Seekers Field Guide

There’s a calm, steady presence some people naturally bring into the world, and Payal Parekh is one of those people. Her life has been shaped by movement, art, and a deep belief that rest is not a luxury, but a birthright. From her early days studying ballet and modern dance to her influential work in the contemporary art world, she’s spent years learning how creativity can open the door to healing.

My guest today is Payal Parekh, a New York–based wellness curator, nationally certified yoga teacher, art advisor, and founder of Payal Arts International. Her work spans embodied art meditation, restorative yoga, Reiki, Akashic Record readings, and a beautifully crafted 53-card deck called Blessed Rest. Payal has brought meditation and contemplative practices into spaces like Christie’s, David Zwirner Gallery, The Armory Show, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. All with the intention of helping people slow down, soften, and reconnect with themselves.

We talk about the threads that have shaped her path: movement as early embodiment, the anxiety that led her deeper into yoga, how art can shift our consciousness, and the creation of Blessed Rest during the isolation of 2020. Payal shares how she guides people through trust, intention, and presence, and what it means to create healing-centered spaces in a world that rarely slows down.

Episode Highlights: 

• [01:17] Payal Parekh is a wellness curator and art advisor whose work weaves creativity with healing.
• [02:28] A look into her early career reveals how studying art history and building an advisory practice shaped her path.
• [03:24] Movement comes into focus as her first doorway into embodiment, long before she had language for it.
• [04:29] Returning to ballet decades later becomes an anchor, helping regulate anxiety and reconnect with inner steadiness.
• [05:34] Early interests like poetry, prayer, and quiet rituals emerge as the foundation for her emotional landscape.
• [06:26] Memories of resting with music and candlelight hint at the restorative practices she now teaches.
• [07:22] The meaning of her name “anklet” sparks a conversation about identity, ancestry, and movement.
• [08:32] Embodying the spirit of her name becomes more meaningful than wearing anklets themselves.
• [09:44] Curiosity about contemporary art leads her into galleries, collectors’ worlds, and creative communities.
• [10:24] A powerful museum exhibition challenges her ideas of what art can communicate.
• [11:31] Persistence pays off as cold-calling New York galleries lead to her first position in the art world.
• [12:47] The discussion shifts toward the anxiety and overwhelm that eventually brought yoga into her life.
• [13:33] Caring for a mother navigating cancer treatments brings deep emotional complexity to her thirties.
• [14:29] A subway panic attack becomes the moment she realizes anxiety has gone unnamed for years.
• [15:08] Yoga evolves from a coping tool into a long-term path of healing, study, and self-understanding.
• [16:15] Meditative sessions in galleries begin as experiments, blending art and mindfulness in unexpected ways.
• [17:16] Participants consistently leave these sessions feeling more grounded, open, and attuned.
• [18:03] Embodied art viewing encourages people to explore color, breath, memory, and sensation.
• [19:27] Certain artworks have the power to shift consciousness, mood, and emotional state in subtle ways.
• [20:28] Not every piece resonates and having permission to disengage becomes part of the experience.
• [21:37] The definition of art expands to include movement, music, and anything that evokes feeling.
• [22:25] Attention turns to the origins of Blessed Rest and how affirmation writing began during lockdown.
• [23:36] Life in New York during the pandemic brings stillness, isolation, and a dramatic change in rhythm.
• [24:25] A sudden anaphylactic reaction becomes one of the most frightening moments of the year.
• [25:19] Restorative yoga, meditation, and writing become essential supports for stress and uncertainty.
• [26:39] Those weekly affirmations eventually take shape as a 53-card deck centered on rest and healing.
• [27:12] Restorative yoga is described as a practice that shifts the body into parasympathetic calm.
• [28:41] True rest is shown to create real physiological changes including slower heart rate, easier breath, and ease in the tissues.
• [29:25] Trust becomes a major theme to trust in a higher power, in the unfolding of life, and in oneself.
• [30:53] Different people draw strength from different sources of faith, from ancestors to nature.
• [31:57] Akashic Record readings are introduced as access points to the soul’s past, present, and future.
• [32:55] These sessions often become warm, meaningful conversations rather than silent energetic work.
• [33:48] Many use the records to gain clarity on challenges, emotions, and next steps.
• [34:29] Modalities like mindfulness, aromatherapy, Reiki, and movement are chosen based on each person’s needs.
• [35:50] Healing work takes place in diverse environments like hospitals, galleries, spas, and corporate offices.
• [36:37] After sessions, the atmosphere consistently softens, becoming lighter and more connected.
• [37:54] Creating healing-centered spaces inside non-healing environments becomes part of her mission.
• [38:30] A vision emerges of wellness tools becoming accessible across schools, museums, and workplaces.
• [39:33] Even simple moments like pulling a card together before a meeting could shift group energy.
• [40:29] Meditation and Reiki offered to cancer patients during infusion treatments bring comfort and presence.
• [41:02] Practical guidance is offered on using the Blessed Rest deck for weekly reflection and grounding.
• [42:26] Rest cards serve as invitations to slow down and step out of constant doing.
• [43:50] Many people use the deck for journaling, drawing, or giving encouragement to others.
• [44:09] The conversation explores how art, healing, and creativity might evolve together in the future.
• [45:10] With so many healing modalities available, the focus becomes choosing what truly resonates.
• [46:00] A reminder that feeling resourced creates more joy, generosity, and connection.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Payal Arts International
• Payal S Parekh - Instagram
• Blessed Rest Card Deck

Katie McDonald was a top international sales exec at Time Inc. She ran on hustle and high standards until her body finally said “no.” One missed meeting became a breaking point, the first crack in a life built on proving her worth through achievement. What followed was a serious health crisis with ulcerative colitis, shingles, asthma, depression and a moment where she wondered if she could keep going. With the steady support of her psychiatrist husband, she chose to heal instead. That choice would change everything and eventually become the heart of b.nourished.

Healing didn’t happen overnight. Katie turned the same drive she once used for her career toward understanding herself. Out of that came her “Will Manual,” a personal guide for living in a way that feels honest and sustainable. She learned that thriving isn’t about being perfect or “balanced” instead it’s about taking responsibility for your wellbeing, every day, in small, doable ways. Today, through a six-month coaching program, she helps high achievers pause the cycle of self-neglect and rebuild self-trust. Her style is straightforward but deeply kind. She calls out guilt, martyrdom, and the habit of overfunctioning, while teaching people to notice what they need, keep tiny promises to themselves, and set up their lives to support their health.

In our conversation we talk about how our culture glorifies busyness, why real change takes time, and what happens when you start “studying yourself.” Katie shares how the b.nourished planner works as a daily ritual to reconnect with your own wisdom. Her message is simple and powerful. Self-care isn’t indulgent, it’s the groundwork for clear thinking, meaningful contribution, and genuine joy.

Episode Highlights: 

• [03:00] Katie recalls her former life as a high-performing international sales executive who believed self-sacrifice equaled success until missing one meeting became her breaking point.
• [06:00] She reflects on how family conditioning and a “doer” mentality led her to ignore her body’s signals until her health collapsed.
• [09:00] Facing severe illness and suicidal thoughts, she chose to leave corporate life, focus on healing, and eventually conceived her son during her recovery.
• [12:00] Katie describes rebuilding her identity, first through perfectionist motherhood, then through self-study that led to her “Will Manual.”
• [15:00] She explains how experimenting with small, compassionate habits like better sleep and hydration transformed her life and later her coaching method.
• [17:00] We discuss interrupting self-neglect, reframing guilt, and viewing self-care as a collective responsibility.
• [19:00] We explore how rebuilding self-trust begins with keeping small promises to oneself.
• [21:00] Katie emphasizes that the relationship we have with ourselves is the foundation for all others.
• [22:00] She describes how her tough-love approach helps clients move beyond martyrdom and perfectionism toward sustainable self-leadership.
• [24:00] Katie details her concierge coaching style that looks at clients’ environments, routines, and mindset holistically.
• [26:40] The whole-person approach and the six-month b.nourished program.
• [27:15] Katie explains why true transformation requires time, discomfort, and persistence through the “messy middle.”
• [30:00] She encourages clients to ask, “What do I need?” and listen for honest answers as the basis of change.
• [31:20] We discuss how striving for balance is a myth and that acceptance of life’s shifts reduces suffering.
• [32:14] Katie describes how self-care can disrupt relationships as people resist change, and why pushback is a sign of progress.
• [34:12] She shares a client story illustrating how resentment reveals self-neglect and how boundaries create healthier dynamics.
• [36:23] Katie introduces the concept of a personal “Womanual,” a guide for understanding and honoring your needs.
• [37:03] Her first exercise was making tea in silence which taught presence and self-connection.
• [38:32] We discuss the b.nourished Planner, a tangible tool for intentional living and daily self-study.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• 15% Off Planners Using Code SEEKERS
• B.nourished
• Katie McDonald
• Katie McDonald - Instagram
• Katie McDonald - LinkedIn

Emma Griffin didn't set out to become a witch, she was born into it. Raised in a household where tarot readings followed Sunday dinner and working with the moon was just part of life, she spent years trying to hide that part of herself. It wasn't until cancer, grief, and a near-death experience forced her to stop running that she fully claimed her path. Now she helps others do the same, guiding women back to their own power through her books, her Guidance Medicine Readings, and her work as an intuitive channel.

In this conversation, Emma opens up about what witchcraft actually means beyond the Hollywood stereotypes and how it's really about deep self-knowledge, shadow work, and learning to read the world around you. She shares how she structures her entire life around the moon's cycles, working intensely for two weeks and then taking two weeks for rest and creative flow. We also talk about her journey from editorial photographer to full-time witch, the moment her spiritual team told her to start offering readings, and why she believes magic should be deeply personal rather than prescriptive.

Whether you're curious about these practices or already exploring your own spiritual path, Emma's approach is refreshingly grounded. She makes it clear that you don't need special tools or years of training to begin, instead just a cup of tea, a candle, and five minutes of honest stillness with yourself. Her story proves that the wisdom we're searching for isn't somewhere out there. It's already within us, waiting to be remembered.

Episode Highlights: 

• [04:03] Growing up with seances, tarot readings, and working with the moon as part of everyday family life.
• [05:24] Her early resistance to standing out, trying to fit in, and the first time she explored witchcraft on her own.
• [06:20] Why Emma chose to reclaim the word witch despite stigma, and how going public cost her photography career.
• [07:57] Balancing rejection from the professional world with growing support on social media.
• [09:37] Explaining witchcraft beyond Hollywood stereotypes including self-knowledge, shadow work, and noticing synchronicities.
• [11:02] Emma reflects on a decade of cancer and a near-death experience that forced her to stop hiding and claim her truth.
• [12:16] Turning 49 and feeling fully grounded in who she is after years of self-work.
• [13:10] Losing her father, supporting her mother through illness, and how those moments pushed her to open a healing space.
• [14:45] The origins of Guidance Medicine Readings and realizing she was channeling answers from multiple dimensions.
• [16:00] Receiving clear direction from her spiritual team to begin offering readings publicly.
• [17:55] A simple practice anyone can try: tea, candlelight, journaling, and asking the soul direct questions.
• [19:12] How people feel when they come “home” to themselves, including energy, passion, peace, and new clarity.
• [20:28] Bridging ancient traditions with modern life, and why witchcraft should be deeply personal.
• [21:57] Supporting women entrepreneurs in creating businesses aligned with their spiritual values.
• [23:39] The evolution from her first book Find Your Soul Path to The Witch’s Way Home and how each served a different purpose.
• [25:11] Writing openly about shadow work, higher beings, and other vulnerable beliefs that pushed her outside her comfort zone.
• [27:02] Learning to protect her energy by working in alignment with moon cycles and two weeks of service followed by two weeks of rest and creativity.
• [30:20] Her own daily practices for staying connected to her magic, including meditation and time in nature.
• [31:48] Hopes for seeing witchcraft represented alongside yoga and meditation at wellness festivals.
• [33:14] Lightning round: everyday magical habits, travel that moved her to tears, and the book that started her journey.
• [35:32] Advice for seekers is to read widely, notice what resonates, and create a practice that’s your own.
• [36:09] Preview of her upcoming Witch’s Way Home Oracle deck and why she’s excited to share it.
• [36:45] Closing reflections on reclaiming magic as a personal path back to inner wisdom.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Emma Griffin - Author, Witch, Intuitive Channel
• The Witch's Way Home Oracle: A 44-Card Deck and Guidebook
• The Witch's Way Home: Magic, Spells and Rituals to Lead You Back to Your Most Powerful Self
• Find Your Soul Path: Discover the Magical Life Within
• Emma Griffin - Instagram
• Emma Griffin - YouTube

Sometimes a simple doodle can do more than pass the time. It can shift your mood, clear your head, and even change the way you see yourself. That’s what Anna Denning has discovered in her work, and she’s made it her mission to show that art can be a real tool for transformation. Anna is an artist, a transformational art coach, and the founder of Neuro Art School. She co-created the AM Method with Colette Baron-Reid, which is featured in their book The Art of Manifestation. 

Anna is an artist, a transformational art coach, and the founder of Neuro Art School. She also teaches Neurographica and what she calls her own Neuro Arts practice. It’s all about simple lines and shapes and the act of drawing with intention that can change the way the brain responds, shift old patterns, and open people up to new ways of seeing things. Anna shares how her childhood played a big role in this path. Her mom was a psychiatrist who encouraged her to use drawing as a way to process emotions, and that early experience planted the seed for the work she does now. 

We get into the science of why it works, and stories of students who’ve had real breakthroughs. Sometimes it’s as basic as easing stress or quieting that inner critic. Other times it’s much bigger like unexpected opportunities showing up after a single session. She reminds us that you don’t need to be an artist. Creativity belongs to all of us, and when we give ourselves permission to just play a little, it can shift things in ways we don’t expect.

Episode Highlights: 

• [01:32] The creation of the AM Method and its feature in The Art of Manifestation.
• [02:00] Anna describes how drawing with intention can rewire the brain and shift frequency.
• [03:14] We learn about her childhood experiences with her psychiatrist mother using art for emotional expression.
• [06:16] Anna recalls her early understanding that art could transform feelings and perceptions.
• [07:03] She introduces the idea of drawing as a conversation with the universe.
• [10:39] We talk about the neuroscience behind intentional drawing and how it engages multiple brain regions.
• [12:05] She explains neuroplasticity and how doodling interrupts negative thought loops.
• [14:26] Anna highlights the difference between random doodling and structured practices like Neurographica and the AM Method.
• [17:53] Reflections on the transformations she has seen in students using intentional art.
• [19:46] Anna describes how she helps people quiet their inner critic and move into flow.
• [21:45] She talks about the collective energy and impact of her Thursday live drawing classes.
• [24:49] The power of spirals as sacred shapes for transformation.
• [26:43] She shares how to start small with intentional art and build a practice.
• [27:52] Anna discusses maintaining her own creativity while guiding others through transformation.
• [31:28] She emphasizes why giving ourselves permission to play is essential for creative expression.
• [33:47] Her vision for a more compassionate world through intentional art.
• [35:47] She reflects on the power of a single drawing to change perspective and relieve stress.
• [37:19] In the lightning round we discover books, daily practices, and gratitude as tools for grounding.
• [42:28] We talk about celebrating milestones and introducing new courses, including trainer programs for the AM Method.
• [44:42] Reflections on creativity as a birthright and an invitation to explore further.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Anna Denning
• Anna Denning - Instagram
• Anna Denning - YouTube
• Neuro Art School
• Neuroarts Resource Center - Anna Denning
• The Art of Manifesting: A Meditative Drawing Practice to Rewire Your Brain and Create Your Reality

At some point, many of us look around at our lives and wonder if the version of success we’ve built is really the one that matters. That’s exactly where Donna Bond found herself after decades in the corporate world, decorated with awards, stability, and all the “golden handcuffs” that come with it. Turning 44, the same age her father was when he passed away, shook her awake. That moment became the start of a very different kind of journey.

Donna walked away from the so-called golden handcuffs and followed a pull she didn’t totally understand at the time. She enrolled in a master’s program in spiritual psychology, and it changed her life from the inside out. In our conversation, she shares how seeing life through the lens of the soul shifts everything including the way we meet challenges, the way we understand ourselves, even the way we define success.

We also talk about the simple things that keep her steady, like her morning ritual, and why compassion for yourself is the foundation for any real transformation. Donna is honest about how easy it is to get caught up in the noise of life and how powerful it is to pause, listen, and follow those breadcrumbs of inspiration that might not make sense at first.

"R-P-M. Rise, pee, meditate. In that order, that has been such a savior for me. I don't look at my phone. I don't brush my teeth. I wake up, I go to the bathroom, and I sit in my meditation space." Donna Bond

Episode Highlights: 

• [01:02] Guest Donna Bond is a women’s spiritual life coach, author, and modern-day high priestess.
• [02:55] Donna shares her turning point at age 44, realizing her corporate success felt empty.
• [04:23] She discovers spiritual psychology and enrolls in a master’s program at the University of Santa Monica.
• [06:07] Donna explains how spiritual psychology views life through the soul’s perspective.
• [07:23] She recalls a coaching client who overcame limiting beliefs to pursue music.
• [10:25] Donna reflects on how spiritual growth is both an individual and collective journey.
• [12:13] She describes her role as a “soul catalyst” and the framework of spiritual psychology in her coaching.
• [13:37] The practices of seeing the loving essence and heart-centered listening are discussed.
• [16:41] Donna shares how following inner guidance led her to love, meaningful work, and life in Costa Rica.
• [19:04] She talks about meditation, yoga, and self-compassion as daily practices that keep her grounded.
• [23:35] We reflect on the importance of pausing throughout the day for quick resets.
• [25:57] Donna highlights the power of reframing moments of waiting as opportunities for gratitude.
• [28:05] She emphasizes giving ourselves permission to follow the breadcrumbs of inspiration.
• [31:16] Donna introduces her course Empower the Authentic You and her healing modality, Higher Human Integration.
• [34:32] Her advice for beginners: follow the breadcrumbs and trust the energy pulling you forward.
• [37:44] Transformation often starts with a single courageous step.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Donna Bond
• Original Wisdom
• Donna Bond - Facebook
• Donna Bond - Instagram
• Donna Bond - LinkedIn
• Donna Bond - YouTube

Grief isn’t something we just “get over.” It’s something we learn to live alongside, and when we give it space, it can actually open the door to deeper connection and growth. That’s the heart of Barri Leiner Grant’s work. She’s a grief coach, educator, and the founder of The Memory Circle, where she guides people in tending to loss with honesty, compassion, and ritual.

Barri’s story begins with the sudden passing of her mother, an experience that changed everything and eventually led her to create the kind of support she once needed herself. In our conversation, she shares how memory circles came to life, why naming our loved ones matters, and what it means to “tend” grief instead of trying to recover from it. We talk about practices like writing, yoga, meditation, and simple rituals that can carry us through the waves of loss whether that loss is death, divorce, miscarriage, or any life transition that leaves us changed.

This isn’t a heavy conversation about sadness. It’s about finding hope in the middle of heartbreak, and about reclaiming the right to honor our stories, our people, and our emotions in ways that feel true.

Episode Highlights: 

• [02:23] Barri Leiner Grant is introduced as a certified grief coach, educator, and founder of The Memory Circle.
• [02:50] She shares how her mother’s sudden passing in 1993 became the catalyst for her life’s work and recalls how no one named her grief or offered support.
• [06:21] Barri explains why talking about loved ones matters, describing silence as a “second death,” and how connection with other motherless daughters brought healing.
• [08:21] Hope Edelman’s Motherless Daughters normalizes her experience and shows her she isn’t alone.
• [09:37] Therapy helps her reframe her grief story and understand the importance of being asked, “Do you want to talk to someone?”
• [11:09] Becoming pregnant highlights the pain of being a “motherless mother” and leads her to seek a grief-informed therapist.
• [14:15] A yoga training exercise inspires her to imagine her highest work, sparking the idea of grief circles.
• [15:15] She co-creates “Unmothered Mother’s Day” to honor mothers while supporting those grieving.
• [16:37] The circles evolve into powerful wisdom exchanges that validate shared stories and experiences.
• [18:25] The Memory Circle is born, combining collaboration, storytelling, and community rituals.
• [21:55] Training deepens her work, and she embraces the title Chief Grief Officer as a way of giving people permission to grieve.
• [24:09] She encourages using loved ones’ names in conversation to keep them present and honored.
• [25:24] Barri recalls her mother’s message, “don’t make it sad,” and describes her role as a hope dealer.
• [27:09] She explains why she uses the term “grief tending” instead of “grief recovery,” reframing loss as something we live with.
• [29:16] Barri paints a picture of what a Memory Circle looks like, from breathwork and writing to sharing names and small wins.
• [32:23] She shares how she balances holding space for others while tending to her own grief, using practices like yoga, meditation, and Reiki.
• [34:08] Crying is reframed as a powerful release, and she reminds us that grief isn’t something we get over but something we learn to live alongside.
• [36:42] She broadens the conversation to include non-death losses such as divorce, miscarriage, moving, and empty nesting.
• [39:16] Rituals like lighting candles or creating memorials become ways to honor losses both big and small.
• [41:01] She shares tools like expressive writing, ethical wills, meditation, and nature practices that support grief work.
• [44:17] Barri offers guidance on preparing for grief’s waves during anniversaries, holidays, and everyday triggers.
• [46:13] She advises putting hallmark dates on calendars and using both simple and creative rituals to honor loved ones.
• [1:10:42] Barri shares details about upcoming events, including a three-part workshop on empty nesting, a grief camp at Kripalu, and her regular support circles
• [1:11:29] She mentions launching a new “Right to Heal” group focused on prompt-led writing and a partner loss group.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• The Memory Circle
• Barri Leiner Grant - Instagram
• Motherless Daughters, 20th Anniversary Edition: The Legacy of Loss

I’m so excited to talk with Nia Tracey, founder of Turn Your Shine On and a talented healer who helps others connect with their inner divine. Nia’s journey started in her early 20s with therapy but it was Reiki at 30 that changed her life. From overcoming personal challenges (including a circulation disease) to finding her calling as a healer and teacher Nia’s story is a testament to the power of energy work and self discovery.

Nia shares how she uses Reiki, Akashic Records and other holistic modalities to help clients release trauma, clear energy blocks and step into their full potential. Through her stories she illustrates the power of combining spiritual and emotional healing including a remarkable case where she helped a bedridden cancer patient release guilt and find physical relief. With a focus on empowerment Nia gives you tools and insights to navigate your inner landscape and your wellness journey.

Whether you’re just starting your wellness journey or a seasoned seeker this episode is packed with wisdom and practical guidance. From the benefits of conscious breathing to trusting your intuition when choosing a spiritual guide, Nia's approach is practical, inspiring and believes we are all capable of creating the life we desire. Don’t miss her tips on getting started, and her passion for helping others shine.

Episode Highlights: 

• [03:01] Nia shares her gateway into the wellness world. When she began therapy in her 20s, it set her up for a different type of journey. When she discovered Reiki it transformed everything. She thinks of her life as before Reiki and after Reiki.
• [04:19] Reiki is a form of healing that translates to universal life force energy. It promotes healing on all levels physical, emotional, mental, and all levels. It's also measurable.
• [04:55] Seven hertz is one of the most common frequencies coming out of the Reiki practitioner's hands. It's been shown to regenerate bone tissue.
• [05:45] Being attuned to Reiki means becoming a channel for this universal life force energy.
• [06:02] You go through a 21-day cleanse, as it's moving through your energetic body, clearing, balancing, and shifting. It literally raises your vibration.
• [07:01] Misconceptions include that alternative therapy and western medicine don't mix.
• [07:47] Nia describes a client's transformational experience using Reiki or other modalities. 
• [09:35] A woman was able to release her guilt and her cancer receded.
• [10:01] Akashic records are a vibrational record of your soul's journey through all space and time. It's a oneness that contains all possibilities.
• [11:45] Nia receives guidance, and it's co-creation, because she never does anything that the person's not in agreement with.
• [12:34] Nia wants Seekers to gain empowerment and feel whole. 
• [14:35] Her work helps her spiritually.
• [15:27] We learn the practices that Nia does everyday.
• [17:35] Her latest modality is Theta healing. She's inspired by healing.
• [18:29] Nia shares her wellness journey from therapy until Reiki took things to a whole new level. We're here to evolve, love, and be more. 
• [22:00] A wellness practice to incorporate in your day would be breath work.
• [23:04] She loves her Zoom sessions and Akashic records training.
• [24:03] We dive into the rapid fire questions. 
• [25:22] Advice includes: explore, have fun with it, and listen to your intuition.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Turn Your Shine On
• Reiki - Universal Life Force Energy
• Akashic Records
• Nia Tracey - Instagram
• Nia Tracey - Facebook
• Nia Tracey - LinkedIn
• The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism
• The Mists of Avalon: A Novel

Manifestation isn’t just about sitting around thinking happy thoughts. It’s about the energy you carry with you, the frequency you’re actually living in. That’s where sound healer and storyteller Kristin Svets comes in. She doesn’t just talk about the law of attraction. She goes deeper, into the law of vibration, and why it’s the real foundation for bringing what you want into your life.

Kristin shares raw, personal stories about the times she’s asked the universe for a sign and received answers she couldn’t have made up if she tried. She breaks down what it means to raise your vibration in a way that’s practical and doable, not just “feel good” theory. We talk about everyday tools like breathwork, humming, dancing in your kitchen, and even paying closer attention to the subtle shifts in your body.

We also get into how your energy shows up in your relationship with money. If you’ve ever avoided looking at your bank account because it stressed you out, Kristin has a perspective shift you’ll want to hear. She explains how to move from scarcity and avoidance into a sense of safety and gratitude that opens the door to abundance. It’s an honest, grounded conversation about tuning in, trusting yourself, and letting small, intentional steps create big change.

Episode Highlights: 

• [02:56] Kristin shares the first time she received a download message she didn't even ask for. She had a clear message that she should call her friend Becky. Kristin discovered that Becky's dad was going through surgical complications and the call was needed.
• [04:56] Something had changed in Becky's vibration that hit Kristin. She's always been spiritual but this kick started her journey.
• [07:09] When the voice is a sign you can feel the safety in your body. You know because of the way the energy sits in your body.
• [09:06] It's normal for our brains to question, but our bodies will tell us if that's the sign we were looking for.
• [09:44] Start small with practices of asking your body simple yes or no questions to train yourself to listen to your body's response.
• [10:57] Be specific, start small, and practice being open.
• [11:49] Kristen asks for signs everyday.
• [12:48] How the law of vibration differs from the law of attraction.
• [13:09] There are 12 laws of the universe. The foundational laws are the law of oneness and then the law of vibration. You have to have the foundation in place.
• [14:06] Frequencies resonate under the law of vibration. Your vibration has to be at the level to receive what you want to attract.
• [16:08] You need to do the practices to get to the frequency of what you want.
• [17:28] We learn about practices to get into the frequency that we want. Things like deep breathing and breath work will change your frequency. 
• [18:56] Moving your body in a joyful way will change your vibration. Along with being in nature. 
• [19:38] Sound and sound baths are another way to change your vibration.
• [20:07] You can feel the vibrations when you get a Tibetan sound bowl. 
• [21:42] Our own voice is our first and foremost sound healer. We can do things like chanting. Humming is also a natural soothing rhythm.
• [26:24] Kristin shares another personal sign story. She actually manifested flowers being delivered to her house that weren't from her husband.
• [32:22] How understanding vibration changes how we approach financial abundance. The action part is the missing piece.
• [33:45] Challenges around our money mindset. Fear and lack is a frequency. If we don't do something to change our money mindset it will be a block to the next level.
• [36:07] Small things that Seekers can do to shift their relationship with abundance in their money mindset include breath work and deciding to actually look at your bank accounts. Start a practice to come from a place of abundance.
• [39:36] Kristin tackles the rapid fire questions.
• [42:17] She loves early mornings near Lake Michigan.
• [43:27] Kristin is currently booking her summer sound series for anyone near Chicago. She's also relaunching her podcast. 

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Kristin Svets
• Designed to Shine
• Abundant By Design
• Kristin Svets - Instagram
• Kristin Svets - Facebook

Do you ever feel like you’re chasing wellness trends but still not quite feeling whole? This episode is your reminder to slow down and get intentional.

Gina Lucania is a force in the world of beauty and wellness, blending intuitive leadership with over 20 years of experience scaling some of the industry’s most iconic brands. From her early days as a professional makeup artist to her executive roles at Laura Mercier, Hourglass, Erno Laszlo, Alo Yoga, and now Goop. Beyond her corporate achievements, Gina is a certified Reiki practitioner, an Ironman competitor, and a lifelong seeker, someone who’s always curious about what lies beneath the surface of “wellness.”

In this conversation, Gina opens up about the moment a Reiki master changed the way she saw herself, and why she believes honoring both ambition and intuition is key to real well-being. We’ll talk about how to stay curious in a world obsessed with the next big thing, and how Gina’s private spiritual practice shapes her public leadership. She shares her philosophy on boundaries, emotional intelligence, and building brands and communities that actually mean something.

Think of this episode as a practical, heartfelt roadmap for aligning your work, your wellness, and your values. Gina’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to do it all to move forward. Sometimes, the most important thing is to take one small, intentional step, and trust your own pace.

Episode Highlights: 

[03:46] Gina has always been intuitive and curious. After an encounter with a Reiki master, she realized it was time to explore her gift and wellness journey. 

[05:07] Reiki is a feeling similar to intuition. It's an energy of awakening and unlocking. 

[07:41] Her switch from makeup artist to scaling brands beginning with wellness products from Alo Yoga. She was drawn to Alo and Goop for similar reasons.

[09:08] Creating products that support transformation. It's about creating products with intention and mindfulness. There has to be a purpose behind the product and ingredients.

[12:14] Surprises with how different cultures approach well-being.

[14:41] Different countries have different approaches to retinol. Healthy aging is being embraced. 

[16:42] Makeup and fragrance are popular in the Middle East. Each country approaches their skincare journey differently.

[19:42] The importance of choosing the modality for you. Be open and find what you like and work for you. Explore, but it's okay to say no.

[23:06] How it's so important to understand and have boundaries. Reiki has taught Gina to slow down and use her intuition.

[24:33] We don't have to look for permission to take a pause.

[26:21] Integrating Ironman physical challenges with inner work. 

[29:34] Close your eyes and visualize when needed for progress. 

[31:56] Take what you know and love and see if there's deeper practices you can try.

[33:43] Finding the "why" behind meditation and wellness.

[34:43] Using the power of community and mentorship to transform paths.

[37:10] Authentic wellness leadership is about being human and understanding nuances. 

[40:31] Having high emotional intelligence and being present and aware is so important. 

[42:15] Rapid fire questions! Reiki, visualization, and acupressure. 

[45:13] Be open minded, but accept that wellness and healing practices aren't for everybody. 

[47:19] The importance of opening the door for conversation. Be true to who you are and know what works for you. 

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Gina Lucania - LinkedIn
• Gina Lucania - Instagram
• Goop
• Alo Yoga

From finance to conscious living, today’s guest has made it her career to create impact. Mayra Hernandez is the founder of Instituto Xilonen, a social enterprise putting healing crystals in strategic places around the world to promote peace, harmony and conscious living. Before that she spent almost a decade leading Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Banorte, where she was part of the team that made it the first bank in Mexico to join the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and launched Mujer Banorte which opened financial opportunities to 340,000 women.

Now through Xilonen Mayra is bridging business strategy with spiritual wisdom using high frequency crystals to promote global well being. She is also a Synergos Institute Board member, an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow and continues to push the boundaries of conscious entrepreneurship.

In this episode we get into Mayra’s personal journey – from discovering the power of crystals to integrating them into business and daily life. She shares how her background in sustainability and corporate leadership shaped her approach, why she believes energy alignment is a tool for transformation and how crystals are being placed in locations worldwide to amplify impact. We also talk about practical ways individuals and businesses can incorporate crystal energy, mindfulness and holistic well being into their daily routine.

Episode Highlights: 

[04:04] Mayra reflects on her gateway to the wellness world. A lot of it comes from her faith she learned from her mother and the book A Course in Miracles. Along with discovering her own physical power through kickboxing. 

[05:02] Xilonen means corn kernel. Corn is a staple for her culture. It also means I exist, I am.

[06:02] We talked about the power of crystals. Crystals have different types of energy. This energy can be applied in different areas including bringing well-being.

[07:05] she discovered crystals through an acupuncture list in New York. The moment she had one in her hand she understood the beauty, the color, the light, and the energy and everything made sense.

[08:03] She meets skeptics where they are. It's her job to help people develop a greater connection with crystals.

[09:04] We learn about Mayra's journey from corporate to founding Xilonen. She's still accelerating conscious living just from a more holistic perspective.

[10:53] We learn about the influence of Synergos and the positives of having a global reach.

[11:47] Through Mujer Banorte, she helped provide financial opportunities to over 340,000 women.

[12:22] Her work through organizations and through crystals is all about empowering people and empowering women.

[13:20] Leading consciously where one informs the other.

[14:09] We learn how crystals can positively affect the energy of the space, crystals can be used for specific outcomes, and employees can be given crystals that can help them work or alleviate stress.

[15:13] The process of selecting locations for IX crystals. 

[16:39] Because of skepticism, Mayra has come up with her own KPIs for the impact of her crystals based on body, mind, and spirit.

[17:50] We learn about the impact of crystals in South Africa.

[21:58] We discuss the long-term vision of these crystal placements and scaling the impact of using crystals.

[23:26] The creation of artwork that matches the crystal's energy.

[25:22] Citrine is good for self-confidence. 

[26:37] Studying graphic design and art history and learning about other cultures made her journey understanding energy flows and crystals that much easier.

[27:37] Daily practices include chanting, meditation, and going to sleep with gratitude and good intentions.

[29:17] Being present and checking in with your body, mind, and spirit is sometimes overlooked. Along with gratitude.

[30:31] The universe is always talking to us.

[32:30] It's Mayra's goal for Seekers to enhance their connection with themselves. Crystals can amplify our energy.

[34:37] They are working on an art install at La DoubleJ in Milan.

[36:20] We learn Mayra's go-to guide. Citrine is her favorite crystal. 

[38:51] Advice includes always being grounded and checking in with yourself. Your higher self will let you know the next best step.

Resources & Links: 

• Seekers Field Guide
• Seekers Field Guide Community
• Mayra Hernandez - Instituto Xilonen
• IXIM
• IXIM Celestial Crystal Art Prints
• Mayra Hernandez - Synergos
• Mayra Hernandez - LinkedIn
• A Course in Miracles
• La DoubleJ