Evenings Kingdom: the Conversations. Wide-ranging conversations with artists and thinkers on their work, their life; their adventures, processes and routines. Kind of an ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’ meets ‘The Tim Ferriss Show,’ these Conversations will, no doubt, wend their ways into my writing. In stories from me in years to come, you may well recognize characters and ideas first discussed here.  ​Accordingly, today's episode features my dear friend Pat Gault. He is an artist and waymaker, and a military veteran.  In this conversation, we consider the many different kinds of possible cognizance - that of trees, rivers, mountains, even rocks - how this informs the worldviews of many traditional cultures like the Alaskan Dena’ina, who recognize these multiple dimensions of consciousness, all of which thoughts and the wind could traverse…  Pat became a Pararescueman (a PJ) at 18. He is also a writer, exploring alternative treatment methods for PTSD and depression, such as meditation and psychedelics. But it is his growing relationship with the Alaskan backcountry which has truly transformed his life. Accordingly, he founded the Alaska Institute of Curiosity and Exploration or ALICE to help redefine our understanding of nature as the original entheogen.  You can visit him at AliceQuest.com to learn more about the Alaskan quests he guides - and I do recommend it to your attention! :) Recently Pat was connected with the Heroic Hearts Project, which offers veterans psychedelic treatment options to heal their PTSD. The Heroic Heart’s program guides veterans to help them get the most out of their time on retreats, while also setting them up for success when they return home.    This is Pat’s story. Please share and please enjoy!  ​ Love, Paula