A Special Bonus Episode
I’m so grateful to share this bonus episode featuring a special conversation I had last year with my dear friend Mark Jensen. It’s a rare and beautiful exchange that touches on healing, grief, and a mystical connection to the Earth—an invitation to listen and remember what truly matters.
Last year’s inaugural retreat to Ballymaloe House in County Cork, Ireland, was lauded as among the most rejuvenating experiences of most participants’ lives.
That’s why we’re delighted to return next Sept 20-26, 2026 for The Tender Harvest, a weeklong immersion amidst the golden hues and organic bounty of world-class Ballymaloe country manor and cooking school.
Each day will bring yoga, meditation, farm-to-table meals, and curated excursions—including a Blarney Castle visit, Ballycotton cliff walk, and natural spas along the breathtaking coastline of County Cork—plus ample time for rest, self-nurturance, and imagination.
🌾Save $200 on shared rooms when you register by June 1, 2025.
Spots are limited and will fill quickly. Payment plans available.
In today's episode, I’m joined by Mark Jensen, a seasoned practitioner in the healing arts with 40+ years of experience in vitalistic principled chiropractic, cranial work, myofascial release, plant medicines, Qi Gong and Dao Yin classes, somatic/movement teachings, and Earth-based practices that support a more embodied, connected and healthy life. He operates a private practice, teaches for nonprofits, and leads community classes and ceremonies.
Mark's profound understanding and ability to blend mystical visions with scientific study make this conversation a treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration. Mark shares insights from decades of practice in the healing arts, including his conceptualization of the "circle of visions" and how attentional intimacy and communion with life’s intelligence can lead to profound healing. We delve into his deep connection with nature, the power of grief, and transformative experiences in his own healing journey. He also touches on the significance of holding space for joy amidst ecological and societal challenges.
Episode Highlights
The Power of Grief: Mark emphasizes embracing grief as a path to deeper love and soul connection.
Ecological Despair and Healing: Insights on navigating ecological despair and finding healing through a greater understanding of the earth's intelligence.
Visions and Spiritual Experiences: Mark shares transformative visions and spiritual encounters that have shaped his practice.
Holding Dichotomy and Paradox: The importance of balancing the celebration of beauty with the acknowledgment of despair.
Connection with Nature: Mark discusses his deep bond with nature and how it has guided and healed him throughout his life.
The Role of Fascia in Healing: Insights into how fascia, the body's connective tissue, plays a crucial role in sensing and responding to the world.
Community and Shared Grief: Community and shared experiences in processing grief and preventing despair.
Mark Jensen
“My journey began in Northern Minnesota and has carried me across landscapes, traditions, and thresholds of healing. Though trained in college and graduate school, my true education came from life itself—from births and deaths I was honored to attend, from those who entrusted me with their bodies, and from teachers across disciplines like Osteopathy, Daoism, Chinese Medicine, Herbalism, Deep Ecology, and land-based ceremony. The land has been my greatest teacher—from the plains of Oklahoma to the mountains of New Mexico, and now, back home to the shores of Gichigami (Lake Superior).
I live in Duluth, Minnesota with my wife, artist Riha Rothberg, and our cat Gus. I continue to teach healthcare practitioners and maintain a private healing practice rooted in presence, ecology, and transformation.”
Resource Links
Learn more about Mark and how to engage in his offerings, courses, and events at marksjensendc.com
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