Gathering Gold

In Episode 4, we're talking about another liminal time that serves as a potent opportunity for meeting our inner worlds: morning. We discuss feelings that can arise when we first open our eyes, from dread to joy, and Sheryl shares ways to turn inward without getting stuck or engulfed by big feelings at the start of the day. We talk about "co-sleeping" with our phones and share gentle strategies for working with the habit of checking them first thing in the morning. We also discuss morning rituals and routines, and why throwing out judgment and labels of "good" and "bad" can make all the difference in helping us welcome the day with more gratitude and connection. Sheryl closes with a suggested practice for the first five minutes of our morning. 

References:

• Headspace video: Japan's 72 Micro-Seasons of Impermanence

In Episode 3, we shine some light on what’s happening in the highly sensitive heart during the dark, quiet (and sometimes scary) hours of the night. Beginning with the sense of emptiness, dread or loneliness that may arise when the light starts to shift and we dip into sunset, then twilight, Sheryl and Victoria describe feelings that have accompanied them in these liminal times, particularly during childhood. Then, we talk about fear of the dark, Victoria’s first panic attack that occurred in the middle of the night, and Sheryl’s first experience with insomnia during her transition into junior high school. Sheryl describes her practice of taking time at night to reflect on the day, with compassion and curiosity, and the importance of finding bedtime rituals that feel nourishing, comforting and enjoyable to you. We close with a guided nighttime practice from Sheryl and a bit of poetry that reflects the gold we can uncover when we turn and face the night. 

References:

• “La La Lu” lullaby from Lady and the Tramp

• The opening scene and music from Pride and Prejudice (2005) that helped Victoria fall asleep

In Episode 2, we’ve got news: we changed the podcast name! In the spirit of this shift, we’re talking about course-correcting, finding opportunity within challenge, and the Jungian approach of turning lead into gold. We talk about uncovering buried treasure in our gardens--learning to see our own inherent gifts and goodness rather than projecting it externally. And, we discuss gathering gold from all seasons of life, finding compassion in our struggles, and bringing that compassion to others. 

References

• The Robcast, Episode 77: T'shuvah!

In Episode 1, we’re talking about names: the names of our hosts and the name of the podcast. You’ll hear the story behind Sheryl’s name, involving ancestry, immigration and Jewish tradition, and about the literary origins of Victoria’s name. Then we’ll dig into the concept of Roots & Crown, and how it symbolizes Sheryl’s approach to tending to our inner worlds and moving towards greater wholeness: going gently into the earth of our being, peering inside the dark places with curiosity and compassion, grounding ourselves in nourishing practices and relationships, and reaching towards the invisible realm of creativity and spirituality. 

**EDIT: Since this episode aired, we changed the name of the podcast to Gathering Gold! Find out about the new name (and the concept of course-correcting) in Episode 2.