a healing guide

A few weeks ago, while walking the Camino de Santiago, I found myself cringing- at the hikers, the greetings, my hiking poles. But as I reflected, I realised it wasn’t about anyone else; it was about me. This episode dives into the feeling of cringe: why it holds such power over us, how it quietly shapes our self-expression, and how we can move through it with curiosity and compassion. Drawing on The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (the best book I have ever read!), I explore how self-judgment keeps us small, and how leaning into cringe might actually be the most liberating thing we can do.

An exploration into why “being cool” often means being disconnected and how embracing our own awkwardness can bring us closer to who we really are.

You can find Leora at:

 IG:@a.healing.guide.pod ; @leorabf

Resources:

• Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements

Timestamps:

00:41 Reflecting on the Camino de Santiago
02:23 Understanding Cringe
04:58 The Four Agreements: A Path to Self-Liberation
09:46 Embracing Cringe and Personal Growth
11:58  Final Thoughts and Inspirations

In this episode of 'a healing guide', I dive into the power of walking as a practice for healing, clarity, and transformation. Having just completing 16 days on the Portuguese route of Camino de Santiago, I share my insights from the pilgrimage and why walking has been one of the most impactful tools on my healing journey.

I share my thoughts on:

• Walking as more than exercise but meditation, prayer, and therapy in motion
• The healing power of the Camino de Santiago and its rich history as a pilgrimage
• How carrying a backpack reveals the “baggage” we hold in life and how to let it go
• The stages of transformation that unfold during consecutive days of walking
• The role of nature, community, and rhythm in creating breakthroughs

Whether you’re curious about the Camino, drawn to pilgrimage, or simply looking for ways to improve your mental health, this episode is an invitation to step into the the incredible capacity for peace and wellbeing from the simple act of walking.

You can find Leora at:

 IG:@a.healing.guide.pod

Resources:

• Thich Naht Hanh Poem on Mindful Walking 
• Camino resources
  • https://caminoways.com/camino-de-santiago
  • https://stingynomads.com/
  • Facebook groups are amazing- look for the groups for the route you choose

Time stamps
00:56 The Healing Power of Walking
02:34 Historical and Cultural Significance of The Camino
04:09 Personal Journey on The Camino
10:58 Why I think The Camino Leads to Healing & Transformation
18:32 Final Reflections and Encouragement
19:28 Closing Poem by Tich Nat Hanh

You can find Leora at:

 IG:@a.healing.guide.pod

I am about to embark on a range of journeys and adventures- types of 'pilgrimages' and will be sharing my experiences, learnings and challenges in real time. 

In episode, I explore the idea of pilgrimage and I share why I’m beginning a series of pilgrimages across the world — from the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal, to the Kumano Kodo in Japan, to sacred mountains in India, and my ancestral villages in Lithuania.

I reflect on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a profound and metaphorical story of a young man who goes on a quest to find treasure- to discover the treasure was within all along.

Interestingly Paulo Coelho wrote this book based on his own experiences walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage across Spain

A quote to carry with you:
"When the road ends and the goal is gained, the pilgrim finds that he has traveled only from himself to himself. But the God that led him unto it was all the while in him, around him, with him, beside him" – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

00:00 Recording in Beautiful Places

00:26 What is a Pilgrimage?

01:02 Upcoming Adventures and Pilgrimages

03:05 The Story of The Alchemist

05:31 Lessons from The Alchemist

06:38 Personal Reflections on Pilgrimage

08:03 Life as a Pilgrimage

09:11 Personal Legends and Dreams

10:33 Invitation to Join the Journey

Inspired by a Tibetan Buddhist quote and a river in Portugal, this episode explores how surrendering to life’s flow can bring more peace, trust, and joy, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.

You can find Leora at:

 IG:@a.healing.guide.pod

"The bad news is, you’re falling without anything to hold onto. The good news is, there’s no ground to fall on." - Chögyam Trungpa 

The above quote has been guiding me lately and I share a story from my time living in Portugal, floating down tidal rivers and learning what it really means to surrender. Just like the river carries us effortlessly when we stop resisting, life has its own intelligence that guides us, if only we can let go of control.

Together, we explore:

• Why letting go can feel so terrifying and so freeing
• How to build trust in the unknown when you can’t control outcomes
• The wisdom of flow, whether in career, love, or creativity
• Seeing rejection as redirection, not failure
• What rivers (and life) can teach us about surrender, resilience, and trust

This episode is a gentle reminder (for me as much as you) that we don’t have to figure it all out , we only need to take the next step, let go a little more, and trust that life is carrying us exactly where we need to go.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Exploring the Concept of Letting Go 

02:53 Portugal and its Rivers

03:51 The River as a Metaphor for Life

06:12 Trusting the Flow of Life

10:07 Applying Trust in Different Areas of Life

11:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of 'A Healing Guide,' I sit down with the wonderful Galit Criden, a choreographer, somatic practitioner, community builder to explore the bodies most ancient medicine: movement.

We dive into Galit’s journey with dance and her transformative RESET classes, where movement becomes a way to process emotions, release old stories, and rediscover joy. Galit shares how dance can be a daily practice of meeting yourself exactly as you are- whether you’re moving through grief, rage, joy, or feeling disconnected or lost.

We talk about what we’ve collectively forgotten about movement, how to reconnect with our bodies, and why creativity, community, and play are essential for healing and motherhood.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What we’ve forgotten about the natural language of movement
• How Galit’s RESET classes use dance to process life in real-time
• Why letting go doesn’t mean losing yourself
• The role of touch in reconnecting with yourself and others
• How to foster creativity in yourself and in children
• Why community and shared movement can amplify healing

Whether you’re a dancer or someone who swears they “can’t dance,” this episode invites you to reclaim your body, liberate your emotions, and remember the joy and freedom that comes from moving without self-judgment.

You can find Galit at:

IG: @Galit.Criden

Her RESET classes:

IG:@reset_dance

You can find Leora at:

 IG:@a.healing.guide.pod

Recommended resources:

• RESET Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3C06fTE4o3Xvw8p8zzZbHm?si=lhmmKK2FRkOJ07McQrXrCw&nd=1&dlsi=7386a1472a2147b1
• Connection between dancing and healing https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/transformative-rx-burnout-grief-and-illness-dance-2024a1000hqj?form=fpf
• Matriachal principles: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2xdVFqIsD6/
• Books involving Matriarchal Principles
  • The Thirteen Clan Mothers: Jamie Sams
  • Braiding Sweetgrass: Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • Serviceberries: Robin Wall Kimmerer

Timestamps:

00:17 Defining Somatic Movement

01:12 Meet Galit Criden

02:34 What we Have Forgotten about Dance and Movement

03:54 The Healing Power of Dance

06:54 Inside a Reset Class

15:00 How To Letting Go Without Losing Yourself

20:30 Daily Practices for Presence 

25:08 Nurturing Creativity and Boldness

27:34 Integrating Creativity into Motherhood

33:39 The Power of Stillness and Closing Thoughts

What if our most difficult moments weren’t meant to be solved? But stayed with, listened to and honoured as important wisdom for the trajectory of our lives.

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and clinical psychologist Tarryn Ellison for a thoughtful exploration into how we meet discomfort and confusion in our lives and how a different lens and the support of another, can change everything.

Tarryn shares her unique approach to depth therapy, dreamwork, and healing, inviting us to reimagine what it means to move through life’s harder chapters. From her own journey into becoming a therapist to the sacred role of dreams in guiding us back to our inner landscape, this conversation is a reframing in how we can hold ourselves and each other.

Topics covered:

• The difference between traditional and depth therapy
• How to know you’ve found the right therapist
• The importance of having someone by your side in your healing journey
• Supporting others without trying to rescue them
• The power of dreamwork as a bridge to your inner landscape
• Practical tools for working with your dreams

This episode is for anyone navigating the unknown, standing beside a loved one in pain, or looking for a gentler way to meet hard places within.

You can find Tarryn at:

W: https://www.tarrynellison.com/

You can find Leora at:

 IG:@a_healing_guide_pod

Recommended resources:

• Tokopa Turner- Belonging remembering ourselves home
• Dream Wise: Unlocking the meaning of your dreams - Lisa Marchiano and Deborah Stewart
• Let your body interpret your dreams- Eugene T Gendlin
• Dreams, a portal to the source- Edward Whitmond

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 
01:37 Taryn's Approach to Therapy
04:45 Depth Therapy vs. Conventional Psychology
07:40 Finding the Right Therapist
10:49 The Role of Disturbance in Therapy
14:14 The Importance of Connection in Healing
18:48 How to help those navigating difficult times
21:54 Introduction to Dream Work
23:30 Understanding the Symbolism of Dreams
25:50 Practical Dream Work Techniques
30:12 Personal and Archetypal Symbols
37:35 Reconnecting with Your Inner World
38:27 Getting Started with Dream Work
41:32 Final Thoughts and Resources

Please tune in for a nourishing guided meditation to go inwards and connect with your essence.

Find a comfy seat, settle in and enjoy!

You can find Eugenia Yallamas at:

W:https://www.earthmedicina.com/

IG:Earthmedicina_gina

You can find Leora at:

 IG: A healing guide pod

In this episode of 'a Healing Guide' , I speak with Eugenia Yallamas, an incredible energy medicine practitioner, acupuncturist, holistic wellness coach and healer.

Eugenia explains the ancient wisdom behind Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, reconnecting us to the natural rhythms within and around us and harmonising our system to its original state of wellbeing and balance. 

We also discuss plant medicine and the importance of preparation and integration in the healing process. We discuss how to shift out of limiting stories and beliefs that can be created in the aftermath of trauma, loss, separation. 

Eugenia shares her journey to becoming a healer and her spiritual awakening.

This episode is followed by a guided meditation led by Eugenia, so please tune in to the next episode if you would like to go within.

You can find Eugenia Yallamas at:

W:https://www.earthmedicina.com/

IG:earthmedicina_gina

You can find Leora at:

 IG: A healing guide pod

Resources recommended:

• The Body Keeps The Score- Bessel Van De Kolk
• Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
• An Essay on Serviceberries - Robyn Wall Kimmerer (I cannot recommend this enough!!!!!!) 
• The 13 Clan Mothers - Jamie Same
• The Gene Keys- Richard Rudd
• The Art of Contemplation- Richard Rudd (amazing course)
• The Resilience Project
• Whisperings of the Dragon- Lujan Matus

Topics:

00:00 Introduction to Eugenia

02:07 Understanding Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

11:00 The Rhythms of our Inner and Outer Worlds

14:33 The Importance of Preparation & Integration in Plant Medicine

22:55 Shifting out of Victim Mode

27:38 Reflections and Relationships

31:26 Eugenia's Personal Journey and Spiritual Awakening

39:21: Context into Next Episodes Mediation

40:00 Recommended Resources and Wrap-up

What if the key to healing isn’t found in doing more, but in slowing down and remembering the rhythms of the Earth?

In this episode of a healing guide I sit down with Jo Rockendorfer, a Transpersonal Art Therapist, healer, wise woman, and keeper of myth and magic, for a powerful conversation on returning to our natural essence through the cycles of nature.

Together we explore:
 ✨ The wisdom of the medicine wheel and what it can teach us about balance
🌿 How plant medicines like Ayahuasca can reconnect us to spirit the Earth
🎨 Art as a tool for self-inquiry, healing, and expression
🌕 Embracing our menstrual cycles as a source of power and guidance
📖 The magic of myth and story as maps for navigating life’s challenges

Jo shares her deep wisdom on how we can align with the Earth’s cycles, let go of control, and remember who we truly are. This episode is both grounding and expansive, offering practical tools and soulful reflections to support your own healing journey.

The conversation is a beautiful exploration of how healing occurs when we slow down and reconnect to the earth, it’s cycles and medicine- and ultimately back to ourselves.

I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed being a part of it.

As always if you have any feedback please get in touch via my instagram.

You can find Jo Rockendorfer at:

W:https://www.cantadora.com.au/ 

You can find Leora at:

 IG: A healing guide pod

Resources:

Books:

• Women Who Run with Wolves- Clarissa Pinkola Estes
• SoulCollage- Seena B Frost
• Under the Quandong Tree - Minmia 
• Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Secret Language of your Body - Inna Segal
• Ancestral Medicine- Daniel Foor

Medicine Wheel resources:

• Compass of the Heart Embodying Medicine Wheel Teachings - Loren Cruden 
• Sandra Ingerman - shift network for her courses and she has many books on earth based practises including Medicine Wheel
• The Medicine wheel discussed in this episode comes from the School of Complementary Medicine, taught by Dr Rafael Locke

People:

• Jo’s Shamanic teacher Puma - Fredy Quispe Singona- Shiftnetwork and https://www.noqankani.com/about 
• Gabrielle Roth, founder of 5 Rhythms Dance
• Dr Margaret Rainbird: Labyrinth creator
• Jane Hardwick Collins - The school of Shamanic Womancraft  for more women’s work in particular the wisdom of the menstrual cycle

Topics:

00:00 Introduction to Jo

01:28 Acknowledging the Ancestors of the land

02:33 Healing the land

06:09 Nature based practices and the Medicine Wheel

10:40 Art as a Tool for Healing

17:29 Understanding and connecting with our Menstrual Cycle

23:30 The Influence of Moon Phases

25:31 Connecting with plant medicines: Ayahuasca

28:39 The 'purge' 

31:53 Advice on working with Ayahuasca 

39:26 The Power of Myths and Archetypes

43:41 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Exploring the Power of Energy Healing with Teena Angelia

In this episode I speak with Teena Angelia, an energy healer and clairvoyant. Teena shares insights into her practice, how it works, and the benefits. We discuss the importance of reclaiming our personal power and returning to our authentic selves. Teena shares tools and advice for clearing and working with your energy as well as connecting with angels, using crystals and how to deal with psychic attacks. We also discuss the importance of addressing physical health alongside energetic health.

You can find Teena at:

W: https://teenaangelia.com.au/

You can find Leora at:

 IG:https://www.instagram.com/a.healing.guide.pod/ 

Recommended resources:

• Eckhart Tolle- A New Earth 
• Gary Zukav: A Seat of The Soul
• The Medical Medium: Cleanse to Heal

Top tips

Clearing your energy field: 

• Having a sense of your feet or any part of your body, connecting with the ground or surface supporting you. Center yourself into a state of I am the authority over my own being, and I choose right now to clear all energy on every level that is not in alignment with divine love and my soul
• Visualize or surround yourself with  beautiful, bright light, call in the light, visualize that the light is a space around you that is pushing back all of the things that have been trying to crowd in or trying to affect you. 

Topics:

00:00 Introduction 

01:28 Tina's Journey into Energy Healing

02:12 Understanding Energy Healing

04:52 Benefits of Energy Healing

06:41 Typical Energy Healing Session

10:39 The Importance of Self-Validation

14:32 Healing from Trauma and Abuse

19:26 Tools for Energy Clearing and Protection

22:29 Connecting with Angels and Archangels

24:50 Healing Power of Crystals

31:28 Physical and Energetic Body Connection

33:58 Detox and Cleanse for Healing

36:46 Recommended Resources and Conclusion