EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 12 MIN
Shorts | The World Before Social Mind (When Magic Still Worked)
from Living the Tao-A Spiritual Podcast · host Mikel Steenrod
What was the world like before social mind became the dominant force shaping human experience? In this Living the Tao Short (2-24), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores a question that sits at the intersection of Taoist doctrine, history, and esoteric practice. According to the tradition, there was a time when the influence of social mind was far weaker, allowing human beings to access levels of capability, awareness, and spiritual development that seem nearly impossible today. Along the way, Master Steenrod discusses the relationship between social mind and the disappearance of magic, the loss of what he calls "cheap pathways" to higher development, and why extraordinary accomplishments may require vastly greater amounts of energy in the modern era. He also challenges a common assumption about enlightenment, explaining why early Daoist practice may have begun where most modern seekers hope to arrive. A thought-provoking exploration of human potential, reality, and the forces that shape both. Video version here: https://youtu.be/6wlEvTgGcUU 🌐 Explore more Taoist teachings: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🎧 Listen to more Living the Tao Shorts & full episodes: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com Premium Episodes and Full Catalog (4x the content): https://living-the-tao.supercast.com Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com
What this episode covers
What was the world like before social mind? In this Living the Tao Short, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod examines the idea that human beings once lived with far less influence from social mind, making higher states of development more accessible. Discover why Daoist tradition links the rise of social mind to the disappearance of magic, the loss of spiritual pathways, and a very different understanding of enlightenment.
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Shorts | The World Before Social Mind (When Magic Still Worked)
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