Dharma Digs with Taylor Winchester - Accessing a Higher Plane via the Creative Arts

Well, it's been a rough week for the Winchester's, which lends to some of the reason as to why I'm late pushing out this week's episode. I'd been drafting ideas and research for this topic, and with the passing of my Grandmother as she leaves us in the physical realm, it seems a bit timely to dig deeper in meditation on who we really are as individuals, remembering our true essence and exploring why it is we're incarnated into this dance we call life. 

The question Who Am I is one we've likely all asked ourselves. And while there's many layers to this question, to remember who we really are is something that takes intention and awareness, and from my experience lots of meditation. To work towards peeling back the many layers of form in which we've slowly added on top of to create this false sense of self and the ego, is seemingly a lifetime's practice.

This week I share some of the coursework and insight's I've been meditating on as I work to discover my own inner essence and true self. I can only hope that, should you take the time to listen, it will enliven a desire for your own internal exploration. As always, in love & light  ✨ ~ tw

Connect with the show:

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www.instagram.com/taylorwinchestercreates

Episode links & references:

Unveiling the Mystery of Who Am I - Deepak Chopra 

A Surprising Answer to Who Am I - Deepak Chopra 

The idea of life’s purpose, finding your “spark”, and searching for ultimate meaning is something we tend to often overthink in our day to day lives. A few weeks ago I received an email from Jordan Ross of the Roasting Room in Bluffton, SC (as a part of their monthly newsletter which you should sign up for), and it was a great reminder of how the experience of living and inspiring others to truly live IS the meaning. As Jordan so simply put, "It has always been the little emotions, the little experiences of joy and sorrow, the first sip of coffee, the last bite of pie."

He was referencing the movie Soul, the Disney / Pixar movie featuring Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town, which depicts our human instinct in questioning "what is it that makes you...YOU?"

Jordan and his pal Tom Crenshaw dive into these concepts with me on this week's Dharma Digs episode, where we also discuss how they've cultivated a mindful and present crowd of music lovers in their town of Bluffton, SC. I really enjoyed this conversation, as they share unique stories and experiences of the raw emotion that can come from the magic that is live music.

Our segment two quotes to ponder as you're tuning in are below:

Jordan & Tom's segment three shares are:

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry - “Our philosophy of care is as much about living well as it is about experiencing end of life in a manner that is dignified, compassionate and as stress-free as possible.”

Deep Well Project - We help neighbors in need by providing basic assistance in emergency situations.  This assistance is immediate and non-bureaucratic, and it's intended to provide clients with "a hand up, not a hand-out."

Show Links:

https://roastingroomlounge.com/

https://roastingroomlounge.com/patron

https://www.instagram.com/roastingroom/

https://www.facebook.com/theroastingroom

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrP-18MphjLvogh1g38V4nA

I’ve been practicing meditation somewhat inconsistently over the last 7yrs, but in 2020 I committed to a meditation teacher training program through the Chopra Center, and have been meditating every morning for 30min a day (and trying for twice per day) over the last four months.

This week's Dharma Digs episode is a solo dig where I share some of the benefits of meditation, and more specifically how it's impacting my life and why I'm hoping to share the practice with others. 🧘‍♂️

Deepak Chopra also said, “Social transformation comes from personal transformation,” and what I'm realizing is that this is also true for our perspectives and the choices we make. As we turn inward and quiet down the mind, we're more equipped to experience our own transformation and to share this with the world around us.

So with that, I'm excited to announce that starting Monday, Feb 1st I’ll be kicking off a weekly live group meditation practice. We'll get started right at 8am EST, and the meditations will likely be 10-15 minutes, with a few minutes for discussion should there be any questions.

Don’t worry, if you know me then you know it’ll be super laid back and easy going.  ✨

Head over here and sign up to get on the list and help us raise the vibrations while calming anxieties, living more mindfully and learning to connect with the BE in being.

love & light,

tw

Connect with the show:

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www.instagram.com/taylorwinchestercreates

I love hearing stories of how creative entrepreneurs end up starting their business. Often time's it seems as though it's Dharma in the truest sense, and that sure seems to be the case for this week's guest, Audrey Ipapo Baran.

Audrey and I first crossed paths through Elonzo Wesley, the band I play mandolin in, as we worked together to produce a Halloween themed event dubbed Zombie Jam back in 2019. It's been amazing to follow her journey since, and during our chat we not only dive into how Baran Dance all started, but also some of the life lessons she's learned from her mentors and yoga pursuits. 

Our segment two quotes to ponder as you're tuning in are below: 

What if where I am is what I need? -- Deborah Hay 

Body firm. Mind awake. Heart open. -- Barbara Dilley 

Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form. -- Heart Sutra 

Audrey's segment three shares are:

OurBridge - At ourBRIDGE, students receive homework help, participate in hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering , Arts and Math) projects, and engage in a culturally relevant curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning. We provide one-on-one daily English literacy tutoring in order to accelerate the students’ acquisition of the English language. ourBRIDGE for KIDS aims to close the communication gap between school, teachers and families through the coordination of home visits, translation of school documents, and the organization of literacy nights and cultural events for parents at our center. When needed, we also provide parents transportation and translation support at teacher conferences and serve as the liaison between parents and schools.

Heal Charlotte - a placed based organization that does neighborhood revitalization with a holistic approach. "We accomplish this mission through our community events, youth development, family stability programs and building better community relations with our police department to provide a safer and healthier living environment for the communities we serve."

Show Links:

https://baran.dance/ 

https://www.facebook.com/barandanceclt   

https://www.instagram.com/barandance/  

https://www.instagram.com/littleyogithatcould/  

https://www.instagram.com/audibaran/ 

Connect on IG:

www.instagram.com/dharmadigs

www.instagram.com/taylorwinchestercreates

This week’s Dharma Digs episode is a short talk and meditation on Compassion. With all the heavy energies swirling around, it’s easy to feel discouraged, unmotivated and even depressed with the state of things. I’ve had my own mix of emotions, including anger and frustration after last week’s atrocities at the capitol.

I don’t fully understand why certain things happen or why some folks feel a certain way, but I also don’t believe holding onto anger will help solve any of the issues at hand. We’re all suffering, and I feel blessed in the sense that my suffering is minor in comparison to so many others.

How do we make room for self compassion during these times, while also channeling that compassion into energy, prayers and positive vibes to others - regardless of the actions they may choose?

Whether we’re considering the suffering of others, or analyzing our own feelings of depression thanks to the isolation and anxieties of the current pandemic and political climate, meditating on compassion this week has allowed me to feel more connected to the universe and a sense of peace amidst the chaos.

I end this week’s podcast with a short meditation, using the mantra Karuna (sanskrit for Compassion), in an attempt to transmit a wave of compassion out to each of you and all sentient beings. If you care to listen and partake in sitting for a few minutes in meditation, I’d love to hear your feedback in how it makes you feel.

I am also rolling out a group meditation practice in the coming weeks that will enable me to hone my teaching skills. If you’d like to join in, take the short survey linked in my bio and stay tuned for dates coming soon!

As always, sending out love, light and a bit of compassion as well this week!

Show Quote's discussed:

"According to Buddhism, compassion is an aspiration, a state of mind, wanting others to be free from suffering. It's not passive — it's not empathy alone — but rather an empathetic altruism that actively strives to free others from suffering. Genuine compassion must have both wisdom and lovingkindness. That is to say, one must understand the nature of the suffering from which we wish to free others (this is wisdom), and one must experience deep intimacy and empathy with other sentient beings (this is lovingkindness)." - Dalai Lama The Essence of the Heart Sutra

“The mind becomes serene by the cultivation of feelings of love for the happy, compassion for the suffering, delight for the virtuous, and equanimity for the non-virtuous.” - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Connect with the show:

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We're back with another #dharmadigs conversation, and this week we're catching up with an old friend from Wilmington, NC, founder of T. Shaw Designs - Mr. Tom Shaw ladies and gentlemen!

Tom shares some insight into how he came to find a sense of purpose through designing and screen printing concert posters and merch for bands like Umphrey's McGee, Lukas Nelson, Lake Street Dive and Greensky Bluegrass, along with venues such as Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and Brooklyn Arts Center.

We also chat about his recent dive into fatherhood, and his little nod to Paul Simon in honor of the birthday Vivian, Tom's daughter, now shares with him. This opened up some dialogue around the lyrics in Paul's song Father and Daughter, which was cool to hear a new father's perspective. 

For Tom's segment three pick, he shares his partnership with NourishNC, a non-profit that "provides hungry children with healthy food, empowering them to succeed in the classroom and in their community. Our goal is to enhance children’s health and well-being by preventing the devastating consequences of child hunger."

A fellow musician and Phish fan alike (of course we chat about Phish!), it's been really cool to watch Tom continue to put his stamp on the music industry in Wilmington and beyond. I snagged a few of my favorite T. Shaw pieces to share below, so take a look, give the guy a follow on socials and enjoy the conversation with Tom Shaw!

Show Links:

https://www.tshawdesigns.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tshawdesigns/

https://www.instagram.com/tshawdesigns

https://nourishnc.org/

Connect on IG:

www.instagram.com/dharmadigs

www.instagram.com/taylorwinchestercreates

I've been a little MIA on the interwebs over the last week or so, you know, with the holiday season and all. It was rather refreshing though, finding time to cleanse from social media (sans the client work that requires it, of course).

The end of the year always suggests we take time to refresh, replenish and set our intentions as we look forward. With the end of 2020 and the chaos it provided, I think many of us are anxious to move into 2021, and if there ever were a time to consider a total shift in paradigms, I feel like now is it.

This week I explore the possibility of not only being open to the idea of a paradigm shift, but being willing to lean in a bit. Recent conversations and, let's say perhaps a few signs of spirit, have me contemplating the season's of change and what moving into this next phase of life may offer.

More importantly, what choices will we make to discover our true essence and share it with the community and societies that surround us? You know, the whole "be the change you wish to see" quote?

If we truly wish for a more peaceful society, we must first individually choose to act in a manner that creates such a society. How do we take action in our own lives to create not only the life that we want, but a life that benefit the world and all the beings that inhabit it?

I'm not sure there's a simple answer to that question, as it's something I'm struggling with myself, but as I look forward to 2021 I do know that I'm finding joy in riding the tides and pursuing the question.

Hope you enjoy this episode, drop me a line if you have any thoughts or want to dig in further!

Connect with the show:

https://spoti.fi/34SyyMe

www.instagram.com/dharmadigspodcast

www.instagram.com/taylorwinchestercreates

Are you willing to bet on your muse? With folks like Charles Bukowski, Jerry Weintraub and Lucinda Williams as inspiration, Mary Sparr is sure willing to. Founder and Owner of Young Mary Records, Mary spends much of her time managing the careers of some pretty amazing songwriters - Ian Noe, Morgan Wade and Elizabeth Cook to name a few.

In this convo we chat about how she finds purpose by enabling her clients to find purpose through their art, as well as some insight into the benefits of building a team if you’re an independent artist!

Of course we also contemplate Bukowski and Weintraub quotes, as well as an excerpt of lyrics from Lucinda Williams Fruits of My Labor.

Hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed the convo! Thanks again to Mary for obligin’. Y’all stay safe out there and enjoy your holiday seasons.

Show Links:

https://www.instagram.com/youngmaryrecords/

https://twitter.com/YoungMarySparr

https://youngmaryrecords.com/

http://www.neverrefuseamuse.com/ 

Mary's non-profits of choice! Go give 'em a follow:

Hood to the Holler - https://hoodtotheholler.org/

MusiCares - https://www.grammy.com/musicares

Connect with the show:

https://spoti.fi/34SyyMe

www.instagram.com/dharmadigspodcast

www.instagram.com/tdubyacreates

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"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." - Albert Einstein

This week's episode is another solo dig where I share a few concepts I've been contemplating of late. I'm curious, have you considered how different the reality I'm living may be compared to the reality you're living? Or even your next door neighbor for example, do you think their reality is the same as yours simply because they live in the same neighborhood, support the same businesses or drive the same streets?

How about the stories we create in our heads? Have you paused the storytelling long enough to separate yourself from the thoughts, allowing you to find the space to recognize or even become aware of said storytelling?

Lately I've been a bit hung up contemplating the realization that all of our individual experiences quickly turn into memories - which are memories that then influence the stories we create in our heads, seemingly every second of every day - which ultimately play out in "real life" of physical form.

I can't help but wonder how do we change the narrative to create a more inclusive, empathetic and peaceful reality?

I can't say that I have the answers, but in this week's episode of #DharmaDigs I share a bit of what inspired these contemplative musings and why I believe a shift in our inner-storytelling can positively impact both our individual and collective realities as we know them.

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Connect with the show:

https://spoti.fi/34SyyMe

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“The magic part about it is what gets me really excited. Often we’re really creating something out of nothing, which is effectively magic. It’s like ‘poof’ and it’s there!” ~ Corri Smith

I’ve known Corri for around 10yrs or so now, and one thing I’m certain is she’s always rocking some super positive vibes and magical energies, within both her personal and professional spirit. Founder of the creative marketing agency Black Wednesday, she spends most of her time honing and amplifying the brand voices of her many clients.

As I was preparing for our conversation, I thought of a book that was gifted to my wife and I when our pup Crosby passed away a few years back.  Many Lives, Many Masters, by Brian Weiss, is essentially about how using past-life therapy, he was able to cure the patient and embark on a new, more meaningful phase of his own career. While we didn’t dig deep into past lives or the idea of reincarnation, we did discuss morning routines, a little magic and spiritual energies and how it all ties into the way she lives life and approaches work!

The following excerpt from Many Lives, Many Masters made me think about the importance of both taking action and applying the knowledge we’re learning, and I enjoyed hearing from Corri how she applies these concepts to marketing.

“Wisdom is achieved very slowly. This is because intellectual knowledge, easily acquired, must be transformed into ‘emotional,’ or subconscious, knowledge. Once transformed, the imprint is permanent. Behavioral practice is the necessary catalyst of this reaction. Without action, the concept will wither and fade. Theoretical knowledge without practical application is not enough.”

“Inner peace is impossible without patience. Wisdom requires patience. Spiritual growth implies the mastery of patience. Patience allows the unfolding of destiny to proceed at its own unhurried pace.”

Show Links:

https://blackwednesday.co/

https://twitter.com/blackwedco

https://www.instagram.com/blackwedco/

https://twitter.com/corriasmith

https://www.instagram.com/corriasmith/

Corri’s Non-Profit Recs:

Good Friends Charlotte - https://www.goodfriendscharlotte.org/

Digi-Bridge Charlotte - https://digi-bridge.org/