An Inclusive, Interdisciplinary Approach to Spirituality Without Dogma or Religion
Alchemical Dialogues - from Lead to Gold
Alchemical Dialogues are live and unscripted conversations recorded on Zoom brought to you by the great folks of Amber Light International. We choose topics from our current social and cultural climate, with an emphasis on humanism and spirituality. In a cross-collaboration with both Lisa Carley's new podcast The Labyrinth, and Joel Lesses' Unraveling Religion podcast, we have begun posting 'Selected, Best of The Labyrinth' and 'Selected, Best of Unraveling Religion' episodes on Alchemical Dialogues. We continue to promote conversations that evolve our understanding of the vital topics of spirituality, the humanities, psychology, and The Arts and deepen community through this mutual support. Please check these out! If you would like to participate in our podcast, please contact us using this form.
When the edited audio podcasts are released, announcements and links are sent out to our general mailing list, and posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages. You can subscribe to Alchemical Dialogues on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or search for us in your favorite podcast app.
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Dr. John Erhart. Why is there such reluctance to allow people to be who they are? Are we so afraid of “not-me” so that differences become pathologized, forbidden, and beyond our limited imaginations? What does this do to us when we feel we must hide to survive? What does it mean that others must be feared? We are in a time when something as basic, genetic, as the core of our being has been, and still is denied, and then may be used as a justification to unleash rejection, division, devaluation, bullying, and violence. It is difficult and painful for some of us to believe. Yet, some, perhaps even many of us, have lived through this….witnessed it directly or indirectly. And some of us may have even perpetrated some of the prejudice, unwittingly or not. Psychiatrist, friend, and colleague John Erhart has lived through and witnessed personal and professional traumas and victories in his pursuit of being, accepting, living, and celebrating the person who he is. It is easier now, but….What about the road ahead for others? The work is not done. John F. Erhart, M.D. After completing undergraduate studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Dr. Erhart received his doctorate in medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed post-graduate medical training at the University Of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital. After an internship in pediatrics, internal medicine and neurology, Dr. Erhart completed a psychiatric residency and child psychiatry fellowship through the university’s Department of Psychiatry. He is a consultant for various agencies in the Rochester/Finger Lakes area.
In this brief talk, Henry and Joel Lesses examine the history and relationship between Amber Light’s own podcast Alchemical Dialogues and Joel’s podcast Unraveling Religion. Henry and Joel have been friends since 2014, and have cross-pollinated sharing ideas and wisdom including episodes regarding dreams, poetry, the spiritual path, psychology, and mental health. You can find Unraveling Religion on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unraveling-religion/id1510379967
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Hafizullah Chisti. Neurodivergence—also known as autistic spectrum—is now more frequently recognized, especially vis-à-vis neurotypicality. The latter is often viewed as the expected pattern, and those of that ilk wield much power in our society. Hafizullah views himself as neurodivergent and Henry as neurotypical. Henry agrees. Surprisingly or not, they have found interesting intersections, similarities, differences, and overlaps. Join these two friends and colleagues as they explore what these labels might really mean, not only abstractly and theoretically, but also on a personal and relationship level. Journey with them as they delve into the psychological and social ramifications their neurodivergence and neurotypicality have led them to experience and witness in their own lives, in their relationships, on their spiritual paths, and in organizations. What has helped them maneuver? What has hurt them? What can we learn and use to move us forward in being truly more inclusive and respectful of our gifts? Hafizullah Chisti is a murshid in the Sufi lineage of Hazrat Inayat Khan and got his start on “self-work” through Gestalt Therapy and deep bodywork—leading him, in-turn, to some years of Buddhist practice, and then to the “embodied” path of the Sufis. Hafizullah has a special interest in the interface between psychology and spiritual practice, and is currently enrolled in a three-year trauma-therapist training program in the Somatic Experiencing™ approach. He has also been challenged and gifted in life and on the spiritual path by his own neurodivergence, and is developing guidance for neurodivergent spiritual seekers and their neurotypical guides.
Listen to and share part two of our podcast panel discussion with Aude Chesnais, Henry Cretella, Tania Day-Magallon, Joel David Lesses, and Margot VanEtten. Aude Chesnais, Ph.D., has encountered various spiritual traditions before finding her family on the Sufi path since 2017. She is a political ecologist and senior researcher for the Native Lands Advocacy Project, and has been working closely with native communities in the USA for the past 10 years on issues of land sovereignty and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, particularly in support of regenerative food-systems transitions. Aude’s work reflects strongly on her positionality as a white researcher working in Indigenous settings. Although her spiritual path has led her on the quest to understand oneness, Aude’s professional path and commitment to social justice constantly reminds her of the real social impacts of human distinctions on their lives. Reconciling these two coexisting realities is Aude’s lifetime quest. Aude received her MA in social and solidarity economics from Université de Haute-Alsace, France and her Ph.D. in sociology from Colorado State University, CO, USA. Henry Cretella, M.D., is the host of Alchemical Dialogues and co-director of Amber Light International. He is a retired psychiatrist who received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and his post-graduate training at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. Henry was raised Roman Catholic and later began initial studies in Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism, as well as in the martial arts before finding a home in the Sufi lineage of Inayat Khan. Henry no longer practices an exoteric religion, but teaches and guides others in a mystically oriented spirituality that incorporates the wisdom from many traditions and disciplines. For Henry, he believes that we are in an era calling for each of us to find and follow our own unique spiritual path. He also believes that we can... View Article
Listen to and share part one of our podcast panel discussion with Aude Chesnais, Henry Cretella, Tania Day-Magallon, Joel David Lesses, and Margot VanEtten. Spirituality and religion are not the same, but this can be confusing for many. Westerners, in growing numbers, identify as “spiritual, but not religious.” Likewise, there are many who list their religious affiliation as “other.” Atheism and agnosticism are growing, often touting the benefits of community without the perceived negatives that religion and spirituality add—or do not. What are the implications of spirituality, of religion, or neither? Join this panel discussion with five practitioners who are either involved or have been with both spirituality and religion. Listen as they explore their views and experiences. Aude Chesnais, Ph.D., has encountered various spiritual traditions before finding her family on the Sufi path since 2017. She is a political ecologist and senior researcher for the Native Lands Advocacy Project, and has been working closely with native communities in the USA for the past 10 years on issues of land sovereignty and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, particularly in support of regenerative food-systems transitions. Aude’s work reflects strongly on her positionality as a white researcher working in Indigenous settings. Although her spiritual path has led her on the quest to understand oneness, Aude’s professional path and commitment to social justice constantly reminds her of the real social impacts of human distinctions on their lives. Reconciling these two coexisting realities is Aude’s lifetime quest. Aude received her MA in social and solidarity economics from Université de Haute-Alsace, France and her Ph.D. in sociology from Colorado State University, CO, USA. Henry Cretella, M.D., is the host of Alchemical Dialogues and co-director of Amber Light International. He is a retired psychiatrist who received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and his post-graduate training at the University of... View Article
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Alice McDowell, Ph.D.Note: Please be aware that because of sound latency and technical issues on Zoom, the spoken quality of this podcast is not as precise on the recording as it was in person. There is a thread of wisdom that flows through many traditions. That thread orients us toward our true nature, empowering us to be our true selves rather than personas. This true self is much larger than we ordinarily experience ourselves to be. It is full of light and love; it is collaborative and empowering; it is magnetic and inclusive. Alice McDowell has devoted her life to orienting herself and others toward this light. She gives us a glimpse of her journey and recommendations in her latest book, Dance of Light: Christian, Sufi and Zen wisdom for today’s spiritual seeker, a wonderful introduction to exploring the perennial philosophy and message of love, harmony, and beauty. In our podcast, we will explore more of Alice’s background and journey as well as delve into some of the essential tasks in which all spiritual seekers engage as they travel their own unique paths. Alice McDowell, Ph.D., is an author, spiritual director, workshop leader, retreat guide, and founder of the Hidden Treasure Program—a three-year training in personal growth. She co-founded Light on the Hill Retreat Center in Van Etten, NY in 1991 where she continues to guide people on their spiritual journeys. Alice is author of Dance of Light: Christian, Sufi and Zen Wisdom for Today’s Spiritual Seeker and Hidden Treasure: How to Break Free of Five Patterns that Hide Your True Self. As a professor of religious studies at Ithaca College for 18 years, Alice taught courses in mysticism, world religions, depth psychology, and women’s studies, and received the Dana Fellow for Excellence in College Teaching. Alice... View Article
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Amir Peter O’Loughlin.We are all likely to experience many losses through death before we ourselves transition, some of them very close to home, or in our own home. Psychology teaches us that there are many ways to grieve and many stages to navigate; otherwise, we can become mired in the process. All religions and spiritual paths conceptualize death, especially our own, and these concepts sometimes offer comfort when others die as well. Yet, when a loved one passes, be it a partner, parent, child, or a most cherished friend, the “rubber meets the road.” We must go on living and experiencing, even when our world is turned upside down. We need to make choices that help the heart break open, not break down. Have our spiritual beliefs and practices helped or blocked our grief process? Going forward, does our grief affect the spiritual foundation on which we have built and lived our lives? Can we stop blaming the grief-stricken for not “following the program?” How is our view of our own death—and life! —affected? Is there a way to go beyond platitudes and non-satisfying rituals? If so, how? What, if anything, needs to change? We invite you to explore these and other reflections in a deeply personal session with friend and spiritual seeker Amir Peter O’Loughlin. Amir Peter O’Loughlin has been one of Vancouver’s foremost ambassadors of interspiritual music for over 40 years. A Psychotherapist and musician by profession, he has followed and taught the Sufi path in the lineage of Hazrat Inayat Khan since 1980. Along the way, Amir founded the interfaith Universal Gospel Choir, led Universal Kirtan, and produced two highly acclaimed albums of his own contemporary Sufi music (“Merhaba” and his collection of musical settings of Rumi poetry “Opener of... View Article
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Sura Charlier. Note: Please be aware that because of sound latency and technical issues on Zoom, the spoken quality of this podcast is not as precise on the recording as it was in person. Sura Charlier senses we are in a time of awakening to our own inner wisdom and power. We need not do this alone. In fact, we are meant to support each other. Often, mentors or spiritual guides assist us along the way. These guides are not intended to be permanent authority figures whom we follow blindly for all time. Rather, they are friends on the path with whom we choose to learn from, travel, and grow. Sura shares some of her experiences, both as a guide, and being guided. We will learn how music tunes us to the infinite as she plays some of her creations live during the podcast. Likewise, we will share in her experiences of hope, faith, confidence, collaboration, and courage. Sura views these experiences as essential ingredients for our development, along with a kind of self-examination that honors, but does not require becoming attached to, and reliving our painful stories ad-infinitum. Respecting these qualities is especially important as our feminine nature is now rising and becoming a major source of inspiration and guidance. Together, as we grow our individual capacities with wisdom and power, we will harmonize and create a more beautiful and sustainable world. Sura Charlier is the Founder/Director of the Kalyan Center (kalyancenter.org), a Sufi Universalist center in Bradenton, Florida. The center is dedicated toward the awakening of humanity to the divinity of the soul. She serves as a spiritual guide, minister of the Universal Worship Service, and offers retreats and seminars for personal and spiritual growth (sacredhealingsacredretreat.com). Sura is also an accomplished professional... View Article
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Rudy Rivera. We all have wounds. We all have wounded others. Accompanying these wounds are tremendous gifts. Rudy Rivera has found that when we persevere, work on healing ourselves, finding those gifts, and then turning to serve others in our own way, we contribute to a still greater re-balancing and wholeness than we at first thought possible. That’s the journey Rudy has lived and shared with us. Rudy was challenged with what most of us would call obstacles. To him, they were fuel for a greater purpose that he at first could not see. Mentors were pivotal in Rudy’s life and remain so today. He honors them through his work at the Father Tracy Center in Rochester, NY. In these days of over-specialization, Rudy refuses to be saddled with a constricted mission. He aims to provide total service and attention to the betterment of the human condition through outreach in his designated sphere of influence. Hear how Rudy has found his purpose, grown through his challenges, and has been inspired and now inspires others—including us. Rodolfo (Rudy) Rivera is the CEO of the Father Tracy Advocacy Center, which he founded in 2017. Rudy has been in public service all of his life, having worked as a youth advocate, HIV outreach worker, community program analyst, and more. Throughout his career, Rudy has worked to address the human condition by dealing with the entire needs of a person, rather than simply looking at one issue. In Rudy’s role as CEO, he continues this approach and sees himself as a researcher, investigator, teacher, and advocate for the improvement of the quality of life of others. For more information or to make a donation, please visit: https://www.fathertracycenter.org/
Listen to and share our latest podcast with Reverend Lewis Stewart. Henry’s partner Kathleen connected him with Rev. Stewart about doing an interview for our podcast. Henry thought they would spend a half-hour or so getting to know each other and sketching out a topic. Two hours later, Henry had made a new friend who felt like an old friend. We expect that the same will happen to you. During their conversation, Henry suggested to Rev. Stewart that he discuss his work as a community activist. Rev. Stewart gently corrected Henry and said that he considers himself a “Liberationist.” Then, as their discussion deepened, we gained greater insight into what he meant. Hear how Rev. Stewart was inspired by the people he met and his enormous interests, his spiritual education and path, the causes and challenges he confronted, and his commitment to work for the liberation of all, especially the oppressed and disadvantaged. The goal of Alchemical Dialogues is to allow something new to emerge from a conversation. It has so far, it did with Rev. Stewart and Henry, and we are confident that this podcast will inspire and liberate you as well. Reverend Lewis W. Stewart, Jr. was born in Newburgh, New York, earned an AAS degree from Orange County Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and History from SUNY Brockport, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Colgate Rochester/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary. He then studied at Syracuse University School of Social Work. Rev. Stewart was ordained as an Elder in the Churches of God in Christ in June 1972 in New York City, and as a Baptist Minister. He served as an Associate Minister at Second Baptist Church in Mumford, New York under the leadership of Dr. Charles Thurman, and at Christian Friendship Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership... View Article
The information provided on this website and these podcasts is for informational purposes only. Nothing on this website and in these podcasts is intended to be a substitute for medical, psychological, psychiatric, or any health related diagnosis or treatment.
The opinions expressed by the guests in these podcasts are not necessarily the opinions of Amber Light International and anyone associated with this organization.
