Ancient Futures Podcast
1) Natural Harmony? – Daniel Simpson
What does it mean to be well in yogic terms? How far does this involve integration with natural surroundings? 🌳Many early teachings prioritise the opposite, promoting withdrawal and inward focus, whi...Show More
2) Shall All Be Well? – Hannah Lucas
What can we learn from a medieval hermit about how to live? A surprising amount perhaps. Julian of Norwich is the author of the oldest surviving book by a woman in English – her Revelations of Divine ...Show More
3) Evolving Traditions – Richard Davis
To what extent has yoga been influenced by socio-political forces, or competition for resources between different groups? Does understanding historical context help to make sense of teachings? What mi...Show More
4) Moulding Minds – Jessica Frazier
What does it mean to have mental plasticity? ♳Unless the mind is to some extent controlled, it controls our experience. This axiom of yoga philosophy has helpful applications in everyday life – from a...Show More
5) Harm Reduction – JS Rafaeli
What might the world look like if heroin was provided on prescription at local pharmacies? 💉This is not a thought experiment. It used to be the basis of a policy that experts call the “British System...Show More
6) Embracing Uncertainty – Daniel Simpson
To what extent is knowledge an obstacle? Is ignorance bliss? 🤔Although it can be helpful to admit to not knowing, it rarely feels comfortable. I’ve been reflecting on that recently while working on s...Show More
7) Awake Like Blake – Mark Vernon
Were the all-embracing visions of William Blake shaped by Indian philosophy? 🪷A new book by Mark Vernon explores what inspired Blake alongside his influence. Although he died 200 years ago, he was a ...Show More
8) Sacred Geography – Yeshe Palmo
What does it mean to inhabit a world that’s alive with deities, which might be less like gods than enlightened aspects of the mind? How could that influence how we relate to ourselves, to each other a...Show More
9) Nature Spirits – Sushma Jansari
What inspired the creation of Indian sacred images? They played no part in early Vedic rituals, in which priests made offerings into a fire, asking gods for reciprocal blessings. Others did something ...Show More
10) Psychedelic Yoga? – Stuart Sarbacker
Do yogic practices and psychoactive substances lead somewhere similar? Stuart Sarbacker is a scholar and practitioner of yoga based in Oregon, where adult use of psilocybin – the active ingredient in ...Show More