John Mark Stroud was our July Satsang guest. He was interviewed by Joe Schmitz.

Here is some information about John Mark Stroud:
A single unexpected moment in John Mark’s mid 20’s left him with a vast sense of emptiness.

He would spend the next 15 years immersed in worldly activity, trying in vain to fill this emptiness. His “normal” life of businessman, husband, and father had all the hallmarks of great success. But that vast emptiness keep haunting him.

Finally, in 2007, he was compelled by some greater force to sell his business and begin the inward search for the true peace and happiness that had always eluded him. Almost immediately he was swept up in a tidal wave of Grace. For a man used to control and responsibility, it was particularly unsettling that these miracles began to move and direct his life into uncharted waters.

In 2009, he was guided to “A Course in Miracles.” Instinctively, he knew this was what he had been searching for. It was as though it had been written just for him. The Course in Miracles led him to the direct experience of God’s limitless Love and Perfect Peace.

For more information on John Mark Stroud, please visit his website: onewhowakes.org Love podcasts? You might also enjoy one of the programs listed here: ⁠⁠https://awakening-together.org/interact/podcasts/

This episode of Satsang Reflections is based on our satsang with Stephan Bodian, who was interviewed by Anja Janssen.

Satsang Reflections is a dialogue usually held after a Satsang. It's an opportunity to share what was most impactful, hear from others about what they took away, and deepen into the teaching from the Satsang.

If you haven't had a chance to listen to the Satsang yet then this could be an opportunity to catch the highlights and see if it might inspire you in some way.

Stephan Bodian is a teacher in the non-dual wisdom tradition of Zen, Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta. Since 2007 he’s been offering the annual School for Awakening, a multi-month intensive program in spiritual realization and awakened living.

As a licensed psychotherapist, he brings a deep appreciation of the impact of early conditioning on the process of spiritual unfolding and offers individual counseling and mentoring in psychospiritual integration. Trained as a Buddhist monk, he spent many years studying with Advaita master Jean Klein, and in 2001 he received Dharma transmission (authorization to teach) from Adyashanti. His books include Wake Up Now, Beyond Mindfulness, and the bestselling guidebook Meditation for Dummies.

To learn more about Stephan Bodian, please visit: ⁠stephanbodian.org⁠

Love podcasts? You might also enjoy one of the programs listed here: ⁠⁠https://awakening-together.org/interact/podcasts/

Stephan Bodian was our June Satsang guest. He was interviewed by Anja Janssen.

Stephan Bodian is a teacher in the non-dual wisdom tradition of Zen, Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta. Since 2007 he’s been offering the annual School for Awakening, a multi-month intensive program in spiritual realization and awakened living.

As a licensed psychotherapist, he brings a deep appreciation of the impact of early conditioning on the process of spiritual unfolding and offers individual counseling and mentoring in psychospiritual integration. Trained as a Buddhist monk, he spent many years studying with Advaita master Jean Klein, and in 2001 he received Dharma transmission (authorization to teach) from Adyashanti. His books include Wake Up Now, Beyond Mindfulness, and the bestselling guidebook Meditation for Dummies.

To learn more about Stephan Bodian, please visit: stephanbodian.org

Love podcasts? You might also enjoy one of the programs listed here: ⁠https://awakening-together.org/interact/podcasts/

Dan Wetzel was interviewed by Rev. Anne Blanchard live from the Retreat House on May 19th, 2024.

Here is some information provided by Dan:

"I was raised in a family of devout Catholics where I felt a deep connection with Jesus. After High School, I joined a Catholic order of priests with the intention of becoming one myself. However, after completing four years of college, I decided to leave the church as I did not feel that I was getting all the answers that I sought.

In 1977, I Came Upon A Course in Miracles. I felt that I had found my path. The Course made sense to me. I studied, applied and taught the Course for the next 40 years.

Compelled to go deeper in 2017, I left my long time marriage and joined the Living Miracles community in Chapala Mexico, where I stayed for a year and a half. When I felt complete there, I moved to Namaste in Ajijic Mexico, and over a year later moved again to Villa Del Angel as I felt Guided by Spirit.

During my time in Mexico, I learned of Awakening Together and the teachings of Regina Dawn Akers. I was ready and willing to take the next step which was profound. Clarity ensued and self inquiry assisted in the deepening understanding of any beliefs that I held about myself and seeming separation from God.

I continue to learn that my awakening is a gradual revelation that the awareness had always been present, but was mixed with emotions, sensations and thoughts and experienced as the personal self called Dan. Stillness and peace increase daily with meditation and contemplation.

Presently, I reside near Mighty Companions with whom I join frequently for support and prayer and the inward journey back to the One Self. I trust that the universe is conspiring to do me good. Allowing everything without judgment, to accept “what is”, is Holy Spirit’s (Inner Wisdom) purpose for the dream world of duality, replacing the ego’s purpose of separation. Accepting that only Oneness is real is the Atonement, the end of the dream of separation, life and death, and is the experience of the Happiness that We are."

Love podcasts? You might also enjoy one of the programs listed here: https://awakening-together.org/interact/podcasts/

Violet Synergy was interviewed by Rev. Sharon Hepburn on Sunday, April 21st, 2024.

To see Violet’s Awakening Story, Click Here

Here is some information provided by Violet Synergy:

My name is Violet Richele (Alice) and I am a Lover of Truth & Dance, Intuitive Inquiry Facilitator, Meditation Guide, Artist, & Writer creating through emotion & intuition. My goal in sharing my journey through childhood, spirituality, and creativity is to show you that no matter who you are, where you came from, or what disabilities you may have you do have the capacity to open to your creative impulses and live a life free of the structural demands society suggests.

I interact with creativity from my direct experience, I have learned to trust and use my “disabilities” to my advantage. We are all unique and beautiful in our own ways. I think there is a very strong unknown sensitivity to us creators, we find peace while we are creating but can’t seem to find peace in other areas of life. This is why I have a passion for Non-Duality teachings. Creativity and Non-Duality go hand in hand. Recognizing unconditional love in all things can allow you the chance to create from an unknown place. A place of surrender, a place of true freedom.

If I share with you for one moment, my only hope is that you will know that what you are experiencing is true, and that you have the capacity to trust it. My sharing’s are based on radical truth. I communicate through the aliveness of the moment. I see that direct experience and practicing Inquiry through the senses is the way. I hope to share this truth with those who are ready. This aliveness isn’t mine, I can not give it nor take it away from you. It’s an unknown magical dance. Shall we look for the dancer?

For more information on Violet, please visit her website https://www.violet-synergy.com/

* This recording started partway into the interview. The first voice heard is that of Joy Bedford, referring to a mystical experience.

Merry Song was interviewed by Joy Bedford in the Awakening Together Sanctuary on Zoom on March 17

In childhood, Merry Song observed an expansive sense of awareness which naturally led to self-inquiry and mantra practice. At age 35 she glimpsed the True Nature of Being and has continued to unfold with this Recognition.

Her Buddhist practices with Ruth Denison and her Way of Selflessness practices with Joel Morwood have brought her to this moment of offering her own unique teaching method.

Merry Song offers writing workshops under the auspices of the Center for Sacred Sciences where she was asked to step forward as a spiritual teacher.

Merry Song challenges us to observe “The Story of I” as a grand work of fiction. She has developed an original method using creative writing as a tool for illumination.

She holds a BA in Broadcasting & Filmmaking and an MFA in Creative Writing. She holds a BA in Broadcasting and Filmmaking and an MFA in Creative Writing.

She can be reached at: MerrySong (at) CenterforSacredSciences.org.

Find out more about the Center for Sacred Sciences here: https://centerforsacredsciences.org/

To learn more about Awakening Together, please visit: ⁠https://awakening-together.org/about-awakening-together/start-here/⁠

If you'd like to see a video of this Satsang, you can find a link on this page:

https://awakening-together.org/awakening-together-satsang-with-merry-song/

This episode of Satsang Reflections is based on our ⁠Satsang with Keith Kavanagh⁠, who was interviewed by Anja Janssen and Julie Butler on February 18, 2024, live in the Awakening Together Sanctuary⁠⁠.

Satsang Reflections is a dialogue usually held after a Satsang. It's an opportunity to share what was most impactful, hear from others about what they took away, and deepen into the teaching from the Satsang.

If you haven't had a chance to listen to the Satsang yet then this could be an opportunity to catch the highlights and see if it might inspire you in some way.

To learn more about Keith:

Youtube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@acimwithkeith⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.acimwithkeith.com/

“A Course In Miracles with Keith” Facebook group ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/384802770144828

Podcast: ⁠https://www.acimwithkeith.com/podcast⁠

To discover more Satsangs and Satsang Reflections from Awakening Together, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://awakening-together.org/category/sidebar/satsangtalks/⁠⁠⁠

Like to discover other non-dual podcasts?

Awakening Together recently launched a new 16-episode podcast series on the Teachings of Inner Ramana: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inner-ramana⁠

Read about other Awakening Together podcasts here: ⁠https://awakening-together.org/interact/podcasts/

Musical ident: Helen Allmark

#KeithKavanagh #acimwithkeith #acim #forgiveness #allowing #awareness #awakeningtogether

Keith Kavanagh was interviewed live in the Awakening Together Zoom sanctuary on February 18, 2024, by Anja Janssen and Julie Butler.

To learn more about Keith, please visit his Youtube channel: “A Course In Miracles with Keith” www.youtube.com/@acimwithkeith or his website: https://www.acimwithkeith.com/

To learn more about Awakening Together, please visit: https://awakening-together.org/about-awakening-together/start-here/

If you'd like to see a video of this Satsang, you can find a link on this page:

https://awakening-together.org/awakening-together-satsang-with-keith-kavanagh/

About Keith:

Keith first heard of A Course In Miracles 30 years ago in a talk by Wayne Dyer where the Course was quoted and he has been reading it ever since. Life took a turn just over a decade ago when a crippling Generalized Anxiety Disorder took hold of his life for 8 years, effectively reducing it to a half-life. It culminated in a rock bottom point of readiness to devote himself to the Course in earnest.

Through his devoted practice, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder disappeared and he started having awakening and Oneness experiences. Keith was asked to share his experience in two podcast talks and from that, there was a large number of requests for more teachings.

This was to birth the “A Course In Miracles with Keith” Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/384802770144828), Zoom Meetings, YouTube Channel, Podcast (https://www.acimwithkeith.com/podcast), and, eventually, private mentoring.

In the Facebook group, Zoom Meetups and his podcast, there is further exploration of the practical application of A Course In Miracles based on the teachings of Kenneth Wapnick and of how what Ken taught brings the Course into alignment with many other Spiritual paths and teachings.

Prefer podcasts?

You can listen to Awakening Together’s interview with Keith on our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awakeningtogethersatsangs

You can find ways to listen to Keith’s A Course In Miracles With Keith podcast here:

https://www.acimwithkeith.com/podcast

Keith says the following about his podcast:

“We delve deeply into the metaphysics of A Course In Miracles, but our primary emphasis is always on masterclassing the forgiveness process it teaches in our daily lives.”

Like to discover other non-dual podcasts?

Awakening Together recently launched a new 16-episode podcast series on the Teachings of Inner Ramana: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inner-ramana

Read about other Awakening Together podcasts here: https://awakening-together.org/interact/podcasts/

Questions asked by attendees during this interview and addressed by Keith include:

- Knowing Awakening is simply allowance of the present moment, what do you think "Abiding Awakening", as you coined it, is?

- Please speak about the world as an illusion

- Could you discuss how to get to the present moment awareness in the workplace?

- I find it very challenging to be in allowance or acceptance while experiencing illness or pain. Can you give us a process for dealing with these?

- Wouldn't it also be necessary, in addition to allowing the thoughts and sensations to be there at that moment, to recognize them as totally illusory and part of this entire illusion that does not exist for forgiveness to happen?

#KeithKavanagh #AcimwithKeith #ACIM #Awakening #AwakeningTogether #Forgiveness #Allowance