The Discovering Your Soul Podcast
By Nina Lotus
The Discovering Your Soul PodcastMar 28, 2023
26. Nurturing Your Intuition + Human Design w/ Kristen Sarabia
In this episode, I am joined by Kristen Sarabia (@nurtured.intuition), an intuitive and energetic guide, educator, Human Design reader, and trauma-informed yoga instructor. She is passionate about using her gifts and background to support others as they reconnect to their intuition and find alignment with their inner power and highest selves.
In this conversation, Kristen gives us practical and compassionate ways that we can connect to and strengthen our intuition and how she, in her own life, has learned how to strengthen her own intuition.
We then go into one of the systems that we both have used to tune into our intuition: Human Design. Kristen introduces us to the 5 main Human Design types: Generators, Projectors, Manifesting Generators, Manifestors, and Reflectors. She explains how these all types utilize energy the most effectively and how all types can work together for the greater good of our world.
This is such an informative episode that you won't want to miss out on. We hope you enjoy it! :)
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Connect to Kristen by going to her Instagram.
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
25. Our Inner Work Travels With Us (Solo Episode REPLAY)
Have you ever had the thought in your life of, "If I just change this job, situation, relationship, location, etc, then [insert problem here] will go away?"
We can all get trapped into thinking that our problems will go away the moment we move to a different location or change our external characteristics in some way. Unfortunately, this doesn't solve our problems because our inner work travels with us wherever we go. We are the common denominator in our life, no matter where we live or what we do for our job.
By doing the shadow work and facing our problems, we can then move beyond the limitations of our past wounds, core beliefs, unhealthy behaviors, and make decisions in our lives that represent the values important to our most authentic selves.
Wherever we go, our inner work and healing journey travels with us.❤️
In this episode, I discuss:
- my own example(s) of how I can tend to "escape" and "run away" from the healing I need to do
- how we can get trapped into the idea that "changing" our external environment can make our problems go away
- how escapism and staying busy is a form of avoiding the healing work that we need to do
- how learning to sit with our challenges and difficult emotions can help us overcome their power over us
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
24. Healing The Mother Wound w/ Janae Medina
In this episode, I am joined by Janae Medina (@you_canhealyourlife), a certified health and life coach and founder of Livity Coaching, where she helps women improve their emotional and physical health so they can begin to heal their mother wound.
In this conversation, Janae opens up about how noticing her relationship with food in life was covering a deeper mother wound that shaped her beliefs and relationship with herself. Janae introduces us to what a mother wound is, how it can present in our lives through relationships & unconscious behaviors, how it compares to a father wound, and different ways that you can start to explore and heal your mother wound on your own healing journey.
I really enjoyed this conversation with Janae and I hope you will too! :)
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Connect to Janae through her Website and Instagram.
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
23. Guided Meditation For Releasing Tension (Solo Episode)
Join me in this short guided meditation for releasing tension, as inspired by Thích Nhất Hạnh. Please do not do this while driving or in any other situation where you are not feeling safe to do a guided meditation.
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
22. Coming Home To Your Body w/ Rory Sadoff
TRIGGER WARNING: contains explicit language and sensitive topics related to trauma.
In this episode, I am joined by Rory Sadoff (@rory_cassandra), a somatic practitioner and functional women’s health & life coach. Rory focuses on helping women learn how to nourish their minds, bodies, and souls as one big system that all intertwine. She provides clients with the support, tools, techniques, and exercises needed to radically shift their human experience, navigate the ins and outs of the world, and step into their most embodied selves.
In this conversation, Rory shares with us how she learned to cultivate trust and compassion with her body and how this process of somatic healing has helped her to make more conscious decisions in her life. We chat about so many things, like how to discern intuition versus fear, how to recognize who and what is helpful for your nervous system, and more. This episode is for you if you want to learn how to come home to your body's innate wisdom.
I was so inspired by Rory's unapologetic authenticity and strength in letting her body guide the way forward in her healing journey. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!
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Connect to Rory through her website and Instagram.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Book: When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection by Gabor Maté, M.D.
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
21. The Courage To Heal Ancestral Trauma w/ Frances Belleza
TRIGGER WARNING: contains a sensitive topic of abortion.
"Yoga has actually helped me realize that I would dissociate or intellectualize my feelings, because I didn't want to process it. And that was literally the first step to being vulnerable--you actually have real human feelings that you need to process and that you need to experience. And then it's okay to be in that." - Frances Belleza.
In this episode, I am joined by Frances Belleza (@francesbelleza), a yoga teacher based in San Francisco. She felt called to yoga after a tumultuous childhood led her to explore holistic healing. Her practice marries movement, sound, breathwork and devotion. She believes that everyone can tap into divine self through their mind, body, and soul.
In this conversation, we both discuss what it's like to grow up as a first-generation BIPOC woman while navigating the stories and beliefs that have been carried within us from our cultural background and upbringing. Frances shares how her yoga practice has helped her learn how to be vulnerable in both sharing and sitting with uncomfortable feelings, and how this has helped her in her personal journey of self-discovery and healing. We both discuss what it feels like to start the journey of healing ancestral trauma and how forgiveness towards yourself and others can be a liberating, yet incredibly difficult, part of being a cycle breaker.
There is a such radical vulnerability and courage in this episode and I am honored to have been a part of it. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!
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Connect to Frances through her Website and Instagram.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Book: It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
20. My Journey Into The Darkness (Solo Episode)
TRIGGER WARNING: contains explicit language and heavier themes regarding mental health.
"Sometimes things have to fall apart in order to be rebuilt into something stronger." - Nina Lotus.
Hi there, friend, and Happy Pisces season! It's been a bit since I've recorded a solo episode and I wanted to update you on what has been going on in my life. In the last month or so, I've entered into what many may call "A Dark Night of the Soul" or a "spiritual crisis/emergency". It has felt like a journey into my inner darkness where my shadows, wounded Inner Child, and deepest fears live. I've never had to face my fears head-on like I have been pushed into doing right now. While it has been incredibly uncomfortable, challenging, and downright f****** terrifying at times, I feel like I am not the same person I was before (and in a good way).
Topics include:
- what a Dark Night of the Soul can feel like and how this is an incredibly transformative experience to have on your spiritual journey
- the importance of enDARKenment (in addition to enLIGHTenment) as a way of meeting your soul in a deep and vulnerable way
- how I have had to develop stronger self-trust to stay grounded during this turbulent time in addition to cultivating deeper trust with the Universe/my Higher Power
- my recent study of Joseph Campbell and "the hero/heroine's journey" and how this has brought me so much comfort & validation that what I am experiencing is a necessary part of my evolution
...and more. There is a lot packed in this episode! I go into what lessons I have learned and what I feel like this means for my life moving forward.
If you are also experiencing something similar in your own life right now, I want to remind you that you are not alone. This pain and this suffering that you are experiencing right now will not last forever. You are not crazy. You will be okay. Everything is aligning for your betterment. You are not alone in this.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Book: It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn
- Hero/Heroine's Journey Documentary: Finding Joe
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
Welcome to Season 2!
Welcome to The Discovering Your Soul Podcast with me, Nina! I'm here to remind you that you are not alone in your healing and self-discovery journey. There is light in even the darkest seasons of life and by sharing our stories and listening to the stories of others, we collectively heal our planet and one another. Thank you for being here, my friend, and for including me in your journey of discovering your soul.
19. The Healing Power of Dating w/ Emyli Lovz
Themes: Dating, Relationships, Romance, Attachment, Core Values, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Awareness, Self-Discovery
In this episode, I am joined by Emyli Lovz, the Head Coach and Co-Founder of EmLovz, a coaching program for men that helps them find a loving, healthy, and happy relationship that lasts. In this conversation, Emyli and I go into the importance of building relational self-awareness while dating and how valuable it is to become aware of what attachment style you may have developed from childhood. *It's important to note that attachment styles are fluid and dynamic as we move through life!* Emyli shares the method that helped her personally heal her avoidant attachment style and shares with listeners how to identify when you meet potential partners for a healthy long-term relationship. Emyli and I then talk about what our attraction to either a a 'slow burner vs firecracker' can tell us about any unresolved healing we may need to do. I enjoyed this conversation with Emyli and hope you will too!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- Am I aware of any relational patterns or habits that get in my way of finding or keeping the kind of relationship I want?
- What is my attachment style in platonic friendships, romantic relationships, and family connections?
- Am I in partnership with the type of person that embodies the core values that are most important to me?
- If I am single, do I know what my core values are?
- If I am single and/or dating, do I focus more on physical attributes or am I paying attention how I feel around someone?
You can connect to Emyli by going to her:
Website: https://www.emlovz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emlovz
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
18. What Does Your Spiritual Path Look Like? (Solo Episode)
Themes: Spirituality, Healing, Values, Science, Empathy, Collective, Community, Trauma, Individualism, Pandemic, Self-Compassion, Reflection, Self-Discovery
In this solo episode, I am processing (literally on the spot with you) how my spiritual path has evolved over the years. As someone that lives at the intersection between spirituality and science, I reflect on how both of these worlds are, at the end of the day, about a sense of community, protecting others, and working together to help heal the planet. I reflect on when I needed to focus the most on my individual healing on my spiritual journey and when I felt I wanted to share my energy to help others in the world (like I feel in this current moment). I ask listeners to reflect on what values are most important to them on their spiritual journeys and to explore where their values are most embodied and in which areas their values could be incorporated more. I think it's a wonderful time, with the end of 2022 approaching, to practice self-compassion as we reflect on what energy and what values we want to bring into 2023. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- What does my spiritual path look like right now? How has it evolved over time?
- What values are important to me in my life and in what areas in life could I embody them more?
- Am I in a phase in my healing journey where I could extend my healing energy to help others?
- Am I in a phase in my healing journey where I need to shift the focus to my own needs and growth?
- What values are coming with me into 2023 and what energy needs to be left behind?
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
17. The Illusion of Control (Solo Episode)
Themes: Control, Surrender, Trust, Trauma, Self-Compassion, Self-Love, Perfectionism, Inner Child, Safety, Healing, Reflection, Self-Discovery
In this solo episode, I invite you to explore your relationship with control. I share my own experience of how hard it is, especially as a trauma survivor, to let go of the idea that there is much I can control in life. I share with you a few days that we can explore this inner narrative of control and how we can start to transform control into surrender and trust in the Universe (or whomever/whatever you believe in). It is very human of us to want to have predictability and certainty in our lives, but there can also be a lot of freedom and liberation in accepting that there isn't much that we can control. I hope you enjoy this episode!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- Do I try to control everyone and everything in my life? If so, why may that be?
- What areas in my life do I have the hardest time letting go of control in?
- What feelings come up for me when I experience uncertainty in life?
- Are there examples in my life when uncertainty brought beautiful experiences, people, and lessons??
- What is something I can do today to let go of control and surrender into trust??
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
16. Embracing Your Messiness w/ Nora van den Berg
Themes: Self-Compassion, Cycles, Art, Creativity, Painting, Messiness, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Self-Love, Surrender, Grief
In this episode, I am joined by Nora van den Berg (@nora_vandenberg), an artist, mama of two boys, and an explorer in the magic and mystical of life. Her work and life are deeply rooted in celebrating the mystery of our soul's evolution by expressing it through the touch of a paintbrush. In this conversation, we go into how, even in the darkest and messiest phases in life, we can choose to walk along the path of our heart and soul. We then geek out together on how, for those of us who bleed monthly, our sacred moon cycles help us honor the seasons of our days, months, and years. Nora then goes into how art, somatics, & creativity has helped her personally move through grief & difficulties in her life. She shares how it is important for us during these tough times to connect to what is happening INSIDE our bodies instead of attaching to the stories that appear in our minds. We finish off the conversation by exploring how we can move with the currents & flow of life and use practices like painting to express what is happening in our inner worlds & help us connect to the magic that's already within all of us. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- Do I allow myself to accept the messy & gritty parts of my life? If not, what stories come up for me when life becomes messy?
- How can I compassionately move through and honor the cycles and seasons of my life?
- What is one thing I can do today to connect to my heart & body more?
- Do I flow with the ups and downs of my life or do I find myself mostly resisting and trying to control it? How could I surrender to the flow of life more?
- How can I incorporate more creativity in my life today as a way to be present with what is?
References In The Episode:
- Red Moon by Miranda Gray
- The Optimized Woman by Miranda Gray
- The Creative Fire by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
You can connect to Nora by going to her:
Website: https://linktr.ee/noravandenberg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora_vandenberg
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
15. What Are You Allowing In? (Solo Episode)
Themes: Self-Compassion, Self-Love, Trauma, Inner Child, Safety, Healing, Reflection, Self-Discovery, Intention, Boundaries, Mindfulness, Media
In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on how we could all reflect a little more on WHAT and WHO we are allowing into our lives. With Halloween season approaching, I share my own story of how I recently crossed my own boundaries by consuming too much negative and scary content that ended up activating my nervous system in unhealthy ways. I explore how we can tune into our own bodies and notice when we are crossing our own boundaries. I finish the episode by extending this concept into reflecting on who we allow into our lives and how others can affect our nervous system and influence our mindset. I hope you enjoy this episode and are honoring your Inner Child, body, mind, and soul!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- What am I allowing into my life? Is it reflective of how I want to feel?
- Am I aware of when I cross my own boundaries?
- Who am I allowing into my life? Are they reflective of the values I aspire to embody?
- Where am I feeling imbalanced in life and what is one thing I could do today to restore some balance?
- Am I nurturing my Inner Child with compassion, love, and safety with who and what I allow in?
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
14. Healing Through Self-Compassion w/ Hope Carpenter
Themes: Trauma, Self-Compassion, Inner Child, Safety, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Creativity, Art, Slowing Down, Rest
In this episode, I am joined by Hope Carpenter (@hopehealingarts), a multi-disciplinary healing arts practitioner, mentor, writer, and survivor-turned-advocate who has been working in the fields of wellness, spirituality, and intuitive healing for over 12 years. In this conversation, we go into how self-compassion is such an important and sacred part of the journey in healing from trauma. We discuss how telling someone to "get out of their comfort zone" may be more harmful than helpful to a trauma survivor that needs to create and embody more safety. Hope then shares with us how they allow for their Inner Child's joy and creativity to be channeled through setting aside intentional time for stillness, movement, and space. I enjoyed this conversation with Hope and hope you will too!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- How can I practice more self-compassion towards myself and my Inner Child?
- How can I make time to slow down every day and just listen to what arises within?
- What does safety look and feel like for me?
- How can I cultivate more safety within and around me while on my healing journey?
- What can I do today to connect more to my Inner Child and tap into my innate sense of joy, wonder, and creativity?
You can connect to Hope by going to their:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopehealingarts
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
13. Shaping A Trauma-Informed World w/ Emma Stern
Themes: Trauma, Trauma-Informed, Mental Health, Yoga, Somatics, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Slowing Down
In this episode, I am joined by Emma Stern, a mental health professional and movement teacher. In this conversation, we go into how uncomfortable change can be and how we can make the most of the "in-between" by slowing down and enjoying life. Emma shares with us what it means to be trauma-informed and how we can get more in touch with our bodies. We then conclude the conversation with discussing how we can all take more steps to create a more trauma-informed world and how, in order to move through discomfort, we need to feel what comes up--there's a reason why we hear the saying, 'You need to feel it to heal it'!
This episode invites you to explore the following questions:
- How do I respond to major changes in life? What can I do while in the "waiting room"?
- How can I make time to slow down every day?
- How can I connect more with my body and feelings on a daily basis?
- What can I do today to contribute to a more trauma-informed world?
You can connect to Emma by going to her:
Website: www.emmasternsomatics.com
Mental Health Practice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metamorphosis.pdx
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmasternsomatics
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
12. Meeting Your Inner Child + BONUS Guided Meditation
Themes: Trauma, Healing, Inner Child, Creativity, Play, Self-Awareness, Meditation, Self-Discovery
In this solo episode, I introduce WHO our Inner Child is and WHAT they represent for us: the creative, intuitive, joyful, wondrous, and adventurous part of our whole selves. When we get wounded in childhood as the result of trauma or other challenging experiences, our Inner Child may close off and stay stuck at the age at which we experienced wounding. This can involve many ages, like it does for myself! By developing and connecting to our Inner Child, we can develop a sense of self-trust and, as a result, ENJOY life and have FUN! Meeting my Inner Child and being on a journey of healing my wounded Inner Child has completely changed my life. It has been one of the most powerful practices in my healing journey from trauma to date. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode & are inspired to love, nurture, and play with your own Inner Child.
In this episode, I discuss:
- who your Inner Child is and signs that you may be carrying a wounded Inner Child
- different ways you can meet your Inner Child & start building a relationship with them
- how you can communicate to your Inner Child through journaling & start to play with your Inner Child
- A BONUS GUIDED MEDITATION at the end of the episode to meet your Inner Child
Recommended Books For Inner Child Healing
Healing Your Aloneness: Finding Love and Wholeness Through Your Inner Child
The Journey from Abandonment to Healing
Becoming the One: Heal Your Past, Transform Your Relationship Patterns, and Come Home to Yourself
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
11. The Healing Power of Your Story w/ April Bell
Themes: Storytelling, Creativity, Words, Connection, Spirituality, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Self-Acceptance, Personal Storytelling
In this episode, I am joined by April Bell, who is the founder of Tree of Life Legacies, a wisdom-keeping and storytelling project based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this conversation, we go into the healing power of storytelling and how connection is formed when we choose to share our experiences and ask others questions. April gives us examples of storytellers and how you can start telling your own story today. What words are you choosing when telling your own story? Do you actively listen to others, especially elders, when they tell their story? There is a lot of beautiful wisdom in this episode, and we hope you enjoy our conversation! :)
In this episode, we discuss:
- how storytelling can help you on your self-discovery journey of getting to know yourself
- how you can take small steps to start telling your own story as a form of healing
- how being an active listener can help you connect to others when hearing their stories
- how we can practice listening to our intuition as our story of life unfolds before us
You can connect to April by going to her:
Website: https://treeoflifelegacies.com/
App Website: https://storycatcher.app/
Purchase Story Prompt Cards: https://treeoflifelegacies.com/legacy-questions/
Soul Forum Podcast: https://soulforumpodcast.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelygoddess
Referenced In The Episode:
- The Moth: @mothstories or https://themoth.org
- Great Questions: https://storycorps.org/great-questions/
- Loving Bravely by Dr. Alexandra Solomon
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
10. The Art of Slowing Down w/ Amelia Hutchison
Themes: Art, Creativity, Busyness, Slowing Down, Trauma, Grief, Spirituality, Healing, Self-Discovery, Self-Acceptance
In this episode, I am joined by Amelia Hutchison of Art Therapy In Real Life. Amelia is an artist and art psychotherapist living and working online from the Slocan Valley of British Columbia. We start off the conversation by having Amelia share what art therapy is and how it is a powerful practice to heal from grief and trauma. She shares how art can help us tap into our inner knowing when we don’t have the words to name our experiences and how we can start incorporating art into our healing journeys. We finish the conversation by discussing how we can get wrapped into the pressures of the "hustle culture" and how there is a lot of beauty in slowing down and self-acceptance in meeting ourselves where we are, which art can help with. There is a lot of beautiful wisdom in this episode and we hope you enjoy our conversation! :)
In this episode, we discuss:
- what art therapy is and how you can make art to tap into your inner creativity to heal grief and trauma
- how art can help you create tangible narratives from your mind and body
- how art can be a spiritual practice of tapping into your inner knowing
- how we can get wrapped into the “hustle culture" and how we create space to meet ourselves when we choose to slow down
You can connect to Amelia by going to her:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_therapy_irl
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@art_therapy_irl
Website: http://arttherapyinreallife.com/
Referenced In The Episode:
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.l
9. When Talk Therapy Isn't Enough (Solo Episode)
Themes: Trauma, Healing, Somatic Therapy, Mind-Body, Self-Awareness, Talk Therapy, Yoga, Meditation, Self-Discovery
In this solo episode, I go into my own journey of being in talk therapy and how I knew it wasn't helping me heal where most of my trauma was stored: in my body. Somatic therapy is a type of therapeutic practice that focuses on your body and helps to reconnect your mind and body together--this is very helpful for trauma survivors, those who have PTSD, and/or anyone who is disconnected from their body. Somatic therapy has completely changed my life and has helped me develop a more compassionate and loving relationship with my body. If we take the time to explore what stories, thoughts, sensations, and emotions are stored in our body & nervous system, we can learn to rewire our programming and liberate ourselves from what is holding us back from living our most vibrant & authentic lives. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode & are inspired to love your body even just a little more after listening to it.
In this episode, I discuss:
- when I realized in my own life that talk therapy wasn't enough for me in my healing journey
- how somatic therapy is a beautiful complement to talk therapy for many people who have experienced trauma
- what my journey of somatic therapy looked like & how it helped me connect more to my body
- different & accessible ways (that don't require a somatic therapist!) you can practice connecting to your body
Recommended Books For Somatic Healing/Trauma
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine
In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness by Peter Levine
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse by Ellen Bass & Laura Davis
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
8. Tapping Into Your Body's Wisdom w/ Kacie Salas
Themes: Trauma, Addiction, Sobriety, EFT, Spirituality, Somatic Healing, Self-Healing, Self-Love, Self-Discovery
In this episode, I am joined by Kacie Salas of Whole Soul Recovery! Kacie shares how she started her spiritual journey, which involved major traumatic losses and a journey of healing from addiction. Kacie discusses how Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has been an effective healing tool for tapping (pun intended!) into your physical body, emotions, and subconscious beliefs. We both discuss how trauma lives in your body and how learning to connect and listen to your body is fundamental for releasing trauma and in connecting to your intuition. There is a lot of beautiful wisdom in this episode and we hope you enjoy our conversation!
In this episode, we discuss:
- how Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a powerful and accessible healing practice if you want to connect to your physical body, emotions, and subconscious beliefs
- how trauma lives in your body and can cause you to dissociate from your body and into a perpetual state of fight-flight-freeze
- how connecting to your body's wisdom through somatic practices can be powerful in healing from trauma
- how you can start with small acts of self-love, like nurturing your body, in reconnecting your mind and body together
You can connect to Kacie by going to her:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whole.soul.recovery
Holistic Coaching Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kacie-salas-calpine-ca/954751
Debriefing The Front Lines Website: https://debriefingthefrontlinesinc.org/
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
7. The Power of Acceptance in an Anti-Aging Culture w/ Daphne Swancutt
Themes: Aging, Acceptance, Surrender, Yin Yoga, Meditation, Spirituality, Taoism, Self-Discovery, Trust
In this episode, I am joined by Daphne Swancutt of Daphne Swancutt Yoga! Daphne shares how witnessing the mortality of others in her life has shaped her own way of navigating the aging process. We discuss how we live in an anti-aging culture, and how powerful acceptance can be as we journey through our life's natural cycles and stages. Daphne then shares the beautiful practice of Yin Yoga, which she practices & teaches, and how it has helped her and her students learn to sit with discomfort, slow down, and practice introspection while on the yoga mat . We finish off the episode by discussing how liberating it is to accept and love ourselves at every stage we are in on our life's journey instead of fighting who we are. There is a lot of beautiful wisdom in this episode and we hope you enjoy our conversation! :)
In this episode, we discuss:
- how the less we resist the natural process of aging, the more peace we allow room for in life
- how the powerful practice of acceptance can help us remain grounded when navigating uncertainty in life
- how Yin Yoga & meditation can help to practice introspection, slowing down, and sitting with discomfort
- how there is freedom in accepting ourselves as we are at every stage in our life's journey
You can connect to Daphne by going to her:
Website: https://www.daphneswancuttyoga.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daphneenchanted
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTxSGV2By30fsSll71w8dw
Referenced In The Episode:
- Listen to Anticipation by Carly Simon by clicking here
- You can order the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu here
- Pema Chödrön's website
- Wayne Dwyer’s website
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
6. Our Inner Work Travels With Us (Solo Episode)
Themes: Self-Awareness, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Shadow Work, Growth
Have you ever had the thought in your life of, "If I just change this job, situation, relationship, location, etc, then [insert problem here] will go away?"
We can all get trapped into thinking that our problems will go away the moment we move to a different location or change our external characteristics in some way. Unfortunately, this doesn't solve our problems because our inner work travels with us wherever we go. We are the common denominator in our life, no matter where we live or what we do for our job.
By doing the shadow work and facing our problems, we can then move beyond the limitations of our past wounds, core beliefs, unhealthy behaviors, and make decisions in our lives that represent the values important to our most authentic selves.
Wherever we go, our inner work and healing journey travels with us.❤️
In this episode, I discuss:
- my own example(s) of how I can tend to "escape" and "run away" from the healing I need to do
- how we can get trapped into the idea that "changing" our external environment can make our problems go away
- how escapism and staying busy is a form of avoiding the healing work that we need to do
- how learning to sit with our challenges and difficult emotions can help us overcome their power over us
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
5. Uncovering Truth Through Music w/ Briget Boyle
Themes: Music, Spirituality, Creativity, Healing, Singing, Self-Discovery, Truth, Being, Surrender
In this episode, I am joined by Briget Boyle -- a songwriter, vocalist, and guitar player based in California. Briget shares with us her journey in how music has helped her uncover her inner truth, and how listening to and creating music can be a powerful form of healing for us in so many different ways. We then discuss how creating music can be such a spiritual practice when you make music for "being" rather than focusing so much on making music for "doing". There are lots of beautiful moments of inspiration, truth, depth, and healing in this episode and we hope you enjoy our conversation! :)
In this episode, we discuss:
- how music can help you uncover your inner truth and see yourself in a deep way
- how you can start incorporating more music into your life in small ways
- the beauty of making music for "being" vs. "doing"
- how creation is not about the destination, but about the journey
You can connect to Briget and hear her music by going to her:
Website: https://brigetboyle.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1SJ4nsOYUWkz6WC05KCpgE?si=aa2HX-KmRx2acdAjrlsq7w
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brigetsongs
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7v6ZJ0IBfM7T39SoZ4fnQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brigetsongs
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
4. The Shadow Side of Healing (Solo Episode)
Themes: Shadow Work, Relationships, Inner Child, Self-Awareness, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery
An important, but incredibly challenging, part of the healing journey is when we encounter situations in life where we are forced to face our shadow side: the part of us that contains behaviors and beliefs that does not serve our highest good. Shadow work is so challenging, but is what helps us heal our wounds and show up more fully in life and to others. I was feeling pretty raw when I recorded this episode and reflected on how I show up in relationships, and how relationships have historically helped me explore my shadow side. A part of being human is being made of both light and dark, but having a shadow side doesn't mean that we are "bad" or that we are unworthy of love. Exploring and healing our shadow helps us be our most authentic selves, love ourselves fully, and learn how we can show up more fully for others.
In this episode, I discuss:
- how the healing journey includes challenging moments, also known as "shadow periods"
- how an important, yet painfully difficult, part of the healing journey is when we are faced with our shadow side
- how reflecting on partnerships has been fundamental for me in seeing how I show up in relationships
- how self-forgiveness is a fundamental part of shadow work
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
3. The Magic of Meeting Yourself w/ Annette Arceneaux
Themes: Meditation, Spirituality, Self-Discovery, Synchronicity, Trust, Surrender
In this episode, I am joined by Annette Arceneaux of Wild Moon Honey! Annette shares how meditation can help you meet yourself in powerful ways and gives tips on how you can start a meditation practice. We then discuss how an important part of navigating challenging times is to let go of control, and to trust and surrender in the Universe (or whomever/whatever you believe in). We finish off the episode by discussing how, when we create space and quiet, we open ourselves up to receiving signs and synchronicities from the Universe to let us know we are on the right path. We hope you enjoy our conversation in this episode! :)
In this episode, we discuss:
- how meditation can help you meet yourself and listen to your intuition
- how you can start a simple meditation practice for yourself
- how surrendering and trusting in the Universe can help us remain grounded when navigating challenging times
- how, when we create space and quiet, we open ourselves up to receiving signs and synchronicities from the Universe to let us know we are on the right path
You can connect to Annette by going to her:
Website: https://www.thewildmoonhoney.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildmoonhoney
Podcasts/Books Referenced In The Episode:
- Jay Shetty Podcast: https://jayshetty.me/podcast/
- You can order The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho here
- You can order When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön here
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
2. Relationships As Mirrors (Solo Episode)
Themes: Relationships, Self-Awareness, Healing, Inner Work, Shadow Work, Self-Discovery
Relationships can serve as our greatest, mirrors, teachers, and, ultimately, our greatest containers for healing, discovery, and awareness. I go into examples in my own life where certain relationships have served as mirrors to help serve as catalysts for my growth. Not only can relationships help you become aware of your shadow side, but they can also help inspire you to embody the qualities and values that you seek in others.
In this episode, I discuss:
- how relationships of all kinds serve as our mirrors
- a family example of how I learned more about my shadow side
- a romantic example of how I learned about how I connect relationally
- how we can embody the values that which we seek from others
I reference Rising Woman's "Becoming The One" program, which you can learn more about here.
You can follow Rising Woman on Instagram here.
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
1. Trusting Yourself (Solo Episode)
Themes: Trust, Intuition, Fear, Somatic Awareness, Self-Awareness, Self-Discovery, Trauma
Trust: something that has the power to both destroy, and ultimately, heal us. In this episode, I go into my own personal self-discovery journey of learning how to trust myself from a lens of betrayal wounds and trauma, and how this involved the important practice of discerning between fear and intuition.
In this episode, I discuss:
- how self-trust is an important step in trusting others
- how I discern between fear and intuition
- how going within and connecting to your body can help create space for intuition
- how I self-soothe when fear shows up
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Mental Health Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please dial 9-8-8 (in the USA) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.