Radical Consciousness

Kicking in Doors, Holding Mirrors, Reimagining Spiritual-Leadership

By Peter Rost – based on a conversation with Charley Johnson

We’re living in a time of extreme paradox. Never before have we had more access to knowledge, practices, and frameworks claiming to make us “better humans.” Meditation, mindfulness, psychedelic awakenings, conscious leadership, spiritual capitalism—you name it, it's out there. And yet, never before have we seen such burnout, division, disconnection, and disillusionment.

This conversation with Charley didn’t follow a script, but it uncovered something powerful: what we’re calling radical consciousness. Not a self-help trend. Not another leadership model. But a disruptive, unrelenting clarity that pulls no punches.

The House Is Burning, and We’re Polishing the Windows

Charley’s insight hit hard: “We’re renovating a burning house.” We’ve created entire industries out of selling spiritual and psychological solutions that barely scratch the surface of what’s really wrong. Experts, coaches, therapists, and thought leaders are often trapped in the same systems they’re trying to fix.

They’ve built identities around solutions that aren't working. Solutions that are still rooted in dualism, division, and the illusion that there's a final “there” to reach. A better version of life. A cleaner version of capitalism. A lighter version of leadership. But the foundational structures? Untouched.

As Charley put it: “We’re clipping leaves, not digging into the roots.”

Material Spiritualism, Conscious Capitalism & the Lie of Progress

In Shambhala, it was referred to as Material Spiritualism, using spirituality to decorate the same ego structures religion once ruled. In business, we’ve called it Conscious Capitalism, hoping to humanize a system that fundamentally rewards extraction and division.

We’ve taught 10,000 middle managers how to “design think” their way out of toxic systems without ever touching power, clarity, or truth. I myself have heard top execs instructing HR: “They supposed to come back from the training motivated and engaged. But if they come back believing they can really change things, the program will be cut.”

Awakening from Fourth Grade to Fifth Grade … and Thinking You’re Done

Charley describes the typical journey: a spiritual experience, a psychedelic trip, a silent retreat, a book that finally makes sense—and the seductive belief that we’ve reached enlightenment. But all that’s really changed is the scenery within the same mental box.

“We’ve got meditation teachers saying meditation solves everything. Business schools saying you need the degree. Spiritual teachers pushing their one path. Everyone saying: You need what I have.”

But what if none of them are holding the key?

Holding the Mirror: The Trickster’s Role

Toward the end of our dialogue, we stumbled upon the image of the trickster—the court jester who holds up the mirror to power. He doesn’t command armies or write bestsellers. He’s not “certified.” But he’s the only one who can speak truth without getting his head chopped off.

Charley resonates with that. He’s not trying to be palatable. He’s trying to be effective. “I can swear like a sailor and moms ask me to coach their kids. I say what others can’t—and people say thank you.”

It’s not about kicking in every door. It’s about choosing the ones no one else dares touch—and not backing off when the hinges crack.

Consciousness Is the Root. Business Is the Battleground.

Business isn’t the wrong place to start—it’s the only place left.

We spend more time in organizations than with our own families. If we want to reach the masses, we start where they are: at work. Not in retreats, not on mountaintops. Not just with CEOs, but everywhere the system breathes.

Charley advocates for a Chief Consciousness Officer—not a wellness guru or a meditation facilitator, but a trickster-in-residence. Someone with no authority and total freedom. Someone who knows business and awareness. Someone who can bridge the gap between spiritual clarity and corporate chaos.

The Shift Is Already Happening

This isn’t another “10-year transformation.” As Charley put it, “It’s not 2010 Bitcoin. The shift is now. This year. Next year. The clarity is flooding in.”

Time is collapsing. Consciousness is accelerating. And those of us who feel the responsibility to act—without the delusion of saving the world—must bring our own kind of fire. Not rage. Not compliance. But a positive anger that cuts through illusion and calls bullshit when we see it.

So What Do We Do?

We stop people-pleasing. We stop polishing spiritual labels. We stop selling sedation under the guise of healing. We hold up the mirror, even when it stings. We kick in the door when we know the fire is on the other side.

And when the door opens, even for a moment, we step in—not with answers, but with presence.

Final Thought: Bring Your Matches

Charley closed with this truth: “We’ve tried everything else. This hasn’t been done yet.”

So here’s the invitation to anyone still reading:

Bring your matches. Light the fire where others spray perfume. Hold the mirror where others sell maps. Speak like a human, not a brochure.

• Radical consciousness isn’t a brand.
• It’s a responsibility.
• Let’s stop pretending we don’t see the smoke.

— Peter Rost is a systemic consultant and leadership coach. Charley Johnson is a former business owner turned radical consciousness advisor. They met for one hour. The effect may last much longer.

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