Curious Hearts

The subtitle of Michelle’s book, You Are Protected is all I needed to be sold: “Invoking Spiritual Support to Sustain Your Energy.”

I learned from Diana Rose Harper (an extraordinary astrologer and thought leader) that as a Leo Rising, one of my core goals in this life is to sustain and maintain energy. I have spent at least 20 years finding the routines, practices, and rituals that help me do that.

So it’s clear the Michelle wrote this book for me.

But I also think she wrote it for you: the space-holders, the therapists, parents, movement builders, healers, physicians, teachers of all kinds… Those of us who are pouring our energy into the world often need a reminder to call it back, and to intentionally protect and direct it.

The title of You Are Protected is deceiving: it’s more than a guide to spiritual protection. In many ways, it is a manual of spiritual practices. After our conversation, Michelle shared that someone had called it a “grimoire,” and it is that too.

Be sure to listen all the way to the end to hear Michelle’s clear instructions about casting a circle of protection — whether to prepare yourself for a charged conversation, taking profound action, or to protect yourself from whatever malevolent energies you may encounter.

After you’ve bought the book, I’d love to hear which sections stood out to you, and which practices are already familiar. There’s truly something in here for everyone, no matter your experience.

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/you-are-protected-invoking-spiritual-support-to-sustain-your-energy-michelle-cassandra-johnson/58752f56f649cb20

Did you like this conversation? Share it with someone you know it would delight:

To learn more about Michelle Cassandra Johnson:

🌎: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/

📸: https://www.instagram.com/skillinaction/

Enjoy, and may you be protected.

May we all be safe, free from suffering, enjoy happiness, and know peace.

One of the greatest lessons of spiritual practice is this: You Are Here.

There is only this moment, right now, where you are. There is only this place, right here, where you are.

You can only be Here, Now.

When we learn to surrender to the fullness of the present moment, right where we are, we can follow the tiny whispers about the next right step.

Often, those steps have surprised me. This episode with Rachel Sager is the perfect example of following those tiny whispers, being right where I was, and stepping forward.

I never could have imagined that starting family research would lead me to researching the deadliest mining disaster in the history of Pennsylvania.

And Rachel Sager never could have imagined she would be creating a living museum to coal and the history of the land in Pennsylvania in her own Ruins Project.

Yet: here we are. We Are Here.

Rachel Sager is a mosaicist, a daughter of coal, a writer, and a convener of community. She is the creator (and new author) of The Ruins Project, a living and ongoing mosaic project installed in an abandoned coal mine in southwest Pennsylvania.

She probably wouldn’t call The Ruins a church, but I would. The intersection of ancestors, relationship with the land, creative practice, and intimate relationship with the Divine is behind every piece of tesserae that is place in The Ruins.

You don’t need to be an artist or a writer or know anything about coal history to connect to this project, and to enjoy our conversation. Rachel’s lesson of “andamento” is a perfect encapsulation of following the thread we are given: not controlling or orchestrating our path, but allowing a divine path to unfold before us.

We discover our path as we live it. We are invited into a life of awe, curiosity, creativity and magic.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

CHAPTERS

0:00 – Introduction & The Darr Mine Discovery

9:00 – Growing Up on a Farm: Land, Church & Inheritance

20:30 – The Click: Coming Home to Ancestral Ground

35:45 – Andamento: The Spiritual Practice of Mosaic

49:30 – The Darr Memorial: Making 239 Visible

54:00 – Grace, Forgiveness & Asking for Help

Connect with Rachel:

* The Ruins Project: https://www.sagermosaics.com/the-ruins-project

* Follow Rachel on Substack:

* Listen to The Ruins Podcast:

* By the book! The Ruins Project now available at at sagermosaics.com.

Work with me:

* Learn more about my work: veralester.com

* Coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery

* Linktree (upcoming events): https://linktr.ee/veralester

#CuriousHearts #Mosaic #SpiritualPractice #ArtAndFaith #Appalachia #LaborHistory #CoalMining #TheRuinsProject #Andamento #CreativeSprituality #PlaceBasedArt #RustBelt #SacredArt #Storytelling #CommunityArt

Some practices are ones we can do all the time — not just every day, but every minute.

Others are reserved for special moments, when we’re invited on a call to adventure. That’s todays episode of Curious Hearts.

In most spiritual and religious traditions, there are specific pilgrimages that a practitioner is expected to take. What does pilgrimage look like if you’re following a non-dogmatic path?

I think there are some very specific elements, but these are the two I think are most important: a specific destination with deep meaning, and a difficult journey.

We learn as much about ourselves and the web of connection on the journey as we do at the destination.

After you listen, I’m curious: Have you had an accidental pilgrimage?

Let me know in the comments.

Chapters:

0:00 — What is Pilgrimage?

4:38 — The Four Elements

11:42 — The Galapagos: A Pilgrimage

18:07 — Conservation & Stewardship

22:39 — Your Accidental Pilgrimage

Connect with me: www.veralester.com

Book a coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery

#CuriousHearts #SpiritualGrowth #SpiritualPractice #PilgrimageJourney #NatureConnection #StewardshipMindset #ConsciousLiving #SpiritualAwakening #Meditation #InnerWork #MissionDriven #HealingJourney #Spirituality #MindfulnessJourney #MakingMeaning #Pilgrimage

I'm passionate about finding ways to bring our spiritual practice into our everyday life. It's easy to cleave the two, or think that we can't bring our full spiritual selves into the world. I think both the world and we suffer that way.

Denise Hancock is an extraordinary example of what grounded, real-life practice can achieve. She’s a nurse educator by day, and astrologer by night. Like me, she uses astrology as a tool to help navigate a complex, changing world — not some esoteric soothsaying practice. In our chat, she admits to having a lot of earth in her chart, and you can feel it in the conversation. Denise is grounded and steady. Her spiritual practice doesn’t send her into outer space — it brings her back to reality.

What delighted me most about this conversation thought: Denise shared her daily practices with us, and examples of how she brought that practice into her work as high-risk maternal newborn nurse. She noticed her patients did better when she was grounded. Her examples of daily, even hourly practice are an example for all of us.

I think we’ve been sold a story that spiritual practice is separate from “real life.” It’s a respite from work, our “sanctuary” that safe from the evil outside world. But what if it’s the opposite? What if those practices were actually designed to help us be more present in the world? What if our practice allowed us to be more present, more grounded, and more intentional in every moment?

Denise and I also got into astrological magic, manifestation, and I share my hesitancy about manifestation being ego-driven. We ended with Denise’s beautiful exploration of her core principle of “Stewardship”. How do we care for something as if its our own without getting attached?

I think you’ll recognize yourself in this conversation. I certainly did.

Episode 46 Chapters:

* 00:00 Growing Up Between Faiths

* 06:22 The Education That Changed Everything

* 12:04 Astrology Meets the Bedside

* 24:02 Morning Ritual as Anchor

* 35:15 The Ego vs. the Universe

* 46:21 Stewardship as Spiritual North Star

Denise Hancock, PhD, RN, is a New Orleans-based astrologer and nurse educator who brings professional training and real-world experience to every reading. She combines natal-chart clarity, grounded forecasting, and practical guidance to help clients navigate career shifts, relationships, and life transitions. Denise also teaches classes, writes forecasts, and serves as a senior editor for The Evolving Astrologer magazine.

Connect with Denise:

* 🌙 Astrology with Denise: AstrologyWithDenise.com

* 📍 Organization for Professional Astrologers (OPA): https://opaastrology.org/

* 📸 Denise’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendarydenise/

Work With Vera

* 📅 Coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery

* 📸 Instagram: @verarocks

* 📨 Subscribe: https://substack.com/@veralester

* 🗓️ Upcoming events: https://linktr.ee/veralester

* 🌐 Connect: veralester.com

Books & Resources Mentioned:

* 📖 Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living by John McQuiston

* 📖 Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza

* 📖 The Placebo Effect by Joe Dispenza

#CuriousHearts #DeniseHancock #Astrology #Spirituality #Manifestation #Mindfulness #SpiritualPractice #Nursing #PersonalGrowth

I know I’m doing something right because I’m nervous to upload this episode.

So often, spiritual practices are considered “apolitical.” And perhaps they are — I’m not attached to a political system or a political party. I am attached to our collective freedom from suffering. So if your system or party is not on the “freedom from suffering” train — I’m against it.

This episode is one of my core spiritual beliefs. When I have taught and shared about it elsewhere, I’ve gotten some pushback. I think it often makes us uncomfortable. When I start talking about ‘social justice,’ so many people are conditioned to shut off, weary and wary of social justice warriors.

But there is no way around this: our spiritual practices bring us back to our interconnectedness. And when we have embodied that, and practiced that — when we listen to The Golden Rule, or embrace ubuntu — there’s no escaping this reality:

The natural destination of spiritual practice is social justice work.

Whether you call it “collective liberation” or “movement work” or “the resistance” or “love warriors,” doesn’t matter. Once we realize we’re all on this boat together, we want the sailing to stop hurting us.

If you are feeling overwhelmed already — don’t worry. There is no hitting you over the head or guilt coming in this episode.

In fact, if you are feeling groundless, lost, hopeless or helpless, that’s the invitation to your spiritual practice. If you’re already scared or overwhelmed, I do not want you to help other people out of the boat. I want you to stop, sit still, and tend to your curious heart.

And then come back.

Spiritual practices leads us naturally to liberatory work. And it is also our preparation and training. When we are exhausted by the weight of the world, our practices are ready and waiting to restore and refill us.

When you are tired, I will step forward so you can rest. When I am weary, I need you to step forward. We are all connected; there is only one of us.

I hope this episode feels equal parts challenging, soothing, and empowering.

And may you, and all being, feel that inner sense of ease that’s always here.

लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु

Lokaḥ Samastāḥ Sukhino Bhavantu

[00:00:00] – Welcome & The Stakes[00:02:00] – Building the Inner Foundation[00:08:33] – There’s Only One of Us[00:23:21] – Spiritual Practice Leads to Justice Work[00:30:05] – Start With One Small Thing

#CuriousHearts #SocialJustice #SpiritualPractice #Justice #Podcast #SpiritualLeadership

This episode is a little different.

Okay, it’s a LOT different. My 12 yearold niece asked for months to come on my podcast, so for her birthday this year I gave her an invitation to the pod. This is that episode.

We talk a little about “spiritual stuff,” but Liz is mostly silly and creative and always fun.

I hope this episode reminds you to come back to younger place in yourself — a place where you think about flying cars in the future, and people making a lot more money. Maybe it’s simpler — but I think the voice of children is so honest.

Welcome back, and enjoy!

Laughter is the most honest prayer.

When asked to imagine a spiritual teacher, I don’t usually picture someone laughing. I imagine a chaste monk, high in a mountain cave, eyes closed in meditation.

But my inherited stereotype that “practice is serious” is just that - a stereotype. An assumption. I have learned from all the teachers that I have practiced with: if we cannot laugh, if we cannot access humor, we miss an essential part of this deep work.

I believe G-d has an extraordinary sense of humor. When I remember that, my connection to life is simultaneously deeper, more intimate, and more loosely held.

The “cosmic joke” is not trivial — it’s telling the truth.

When’s the last time you had a big belly laugh? Cackled ‘til your eyes watered and you couldn’t breathe?

I’m not saying that a full, contagious, overwhelming laugh is the same as bliss, but it’s close.

This episode is about Humor as a spiritual practice. I hope it inspires you this week — no matter how dark things get, to always find joy and giggles.

* The Transformation: From Tears to Laughter (0:00–3:30)

* Why Laughter Belongs in Spiritual Practice (3:30–5:30)

* The Dalai Lama & the Wisdom of Laughter (5:30–9:44)

* Laughter as an Intentional Practice (27:27–30:04)

* Building Perspective When Things Are Heavy (30:04–36:08)

* Closing: Why This Matters Now (36:08–38:19)

RESOURCES:

* Josh Johnson: https://youtu.be/3RF2lkn-lwA?si=IR8a3wV-sRrbqLrG

* Trae Crowder: https://youtu.be/VULUOEy-Ro8?si=JKyBQX0cs6iRDMyT

* Theatrical Clowning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UEge8eU5DU

I aim to bring joy and laughter to all I do. If you’re curious about working with me,

* 👩🏻‍💻 Visit my website: www.veralester.com

* 📸 Follow me on IG for clips and updates: instagram.com/verarocks/

* 📅 Schedule a coaching inquiry call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery

In resounding joy. <3

xovera

Who’s taking care of the caretakers?

It’s all I can think when I think about Jenny. It takes an especially generous heart to be a trauma therapist. To know the details of the worst of humanity, and still be able to find joy and hope — this is a lesson we all need.

Jenny taught me about something called “vicarious trauma,” — which is one of the things she’s dedicated her work to. It turns out, your therapist is human too. Hearing all those stories, witnessing the extraordinary pain and suffering of being human — well, that can create trauma too. What do you do when being a trauma therapist is traumatic?

You find a community. We know community is an essential part of a spiritual practice; and spiritual care is what those trauma therapists get when they reach out to other folk to help share the load.

Jenny and I talked about how the simplest things are the most effective. The things that are so simple, they seem like they shouldn’t work? If every careworker carries the burden of their work, how does sharing it work? It seems too simple.

The breath is like that too. It’s so simple, it shouldn’t work — but it does, every single time.

Despite how it sounds, this episode is ringing with laughter and joy and so much love. Jenny and I have a special connection that you’ll hear about in this episode.

P.S. Visit Nederland, we’re here and we’re ready for you.

------------------------------------

00:00 Welcome & Meet Jenny

03:16 Growing Up in Nederland

11:46 Finding Yoga, Finding Wild Lotus

19:15 Holding Space Through Grief

25:15 Vicarious Trauma & Vicarious Resilience

34:52 Breath, Nature & What Nourishes Us Now

---------------------------------------

🌲 - Visit Ned: https://www.nederlandco.gov/explore-nederland

🎙️ veralester.com — work with me

📚 Jenny's books:

The PTSD Recovery Workbook

Triggers to Glimmers: A Vicarious Resilience Journal and Workbook

🌱 Jenny's work:

The BRAVE Trauma Therapist Collective

The BRAVE Method

Follow Jenny:

📲 Follow Jenny:

YouTube: @braveproviders

Instagram: @braveproviders

Facebook: The Vicarious Trauma Community with Jenny Hughes

TikTok: @braveproviders

This isn’t the episode I planned. Over the last week, I’ve been meditating and writing about compassion. But we can’t talk about compassion without first acknowledging pain and suffering.

This episode may be a little heavier than usual — so if you don’t have the bandwidth, you have full permission to skip it.

But I do want to caution you: we often want to skip pain and/or suffering. We do a lot to avoid it. To numb or distract, rather than to soothe. I can’t promise this episode is soothing, but I know it is a non-negotiable lesson in our spiritual life.

There’s an old adage: Pain is mandatory, suffering is optional. I used to believe it. I don’t anymore.

In fact, I think that suffering is one of the greatest teachers we have. It’s a profound initiation into spiritual life, and it’s a magnetic force field drawing us back to each other.

If you have a body, you will have pain. What happens next is up to you.

00:00 - Intro 01:26 - Pain is guaranteed (physical, emotional, spiritual)

07:47 - Rethinking "pain is mandatory, suffering is optional"

09:54 - The RAIN technique

12:29 - Where suffering starts: blame, shame, and coping strategies

15:29 - Sarvam dukham: the root of this teaching

23:12 - How suffering deepens connection

25:44 - Tonglen and how to hold pain without fixing it

Learn more:

* RAIN technique — Tara Brach’s official overview and free guide: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/

* Tonglen practice — Pema Chödrön’s instructions via Lion’s Roar: https://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-practice-tonglen-meditation/ (Happy Birthday, Pema!)

* Krishna Das (kirtan singer referenced for the “stuff sucks” translation): https://krishnadas.com/

* Eisenhower’s insistence on witnessing the camps — National Park Service overview: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/eisenhower-and-the-holocaust.htm

* Bernie Glassman’s Zen Peacemakers and their witnessing work: https://zenpeacemakers.org/programs/

* Romanian orphanage research (Bucharest Early Intervention Project) — NPR coverage: https://www.npr.org/2006/09/16/6089477/researchers-still-learning-from-romanias-orphans

What did you take from this episode? Where do you want to go next?

If I can support you in navigating your own process untangling suffering, please look me up.

Work with me: veralester.com

Sometimes everyday mystics are immigration lawyers.

That’s the story of today’s guest. When I first met Zia, she was working as a local immigration attorney for a non-profit. (It is not a great time to be an immigration attorney, if you hadn’t noticed.)

You’d expect someone with a caseload in the hundreds, hearing some of the most gut-wrenching stories all day would be hardened and jaded. But not Zia.

Zia has a light in her eyes and an openness that is rare. She’s one of those people who sees you when she looks at you. Without words, you know that she can see right through all those masks and carefully crafted identities — all the way to the real you.

Her path is similar to so many: raised religious, left the church (and G_d) and then found her way back again as an adult. She came back the Ram Dass way, if you know what I mean.

Our conversation, like being with Zia, is grounded and spacious. We explore the deep human needs for belonging, finding purpose, and our silly search for certainty.

I think my favorite part of this episode is hearing Zia’s commitment to Bhakti — a path of the heart, and learning to live in love all the time.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

00:00 – Meet Zia: student, teacher, immigration attorney

04:18 – A childhood between faiths: Bahá’í, Catholic, and belonging nowhere fully

21:56 – Becoming an atheist — and the trip at 41 that changed everything

31:04 – Bhakti, collecting traditions, and experience over doctrine

39:36 – Sound, surrender, and the difference between efforting and allowing

55:21 – The parking lot story, and closing thoughts

This podcast is at home on Substack - but your review or rating wherever you listen helps other people discover and listen. If you liked today’s episode, I hope you’ll share a comment or a review.

If you’re in a season where you’re doing your own work of coming back home to yourself, you can find ways to work with me at veralester.com.