Sucker Punched

In this episode, Courtney Ellis joins me for a really lovely discussion on the gifts and challenges of silence (including Courtney’s love of birding!). We talk about all the things we miss when we distract ourselves with noise and activity and how silence helps us to be grateful and present, whatever that might look like.

For the transcript for this episode, visit BeckyLMcCoy.com/podcast/94

HOW TO PRACTICE SILENCE: 

1. Pick a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Close your eyes or keep them open. Resist the urge to have background noise or music of any kind.

2. Take some deep breaths and notice what’s happening in your body. Where do you have tension? Pain?

3. Start with just a few minutes of silence at a time. It’s okay if your mind wanders or you get bored.

4. Just a little bit of silence is great. Experiment with it in different ways. Use it in the car or while folding laundry instead of listening to something. Over time you can expand the amount of time you spend in silence.

5. Try birding!

STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

• Courtney’s new book Weathering Change

• Thee Quaker Podcast

• Documentary: Into Great Silence (a silent monastery in the French Alps)

Becky L McCoy is a writer, retreat leader, and spiritual director. She is the communications and outreach coordinator for the Brian Dagle Foundation and podcast host of Sucker Punched. She earned her master of arts in Christian theology and spiritual formation from Regent University and is pursuing a doctor of ministry in spiritual formation and soul care.

Courtney Ellis is author, speaker, pastor, and host of “The Thing With Feathers Podcast.” She’s also a birder based in Orange County, California where she lives with her husband (also a pastor!) and three children. Together they serve Presbyterian Church of the Master. Her newest book, Weathering Change: Seeking Peace Amid Life’s Tough Transitions is available anywhere books are sold.

FIND BECKY ONLINE:

Website: BeckyLMcCoy.com

Social Media: @BeckyLMcCoy

FIND COURTNEY ONLINE:

Website: CourtneyBEllis.com

Social Media: @courtneyellis____

In this episode, Mandy Capehart and I discuss labyrinth walking. We explore some special labyrinth experiences in our own lives, why somatic practices are an essential part of navigating grief, and how being present with our body, heart, mind is an essential part of healing and wholeness.

For the transcript for this episode, visit BeckyLMcCoy.com/podcast/93

HOW TO WALK A LABYRINTH: 

1. Find a labyrinth, a looped trail, or a walking path where you don’t have to make any directional choices.

2. Walk toward the center of the labyrinth or to your halfway point, paying attention to your breath.

3. Pray, meditate, or repeat a breath prayer as you go, letting go of everything that is overwhelming you.

4. At the center (or halfway point), take a few deep breaths, pray, and notice what you are feeling.

5. Begin the walk back to the starting point, filling up with the peace and calm you crave.
   

STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

• My new book "In the Company of the Weary: Ten Gentle Spiritual Practices for Your Tired Soul"

• Labyrinth directory online

• Circles in the Sand labyrinths at the beach in Oregon

Becky L McCoy is a writer, retreat leader, and spiritual director. She is the communications and outreach coordinator for the Brian Dagle Foundation and podcast host of Sucker Punched. She earned her master of arts in Christian theology and spiritual formation from Regent University and is pursuing a doctor of ministry in spiritual formation and soul care.

Mandy Capehart is on a mission to normalize grieving and cultivate the conversations that bring us healing. She is the founder and CEO of The Restorative Grief Project, an online community focusing on one another’s stories and new methodologies for grief to create a safe environment for our souls to heal and our spirits to be revived. She is also the host of a weekly podcast, Restorative Grief with Mandy Capehart and the monthly podcast for premium subscribers, Restorative Grief: Expanding the Conversations, as well as a published author, certified trauma professional, grief educator, one-to-one coach, and somatic embodiment practitioner. She also specializes in working at the intersection of grief and faith, educating faith communities on how to create helpful healing environments to avoid spiritual bypassing and platitudes.

FIND BECKY ONLINE:
Website: BeckyLMcCoy.com
Social Media: @BeckyLMcCoy

FIND MANDY ONLINE:
Website: MandyCapehart.com
Social Media: @MandyCapehart