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If you’ve been feeling called to energy healing, Reiki, or a deeper connection with yourself, this episode is your invitation to begin.
In this powerful and heart-centered episode, Bertena explores what Reiki 1 self-healing truly is, why becoming certified can transform your relationship with your energy, and how this work supports your spiritual awakening and Priestess path.
Reiki is more than a technique—it is a way of returning to your body, calming your nervous system, and learning how to support yourself energetically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether you are completely new to Reiki or already on a spiritual journey, this episode will help you understand how Reiki 1 can become a foundational practice in your life.
You’ll also learn how Bertena blends traditional Reiki teachings with Divine Feminine healing, Kundalini energy awareness, and somatic movement practices to create a deeply embodied healing experience.
✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Reiki 1 is the beginning of your healing journey. It teaches you how to:
This is not about becoming someone else—it’s about remembering who you are.
🔥 Upcoming Reiki 1 CertificationJoin Bertena for an in-person Reiki 1 Certification at
Cosmic Connections
🗓 Sunday | 1:00–5:00 PM
💫 Investment: $199
🔁 Refresher Rate: $99 (if you’ve taken Reiki 1 before)
✨ Includes:
👉 Register here: yourcosmicconnections.com
💻 Private Reiki Training AvailableIf you cannot attend in person, you can book a private Reiki 1 training (in-person or Zoom). These sessions are personalized to your pace and needs.
📧 Email: [email protected] to discuss your options.
🌿 Who This Episode is ForThis episode is perfect for you if:
✨ Listen to more episodes: https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast
✨ Explore classes + events: https://yourcosmicconnections.com
💫 Keywords (SEO)Reiki 1, Reiki certification, self-healing, energy healing for beginners, chakras explained, Kundalini energy, Divine Feminine healing, somatic healing, nervous system regulation, spiritual awakening, Priestess path, Reiki training near me, Reiki class Nashville, beginner Reiki course
📱 Call to ActionIf this episode resonated with you:
💛 Share it with a friend
💛 Subscribe to the podcast
💛 Leave a review to help other women find this work
And if you feel the call… trust it.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville.
🎁 Listener perks:
Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners.
👉 Visit Cosmic Connections:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com
There is a deeper story of Mary Magdalene—one that has been hidden beneath centuries of distortion, silence, and misunderstanding.
In this episode of The Spiritual Sanctuary, we move beyond the version we were taught and step into the truth of Magdalene as a teacher, healer, and priestess of the Divine Feminine.
This is not just a historical exploration…
This is a remembrance.
Together, we explore her connection to Jesus Christ (Yeshua) through the lens of sacred union, the balance of Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine energies, and what that means for your own spiritual path today.
We also journey into her connection to ancient mystery teachings, including the lineage of Isis, and how these initiations shaped her role as a healer and spiritual leader.
And we uncover one of the most fascinating and symbolic stories—the red egg—and its connection to resurrection, rebirth, and what we now know as Easter.
🌿 What You’ll Experience in This Episode✨ The true story of Mary Magdalene beyond historical distortion
✨ Her role as a Rose Priestess and Divine Feminine teacher
✨ The deeper meaning of her connection with Yeshua
✨ The spiritual symbolism of the red egg and Easter
✨ The lost teachings from the Gospel of Mary
✨ How Magdalene’s path connects to your own awakening
🌹 This Episode is for You If…Take your time with this one… it is meant to be experienced slowly, like a meditation or sacred remembering.
👉 https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast
🌿 Go Deeper✨ Read the companion Substack article:
👉 https://bertena.substack.com/
✨ Join my FREE Zoom Class: Introduction to the Divine Feminine
🗓 Thursday, April 2
⏰ 7 PM (CT)
👉 https://yourcosmicconnections.com/pages/classes-and-events
🌹 A Personal NoteI want to thank you for your patience with this episode.
It is a busy time at the university, and I truly have not slept much these past few days… but this message felt too important to rush.
I look forward to continuing to walk this path with you.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville.
🎁 Listener perks:
Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners.
👉 Visit Cosmic Connections:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com
There is a softer way to live…
and this month, we are exploring it together.
Join us for a free Spiritual Book Club for Women on Thursday, April 23 from 7:00–8:00 PM (Zoom) as we dive into the powerful and heart-centered book:
Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want by Courtney Carver
✨ This is more than a book discussion—it is a sacred pause. A moment to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with yourself in a supportive circle of women walking the spiritual path.
🌸 About the BookIn a world that constantly tells us to do more, push harder, and keep going…
this book offers a radical, healing alternative.
Organized into three transformative sections—Rest, Less, and Rise—this book shares 30 gentle challenges and simple practices designed to help you:
• Release overwhelm and chronic stress
• Slow down your nervous system and reconnect with your body
• Create space for what truly matters
• Shift your mindset without burnout or pressure
• Live a life that feels aligned, peaceful, and authentic
This is about finding strength in your softness…
fierceness in your flexibility…
and learning how to rise without force.
🌿 What We’ll Experience TogetherDuring this sacred one-hour gathering, we will:
• Reflect on key themes from the book: rest, simplicity, and gentle living
• Share personal insights and experiences (optional—come as you are)
• Explore how “gentleness” connects to the Divine Feminine path
• Discuss practical ways to incorporate these teachings into your daily life
• Hold space for one another in a supportive, heart-centered community
✨ You will also receive inspiration to help you:
– Let go of pressure and perfectionism
– Create a more sustainable spiritual practice
– Reconnect with your inner wisdom and natural rhythm
🎧 Special Media InspirationWe will also reference insights from Courtney Carver’s work and teachings, including her message on simplicity and intentional living.
🔗 Author Website: https://bemorewithless.com/
📺 Includes inspiration from a CBS News feature clip highlighting her philosophy of living with less and embracing a gentler life.
🌸 Who This Is ForThis gathering is for you if you are:
• Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or constantly “doing”
• Craving a slower, more intentional way of living
• On a spiritual or healing journey
• Wanting connection with like-minded women
• Ready to embrace softness as strength
You do not need to finish the book to attend—just come with an open heart.
🌿 Event Details📅 Thursday, April 23
⏰ 7:00 – 8:00 PM (Zoom)
💻 Online Gathering (Live + Community Discussion)
💖 FREE to attend
✨ Register here:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com/pages/classes-and-events
Hosted in partnership with our sponsor, Cosmic Connections, supporting your spiritual journey with classes, community, and sacred tools.
🌸 Final InvitationYou don’t have to earn your rest.
You don’t have to push to be worthy.
You don’t have to live in constant urgency.
This is your invitation to slow down… soften… and come back to yourself.
Join us for an evening of reflection, connection, and gentle transformation.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville.
🎁 Listener perks:
Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners.
👉 Visit Cosmic Connections:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com
Discover the ancient spiritual meaning of Ostara, the Spring Equinox, and the goddess Eostre, the divine feminine archetype of renewal, fertility, and rebirth.
In this deep and immersive episode, we explore the pagan origins of Ostara, the symbolism of eggs and rabbits, fertility traditions, sacred feminine mythology, and the spiritual awakening that occurs during the Spring Equinox.
Learn how ancient cultures honored the return of the light, the balance of day and night, and the rebirth of the Earth after winter.
In this episode you will discover:
• The history and mythology of the goddess Eostre
• The pagan origins of Easter traditions
• Why eggs, rabbits, and spring flowers became sacred symbols of fertility
• The spiritual meaning of the Spring Equinox
• How to celebrate Ostara with rituals, altars, and intention setting
• The connection between Mary Magdalene, the sacred egg, and the Divine Feminine
• Guided reflections for spiritual rebirth and personal transformation
This episode also includes a guided meditation to connect with the goddess Eostre and awaken your inner light as the Earth returns to life.
If you are drawn to the Divine Feminine, seasonal spirituality, nature rituals, or goddess traditions, this episode will help you reconnect with the ancient rhythms of the Earth.
Topics explored in this episode:
Spring Equinox spiritual meaning
Ostara pagan holiday
Goddess Eostre mythology
Origins of Easter traditions
Sacred symbolism of eggs and rabbits
Divine feminine rebirth and renewal
Spring rituals and altar ideas
Ancient fertility celebrations
Mary Magdalene and sacred feminine symbolism
How to celebrate Ostara today
Spiritual Practices Included• Spring Equinox reflection questions
• Ostara altar inspiration
• Connecting with the goddess Eostre
• Guided meditation for renewal
Visit bertena.org for the blog and other self paced online and virtual classes that may interest you
🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
👉 https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville.
🎁 Listener perks:
Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners.
👉 Visit Cosmic Connections:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Cosmic Connections
Website
What does it really take to build a spiritual business?
In this deeply personal episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena shares the real story behind her journey into spiritual entrepreneurship — a path that began as a dream, stopped and restarted multiple times, and eventually grew into a thriving spiritual practice.
This episode is not a “perfect success story.”
It’s a story of persistence, faith, doubt, and returning again and again to a soul calling.
Bertena shares how she:
• Opened a meditation and Reiki center in Bowling Green
• Traveled across Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee doing psychic and metaphysical fairs
• Taught yoga classes from her home before the pandemic
• Lost her assistant professor position during COVID
• Rebuilt her career while working at Western Kentucky University
• Slowly grew her spiritual business from hobby to side hustle to future full-time work
If you have ever wondered whether you could turn your spiritual gifts into meaningful work, this episode explores the emotional and practical realities of doing exactly that.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode• The real challenges of starting a spiritual business
• Why imposter syndrome is common among healers and intuitives
• How money wounds affect spiritual entrepreneurs
• What it’s like building a business while working another career
• Why many women step into their calling later in life
• The power of the Crone archetype and spiritual leadership in your 50s
• Why spiritual callings return again and again until we listen
You’ll also hear the moment Bertena realized she could no longer ignore the path she was meant to walk.
Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is perfect for:
• Reiki practitioners
• Tarot readers and intuitive guides
• Yoga teachers
• Energy healers
• Spiritual coaches
• Women exploring purpose later in life
• Anyone curious about spiritual entrepreneurship
Even if you don’t want to start a business, this conversation may inspire you to deepen your spiritual practice and trust your intuition.
Upcoming Sacred Business WorkshopBertena is teaching Sacred Business Creation: Turning Your Soul Gifts Into Purpose
In-Person Workshop
March 8 | 10 AM – 6 PM
Live Zoom Workshop
March 15 | 10 AM – 6 PM
This full-day immersive experience helps healers, intuitives, and spiritual teachers create aligned, authentic businesses rooted in purpose and sustainability.
Register here:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com/pages/classes-and-events
Listen to More EpisodesExplore more spiritual teachings, guided reflections, and conversations about intuition, healing, and the Divine Feminine at:
https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville.
🎁 Listener perks:
Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners.
👉 Visit Cosmic Connections:
https://yourcosmicconnections.com
🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here
Mentioned in this episode:
Website
Cosmic Connections
What is the difference between Shakti energy, chakras, and Kundalini energy?
Are they the same thing?
Is Kundalini awakening dangerous?
Do chakras “open”?
What does Shakti actually mean?
In this episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena breaks down these commonly misunderstood spiritual concepts in a clear, grounded, and beginner-friendly way.
No fear-based language.
No overcomplication.
No spiritual drama.
Just a calm, embodied explanation of how the chakra system works, what Shakti represents in yogic philosophy, and how Kundalini energy relates to both.
You’ll learn:
• What chakras actually are (and what they are not)
• The true meaning of Shakti energy in yoga and Tantra
• What Kundalini energy is and how it rises
• Why Kundalini awakening should never be forced
• How energy moves safely through a regulated nervous system
• The difference between spiritual growth and spiritual intensity
• How this applies to your daily life and emotional healing
If you've ever felt confused about energy work, chakra balancing, or Kundalini activation — this episode will bring clarity and stability to your spiritual path.
This is spiritual wisdom explained simply.
Key Takeaways• Chakras are energy centers along the spine
• Shakti is the life force energy that flows through all living things
• Kundalini is a dormant, concentrated form of Shakti at the base of the spine
• You do not need to force Kundalini awakening
• Grounding and nervous system regulation are essential for spiritual growth
• Slow integration is safer and more sustainable than dramatic activation
Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is perfect for:
If you’ve been researching “What is Shakti?” or “How do chakras work?” — this episode will give you grounded clarity.
About the HostBertena is a Reiki Master Teacher, Somatic Yoga facilitator, Priestess, author, and former sociology professor who blends academic knowledge with embodied spiritual practice. She teaches grounded, cyclical, and nervous-system-safe approaches to energy work and Divine Feminine wisdom.
Work With BertenaOnline classes + Priestess Academy
https://www.bertena.org
Private sessions (Readings, Energy Healing, Coaching)
https://yourcosmicconnections.com/pages/bertena-varney
Blog + deeper spiritual essays
https://bertena.substack.com
Thanks to our sponsor Cosmic Connections in Nashville you can receive 10% off any online order using the code BertenaPodcast10 and if you listen and comment below then you can be placed in a drawing for a $10 gift card to their online store.
Remember to comment below on Spotify and you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card.
And just for listening to this podcast use code Bertenapodcast10 to get 10% off of your online order at yourcosmicconnections.com
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here
Mentioned in this episode:
Website
Cosmic Connections
If you’ve ever wondered how to strengthen your intuition, how to trust your inner voice, or whether your intuition is even real — this episode is for you.
In this two-hour deep dive, priestess, professor, and spiritual teacher Bertena explores 7 practical spiritual practices that actually work to help you develop intuition in grounded, embodied ways.
You’ll learn:
This is not about becoming psychic overnight.
This is about learning how to trust yourself again.
If you’re navigating spiritual awakening, feminine leadership, priestess work, or simply wanting to feel more confident in your inner guidance — this episode will give you grounded tools you can use immediately.
In This Episode We Cover:✔ What intuition actually is
✔ Signs your intuition is growing
✔ How trauma and nervous system dysregulation block intuitive clarity
✔ Somatic grounding for intuitive development
✔ Daily micro-decisions that build self-trust
✔ Journaling prompts to access your inner wisdom
✔ How to discern fear vs intuition
✔ How to stop outsourcing your knowing
Reflection Questions:If you’re ready to deepen this work, explore:
✨ The Ancient Arts of the Priestess Academy
✨ Somatic Yoga & Embodiment Classes
✨ Private Intuitive Sessions
Visit: bertena.org
Share This Episode If:Thanks to our sponsor Cosmic Connections in Nashville you can receive 10% off any online order using the code BertenaPodcast10 and if you listen and comment below then you can be placed in a drawing for a $10 gift card to their online store.
Remember to comment below on Spotify and you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card.
And just for listening to this podcast use code Bertenapodcast10 to get 10% off of your online order at yourcosmicconnections.com
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here
Mentioned in this episode:
Cosmic Connections
Website
Is spiritual growth supposed to feel structured… or fluid?
In this deeply personal episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena shares how all of her offerings — Somatic Yoga, Reiki, Chakra Balancing, Tarot & Oracle, Goddess Studies, Priestess Training, Ribbon Dancing, Meditation, Journaling, private mentorship, and Divine Feminine Zoom circles — are not separate practices.
They are one living weave.
If you’ve ever wondered:
This episode will help you see the full ecosystem.
You’ll learn how:
🌿 Somatic Yoga builds nervous system safety so intuition can open
✨ Reiki and chakra balancing clear energetic blocks so meditation deepens
📖 Journaling integrates emotional growth into embodied wisdom
🔮 Tarot and oracle strengthen intuitive language
🌙 Goddess archetypes expand identity and self-permission
🎀 Ribbon dancing reclaims feminine joy and expression
💻 Divine Feminine Zoom circles create sacred community and leadership practice
🔥 Priestess Training refines structure, ethics, and sacred responsibility
🌹 Private sessions personalize your spiritual evolution
This episode is not about steps or levels.
It is about integration.
The Priestess path is not linear.
It is cyclical.
Responsive.
Alive.
You can enter anywhere.
And the rest of the weave will meet you there.
—
Explore classes, circles, and mentorship at bertena.org
Sessions available in Nashville at Cosmic Connections
Join our free monthly Divine Feminine Zoom gathering
#PriestessPath #DivineFeminine #SpiritualGrowthForWomen #SomaticYoga #ReikiHealing #GoddessStudies #WomenInLeadership #SacredFeminine #EnergyHealing #EmbodiedSpirituality
Visit our sponsor Cosmic Connections - Nashville.
Thanks to our sponsor Cosmic Connections in Nashville you can receive 10% off any online order using the code BertenaPodcast10 and if you listen and comment below then you can be placed in a drawing for a $10 gift card to their online store.
Remember to comment below on Spotify and you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card.
And just for listening to this podcast use code Bertenapodcast10 to get 10% off of your online order at yourcosmicconnections.com
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here
Are you feeling emotional, exhausted, reflective, or like something in your life is quietly ending?
You may be experiencing the final karmic shedding of the Year of the Snake.
In this deeply reflective episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, we explore the spiritual meaning of the Snake year, karmic closure, and the powerful arrival of the Fire Horse on February 17.
The Year of the Snake represents transformation, shadow work, psychological growth, and karmic endings. As this cycle closes, many are feeling old patterns resurfacing, emotional release, and identity shifts.
But everything changes when the Fire Horse arrives.
The Fire Horse year in Chinese astrology symbolizes movement, courage, passion, life-force energy, embodiment, and rapid forward momentum. If the Snake was about introspection and shedding, the Fire Horse is about activation and bold new beginnings.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
✨ The spiritual and karmic meaning of the Year of the Snake
✨ Why the final weeks before February 17 feel intense
✨ What the Fire Horse year represents in Chinese astrology
✨ What the Fire Horse brings to your career, creativity, and spiritual path
✨ How to prepare for fast-moving energy
✨ A powerful karmic closure ritual
✨ A guided Fire Horse visualization meditation
This episode is for anyone navigating spiritual awakening, life transitions, karmic endings, shadow work, or preparing for a powerful new chapter.
If you feel like you are standing between shedding and becoming — this episode will help you understand why.
🔥 The Snake prepares you.
🔥 The Fire Horse activates you.
Listen now and step into your next cycle with clarity and courage.
🌹 Explore more Divine Feminine teachings at bertena.org
🌙 Join our sacred circles and Priestess Academy
✨ Sessions and events at Cosmic Connections in Nashville
#FireHorse #YearOfTheSnake #ChineseAstrology #SpiritualAwakening #KarmicCycle #ShadowWork #DivineFeminine #SpiritualPodcast #PriestessPath #EnergyShift #FireHorseYear
Thanks to our sponsor Cosmic Connections in Nashville you can receive 10% off any online order using the code BertenaPodcast10 and if you listen and comment below then you can be placed in a drawing for a $10 gift card to their online store.
Remember to comment below on Spotify and you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card.
And just for listening to this podcast use code Bertenapodcast10 to get 10% off of your online order at yourcosmicconnections.com
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here
Mentioned in this episode:
Cosmic Connections
Website
Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky? And what does it have to do with the Knights Templar, Mary Magdalene, the number 13, and women’s lunar cycles?
In this powerful deep dive, we explore:
This episode blends history, sociology, mysticism, and Divine Feminine theology to reveal a powerful truth:
Friday the 13th may not be unlucky.
It may be sacred.
Includes a guided meditation to reclaim the 13 moons within.
Thanks to our sponsor Cosmic Connections in Nashville you can receive 10% off any online order using the code BertenaPodcast10 and if you listen and comment below then you can be placed in a drawing for a $10 gift card to their online store.
Remember to comment below on Spotify and you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card.
And just for listening to this podcast use code Bertenapodcast10 to get 10% off of your online order at yourcosmicconnections.com
Subscribe to my newsletter here
Help Support the Sanctuary here
Mentioned in this episode:
Website
Cosmic Connections
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