Awakening Aphrodite

Today’s mini episode is all about nourishing yourself with love. Why should I… and how do I truly love myself, you ask? Melody Beattie, one of America’s most beloved self-help authors beautifully answers that big question in this episode’s featured passage from one of her many bestselling books, The Language Of Letting Go.

Melody has survived some of the most unthinkably painful experiences that many humans undergo in this lifetime, including addiction, abandonment, sexual abuse, divorce and the death of her own child. Our society places heavy shame on these issues– and all too often it is the victim who bears the blame. We must forgive ourselves over and over again, and stand up for ourselves even when no one does it with us.

Melody Beattie’s books are powerful resources for dealing with the big human issues of codependency, addiction and grief. Through it all, we must somehow find self-love. As Beattie tells it, “[p]eople who love themselves and hold themselves in high esteem are those who give the most, contribute the most and love the most. How do we love ourselves? By working as hard at liking and loving ourselves as we have at not liking ourselves. Explore what it means to love yourself.”

And so, my friends, I invite you to open your heart to these words of wisdom, take a deep breath and step into the lifelong practice of self-love.

The BEST way for you to support my show and share these drops of Aphrodite wisdom is by leaving a review (on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!) and by sharing & tagging me on Instagram! Let’s do this together!

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her FAVORITE products, visit her affiliate page!

Humans and canines have peacefully coexisted and co-evolved for more than 30,000 years: a relationship that rivals our history with tools, fire making and organized settlements. Some believe humans helped dogs evolve into the fluffy companions of today while others argue that dogs are the ones responsible for modern human civilizations. Whatever the case may be, the human-canine relationship is factually primal and deeply ingrained in our cultures, instincts and DNA.

But recently, something has changed in the way we treat our canine friends. That *something* also extends to our behavior towards nature, agriculture, our children, our communities and even ourselves. As a whole, humans have less time, experience more stress, create less quality and waste more quantity. We make so much noise that we can’t even hear ourselves think. We need so many things that we run out of space to consider what those around us might be needing and feeling.

Sasha Armstrong, my wonderful guest today, has a very compelling message for dog-lovers, leaders, parents and healers alike. As the founder and creator of the Canine State of Mind program, she educates canine owners on how to build stronger, mutually respectful relationships with their dogs through body language and energetics. Mastering her craft for more than twenty years, Sasha has helped over 1000 dog owners meet the needs of their pet by bridging the communication gap and uncovering energies both the dog and human exude at any given time.

You can find Sasha at her website caninestateofmind.com, her Instagram @caninestateofmind and her Tik Tok @canine_stateofmind.

*All-Natural Flea & Tick Repellant Sasha mentioned: ALZOO Natural Spot-On Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs

**Listeners and viewers of Awakening Aphrodite podcast with Amy Fournier can register for Sasha's next online class Canine Alpha Embodiment Masterclass at a DISCOUNT by entering "fitamytv10" at checkout!

TIME STAMPS

00:07:30 Why Are We So Attached To Our Dogs?

00:11:47 The Canine-Human Evolutionary Idea

00:15:50 Our Dog Partnerships Are Suffering

00:20:58 What Is Good Leadership?

00:30:16 Off Your A-Game?

00:34:21 Peaceful Coexistence

00:43:15 Sasha’s Pack Leader Tips

00:45:43 Working With “Violent” Dogs

00:50:10 The Importance Of Self Care

00:52:09 Canine Nutrition

00:55:33 Three Valuable Aspects Of A Raw Diet

01:00:28 Issues With Selective Breeding

01:03:46 Second Thoughts About Medications

01:10:14 Finding An Integrative Vet

01:14:56 Sasha’s Mission

01:21:23 Sasha’s Offerings

01:26:23 What Have Dogs Taught You?

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch more episodes on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on some of her favorite products, visit her affiliate page!

Today I’m sharing with you a very special episode that features myself as a guest on Highly Optimized, a podcast hosted by none other than Ryan Sprague! 

If you want to hear more from Ryan, please tune into the two other amazing shows we did together: Episode 94, Using Plant Medicine And Cannabis For Increased Consciousness, Connection And Lifestyle Balance (Part I) and the more recent Episode 103, Living AS IF: The Power of Choice, Radical Ownership and Being Your Own Biggest Cheerleader With Ryan Sprague (Part II). Ryan is the founder and co-owner of Highly Optimized, which includes a podcast that he hosts in addition to his other show, This One Time On Psychedelics. I highly encourage you to check out Ryan’s programs and podcasts! He is truly a wealth of information.

On this episode, we talk about the personal experiences that led us to the field of holistic health and how the Pain Teacher supported our understandings of the human body, psyche and basic components required to live a balanced and healthy life. Ryan asks me about working together with Paul Chek as his longest-standing female client, and I share some of the most significant lessons I’ve come to realize on our journey together. We also discuss self love, radical ownership, people-pleasing, the undeniable evidence that expectations determine our reality and the role that exercise plays in our lives as a tool to maintain inner balance and protect from burnout. 

This episode is packed full of ideas to motivate you forward on your life’s journey. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, leave a review and share on Instagram (tag me @FitAmyTV and I'll share too!). Your feedback and support means the world to me. Thank you for joining the Awakening Aphrodite journey!

TIME STAMPS

00:04:02 Ryan’s Introduction To Amy

00:06:14 How Amy Became Involved In Holistic Health

00:10:43 Embracing The Pain Teacher

00:15:40 The Idea Of Radical Ownership

00:20:35 Amy’s Experience Working With Paul

00:28:05 The People-Pleasing Habit

00:33:43 Amy’s Tips For Cultivating Self-Love

00:39:36 Working Out And Working In

00:44:18 What Does Play Mean To You?

00:52:10 Expectations Determine Reality

00:57:58 Energy Doesn’t Lie

01:03:18 Amy’s Women’s Circles

01:07:40 Destination Addiction (see Episode 99 on Awakening Aphrodite for an in-depth discussion on this topic!)

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch more episodes on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on some of her favorite products, visit her affiliate page!

How often do you use the word “should”?

Did you know that replacing just ONE letter in the word “should”...could change everything for you?

Welcome to today’s little boost of inspiration, support and motivation to fuel you on your journey!

This episode features the one and only Louise Hay: legendary author of many books, including the famous bestseller, You Can Heal Your Life. Today I refer to one of my favorite works of hers, Heart Thoughts: A Treasury Of Inner Wisdom. You can look forward to many upcoming references to Ms. Hay's ideas in our Fast Friday segments! For me, her ideas and affirmations never fail to inspire self-love, deep contemplation and spiritual (if not physical!) healing.

This brief and powerful passage refers to choice. We always have a choice. Though we may not be able to choose our life’s external circumstances, we ultimately decide how we react and respond to those events. Believing that there is a way we “should” react, or anything we “should” do, makes traps us in a prison of our own making. What can you drop from your “should-list”? What could you do instead?

Let’s recognize our habitual thought patterns and work towards shifting into a state of growth, inner love and learning!

Speaking of which… 

As you may have noticed, Awakening Aphrodite recently upgraded HER habitual weekly rhythm, leaving you with this mini episode of inspiration! And guess what? This is all thanks to listeners like YOU who asked me to restore the Fast Friday tradition! Please keep that wonderful feedback coming by leaving a review (on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!), sharing & tagging me on Instagram.

Let's do this together!

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her FAVORITE products, visit her affiliate page!

Have you ever noticed how your voice changes with your emotions?

The voice is a direct expression of your inner state. It carries rich information about your psychological, hormonal and physical circumstances. Sound is also the first sense humans experience in utero with the early development of the inner ear.

In fact, many ancient texts have placed sound as the foundation for material existence. Universally, the sound "OM" is the seed syllable for all of life. Sound is critical for human functioning, awareness, sensory input and output. The way you use it (or don't!) will directly affect yourself and those around you.

My guest today, Ruth Ratliff, is a wise and brilliant holistic voice teacher and Licensed Vibrational Sound Therapy Practitioner with over 40 years of experience as a voice professional. She learned to harness the power of her voice at a young age when personal tragedy led her to the profoundly healing medium of sound. She understands how people’s voices reflect how they feel about themselves, and believes that the voice has the potential to offer us a much deeper experience of our inner landscape.

In this episode, Ruth guides us through an amazing journey to help us understand the powerful and constantly available tool of sound for effective, heart-centered communication and connection. Together, we discuss the significance of the intention behind your voice, tips for optimizing the impact of virtual sound healing, the value of recharging your sense of wonder each morning, the effect of menopause on the vocal chords and how to work through the common issue of disliking the sound of your own voice. Ruth also shares practical tips for developing a powerful, embodied voice and how to practice deep listening to expand your consciousness.

Ruth is an incredible resource for holistic healing and I highly encourage you to check out her published book, The Voice of Women's Wisdom: An exploration into the expressive, creative and healing powers of your sound and to explore her rich offerings at Ruthratliff.com!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe and share it with someone who will love it too! I’m so grateful to you all for joining me on this exciting journey of Awakening Aphrodite.

TIME STAMPS

00:06:56 How To Optimize Virtual Sound Healing

00:10:07 Jonathan Goldman’s Formula For Healing

00:14:39 The Hidden Messages In Water By Dr. Emoto

00:19:38 Finding Your Sense Of Wonder

00:23:30 Deep Listening Practice

00:29:19 The Voice Of Women’s Wisdom (Ruth’s Published Book)

00:34:30 How To Build The Resonance Of Your Voice

00:38:41 Menopause’s Influence On The Voice

00:42:41 The Work Of Sherry Edwards

00:48:55 The Most Effective Voice Practices

00:52:19 Sex Differences In Sound Production

00:57:58 The Magic Of Sound Healing

00:59:29 How To Find Ruth

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her FAVORITE products, visit her affiliate page!

How can life be so rich but feel so empty?

Have you ever suspected that financial wealth alone doesn't lead to true fulfillment?

Well, your instincts are spot on! In fact, for many, the stress of maintaining a high-pressure career position generates unhealthy patterns that negatively affect all aspects of life. The truth is, our relationships, physical wellness, emotional balance, spiritual connections and passions equally require time and commitment for the average person to thrive.

My amazing guest today, Jason Pickard, is an expert at bridging the worlds of material richness and inner balance. In 2006, Jason fulfilled his lifetime ambition of becoming a billion-dollar portfolio manager and partner of hedge fund legend, Paul Tudor Jones. By the age of 27, he was recognized as one of the top 30 traders under 30 years old. Despite his extreme monetary success, Jason weighed 330 lbs and experienced a profound sense of emptiness in his life. Feeling the drain of his physical state, Jason eventually made the decision to turn his life around. He chose to pursue self-actualization with the same rigor that manifested his material wealth and went on to become Paul Chek's longest-standing client.

In this episode, Jason and I discuss why his journey is so commonly experienced and how the paradox of material wealth and inner poverty reflects the imbalance of masculine and feminine energies in the western world. We talk about how their archetypal incoherence manifests in big problems we all face– from the disaster of conventional education to the epidemic of obesity and mental unwellness in the United States. Jason introduces the solution of “adhi kari” and ideas from Arnold Mendel’s process-oriented psychology that offer a path to greater peace, purpose and fulfillment in our society. We touch on the most impactful lessons we realized through our work with Paul Chek and how Jason helped introduce biogeometry and Dr. Ibrahim Karim to the CHEK Institute. We also cover the "allies" of pain and challenge, Hindu myths and the Vedas, tips for incorporating yin energy into your busy routine, the value of working "in," and Jason's special mantra, which he sings for us.

From Wall Street to holistic health coaching, Jason has himself journeyed through the trials and tribulations of healing deep career-health imbalances and utilizing his unique gifts to fulfill his dharma, or divine purpose. You can find more from this incredible human being at jasonpickard.org.

TIME STAMPS

00:10:11 Jason’s Life Journey

00:16:01 Working “In”

00:20:49 The Principle Of Adhi Kari

00:24:27 University Of Virginia, Contemplative Sciences

00:29:56 Arnold Mendel’s “Process-Oriented” Psychology

00:35:44 Overeating & Emotional Emptiness

00:40:30 The Allies

00:42:35 Bringing Yin Energy Into A Busy Life

00:47:16 A Mantra For Energetic Harmony

00:51:18 The Principle Of Reciprocity

00:53:28 Jason’s Message To The Modern World

00:57:31 Impactful Lessons From Paul Chek

01:01:33 Biogeometry At The Chek Institute

01:06:56 Dr. Ibrahim Karim

01:10:23 The Divine Masculine And Feminine In Hinduism

01:15:55 Freedom Through Process Work

01:19:03 Earning The Power Of Humility And Vulnerability

01:23:05 Mama Gena

01:25:25 How To Find Jason

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her FAVORITE products, visit her affiliate page!

SURPRISE! Happy Friday!

The distracting and intimidating messages from today’s news and world events have left many of us feeling overwhelmed, uncertain and isolated. We all need mini resets once in a while– something to uplift an inspire us to keep going, try a new idea or take a helpful shift in perspective.

I am so happy to announce the return of “Fast Fridays,” a tradition I practiced in the early days of Awakening Aphrodite to share brief moments of inspiration with you. My daily practice of reading something spiritually uplifting each day originally inspired this idea– but as the show got rolling and life became busy, I decided to focus solely on the main content. Now brought back to you by popular demand, these mini-episodes will layer on top of the usual Tuesday full-episode-drops on the last Friday of each month. They will focus on a reading, an inspirational poem, author or saying that I find personally impactful. I humbly invite you to accept this small offering of “soul nutrition” for your moments, days, weeks and month ahead!

Fast Fridays were brought back by listeners like YOU– so please keep that wonderful feedback coming! You can leave a review (on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!), share & tag me on Instagram and let’s do this together!

Today’s mini episode features a passage from the Song Of The Bird by Anthony De Mello, a spiritual teacher and psychotherapist who authored many beautiful stories. This excerpt imparts the idea that you are who you surround yourself with. Are you living your story, or someone else’s? Are you aware of the heights to which you can soar? Are you holding anything back because of an outer influence? Are there parts of you that are not being expressed? Many long to wake up to the greatness that is their inner authentic self but hold back, waiting for someone outside of themselves to validate it. Today's idea is this: all that truly matters is if YOU recognize and nurture your inner light. Never give up on yourself!

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her FAVORITE products, visit her affiliate page!

Hello and welcome back to Awakening Aphrodite! 

You’ve probably heard me talk a lot about the importance of understanding how your environment affects your health, mindset, emotional wellness and perspective in life. It’s truly indisputable that everything: from the food we eat, to the media we consume, to the people and creatures we interact with on a daily basis shape who (and how!) we are in a very real way. That’s why I am thrilled to present you with today’s guest, Ross Newkirk, whose inventions actively upgrade the coherence of the immediate environment while harmonizing the electromagnetic fields and constant distractions we each face in our world today.

Let’s be honest… It's really difficult to find your joy while constantly navigating the many stressors and responsibilities of the typical lifestyle! I have to tell you that Ross Newkirk’s Core Harmonizer absolutely changed my LIFE in that regard, and I don’t make that claim lightly! You’ll hear my personal story about my first time using it in this episode… An amazing experience that completely took me by surprise.

In this episode you can also look forward to hearing about coherence, the importance of activating discernment and how to intuitively find your path and purpose. Ross shares insight into his spiritual upbringing, the pain of suddenly losing both parents and his healing journey through grief. He describes the human condition beautifully, and this episode is full of his unique sayings and ideas surrounding identity, self-criticism, spiritual connection, loneliness, creativity and healing. We also talk about EMF's, Marcel Vogel and Vogel-cut crystals, the many inventions of Ross's father and the three "brains" in the human body.

*SPECIAL GIFT ALERT* Ross and his team have generously offered a great discount for my listeners! Click on the links below to learn more and make your purchase:

Vogel Cut crystals: https://amyfournier.com/vogel-cut-crystals/

The Core Harmonizer: https://amyfournier.com/the-core-harmonizer/

Use code "FitAmyTV10" and treat yourself or a loved one to the same incredible tools that have truly upgraded my ability to enjoy and fully commit to the habits and practices that generate a higher quality of energy and presence in my life. If you try it, I'd LOVE to hear about your experience! And please, as always, leave a review and share this episode to support Awakening Aphrodite!

TIME STAMPS

00:09:51 Ross’s Upbringing

00:11:05 Defining Coherence

00:15:10 Ross’s Tools For Restoring Coherence

00:20:22 How To Develop Discernment

00:24:18 The Three “Brains” Of Your Body

00:28:06 The Lightfield Foundation

00:33:37 The Value Of Raising Your Vibration

00:37:09 Amy’s First Experience With Her Core Harmonizer

00:41:39 The Vogel Cut Crystal

00:57:57 Intentions, Thoughts & Actions

01:04:39 Learning From Negative Patterns

01:08:05 Life Lessons From Ross’s Parents

01:14:32 How Ross Healed His Traumatic Injury

01:25:24 Ross’s Offerings And A Special Offer For You!

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her FAVORITE products, visit her affiliate page!

Have you ever used lavender essence to relax before bedtime, ginseng or ginger in your tea or perhaps elderberry syrup to boost your natural immunity?

If you answered yes to any of those, guess what? You have been practicing herbal medicine, just the way nature intended it! More than ever before in our modern world, people are searching for natural ways to support the health of their minds and bodies. This episode offers timely wisdom and insight from one of the most influential urban herbalists and authors on plant medicines of our time: Judith Berger, writer of the ever-relevant Herbal Rituals. In my opinion, it’s much more than a book, and definitely more than a common reference for naturally treating health conditions: it is a lyrical homage to the ancient practices of herbal medicine. 

Judith Berger is an herbalist, a prolific author, a poet and Physician Assistant who was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. As you’ll hear in this episode, her earliest contact with nature was through the prism of fairy tales, the wilds of her father’s backyard garden and the dark corridors of the local plant nursery where she first cherished the scent of soil. She spent ten years in New York City studying and practicing as an urban herbalist before pursuing a degree as a Physician Assistant to integrate natural medicine with the modern medical model. 

This episode will take you on an adventure into the world of plants and medicine! We talk about the soul of nature and the subtle, complex medicine of plants and mushrooms. Judith shares her thoughts on the digital overwhelm of our time, and offers insight on how herbal treatments can soothe our nerves to balance the stress of everyday life. We discuss the many changes the field of herbalism underwent since the writing of Herbal Rituals, and Judith shares her experiences of herbal effectiveness and contrasting medical philosophies realized through her training as Physician Assistant. We also cover the history and folklore of certain medicinal plants, the contributions of St. Hildegarde of Bingen, common herbal misconceptions and myths, and valuable resources for purchasing your own herbs or seeds. You can find Judith's wonderful offerings, writing and more at judithbergerherbalist.com.

*If you like this episode you might also enjoy episodes #86 with Monica Gagliano and #79 with Molly Larkin/Bearheart!

TIME STAMPS

00:08:32 Amy’s Glowing Review of Herbal Rituals

00:12:31 Judith’s Intentions for her Book

00:17:19 Judith’s Childhood in Brooklyn

00:23:08 Retaining the Magic

00:28:47 D'aulaires' Book Of Greek Myths

00:34:25 Judith’s Experience as a PA

00:37:45 The Wise Woman Traditions of Herbalism

00:39:44 Pharmaceuticals Based on Herbs

00:44:36 Memories of Connection between Human and Nature

00:51:44 The Hands-Off Herbalist

00:57:48 Talking To Trees?

01:04:51 The Properties & Voice of Black Cohosh

01:10:04 The Tale of the Elder Tree

01:14:50 St. Hildegarde Of Bingen

01:19:26  Misconceptions and Myths

01:23:52 Resources for High Quality Herbs

01:26:30 Where to find Judith Berger

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on her favorite products, visit her affiliate page!

When Ryan and I press that “record” button and get to talking, you can rest assured that the conversation will be rich with personal insights, beautiful realizations of collective and individual development and a deep well of inspiration for manifesting the life of your dreams. Looking back on the popularity and richness of our last conversation, Episode 94: Using Plant Medicine And Cannabis For Increased Consciousness, Connection And Lifestyle Balance With Ryan Sprague Part I, there was absolutely no WAY I wasn’t going to invite Ryan back to Awakening Aphrodite. Besides, we had so much more to talk about!

Ryan’s mission in life is helping his fellow brothers and sisters become empowered in their experience of being alive through men’s coaching, plant medicine integration coaching and retreat experiences. Ryan is the founder and co-owner of Highly Optimized, which includes a podcast that he hosts in addition to his other show, This One Time On Psychedelics. I highly encourage you to check out Ryan’s programs and podcasts! He is truly a wealth of wisdom and compassion.

We begin this episode with a discussion on learning styles, which quickly evolves into an exploration of human design, numerology and the tarot archetypes. We hear Ryan’s take on the dysfunctional balance of feminine and masculine energies at work in society and his thoughts on how their dynamic affects our collective imagination and the dogmatic science of today. I ask Ryan about the yin (archetypal feminine) nature of cannabis and he delves into the idea of taking radical ownership given the choice of living the dream or the victim mentality. He shares his key process for personal development, which he calls “living as if” to guide life and identity transitions for himself and his clients. We also cover the topics of burnout, self-worth, people pleasing, the “coach” paradigm within us all and why Ryan believes that being your biggest cheerleader is our life’s main requirement.

Your downloads, views, shares and reviews of Awakening Aphrodite mean the world to me– thank you so much for joining me on this journey of exploring great minds, ideas and the feminine archetype within us all. See you next time!

TIME STAMPS

00:06:58 Learning Styles

00:11:10 Human Design & Archetypes

00:14:35 Episode 92

00:20:20 Imagination & Dogmatic Science

00:25:45 The Yin Energy Of Cannabis

00:30:30 Learning From The Shadow Self

00:33:43 “Nothing In This Book Is True, But It’s Exactly How Things Are”

00:39:36 Living “As If”

00:46:16 Work-Life Balance

00:55:34 Do I Have To “Earn” My Rest?

01:03:37 Episode 91 With Aleks Rybchinski

01:05:30 Ryan’s One “Have To” In Life

01:08:46 The Coach Paradigm

01:14:46 Ryan’s Programs And Offerings

01:18:03 How To Find Ryan

You can find Amy at amyfournier.com and watch this episode on Awakening Aphrodite Podcast/FitAmyTV! For special discounts on some of her favorite products, visit her affiliate page!