Tealight Tales Sanctuary

Send us Fan Mail **Trigger warning: sexual assault story of a minor in today's episode Today's episode highlights the joy I felt after sharing one of the most difficult stories of my life, one I held in shame to protect my family, one of abuse at the hands of an entrusted neighbor, a friend of my late Papa's, at the age of eight. Today's research is important for it highlights...

Send us Fan Mail I'm a mostly Irish lass, part English, part German by birth, adopted and raised in a Polish-Ukrainian-American home. The language, food, cultural practices, religious upbringing, and things held sacred were those my Grandparents held dear. One of the most sacred people in my life growing up was my Ukrainian Grandmother, Liza. Today's episode is a reflection on music and...

Send us Fan Mail About a month ago a friend of mine said that my "superpower" is vulnerability. I took it as a deep compliment as I believe vulnerability and speaking our fully embodied truth opens doors for others to speak their experience and truth as well. I gained a wealth of wisdom on vulnerability from the work of Brene Browne and highly respect her work. Mental health stigma needs...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we explore 2020-2021, and what it was like to serve as a high school teacher for me during Covid times. We explore burnout, folks letting us down, and how despite it all, God had my back. Logan Taylor's speech "U Matter," is a significant inspiration for this chapter as we journal because each of us matters and is fearfully and wonderfully made. Meditative, m...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we explore three warm-up journal prompts which are Chapter Two. There are things to consider from author Anne LaMott, Arizona State University research, the Holy Bible , The Secret Garden , and what it means to tap into self-care, the first step in self-love. There are three, separate prompts to journal along to with the mindful, meditative sounds of Masood Taj's &quot...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we look to the root of who we are, our essence. I unveil a bit about my adoption story and name of origin.  We then proceed into journaling on this topic with a mindful, meditative moment of journaling to the soothing sounds of Masood Taj's "Unconditional Love" track, or you can choose to extend your experience with music from my accompanying Spotify playlist...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a conversation that takes a deep dive into the ancient concept of the Hero's Journey, with Dr. John Drimmer, founder and chief trailblazer at Hero's Journey Interactive . With his expertise in positive psychology, guided meditation, storytelling, and cinematherapy, Dr Drimmer has dedicated his life to helping others unlock their inner hero. From his Bio.: &qu...

Send us Fan Mail Ever found yourself wrestling with the pressures of life? I've been there, and it's through this tough journey that I've found solace in the transformative power of journaling. In this episode, I bare my heart about my personal journey from a stressful 2021 school year to a winter of self-discovery, 2022, guided by the wisdom of the inspiring life coaches Cathy Hell...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to  Season 4 of The Joyful Journaling Podcast! This season, we're shifting gears by embracing story time, as I read chapter by chapter from my cherished book, Embodying Joy: A Heart Journal-A Memoir for Body, Mind, & Spirit Health (Amazon 2023). https://tinyurl.com/embodyingjoyaheartjournal (Updated, new format, third edition, available 8.3.23!) Interact with toda...

Send us Fan Mail Today's guest is Kathy Strauss, international bestselling co-author in Ignite Your Faith , award-winning artist, and someone I felt VERY comfortable sharing a casual, vulnerable, and open conversation surrounding all topics writing, healing through writing, and the creative  endurance within each of us! Today has no journal prompt, so I will provide one for you based on our c...

Send us Fan Mail Nolan Pillay is a Human Mindset Specialist who Inspires companies, teams and individuals realise their Purpose, Authentic self, turning Pain into Success stories, clarifying Values and Goals, eventually becoming the BEST version of themselves. He is also a Global Speaker, Coach, Author, Podcast Host, Trainer, Philanthropist and Mental Health Advocate. Nolan can be remembered for t...

Send us Fan Mail What is the intersection between journaling and the trajectory of life? Ask my guest and sister Ignite Your Faith author, Nicole Freeman! I met Nicole in a collective of writers gathered to write a book that is bound to go international bestseller this upcoming weekend! Today, enjoy learning more about Nicole and how the roles journaling, Faith, and documenting it all went into he...

Send us Fan Mail Reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life book provided clarification on why my own Journal for Life practice mirrors her tried and true principles,  transforming lives of those devoted to these vulnerable, honest, times and places within their day. This week we wrap up Chapter Five in Julia Cameron's masterpiece Write for Life , to apply the treasures I discovered. Hear he...

Send us Fan Mail Reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life book provided clarification on why my own Journal for Life practice mirrors her tried and true principles,  transforming lives of those devoted to these vulnerable, honest, times and places within their day. This week we wrap up Chapter Three and wade in the wisdom of Chapter Four of Julia Cameron's masterpiece Write for Life , to a...

Send us Fan Mail Today is all about WHAT  a sacred, somatic journaling  practice is all about! WHAT'S going on here EXACTLY??? We're talking the V-word here! V-u-l-n-e-r-a-b-i-l-i-t-y The late Kurt Cobain had a point when he sang his heart out to youth not so long ago, and so  "Come As You Are," still rings true for me today. This is EXACTLY what our journaling practice invites...

Send us Fan Mail Today is all about HOW to establish a sacred, somatic journaling  practice? Reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life book provided clarification on the these questions and why my own Journal for Life practice mirrors her tried and true principles,  transforming lives of those devoted to these special times and places within their day. This week we dive more into Chapter Two of...

Send us Fan Mail Now that we know WHO we are writing for and WHO we meet during the practice, it's time to answer WHERE and WHEN is it optimal to journal as we establish a sacred journaling  practice? Reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life book provided clarification on the these questions and why my own Journal for Life practice mirrors her tried and true principles,  transforming lives...

Send us Fan Mail Is writing for an audience of ONE worth it? I've asked myself this question as I journaled since the age of eight. Reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life book answered my question with brilliant clarity-yes, writing in your journal, for an audience of One first is the safest way to begin your journaling practice. Today, we look at the WHO we journal for and WHO we connec...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Star Wars Day! Here is a Force-guided, Spirit led, pop-up, mini-sode for us to celebrate! You have the force within you (with pen in hand) ready to strike down any situation you think is trying to overcome you. Afterall, Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1839), wasn't playin' when he said "the pen is mightier than the sword." You possess soul power equipped with pen...

Send us Fan Mail Let's Spring into Journaling together! Today's episode serves to kick off our next six weeks of journaling together! Welcome to Season Three!!! During the intermission between Season 2 and Season 3 I've solidified my Faith and faith in journaling EVEN more! I can't wait to share the treasures I received in my journaling practices thanks to the book and program...

Send us Fan Mail We're closing Season 2 with a Powerhouse of a Guest for you-Diana Lockett. Diana and I met through my own Storytelling Coach, Sarah Cross, and have kept in touch since last year. Diana has been a powerful mentor to me and I'm grateful for her presence and loving compassion on this planet. She has gifted me with great clarity toward my own passion and purpose. I knew Dian...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Spring in the Northern Hemisphere from The Joyful Journaling Podcast! Hope you've continued to build your journaling habit to support your own healthy mind/body/spirit connection? We're here for you! As I am in the middle of a 40-day self-love challenge of my own currently, I wanted to share some treasures I am learning thanks to my work in Gabrielle Bernstein&apos...

Send us Fan Mail We continue celebrating the gift of living as women with strong minds, bodies, and presence in our modern world today on The Joyful Journaling Podcast. We also continue building momentum from the Self-Love Journaling Challenge that we began about a month ago today! Hope you've continued to build your journaling habit to support your own healthy mind/body/spirit connection? We...

Send us Fan Mail Self-Love starts with Tending to our Mental Health. Today, to kick off March, I have Mastermind.com Coach, Shelly Vecchio. Shelly coaches for Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi, as well as owns her own business, Gloryus, podcasts, and is a super Mom to a seven-year-old son. I met Shelly in a powerful women's group last year. We were podmates, so seeing her journey blossom as a me...

Send us Fan Mail Today is Day 14! Our Final Day of this Challenge! I'm so proud of you for sticking with this! Give yourself a hug today! Today's episode is titled: "Fear Not The Miracle You Face" Today we uncover what fear does to our bodies and how we can witness it with loving compassion to see ourselves and life in a new way-as miraculous. You're staring at the miracle...