oh damn, thank you for this. your story just helped me realize why I always feel uneasy when I hear someone say that they are going to live for someone that died, or live the life/purpose/mission of someone that has passed away! I often hear people say these things after natural disasters, for example, here in Japan, and it always strikes me as a bit problematic…
it sounds like what you did (with the help of the mushrooms) was a kind of spontaneous soul part exchange… maybe. in my own life, I have in the past taken on responsibility for other people’s experiences (like for my mom or for an ex, for example, or even my own daughter), and lately I’ve been doing these soul part exchanges (shamanic healing work) to return to my loved ones the parts of them that I had unknowingly taken on. and as a result, I’ve been slowly getting back my own soul parts and other unique sources of power. I have a feeling most of us need to be doing this kind of work… especially if we want to live and work in greater authenticity and integrity and personal responsibility.
glad to hear that you are more fully yourself and more fully on your own unique mission!
Thank you for sharing Steven with us. For sharing this story, your journey, and this thought-provoking idea. LIVE! NOW. For yourself. Make it meaningful but make sure it's yours. Beautiful.
I'm thinking of my friend Steve who has terminal pancreatic cancer. He has always advocated for the rational capacity of humans. He bravely refused treatment because the diagnosis was clear and time with the people he loves is more precious than a few extra months of life. I appreciate you sharing the story of your friend. That's about all we can do - celebrate the people in our lives and love them while they're with us. Hugs.
One of the oldest ideas humanity has carried is that death is not an ending so much as a doorway.
In ancient Mesopotamian traditions, there were stories of beings called the Anunnaki — often understood as descendants or offspring of An/Anu, the sky god —
who moved between realms and shared wisdom with humanity.
Whether taken literally, spiritually, or symbolically, I find something deeply human in those stories:
the intuition that consciousness is larger than the brief span of one earthly life.
I do not know exactly what happens after death. But I do know that love leaves an imprint that does not feel temporary.
Forty years later, the fact that your friend still lives so strongly in your heart says something profound about the reality of connection.
Wow, that's a story that is an incredible encapsulation? of so many things in various personal past realms. Lots of emotions stirred and deeply resonating ! The one Other perspective we might add, or maybe even counter... is... we should definitely sing loud our praises and respects to all the courageous people who stay committed to doing their arts + crafts + activism + interventions to STOP and/or LESSEN the injustices of all the very un-enlightened and cruelly mis-manufactured world(s). This seems like a very different + valuable path than just 'dropping out' into the transpersonal zones and/or the personalized 'bliss bubbles'. Thinking 2day especially about all the people who boldly take part in the very dangerous Global Sumud Flotilla project ! That's gotta be up there in the realm of the highest possible art forms and inspiring a true kind of solidarity for all humanity. And those kinds of manifested concrete actions may matter more than we can possibly imagine in any mere individual brain ! ... in any case, thx for all your Team Human activities + navigations + sharing em !
This was everything I needed to read this morning. Thank you. Here’s to living in the swirl and dancing amongst the grief, the joy, the heartbreak, the beauty, and doing our best to love, however we can.❤️
I have recently lost my son to schizophrenia. We were more than father and son. We were soul mates and the grief is still bitter. I am experiencing the Swirl you talk about and feel all the beautiful madness of human predicament. I believe that letting go is important for all involved . At the same time I believe we are all connected at the soul level and will always be connected at that level.
oh damn, thank you for this. your story just helped me realize why I always feel uneasy when I hear someone say that they are going to live for someone that died, or live the life/purpose/mission of someone that has passed away! I often hear people say these things after natural disasters, for example, here in Japan, and it always strikes me as a bit problematic…
it sounds like what you did (with the help of the mushrooms) was a kind of spontaneous soul part exchange… maybe. in my own life, I have in the past taken on responsibility for other people’s experiences (like for my mom or for an ex, for example, or even my own daughter), and lately I’ve been doing these soul part exchanges (shamanic healing work) to return to my loved ones the parts of them that I had unknowingly taken on. and as a result, I’ve been slowly getting back my own soul parts and other unique sources of power. I have a feeling most of us need to be doing this kind of work… especially if we want to live and work in greater authenticity and integrity and personal responsibility.
glad to hear that you are more fully yourself and more fully on your own unique mission!
Beautiful heartbreaking
Thank you for sharing Steven with us. For sharing this story, your journey, and this thought-provoking idea. LIVE! NOW. For yourself. Make it meaningful but make sure it's yours. Beautiful.
Some real sh*t here, thanks for sharing and processing it with us.
DOUG, THIS MADE ME CRY
I'm thinking of my friend Steve who has terminal pancreatic cancer. He has always advocated for the rational capacity of humans. He bravely refused treatment because the diagnosis was clear and time with the people he loves is more precious than a few extra months of life. I appreciate you sharing the story of your friend. That's about all we can do - celebrate the people in our lives and love them while they're with us. Hugs.
Imagine if…
death is just a doorway.
One of the oldest ideas humanity has carried is that death is not an ending so much as a doorway.
In ancient Mesopotamian traditions, there were stories of beings called the Anunnaki — often understood as descendants or offspring of An/Anu, the sky god —
who moved between realms and shared wisdom with humanity.
Whether taken literally, spiritually, or symbolically, I find something deeply human in those stories:
the intuition that consciousness is larger than the brief span of one earthly life.
I do not know exactly what happens after death. But I do know that love leaves an imprint that does not feel temporary.
Forty years later, the fact that your friend still lives so strongly in your heart says something profound about the reality of connection.
Thank you, Doug. This means a lot to me.
Wow, that's a story that is an incredible encapsulation? of so many things in various personal past realms. Lots of emotions stirred and deeply resonating ! The one Other perspective we might add, or maybe even counter... is... we should definitely sing loud our praises and respects to all the courageous people who stay committed to doing their arts + crafts + activism + interventions to STOP and/or LESSEN the injustices of all the very un-enlightened and cruelly mis-manufactured world(s). This seems like a very different + valuable path than just 'dropping out' into the transpersonal zones and/or the personalized 'bliss bubbles'. Thinking 2day especially about all the people who boldly take part in the very dangerous Global Sumud Flotilla project ! That's gotta be up there in the realm of the highest possible art forms and inspiring a true kind of solidarity for all humanity. And those kinds of manifested concrete actions may matter more than we can possibly imagine in any mere individual brain ! ... in any case, thx for all your Team Human activities + navigations + sharing em !
Thank you for this.
Beautiful story, thank you.
This was everything I needed to read this morning. Thank you. Here’s to living in the swirl and dancing amongst the grief, the joy, the heartbreak, the beauty, and doing our best to love, however we can.❤️
Beautiful, Doug. I really appreciated this. Thank you.
Thanks for this Douglas
I have recently lost my son to schizophrenia. We were more than father and son. We were soul mates and the grief is still bitter. I am experiencing the Swirl you talk about and feel all the beautiful madness of human predicament. I believe that letting go is important for all involved . At the same time I believe we are all connected at the soul level and will always be connected at that level.
Thank you again
Josef
Very moving. Your remembrance, kindness, and care shine through, both in the carrying and in the letting go. Thank you for this reminder. ❤️
Lovely. To be remembered thus. Thank you, Douglas.