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Today’s episode is a short one. It’s just me and I’ve got two things to share. The first is that the podcast is going on hiatus. It’s time for me to focus on the areas of my life that feel extra-magical right now and also on those that could use more magic. I don’t know exactly when the show will be back, but if you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, you’ll be the first to know. All of the shows will continue to be available on iTunes and on www.alanasheeren.com, so take the opportunity to catch up on any that you might have missed. I have so much gratitude for those of you who’ve listened to the show, whether it’s one episode or every single one. Thank you.
I also wanted to share some of what I’ve learned about creating and living a magical life, from my own experience, from my work with clients and from the more than 60 interviews I’ve done here on the podcast.
What you’ll hear in today’s brief episode:
- Seven keys to creating and living a magical life:
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- Awareness
- Presence
- Compassion
- Connection
- Stillness
- Action
- Love
- In challenging situations, ask, “What would LOVE do?” Love always answers truthfully.
- The basics of the recipe for living a magical life.
In today’s show I share a Hunter S. Thompson quote that prompted some thoughts on inspiration vs. fuel. After you listen, I urge you to nourish yourself with the highest octane fuel you can find this week --and see what magic happens.
My guest today has made it her mission to help people fuel their lives with more of what they desire. Caroline A. Shearer is the founder of Absolute Love Publishing and the bestselling author of many books and min-e-books™, including Women Will Save the World, Raise Your Vibration and Love Like God. See the Resources section for all Caroline’s titles. Through her writing and her support of other authors, Caroline is devoted to promoting goodness in the world. Join me to hear more!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Vibration: What it is and how we “raise” it
- Why emotion MUST be involved in raising your vibration
- How to use “tiered” affirmations
- Being ONE with the vibration
- Coming to terms with Divine Timing
- Concepts behind Women Will Save the World
- Making changes on different tiers
- Recognizing a fear/Sending love
- How to “send love” with affirmations, meditations, and visualizations
- Tips for raising vibration
- Why lower vibrations usually come from self-critique
- Distinguishing emotions from ego
- What is “unconditional love”?
- What it looks like to release a condition on love
- Bringing peace to each situation
Resources:
www.absolutelovepublishing.com
Books by Caroline A. Shearer:
Love Like God: Embracing Unconditional Love
The Love Like God Companion Book
Women Will Save the World
Dead End Date
Min-E-Books™ by Caroline A. Shearer
Raise Your Vibration: Tips and Tools for a High-Frequency Life
Raise Your Financial Vibration: Tips and Tools to Embrace Your Infinite Spiritual Abundance
Raise Your Verbal Vibration: Create the Life You Want with Law of Attraction Language
Where Is the Gift? Discovering the Blessing in Every Situation
A gentle reminder, just in case you need it too: We are living in turbulent times. We are inundated by information. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, triggered, and even traumatized (or re-traumatized) by news stories, sound bytes, videos and the conversations that swirl around them. Self-care is an essential practice at all times and even more so when life feels challenging. Self-care means different things to each of us and can be practiced alone or in community. Find what works for you and fit it in where you can. Please, take good and gentle care of your precious self – you’re the only you the world has.
My guest for today’s show is writer, coach, and minister, Leela Sinha. She is the author of You’re Not Too Much: Intensive Lives in an Expansive World, a book that introduces a new framework for understanding who we are and how we show up in our lives. If you’ve ever been told you’re too intense, too emotional or too much, or if you’ve ever loved someone who you’ve thought those same things about, this conversation is for you.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Intensive/Expansive framework – it’s a continuum
- An Intensive: someone who is INTENSE
- An Expansive: someone who likes things ordered and logical
- How each category responds to deadlines and procrastination
- How to know your essential nature
- The impact of being an intensive
- Why visionaries and CEO’s are usually intensives
- The general population: 30% intensive and 70% expansive
- De-centering the dominant culture
- The importance of expansive: keeping the fires burning
- Intensive organizations vs. expansive organizations
- The 80% problem
- Ways intensives stop themselves
- Navigating the workplace as an intensive
- Using Leela’s book as a communication tool
- Intensives and expansives in relationship
- Tips for intensives on navigating love
- Big feelings can go to an extreme
- Building the right community
- The British expansive cultural lens
Resources:
You’re Not Too Much by Leela Sinha
How comfortable are you with conflict? If you’re like most people, you avoid it as much as possible and when you can’t avoid it any longer, you have coping mechanisms that might not serve you well. Regular conflict at home or in the workplace takes a toll on our overall wellbeing. The good news is that no matter how you feel about conflict now, you can learn to navigate it with confidence.
My guest today is an expert on human behavior and leadership. Jennifer McCabe is the founder and CEO of Pluck With Purpose, which teaches relationship and leadership skills to professionals and nonprofits both online and in person. The core of Jennifer’s work is based on the Four Skills for Relationship Competency. Join us for this conversation about resolving conflict, that’s full of practical tips and examples.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- The importance of learning to deal with conflict
- Jen’s HUGE vision
- Being at peace with what is coming at you
- Overview of the Four Skills for Relationship competency:
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- Empathic Listening
- Empathy
- Congruence
- Unconditional Positive Regard
- Being equipped to relate and take care of yourself
- How to use empathic listening
- Do you want to be right OR do you want to understand the other person?
- When to choose empathy
- Knowing when to use each skill—and how to integrate them into your relationships
- Suspending judgment/maintaining integrity
- Unconditional Positive Regard brings a soft energy to the conflict
- Life-changing skills
Resources:
www.unshakeablesoul.com (Our Expert Series featuring 18 women: Oct. 10-19)
Some people seem to be born knowing what direction to go in life, while others wander a more roundabout path. Both are fine of course (though I think those of us on the “scenic route” often wish for more clarity along the way). The challenges for both types come when we attempt to make changes and when our lives feel stressful. At these times it’s a gift to find someone – a healer, a coach, a loved one, a trusted friend – who can support our wellness and our dreams. Today’s guest is one of those people.
Jane Del Piero experienced stunning dreams as a child that catapulted her into her work with ancient healing traditions, and she’s been on a path of purpose ever since. She is an herbalist, massage therapist, acupuncturist, nutritionist, sound healer, medicine woman, and modern-day shaman. Jane uses her training and experience from around the world as she helps her clients tap into health, vitality, and limitless freedom in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. Join us for this conversation full of big ideas and practical tips to support your health & wellbeing.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Jane’s amazing story about her childhood dreams
- How to let intuition be your guide
- Jane’s sound healing work with musicians
- Acupuncture: What it is and how it is helpful
- Optimizing the energy of the body and finding balance
- A combination of acupuncture and sound healing----Acutonics
- How Jane uses tuning forks, singing bowls, and gongs
- Using calming music to combat disease
- A simple technique to combat stress!
- Shamanism: What it is and how it’s taught
- Malevolent and benevolent forces
- Plant spirit medicine explained
- How to recognize authenticity: “Is this somebody that’s GOOD for me?”
- Listening to the wisdom of your body
- The cacao ceremony as a spiritual tool
- Benefits of raw cacao
- How Jane structures her work with clients
- A simple, helpful tool to grow your self-confidence
Resources:
www.shamanism.com (The Dance of the Deer Foundation)
I’ve been thinking a lot about connection lately. Connection and community and how we need them like we need oxygen. We need someone to bear witness to our lives. We need to be there for each other. My hope is that we can continue to open our hearts, reach across a sea of difference and create a world community based on respect and love instead of fear.
Today’s show is about addiction, a struggle that so often stems from a lack of connection, from needs unfulfilled. Addiction can offer the illusion of connection but the destruction is deep, the hole tragically hard to climb out of. Some make it out, through moments of grace and a lot of hard work, but many do not.
Roy Nelson has walked the path of childhood wounding, addiction, grace, and recovery. He is a transformational speaker, spiritual healer, and the creator of the Nelson Method of Addiction Treatment. He specializes in working with addicts for whom every other method of recovery has failed. Roy is the author of Love Notes from Hell: Stories of Hopeless Addiction, Obsession and Freedom. Join us for this discussion of addiction, freedom, and what connection really means.
You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.alanasheeren.com
Do you feel you’re allowed to be who you are, to feel what you feel, to want what you want? If someone waved a magic wand and gave you full permission to be yourself, would anything in your life change?
Unfortunately, some people don’t feel safe enough to be themselves (and some people truly aren’t safe – something I hope we’re collectively working to change). You may feel like you’ve been hiding and “playing small,” afraid to show your true colors. Today’s show can help you find the courage and the skills to share your real voice with the world.
My guest is Dr. Michelle Mazur, a speech coach and the CEO of Communication Rebel. She specializes in taking those with something they want to say, helping them find their voice, and turning them into sought-after speakers. Michelle knows how to influence others through eloquent, persuasive speech. She has personally logged over 10,000 hours speaking to groups of all sizes, and teaching coaches, entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, and thought leaders how to ramp up their presentations. Her newest book is an Amazon bestseller titled Speak for Impact, and she’s also written Speak Up For Your Business. Do you want to make an impact and use your influence and persuasion for good? Join us now to learn more.
You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.alanasheeren.com
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands and pressures of your life? Do you struggle to find a healthy way through the daily ups and downs? Do you wish for a fairy godmother to wave her magic wand and take care of everything on your to-do list so you can catch your breath? (I’m raising my hand over here on that last one!)
Most of us want lives filled with joy and ease but our choices often set us up for something very different. Even if we’re making the best choices we can, the pressures of modern life are hard to juggle.
It’s helpful to have a path to follow, a structure or practice that helps guide us toward a more ease-filled life. Today we’re talking about applying the ancient wisdom of yoga principles to busy lives in practical ways. Yoga is MUCH, MUCH more than just a body-stretching path to fitness!
My guest this week is Pleasance Silicki, a teacher, coach, magic-maker and community builder. She’s the author of the e-book Delight: Eight Principles for Living with Joy and Ease, and co-founder of the National Kids Yoga Conference. She also founded Lil Omm Yoga, a former yoga studio in Washington, DC, now an online community. Today we are talking about slowing down, simplifying, and giving ourselves permission to be ENOUGH.
You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.alanasheeren.com
Welcome to Season 2 of Create Your Magical Life! We’ll be talking to people who make life magical for others around them. It’s time to step up to a new reality of connectedness and love, and it must begin with our own awareness and understanding.
White privilege---what does that REALLY mean? Do you have diversity in your life and business? Do your social attitudes include the subtle tones of racism? We’ll dig deep into these difficult topics today.
My guest is Desiree Adaway, who is a master at leading conversations on race, class, and gender. As a consultant, coach, and strategic business professional, Desiree specializes in the challenges of organizational transitions and projects related to racial equality and social justice. As a person of color in America, she speaks truth with power about racism, oppression, privilege, and diversity.
Is unconditional self-love possible? What does it really mean? And why does loving ourselves unconditionally matter?
My guest this week is Blake Bauer, who believes that unconditional self-love is the path to peace, freedom, and living the life of your dreams. Blake is an internationally-recognized speaker, counselor, and alternative medicine practitioner. He is the best-selling author of the book, You Were Not Born to Suffer. Through private sessions, retreats, and energy healing workshops, Blake helps people all around the world find freedom in all areas of life. When I first met Blake, I was struck by his warm, grounded energy and his clear and loving perspective; I hope that comes through to each of you today.
You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.alanasheeren.com
How do you feel about change? If you’re like most people, you’re excited and ready for desired changes and completely resistant to everything else. Sometimes even the change we think we want can challenge us immensely when we’re in the midst of it. (Think moving, or starting a new job.)
Change happens—and it often means letting go of some things, experiencing wild inner growth, and taking in more magic as you stay open to possibility. But what if the change you’re in the midst of is unwelcome, difficult, and leaves you scared or sick or just plain miserable? It’s hard to find the magic in THAT kind of change. But we’ve all been caught in unwanted change and that’s what today’s guest is here to talk about. How do you find magic when you’re ill or in pain or suffering?
Grace Quantock is a coach, speaker, author, and consultant from Wales who became ill in her teens. Instead of giving up on life, Grace believed that her dreams were worth pursuing and she found ways to keep moving forward – to keep finding magic in her life – no matter what. She is an award-winning entrepreneur with a global business and a successful non-profit. She helps others go “from sick chick to trailblazer” with humor, compassion, and lots of body glitter. Join us!
You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at: www.alanasheeren.com
Do you long for more connection with the magic of the natural world? Are you drawn to the beauty of rocks and crystals but you’re not sure what to do with them?
This week is all about crystals, stones, and healing rituals. Athena Perrakis of Sage Goddess talks about starting out with crystals, how they affect the body’s energy, creating an altar and using rituals to connect to your inner wisdom. Athena is an incredible source of wisdom and gives specific tips and info you can immediately put to good use.
Athena Perrakis left the corporate world to launch the world’s largest and most trusted online source for sacred tools and gemstones. She started her business with a single product, intending to connect the world in a virtual sacred circle, following the rhythm, rituals, and magic of the moon. Online and at the Sage Goddess flagship store, you can now find over 2000 tools and products to help you access your inner wisdom and your personal magical lineage. Join us for this fun conversation!
Do you struggle with building solid friendships? Do you find it difficult to say “no”, even when you really want to? Have you ever been told that you’re just “too nice”?
Having strong, healthy boundaries is key to living a magical life but traditional boundary advice can be hard to stick to when you’re a very kind person.
In today’s conversation, master coach Randi Buckley shares tried and true methods for figuring out where you end and others begin. For more than 25 years, Randi has worked with prestigious organizations such as AAMPAS (the Oscars organization), Sundance Film Festival, Omega Institute, Stanford University, the Dallas Cowboys, Spa Nordstrom, NBC University, and Youth for Understanding International. In her private practice, Randi guides women through sticky situations and big decisions with kindness and humor (and healthy boundaries too).
For mindset shifts and practical tips, join us!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Randi’s classes: Healthy Boundaries for Kind People and Maybe Baby, and more!
- The profound difference between NICE and KIND
- Why traditional boundary advice won’t work for kind people
- Signs of weak or nonexistent boundaries
- The Shape of You—“Where you end and others begin”
- Practical boundaries for the best YOU
- Common boundary issues
- Feeling unseen or unheard
- How to put boundaries in place with people who think you have none!
- Does your garden have healthy soil?
- Doubts and ambivalence
- How to honor your integrity
- Changing your mind vs. keeping your word
- Being selfish: Good or Bad?
- Following your North Star
- Tools for making decisions with confidence
- Being fearless vs. being brave
- Fear = a messenger
Resources:
What is energy? (And I don’t mean what you remember from high school science!) How about intuition? Does EVERYONE have it? How do you use it in your daily life? Is it possible to stay grounded when life is a steady stream of curve balls? Can you really stay balanced amid the ups and downs? Today’s guest answers these questions beautifully. She also gives helpful tips about finding the right energy healer and how understanding the Chinese five elements can help you celebrate your strengths and find compassion for your weaknesses.
Meet Megan Potter, a writer, teacher, diviner, oracle, and Chinese Face reader. Megan describes herself as being devoted to expansion, growth and magic. Megan doesn’t just throw around buzzwords, she gives practical advice and simple explanations. She wants you to embrace yourself fully for who you are—without judgment.
You can find all the show notes at www.alanasheeren.com
Have you found your passion? Do you feel like you make a difference? Do you know what sets you on fire and lights you up inside?
Each of us yearns to be useful, important, and relevant. We all have a unique spark—a gift to share with the world. Your gift can be shared in your circle of family and friends, or on a world stage. Bigger isn’t necessarily better. What matters is how YOU feel. My two guests for this episode have each found their spark, their gift, and their purpose—and I’m delighted to introduce them to you. I ask that you do more than listen with your ears; I ask that you listen with your heart. Listen for inspiration, for motivation, for those quiet inner whispers guiding you on your own personal journey.
Sonya Passi is filling a gap in the world for survivors of domestic violence. She is the founder and CEO of Free From, a nonprofit whose mission is to make safety affordable for ALL survivors of domestic violence. Free From has been called “a groundbreaking and transformative approach to a nationwide epidemic.”
Christa Gallopoulos is a writer, photographer, painter, mentor, coach, and founder of the Silethokuhle Foundation in South Africa. She followed her heart from the US to the KwaZulu-Natal region and the community of Ngwenya, located in NE South Africa. Listen as she shares the beautiful unfolding of her dream.
Hold on to your seats and prepare for a BIG dose of inspiration as you listen to these two amazing women share what it means to be fully committed to your passion!
What you’ll hear from Sonya:
- How her journey has unfolded, with a long involvement in the world of domestic violence
- How she merged her law degree and financial experience to create a nonprofit
- Three Foundational Strategies of Free From: legal services, policy reform, and entrepreneurship
- Domestic violence costs in the US: $8.3 billion annually!
- The abuser should pay!
- It’s a crisis epidemic, with ONE in FOUR women affected!
- The need: emergency relief to long-term stability
- Get safe and stay safe—but how long does it take?
- Statute of limitations: Why they differ in each state
- Survival skills translate to business success
- The 12-month plan for survivors to become entrepreneurs
- 500Founders campaign to fund training programs—YOU can help!
- The HUGE reward from magically aligning purpose, passion, and skills!
What you’ll hear from Christa:
- Why Christa left “the dream life” in Washington, DC for South Africa
- A lifelong obsession with Africa
- The community she loves and serves
- The Silindokuhle Preschool—opening NOW!
- The need to learn English and computer skills
- The Foundation’s goals: preserving Zulu culture and teaching necessary skills
- Those who help share the dream with Christa: Sanele, Crystal, and Michele
- Christa’s big dream? Building an eco-friendly lodge on Ghost Mountain to be a training facility with profits for the community (You can help and share the dream!)
Have you given much thought to the skin care products you use and where they come from? How about the items in your medicine cabinet? Are they safe? Are they healthy and nourishing? Awareness is rising about the toxic chemicals in many products that we use regularly in and on our bodies. Herbal products are becoming more popular, but how can you know if they’re safe and effective?
My guests today are Adam Klaus and Phoebe Stewart, herbal alchemists and founders of Some Love Herbs. Though each of them came to understand the healing benefits of plants in different ways, they’ve combined their passion for organic gardening, herbal medicine, and eastern holistic health into creating products that are safe and effective for the whole family. They love teaching others about restoring balance using the healing properties of plants and herbs. Are you ready to learn more? Join us!
You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.alanasheeren.com
As parents, we all have our own “stuff” to deal with – our wounds and habits and emotional triggers, many of which are due to our own upbringing. Of course we all want to be great parents and not damage our kids. We are all doing the best we can in the moment. Sometimes we just need a little help, a little direction, and a little reassurance that our kids will turn out OK in spite of us. Honestly, most of us have some personal work to do to get to a better parenting place. That’s where today’s guest steps in.
Kate Anthony is a parenting and personal development coach who created the program, How NOT to F*** Up Your Kids. Her core philosophy is that you can be a better parent by becoming a better YOU. She teaches that you can solve many of your messy problems by increasing your EQ, or emotional intelligence. Our conversation today is full of helpful information. Even if you’re not a parent, or your kids are grown, what we discuss will help you better understand and support your loved ones who are parents (and maybe even yourself)!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Our children=MIRRORS
- Kate’s struggle to make a bad marriage “work”
- The “What If’s”
- From the really bad to the really beautiful
- Handling life’s messy parts
- Consciously designing your life
- Looking through the lenses of your “perspectacles”
- Bringing conscious awareness to your parenting
- How to be a powerful parent, but not controlling
- How to be assertive, NOT aggressive
- Being aware of your parenting blueprint
- Emotional intelligence—What is it?
- Response vs. Reaction
- Five levels of listening
- Don’t forget to model!
- Optimism: it’s NOT just being positive
- Looking for the growth opportunity
- Are you an Eeyore or a Tigger?
- Self-care, oxygen masks, and motherhood
- Hungry, angry, lonely, or tired?
- The Zen Mom: Steps to Chillin’ Out!
- Kate’s program: 8 steps in 8 weeks
Resources:
www.kateanthony.com (Find her free resources and much more!)
Before diving into today’s interview, I share a few thoughts about summer and its potentially unrealistic expectations. As summer gets into full swing here in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you find yourself focusing on what’s important to you.
Did you have a favorite shape as a kid? Is there a certain shape or design that you find yourself unexplainably drawn to? Many geometric shapes have sacred meaning and energy---and that is part of our topic for today, alongside energy medicine & transformation. Are you intrigued?
My guest is Deborah Stuart, a longtime student of the metaphysical arts and sciences and a passionate pioneer in the field of energy medicine. Deborah has spent 20 years researching and developing subtle energy technologies, helping people achieve deeper states of meditation and higher states of consciousness. She is the co-founder of The Oxygen Research Institute and the founder and designer of High Chi jewelry. She strives to make pure, protective, and healing energy available to all.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- How sacred geometry creates “power spot energy”
- Power spots—It all comes down to gridlines.
- The Flower of Life design
- Healing energy can be measured using pendulums.
- How the US military and Swiss Telecom have used these technologies
- Negative vs. positive energy
- Clothing and jewelry—the energy is THERE!
- Twelve higher harmonics—What are they?
- Dark energy—Have you FELT it?
- Energy transformation
- Ask for help!
- Emotional literacy—it’s important!
- Deborah’s techniques: “Feel and Flick” and “33 seconds”
- High frequency energy in jewelry
- Are you grounded?
- It sounds crazy and magical, but IT WORKS!
- Can you handle the energy?
- “Resonant Shakedown”—What is it?
- Think of ONE THING you can do today that makes you light up inside and brings you happiness, joy, and delight!
You can read the full show notes at www.alanasheeren.com
Welcome! My guest today is Sat Nishan Kaur, a singer, musician, Reiki master, dear friend, and my Kundalini yoga teacher. In this show, I share some personal thoughts on legacy and how Nia, Reiki, and Kundalini yoga became a big part of my life and my spirituality. Then Sat Nishan and I discuss this unusual form of yoga and its magical, soul-elevating benefits. Join us!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Kundalini energy: What is it?
- How Kundalini yoga differs from other types of yoga
- How and why Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini yoga from India to the west
- Kundalini yoga has ties to the Sikh religion, but is practiced by people of all faiths
- What Kundalini defines as the “god” within us
- Kundalini’s origin and why it took so long to reach the western world
- How it gained popularity as “a way to get high without drugs!”
- Elements of the Kundalini class, including kriya, mantra, breathing, movements, relaxation, music, and meditations.
- Kundalini yoga as a path to quick transformation
- To sweat or not to sweat?
- How the nervous and glandular systems are balanced in Kundalini yoga
- Why we wear white clothes and head coverings
- How music is integrated with chanting mantras
Resources:
www.kundaliniresearchinstitute.org
Are you familiar with EFT or “tapping”? Chances are, if you know much about the world of personal development, then you’ve heard something about Emotional Freedom Technique. Introduced to the world in the 1990’s, EFT has positively impacted millions of people with astonishing results. Most of us have dealt with phobias, childhood traumas, anxieties and fears, PTSD, or other emotional issues. All of these can be greatly improved—and even permanently healed-- using EFT. Are you curious about how it works? The difference EFT can make in your life is nothing short of amazing.
While you can find many versions of “tapping” on the internet, and many teachers who claim different benefits, we wanted to go straight to the source: Emotional Freedom Technique originator and founder, Gary Craig. His website has tutorials, techniques, and other helpful information—all free! Check out our resources below for more information.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- The two types of EFT Gary developed are Gold Standard and Optimal.
- Gold Standard EFT is the “emotional version of acupuncture without needles.”
- The healing process can be reduced to hours and minutes instead of weeks, months, and years!
- Gary talks about working with veterans to heal their PTSD.
- Gary’s website includes two free tutorials to teach you everything you need to start working with EFT.
- “Easy EFT” occurs when you “tap” along with someone else—also called “borrowing benefits.”
- Buyer beware in the world of EFT! Be sure to check out a teacher or practitioner thoroughly before working with them.
- Gary explains how he developed EFT and discusses a deeply spiritual experience that changed his perspective on life.
- In Optimal EFT, spiritual methods are added to tapping for deeper results.
- Optimal EFT has the goal of removing the blocks to love’s presence and helping us to “climb our spiritual ladder.”
- Gary explains “The Unseen Therapist” and “The Guardian at the Gate.”
- Optimal EFT has two steps and it brings faster results, more efficiency, and greater love, joy, and peace.
- In this episode’s segment of Alana’s Guide to Magical Living, we meet Maree Gecks, the founder and designer of Marzipants, which are beautiful, Bohemian-style trousers. They are a comfortable, form-flattering pant, styled after the loose, wrap pants of the Thai fishermen. They are ethically and sustainably made in luxurious organic cotton. Check our Resources section for more information!
Resources:
We all know the power of the spoken word, but have you given much thought to the power of the written word? For some, the urge to write is as natural as breathing, while others would rather do ANYTHING else. If you’ve ever tried to write, then you know emotions that range from pure, pulling-your-hair-out frustration to unparalleled satisfaction and joy. If you’re a reader, then you know the magical emotions evoked by written words as you’ve connected with an author or carefully crafted characters that can become as dear as family.
My two guests today are founders of The Inky Path, a writing and creativity community. It’s a supportive and cozy online space where writers--and those deeply in love with writing--can gather to develop and deepen their writing practice and connect with other creative souls. Jena Schwartz is a poet, writer, and writing group facilitator. Her cohort is Cigdem Kobu, a writer, awarded literary translator, digital publisher, and teacher. Let’s discover more about the wonderful world of writing with these two!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Creativity has its challenges, such as being overwhelmed by too many ideas and the “paralysis of perfection.”
- Another BIG challenge is realizing that creativity can be woven into every part of your day.
- Cigdem has learned to give herself permission to make mistakes.
- Jena promotes creativity in her “real life” by writing poems on her phone at scattered moments throughout her busy day as a mother.
- Another obstacle to writing is vulnerability. Our writers explain how to handle this fear.
- Writing, even if it’s private journal-writing, is a way of learning about and “locating” yourself.
- Many have a fear of writing because there is resistance to the stillness that it brings.
- How do I START writing?
-
- Cigdem suggests using a notebook and pen and “letting it flow.”
- Jena suggests setting a timer, choosing a point of entry, and writing without editing.
- Telling our stories maps our lives and gives witness and words to our lives.
- Telling our stories affirms our humanity and has healing potential in our world.
- Jena explains that writing is a solitary act that can connect people with compassion, community, safety, and support.
- Cigdem is a self-described “introvert who craves community,” but finds enrichment and fulfillment in her writing community.
- Also in this episode, as part of Alana’s Guide to Magical Living, we meet Bethany Tran, the CEO and Chief Designer at The Root Collective. They are a Certified B Corporation offering handmade shoes that change lives in poor villages in Guatemala. Find their website in our Resources section below!
Resources:
www.inkypath.com (Find writing prompts, classes, writers’ community, courses, an upcoming online magazine, and MORE!)
www.therootcollective.com (Find the free e-book, Your Ethical Journey: Seven Steps to Changing Lives with your Purchases.)
Do you ever find yourself feeling uneasy about your life? The farther we get from our values, the more we feel “off”. We may even find ourselves threatened by others who are living in alignment with their values. If you aren’t living in alignment with your values, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate. Don’t judge yourself and beat yourself up about it. Let’s find ways to move a bit closer to living according to your values.
Debbie Rosas is the founder and co-creator of Nia. Dedicated lifelong to self-healing and self-mastery, Debbie has been a pioneer in the body-mind fitness industry since 1976. Credited with establishing the mind-body fitness category, she is a leading fitness innovator, teacher, author, choreographer, performer, healer, and artist whose work greatly influences the lives of thousands of women and men worldwide.
You can learn more about Debbie and the Nia Technique at www.nianow.com
Also on the show, Ashton Sabo of Sivana Spirit, an online store dedicated to helping people live with spirit. You can find them online at www.sivanaspirit.com. Ashton is also the host of the Sivana Podcast, to spread their mission far and wide.
Did you know that by going into a state of deep relaxation you can boost immune function, lower your blood pressure, allow your body to heal from illness or surgery more quickly and so much more? The problem for most people is being able to access that state of deep relaxation with the busyness of every day life.
Nancy Hopps is an internationally recognized author, speaker, performer and sound healer. Her award-winning Relax Into Healing™ series of spoken-word audio recordings have profoundly benefited thousands of listeners worldwide, in home, hospital and other healing settings. In this show she talks about her experience with the healing benefits of deep relaxation and sound, both as a professional healer and as a cancer survivor.
Learn more about Nancy Hopps at NancyHopps.com
Also in this show, Veronique Henry of Mirabelle Jewellery shares how her love of nature and travel inspired her to launch her own line of ethical jewelry made with love and soul. Learn more and shop at MirabelleJewellery.co.uk
Do you race from book to book, class to class and workshop to workshop, trying to figure out the secret formula to manifesting the life of your dreams? Unfortunately, all the knowledge in the world won’t change anything if you don’t put it into practice. In The Spiritual Workout® handbook and classes, former psychotherapist Steven Morrison takes the 15 most common spiritual principles and teaches you how to work with them so they work for you. In this show we dive into some of the more challenging concepts and apply the Spiritual Workout® to issues like anxiety, chronic bad relationships and grief.
Learn more about Steven and The Spiritual Workout® at SpiritualWorkout.com
Interior designers, Feng Shui practitioners, wardrobe stylists and marketing geniuses use color to influence our experience of a person, place or product. Color is also related to light, vibration and the human energy (chakra) system. Many of us use color unconsciously to reflect or lift our mood. Writer, designer and intuitive Bridget Pilloud believes that color can powerfully support us … Read more about this episode...