An Intentional Life

This fortnight’s episode I talk with Sin - Spiritual Guide and Medium - who runs her own business called Downloading Light (www.downloadinglight.com).We talk about so much - from conscious uncoupling to the various vibrations of love, from belief to existence, and from the 3rd dimension to the 5th. I love how she describes that love and hate are not opposites, and how we as humans are evolving.I ask very basic questions and get incredibly thought-provoking answers.Have a listen, this interview made me really think (albeit I might have talked too much). Arohanui,Briar SHOW NOTES -Dr Joe Dispenza - https://drjoedispenza.com/Dolores Cannon - https://www.dolorescannon.com/Esther Hicks - https://www.abraham-hicks.com/

This fortnight I sit down and talk to Nat from Wellness With Nat.Nat is the epitome of someone whose life was defined by a collective western ideal of success (high flying career, the shoes that match the outfits, the marriage, the house, leading down the road of having children) to it all fraying at the seams and falling apart.She was misdiagnosed, then correctly diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease that took 80% of her sight from one eye.The biggest turning point for Nat was when she had to bring in Vision Australia into her house to help her assess how she was going to live her life if, or when, she would eventually be deemed legally blind.From a cornea transplant, developing a cataract, her other eye going out in sympathy, shingles in her eyes, antidepressants... the list just continues on. Life was radically changing for Nat and she was desperately trying hard to hold on tight.But then she realised she needed to make a change, this podcast talks about her path towards that change. From meditation to Buddhism to meeting the Dalai Lama to starting her own business, it truly is a story about how we can change our life around if we redefine what a successful life looks like.Enjoy. Arohanui,Briar SHOW NOTES -Meir Schneider, Miracle of Eye - https://self-healing.org/meir-schneiderWellness with Nat - www.wellnessnat.com

This fortnight I sit down with Sue.A woman who has seen and been through many different hurdles in her life. Someone who was trying to make sense of her life when, within a month, she had been taken to hospital in an ambulance three times.Something wasn't right.And she knew it.It turned out to be cancer and was told she was lucky.How can cancer be lucky, right?I don't think the event was 'the' pivotal moment in Sue's life, but it definitely made her pursue a life that truly filled her soul.... and then to make it her mission to help others do the same.This episode touches on the programming we're framed with as young children, right through to the power of listening to our internal voice, our gut and carving our own path for ourselves.Let's find out why Sue was lucky to get cancer.I hope you enjoy. Arohanui, Briar SHOW NOTES -www.suedowling.com

Ever wondered what it's like to be raised, work in and live a life that is only military?Imagine being a single woman, who has her own career inside a very masculine industry.Sitting in meetings where you are the only woman with 20-50 men?Intimidating much?Perhaps, but what if it was everything you wanted to do and more.This fortnight's episode I sit down with Sally - she grew up in a military family, married a military member (later divorced) and eventually became part of the organisation herself.Imagine everyone knowing your partners (if they're inside as well) and the real possibility of having to work with them later down the track. This is not an uncommon story.It is a life that no one truly knows about unless they're in it or they've married into it. As Sally states - she only knows, or doesn't have any associations with anyone who isn't, connected to the military in some shape or form.Think about it - you move every 2, 3 or 4 years, sometimes one, depending on where you're needed. You get, or your loved one, could be sent overseas for months on end. What do you do with your house? Your pets? Your life? What is it like to be deployed? And what happens when you return? Does life ever go back to normal? Or is it forever changed?Listen to this episode to find out what kind of person it takes to live in this world. It certainly isn't for the faint-hearted.This is Sally. Arohanui, Briar

This fortnight's episode I sit down with Odette - founder and director of The Kundalini Centre.On paper, Odette looked like her life was heading in a pretty successful direction, studying a double major of Arts and Law, only to throw it in 6 months before finishing. It was as if every fibre in her body was telling her she couldn't go on. It wasn't her anymore.Instead she started to ask herself some really poignant questions about her life - What are the bones of existence?What is consciousness and how does it fit into the natural world?How do the mind and body relate?and many more...These questions lead her to throw caution into the wind and diving deep into Kundalini yoga, for herself but also to bring the holistic experience to others.This podcast we truly get deep and look to unfurl consciousness, purpose and the meaning of life.  This is Odette. Arohanui, Briar Show Notes -Aeschylus and the Unity of Opposites - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-hellenic-studies/article/aeschylus-and-the-unity-of-opposites/D725836A9AED4F9E4A25E8C06692F629Monica Gagliano - Thus spoke the plant https://www.booktopia.com.au/thus-spoke-the-plant-monica-gagliano/book/9781623172435.htmlYogi Bhajan - http://www.yogibhajan.org/main/David Chalmers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Chalmers You'll find Odette at - https://www.kundalinicentre.com/Recorded at The Queanbeyan Hive https://www.facebook.com/qbnhive

This fortnight's episode I sit down with Kate - activist, scientist, environmentalist, board member, alumni of Homeward Bound, business owner and mother.Kate was one of the first cohort of 100 women to be involved with Homeward Bound - a fantastic opportunity for women involved in or working in STEMM - science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine - who deeply care about the planet, are from across the world and look to elevate their position into one of leadership.Can you imagine - getting to head to the Antarctica with 99 other intelligent women who would help spread and disseminate information, collaborate and encourage them to make decisions that will shape our planet?But Kate has done much more. A budding activist in the things she believed in from a very early age to owning the very first carbon neutral bookshop to now being a board member on WaterAid Australia.This episode we talk climate change and being intentional with our lives to make a 'hopeful' impact.This is Kate. Arohanui, Briar Show Notes -Tim Flannery - http://climatecollege.unimelb.edu.au/speaker/prof-tim-flanneryBrene Brown - https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability/transcript?language=enCeleste Headlee - https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better_conversationHomeward Bound - https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/Fabian Dattner - https://dattnergrant.com.au/team/fabian-dattner/Studio Wild - http://traderandco.com.au/studio-wild/

This fortnight's episode I sit down with Rae, a 24 year old founder of CBRgals.A Tampa Floridian who studied and lived in Florence, Italy, a place that she literally did all she could to keep visiting. Rae even wrote a book about the random adventures of a woman hopping into a taxi in Florence.She met and fell in love with, not an Italian, but an Australian. She packed everything up and moved to Australia for love but after a few weeks of being in a country that she'd never been to before, let alone knew anyone but her love, she realised that she was lonely.She went on apps to meet friends and then got the idea of starting a group of like-minded women through the power of social media. That group has now turned into a movement and the start of what could be a not-for-profit organisation with a greater purpose of empowering and mentoring women.CBRgals promotes regular get-togethers, networking, clothing swaps, female panel discussions and more. Rae talks about her journey and the ability to face the worst-case scenarios, the feeling of 'why not her?' and confronting the fear and doing it anyway. This is Rae's story.   Arohanui, Briar

This fortnight's episode I sit down with Emma, owner of The Source in Canberra.We talk about what we can do to live a zero waste life, but also how she discovered this dream of hers years after raising her children.It's a podcast about how to make changes, that anything is possible and women can change the world. Many people think that the problem around waste is too large to do anything about, but Emma disagrees. She believes even small changes, particularly often, can all add up to make a massive difference. We just need to be intentional.So sit back and find out more about this wonderful woman who grew up watching the rebuild of Darwin after Cyclone Tracey and an fortune teller of what the World Wide Web could do for businesses. Arohanui, Briar SHOW NOTES -* www.1millionwomen.com.au - Natalie Issacs* Book - Louise Hay - Heal Your Life* www.thesourebulkfoods.com.au - The Source* https://www.conventionaltointentional.com/30-day-intentional-challenge-free - 30 day Intentional Challenge

This fortnight's episode we discuss Domestic Violence.I speak with Lula, a domestic violence survivor and advocate for Voices For Change. We discuss the difference between abuse and violence, the impact DV has on the individuals, the family and the broader community.We also discuss DV from the intent, accountability and agency of it as well, mainly from a woman's perspective, but also that children and men are also victims.Lula even talks about her own childhood abuse and the lifelong impact these events have on her, but also the people around her. As it is for all victims.This was truly a very harrowing podcast, particularly on a subject I knew very little about.Obviously there are A LOT of other resources and places to contact if you're experiencing this yourself or need to forward the information onto someone you might know who is struggling with this right  now.I discovered that education truly is the key and that we need to start bringing this subject out of darkness or cupboard and talking about it more. Arohanui, Briar SHOW NOTESLula’s story in the Canberra Times (March 2019) - www.canberratimes.com.au/story/5993171/lula-was-sexually-abused-as-a-child-one-day-shell-tell-her-children/ Book - Jess Hill “See what you made me do”www.amazon.com.au/See-What-You-Made-Me/dp/1760641405/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=jess+hill&qid=1566516829&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Our Watch - www.ourwatch.org.au The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report - www.aihw.gov.au/reports/domestic-violence/family-domestic-sexual-violence-in-australia-2018/contents/summary Voices for Change -  www.dvcs.org.au/our-stories/voices-for-change-advocates/ Her Canberra story - www.hercanberra.com.au/cplife/dont-know-family-domestic-violence/  Esafety Australia - www.esafety.gov.au No To Violence - www.ntv.org.au Tracey McLeod Howe, Childhood Domestic Violence Australia - www.tracymcleodhowe.com www.cdva.org.au www.capsau.org Contact Details of support and counselling services -1800 RESPECT - 1800 737 732 - 24 hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.Lifeline - 13 11 14 - Lifeline has a national number who can help put you in contact with a crisis service in your state.Men’s Referral Service - 1300 766 491 - This service from No To Violence offers assistance, information and counselling to help men who use family violence.Mensline Australia - 1300 789 978 - Supports men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties. 24/7 telephone and online support an information service for Australian men.Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 - Free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 - 25 in Australia.Relationships Australia - 1300 364 277 - Support groups and counselling on relationships, and for abusive and abused partners.

Here it is - first episode towards living a more intentional life... A 60 year woman hailing from Victoria, the Venerable Tenpa Bejanke became ordained as a Buddhist Nun after discovering Tibetan Meditation after age 40.She lovingly opens up about her violent and abusive childhood, to trying to take her life at 16, traveling and then eventually coming back to Australia - single and pregnant. Tenpa took any job she could find to try and give her son a better life than hers, even working as a diver for mussels.She talks about donning the red robe, shaving her hair off and taking herself off for a 3.5 year silent retreat in order to quieten her heart and her mind. Tenpa talks about her day to day life of being a nun, sexism and ageism, and the lack of materialism in her life.But listen out for her description of mindfulness vs meditation, as well as the cultivation of the present moment and the alleviation of craving. Her imagery of the path, the occasional veering off it, but the realising that it's okay, just angle yourself back towards it.Compassion. Kindness. The value of suffering. If you want to find more about the Venerable Tenpa Bianca, she regularly holds courses on meditation at CIT, in Canberra.Or you can find out more on the Four Immeasurable Truths at www.spiritofahimsa.comPlus she speaks about Arjahn Brahm, over in Western Australia, near the end as her inspiration. Here is a link to find more about him - https://bswa.org/teachers/ajahn-brahm/ www.conventionaltointentional.com