[From my interview with the late Rabbi David Zeller, author of The Soul of the Story (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2005)] Ray Hemachandra: Rabbi, would you define transpersonal psychology? Then, explain how it partners with Judaism in your work and perspective. Rabbi David Zeller: When I try and define transpersonal psychology, I start with just defining…
What’s the most common meme people hold? A minister in Maui told me about a boy who was five years old, and his mom came home with a brand new baby. He was a rambunctious five year old, and his parents were afraid that he might do some damage to the baby. They kept…
Ray Hemachandra: Eckhart, the practice of being in the moment by definition is not goal-oriented, correct? Eckhart Tolle: Correct. You are not seeking to attain some future state. That is the fallacy of many spiritual seekers. They have an image of some state — enlightenment, or whatever they call it — they want to achieve.…
Ray: Your first book, Turning the Mind Into an Ally, serves as a guide for training the mind with meditation practice. Your second book, Ruling Your World, is more broadly philosophical. At the same time, it seems designed to help people make their practice practical and relevant to day-to-day life. I already am using one…
Ray: When you describe your moment of realization—the cockroach moment—about not believing your thoughts, it sounds almost revelational. Do most people doing inquiry have revelations like that, or is it usually steady work in making the understandings become second nature? Katie: Steady work, and making the understandings become second nature—or first nature. People don’t need…
(I invite you to read the post Ask Your Angels here, a richer and more recent excerpt from my interviews with Doreen that includes the short section below.) Ray Hemachandra: Would you talk about some of the specific archangels and what they do? Doreen Virtue: Absolutely! Archangel Michael is the angel to call on for…
Ray Hemachandra: Rabbi, what makes a rabbi, priest, or guru a good teacher or guide to God? And what are the warning signs for followers or flock that someone is off the mark? Rabbi David Zeller: Sense of humor is important. Humility is also very important, but real humility. There is a tremendous amount of…
Ray: You write about the importance in midlife of doing “the rigorous work of taking a fearless moral inventory”—about facing your pain and even facing places of self-loathing. Where do you begin that work? Marianne: Sometimes it’s late at night—it’s 3 o’clock in the morning—and for whatever reason, you can’t stop thinking about something you…
Ray: Have you encountered blocks to your work because of the subject matter of fairies? Brian: I get it all the time. People just go blank when you say “fairies.” I’ve been touring for years, coming out with books about fairies, and my wife, Wendy Froud, who is a doll maker, also did…
Louise, what advice do you have for somebody who wants to begin doing healing work? Louise: Learn to love yourself. And share. You know, I’m a high-school dropout. I don’t know how I got here. Life unfolded doorways for me, and I guess I walked through them. Everything is simple. And the simple things work best.…
Ray Hemachandra @ Golden Moon Circles 