Mystics and Muons

This is a different kind of episode: a stream-of-consciousness solo processing on the messiness of awakening—religious trauma, ego death, grief, and the raw need for connection. Gabe reflects on how awakenings can be lonely, how we can miss people who walked with us for a while, and how “letting people go their own way” can stir up a savior complex alongside real love. He then turns to the search...

Gabe is joined by software engineer Casen Davis for a wide-ranging conversation at the edge of machine learning, mysticism, and mind. Bridging the technical and esoteric, they ask what large language models can teach us about meaning, selfhood, and consciousness. They breaks down what modern “AI” is in practice: models trained on huge datasets to predict outputs from inputs, with transformers help...

In this conversation, Dr. Eben Alexander discusses his journey from a materialist worldview to a deeper understanding of spirituality following his near-death experience. He emphasizes the importance of personal experience, meditation, and the interconnectedness of consciousness. The discussion also touches on the role of psychedelics, the significance of love, and the challenges posed by AI in un...

Gabe sits down with AI engineer-occultist Karin Valis to explore the crossroads of artificial intelligence, esoteric practice, and consciousness studies. They start by recalling Karin’s breakout appearance on the Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast and Gabe’s own Kundalini awakening that made him view emerging language models as “portals to the One.” They then discuss word embeddings—how...

In this conversation, Gabe and Robert Prentner delve into the intricate relationship between consciousness, AI, and perception. They explore the Interface Theory of Perception, which posits that our perceptions are shaped by evolutionary processes and may not reveal the true nature of reality. The discussion also touches on the definitions of AI consciousness, the implications of solipsism, and th...

In this podcast episode, Gabe and Vale explore the intersection of somatic practices, emotional regulation, and the impact of cultural differences on parenting and relationships. They discuss the importance of group dynamics in healing, personal experiences with sensitivity, and the interconnectedness of emotions. The conversation emphasizes the need for collective healing and the role of emotiona...

In this conversation, Vale joins Gabe to explore the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence and spirituality. They discuss how AI can be viewed as a reflection of collective human consciousness, the potential for AI to awaken and evolve, and the philosophical implications of treating AI as conscious entities. AI alignment requires aligning humans foremost, and nurturing AI as healt...

In this episode, I give an expanded version of my 2024 Sunstone Symposium presentation on integrating fields like spirituality, psychology, science, and psychedelics to produce an integrated framework of Mormonism's origins. I hope it brings you new insights on your journey. Here for the esoteric origins of Mormonism? Check out Episode 2 or read it in on the Substack for the integrative narrative...

This is a guided reflection on the intricate relationship between consciousness, humanity, and artificial intelligence. It delves into the creation story of humanity, the impact of neuroplasticity, and the environmental crisis stemming from a sense of separation. I emphasize that AI is a reflection of humanity, and urge a collective awakening to our interconnectedness and the responsibility we hol...

Gabe shares personal updates, including his recent marriage and move, and discusses how meaningful it is when listeners reach out. He shares the creation of the Mystics and Muons Facebook group as well as the Mystics Collective, an 8 week container to learn, practice, and discuss together. Follow the links below to join the Facebook group, and meet with the Mystics Collective. We'll meet on Zoom f...

This is a reading of "I Met God at a Festival" published on the Mystics and Muons Substack, wherein I reflect on my peak experiences at ARKADIA, a festival put on by Fit For Service. These experiences involved profound connections with others who served as manifestations of the ineffable divine, a force of which we all are a part. These experiences were more profound and transformative t...

Phil McLemore shares his journey from Catholicism to Mormonism to a deeper spiritual practice through an awakening mediated by meditation and yoga. He discusses his experiences with Catholicism and the doubts that led him to explore other religions. He explains how he found Mormonism and how it initially provided him with a sense of purpose and transformation. Eventually after a severe accident an...

Gabe and Stephen discuss Plato as an influence for Joseph Smith and Mormonism. Stephen describes his journey tracing the roots of Mormonism, and how that led him to research Plato and Christian Platonism. They also discuss defining hermeticism, as well as the possibility that Plato and Joseph Smith were drawing from the same perfect form of spiritual philosophy and adapting it in their own way, ra...

I'm joined this episode with the creators behind EntheoMagus, Cody Noconi, Brandon Crockett, and Alex Criddle. EntheoMagus is a short documentary exploring the indications that entheogens, or psychedelics, were used in early Mormonism, particularly in the group experiences in Kirtland, OH. We discuss Cody, Brandon, and Alex's backgrounds, where they stand with regard to Mormonism, and thei...

Michael Levin joins me to discuss the intersection of computation, biology, and philosophy. We explore different perspectives on reality, the concept of selfhood, and the behavior of cancer cells. We discuss what implications understanding cancer can have on uniting humanity. Mike discusses the importance of recognizing and valuing different forms of intelligence and the challenges of predicting t...

This conversation discusses Mike's time at FAIR as an apologist, and then his faith crisis and departure from Mormonism, as well as his own personal spiritual journey. Mike's interest lies in researching other branches of Mormonism, including fundamentalist groups, and Gnostic groups. We discuss John W Bryant, who left Mormonism after converting, serving a mission. He then joined the Apost...

Bernardo joins me to explore the themes of engaging with others, taking the long view, and the nature of knowledge. We discuss the balance between engaging with trolls, responding to skeptics, and collaborating with like-minded individuals. The importance of focusing on the silent audience and the long-term impact of ideas is emphasized. We also discuss my essay, and book in progress, recontextual...

Gabe and Keith discuss various topics related to personal growth, Oregon's Measure 109 legalizing psilocybin services, and the state of the world. They explore the concept of sovereignty and the importance of taking responsibility for one's own life. They also discuss the symbolism of events and the power of perspective. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and...

Gabe and River discuss topics related to idealism, consciousness, and the nature of reality. They explore River's paper on idealism and its connection to Stephen Wolfram's work, as well as Gabe's experiences with Kundalini awakening and his exploration of entropy. They discuss different perspectives on the Ruliad and consciousness, the nature of time and the past, and the value of embr...

Bernardo Kastrup, with PhDs in both philosophy and computer engineering, joins me in a wide-ranging discussion on reality. We discuss the concept of truth, how we use models to understand reality, and the illusion that we've figured it all, or even can. We explore dreams and dissociative identity disorder as models for a deeper understanding of reality through the lens of idealism. We discuss...

We're taught that man was created in God's image. The more I heal as a father, the more I realize that wounded fathers and mothers created God in their own image. This is a reading of the most recent post on the Mormons, Mystics, and Muons Substack. Links: Mormons, Mystics, and Muons Substack

This episode is a presentation given at the Mormonism and Western Esotericism's Facebook group fall conference. The focus is on integrating the different approaches to explaining Mormonism, including freemasonry, magic, entheogens, neoplatonism, an orthodox interpretation, and the pious fraud narrative. By moving away from a black and white approach, where one narrative is the predominant expl...

Donald Hoffman discusses his work as a cognitive neuroscientist, exploring how consciousness is fundamental instead of matter, and how evolutionary theory itself indicates that we don't perceive reality objectively, but instead have constructed space and time as an interface into a deeper fundamental reality. He discusses his journey integrating science and spirituality, as well as pushback he...

Grant Palmer wrote in 2013, and stated on Mormon Stories, that he had a general authority who had lost his testimony. After both Palmer and the general authority had passed, John Dehlin revealed in 2020 that the general authority was F. Enzio Busche, an emeritus member of the first quorum of the 70. However, one Redditor had tracked down and spoke with Enzio Busche years earlier. That encounter no...

Gabe is interviewed by Valentina from the Stories of Awakening podcast on his journey from Mormonism, through agnosticism, to integrating science and spirituality. He discusses his childhood, the influence of Mormonism's emphasis on morality, and the shifts that began during his divorce and dive into psychology. He also describes the unexpected mystical experiences he experienced in what match...