Belonging to the Wild

Dr. Vanya Leilani
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

In this podcast, we ask questions, tell stories, share knowledge, and wonder together about ways to belong ourselves back to the wild, within and without. Rooted in depth psychological scholarship, an archetypal sensibility, and in the magic of the mythic imagination, we explore themes like wildness, belonging, spiritual sovereignty, myths, archetypal psychology, and more! www.drvanyaleilani.com

  1. Aug 27

    Ep. 32: Spiritual Sovereignty & the Ground of the Soul with Dr. Mackenzie Amara

    I am thrilled to have Dr. Mackenzie Amara back on Belonging to the Wild! In this conversation, we talk about spiritual sovereignty, spiritual violence, and the embodied difference between knowing and certainty. We also talk about some of the experiences we might encounter as we step into more sovereignty, in particular the experience of being and feeling misunderstood. Our conversation returns repeatedly to the importance of cultivating complexity and embracing the many stories as we navigate these big questions.  I hope you enjoy this conversation!   Join the waitlist for my courses starting this fall Learn more about Gathering Bones Learn more about Wild Sovereignty Listen to our previous conversation here Read my essay on The Violence of Certainty ⁠Visit Mackenzie’s Website ⁠to learn more about her work and the School of Psyche-Soma By trade, Mackenzie is a depth psychologist, guest lecturer, & 5Rhythms® teacher. By vocation, she is mama to a little wildling, a psychedelic facilitator, ritual emcee, & mythic mixmaker of alchemical sonic journeys. Mackenzie is a Diploma Candidate at the International School of Analytical Psychology in Zurich, en route to a fully-fledged Jungian analyst. She is a doctoral candidate at Saybrook University in Pasadena, CA, where she studies the use of Jungian techniques for integrating psychedelic experience. She holds a Master's degree in Clinical & Counseling Psychology from Columbia University & a Bachelor's degree in Psychology & Spiritual Experience with a minor in Child & Adolescent Psychology from New York University. She is certified in Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (The New School & Center for Optimal Living), 5Rhythms® (The Moving Center), and Holistic Psychology (The Open Center).

  2. Jul 30

    Ep. 31: "The Whole World is Praying for Love" with Perdita Finn

    “Life prays for life – and life grows from desire and love. The whole world is praying for love.” These are words from Perdita Finn’s beautiful new book, Mothers of Magic. In this episode, Perdita Finn shares with us her expansive views on the many mothers. She talks about mother “not as an individual identity but as a collective reality” and dreams of a world where we all feel deeply mothered, not by one individual but by the whole world. Our conversation includes topics like: The many mothersAppetite, desire, & erosLearning what is enoughPrayer ~ it’s gifts and shadowsDreaming about the world we wantThe magic of the mothers  It was such a joy to have Perdita back on the podcast ~ I hope you enjoy our conversation!   Join the waitlist for my courses starting this fall Gathering Bones Course Wild Sovereignty Course Send me a message Check out my Substack, The Mythic Fig Buy my book about Eve and Creative Transgression: The Flesh & The Fruit Connect more with Perdita: Buy her new book: Mothers of Magic Visit her website Check out her Substack  Join her on Instagram Perdita Finn is the author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors. She is the co-founder with her husband Clark Strand of The Way of the Rose, an international fellowship of beings dedicated to the earth, the rosary, and the Lady by any name you want to call Her. They are co-authors of the book of the same name. They live with their family in the moss-filled shadows of the Catskill Mountains.

  3. Jul 16

    Ep. 30: Myth as a Living Practice with Maria Souza

    What does it mean to experience myth as a living practice? In this episode, mythologist Maria Souza and I explore this question. Maria shares her profound wisdom and insight around the power of old stories to bring depth and meaning into our everyday lives. In our conversation we explore myth as: spiritual practicedoor for our initiationsway toward self-belonging and sovereigntyconnection with the more-than-human worldinvitation and opening to wilder questions  In the second part of our conversation, Maria tells us the Brazilian story of Jaci and Naia and we explore with this story together, diving into its complexity and metaphoric wisdom.  ~~~ If you want to listen to the story of Bluebeard, you can listen here. Bluebeard and the Power of Disobedience And if you want another story, you can listen to the episode on the Ugly Duckling here. Wild Belonging and the Ugly Duckling Join the waitlist for my courses and you will be the first to know when enrollment doors open for the fall courses. More about Maria: Maria Souza is a Comparative Mythologist, Poet, Educator, and Narrative Therapy Practitioner whose work explores the enduring relevance of myth, symbol, and story in contemporary life. Drawing from the fields of mythology, history, depth psychology, and spirituality, she offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding ancient narratives and their significance for modern life.   She holds a postgraduate degree in Comparative Mythology from Instituto Dedalus, a Master’s degree in Ecology and Spirituality from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), and an Advanced Training Certificate in Applied Mythology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Her academic and professional work bridges scholarship and practice, supporting women in engaging myth as a living tradition. Connect with Maria and learn more about her work

  4. Jul 7

    Ep. 29: Practicing Archetypal Polytheism

    What is archetypal polytheism and what does it mean in daily life? In this solo episode, I continue this series on cultivating a mythic sensibility and engaging the mythic imagination in everyday life. Topics I talk about in this episode include: What are archetypes?/archetypal theoryOur obsession with “The One”The perils of the Salvational FantasyWhat I mean by archetypal polytheismThe significance of mythic figuresWays of practicing archetypal polytheism in daily lifeHow archetypal polytheism can increase our felt sense and practice of wild belonging  Also, if you want to be the first to know when enrollment doors open for my courses that start this fall ~ Gathering Bones & Wild Sovereignty ~ join the waitlist and I will keep you posted.   For more information on me and my work, and to send me a message visit my website. www.drvanyaleilani.com   Books to help you explore mythic figures through an archetypal approach: Pagan Meditations by Ginette Paris The Goddess by Christine Downing The Flesh and the Fruit by Vanya Leilani

  5. Jun 30

    Ep. 28: Weaving the Worlds Together

    In this solo episode, I elaborate and deepen into what it means to live with a mythic sensibility and to weave the worlds of the mundane and the mythic as we live our daily lives. I also talk about: The primacy of the wild imaginationExploring the invisible world from different perspectivesExamples of weaving the worlds togetherHow a mythic sensibility remembers us back to our wild belonging The problem of exile and dismemberment from the mythicWays we can begin to cultivate a mythic sensibility During this series on the mythic sensibility and mythic imagination, I invite you to let me know how this is landing with you and if you have any themes or questions that you might want me to address here on the podcast. I would love to hear from you! You can send me a message here. Also, if you want to be the first to know when enrollment doors open for my courses that start this fall ~ Gathering Bones & Wild Sovereignty ~ join the waitlist and I will keep you posted! We can also connect through The Mythic Fig, my Substack publication. You can also visit my website at www.drvanyaleilani.com

  6. Jun 23

    Ep. 27: Cultivating a Mythic Sensibility with Dr. Thomas Moore

    What does it mean to live with a mythic sensibility? We are starting the new season of Belonging to the Wild with another wonderful conversation with Dr Thomas Moore. In this conversation, we explore what it means to live with a mythic sensibility. Our conversation includes themes like: ·      what it means to have a mythic sensibility ·      the difference between myth and mythology ·      the importance of psychological polytheism ·      the dangers of mythic fundamentalism ·      the myths in daily life   Dr. Moore also tells us about his new book, The Cure at Walden Pond, and talks about the ways that Henry David Thoreau lived his life with a profound sense of myth.   Thomas Moore published his classic Care of the Soul in 1992 and has since written twenty books on spirituality, sexuality, myth, religion and depth psychology. His books have been translated into thirty languages. He has taught religious studies and psychology and has been a psychotherapist for over 30 years. He often speaks at C. G. Jung societies and has done special work consulting at major medical centers with the idea of bringing soul to medicine. He was a close friend and collaborator with James Hillman and published an anthology of Hillman’s work with extensive introductions and commentaries. He writes fiction and music and has a special relationship with Ireland, the home of his ancestors. He lives in New England. Find our more about Dr. Thomas Moore Buy his new book! Join the waitlist for my fall courses and be the first to know when enrollment doors open!Send me a message or question ~ I would love to hear from you!Visit my website to learn more about my work

  7. 09/01/2025

    Ep. 26: Cultivating a Secure Existential Attachment with Mackenzie Amara

    In this episode, Mackenzie Amara and I explore the idea of cultivating a secure existential attachment. We talk about what that means and explore what it feels like to have a secure attachment to source, life, or existence itself.   In this fascinating conversation, we also explore themes of love and shame, the experience of spiritual bypass, and what Joseph Campbell really meant when he encouraged us to follow our bliss. We talk about the experience of gods dying and being born, as well as the necessity of living with what Mackenzie calls “crucifying paradoxes.”   Mackenzie Amara is a writer, researcher, consultant, & 5Rhythms® teacher. She is a Diploma Candidate at the International School of Analytical Psychology in Zurich, training to become a Jungian analyst, and she is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Saybrook University in Oakland, CA. She holds a Master's degree in Clinical & Counseling Psychology from Columbia University & a Bachelor's degree in Psychology & Spiritual Experience with a minor in Child & Adolescent Psychology from New York University. She is certified in Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (The New School & Center for Optimal Living), 5Rhythms® (The Moving Center), and Holistic Psychology (The Open Center). Her research interests include psychedelic psychotherapy, psychedelic integration, dream analysis, mythology & symbolism in clinical practice, and the application of nondual teachings to human growth.    Connect with Mackenzie: Website Substack IG Upcoming retreat Connect with Vanya: Website Join the Belonging to the Wild Collective Contact Vanya Instagram Download free eBook: A Guide to Leaving the Obedient Life

  8. 07/23/2025

    Ep: 25: The Long Story of Our Souls & Calling on the Dead with Perdita Finn

    In this conversation, Perdita Finn and I talk about the generosity of the long stories of our souls, explore what it means to have meaningful relationship with the dead, and circle around deep questions of belonging and connection. Acknowledging that our species often feels lonely, bereft, and disconnected, Perdita invites us to wonder about what it would be like to live in an “economy of prayer.” She asks this beautiful question: How would we live if we all remembered we have been each others mothers? Her work invites us into a sense of deep belonging with all beings ~ human and more-than-human, living and dead.   Perdita Finn is the author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and the forthcoming Mother Spell: Summoning the Love at the Heart of the World. She is the co-founder with her husband Clark Strand of The Way of the Rose, an international fellowship of beings dedicated to the earth, the rosary, and the Lady by any name you want to call Her. They are co-authors of the book of the same name. They live with their family in the moss-filled shadows of the Catskill Mountains.    You can connect more with Perdita and her work at here: https://takebackthemagic.com/ https://wayoftherose.org/ IG: @perditafinn   Join the Belonging to the Wild Collective Connect with Vanya Sign up for Vanya’s Letters Download free eBook: A Guide to Leaving the Obedient Life

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5
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About

In this podcast, we ask questions, tell stories, share knowledge, and wonder together about ways to belong ourselves back to the wild, within and without. Rooted in depth psychological scholarship, an archetypal sensibility, and in the magic of the mythic imagination, we explore themes like wildness, belonging, spiritual sovereignty, myths, archetypal psychology, and more! www.drvanyaleilani.com

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Vanya Leilani
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Vanya Leilani
  • Show Website
    Belonging to the Wild

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