Episode 121

Awakening Practices from PRACTICAL WORK ON SELF, "One Small Habit", Part One

THE THREE-HEADED MAN reflects on their long-term spiritual journey and the evolution of their motivations.

They discuss transitioning from a desire for personal gain or "secrets" to a focus on service and presence following the absence of their teacher, EJ. Central to their conversation is the study of habitual behaviors as outlined in the book Practical Work on Self, where they examine how small physical actions—like crossing legs or slouching—reflect deeper internal states. By observing these unconscious patterns without judgment, they aim to create an inner "alchemical fire" that fosters self-awareness and transformation. THE THREE-HEADED MAN emphasizes the importance of mutual observation and light-hearted investigation to expose these habits to the "light of day."

Ultimately, THE THREE-HEADED MAN explores how persistent effort and the struggle to witness one's own "machine" can lead to a more authentic state of being.

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The Three-Headed Man
Talking To Ourselves For Over 25 Years

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About your host

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Fred M Schill

I like to do. I like to make things. And, I like telling stories. I tell stories to myself and to others.

First, a short biography, which is, of course, is a story. I was born in Cleveland, played sports, and attended university. Later, after a few years in the radio business, I returned to university to study education and literature.

With a teaching certificate in my file folder, I began working in high schools, first as a strike-breaking scab substitute teacher in Cleveland's far suburbs, and then in Chicago, mostly in private high schools.

Cleveland and Chicago. My two main towns, and I escaped them both. Presently, I live in a tiny, isolated, mountain village in Spain. I am reluctant to write the name of the town because I don't like tourists. When the tourists arrive, they look at me as if I am an animal in a zoo.