I talk with Elizabeth Oldfield on The Sacred Podcast about breakdowns, the power of psychotherapy, the emergence of Christianity, the imagination, the future of science, sensing the divine. Amongst other things…. ‘Ultimately what you want people to do is realise they are far bigger than they realise and to become more aligned with the biggest,… Continue reading Mark on The Sacred Podcast
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Pseudo-science, a discussion with Rupert Sheldrake
The accusation of pseudo-science is often made against those involved in the New Age, and sometimes rightly so. But as Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss in the latest episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, there is a lot more to the sneering and ridicule than meets the eye. They explore how science itself might morph… Continue reading Pseudo-science, a discussion with Rupert Sheldrake
Revelation, discussed with Rupert Sheldrake
World religions and inspired individuals alike say they are the recipients of divine revelation. But what might that mean? In this new episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss the nature of revelation. They explore how revelation is a means of channelling and connecting with insight and intelligence in the domains… Continue reading Revelation, discussed with Rupert Sheldrake
The Four-Fold Vision of William Blake
The Four-Fold Imagination is an essay I’ve had published at Aeon. The YouTube below is a complementary look at some of Blake’s images, conveying a felt sense of single vision, two-fold, three-fold and four-fold vision. Do read and share the essay!
The Meaning of Psi and other strange experiences
Did you know Albert Einstein advocated telepathy research or that Marie Curie attended seances? In this edition of The Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss, The Flip, a new book by Jeffrey Kripal. The title refers to the range of experiences, from precognitive dreams to NDEs, that “flip” individuals from a mechanistic and… Continue reading The Meaning of Psi and other strange experiences
Owen Barfield: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 3
Having considered the insights of William Blake and Carl Jung in the first two talks of this series, I now turn to those of Owen Barfield. He presents the biggest possible story for the imagination, integrating it into nothing less than our creation and return to the divine. What is fascinating is that he arrived… Continue reading Owen Barfield: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 3
Carl Jung: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 2
The power of the imagination runs all the way through the depth psychology of Carl Jung. It is liberates because it is not axiomatic or discursive but perceptive. It goes beyond reactions and settled patterns of behaviour, to discover a new worlds. But it needs fostering, discerning, trusting. In this talk, I begin with the… Continue reading Carl Jung: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 2
Awaking from the Meaning Crisis QnA
I spoke with the group that meets on Discord to discuss John Vervaeke’s work on awakening from the meaning crisis. Here’s a breakdown of the questions that came up. 1.42 Christianity, Owen Barfield and John Vervaeke 8.20 Owen Barfield’s take on Christianity 9.50 How do Plato’s views on virtue relate to his views on knowledge?… Continue reading Awaking from the Meaning Crisis QnA
William Blake: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 1
William Blake argued that the imagination is the key human faculty for knowing fourfold vision, life to the full, and our divine destiny. But he also knew it needed cultivating, training, discerning. In this talk, I look at Blake’s images that can become part of such a training. I also describe the schema of Ulro,… Continue reading William Blake: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 1
The Inklings and the Evolution of Consciousness: a trialogue
Jeremy Johnson writes: In this much anticipated episode, Becca Tarnas and Mark Vernon return to the Mutations podcast for a trialogue on the Inklings and the evolution of consciousness. Together we explore the prescience and relevance of J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and Jean Gebser respectively, during a time when history and myth appear to be… Continue reading The Inklings and the Evolution of Consciousness: a trialogue