In early September we filmed two shows on the same day: ONE The Movie, featuring a lively discussion between Deepak Chopra and Riane Eisler, and Sound of the Soul, featuring Jewish, Muslim, and Christian guests discussing spiritual music as a vehicle for uniting people of different faiths.

The ONE The Movie discussion proved to be unlike any other show taped thus far, as the guests approached the concept of Oneness from very different angles. Deepak described the importance of consciousness, as it connects everything in the universe, and how a scientific understanding of this influences and inspires personal transfomation. Riane came from a more sociological perspective, stating that it's not the transcendent, which will forever be a mystery, but the imminent, and the change we can affect here and now, that fuels her personal spirituality. She seemed to ask, how can we even talk about Oneness, and being united, if we are not first equal?

It was a meeting that seemed, to me, challenging and exciting for both the guests and for our production team, and we look forward to presenting Deepak and Riane in a setting and conversation unlike any they've appeared in before. 

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The Sound of the Soul program centers around a documentary of the same title, which explores Morocco's annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music. The festival brings together incredible musicians of many different faiths, as they celebrate a passion for music as a way of communicating with and connecting to the Divine.

The guests for this show include Sarah Talcott, the Youth Programs Director at United Religions Initiative, Marla Kolman Antebi, a community organizer and activist who works with Jewish and interfaith youth groups, and Kabir Helminski, a musician and Sufi sheikh who travels and teaches widely.

Also, Sound of the Soul was directed and produced by Stephen Olsson, the Producer of Global Spirit. Learn more about the film here: www.soundofsoul.org. And for more info about ONE The Movie, visit: www.onetheproject.com

Next Tuesday, best-selling authors Deepak Chopra and Riane Eisler will travel to our San Francisco studio for the taping of a new Global Spirit program.   This episode will feature a discussion of ONE The Movie, and will include around 40 minutes of the original film.

When considering guests for a discussion of "Oneness," we were working from a list of about ten people who are well versed in “Unity Consciousness” and we would likely enjoy on the program. But when thinking of how to give the discussion a unique depth, Stephen (the Director/Producer of Global Spirit) realized, "Why don't we bring in two people from the film?" This idea immediately clicked, because the nature of ONE The Movie is to jump quickly from fascinating interview to interview. This is a powerful and entertaining way for the film to raise a variety of issues and allow the audience to hear a variety of perspectives, but Stephen's idea allows for the perfect complement: offering the same guests we heard only briefly to now delve deeper into thoughtful conversation, not only with host Phil Cousineau, but finally, with each other.

This is only the first in the next round of new Global Spirit programming!

I really keep coming back to this idea of embodiment. It seems to me that for hundreds of years the spiritual quest has been done in a cave, in the cloisters...in the forest away from humanity and the influences of secular life. Deep practitioners sat on a cushion. They sat on a cushion and went somewhere...to a place of Oneness, to an emptiness, to the simple watching of a chattering mind, but it was not really done IN life. This might just be my impression, but it seems to me that one was supposed to transcend this world in order to be with God. One had to deny the body and the mundane in order to be with God.

Maybe that is what we are missing at this time on planet earth. Maybe we are supposed to bring our connection to God into life and somehow live this connection. Maybe that is the richness and juice of life. My sense is that it is...and as I TRY (big sigh) to live this remembrance it seems impossible because of my worries, desires and complete fallibility. But of course this is the practice...when I remember I just bring myself back to trying to love what I am doing...trying to be present in my heart (again, another sigh), especially in traffic (I love to go fast). I am really curious if you think this is important? And how you live this remembrance in your life...what does it look like? How do you live it? Is it possible? Please tell me!!

In case you missed the premiere last Sunday, Breaking Bows and Arrows is airing again tonight at 11PM Eastern/8PM Pacific. This winner of the United Nations Media Peace award follows the reconciliation ceremony of bitter rivals in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea as they finally make peace. Check out the promo for this program here.

Also, be sure to catch the premiere of Music, Sound and the Sacred featuring Rev. Alan Jones and Grammy Award-winning-singer Joanne Shenandoah this Sunday at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific.

I would like to introduce myself. I am Megan McFeely, the outreach director for Link TV’s Global Spirit.  I am also a fellow traveler on the path of personal exploration. I feel it is my individual responsibility to the whole of life to become who I really am…free of anxieties, fears and beliefs that are outdated – those things that keep me stuck  -- so that I can be an living example of what it means to be free (I am not there by any means just my lofty goal!)   My posts to this blog will be about my life experiences that relate directly to  the topic of discussion for each show and I would like to encourage you to engage with me by sharing your insights and experiences.

I am thinking about reconciliation and it clear to me that it is inextricably linked to forgiveness. One cannot reconcile with out forgiving. I have had several experiences of this in my life from the simple apology that comes after an argument to a long separation from a family member or friend that takes a little more effort.  What I know from this experience is that I have to take responsibility for the hurt I may have caused others. I must recognize what I have done – see where I may have been out of integrity or where I may have been wrong and own it.  AND I must come from my heart -- it has to be authentic or it has no meaning and will have no impact. To do this it seems that I must feel the pain of having wronged someone and acknowledge their pain …even feel it, or no true reconciliation can occur.  And from this place  forgiveness seems to just happen. The heart opens and you feel love for the other person.  This is my experience but I would love to hear yours. Thanks for taking this journey with me.

Link TV's new spirituality series, Global Spirit, premiered on April 12 and is now available online!

Global Spirit will offer insights into some of mankind’s deepest existential questions, tracing our collective human journey in the timeless quest for truth, wisdom and understanding. Each Global Spirit program will highlight the trans-cultural, transcendent dimensions of human inquiry, from the ancient or indigenous wisdom traditions to the latest advances in scientific knowledge. Global Spirit will do for the first time on national television what the Mars Rover did for space: beam back a celestial wonder, a glimmer of what is possible in the realm of human consciousness, spirit and the mind.
 
Most new episodes will also premiere online weekly.

Starting in April 2009, Global Spirit is airing with weekly episodes on topics such as The Spiritual Quest, The Journey Towards Oneness, Art and the Creative Spirit, Earth Wisdom and more. Each program features in-depth discussions with knowledgeable guests from around the world, together with compelling film segments or live performances.