Shows
The Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 25 - 17th Sunday in TKOHIN - July 27, 2025 17th Sunday in The Kingdom of Heaven is Now time. We talk about haggling with God and the power of the individual to save the world. We mention the relationship between the the exercises of St. Ignatius, and Jung's active imagination. Marci offers several different versions of the Lord’s prayer.Laura wanted to cut the vulnerable story she tells about her dad but she kept it in. The Sunday ReadingsThank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to L...2025-07-2537 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 24 - 16th Sunday TKOHIN, July 20, 2025The 16th Sunday of the Kingdom of Heaven is Now.(If your platform isn't showing hyperlinks for these notes, please let us know! You can also find them on our spotify page.)We dive deep into all three readings. Laura references the book " Abraham : the man and the symbol ; a Jungian interpretation of the biblical story."What Laura forgot, "... the Sages also divided the functions of the angels’ mission into three: to herald the birth of Isaac, to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and to heal Abraham. "One more q...2025-07-1840 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 23 - 15th Sunday in TKOHIN, July 13, 2025The 15th Sunday in the Kingdom of Heaven is Now time. Laura mentions another podcast, This Jungian Life.She also mentions alchemy and this quote -"A fool who persists in his folly will eventually become wise"-William BlakeMarci mentions a prayer from Thomas Merton and this bible quote. Laura quotes from Mary Oliver’s Wild GeeseShe also mentions her work teaching emotional intelligence.We also talk about Matthew Fox and The Cosmic Christ, our overscheduled lives, xenophobia and much more.2025-07-1140 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 22 - 14th Sunday in TKOHIN - July 6, 202514th Sunday in the Kingdom of Heaven is Now.(Please alert us if you don't see hyperlinks in your show notes!)We discuss the power of home. Laura mentions "nous," a concept she's heard from Ilia Delio. Heavy stuff. "Pierre Teilhard de Chardin saw the emergence of a new type of person with computer technology, an evolution of consciousness that led to a new level of cosmic life, what he called the “noosphere” (from the Greek “nous” or mind). The noosphere is the natural culmination of biological evolution, an organic whole, now on the leve...2025-07-0429 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 21 - Peter and Paul - June 29, 2025(0ur show notes are always filled with many links. If you are not seeing hyperlinks on your platform, please let us know. Thank you! )In this episode Marci sings a song! We talk about miracles, doubt and faith. A joke from Joseph Campbell (also attributed to Thomas Merton!)And another Campbell quote that made Marci laugh. Laura mentions the noncanonical Gnostic books featuring St. Peter. The Apocalypse of Peter, Letter of Peter to Philip and Apocryphon of James (among others).We mention The Last Temptation of Christ film...2025-06-2737 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearBackstage Bonus -- Marci gets down.....Thank you to Marci for sharing her brilliance with us! FYI- we refer to two weeks because we usually record two episodes at a time....2025-06-2400 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 20- Corpus Christi - June 22, 2025(0ur show notes are always filled with many links. If you are not seeing hyperlinks on your platform, please let us know. Thank you! )Marci shares some of her research on Julian of Norwich.Laura struggles in this episode. We confess: some of the material (latter third) was added later. Lots of poetry in this episode, including a section from Blessing the Bread by Lynn Unger, Marci's poem, Learning Slowly, and Laura’s poem, Take One Bite. Laura mentions the book Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Ki...2025-06-2037 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 19 - Holy Trinity - June 15, 2025Marci talks about her use of different pronouns for God. We reflect on what we learned during a recent talk from Ilia Delio. We mention Teilhard de Chardin (as we often do) and the challenge of using words like “god” or “love." We discuss Jung's concept of “eros” and “logos." And Edinger's thoughts on endurance. We talk about individualism and faith, and the book The Gift and The Serviceberry. "Christ, as a particular concrete manifestation of the Holy Spirit, must die in order for the disciples to develop an...2025-06-1342 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 18 - Pentacost Sunday, June 8, 2025We talk about fire and wind and the sometimes unpredictable power of groups under the religious impulse. We discuss the work and a video of Ilia Delio, outlining her inspirational message. And a juicy quote from her. Laura talks about her ecstatic experiences in prayer. We struggle with the second reading (Romans) and explore the meanings of the word “love.”Marci suggests Mirabai Starr's book Wild Mercy. The Sunday Readings.Thank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gmail.comPlease...2025-06-0742 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 17 - Ascension - June 1, 2025We talk about the problem of “always looking up.” Laura mentions Jungian James Hillman We talk about the the political and economic power of the church. Laura and Marci swim in the deep waters of Hebrews and Atonement theory.[There is a] . . . continued and progressive divine incarnation. Thus man is received and integrated into the divine drama. He seems destined to play a decisive part in it; that is why he must receive the Holy Spirit. I look upon the receiving ofthe Holy Spirit as a highly revolutionary fact which cannot take place until...2025-05-3041 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 16- Sixth Sunday of Easter - May 25, 2025We talk about controversies in the early church and today. Marci offers a great exercise for listening deeply to others. We explore following literal laws of the church vs. the law of love. We talk about Laura’s love of rocks and her gift of petoskey stones. Marci recommends "Ordinary Mysticism :Your Life as Sacred Ground" By Mirabai Starr"Christ, as a particular concrete manifestation of the Holy Spirit, must die in order for the disciples to develop an individual relation to the Holy Spirit, that is, the projection must be w...2025-05-2337 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 15 - Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 18, 2025A thought-provoking and joyful discussion. 20% more laughter in this episode!We talk about the apostle Barnabas and his Epistle, and the Gnostic Bible. Also the conflict of opposites and quotes by Edward Edinger and Carl JungWe explore the connotations of the word "glory" as well as the Jungian terms, inflation and conjunctio (from Jung's study of alchemy). We reflect on brokenness and share more personal stories as part of our own "Acts of the Apostles."The Sunday ReadingsThank you for listening! Questions? C...2025-05-1646 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 14 - Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 11, 2025Laura and Marci talk about faith. Laura offers this quote by Carl Jung. Also this quote, talking about the Apocalypse. Christ was the first attempt of the God-image to incarnate and transform itself. Now, the second time around, humanity as a whole and not just one person is going to be the subject of that process. God is going to incarnate in humanity as a whole....Edward Edinger, from his book- Archetype of the Apocalypse.Marci mentions the Healthy minds app We talk about c...2025-05-0936 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 13 - Third Sunday of Easter, May 4, 2025A happy conversation. We talk about the change in consciousness within the early Christians. We explore the concept of the "Second Coming." Marci reads this poem - Antiphon for Divine Wisdom By Hildegard of Bingen, Translated By Barbara NewmanSophia!you of the whirling wings,circling encompassingenergy of God:you quicken the world in your clasp.One wing soars in heavenone wing sweeps the earthand the third flies all around us.Praise to Sophia!2025-05-0242 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 12 - Bonus reflections after Holy WeekLaura reflects on her powerful and unexpected experience of Holy Week.She recalls the scene/joke from the Tony award-winning musical "Passing Strange." (Great musical - with adult language and themes) We talk about the forms of worship, from traditional to modern and the effects they produce. Joseph Campbell had strong opinions on this. "....they've translated the Mass out of ritual language and into a language that has a lot of domestic associations. The Latin of the Mass was a language that threw you out of the field of domesticity. The altar was turned so...2025-04-2914 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 11 - Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2025We talk about Thomas as the "literal man," "wounded healers," the value of our woundedness, healing vs. cures, and what does it mean "to believe."Mandala like paintings of the Book of Revelation.Also the work of Robert J. Schreiter and his book The Ministry of ReconciliationMarci mentions this video about Christ in all things. The mystical paintings of Fra Angelico.Link to the readings.Thank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gmail.comPlease follow us to...2025-04-2538 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEpisode 10 - Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025We discuss the Easter readings. Laura imagines the scene and wonders- would you go into the tomb or wait outside? Marci reads her poem, "Sneaky Jesus" and she recalls Mary Oliver's poem, "The Summer Day."Link for the Sunday Readings "The imitation of Christ, then, is participating in the suffering and joys of the world, all the while seeing through them the radiance of the divine presence."--Joseph CampbellThank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gmail.comPlease...2025-04-1833 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearThe Triduum - Reflections on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter VigilMarci shares her excitement and knowledge of the 3 holy days of the Triduum. Our original discussion was 1 hour and 20 minutes, now down to 46 minutes. Laura runs out of steam at the end. Please forgive the shortened Easter vigil description. Holy Thursday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041725-Supper.cfmGood Friday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041825.cfmEaster Vigil Readings : https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041925.cfmWe spent much of our history arguing about the “how” and the “if” and who could do what Catholic...2025-04-1446 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 9a - Palm Sunday Part 1 -- 3 readings- April 13, 2025This was a tough episode for many reasons. Moving into the Passion is hard and Laura struggles to have the courage to share her perspectives on it. Palm Sunday has 4 readings. Here we cover the first three. The next episode is our reading of the Passion and the third episode is our discussion of it. Thank you for sharing this journey with us!Readings: Procession with Palms – Gospel Mk 11:1-10, Is 50:4-7, Phil 2:6-11https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032424.cfm “All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells, are with...2025-04-1143 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 9b - Palm Sunday Part 2 - Reading the PassionWe continue our Passion journey. Reading - Mk 14:1—15:47Scroll down to last reading. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032424.cfmEdward Edinger in "Ego and Archetype" re: the crucifixion: "This state is a transition period. It is the limbo of despair following the death of an old life orientation and preceding the birth of a new one. Jesus’ resurrection symbolizes the birth of a more comprehensive personality which can result from the conscious acceptance of the crucifixion ordeal.”2025-04-1119 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 9c - Palm Sunday Part 3 - Reflecting on the PassionWe continue on the journey of the Passion. Reflecting on how the media portrays it and our own ability to witness suffering. "Another aspect of the Gethsemane image that it emphasizes the fact that suffering is a crucial part of the process. The important part is to accept the suffering one encounters. You know we all have the deeply ingrained infantile notion that we’re supposed to be happy. That’s not true. We are supposed to suffer. If you attach any psychological credence to what I’m describing as a Christian archetype, if it has any genera...2025-04-1122 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 8 - 5th Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2025We continue to follow cycle C readings. We discuss our inner wasteland and our wildness, the daily process of resurrection, and finding a third way to deal with political traps. Edward Edinger "The Christian Archetype: a Jungian commentary on the life of Christ. “The divine process of change manifests itself to our human understanding . . . as punishment, torment, death, and transfiguration.” -Carl Jung; Alchemical StudiesReadings: Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:8-14, John 8:1-11https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040625.cfm 2025-04-0429 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 7 - Fourth Sunday of Lent - March 30. 2025Marci shares a wonderful poem by Mechthild of Magdeburg.https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/M/MechthildofM/Effortlessly/index.htmlWe explore the powerful story of the Prodigal Son. Today's readings -Joshua 5:9a, 10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033025-YearC.cfmThank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gmail.comPlease follow us to be alerted for new episodes. We hope you'll share this passion project with o...2025-03-2845 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 6 - Third Sunday of Lent - March 23, 2025In this episode: Marci explains the Beguine movement and offers a wonderful poem by Haedwig – a 13th-century poet and mystic.https://www.greynun.org/2020/02/the-beguines-of-medieval-europe-mystics-and-visionaries/We talk about “callings” and God’s need of a human partner for Divine work in the world. Laura mentions Jung’s exploration of God’s evolution in his book, Answer to Job.https://a.co/d/9V2k6yqhttps://footnotes2plato.com/2024/05/11/reading-jungs-answer-to-job/Teilhard De Chardin also talked about “God in evoluti...2025-03-2147 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 5 - Second Sunday in Lent - March 16 2025We talk about the power of imagination, we wonder about the history of Gnosticism. https://earlychristianhistory.net/gnostic.htmlLaura mentions the book- The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World https://tinyurl.com/y3yex6m4and we talk about "The Transfiguration" a Song by Sufjan Stevenshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDnmO4cTUGc Thank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gmail.comNew episodes every Friday!For more on Laura Lewis-Barr visit - Ps...2025-03-1442 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 4 - First Sunday of Lent- March 9, 2025Still recording in stereo. That will soon change! Laura revisits the idea of "left and right hands" from last week's gospel. Letting her artistic gifts be given from the left hand means that she may not know what happens to them next. Marci offers many mystical moments.Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4-10, Romans 10:8-13, Luke 4:1-13https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030925.cfmSoul, if you want to learn secrets, your heart must forget about shame and dignity. You are God's lover, yet you worry what people are saying.--Rum...2025-03-0740 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 3 - Official Launch! Ash Wednesday - March 5, 2025This is our official launch, so that we can start in a season (Lent). This was our first attempt at recording (some was put into our trailer episode). We are in stereo (but that will end). Laura enters a steep learning curve in the recording/editing process. Marci makes some confessions in this episode! She also creates the SIN slot machine analogy. Readings:Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030525.cfmThank you for listening! Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gm...2025-03-0344 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 2 - 8th Sunday in the “Kingdom of Heaven is Now" March 2, 20258th Sunday in the “Kingdom of Heaven is Now" (aka Ordinary Time)Keeping to our "beginners mind" mindset, Marci and Laura explore the Johari window (and "blindspot tees") http://tiny.cc/6ez9001http://tiny.cc/sdz9001Themes of the vessel being cooked, also found in alchemyhttp://tiny.cc/qgz9001and Marci's "good fruit test." And another mention of Ilia Delio.https://christogenesis.org/about/ilia-delio/Readings: Sirach 27:4-7, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, Luke 6:39-45Thank you for listening ! Our official launch is March...2025-02-2839 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearEp 1 - 7th Sunday in the “Kingdom of Heaven is Now" Feb. 23,20257th Sunday in the “Kingdom of Heaven is Now" (aka Ordinary Time)Marci and Laura explore the challenging passage “turn the other cheek," with great scholarship from https://www.trinitycoatesville.org/sermons/turning-the-other-cheek-2/We also discuss Julian of Norwich, the musical Les Misérables, and we mention the ideas of Ilia Deliohttps://christogenesis.org/about/ilia-delio/Readings - 1 Samuel , 1 Corinthians, Luke 6https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022325.cfmThank you for listening ! Our official launch is March 5.Questions? Comments? Please send to Laughing.Mystics@gmail...2025-02-2140 minThe Laughing Mystics: An unorthodox journey through the liturgical yearIntroducing The Laughing MysticsMarci Madary and Laura Lewis-Barr welcome you with an introduction to The Laughing Mystics podcast. We introduce ourselves, our style, and our format -- with our frequent laughter, affection, and curiosity.
Questions/Comments? Write us at - Laughing.Mystics@gmail.com
For more on Laura Lewis-Barr visit Psychescinema.com
For more on Marci Madary visit Insideoutspirituality.com
Our official launch will be on March 5 - Ash Wednesday
New episodes every Friday!2025-01-1014 min