What are the different ways of spirit? How can we evolve and become free? In this episode of Wisdom of Ages, host Ayn Cates Sullivan and guest Nora D’Ecclesis discuss the different traditions of cultures when it comes to spiritual approach. Furthermore, they tackle the Shinto tradition of Japanese, Haiku poetry, and the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Nora is an American bestselling nonfiction author, and one of her books is the Spiritual Portals. Tune in and join Ayn and Nora as they talk more about global mysticism and multi-cultural mindfulness.
Ayn Cates Sullivan:
Welcome mystical travelers. This is Ayn Cates Sullivan, host of Wisdom of the Ages, where we invite the sacred into modern-day reality and explore the many ways of spirit. After all, we’re here to evolve, to become free. And remember who we truly are, all the parts of us, especially that eternal spark. It’s time. I feel it’s time to reclaim our heritage of infinite light, which is our true nature. And it’s multifaceted. So that’s what we’re going to get into today. If you love mysticism and spirituality, and you want more, you can find many fairy tales with stories to nurture your soul on my publishing website, infinitelightpublishing.com. So let me tell you why you’re going to be excited about this episode. I’m excited about this episode with American bestselling nonfiction author, Nora D’Ecclesis. More and more people now are describing themselves as spiritual, but not religious.
We’re going to talk about why this might be happening. There’s a movement toward directly knowing why is that happening? So let’s inquire. Let’s be clear. There are many ways to spirit. I feel we’ve become richer and more magnanimous when we understand the traditions of other cultures, such as Shinto. We’re going to read, talk about Shinto. I don’t know much about it. I’m excited to know more. I know it’s a polytheistic view of spirit. And then we’re also going to turn to maybe something that’s more familiar, such as the Catholic Saint Ignatius and his spiritual exercises. And we might find that both can lead to inner harmony and balance as can mindfulness walking in nature.
So today let’s explore the many ways of spirit. I just finished listening to Nora’s audiobook, Spiritual Portals. I mean, just that name for it, I just immediately think of a stargate that we get to walk through. We get to explore like cosmonauts. We get to explore the many paths of spirit. I really enjoyed listening to it. I recommend it to people who are interested in global mysticism and multicultural mindfulness. We’re going to return to that again in a minute. I also have a very deep love of haiku poetry. And Nora has promised to share some of her poetry. Spiritual Portals provides an in-depth view of techniques, methodologies from religious and spiritual paths around the world. So Nora, welcome to Wisdom of the Ages.
Nora D’Ecclesis:
Thank you. Thank you so much for having me this morning. Beautiful day. And this will be a beautiful podcast. You’re amazing.
Ayn Cates Sullivan:
It’s just so lovely to connect with you and let’s explore this. The many ways of spirit. What led you to this inquiry?
Nora D’Ecclesis:
It was a lengthy path. It started with my teaching and as a teacher, as an educator early on after college, it occurred to me that there might be many areas that wouldn’t be taught, for example, in a high school or a college that I was interested in. So I set up a curriculum and started to run spiritual retreats.
Ayn Cates Sullivan:
That’s amazing.
Nora D’Ecclesis:
It was, and it continues to be because it’s been a lifelong pursuit to teach a variety of practices. So people can actually select the one that resonates with them.
Ayn Cates Sullivan:
I think it’s so important.
When I was at school, we didn’t have a religious studies program. So I went to the principal and asked if I could start one. And she agreed. She had lived in Africa and she taught me about African mythology. So anyway, that’s, I think, might’ve been the beginning of Wisdom of the Ages. I think I was about 12 anyway. So I’m really looking forward to this. Where can people find your books and all the things that you’re doing? What’s your website?
Nora D’Ecclesis:
My website is noradecclesis.com. It’s fairly simple. I’m also almost exclusively on Amazon.com.
Ayn Cates Sullivan:
Okay. I follow you now. So I see you there. Okay. So when we come back from this short ad break, we’re going to talk more about the ways of spirit. And if you listen to the end, we might hear Nora read a few of her haiku’s. So stay tuned. We’ll be right back.
To listen to the entire show click on the player above or go to the SuperPower Up! podcast on iTunes.
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