Mindful Mondays: October Harvest
An investor's bridge to magic, the ethnobotany of coffee, and a poem about rebirth
Good morning, and welcome to Mindful Mondays. If you’re reading this in the northern hemisphere, I hope you’re enjoying the fall weather. It’s still been mostly warm and sunny here in San Diego, but we’re enjoying putting up Halloween decorations and lingering over morning coffee, anyway.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’m looking forward to the 1-year anniversary of Mindful Mondays (October 31st!) and thinking about the format of this newsletter and how I can provide the most value to you, as a reader. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know what kind of content you’ve gotten the most out of during this first year of Mindful Mondays.
This week I have a couple of links, a quote, and a poem to share. Next week should bring another new essay from yours truly. Enjoy!
Article I’m Reading
The Bridge Back to Magic: Tom Morgan, director of Sapient Capital, has been on an intense spiritual quest for the last 6 years. Now, he’s bringing some of the metaphysical insights he’s gathered from his hero’s journey back to the world of investing.
But this article isn’t about trading or money management. It’s about the intellectual bridge Tom has constructed for himself leading into a new (old) paradigm, through six main pillars: mythology, psychology, neurology, Taoism, complexity theory, and quantum physics.
Some of the influences Tom shares have also been key sources for me, including Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and Taoism. This is a great summary of an emerging paradigm, and Tom shares some tasty links for you to delve into, as well.
Podcast I’m Listening To
Dr. Mark Plotkin on Coffee, The World’s Favorite Stimulant—Chemistry, History, and More: Dr. Mark Plotkin is one of the world’s leading ethnobotanists, and has studied the healing plants and shamans of the Amazon rain forest for over four decades.
In this episode—a crossover of the Tim Ferriss Show and his own podcast, Plants of the Gods—Dr. Plotkin tells the fascinating story of the coffee plant, from its origins in Ethiopia to its role in fueling intellectual and technological progress from medieval Arabia to Silicon Valley. Highly recommended to all coffee connoisseurs.
Quote of the Week
“No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half-asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.” —Khalil Gibran
Poet’s Corner
One of our greatest poets, Louise Glück, passed away this week. (She won the Nobel Prize for Literature back in 2020). Here’s one of her most well-known poems, on the theme of death and rebirth:
As we enter the dark half of the year, may you embrace the journey and the transformation that it brings.
That’s all for this week. As always, I appreciate your feedback on Mindful Mondays. What was your favorite thing I shared this week? What would you want to read more of? Let me know by replying to this email or leaving a comment on Substack.
Thanks for reading,
Chris Cordry, LMFT
PS: Would you like personal guidance to clarify your goals, overcome mental or emotional blocks, and start moving toward a life that’s truly aligned with your values? Reply to this email to set up a free 30-minute call about 1:1 coaching with me.
PPS: Not subscribed to Mindful Mondays, yet? Enter your email address below to get my latest writing delivered straight to your inbox every week:
And if you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend. Personal recommendations are one of the best ways for me to grow my audience and share the benefits of mindful living with the world. Thanks!
I listened to the coffee podcast this morning and found it interesting. Made me want another cup of coffee 😀