For those who know Mark Nepo's work he needs no introduction.  For those who are not yet familiar with his work, Mark Nepo has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time,” “a consummate storyteller,” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” A bestselling author, he has published twenty-three books and recorded sixteen audio projects. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Recent work includes Surviving Storms (St. Martin’s Essentials, 2020) and Drinking from the River of Light, a Nautilus Award Winner (Sounds True, 2019).  I have been following Mark's work for over 30 years.  Yet, I first connected with him when my music was used on his two audio programs for Sounds True, Reduced To Joy, and Inside The Miracle.  Since then I have had the honor and privilege of being part of a number of his mentoring circles for authentic living.  Mark has a unique capacity to bring the inevitable complexities, challenges and inherent paradoxes of life into an intimate, clear and accessible focus through the power of story, metaphor and his timeless poetry.  In this episode, we dive into his most recent book, "Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity".  It's as all of his books a powerful, deeply intimate read about becoming truly ourselves in times of adversity, challenges and suffering. Today, more than ever, Mark's timeless wisdom is a welcome healing balm and lantern to light our way through the dark.  Mark's Main Website: https://marknepo.com/   Marks Website for Live Webinars: https://live.marknepo.com/ 04:52 The Basic Chords Under Everything 06:24 Between The Song of Life and The Pain of Life  07:57 Exhausted Open To the Joy and Pain of Living 09:30 The Everyday Broken Hallelujah 12:31 The Liminal Space of Being Born Premature  16:00 Losing the Connection to the Chords Under Everything - Our Primal Home 16:30 Where is Your Soul At Home 20:57 The Essential Paradoxes of Life 21:40 Whales and Dolphins as Examples of Solitude and Relationship 24:00 Our Direct Connection and Reverence for Life  24:45 Presence and Depth of MY Truth vs. Relationships and Truth Beyond My Own 25:50 The Gifts and Liabilities of Solitude and Relationship 26:30 The Maturing of Compassion - Staying Open To Your Pain Without Losing Yourself 28:00 Un-individuated Love and Codependency 28:39 We Have the Switch To Our Own Light, Not Others  30:00 Through Suffering and Loving We Find Our Inner Light  31:00 Being a Greenhouse for Each Others 34:00 Dealing with Paradox by Stepping Back To See the Wider View 35:00 The Hawk and The Horse - Balancing Revelation and Step by Step Living 39:00 Letting our Soul Catch Up With Us 42:00 Circles for Authentic Living 43:00 Progress vs Incarnation (doing for others AND seeing for myself) 46:00 Breaking Codependence (Extension of Suffering vs. Being a Resource for another Suffering) 48:00 Not Avoiding Suffering and Becoming a Hand Carved Flute 49:00 Being Fully Carved Open Like a Flute 50:00 Everyone Has a Gift Which Gives Us The Capacity to Live Life to The Fullest