Judith Blackstone: Embodied Realization

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Judith Blackstone, a licensed clinical psychotherapist in New York and an innovative teacher in contemporary spirituality. With Sounds True, she has published a book called The Intimate Life: Awakening to the Spiritual Essence in Yourself and Others, and a six-session audio learning course called The Realization Process: A Step-by-Step Guide to Embodied Spiritual Awakening, in which she teaches her powerful method for attuning to fundamental (or non-dual) consciousness. In this episode, Tami has an illuminating conversation with Judith about two introductory ways of tapping into fundamental consciousness, how we can relate to others “core to core,” and the role of the body in the fullness of realization. (53 minutes)

Judith Blackstone: Embodiment and Spiritual Sensitivit...

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Judith Blackstone, an innovative teacher in the fields of psychotherapy and contemporary spirituality. With Sounds True, Judith has created the audio course The Realization Process: A Step-by-Step Guide to Embodied Spiritual Awakening and has authored the books The Intimate Life: Awakening to the Spiritual Essence in Yourself and Others and Belonging Here: A Guide for the Spiritually Sensitive Person. In this episode, Tami speaks with Judith about the gifts and challenges of spiritual sensitivity, what it means to be transparent to life, how getting in touch with the internal space of the body connects us to the outer world, and what a definition of spiritual maturity might be. (63 minutes)

Judith Blackstone: Embodied Realization

Ep 10 Bonus: The Shambala Warrior Prophecy

In Episode 10, “We Are the Great Turning,” Joanna shares a story called the “Shambala Warrior Prophecy,” which was told to her by her friend, Tibetan Monk Chogyal Rinpoche. Joanna was tasked with teaching this prophecy in the West, and it’s one of her most famous teachings.

We wanted to separate the story from Episode 10 so that you can come back to the story again and again, whenever you need the inspiration and wisdom it offers. Here is Joanna telling the Shambhala Warrior Prophecy.

We recommend starting a podcast club with friends or family to do these practices together. Links and assets to help prompt reflection and build community can be found with every episode on WeAreTheGreatTurning.com.

Ep 10: We Are the Great Turning

As this journey around the spiral comes to a close, Jess brings us back to the table with Joanna for one last profound conversation. Joanna shares an ancient Tibetan prophecy, “The Coming of the Kingdom of Shambhala,” which shows us that the way we build the Great Turning is through compassion and insight into the radical interdependence of all things.

Jess reflects on the transformative experience of making this podcast, and Joanna expresses deep love and belief in Jess and her generation, urging us to draw upon ancestral wisdom and “the web of connections” to sustain them through the challenges ahead.

In this episode:

The Shambhala Prophecy tells us to act with compassion and insight into the radical interdependence of all things
Joanna’s teachings, love, and mentorship will remain an enduring source of strength and guidance for Jess and so many others
As the spiral of the Work That Reconnects comes to a close, the greater work of the Great Turning continues, carried forward by each person who has been touched by these conversations
Bonus Exercise: The Shambala Warrior Prophecy
Bonus Exercise: Callings and Resources

Ep 9: Live the Questions Now

When it comes to building the Great Turning, it’s natural to have questions: What is my individual role in it all? How do we win? Who do we fight? While Jess wrestles with her desire for a “prescription” of what to do, Joanna invites us to “live the questions” instead. In this episode, we learn about the three dimensions of the Great Turning and the way forward: community, relationship, and solidarity.

In this episode:

There are no perfect road maps, but if we come together in courage and community, the way will emerge
The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue but a spiritual crisis of disconnection
Bonus Exercise: The Bodhisattva Check-In