What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality

In this episode I share my experience of having grief return to me in a sudden, unexpected wave like a long-dormant volcano erupting. This event is the subject of my new book Wild and Holy, which is launching on Kickstarter this week. This episode includes: What is the second wave of grief and why does it happen How hidden grief may return when we are strong enough to navigate it How grief and gui...

In this episode I will share my own personal journey of healing for the heart condition I was unexpectedly diagnosed with last year. This story has a rather miraculous conclusion so listen to the end! This episode includes: How I began a healing journey for body, mind, and spirit after learning that my heart condition was quite serious How I created a "Heart Journal" and used journaling...

This episode is Part 3 of a mini-series on From Ego-Driven to Soul-Led: A Journey of Integration. In Part 1 we focused on the ego and Part 2 centered around the Soul, or Higher Consciousness. Today we cover the "dance" that occurs between the ego and the Soul as we gradually learn to hand control over to our higher selves. This episode includes: The Dance of Life - an excerpt from The Jo...

This is part 2 of the mini-series on From Ego-Driven to Soul-Led: A Journey of Integration. Today we are talking about the Soul (or Higher Self) and how we can learn to live more fully by the light of the soul after we transcend the ego. This episode includes: What is the Soul (or Higher Consciousness) and what does it do How the ego learns to loosen control in order to be guided by the Soul Why t...

This is the first episode in a mini-series on Integrating the Ego and Soul. We begin with a primer on the ego to help us recognize our own ego, how it behaves, and when it might trip us up. This episdoe includes: How the ego develops in childhood What role the ego plays Why the ego's main tool is fear Why we need the ego to function in the world How "spiritual ego" may trick us into...

In today's episode I'm sharing a simple ritual that can help you get centered after being pulled into a negative spiral by the events of the day. This is a tool you can use anytime, anywhere that can quickly shift your energy and focus. This episode includes: Listener question on the benefits of knowing your inner purpose Why we need simple tools to help us during these stressful times How...

In this episode I talk about death awareness as a necessary step to help us manage the ego and begin to recieve guidance form the Soul. The episode includes: Why the ego fears death The ego's obsession with external control and avoidance of death Why death awareness helps us live life fully There are many paths to the inward arc of life The Buddhist practice of Five Remembrances for death cont...

Today I'll be sharing with you the 7 Lessons from my book 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying. We'll look at how each of these lessons help form a soul map for our spiritual growth that is death-aware, ego-wise, and love-rooted. This episode includes: How understanding impermanence helps us cope with change Why we need to let go of ego control and surrender to what life brings us Our inner...

In this episode I'll share some thoughts on why we need to talk about spirituality and its importance - apart from religion and even from belief in God. I'll share why I'm relaunching this podcast right now at this time in history. This episode includes: Why we all need to look inward at this time Collectively we are facing crises of grief, meaning, and moral guidance We need spiritual...

I'm back and in this first episode of the relaunched podcast I'll fill you in on where I've been for a year and a half. This episode includes: Why I had to leave the mountains How I'm approaching my heart issue The benefits of somatic therapy Spiritual practices for the heart Low sodium life Why I'm grateful for my expanded heart Check out my Substack: Soulcode Join the Patreon...

I'm back briefly after a long hiatus! In this episode I describe some health issues that began shortly after the previous episode and how I set out to manage them. I have been listening to my heart as a messenger for my soul and have been making some big changes in my life. You'll hear an update of what's going on right now and what to expect in the near future. I love sharing my own j...

In this concluding episode of the series on my grief travel through Italy I share some insights I gathered on a subsequent trip that introduced me to a doctor who became a saint. This episode includes: The life of Dr. Giuseppe Moscati who was later canonized as a saint Embracing the fact that death comes for everything and only love lasts Why I'm saying goodbye to this podcast for awhile Get m...

In this 10th episode in the grief travel series we visit the city of Sorrento and the ruins of Pompeii for the final novena prayer. This episode includes: The disappointment that comes from being attached to expectations The universality of loss and grief throughout time and space The inevitability of death and the need for self-forgiveness

In this 9th episode from the series on grief travel in Italy we travel to the beautiful city of Assisi and learn about the beloved St. Francis of Assisi. This episode includes: The story of St. Francis His message of love, simplicity and care for nature being usurped by commercialization How life is not meant to go according to our plans and we have to learn to surrender Get my latest books Suppor...

In this episode of my ongoing series on grief travel through Italy I visit the village of Cortona Italy and learn how to carry the guilt that accompanies my grief. This episode includes: How an artist portrayed his grief in his paintings A patron saint who overcame guilt and shame to bring blessings to the poor and sick How nature can depict our losses and grief and inspire us to keep on Get my la...

This episode is Part 7 of my ongoing series on grief travel through Italy. If you haven't done so already I recommend you listen to the previous 6 episodes first! Today we travel to Siena Italy where I came face-to-face with the depths of my grief. This episode includes: How Siena became "frozen" in time after the Black Death Finding peace in an ancient hospital chapel Wisdom from St...

In this episode of my series on grief travel through Italy we journey to the Cinque Terre region, which is a stunningly beautiful collection of 5 small villages along the Ligurian coast. This episode includes: How nature reminds us to be fully present in the moment Nurturing the 5 senses can help us carry grief Why we need community to deal with death and dying Death brings darkness but the light...

In part 5 of the series on my grief travel through Italy we visit more sites in the great city of Florence and learn about grace, gratitude and growth. This episode includes: The great flood of Florence The 5 gratitudes Sacred geometry at San Miniato Get my latest books here Support this podcast to keep it on the air!

In part 4 of the ongoing story of my grief travel through Italy we arrive in Florence and learn about the history of the Renaissance which began in this beautiful city. This episode includes: How the Black Death influenced the birth of the Renaissance The remarkable expansion of consciousness that took place during the Renaissance Michelangelo and his sorrow Get my latest books here Support this p...

Part 3 of the grief travel story takes place in Trastevere, the Jewish Ghetto of Rome, and an island in the Tiber River. This episode includes: A funeral in one of Rome's oldest churches A 2000 year old bridge Heroism at a hospital during WW2

Part 2 of this grief travel story takes place in Rome and at the Vatican. Be sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven't already! This episode includes: Learning about chiaroscuro The loving embrace of the Divine Feminine Losing my identity

In this episode I begin a series of stories from a trip to Italy I took several years ago that was "ruined" by grief. I'll share the amazing insights and lessons I learned on that journey over the next several weeks. This episode includes: The H1N1 influenza epidemic Getting lost in Rome The Novena inspiration Get my latest books here Support this podcast to keep it on the air!

In this episode I talk about the difference between knowing and believing when it comes to spiritual awareness and why that's an important distinction right now with what is happening in the world. This episode includes: The "knowing" that comes from consciousness-expanding experiences How to live from that knowing rather than regressing to tribal desires for vengeance and retributio...

In this episode I discuss the history of a devastating earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 that I learned about on my recent trip to Portugal. The outcome of this tragedy reminded me that even the horrific wars that are taking place right now contain a tiny seed of hope for transformation. This episode includes: The devastation caused by the triple disaster in Lisbon in 1755 How the entire world was affe...

In this episode we explore another theme present in the Tao of Death: life is a paradox. This episode includes: What does paradox mean How things tend to get worse before they get better Why things are not as they seem from the outside Surrender is necessary for spiritual growth We need to rise about fear of death to make a difference in the world Get my latest books : The Tao of Death, Stories fr...