History, Ceremony and Creative Wisdom

Lewis Mehl-Madrona is a doctor, healer, and author of the Coyote Medicine, part of the Coyote trilogy, which looks at healing through the lens of Lakota, Cherokee and Cree traditions as well as how these practices collide with traditional medicine. He earned his medical degree from Stanford University, and has taught at several medical schools, including Maine Dartmouth, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Pittsburgh, along with his alma mater, and has authored over one-hundred academic papers. In addition to being certified in psychiatry, geriatrics, and family medicine, Lewis’s work focuses on the role of narrative and imagery in healing.

Lewis joins me today to discuss the mystery of memory and how what we do and don’t remember can set the groundwork for writing new stories and changing our life trajectory. He shares his insights on energy, ritual, and the power of prayer, and how a single metaphorical snowflake can trigger an avalanche. Lewis also shares his insight on the healthcare system’s approach to healing and the impact of ceremony in creating significant, lasting change in people’s lives.

“It’s really hard to get somewhere if you can’t imagine being there.” – Lewis Mehl-Madrona