Elephant Journal: The Mindful Life With Waylon

For this week’s Mindful Monday video/podcast, Waylon talks about effective activism. “My parents’ Buddhist teacher, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, would often note that activism is vital and important. So much of the good that has been accomplished in our societies, in our world, has come about through folks coming from empathy, and—through bravery—changing the status quo in our societies. There’s a caveat, of course, which we see on social media all the time, which is we can’t create a kinder, better, more caring world through aggression, through self-righteousness, through prejudice, through seeing others as evil. While we can be clear about the faults of others or the faults of philosophies out there or prejudices out there, we have to first engage in maitri.” ~ Waylon Lewis  Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

In this episode of Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis, an award-winning video and podcast series hosted by Elephant Journal, Aaron Michael of Earth Love Gardens schools Elephant readers (and Waylon) on how you can love your yard (or windowsill) and our planet. He gives practical, fun tips for gently caring for our yards in an environmentally-responsible way, and reminds us of how we can participate in the healing of our planet, and ourselves, through small, simple choices. "Being disconnected with our earth is behind so many of society's issues. That if we can find that reconnection again with Earth, within ourselves, and with each other—that's what society is missing." ~ Aaron Michael *Please note that this is a partial conversation. Only Subscribers get the full video conversation. Learn more.

For this week’s Mindful Monday video/podcast, Waylon offers little mindful and eco tips for our planet and our health from inside his secondhand-renovated, eco-friendly shower and little bathroom. “It’s not that the little things are gonna fix everything, but billions of us doing the little things, or at least not doing the bad things…micro can become macro—that’s how Capitalism works: supply and demand. ” ~ Waylon Lewis Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

Shelby Kaminski educates Elephant readers about all things "dirt" and regenerative, from the perspective of her woman-owned entrepreneurial success, Edaphic Solutions. "Building up the immune system of your yard and garden makes it so you don't have to use weed killer because weeds don't like healthy soil. Weeds usually grow in places where there aren't a lot of plants. So if you're planting more plants, the weeds will be outcompeted and have nowhere to live and no food to eat. It's using the forces of nature to help nature." ~ Shelby Kaminski *Please note that this is a partial conversation. Only Subscribers get the full video conversation. Learn more.

This Mindful Monday, Waylon discusses “Children’s Day” in the Buddhist tradition and the Winter Solstice—bout what they mean in our lives and how we can integrate them into our present traditions. “With all the suffering, the aggression, the fear in the world right now—whether it’s in the Ukraine, Gaza, Israel…as well as a lot of the partisanship that we’re seeing in the US where we often can’t even discuss things peacefully or respectfully—I think it’s important to come back to peace. And peace isn’t some anodyne, saccharine notion. It’s not a facile thing. It’s something we have to work for and care for and nurture. And Winter Solstice is emblematic or symbolic of that. It’s the darkest time of the year.” ~ Waylon Lewis Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

Rachelle Robinett of Pharmakon Supernatural schools Waylon Lewis (and all of us) on some herbalism basics: how to determine good quality products, what to look for when buying herbs, common kitchen medicines, and how to get started re: herbalism. "I am hopeful that the future includes one in which Western medicine can be inclusive of herbalism, and vice versa that there's a better balance—because there are times where we need medication, we need surgery, we need the blunter instrument that Western medicine often is. And there's so much herbalism can do in preventative care that'll lessen the burden on the healthcare system." ~ Rachelle Robinett *Please note that this is a partial conversation. Only Subscribers get the full video conversation. Learn more.

This Mindful Monday, Waylon opens discussion about what the most “eco,” yet fun Christmas tree option may be. He talks a bit about his new holiday tradition this year. Share what you do in your home in the comments! “What is the most eco solution? And why this does matter?” ~ Waylon Lewis  Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

“The Smell of Money” is the documentary to watch this holiday season. It’ll change your life and the lives of countless others as you do so. Waylon Lewis spoke with writer and producer Jamie Berger. “The Smell of Money” is a feature-length documentary. It follows a community in North Carolina who are up against the world’s largest pork corporation, fighting for their rights for clean air, clean water, and just to be able to live free from the stench of animal manure. In particular, it follows a woman named Elsie, the granddaughter of an enslaved man. She lives on property in Eastern North Carolina that has been in her family for generations, since the time of slavery. She goes to school after she grows up there and then comes back to take care of her elderly mother. When she arrives back home, she realizes the farmer next door is spraying animal waste, manure, feces, and urine, onto her elderly mother’s home. This starts a journey where she becomes a renowned activist for environmental justice—the fight for e

Inspired to keep indie media alive? We need mindful community more than ever: you can write on Elephant, and/or subscribe: elephantjournal.com/subscribe, this Holiday season. "Every Monday, I offer a mindful reminder for our everyday life." ~ Waylon Lewis  We are an independent community-based journalistic outfit. We publish journalism. We also publish personal stories, if you'd like to contribute. You can do that. You can write an article and put it up immediately, for free. Listen to learn more. Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

Many years ago, Waylon came across a uniquely simple, yun-ful watch display in an outdoor mall in LA. One was black, one white, both with wooden cases. He fell in love not only with the simple elegance, but the values—these are just about the only watches entirely Made in the USA, these days. Waylon bought a Weiss watch a year later, an early “adult” purchase. Recently, Waylon and Cameron Weiss, founder of Weiss Watch Company, speak about the sustainability of mechanical watches, how they can keep us in the present moment, and considerate about how we use our time; how a watch is often an heirloom item, and what that means.⁠ “A watch, like any thing, can be ethically-crafted & sourced, an heirloom to pass on to a loved one. Few are. Weiss is.” ~ Waylon Lewis⁠ We discuss ethical, eco, made-in-the-USA craft, which in many ways is a dying thing. Subscribers get the full conversation.

Only get what you need, and love, that has meaning, is sourced responsibly without slave labor, …and that will last. All future generations depend on us giving a care. Subscribers get the full conversation.

Waylon speaks with Andy Karr, author of Into the Mirror, his new book on Buddhism and our everyday life. "There's a dominant narrative in society...that it's all about stuff. Either stuff to accumulate, knowledge as stuff—whatever you think is the cause of happiness. And what happens is that not all of these things are bad, but that the ignorance of what's happening in your mind when you crave these things is binding you, and deceiving you. You have this thought or this projection or this vision of the thing itself—and we spend all our time chasing after these reflections, or running away from reflections if they're fearful. And if we're caught up in this the reflections are never going to be satisfactory, on the simplest level." ~ Andy Karr Subscribers get the full conversation.

The virtues of antiques & craft & local community shopping as we head into the Holidays. Read the full article on Elephant Journal.  Read more about this from Waylon, here: F*ck Minimalism. F*ck Modern. Give me Joyously Cluttered, Antique, Upcycled, Repurposed. “If everyone shopped eco and local for the holidays, those gifts last. The love that you put in those gifts to your loved ones becomes a lasting reminder.”  ~ Waylon Lewis Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

Bravery isn’t something to just talk about. Mindful Monday Talks, with Waylon Lewis. “Every Monday, I offer a mindful reminder for our everyday life.” ~ Waylon Lewis  Healing? It’ll take being willing to be brave and vulnerable, both—not just cocoon/self-care or arrogant fake positivity. The Buddhist reminder is that healing isn’t just about hiding. Healing and hiding can be a helpful stage. We shouldn’t have shame around that. But ultimately healing is about opening up and being vulnerable and going out. It can be about both. So, today, I’m going to try to extricate myself from my comfortable little cocoon here at my cozy house and…actually go out. ~ Waylon Lewis Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

Waylon w/Ruth Leah Schwartz on Conscious Relationships. {Part 2} In Part One, Waylon and Ruth spoke about about (lesbian and other) relationships, communication, U-hauls and island living. Give it a listen before diving into Part Two. Here, in Part Two, Ruth is back and they talk sex, sexuality, communication and…can we actually grow up and change or are our brains stuck, solid? Neuroplasticity is a big, fancy word that Ruth explains to Waylon. "Deep emotional change is hard. We are creatures of habit, and our neural pathways are set up to make things simpler in this complex world. And so, of course, if there's well worn grooves, we're going to follow them over and over and over. And...if there weren't learning possible, none of us would be here. We have brains that are capable of incredible learning. We see examples of that every day." ~ Ruth Leah Schwartz Subscribers get the full conversation.

I lost…& *why* that’s Okay. People all over town, wherever I go, want to have the same conversation. How are you? What happened? Why? Subscribe to get our full conversations weekly.

Waylon w/Ruth Leah Schwartz on Conscious Relationships. {Part 1} Let’s talk about (lesbian and other) relationships, communication, U-hauls and island living with Waylon Lewis and Ruth Leah Schwartz. She’ll be back soon for part two and we’ll talk sex, and…can we actually grow up and change or are our brains stuck, solid? "I'm biased, but I believe lesbians can have the best relationships on the planet because we can go so deep. We can bond so deeply, have so much emotional intimacy. And I think lesbian relationships require more skill for those exact reasons." ~ Ruth Leah Schwartz Subscribers get the full conversation.

Rough workload? Overwhelm? Busyness, conflict? Try a little tenderness.   "You're going to hear a lot of trite advice. And that's because cliches are often have some truth to them.    Taking a deep breath is vital.   Being kind to yourself, but also being honest with yourself is vital.    Overall, I just wanted to give what I think is one little secret little ingredient: try a little tenderness." ~ Waylon Lewis   Remember, only subscribers get the full conversation.

Waylon Lewis is (again) with Elephant pal Gene Baur as they talk about veganism, loveable farm animals, and the inspiring, saving-the-world work Farm Sanctuary is doing. A fun, easy conversation about tough, passionate matters between two mindful, passionate gents.⁠  Subscribers get the full conversation.

Waylon H. Lewis reads Chapter 16 from "Things I would like to do with You" in honor of the newly released fifth edition of his best-selling first book. It's red, again, and even more eco! "I would like to know if you notice the breeze that comes through the window, or if you would like to sleep with the curtains open and blinds up or if you like to wear my pajamas (for wearing flannel pajamas two sizes too big is the right size), or if you teach or garden or need to work on the other end of our globe for a year. I would like you to know that when I work too long, I work for the world, and the world is the inheritance of our children— and our children, whether one or two or three or four or five or more of them, whether popular or bookish, or both…are your first love." ~ Waylon H. Lewis, "Things I would like to do with You" Shop the book in our Elephant Eco Shop.