The conversation

We continue our adventure with a crucial spirit guide as we enter the second season of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast

Early in my shamanic studies, I was visited by a pretty intense spirit guide. It was Durga, a stunning Hindu goddess, and she was riding a beautiful white tiger. As I was directed in “shaman school”, I asked her one of the big three shamanic journeying questions: “What am I here to do? What is my spiritual ability?”

Her answer? “The conversation”.

I remember being kind of bummed out by her response.

I mean, I’m not exactly a people person, and in terms of big spiritual purposes or psychic gifts, I was kind of hoping for something a little more Harry Potter-esque: a cloak of invisibility, the ability to fly, capability with making magical potions, saving the world from “he who will not be named”… or something like that.

At the time, this whole “conversation” thing seemed a little anticlimactic. Especially for an avowed introvert.

But, as I gear up to undertake new interviews for Season 2 of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast, I kind of get it now.

“The conversation”, as Durga called it, matters.

The intention behind The Skeptical Shaman Podcast is to engage in a spiritual dialogue that empowers, educates and inspires the “spiritually homeless”, defined as: the curious but logical, the seeking but pragmatic, and the people that want to expand their spiritual life without diving deep into the weirdest woo or getting taken by a con.

In this podcast, we wanted to talk to everyone: the cynics, the skeptics, and the true believers, all from across a wide variety of spiritual practices, perspectives and traditions. In Season 1, we talked to a Catholic exorcist, a practicing pagan witch, a NXIVM cult survivor and whistleblower, a former Scientologist, an Ayurvedic medicine woman, an Emotional Entrepreneur, a very dear friend and talented energy worker, a cosmic researcher and writer of the Goddessy, an angel-whisperer and psychic, and the Tarot Lady herself.

And, as it turns out, you guys liked it.

It’s been wonderful hearing from so many of you about how you specifically enjoy the diversity of guests, ideas and areas of expertise, and how each episode of The Skeptical Shaman sparks some curiosity in a totally new and mind-expanding topic. Your feedback has made all of the blood, sweat and tears (and cost of production) worth it, reflecting an alignment with my life’s purpose: the conversation.

Thank you all so much for your support of the podcast! In just a few months and ten episodes, our first podcast season has hit more than 5,000 downloads and exponentially more listens, shares and subscribes— an incredible accomplishment given we do not spend any money on advertising, promotion, or agency representation.

Yep, you read that right. This podcast is home-grown, and the only added layer comes from “friend of the program”,

Roger O

of

High Mesa Mystic

— he’s our audio editor and all-around tech expert that ensures our episodes sound great and get out to market.

I’m actively scheduling and undertaking interviews for Season 2, and we’re going to stick with what’s been working: the conversation.

And that means a diversity of thought— sometimes from heterodox or even unorthodox points of view— to help all of us sort out the truth somewhere in the messy middle. This podcast isn’t about growing TOTEM or expanding my reach (whatever that stupid phrase even means). It’s not about getting sponsorships or making money or essentially recording a bunch of infomercials to sell something no one wants in the first place.

Instead, we’re going to keep the conversation going. How can we explore spirituality without falling into a pitfall or falling prey to a cult or abuser? How can we connect to spirit on a daily basis, become more intuitive and even learn to take better care of ourselves in a world that celebrates everything disordered? What are the tips and tricks when looking for a practitioner? What should we do if we are a practitioner?

And, perhaps most importantly of all: why are we here? What are we supposed to be doing? What’s the meaning of life?

I asked this question 20 years ago, and my answer was “the conversation”. See how all this weird woo shit can actually come to fruition and help align you with your life’s work?

Please stay tuned for another season of The Skeptical Shaman, and please like, share, subscribe and— most importantly— rate and review. The podcast ecosystem is a strange world that hinges on very specific metrics; by rating and reviewing The Skeptical Shaman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google and more, you’re really helping us continue to build momentum and engage fascinating folks in dynamic dialogues that make us all better— and more informed— for having listened.

-Rachel

P.S.: and don’t forget: there’s a Review Raffle, so if you do write a review of the podcast, email it to me to enter to win a prize: rachel@totemreadings.com