Almost a year ago, on winter solstice (which is this upcoming Saturday), I wrote this in a social media post. I said: Winter Solstice marks the day with the longest amount of darkness; it marks a SHIFT - the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun; the gradual waning of daylight hours is reversed and begins to grow again.

Death & rising. Darkness reversed into Light...What other imagery does this evoke? Like many who go through betrayal trauma and find themselves rising from the hell they've been through into post-traumatic growth, I resonate DEEPLY with the imagery of the PHOENIX.

The song, Phoenix by Katrina Stone, that I picked to be the theme song of my podcast for 2024, to me captures the audacious amount of power I feel to face the "fire" (GASLIGHTING, anyone? 😂).

I was IN it. I "laid there awhile" and made that hell my home. I walked through it. I came out the other side. And now, when I see the smoke rising from the hell my clients are walking through, I don't choke - I smile. Because I know I'm a phoenix. And I know they are, too.

2024 has been A YEAR, y’all! So, for my last “formal” podcast episode of season two and the year of 2024, my guest and I are going to share what we’ve learned and love about rising from the ashes, phoenix style!

Welcome to Deconstructing Gaslighting®, the podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Morales. If this is the first time you’re listening to the pod, welcome! I invite you to go back to the beginning of Season 1. There is so much helpful information, and a TON of validation, as people share their stories of experiences of gaslighting, and I help them understand the ins and outs of how and why it was gaslighting.

You can also check out my website for my courses on GASLIGHTING or to inquire about joining one of my groups or 1:1 coaching.

My guest today is Shawna Meek of Living Stones Coaching, based in Arizona. She is the author of the book, Determined for More, based on her own 25-year marriage journey, now available on Amazon.

Story Time: Sarah and Shawna talk about the "Phoenix" experiences they have had, and both the inspiration and life lessons they have learned from the story of the journey of the Phoenix.

If you'd like to know more about Shawna, her book, her workshops, or coaching, please check out her website!

I wanted to invite you to follow me on your preferred social media platform. I’m on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broken and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly. And now, Phoenix, by Katrina Stone…