Ep. 440 Nights of Grief and Mystery with Stephen Jenkinson

End-of-Life University

Enjoy this deep and soulful conversation with “The Griefwalker” Stephen Jenkinson.

My guest Stephen Jenkinson is the author of the award-winning book Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul and the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School. He discusses the Nights of Grief and Mystery project, which he created with singer/songwriter Gregory Hoskins, and how they have been touring the world with this profound musical and storytelling show. Stephen shares his thoughts on the crises of our contemporary society and how to proceed in the midst of our deep sorrow. Learn more about Stephen’s work at his website:

orphanwisdom.com

Get Stephen’s book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

• How Stephen views his “audience” as allies
• Tips for being fully present during performances on tour
• A reading of the Invocation from the show
• “Rage is what you do when you don’t know how to have a broken heart”
• Why happiness is a by-product of living life a certain way, not a goal of life
• Why age + experience does not add up to wisdom
• How the second half of life differs from the first (and what to do about it)
• “Crisis” literally means the place where the roads cross and a choice must be made
• Why Stephen says hope doesn’t belong in a time such as ours

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Get my two new books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death
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• Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
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