What if the feeling that you’re separate… isn’t real?
In this episode of Living the Tao, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod and Morgan explore one of the most powerful illusions shaping modern life—the belief that we are disconnected from nature, from reality, and from the Dao itself.
At the center of this discussion is the concept of the social mind—a framework that creates identity, belonging, and meaning, but also introduces a false sense of separation. As it grows stronger, our natural connection to reality becomes harder to perceive.
This episode explores:
- Why we feel separate from the world around us
- How the social mind creates and reinforces that illusion
- The connection between belonging, love, and identity
- Why systems of power often depend on separation
- A striking historical example showing how belief can shift under pressure
- Why Taoism has long been seen as a disruptive or “dangerous” philosophy
At its core, this conversation points to a simple truth:
You already belong. You always have.
You don’t need to earn connection to the Dao—you only need to stop believing that you’re separate from it.
Video episode is available on youtube here: https://youtu.be/iDRZ30EQ65M
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Access the video form of the episode here: https://youtu.be/RnXn_V9ou2M
Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com
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