In this riveting episode, we explore how grace can touch our lives with the masterful Miranda MacPherson. Miranda shares her profound practice of Ego Relaxation that emphasizes true surrender and how it is deeply connected to her discovery of experiencing nothing-ness. Drawing from her interfaith background and extensive study of world wisdom traditions, Miranda shares insights about living a life of grace through meditation, inquiry, and psychological integration. She also shares how spiritual practices can provide inner peace and contribute to addressing contemporary global crises. Miranda offers practical wisdom on integrating spiritual practices into daily life, no matter your background or faith.

00:00 Introduction 

00:37 Meet Miranda Macpherson

01:38 Miranda's Spiritual Journey

02:58 The Awakening Experience

07:29 Integration and Challenges

14:35 Ego Relaxation Explained

25:56 Spiritual Practice and Collective Wisdom

35:58 Cherishing Spiritual Practices

48:24 Conclusion and Upcoming Programs

To learn more about Miranda and her teachings, visit: https://mirandamacpherson.com/ 

You can also find her books on Amazon: The Way of Grace, The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation, Boundless Love, and Meditations on Boundless Love. 

If you are interested in her upcoming course, “The Way of Grace” on The Shift Network, you can reach out to her directly at: [email protected]

In episode three, Monika and Elizabeth engage in an immersive conversation with the organically joyful, undeniably wise, and playful Richard Miller about yoga nidra, non-dualism, connecting with our inner essence, the indestructible ease we all carry within us, accepting and welcoming our challenges, (re)discovering that nothing is wrong, radical truth and authenticity, making peace with life, and so much more.

About Richard Miller

Richard C. Miller, PhD, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 is the Founder, Chairman, and Executive Director of iRest Institute, Co-Founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and Founding Member and past President of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology.

He is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar, and spiritual teacher who, for over 50 years, has devoted his life to integrating western psychology and neuroscience with the ancient nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Author of Yoga Nidra, The iRest Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing, iRest Meditation: Restorative Practices for Health, Healing and Well Being, The iRest Program for Healing PTSD, and Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga, Richard serves as a research consultant studying the nondual somatic-based meditation protocol he’s developed —iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation— researching its efficacy on health, healing, and well-being with diverse populations and issues. Grounded in 35+ research studies, the US Army Surgeon General and the Defense Centers of Excellence have recognized iRest as a Complimentary Program for healing chronic pain and PTSD. Richard leads international trainings and meditation retreats on the integration of enlightened living into daily life.

Connect with Richard to learn more about iRest, his simple and accessible form of meditation designed for modern living, yoga nidra, and nonduality, or to attend any of the trainings and events he offers, including the free 10-Step iRest Protocol.

A copy of his book, Yoga Nidra: The iRest Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing is found here. And, as promised, here is The Open Secret in the book's Introduction:

"When we dwell in the pleasures of our senses, attractions to further pleasures arise. From attraction comes attachment, the desire for possession that leads to passion and burns into anger. Passion and anger cloud judgment and lead to confusion, the inability to learn from past mistakes, and the failure to choose between what is wise and what is unwise.

This is the path of separation. But when we move in the world of the senses, yet keep our senses in harmony, free from attachment to attraction or aversion, we rest in the wisdom heart of our Essential Nature, the true Equanimity of Being, in which all sorrow and suffering cease."

To learn more about The Heart of Now and the hosts, visit us on Instagram, LinkedIn or online.

In episode two, we engage in an awe-inspiring dialogue with the wildly popular punk rock legend and lifelong nature lover, Mark Coleman. This episode dives deep into ephemerality, loss of identity, and how to reclaim the sense of our highest self, beauty, connection, being in the presence of 'wild things,' nervous system regulation, protecting the natural world, the great turning, remembering what it means to be human, opening to what is, and so much more.

May you find spaciousness, calm, and mystery in our wondrous conversation with Mark

About Mark Coleman:

Mark is a life-long nature lover and is passionate about guiding people into the beauty of meditation and nature. He has led wilderness nature retreats for over twenty years worldwide. Through his organization Awake in the Wild Mark leads year long nature meditation teacher trainings in the US and Europe.

Mark has trained extensively in the Buddhist tradition, both in the Insight meditation and in the Dzogchen tradition. He is a senior teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught insight meditation retreats since 1997.

Co-founder of the Mindfulness Training Institute Mark also leads year long professional mindfulness teacher in Europe and the US. 

Mark also founded the non-profit Mindful of Nature, that takes nature meditation work to communities and populations that will most benefit from these resilience building practices. 

He is author of Awake in the Wild - Mindfulness in Nature as a Path to Self-Discovery, Make Peace With Your Mind, From Suffering to Peace and his recent book A Field Guide to Nature Meditation.

He lives in Sausalito, CA and likes nothing more than hiking, biking, kayaking, and being outdoors.

Connect with Mark

To learn more about The Heart of Now and the hosts, visit us on Instagram, LinkedIn or online.

ER - PART SIX:  Meeting Adversity

“Steadying like a mountain.”

In a world full of noise and distraction, what’s your recommendation for maintaining equanimity?

In episode one, we engage in a heartfelt conversation with the esteemed Lama Palden Drolma about what humanity is currently facing, how to live in truth, mirroring back our essential goodness, the call for cooperation, objective clarity and seeing ourselves for who we are, and accessible ways to choose to live from a place of joy rather than suffering.  

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About Lama Palden Drolma

Throughout my life I’ve been drawn to explore what seems more significant than the ordinary preoccupations of daily life. From the time I was a small child I’ve had mystical experiences that informed my life. This, along with the suffering of my habitual patterns, fueled my dedication to spiritual practice. As a nine year old my grandmother gave me two little books— one of Oriental wisdom, one of Occidental wisdom. My love for the wisdom contained in these books ignited my interest in all religious and spiritual traditions.

In my mid-twenties, after meditating, practicing, and studying in Zen, Christianity, Sufism, yoga, and Native traditions, I began to feel a profound longing to find my teacher. At 25 I was dragged by a friend to a talk by an ancient Tibetan master. Within five minutes, I knew he was the teacher I sought. He was Kalu Rinpoche, one of the preeminent Tibetan masters of the 20th century. Six months later I was on my way to Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills, to study with him. A year later, I was fortunate to move with my husband and son to the Kingdom of Bhutan, where I was able to continue my meditation and go frequently to stay with my teacher, and with the 16th Karmapa in Sikkim. I also met many other great meditation masters whose kindness and wisdom gave me sustenance and furthered my path.

In 1982 I entered a traditional Tibetan three year, three month retreat that my teacher held on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. This intensive meditation retreat was the hardest work I had ever done, and was the best thing I have ever done.

Following retreat, I re-entered regular life, had another child, went to graduate school, and in addition to teaching and sharing the Dharma, I worked in community mental health, and then licensed as a psychotherapist. This deepened my professional interest, that I already had been working with personally for many years, in working with body, mind, and spirit simultaneously.

In 1997, I founded Sukhasiddhi Foundation in the SF Bay Area, a Tibetan Buddhist center in the Shangpa and Kagyu lineages. I have guided and trained many people in depth meditation, philosophy, and Tibetan yoga.

In addition to Kalu Rinpoche, in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, I have studied and trained with HH Karmapa the 16th, Jamgon Kongtrul, Tai Situpa, Bokar Rinpoche, Dezchung Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, and the Dalai Lama.

For those looking for community, check out Sukhasiddhi. They have wonderful programs at multiple levels. Introductory meditation to the advanced practitioner for anyone who's looking for community.

Connect with Lama Palden Drolma for spiritual counseling, upcoming events, or other inquiries. Get a copy of her highly-recommended and transformative book, Love on Every Breath, here.

To learn more about The Heart of Now and the hosts, visit us on Instagram, LinkedIn or online.