Most human beings in industrialized cultures are developmentally stunted, according to today's guest, the writer, teacher, and “psychologist gone wild” Bill Plotkin.
It's not just that we have few elders to guide us. Most of us never make it out of egocentric adolescence.
It's not our fault; through millennia of decay, our cultures have lost the map of human development. We don't realize what we're missing, except through the pervasive longing we feel to belong; to matter; to contribute.
We're told to be authentic individuals, but never given the tools or the space or the guidance to discover our true essence: our “soul.” So we create “styles” and “lifestyles” that advertise our individualism while obscuring and blocking our individuation.
By “soul,” Plotkin doesn't mean some etheric substance or spiritual or psychological concept. Rather, soul is a concrete thing: our place and purpose within our ecosystem. Our unique niche in the family of all things.
When we measure our lives only in relation to the human world, we miss out on many of the key elements of a healthy and meaningful existence. And yet modern psychology is completely unaware of the costs of this “nature deficit disorder,” and how we might remedy it.
In today's conversation, Plotkin and I talked about his new book, The Journey of Soul Initiation.
We spoke about the crisis in human civilization, and how we may not survive our own damage to the earth. And how our growth gets stunted in early childhood, keeping us from entering the “cocoon” that would allow us space and curiosity and humility and connection and healing; all the elements that are required for authentic human development.
Imagine living a life of purpose, meaning, joy, beauty, and full expression of your unique gifts. And being part of a culture in which that was the norm, rather than the rare purview of a tiny, lucky, privileged group of psychonauts and countercultural seekers.
That's the path that Plotkin offers us. And the survival of our species, and perhaps our planet, hangs in the balance. Let's do this!
Links
The Animas Valley Institute: Animas.org
The Journey of Soul Initiation
The Chalice and the Blade, by Riane Eisler
You CAN Change Other People!
Well, that's what Peter Bregman and I claim in our provocative book of that title.
What we really mean is, you can help the people around you make behavioral changes in their own best interests. If you think you're powerless to help people change, it's because you've been going about it the wrong way.
Discover our straightforward, replicable process here: You Can Change Other People.
Audiobook: Use the Weight to Lose the Weight
Listen to Josh LaJaunie and me narrate our latest audiobook, about how to start moving when you're obese.
It's $10, and Josh and I split it evenly 🙂
Tip Jar
This podcast is not underwritten by advertising, so I can experience complete editorial autonomy without worrying about pissing off the person paying the bills. Instead, I pay the bills, with your help. It's free for those who can't afford to pay, and supported by those who can. You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by clicking the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.
Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – AvIvA Lael – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Bandana Chawla – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Shannon Herschman – Linda Ayotte – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Peter W Evans – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Marjorie Lewis – Tricia Adams – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – Caryn Schmitt – Pamela Hayden – Emily Perryman – Allison Corbett – Richard Stone – Lauren Vaught of Edible Musings – Erin Hastey – Sean Owens – Sagar Naik – Erika Piedra – Danielle Roberts – Michael Leuchten – Sarah Johnson – Katharine Floyd – Meryl Fury – for your generous support of the podcast.
Disclosure
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