Spirit of the Deal

Brandon Handley 0:00 What is going on spiritual dope? How are you? How are you? It is it's a Friday. It's Friday. And it's been it's been a long one, you know, I've got a guy that was on Apollo for the rest of us podcast, john Daly coach Sean Daly. And so remember him saying, you know, the days are long, and the years are short. So the days have been long. But the week has been short. But we made it guys, we made it, we made it through. But it's been an interesting one. So I thought I'd share that with you has zero context on what I'm about to talk to you about. So thanks. So this is one I've been wanting to get to you since the weekend. I'm finally getting around to it, though. So the question is, question is this someone defining your experience for you? Right? your mind, your thoughts, and your personal experiences are all subjective. And that can make it a challenge when you go to discuss that with others, right. And especially, especially your spiritual life, trying to translate the spiritual life, to somebody who is I will call it uninitiated, can certainly be a challenge. But as we as we go through, as we go through that, right, there are certain levels of experiences and understanding in those experiences. Again, most of those are going to be subjective. However, throughout time, these patterns are emerged, right? They're distinguishable patterns, to and to the individual, it ends up it's not somewhat subjective, much in the same way that logic is embodied in a program, there's still a human element driving the machine. So a human element driving machine that's subjectivities, always going to be there. But there is, again, that discernible pattern of somebody kind of going through and having a spiritual experience. And there's a beauty of frustration here in my mind, because at some point, you must become the authority on a few different things. One of those is what do you accept to be true? Who are the authorities, right? Who are the authorities. And the translation of your experience, and I bring this up as I was recently in a dialogue with a gentleman I would call a teacher, maybe say, a member of the Sangha, right, somebody that I've met along my path, right, and spent some time with, and he had reached out to me in regards to a book that he'd recently read, shared, Hey, you got to read this. And I just finished this book, maybe within the past month, the book you'd recommend, it was called, it is called power versus force, by David R. Hawkins, Dr. At that, and it contains a great illustration on kind of how the body is connected to the field of consciousness. And you can use it, your body and that field of consciousness to, to calibrate the certain vibratory fields. And what Dr. Hawkins did was he created a map of consciousness, if you will, because a visual representation in a logarithmic fashion regarding consciousness at its various levels of vibratory resonance, and what do I mean by that? That what I mean is that the bottom of this field, you'll find shame and humiliation at 20. And as you scale up, you get into grief at 75. You could up to fear at 100 that there's anger at 150, the tipping point t found is at 200. All right, and then as you start to move forward, the tipping point for and so what I mean by that is at 200 and below, there's kind of eating away at right this, this kind of the scarcity mentality, this lack full mentality. And then you get, you get up to 200. And then you get courage, and then in the hope 310, then all the way up to 1000, which is enlightenment. had before before I move on, I really like for you to sit in a resonance and a couple of these feelings and emotions right at a couple of these different scales if you will, and experience it for yourself. So if you're sitting with shame, at 20 you're sitting with the emotion of humiliation. If you're sitting with shame at 20 you've almost got a feeling of suffocation.

Brandon Handley 5:00 stifled, you're free to make any move. Then you, then you hop all the way up. What is it to

Unknown Speaker 5:09 fear

Brandon Handley 5:10 at 100? And I think there's an Adam Freeland song. There's another song. Sure. No Fear is the mind killer. Here's the mind COEs feelings of anxiety, you've got a tendency to withdraw from the space that you're in when you're sitting with fear and you could feel this. There's an absolute resonance of ebb and flow that you're, you're feeling. There's a, you're sitting in a in an energetic field and just the sound resonates, vibrates, the energy field of these emotions will resonate and vibrate within you. And you crawl all the way up to this point of courage at 200. This is the tipping point. This is where you, you can go forward and my friends and I used to make a joke regarding courage. And we would say holy take some moments curves kill a vampire. And if you think about what a vampire is, it is at its base level in energy. Leach is fear in stasis, pitch, it should just take a moment of courage to banish that from your life that is empowerment. You assume control of yourself, you choose to move beyond the illusion of fear, shattering what seemed like an M surmountable giant along your path, and you smash that into smithereens tiny little pieces. And then you search forward.

Unknown Speaker 6:44 That's been my experience.

Brandon Handley 6:47 And beyond on that scale, right? So I've been beyond 200 100%. And this is what I share with my buddy, I said, Hey, man, I believe that I could at least help people navigate to courage, right? I've been there. I've had that experience. And imagine my surprise when he questioned me because that and honestly, I was expecting his support he cited he goes, Hey, you know, someone needs you got to experience that for yourself. Right? He goes on mere book knowledge won't do. And what I thought was interesting, and it was just in a moment, right?

Unknown Speaker 7:27 I suffered doubt,

Brandon Handley 7:29 maybe even despair for a moment, which you can locate on the map of consciousness at 50. So imagine that just come to this bear for a moment, that empty feeling. You feel like you've come so long or far away, or you feel like you're in a great place. And here's somebody that I placed on a pedestal right, I put them above me, in my mind, he I chose him as an authority. And I shrink back. I had my own hide my own light, it was in the same moment that I realized that what was happening was I was looking to another validation. Someone outside of me, and I was accepting quite possibly what may be true for him to be true for me. And what do I mean by that? Is that he words are his words are mirror of himself, right? In a moment's courage. I literally just metaphorically drove a stake into the heart of that vampire. I was like, You know what, fuck it. You don't need fucking permission to be great. I didn't need his permission. You know that permission is already been given to you, everyone. Everyone has been born with it. And so how can you be sure that right and what you know greatness. It's funny because nobody still remember when I when I first talked about stepping into your own greatness bag I follow for the recipe. Oh, no boast up into greatness. Nobody. Nobody wants to assume that's greatness. It's like, there it is. It's yours. It's so it's inherent. It's not even. It's not even that you you have to look for it. It's there already. And, you know, you you yourself have certainly you've learned to recognize greatness in others. And how do you do that? Right? You've got to have familiarity with it yourself. You must have experienced it within yourself. So in order to be called some somebody great, you must know what that is. Right? There's, there's something inside of you. reflecting back to yourself. That is greatness. And when I think about it, I think about it in terms of that letter that you write to somebody who annoys you. I don't know if you've ever done this exercise where you you know, maybe there's somebody that you find very annoying in your life and you take some time you write out all the shit that that annoys you about them like is that thing does uphold their laundry doesn't take the time to throw away that one dish doesn't, you know, all the things right? And the funny thing is, is that oftentimes you can find those same annoying qualities within yourself. Right. And it's really as easy, it's easy to do that one. As the it's funny though, because the same letter can be written to someone that you admire someone that you hold in high esteem. The funny thing is, the exact same thing happens here, these are the same qualities that you would Meyer, about yourself. And this is what they mean, one of one of the many meanings, right that this world is a reflection of yourself. And a yoke. So I want you to, I want you to think about that. And also want to share with you the 30. There, and I think that what this gentleman thought of really was that there are many people out there with the knowledge seeking the experience. And I would share with you with him, that for me, it's been a matter of having the experience and then seeking the knowledge and how can I express that to to you to at all, really, how can I express that experience at all. And one of those ways, really, that, you know, if you're in a similar situation, and I'll share this been my own practice and how I feel like I've done it is that it starts in a belief within yourself. And a belief that I you are worth it. The belief that there is a greatness in there, there is something within you that if you cultivate it, and nurture it, if you invest in yourself, that you'll be able to take a moment's courage, that you'll be able to journey into a dark spot, spot unknown, right? That's what I mean by darkness is I mean, you know, darkness is only dark until you shine the light in that space, right. And then you're gonna have your moments of clarity that are beyond what you once knew. And each time that you step into that space, you're gonna have a new experience, and there's going to be a different resonance of your character, a different vibration of who you are, and chances are, you're going to want to figure out how to share that out. Right.

Brandon Handley 12:21 And chances are, that the person, you know, you once were, is now replaced by the person that you have become. Over this is open to everyone. Right? If you've been thinking about who you were, and how everything in your past has put you in a not great place. Maybe that's a fallacy, right? This is open to everyone. Especially you, especially, you know, I think about people like, Dude, what's his name? Russell Brand. Rob, you know, Rob, Iron Man, whatever the hell, Tony Stark, right? These are people, you know, who were way down and out at one point, and they rose back up? Especially Russell Brand, right? Like, I think he Wow, it's so funny how I actually looked for people. Once upon a time. You know, I used to look at billboard 100. Now look at like, the spiritual 100. But Russell brands on there, right. And here's a guy that a couple years ago, he was a fucking mess. And now he's, you know, one of our spiritual leaders. So don't think for one moment that just because you stumbled out of the of the sunlight or the blocks, that you don't have the ability to win the race. And I know, I'm just using that terminology. And so I think about also, Robin Sharma, who's got this 10 News got a whole bunch of stuff is great. Yeah, he's got some self help books and whatnot. But I heard him speak on a podcast and in there he goes, you rise to your level of thinking?

Unknown Speaker 14:16 Which puts a switch for me.

Brandon Handley 14:19 Because, you know, you've heard it before you're a human being having a spiritual experience. And once you kind of make that transition, what does that do for your level of thinking? So you're given a choice, right? Which one are you going to take? Are you going to be a human being? Or are you going to accept and a moment's courage that you are a divine being and all it takes is a moment to be divine, to be filled with grace? You're going to take moments courage to call yourself a star seed, maybe an indigo child, a child of God even Yeah, it's so good and how could you not what is the child of God capable of And I love the idea. You're born into a benevolent universe. All you have to do is look for the signs. And all that takes is a moment's Cause if you can stay in that for just a moment, if you can do it once, how many how many more? How many more times can do it?

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

• brandon handley00:08All right. Very cool.
• 00:10Very cool. Well, they'll start it off in 54321 Hey there, spiritual dope. I'm on today with Cody rain Cody rain is like he's a master of all kinds of marketing. He's got the mantas programs got this podcast visceral human
• 00:27He has a course creators Academy that's powered by the mantas program you're looking to get into video
• 00:33Code is your guy, he's got the Hitchhiker's Guide to video. He's got so much other he's got so much going on. I personally kind of wonder like how you keep it all together. But you know, it's obvious to me that you've got a system of implementation.
• 00:46And you just kind of rock it out because you do have your systems in place, but man, thanks for joining us today. How you doing,
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program00:52Hey, thank you so much brother is such a pleasure to be here. Yeah. Man systems in life so many things that we, I love that you talk about systems because we are a system.
• 01:04We are a series of processes that are constantly executing. We're taking a new devil data developing it, we are processing that data, making decisions utilizing our power of choice and for me.
• 01:17My brain has been really scattered my whole life, because we'll just say ADHD and all these other random things. And so for me, systems and all that stuff is very, very, I don't want to say it's necessary, but it is important.
• 01:31And so for me, kind of having that structure is, you know, the one way you do one thing is what you do everything so
• 01:39I structure my life.
• 01:40And that reflects in my business man. So with that, yeah, I got a lot going down constantly emotion constantly thinking about the things that a lot of people tend to ignore.
• 01:50And I appreciate you for having me, man. Today is the best day of my life and I'm so excited. I get to share it with you.
• brandon handley01:55Now, man. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. I always tell people I've waited my entire life for this moment right
• 02:01Right.
• 02:01I mean, because here we are. I mean we everything's everything's built up to this moment.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program02:04Yeah.
• brandon handley02:05As far as we know, right up until now.
• 02:07So, so, you know, I think you started off with something pretty well there and and i think it would tie into this piece, but I'm gonna go ahead and ask this piece anyways because it may may hit you differently, right. So,
• 02:19We, we agree, like the kind of universe speaks through us. Right. And that like when somebody listens to this podcast. It's gonna
• 02:26They're gonna hear something that you and I didn't even hear right in between our dial. I think like that these guys, this is what they're talking about. Oh my god. So to that person through you today. What, what message do they need to hear me to the universe.
• 02:42The universe, Dorian,
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program02:43Hey, yo. Gotcha. Man, if I was to speak to anybody. My message to
• 02:48Everyone at all times. It is, isn't it, it is oneness to what happens when I'm sorry what's most important is what's happening right this very second right this second.
• 03:03In a perfect kind of will say execution of that or example is I woke up today.
• 03:08And pleasure to be here right woke up. It's amazing. And for whatever reason, had a song stuck in my head. I don't remember my dreams or anything, per se, but I do remember waking up with a feeling
• 03:19But then I also remember kind of surrendering to the thoughts and then I put on some music wasn't sure what was going to play and that first song just
• 03:26Just hit man, it means so well you know when music hits you, that you don't feel any pain.
• 03:33And so it hit me really hard and I had to kind of surrender to the moment and allow myself to remove judgment to remove you know will say the permissions. I might be asking for to express myself.
• 03:48And I just stood in the middle of the room in his eyes closed and just listen to this song and try to express myself, honestly.
• 03:57And I'm just in a moment. Man, am I thinking about what's going on for the rest of day. I'm not worried about what happened to me. I'm not worried about the projects and backlogs and clients and business. None of that stuff.
• 04:09I'm seriously just being one with the moments just looking at it, breathing filling my heart rate feeling this my skin. The breeze from the fan above me.
• 04:20And I'm just in the moment and I went to the mirror. I looked at myself and for whatever reason, I looked at myself a little bit longer than normal. It's one thing to recognize yourself.
• 04:31To experience your reflection. But for me, I felt like I was looking into a whole nother world but connecting at the same time. And I realized that Cody, you're not wasting time. You're seriously experiencing the illusion of it.
• 04:48And so it was that moment the today this morning that I was so in the moments in the expression. I was actually practicing dynamic freedom.
• 05:02My ability to do anything and being honest and real with who I am today right is second. And I'm thinking about these things. And I realized
• 05:13Cody, those, those thoughts are in your head, because that's what you actually want to do. Those are the things that you're interested in.
• 05:18Go outside man do these things. There's no restrictions practices, man. Get in the moment be more in the moment. And that's why once again today is the best day of my life, brother.
• brandon handley05:31I love that I actually, I interviewed a you know a transformational coach last night. She's been been at the work for quite some time. And one of the first pieces that she has somebody do
• 05:44You know she she she coaches, people who are on the business side and how and this podcast is related to this, right. Like, how, how do we integrate our spiritual self all of who we are into
• 05:56Our business mechanical self right like this robot and, you know, checking off the boxes piece. And one of the things that she hasn't do is just what you said there, which is to do the mirror work.
• 06:07Right. Look at the mirror and say I am here with myself. I am here with myself. Right. So, I love, I love that you're doing that and, you know, to, to others that are listening and I totally. I think that that's something you should give yourself a shot to right I would
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program06:21Like to express this on that notes.
• 06:24Sure know about mirror work.
• 06:26I've never done it. And so I will say this man when we feel like we're doing work.
• 06:33Like me we're work even having that word work and
• brandon handley06:37Sure, sure.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program06:37Already has that connotation, or like it's gonna be
• 06:40It's gonna be difficult. I don't like work right.
• 06:42Like doing. And so for me today. It's once again. It wasn't like I was out to study myself. I was just in a place
• 06:51Over the last few months, man. I've been developing and constantly evolving to be more and more and more of the person that I really am and more of the person that I actually want to be
• 07:03And so today, it was a natural thing that happened. It wasn't like, Hey, I'm working on myself do this. What do you notice it just, I just felt like an energy line. It just kind of pulled me there. I actually caught my own reflection and I was like, I'm going to give you a moment of my time.
• brandon handley07:22Now hundred percent
• brandon handley00:16He has a course creators Academy that's powered by the mantas program you're looking to get into video
• 00:22Code is your guy, he's got the Hitchhiker's Guide to video. He's got so much other he's got so much going on. I personally kind of wonder like how you keep it all together. But you know, it's obvious to me that you've got a system of implementation.
• 00:35And you just kind of rock it out because you do have your systems in place, but man, thanks for joining us today. How you doing,
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program00:41Hey, thank you so much brother is such a pleasure to be here. Yeah. Man systems in life so many things that we, I love that you talk about systems because we are a system.
• 00:53We are a series of processes that are constantly executing. We're taking a new devil data developing it, we are processing that data, making decisions utilizing our power of choice and for me.
• 01:06My brain has been really scattered my whole life, because we'll just say ADHD and all these other random things. And so for me, systems and all that stuff is very, very, I don't want to say it's necessary, but it is important.
• 01:20And so for me, kind of having that structure is, you know, the one way you do one thing is what you do everything so
• 01:28I structure my life.
• 01:29And that reflects in my business man. So with that, yeah, I got a lot going down constantly emotion constantly thinking about the things that a lot of people tend to ignore.
• brandon handley01:44Now, man. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. I always tell people I've waited my entire life for this moment right
• 01:50Right.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program01:53Yeah.
• brandon handley01:54As far as we know, right up until now.
• 01:56So, so, you know, I think you started off with something pretty well there and and i think it would tie into this piece, but I'm gonna go ahead and ask this piece anyways because it may may hit you differently, right. So,
• 02:08We, we agree, like the kind of universe speaks through us. Right. And that like when somebody listens to this podcast. It's gonna
• 02:15They're gonna hear something that you and I didn't even hear right in between our dial. I think like that these guys, this is what they're talking about. Oh my god. So to that person through you today. What, what message do they need to hear me to the universe.
• 02:31The universe, Dorian,
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program02:32Hey, yo. Gotcha. Man, if I was to speak to anybody. My message to
• 02:37Everyone at all times. It is, isn't it, it is oneness to what happens when I'm sorry what's most important is what's happening right this very second right this second.
• 02:52In a perfect kind of will say execution of that or example is I woke up today.
• 02:57And pleasure to be here right woke up. It's amazing. And for whatever reason, had a song stuck in my head. I don't remember my dreams or anything, per se, but I do remember waking up with a feeling
• 03:15Just hit man, it means so well you know when music hits you, that you don't feel any pain.
• 03:22And so it hit me really hard and I had to kind of surrender to the moment and allow myself to remove judgment to remove you know will say the permissions. I might be asking for to express myself.
• 03:37And I just stood in the middle of the room in his eyes closed and just listen to this song and try to express myself, honestly.
• 03:46And I'm just in a moment. Man, am I thinking about what's going on for the rest of day. I'm not worried about what happened to me. I'm not worried about the projects and backlogs and clients and business. None of that stuff.
• 03:58I'm seriously just being one with the moments just looking at it, breathing filling my heart rate feeling this my skin. The breeze from the fan above me.
• 04:37And so it was that moment the today this morning that I was so in the moments in the expression. I was actually practicing dynamic freedom.
• 04:51My ability to do anything and being honest and real with who I am today right is second. And I'm thinking about these things. And I realized
• 05:07Go outside man do these things. There's no restrictions practices, man. Get in the moment be more in the moment. And that's why once again today is the best day of my life, brother.
• brandon handley05:20I love that I actually, I interviewed a you know a transformational coach last night. She's been been at the work for quite some time. And one of the first pieces that she has somebody do
• 05:33You know she she she coaches, people who are on the business side and how and this podcast is related to this, right. Like, how, how do we integrate our spiritual self all of who we are into
• 05:45Our business mechanical self right like this robot and, you know, checking off the boxes piece. And one of the things that she hasn't do is just what you said there, which is to do the mirror work.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program06:10Like to express this on that notes.
• 06:13Sure know about mirror work.
• 06:15I've never done it. And so I will say this man when we feel like we're doing work.
• 06:22Like me we're work even having that word work and
• brandon handley06:26Sure, sure.
• 06:29It's gonna be difficult. I don't like work right.
• 06:31Like doing. And so for me today. It's once again. It wasn't like I was out to study myself. I was just in a place
• 06:52And so today, it was a natural thing that happened. It wasn't like, Hey, I'm working on myself do this. What do you notice it just, I just felt like an energy line. It just kind of pulled me there. I actually caught my own reflection and I was like, I'm going to give you a moment of my time.
• brandon handley07:11Now hundred percent
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program07:11Really interesting to think about
• brandon handley07:14Now, I love, I love it. I mean, you also you also hit on to you know to experiencing the illusion of time right where you were, you were talking about.
• 07:31You're looking at yourself as a human.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program07:33Being right
• brandon handley07:35Right, right, right.
• 07:37And I also love to, you know, you talked about, you know, the permission for greatness. It makes me think of that Banksy one right. The thing you know and it goes, you know, stop asking for, you know, stop asking for permission to be great.
• 07:46You know, for greatness and yeah
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program07:49It's amazing how that works.
• 07:50I realized today. And today, maybe is it, is it a coincidence. Is it meant to be that I have this this experience today before we had a chance to speak. I don't know, man, that's the exciting part about being
• 08:05Right, I'm excited for those moments. I'm really excited to explore them. More importantly, I'm excited for the experience
• 08:12Because I'm in a constant state of curiosity. I'm a constant state of growth and I know this, I repeat it to myself, and I know it. I feel I am it's it's a staple in my being.
• 08:23Is to be in a place of evolution. And then when you surrender. A lot of times people go surrender means you got to give up. No.
• 08:31You have to allow these emotions to set in. I remember feeling it. Tears welled up. I looked at my smile. And I was like, how I'm smiling right now.
• 08:39Hold. I'm just being I'm just one. I just feel good. I'm accepting these things and yeah just removing those permissions when you go, man. You're the one granting permission but you're also restricting access at the same time.
• 08:55Yeah, it's conflicting so today I was on that part where I recognized my restriction and I just let that let that down for a little bit so I can just be
• brandon handley09:04I love it, I love it. You talked about like a, you know, awareness and becoming more of who you are right. Let's talk about that. What does that mean, you know, becoming more aware of the person of who I am. So who do you know, who do you feel like you are
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program09:19You are your truths.
• brandon handley09:21You are what you say.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program09:22You are
• brandon handley09:23Okay, so, I mean,
• 09:25Right, right.
• 09:25I mean, so I mean what, what does that mean to you, right. Like I always, I think that when we were talking. I'm not sure if I hit, hit on this or not when you have me on. And thanks for having me on. It was a
• 09:34Great One
• 09:35Um, you rise to your level of thinking
• 09:38Right, right.
• 09:39So who do you think you are right.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program09:42Right. That makes sense. Well, when you think of who you think you are, it puts people in a place of contrast of going, who, who do I want to be my comparing myself to
• 09:52There is nobody that's going to do a better job at being you than you and if someone can be a better version of you. Then you've got some real work.
• 10:01Some people are there.
• 10:02Right. But who am I right, I am what I say I am I'm happy.
• 10:07Yeah, that's as simple as I could possibly put it, who I am is also what I am is where I am, as well.
• 10:15When are you
• 10:16I'm happening in. Yeah.
• brandon handley10:17Sorry.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program10:18I'm in a place of happy, you know,
• brandon handley10:19Right. That's a state of being right like a state. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I love it. And you have a great question on your podcast and almost, you know, I think that I'm gonna steal it today for you.
• 10:30The, you know, and you said you hadn't had the state of awareness yet, right, like, and when did you first fully become aware
• 10:36Right. Do you feel like you're becoming more aware and, you know, what does that, you know,
• 10:40What's that mean to you was me to become aware
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program10:43That level of awareness. I've noticed that I'll say over the past two months, right, because I've been surrounded by the most amazing people.
• 10:53Were all practicing boundaries and communication and connection and actual spiritual enlightenment on a day to day what I've noticed about self awareness is you think you got it and then you level up.
• 11:05Think you understand it and then you actually understand it and then you feel it, you experience it.
• 11:12It's a whole different level self awareness for me is coming down to, and I'm going to repeat this absolute truth.
• 11:21It's not this is what I'm going to say because it's going to sound good, or I don't want to hurt your feelings or I don't want to say this, I'm it's removing those restrictions and being like, Man, I don't like that it's being able to go. That's for me, that isn't for me.
• 11:35That's a yes for me that's a note to know your level of self awareness stems from not looking at your reflection and going this is two separate entities and I'm connecting and I'm self aware, because I can make choices.
• 11:49It's literally connecting to as much of your personal truths as possible. It doesn't matter what the truth is because you believe it.
• 12:00When you're honest with yourself and you're going, I like that. But that's not my thing. I love that because it does this for me. I really enjoy this.
• 12:11When you can connect with those things because of the truth because of what you've told yourself how you feel about them.
• 12:18You are more real with everything and everyone. And more importantly, more real with yourself.
• 12:25And you only do the things that can contribute to your progress through life, your happiness, man. Your success and abundance. It's amazing. So self awareness is first off, recognizing that you're in a place of growth and you don't know everything.
• brandon handley12:40Right, right, right.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program12:42It's knowing what you like what you don't like even not knowing what you like and don't like is still something that, you know,
• 12:49So when you're in that place of uncertainty, then you're aware of this, it's looking at these things going. I'm unsure. I'm confused or
• 12:59I am really centered and focused on this and feels good to me. I'm going to use this belief to guide my behavior in a positive way. So being self aware man is is really just, I'll say complete self awareness is not having to think about this stuff ever you just do
• brandon handley13:18That yeah well I absolutely i mean but i mean i think that you know some of this stuff is a
• 13:25You gotta peel back to, you know, societal layers, right, that have kind of been been you know enforced on you right, you're like, Wait a second. All the stuff that I've been taught up into this moment.
• 13:37It was serving those people
• 13:39You know, but not necessarily me. It was serving this function, but not my function of growth right type of thing.
• 13:46So now, and I love it. Right. So let's talk about like how are you applying some of this to your business man like I mean how the other question is like how could you not, but like, you know,
• 13:57How do you not, but like, how does, how does this, like, you know, like I talked about earlier, you talked about like the robotic guy that you know shows up and just
• 14:05Eight. And, you know, nine to five or whatever, you know, how is your life different because of this call it a spiritual practice right of your life practice and weaving those together. Talk about that so
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program14:17What I do is build this cerebral super suit for entrepreneurs to connect more deeply with their core audience.
• 14:24The reality with that is you got to step into the shoes of your clients of your customers of the people you serve.
• 14:32I don't care if it's the homeless guy. I don't care if it's this. I don't care what solution you're providing or what you're doing in life.
• 14:38When it comes down to really expanding your business. It doesn't come down to the tech, that's the easy stuff. It doesn't come down to your sequences and your landing pages, all that stuff that's easy connecting with the people that you serve.
• 14:56comes from a place of oneness.
• 14:59Of understanding of self. So along the spiritual enlightenment along this journey of personal growth. You're actually opening yourself to understand and feel and have more compassion.
• 15:12For the people that you're most likely to benefit. More importantly, how they're going to benefit from you.
• 15:19So for me, I look at oneness and connection that is missing. Now I look at where I'm at. I'm paying attention to how I feel what I'm thinking.
• 15:29I'm going to state of curiosity. So I'm wondering why that's all that's coming in. I'm going to state of health. So I'm changing the foods have it seen how it affects my body. I'm getting rid of things that don't serve my journey.
• 15:41And do not serve my focus
• 15:43And don't really deserve my intention. So when I personally develop as a human being and become more of a human doing
• 15:53I am putting myself to in a place to thoroughly connect to everyone that I'll be serving which helps me
• 16:01Develop better wording in my copy when I'm writing an email. It helps me reach out to better people. It helps me attract better clients.
• 16:07It helps me build better websites helps me build stronger teams, it puts you in a place of connection to who they are in their core. So, the stronger, more
• 16:21Will stay connected you are to yourself, the more likely you're going to be able to connect to the people that are going to benefit from your product and service.
• brandon handley16:28Now, I love it, I love it. So, I mean, what I'm hearing in there. Those like you know you determine kind of
• 16:34How you love yourself and and what serving you. Right, letting go. The things that don't deserve your attention. I love that line, you know, you're going in with your journey and you know be being able to write better copy do better marketing. You're in my mind.
• 16:51You're tuning yourself. You know, like a crystal tuning. Right. You know, like a radio dial.
• 16:57To your clients to the people who you can serve. You're like, this is, this is what I'm transmit this is what I'm good at this is what I love to do this is if I was working with you. Oh my god, I would serve you so hard.
• 17:08Right.
• 17:09Space, right, like I'm and like you know you're going to be blown away by what I give you, because
• 17:14You're you you tuned in. Not only did you tuned in. But you to deal with, like, an amplifier on your side you turned it up, you're like,
• 17:20What's up,
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program17:21Yeah, it's amazing. And lately. My clients have been going. They've been they've been reaching out to me personally.
• 17:27Outside of like business hours, which is the best feeling ever because now we are connected, we are comfortable
• 17:33We are really considering each other. We're thinking about each other outside of business hours and it's more of a real relationship and a friendship went up.
• 17:42And what I have noticed is especially over the last couple months is when you are in a place of curiosity and genuine growth and you recognize that you're there.
• 17:52You listen more you really, you don't have to speak as much, actually there's a reason why we have one mouth and two ears.
• 18:00were meant to listen and when we listen to people when you deliver what you actually want to say or how you can contribute
• 18:09Every word that you say has more impact and more value. Now when it comes to connecting with your clients, how it relates to people in a digital space.
• 18:18I'm telling you this man, the more self aware you are the more connected you are with the universe and how you relate to it. More importantly, how it is relating to you.
• 18:29When you write your copy. When you say these words when you create that video when you do those things. You're literally creating with purpose and positive intent.
• 18:40There are times when I will release something, and I'll type it out and I'll put it up into the digital space.
• 18:47And it will be the same exact words no difference. Everyone's interpreting it differently from their own level of perception, their mind state.
• 18:56The people that I love working with are the ones that feel the intent behind the message and pick up on the energy when I wrote it and they feel it speaks to them. And those are the people that I attract. This is why I have such a great time doing what I do.
• brandon handley19:12Now, I love it, I love it. So it's so funny, you brought up purpose and intent because you know I was gonna ask you about that right how to, you know,
• 19:17We do deliver that message and just like you said, the people that there's there's going to be the one set of people that you know just give you a thumbs up or like or be like, you know, Hey, that was cool.
• 19:27And then there's going to be the other set of people that are gonna be like wow that was, that was awesome. That was powerful. Right.
• 19:32And they get, they get kind of where you're coming from on that and it's a totally
• 19:37That the two different groups, but that doesn't. And what I think I like about that too is that, you know,
• 19:43The group that doesn't get it today doesn't mean they won't get it tomorrow or see it like you know a little bit later down the road, and they're going to go back to your content and they're gonna be like, I didn't, I didn't even realize you were into all this shit.
• 19:55Right. Yeah. Yeah. And because because you can. It's funny.
• 19:59I do that without so my own my own my own stuff. Right. Like, why go and I'll look at other people's content, who I follow it earlier, but I wasn't at my
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program20:09This mind state. Yeah.
• 20:10You go into through a different lens.
• brandon handley20:12And I've got a new job or I have a whole brand new lens right whole whole new lens on like, Where have you been,
• 20:20I never even saw
• 20:22And so it's really interesting that the content that you put out
• 20:27People
• 20:28Come back and take a look later and it'll
• 20:30It'll be fresh to them.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program20:31I 100% and I was just talking about this yesterday. And the reality is to put the content out. We have to realize there's entire generations of people that are moving through going to go to catch up to us.
• 20:42We could be saying the perfect thing right now to people that don't even exist yet.
• 20:47Like
• 20:48What we put out there is really important. And you think of your overall vibe, man. So as people become more connected and understand
• 20:55Their power of influence and how we are influenced and just the decisions that they make.
• 21:00Man, they meet someone may go, Man, I want to create a podcast called spiritual dope. I wonder if that's even a thing could click there's
• 21:09There is, oh my god, they're talking about all the things I didn't even know it was an idea was connected. I felt it. I mean, I took an action and this is everything I'm looking for and you spark an entire movement, based on your idea man.
• brandon handley21:23Simple thought simple action. Right. It's just, it's just a matter of taking that action. What's funny. I mean, it's funny you say that though I did prosperity practice before spiritual dope and
• 21:34Somebody else I spun up prosperity practice like afterwards, after the fact. Like I reached out to her. I was like, I was like, wow, you're doing like the exact same thing I'm doing. I was just like,
• 21:43So it's really interesting. I'm not sure if you've ever seen like some of those videos or, you know, I forget, like, you know, let's talk about Tesla or being connected to the Akashic Record right or
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program21:52Yeah.
• brandon handley21:53Hello, say like two thoughts happen at the same time, like
• 21:56Different receivers. Right, so you'll receive thought somebody else or received thought only one person X on it though, or maybe both people act on it the same time.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program22:04Right.
• brandon handley22:05And it's not until like later that they converge and and you know you see it show up. So
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program22:10That when I remember saying
• 22:12interprets that differently. I really never there's no such thing as original I always say this every thoughts already been funk. Like, what are the chances of you thinking of a sentence or something or whatever.
• 22:22As someone else hasn't already done that you're picking up on something somewhere actually look at that as alignment.
• 22:29If you're having this thought and it's moving you. That means you may actually be being pushed her poles.
• 22:34Pulled in that direction.
• 22:35Hundred percent old yeah
• brandon handley22:36Yeah. So when we talked, right. We talked about the, the, the idea of everything's already been created. It's just a job. What's your awareness of it right and it's funny that because you talked about the losing time right the future now and the past are all here right now.
• 22:52Right, so
• 22:53You've got the, you know, we'll call it the multiverse, right. We've got your, your quantum entanglement kind of guy.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program22:58So, yeah.
• brandon handley22:59You know you can sit there and you can think for a second, you're like, All right, well, if I make this direction, kind of like a Sherlock Holmes type you know movie right like if I go this direction. This is what will happen right
• 23:07Right. Or in my case, it's like, you know, the, the, the Green Hornet with like Seth right and he's like sitting there thinking, and he looks like he's gone. Fast as mine is really going five minutes. Anyways, the deal is like
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program23:16I get it.
• brandon handley23:17You got like all these slices of possible universes, each one of those each thought that you just had they all just happened.
• 23:24Yeah. He's one of those things happen.
• 23:26Right, and it's happening right now. So, I mean,
• 23:28Whichever one you kind of lock into and tune into that's the one is pointing forward.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program23:33Right, the one that you're going to resent so
• 23:34I'll give everybody a practice right now. I've been doing this.
• 23:37I've whiteboards all over the house Ivan. What do you walk into every door. There's a small whiteboard and it's it's whiteboard wallpaper. So I put it on the things that I
• 23:46Hang out around most often. And so what I've been doing is recognizing words. Okay. There's a reason why words stand out to you. So Brendan, I see writing stuff down rather just like this, man. I got notepads and notepads
• 24:02All this is not just client notes. These are thoughts.
• 24:04These are things that are standing out to me if I here at once and it gets my attention. It means pay attention if it gets my attention twice. It means focus on that it's get detailed with it. So you'll see random words written all around the house. It'd be like proximity
• 24:22Right, right. I was Moses.
• 24:24And then it's just random things and then later I'll go back and connect the dots. Our oneness is
• 24:30We're, we're basically it's inevitable that we're going to grow based on our environment or as Moses and our proximity to people who are at a higher state of consciousness.
• 24:38That creates this infinite loop which connects that we're just just doodling manages everything is just total
• 24:47Brainstorming so if you if it gets your attention once pay attention if it gets your attention twice focus on that. There's a reason why you are being pulled towards that.
• 24:58Get, get close to whatever that where it is, whatever that thing is if that person if they mentioned somebody towards two people on two separate days mentioned the same person get interested
• 25:09Yeah, that means that person or that thing is leaving an impact. And it's worth your time.
• brandon handley25:14Sure. I mean, the person's calling out to you right
• 25:16If they got what they've got like something something they've got is really, it's meaningful for you so
• 25:21You know, follow up on that, I love that. Thanks for sharing that. So, one more time. So if it's, you know, if you, if you see it like once you get your interest rate.
• 25:30See it twice, you know, focusing on that, like, you know,
• 25:33And then the third time, like, I mean you you're hooked right like you shouldn't be.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program25:36You, you are the third time.
• brandon handley25:39Right on.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program25:39If it gets your attention. Twice I say this because if we continue to go Wait I need three times right to is the coincidence three is a staple
• 25:50Rather, if a guy your attention to times. Why are you paying attention. Why is is getting your attention, two times. First off, you could have been thinking everything you could have been doing anything.
• 26:00It literally stopped you in thought and got your attention. It's there for a reason, our subconscious is very active at that
• 26:09Moment. And so there's the zoo, there's something you want to get from it. There's something you want to define might be something you just want to explore for understanding but somewhere along the way your mind picked up on something and it needs clarity. There's an open loop somewhere.
• 26:25Yeah, gotta close this.
• brandon handley26:27For sure, for sure. And I love that you know programmatic reference right if you've got an open loop. It just keeps going and going and going and going and going until, like, you know, there's some type of closure. Right.
• 26:38Or control see right
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program26:39You know, just, yeah. Stop, stop at
• brandon handley26:42The so um you brought up something really cool that I really enjoy too is like the idea of the subconscious always being on the lookout for what you're on the lookout for you.
• 26:52Programmatically said you set a filter, right, these things are popping up because you set a filter for that. Right. You said you said all right.
• 27:00Hey, yo, I'm really interested in something like you know give what is something that you're interested in, you know, proximity osmosis where you know and and so now you've got your, your mind and subconscious filter on that. Like for me right now I've got divine and divinity. Right.
• 27:17That's my thing.
• 27:18Right. I've got a divine framework set up as my next course right so
• 27:22Anytime somebody says divine. I'm like,
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program27:24Yeah, it's
• brandon handley27:25Over there. Amen. Amen. I'm like, What are you saying
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program27:27What do you got the coolest part that so you you look at your mind if we open with this as system.
• 27:33A series of processes hundred
• 27:34Percent computers and quantum tech and all that stuff. The quantum computing, man. It's just algorithms. It's going into this than that. If that doesn't this
• 27:43You're just computing data.
• 27:45So when you program your mind, based on your intent. This is why I always say define what happiness looks like smells like tastes like feels like
• 27:56Get like get just seriously go to Amazon buy a bunch of notepads for like six books in just elaborate on what happiness and success looks like to you. Yeah.
• 28:07Do it right, right, right, right. You're only going to spend like a half hour doing this thing. It's nothing in the illusion of time.
• brandon handley28:14Well, I caught the the
• 28:16Real quick, real quick. So I mean, would you would you make them write it down or type it out.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program28:21Does it matter personally
• 28:23I'm into writing
• 28:25Okay, now
• 28:26Now, and I. The reason why is because of the time it takes for me to write it out. If I still commit to that thought. By the end of the sentence, and I still feel good about it.
• 28:36And it's an actual thought
• 28:38If in mid sentence. I'm like, this isn't my thing, then it's just a thought. It's just something that popped in here. Probably for contrast
• 28:45And so when I write it down. I'll say this, there hasn't been a single person that I know that is working on themselves. That isn't writing stuff down
• 28:54Hasn't been writing a book isn't journaling isn't doing any of this man this is pages I just naturally picked it up. I don't necessarily enjoy writing
• 29:04But I realized that for me to be honest and express myself. I need to write these things down and go back and label them right
• 29:13These are all these are all staples in my, in my future, man.
• brandon handley29:16Now, I love it. I call it
• 29:18I call it looking at last.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program29:19Thought the programming brother, when we do this when we write all that stuff down or type it out.
• 29:26Now we get clarity. We're programming our subconscious to look for that. So when we are in a podcast and say, I got a big window right here. And if I was looking for a motorcycle motorcycles make me feel happy.
• 29:40Anything that's going to get my attention that may resemble a motorcycle. I'm gonna, it's going to get my attention. Oh, is it. No, it's not. It's like somebody you're waiting to arrive. Is that damn is at them.
• 29:51Right. Your subconscious is going to constantly go out and look for
• 29:55All the things that satisfy your happiness make you feel successful make you feel to find find divinity, all of those things, man. So programming is really important, but only if it's healthy.
• brandon handley30:07Well, I mean, I think that, uh, you know, healthy, healthy is also subjective right initially. And I think that even if you begin to
• 30:18Just even understand the dynamic of what you're talking about like the programming right set yourself up, you make that choice consciously to be programming yourself. Yeah, right. Because up until up until that point. I mean, I'd love to hear when you realize that
• 30:34You needed to program yourself.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program30:37Yeah, well I was, you know, my story. Man, I'm a liver failure survivor.
• 30:43Like I was on my deathbed, and I know what it's like for your body to start dying and have to sign away your life surrender to the universe.
• 30:51I don't know what's happening on it was going on, but all of the decisions every single thought that I've had to that point has led me to my deathbed. Yeah.
• 31:00And I'm still defending that for some reason, like why am I defending being here. I'm justifying my death. Oh, I lived a good life. I'm doing. Are you serious, I haven't even tried yet I'm 32 at this point on my deathbed, and I'm trying to justify that I lived a long good life.
• 31:18And I was just meant. That's ridiculous, man. So when I get in. When I start recovering I'm realizing all these thoughts and it wasn't until I started debating my environment.
• 31:29I'm not in that scene. Am I surrounded by those people am I doing those things am I interested in that stuff. I don't think those thoughts. Why am I still the same person.
• 31:38Hmm. Why am I still the same guy before I died. This is a whole new me
• 31:46Right.
• 31:46But is it really a whole new me, this is, this is just me.
• 31:51With a new opportunity. So who do I want to be. And then as I call this self auditing.
• 31:57Then you start to realize where your brain starts to go, you start thinking about happiness and success and these these other things that you want to accomplish.
• 32:03And then you start recognizing now that's not gonna work. Whoa. I just told me know what the
• 32:11And I believe that what happened. I just shut myself down. I can do anything. And I said no to me. Why is that a thing. Okay, I can do it.
• 32:24I am doing it. It's happening go okay and then that thought comes in again. No, no, we're doing this. It's happening. Got it. Go, then it starts to be less and less. And then I'm starting to realize that I have just created a healthy thought pattern.
• 32:40When it comes to can or cannot there. Is it just is man, you just, are you doing it.
• 32:45Are you focusing on your happiness. Yes, well then I'm gonna keep doing those things are you building your business. Yeah, I'm gonna keep doing that thing.
• 32:52I am giving myself permission, I get really good at doing that and anybody can develop healthy habits healthy thought patterns, they can easily reprogram themselves.
• 33:02From an actual neurological standpoint, we need at least 63 to 64 repetitions of anything to be considered good or for it to be written into our being all those veins in our brain.
• 33:16Those lumps and things
• 33:18The valleys. Those are based on repetition. Right. So developing healthy habits. It comes with practice. And once we put ourselves there, man. Then you get really good at practicing. It's not what you're practicing. You just get good at creating good habits.
• 33:34And then this is kind of all easy peasy. From there it's difficult with there's a lot there's less less difficulty involved right
• brandon handley33:43I think that it's a you know it's it's the idea that, you know, somebody as they grow older, right, they, they try something once
• 33:51And it didn't work out. I'll give a couple more shots. But you're saying it's like 64 tries and keep at it and you know it's not like it's you need that repetition. I also you're calling from
• 34:02Your computer land right I look at that number 64 and I think about like 64 bits, right, like
• 34:07Yeah yeah so
• 34:08So that's a, that's interesting. So, you know, you're on your deathbed, and and you you crawl up out of that and you start to recognize
• 34:18You know, you've got to make these these pattern changes and you've got to develop these healthy life patterns, you know, the challenge that I think that we see is somebody that isn't dying.
• 34:31That isn't you know isn't dying and has a safe life. Yeah.
• 34:35Right, I mean you know that they haven't they haven't drunk themselves death, but maybe they have several beers at night and maybe you so
• 34:44How do we get someone to recognize that they've got patterns that aren't serving them even though they've got quote unquote good are safe life and they can have more
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program34:53Is that familiar do. That's the question is this, is this what you do. Is this your thing. That's where you do these are that that okay
• 35:02Have you done anything else. Have you tried anything else you realize that you're back in the bar, you have this. How many times have you had this drink. You know what it is.
• 35:11If you keep doing the same things, you get the same exact results results. Why do you think I became an alcoholic is because I needed more and more and more to feel normal. I've never had this until like yesterday. This is amazing. I'm a
• 35:27New person holding pineapple.
• 35:30I had to switch it out, like, what is it synergy raw kombucha
• 35:35Love this. Right.
• 35:37Did a hippie. Give it to me. Yes, but does it matter. No, my point with it is that if we keep doing the same things and living in a place of familiarity.
• 35:46We're never going to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Therefore, we're never going to grow.
• 35:51Is this as good as it gets. Is this as good as you want it to be. Is this what you really want. Man Seriously, look at this point, you're just writing. Just ask yourself this question, is this what I really want
• 36:06Is this how I really want to feel if I can relive this my state of being for the end of my existence. Is that good enough for me. Can I achieve more goodness. Is this how you really want it to be nine times out of 10 it's know
• 36:24Even in a healthy place.
• 36:27If I asked myself, This Is this really how good you want it to be, or is this really where you want to be. It's really where I want to be right now, but it's only getting better. So know if I get complacent here I get no more results.
• 36:42I have to continue growing right so we got to look at that complacency and go, you know what, man. Is this as good as it gets. Is this as good as you want it to be right now.
• 36:51Chances are the same. And then we start taking action. And I know this because just the power of influence from three people, we were able to get an alcoholic to leave the bar. The other day on a podcast and he went home to go play with his dogs.
• 37:07Hmm. He made the decision to leave the bar, man.
• 37:11stopped drinking poison not permanently.
• 37:14But the power of influence is there, he made that decision. It's amazing what happens when you realize that it can be better.
• brandon handley37:21Yeah, no 100% you know I know when I quit drinking
• 37:27It has influenced many people right and you know we talked about being pulled you know I was pulled, man. I wasn't, I didn't quit drinking because I didn't like I love drinking
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program37:38Drinking. No, I haven't done it since.
• brandon handley37:41I have a blast. I you know do stupid shit all day long.
• 37:46And and but you know it fell away man fell away is something I didn't need anymore. And I found that I could do stupid shit without having to drink.
• 37:57And I could be there more for people. Right. And so, but but that influence is just like
• 38:02It's not something we're not doing any force on anybody is because I just feel great.
• 38:07I get to I get to drive whenever I want.
• 38:09I get to do and go places, whenever I want.
• 38:11Because I haven't had a drink.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program38:14It was one of the most interesting compliments. I've received recently is you don't need anything in your system to have a good time. You don't have to smoke. You don't have to drink enough to do anything you're just having a blast all the time right now my
• 38:31That whoa, you're right.
• 38:33Well, I know this.
• 38:34But now you're saying it. So you got my attention.
• 38:38Whoa, that's cool. And then they're going, I don't, I don't really need to do these things. It's just not really. I mean, I get
• 38:45You know, it's not necessary.
• 38:47It's not a staple of my existence anymore. Let's just say that. Yeah.
• 38:51Wow, man, that's, that's amazing. And people talk about high on life. I get what they're saying.
• brandon handley38:57Is visual rather than just
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program39:00The Scripture that
• brandon handley39:01That's it. That's it. That's man. That's exactly what we're here. And what we're doing right
• 39:07You know, talking about that. And again, you know, being able to live from that space and be successful in business right and leading leading with that right not like that's not your cover. That's not your life, you're not like I go home and I meditate, I go home and I pray. No, I read
• 39:25When I was with with spirit. Right.
• 39:27So, I love, I love, I love that you're doing that, and I love you know I see what you're creating
• 39:33A see the momentum. You've got new built
• 39:36You know what, what are some other things that you would hit on in this space that you would share with anybody.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program39:42In regards to tech or personal or just just
• brandon handley39:44In terms of like, you know, you know,
• 39:46Leading from spirituality. Was it. That's right. Yeah, I heard you say to you came from, like, a hippie. You know, you kind of came from that background to right and that was real similar to me to write hippie mom.
• 39:58And just
• 39:59For me, it ends up coming easily because that's how I was raised, I fought it
• 40:04For a long time, yes. Talk about that. Right. So talk about knowing that it exists, and then being like them being like, Oh, shit. It works. Yeah, I know that resistance.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program40:15Is useless. Honestly, I just posted about this. And yeah, my parents, you know, different what 6070s
• 40:22Yeah, you know, so they were raised, like that. My parents are definitely hippies, but not like your, your typical hippie not like will say modern day hippies, or what I i actually been thinking about and you're welcome to take this and join me. Not all hippies climb trees like
• 40:37I want to start a movement.
• brandon handley40:39Well, that's a special again. That's what spiritual dopes about there is a greatness. And if you go to my website right now says you don't have to wear like beach. You don't have to wear that.
• 40:47Dress. You don't have to wear sandals. You don't have to
• 40:50You don't have to put on this uniform to feel this way.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program40:52100%. So we'll talk about that. Absolutely. There's a
• brandon handley40:55Reverse it what I'm saying. And you see
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program40:57Like we're on the same wavelength.
• 40:58Yeah, man. And so, so here's the trip is my, my brother, my older brother, he's like a hippie is of all manly man, but he's climbing trees, he's cutting trees down building homes log cabins, he makes his own tea and coffee and everything is from the earth and He is like 100% hippie.
• 41:15Spiritual Empath all of that stuff. It's really amazing.
• 41:19Now for me, I always thought that because I'm a tech guy right at artists. I'm an artist in general.
• 41:25You know I connect with people in different ways, but I've been through an extreme amount of trauma before liver failure. So my trauma.
• 41:34I've had to process these things differently. And my viewing angle my perspective on will say the hippie approach is it's a little too flu fee for lack of better words this little to
• brandon handley41:46motherly soft
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program41:48It's not it do, like, just take your shoes off and just seeing one drink like okay
• brandon handley41:53I want to kick a door. Yeah.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program41:55You can't force this hippie just like religion or anything.
• brandon handley41:58Right, right, right.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program41:59You have to be open to it. Oh, so on my journey.
• 42:04As it became more receptive more open, more compassionate towards other people, and more importantly, developed more compassionate towards myself, which I learned from my mentor asara sundry
• 42:16With that, I started to let down those walls and I started to break those permissions started signing off on my own.
• brandon handley42:24Certain he
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program42:25Recognizes my permission slip and
• 42:27Walk down that hall of success and happiness.
• 42:30And in doing so, I started to realize that people have been telling me this forever.
• 42:35And I've been to so
• 42:36Not have it.
• brandon handley42:38I mean, that's what we talked about earlier, though, too, right, like in writing your content right you're yourself. You're telling people, some things and
• 42:45They're just not. They're not in that spaceship, they're not they're not there right and it's not until it's not until you kind of come into your own awareness of being and you can look back and be like, Oh my gosh, people been telling me this my entire life. Yeah, right.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program42:59100%
• brandon handley42:59Now, I love it man.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program43:01It's amazing the way it works. And I'll tell you this, brother. You remember. Oh, sorry about posting with purpose.
• brandon handley43:06But
• 43:07I intent, but
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program43:08How do you think I ended up in Texas, dude.
• 43:10There you go right person, pick up on the intent and the power and energy behind the same message and they open the opportunity like you. We want you to come here.
• 43:21Right, that's how I ended up in Texas in a series of events had to happen perfectly in alignment.
• 43:28And I ended up here in the most incredible place I've ever been in my entire life more growth, more happiness more communication more connection.
• 43:36More forward progress than any other time in my entire life. And I'm beyond humbled all because I posted with purpose man right person felt it. And then we all took action make magic happen. It's really, really cool.
• brandon handley43:52That's cool, man. So, I mean, you know, again, this is kind of like a follow your bliss type moment right
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program43:57Yeah.
• brandon handley43:57I love it.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program43:59Though well
• brandon handley44:00I mean you got you got to do it for yourself. Right. Like each person. Everybody's got everybody's got to find that for themselves, you know, you talk about your truth right you could
• 44:07You could say, Hey, you know, for me, you know, at this moment, this bliss is my truth right if I'm feeling, you know, and again, I'll talk about that word, you know, vanity, I'm feeling
• 44:17Or creative source like through me and, you know, or like we talked about resonance and we look at, like, you know, somebody just plucking my divine source string.
• 44:26Everything has resonated and that was bliss and so I'm following that like somebody, you know, talking to me and just dragging me out and like me, like, yes, this is, oh my gosh, this is uncommon. I'm on my way you
• 44:37Know how this is going to end. Oh yeah, they are they aware of the path. Now look, you're always on your path right it's like you've got a you're always on your path you're never all fit. It's just, you've got to make that decision.
• 44:48To to recognize that you're walking. It's at your part of it that you're being it right
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program44:53You know, want to man.
• 44:54Like, think of it. Think of it like this in like I if I go to the doctors right now and they they put a needle in my arm. Yeah, that's gonna be my only, you know, uncomfortable. I'm not worried about the needle, man. I'm worried about the results.
• 45:06They want to see how unhealthy. I really am.
• 45:09Don't want to like surrender to that.
• 45:11Right. Some people really aren't. They're not good at walking through the doors, man.
• brandon handley45:15Yeah.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program45:15You're not good at that. That's their out of practice.
• 45:18And sometimes we got to kick those doors down, they gotta be receptive on the other end. You've got to kick those doors down for yourself.
• 45:24Man, once you open that door now.
• 45:27Then you can see the path.
• brandon handley45:29Yeah.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program45:29And know that you're on it.
• 45:31And then you can frolic down that bitch as much as you want. You know I'm saying, like, what are
• 45:34You going to do
• brandon handley45:36All that. Well, I mean, look, you can't make a wrong decision. You know a lot of people
• 45:40You know that they've got their systems in place that work for them. And if you get off of their system, they're going to come up and say, Well, well, well, you got it. You're, you're off your system and you're off your path, but
• 45:50That's not true. You're off of what their path would be you're off and out of their system and so have faith in yourself, man. I love what you're doing, I love, I love that. That's what you know you've developed like kind of this core
• 46:02Being again and you're, you know, you're, you're leading with that and you're in that space. That's awesome. Where should I send people to go meet up with you and find out more about you.
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program46:12Absolutely. So my primary focus right now is the mantis program so mantis is every single thing that I've ever learned tops mastered
• 46:25All in one place in regards to not just evolving as a human being but evolving into the strongest and most accurate business mindset that you could ever possibly hope to get yourself into
• 46:38It's the reason why I can operate at a peak state of performance for forever and cost deliver content get things done while having a family doing all that stuff.
• 46:48So I want to show people exactly how they can implement
• 46:52These specific concepts into their life. But more importantly, there's so many people who don't take the necessary steps because they go all but there's technology, there's this and I don't understand that.
• 47:03I cover it all, every single aspect. So you don't have to be able to business or even bill yourself without fear man like you don't have to do that. You don't have to restrict yourself. And it's basically what I now that I say I give people the permission to evolve as a human.
• 47:19And then, yeah, so that's the mantis program. So the mantis program com
• 47:24And then of course graders Academy man the CCA it's an extension of the mantas program. This is for people who want to build an online program.
• 47:33I have numerous clients 2020 is packed with people who are going. I know what a lot of information. The online learning industry is a $34 billion industry.
• 47:44If you know something, and you want to get it out there and develop a program for people to get their hands on.
• 47:51And I hope people evolve through that process developed a program and then also handle all the tech and all that stuff with with just with ease.
• 48:00Then yeah, then I'm gonna communication artist. So I help people communicate more deeply with their, their core audience, not just as a servant leader, but as a professional graphic designer 20 years in Photoshop.
• 48:12And yeah and then for everybody who already has a message or is looking to dominate the second most powerful website on the planet YouTube
• 48:21I have the Hitchhiker's Guide to video marketing and that's showing you, not just how to get video views up into the millions
• 48:27But I'm actually showing you how to build a complete online digital business or any product or service that you're working on. Or like to get your hands on. That's the secret behind the sauce.
• brandon handley48:40Yeah, man, that was
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program48:41What
• 48:42What is there, man. So you can also find me on Facebook or is Cody rain and then you could also go to Cody rain calm. If you guys want to learn more about me or jump on my calendar, we can have a chat about you and your business.
• brandon handley48:53Awesome, man. Thanks for joining into
• Kohdi Rayne - The Mantis Program48:56Thank you, man, I appreciate you.

Brandon Handley 0:00 What is going on Brandon Handley here today with do the voice of a generation have a little bit of fun as I've got some guests over this weekend but uh, you know, what I haven't done for you for a little bit was do a solo podcast and what I'm what I want to do is catch up catch you up a little bit with the Buddhism, stuff that we've been doing over on Facebook, I've had to push off for the past couple weeks, you know one of them. But I've got another that we did on Facebook with a Reverend Samurai and we did the Three Jewels of Buddhism. And if you're not familiar with what they are, and they're called three areas, which we can turn to, for refuge, right, these three jewels or refuges are essential to the Buddhist teachings. In the Buddhist times, when people wanted to ordain and become Buddhist, they formally took up refuge in these three jewels. The jewels are places where we turn toward in order to cultivate mindfulness and loving kindness. They are three different ways in which we may take refuge

Unknown Speaker 1:23 in our path,

Brandon Handley 1:25 and practice and I love the fact of the idea of refuge is somewhere we can go to find solace to be at peace, to be at ease to not worry so much about nearly anything else. As a matter of fact, you know, what I really want to do is, is, while we're here right now, is look up refuge and see what the dictionary version of this is. So that we can really just share what it is so shelter or protection from danger or distress, a place that provides shelter or protection, and something to which one has recourse and difficulty. So these three jewels of Buddhism are places in which you or a practicing Buddhist may go and find Rhys bite recourse away from a place that they're feeling challenged. The first of these three jewels is the Buddha. When we hear the term Buddha, when you hear the term Buddha, and we often think of the historical Buddha, however, taking refuge in the Buddha is less about the man who awakened and more about taking refuge in the Buddha hood with us. The Buddha taught that we all have the seed of awakening that needs to be watered if we are to liberate ourselves. taking refuge in the Buddha means turning toward the Buddha seed within we tune into the seeds of wisdom and compassion already presence cultivating these qualities and resting with them this I think he depending on when you listen to this and just recently released a podcast actually know what I didn't release this podcast, I forgot to record it during the conversation, ah the trials and tribulations of your own podcasting. The idea and is that we are all Buddhas, you are a Buddha. Simply waking up to that idea. Right? So he says taking refuge is less about the man who awakened and more about taking refuge in the Buddha hood within us you are that Buddha within, you know, I'll even I'll even line this up somehow to Napoleon hills thinking grow rich. And what he calls the mastermind is the ability to call upon others mentally as if they were in the room with you. Right. And in. In essence, what you're doing in that situation is you are vibrating yourself to that level of somebody or something within your own imagination. And when you do that, you're able to just kind of call forth from the ether and ether and sit into that space. So you have the ability should you choose to say In Buddhist light to sit in Christ light right in nature and that is you know kind of mastermind that's what they're talking about here by taking refuge in the Buddha hood with a you have it within you you are that seed you are that as they would say in Hinduism, thou art that. And you've had that seed that needs to be watered in cultivation is such a such an amazing word. You find it a lot as a matter of fact, I've got it over here in the eaching that I spend, I spend usually a little bit of everyday with most days and going through it and the idea of cultivating that greatness within you. Right and and tuning into that seed of wisdom, compassion, it's already within you, and resting in that space and being fine. Again, refuge.

Brandon Handley 5:57 Right, relax into it, relax into it. So you have the Buddha within you, you are a Buddha take refuge and knowing that cultivate that and be with it, rest with it, the Dharma. The second of the Three Jewels is the Dharma, or way. The Dharma is both Buddhist teachings and actual actions associated with the teachings. The Buddhist teaching offer a safe place a safe way of being taking refuge in the Dharma means that we study the Buddhist teachings and put forth the effort to utilize the Dharma in our lives. we meditate, take the precepts, and cultivate wholesome qualities, acting and living in this way is a true refuge in that we do not cause harm to others or ourselves and are able to find safety in the teachings. So the Dharma is both the teachings and the actual actions on if you ever heard anybody say, I've got to go do my dharma. And I was always confused. I was like, how do you do your Dharma? If that's the teaching the the words right that there's not necessarily a doctrine, but the teachings and the ways. But I think that with any type of teaching, anything you do, you must embody it. You must take action, you must live those teachings, not simply read, regurgitate, and mentally, you know, rehash and go over these things over and over. utilize it, put it into your life. And again, you know, meditate and cultivate wholesome qualities, acting and living in this way is a refuge. If you're not in acting in any way to do harm to others for yourself, how often do you find yourself just beating the shit out of yourself for something so trivial, something so small, that with anybody else with any friend of yours, you would say, everything's gonna be fine your grade, you didn't do it on purpose, that type of thing. So I love it. So your Dharma is your teachings in action. And just knowing that, that that is a practice and knowing that that's the life that you're living with intention is like, that doesn't leave room for guilt. There is no harm if you're living in this way. So there's refuge in that because you're not going to kind of be torn as to whether or not you're living in the right way. And within purpose, and your purpose is to your purpose in your actions or to live the Dharma. The Sangha, this is one of my favorites, right, the third and final today. of the Three Jewels in Buddhism is the Sangha. The Pali word Sangha refers to the community of practitioners. Traditionally, the Sangha is the community of monks and nuns. For laypeople Asana is simply a community of people on the path with you. It may be members of local meditation center, friends, that you've made in your practice, or those who sit on a retreat with to take refuge in OSI is to engage with the community of meditators. community is important in Buddhism as it is in many religious and spiritual traditions. Our meditation practice is often personal, intimate, but engaging with others is just as important. When we turn toward the Sangha, we are able to learn from others offer to help others and to use our practice to engage with others mindfully. practicing with the community often helps us to see things and in new ways working Other things which we had not previously considered. I don't know about you. But there's so many times as this final line, right is going to a new community and having somebody having a conversation with somebody, and them explaining something you thought you were thoroughly, intimately knowledgeable about, and they, they put a little spin on it. And you say to yourself, wow, I hadn't thought about it that way. And your life has changed, your life has changed for, right, forever. That's the power of just a simple community being able to reach out there

Brandon Handley 10:49 and do it in an opening way, in an open way, where you are receptive to new ideas where you are receptive to somebody else's way of thinking. And the idea of diversity is that many people from different backgrounds, many different perspectives, many different cultures, are going to allow for you to see things in a way that you had not, as, as it says here, previously considered. The other idea is that is people on the path with you, but also the people on the way, you know, people on the way to the community, that there, there's some excitement about right there, you know, people that you can see coming from a distance like, Oh, my God, I never thought that they were going to come to this community, I'm so excited to share some time with them and be with them. I don't know that. Susan, I really think that way. That's the way I think about it, though, you know, you see some people coming along the way or you're along the path with them, as they're talking about, as lay people, the community people that are on the path with you, you and I've met today, you and I have spent some time with each other, you are here with me on this podcast, or maybe you're here in the video rendition. And we're spending a little bit of time with each other. And so that means, you know, we're we're along the path with each other, it doesn't mean we're going to the same place. means we're walking with each other for a moment, which means that we are here together for a moment. Now, it doesn't have to be forever. Does that mean that's one of the things I think that a lot of people get caught up on or hung up on? People come into your life, they're just they're likely just as quick to leave? What did you learn from that person? What kind of experience Did you have with that person? Hopefully, what were you able to offer to them as well? And how did the time that you spent with each other, you know, possibly benefit the world. I'm just kind of, you know, looking at this over again, and also, you know, our meditation is often personal, intimate. I think what's even just as powerful is to meditate with a community knowing that just for a moment that your minds are in the same space and place and you're meditating together, there's a power in that, I don't know that you've ever had the experience of, of watching, maybe a concert, right? I remember, I remember sitting at MPC boys concert years ago. And, you know, up on the we're probably you know, three rows up or whatever, you know, three levels up and you can see the main floor and the main floor. The piece I forget what the hell it was for us. I think it was a Hello nasty tour. But their their stage would like move left and right. And it was like you could see the bodies moving to follow the concert and you could literally see like this Ying Yang, you know energy because of just how it worked, right? So you see energy in motion bodies in motion and people in motion. And and I say that because you know, you see you see that? vibration, you see that energy in motion in people and it's very intense to be able to see that now. I know I brought that up in this one. I forget what minds and motion together. Right. So those people work together in unison. They had different kinds of objectives. They're returning different ways but they were there together an in unison and seeing seeing that outside of you is pretty It's pretty cool. I've seen it in a number of other different scenarios or if you go to raves or been to parties like that you can see people kind of dancing to the same beat. You see them dancing emotion, I'm sure that you always hear people talking, you know, Mark marching to the same beat. But some, you know, there's, there's something to seeing people liberated by music and dancing and motion and seeing that community in action together, same idea of even quietly meditating with each other, just that energy, driving through all of you at that same time. mines in refuge

Brandon Handley 15:43 right in the Buddha, and living their dharma. So the Three Jewels ladies and gentlemen of Buddhism, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, we should be Samurai that is going live October 17. To finish up our last one for a little bit anyways, and that'll be the Eightfold noble path. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one. And perhaps catching up with you on Facebook. Pete, feel free to join us for the Eightfold noble path. All right. Have a great evening, day life. Do whatever you're doing.

Unknown Speaker 16:29 Take it easy.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

FB 8 Fold Path Session: https://www.facebook.com/events/304193880897130

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/text/four-noble-truths

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/text/noble-eightfold-path

Brandon Handley 0:00 What is going on spiritual dope? How are you Brandon Handley here the voice of a generation voice of generation Heiser? You know, coming over here from the fatherhood podcast, I used to have that call to the voice of fathers to give a damn. So what are we here? What do you what is this community, this is a voice of, you know, spiritual spiritualists that give a damn anywho guys popping in here I wanted to share out something that we've just done recently over on Facebook, if you're not familiar with one of the things that we're doing over there, we're doing a kind of a weekly thing with introduction into Buddhism. And we've got one more left. But so far what we've done is we've done the Four Noble, I'm not a Buddhist, obviously. So we've done the we've done the Three Jewels. We've done, the Four Noble Truths, and one of the podcasts that we've released already is the five mindfulness trainings. So one of them, I'm gonna go over with you today, the short version of them is the Four Noble Truths. And also do a short version of the Three Jewels, but I and I'm also going to link a lengthier version of these to the website. So you can go see kind of what that Facebook conversation looked like where I had Reverend Sam, who's a Buddhist Reverend, on with me to, you know, to talk to about this. And one of the reasons that we're doing it is so that you can approach Buddhism to find out a little bit more about what it is in a safe and welcoming space. And can hear that straining, love it, want to make sure that you feel safe, right, and it's a place where I think that sometimes, for me anyways, if you go somewhere, and you're brand new to it, and there's JIRA there alone, it can be intimidating to talk to people that are there who look like super sacred or whatever. And, you know, you see a monk out there and you're like, Hey, what do you do here, and it can, some of it can be intimidating, and you hold yourself back a little bit on those conversations. And Sam and I have created, what I like to believe is a very open space and welcoming space for you to come in, explore these topics, we share out the link. And you can come there with any questions that you might have, as it might relate, like I said, we shot the link. This one was the foremost noble truths of Buddhism, and I'll share that on the page as well. And I'm gonna go over it with you quickly today, quicker than it took us are like, I think 45 minutes or so, on the foreigner will choose. So, the Four Noble Truths are perhaps the most basic formulation of the Buddhist teachings and they are expressed as follows. All existence is Duka, right? And the word Duka means suffering or anguish, pain, or unsatisfactoriness. The idea is that our lives are a struggle, and that you do not find ultimate happiness or satisfaction in anything that you experience. And this is the site this is the problem of existence. And we went back and forth quite a bit on this, Sam and I know that what he's saying here is that there's no there's no way around it. You might think that you have different ways around it. You may think that you don't suffer or have any suffering for yourself or any anguish, pain or sadness, but everybody does. All of us I have it, you have it. And so how do we how do we work through it? Once we know that this is going to show up? How do we work through it and that's part of what we what what this is about. So, the second part of it is that the cause of Duka is craving says here that the natural human tendency is to blame our difficulties on things outside of ourselves. But the Buddha says that their actual root is to be found in the mind itself. In particular, our tendency to grasp things or alternatively, push them away. Places is fundamentally at odds with the way life really is.

Brandon Handley 4:59 And again, this was inside of you, right? How do you think about something that is that is happening? And and I don't know exactly where we landed on how to grasp it them or, you know, we pull it them, you know, we leap to conclusions versus just kind of experiencing what's really in front of us without giving it some how to, it's challenging. How do you do anything? Without giving it a label, the cause of Duka is craving, right? So, things on the outside of you, right? You couldn't get this job. So you got pissed at the world, right? The world's against you. Or, you know, maybe somebody ran into your, your car and popped your tire and you get pissed and the world's against you. And that's a you wish things were better. You wish you were somewhere else and you wish things weren't the way they were? And you feel like they could do better. And the thing is, you can feel a different way or have a different life experience if you if you wanted it or interpret it differently. So yeah, that's kind of like the high level idea of it, right? We I think we spent quite a bit of time on that one. The idea again, is that there, the actual root of craving can be found in the mind itself, which kind of leads into the next next piece here, the cessation of Duka. Now this is the third of four noble truths comes with a cessation, cessation of Duka, cause with the cessation of cravings, as we are the ultimate causes of our difficulties, we are also the solution. I like to say, you know, as you are the ultimate cause of your difficulty, you are also the solution. You cannot change the things that happen to you. But you can change your response. I don't know how many means I've seen with this one, how many and you know, set in, you know, different ways. But if you change the way you look at things that have changed how you look at things, they change differently, right? They, they change just by just by your your thought process and how you decide to see them. And then you can change your response to what you interpret is happening around you. So, you know, if you're seeing a craving, and you want something for some reason, you have to understand where that where that craving is coming from what is causing that craving, and address it, right. I like to use the example of how when we want to move to a different place. We don't like where we live anymore, we want to go move or live somewhere else. And then the idea is, you know, why? what's, what does that please have that we want to move to have? That's not already available here. And when you approach it that way, you know what's over there that you don't have where you are right now is the ultimate question. And what's causing you and prompting you to move. And then when you take a look at it, you realize, well, maybe nothing, maybe there's no reason. And then when you kind of when you take a look at it in that way, you you eliminate some of the pressure to make the move right to force yourself into any certain direction. So you can change your response, right. So the thing that's happening is that I am where I am. And instead of saying I wish I wasn't here, let's say I've got everything that I need. Got everything that I really want. If I take a really good hard look at it so I can change my response. Right, so I got to get out of here can't be here. Whoa. So now I got everything I need. And finally, so there's a path that leads from Duka. Although the Buddha throws responsibility back on the individual, he also taught methods to which we can change ourselves. For example, it's a Noble Eightfold Path. And I honestly don't know what that is. But I do know this I do know that next week on October 3, on Facebook, Sam and I'll be getting together to discuss the Noble Eightfold Path can also leave a link for that in on the site. But look, there are ways around it right. Just like we said here, although the Buddha throws

Brandon Handley 9:55 responsibility back on the edge visual, he also taught methods which we can And yourself, the one that I just use right back on number three is, you know, reframing it, taking stock, separating yourself from the situation. That's a really interesting exercise you can do in NLP. Where you close your eyes, there's a cognitive behavior therapy, it's one of the two, you kind of close your eyes. And you picture yourself in your mind. And then you picture yourself doing whatever it is that you're doing, whatever the situation is, feeling, whatever it is that you're feeling, and then imagining that you are watching yourself, right? And what is the experience of watching yourself, like, you know, so when you watch yourself with all those emotions, feelings, and situations, and thoughts and ways of being? What is it that you see as the watcher, right? And then take it one more step beyond here. So now you're watching yourself, watch yourself. Right? So there's watching 1123 of us in this scenario, and, yeah, how much more objective Can you kind of become in this scenario when, in the end, right, the first person, you know, if you're sitting with yourself, and you're deep inside, you're feeling the things, you're feeling the emotions and you're experiencing everything. When you are one step removed, you for some reason, you still feel some type of sensation, you still feel some type of way about all the things that are going on, because you're just one step removed, but there's less, it's a little bit more objective. Now you're watching the watcher, who's watching you. Because one objective, there's less sensation, there's less things happening. And when you kind of watch the whole thing play out. And if you put one more in there, you put a fourth image of yourself being three times removed. It really just becomes you see somebody sitting there thinking, you're watching somebody, watch somebody else, watch somebody else who just looks like all those people are looking at somebody just thinking, you're so far removed, but you can separate yourself from yourself in that scenario. And when you do that, when you're able to do that you for just that time you eliminate the suffering, the anguish, and you're just an observer, and things just are what they are. So, I hope that was helpful for you to go through these four noble truths. All existence is Duka. The cause of Duka is craving, cessation of Duka comes with the cessation of craving. And then finally, there is a path that leads from there, the one tool that is shared with you there is helpful. And then on October 3, we are 2020 on Facebook 7pm Eastern Standard Time, Sam and I are going to cover the Noble Eightfold Path. I'd love for you to join us. It's open to everybody just kind of come check it out if you've got some questions, and just feel like you know, this is this is all part of part of it. Right? The beauty is a lot of what we do here in personal development and personal growth space, is accessible with other tools has been around for a long time. And we can apply it in different ways. And they come from different sources. And one of those sources that we have available to us at all times is this ability to access Buddhism. All right, take it easy.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Be sure to catch the Conscious Spirit Fest October 18 2020

Arizona Bell is the co-founder and CEO of Spirit Guides Media—a growing media network that's dedicated to truth and driven by Spirit—and the host of the podcast A Matter of Life and Death with Arizona Bell. A grief coach and afterlife expert, Arizona is an inspirational speaker with the message that examining death and what happens to us after death is the absolute best way to live our richest, most meaningful lives here on Earth. A rising voice in the spiritual community, she appeared as a panelist on George Noory's afterlife expert panel at the Afterlife Research and Education Institute Symposium in 2018 and speaks regularly at various conferences and events. Arizona's book "Soul Magic: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Mystics" is available now.

Arizona stopped by on Spiritual Dope as we covered all types of things:

What exactly is it about examing death that can inspire you to live your best life?

How do you transition from writing for medical journals to spirituality?

Different ways to pray & what exactly is OG meditation?

Make sure you check out everything Arizona has going on!

Catch up with Arizona on Instagram:

• brandon handley00:014321 Hey there, Spiritual Dope. This is Brandon Handley on with another outstanding guest Arizona bell, and she is the co founder and CEO of Spirit Guides Media
• 00:15A growing media network that's dedicated to truth and driven by spirit and the host of the podcast, a matter of life and death with Arizona bell
• 00:23A grief coach and afterlife expert Arizona is an inspirational speaker with the message that examine that. And what happened was, after death is the absolute best way to live our richest, most meaningful lives here on her.
• 00:35Arising voice in a spiritual community, she appeared as a panelist on great George Norris afterlife expert panel at the afterlife. Research Institute education Institute's symposium in 2018
• 00:47And speaks regularly at various conferences and events Arizona's book sold magic ancient wisdom from the modern mystics is available now or is. Oh, thank you so much for popping out today, how are you
• Spirit Guides00:59Hey, thanks for having me. Brandon, I'm doing really well, actually, uh, you know, you never know in 2020 with ups and downs of of everything. But today I'm doing great. I'm feeling good. How about you.
• brandon handley01:09I love it. Right, like 2020 if ever there was a a year where you seize the day right you take it for all that you can get out of it because you don't know what's around the corner right
• Spirit Guides01:20And absolutely, if you're not. If not now, when right
• brandon handley01:26I love 2024 for what is actually kind of brought brought to us right arm. I think there's opportunity to
• 01:32Do what you and I are doing on really kind of dig deep and live our authentic lives because you don't know what's around the corner. Really presented itself in 2020 that's my honest opinion.
• Spirit Guides01:43Absolutely. And just, I'll just riff here for a minute, in my personal life. That's how it worked out.
• 01:48You know i i hit rock bottom and hit a period of grief in my life. And next thing you know, I'm like, Okay. Life's too short. And it really put the fire under my butt. And I got to step in and live in my purpose. And I think on a collective level that's what's happening with 2020
• brandon handley02:03Is what it looks like right a lot. There's a lot of raw files on
• 02:06A lot bombs and and not to laugh, but it's again just giving us the opportunity to bounce back. And so our spiritual resilience and what that but that kind of shine.
• 02:15But they kind of shy so I like to start these off with, like, you know, the idea is that the creator speaks through us right and
• 02:25Universe energies, energy, whatever speaking through us today and it's delivering a message to one of our listeners that can only come through this instance right so what is that message that you would deliver to that person today.
• Spirit Guides02:40This is man, this is interesting because right before this, I got on. And I do this typically
• 02:45Every once in a while. I forget, but it's kind of my routine to get to
• 02:48Get into meditated mode. Before I go on, either my podcast or somebody else's and say,
• 02:54Let's let the message come through that needs to be heard the most that helps the most amount of people
• 02:59You know, it's interesting. I've never been asked to to pick what that message is. So you put me on the spot, but um you know i i think that maybe the messages. What you kind of
• 03:12You said spiritual resilience. I think that that's the message of this year. And that's the message, maybe of this podcast, because that's where we started going right away. And I think just
• 03:24The fact of the idea that human hearts are so resilient were built in Phoenix's were born to burn and we're born to rise. And I think that it's really
• 03:33Really important to remember that right now, when everything is burning down metaphorically or literally, you know. So I think it's really important that we remember how resilient. We actually are.
• brandon handley03:46Built in Phoenix is built on Phoenix's and
• Spirit Guides03:49I don't know where that came from. That was
• 03:52That was like our archangel
• brandon handley03:54Was it right that's it 100% you open yourself up to it and just allowed to kind of kind of come through.
• 04:02And that's exactly what it is. So, whoever's out there. Just know that you have this built in Phoenix, whatever is kind of sparking you right now. You can kind of fan that and rise up out of the ashes into something more boys than you ever were before. Right.
• 04:18Totally. Um, so let's let them give some background, right, who is Arizona bell
• 04:26Yeah, are you
• 04:27Doing here. Um, you know, give us the lowdown
• Spirit Guides04:30That's literally what I've been asking myself all year. Who am I, why am I here. No, you know, I
• 04:37I would have said, you know, for most of my life. Arizona bell is a writer, like, that was my identity that's that's who I showed up as and then a little, little bit over five years ago, about five and a half years ago.
• 04:50My mother passed away. She was my best friend.
• 04:53She was 59 when she passed away. I was 30 so that's pretty young, relatively speaking for both of us. And we were very, very close in it. It ripped my world apart. And that was my burned down moment and
• 05:05And eventually became my Phoenix moment, and it gave me, like I said, the fire under my butt to really step into my full
• 05:14Purpose and alignment, whereas before I was just sort of dabbling, you know, I was like dabbling one foot into my spiritual purpose and the other into really messing around, and not really committing to anything and
• 05:27You know, just that kind of stuff. And so, you know, after my mom passed. I did the grieving thing for her, you know, I'm still doing the grieving thing, but I did that pretty hardcore. And then I woke up one day and I said okay like
• 05:39I'm going to do this, I'm going to do what Spirit wants me to do. So I basically surrendered to that to spirit to source to God to divine energy, whatever you want to call it. I said, All right, listen.
• 05:52I get that I'm here for a reason. Show me what that reason is. Bring it to me every day and I'll do it. So you know I stepped into service mode. Basically, which I wasn't able to do before I hit rock bottom. And with that.
• 06:05Came the starting of my company, which originally. Like I said, my background.
• 06:09Background was in writing. So I started a little digital magazine called spirit guides magazine, because I
• 06:15I was young, relatively young in the spiritual world and I saw that there was a huge void of spirituality being targeted to younger generations and therefore there's a huge disconnect because
• 06:26People my age millennials and younger weren't really connecting with
• 06:31The kinds of websites and graphics and conferences and kind of that that were sort of felt a little bit outdated, but we were hungering for spiritual knowledge so that was kind of the reason I started it.
• 06:42And that little Instagram magazine has now evolved to a media company we're called spirit guides media and within it. We have podcasts. We're starting a radio station books.
• 06:54Everything courses and thrown a festival with my good friend from conscious living PR Mona. So we just got everything going on. So that's kind of a hope I answered the question. I don't, I don't know how to fully say who I am or why I'm here. But that's a star, I guess.
• brandon handley07:09Sure how that that it's a lot for us to work with. Right. So, that is how you and I connected we connected through Mona, Lauren, who was one of the first guest on this podcast.
• 07:20And you know so super glad that we were able to get connected through her
• 07:25Checked out spirit. Guys, you've got a lot going on there. Looks like it's kind of a community right of built up around spirituality and. Is that what the intention is just kind of a community for, like, you know, will say for a younger generation. Is that what you're saying.
• Spirit Guides07:43You know, absolutely. The intention was to build a spiritual community. And even though we are gearing towards gearing it more towards
• 07:52Visually towards younger people. I mean, spirituality is for everybody. So I have people across the board, you know, but we did. We did kind of dominate that you know
• 08:0318 to 34 demographic. I mean, that's, that is what our demographic is. And of course there's outliers and the young at heart, and all that. But we did want to make it fresh and hip, you know, and that that was an intention and definitely
• 08:17The spiritual community aspect of because for me. My personal story is, I was the lone wolf on the spiritual path. I didn't have, you know, I wasn't raised religious I didn't have a spiritual community, as in the spiritual closet, to be frank, so
• 08:30I did this year I did the spirituality thing by myself. And so I really did want to create a community.
• 08:37For those that might be feeling the same way. And luckily, with the world that we're living in with technology. It's easier to do that, you know, like we're doing this on zoom right now and and so I'm able to hold courses and
• 08:49workshops and the festival, even now online and as membership community, so it's it's all able to be done online and it's it's absolutely to have a spiritual community in such a weird time
• brandon handley09:03And there's no no better time for us so funny you mentioned your demographics, because you're pulling off is right where I started on my demographics. Right.
• 09:12Right on. And that's and that's simply because I speak to my generation, right. So you're speaking to your generation, you know the language you know on the spiritual connection.
• 09:21From that perspective. Right. And that's not to say, like you said, there's gonna be there's gonna be people. There's going to be the outliers that you attract but like you're able really well able to speak to that specific group.
• Spirit Guides09:33Right but but it ends there because I don't do Tick tock. So I don't know.
• 09:37I don't know how much younger. I can get that
• brandon handley09:40Tick tock. Tick tock. Some is
• Spirit Guides09:43For sure.
• brandon handley09:44Somebody platforms right I'm and I'm doing I'm doing what I do.
• 09:49Exactly.
• 09:50So, so I get it, I get it.
• 09:53When you know I want to give also this kind of premise of what you were into before you got into the spiritual realm, who and what type of content. Were you writing before you got in the conscious
• 10:08Conscious right
• Spirit Guides10:09Sure. You know, I think, well, I was doing a couple things. There was what I was doing for work. I was very fortunate to get paid to be a writer. I know a lot of people in the writing world.
• 10:21seek that out. And what that I was writing for what pays. I was writing for medical journals and medical magazines and medical medical medical I was writing for universities, things like that.
• 10:34But the big bucks were in the medical field. I was the editorial director at a magazine for physicians and an assistant assistant editor at a magazine an international magazine for doctors and dentists so
• 10:49And, you know, with my mom passing away, she had cancer. So I was all up in the medical industry going through it with her and I just found myself writing things that I didn't agree with. And so, it hit me.
• 11:01For a while, I mean, I don't want to get to the specifics, but
• 11:06Yeah, just
• 11:09Just the sick, I would call the sickness industry of the of the medical industry and just a lot of things that there were ignoring about actually keeping people healthy and I had to start to believe that maybe there was a an ulterior motive to keep people sick.
• 11:26So I and I was publishing stuff like that, you know, and that's all up for a matter of opinion, but from what I saw firsthand.
• 11:35In the medical world with my mom and the unfairness. I will call it of that world I it wasn't jiving for me on a soul level to be writing those things anymore. So there was a there was a pick on my soul that was like, ding, ding, ding, like, hey, you can't
• 11:49This doesn't feel right and you care about integrity. Don't forget that you care about integrity. Now, on, on the flip side, in my own personal selves. I was always drawn towards I guess soul centered content.
• 12:03I called it love I called it like I was thinking more romantic love than spiritual, but I, I was always wanting to write about love and like
• 12:11That kind of stuff. And like relationships and things like that, but um I so I was doing that on the side as well. I was writing for literary magazines and things like that.
• brandon handley12:21That's fun. That's fun. But I'll tell you what I can. I know what you're talking about with that little prick in the soul resonates with me real hard. I was in the insurance industry.
• 12:32For a little bit. Right. And I was like, well, you know, you would you do demographics and you would do.
• 12:40Do a risk assessment on the group as a whole. Right. And there's a sick person or two in there.
• 12:45You're rich got jacked up with this doesn't make much sense you know these people need the insurance. We're going to raise the rates on them because they need it because they are sick because they are going to use it.
• 12:53Or industry codes right same thing happens with industry codes. If they're in of, you know, riskier business type
• 13:00Their insurance rates are going to go up because they've got the they're going to get the most well this person's gone in here. So we're gonna have to race, the race to cover that. So, um, I left, I left.
• 13:10For very same thing. I was like, for a couple reasons. Actually, one was because of that soul prick right to was because and nothing wrong with people getting off on work every day you know into an office, but I couldn't stand it. I was in my 20s and watching people that were zombies.
• 13:27Right. What are these these these a tweet covered offices, you know, walk right. I was like, I was like, if this is gonna be my toys.
• Spirit Guides13:35Yep. Oh, I completely relate to that. Yeah. I mean, look at me, I'm like,
• 13:40There's no way I can sit in an office. I mean,
• 13:42I gave it my go you know I gave it my best go but somehow every job i got i ended up
• 13:48And again, I told you this before. My mom was German. So I was raised with good work ethic. I know how to work hard and so I'd like work hard, prove myself, and then I'd be like, Listen, I gotta start working from home like this isn't working for me.
• 13:59You know, and somehow I always talk them into it. I guess that's a skill I have but
• 14:04But yeah, I wasn't meant for that either. I totally hear what you're saying and you know that that unfairness. As I said in that you as you just so eloquently described in the insurance industry. It goes, it goes in every, you know, it's like in the banking industry like
• brandon handley14:17Somebody who
• Spirit Guides14:17More like living paycheck to paycheck has to pay the fee to like have a bank account and then you know somebody who has loads of money doesn't have to pay a fee doesn't make sense that
• brandon handley14:28You know, you know it does. In the end, right, like, but you know we're not going to get into it. Right.
• 14:34But it's like, Come on, man. Um, so, so you're writing for like medical journals and all this other stuff. You have this kind of bent
• 14:45You go through this and they jump into the spirituality, his face. I want to want to share with kind of
• 14:51Peoples. And what was it like for you to begin to lead with spirituality. After what you've been doing your entire life and the Jeff overcoming fears deal with anybody was like, What are you thinking that type of thing.
• Spirit Guides15:05Oh, big time. Yeah. As far as overcoming fears. So I'll just say a couple things I had the idea for spirit guides
• 15:14In my head tagline AND EVERYTHING FOR YEARS. YEARS. YEARS. YEARS BEFORE. My mom passed away years I knew I wanted to do it and not even that I wanted to. It was like it was just implanted in my mind my spirits like you're gonna you're going to need to do this.
• 15:28And I started to get worried when the because i'm a i'm an idea person. So I get lots of ideas. I was starting to get worried when the idea didn't go away because
• 15:35It doesn't go away. Dang, it's meant for you, you know,
• brandon handley15:38So,
• Spirit Guides15:39But I was too scared I was making pretty good money to be creative, you know, who am I to do this. And also, like I mentioned, I'm in the spiritual closet. Okay, I'm a party girl.
• 15:50On one on one hand, and then I'm a spiritual girl when I go home like it. I did not have spiritual friends. You know what I'm saying.
• 15:58So there's a lot of fears to overcome. But again, when I got that asked my ass kicked by grief and loss and seeing death firsthand. It was like, all right, you got to live your life and you got to do this. So I basically like
• 16:13I just kind of like came out of the closet and like didn't like I didn't even make a thing of it like I just was like one day I owned a spiritual media company.
• 16:22And, you know, some people were like, what are you getting up to these days, you know, but it was it was a leap that I took private privately and probably shocked. Some people when I did it, but I didn't want to go around having to explain myself to a bunch of people so
• brandon handley16:37That makes a lot of sense. Um, and you're a lot of different types of coaching business Christians question spiritual around to like you know don't have to go share your ideas with others. I'm just go do it right again. Good.
• 16:51And that was
• Spirit Guides16:51That was what I chose to do in that moment, because it honestly it made the most sense.
• brandon handley16:56Of it and then so
• 16:59You start, you know, I don't know how somebody just goes to earning a
• 17:04media company, right. So what was that process like did you have to get investors or she is fired off like
• 17:10On to the Instagram bit or did you find some people to back you, that type of thing.
• Spirit Guides17:15Now it was completely driven by spirit. And again, I was in surrender mode by that point. So I was like,
• 17:22I had an arrangement with spirit is like if you want me to do it. You got to bring it to me because I'm not going to go around.
• 17:28Chasing after all this stuff. So I'm very fortunate that my brother and business partner is a tech developer. So I had that
• 17:37And I basically called up one of my friends who was a another co founder who became another co founder with us, who I knew was into spirituality and could handle you know some of the things like social media all this stuff. And we just got together as a trio and and literally it was
• 17:54You know, like guerrilla style startup and
• 17:58And now the third party left, and it's just me and my brother and we're still we're still running it in that way. And I like that way. I mean, I wish I could sit here and tell you that I had some
• 18:08Big plan, you know, I, my German mom would have wanted me to have a better laid out plan. But I went with it. You know, I just, we just started on Instagram and started hyping it up because that's where all the kids were and we were trying to, you know,
• 18:24That's where the kids Billy says where they used to hang out with. So that's where we were talking to, at that time, and
• 18:30We started to get a following. And then we just launched and and honestly all all I had in mind was to launch a digital magazine.
• 18:39And because I was a writer. That's all I wanted. You know, and I eventually wanted to write books and stuff. But from that is like all this stuff because I made that arrangement with spirit.
• 18:48Now I'm like podcast Aston radio station and festival. All these things were like, not my ideas are now they've overrun the thing. So now it's like it's got a mind of its own.
• brandon handley19:00Reminds me of the Michael singer. Yeah, sort of experiment right um
• 19:07So talk about what is surrender.
• Spirit Guides19:11What is surrender mode. Well, I think there's two kinds of surrender mode. There's a surrender mode where we think we're surrendering
• 19:19Where we say we're surrendering which was me a lot. I mean, I was
• 19:23I've always been drawn towards spiritual and esoteric stuff so I knew I was writing before my mom that I was writing you know happiness is surrender. That's where you find happiness, but I wasn't doing it.
• 19:34I wasn't doing it fully. And I only realized that when I did it fully in that was when I had to when I had to fall to my knees.
• 19:43Because there was nothing else there and, you know, Marianne Williamson, I'm probably going to butcher the, quote, but she says something along the lines of
• 19:51There's a certain desperation that's required before you're ready to face God and something like that. And that's how I felt. And so to me, that is surrender mode where it's
• 20:02I am here to serve.
• 20:05Your like basically I'm using my free will to serve your will spirit.
• 20:12So it's
• 20:13To me, that's true. Surrender mode, not just like, Oh, it's okay. Let it go. That bad thing, you know, but actually surrendering to a will, that's greater than your own that's greater than your own ego as well and showing up for it every day reliably
• brandon handley20:29How do you show up for every day, right, like so. I get it. I love this. I love that. I love the idea of
• 20:36You know surrender. And it's really kind of how we started the podcast right now less fear talk through you to the listener. Right. And then that Phoenix between now and then there's a. It's kind of like the let go and let God right
• 20:50Right.
• brandon handley20:51But to actually, you know, to say it's one thing
• Spirit Guides20:54How to do it.
• brandon handley20:55How to do it without freaking out, man. Right, without freaking out because
• Spirit Guides21:00I never said I didn't freak out.
• brandon handley21:03I love it. So, um,
• Spirit Guides21:04But I will say this, I will say this. I mean I I wake up every morning and I meditate and I pray, basically I do that combo and and part of my prayer in my meditation is to say
• 21:19You know, use me how you want to use me today.
• 21:22And so that's a way for me that's like a action point for me every morning to state my intention which matters a lot that I'm here to be used for spirits will basically. And so whatever shows up for me that day.
• 21:38I'm going to do it.
• brandon handley21:40Yeah assessments. Nice. Right. Um, and then the other part two is
• 21:50Just the idea that these things keep opening up for you. And I mentioned kind of the surrender experiment from
• 21:56Michael singer. And the reason I mention it because once you kind of open yourself up to it to be used to be used in service through this universal power.
• 22:05And I love how you said you know I'm not going for it. It's going to have to come to me right
• 22:11You said you know what you want. This is what I want. But you know what, I surrender for you to show me the way type of thing, you know, talk a little bit about that because I think that that's
• 22:21That's very important. Right. I'm a big fan of the idea is like its first of all, most people won't like you said, you know what you want it right you know what you want to do you want to be a writer.
• 22:31You wanted to start this media company and dig into it, but you didn't know how, but now you got it. Is it fair to say
• Spirit Guides22:39Yeah, definitely.
• brandon handley22:40And so this is the point that I'm trying to drive home is that you don't have to know how, but you do have to make the decision that that's what you want a life and that's what I feel like you've done
• Spirit Guides22:51Right. But I agree with you. You don't have to know how I am living proof of that. You do have to know what what I will say is that asked
• 23:00For what, when I sit in prayer and meditation every day. I mean, I feel like that's a crucial point
• 23:07Because we're
• 23:09I had to. I had to. I didn't know that I always wanted to be a writer because I have that God given skill.
• 23:16You know, so that's a, that's a natural way for me to go but
• 23:22I didn't know. I didn't even know what necessarily either. I had to listen in meditation, like I didn't know that I was going to start a media company.
• 23:30Or a you know that I was gonna, I didn't even know was going to do a podcast. I didn't know the podcast was going to turn into a an internet radio station. I've got those downloads and meditation and prayer. You know what I'm saying.
• 23:42So, but, and I will, I will circle back to the one thing that I did know is I knew I wanted to be a writer, and I knew that starting this digital magazine basically
• 23:53would grant, grant me a following. And I knew that in the publishing world today because I had been told this by writers by published writers that you have to have a following to even get looked at basically
• 24:04Well, and the magic numbers like 10,000, you know. So what we hit 10,000 and then it just kept expanding and expanding and expanding and I was so damn busy. Next thing you know, we're at 50,000 followers and I'm saying to spirit, listen.
• 24:20I still haven't written the book actually haven't even written
• 24:23So I'm not going to go around chasing a book deal if you want me to write a book you bring it to me. Now that sounds absurd.
• 24:29But three months later I had an email in my inbox, saying, hey, we have this book. It's already sold to this major publisher and we think you're great to write it, do you, what do you think
• brandon handley24:40So they have the concept of the book.
• 24:42Yeah works on a writer and they needed a writer.
• 24:45And you read it. Yeah.
• Spirit Guides24:47And that's the thing these days, they already sell the concept of books, but you know now that sets me up to write the book that I want to write to write the books that I really want to write, you know what I'm saying. So
• 24:56It's a pause for a second, though, because you know
• brandon handley25:00There's also the again.
• 25:04There's, there's the idea of, you know, feeling a little bit of a law of attraction space, making the demand was fear, right, or like the idea of you asking it is given and just let it come to you.
• 25:17Right right hand to me right if I'm coming from a law of attraction space. I'm like, Hey, I'm here, how to end up here. You're living example of this right and or of
• 25:28Trusting the universe is another right as like your benefactor, you're like hey universe. This is what I like. You can just go ahead and have that show up. I'm not going to go chasing it
• 25:40But then it shows up, and you're like, Well, what's next.
• Spirit Guides25:43Right. And that, that means that means it's for you because you you can go out there and say hey universe. This is what I want.
• 25:52I'm not going to chase it bring it to me and you're not, you might not get it.
• 25:57Because it's not meant for you.
• brandon handley25:58And that's great too. Right. Like I make the lines of, you know, if I would have had a lot of money. When I was younger, or like an open like have liked it. Like, I felt like I wanted, I probably would have died.
• 26:11Like, I mean, right, it would have been a bad. So the universe is like no
• 26:16No, no bad idea, right, you're not ready for that. Sorry.
• 26:20Yeah, and or we don't want you right now, right, you've got more things to do. And that's, that's another thing that I kind of look at this as like if you made it this far in your life and like you're
• 26:28Still kind of wandering around. I like you know for the for the person that is
• 26:33So meaningful life, you know, perhaps there is and you know you guys start figuring that out because there's no reason for you still be here.
• 26:40One 400 what a trillion to be born and make it through like not get hit by a car or a bus eaten all that crazy crappy thing that G and just in some of whatever we know what you're doing out there. Right. But you've lived
• 26:52And and and and so you've got a purpose and to live it. So one of the purposes that you found is by going through, you know, kind of hitting this rock bottom right, I want to just
• 27:03dive off dependency the grief coach and afterlife expert aspect of it because we haven't yet. Um, let's talk about how you ends up even there.
• Spirit Guides27:12Sure. I mean, it's kind of a wild story, um,
• 27:17Because I, I didn't want to end up there that wasn't I joke. I never thought in my life. I want to be a grief and afterlife expert.
• 27:26Can can promise you that. But, you know, after my mom passed away. And after I did the really hardcore grieving for for a while.
• 27:36I just, I think, you know, I had already started spirit guides and I was like, you know,
• 27:41Like, I want to go train to be a grief coach and it just kind of came to me and I was like, all right, I'll start looking into programs and I did and I found one. And I went and I liked it and i and i just got trained. You know, I just did it, but
• 27:55But, and I wasn't even
• 27:57I didn't even know what I was going to do with it. I just felt intuitively intuitively nudge there. So I did it. And then shortly very shortly after I had a medium ship reading
• 28:09And the medium. Then in the middle, in the middle of it. She's like, and she's a very, very, I had to wait a year to get a meeting with her. She's a very, very popular medium and
• 28:23In the middle of that she's like, What are you doing, I need to
• 28:27And she's like, I'm so I'm not gonna take up your time of your reading. But after this. I need to talk to you what you're doing. Like my spirit guides are telling me I need to talk to you.
• 28:34So we end up having a chat and she's like, Oh, I told her about spirit guides, like I've been trying to reach younger people, and she's like you and then a week later I got an email from her. And she said, I want to invite you to be to speak at this afterlife conference.
• 28:49And I was like,
• 28:51I'm not
• 28:54Know that, like, I'm not qualified to be here and she wrote back, I'll never forget it. And she's like, Arizona, my dear, I have been told that you are going to be a very profound afterlife researcher and you need to be at this event. And I was like, what
• 29:07So I went to this event to and I sat on a panel talking about spirituality, like in younger generations and my mind blew way open because I didn't know much about the afterlife, other than
• 29:21My mom had died. I hope she was still alive and I went to a medium to find out, you know,
• 29:26So I guess the, the, that's the long answer. The short answer is, like, Spirit just drove me there and And ever since that first conference, it was just so obvious that that's what I was going to be doing that I had a place in that world for whatever reason.
• brandon handley29:43So along with being a CEO media company you're also doing like this grief coach. Is that right,
• Spirit Guides29:51Yeah, you know, and you know, I hadn't dove into the coaching part as much as I wanted to. Originally, just because I have been so busy now with
• 30:03And and people grieving everything because grief, you know, grief, there's a misconception. That's grief, just for
• 30:11a loved one who's passed away grief is for any change dramatic change in your world, which we are collectively experiencing like all of the changes right now, so I am
• 30:24Drawing more back into that coaching aspect and I'm starting to get some things lined up in that way because I think it's so important and and I've been basically advised by all of my spiritual advisors that that's something that I need to get going on right now too, so
• brandon handley30:40I love it. Right. So just a little bit about what it means right to
• 30:45Examine death and use this kind of as a catalyst to live our riches, the most meaningful lives.
• Spirit Guides30:53Sure. So what people don't know is that there's so much afterlife research out there.
• 30:59It's not mainstream so we don't hear about it or you know it's not it's doesn't get MAJOR FUNDING so we don't hear about it, but there's so much independent afterlife research outfit out there and there's so much documentation that to me proves that consciousness exists beyond
• 31:18beyond physical death right i totally spaced out your question, though. I'm gonna go go off on a tangent
• 31:24Oh,
• Spirit Guides31:27I get into my afterlife brain. And I'm like, Okay.
• brandon handley31:30So before I let you go into the next piece of what would it so somebody wants to go buy some information for themselves in the afterlife research. Where's the first place that you would direct them.
• Spirit Guides31:43So there's an. There's an organization called the afterlife. Research and Education Institute AR e AI and they are great starting off point.
• 31:53I feel bad because I didn't fully answer your last question, but my mind.
• brandon handley31:56Told me
• Spirit Guides31:58But, uh, anyway. So that's a great place to start off at
• 32:02And they, you know, they are doing research, their funding researchers, all kinds of stuff and and they're just signing up on their newsletter. There's also
• 32:11There's a newsletter that is run by a couple in Australia. That's really famous. It's called the Friday afterlife report and every Friday, they send out a newsletter of all this afterlife research that's either
• 32:23From the past or that's come up in the past week there's tons of it out there. So those are the two places I would start the afterlife report. It's with Victor and Wendy's dammit, and then AR e AI afterlife. Research and Education Institute or
• brandon handley32:38So the question we had was, um, how's examining death. And what happened was the absolute best way to move on.
• Spirit Guides32:48So, yes, yes, yes, yes. See, now that's a very important question. That's why I was having a hard time letting it go. Um, it's so important because of all the research that's out there, which is what I was getting into.
• 33:02It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt in my mind, from what I've seen. And what I've learned and what I've experienced and what I've researched that
• 33:10our physical bodies dies die, but our souls. Do not that we continue to live in the afterlife. Okay, so with that being said, the information that our loved ones that spirit guides
• 33:23That
• Spirit Guides33:25That arc angels, all of these beings and entities that are in on the other side, the information that can be channeled through them is so vital.
• 33:37To how we live our best lives. So it's, it's an interesting paradox because we don't tend to think about death or the afterlife until we're faced with it because we're so busy thinking about life and
• 33:47How we can live our best lives, but from what I've learned is that we can learn a lot about living our best lives from that wisdom that comes through the other side.
• 34:00And it's a shame that people I feel it's a shame that people my age don't get to do that very often because I'm the youngest one at these events. Okay, like
• 34:09I still don't know many people that have lost their primary you know parent or something like that, that in my age group, and my peer group so they feel like they are
• 34:19getting robbed of that wisdom because they're not going to go looking into the death or the afterlife. So I do kind of feel like
• 34:26It's my job to sort of bridge that gap because there's so much knowledge about how we can best live our lives that comes from looking at those more taboo topics.
• brandon handley34:37You know what's funny to me is just this morning I was listening to a song, ya know which one I listened to so many um I got a Swami the chain. I'm the
• 34:49But the idea is that, like, there's one in 1000 that's capable of kind of taking this information right that the what you got. Right, so
• 35:00You're kind of the light is lighting all those around you, as it were, with what you do. So I think that that's kind of the challenge, no matter what age group is
• 35:09Right when you when you kind of stumble across this you know it's like you're saying you're like everybody needs to know that you can live this magnificent way. Let's follow me. We're gonna sneak in and and
• 35:20Rightfully nobody's like I was like, no.
• 35:23Um, but what I want to hit on though is that, you know, when you experienced this grief when you experienced though your mother's passing
• 35:36I guess like ripping the veil right between you and the spirit world and
• 35:42Would you, would you explain it like that. Would you describe it like that. And would you
• 35:47Would you describe your experience with trying to share this information with other people is being challenging and not being able to accept it.
• Spirit Guides35:56Um,
• 35:59Yeah there it was totally an unveiling will say brought me so much closer. I mean, it was even the night, my mom passed away I her apparition came to me and I was awake, like, and she came and hugged me so the veil yeah it thinned an immensely immediately.
• 36:20Has the information been hard for me to get out and for people to accept.
• 36:27I want the answer to be that it's been really difficult. Like for dramatic effect, but it hasn't it hasn't. And I think that's because
• 36:37I'm attracting the people that want it. I'm not, I'm not trying to go out there and be a missionary or
• 36:44Or an evangelical about anything, you know, and I have zero religious ties or affiliation, which is interesting with afterlife. I mean, every, every
• 36:53Every serious spiritual or I'm sorry, every spirit serious religion has believed in the afterlife and has after life.
• 37:01Philosophy and I think that, you know, obviously, a lot of people thrown out religion in their lives. And I think that was kind of like we threw the baby out with the bathwater, kind of thing.
• 37:10So I'm not, I'm not attached to any religion or anything like that. So I don't think that I come off as missionary. I just think I, I tried to share my authentic experience and people who are looking for.
• 37:23Some answers to their own grief. They find me and it's so far the. The result has been one of comforting for them, rather than
• 37:34You know, combative or I don't believe what you're saying. So I maybe I'm fortunate in that but you know it hasn't it hasn't been too difficult. It's actually been very rewarding. I think
• brandon handley37:44I can see that, especially online. What about a person
• Spirit Guides37:48Well in person. It's like I'm
• 37:49Preaching the choir, you know, I'm going to
• 37:52But I will say this, I will say, even in my because I told you about my history as a, you know, being in the spiritual closet and everything, even the people in my life who like my family who's known me forever and
• 38:02You know weren't into these things at all. They just by osmosis have
• 38:07By coming to my events by hearing my podcast, things like that. And now they're there, you know, exploring their own stuff and their own afterlife. And now they've
• 38:16Had certain people passed away and they're reaching out to mediums and investigating like oh yeah I remember Arizona said this, so let me invest it on my own. So it's kind of like planting the seeds, you know,
• brandon handley38:27Not 100% i think that what you've done is, is by your by leading by example you've given them permission. Right.
• 38:33Yeah, showing them that you can step into the space without going on claims.
• 38:39Right, right. That is a good that it can be a good thing. Um, I like that you kind of touched on, you know, kind of these religions and throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and
• 38:51As far as I can tell right religions are kind of like this.
• 38:56Again, just like one of the thousands going to kind of understand this information right and then my kind of wants to do this just the whole
• 39:03You know, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear right and then does you like Panda hated that lines real
• 39:11Quick. Um, but the thing. And I think that's the attraction of some of the Eastern philosophies right because they've been so the console like
• 39:19Christianity bad, you know, the pope did this and you know those priests did that and all these things so that like they just won't accept it, even though, like the exact same thing as being in 99% of the same
• 39:30thing over here and like these Eastern religions and they're all if you got a contract is out, man. Look what I found, like
• 39:36You know, so I think that it really gives us people the opportunity to framework right for for their space.
• 39:43And for everybody else is kind of rejected if there's people like yourself, and I don't like, well, there's this other space. We can hang out into what's been said and all these other places, but you just want to have this different same conversation. Let's do it.
• 39:54Right, right, right. Um,
• 39:56Let's talk about
• 39:57The fest coming up. So this is podcast, I'm probably you know this weekend, which will I know the dates are like 928 or something like that.
• 40:09But you know what's the festival. Let's talk about what you got a
• Spirit Guides40:12Spiritual
• brandon handley40:13On 2020
• Spirit Guides40:14Cool. Yeah. So it's the conscious spirit fest. It's a collaboration between myself.
• 40:20And my company spirit guides media and Mona Loring and her company conscious living PR and so it's conscious spirit fest. It's on October 10 or no, it's not. It's on October 18 I was thinking 10 for October is on October 18 2020
• 40:36It's a Sunday, and it's basically it's an all day online virtual festival, because that's what we're doing now virtual all day long and
• 40:45We're so excited about it. We basically curated the event that we wanted to have right now.
• 40:51You know we are lonely and isolated and we do need spiritual community, one way or another right now. And so we wanted to build something for people to
• 41:02Unite and people who who are want to focus on Unity right now in this crazy polarized role. And so we've. We have everything from yoga in the morning to guided meditations to sound healing to breath work. And then we have amazing speakers that are talking about everything from
• 41:21How to deal with this pandemic burnout to energy protection for light workers, we're going to have a medium come and do live medium ship readings and we our keynote speaker is column Adele, who's an astrologer, and he's going to be talking about
• 41:38You know the astrology coming up, you know, for 20 2021 and all that. And in astrology in these uncertain times and what what what we might have to look forward to, you know, the good, the bad, and the ugly or whatever.
• 41:51So, so, yeah. It's basically a day for everybody to come together and do all things mystical and create a spiritual community and
• 41:58And hang out together. So we're really, really excited about it.
• brandon handley42:02Now this sounds exciting. Like I said, you know, I think I saw Mona's paying off on Instagram. I saw start following it, and it seems like you know
• 42:10I love what you guys are putting together their talk to me a little bit about the astrologer, I think he's got like a little bit of a baton. What's his What's his
• Spirit Guides42:17So called Collins handle on Instagram is queer cosmos. And so he has he's he's and he is
• 42:24He's an amazing gay man and he started doing astrology for the queer community and which is was novel at the time, you know, and but more than that. I mean, he is
• 42:35He's one of my favorite guests have on my podcast. I'll say that right now. He's so enjoyable. He's brilliant. I mean IQ off the charts and he's he's so fun. So anytime that he's around. It's a good time. And I definitely recommend following him on Instagram at clear cosmos. He's great.
• brandon handley42:55So yeah, I remember that you're seeing them and chocolate.
• 42:59Yeah.
• brandon handley43:00Funny Guy when I grew up. I grew up, like in the gay community, you know, was out in San Francisco, San Francisco in the 80s right and and the one thing that happened out there was like my mom was an altercation with
• 43:16Her significant other, at the time, and he ended up by children and stuff. And so I ran across it, you know, the neighborhood and got these guys on the bed and they came. I can't rescue my mom so
• 43:28Oh wow, for the rest of my life, you know, gay guys have a
• 43:30Have a soft spot in my heart. Right. And it's just been in that community. It's, it's fun, right. Like, I mean,
• Spirit Guides43:36Oh, there's no doubt about that.
• brandon handley43:37So it's always a good time.
• 43:39See on
• 43:40Where, you know, should I send people to come check out more actually know what before I do that,
• 43:45I've done this for a minute, just because you know so the idea to have spiritual though.
• 43:48Is that you get this kind of you for high thru spirituality. Right. And that's like on the on the take us a spiritual dope is about that and then like
• 43:58You know, what's your spiritual hit right like and it talks about meditation, but when you when you're connected to source where, what does that look like
• Spirit Guides44:08Whoo. Yeah, there's, there's two for me. So definitely meditation. I'm a avid meditation or
• 44:15But their original Oh gee, writing, man. That's my space. That's my timelessness, that's the
• 44:20One place where I don't care if I haven't eaten and that's saying a lot. I love to eat. You know what I'm saying. Like that's that's the time where time flies and I just
• 44:30I'm in so much joy and I'm so inspired. I'm in spirit. You know that's that's where it is for me is when I'm writing. And so this man I'm preaching to myself right now. I got to clear it more time in my schedule to do it.
• 44:43But yeah, that's my spiritual dope for sure is is being in that creative zone.
• 44:50I love that question.
• brandon handley44:52Thank you. So the idea that too is like i mean i would i would i would say that
• 45:00You know, create you are creators right
• 45:03Yeah. And then when you surrender to that creativity. That's
• 45:08within you, right, that is source flowing through you. Is that fair to say
• Spirit Guides45:13Oh yeah 100%. I mean, we would we call God the Creator. And if you look at metaphysical principles as above, so below. We are here to create
• 45:26You know, and that's why that nine to five working somebody else's dream and fluorescent lit room didn't work for me because I felt that called to be creative. I felt, what am I doing here, if I'm not creating
• brandon handley45:37Something
• Spirit Guides45:38And now you can be creative, creative doesn't mean writing or painting all the time, creative can mean coming up with a scientific cure for cancer or whatever, you know, using your creative brain. You're in passionate about it. And so I absolutely agree with you.
• brandon handley45:52I love that you hit on life because
• 45:55People don't always recognize that they feel like creativity has to be writing painting singing, dancing.
• Spirit Guides46:02Brain, the arts.
• brandon handley46:03The classical arts
• 46:05Yeah, right. But
• 46:08And I know as somebody one day.
• 46:11You just got it. What is it that you'd like to create and I'm like, Well, I'm not very creative like
• 46:14You know you're raising kids are doing this that the other than your training things right, you're making moments, you're creating moments I mean creativity is more than, you know, put a pretty picture right so I love that you hit on that. Thanks for hanging on that.
• 46:29Yeah, what type of meditation do you do it, you
• Spirit Guides46:34Got just you didn't do not asked me that question.
• 46:37I am I am not.
• 46:39Trained in meditation at all. I'm self taught and
• 46:44For whatever reason, I'm pretty good at it. I just I lay down you can see my bed back there. I lay down horizontally. I don't sit in lotus position or anything I lay down on my bed.
• 46:54I play some Native American flute music and I go in
• 46:57Los
• brandon handley46:59That's great to write in terms of meditation or a feeling it's got to be done a certain way or like, yeah, I did a really shitty meditation this morning.
• Spirit Guides47:09I i think
• 47:11I think I you know it's the keep it simple, stupid like that's that's been my philosophy for
• 47:17My spiritual path and it's what's worked out for me. Like I and I you know in my company I've seen it all. I promote people that do it all. I'm talking like all the all the modalities and the
• 47:29Divination tactics and all this stuff and I'm Oh gee prayer and meditation and you know we all just got to do what works for us.
• brandon handley47:38To so they
• 47:40Just show us what your prayer. Looks like I always say this because I think of this Norman Vincent feel kind of skip
• 47:49It's not as good. It's like when he's doing his own in power positive thinking thing.
• 47:53And talks about this lady testing because you when you pray you don't like out there like a beggar.
• 47:59You know, you're like oh please give me all these things would you like you demand you know much very somewhere, come what you're talking about, like,
• 48:07I'm not going after it. It's got to come to me like these are things I want you know. So what's your, what's your prayer look like. Just out of curiosity,
• Spirit Guides48:13Yeah, I mean it's it. That is a good point it start, the only it starts always with gratitude.
• 48:20Always with gratitude and and then I do go into my demands. I do feeling that I've, I've had the shift from beggar to
• 48:30You know, this is, this is what I this is what is going to be brought to me and I, and I've learned that over time through spiritual mentors, saying, you know, you
• 48:38This is yours for the taking. You can you demand that so I start with gratitude and and I pray for you know what I need. In most of the time that's to take away my
• 48:50Worries and stresses and concerns because that's the only thing in my way. So I do pray for that to be taken and I pray for the people that I love and I pray that
• 49:02You know that love walks before me wherever I go. And then I pray to be used, how spirit needs me. And then I say, thank you.
• 49:11Yeah.
• brandon handley49:12Um, this will be like my last question.
• 49:17So when you. I like the idea of writing when you write
• 49:24With a pen in hand right or doesn't have to be. But I feel like that's what I'm most connected. I like to call it cosmic record player. This is my cosmic needle right
• 49:36You know, do you have a preference of writing by hand or typing.
• Spirit Guides49:41I'm
• 49:43I'm right differently. I write, I write both ways. And I write for different reasons I I write. I typically write
• 49:52Pen in Hand in my journal when I'm writing for myself and nobody else if that makes sense. And for my own clarity and my own as you say connection.
• 50:03But it's all about the computer for everything else.
• 50:07My hand hurts too much.
• brandon handley50:10Out of out of curiosity, right, like yourself. Once
• Spirit Guides50:13I do agree with you though there's there's different
• 50:16A whole different vibe. When you got the pen in your hand. Right, right.
• brandon handley50:20Now, and look, I mean, it takes a lot to to write Tom by paper.
• 50:27Pretty fast, man.
• Spirit Guides50:28Yeah, exactly.
• brandon handley50:31Okay, so where we're gonna need to go a couple places or warm place. So we're gonna go to find you and the spirit fast.
• Spirit Guides50:39Sure, I'm okay. Ultimately, you can go to spirit guides media.com for everything that I do. And on top of the navigation.
• 50:48At spirit guides media com you will see a link that says festival and that is where you can learn more about it. You can see the lineup. The full lineup. I didn't touch on everything.
• 50:58And also purchase tickets and we are offering a sliding scale pay what you can because times are tough and that is
• 51:05I feel the responsible thing to do. So we have that offered and other than that, you can find me on instagram at spirit guides media or my personal one is at underscore Arizona bell. I think that covers everything
• brandon handley51:20No.
• 51:22Um, well, this event view digitally after the past
• Spirit Guides51:28Great question. Can't believe I forgot to say that. Absolutely. So if you are able to catch none of it live or half of it live or all of it live and want to watch it again. We will send out a replay of the entire day video. So you'll get to see it all.
• brandon handley51:43Awesome, Arizona. Thank you so much for stopping by.
• Spirit Guides51:45Thanks, Brandon. It's been a joy and a pleasure.

Great conversation with Cory Walker as we discuss being groomed for church leadership, leading a community… and leaving it all behind as his path diverted from the expectations from others.

http://www.churchbeentheredonethat.com/

Brandon Handley 0:00 54321 Hey there spirits of dope. It is Brandon Handley and today we are on with Corey Walker, who is the author of boiling down your religion without watering down your faith. Cory spent about 20 years being a minister correct me if I'm wrong anywhere in here this but a minister in an Pentecostal, Pentecostal I don't even know how to say it right. Like I said so in a Pentecostal church and stepped out after 20 years of being in a leadership role and kind of took refuge in his own heart on my call, and the sides live just outside of the church confines and more in like I said, john Hart said about right Corey

Cory Walker 0:53 Davis some sort of modular.

Brandon Handley 0:55 So you know, Cory I always like to say that we are Are vessels of the divine right? The Creator speaks through us. Right. And and when people are turning in tuning into this podcast, they're tuning in to hear a message that is being delivered through you to them. And my question to you, as we start this thing off is what what is, what is something somebody out there needs to hear today that can only come through you?

Cory Walker 1:26 Wow, great question.

Cory Walker 1:30 Well, there's several different things. I could go here, but the long and the short of it is don't be afraid to make a change, if you feel like it, if it's following your heart. So many of us were raised that particular way. We're taught what to believe, and taught how to be taught what to think without being really taught how to think. And you if you're just believing doctrine or someone else's beliefs, and you're trying to hold to those instead of actually listening in Your heart towards the divine. And my case, God would be wanting to say to you that you could easily spend years following something that that you end up feeling like you've wasted time later on. So don't be afraid to make a change. I guess that's my, that's my off the cuff response.

Brandon Handley 2:16 Sure, sure. I love that. I mean, and you did right, you made the made this change to 20 years and I think the the line that comes to mind is you know, don't put your ladder up against the wrong wall right through and and that there's really nothing. And I think that a lot of people are afraid to kind of go chase this thing, but what you're saying is, even even after maybe climbing halfway up the ladder, maybe you've already made it all the way up to the top, but

Unknown Speaker 2:47 it's okay to make a change. It's okay to climb

Brandon Handley 2:49 back down and go climb another ladder. Is that what I'm hearing you say?

Cory Walker 2:53 Yeah, definitely, especially if the letter sounds or letters keeping more consistent, like what you're feeling in your heart. I just know. You know, it's Been a pastor for so many years, I met with so many people talk with so many other leaders who, who knew how to toe the company line. But in private, they would say, Well, what do you think about this, though, that doesn't really sit with what we believe and what we teach. But it's like they had their own private belief system outside of the public one that they were telling everyone else. And you just can't do that for extended period of time without, you know, driving yourself crazy. Because the inconsistency just couldn't live that kind of dualism. And so you try to modify what it is you teach and teach the parts of what you have what you've learned and believed over the years that still ring true with you, and leave the other parts out of the fact is the whole. The whole last two years, my ministry I never preached even one sermon from the Old Testament part of the Bible, because it seemed to communicate that there was an angry God who was demanding that you behave a certain way. And if you didn't do you're in big trouble. And that just didn't jive with the message of Jesus, which was what's taught in the New Testament to me, and I understand the theological demands sticks that people do that night to neatly tie the two together because I went to Bible college but that doesn't mean that the average Joe and common sense of really why don't we are under grace, why do I have to do and you fill in the blank whatever it is your local church is telling you you have to do in order to be a good Christian.

Brandon Handley 4:18 Sure, sure. And I think the thing is, it's a shame that Christianity's you know, kind of been fractured in so many different ways away from the the, the true meaning of the messaging right now. And what the hell do I know though? I really don't know too much. I don't I haven't been involved with too much of it. But what I do know is that when I have a conversation with you know, somebody such as yourself that you know, is really just been immersed in it and and they find Jesus or I think, what do they call it like a, you know, the Jesus consciousness, right? It's kind of like, you know, one of the things that gets tossed out there is what's in those books is kind of like truth and from the heart, but how its interpreted and spun back around is either liberal or kind of fit fitting the needs of the organization that's driving it.

Cory Walker 5:19 Now let's move on been so true. You know, parts of the specifically if you read the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and john, telling me all about the life of Christ in His, the economy of Christ, if you want to love your neighbor, pray for your enemies. Love those who persecute you go the extra mile turn the other cheek, those kind of things rang really took my heart, but the way in which the church lives out the teachings of Christ, and that's them together with with a lot of the old, old covenant Old Testament law type, you know, thou shalt nots, and just the whole organizational structure that's set up to basically support itself. I just reached a point when I realized that you Man formed these nonprofit organizations that we call churches to supposedly help the members who are the people in their spiritual walk. But somewhere along the way, the organization starts to expect the members to do what's in its best interest and spin it

Brandon Handley 6:17 around. I would like to I would like to kind of caveat it right. This has been your right. Yeah. So I mean, because there's that there's definitely got to be a couple out there. Right. They all Yeah.

Cory Walker 6:29 Yeah. I don't want to categorize across the board is my experience. Yeah, with the with eight or 10 churches that I was either attending or on staff at over the years, the older the organization, the more likely it is that the the, the principles get minimized, and the traditions get emphasized. And as a result, it's about self sustaining many times instead of about really bringing life and health to, you know, the average individual and once I realized that then I just took Couldn't, I just couldn't myself, continue to be a part of one. And I've even thought now that I'm not on staff someplace or a pastor someplace that, well, maybe I should just attend this church or that church, and I've stepped into a couple for service here there. And it just doesn't take long when you've been in leadership for a while for you to start hearing the same familiar, you know, course and tone of what it is we're supposed to do. And it was supposed to is that kind of wore me out, I think.

Brandon Handley 7:27 Yeah, no, that makes sense, right? It's kinda like all the shoulds and codes that we could be doing. Well, let's, let's roll it back here for a second. So let's tell, you know, tell anybody listening today that, you know, what type of church were you? a minister at and a leader and then what does that even mean? Right, because like I said, we talked about Pentecostals. Let's talk a little bit about what that is and what that's built on top

Cory Walker 7:54 of, if you could, sure. Yeah. Well, essentially, within Christianity you have two veins. You have Catholics Protestants. And in the Protestant vein, you have thousands, literally thousands of what we call denominations, which are different or different organizations, like Baptist or Methodist or Pentecostal, different Pentecostal denominations. But the bottom line is, each one of them has a different set of standards and rules for themselves that they believe slightly different than the other ones. And the fact is, all of them would tell you that they were originally formed because some people who were a part of some other organization said, Well, we think we got a new enlightenment or we got just a little bit better understanding. So we're going to form our own. And so I grew up in those in most of those denominations in America anyway, sit within a category called have called evangelicals, and many times, also called fundamentalists, and those are people who have a belief that there's a divinely inspired scripture, and in our case, the Bible, and that is to be literally interpreted and applied to your own life and there things in the scripture that I have discovered that just didn't seem to sit well with literally applying them to my own life as an example that were like there's a there's a passage in the Old Testament that talks about one of the prophets, I believe it was Elijah, what could have been Elijah, I was getting confused. And it says that, that these this prophet was walking in the woods and have a group of juveniles it says are teenagers came out and started teasing him because he had a bald head, he didn't have any hair. And he says that he called down a curse upon them, and a bear around out of the woods and devoured some of them and wounded the others. So this was the man of God that we're supposed to be you know, maybe patterning our lives after looking up to her as a fundamentalist your thinking was, I could get so special that it wouldn't be okay for kids to even tease me about my bald head. And if I was upset about it, I could call on a curse upon them and kind of wild animal could come and attack them. Did this didn't sit well with my concept of God or with my understanding of Christ and his philosophy of loving your enemies and things like that, but yet, fundamentalists have to weave all those stories together in the Bible and all those truths and things that are there and try to apply them to their daily lives just becomes quite a quite a conundrum.

Brandon Handley 10:22 So they're a fundamentalist, and they're applying it literally. They're, they're not using like that in any symbolic terms,

Cory Walker 10:31 or allegory. Yeah, it's one of those things. That's not really how it's taught. And most of the most of the denominations it's taught as this was an Old Covenant time where God related to man in a different way than he does now. And so things have been different back then than they do now. And that you know, kind of how we smooth it over and help people feel better about you know, the Sodom and Gomorrah and the gods flooding the earth and you know, everyone but Noah being killed There's no assembly being killed, things like that. But I remember as a, as a father of young children go into, you know, our evangelical church and just thinking, I don't want to send my kids to Sunday school because I don't want anybody to teach them some of these stories. And I don't even know, I don't know how the, I don't know how the Sunday school teachers going to teach them these stories, or they're going to teach him, you better behave, or God's gonna get really mad at you, and rain down fire and brimstone on you, you know, or turn you into a pillar of salt or whatever the other story is in the Old Testament. So, you know, fundamentalists do believe in a literal interpretation of Scripture. And therefore those things would not be allegory or symbolic things that actually happened. And God was relating to man, I personally now, I still hold great reverence for the scriptures and find a lot of truth in there. But I just see them as being written. While there's a lot of truth, they're written from a man's point of view. And man was walking in the light that he had at the time and the culture was different, and therefore, even some places like Like even one of the even one of the passages where supposedly Moses wrote the passage, it was handed down through generations of verbal, you know, communication that eventually recorded but it says right in the passage, Moses was the greatest of leaders at all times. So they're like, let's he writes about himself for Charlie aggrandized themselves? Or is this really you know, what's going on? So, it's just, you know, you just gotta understand that people are just, you know, culture was different back then. And it was recorded from man's point of view, and not necessarily, from God's words, to my ears to the pin on the paper type of inspiration.

Brandon Handley 12:37 Sure, yeah, I definitely get that I definitely get that. You know, but I got a wonder too, like, you know, so, this was also, you know, book that was compiled, you know, a library books, right, compiled, you know, way back when, and the translations over time as well. Right. And then one of the things that kind of pops up. I'm a fan of this guy, bill donohue, who, who, you know, has some pretty cool stuff on on YouTube. But he talks about, like, you know, what they were saying then could be real similar to so I'm hearing you talk about this, you know, called the curse and the bear chews them down, you know? And I'm thinking of how he would translate it and say it, it's how we would say shooting the bull. Right? What was the other meaning of you know, calling that bear down on them? Right, you know, was that the bear within the man coming out and like, kind of raging out against some of those? Those are the types of things right, it's really kind of a formula and you gotta you gotta wonder exactly, you got to really wonder and kind of play with it because I don't personally feel like this was a book that was written to instill fear so much. Higher divinity.

Cory Walker 13:51 Yeah, I think it's it was written, to help us to understand, in fact is to understand what God was like and, in fact, Jesus Himself So as you know, he comes incarnate. It's like God in the flesh to show us what God was really like. But then he goes around loving the least of these, if you will, and hanging out with people that it wasn't cool to hang out with prostitutes and tax collectors and all these people the riffraff of the day. And he really makes the religious people are really mad about it, you know, the Thera sees and the sadness is they're getting all ticked off all the time. Because Jesus not really interested in in hanging with them. He's hanging out with the least of these. So I think you see, at least from the perspective and the story of Christ that the gods are more concerned about the little guy than he is how spiritual react or you know how much we've got our ducks in a row.

Unknown Speaker 14:42 Now, fair enough, fair enough.

Brandon Handley 14:43 So, Pentecostal, what does that mean? Was it meant to mean to be a Pentecostal or Penn is a Pentecostal or Pentecost? Yeah,

Cory Walker 14:49 sir. Pentecostal. Um, yeah, essentially Pentecostalism started around 1900 and it's a form of denomination several denominations of one of Christianity, that, that believes in the teachings of the Day of Pentecost, which is found in the book of Acts in the Bible. And it talks about a variety of gifts that God gives to man's spiritual gifts. But Pentecostals focus in on one, which is called speaking in tongues, and it's one of the more controversial ones. Or if you may have heard of, you know, holy rollers or people swinging from the chandeliers or wildfire, and all this weird kind of stuff in Christianity over the years, and over the last hundred hundred years or so, it's all about Pentecostals, and it's about having an emotional experience with God. And as a result, feeling like you're greater connected to him, and I can really value and understand that desire, though. It's also very centered around worship, which in modern context is, is the singing and playing of music, to bring reverence to God and to honor God and to talk about how good he is. But it's all about what kind of experience in a Pentecostal church what kind of experience you can have when you Get together. It makes you feel good emotionally goosebumps on your arms, you know feeling like God's presence is right there with you in the room. And all this stuff is inside emphasize you know from our kids church, we're little kids and go into special special church service for them on Sundays right on up through the youth groups run up through the adult service. And so, you know, God really showed up is what we'd say if you felt you know, something emotional happening when when the worship was going on, or when the preacher was preaching or whatever the case may be.

Brandon Handley 16:31 Sure, no, I mean, I can I can definitely appreciate that. I know that actually just did a did a piece on the word numinous. Right? And it really sounds like it kind of speaks to the same type of space right where you've got connection with God or an experience. Um,

Unknown Speaker 16:50 and so,

Brandon Handley 16:52 I love I love it. It's just sounds to me like it may have been

Unknown Speaker 16:56 over over exalted.

Cory Walker 16:58 Now. What came to focus yeah became the focus instead of me being one way to experience God, maybe it'd be the only way.

Brandon Handley 17:06 Sure not and I can I can definitely appreciate that. It's very interesting. So the you said that there was a number of gifts and one of them speaking in tongues? What are some of the I mean, I don't know the Bible myself, right. So how does somebody have the gifts that maybe, maybe some people aren't aware of?

Cory Walker 17:22 Well, the Bible speaks of different spiritual gifts. And one particular case there's a short list and then scattered throughout the rest of the Scriptures, that mentions other gifts. Like there's a gift of spiritual gifts of gifting, where maybe God empowers you to make money, so that you can give that money towards his plans and his services. But then the fancy ones, if you will, the gifts that people were always hoping to have were like words of knowledge and words of wisdom, which would mean you're speaking in a conversation with somebody and you have, I would call it you have a thought drop into your head and you share that thought with them and then boom, they're suddenly hit. just overwhelmed was oh my gosh how did you know that or or contacts incredible how did you you know have to there's no way you could have come by this on your own like God just dropped information into my head to share with you know almost on a profit basis and gift the process he was one of those things as well which was kind of speaking on God's behalf more so than speaking to predict the future but so there's all these different gifts and you were told you know this The Bible tells you to seek seek spiritual guests especially those that that build build up the body build one another up. But once again and this is coming across like Korea is the the tainted former pastor that is but but it seems like people are always looking for what we have made them look the best because all this happens most of these things I think God intended for them to be lived out in our daily lives. But something in modern Christianity is that we jam. We instead of seeing the churches who we are every day we see the church as a place we go In an event that we attend, so what happens with the spiritual gifts, what's important is what happens when you get together. And therefore you're doing it almost on a platform situation where you're in front of others. And the man's tendency to want to look good and pride gets in there. And you know, you never can tell what might happen. So, I chose doors. I'm not going to but I can tell stories.

Brandon Handley 19:23 No, I appreciate that. Right? Like so I mean, it as you're kind of listing these off, right? without me being a member of a church or without me kind of going through the Bible, you know, this gift of giving is something that speaks to me, right, like, if you're willing to give to others, then it's my interpretation or my thought process that you know, the universe is going to continue to give to you, right, God's gonna give you if you're giving, you're going to receive, right. And that's, that's kind of one way that I look at it, right. And then as you're talking about these words of knowledge and wisdom, you know, words of wisdom. It can't But make me think of the Akashic Records stuff. Right? So just kind of linking like different different. Yeah. Yeah. different spaces and, you know, gift the prophecies. I mean, I don't know. Right. I think that i think that's everyone, right? I think that it kind of, to me that kind of rolls back up into, you know, speaking in tongues, right? I just got goosebumps kind of thinking about it, right? Like, it rolls back into feeling that emotion and knowing that you're kind of, you're speaking your truth, right. But as you kind of roll back all the way back over to here, like, you know, each person kind of comes up with like, their own epiphany is like, oh, I've got a better way to explain it, you end up like, many, many thousands of different ways to kind of embrace and feel connected to God. Right. And, and for each person, I think that experience is going to be individual.

Cory Walker 20:50 Yeah, and I think that's good because you know, a variety of theory, a variety of belief systems and a variety of ways, is a good thing because it allows each person to find The one that connects best with them. My biggest challenge over the years had been the the competitive nature that sets in. I remember growing up and there's sometimes a god churches, which is the domination I was a part of, and they kind of cost the combination and they didn't specifically teach it but you know, my wife grew up in the same denomination and both of us had a conversation where just kind of came away feeling like, you know, if you were a Christian, but you weren't Assemblies of God, you weren't quite getting it. All right, and, and you probably know that make it to heaven, but he probably wouldn't get as many accolades as we would, because we were a part of this something of God. And so I went off, I went off to Bible College. I know that that wasn't specifically taught in any of the classes, but I came away with the same feeling like we're the elite. You know, we've we've got it going on. But one of the pastors in the church that I used to serve that used to say, he used to get up a couple times a year before Easter, the week before Easter, and the week before Christmas, and you get up and announce to the whole congregation, hey, you know, there's people who only go to church twice a year on Christmas and Easter. And he said, You should invite people to come to our church on those days. Because if they're going to go to church on twice a year, they should at least come to church or maybe something good could happen in their life, no kind of little dig at the other church. And it's like they weren't, you know, good enough, or whatever it is that that had crept in to almost every church scenario that I've been a part of, and I think it's just a part of nature of man. Okay, okay.

Brandon Handley 22:24 No, I mean, that's, that's all fair. Right. So, you know, for so you're a part of this for like, 20 years, last couple parts. You know, you just kind of started to fall out of it. And I've read briefly through your book. And you mentioned a book where you kind of helped you to kind of start separating away. Right. And you've shown it to one of your leaders. And he got it was like, Yeah, I don't buy into this because it didn't sound like it match with his way of thinking. Right,

Unknown Speaker 22:51 exactly. So

Brandon Handley 22:52 I'd love to hear a what was the book that kind of, you know, sure. It kind of changed your mind a little bit. What was that book

Cory Walker 23:01 I'm going to try to get the name right here. It's a misunderstood God, and the lies that religion tells about him. I think the author was Darren Hufford. And he was a former pastor as well. But he was talking basically the same way that I have been, which is that there's this God who loves you unconditionally, and has, has bent over backwards to make a way for you to connect with them. But yet religion spends a story, that's something different, that seems undesirable to many people. And as a result, a lot of folks who want to find God don't think that they can. And it just really started me thinking, the challenging some of the concepts and really, you know, you read a book and something rings true with you on the page and like, Oh, yeah, I've been thinking that for years. I just kept having that, you know, those kind of moments as I was reading the book with my wife, and I was like, wow, and then we just dove into, I don't know, one point time, was right when I first started reading electronically, I had a I had a book reader at the time, and I remember And that period of time over about a year and a half that we digest, like 60 some different books, all around the same topics of church and what God intended for the church to be and spirituality and different things like that. Now, I'm a part of a men's book group and we read, you know, a book a month and discuss it on Monday nights and we're reading stuff that's outside of the vein of Christianity, which I've always found to be very interesting because when you read outside of what's your typical goto and you find the same truth elsewhere, then it starts to make you think that it's because the author of the things that you hold dear, likely was the inspire some of the other things that you're finding elsewhere in college. They called it all truth is God's truth. Doesn't matter where you find it. It says true.

Brandon Handley 24:50 Yeah, you know, and I agree with that, right. It's it's really interesting to find all these nuggets of truth everywhere. Right. It doesn't really matter what you're you find yourself reading, you start to see, like you're saying kind of the same vein of how even movies, you know, show shows I'm watching. I'm like, Is anybody else seeing what I'm seeing here? Because it's so it's so obvious to me the story that's being told. And again, though, it's really like we started this, we start this podcast off with, you know, Cory, I'd like you to say something that only somebody else out there is gonna hear and understand. Right? It's it's kind of like I the way I'm watching that movie, or series, maybe nothing like what it was intended to be delivered. Right? Right. But I'm receiving it in a certain way, because that's how I've set myself up

Cory Walker 25:45 now. But there's a divine source that's enter weaving truths throughout all genres and all aspects of life because because that divine source that I like to call God wants us to understand him and understand life. So So much that he's willing to inspire people that don't even know that they're being inspired by them to share truth

Unknown Speaker 26:06 in a way that Okay,

Brandon Handley 26:08 again, like I mean, you know, something's coming through you being spoken through you

Unknown Speaker 26:12 right now, this moment that

Brandon Handley 26:15 is intended for somebody else not even intended for you, for me, right now even intended for me and I love this. So here's a really interesting book. It's called horror, right? It's called the vital center of man by he was a an analyst, the psycho psychological analyst, but he was also a orthodox, practicing Orthodox Christian, but he also spent time and about eight years with Zen masters, right. And, you know, one of the things that this one Zen masters said to them, was, it never occurred to me to keep keep weight to keep in my head what I've read If I mainly read the Bible or Buddhist books and prayers, I find that only such things that agree with my own thoughts. And I think that that's what you and I are saying here is that when we're reading now we're like, the books are almost a mirror to what we've already learned and know, right? And this has been spoken back to you. And I find I found that was like, an amazing moment, right? When I read that line, I was like, holy shit, because I told my wife, I was like, everything that I'm reading is everything I'm already thinking of, and I'm just looking for the words to properly express it.

Cory Walker 27:31 Yeah, right. Some people and some people would say that you, you draw to yourself. There's kind of a supernatural principle that you draw to yourself with as you're looking for. You know, I just recently bought a different car. And the for my work vehicle and the type of card is I'd never really had thought about getting one before but once I got them then suddenly I see everywhere. I mean, every time I turn around, has fallen down the street. So it's like, I didn't look someone else's got another one of those just like I do, I see it in part. parking lots everywhere. It's like your mind becomes attuned to that which you're used to or that what you're looking for. And I looked for when I decided that's what I wanted to buy, I was out there looking for him everywhere. And as a result, I'm My mind is turned on to that. I think it's the same with what you're saying what it is that you're thinking and you're feeling in your heart. And suddenly you start to see it come alive in the pages of books or in the movies or in the newspaper, on television shows or whatever.

Brandon Handley 28:25 It's everywhere. It's everywhere. My first my first blog and my first blog and a couple of my first videos was called just a wit You know, this is called the blue car effect. Right You know, they're looking for a blue car you see him everywhere is exactly what I'm saying. And, and, you know, I often go through just like what you're saying once you set that question in your mind you know, the answers start coming up for it right you don't sure we go look and we Google, we do all these things, but it's almost easier to ask you know, quote, unquote Ask the universe for an answer. Just let it kind of come to you let it show it will show up. Once you have that question for yourself, the answer will show up. Now you can do it again, you can go hardcore and go hit and all the books and put all this pressure and stress on yourself. But chances are, that answer is gonna show up.

Unknown Speaker 29:18 Right? Totally. Yeah.

Brandon Handley 29:21 So, um, you know, so where are you? I mean, what's it like, now you've left? What was the separation? Like, I'd love to hear kind of like what that was like, and, you know, in in that in that scenario,

Cory Walker 29:32 that was like, divorcing everybody that you held dear. Hmm. And having everybody be mad at you, or at least it felt like it anyway. I'm sure part of its interpretation. But you know, when, you know, we kind of we didn't really spend a story but you know, when we decided to move we moved. We decided to move when we decide to leave church we we moved out of the community we were part of and moved six hours away to a new area, and it had been On our heart to do it anyway. But this new area was very spiritually minded, but not real big on religion. So church attendance is really down here. But you see all kinds of alternative spiritual pursuits going on. And, and that's kind of what we felt drawn to not that we were going to, you know, go start reading poems or doing something, you know, there was necessarily new age or this or whatever we still consider ourself Christians, we just felt like we wanted to be around non traditional people, because they'd be, you know, they're not going to be looking down their nose at us because they don't show up. And so the Pew on Sunday mornings, so it was a difficult time. Even my folks right now still have, I don't talk about anymore, but I'm sure that they still shake their head like, I can't believe you know, we raised this young man. And he, you know, felt this call on his life to go become a pastor. And then he did 25 years and now we just build on the whole thing. But what they don't understand is my philosophy and I shared my book with them, and I hope that they're gaining understanding but the philosophy is if we are the Church and that is the body of Christ as Christians, and it's not the building. And it's not an organization than whether or not we choose to go sit in the Pew on Sunday mornings are not as real as irrelevant. It's whether or not we're following the truth of God as expressed through our life and how we treat others on a daily basis. You know, my friend Jeremy messaged me earlier today and he said, What are you doing on this fine Lord's day? And he was saying a tongue in cheek because for years for a year or so after I stopped attending church, my dad would text me about every few weeks and so on Sundays and say, What are you doing to honor God on this Lord's day? And I started texting him back and saying, I thought every day was the Lord's Day. Like we're supposed to do something special on Sundays, right? But reality was saying, hey, let's just make every day special and, and how we treat others and, and, and our daily practices is just as important everyday as it is on Sunday mornings.

Brandon Handley 31:56 So I mean, I'm curious. If you You know, kind of going through that separation process, if those are some of the words that you would use to share with others as to why you were leaving?

Unknown Speaker 32:10 Yeah.

Cory Walker 32:13 Most people didn't ask quite frankly.

Cory Walker 32:17 You know, one of the reasons was, we were moving five, six hours away. So they just don't know what we do or don't want or what we don't do. But the other part was for those who are closer, they grew up in the same kind of fundamentalist belief system. And there's one particular scripture that says, Don't forsake gathering together with other believers, as some are in the habit of doing and that that interpreted by every pastor I've ever heard, speak meant, make sure you're in church on Sunday morning. And so when you just choose to say, that's not, that's not funny, that's beneficial. And I don't want that to be a regular part of my ongoing life, then people just, you know, there's another practice that just kind of shown you it's not necessarily intentional. I remember for years People have stopped coming to church and you try to get them to come back and let us not come back. And then you just say, Well, you know, that's on them, I guess I'll just minister to the ones who are still here, you know, but you just kind of gave up on them. And there's a passage of scripture which says, if somebody departs of faith, try to try to turn them back. And then if they, you know, they still claim to be good followers of God, but refuse to do the things which are they're supposed to be doing. They don't have anything to do with them. And so I think a lot of Christians have been taught over the years based upon that scripture, that is somebody off the deep end, whether it's messed up and drugs or alcohol or you know, cheating on their spouse or even just not going to church anymore, that you just kind of don't have anything to do with them, either. Because somehow it'll teach them a lesson, or because somehow their disobedience if you will, is going to tank, your spiritual walk. It's just not a healthy thing. But unfortunately, that's kind of the way it is a lot of boys.

Brandon Handley 33:54 That's interesting, right? So, you know, Were you upset at all that nobody asked you You know that you know, get more requests?

Cory Walker 34:02 Yeah, you have a little bit of, it's probably more grief than anger, just a little more grief, but you invested a lot into relationships, and then people just kind of, you know, part of the move, I'm sure, but that plays something into it. Because when you live six hours away from where you weren't living, it's just not convenient to connect in the way that you were before. And if like, oh, Cory and Lisa, his wife just moved off, you know, so Okay, well, I guess we'll find some new friends. But you know, unfortunately, unfortunately, but I do have several. I have a band of about five brothers that good good men that I've known for a number of years and we all stay connected. Fact is, they've come down here and visited me multiple times we'll have a rent a cabin or something and go out on the lake or, you know, sit around the bonfire, you name it, and it's just been really encouraging time. So.

Brandon Handley 34:54 Okay, so you also mentioned being around people that are spiritually minded, right? What does that what does that mean to you?

Unknown Speaker 35:03 Huh? Yeah, it's uh

Cory Walker 35:07 it all starts with heart to me. I mean, I'm not a big fan of doctrine, which is philosophies and ideas that we are taught that we follow as much as I am. What's your heart? How do you? How do you perceive the universe in your case, or God, in my case, is, is wanting you to interact with others? And are you being true to that. And there's a lot of people around here, even though there certainly would not be considered Christians, by most or even by themselves, that we're living more of a Christ like life. So how they lived out their heart, then a lot of people that I've known in church over the years, because it was about checking the boxes and doing the to do lists, more so than how we treat everybody on a daily basis. So find a lot of people like that and we're connecting with a lot of them. It's been it's been a journey. It's Rio when you leave behind your paradigm and not just your city, you know, the, the place and the venue in which you were interacting with others is now gone because we don't attend church, then it becomes really important what you do with your daily life when I'm working with my customers or my friends or working, my kids are working with their co workers or my wife's interacting with people in the neighborhood, those things become incredibly important because they're really the only interaction that you have. And that's where your social life is going to grow from.

Unknown Speaker 36:30 Now I get it. So you know,

Brandon Handley 36:33 I think about Buddhism to one of the big pieces of that is is the community right so sounds to me like you know that that was the community and that was your space. What what are you replacing that with just just work? Have you been able to replace that sense of community anywhere else?

Unknown Speaker 36:55 Have

Cory Walker 36:57 we looked initially first organizations to get into They're like, Oh, maybe we can find some nonprofit or volunteer this or that or whatever. And nothing seems to be a good fit. And it also is kind of seriously kind of pushing our organizational buttons, because when you're part of a nonprofit organization for decades, you just learn the politics and stuff that's behind the scenes. But what I have found Well, if you got time, I'll give you a quick example. One of my customers just astounds me, I'm a licensed contractor now. I went to do a bathroom remodel. And the day before they, the I showed up, Dave, for I showed up, they were, they found out that his wife had breast cancer, and she was going to have to have a lump removed. And as a result, we were we were just trying to, you know, remodel her bathroom, but she just opened up and shared all this information with man. So I'm sorry, master bathroom. So she's in there sitting on the bed, and adjacent room looking in while I'm working and just poring over heart and talking to me. And I'm like, well, she didn't even know I was a former pastor. And I hadn't even spoken Difficult as a Christian, but I was just listening to what she said, say and kind of just empathizing and trying to help her. And she seemed very appreciative of it. Well, then she goes in for an MRI right before her surgery to make sure that the cancer about spread and it hadn't. But they found out that her aorta was enlarged, and she's gonna have to open heart surgery. And so then she A week later, she goes to meet with a surgeon for open heart surgery. And he says, Well, I don't think this is even operable. And I'd say you've got less than five years. And she's like, Oh, my gosh, so she comes home and she's just talking to me about all this stuff. And then I just opened the door for us to have conversation about what it means to be alive and what takes place after you die and how none of us really know exactly what that is. But we have to do whatever it is that helps us find peace in the moment. And then I just was able to share with her that I believe in the divine, and that I believe that good things away for us after the fact because because of his goodness, not because of ours and then just loved on her and told her I was praying for her and master if there's anything we could do to help, and we walked her dog while she was out having surgery and you know, just trying to be a decent human being, and that seems to be more important to me than ever before, because that's where I'm meeting people. And that's where I'm making connection. So,

Brandon Handley 39:18 sure, sure. Sounds to me too, like, focusing on the few right, focusing on the present, focusing on the moment. And not not being concerned with like, having to have like, to being good, decent human being. Yeah, right. And does it does it need to be more, but it sounds like your community is kind of like within those that you everybody's part of your community?

Cory Walker 39:42 Yeah, I always felt like I was felt a little resentful, in fact, because I had this quote, unquote, calling on my life through your minister and it seemed like everybody else had their regular life. And then, and that was it. And I had my regular life and the special calling, which involved me doing all these extra things to go above and beyond. It's just like, Oh my gosh, how much do I have to give, but now I'm just like, just being a decent human being and your regular life goes a long, long way. And these people we've connected with three or four times a year, we'll have big parties at our house and just invite all my customers and my wife's friends and different people from the neighborhood over and just, you know, have a chili feed or have this or that and it's just incredible that people will be walking around living room. So how do you know Cory and Lisa, talking to each other and ask them questions like, wow, we have either been planted here by somebody else, or we have just dropped into this neighborhood and have started to make a difference in the lives of people in our community. And word is getting around the other day. My wife posted I was doing some work on her own house and she posted a picture of me doing the work on her Facebook feed and someone that's never met either one of us, but who is in the community and is fairly well known. So as you guys are the new power couple. We're sure glad to have you. Yes, smile. I was like, I don't know that. We're Anything special, but it's good to see that we're actually making an impact.

Brandon Handley 41:04 That's great. And I mean, does it feel nice that you're kind of making this impact without having to feel this extra pressure to do so?

Cory Walker 41:11 Yeah, totally effect is another friend of mine asked the same question a couple days ago. Is it great to be pastor Corey, it's great to be Cory and still have pastor Corey and I said absolutely candidate, just so much less pressure and, and not having to pour your resources and time and effort into an organization which may or may not be promoting the things that you believe gives you the time and resources to pour into the people that you come across on a daily basis. We were able to help a single mother who was in terrible needy situation a few weeks ago, and we had the money to do it because we weren't giving 10% of our income to an organization every every week when we got paid, you know, and and for those who believe that that's what they're supposed to do. That's great. I did it for years and it worked for me then but it no longer does. And now I now I look for opportunities to give To help and to be a decent human being to everybody around So,

Brandon Handley 42:04 right, right, I mean, not just not just to the church, right? Yeah, just one specific organization. It's another, you know, again, you know, I've got a buddy who's a Buddhist Reverend, and he talks a lot to being able to give charity with wisdom, right? And not just not just do it kind of blindly. And yeah, just kind of give away everything just because, but do it with with a sense of wisdom and a sense of knowing that, you know, what you're giving to is, is from your heart, not just because back to your point to just check a box, right? So, I love that. So, you know, I'm just kind of chuckling to myself, but you know, you know, let's, let's say that, let's say that you're creating a church. What would that look like to you? Right? What would it be, you know, if you were to spin off, out of all these other thousands of different organizations You know, and maybe you feel like you've been touched in a way that maybe some other people hadn't been? How would you do differently?

Cory Walker 43:08 Well, great question, in fact, is we've asked my wife and I've asked ourselves this question many times, because one of the things we did not want to do when we left organized Christianity was just to go create a slightly different version of it, that we thought was a little bit better. We just kind of want to set the whole thing aside and try to live out our faith on a daily basis. That being said, you know, when you get up and speak to people on a weekly basis, or maybe multiple times a week for a half your life and then you stop doing it and the largest group to speak to might be three to five people. And that would be on a rare occasion. There's always an itch that wants to be scratched, to get up and speak to people again. I've toyed with potential for some motivational speaking or maybe even a little bit of stand up on occasion, a local club, one of the local clubs turns out just because I have a gift of gab and I enjoy using it but If I were to create something that looked like a church, it would probably just be more like something where we got together on a monthly basis to just swap stories about what was going on in our lives and the good things that we saw taking place. And maybe, you know, 10 or 15 minutes worth of positive, encouraging instruction, towards just being a better human being, that would be the most organized I'd ever want it to be. I'm not renting or owning a facility or you know how to take up an offering or anybody getting a salary from design or anything like that. Just Just humans who consider themselves part of the same community gathering together to recognize that there's divine presence in our life. And when we follow it, good things happen for us and the people that were around,

Unknown Speaker 44:47 nice, all of that. So

Brandon Handley 44:50 if somebody out there is feeling this kind of divine pull to break away from a life that they've always known, you know, how would you How would you want What would you say to that person? How would you help them through that? Right?

Cory Walker 45:03 I'd say give me a call.

Cory Walker 45:06 Actually, my website has a place where you can connect with me if you're gonna if you're on that journey, because you're going to feel alone. And if you just Google non traditional Christian, you'll get a bunch of stuff that comes up. But none of us really dealt with how to transition out of organizational Christianity at all, was more like, you know, trendy type churches where they have smoke machines and stuff like that, you know, or rock and roll music or whatever, you know, wasn't really more along the lines of, Hey, I don't really want to sit in a church on Sunday mornings anymore. And it, you know, I guess, effect is I have several friends who are life coaches, and I've done a little bit of myself and I thought on a couple occasions, maybe down the road, what I need to do is make myself available as a spiritual coach to people who are transitioning away from traditional forms of a face into more of a daily applicational living and just Help them walk the journey as someone who's just maybe a step or two ahead of them down the path somewhere path.

Unknown Speaker 46:05 Yeah, no, I

Brandon Handley 46:06 love that. Right. Listen, as you said earlier, we don't know how this thing ends, right? We don't know what's on the other side. But what we do know is that today, if we're living in accordance to living from our heart, if we're doing what we feel is as good as it can be, you know, then every day you can theoretically you could be in heaven, right? Every day you can live a life that is giving and is the spiritual way. But there could be someone who doesn't know what it means to live life as worship right. My niggas got something you were saying earlier right? live every day so it was the you know, the Lord say and again, you know, listen, I think that there's bristles right like, you know, from for people, you say, God, they're like, Oh, no,

Cory Walker 46:56 there goes yeah.

Cory Walker 46:58 loaded, loaded term. But for

Brandon Handley 47:00 even for me, right, I still I still toy with it mentally. You know, when I write the word God, I do little g just because I, I it's just, it's just the whole concept, right there's there's a wall in my mind with big G, right, but there's no wall in my mind with universal or creative energies, all these other things, these are all ones that are free flowing, that mean the same thing.

Unknown Speaker 47:26 Right? To me.

Brandon Handley 47:28 And it's easier for me to accept it right. So I think that you know, just just just as with you, like, if somebody were on this path, and they were coming out of a traditional church that would be easy for them to gravitate towards you, right? Because you're got that experience. Whereas like, if it was somebody who's coming onto this path that was just kind of coming onto this path. That wasn't such a big g kind of guy, right? Then it might be somebody like me, right, where he's like, Listen, we're going to talk in Universal we're going to talk all these other things, but

Cory Walker 47:56 yeah,

Brandon Handley 47:58 I love I love what you're doing. There. That I think that that's, you know, wonderful because they need that right. And here's, here's one of the things that I was saying too is is of with, with your, with the Bible with a faith with religion, it's kind of like a framework for the space that you've gotten into is that you know, how, what is your What is your concept or idea that like as as it being the framework, not necessarily the whole building and structure and everything that it needs to be.

Cory Walker 48:29 Yeah, that's a good way that's a good way to look at it. I think it's the skeletal structure and you put the meat in the bones on after the fact you know, it's not the bumps and beaten in the skin on after the fact you get to build out your faith in the way that you that you can feel good about. Now, I've never believed spirituality was just all about feeling good. But the bottom line is, you need to be able I need to be able to live in a way that's congruent with what I believe and if my beliefs are such that they're preventing me from Living honestly, with my heart, then I'm just not in a very good place. And so, you know, I think religion is a good place and, and traditional forms of religion are a good place for to give structure for people who feel like they just be lost out there on their own if they didn't have, you know, some guidance or some set of this or that, to help them down the path. And and I respect that. And one of the things that we believe over lifetime believe when we first stepped out of out of traditional Christianity was that it's every individual's responsibility and privilege to figure out what their faith is supposed to look like for them, instead of telling someone Well, you shouldn't go to church, you know, I'm going to say, Hey, if you're finding benefit in that, and I think my book reflected that in a couple ways, if you're, if you're finding benefit and being a part of an ongoing church, then then do so but if it's not long, it's no longer working for you. Don't be afraid to step away and I just felt like that makes a lot more sense. than the one size fits all, you know, hey, let's all jennea flex every Sunday or let's all take communion on the first Monday, first Sunday of the month, or let's all do this.

Cory Walker 50:10 To me, it just wasn't it wasn't working anymore.

Brandon Handley 50:12 Now I get it. I get it. Do you see yourself ever going back into it?

Cory Walker 50:16 Yeah, you know, my best friend. His name's Jeremy. I think you've met him before. But he says. He says, Don't you wish we could just go back to being good Methodist. Now neither one of us have been. Neither one of us have ever been Methodist. But the sentiment is Wouldn't it be so much easier not to ask the deeper questions and to follow your heart and just do what you're told. Just to show up once a once a month or twice a month and show some change in the offering and feel good about checking the boxes. Sure, when neither of us. Neither my wife or I really feel like we could ever take that journey back. There may be some phenomenal church out there that teaches the love of Christ and the grace of Christ without all the shoulds and this open to anybody who wants to come that we just haven't discussed Get but certainly in our region. To my knowledge, it doesn't exist. And know, if it does, I'll ask, I'll ask the divine Lord of the universe to bring it and drop it in my lap. So that all is there. And it does and I'll be happy to walk through the door

Brandon Handley 51:15 a little bit. What um, you know, I was like trying to find out some different books or whatnot, you said you went through like 66 books as you were kind of gone through going through, you know, the, the E reading phase, what are what are some that like a really kind of revolutionized your way of thinking as it comes all this stuff?

Cory Walker 51:36 Well, you know, if you're coming at it from a Christian standpoint, there's couple good books, one of them's called organic church. I can't think of the author right now that is well known. And it just talks about some of the stuff I've talked about here today, about how it's supposed to be an organism that's supposed to grow on its own. And it's supposed to be a living, breathing thing that's made up of people not organ organization. The other one was called patient Christianity, it was a great book. And it talks, it traces all the doctrines that we hold dear today, back to in many cases, their pagan roots and the sense that they're not, not of God, if you will, not biblical roots, but just traditional roots that go to different different types of belief systems all over the world. And so don't get so hung up on whether something is biblical or not, you know, because most of what we do in our Sunday morning services isn't from the Bible, it's just things that are developed over 2000 years worth of religion so but you know, on the non Christian, if you will side outside of the mainstream, I really love the books like the Four Agreements and, you know, books that just, you know, I'm reading a lot of stuff. Like recently we've been rereading for third or fourth time then Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. You know, just a lot of the lot of the stuff that for years in church, we were told not to read because you're supposed to read Christian stuff, but yet every time I read the stuff that's not Christian stuff, because by training of my upbringing, I'm seeing all the biblical truth that's present in the non Christian stuff. Show goes goes back to that the divine wanting us to have truth bad enough, he's willing to put it wherever he has to, in order to get it into our hands.

Brandon Handley 53:13 Right. I mean, that's the whole, you know, cast it was a casting pearls before the swine, right? Like, I'm not saying that though, there's always going to be this wine that doesn't understand or appreciate the pearl. Right, versus you know, somebody else is looking for those exceptional pieces wherever they go. Yeah, that's kind of, you know, so I'm hearing a little bit. So I'm curious there too. You know, I would hear stories about like paganism and the story of the cross in Christianity. I'm curious, did the pagan Christianity book did it talk to that at all?

Cory Walker 53:45 Well, the cross it didn't specifically mention the cross. But we do know from historical documents that the cross was the form of capital punishment that you know, the Romans Jews and the Romans were occupying Israel at the time so Jesus would have died on a cross Because of, because that's the way that they killed people back then. So that, that, that from what we can tell is accurate, but there's just so many like even, you know, many of the end just things are so interwoven together and we don't even recognize it. And I'm just going off of memory. But like even the you know, like today when we give toasts, maybe at a wedding or at a party, and someone raises their cup and gives a toast to somebody, it's traced back to Communion within Christianity, where Jesus took the cup and said, This is my body is broken for you, as often, you know, drink this as often as you as often as you drink this, remember me. And so a lot of the things that are interwoven throughout our, throughout our culture in our society, can can come from some Christian stuff, and then a lot of the things that we have in Christianity came right out of very non Christian, what we would call pagan societal practices, just as a result of you know, having As the message of Christ spread throughout the world, it would be in and spread into different cultures than it was originally brought to. And result, different things would be adopted. And so that is a great little book called pagan Christianity. And it's a, it's a good read. So

Brandon Handley 55:16 thanks for sharing that. And like you're saying, it's really interesting to see where something starts and where it ends up. Right? How did it start? And where is it showing up in different spaces in our lives? So thank you. Thanks, man. You know, I think it's been a lot of fun. I think I really definitely enjoyed kind of going through. For me, Pentecostal stuff was really kind of eye opening, sharing those gifts was also something to me that I wasn't aware of. Right. So I think that there's definitely stuff within, you know, Christianity within the scriptures that can really speak and rang true to some people are afraid to go into because of the organizational stuff because of some of the horror stories because of like, you know, you know, like, just your, they don't want to go in and check off all these boxes, but they do. Do want, they do want to feel, quote unquote closer to God. Right.

Unknown Speaker 56:04 Yeah, totally. And and so, you know,

Brandon Handley 56:08 I think that that's available to anyone like you're saying, just kind of go out and seek it for yourself right and see, can you sell fine, right? Whatever. Whatever whatever you're seeking is seeking you all that jazz. But Corey, thank you so much again for hopping on today. Where should I send somebody who's going to come? Look for Corey Walker,

Cory Walker 56:29 probably the easiest way is to go through my website and that's church Been there, done that calm, church, been there done that calm. And while I certainly still believe in the church, I just believe it's who we are. A church attendance is something I no longer do. So that's why we named a website that the web the book is available for free download there. And there's ways to contact me through there if you're wanting to just somebody to talk to or if you're wanting to develop an ongoing friendship or relationship you know, that's the joy of the internet. Now we can find people, even though we may be in the minority We can find people from all over the world that we can connect with who are thinking and feeling the same things.

Unknown Speaker 57:06 Now 100% So, let's say you started Coreys spiritual coaching today what what Who do you feel like would be your ideal client?

Cory Walker 57:18 Um, you know, people who definitely people who grew up in the Christian faith, but who are seeking who seeks to find benefit in it and or they just can't, they can't live with some of the inconsistency is that they're finding and the faith and instead of getting dumping God all together, if you will, they can find an alternative way to express their fate without having to have the religious aspect of it. That's probably my ideal

Unknown Speaker 57:45 client. Awesome. Well, guys, if that's you reach out to Cory.

Cory Walker 57:50 Thanks, Cory. thank thank you so much. Have a good day.

Link to PDF discussed: The Five Mindfulness Trainings

The FB live on the trainings:

Brandon Handley 0:00 What is going on spiritual dope Brandon Handley here and today, we're going to cover a couple things that we actually just did introductory into Buddhism series on that we're doing over on Facebook, that we're streaming from spiritual dope page for the next month or so, where we're covering introductory Buddhism pieces. I mean, I really don't even know what stuff is. I've got a buddy of mine. Sam Sam Aussie Ivana. His name's Rodin's Paul. I don't know why he chooses all these different names. Great guy, who is a Buddhist Reverend has been practicing for about 16 years now. And one of the things that we just covered this past week was the five mindfulness trainings and the five mindfulness trainings that represents a Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. There are concrete expression of the Buddhist teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation and happiness for ourselves and for the world. You know, you know, essentially two practices is to cultivate the insight of inner being or right view, a lot of these things, a lot of these terms that I'm kind of tossed out there right now they're capitalized. You know, though the word right view is, you know, what is the what is the the right view, right? is kind of one of the things they talk about Buddhism the middle way, you know, along the path. But what what we're working to do is to remove all discrimination and tolerance, anger, fear and despair. And what we're trying to do is live according to these five mindfulness trainings, and, you know, essentially, if we're living in that way, we are On the path of the Bodhisattva. And if you're not familiar with what the Bodhisattva is, it's someone who's on their way towards enlightenment, and is willing to reach out and work with others and to help others. And so when you know that you are on that path, you know that you are not lost in confusion about your life, and that you're able to be in the present. And that's that, that I think, is pretty cool. So what I was gonna do, since you, you know, may not have the hour and a half that we spent going through the five mindfulness trainings, I figured I'd give you, you know, 1015 minute rundown of what they are, and maybe talk a little bit about what these were and the five mindfulness trainings. So we're going to go through reverence for life. true happiness, true love, loving speech and deep listening, nourishment and healing and you know who you Think about the posts that you see on Facebook, sometimes the TLDR too long, didn't read. Essentially, this is just something that kind of, again cultivates that path and for you, and that when you're living in this way, again, you are on your way towards enlightenment. So let's just we'll just hit it off. Real quick here. We'll go with reverence for life for 1000. Alex, aware of the suffering caused by destruction of life, I'm committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion, and learning ways to protect and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world in my way, in my thinking, or my way of life. Seeing the harm actions arise from anger, seeing that harm harmful actions arise from anger, fear Read and intolerance, which in turn comes from a dualistic and discriminative thinking,

Unknown Speaker 4:04 I will cultivate openness

Brandon Handley 4:06 non discrimination and non attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world. You know, look, this is a, we were talking on the show last week, and this is really, you know, you see these, this this, like the 10 commandments, right? Or even, you know, even more modern times, it's really long lines of the Four Agreements. Obviously, nobody you know, shouldn't run out there and kill or support killing in any way shape or form. The other part is cultivate openness, non discrimination, you know, be open to others, and what they bring to to you in the world. And the other part in here was dogmatism right. Openness towards that so you know, be open to systems and ways of change, so that we went much, much deeper into it. But I'm going to make this to the quick hit point today. true happiness, aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression. I'm committed to practicing generosity and my thinking, speaking and acting. I'm determined not to steal, and not to possess anything that should belong to others. And I will share my time, energy and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply and see that happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering. The true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion. And that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not my external conditions. I'm gonna read that line again. I'm aware that how happiness depends on my mental attitude, and not on external conditions. And that I can live happily in the present moment, simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I've committed to practicing right livelihood so that I can reduce the suffering of living beings on earth and stop contributing to climate change. When we read through this last week, we we hit on we tore this one apart, right? We just went through all of it. Obviously, I think it's timely that we're reading this and going through it as you know, social justice and oppression are kind of rampant out there. In one way shape or another and you know, true happiness is a you know, something that we want to practice the idea of generosity and thinking, speaking and acting. And that we are going to give our time and energy to those who are in need and We dug deep into, you know, who How do we determine exactly who was in need? Right? And we also discussed the idea of wisdom in generosity, right? Not just simply giving to the for the sake of giving, but, you know, where are your resources, your time and energy best spent who's going to receive you, who's gonna truly receive that benefit from you? and use it right. And, and so, that was something that we talk deeply about. And then the obviously the the piece that I read twice in here is that you know, aware that happiness depends on your mental attitude and not external conditions. Right. And then, obviously, in there too, aware that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair can not will or do, but they can And then that census, we talked about attachment to desires, and things not turning out the way that we want to and investing so much energy in those types of things and how that can really bring about suffering and despair. And finally, we when we ended this item about true happiness we talked about stop contributing to climate change. And by that it's not simply global warming, but the climate and environment in all situations. When you come in to a room you are impacting the climate of a room as an example. Moving on, so true love aware that suffering caused by sexual misconduct aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct. I'm committed to cultivating responsibility and learning the ways to protect the safety and integrity. of individuals, couples, families and society, knowing that sexual desires not love

Brandon Handley 9:05 and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself, as well as others. I'm determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long term commitment made none of my friends and family. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one I committed to learning appropriate way that takes care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness, which are the four basic elements of true love. For my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others. Practicing true love we know that we can continue beautifully into the future. I think a lot of this is obvious but you one of the things that you know, obviously when you're younger, you got like this. Just sexual desire, right? And and knowing that that's driven by I would dare say your animalistic nature, right? And how do you, you know, how do you try to rein that in and that's, that can be a challenge and, you know, that's where we also see the, you know, engaging in sexual relations without true love and then the commitments as that can lead to, you know, just again, dissatisfaction right, not necessarily dissatisfaction, but it can lead to pain and suffering through that, right. And amongst many, many other things, obviously, you're going to take care of our children and families as best as we can. And all of this, you know, can be impacted as it relates to, you know, sexual misconduct and not and just pure sexual desire. That's motivated by cravings versus, you know, a tender loving a engagement, right or at least, you know, being being with someone that you truly love and that you love how it's a long term commitment may known to my friends and family. So, whatever that looks like for you, that's what true love is, according to the five mindfulness trainings, we've also got love, loving speech and deep listening, aware of the deep of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and inability to listen to others, and committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve sufferings and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself, and among other people, ethnic and religious groups and nations, knowing that words, create happiness or suffering. I'm committed to speaking truthfully using words and inspire confidence, joy and hope. When anger is manifesting me I'm determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and Walking in order to recognize and look deeply into my

Unknown Speaker 12:02 anger,

Brandon Handley 12:04 I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering of myself and then the other person. I will speak and listen in ways that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I've determined not spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or Discord. And I will practice right diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness and gradually transform anger, violence and fear that lie deep in my consciousness. This is a lot like the sexual you know, being driven by sexual desire, right? Obviously, it's something that's within us that is propelling us forward. And then If we don't pay attention to

Unknown Speaker 13:01 it,

Brandon Handley 13:02 again can cause suffering. And this is the unmindful speech, right? We say what's on our mind and sometimes we say it in a way. That is not my fault. It just comes out. And we do it with disregard to how the other person is going to receive it. And sometimes we simply don't listen to other people. We don't feel the room. So in this we are cultivating loving speech, and compassionate listening, so that we can avoid creating the those those painful moments and suffering. And I love I love the part where it talks about I'm committed to speaking truthfully, using words that inspire confidence, joy and hope. Who doesn't like to to be inspired? Right, who doesn't win, just imagine yourself When somebody comes up to you and and they give you a compliment, and it is sincere, and it is specific and that inspires confidence, he brings you a little bit of joy. And it helps you with your hope. It's just it's just such a magnificent feeling when somebody does that for you, so if you can learn to do that yourself for others, just imagine what you're doing for those people. This other part here is it's just Paramount and

Unknown Speaker 14:31 a long term

Brandon Handley 14:32 loving relationship. If you're not familiar with me, man, my wife and I have been together off and on for you know, coming up on 20 years now. Oh, maybe it's 21 you haven't been coming along now. And throughout all the all that time most definitely spoken anger and and I you know, out of place then on mindful but as we as we've grown to to find to find that you're beginning to feel angry. And it's like it says here when anger is manifesting in me, I'm determined to look deeply into my anger. Look at that bubbling up and to capture that before it gets converted into words, to capture that before it can do any damage. That's the area where you're going to practice mindful breathing. And walking, redirect that energy. And take a look in into yourself and just kind of see where that's coming from. Because oftentimes, it could just be a, you know, a perspective. Right, and maybe that's not the intention, whatever is causing great anger and, and being able to transform that anger, or that violence and fear into understanding love and joy. That's it. It's all you know, energy Being able to up think of alchemy right transmute that almost immediately or as quickly as you can into into something else that's within your power. And that's, that to me, that's what they're talking about this and when, when it comes to your five mindfulness trainings and finally, we'll go on nourishment and healing. So where are the suffering caused by on mindful consumption I'm committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental for myself, my family and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the four kinds of nutrients, namely, edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness. I am determined not to gamble or to use alcohol, drugs or any other products which contain toxins such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books and conversations. I would practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing healing and nourishment elements in me and around me. Not letting regrets and sorrow drive me back into the past to cover up loneliness, anxiety or other sufferings by losing myself and consumption. JACK that up. Not letting regrets and sorrow drive me back into the past nor letting anxieties fear craving pull me out of the present moment. I'm determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety or other sufferings by losing myself and consumption. I will contemplate inner being and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well being in my body and consciousness and then the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the earth Look, this is a super simple one, right? On mindful consumption, right what is overeating? Eating just to eat? Jared you're feeling you're having a shitty day and it's a tub of ice cream, having a shitty day, it's full, full pizza. Right? You're having a shitty week. It's it's a six pack or more every evening, you have a lifestyle that converts into that. Just a you know, a string of a string of, of shitty days turns into, you know, months and weeks of it. And it's just this unmindful consumption, where this is coming from. This is coming from me, I in my own past experiences where it was completely on mindful, drank. And sometimes it was sometimes it was just a habit, but it was it wasn't mindful consumption. And then I would drink to you Cover up loneliness, anxiety or other sufferings right? In those consumptions. same can be said for video gaming, alcohol, or drugs, you know, all of those things that have been something that I've been through and have come out of. And now I'm very mindful about my absolute consumption. And I just feel better for it. I mean, it's super simple. I'm very mindful of, you know, what goes into my mind that we, for the most part, stop watching most of the news. It's it's fear mongering.

Brandon Handley 19:37 And notice it tries to set a scarcity and this is my perception. My opinion is it tries to set like a scarcity. mindset is a fear mindset. And when you have a fearful mindset because of the things that you are letting into your mind through mindless consumption, you're the prey, you're the victims in that and it hate to see you know, I'd hate to see that gone through for you and your life forever. And I believe that's the intent of the five Mindfulness Trainings is for you as well. So again, that was the the reverence for life, true happiness, true love, loving speech and deep listening, then finally nourishment and healing. You can find this, I'll put a link on the site for it today, you can find the a PDF, you can download, you can print it out. Sure. If you'd like. You could also go to the Facebook Live, I'll put a link to that as well. And on the website, you can go check that out beyond the podcast as well. If you're interested, and then, you know on what's the, you know, September September 19 2020. On Facebook, we'll be doing the we'll be doing the Three Jewels Rules of Buddhism. And I'm gonna pop up my Facebook here right now I'm gonna look at the other three that are coming up here we've got introduction on the 26th, as well to Buddhism with Sam as we go over the Four Noble Truths. And then on the October 3, we're going to be going over, drumroll please. What is this one the Eightfold Path. So if you have interest in Buddhism, and you'd like to have the opportunity to speak with somebody in an environment where you know, you're safe, where it's an open and welcoming, then Come join me as I as host Sam. And like I said, Paul, as he walks us through some of these introductory pieces, and we can get an understanding of what what Buddhism holds for you. And then you also have the great opportunity to have your questions answered live. All right, so take these guests

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Come on in and check out this interview with the Clicks and Mortar Queen Donnalynn Riley.

Donna tells an amazing story of how she went from being the CEO of a retail chain to becoming a Spiritual Coach who is helping entrepreneurs bring ALL of who they are to their businesses.

Connect with Donnalynn here at her site:

https://www.donnalynnriley.com/

Also, Donnalynn has a 5 Day Masterclass you can sign up for in order: Get Out Of Your Head, Embrace Your Imperfections & Get On Track With Your Business!

https://www.donnalynnriley.com/5dc-reg

• brandon handley00:02All right, 54321 Hey there, spiritual dope. I'm on today with Donna Lynn Riley, who is a licensed spiritual health coach who helps people develop evolve and grow.
• 00:17The answers they find that their journey, bring them to a new level clarity and emotional adjustment to help them develop their expertise in business systems management and marketing.
• 00:25And addition to her 12 years as a licensed coach her background is the CEO of a multimillion dollar corporation.
• 00:31informs her ability to help her clients navigate the inner workings of business systems Operations Management and Marketing so they can successfully put it all together themselves.
• 00:42I'm going to cut it down because that, that's great. And I'm so excited because, as we're going back and forth a little bit here earlier. This is exactly what this podcast is about. So thank you for joining me today.
• Donnalynn Riley00:53Oh, it's my pleasure. It's great what you're doing. It's great that you're talking about this. It's really good.
• brandon handley00:58Thank you. Thank you. So you mentioned that you'd call it a couple of podcasts. So what I always like to say is you know you're here today. We're using this podcast as a vehicle to send somebody out there a message, what is it that they need to hear this coming through you today.
• Donnalynn Riley01:17Well, I always think people need to know that life can be a lot easier than we're making it. I think that that's a place where
• 01:29Almost invariably people don't believe that. Right. They just go like, nah, couldn't be that I got to work harder. I gotta do more. I gotta you know think more
• 01:43I have to put out more effort. It's got a cost more. There's got to be a big, you know, emotional or financial cost to the things that I want in life and really
• 01:54Life can be so much easier than we make it. And I think that that's the benefit of of this approach of a spiritual practice that supports.
• 02:06Business life and certainly family life, when I know lots of coaches who do that as well. And, you know, really kind of make it better, just make your life better.
• brandon handley02:16Yeah, no, absolutely. So the idea is that life doesn't have to be so hard.
• Donnalynn Riley02:21Really doesn't
• brandon handley02:23And and also throw out there. I think in the first person that I know that's worked on Broadway. Right. And this is this is a story that you tell
• 02:30In one of your one of your videos right and helping once you tell people use that story real quick here right now. I love that story about just what you said there.
• 02:41Do you remember so so I'll take it away. So you were around 19 your brothers like 10 years old or new
• 02:47Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
• 02:50Yeah yeah
• Donnalynn Riley02:50Okay, okay. I gotcha. Sorry about that.
• 02:54I was like I was there a long time. I don't know.
• brandon handley02:58Just getting into it right and
• 02:59How easy how easy sometimes
• 03:01For you.
• Donnalynn Riley03:01Yeah. So what I love about that is that, um, so. Okay, so let me let me kind of lay it out here so I'm like 19 years old I
• 03:11You know, I'm just out the gate. Right. But I'm 10 foot tall and bulletproof because so was everybody when you're 19
• brandon handley03:18Right. Yeah, absolutely.
• Donnalynn Riley03:19And so when you're not very dinged up
• 03:22You know, you just think like everything's okay and it's going to work out for me and I kind of lived my life like that really clearly I wanted, and I got things I wanted them and they lined up.
• 03:35So, um, I found myself on on Broadway, which I totally expected right because I wanted it. So, and I didn't know any better, and
• 03:46And my brother who's 10 years older than I am. He, he knew better. And he is a he is still actually a scenic artist. And so I was a sound designer. He was a scenic artist and
• 04:01He was working down the block. So I was working on Angels in America, and he was working on City of Angels, which I love that. But there were all these angel references. That's kind of
• brandon handley04:14Sure, yeah.
• Donnalynn Riley04:15And. And he said, Oh, let's, um, he was like down the block. And I hadn't seen him in months. It wasn't like, you know, we were spending Sunday night dinners together or something.
• 04:24And he said, Let's go for lunch. And I was like, yeah, this is great. Yeah, owning the town, you know, in my, in my own head, right.
• 04:32Sure. And he said, you, you. He's walking me to the to the place to get something to eat and
• 04:40He said, You just don't have any idea what it costs to get here. You don't have any idea what these people around you have had to do to get where they want to go and in typical sort of 19 year old fashion. I thought, nope.
• brandon handley04:59Right.
• Donnalynn Riley04:59I don't care.
• 05:00Sure, you know, really, for me, I realized that it is a story that's centered around entitlement. Right, so it's not very popular this moment, but
• 05:10Being able to see yourself.
• 05:13In the position that you want to be to be able to know that these are things that can happen for you as well as somebody else because
• 05:24You put the work in and you are talented and you did you know you met the right people and you were in the right place and you took the all the steps to get there.
• brandon handley05:32Right.
• Donnalynn Riley05:33There by choice. You don't get to be on Broadway. If you suck.
• 05:37You do not need. All right.
• 05:39All right, but they send you home.
• brandon handley05:42Well, you know, I think.
• 05:43I think that um I love how you're hitting on entitlement in this insane and in this way because why should it not
• 05:53Backup people like people bash millennials for kind of having like that kind of entitlement thing. Right. Well, what I admire about that, you know, I think that they would say you got Moxie kid right like kinda back in, but
• 06:07You know what you want and you're not settling for something that you don't. So is that entitlement, or is that knowing your worth.
• Donnalynn Riley06:17Right. It's really tricky. It's really tricky and it is a lot about alignment and I've been fortunate to hear you talk about alignment on the podcast previously and
• 06:28It's a really crucial step in that process. So,
• 06:34Of course, if we want to get kind of
• 06:37Cultural about it, then we can we can sort of back it up a little and say, Well, some people have a lot of things that support the belief already in their lives when they're born, and when they're, you know, one and two and three and so it, it becomes
• 06:55There becomes a divide, but it's a divide in belief.
• brandon handley07:00100%
• Donnalynn Riley07:00You know, so it's a it is a really tricky thing. And the important thing for me in the work that I do with people.
• 07:09Is to whether you've ever experienced that belief or not before is to help you to find that belief because without it is very, very, very difficult to get where you want to go. I, I know people who have done it. It's like they kind of stumbled into their success and that's okay.
• brandon handley07:25That's true, but it's not very reliable.
• Donnalynn Riley07:29And so, you know, doing the inner work to create a system of belief for yourself so that
• 07:36It doesn't sound crazy that you're going to have a successful business or that you're going to get a client that you want to or that you're going to get employees that work out well for you and things like that. I'm doing that inner work makes
• 07:51All the outer stuff kind of
• 07:52Line up real quick, like the story I just told where I went from two years or three years I spent in sound design, we're learning from the best in the business. I was already learning from the people who were there, right.
• 08:06And and and and so I was able to do that very quickly, where a lot of my classmates in college got there 1015 years later, and they worked a lot harder for something because they didn't believe
• 08:23They didn't know
• 08:23They thought, oh, I have to go out and do something else first
• brandon handley08:27Right. We listen, even me today, right now with this podcast. I love it so much. I want to put this, I want to put this
• 08:36Nice polish on, I want to make it feel so good. I want it to be inviting you know
• 08:40That, you know, and this isn't wrong to hire somebody in marketing, but I like I really want these pieces I wanted to look so I want it to be so accepted because it's so
• 08:48meaningful to me right so I'm putting these blocks in
• 08:53For myself, right. I'm just putting these. Oh, I gotta do this like nothing can happen until this happens and all these other things and and literally that is in my own mind, nobody else's. I mean, nobody nobody else cares. That's just me. Right.
• 09:07Right. So when you're out there.
• 09:11And your clientele and and you're working I do they seek you out for one or the other, do you introduce like you know
• 09:20To the business pressure, like, well, if you just loop in some spirituality, then this might be better for you, like, tell me a little bit how this process of working with you, looks
• Donnalynn Riley09:30Yeah, so I kind of stand between that space right I stand between entrepreneurs and small business people who are
• 09:40That's what they do. That's what they've learned. They have a strong background or they have a strong desire but they don't necessarily have any spiritual practice at all.
• 09:49And I sort of stand between that and the people who are very spiritually open but can't figure out how to turn the computer on right
• 09:59And rent like can't figure out the details of, like, how do I charge people. And why would they pay me and
• 10:06These kinds of like nuanced things that, of course, they have a lot of talent and they have a lot of
• 10:13Value in the world, but so I do kind of stand in between those two spaces, I would say that for the most part, most of the people that I work with are
• 10:26Are on the business side but are open.
• brandon handley10:30Okay.
• 10:31Because okay you can
• Donnalynn Riley10:32Sort of insert and this is not you know there are a lot of really involved spiritual practices.
• 10:39And they have value that is beyond what I'm about to express right so this is not to disparage any spiritual practices. I think they all have a lot of value and
• 10:51But you can in a very short period of time with with not a ton of work right. You don't have to go and study with the monks for 18 years right with with putting a practice into your life. You can attain a lot of result and a lot of ease in your life.
• 11:12A lot less frustration, a lot of movement forward right so you can start to assess your situation better and access yourself in moments that are stressful better and all of these things lead to better businesses.
• 11:30But aren't always they're not really taught too often.
• brandon handley11:35I mean, if you have the capability to kind of calm yourself down in the moment, or just realize what you're about to say or
• 11:43If you're feeling tense right so what I'm hearing you say is like you're giving them some of these tools to to really kind of ease into themselves and what they're about.
• Donnalynn Riley11:51Yeah, there's bigger work that we do in order to make lasting change. And that really happens inside one on one trainings that I do or or inside group work that I do with people, but
• 12:08There are so many little what we would call hacks right there, little, like, oh, if I do this, I feel a little better.
• 12:16Right. And those are emergency hacks, you know, and they're really useful. They're a great way to get started. I think because
• 12:26Getting a little relief reminds you that you're probably going to get more relief. If you keep going in that direction. And I think that's a great place to start, particularly for people who are
• 12:41Who don't have a strong spiritual background but know that like there's something going on in my mind set or those kinds of words are being used a lot recently. Right.
• brandon handley12:51Right I yeah for sure. For sure. Right. Well, I mean, it's funny because, you know, I think I started off in the mindset space right but now in this
• 13:01Next level space right where you do this practice, like you said, For doesn't have to be 18 years but you do it repeatedly and you start with like the mindset. You start with the small pieces and
• 13:13You keep just kind of growing into these other spaces and these other practices that are available to and sooner or later you like I guess they were all right.
• Donnalynn Riley13:26I love that. Right.
• brandon handley13:30Right.
• 13:31Right. So, I mean, I guess you know there's something in those things and what they're saying and what they're doing.
• 13:37But, you know, so what what led you into this pace yourself.
• Donnalynn Riley13:43Well,
• 13:45You know, that's a good question. I, when I look back at my life. I see all these moments like the one that I just described when I'm like very young.
• 13:54That fit into this kind of way of thinking and this way of being. But I was really pretty unaware of myself and my spirituality until actually my husband got a life threatening disease.
• 14:15And or problem he got a tumor in his brain cavity.
• 14:20And he when he was very young. He spent a lot of time in hospitals. And so we went to the first doctor and it was a big emergency and he said, I'm getting a second opinion. And then we went to the next doctor who you know we we finagle their way into the good doctors and all of that and
• 14:43We went and he described it. And he said, Oh yeah, you have a little time because I'm very good at this. But, you know, you got to get in here in the next month or something. So it was no longer like a huge emergency we have little time.
• 14:56Sure, and
• 14:59We were driving home. It was in New York City. We live in Massachusetts. It was a long drive home. We were driving home and my husband said to me.
• 15:06Yeah, no, I'm not. I'm not doing that I'm not doing that. I don't know what we're going to do, but I think you should find me another solution because I don't, I'm not going to do that.
• 15:17And that being that you just that just have him for you have been for me. I was like, oh,
• 15:23Wow, okay. That should be my job.
• 15:25Okay.
• Donnalynn Riley15:29No question.
• 15:31In fairness, I'm sure he was very overwhelmed in that moment.
• brandon handley15:35Right out
• Donnalynn Riley15:36Here and and so that was the beginning. That was the kickoff for me to really
• 15:45Take a look at what is possible. So, and be completely outside the box. Yeah. So once I sort of had to be completely outside the box. Then the possibilities became very, very different.
• 16:00So it kicked off a series of involvements with people who could help his health and who could do it in very untraditional ways
• 16:11And also, who required of both of us that we change drastically that we, the concept that we had gotten ourselves into this mess, and that we were going to get ourselves out of this mess was not one that I heard in the doctor's office.
• 16:31Was and it was really clear and so
• 16:34And within
• 16:37A few months, we were both licensed spiritual health coaches, we probably took, I don't know, six months, nine months, something like that for that process and we said, Okay, this is this, we're leaning in because we are not going where that other train was going
• 16:59Okay, so. So that's really the beginning of when I became a much, much more aware of myself of my thoughts of my
• 17:09Relationship to the world of my discomfort that I had become just completely accepting of right I had just said, Oh, well that's the way life is, you know and and really be in that awareness, I found new answers.
• brandon handley17:28So, um, you know what, I guess the one thing is right when you're we're 19 and your earlier years before you
• 17:37had developed an awareness, you would be, what would we call you know
• 17:43Was it
• 17:45Unconscious competence, right, like you and I were you, you were already aligning yourself and you weren't aware that you were doing it. And then once you kind of develop this newfound awareness.
• 17:56You were able to do this with intention and purpose.
• Donnalynn Riley18:00That's exactly right.
• brandon handley18:02Now, so, and also throw out like when you know so I was raised by a hippie mom grew up you know out San Francisco and she was always kicking the word awareness around right when I was growing up, I was like, I'm aware. You see me run into
• 18:15I've ever run into a thing.
• 18:18Right, I use it everything outside of me right everything outside of me. I was I was completely aware of. I didn't miss a beat. Yeah didn't miss a beat. But the awareness that I think that you're talking about today is the awareness inside. Is that fair
• Donnalynn Riley18:32That's exactly right.
• 18:33That is exactly right and very hard to articulate. You did that quite well that
• 18:39People, most of the time, feel like they are aware when they start working with me, they're like, Yeah, yeah, I got that part, I need the accurate assessment. Come on, let's get to the good stuff here.
• 18:49And and that awareness that inner awareness and that ability to kind of be with yourself for periods of time in order to deepen that awareness is very important to the next steps. And so you're absolutely right that people are like, I'm aware. Let's fix my landing page.
• brandon handley19:16It's all
• 19:17It's all marketing has nothing to do with what's happening.
• 19:19Right, right.
• 19:21Nothing internal happening fixed that.
• Donnalynn Riley19:23I just had that targeting right we would
• 19:25All set. So, what what is what is like when when somebody first
• brandon handley19:29Starts off what's uh what's like one tool that you like to start them off with to
• 19:35Begin to develop that inner awareness.
• Donnalynn Riley19:39One of my favorite
• 19:42Sort of
• 19:47Let me go back a second here in my thinking. One of my tools that is the easiest for me to sort of give in this kind of a space.
• 19:59Is actually
• 20:00A little bit of mirror work. Now some people will know mirror work from different varieties of, you know, mindset work and spiritual work.
• 20:10The mirror work that that I find is the fastest path to to becoming present
• 20:22Which is really that first goal is just start being in your body.
• 20:29Is a piece where you literally just sit with the mirror and look in the mirror in your eyes and say I am here.
• 20:42Over and over and over. You're sort of calling to yourself. Right. So there's a lot of work that we do after that that involves breath and
• 20:53Other types of awareness that we can
• 20:55We can bring in
• 20:57But
• 20:59But that's really the the space that I find people kind of are able to bring themselves into the room a little bit and say, oh, OK. I am actually here. Let me give this a shot. I'll be president now.
• brandon handley21:12Well, I mean, cuz it's, there's still the physical aspect of it right, they're still doing a physical activity, but then they're also acknowledging that it's them right right there in front of them and pulling themselves kind of gather right there.
• 21:27Right, so I love that. Yeah.
• Donnalynn Riley21:29And it's deliberate. It's deliberate. So even though a lot of times when people start that process, they don't know. It's deliberate
• 21:37They, they go like, well, I said the words and then I felt different. I don't know what happened. Right. But in fact it there. There is a deliberateness to it. That is really important that you are impacting you
• 21:53In that moment.
• brandon handley21:57Well, that, you know, being deliberate again, you know, intentional, knowing that you're making this choice. I know that I kind of
• 22:04laughed a little bit about it earlier, but you know, you get to wherever you are today. And I think this is what the spiritual coaches were probably telling you before you guys set the course that
• 22:13You guys made the decisions to be in that situation right as as a collective even and you you guys when you first heard that you were just like what that's done, nobody's ever said that, you know, kind of that way right to us before
• 22:29So, I mean, I'm assuming your husband still alive.
• Donnalynn Riley22:32Oh, yeah.
• brandon handley22:35Like I hope the story has a good idea.
• 22:37Because, you know, so
• 22:39What happens right i mean you go in and he jumped into all this stuff, how, you know, how does it clear up on it never gets checked out again and somehow he still is what happened.
• Donnalynn Riley22:48No, no. So what happens on that story is that we do the work we do the inner work and we do the emergency inner work and it is kind of emergency at that
• 23:02Maybe for a year or so as you still feel like what's happening.
• 23:07And we he gets checked out again. And it's shrinking.
• 23:12Okay, and we have do have, I will say a spectacular doctor who's actually a doctor.
• brandon handley23:20Sure, sure. And
• 23:22It's always handy to have one on standby.
• Donnalynn Riley23:25WELL KNOW WHO DOES THIS WORK. Oh.
• brandon handley23:27Okay, that sounds even better yet,
• Donnalynn Riley23:29He's a trained Western doctor but functions in an Eastern paradigm
• brandon handley23:35Love it.
• Donnalynn Riley23:36And so he his toolkit is very, very large. And he honestly I've seen. I've never seen a problem he hasn't been able to impact positively and I have seen him deal with a lot of stuff now.
• 23:53So, so we had the guidance we had long distance guidance, because he's not right here in our backyard and
• 24:01We had long distance guidance and we did the work. And that I think is the, the key to that is to sort of have somebody who's ahead of you who can say, yeah, no, no, no. You're going in a direction. You'll be all right.
• 24:14Sure, sure. And so eventually that tumor went away.
• brandon handley24:17That's amazing. I love it. And so
• 24:20You would attribute that almost all to the air work was there like a dietary change.
• Donnalynn Riley24:26There were other changes. Yeah, absolutely. There were dietary changes, and we think there was
• 24:35Well, in his particular case, it had a great deal to do with a inability to deal properly with pesticides and with wheat.
• brandon handley24:46In the
• Donnalynn Riley24:46On the dietary front. So there was that and
• 24:54I think there was juicing and there was a lot of things.
• brandon handley24:57Which are look at
• 24:59Things. Right.
• 25:00Body. Sure, absolutely. Absolutely. So, and I think that's, that's interesting. The two right you know so change a die with this practice. I'm the things that are inside of you are the things that are outside of you know that this
• 25:15Miracle doesn't kind of happen on its own. You gotta, you gotta put it together and you got to maintain it and you know the things that do happen to it. Your body's a miracle. Right. It's amazing.
• 25:28And it's something like that's happening in this story right you have the ability to change that without getting i don't know i'm guessing he was getting a laser to the back of the head or something right was
• Donnalynn Riley25:39Wasn't. No, no, they wanted to do full
• 25:41On surgery.
• 25:43can address and take goop out
• 25:47And put goop in from other part.
• brandon handley25:52Was
• Donnalynn Riley25:53Unbelievably scary.
• brandon handley25:55Sure, sure. So, but, I mean, the what's amazing too and your story is that a lot of people would have just gone ahead and gone that route. Right.
• Donnalynn Riley26:03And they would have tried to talk to your spouse into it. It's their spouse said no. And that I think is something that is I, I have been very fortunate to be able to have that reciprocal relationship with my husband, where if one of us says, No, no, this is how I really feel about the thing
• 26:20Yeah, even if the other one thinks like, ah, you're just scarred, we should get you over that.
• 26:26But there is enough space. And this is an important concept in in business in the way we live our lives in general. Right.
• 26:35Is that there is enough space for us to be scarred and still have full and wonderful lives. It's kind of I think of it a lot about
• 26:45How you know how certain trees grow and they get these scars in them. And then we cut them up and we make them into coffee tables and we call them beautiful world would
• 26:54Say. Isn't that spectacular right
• 26:57Well, that's what we're making yeah in ourselves, we have experienced life and things haven't gone right and we have changed the way that we deal with things F, day after day after day and tried new approaches and had new experiences.
• 27:14And all of those things are brought into this present moment. And if you allow them then finding a new answer that. That doesn't mean you have to like check out your whole personality becomes somebody else right
• brandon handley27:32Right, right.
• Donnalynn Riley27:32No, no, it's okay. You can go spend time in the hospital.
• 27:36Right show. You don't have to be someone else. You can be you and you can be successful.
• brandon handley27:41Right. Well, yeah. And in regards to write the
• 27:46Merging all this together. Right.
• 27:48But I'll say it. I love Maplewood like the birds. I'm April, right, that's kind of one of the one of the times, you're talking about right and it does become so beautiful. Right. I'm like, I'm over you're sitting right now we're turning ourselves into beautiful maple tables but
• 28:02I love, I love the story that you're telling about that. I think that that's great.
• 28:09So let's just I want is, what if some of that wasn't working at any point would didn't feel like, you know, because I don't want to get the impression that
• 28:19You shouldn't keep a doctor nearby. Right. I mean, because you guys kept the doctor nearby that right live as he was a Western medicine doctor that yes also specialize in this space.
• Donnalynn Riley28:29I think that the the message that should not be taken from my experience is, go do something extreme like I did right and that the message that should be taken, I hope people take from my experience is be true to yourself and find your own answers.
• 28:54Because they are there, but they're only there if you calm down long enough to allow them to sort of become revealed. They weren't there in the doctor's office right only the first step, which was no I know what I don't want
• brandon handley29:10To
• Donnalynn Riley29:11But there wasn't the step of, like, I know what I do want. Right. Yeah.
• 29:16Yeah. And in fact, I think that something very important happened there because it was life threatening. Right, it's not
• 29:23It's not the same as in business where things can go right or wrong and we can find our own alignment. Right. But in this scenario. I think one of the most
• 29:35impactful things that happened was that my husband had someone to turn to and say, You figure it out because he then could go about the business of lining up with becoming well
• 29:51He didn't know how, but he had faith.
• 29:53Yeah, leaf. He said, This person loves me and they're relatively smart. They'll figure it out.
• brandon handley30:02Well, I think you bring the other one up to which I always love you don't have to know how you don't have to know how you just have to know that that's what you want. That's right. Right. And us where they can just
• 30:16Move forward in that direction. You know, as if it's not Nestle like I i get i get a little caught up in between, like Law of Attraction with like, you know,
• 30:28Spirituality space, right. I don't think that they're one the same. I think they're very close, but I don't I don't I don't like to make a sandwich out of, I guess.
• 30:37Um,
• Donnalynn Riley30:38But so many ways to look at life you know
• 30:41It would be a shame to sort of collapse it into only one way
• 30:46Hundred percent I think that's one of the reasons that the concept of spirituality so appealing to me is that it's big.
• brandon handley30:53Right, it's yours.
• Donnalynn Riley30:54I can be a part of this energy and I can be a part of that energy and I don't have to really understand it intellectually. I just have to decide that I'm willing to be a part of that.
• brandon handley31:05Right. No, I see ideas. Do you even know how you're here. Right. I mean, we don't even understand how we're here to begin with, I mean. So where does that leave us so
• 31:19Let's talk a little bit more about the outside of the story. Thanks for sharing that. That was
• Donnalynn Riley31:22My pleasure. Thanks for bringing it up. I, I had
• 31:26Was I was gonna tell it.
• brandon handley31:27Yes. I mean you know that, but that's that's kind of how you got into this space. And then, you know, I'm guessing that you kind of incorporated. Now some of this spiritual practice modality. And you were seeing the benefits that it was having in the business space.
• 31:41So at
• Donnalynn Riley31:42That time
• 31:43I was actually the CEO of a corporation.
• 31:46Okay, so
• 31:49This was what my life was like, like my every day was going to work as the CEO of a corporation.
• 31:56Right, so, you know, to, to become to to shift perspective in this massive way and then go back to work the next day and be like,
• 32:08Oh yeah, I'm gonna do it, just the way I used to do it.
• 32:11Let them work out.
• 32:13Right, so there had to be for me a re assessing a real understanding of the business world so that and the end the specifics of my business involvement with people so that I could find peace with the
• 32:36The
• 32:38Pathway that we were on
• brandon handley32:40Okay.
• Donnalynn Riley32:40So I had many years to do that. I didn't leave that world until
• 32:452014 and I that the story I told. And when I got my licensure was well
• 32:55The story I told started in 2007
• 32:58Okay, so it was putting a time in their
• 33:02Right to Try concepts out to go to work and to feel differently about things and then see what happens. And now have to take action right away.
• 33:12To decide that your solution to this relationship problem with an employee with the board of directors with it. Whoever whoever you're dealing with with with the clients themselves.
• 33:27That you are going to shift that but not by going in and saying something different or doing something different and being like, I am different. Now, now you behave differently, right, which is how people love to approach it.
• 33:38Sure does not work doesn't work, just
• 33:42But to really be able to take the time to say okay I am willing to to try everything that I have learned out on myself and to teach it to my staff and to pass it along to people who come and ask for it.
• 34:02There was a lot of opportunity right now. I'm seeing a lot of people in a day. And there's a lot of opportunity and people will ask you the wildest things
• 34:10Sure. And so
• 34:14Yeah, so I had that I had that. And so that was a way for me to really shift the way that I saw business. And what I knew for a fact would work in business.
• 34:27I had a lot of knowing what didn't work. And some of what did work. I had attained a position and, you know, was filling that position. Well, and all of that. But I really was able to sort of AMP that all up by
• 34:40By being able to try these things and not know
• 34:45If they were going to work.
• 34:47And do them anyway.
• brandon handley34:49What would be an example of that.
• Donnalynn Riley34:55Well, there was at one point there was a time when the board of directors was not happy with me.
• 35:04Man I know, it doesn't mean it doesn't even make sense.
• 35:06No, it doesn't. It kind of in this world.
• 35:09And and was not happy with anyone in my
• 35:15In my purview at all like not like there was no one. And so there was one particular board member who would come in and
• 35:24Kind of create difficulty. Right. It was a time of change. And I was directing the, the company in a direction that was scary and different and new
• 35:36And that was not really okay for that board and so that member would come in and and sort of undermine what was happening or stand in the way of what was happening.
• 35:49And I don't think that was the intention, but I think that it was really to look out for the company and to like really well founded. But really bad idea. And so this went on for
• 36:05Several weeks several weeks and different members of my staff kept coming to me and saying, what are we going to do this can't go on and I would have a chat and, you know, it still went on and that was the way it was. And I had tried a lot of business solutions for this.
• 36:23But one day I decided that I was going to just focus on the inner work and I spent all of my off time
• 36:34Doing that inner work and it was a process it. A lot of times people like me to sort of distill it down into one thing that I did. And certainly, I could name some things that you can do in that scenario but
• 36:48Really, the important thing was that I was no longer tied to the outcome based on yesterday.
• 36:56So that we had been through it right. This has been going on for weeks, we had tried everything we know what didn't work. We know. No, no. Right. But we didn't really we didn't because today is a new day.
• 37:09And this is a new moment.
• 37:11Right. And so once that happened once there was a disassociation with the past, then
• 37:19The process of becoming holy present and allowing the other people to become wholly present other this person in particular.
• 37:29Then the, the issues that are around, it can be dealt with and the attitude can shift. And there can no longer be. It doesn't have to be an aggressive situation, which is what had developed
• 37:41Right. But once that all dissipates. Then you can have the real conversations about the work that really should be being done in those in that scenario.
• 37:52Right, I should be held accountable for that in my position and that person should be able to say what they have to say. But there was no space for
• 38:00Any of that.
• 38:02And to east and east and east and about two weeks later, one of the gentlemen that work for me came to me and said, What did you do
• 38:13What did you do
• 38:14Well you fixed it for you, but you didn't fix it for me.
• 38:19And I said, Well, I could teach you what it was like, why can't you just fix it.
• brandon handley38:26That's funny. That's funny. So one of the things that you kind of, you start out there to with the is not having to take action right away, right, because we feel that
• 38:36We need to take this action immediately to for some type of corrective measure like
• 38:42Where the like where the savior of whatever is happening, they're like, well, there's no we got to fix this. Right. But you're saying though, you just kind of step back. Yeah. But some of the things just play out on their own and right
• Donnalynn Riley38:55Yeah, that's exactly right. That's exactly right. There's actually a three step process that I teach that
• 39:02Is a called the triple a method of transformation and that three step process is really important. Some people get one step.
• 39:12Some people get two steps, but rarely do we hear people talk about the third, the middle step right
• 39:18Right. So the first step in that is awareness and we've talked a lot about that today, which is
• 39:23Wonderful. And the third step in that is the action stage right the adaptation. What are you going to do, usually people kind of jump from one to the other and they go, they go like, yes, I'm aware there's a problem. Now I have a solution.
• 39:38And it's the middle step that is the most important and that really isn't an accurate assessment, you can't make an accurate assessment, unless you're in a receiving mode you're in a
• 39:58Listening period. A watching period a learning period right it's you can't assess something. If you think you know everything about it already.
• 40:09So you have to do the exploration that is that middle stage that's between Awareness. Awareness of yourself awareness of your situation and then
• 40:21Learning so that you can be accurate in your assessment. And that's, I think, really where most of the time it all falls apart is that the assessment is not accurate.
• 40:33Hmm. And so that's how you jump from the one step to the other step is that you go like now I got this move on.
• 40:43But you don't know yet. But there's like a guy behind the curtain run and my thing. You know what I mean.
• 40:48Sure.
• 40:49So that's
• brandon handley40:51That's more than you know awareness of your thought process awareness of the, you know, conscious choices awareness of doing these things.
• 41:00With purpose and intention, but also, you know, I like how you bring up this you know accurate assessment piece because it was just yesterday as matter of fact I sat down with a transformational coach and
• 41:14It was what you're saying here is you can assess, but kind of like a and I feel like this is what I had done right I assess the situation quickly.
• 41:24And felt that was good enough. Right. And then he goes, Well, I think, actually, you need to go one more layer deeper. Yeah. And he took me one more layer deeper. And I was like, Oh my gosh, you know,
• Donnalynn Riley41:35Totally different answer to. Right.
• brandon handley41:37Well, totally different answer. Totally different feeling totally different space in place and you know
• 41:44Therefore, ergo my assessment initially was not accurate. Yeah, that's right. Right.
• 41:53And you know we're here. We keep learning and this, this is even has to do with just, you know, if you're working with a client, they feel like they know who they are. All right. And you've got it you what you're doing is you're helping them to slow down and
• 42:07Truly learn who they really are. Yeah.
• Donnalynn Riley42:09That's exactly right. That's exactly right. And I think that was true for me. So I think that one of the things that makes it easier for me to
• 42:18To talk to people is that I've stood someplace. Very, very similar to where they're standing and so that feeling like I know especially having some early success.
• 42:30Right, sure. No, I do. No.
• 42:33No, I did it. I know how to do it. No, no, actually you don't
• 42:39Because you did it, but you didn't know how you did it.
• 42:41Yeah, you did it, but you can't repeat it, and
• 42:46Source, all of that.
• brandon handley42:48Sure, yeah.
• 42:50But it's looking those steps and and and i think that we've been fortunate, right, like a laughed at the beginning how there's, you know,
• 43:00There's pathways for us to take you know that the plenty of people have done this before us. We're not the first people to show up like I got this.
• 43:08Follow me like there's no whole whole society is built on this and
• 43:13We're lucky that we've got that available to us right that framework, the possibility to kind of
• 43:18Go to even you right or you know your spiritual coaches to run them in the first time, like there's a whole nother way.
• 43:25And it fits into this and, oh, I can get the same results by but but by doing it this way instead of this other brash like I'm going to take the bull by the horns and crush everybody mentality. Right. Yeah.
• Donnalynn Riley43:40Yeah, I, I, actually, when I first kind of got that there was another way and that it was actually more effective I so I had been into herbs, my whole life where I felt like I i liked spices in my food, and I
• 43:54I knew some of the properties of things. And I would you know give myself cold medicine by eating the garlic or whatever it was. Right, sure, and and
• 44:03I got that there was, I knew about herbs and spices that there were in different parts of the world, they would do the same things, but be totally different plans.
• 44:13And I was like,
• 44:14Oh, I don't really get why that's true, that you can take turmeric from India and you can take, you know, yarrow from North America and you're going to get a similar thing and happening for you.
• 44:29And I, I knew that it was possible, but I couldn't make any sense of it until we got to this concept, this concept of being present and being aware
• 44:44And showing up in a new way and then taking action. Then I got, oh, there are just so many ways, right. I could have said 10 different things in that moment.
• 44:57And gotten a really similar response to that, or maybe my relationship problem, like I've, I've worked with people a lot with
• 45:07business relationships where they're particularly with employees, where they're not getting the results they want with the employees and they feel like it's the employees problem.
• 45:18And that works. The first or second or third employee, but it does not work after that.
• 45:23To face a few things.
• 45:26And you can try all the techniques you want, right, there's a lot of management techniques and those i'm sure can be effective in under certain circumstances.
• 45:37But really when you're willing to do that work inside you and the technique, doesn't matter anymore because
• 45:45The result can happen regardless of the technique that you're using, sort of like that plant it's planted in a, you know, different sides of the earth, but it's helping your body because the world is meant to support us for sure that's what that's what is here for
• brandon handley46:01At least from our perspective. Hundred percent hundred percent
• Donnalynn Riley46:05Plant feels like it's there for them.
• brandon handley46:08But what I just I just saw like you know I think somebody talk. I think I was listening to Wayne Dyer right and he's talking about like if you lift the seeds or whatever and you plant them that they take in that your DNA, and they grow to to you.
• 46:21Yeah, so
• 46:22So I'll always always something interesting.
• 46:26Always something interesting. Geez, you said something there that I wanted to hit on but uh what you know.
• 46:34So what are some. What are some that's what's gonna say, so you're, you know, the techniques become
• 46:42More like a again a vehicle for what's inside of you, right, and that's your focal point, you're like, All right, you know,
• 46:49It's the techniques, not working. It's because I look I take to jujitsu right and oftentimes the, the deal is, I'm using a technique, but I'm also trying to put all this force power behind like
• 47:04Running grown in
• 47:06But it's when I relax and just simply apply the technique.
• 47:11That it works. I'm like, why, what this doesn't make any sense. Right. So again, it sounds like you know if you do the inner work and you figure out kind of what's in you just you just kind of let that out, Masha, but you focus it gently on the technique, it works.
• Donnalynn Riley47:23Yeah, we're back where we were when we started right life can be a lot easier than we make it
• brandon handley47:30And and so you know what what are
• 47:34What are some of the other things that you're finding with your clients right. How are they, what's their reception been to their new selves.
• Donnalynn Riley47:44Reception to their new cells. Fantastic question.
• 47:48Wow. I like I'm pretty good.
• brandon handley47:54Sure.
• Donnalynn Riley47:55You know, it feels a lot better to be not frustrated and not irritated and have a new way to accept your imperfections and to say I can be whole and I can show up and I can shift my life in these ways where I get the result that I want and still be may
• brandon handley48:18Not have to
• Donnalynn Riley48:19Turn into somebody else. I mean, I think these are the kinds of things that a lot of times people really feel like, all right, I want to go there. So I'll just be someone else for a while.
• 48:33They
• 48:34Got themselves off from themselves, right.
• brandon handley48:36So,
• Donnalynn Riley48:37And this is how people end up to be older and more bitter.
• 48:43And then eventually at some point they say I'm not doing that anymore. And sometimes that's at retirement age sometimes that's a lot earlier.
• 48:52You're really lucky if you don't have a lot of patience for that kind of thing in your life.
• brandon handley48:57Well, you know, you know, recently, my wife, she she hit that point right she just said this is enough. This is too much and and she's now you know we come from two different types of backgrounds. Right.
• 49:08Where she came from, you know, the you work hard, you get a job you keep that job for as long as you can, it's safe. It's good. They watch out for you.
• 49:16But at what cost, right, I think you'd mentioned that to like what costs like you're the costs.
• 49:22Is you your life, your, your whole, you know, they call it grind it out for a reason. You're losing each day to the grind. So I don't want to keep you too long, but this has been, I've had a lot of fun with this conversation.
• 49:35A lot of fun with this conversation.
• 49:37Where, where should and we did talk about you do have something coming up. I want to make sure people know that you've got this, you've got this challenge come out to us talk on that.
• Donnalynn Riley49:45You. I do. I have a five day
• 49:49Workshop, or I'm
• 49:53Just loving the words just scramble away from you.
• brandon handley49:56Absolutely, it says all day every day.
• 49:59To
• Donnalynn Riley49:59Day challenge coming up and it, it is called get out of your head. Embrace your imperfections and get on track with your business.
• 50:10And so that's what we're going to do for five days, we're going to go through the process and we're going to really delve into that process. We talked a little bit more
• 50:19Earlier about the AAA method of transformation and get to apply some of that and really see what kind of
• 50:29changes we can make in such a short period of time for lots and lots of people to to quiet the noise to to find that space that we've been talking about and to still be wholly yourself to really embrace that you're okay, as Your imperfections and then apply that process.
• 50:51It's a very interesting process, I think.
• 50:53It will be really great to see how everybody does.
• brandon handley50:56That's awesome. So what type of people should be attending this event.
• Donnalynn Riley51:00Anyone who's interested in business.
• 51:05Who is open. Yeah.
• 51:07Yeah, so this is this work is not easy. It's not like, you know, kind of, you were talking about this with talking about your wife's background and a lot of people come from a background where it's kind of supposed to be hard. And when life is not fun. They say, what is it they say they say
• brandon handley51:27Oh my lemonade.
• 51:31Life's not supposed to be fair, I don't know.
• Donnalynn Riley51:33Yeah, all that
• brandon handley51:34All that stuff.
• Donnalynn Riley51:35So what, like, I get that. And there are people who need that kind of structure in their life, and they're not ready to let go of that that's okay with me.
• brandon handley51:43Yeah.
• Donnalynn Riley51:43Don't come to mind.
• 51:47But anyone everyone. I hope Pro has a business involvement writing particularly I work for the most part with entrepreneurs.
• 51:57So you're the driver of your business boat, it makes it much easier. And who wants to work on something and knows that the answer is somewhere in them might they're willing to do some work for it. That is personal. That is development personal development work.
• 52:20And and really you show up with willingness and I'd be happy to guide you all the way through the process that would be great.
• brandon handley52:30Awesome and listen.
• 52:32You know, you've had you been a successful CEO, you started off successful businesses you sold businesses.
• 52:41And, you know, for anybody, which website. Again, Donald in
• Donnalynn Riley52:46Donnellan Riley calm.
• brandon handley52:48Down. So head over to the site shine house or for videos yourself, you will be able to see
• 52:53That she knows what she's talking about. So I think that that's really exciting. And, you know, we didn't dig too deep into the business aspects of today. We just had a really great. I felt like conversation.
• 53:03But you clearly know you know what it is that you're doing. You've done the work you contains to do the work. And you know what you're putting out. I think there's no top notch really really quality stuff.
• Donnalynn Riley53:13Thank you so much. It was really a pleasure to be here and to get to talk about this topic in such depth. So that's really nice. It's great that you're talking about this in a in a really deep way this sort of spirituality and business and in that space.
• brandon handley53:28You know what, you got to be able to like you keep saying, and that's what it means to bring all of who you are right, they're not two separate things. If you keep your spiritual self over here and your material or reality over here, you're missing out on the one, two punch you know
• 53:44You really you've really got the opportunity to kind of blend you're you're working at 50% of capacity. Yeah, right. So he can
• 53:51You know blend those two which which I know you can teach how to do what you get to bring to your workplace or wherever you decide to show up after you learn about who you are. It's just, it's that much more powerful. Yeah.
• Donnalynn Riley54:04It really is.
• brandon handley54:05Yeah. Hundred percent. Thanks again.

• Donnalynn Riley00:59:18Thank you.

Audio version of https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/sp-gn-best-awakening-resources-of-2020/

Vedanta NY: https://soundcloud.com/vedantany or https://www.youtube.com/vedantany

Alan Watts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alan-watts-podcast/id119777571 https://tunein.com/podcasts/Philosophy-Podcasts/Alan-Watts-Podcast-p1136529/

Wayne Dyer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-wayne-w-dyer-podcast/id988177838 https://tunein.com/podcasts/Motivational/Dr-Wayne-W-Dyer-Podcast-p739916/

I'm awake now what?: https://ianwpodcast.com/pages/listen-to-im-awake-now-what-podcast