#176: The War on Nature with Dr. Nathan Riley

Facing Mortality

Mark Groves and Dr. Nathan Riley explore the societal fear of death and the importance of confronting mortality. Mark shares a personal story about his grandmother's passing, highlighting the discomfort many feel when facing death 1. Nathan emphasizes that accepting mortality is essential for living a full life, as it allows us to experience the richness of life without fear 2. He states, "If you're afraid of dying, don't ever get on a snowboard...the richness in life goes out if you can't confront your own mortality" 2.

   

Sacred Practices

The conversation shifts to sacred death practices, where Dr. Nathan Riley discusses the importance of creating a 'good death.' He compares the process of dying to birthing, emphasizing that both require presence and compassion 3. Nathan suggests that a good death involves quality food, compassionate touch, and healing sounds, similar to the care given at birth 3. He reflects, "The hard work of dying is no different than the hard work of birthing for the baby" 3.

   

Birth-Death Link

Dr. Nathan Riley delves into the philosophical parallels between birth and death, suggesting that both are transformative processes. He references Stan Grof's work on the existential pain of dying and the use of psychedelics to ease this transition 4. Nathan describes the birth-death connection as a journey from one state of being to another, akin to a baby moving from the womb to the world 4. He notes, "Are we dying when we're born, or are we being born or being reborn?" 4.