Welcome dear listener. Our guest this time on The Elder Well is Francis Weller.
Francis worked as psychotherapist for over forty years. These days, he describes himself as a writer and a soul activist.
Many of our listeners will know Francis for his bestselling book, The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief. Through this wonderful book and through his other writings, Francis has introduced the healing work of ritual to thousands of people.
Francis is still very active within WisdomBridge, an organization he founded and directs, that offers educational programs that seek to integrate the wisdom from indigenous cultures with the insights and knowledge gathered from western poetic, psychological, and spiritual traditions.
Listeners may like to note that, at the time of this recording, Francis was working on his 4th book which is called: Facing the World with Soul and Why It Matters.
“I see almost every single iteration of trouble in the world arising out of that emptiness.”
In a soulful, rich and often deeply moving conversation, Francis speaks about…
* …how, humans holding themselves as separate from the rest of nature remains the greatest unhealed trauma in western culture;
* …how this myth of separation continues to drive multiple systems of harm including hyper individualism, all forms of colonisation, and the insatiable cravings of consumer culture;
* Francis shares how he sees the role of elders increasingly as disrupters of these systems of harm…
* …and names some of the qualities he believes healthy elders can seek to restore including: reverence, awe, receptivity, humility, patience, reciprocity, mutuality and, perhaps above all in the west at this time, restraint.
We were moved and truly inspired by our time with Francis and sincerely hope you are too.
Please enjoy…
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Links from this episode:
* The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief and other books
* Adrift by Mark Nepo
* Ancient Rhythms: Pat McCabe and Francis Weller - A recording from SAND’s December 2024 winter-solstice gathering
This episode of The Elder Well was recorded on 27th May 2026. Since its recording we have become aware of, and wish to acknowledge, the conversation taking place on Substack and elsewhere between Francis Weller and members of his community. Our understanding is that Francis is engaged in a process of repair with members of his community. We respect this process and direct listeners to his Substack page for further information: https://substack.com/@francisweller
* We are so happy to share that The Elder Well podcast opens and closes with the song River Run Free composed and performed by MaMuse with Walter Strauss on guitar. This song is shared here with the generouspermission of the artists. To find out more about MaMuse, their music and their mission please visit: mamuse.org
