Alchemist Recovery Podcast

What happens when we commit 100% to breaking through a lifelong block?

In this episode of The Sober Shaman, we dive into the "ceilings" we all hit in recovery. Especially those stubborn, recurring patterns involving the "Big Three": Food, Sex, and Money.

Even after years of sobriety, many of us find ourselves still enchanted by the Spells of our solidified beliefs. They validate themselves on our past experiences but because we believe them, they predetermine our future outcomes.

We'll explore why taking a journey or working the steps or reading self-help isn't always enough to shatter these specific blocks.

The missing ingredient? 100% Commitment.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Big Three: Why food, sex, and money are the usual ceilings we hit in our next level of spiritual growth.
• The Anatomy of a Spell: How your current beliefs are actually sabotaging your future potential.
• The Power of 100%: Lessons from Jesus and the Buddha on what it truly looks like to "say no to the Devil".

Whether you are struggling with sugar, finances, or love in all of its forms, this episode provides the spiritual medicine needed to breakthrough those self-imposed ceilings we've all manifested.

Connect with the Journey:

Ready to take the spiritual medicine into your daily life? Visit us at thesobershaman.com for more resources, episodes, and guidance on your path to recovery.

When faced with the fact that we’ve come up short, It’s normal to think that if we just planned better, woke up earlier, and tried a little harder, then we would have succeeded.

But what happens when we realize that we’ve said that, and done that, and still ended up in this exact spot, more than once before?

Trying harder, and of all the mind’s controlled thinking, planning and judging, can actually be the cement that hardens a long-standing pattern into place.

So, for these people, which are most people, surrender is the way out.

But what exactly is surrender? Who is doing it? And what are we surrendering to?

Don’t worry, this isn’t about defeat - it’s actually about scoring a victory for the forces of innocence, love, spirit and the Heart.

Check out how we do this in the latest episode of The Sober Shaman Podcast

Takeaways

• Cycles of addiction and mental health struggles can lead to feelings of being stuck and repeating patterns.
• The interplay between surrender and discipline, and the longing of the heart for connection, are key elements in getting unstuck.

Chapters

• 00:00 Getting Unstuck in Recovery and Mental Health
• 09:26 The Pull of Surrender and Discipline
• 19:39 The Role of Identity and Purpose
• 26:41 The Power of Surrender and the Heart's Longing
• 32:28 Breaking Free from Limiting Core Beliefs

thesobershaman.com

Definition: Spell

a: a spoken word or form of words held to have magic power

b: a state of enchantment

I’ve been professionally helping others in recovery for almost as long as I’ve been clean and sober—no coincidence. From the start, I realized that for treatment to have any chance of success, I need to take what works from my esoteric Chinese medicine and core-shamanic approaches and explain addiction’s origins and mechanisms in a way people can understand.

On the other end, I’ve had to translate what I do for treatment centers, insurance companies, and licensing and accreditation boards, as well as to my medical and mental health colleagues—speaking in the “medical-ese” that checks diagnosis codes and reimbursement boxes.

Fun, right?

Now, I aim to strip away language that complicates an already complex issue. With that in mind, I propose…

Addiction is a SpellThis Spell is a LieThis Lie is a Belief

Let me explain.

Check out our exploration along this path to the core of an addiction. Hit the play button on the podcast audio at the top of the page, or check out the video embedded here:

And as always, please hit the little like button and send along any comments or questions you may have.

With blessings,

Randal

The conversation delves into the world of Okoye, a living school rooted in indigenous wisdom and community building. It explores the incorporation of indigenous elders, preservation of languages, and the impact of remote work on indigenous communities.

The discussion also highlights the challenges and growth of community building, emphasizing the importance of relationship and the medicine of community.

The conversation delves into the changing nature of communication and community, the role of AI in community building, the concept of home and community acceptance, creating safe spaces and deep work with medicine, the purpose of joining an online community, in-person immersion experiences and community expansion, the responsibility of community stewardship, empowering visionaries and building a sustainable community, and inviting individuals to join the community.

Takeaways

• Community Building
• Indigenous Wisdom Community Building
• Holistic Healing

Chapters

• 00:00 Challenges and Growth of Community Building
• 23:53 The Changing Nature of Communication and Community
• 30:30 Creating Safe Spaces and Deep Work with Medicine
• 35:56 The Responsibility of Community Stewardship
• 45:04 Inviting Individuals to Join the Community

https://www.skool.com/ocoyai-ancestral-school

thesobershaman.com

When I'm asked, "What do you do?" the most accurate answer is…

"I help people Open the Eyes of their Heart.”

Of course, that response raises more questions than it answers but sometimes...isn't that the point?

Which is why in this episode of the podcast, I answer this question in detail and provide the what, how and why of this powerful approach and time-less medicine.

Join us & experience what it's all about

thesobershaman.com

The podcast explores the limitations of understanding and the need for the four medicines to treat addiction and trauma. It emphasizes the importance of experience, connection, and practice in transforming old beliefs and behaviors.

Takeaways

• Understanding alone is not enough
• The four medicines (awareness, experience, connection, practice) are essential for transformation

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding is Not Enough
• 07:02 The Medicine of Experience
• 14:36 The Path of Mastery

thesobershaman.com

The conversation explores the interconnectedness of inspiration and mastery, emphasizing their role in personal transformation and empowerment. It delves into the power of inspiration in guiding individuals towards authenticity and value, highlighting the significance of breathing in the divine and the impact of inspiration on empowerment and transformation.

Takeaways

• Inspiration and mastery are interconnected
• The power of inspiration in transformation

Chapters

• 00:00 The Path of Mastery and Transformation
• 10:46 Breathing in the Divine
• 19:30 The Power of Inspiration
• 26:02 Empowerment and Transformation

The latest surge in all-things-Chinese-health-related, gives me both hope and disappointment.

Because I know that this medicine is exactly what's needed right now and the surge will introduce its wonders to many.

And at the same time, I know that the appeal will quickly fade once people realize there's no hack, short-cut or quick-fix anywhere to be found.

It's a path of skill, dedication and mastery.

And it doesn't have to be mastery in Tai Chi or anything obviously health related. It could be...cannolis ; )

See how & let me know your thoughts.

Blessings!

Randal

Takeaways:

• The practice of Tai Chi serves as a profound method for cultivating self-discipline and mastery in one's life.
• Achieving mastery in any discipline requires unwavering dedication and the willingness to engage in repetitive practice over an extended period.
• The disparity between internal worth and external validation significantly contributes to the challenges encountered in the realm of addiction.
• Mastery enables individuals to establish meaningful connections with others through the sharing of acquired skills and knowledge.
• The journey of mastery is analogous to the adage of 'chop wood, carry water,' emphasizing the importance of consistent effort in all endeavors.
• In the pursuit of mastery, one learns that the process of continuous improvement is intrinsically valuable in itself.

Chapters:

• 00:00 - The Surge of Interest in Tai Chi
• 01:01 - The Journey into Tai Chi
• 05:07 - The Journey of Mastery
• 07:01 - Exploring Internal vs External Validation
• 11:23 - The Path to Mastery
• 12:38 - Exploring Paths of Mastery

"I've been here 1,000 times before."

"We've been here 1,000 times before."

"What do you say? Ready to try something different?"

For those of us who've battled addiction, or loved someone with an addiction, or are a professional medical or mental healthcare provider helping someone with addiction...

"We've been here 1,000 times before."

Principle #2 of The Alchemist Recovery Program states, "Addiction is a Cycle," and while that may not seem revelatory, there are a few things we recognize differently.

Because addiction is a cycle, and because we've been here 1,000 times before, we know with certainty what comes next.

The Cycle is repetitive, unoriginal and quite boring, actually!

So, when we shine the light of truth onto the situation and provide a clear off-ramp to the person struggling, why don't they take it?

Because they know if they do, it will never be the same. Something will change forever and something will die.

That "something" can be called denial, the ego, the Pericardium, the spirit of addiction, or the devil himself.

Whatever "It" is, "It" knows it will die.

And when something knows death is nye, there is the most violent of thrashings for survival.

That's what we're up against. And that's what we're talking about in this episode.

Links referenced in this episode:

• thesobershaman.com
• email: [email protected]

Success.

What does this look like?

And specifically, what does it look like in sobriety?

I’ve got a simple 3-part formula to begin the conversation.

When you hear it, it may very well land with you as simplistic, which for me is awesome, but it also demands that we apply two kinds of medicine.

The first is a ruthless honesty of awareness

And the second is a generous heart of compassion.

Holding these two together, simultaneously, is the way we can accurately assess the ingredients that go into real, lasting success.

That’s what we dive into in this episode of The Sober Shaman Podcast.

Join us in the next Live Session of the Lesson of the Week - where it’s always completely anonymous - and guaranteed to introduce you to a few new ways of viewing some old problems.

Links referenced in this episode:

• thesobershaman.com