these experiences.
This integration phase extends beyond immediate care to include practices like rest, journaling, and somatic exercises. Amánda explains the unique 'Recíprico' method she has co-developed as a structured approach to guide individuals and facilitators through this process effectively.
They then dive really deep into their ethical and cultural ramifications, including how different cultural and spiritual traditions approach and interpret these experiences. They contrast the perspectives of shamans, traditional healers, and clinical psychologists, and underscore the ethical responsibilities and liabilities associated with guiding individuals through these potentially challenging and intense journeys. The need for informed and culturally sensitive support systems is strong, they find.
They also cover sexuality as an altered state, drawing parallels with psychedelic experiences. As you may have experienced for yourself, sexual experiences can facilitate deep introspection and connection, both within oneself and with others.
Overall, It illuminated the transformative potential of these experiences when approached with intention, respect, and informed guidance.
Learn more about Amánda's work here: https://www.amandaefthimiou.com/
Join her mailing list here:…
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Keys for Cultivating an Epic Relationship: Michael Gibson
2 juli 2024 · 56 min
What would it be like for us to use the tools that we learn in workshops to create a life, and a partnership, that is not just ordinary but extraordinary? Lees meer
This is the big question driving the work of this episode’s guest, relationship coach, Michael Gibson.
For example, he says, fighting between partners is “ordinary.” This is not to judge the realities of relating between two humans. Difficulty is totally normal! But Michael is most interested in what we can do to digest that ordinary reality and create the possibility of a wonderful alternative.
He has been on this journey with his own partner, ISTA Lead Facilitator Laurie Handlers. Years ago, they began guiding people with the tools they discovered to be effective in their own lives. They give people homework on how to be juicy, and how to be in love again…
The main thing they teach people is how to return to love.
“It’s when you know that you can say something hard to your person,” Michael says, “and they can say it back to you, and you can return to love even if it was painful. That’s really what we practice.”
It’s about letting the walls we often place between us melt.
One of the key reasons to be able to return to love is so that you can speak your truth. It’s not just about being mean to one another and then being able to be loved after that. But rather, to speak our truth. When we can speak our truths, we are not holding onto little resentments and pain that can hold our relationships back.
And your sex life is going to benefit as well!
In this candid conversation, Ria and Michael also talk about:
The famous “Bubble” technique for creating sacred space
Hitting the pause button on judging our partners
What happens when we fall into resentment, resistance, and revenge
The choice between being right or being in a relationship!
How couples seem to be an endangered species
How our values are what underpin our boundaries
If you loved this episode, please share it with your friends!
To learn more…
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The Art of Temple Nights: Celeste Gonzalez
5 juni 2024 · 58 min
Temple nights. They are popping up like wildfires! Some say there should be more of them. One of those people is Celeste Gonzalez, who runs some of the best in Berlin. Lees meer
For her, it is super important that they are deeply attuned events for sensual and soul connection. Not events even. Art pieces!
In this episode, Celeste talks with Simon about what a Temple Night is and how you can best prepare for one. It’s all about care and intention. She shares what some of the key ingredients of a great experience are, things like authenticity and good f’cking lighting. So participants and facilitators, take note.
She also helps us feel into just what makes Temple nights such special spaces for self-exploration beyond the hold of the personal. They might be erotic or solitary, spicy or subtle, a big celebration or a time for grieving.
Whether you’ve been to 1000 Temples, or are a total newbie, this conversation is bound to reveal something from between the layers of live experience…
To learn more about Celeste's wide-ranging work, visit her website: https://www.devoteeoftheheart.com/
Or follow Celeste on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devoteeoftheheart/
To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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Free to Thrive! Gender, Fluidity & Our Inner Selves: Asis Aviv
6 mei 2024 · 1 uur 8 min
Asis Aviv is one of a kind, and the newest faculty member of the International School of Temple Arts. A self-described “rich witch, radical faerie, love priestexx, and shy-ning diva,” they are here for falling back in love with being humxn. Lees meer
In this conversation with Simon Marvell, Asis–a name which means “JUICE!” in Hebrew–shares their reflections on a vast array of topics, all anchored in the idea that we are so much more than our identity, whether influenced by parents, society or anything else.
Gender and identity fluidity has nothing to do with some ‘woke agenda,’ but rather is about letting ourselves experience all that we are and all that we can be. Exploring all our inner parts/ selves/ voices, especially when they challenge the norms we grew up with is a wonderful way to free ourselves of our limiting beliefs and prejudices that keep us from living in love and acceptance.
Asis shares how they work to embrace their shyness, how grief can be a transforming factor in dealing with issues of self-worth, and how they navigate the complexities of queer existence in a world that often demands performance and perfection.
Through the lens of Somatic Shamanic Voice Dialogue (SSVD), Asis invites us to explore the concept of "binge-watching" our inner selves and our identifcation with them, encouraging a deeper understanding of the ever-evolving nature of identity and personality.
Asis shares insights on collapsing conventional binaries of masculine and feminine (and more), examining the walls we erect around ourselves, and a way to find peace through surrender and self-exploration. They offer a powerful message of empowerment and liberation, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique expression and celebrate the colourful tapestry of humxn existence.
To learn more about Asis, follow them on Instagram: @goddexxfactor
To learn more about ISTA, follow us on social media: @ista.community
Or visit our website: https://ista.life/
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Candid Conversations & Criticism about the Sacred Sexuality Space: Dave Booda
5 april 2024 · 2 uur 18 min
Over the last couple of years, Dave Boda has been really critical of ISTA. He’s composed blog-posts and spoken openly about how some of the people involved need to improve, and how some of the ways ISTA approaches its work need to fall away. Lees meer
In this episode, he talks with ISTA facilitator, the podcast founder, and his old friend, Ria Yoshida, about how important it is to not only have these frank conversations about improving the sacred sexuality space, but to do it in an engaged and loving way.
Although Dave has not attended an ISTA experience himself, he has facilitated hundreds of events in the spiritual self-development space and draws, here, on his experience there. He has also been through an extended mediation process with ISTA in his role with the group, Safer Sex Positive and Spiritual Communities.
For him, it is crucial for communities to acknowledge when it is time to shift with the times, and grow along with those who form them.
Dave and Ria cover many points of wisdom that have arrived for both of them in their journeys of self-exploration, like:
How important it is to take breaks from going to workshops or festivals and integrate what you’ve learned into ordinary life.
How we need to take accountability for what happens in our lives, and for when we’ve made mistakes.
How important it is to really listen to feedback.
How we often stay working on projects that no longer serve us because it’s what we get rewarded for.
How it is really difficult to genuinely do the work of taking responsibility.
We hope you enjoy this frank, and very real, conversation.
To learn more about Dave, visit his website: https://boodaism.com/
To learn more about Safer Sex Positive and Spiritual Communities, visit their website: https://3sc.community/
To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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Dependency & Sovereignty in Transformational Spaces: Elica Lorde-Syzygy
1 maart 2024 · 1 uur 40 min
There’s a lot of hot debate about the ethics of transformational spaces right now, driven by questions of how power should be held in these spaces. Who should be responsible if something goes wrong? Just what are the limits of what gets taught? Lees meer
Maybe it would be easier not to create spaces for transformational work, for looking at shadows and how power moves. Maybe making such spaces, if they are still to exist, should be made so anodyne as to neutralize whatever challenges people might feel around these issues (including sexuality).
Our guest, Elica Lorde-Syzygy, a transpersonal counsellor and Internal Family Systems therapist, is on today’s show to discuss these questions. In this conversation Elica explains how we can be so accustomed to pointing the finger at others that we miss many opportunities to pass over the threshold of responsibility to a more sovereign and resilient selfhood.
The reasons we do this are understandable. We don’t want to be exiled from the groups that support our thriving. We’re part of a larger culture that perhaps wants us to remain attached to archetypal figures of the mother and the father. But if we stay like that, we remain dependent!
We might find ourselves getting to a place, in ourselves and in the groups we are part of, where these kinds of subconsciously dependent relations are just simply not working any more, and are causing more harm than good. It’s at this point, Elica explains, that we can get to work…
To learn more about Elica, visit her website:
https://www.b-inghuman.com/our-story-1
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To learn more about the International School of Temple Arts, visit our website or follow us on social media:
ista.life
@ista.community
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Community, Cults & Cancel Culture: Jen Howk
15 februari 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
In this episode, Ria talks with Dr. Jen Howk about the collision of science and mysticism in the field of evolutionary psychology. With her feet planted firmly in both worlds, Dr. Jen delves into the how and why of our psychological quirks, revealing some of the mysteries of our development as a species. Lees meer
In particular, she tackles the intriguing phenomenon of cancel culture. In doing so, she explores the historical roots of our collective drive to create ‘in’-groups and ‘out’-groups, explaining that it was a crucial strategy in ancient communities for protecting against threats.
Conformity, she argues, often stems from a deep-seated fear of being relegated to one of these 'out'-groups—a survival instinct that persists, even when it may no longer be necessary.
It turns out that there are many unhelpful characteristics of contemporary culture which derive from our instinct to survive and reproduce. According to Dr. Jen, we can feel a sense of freedom, and find compassion for ourselves and others, when we understand that it might be these instincts pushing us towards behaving in one way or another.
We can feel similar feelings when we acknowledge our ability to choose alternatives.
In this conversation, Ria and Jen also cover:
Coercion as a defining mark of cults
The ‘Big Five’ personality characteristics
How our behaviour can often be explained by what evolutionary goals we are trying to achieve
The problems with ‘blank slate’ thinking
The importance of connecting with nature
If you love this episode, share it with your friends!
And if you want to learn more about ISTA’s retreats and workshops, check out our website, ista.life
Go follow us on social media @ista.community
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Unravelling Life Through Existential Kink: Carolyn Elliot
25 januari 2024 · 1 uur 29 min
Do you ever feel like you’re being held back in life by events and circumstances that are out of your control? Maybe you find yourself in uncomfortable, even terrible, circumstances thinking to yourself: how did I even get here? And, how do I get out? Lees meer
These are questions that arrived powerfully in the life of Carolyn Elliot, transformational guide and author of the book, Existential Kink. We won’t give too much away, but as she explains in this episode, she was really in a bind. And then, almost by accident, she had the realisation that ‘having is evidence of wanting.’
Elliot had to come to terms with the idea that some part of her had wanted to be in the difficult, unpleasant situation she was in. Maybe not on the surface, but deeper down.
Her journey was then about being able to unravel what she has come to call her ‘existential kink,’ which she defines as a desire for something that others might think too edgy, or outright bad. It’s ‘existential’ because the kink is about life, not just sexy stuff.
For her, the key is to bring consciousness to what we enjoy in even the ‘bad’ parts of our lives. This can help release their hold over us.
Stay tuned all the way to the end of this lively and fascinating conversation to be guided through the existential kink practice that Elliot details in her runaway classic book of the same name!
To learn more about Carolyn, please visit her website and join her email list:
https://carolynlovewell.com/
If you love this episode, share it with your friends! And if it want to follow ISTA on social media, you can find us @ista.community on all good platforms.
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Awakening Shamanic Principles in Leadership: Raffaello Manacorda
23 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 18 min
In this, his third episode with the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic Podcast, ISTA Lead Facilitator and member of ISTA’s governing council, Raffaello Manacorda, speaks about shamanic leadership. Lees meer
What is shamanic leadership? Raffa explains that it’s an essential component of taking responsibility within groups of people. Instead of competing for powerful positions within organizations and then ruling through domination and manipulation, he says, what we can do is understand the role of the leader as similar to that of the shaman.
A shamanic leader has the capacity to sense and respond to the subtle energy moving within a group, and to make decisions based on a felt sense of what needs to occur. This, Raffa says, is only possible when those called into leadership are able to bring the power in their own bodies along for the ride.
Shamanic leadership is also based on a fundamentally different leadership culture than many of us are used to. Raffa paints the picture of a ‘cloud’ roving over a group of people, a cloud which will stop above the head of the person who is being called into leadership and strike them with shamanic lightning. An investment of great power indeed, and often only for a temporary period of time...
If you're a practitioner, facilitator, or entrepreneur who's leading a group of people (or sees a future in it), this is especially for you.
Join us for this deep and enlightening conversation, where Simon and Raffa explore the benefits and inevitable dangers of this kind of leadership.
If you love this episode, please rate it and share it with others who need to hear it!
And if you want to learn more about ISTA, visit our website: ista.life
Or follow us on social media: @ista.community
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Fatherhood as Transformational Path: Nimai Sun Ra
24 juli 2023 · 1 uur 2 min
ISTA Facilitator Nimai Sun Ra grew up without a father. As a result, he has felt, perhaps more urgently than most, the need to become his own father figure. To provide himself stability, guidance, and the strength that a biological father might often provide. Lees meer
In recent years, he has been on a journey of extending that experience of fatherhood from himself to his own two young sons. As he tells us in this conversation with Usha, the journey of fatherhood has been the best, most important, thing he has ever done. Every initiation he has been through in his life, he says, has been a preparation for the initiation of fatherhood.
And it has been an initiation, with wonderful new realisations mixed in with unavoidable difficulties. In this episode Nimai talks about how his relationship with his beloved, the mother of his children, shifted dramatically, how he could not get through it without the support of other, older brothers, and how he had to deal with failure.
And he reflects deeply on the spiritual journey of fatherhood, on how important a role it is to be able to play in the world, whether it is with your own children, other’s, or in a more symbolic way.
Nimai also covers:
Navigating fatherhood and open relating
The value of focussing on fatherhood without distraction
How becoming a father can shifts romantic relationships
The importance of community when kids come along
The role of your inner parent
Distortions in the role of the father
How the father is often the one called on to set boundaries
If you loved this episode, share it with your friends!
You can learn more about ISTA at www.ista.life
And via our social media channels: @ista.community
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Unlocking Inner Worlds: Mythology, Imagination, and Soul-Discovery
23 juni 2023 · 1 uur 2 min
Growing up in rural Austria, ISTA facilitator Ashisha Arpana’s favorite toy was her imagination. She gleefully played with it, eventually turning what happened in her mind's eye into a career in film and media. Lees meer
The imagination, she tells us in this deep and exploratory episode, is one of the most important keys for us in letting go of the old, disempowering stories we tell ourselves and getting back into currency with life as it moves through us.
Ashisha explains that we can spark our imagination—our vision of an amazing, vibrant present—through mythology. This is not just a collection of stories from ancient cultures, but living, breathing codes for tapping into the source of our inner worlds. It is where the pulse of life comes from.
And there are some simple things we can do to allow this source of our inner life to pour through us into the world, allowing us to shape-shift and, ultimately, choose how our future will go.
Simon and Ashisha also discuss:
how we often out-source our imagination to Hollywood
how myths are always evolving. They’re not for copywriting!
coming back to the child-like sense of wonder in each of us
our bodies as instruments of the soul
what a soul is and how to communicate with it
collective dreaming and shaping culture from there
the imagination of the heart in the Sufi tradition
how to reclaim your own story, step-by-step, without judgement
If you love this episode, why not leave a review and share it with your friends!
And if you want to learn more about ISTA, follow us on social media: @ista.tribe
Or visit our website: ista.life
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Squirting My Way From Church to Freedom: Aya Kamānakai
21 mei 2023 · 56 min
In this episode, Usha talks with ISTA Facilitator Aya Kamānakai about reclaiming sexuality as a pathway to personal empowerment and spiritual connection. Lees meer
Growing up in the Christian church, Aya was taught to shut down her sexuality. As she moved into adulthood, she found herself unable to access pleasure in her body and had resigned herself to a life without it. This was until, in desperation, she sought out a sexual healer who guided her into releasing her full, orgasmic potential.
Almost immediately, she was able to allow this release of repressed energy to literally pour out into other areas of her life: her relationships, her business, and her visions for cultural evolution. Sex magic, as she explains in this episode, is possible when we use pleasure as a doorway to whatever wants to be expressed. We can use the power that comes with this deep freedom of expression to bring what we dream into reality.
Some of the topics Aya and Usha discuss are:
The profound significance of Aya’s first time squirting
The connection between sexual energy and purpose
How self-pleasure works best when we don’t feel like it
Finding our easiest access points to pleasure
How you can transform any aspect of your sexuality, even physiological ones
How to access your sexual energy by yourself
And, as a delicious extra, at the end of the episode, Aya leads a beautiful meditation into connecting with life-force (44:00-49:00).
About Aya:
Allured by the wild and the beauty within us, Aya Kamānakai is a passionate advocate for embracing pleasure and reclaiming our sexual energy. With a deep reverence for ancient wisdom and a belief in the intelligence stored inside our bodies, Aya calls upon all beings, but especially women, to reconnect with their innate power and unlock their highest potential.
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How to Make Love Every Single Day: Matilda Gregersdotter
8 mei 2023 · 52 min
Picture this: you’re in a long, long-term relationship with another person. You both have dynamic, ‘larger-than-life’ personalities. You have four kids together, and busy schedules full of big projects. It seems almost impossible to fit in time for each other. Life is interesting, but you’re realizing how easy it is to put off moments of deeper connection. Then, one day, almost out of nowhere, you decide together that you’re going to make love every day. Lees meer
Every. Single. Day.
This is no imaginary story! In this episode of the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic Podcast, ISTA organizer and certified coach, Matilda Gregersdotter, talks with Ria about how her and her husband have had s*x everyday since 2008. That’s 15 years, if you do the math. As she explains, it has been a beautiful journey, with many benefits she is keen to share with others.
These are just some of the topics that Matilda and Ria cover:
how regular love-making is nourishing and refreshing
how to effortlessly include love-making in a busy schedule
the idea of ‘meeting each other’
resolving conflict that would make s*x impossible
expanding what love-making means
how the body and mind become more receptive to touch, not less
how it’s impossible to get bored when you treat each time as the first time
how to practice the art of coming back to love
the brilliant Game of “Yes”
what happens when we find ways to release unnecessary resistance
If you loved this episode, share it with your friends and leave us a 5-star review!
To learn more about what we do at ISTA, visit ista.life
You can also follow @ista_tribe on Instagram and Facebook.
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What to Do When the Bliss State Fades: Crystal Dawn Morris
20 april 2023 · 1 uur 19 min
If you've ever been to a spiritual retreat, you might know that they can be totally blissful places. Dancing, good food, vibrant people, deep teaching. Paradise! Lees meer
Yes, they can involve difficult emotions, and sometimes the teachings can be complex, but that's often part of the experience.
So, what happens when it all comes to an end and you have to head back home and, somehow, put all you learned and experienced into action for real?
Well, in this episode of the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic podcast, ISTA Lead Facilitator Crystal Dawn Morris tells us about her own experiences with blissed out states of being and how she integrates them into her ongoing life.
She shares about some important tools she teaches in ISTA trainings for processing tough emotional experiences and maintaining our sensitivity, and goes deep on a unique experience she has designed especially for bringing spiritual training into every day reality, "Living Level One."
She also talks about:
Her first ever altered state of consciousness
The concept and practice of "sonic driving"
Our Emotional Guidance System
The practice of Aspecting and how to do it
How the emotional body works
If you loved this podcast, leave us a review! And you can follow us on social media @ista_tribe
To learn more about ISTA teachers and our retreats, visit http://ista.life
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The Vulnerability of Men's Work: Aaron Kleinerman
7 april 2023 · 1 uur 11 min
In this episode of the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic Podcast, ISTA facilitator Aaron Kleinerman delves into the topic of men's work and the importance of creating safe spaces for men to explore their vulnerability and receptivity. Lees meer
Through many years of holding these kinds of spaces, Aaron has found that there is great benefit in men embracing both their masculine and feminine energies. It can lead to a deeper sense of inner union and empowerment. He acknowledges that societal conditioning often discourages men from fully embodying their feminine side, and that this can hinder their personal growth and evolution. The overall aim is for men to be able to break free from these constraints and unlock their full potential.
In response to criticism of men's work, Argues argues that it is not about reinforcing the patriarchy or promoting conservative gender roles. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity for men to relax into their masculinity, to let go of their fears and insecurities, and to share experiences with other men who may have had similar life experiences. From this more relaxed place, men can show up for themselves, the people in their lives, and their communities in a more healthy way.
Overall, Aaron’s message is one of empowerment and growth. By embracing both their masculine and feminine energies, and by creating safe spaces for exploration and growth, men can achieve a deeper sense of inner union and become better equipped to navigate the challenges of life.
If you loved this episode, leave a review and share it with your friends!
To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/
Or follow us on social media: @ista_tribe
To learn more about Aaron, visit his website: https://aaronkleinerman.com/
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7 Types of Orgasm for Femme Bodies: Elisa Caro
26 maart 2023 · 1 uur 7 min
In this episode, Usha talks with s*x engineer, Elisa Caro. An Apprentice Facilitator with ISTA, Elisa dives into one of her favorite topics: the many different kinds of orgasm that people in femme bodies can experience. Lees meer
Elisa covers some of these juicy and, some may consider, controversial areas of discovery:
how femme bodies are wired for pleasure
the importance of breast play
the difference between implosive and explosive orgasm
how you can turn waves of pleasure into states of orgasm
how to access orgasm if you find it difficult
prioritizing comfort and pleasure
allowing time for arousal to development
So much of ISTA's teaching is about coming back to feeling subtle energy as it moves through the body. As Elisa explains, this process of coming back to feeling is a beautiful and profound journey, especially for people in femme bodies.
The kinds of orgasm Elisa talks about are:
nipple ones (yum)
anal ones (lube and slowness, please)
vaginal opening ones (lots of nerve endings)
g-spot ones (requires preparation)
cervical ones (super deep)
clitoral ones (glorious)
full body ones (the ultimate)
Get ready to learn a whole bunch about what your beautiful body can do!
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Chamanismo y Sexualidad: KamalaDevi McClure
9 maart 2023 · 54 min
Dos conceptos que suelen encontrarse separados, pero ¿Cuál es la relacion entre ellos? Lees meer
En esta conversación con Luis, KamalaDevi McClure nos habla sobre:
El uso del Eros como medicina sagrada, su experiencia como figura poliamorosa, coach y madre, y el potencial del chamanismo para sanar heridas sexuales.
El matrimonio Interior, y cómo el cosmos está contenido dentro de cada uno de nosotros.
El aprendizaje y estudio del chamanismo.
Las experiencias "negativas" en los viajes chamánicos.
Contenidos de los niveles 1 y 2 de ISTA.
Si te ha gustado este episodio, déjanos una valoración y una reseña.
Para conocer más sobre trainings de ISTA o para trabajar con nuestro profesorado, visita www.ista.life , o encuentranos en las redes sociales. FB: ista.life e IG: @ista_tribe
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Sex, Money & Magic with the Dark Wizard: Dane Tomas
9 februari 2023 · 1 uur 3 min
When ISTA Apprentice Dane Tomas got started in spirituality, his focus was on ascension. "It was 'go up to the higher realms'; it was Buddhism, it was psychedelics, it was meditation, and it was all so wonderful," he says. Lees meer
But he started to realize that, although the people he was hanging out with there "in Rainbow Dolphin Land," were mentally and, maybe, ethereally powerful, "they were all fucking broke and couldn't pay their rent."
What he found, through experimenting with his own life, is that the missing piece was integration. The people who knew a lot about money and how to get it were blocked in their sexuality, and the people who were super juicy in their sexuality struggled to make any money.
So, Dane started working with people on embodiment, creativity, shadow work, and being unapologetically themselves, creating modalities like The Spiral to make this teaching around manifestation stick. Now, he helps people understand what magic actually is: getting your intention and your reality into alignment.
In this episode, hosted by Ria Yoshida, Dane talks about:
Beginning as a broke Aussie rapper
Hating the coaching industry
How to use spiritual techniques
The nervous system's tolerance for change
Navigating open relating
Why we get rejected
How paying your taxes is sexy
If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review! To find out more about ISTA trainings or to work with our faculty, see www.ista.life, or find us on social, FB: ista.life and IG:@ista_tribe
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How to Make Your Soul-Calling a Reality: Makatu
26 augustus 2022 · 39 min
What does my soul really want, and how do I dream it? Then, how do I make it a reality? In this episode, ISTA faculty member and CEO of the conscious dating app, Lua, Makatu Roni, guides us through some answers to these questions. For him, they hold the key to what is missing in the world right now. He tells his story of manifesting his soul-calling in Lua and, before that, the ecstatic dance community in Israel. It is so important, he says, to become aware of where we, ourselves, shine. Maybe it’s in a surprising way, or in an unexpected role. Then, we must be patient. Opportunities will arise. And when they do, go for it! See it all the way through... Tune in for this and more. Lees meer
You can download the Lua app here: https://www.lua.earth/
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Awakening Through Orgasmic Energy: Stephanie Phillips
29 juli 2022 · 56 min
In this episode, Simon talks with ISTA faculty Stephanie Phillips, who happens to be his biological mother! They dive into issues of inter-generational healing and what it can really look like to address family relationships head-on. Simon explores with Stephanie her signature teaching: “being in the body brings us home.” By coming back to the body, Stephanie says, we give ourselves the chance to be alive to our life-force, our orgasmic energy. Maybe it’s this realisation of the energy running through our bodies that is the key to feeling safety in ourselves, feeling a full range of emotions, getting in touch with our natural innocence, and awakening to exciting future possibilities. Lees meer
Learn more about the ISTA Family Fusion event: www.istafamilyfusion.com
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Sexual Shamanism and Orgasmic Life: Michal Mayan Don
13 juli 2022 · 46 min
"When you know, you know," an old sage once said. And the power of sexual shamanism is one of those things. You can't forget it once you've experienced it. In this episode, ISTA Level 1 and 2 facilitator, Michal Mayan Don, marvels at the rapidly emerging culture of people who now carry this knowledge. As she explains, what we are doing when we train in sexual shamanism is preparing our bodies to be able to hold more energy. To be able to move intense feelings, sensations, and experiences through our bodies with ease. When we do that, we can use that energy for magic! Lees meer
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When Sacred Sexuality Meets the Midwest: Briana Cribeyer
28 juni 2022 · 1 uur 16 min
The midwest region of the USA is not famous for its radical attitudes towards sexuality. You might usually associate that area of the world with conservative values, fields of wheat, unpredictable weather (hello cyclone season!), sports, and very nice folks. In today’s episode we hear from ISTA facilitator Briana Cribeyer who grew up in the Midwest reveals a different story, one of a land that has been a place for spiritual, embodied emergence for, literally, thousands of years. Lees meer
In this episode we also get into the the art of group transformation, priestess mothers, what to do with the subtle signs of nature, how to approach life with a generous outlook, the magic of new relationship energy, a beautiful poetry reading, and lot of laughter.
Learn more about Briana at her website: brianacribeyer.com
Sign up for an ISTA Level 1 training at the ISTA website
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Music, Sensuality & Cultivating Conscious Sexuality: Raffaello Manacorda
15 juni 2022 · 55 min
A life full of creativity, sensuality, beauty, and connection… How to cultivate it? Lees meer
In this episode, we talk with ISTA Lead Faculty member Raffaello Manacorda about what it means to bring the culture of conscious sexuality into your life, and how to share it with those around you. And it's not just about sex. We can do this through delicious meals, slow walks through the forest, cuddles on the couch, and moving our bodies in ways that feel good. We can also do it by listening to music that carries the energy of the reality we are calling in, and maybe learning how to play it.
Raffaello led the creation of the first ISTA Songbook, a compilation of songs written and performed by musicians from the ISTA community. We discuss how the songbook came to be, listen to some he has developed a close connection to, and dive deep into their unique gifts.
You can visit the songbook yourself here.
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How to Meet Life Fully: Or Koren
24 mei 2022 · 44 min
Coming from his experience as a soldier in the Israeli military, and from studying Kung Fu in a Chinese temple, ISTA Facilitator, Or Koren, speaks about how you can integrate ALL parts of yourself into your life on this planet. The body is central. "If we choose to walk this path of embodiment and integration in the attempt to heal our trauma," he says, "we have to do so slowly, step by step. And we have to be in the heart." Join us as Or takes us through the practicalities of how can do this. Lees meer
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Cultivating Kundalini Energy: Bynoi D'Souza
10 mei 2022 · 1 uur 3 min
The word "Tantra" gets used a lot these days, sometimes in ways that challenge what the word really refers to. ISTA Facilitator, Bynoi D'Souza, has tracked Tantra from the root, growing up in India, reading and speaking Sanskrit, travelling the world, and teaching what could be called the path's ever-erupting LIFE. In this episode, Bynoi explores some heights and depths of Tantric study, including the teaching of cultivating kundalini energy, the life-force energy that runs through every body. Tune in! Lees meer
Find more of Bynoi:
https://lovemovementevolution.com/
@bynoidesouza
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Getting Older with Passion and Purpose: Penny Goldmuntz
26 april 2022 · 48 min
We can all, perhaps, relate to feeling older. We might feel it more acutely at one time, or another. But, often, as we notch up the years — or decades — there can be a feeling that we’re supposed to slip into the background. To stop participating in life. To turn our volume down and be less visible. Lees meer
As ISTA Facilitator, Penny Goldmuntz, explains, this absolutely does not have to be the case. "What I want people to understand," she says, "is that all of life has these spirals of things that we're dealing with. They're the same issues, but they're different. We're always going through the seasons of change. We go through this process in all of the ages we pass through. What keeps me feeling vibrant is allowing myself to feel the rebirth." Listen-in for an enlivening episode for people at every stage of life!
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Finding Your Shamanic Power: Juan Es Alzate Mejia
26 april 2022 · 51 min
When you hear the word "shamanic," what do you think of? Maybe you think of plant medicines, psychedelic drugs, or transcendental experiences. Maybe you think of energy, and the world of the immaterial and spiritual. In this episode, ISTA Facilitator, Juan Es Alzate Mejia, talks about what shamanism means to him and how he discovered that he had access to subtle layers of reality that shaman are known to have access to. Most importantly, he explains how to stay connected to these magical abilities once you know how to access them. Lees meer
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