#092 - Mark Vernon - Living Life More Deeply: Why William Blake Matters Now More Than Ever

Mark Vernon is a psychotherapist, writer, a former Anglican priest, the host of the YouTube channel Plato's Podcasts and the author of the Substack A Golden String with Mark Vernon. Mark holds a PhD in Ancient Greek philosophy as well as degrees in theology and physics. He is the author of A Secret History of Christianity, Jesus: The Last Inkling and the Evolution of Consciousness, Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey, Spiritual Intelligence in Seven Steps, and most recently Awake: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination.In this episode, Mark and I think out loud about the enduring relevance of William Blake’s vision in the modern world, why Blake’s critique of the industrial mindset was so prescient, why the industrial mindset remains the root of much discontent today, how our deep need for a more meaningful engagement with life often goes unfulfilled, why there can be no progress without contraries, how forgiveness and transformation can open the door to a more enchanted existence, why Blake’s distinctive interpretation of Christianity offers individuals a way to reconnect with the divine, and why Dante still has the power to save lives, and much, much more.This is a rich and demanding episode, not business-speak reduced to bullet points, but a conversation that invites us to widen our perceptions and glimpse life more fully, at the depths of our humanity and our place in the universe. For those familiar with the work of Dr Iain McGilchrist, there will be much here that resonates.You can find Mark’s work here:Mark’s WebsiteAbout Thinking Class:Thinking Class is a long-form interview podcast exploring the cultural, historical, and moral forces shaping England, Britain, and the wider Western world.Hosted by John Gillam, the show features serious conversations with historians, academics, and independent thinkers.Thinking Class is concerned with discovering long-term patterns over headlines and hot-takes. Expect historically-grounded analysis on matters of national character, institutions, demography, belief, and political legitimacy.New episodes every week.▶️ Subscribe on YouTube🎧 Follow on Spotify📰 Read on Substack🐦 Follow on X