Recent Episodes

That phase of life between childhood and adulthood can be challenging. Special rites can help ease the transition for both the young person and their tribe.

Art has been used for centuries as a means to express our relationship to the divine. In this episode we highlight some ways in which this has been expressed visually.

The dark days of winter can help us understand the value of light.

"The body is a temple." Most traditions recognize the inseparable bond between body and mind. I discuss how some have harnessed this connection in search of higher understanding.

Having a high standard of morals and being truly committed to those morals aren’t always one and the same. In this episode we will look at some figures who have shown, through their actions, what it means to be a person of integrity. The Journey from Childhood to Adulthood: The Importance and Limitations of Rites of Passage Walkabout – The aboriginal Australian hike that serves as a rite of passage Apache Sunrise Ceremony

The older members of our communities may not always be perfect, but they offer something valuable to society that can only be gained with time. Experience. In this episode we look at the importance of maintaining a level of respect for those who have gained it and paying attention to those who are willing to share their wisdom.

Life can be difficult. Despite our best efforts, we all have to experience pain and discomfort in one form or another. How we decide to engage with those challenges can make all the difference.

Forgiveness is universally valued. But why?

The natural world holds a certain appeal. It stirs something ancient and awe-inspiring in the soul. In this episode we discuss some of the oldest spiritual traditions in the world as well as some contemporary reflections that can help us to be aware of our relationship with it.

Faith, the act of accepting as truth an idea that cannot be scientifically verified, is inspiring... and complicated. In this episode we discuss faith and how it relates to things like works (action) and doubt.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. This concept has presented itself so often throughout history in one form or another that it's hard to keep track of. In this episode we discuss some of those sources.

There is no question that humanity has often engaged in violence in an effort to make social changes. So how does one make a stand while refusing to engage in this ugly tendency? In this episode we highlight three groups who have tackled this challenge with success.

From small hunter-gatherer groups to whole nations, communities fill a fundamental role in our physical and mental well being. In this episode we discuss the value that participation in smaller, more intimate communities provides.

Asceticism, the practice of denying one's own personal desires in search of spiritual growth, has existed for thousands of years across a wide variety of traditions. We discuss some of those traditions.

Is humility a weakness or a strength? We look at this topic through the lenses of Zen, Greek philosophy, Humanism, Christianity, and Daoism.

What is the value in having relationships with family and others? How are these emphasized in different traditions?

I discuss the function of prayer and meditation and how they can act as a tool for keeping our mind grounded.

I discuss the idea of how everything is connected through the Daoist lense of Yin and Yang and the Buddhist concept of interdependence.

What is ritual and how does it play a role in our everyday life?

We discuss the stories of Avalokiteshvara as well as how Jesus responded to the loss of a friend.

What is myth and how does it play a role in human experience?

Welcome to Bedrock Wisdom. A show in which we seek to understand the many ideas, religious and secular, that unite us.