I‘m really happy to have recently sat down with with Roger Wolsey — a minister, spiritual director, author and speakers whose whose journey mirrors mine in many profound ways. As children of the church, we’ve each treasured the gifts Christ brings to our lives and spiritual lineage. At the same time, when faced with questions or encounters with neighbors and loved ones, we’ve both ventured beyond conventional religious boundaries, exploring the rich tapestry of global spirituality, American pragmatism, counterculture, and the human potential movement. We’ve each found unique ways to synthesize these experiences, creating something deeply resonant and transformative for ourselves and many others.

In Roger’s book Discovering Fire, he doesn’t advocate for thoughtless religious syncretism, but he does recognize that our lived experiences often transcend the neat boxes of religious or spiritual categories. He draws inspiration from Methodist pioneer John Wesley and his holistic pastoral care, which led Wesley into diverse areas of advocacy—from economic aid to herbalism to early forms of electroshock therapy.

Our shared background allows us to delve deeply into conversations, often finding a rhythm that is both spontaneous and enlightening. In our interview, we cover ground like:

Our discussion touches on practices including:

Roger’s chapter on plant medicine is one of the best introductions to the topic I‘ve encountered. He highlights the surprising continuities between Scripture, Christian tradition (thank you Hildegard of Bingen!), and indigenous wisdom. He presents a balanced view, considering both the promises and the perils of working with our plant siblings. He also addresses the complexities of cultural adaptation, potential pitfalls of cultural appropriation, and the consumerism of ‘Big Shamanism.’ I highly recommend you pick up Discovering Fire for this chapter alone.

Thank you for joining us. I invite you to dive into this rich conversation with open heart and mind:

To connect with Roger further, including for spiritual direction and coaching, see this helpful section on his website!