Ep. 593 – A Journey Through Psyche & Spirit with Melinda Edwards, MD

Dr. Melinda Edwards sits down with Raghu for a journey through psyche and spirit, revealing the doorways that led her out of trauma, into healing, and ultimately home to her heart. 

This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Dr. Melinda Edwards discuss:

• How Dr. Melinda Edwards grew up as a child of medical missionaries in Guatemala 
• The build-up of trauma in Dr. Edwards’ life and how it manifested as an eating disorder
• How meeting Ram Dass transformed Melinda’s life and guided her to Neem Karoli Baba
• Ram Dass’ example of holding unconditional love and compassionate presence for others
• Using our issues and contractions as an individualized path forward for spiritual growth 
• Considering the value of psychedelics for accelerating a spiritual journey 
• The powerful impact of full commitment and surrender during meditation retreats
• Addressing common misconceptions about autism and how autistic individuals process emotions
• Dr. Melinda’s experience teaching her daughter “how to be human” and to navigate this chaotic world
• Living Darshan, Dr. Edwards’ non-profit, aimed at increasing the understanding of neurodiversity 
• The challenge and importance of keeping our hearts open, even in moments of resistance
• Finding shared humanity in the people and traits we fear, reject, or dislike in others
• Facing our inner rage, grief, and pain in response to the global political and emotional climate

This episode is sponsored by Reunion & Dharma Seed:

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

Join Krishna Das, the most well-known voice of Bhakti chanting (Kirtan) in the West, and David Nichtern - a senior Buddhist teacher, founder of Dharma Moon, guitarist in Krishna Das’ band, and producer of several of his albums - for a warm and engaging conversation about these two paths, their shared roots, and how they intersect in contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - THE HEART & MIND OF PRACTICE: BUDDHISM & BHAKTI

About Dr. Melinda Edwards:

Melinda Edwards, MD is a mother, writer and physician in Charleston, SC. Her medical training and her life’s journey home to her own heart inform her work as a psychiatrist. Supporting others in their discovery of the love that we all are is one of her greatest joys. She is the founder of the 501c3 nonprofit organization Living Darshan and is the author of Psyche & Spirit: How a Psychiatrist Found Divinity Through Her Lifelong Quest for Truth and Her Daughter’s Autism. Keep up with Dr. Edwards on her website or on her .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}