In this one, I try to use Teal Swan as a background for a conversation around memory, trauma, created narratives, pain, and the spiritual experience, and gurus…I hope you like it:) Who is Teal Swan? “The best way to describe Teal Swan is as an American spiritual leader. Though she maintains in The Deep End that she never sought to become a leader, her current career started around 2011. That’s when she published her first book, The Sculptor in the Sky, and launched her YouTube channel. From there, her popularity soared. Today, Teal Swan’s YouTube page has 1.25 million followers, her Instagram has 607,000 followers, and she has hosted numerous events for her followers. She is not a licensed mental help therapist.” “Gizmodo also uncovered that Swan actively targets people online who are struggling with their mental health. While Swan does encourage people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts to reach out for help, she also teaches about suicide it in a way many feel is dangerous to people already in crisis.” — Decider For your further deep dive… Psychologist Analyzes Swan’s Trauma Treatment The Deep End (Documentary about Teal Swan) The Gateway: Teal Swan “"What it boils down to is that I'm teaching truth. I'm the one that'll tell you how it is whether or not you're able to handle it," Swan herself explains. "I lack the capacity to stand on the stage and be like, 'This is wonderful, just soak up the good vibes!' when I'm like, 'You are literally in a chain of addiction right now. But if you come to me, you will watch transformation take place.'" —Teal Swan. Source: Salon “Some of the childhood abuse Teal says she experienced was Satanic Ritual Abuse, repressed memories she uncovered while working with therapist Barbara Snow, a central figure in the Satanic Panic of the 80s. Snow has been accused of employing scientifically unsound techniques to inspire children to testify they’d experienced Satanic Ritual Abuse and popularizing the concept, a situation that lead to the wrongful imprisonment of many (like these four Latina lesbians in Texas). To add insult to injury, the fact that doctors like Snow were found to have summoned false memories through questionable practices (like offering children candy to agree they’d experienced certain things) has since been weaponized by people attempting to discredit survivor’s true allegations of abuse when their memories of what happened aren’t crystal-clear.” — Autostraddle A Quote I found thoughtful…. “Everything exists; nothing exists. Either formula affords a like serenity. The man of anxiety, to his misfortune, remains between them, trembling and perplexed, forever at the mercy of a nuance, incapable of gaining a foothold in the security of being or in the absence of being.” — E.M. Cioran For more paid subscriber benefits, see— Chapter 4: The Deer and The Boy | The origins of Our Inner Will Chapter 3: The Theater of My Doppelgangers With love, Stay curious. If you enjoyed this letter…leave a heart and comment your thoughts…let’s chat:) Get full access to A Philosopher's Stone (Brenden's Labyrinth) at aphilosophersstone.substack.com/subscribe