Guru Viking Podcast

In this episode I am once again joined by Rebekah Sturgill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity.

Rebekah discusses the contemplative methods of Orthodox Christianity; shares one of the tradition’s core practices, the Jesus Prayer; and discusses the importance of the liturgical year.

Rebekah explorex the phenomenology of a felt sense of Christ, explains the ideal of theosis, and reveals why the imagination is discouraged in Orthodox practice.

Rebekah also details the Orthodox view on demons, compares it to popular depictions in books and films, and offers her own experience of the supernatural dimensions of the spiritual war for the human will.

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Video version: www.guruviking.com

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Practice of Orthodox Christianity
03:37 - Time, community, and individual practice
10:51 - Learning how to be an Orthodox Christian
13:50 - The Jesus Prayer
16:11 - Against the imaginal
17:11 - Breathing practice in the Jesus Prayer
18:51 - Focusing on Christ
22:17 - A felt sense of Christ
24:38 - Phenomenology of meditation
26:49 - False vision and dangers of the imagination
29:50 - Warnings and special experiences
32:29 - Community as a check on spiritual pride
33:52 - Theosis and the goal of Orthodox Christian practice
38:36 - The heat of God
40:42 - Ethics and positive behavioural change
44:57 - The ethical ideal of Christ
47:18 - Angels, demons, and supernatural entities
51:08 - Screwtape Letters and the ontology of demons
53:59 - Theories of demonology
55:35 - War for the human will
58:56 - Levels of understanding
01:01:41 - How much should catechumens be taught about demons?
01:06:00 - Orthodoxy is in vogue

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Previous episode with Rebekah Sturgill:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=sturgill

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview, filmed at Oxford University, I am once again joined by Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a 35th generation tantric priest in a centuries old Newar Buddhist family lineage and master of the religious dance tradition of Charya Nritya.

Prajwal explains the use of mudrā and movement to embody enlightenment and teaches a full sequence of movement and mantra to use in daily practice when taking refuge.

Prajwal explains the four levels of Mahāmudrā in Newar Buddhism, offers methods to build compassion in community, and gives his advice on how to practice well.

Prajwal also shares Jātaka tales for every day wisdom and reveals the role of magic in Newar Buddhism.

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Video versions: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep352-mahmudr-of-newar-buddhism-prajwal-ratna-vajracharya

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:51 - Newar Buddhism and what Prajwal has been doing at Oxford University
03:03 - Dancing and singing for enlightenment
04:33 - Embodying enlightenment
08:02 - Methods of enlightenment
09:04 - Mahāmudrā in Newar Buddhism
23:25 - 4 levels of Mahāmudrā
25:45 - Body as mudrā
31:55 - Integrated mudrā
32:37 - Mudrā in the Buddha’s life
35:30 - How to practice well
40:10 - Compassion is built in community
43:49 - Prajwal explains the mudrā sequence used in taking refuge
52:21 - Demonstration of refuge mudrā and chant practice
54:14 - 5 emotions
55:04 - Further reflections on mudrā and Mahāmudrā
57:07 - Jātaka tale + everything is a mudrā
01:00:58 - Encouragement to practice
01:03:13 - Newar magick
01:05:27 - Anuttarayogatantra

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Previous episodes with Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=prajwal

To find out more about Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, visit:
- https://www.dancemandal.com/


For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Alana Fairchild, spiritual teacher, psychic, and author of the best-selling Kuan Yin Oracle Deck.

Alana recalls her spiritual apprenticeship, initial failed attempts to work as a psychic, and what it takes to make it as a new age entrepreneur.

Alana describes the tension between following one’s intuition and getting things done, why even spiritual teachers need to work when they don’t feel like it, and how she deals with negative feedback.

Alana also discusses her love of myth, a return to matriarchy, and her deep connection with Kālī Mā and the Dark Feminine.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep351-psychic-entrepreneur-alana-fairchild

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Apprenticeship under a psychic
03:00 - Initial work as a psychic
04:21 - Early challenges
05:31 - Spiritual intuition vs getting things done
09:06 - Business success in spirituality sector
09:36 - Alana’s creative and business process
13:04 - Intuition vs whim when getting things done
17:41 - Working even when you don’t feel like it
19:37 - Trope of the ”full body yes”
20:06 - Divine masculine and feminine
25:27 - Dealing with negative feedback
26:09 - Triggered by masculine energy
27:06 - Polarised by Mother Mary
30:51 - Myth and anthropology
31:45 - Return to matriarchy
33:48 - Which myths resonate with Alana?
35:33 - Alana’s mother complex
38:05 - Alana’s masculine energy
39:38 - Failed attempts to become a professional psychic
42:08 - Overcoming the fear of financial insecurity
44:!4 - Career success as a psychic, spiritual teacher, and author
46:05 - Commodification of spirituality
50:35 - Connection with Kālī Mā and the Dark Feminine
01:02:55 - How Alana communicates with Kālī Mā
01:07:18 - Concluding remarks

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Previous episode with Alana Fairchild:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=fairchild

To find our more about Alana Fairchild visit:
- https://www.alanafairchild.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com


Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Victor Shiryaev a teacher of Buddhist and modern meditation and somatic practices.

Victor traces a contemplative history of modern Russia from the days of the esotericism and Orientalism of the Russian Empire, through the religious restrictions of the Soviet Union, the New Age spiritual fervour of the 1990s, and the Westernisation of recent times.

Victor considers whether Russia was a mission field for spiritual groups such as the Diamond Way, details the different Buddhist sects active in the country, describes how meditation is viewed in Russian culture today, and reflects on the relationship between globalist Buddhist sects and heritage Buddhist groups of the region.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep350-contemplative-history-of-modern-russia-victor-shiryaev-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Why a contemplative history of modern Russia?
05:49 - Russian interest in the East and esotericism
07:54 - Buddhist regions of Russia
08:39 - Catherine the Great and empire
10:08 - Persecution of religion under the Soviet Union
11:14 - New Age and spiritual revival in the 1990s
15:22 - Current scene
16:30 - Westernised spirituality in Russia
21:58 - The self publishing movement
23:32 - How the scene became Westernised
27:12 - Shambala and post-Soviet Russia as a mission field
36:21 - Tibetan Buddhism in Russia today
39:40 - Other Buddhist and mindfulness groups in Russia
41:43 - Vipassana and the lack of a retreat scene
45:41 - Heritage Buddhists vs the new Buddhists
56:21 - Russian esotericism and the Soviet Union
01:04:41 - How is meditation viewed in Russia today?
01:12:06 - Modern mindfulness in Russia
01:13:00 - Russian Orthodox Christianity and the future of Buddhism in Russia

Previous episode with Victor Shiryaev:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shiryaev

To find out more about Victor Shiryaev, visit:
- https://victorshiryaev.co/

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism.

Alex takes a deep dive into the world of magick to compare esoteric systems from around the world including Western Occultism, Tibetan Buddhism, Indian Tantric and Goddess systems, Santeria and more.

Alex gives a history of the development of Western Occultism, exploring the Egyptian mysteries, Neoplatonism, Catholic mysticism, Kabbalah, Shi’ism, Wicca, the Golden Dawn, Thelema, Chaos Magic and beyond.

Alex discusses esoteric techniques such spellcraft, opening the psychic senses, working with entities, mantra, yantra, alchemy, astrology, and divination. He considers the tension between natural talent and practiced skill, reviews strategies for protection against curses and entity oppression, and recounts his own path as a practitioner of the occult.

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Full episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep349-deep-dive-into-magick-alex-w

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:09 - History of magick
06:08 - Christianity as a reinterpretation of Egyptian mysteries of Osiris
06:40 - Syncretism of the Golden Dawn
08:48 - Thelema
09:50 - English vs French magick
11:10 - Wicca
12:55 - Chaos Magic
16:04 - Belief and manifestation
19:26 - Theory vs practice
20:52 - Neoplatonism
22:54 - Kabbalah
29:09 - Shi’ism, Sufism, and the Church fathers
30:42 - Renaissance
32:36 - Not superstition?
33:53 - Alex’s magick path
35:32 - Training under Alan Chapman
38:21 - Scrying and the Holy Guardian Angel
40:10 - What is the HGA?
46:04 - The real initiation of Western Occultism
47:37 - Santeria and spirits
51:16- Exploring the Renaissance grimoires
54:56 - Catholic mysticism, angels, and saints
56:25 - Spellcraft
57:25 - Hinduism and Buddhist magick
01:03:33 - Mantra
01:07:29 - Yantras and Indo-European astrology
01:10:15 - Tantra as a ritual process to effect change and invoke spirits
01:11:34 - Ramnath Aghori Baba 
01:12:51 - How Goddess traditions work
01:19:13 - Initiated by Kālī and the Dark Feminine
01:25:21 - Opening the psychic senses
01:27:19 - Kālī, Chinnamastā, and the Dark Feminine
01:30:41 - Hecate
01:33:10 - Dark spirits, ḍākinīs, and the 64 yogis
01:37:19 - Network of friends
01:41:06 - Past lives
01:42:38 - Astrology
01:46:12 - Which practice is right for you?
01:47:42 - Alchemy
01:48:46 - Why practice magick?
01:53:14 - Divination and protection against curses
01:54:28 - 3 magickal self defence methods
02:02:10 - How common are curses?
02:05:26 - Why seek the Western Tradition?
02:12:08 - Indian vs Tibetan tantra
02:15:29 - Is magick well understood?
02:20:34 - Talent, lineage, and technique
02:22:44 - Crowley’s birthchart
02:27:32 - Alan & Duncan’s relationship
02:29:08 - Dangers
02:35:089 - Spiritual psychosis
02:37:50 - Devotion

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Previous episodes with Alex W:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=alex

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James