I'm recording this episode on 8/8/21 which is the "Lionsgate Portal" - a time of creativity, healing, and a shift toward new "agreements" for our lives. I'll share why this particular moment in time has been very powerful for me and how my own consciousness is shifting right now. Here are some of the topics inspired by an email I received from spiritual teacher Matt Kahn:

I also announce my upcoming workshop (September 9th at 1 pm Pacific) on Surviving the Aftermath of Suicide (which I finally have realized my whole life has been preparing me to teach!) Registration information will be available soon.

In this episode let's talk about what it takes to be a leader for those around you when you are going through a challenging time (like the COVID pandemic we are experiencing right now.) We are all leaders in some way whether or not we hold administrative or managerial positions. Here are some skills to help us ride the waves of crisis like a surfer rather than be tossed about in the tumult:

In this episode we dive into the challenging subject of self-forgiveness, why it's important and how to do it! This is a project I'm currently working on that I plan to continue for the rest of my life. This episode includes:

Download the notes for this episode here.

"You don't want to beat yourself up for beating yourself up in the vain hope that it will somehow make you stop beating yourself up." - Kristin Neff, PhD

In this episode I talk about grace, which is an essential element of any dance. Learn how the many different of meanings of grace apply to both life and death and discover a daily practice that can help us prepare for the end of life with ease and dignity.

This episode includes:

In this episode I talk about rhythm, which is an essential element of any dance. Learn how the rhythm of nature and the universe includes both stillness and motion, waiting and movement, and how we can find peace and hope by surrendering to this rhythm as it unfolds in the moment.

This episode includes:

This is part 2 of the series on the intertwining of life and death in a perfect dance that spirals throughout eternity. This episode covers:

This begins a 4-part series I call "The Dance of Life and Death." You'll learn where the title comes from when you listen! This episode includes:

In this episode we'll look at why self-love is important and why it's so hard to do. I share poems by Alex Elle, Rupi Kaur and Nikita Gill plus a story of a self-love workshop gone wrong that turned out to be the perfect thing. Here are some suggestions from Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson for working toward healing of our self-judgment, wounds, and shame:

Leave a message with your comments or your own story!

This episode tells the story of the mysterious and miraculous lotus blossom and how it grows up from the mud to blossom in the sunshine every day. The lotus is a perfect symbol for our own spiritual journey and why we must embrace the darkness and explore it for opportunities to heal our old wounds and transform our lives. The poems The Well of Grief and Self Portrait by David Whyte are featured in this episode. 

The Well of Grief by David Whyte

Those who will not slip beneath

turning down through its black water

will never know the source from which we drink,

nor find in the darkness glimmering,

the small round coins,

It's challenging when we feel despair or depression hovering around us and we don't really know why it's there. But, like Rumi's poem The Guest House, it's important to welcome in even the feelings we don't like and wish would leave us alone. So today I'm recommitting to accepting my own despair and letting it in the door. I'll stop rejecting this down time, allow it to be present, and receive whatever it has to teach me. I'll also stop judging myself for wanting to push away the negative feelings. If you are feeling down right now too just remember that you're not alone, we all go through these days and weeks, and it will go away someday. I'll check back in when things are going better to look at these down days from the other side!