11. Developing an Ecology of Practices for the Meaning Crisis (w/ Daniel Thorson)

Daniel Thorson and Brendan discuss the work of John Vervaeke, creator of the "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" series, comparing and contrasting it to Daniel's own pioneering efforts to develop a framework and set of practices for training agents of healing and transformation in our disintegrating world. They also reflect on both the importance and the problem of creating "ontologically neutral" practices stripped of highly context-bound terminology and ideas, whether that be for a "religion that's not a religion" or the kind of framework Daniel is developing.0:00 Introduction1:50 On Entering Vervaekeland5:49 Transformation: Virtue as a Leverage Point for Meaning10:44 Vervaeke's Perennial Problems and His Proposed Ecology of Practices18:35 Thorson's Framework of Five Aspects (1. Energy System, 2. Psyche, 3. Relationship, 4. Ethics, 5. Perception)30:10 Thorson's Ecology of Practices: 1. Samadhi and Healthy Living; 2. "Focusing," Bio-Emotive Work, Internal Family Systems; 3. Circling and Intentional Community; 4. Human Systems; 5. Emptiness Insight36:29 A Vervaeke-Thorson Synthesis?39:12 Disenchanting Ecologies of Practice? The Challenge and Promise of Sacred Containers46:44 A Missing Metanarrative? Connecting Myth and Praxis50:39 An Ecology of Ecologies of Practices: Modular Methods, Local Color?54:27 Wisdom's Scaling Constraints: Seeking Integration in a Disintegrating WorldEmerge podcast:https://www.whatisemerging.com/emergepodcastThe Monastic Academy:https://www.monasticacademy.com/www.BrendanGrahamDempsey.com Get full access to Brendan Graham Dempsey at brendangrahamdempsey.substack.com/subscribe