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In his book, The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck writes:

Frequently… the essence of a patient’s childhood and hence the essence of a patient’s world view is captured in the “earliest memory.” It is probable these first memories… are remembered precisely because they accurately symbolize the nature of the person’s early childhood… The flavor of these earliest memories is so frequently the same as that of the patient’s deepest feelings about existence.

In my earliest memory, I was probably two years old. I am sitting in my highchair in the kitchen and what appears to be an enormous spoon (probably a tablespoon, but I was a baby) is coming at my face. I feel panic and desperation, my body is rigid with resistance, but I am buckled in and have no option but to let the spoon be forced into my mouth. Cod liver oil.

For years I thought it was amusing that I could see and feel my baby self’s perspective. I chuckled at the baby revulsion to the taste of fish oil. It wasn’t until I read Peck’s writing that I realized how the significance. It wasn’t just revulsion at the taste, it was the terror of being trapped and forcibly entered. Any health benefits that cod liver oil contained were far outweighed by the indelible experience of being overpowered and invaded.

What does it take to experience that? Well, that’s what you’re about to find out over the next few episodes. But if you want a quick answer, First, you need to understand your needs and how to meet them. Then you need regular contact with people who understand and support you. That’s honestly what it boils down to.

Think of it this way, do any of us eat a meal expecting it to be the last time we are hungry? We understand that hunger (desire for food) is a part of being alive. If we stopped desiring food, we'd know something is very wrong.

Unfortunately, we don't realize that desire for things (tangible or intangible) is a part of human existence. If we ever found complete contentment, we would have little motivation to keep living.Hunger is to the body, what desire is to the being.So well-being isn't found when we acquire or achieve our desires.

Joseph Campbell, a professor of literature and comparative mythology, is one of many scholars who dedicated his life to researching all the religions, belief systems, and mythologies of human history. His writings explained how they all outline a similar plot. He called it the Monomyth, also known as The Hero’s Journey. Synthesizing the stories into one is not intended to reduce or minimize them - they are sacred teaching to all who honor them.

The intention of using a common narrative is to show the significance of what we share. Inevitably, belief systems diverge as we get deeper into specifics. In fact, within each religion and sect, there are endless divergent doctrines and convictions.

Our goal here is to recognize common language and ideas that help us to understand ourselves and one another in a broader context of our shared humanity.

The Hero’s Journey is the human journey. It shows where we start, where we have the opportunity to go, and what we experience along the way. It's demonstrated in the lives of every prophet and teacher.

When we look around, after fear, anger seems to be the most common emotion on public display. Activism, the desire for changing our social systems, seems to be a sea of anger. Which makes sense. If society members feel their needs are being neglected, anger is a natural response.

In schools, students are displaying unprecedented levels of anger and aggressive behavior after two years of pandemic isolation. On airplanes, at events, in our communities, the statistics related to anger, aggression and violence are exponentially higher than pre-pandemic years. People big and small are raging.What is going on?

If I don’t move and exercise my body gets stiff, and my muscles atrophy. If I try to exercise without having eaten or slept, I’m not able to put energy into my workout.

All of this is pretty obvious. Our bodies need different types of maintenance by the hour, day, and cyclically. When it comes to tending the needs of the being, it works similarly. The being needs to be nourished, rested, exercised every single day. When was the last time you thought about a meal plan or specific nourishment for your being?

We treat ourselves and others as bodies. Beautiful or ugly, tall or short, light or dark, rich or poor, male or female, heteronormative or not. These are the actual spectrums by which we access resources and power. They have nothing to do with the actual nature of humans - the immaterial being that animates each physical body.

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Listen to the podcast

EP 01

The Origin Story

EP 02

This is where you come in.

EP 03

We all want the same thing.

Concepts 1-3

EP 04

There is a map to your purpose.

Concept 4

EP 05

There is a method to undo madness.

Concept 5, pt 1

EP 06

Undoing more madness

Concept 5, pt 2

EP 07

The way to make the world a better place...

Concepts 6 + 7

Promoting human flourishing through common understanding, practical guidance, peer support, and economic opportunity.

Take the Courses

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Take the Courses

The 7 Concepts

Your Big Story

Tending

Get Connected

Spread the Word

Promoting human flourishing through common understanding, practical guidance, peer support, and economic opportunity.