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Julie Seido Nelson is a transmitted teacher (Sensei) in the Maezumi Roshi Zen lineage. Her home Zen community is the Greater Boston Zen Center, a sangha which has experienced three major upheavals due to teacher arrogance and abuses of power over the last several years. She is also a teacher at the Great Plains Zen Center in Monroe, Wisconsin, and has written for Buddhist audiences in Tricycle magazine and on her blog.
Having begun Zen practice in 2004, she has found it to be of immense value. She is deeply saddened when people, either in addition to or instead of realizing the benefits, suffer great harm.
When not reflecting writing about Zen, she sometimes writes and give talks based on her pre-retirement academic work as a feminist and ecological economist. She enjoys visiting her two children and two grandchildren and enjoying the New England outdoors.
Books:
Practicing Safe Zen: Navigating the Pitfalls on the Road to Liberation (Monkfish, 2025)
Amazon
Indie Pubs
Economics for Humans (University of Chicago Press, 2nd ed. 2018)
Website: julieanelson.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded May 11, 2025 -
Stephan Martin is an astronomer, educator, and author who has taught astronomy, physics, and consciousness studies at colleges, universities, and learning centers across the US for over thirty years. He is currently Director of the Deeptime Leadership Program at the Deeptime Network, where he helps develop and facilitate transformative and innovative leadership programs that support a flourishing future that works for all. Steve is active in leading workshops, lectures, and experiences that bring insights and wisdom from the cosmos down to Earth and everyday life. His first book Cosmic Conversations is a multidisciplinary approach to exploring the universe through the lenses of science, spirituality and culture, and his second book Living a Cosmic Life helps people navigate crisis and change from a cosmic evolutionary perspective. You can find more about him at: cosmicconversations.org and dtnetwork.org.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded April 25, 2025 -
Fehlende Folgen?
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Mary Mueller Shutan is a spiritual healer, teacher, and author. She is the author of
The Spiritual Awakening Guide: Kundalini, Psychic Abilities, and the Conditioned Layers of Reality
Managing Psychic Abilities: A Real World Guide for the Highly Sensitive Person
Shadow Work for the Soul: Seeing Beauty in the Dark
The Body Deva: Working with the Spiritual Consciousness of the Body
Working with Kundalini: An Experiential Guide to the Process of Awakening
The Shamanic Workbook series, and
The Complete Cord Course: Working with Cords through Energy Work and Shamanic Healing
She combines her extensive education with her personal meditative practices and direct revelation of the spirit world. She has been serving her community as a spiritual healer and teacher since 2004.
Website: maryshutan.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Full interview, edited for readability
Interview recorded April 5, 2025 -
Diane Hennacy Powell, M.D. is the chief scientist involved in The Telepathy Tapes, a podcast about non-speaking autistic children who are extraordinarily telepathic.
"In a world that often dismisses the extraordinary as mere fantasy, The Telepathy Tapes dares to explore the profound abilities of non-speakers with autism—individuals who have long been misunderstood and underestimated. These silent communicators possess gifts that defy conventional understanding, from telepathy to otherworldly perceptions, challenging the limits of what we believe to be real. For years, their parents and teachers have quietly witnessed these remarkable abilities, knowing that the time to share their truth would eventually come. But now, as the evidence mounts, the time has come to reveal what has been hidden in plain sight.
This groundbreaking series challenges everything we think we know about communication and the human mind, inviting viewers to step into a reality where the impossible is not only possible but happening every day. Through emotional stories and undeniable evidence, The Telepathy Tapes offers a fresh perspective on the profound connections that exist beyond words. Traveling with neuroscientist Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, witnessing mind-boggling telepathy tests and forging deeply intimate relationships with families around the globe, host Ky Dickens invites you to contemplate the world through the eyes of those who speak without words. Prepare to be captivated, challenged, and ultimately transformed as the series shines a light on the untold capabilities of those who have been underestimated for far too long."
Dr. Powell is a Johns Hopkins-trained psychiatrist, therapist, neuroscientist, and public speaker. She develops multidisciplinary theories towards understanding psychological anomalies, such as savant skills and verified accounts of spacetime navigation. Her current research focuses on controlled testing of autistic savants and children reported to be telepathic and/or precognitive by their caregivers.
Dr. Powell has been on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, a member of a think tank on human consciousness at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, and Director of Research for the John E. Mack Institute. Her investigation into the neurocorrelates of ESP is discussed in her 2008 book The ESP Enigma: The Scientific Case for Psychic Phenomena, and in Seriously Strange: Thinking Anew about Psychical Experiences.
Dr. Powell is also an expert on PTSD and created the psychiatry program for Survivors of Torture, International in San Diego, California. She was the principal author of IONS The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming and a contributing author to Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement, the 2014 Campus Book of the Year at Indiana University. She is also a participant in the #NeverAlone movement for suicide prevention launched by Deepak Chopra.
Website: drdianehennacy.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
First BatGap interview with Dr. Powell
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded March 23, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Fascinating Anecdote of Precognition
00:03:15 The Rise of the Telepathy Tapes Podcast
00:05:48 Impact of Telepathy Tapes on Community
00:08:39 Telepathy and Consciousness in Pre-Verbal Babies
00:12:29 Psychic Communication in Babies and Autistic Children
00:16:12 Non-Verbal Communication in Animals
00:19:28 Unique Traffic Culture in Iran
00:22:49 Exploring Telepathy among Children
00:25:35 The Phenomenon of Psychic Fields in Lucid Dreaming
00:28:15 Elon Musk's Patent on Telepathy and Its Implications
00:31:36 Paradigm Shifts and Materialism
00:35:31 The Role of Consciousness in Physics and Reality Co-Creation
00:38:40 Remote Viewing and Military Research
00:42:25 Social Benefits of the Hill -
Dr. Neil Schuitevoerder, a clinical and organizational psychologist, has been doing spiritual practices for 50 years. He's no longer interested in his ego's story, so here's the story of his soul's evolution: He had early instruction in how to use a pendulum, which led to the opening of his intuitive knowing, which has continued to expand into higher stages. His intense meditation practices in his 20s led to illness, and he was guided to return to a householder life as husband and father. He continued practices in mystical Judaism, then turned to Vedanta, kundalini, and other Hindu practices. With a kundalini master, and with the Diamond Approach technique of Inquiry, he opened the higher chakras and began to experience states of unity and nonduality, first with a near object, such as a tree, then with a far object, such as the galaxy. Slowly, the dualities of self/other, near/far, past/future, dissolved, and his knowing expanded to include the distant past, his past lives, his rebirth in this lifetime, and his ability to travel in subtle bodies to the subtle planes, including conversing with the deceased. His mind emptied out, then his body became empty, containing the whole galaxy, a nondual body. Then his astral body emptied out, and he no longer "traveled" but was united with the subtle mental and causal planes, all within him. The state of bliss is always accessible. The local identity of Neil remains when he functions in the world, as he lives in dual and nondual levels of awareness simultaneously.
Neil's has a podcast with his wife, Connie Zweig, about his ongoing awakening and what it's like to live in the world in advanced levels of consciousness -- Dr. Neil's Spiritual Awakening to Nonduality. It posts on Apple, Spotify, and all platforms.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded March 15, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Different Levels of Perception
00:02:35 Soul's Evolution and Spiritual Practices
00:06:23 Journey of Consciousness and Skepticism
00:10:27 Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences
00:13:59 Exploring Consciousness and Cosmic Manifestation
00:17:19 Extraordinary Abilities in Blind Individuals
00:21:08 Understanding Freedom and Non-Attachment
00:25:32 The Importance of Moral Development in Spiritual Growth
00:30:46 Exploring Multidimensional Consciousness
00:34:03 Exploring the Buddhic Plane and Astral Projection
00:38:55 Understanding Subtle Body Layers and Incarnation Process
00:42:07 Exploring Reincarnation and Astral Realms
00:46:36 Exploring the Universe and Spiritual Liberation
00:51:36 The Nature of True Governance according to Lao Tzu
00:54:01 The Role of Ego in Daily Life
00:57:52 Understanding the Reduction of Thoughts and Ego
01:02:11 Understanding A.H. Almas's Protocol
01:06:05 Telepathic Abilities and Humanity's Shift
01:11:09 The Coexistence of Creation and Destruction Forces
01:15:21 The Cosmic Perspective: Our Place in the Universe
01:19:38 Energy Healing and Silent Therapy
01:23:35 Do Microbes Have Souls and Their Evolutionary Journey
01:27:50 Chakras and the Evolution of Consciousness
01:31:00 Understanding Chakras and Energy Centers
01:34:55 Exploring Spiritual Evolution and Incarnation
01:38:52 Understanding Shadow Material and Spiritual Bypassing
01:43:09 The Importance of Spiritual Community and Marriage
01:47:18 Embracing Pain Through Meditation
01:51:31 Exploring the Connection Between Consciousness and the Body-Heart
01:55:45 Exploring the Concept of the Vajra Body
01:58:30 Upcoming Interview with Diane Hennessey Powell on Telepathy Tapes -
Jim Grove is a lifelong practitioner of yogic meditation who grew up in a small logging town on the West Coast of Canada. At age thirteen, he was introduced to a teacher who was one of the few ministers directly ordained by Paramahansa Yogananda during his lifetime, Mother Yogacharya M. Hamilton of Seattle. A series of early transcendental experiences convinced him to commit himself to continued yogic practice under her tutelage. His recent memoir, A Curious Spiritual Journey, recounts some of the prominent experiences that have arisen from his practice over four decades, starting from early adolescence, in the interests of providing some insight into the often unpredictable process of spiritual unfoldment. He likes to speak plainly about spiritual experience and practice, avoiding the vague, abstract, and sometimes inflated language used in much spiritual and new age writing. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Website: jimgrove.ca
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded February 15, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Jim Grove's Journey in Yogic Meditation
00:03:42 Editing a Manuscript: From 80,000 to 55,000 Words
00:07:23 Discovering a Life-Changing Teacher
00:11:24 A Humorous Encounter at Denny's
00:16:23 Spiritual Awakening and Motivation Changes
00:21:30 The Ripple Effect of Everyday Actions
00:25:47 Mariana Kaplan's Global Soccer Mission
00:30:15 The Importance of Spiritual Integrity and Ethical Conduct
00:34:29 The Importance of Integrity in Organizations and Community
00:38:25 Cultural Ethics vs. Universal Values
00:42:13 The Importance of Humility and Kindness in Life
00:47:09 Leadership Dynamics and Corporate Culture
00:51:16 The Purpose of Suffering and Spiritual Growth
00:55:51 Embracing Mortality in Tibetan Buddhism
00:59:10 Exploring Shamanic Practices and Cross-Cultural Spirituality
01:03:24 Exploring the Life and Teachings of Joel Goldsmith
01:06:55 Joel Goldsmith and Spiritual Anecdotes
01:10:33 Exploring Multiverse and Other Dimensions
01:14:40 The Role of Specialists in Reincarnation Research
01:18:30 Exploring Past Life Regressions and Reincarnation
01:23:25 Vision of Furry Boots with Curly Toes
01:27:52 Healing Through Past Life Regression
01:31:46 Balancing Depth and Breadth in Personal Growth
01:36:04 Exploring Kundalini Activation and Spiritual Growth
01:40:49 The Metaphor of the Ring: Ego and Humility Lessons from Tolkien
01:45:52 The Concept of Humility in Spiritual Teachings
01:49:50 The Spiritual Lessons of the Prodigal Son and Christ's Doubt
01:54:11 Career Shift: From Private Sector to Provincial Government
01:59:06 Embracing Change and Trusting the Universe
02:03:47 Instilling Inner Guidance in Children
02:07:44 Future of Humanity: Transitions and Endgames -
Although Lisa worked as a chemical engineer, spirituality always was the priority in her life. In 2009, at a silent retreat, her thought-based identity dropped away, and she saw only the single flow of benevolence in all that is.
When some of those thoughts returned a few weeks later (less convincing than before), there also came a deep curiosity to inquire into those thoughts. She developed many tools to return to a lived experience of the deeper knowing. Both of her books share these tools. All that is is a vibrant expression erupting from a single full emptiness.
Website: experiencingthetrueself.com
Books:
An Unprincipled Life: Living from the Unknown
Living Awake: 20 Techniques to End "I Got It; I Lost It"
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded January 26, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Series
00:04:27 Early Childhood Spiritual Insights
00:08:09 Exploring the Astral Body and Embodiment
00:11:15 Understanding the Koshas: Layers of Existence
00:15:16 Discovering Inner Strength Through Adversity
00:19:44 The Journey of Pure Intelligence and Self-Rediscovery
00:23:47 Understanding the Mind: A Sense Organ analogy
00:27:56 Discovering the Root of Aliveness in Spiritual Practice
00:31:05 Embracing Life's Uncertainties and Letting Go of Control
00:34:18 Understanding Impermanence in Awakening
00:38:12 Embracing Flexibility in Life's Demands
00:42:34 Understanding Life's Impetus
00:47:11 Parenting Lessons from Calvin and Hobbes
00:51:44 Spiritual Principles in Dire Situations
00:55:33 The Power of Positivity and Human Kindness
00:58:56 Choosing Challenging Lifetimes for Wisdom
01:02:29 Exploring Past Life Memories
01:06:48 Concept of Past Lives and Dimensions
01:11:42 Finding Positivity in Adversity: Lessons from Prisoners
01:17:00 The Illusion of Shoulds and Self-Realization
01:20:57 The Balance of Opposing Forces and Human Nature
01:25:15 Experiencing Wisdom in a Different Realm
01:29:49 Understanding Malignant Narcissism in Leadership
01:33:25 Embracing Life's Harmony and Challenges
01:36:44 The Role of Creativity and Connection in Environmental Action
01:40:16 Climate Change and Thwaites Glacier Threat
01:42:32 Embracing Inner Wisdom vs. Scientific Method
01:46:06 Integrating Science with Inner Wisdom
01:50:29 Embracing Personal Growth and Self-Reflection
01:55:24 Political Perspectives and Third Party Hopes
01:59:09 Embracing Open Dialogue and Challenging Ideas -
Born and raised in San Diego, CA, and currently residing in Carlsbad, CA, Eli Recht is a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), EMDR clinician, spiritual counselor, editor, and teacher of Self-realization.
In 2020, Eli experienced a falling away of ego identity and an awakening to the true nature of Reality. As a result, Eli has dedicated his life to service – to help alleviate suffering, cultivate connection, guide people through the often-confusing journey of Life, and invite others to recognize our shared unconditioned essence.
Eli’s specialty is blending contemporary psychological knowledge with timeless spiritual wisdom and advocating for the integration of these two disciplines.
Website: elirecht.com
Books (Editor and Foreword):
Grace Happens: An Awakening of Consciousness
Reflections of Consciousness: Essays on the Journey of Awakening and the Nature of Reality
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded January 11, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Series
00:03:56 Discovering Spiritual Insights through "Buddha at the Gas Pump"
00:09:14 Discovering Eastern Thought at Deer Park Monastery
00:15:21 Exploring Higher States of Consciousness Through Music
00:19:32 The Challenges of Kriya Yoga Practice
00:24:04 Struggles with Kriya Yoga and Finding Purpose
00:28:25 Journey to Emotional and Psychological Healing
00:33:16 Understanding Kundalini Activation and Its Effects
00:38:00 Discovering My Higher Self
00:41:31 Differentiating Awakening from Psychosis
00:45:44 The Path of Perseverance and Enlightenment
00:49:48 Realization of Oneness and Unity
00:54:33 The Importance of Service Post-Awakening
01:00:47 Understanding the Transition from Ego-Identification to Ego-Transcendence
01:04:41 The Influence of Meher Baba and the Journey to Self-Realization
01:09:36 Embracing a Different Memory Post-Awakening
01:13:03 Navigating Non-Doership and Embodiment
01:18:00 Understanding the Ego and Brahman
01:21:01 Rocket Ship as a Metaphor for Awakening
01:25:44 Understanding Psychosis and Spiritual Awakening
01:30:48 Illuminating the Ego: Pre and Post Awakening
01:35:40 Challenges of Kundalini Awakening
01:39:29 The Relationship Between Ego and Self-Realization
01:44:19 Navigating the Role of a Spiritual Teacher
01:49:30 The Role of Spirituality in Addressing Mental Illness
01:53:13 Humanity's Journey Through Suffering to Awakening
01:58:20 The Role of Donations in Spiritual Endeavors
02:02:07 Vision for a Peaceful Humanity
02:06:18 Exploring Life's Big Questions: Meaning, Reality, and Participation
02:10:52 Embracing the Present Moment: The Power of What over Why
02:16:25 Upcoming Interview with Lisa Carrillo -
Tanis Helliwell has seen higher realms and spoken with Masters, angels and elementals since childhood. Walking in many worlds, she led tours to sacred sites for two decades, was a management consultant working for over 30 years, and founded the International Institute for Transformation specializing in spiritual transformation in 2000.
A true mystic who has worked with Masters in higher realms since childhood, her gift is assisting others to develop a soul-infused personal life in harmony with spiritual laws. Her knowledge and understanding of other worlds and spiritual realms can be found in some of her most popular books:
Summer with the Leprechauns,
The Leprechaun’s Story,
HYBRIDS: So you think you are human,
The High Beings of Hawaii,
The Dragon's Tale, and
Good Morning Henry: An In-Depth Journey With the Body Intelligence.
Website: tanishelliwell.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded December 16.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Tanis Helliwell and Her Mystical Experiences
00:05:06 Yogananda's Astral Universe Exploration
00:09:55 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality
00:13:25 Navigating Spiritual Breakthroughs in Modern Life
00:17:29 Ken Wilber's Lines of Development Explained
00:21:34 Evolution of Souls: From Microbes to Humans
00:26:07 Canadian Identity and Its Global Influence
00:30:21 Interacting with Human Frequencies
00:35:14 Exploring Universal Reality and Intuition
00:38:38 Overcoming Past Life Traumas and Societal Norms Shifts
00:42:18 The Impact of Collective Consciousness
00:46:40 Exploring Human-Elemental Hybrids
00:49:47 Introduction to Elementals and Their Longevity
00:54:15 The Mythical Origins of Dragons and Mermaids
00:58:01 Near-Death Experience and Spiritual Awakening
01:01:29 Notable Figures as Elves in Mythology
01:04:54 Understanding Star Beings and Their Qualities
01:09:08 The Role of Elementals in Universal Orchestration
01:13:16 The Rise in Earth's Frequency and Cosmic Energies
01:16:56 Aligning with Higher Consciousness and Personal Responsibility
01:20:53 Seeds of Change and Global Consciousness
01:25:15 The Power of Frequency and Personal Transformation
01:28:42 Understanding the Role of Dragons in Higher Consciousness
01:33:29 Encounter with a Dragon in the Forest
01:37:48 Understanding Brahman and Totality in Vedic Literature
01:41:47 The Story of the Old Chinese Farmer
01:45:17 The Legacy of Rudolf Steiner
01:49:45 The Importance of Ethics in Spirituality
01:53:25 The Importance of Critical Thinking and Discernment
01:57:50 Understanding Hybrids and Unique Identities
01:59:52 Raising Your Frequency through Magical Worlds -
Efrat Shokef, Ph.D., is a mother to three spiritually aware teens. A daughter, wife, sister, writer, teacher, cosmic journeyer, a shamanic energy healing practitioner working primarily with children, teens, parents, and families, and the Author of The Promise We Made: Three Universal Soul Promises We Made to Our Children – Near Death Experience and the Parenting Teachings It Invites.
Efrat was severely injured in a car crash and experienced a profound near-death experience (NDE) when her three daughters were all still younger than four. Her journey of physical recovery, the integration of her NDE, and, at the same time, her inability to participate in the caretaking of her daughters sent her on a quest to the essence of motherhood. What makes us our child(ren)’s parent beyond the doing? A quest and insights she shared in her book, and on her website.
Efrat believes that when parents know/remember that they are more than their physical bodies or their confused, wounded emotions, they can recognize the luminosity of their child(ren). When we all accept that we are on a journey of growth, we can mirror the possibility of this Earthly journey to the children in our lives.
When we walk our essence and connect to who we are at our core, we can see that same luminosity in everyone, beyond gender, race, ethnicity, or age. Respecting all others, including our children— dependent humans, yet also powerful, experienced souls—becomes a way of life.
Explore articles and resources for Spiritually Aware Families and Contact Efrat through her website: https://efratshokef.com/
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded December 8, 2024. -
Born in Kenya, and of Indian ancestry, Riyaz came to North America when he was ten years old (growing up in Canada, and then moving to the United States as an adult). Each of these lands, peoples, and cultures has informed and shaped his expression and sensibilities. He is a product of both East and West.
Most of his adult life has been devoted to the study and practice of both psychotherapy and spirituality. And both of these disciplines have been integral to a path of healing and awakening. Professionally, his life’s work has been to bring together Eastern wisdom with Western science and psychology in a synergistic alliance.
After 26 years of mainly practicing as a psychotherapist, and many years of teaching and supervising students and interns in a transpersonally oriented graduate school (CIIS in San Francisco), he has shifted his work in a more explicitly spiritual direction. He now leads individuals and groups in spiritual work through groups, and day-long and multi-day retreats.
In April 2023, he received dharma transmission and the blessing of his teacher, Adyashanti.
Website: riyazmotan.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded November 26, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Embracing Vulnerability in Teaching
00:03:24 Transition to Spiritual Teaching
00:06:25 The Unexpected Lung Cancer Diagnosis
00:10:10 Embracing Life’s Challenges as Spiritual Lessons
00:13:24 Philosophy of Evolution and Suffering
00:17:23 Embracing Mortality and Living Fully
00:20:23 Wisdom from Sri Ramakrishna: Always Be Learning
00:23:25 Navigating Cancer Treatment Challenges
00:26:34 Embracing Alternative Healing Methods
00:29:41 Embracing Non-Western Healing Approaches
00:33:01 The Profound Experience of Near-Death and Out-of-Body Events
00:36:32 Personal Transformations Through Marriage
00:40:30 Embracing Earthly Spirituality
00:45:53 The Impact of Spirituality as an Escape Mechanism
00:49:46 Cultivating Presence for Emotional Healing
00:53:54 The Power of Group Consciousness
00:57:45 The Toll of Being a Spiritual Teacher
01:01:07 Embracing Vulnerability in Teaching
01:05:08 The Evolution of Spiritual Teaching Methodologies
01:08:57 Evolution of Teacher-Student Dynamics in Education
01:12:51 Importance of Preparatory Spiritual Practices
01:16:26 Lack of Spiritual Development and Global Issues
01:19:34 Humanity’s Crisis and Opportunity for Change
01:22:26 Awakening of a New Consciousness
01:26:27 Exploring Neurodivergence and Enhanced Perception
01:30:28 Transformative Power of Psychedelics and Nature
01:33:46 Ayahuasca Experience: A Catalyst for Awakening
01:36:57 Spiritual Awakening through Nature and Retreats
01:40:52 Exploring the Hero Dose: Insights from Adyashanti
01:43:41 Transition from One-to-One Work to Spiritual Mentoring
01:47:33 Upcoming Guests and Spiritual Experiences -
Thomas Legrand is a wisdom’s seeker, a social scientist and sustainability practitioner.
He is the author of the internationally acclaimed book “Politics of Being. Wisdom and Science for a New Development Paradigm” (2022), an invitation to radically rethink our model of development, which received the Grand Prize of the Nautilus Book Award in 2024.
His spiritual journey began at the age of 23 with an encounter with native spirituality in Mexico, before embracing the wisdom of a wide range of traditions and practices, including meditation, energetic healing and Tai-chi-chuan. He lives with his wife and their two young daughters near Plum Village, the monastery of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the South West of France, his country.
He is currently the Lead Technical Advisor for the UNDP-convened Conscious Food Systems Alliance.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded November 9, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Thomas Legrand and His Work
00:03:27 Integrating Politics and Spirituality
00:07:32 Radical Restructuring for Humanity’s Survival
00:10:43 Prophecies of Transformation and Enlightenment
00:15:14 Exploring Spiritual Solutions for Society
00:19:22 The Necessity of Consciously Attending to Ethics in Spiritual Practice
00:23:51 Spirituality and Science Collaboration
00:27:12 The Influence of Sri Aurobindo’s Spiritual Work on Global Events
00:31:11 Spiritual Practices and Deep Forces
00:34:53 The Need for Spiritual Transformation
00:39:07 Theory X and Theory Y: Workplace Dynamics
00:43:34 Prisons as Factories of Stress and Recidivism
00:48:32 The Importance of Relationships in Happiness
00:52:40 The Impact of Collective Consciousness
00:56:18 Emerging Sciences for Happiness and Peace
01:00:30 Integrating Wisdom and Science for Unity
01:04:21 Healing Patterns on a Societal Level
01:09:00 Transformation Through Breakdown and Regrowth
01:12:06 Introducing the Concept of a Politics of Being
01:15:30 The Shift Back to Human Dimensions
01:20:37 Implementing Spiritual Solutions in Everyday Life
01:25:51 Economic Inequality as the Root of Social Issues
01:30:39 The Necessity of Change in Society
01:36:22 The Baha’i Vision and Progressive Revelation
01:39:03 Understanding the Soul of a Nation in a Globalized World
01:43:25 The Destiny of Unity and Diversity
01:48:08 Conversations on Conflict and Harmony in Israel
01:50:45 Healing Trauma as a Gateway
01:53:37 Presidential Apology and Indigenous Healing
01:56:00 Navigating Economic Growth and Conscious Transformation
02:00:23 Exploring Our Website Offerings -
For over 30 years, Georgette Star, MA, D.Min, has dedicated her life to empowering adults and youth to live soul-embodied, joyful, and purposeful lives. An intuitive Soul Stream Life Coach & Mentor, and Method trainer, her own deep quest for Self-Realization informs all aspects of her work. Finding joy in sharing this journey with others and a calling to contribute to the greater good inspired her to found the Life Blessing Institute (LBI).
This transformational learning community is designed to guide individuals on the journey of human potential, spiritual awakening, and actualization of their soul’s agenda. Through LBI, Georgette developed a variety of programs, including Maiden Spirit & Peace Warriors Youth Programs, Individual and Community Rites of Passage Celebrations and the Soul Stream Method Practitioner Training.
Currently Georgette is also working on a documentary film titled The Woman’s Rite. The film examines the challenges of ageism faced by women (and all genders) and explores how these limitations can be transformed through creative expression, conscious rites-of-passage and spiritual awakening. It highlights the opportunity for women to step into empowered, vibrant, and respected elderhood, offering their wisdom, creativity, light, and love to a world that deeply needs their contributions.
Georgette holds a Master’s degree from the Naropa Institute and a Doctorate of Ministry from the University of Creation Spirituality. Using her life experience, education and an array of natural abilities, Georgette actively pursues contributing to humankind however she can. In addition to her professional work, she cherishes being a mom, grandmother, artist, forest dweller and daughter of Mother Earth. She also finds joy in creating collaboratively with others and sharing the spiritual journey of awakening with her friends and colleagues.
Website links:
The Life Blessing Institute (LBI)
The Woman’s Rite documentary project
Click here to contact Georgette if you are interested in her Soul Stream Life Map Readings and include the word “BatGap” in the message field.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded October 27, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:51 Georgette Star: Wisdom and Creativity for a Needy World
00:07:28 Spiritual Awakening for Ordinary People
00:11:17 Embracing Categories in Spiritual Journeys
00:15:00 Embracing Uncertainty and the Free Fall of Life
00:17:59 Embracing Paradox and Spiritual Maturity
00:22:17 Can Society Transition Without Collapse?
00:26:08 Discovering Meaning in Spiritual Practice
00:30:43 Women’s Rights Documentary Project
00:34:32 The Visionary Origins of the Project
00:38:51 The Journey from Idea to Film
00:43:27 Reflecting on Life’s Journey and Self-Discovery
00:47:42 Childhood Mystical Experiences
00:51:34 Early Meditation Experiences and Visionary Insights
00:55:11 Meditation vs. Drug Use: Finding Natural Bliss
00:59:18 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs about Aging and Activity
01:03:54 Benefits of Pickleball and Meditation for Seniors
01:07:49 Creating Maiden Spirit: Empowering Young Girls
01:11:31 The Dark Side of Technology and Its Impact on Young Girls
01:15:44 Overcoming the Fear of Death with Spirituality
01:19:51 Transition from Scientist to Mystic
01:23:20 A Traumatic Car Accident and Its Impact
01:26:55 Timelessness in Self-Identity
01:30:06 Discovering the Concept of Original Blessing with Matthew Fox
01:34:47 Introduction to Soulstream Life Maps
01:38:40 Understanding Karmic Learning Pathways
01:42:00 The Role of Vedic Astrology in Naming
01:45:54 The Ripple Effect of Personal Growth
01:50:16 The Importance of Consciousness in Global Change -
Dr. Edi Bilimoria was born in India and educated at the universities of London, Sussex, and Oxford. He presents an unusual blend of experience in the fields of science, arts, and philosophy.
Professionally, Edi is an award-winning engineer and consultant to the petrochemical, oil and gas, transport, and construction industries. He has been Project Manager and Head of Design for major innovative projects such as the Channel Tunnel, London Underground systems, petrochemical plants and offshore installations. He also worked in safety and environmental engineering for several Royal Navy projects, including the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier and the fleet of Offshore Patrol Vessels.
A student of the perennial philosophy for over half a century, Edi has given courses and lectured extensively in the UK, and internationally. He has organized and chaired conferences with the object of encouraging discourse on the different, but overlapping, roles of science, religion, and practical philosophy. Edi has published extensively in the fields of science, engineering, and the esoteric philosophy. "Unfolding Consciousness" has received recognition with the 2022 Grand Prize Award from the Scientific and Medical Network. Edi's earlier work, "The Snake and the Rope" is also an award winner.
Website: edibilimoria.com
Summary and transcript of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded October 12, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:50 The Intersection of Science, Spirituality, and Philosophy
00:06:22 The Evolution of Scientific Thought
00:10:10 Understanding the Levels of Science and Consciousness
00:14:20 The Limits of Intellect and Wisdom of Great Thinkers
00:18:45 Meditation, Psychedelics, and Brain Perception
00:23:13 The Brain as a Transmitter-Receiver
00:26:51 Misunderstanding Isaac Newton’s Philosophy
00:30:49 Is the Sun Alive? Examining Unconventional Definitions of Life
00:34:13 The Incredible Complexity of Human Cells
00:37:39 Debunking the Infinite Monkey Theorem
00:41:40 Materialism and Its Role in Science
00:44:42 The Potential of Science and Spirituality Working Together
00:49:12 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality
00:53:04 The Science of the Human Eye: Discoveries and Design
00:56:44 The Debate on Intelligent Design and Evolution
01:00:09 The Interplay of Spirit and Matter in Evolution
01:04:36 Evolution as a Spiritual Journey
01:08:30 The Monad and the Journey to Divinity
01:12:12 The Absurdity of Freezing Bodies and Understanding Reincarnation
01:15:01 Exploring the Distinction Between Ethics and Morality
01:17:56 The Spiritual Essence of Matter
01:21:17 Understanding Karma: The Puzzle Piece of the Universe
01:24:08 Understanding Karma and Spiritual Evolution
01:27:56 Personal Spiritual Journey: Overcoming Life Challenges
01:31:14 Understanding Karma and Rising to Bodhisattva
01:34:42 Themes of the Book: Mystery Teachings
01:37:06 The Myth of Bacchus and Human Duality
01:40:45 Understanding the Supreme Consciousness and the Kabbalah
01:44:56 David Bohm and the Unity Elephant in Science
01:48:13 Building a Body of Wisdom Through Interlocking Insights -
Kim Sheridan is an award-winning author, naturopath, entrepreneur, and more. Her focus includes animals, the afterlife, health, the environment, veganism, and all topics related to compassion for humans and animals alike. She is a highly respected expert on life after death for animals, and much of her time is devoted to rescuing animals, caring for them, and providing hospice care for elderly animals making their transition to spirit.
Kim is the author of Animals and the Afterlife and the founder of Compassion Circle, a non-profit organization with a mission to expand the circle of compassion to all beings. Compassion Circle is comprised of animal rescue, animal sanctuary, and a line of nutritional products for animals, all proceeds of which help fund the rescue and sanctuary.
Kim has been listed in 2,000 Notable American Women, Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, and Great Minds of the 21st Century. Her goal is to help make the world a better place, to provide comfort to those grieving the loss of a beloved animal, and to be a voice for the voiceless, teaching compassion and respect for all living beings.
Website: animalsandtheafterlife.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded September 30, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:15 Life's Mission and Early Connection to Animals
00:07:32 Mystical Experiences and Auras
00:11:32 Finding Peace with Loss
00:15:20 The Value of Immortality Discussed
00:18:26 The Gift of Animal Communicators
00:22:07 Debating the Afterlife with an Atheist
00:25:29 The Case for Intelligent Design
00:28:43 The Spiritual Connection with Animals
00:32:21 Ethical Considerations of Consuming Different Life Forms
00:36:27 Animal and Human Visitations After Passing
00:38:27 Understanding Animal Communication and Grief
00:42:17 The Role of Compassion in Spiritual Teachings
00:45:52 The Possibility of Animals Returning in Another Form
00:49:08 The Debate on Souls and Animals in Religion
00:52:41 The Soul's Higher Self and Astral Realms
00:56:18 The Concept of Group Souls in Nature
00:59:19 The Continuation of Love Beyond Loss
01:02:17 Tribute to June: The Rat That Inspired a Journey
01:05:01 Ghostly Encounters with Deceased Pets
01:08:45 Embracing Mystical Experiences
01:12:14 The Importance of Open-Mindedness in Science
01:15:25 Scientists and Believers: Bridging the Gap
01:19:37 Messages from Animals through Professional Mediums
01:21:59 Communicating with Animals and Nature
01:24:48 Experiencing Pet Communication
01:27:51 Profound Contact Dreams
01:31:16 Investigating Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP)
01:34:25 Werner Von Braun on Spiritual Continuity
01:37:41 Full Circle: The Author's Journey and Ending Reflections
01:41:10 Safe Driving Tips and Personal Experiences -
Four years ago, I experienced an awakening that opened up different worlds and granted me access to the Akasha through telepathy, leading to a higher state of consciousness. Since then, I have dedicated my time to integrating this experience and helping others identify past influences that hinder the realization of their soul's full presence. I also assist animals through telepathy.
I conduct workshops on esoteric teachings gathered since my awakening, providing keys to help people find their way home.
Website: lucasbergendahl.com
Summary and transcript of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded September 7, 2024
Youtube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 – Awakening to a Higher State of Consciousness
00:03:50 – Past Lives and Spiritual Awakening
00:08:29 – The Soul’s Incarnation and Past Lives
00:12:32 – Telepathic Ability Overwhelm
00:16:24 – Unveiling Illusions and Past Lives
00:19:47 – Healing Karmic Patterns in Past Lives
00:22:46 – Distinguishing Between Fantasy and Reality
00:26:36 – Embracing Working Hypotheses and Evidence-Based Beliefs
00:31:06 – Perceptions and Beginner’s Mind
00:35:20 – The Three Timelines of Atlantis
00:38:59 – Connecting with Past Lives and Subtle Energy Systems
00:43:12 – Telepathy and Intuition
00:46:52 – Identifying with Cosmic Flow and the Unrealistic Separation of Waves
00:50:48 – Telepathic Connection with Psychic Dogs
00:51:00 – Communication with Animals and Telepathy
00:54:06 – Telepathy in Communication
00:57:47 – Healing from Past Trauma Through Consciousness
01:00:37 – The Importance of Incarnation
01:04:40 – The Importance of Opening Up to Cosmos
01:07:51 – Understanding Negative Feelings and Consciousness
01:10:53 – Rising Above Dark Destinies
01:13:41 – Deep Dive for Enlightenment
01:17:00 – The Cycle of Enlightenment and Oppression
01:20:27 – Soul Group Incarnation Theory
01:25:07 – Exploring Past Lives and Karmic Patterns
01:28:01 – The Pain of Compassion and Conscious Eating
01:31:32 – Cultural Perspectives on Meat Consumption
01:35:52 – The Responsibility to Help Others
01:40:26 – Creating a Healing Community
01:44:33 – Emotional Investment in Students
01:49:10 – Resisting the Temptation of Fame and Following a Higher Calling
01:53:30 – Bonds of Affinity with New Friends -
A lifelong student of philosophy and comparative religion, a practitioner of Shaiva Tantra in the Shaiva Siddhanta lineage, and recent entrant into the Ramakrishna lineage by his guru, Swami Sarvadevananda Puri, Nishanth Selvalingam shares an authentic, firsthand approach to the Sanskrit texts of the Tantrik scriptural tradition to expose audiences to the profoundly positive and transformative philosophies and practices that this tradition offers. Nishanth Selvalingam graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Philosophy in 2024 and now lives in Westwood, Los Angeles where he hosts satsanghs with his wife, coaches middle school debate and lectures incessantly on all things Tantra and Non-Duality.
Website: nishyoga.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded August 18, 2024 -
Tree works as a Spiritual Mentor, Kundalini Support, Certified Global TRE® Instructor, Transformational Bodyworker and a Healer from the Shamanic tradition.
Tree believes healing trauma can precipitate spiritual awakening and it is from this precept she works. She works with the body releasing contraction and with the nervous system establishing balance - with the understanding that a disregulated nervous system can hold the beingness hostage.
She believes enlightenment is achieved not by bypassing the body, but by going into the body. By addressing and releasing trauma bound in the flesh and stored in the nervous system. This is true freedom and the result is presence - embodied.
Tree has been a devotee of Meher Baba since she was 21.
She and her husband are establishing a Retreat Centre on the Far South Coast of New South Wales, Australia called Meher Farm Healing and Awakening Centre.
Tree is the author of Hot Flush Dark Cave describing her healing and awakening journey through the portal of menopause.
She is a devoted mother, grandmother and healer - her favourite past time is swimming in the river and the ocean and chanting to God.
Website: awakeningthroughthebody.com.au
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded August 3, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:53 - The Correlation Between Consciousness and Neurophysiology
00:07:53 - The Loop of an Agitated Nervous System
00:11:35 - The Nervous System and the Flow State
00:15:38 - The Impact of Early Trauma in Human Beings
00:19:39 - The Importance of Healing the Nervous System
00:23:22 - Trauma and its manifestations
00:27:11 - “Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance”
00:31:06 - Body Work and Spiritual Awakening
00:35:21 - Kundalini Awakening and Working with the Body
00:39:05 - Working through Impressions
00:43:00 - The Beginning of the Involution
00:47:13 - Understanding vs Realization
00:51:05 - Avatars and Spiritual Teachers
00:54:55 - Astral Exorcism and Healing Dance
00:58:44 - The Kundalini Awakening Process
01:02:31 - Kundalini Awakening and Spontaneous Movements
01:06:19 - Purging Negativity
01:09:54 - The Annihilation of the Apparent World
01:13:37 - The Final Destination and Different Planes of Existence
01:17:35 - The Journey of Awakening
01:21:44 - The Existence of Ego in Different States
01:25:51 - Kundalini Awakening and the Sacred Fluids
01:29:42 - The Value of a Life
01:33:33 - Different Types of Meditation
01:37:30 - Releasing Emotions
01:41:18 - The Presence of Benign and Caring Intelligences
01:45:17 - Healing Ceremonies and Nature Retreats
01:49:19 - Following Intuition and Divine Orchestration at 61
01:53:24 - Following the Synchronicities
01:56:55 - In Touch for the Next 15 Years -
Melinda Edwards, MD is a mother, writer and physician in Charleston, South Carolina, providing psychiatric care for underserved adults. She attended the Medical University of South Carolina and completed her residency in psychiatry at Stanford Medical Center. She has studied complementary and alternative medicine with Andrew Weil, MD, researched the effects of MDMA on PTSD with Michael Mithoefer, MD, and is a columnist for Autism Parenting Magazine. Dr. Edwards is the author of PSYCHE & SPIRIT: How a Psychiatrist Found Divinity Through Her Lifelong Search for Truth and Her Daughter’s Autism.
As a child of medical missionaries, Melinda grew up in a Mayan Indian village in Guatemala, Central America. Early in life she experienced an inner pull to a deeper truth. Her journey has taken her through various spiritual practices including meditation retreats, guidance from spiritual teachers, travel to India, and living in spiritual communities. Her quest led to the ongoing discovery of the sacred in all.
Inspired by her journey with her daughter Saachi, Dr. Edwards founded the 501c3 nonprofit organization Living Darshan to foster a deeper understanding of autism in the world.
Website: melindaedwardsmd.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded July 20, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:26 - An Evolutionary Journey
00:07:57 - The Fear of Going to Hell
00:11:58 - Tiptoeing Through Sleeping Elephants
00:16:32 - Levels of Spiritual Evolution
00:20:56 - The Spiral into Anorexia
00:25:46 - The Importance of Compassion and Being Heard
00:30:10 - Love as a Virus and the Hazards of Idealizing Spiritual Teachers
00:34:39 - Red Flags in Spiritual Teachers and Communities
00:39:21 - The Dangers of a Spiritualized Ego
00:43:34 - The Danger of Unqualified Advice in the Spiritual Community
00:47:37 - Exploiting Students' Finances
00:51:29 - The Role of Students in Spiritual Teaching
00:55:29 - Correlation between Teaching in Medicine and Spirituality
00:59:39 - Spiritual Teachers and Holistic Development
01:03:34 - The Realization of Nothingness
01:07:09 - The Nature of Realization and Integration
01:10:15 - The Dissolution of the Project of "Me"
01:13:53 - Micro adjustments and thriving
01:18:13 - Medications and Spiritual Awakening
01:21:51 - Support and Caution in Meditation Retreats
01:25:50 - The Impact of Spiritual Practices on Brain Chemistry
01:29:41 - Taking Medication for ADD and Kundalini Awakening
01:33:16 - Online Sessions and the Law
01:38:05 - The Porousness of Energy and Information
01:42:40 - The Increase of Neurodiverse Beings in the Population
01:47:44 - Different Realms and Dimensions
01:51:22 - Supporting Autistic Children in Their Purpose
01:55:29 - Navigating Kundalini Energy
01:59:32 - The Power of a Mother's Love
02:02:41 - Stay tuned for upcoming content -
John R. Audette is the author of “Loved by the Light: True Stories of Divine Intervention and Providence”. He earned a Master of Science degree from Virginia Tech. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, his professional career spans over three decades of senior executive positions in hospital and hospice administration and physician practice management, as well as the performing arts and public broadcasting.
He contributed several scholarly chapters to various books by other authors about spiritually transformative experiences and non-local consciousness including works by Dr. Ervin Laszlo. He is also gratefully acknowledged in many other books on these subjects by various well-known authors whom he assisted dating back to 1974. His first work of fiction, a novel trilogy, will be published in 2025.
John is the primary founder of the International Association for Near-Death Studies, Inc., (IANDS.org), with co-founders Raymond Moody, MD; Bruce Greyson, MD; Michael Sabom, MD; and Kenneth Ring, PhD. John now serves as CEO of Eternea, (eternea.org), which he co-founded with Eben Alexander, MD and Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D. He is also an honorably discharged veteran with over six years of voluntary service (both active and inactive duty) in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era.
Website: AffirmingGod.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded July 7, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:46 - Edgar Mitchell and the Institute of Noetic Sciences
00:09:08 - Raymond's Integrity and a Missed Opportunity
00:12:45 - Validating Observations about the Nature of Reality
00:17:45 - The Ring of Destiny
00:20:22 - A Beautiful Near-Death Experience
00:24:02 - The Power of Nonsense
00:29:19 - The Meaning of Cigarettes and Traumatic Incidents
00:34:14 - The Lizard Beings
00:37:56 - Spiritualization of Material Life
00:41:58 - The Realization of True Divine Inspiration
00:46:14 - A Journey of Karma and Forgiveness
00:49:17 - The Realization of God's Existence and Transformation
00:54:14 - The Power of Experience and Spiritual Awakenings
00:57:45 - Wrestling with Chaos, Fear, and Confusion
01:01:31 - The God Void and Escaping Addiction to Heroin
01:05:51 - Moving Beyond Materialism
01:09:42 - The Eternea Concept
01:15:03 - The Purpose of All Religions
01:18:41 - Synerge with a GE and the Power of Cooperation
01:23:24 - Catalyzing a Global Spiritual Revolution
01:28:10 - Advancing Love and Light
01:31:54 - Emulating Saintliness
01:36:47 - The Continuum of Evil
01:41:27 - God's Reaction to Evil
01:44:32 - The Nature of Consciousness and Diversity
01:48:01 - Connectedness and Awareness
01:50:39 - The Role of Paradise and the Potential for a Perfect World
01:54:22 - The Power of Personal Epiphany and Transformation
01:57:15 - The Possibility of Publishing and Filming the Work - Mehr anzeigen
