Listening to Spirit with Edgar Villanueva
In this conversation with Edgar Villanueva, founder and CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project, we explore listening as a transformative practice—from listening to our own experience and the wisdom of elders, to listening for spirit and the quiet intuitions that guide us toward healing, courageous leadership, and institutional transformation.
Edgar reflects on his Southern childhood, where countless Saturdays at the library sparked a lifelong curiosity about worlds beyond his own. He also shares about his Indigenous roots, the elders who grounded him, their teachings on healing, and how listening helped him recognize his calling to transform money from a source of harm into a form of medicine.
Together, we explore how these experiences intersected with difficult institutional realities, inspiring Decolonizing Wealth and opening a conversation that gave voice to stories many in philanthropy had lived but few had spoken publicly.
Edgar also reflects on the spiritual dimensions of his journey, including his time in seminary, the heartbreak of becoming estranged from institutional religion, and the path of reconnecting with inner guidance through nature, intuition, and spirit. Along the way, we consider how institutions can shape the stories we tell ourselves about where guidance comes from—and what becomes possible when we learn to listen again.
As Edgar reminds us, listening is more than hearing. It is a practice of grounding that can reconnect us to wisdom, clarify our calling, and open new possibilities for personal and institutional transformation.
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In this episode
In this conversation with Edgar Villanueva , founder and CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project , we explore listening as a transformative practice—from listening to our own experience and the wisdom of elders, to listening for spirit and the quiet intuitions that guide us toward healing, courageous leadership, and…
Key questions
Key takeaways
- Listening is a transformative practice that can guide personal and institutional change.
- Edgar Villanueva's Southern childhood and Indigenous roots played a pivotal role in his journey.
- Decolonizing Wealth was inspired by personal experiences with institutional realities.
- Listening can reconnect us to wisdom and clarify our calling.
- Villanueva emphasizes the importance of inner guidance through nature, intuition, and spirit.
What does Edgar Villanueva discuss in this episode?
Edgar Villanueva discusses the transformative power of listening to spirit, wisdom of elders, and personal experiences in guiding healing and institutional transformation.
How did Edgar Villanueva's childhood influence his work?
Edgar Villanueva's Southern childhood, marked by Saturdays at the library and his Indigenous roots, sparked a lifelong curiosity and influenced his journey towards transforming money into a form of medicine.
What inspired Edgar Villanueva to create Decolonizing Wealth?
Villanueva was inspired to create Decolonizing Wealth by his personal experiences with institutional realities and the need to transform money from a source of harm into a form of healing.
What role does listening play in Edgar Villanueva's philosophy?
Listening, according to Villanueva, is more than hearing; it is a practice of grounding that reconnects individuals to wisdom, clarifies their calling, and opens new possibilities for transformation.
How does Edgar Villanueva perceive the connection with spirit and intuition?
Villanueva perceives the connection with spirit and intuition as essential for personal growth and healing, emphasizing the importance of nature and inner guidance in his journey.