I was recently interviewed by Raghu Markus on his Mindrolling podcast. We had a powerful conversation that touched on important global themes pertaining to Energy & Ancestors, Dream Tracking & Inner Apartheid. These themes affect not only our human world but also the animal world. We touched on other conversations we have shared in the past or with the BeHereNow Network such as Rewilding modern humans, Decolonizing the mind and Healing Hungry Ghosts. Please follow the links to continue the conversation.
Raghu was a long time student and friend of Ram Dass a pioneer of consciousness in the US and a well known yogi. Raghu is the executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation, an organisation dedicated to preserving the teachings of Ram Dass and his teacher Neem Karoli Baba.
Inner Apartheid & Tracking Animals
Raghu invites john to share on the apex of conservation, reWilding back to nature, and returning to our roots as humans one with the land. To begin, John explores the concept of apartheid (separation) from the spiritual vantage of humankind’s current disconnection from nature. Through this lens, he explains how tracking—following the signs of animals, other beings we love, or even our dreams—can help us tune into the true essence of who we are.
“We each harbor apartheid within ourselves because we are so separated from our true self.” – Raghu Markus
Raghu & John talk nature, dreams, & reWilding modern humans, on Ep. 304 of Mindrolling
Endangered Species // Dream Tracking (14:14)
Speaking to rate of extinction on the globe, Raghu invites John to share on the most endangered species in the world – Pangolins. From here, John offers methods and perspectives on how we can start our day in connection rather than discursive thought, simply by grounding ourselves and our awareness in nature, our fellow humans, and the world around us. Next, John reflects on how Sangoma dream tracking is similar to the vibrational state of devotional mantra chanting from Krishna Das.
“Tracking your dreams means being mindful of the dreams you have at night and then noticing how those dreams are informing your life.” – John Lockley
For more Raghu & John on decolonizing the mind, tune to Ep. 355 of Mindrolling
Learning From Animals // Finding Our Edge // Energy & Ancestor Meditation (35:35)
After sharing about a mystical octopus tracking adventure, John explains how the retreats he runs help support the bushmen and trackers indigenous to the lands being visited. Next, Raghu steers the conversation to how we can learn to live with discomfort by mindfully observing animals. John explains how we can tune to this flow by “finding our edge” – facing our discomfort, spiritual poverty, and disconnection from our humanity. To close, John leads a resonant meditation and chant.
“The lion finds its edge through facing its discomfort. And we have to find our edge as modern human beings through facing our spiritual poverty.” – John Lockley