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The journey back to wholeness begins with understanding our deepest longings. davidji opens this profound conversation by proposing longing as our earliest post-womb memory – that immediate yearning to return to a place where everything was perfect, where our mother's heartbeat was our constant companion.

Elizabeth Winkler shares how longing manifested in her life after losing her mother, revealing a universal truth: "The longing out is actually a call to go within." This simple yet revolutionary perspective transforms how we understand our cravings for connection, wholeness, and unconditional love.

As the conversation unfolds, we discover that what appears to be longing for future experiences often masks our desire to recreate that primal state of being completely held and cared for. Whether it's craving a specific food that reminds us of childhood or fantasizing about an idealized family life, these yearnings point to something deeper – our search for the "four A's": attention, affection, appreciation, and acceptance.

The hosts introduce a powerful reframe through the acronym WOMB: Wisdom Of My Becoming. Rather than seeing the womb as merely a physical space we've left behind, they suggest we can access this "womb wisdom" within ourselves through present-moment awareness. This shift allows us to transform longing from a painful experience of lack into a doorway to self-discovery.

Elizabeth shares insights from her therapy practice, illustrating how holding onto fantasies of how things "should be" prevents us from embracing the beautiful messiness of what actually is. Meanwhile, David offers practical wisdom about communication patterns that poison our relationships when we make assumptions rather than asking clarifying questions.

The conversation culminates in a powerful reminder from the Bhagavad Gita: "Yogasta kuru Karmani" – "establish yourself in the present moment and then perform action". For when we're truly present, there is no fear and no longing – only the infinite possibility of becoming.

Next time you feel that familiar ache of yearning, pause and ask: What wisdom is this longing trying to reveal? What am I being called to embody or create? The answer might just lead you home to yourself.

Longing is embedded in humankind's DNA, stemming from our first experience of separation when we leave the womb and instantly begin craving that safe, connected state where all our needs were met.

• Longing often manifests as looking outward but is actually a call to go within
• Our first memories after birth may be of longing to return to the safety of the womb
• Whether longing for past or future, we're seeking the memory of our wholeness
• WOMB: Wisdom Of My Becoming - a way to understand the present moment's power
• Fantasies of how things "should be" prevent us from embracing what actually is
• Asking questions rather than making assumptions helps navigate feeling disrespected
• We poison ourselves with assumptions about others' intentions toward us
• Longing isn't a problem

ATTENTION: Elizabeth is coming to Ireland! Click this link to join the retreat!

We transform the world by transforming ourselves.
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Visit davidji.com & elizabethwinkler.com for additional meditation & healing resources.

Big shoutout to the amazing Jamar Rogers for creating such powerful music and lyrics for the official song of The Shadow & The Light Podcast!