The Labyrinth

This episode of Alchemical Dialogues features host Henry Cretella in conversation with Micha-El (Alan Berkowitz) on the life and teachings of Paul Brunton, and the intersections of Sufism, Vedanta, and other contemplative traditions. The discussion begins with Henry describing how he first encountered Brunton’s book The Short Path to Enlightenment , which he initially bought simply because of the...

Part 2 continues panel discussion by exploring the lived experience of unity, spirituality, and what it means to feel 'at home' in the universe, beginning with reflections on whether healing and awakening dissolve the sense of separation. Andy, drawing from his 12-step recovery background, describes spirituality as a relationship with a higher power understood personally, sharing that his connecti...

Part 1 In the continuation of the cross-collabaortion of Alchemical Dialogues, Unraveling Religion, and The Labyrinth, we are posting this Panel Discussion. Alchemical Dialogues and Unraveling Religion co-hosts Joel Lesses and Henry Cretella convene a panel exploring spirituality, recovery, philosophy, and science through lived experience, centered on the theme of transformation as an embodied, on...

Part 2 of 'Echoes of the Tao, Seeking Truth Across Traditions,' starts with 'what does it mean to Serve and Love God (or Tao)? God (Tao) says, 'be what I made you to be!' God (Tao) is found in relationship. Does God want us to know Him (or ourselves) most intimately? Dependent Co-arising? 'Simultaneously, I and all beings attain the Way ' (Awaken to Reality) ~Buddha 'Essentially, outside of me, no...

In this exploration of the Tao Te Ching and other traditions, the conversation opens to introductions  of the five Panelists and a invocation of hope of others to investigate the Tao Te Ching.  Bob, Brian, Rich, Henry and Joel share Verse 1 and questions arise: What is Reality? Is the Tao Reality? What is the Tao? What does the term Anti-foundational mean? Reversal Yin/ Yang in relation to Tao. Pa...

On this cross-posted episode from the Unraveling Religion podcast, Pádraig Ó Tuama joins Unraveling Religion's Host, Joel Lesses, and shares a conversation from the heart about poetry, spirituality, community, and communion. The conversation opens to how Joel and Pádraig met, and what informed Pádraig's life as a Poet and Theologian. Pádraig recalls the influences of Ireland and school and the fou...

Unraveling Religion's episode with Crazywise Documentary Filmmaker Phil Borges  who joins Joel for a discussion of Phil's life post Crazywise and together they explore mental health and its relation spirituality, beginning with how does one define spirituality.  Phil's history of experiences into spirituality, beginning with the death of his father and Phil's Aunt returning from a psychiatric hosp...

Unraveling Religion's Joel David Lesses holds a conversation with Naomi Shihab Nye and Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, cross posted on The Labyrinth as a part of the ongoing cross-pollination with Unraveling Religion, Alchemical Dialogues, and The Labyrinth.    Naomi Shihab Nye opens the talk reading a new, recently penned poem,  Current Affairs.   Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish then introduces himself and segway...

In a collaboration of Alchemical Dialogues and Unraveling Religion, co-hosted by Henry Cretella and Joel Lesses, Part 2 the Panels opens to discuss: 'What makes us come alive?' 'What is your 'note' in life?' (Rumi's 'be your note.') Discussion turns to Rumi's quote 'when I was young I wanted to change the world, when I grew older I wanted only to change myself.' How do we attune to spiritual teach...

In a collaboration of Alchemical Dialogues and Unraveling Religion, co-hosted by Henry Cretella and Joel Lesses, Part 1 of this discussion examines psychology, philosophy, religion, spiritually, science, and medicine, a panel of five (5) people opens with the question, 'where am I?' and 'what is going on [in the world]?' and refers to James Hillman, ideas and action as an artificial distinction, a...

On February 7th, 2023, Chris Meek interviewed Joel for the podcast Next Steps Forward, and explored: Does God Exist? How does meditation reveal God? What is the nature of evil? Where does God exist? Can we experience God directly? Why are we here on earth? What is the purpose of life? Why does God ask us to struggle? Does morality matter? Is there life after death? What is a koan? Next Steps Forwa...

After a Sunday Brunch at Lisa Carley's friend Joel Lesses' house, on his Two Schmoes Sanctuary patio, Lisa and Sam had an ongoing conversation into the afternoon and evening where a suggestion was made to throw down a phone and record the discussion. Topics of this conversation include travel (i.e., Ireland and India), philosophy, humanity's limitations and failures, and the desire to seek a 'hive...

In today’s The Labyrinth podcast, retired psychiatrist Henry Cretella joins us to share both his philosophy and personal experience with surrender. We begin our conversation with Eckart Tolle’s view that surrender requires an expansion (and often suspension) of our rational mind. From there, we discuss the general nature of surrender and the role of intuition. We move into sharing stories about ti...

Recorded for Alchemical Dialogues podcast, Henry Cretella hosts Lisa Carley regarding mental health and spirituality and Lisa's lived experience. Avoiding and easing unnecessary suffering is a worthwhile goal, but so is the less often discussed opportunity for transformation that distress provides.   Mystics teach that the heart and mind open through suffering.   The good news is that we don’t hav...

In today’s The Labyrinth podcast, I’m honored to join one of my closest spiritual companions, Shobitha Kedlaya and her spiritual friend Ramesh Krishnan. I met Shobitha four years ago at her organic farm and community in Andhra Pradesh. We immediately connected through a shared narrative of our complex maternal identities. Shobitha is a trained dancer, holds an MBA, and left a thriving career in th...

As a part of The Labyrinth's collaboration with Unraveling Religion podcast, this conversation with Crazywise Producer Phil Borges and Unraveling Religion's Joel Lesses is shared: 'Crazy…or wise? The traditional wisdom of indigenous cultures often contradicts modern views about a mental health crisis. Is it a ‘calling’ to grow or just a ‘broken brain’? The documentary Crazywise explores what can b...

This conversation with Lisa and Joel explores the podcast 'The Labyrinth' and its slogan 'Destination Unknown' and its relationship to the 'Unraveling Religion' podcast, whose own slogan 'What You Are Is More Than What You Want.' These two old friends share deep vision of hope and work toward a brighter future as they deconstruct meaning, mission, and purpose, and the mechanisms of what comprises...

Originally posted on the Unraveling Religion podcast , Joel David Lesses lassoed Rich Grego and Lisa Carley  into a conversation recorded weaving threads through time and space and  love , itself . This conversation meanders among these three old , dear friends , and  touches on nihilism , dissolution, and  romanticism , Dharma decay and  Dharma renewal , changes and transformations . Is there roo...

Lifted from the archives of Lisa Carley's history with her good friend Joel David Lesses, this from July 2013, into the deep of night, armed with Mike's Hard Lemonaid, American Spirits, Pringles, Eckhart Tolle and Rumi, in Lisa's 2001 Black Hundai Elantra in the parking lot of Allentown Trading Company Gas station, at the corner of Buffalo's Allen Streen and Delaware Avenue, Lisa Carley and Joel L...

In this trailer of The Labyrinth Podcast, Lisa Carley introduces the podcast's orgins, philosophy, topics, and terrain covered in curiosity of life and existence with these conversations, an invitation to join.        Image is the cover of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind , Shunryu Suzuki, kanji: 'Inexhaustibility.' 2015; 'The Sound of Silence' (Instrumental); Immortalized; Reprise Records