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Howl in the Wilderness

Deep and insightful conversations with renegade artists, philosophers, psychologists and spiritual teachers who are working on the edge of dominant culture.


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  • Erik Davis | Turning On. Tuning In. Opting Out. | HITW 164

    01:18:28|
    If you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulHITW is hosted by depth counselor, writer and cultural activist Brian James: http://brianjames.caCheck out my new book Traumadelic: Re-Visioning Psychedelic Therapy http://traumadelicbook.comErik Davis was born during the Summer of Love within a stone’s throw of San Francisco. He grew up in North County, north of San Diego, and spent a decade on the East Coast, where he studied literature and philosophy at Yale and spent six years in the freelance trenches of Brooklyn and Manhattan before moving to San Francisco, where he currently resides.He is the author of five books: High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the 70s (MIT Press/Strange Attractor Press); Nomad Codes: Adventures in Modern Esoterica (Yeti, 2010); The Visionary State: A Journey through California’s Spiritual Landscape (Chronicle, 2006), with photographs by Michael Rauner; and the 33 1/3 volume Led Zeppelin IV (Continuum, 2005).His first and best-known book remains TechGnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information (Crown, 1998), a cult classic of visionary media studies that has been translated into five languages and most recently republished by North Atlantic Press.He currently writes the Substack publication Burning Shore.https://techgnosis.comhttps://www.burningshore.comPrevious episodes with Erik:HITW 125 Is GenX Still Relevant? https://www.patreon.com/posts/hitw-125-erik-is-92906404On his book High Weirdness https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-high-with-32872409On psychedelics and spiritual practice https://www.patreon.com/posts/01-12-and-with-34272619

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  • 163. (PREVIEW) Healing Trauma & Curing Spirit Possession | C. Michael Smith | HITW 163

    01:19:02||Ep. 163
    This is the first half of a longer conversation. If you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulC. Michael Smith (aka Mikkal) is Director of Crows Nest Wilderness Retreat and Conference Center, Dowagiac, Michigan and director of Crows Nest Centers for Shamanic Studies International in France and Belgium, and currently teaching in Paris and Payzac; Captetown, South Africa, and Iquitos, Peru.An active clinical psychologist and medical anthropologist, Mikkal is author of PSYCHOTHERAPY AND THE SACRED (Chicago), and JUNG AND SHAMANISM IN DIALOGUE (Paulist, Trafford), and has served as peer reviewer for the Journal of Anthropology of Consciousness, and published his research with Kye Nelson on “Heart, Health and Disease: A Medical-Anthropological Study” (NOVA Science Publishers). He has led more than 200 workshops and retreats on shamanism, Jungian psychology, and his method of Sacred Breathwork, world-wide and for many years is a teaching faculty and member of the the international circle of shamanic teachers, Le Cercle de Sagesse Ancestrale de l’Union. He was elected into Le College de Chamanique in Paris in 2014.Links:Crow's Nest Center for Shamanic Studies: https://crowsnestshamanism.comMy previous conversation with Michael: https://www.patreon.com/posts/mpp79-c-michael-56880128Our free course TUKUY: Showing Up with Presence & Purpose: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8p9DS5PqUJ_rPtM24y3HKd2yLCF58q7mShow Links:http://brianjames.cahttp://instagram.com/brianjames.soulworkhttp://youtube.com/@howlinthewildernesshttp://paypal.me/brianjamessoul
  • ARCHETYPAL VIEW | TIM BURTON & THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS | VANESSA SINCLAIR

    01:15:00|
    Howling about Tim Burton and Henry Selick's enduring animation masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas with psychoanalyst, writer and podcaster Vanessa Sinclair.Hosted by depth counselor, writer and cultural activist Brian James: http://brianjames.caCheck out my new book Traumadelic: Re-Visioning Psychedelic Therapy http://traumadelicbook.comIf you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulWe touch on Lacanian analysis; Tim Burton's delightfully dark and wonderfully weird world building; the value of the eccentric outsider; the importance of staying true to yourself; and the dangers of sanitizing the spooky out of children's stories.Keen listeners will probably figure out that Vanessa is married to Carl Abrahamsson who has been on the podcast twice (first on ep 105 & recently to discuss Midsommar).I'm looking forward to more conversations with my new favourite power couple!Check out Vanessa's diverse range of work: https://www.drvanessasinclair.net
  • 162. Making Music for Psychiatric Wards | Andy Abbott (ADRA) | HITW 162

    01:26:18||Ep. 162
    Howling about music, alternative therapy, community care and art as activism with Andy Abbott aka ADRA.If you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulAndy Abbott is an artist, musician and writer who lives in West Yorkshire, UK. His most recent album is "Music for Psychiatric Wards and Fluid Structures," a compilation of recordings inspired by his experiences as a creative practitioner performing ambient music in psychiatric wards across Yorkshire in 2023.https://andyabbott.bandcamp.comShow Links:http://brianjames.cahttp://instagram.com/brianjames.soulworkhttp://youtube.com/@howlinthewildernesshttp://paypal.me/brianjamessoul
  • 161. (PREVIEW) Ayahuasca, Shamanism & Music Medicine | François Demange (Metsa) | HITW 161

    49:27||Ep. 161
    Howling about ayahuasca, shamanism, apprenticeship and music with François Demange aka Metsa.If you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulFrançois Demange (aka Metsa) is a musician, spiritual guide and ceremonialist with decades of experience working within Amazonian vegetalismo and other Native American traditions. In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about his journey from addiction to apprenticeship in the Peruvian Amazon, issues around cultural appropriation, and the role that music, plant medicine and perfume play in healing. François' links:https://www.metsaseries.comhttps://www.sacredwaysfoundation.orgShow Links:http://brianjames.cahttp://instagram.com/brianjames.soulworkhttp://youtube.com/@howlinthewildernesshttp://paypal.me/brianjamessoul
  • 160. A Life of Yoga Study & Practice | Brian Dana Akers | HITW 160

    01:16:50||Ep. 160
    If you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulBrian Dana Akers has spent most of his life practicing and studying yoga, and in the last few decades writing and publishing translations of key yogic texts. His latest book is The Yoga Manifesto, a little book that explores the big questions, "Why Yoga?" and "Why now?" As he says in the interview, regardless of whether modernity continues or collapses, yoga is good for you either way. This was a fun conversation that I hope inspires you to take up a life-enhancing and life-supporting yoga practice of your own.Brian's Links:http://briandanaakers.comhttp://yogavidya.comShow Links:http://brianjames.cahttp://instagram.com/brianjames.soulworkhttp://youtube.com/@howlinthewildernesshttp://paypal.me/brianjamessoul
  • 159. (PREVIEW) Soul Making & Living a Mystical Life | Douglas Gillette | HITW 159

    01:03:27||Ep. 159
    This is the first half of our conversation. If you’d like to gain access to early release of full, ad-free episodes and support the podcast, consider becoming part of the pack over at patreon.com/howlinthewilderness. We are an independent production and rely on the support of listeners like you. Make a one-time contribution to http://paypal.me/brianjamessoulHowling about Douglas' involvement with writing King, Warrior, Magician, Lover and its legacy as part of the men's movement, the art of soul making and living a mystical life.Douglas M. Gillette, M.A.R.S., M.Div., has a Master of Religious Studies degree from the University of Chicago and a Master of Divinity degree from the Chicago Theological Seminary. He taught in the Emeritus Program at Oakton College for nearly two decades as well as serving as a pastor, pastoral counselor, and a Jungian-influenced life guide. The bestselling author of several books, including King, Warrior, Magician, Lover coauthored with Robert Moore, he lives in the Chicago area with his wife. Topics: soul, soul work, archetypal psychology, men's work, spirituality, mysticismShow Links:http://brianjames.cahttp://instagram.com/brianjames.soulworkhttp://youtube.com/@howlinthewildernesshttp://paypal.me/brianjamessoul