At seven this week’s guest, Rikki West, begged a mysterious God for help, praying that her drunk father won’t harm their family and that he won’t be sent to hell. But when nothing seems to happen, she worried: Is anyone up there really listening? This question triggered a lifelong search for the great, loving being she imagines her prayers might reach. Delving into Catholicism, psychedelics, transcendental meditation, yoga, AA and Buddhist chanting, she explores every available path. She studies genetic science at UC Berkeley and humanities at San Francisco State, combing through the knowledge they offer for answers to the big questions.

On this guest episode I was delighted to interview the wonderful Rikki West. She was kind enough to send me a copy of her book, The Empty Bowl, and it was so smoothly and beautifully written I gobbled it up in days! Not only is Rikki a phenomenally talented writer she also has incredible life story. I try not to spoil it and let Rikki share her tale on the show of taking acid in 1960’s Berkeley, having dinner at Roman Polanski’s house, exploring the line between science & spirituality, surviving a violent rape that brought her face to face with the guilt and denial that shames women into silence, and fueled her addiction, how she has stayed sober for decades, and how losing everything ultimately led to a joyous late-life renaissance. 

Rikki West is the author of The Empty Bowl: Pursuing Truth in a Messy World, a former spiritual seeker, and a UC Berkeley–trained scientist. She spent decades trying to reconcile scientific explanations of existence with her ordinary, real-life awareness. One adventure at a time, she found her way to a peace and beauty that changed all the questions. Her book Rootlines, a memoir of family healing, was published by She Writes Press in 2020. Mother of Noli and Godmother of Morgan, Rikki loves being outside in the alpine desert of northern New Mexico, where she lives with her wife Jill and that old Yamaha.

Learn More About Rikki Here:
https://www.rikkiwest.com/