On my final night in Italy, everything I thought I could control slipped out of my hands. At 3AM in Bari, I was forced to trust strangers to get me to the airport — no clear plan, no guarantees, just faith.

What unfolded was a lesson in letting go of control, being carried by community, and hearing wisdom from unexpected places — including Grandmother Ayahuasca herself.

This “final test” closed my Morocco–Italy scouting trip and revealed what I’ll need for the much bigger journey ahead.

If you’ve ever wrestled with surrendering control, navigating anxiety, or discerning the voice of guidance, this story will meet you there.

As you watch, consider:

* What “final test” moments have prepared you for the next phase of your journey?

* Where are you being invited to release control and trust others (or the universe) to carry you?

* How do you manage the physical symptoms of anxiety during uncertainty?

🌍 About Guided AbroadGuided Abroad is a real-time travelogue and spiritual journey with me, Sarah Cooke. I follow intuitive guidance across the world — from Morocco to Italy and beyond — sharing the lessons, synchronicities, and spirit-led encounters along the way.

👉 Subscribe to Guided Abroad for real-time stories of intuition, travel, and spiritual growth.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

In Lecce, Italy, beauty and history opened unexpected doorways to spiritual growth. From meeting Saints who felt like old friends, to exploring the tension between my land-based spirituality and the grandeur of Catholic tradition, this week’s journey became a masterclass in contrast.

The guides revealed why this friction is part of my assignment—and how comfort and challenge work together to help us grow. Along the way, I discover the natural ebb and flow between stretching into the unfamiliar and returning to the familiar for grounding.

Plus, an update for listeners following the “man on the street” story from Episode 10.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

* Why contrast is a spiritual assignment, not a divider

* How “just don’t” became my shortcut to staying present

* The sacred encounters that left a lasting impression

* How comfort zones and stretch zones work together to fuel growth

Chapters:

00:00 Intro - Lecce, a Classroom for the Soul 00:21 Choosing Presence Over Action 01:55 Sacred Encounters - Saints as Old Friends 04:56 The Guides on Contrast and Bias 07:49 Prioritizing What Matters 09:26 A Brief Update on the Man in Lecce 10:14 Museum Visit and Comforts from Home 13:04 Reflection - Where Are You Standing Today?

Reflection Prompts:

* Where are you spending most of your day—comfort zone or stretch zone?

* How do you personally balance the familiar with the unfamiliar?

* When you feel the urge to rush into action, what helps you pause and stay present?

🎙️ About Guided Abroad:

Guided Abroad is a real-time podcast about spirit-led travel, intuitive living, and trusting your path as it unfolds. If you’ve ever felt like the universe was orchestrating your next steps (or wanted to)… you’re in the right place.

How is contrast showing up as a teacher in your life? Drop it in the comments or message me directly —I love hearing your stories!

👉 Subscribe or Follow to stay tuned for what’s next.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

What do you do when fear, resistance, and old patterns show up — right when you’re being called to something bigger?

In this episode of Guided Abroad, I share a raw, real moment from my spirit-led journey in Lecce, Italy.

You’ll hear:

* How fear and overthinking can pull us away from intuition and into old habits

* A grounding practice to return to the present moment and reconnect with spiritual guidance

* How ancestral and galactic guides revealed a deeper truth behind the coming decisions

* A surprising insight: What if the move abroad isn't required—but the becoming is?

If you’ve ever felt torn between following your inner calling or retreating into the familiar, this update will help you to know you are not alone. It may also inspire you to trust your guidance, face your resistance, and align fully with your true self.

After listening, give yourself a minute to integrate what you took in…

Reflection prompts:

* Where are you rushing into action and might be missing something valuable you could be experiencing or learning in the present?

* What crossroads are present for you today? Have you been here before?

* Where are you not allowing your true self to be fully expressed? What’s holding you back?

Drop a note in the comments or at [email protected] to tell me your experience. I’d love to hear from you.

Follow or subscribe to join the journey.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

What happens when you follow your intuition to a city you never planned to visit… and Spirit sends you a sign that feels like fireworks?

In this episode of Guided Abroad, I arrive in Lecce, Italy, where an unexpected energetic awakening unfolds—complete with a massive heart chakra expansion, an intuitive ‘barcalounger’ moment, and an electric glance with a stranger that feels destined.

I also share a powerful hypnosis session where my higher self revealed this very sign of future love—a prophecy that may have just come true on these winding limestone streets.

This isn’t a love story. It’s a story about surrender, trusting your path, and noticing cosmic nudges along the way.

💡 In This Episode:

* Trusting intuition when plans don’t make sense

* Experiencing spontaneous heart chakra expansion

* A QHHT hypnosis prophecy of future love

* Spiritual signs in fleeting human connections

* Why cosmic nudges matter (even if nothing “happens”)

Have you ever had an instant, cosmic connection with a stranger? Drop it in the comments or message me directly or message me directly —I love hearing your stories!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

When you follow spiritual guidance, the signs can shift in unexpected ways.

In this episode of Guided Abroad, I share the first major test of my journey: discovering that my vision—and destination—had completely changed.

I take you inside:

* A sudden vision shift from desert to seaside cliffs

* Energy changes that turned a soul mission into a lighthearted vacation

* How intuition, guides, and astrocartography revealed my next stop

* Matera’s powerful story of shame and healing, and how it mirrors spiritual transformation

* The importance of rest and integration before stepping into the next chapter

This is a story about listening when the signs change, trusting intuition through uncertainty, and letting your journey unfold in divine timing.

🎧 Listen now and discover how letting go of past visions - and being in flow with your inner wisdom - can open the path to something even more aligned.

Learn more about Matera, Italy:

I knew almost nothing about Matera when I arrived. Since visiting, I’ve discovered these great reads about its history and rebirth:

- The Smithsonian’s vivid article: How Matera Went From Ancient Civilization to Slum to a Hidden Gem

- The New Yorker (2015): A Cave with a View | The New Yorker

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

This episode is a little different.

Instead of telling you what happened to me—I’m answering the questions you’ve sent in.

I touch on what makes healing “work,” how to know if intuitive messages are real, and why so few people talk openly about the messiness, the mystery, and the magic of it all.

I even get into the deeper question: what does this have to do with leadership, power, and living a better life?

It’s not about being “woo.” It’s about learning to trust yourself.

And I’m so glad you’re here for it.

Episode Highlights:

* Why intuitive healing looks different for everyone

* What is a Spirit Guide, really—and how do I know I’m not just making it up?

* The truth about fast shadow work

* How this all makes you a more powerful, joyful leader

* How to begin building discernment and trust

Next episode, we hit a big twist in the journey. But this pause? Right now, it’s exactly where we needed to be.If this episode sparked something for you, I’d love to hear it.

✨ Subscribe for more real-time insights and updates as this journey unfolds. We’re just getting started!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

A fish pedicure in Marrakesh was supposed to be a lighthearted bucket list moment. I didn’t expect it to lead to one of the most surreal and symbolic things I’ve ever witnessed.

Just after my blissed-out spa moment, I found myself captivated by the usual chaos of a Marrakesh traffic circle—until something impossible happened. A speed skater, of all things, cut through the frenzy like a bolt of white light, untouched and completely in flow.

In this episode, I share the story and what it stirred in me: a reflection on how we each move through the swirling energy of life.

Are you the overburdened donkey? The hesitant walker? Or are you ready to move with grace and confidence like the speed skater?

Let’s explore how we find our pace—through chaos, curiosity, and the unexpected.

If this episode sparked something for you, I’d love to hear it.

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss the next step on this spirit-led journey.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

What happens when your ancestors call you back to the land they fought over for generations?

In this episode of Guided Abroad, I share my return to the Moroccan Sahara to heal ancient wounds in my family line.

You’ll come with me through the windswept dunes and sacred rituals that healed the past— and expanded my spirit team in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

Alongside the mystical, you’ll hear about the raw realities of desert life. And you’ll be invited to check in with your own “formless Board of Directors” — your spirit team — and notice how your unseen support shifts as you grow.

If this episode sparked something for you, I’d love to hear about it.

✨ Follow or Subscribe so you don’t miss the next step on this spirit-led journey.

Thank you for traveling with me.

Sarah Cooke | Guided Abroad

Many pics and clips are shared in the video format of this episode. Don't miss out on the full experience! Watch on Substack or Youtube:

- Substack: https://guidedabroad.substack.com/;

- Youtube: @SarahCooke.SuperConscious.

Follow at Instagram: @spiritualjourneysarah; Facebook: @SarahCooke.SuperConscious

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

Discover how clearing energetic baggage can ease your next big leap—and transform what unfolds next.

In this episode of Guided Abroad, I share how working in the invisible, energetic world can ease your visible, material world goals — whether you're moving across the world, launching your next project, or entering a new life chapter.

Before leaving the United States for Morocco, I did profound past life, ancestral, and land healing to clear karmic patterns, demonstrating how deep energetic work can change what you need to accomplish next.

You’ll hear intimate session clips with psychologist and intuitive energy healer Mykal Harp, experience past life and ancestral healing moments, and receive a powerful channeled message on what it really means to clear karma — and why behavior change is still needed afterward.

Whether you’re spiritually curious or seeking practical transformation, this episode invites you to explore how invisible preparation can transform your visible reality.

💌 Share your reflections or questions — your journey might shape a future episode.

👉 Subscribe to stay tuned for what's next.

Special thank you my friend Mykal. You can learn more about her work at https://mykalharp.com or https://www.youtube.com/@MykalHarp.

For subtitles, view this episode on Substack or YouTube. Substack: https://guidedabroad.substack.com/; Youtube: @SarahCooke.SuperConscious. Follow at Instagram: @spiritualjourneysarah; Facebook: @SarahCooke.SuperConscious

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com

My first days in Marrakesh, and the synchronicities are already too strong to ignore.

In this first report from Morocco, I share how I have been guided in every step of my arrival—from choosing Marrakesh as my landing point to an unexpected encounter that may trace back to my own ancestral history.

Through dreams, intuitive downloads, and surprising synchronicities, this journey is already revealing a depth I couldn’t have predicted.

You’ll hear how I was guided to Marrakesh, what it means to “let Morocco be Morocco,” and why surrendering expectations opens the door to powerful new lessons

Yes, there’s also a street food adventure (spoiler: I ate brains), but at its core, this episode is about trusting guidance, following signs, and staying open to what might unfold.

👉 Subscribe to stay tuned for what's next.

Don't miss photos and video from the trip! Check out the show on Substack or YouTube where they are presented in video format: Substack: https://guidedabroad.substack.com/; Youtube: @SarahCooke.SuperConscious. Follow at Instagram: @spiritualjourneysarah; Facebook: @SarahCooke.SuperConscious

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit guidedabroad.substack.com