#asthespiritmoves

Have you ever felt like your spiritual life and your "real" life were two separate planets? On one planet, you are sitting on a cushion, trying to find peace, light, and silence. On the other planet, you are navigating deadlines, family dynamics, and the endless noise of the 21st century. Most of us struggle to build a bridge between these two worlds. We treat spirituality as an escape from reality rather than a way to engage with it more deeply.

This is the central question of our time: How do we stay awake when everything around us is designed to keep us asleep? At Planet Dharma, we don't believe you need to move to a cave to find enlightenment. In fact, we believe the most profound transformation happens right in the middle of the mess. This year, our flagship event, As the Spirit Moves, is designed to help you find that fluid, unshakeable center. It’s about moving with life, rather than resisting it.

The Forgotten Wisdom of the West

When we think of "awakening," our minds often drift East—to the Himalayas, the Ganges, or the Zen gardens of Japan. While those traditions are invaluable, many seekers in the West feel a strange disconnect, as if they are trying to wear a suit that doesn't quite fit their cultural DNA. What many don't realize is that we have our own profound lineage of transformation right here: the Western Mysteries.

The "Mysteries" aren't about secrets meant to exclude people; the word comes from the root myein, meaning "to close the eyes or mouth"—to go within. These traditions, which include everything from Hermeticism and the Qabalah to the esoteric side of Western philosophy, focus on the "Interactive" side of spirit. If Eastern paths are often about the "Void," the Western path is often about "Form"—how we use symbols, archetypes, and the arts to manifest the divine in our daily lives. At Planet Dharma, we weave these Western insights with Eastern depth to create a truly global, integral approach to awakening.

Why Modern Seekers Need Structure

The "spiritual but not religious" movement has given us freedom, but it has also left many of us wandering in a sea of "snack-sized" wisdom. We take a yoga class here, read a quote on Instagram there, and maybe try a breathing exercise when we’re stressed. But without a cohesive map, we rarely make real progress. This is why structured spiritual awakening courses are becoming the preferred choice for serious explorers.

A course provides more than just information; it provides a "container." Just as a seed needs a specific environment of soil, water, and light to sprout, your soul needs a consistent rhythm of study, practice, and community. At Planet Dharma, our courses are built on "Four Paths": Learning, Action (Karma Yoga), Meditation, and Integration. We don't just want you to know about dharma; we want you to be the dharma.

The Brand of Planet Dharma: A Living Laboratory

Planet Dharma is more than just a website or a series of events; it is a brand built on the legacy of Doug Duncan Qapel and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. Our "headquarters" is the Clear Sky Meditation Centre in the heart of the Rockies, which serves as a living laboratory for these teachings.

We are known for "Radical Self-Honesty." We don't sugarcoat the path. Awakening is hard work. It involves looking at your shadow, challenging your ego, and being willing to be wrong. But the reward is a life of radical aliveness. When you join a Planet Dharma event, you aren't just a customer; you are part of a sangha—a community of seekers who are dedicated to waking up, not just for themselves, but for the benefit of all beings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes "As the Spirit Moves" different from a standard meditation retreat?

While traditional retreats often focus on stillness, this event focuses on "meditation in action." It’s about learning how to maintain a state of flow and awareness while moving through different activities, interactions, and environments.

Are the Western Mysteries compatible with Buddhism?

Absolutely. At Planet Dharma, we view them as two sides of the same coin. Buddhism provides the "Science of Mind," while the Western Mysteries provide the "Science of Soul and Symbol." Together, they offer a complete map of the human experience.

Can I take spiritual awakening courses while working a full-time job?

Yes! Our courses are specifically designed for "householders"—people with jobs, families, and busy lives. We provide practical tools that you can apply at your desk, in your car, or at the dinner table.

Is Planet Dharma a religious organization?

We are a trans-sectarian training path. While our roots are in the Namgyal Rinpoche lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, we draw on psychology, science, and the arts to make the teachings accessible to everyone, regardless of their religious background.

Final Thought

Have you ever felt that sitting in silence isn't enough to reach the deeper, more fluid parts of your soul? To truly grow, we must learn to be present not just in stillness, but also As the Spirit Moves. This unique spiritual gathering is an invitation to stop observing your life from the sidelines and step fully into the vibrant, moving current of the present moment. It is about becoming a "living dharma"—someone whose very movement in the world is an expression of grace and awareness.

This path draws upon the rich, symbolic heritage of the Western Mysteries, where the body is seen as a sacred temple and movement is a form of prayer. Unlike traditional spiritual awakening courses that can sometimes feel dry or detached, this experience emphasizes embodiment. We explore how the spirit moves through our emotions, our breath, and our physical forms, turning every gesture into an opportunity for liberation. This process results in a deep emotional cleansing and a sense of wholeness that words alone cannot provide.

When we allow the spirit to move us, we bypass the ego’s habitual defenses. We encounter our joys, our grief, and our hidden strengths in a way that is raw and authentic. This work provides the clarity to see that our spiritual path is not something we do, but something we are. By aligning your physical movement with your spiritual intent, you develop a resilient, joyful presence that carries over into every aspect of your daily life.

Are you ready to say yes to your soul’s evolution in 2026? Join our program this year to experience this powerful, embodied transmission. Click the link above to explore the full curriculum, meet our teachers, and reserve your place in this transformative circle.

Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions? You wake up, check your phone, rush to work, handle a thousand small fires, and then collapse on the couch at the end of the day, only to do it all over again tomorrow. It’s a common modern malaise. We are productive, we are busy, and we are connected—yet, so many of us feel profoundly stagnant. It’s as if the "juice" of life has been squeezed out by the pressure of being a "functional adult."

At Planet Dharma, we call this the "spiritual plateau." It’s that place where your old habits don't work anymore, but you haven't quite found the courage to leap into something new. We believe that spiritual awakening isn’t a destination you arrive at by sitting perfectly still for thirty years (though that helps some!). It’s a dynamic, living process. It’s about learning to dance with the chaos of the city while maintaining a quiet, centered heart. This is the essence of what we explore in our upcoming event, As the Spirit Moves.

In this article, we’re going to dive deep into why spontaneity is a spiritual requirement, how to find guidance that actually resonates with your modern life, and why the "feminine" voice in spirituality is more important now than ever before.

The Spontaneity of Awakening: Breaking the Rigid Mind

Most people think of spirituality as something rigid—lots of rules, specific postures, and strict diets. But if you look at the lives of the great mystics, they were often the most spontaneous and "unruly" people of their time. They didn't just follow a path; they were the path.

When we talk about "spirit," we aren't necessarily talking about something "out there" in the clouds. We are talking about that vital energy, that spark of life that makes you you. When that spirit is blocked by trauma, social conditioning, or sheer exhaustion, we feel heavy. Awakening is the process of unblocking that flow.

Why Movement is Your Best Teacher

If you sit on a meditation cushion and feel like you're fighting your own mind, you might be trying too hard to be "good." Sometimes, the quickest way to silence a loud mind is to move the body. Spontaneous movement allows the subconscious to express what words cannot.

This is a core part of the Planet Dharma philosophy. We don't want you to just think about enlightenment; we want you to feel it in your bones. By engaging in practices that allow the spirit to move freely, we bypass the "censor" of the logical mind. This is where the real breakthroughs happen. You realize that you don't need to "find" peace—you need to stop getting in its way.

Finding Real Guidance: The Role of the Teacher

In the age of the internet, everyone has an opinion on how you should live your life. You can find "guru" advice on TikTok in ten seconds. But there is a massive difference between information and transformation. Information is just words; transformation requires a relationship.

This is why the presence of experienced Dharma teachers is so vital. A true teacher isn't there to give you the answers; they are there to ask you the questions that you’ve been avoiding. They act as a mirror, reflecting back to you both your incredible potential and the "bullsh*t" stories your ego tells to keep you small.

The Lineage of the Urban Bodhisattva

At Planet Dharma, our founders, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat, bring a unique blend of traditional rigor and modern savvy. Having spent years in intensive monastic training, they also understand what it’s like to run a business, navigate relationships, and live in the "real world."

They teach the "Urban Bodhisattva" path. A Bodhisattva is someone who is dedicated to waking up not just for themselves, but for the benefit of all beings. Doing this in a city—amidst the noise, the politics, and the traffic—is the ultimate spiritual challenge. It requires a teacher who won't let you hide in "spiritual fluff" but will instead push you to integrate your practice into every single breath.

The Rising Feminine: Reclaiming Wisdom

For thousands of years, the spiritual landscape was dominated by male voices and male structures. While that wisdom is invaluable, it often lacks the "yin" or the receptive, nurturing, and fiercely grounded energy of the feminine. To be a complete human being, we need to balance both.

This is why the presence of Women spiritual teachers is so revolutionary. The feminine path to awakening often looks different. It’s less about "ascending" away from the world and more about "descending" into the heart of it. It’s about the holiness of the body, the sacredness of relationships, and the wisdom of the earth.

The Power of the Female Voice in Dharma

A female teacher brings an insight into the specific pressures women face—the "double burden" of career and family, the societal expectations of being "nice," and the deep-seated "good girl" conditioning that can act as a major barrier to true power.

But this isn't just for women. Men, too, desperately need to reconnect with their own internal feminine wisdom. When a man learns to listen, to receive, and to move "as the spirit moves" rather than just "as the ego dictates," he becomes a much more effective and compassionate leader. The inclusion of the feminine makes the Dharma whole.

Integrating Your Practice: The Five D's

So, how do you actually live this? How do you take these high-level concepts and make them work on a Tuesday morning when you're late for a meeting? At Planet Dharma, we simplify it into what we call the "Five D's":

Directive: You need a clear goal. What are you actually trying to achieve with your practice?

Discipline: You have to show up, even when you don't feel like it. Especially when you don't feel like it.

Devotion: You have to love the truth more than you love your own comfort.

Discernment: You need to be able to tell the difference between your "soul's voice" and your "ego's noise."

Dana: Generosity. You have to keep the energy moving by giving back.

The "Urban" Part of the Path

Being an "Urban Bodhisattva" means you don't use your spirituality as an excuse to check out. You don't ignore the news or the suffering of your neighbors because you're "too zen." Instead, you use the stress of the city as your training ground.

The Subway: A place to practice patience.

The Office: A place to practice right speech and selfless service.

The Supermarket: A place to practice mindfulness of abundance and choice.

By shifting your perspective, your entire life becomes a retreat. You no longer need to "go" somewhere to find the sacred; you realize that the sacred is sitting right there in your messy kitchen or your crowded office.

Overcoming the "Spiritual Ego"

One of the biggest dangers on the path is what we call the "Spiritual Ego." This happens when your ego takes all your spiritual knowledge and uses it to feel superior to others. You start judging people who don't meditate, or you get "peaceful" in a way that is actually quite aggressive and cold.

This is where the spontaneity of "moving as the spirit moves" helps. It’s hard to have a big ego when you are being playful, spontaneous, and perhaps a little bit silly. The ego hates being laughed at. It loves being serious and "important." By embracing the playful side of the spirit, we keep our practice humble and human.

The Laboratory of the Soul

Think of your life as a laboratory. You are the scientist, and your mind is the experiment. You try things, you fail, you learn, and you try again. This iterative process is what leads to real, stable growth. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being present.

FAQ: Insight for the Modern Seeker

Q: Is "As the Spirit Moves" a dance event?

A: It involves movement, yes, but it’s not "dancing" in the traditional sense. It’s about using the body as a vehicle for spiritual insight and emotional release. It’s "meditation in motion."

Q: Why do I need a Dharma teacher if I have books and apps?

A: Books can’t call you out on your blind spots. An app can't hold your hand when you're going through a dark night of the soul. A teacher provides the human connection and accountability that technology cannot.

Q: Can men benefit from female spiritual teachers?

A: Absolutely. In fact, it’s essential. To be a balanced human being, everyone needs to integrate both masculine and feminine perspectives on wisdom.

Q: I’m really busy. How can I possibly find time for this?

A: Our path is designed specifically for busy people. We teach you how to turn your daily chores into your practice so that spirituality isn't just "one more thing" on your to-do list.

Final Thought

The journey to awakening is the most rewarding adventure you will ever take. It is a path that leads away from the gray, repetitive cycles of the conditioned mind and into the vibrant, unpredictable colors of a life lived in truth. Whether you are seeking the guidance of seasoned Dharma teachers, looking to balance your heart with the wisdom of Women spiritual teachers, or ready to see where you land As the Spirit Moves, the most important step is simply to begin.

Have you ever felt that traditional seated meditation isn't reaching the deeper, more fluid parts of your being? To truly grow, we must learn to be present not just in stillness, but also As the Spirit Moves. This unique spiritual gathering focuses on the "immanent" side of awakening—the realization of the divine within the dance of daily life. It is an invitation to stop observing your life from the sidelines and to step fully into the vibrant, moving current of the present moment.

This program is specifically curated by pioneering Women spiritual teachers who understand that awakening is a holistic process involving the heart, gut, and body. In many traditional settings, the feminine perspective on movement and intuition is overlooked. Here, we celebrate it as a primary gateway to liberation. Our Dharma teachers provide the structural framework of ancient wisdom, while the practice itself encourages a spontaneous, authentic expression of your soul’s journey.

When we allow the spirit to move us, we bypass the ego’s defenses. We encounter our joys, our grief, and our hidden strengths in a way that words cannot express. This process results in a deep emotional cleansing and a crystalline clarity that stays with you long after the event ends. It is about becoming a "living dharma"—someone whose very movement in the world is an expression of grace and awareness.

If you are ready to break free from habitual patterns and experience a more embodied, joyful spirituality, this is the container for you. You will be supported by a community of seekers who are all committed to walking the path of authenticity.

Are you ready to say yes to your soul’s evolution? Join our program this year to experience this powerful transmission.