Episode 179, "A Prayer For B"
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
This week’s episode is a special, unique treat! “A Prayer for B” is an exquisite piece of writing written and read by my treasured friend, Anam Cara, Winged Woman sister, Melanie Suchet. The synchronicity here is that Mel recorded this piece on Sunday August 29th, and 4 days later, in the early morning hours of Thursday September 2nd, just as we began to assess the impact of Hurricane Ida here in NY, Melanie’s beloved mother, Bella died. Mel told me many important family events have occurred in big storms. I offer you the gift of Melanie, her open heart, her sacred letters and...
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Episode 178 Small Miracles
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
Many listeners commented on how grateful they were for of serendipities and synchronicities. Perhaps there is a collective shifting, expanding consciousness, a relief that we can talk openly and boldly about the mystical, the spiritual, magical ways we are personally touched by serendipity and synchronicity. In this week’s episode, I share 2 more serendipitous exchanges that highlight the magic of nature, the timing of chance encounters, the gratitude, and the forces bigger than me. So much serendipity and synchronicity weaving in and through our lives, holding us up and gifting us with...
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Episode 177 Serendipities and Synchronicities
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
Today’s focus is on the profound power of serendipity and synchronicity. I’ve noticed that the more I tune in, acknowledge the presence of forces bigger than me, open my heart to everyday mini miracles, welcome in my angels and spirit guides for support, comfort, direction and guidance, the more they seem delighted to make magic happen. And the fun part of this is that the serendipity and synchronicity occurs in ways I wouldn’t have expected and from people I didn’t know could be a conduit of light. My recent experience while my Dad was in the hospital was packed with serendipity and...
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Episode 176 Dawn Adrienne-Saliba, Performance Scholar, Theater Artist, Eco-Activist
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Dawn Adrienne-Saliba. A Performance Scholar, Theater Artist, and Eco-Activist, Dawn has studied drama and ancient temples. Dawn lives in Malta - okay, fess up, do you know where Malta is?!? I encourage you to look up Malta, just to have a vision of this unique, small island in the middle of the Mediterranean. This is where Dawn honors the integration of science and spirituality, archeology and ritual in her exploration of the magical hypogeum Hal Saflieni. Traveling from Malta, to Brooklyn, to Nyack, before she heads back to Malta, Dawn and I had a chance meeting on a...
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Episode 175 Called To Dance
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
Hafiz's poem reminds me that we are called to dance. I’ve used this beautiful poem as oxygen, especially when I was feeling the darkness and uncertainty of life creep back in. I hear so many people bracing themselves that things are going to be getting worse, before they get better. I don’t want to get sucked into the darkness of hopelessness. This poem pulls me away from the despair, shifts my mood, brings me back to a deeper truth, a radiant light that I know lies within us. May we heed the call to dance, see life itself as a beautifully choreographed dance. We were created for joy, to...
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Episode 174 Summer Rain
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
In this week’s episode I share my recent surprise and delight in being immersed in a Summer Rain. Have you yet enjoyed being in and present to a summer rain? I highly recommend it! Summer rain offers its own version of a spiritual practice. I discovered the calming, playful peace when I embraced the joy of a summer rain. I know for sure that summer rain is a visceral, embodied experience. Try it out for yourself. I encourage you to dare to stand or sit or walk or better yet, dance in the rain this summer. If it helps, have an underpants party - it might be just what your soul is longing...
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Episode 173, Known By Name
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
In this week’s episode, I explore the importance of knowing something by name. I acknowledge my own experience that knowing an object, plant, tree, bird or person by name, not only demonstrates respect and value, but deepens the connection. Like Juliet, I ask: “What is in a name?” The answer is PLENTY!! I reflect on how much knowing something or someone by name truly matters. I highlight the lines: “We name it to tame it!” “We name it to claim it to our heart!” and “Say Her Name”. May we write one another in the palm of our hands, honor and hold each other close. May...
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Episode 172 Shelby Willeitner, canyoneer and adventure guide
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Shelby Willeitner. Shelby is my third Utah podcast guest, joining the trio of and - all inspiring women I recently met in Utah who have their unique ways of embracing wilderness and adventure. From recreation management, adventure guide, to passionate voyager, Shelby opens up the world of canyoneering to me: the descending exploration of deep canyons in the Southwest. A combination of hiking, repelling, sliding, swimming, scrambling, and jumping are used to navigate the obstacles within these magnificent hidden canyon treasures. Shelby fell in love with canyoneering 10...
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Episode 171 Mary McCourt, adventure guide
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Mary McCourt. Mary is an adventure guide in a Wilderness Therapy Program in Utah. I met Mary a couple of weeks ago in Utah when my dear friend, Elizabeth Van Meter hosted an Awards Night for an inspiring group of outdoor enthusiasts. I was drawn to Mary’s calm, compassionate energy and knew she was the first person I personally met working as a guide in a Wilderness Therapy Program. Her own personal experience with outdoor adventure was so healing for her mental health that she re-directed her path from clinical nutritionist to becoming an adventure guide. A post from her...
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Episode 170 The Things We Carry
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
This week I reflect on the things we carry, the energy of objects and how we charge our ‘things’ with memories, emotions, stories, both negatively and positively. We all have countless objects that have energy, meaning and rich stories infused with emotional charges. It’s actually a spiritual practice to learn to be an observer to the meaning and emotional charge we project onto our objects. Questions bubble up for me as I pay attention to the things we carry. Can we honor the meaning we’ve projected onto the object? Can we carry the meaning without being weighed down by the things...
info_outline Not sure if you are still feeling the afterglow from the Day of Inauguration on Wednesday, January 20th, when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States, but I certainly am! I can easily access how moved I felt, how inspired, nourished and invigorated I was by the colors, vibrancy, decency, respect and refreshing HOPE that infused the ceremony and celebrations. The afterglow is still alive for me and when it fades, it doesn’t take much effort to re-ignite it. In fact, all I have to do is recall an image, a person, an outfit, an exchange, a gesture, or words expressed and the positive vibes course again through my body.
In today’s episode I highlight our hero, the brave Eugene Goodman, our brilliant ray of light, Amanda Gorman and the endearing, playful tribute to Bernie Sanders, whose memes showed up in every nook and cranny, with people and in places that we truly need him.
I’ve re-listened, re-watched Amanda’s performance of “The Hill We Climb” - I encourage you to let her words shower you with possibility, potential and passion. Here is the last stanza in her poem:
“In every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country, our people, diverse and beautiful, will emerge, battered and beautiful. When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Remind yourself of how your soul was nourished by poignant prayers, sincere speeches, sweet songs and powerful poetry - stoke the afterglow when you need a little boost. Let the tears flow, goose bumps tingle, cleanse the toxicity. The more I focus on the glow of Inauguration Day, the more it expands, so I encourage you to talk about it, highlight your favorite moments and share those moments in solidarity with your circles. We need to support each other as we face the layers of challenges ahead. May we do so with courage, compassion and a belief in our shared humanity.
Check out the show notes for a variety of links that pay tribute to Eugene Goodman, Amanda Gorman and Bernie Sanders. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
Amanda on Instagram
Bernie Sanders on Instagram
"Fury and Faith" by Amanda Gorman
“The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman
Amanda at the Library of Congress
Amanda performing at The Moth
Bernie Sanders on Seth Meyers
Ed Palermo Big Band "Amnerika"