Stumbling Through Enlightenment

As we continue to see where we are going and what we are feeling lead towards we are going back to the beginning to listen to Edwards interview.

As we figure out some things about the Podcast we are going back to the beginning with the original interview with Jason

Edward Checks in about the new job, but also a harrowing experience of pain and infection. While transitioning jobs, Edward takes some unplanned time off which he finds he needed without realizing it. While enjoying the time off, Edward contracted an infection in his lip that eventually required a hospital stay and surgery. Edward shares with us how throughout the ordeal he has a better understanding of the chronic pain people live with. Jason shares some of his experiences with his chronic pain and what it's like living with it long term. Edward ends up with a few experiences of the new job which he finally got to start and some of the perks he's finding. In a world seemingly full of spiritual teachers and gurus, there are a lot of choices, messages, and pitfalls. Today we talk about some of the pitfalls with following one guru or teacher, not only for the follower, but also for the “guru” involved. We discuss some of the experiences Mary Garden writes about in her book the “The Serpent Rising”, as well as some of our own experiences on both sides of the world of gurus. Finding spiritual teachers can be difficult and we discuss our methods for vetting information and following our own journey.

This week Jason has reached a milestone in his relationship with his oldest Son. Jason has struggled with the transition in their relationship status. Jason finds himself being at ease and coming to terms in a quite unexpected way. In past episodes Jason has kept us up to date with the ups and downs over the last couple of years as his son reaches adulthood. Jason shares that he isn't sure exactly what happened, but that for the first time Jason feels really ok with his son's behavior and actions as he strives to create his own life. Have you ever wondered what all the hype is around meditation? Have you tried to meditate and before long got frustrated and quit? Do you ever wonder if you are doing it wrong? This is the episode for you. Jason and Edward discuss the subject matter from two different meditative backgrounds and practices. Through their discussion we learn about several different types of meditation and how to practice them. We also learn how many of the ideas about meditation are incorrect at best. Meditation can be simple or complex, and we often make it much harder than it is. Come learn the processes, pitfalls, and benefits of the meditative practices that span the world.

Due to some unforseen circumstances, that we will speak about in a future check in we are republishing one of our Holiday survival guides. This week we start off with Edward relaying a particularly good week of some much-needed self-care. After spending a day off out of town with a friend, He talks about spending time with his sister, going to see a movie for the first time since the pandemic started, and a search for Indian food. As we have now entered the Holiday season it is again time to remind ourselves that setting boundaries is necessary and saying no is acceptable. Since the pandemic started, we have found many people have realized that spending time with family can be quite toxic. Sometimes when we do things out of habit for so long, we forget, or do not realize how bad a situation is. This year we feel the increase in expectation due to long absences. Last year recorded an episode with a toolbox of coping skills and a survival guide. This year we touch on some tools that we have used and a couple new ones that we have learned. Mostly it is about permission we give ourselves to be absence from abusive and toxic gatherings.

Edward starts off this week with exciting news. He is starting a new job. Edward has realized that over the last 4 years he was focused on several people and his job, but not himself. Specifically Edward has continued working in a job where he can't make the money needed for survival unless he works overtime. Edward has decided to step out of that place in his life and take a job that is not only more money but offers more freedom. Our Deep Dive this week focuses on the subject of tracking growth. Why do we track growth? Why is it important? Most importantly, how do we do it in an effective manner? Jason and Edward discuss some of their recent listening to first and second season podcasts and how they've seen growth in themselves. This brings up other ways to track growth and why it's so important to do so regularly.

This week Edward checks in about trying to understand his place in a church community. Edward was raised Catholic and experienced religious trauma at the hands of his parents. As an adult Edward is trying to reconcile his personal faith and find a community that he feels safe in. As part of that Edward finds himself overcommitting and leading a life that is not spiritual, but one based on performance. Jason and Edward discuss the space Edward find himself in and what he can do to not repeat his past. This week's deep dive is a review of The Celestine Prophecy by James Readfield, which both Edward and Jason read as young adults. Although it is a much older book, Edward shares with us how the 9 insights shared in the book were so influential in his life that much of his spirituality and view of the world is based heavily based on his understanding of them. Jason and Edward discuss the 9 insights and how they have incorporated them in their own lives.

We check in with Jason this week, who is struggling again with the relationship with his son. Jason is continuing to attempt to connect with his oldest son, who still lives at home. His son, who is now 18 is trying to discover who he is and assert his independence. Jason knows that this is the time in his son's life when this should happen, but he is frustrated with the way his son is choosing to do it. Jason relays stories of his son canceling plans at the last minute on him and Jessica, and especially a lack of interest in hunting with him which is the one activity Jason felt like they bonded over. As the conversation progresses Jason speaks about how to deal with his own emotions, and trying to become comfortable doing things on his own that he enjoyed doing with his son. Today we take a look at the concept of Love Languages as presented In Gary Chapman's 1992 book: The 5 Love Languages. In his book Gary writes about his understanding of the 5 major ways people show and want to receive love. The premise is that every person has one major language, that when they receive, they feel the most loved. Every person also has another language that they “speak” which may not be the same as they wish to “hear”. Edward speaks about his experiences with these concepts as well as some of the views from the book. Jason Joins in as he starts to understand the premise. Finally Jason and Edward discuss their own love languages as well as ones that they feel repulsion to due to trauma.

Edward finds after 4 years of living in his apartment that he is finally starting to nest. Edward has stated before that he has struggled with connecting to his space. While he has things of his around the house, he shares with us that most of it was just put somewhere to occupy space. Pictures on the wall were put up because that's where the nails already were. Edward found in the last few weeks that he is starting to want to make his apartment really his own. When Jason asks what changed or why it took so long, Edward discusses how he feels his life was so seasonal he was waiting for another shift. Edward feels that he is really feeling more at home. In the world of mental health and spirituality people speak about Affirmations as if they were the most amazing tool. Some people swear by them, and others say they are useless. As it turns out both can be true. Edward brings us this segment as someone who used to use affirmations only to find that they made him feel worse. At the same time his friends would use them and see results. Affirmations are used not only to change our views of the world and ourselves, but also to change our brain. Edward started looking into why he was having issues with using them and shares the information which has led him to start again, this time with success. It is not only in the way that we use them, but how we feel about them that matters. Where they come from in our psyche, how we phrase them, and even some very specific words we use can be important. Edward and Jason also discuss how many people start at the end with out ever going through the beginning. Come along down the rabbit hole and discover some ways that affirmations can fail, how to fix that, studies that show we have been using them incorrectly or inefficiently, and the way they tie to the body allowing us to see which ones we need to move forward in our life.

This week finds Edward sharing some of his experiences of reconnecting and living with a young man from his past. Edward and Jason discuss the challenges Edward has experienced and the emotional rollercoaster of some of the situations that have arisen. Because Edward has a history going back to this young man's infancy, Edward has had to grow and shift his perception from that of dealing with a child to that of dealing with an adult. Edward also speaks about the young mans drug addiction and how he has lived with and supported a person in recovery. Most of us know what an emotion is, and we think we know what a feeling is. What if we have confused the two for so long that we can't tell the difference? Jason leads us through discovering the difference between the two. Edward fell into the category of people that did not know the difference and was told as a young man that no one could make him feel anything. As the discussion evolves, we find that the saying was correct, but not in the way we think. Join us as we delve into the world of emotions and feelings.

Jason starts us off this week checking in with an update about his niece. Jason starts with a little bit of history to catch us up to this point. He discusses the reasons his brother was not a part of his life, why he made the exception when his niece was born, and fills us in with the recent situation. Jason then discusses some of the boundaries he has had to put into place within this situation, as well as the ones he has needed to reinforce. In light of his brother's victim mentality Jason also shares with us how he has not felt the need to engage on that level. Holding space for someone is one of the most beautiful, supportive acts we can engage in. The process sounds simple but tends to be more involved than most people realize. Today we discuss the process of holding space, spelling out the steps to provide a truly supportive and safe environment. We also talk about some of the challenges and personal awareness we face while supporting those we care about. By the end we have laid out the basics of holding space and the things to be mindful of.

This week Edward starts us off speaking about medications changes he made in the beginning of the summer and how it has affected him. Edward dropped his antidepressants just before we went on break and has spent the last 4 months taking only a doubled dose of his ADHD medications. During the conversation Jason and Edward discuss the stigma around mental health medications, even for someone who works with them regularly. Edward felt his antidepressants were making it easier to disregard his frustrations Jason then asks Edward to process what that look and feels like for him so he can better understand Edwards motivation. In the end Edward discusses the potential of having treated the wrong neurotransmitter and some of his experiences over the last month to bring him and his doctor to this conclusion. For our Deep Dive we have a serious conversation about apologies. Having had the recent experience within last week's episode, Edward delves into the true power of apologizing. Jason and Edward discuss how to make a sincere apology, and what goes into making it effective. During the conversation they discuss misconceptions that most of us learned growing up as they break down the steps of crafting a genuine heartfelt apology. In an effort to be funny Edward brings up a situation from our cohosts shared past, which becomes an enlightening conversation that illustrates some of the principles being discussed.

Our First Episode of Season 4 is a little different. Jason and Ed discuss a conflict that arose between them, and how they navigated it. Jason and Ed have known each other for a long time, but that doesn't mean everything is always perfect. What do we do when someone's trauma reaction triggers a trauma response in ourselves. Jason and Ed discuss the emotions, and insights through their conflict, and the way they were able to get back to a healthy space. This episode is a great illustration of stumbling through our PTSD, Trauma, and how to deal with our reactions to conflict when we are in a relationship. At the end of the Episode Jason and Ed discuss not only, how they got through it, but what they found out afterwards from some research into the subject.

This week's check in finds Jason having learned more about his employers. He had concerns which he voiced and received back an answer that made him feel like he wasted his time. We discuss how this feels and how he is handling the emotions that this brought up. Edward talks about a serendipitous event that spurs a bout of activity through repotting plants and planting mushrooms. Lorri tells about an event that has not gone according to plan that also resulted in her feeling like she wasted time and how she is feeling about that. This week's Deep Dive delves into the world of depression and the changing of the seasons. We discuss how these changes effect those with Seasonal Affective Disorder, generalized depression, and neuro typical people. Sometimes called the winter blues we explain what is really happening in our bodies and minds as well as some tips to combat it in our lives. As someone who suffers from SAD, Edward shares some of his survival tips as well as his experiences with the group. This week marks the return of the Off The Rails Segment. As we start looking towards the Holiday Season, we find ourselves revisiting some of our favorite holiday movies. We start with Thanksgiving and move our way haphazardly through the calendar to end with Halloween and the scary movies we either love or love to hate.

In this week's episode Jason and Edward find themselves in a good space. The weather being warm, and spring turning to summer has brightened both Jason's and Edward's mental space. Edward starts out talking about his realization that his outside life is starting to be ok, but that he is feeling that a good spring cleaning of his house is needed. Edward and Jason talk about a new project Edward just completed and the relationship dynamic with a long-time friend. We check in with Edward about ADHD and relay some stories about our experiences. Lastly, we talk about changes in perceptions and growing up. In our Deep Dive this week, we look at the working theories around co-regulation and self-regulation. We discuss the science and psychology of these two related states of being, as well as how they relate to trauma, maturity, and our own personal lives. Within the discussion there are some tips on identifying deep routed issues and challenges, as well as some resources on how to overcome deficiencies in these areas.

In this Episode we start out talking about enjoying the sunny weather. Jason talks about a Family adventure and a hidden gem of a destination. Lorri has exciting news about her shop and purging the old to make way for the new things in her life. Edward talks about the emotional purge that he has been going through and what that looks like. In our Deep Dive Segment, we continue speaking about Edward's emotional purge and dig deeper to subjects like growing up trying to get love from two different parents with vastly different views of what a man should be and opposing expectations. We finish off our Episode with an Off the Rails Segment about the seemingly crazy world of Urine Therapy. What is it, how does it work, and what are the proposed benefits?

In this short episode Jason and Edward give some overview of their summer activities. Edward discusses some changes in his life and some growing experiences, plus some fun things he did. Jason speaks with us about an extreme life changing event that will put the podcast on Hold for another couple of months. We will be back on October 12th, with all new episodes and special guests.

This week finds Jason still working with his garden, but also dealing with escalation at work. Edward speaks about his continuing experience being on medication for the first time in long time. We discuss how to live with the absence of background anxiety that has been present for so long. Edward also brings up his current work with setting boundaries with friends and family. Lorri adds to the conversation from her life experiences as we also discuss self-worth. This week's Deep Dive was inspired by our check in. We take a deeper look into setting boundaries. We discuss how to do it in a healthy manner, how to stay true to them, and how it feels to do so. Setting boundaries is rarely easy, but for our own mental health it is necessary. We discuss the importance of setting boundaries at work, in personal relationships, and with family. We also discuss the behavior of people we set boundaries with, and what work we need to do before we set the boundaries we want in our lives. Our Off the Rails this week comes courtesy of JP Spears as we look at and react to “How Spiritual People Fight”. https://youtu.be/bQgRBnqpoQw Setting boundaries can be a very spiritual experience as can being self-aware, but sometimes we take it a bit too far. This is one of the ways we learn to laugh at ourselves.

This week's episode finds Jason dealing with a situation that leads to a full-on panic attack. Jason has been preparing himself for an inevitable situation that has caused him stress due to his past traumas. Now he is confronting the real-life situation with his wife and learning how to cope as well as being gentle with himself. We talk about strategies and our learning experiences as Edward draws a few correlations to his life. We finish off talk about dealing with multiple situations at once, and the importance of having a good support network, especially a good therapist. Jason starts this week's Deep Dive with a question about the possible mental health benefits of BDSM and kink to a trauma survivor. We explore this topic from a theoretical point of view. The discussion covers some basics about the Kink community and our discoveries from looking into the lifestyle. We talk about our personal views on the subject as well as a few studies and anecdotal evidence for pros and cons, as well as precautions for looking into this form of relationship.

This week we check in with Edward about life after COVID. Edward tells us that he did not lose his taste or smell but has lingering fatigue. To make it worse Edward is now experiencing true insomnia. Edward updates us on his decision not to go to work when asked, and we find out the reason why testing for COVID is not considered necessary by many organizations. Edward also shares with us the chaos to which he returned in the house and how that has led him to set up a different set of boundaries where he is no longer doing everything alone. In our Deep Dive segment, we are visiting the world of sleep. Jason has a long history of insomnia tied to trauma and other issues which we have spoken about on this podcast. Edward has experience with Revenge Sleep Procrastination and is currently going through a period of true insomnia. What better time to talk about sleep habits to get us to sleep and to keep us in a restful place through the night. Jason and Edward discuss tips and tricks that they have had work for them in the past, as well as some newer tips that they each have found, while investigating the subject.

Edward checks in about his depression and some of the work he has been doing. Edward shares with us a difficult topic in his life. Relationships as a whole and romantic relationships specifically, are difficult areas in his life. Edward shares his anxieties at the prospects. Jason and Edward talk about the feelings associated and the need for growth. Jason tells us about his week and some good feelings around the weather, and some projects he has been working on. This week's Deep Dive is all about Cognitive Dissonance. In a bonus episode, Jason shared with us a very personal experience with his reaction to the protest outside the capital. We take this time to expand on his experience as he checks in about it and how he combats cognitive dissonance in his daily life. Edward shares a few stories, and together with Jason they navigate some situations and how they dealt with them.

Jason starts off this week with some interesting news. Jason has purchased a snake! Jason has had a long-standing fear of snakes. As part of his working through that fear he decided to purchase a snake as a pet. He discusses with us the reasoning behind the fear and wanting to move through it. He also talks about the process of researching and learning about snakes in general, but also how to take care of them. This week our Deep Dive discussion revolves around what anger looks like, how it feels, how to use it in a healthy way, and how to process it as an emotion that we experience. Jason and Edward discuss different angry situations that have come up over the years due to trauma. They talk about how they've dealt with anger in the past, and how they have continued to process it. The discussion ranges from experiencing anger in our daily lives, channeling the anger into a useful and healthy outcome, and what to do with lingering anger.

Leo the lion, King of the Beasts! Leos are known to be the life of the party, the center of attention, and fiercely loyal. Is that all there is to a Leo or is that just the surface we see. Join us as we discuss our friends born under the sign of Leo.

We start off this episode, with a check-in that leads to a discussion of the deep blue ocean. We speak about fears around the ocean, the mysteries within that hold our fascination, and some of our experiences. We also speak about Lorri's house projects and the progress she has made with them. Jason shares with us his continuing struggle around his disconnect with his body around a recent injury. Edward shares with us a little more about his depression, but also a loud musical journey at 2 am. We speak often about being present and in the moment. In our Deep Dive this week, we explore what that looks like for each of us. We discuss things we do to help us be present and the challenges around the practice. We also speak about how it feels to live in that moment, offering potential suggestions and inspirations from our own practice. We wrap up our episode as Edward brings the funny this week. In our Off the Rails segment, we get in touch with our inner child as we try to figure out the every day items that children have renamed.

In This episode we get a chance to sit down with Michelle and learn about her Ayahuasca experience. Starting out Michelle shares with us the story of her journey to Peru and what was going on in her life at the time, as well as the ups and downs during her experiences. We also get a chance to hear about how it has changed her life and what her plans are for the future. If you would like to reach out to Michelle and say hi, or ask questions that we may not have covered, her email is Veganist88@gmail.com.

Jason starts us off this week with a check in around his work with the family videos. He shares with us the effect it has had on his perceptions of growing up, and his insights into how it has affected his life. We talk in detail about the experience, both pro and con, and how he is processing with his therapist. Edward announces 2 new editions to his home. A friend of his is currently fostering a mother cat and her newly born kittens. Edward tells us about his first meeting with the kittens and his choice. At this point he still is unsure of names for them. We have decided to post pictures on our Facebook Page and ask for suggestions. In this week's Deep Dive we explore the world of Psychedelics as a therapeutic tool. Edward has been reading he book “How to Change Your Brain” by Michael Pollan, which covers the history of Psychedelics as well as the new research being conducted. We discuss some of the research trials currently taking place in the United States and around the world. We provide preliminary findings as well as the struggles of building on the old research. We also discuss the effects of micro dosing as laid out in James Fadiman's book “The Explorer's Guide to Psychedelics”. Along the way Edward and Jason share their own experiences with LSD and Psilocybin. For more information about the test trials being conducted, as well as the chemicals themselves, please visit MAPS.org

In keeping up with our Zodiac segments we delve into the watery world of Cancer. Cancer is the Cardinal water sign. Known as the for their nurturing and emotional ways, Cancers are the mothers of the Zodiac. Symbolized as the Crab, they can be hard to get to know, but on the inside they are soft and vulnerable. Join us as we look into the mysteries of Cancer.

Our Check-In this week, centers around Edward's feelings of boredom and unfulfillment at work. Edward is trying to figure out what his boundaries are for life, especially when it comes to work. We discuss Edward's past relationship with his job and how that effects his feelings on where he is now. The conversation takes a turn into Edward's use of dreams and work have been a method of disconnecting from his present situation and being. We resolve with a wonderful breakthrough as Edward get's a new perspective on where he is in life. Our Deep Dive this week pairs nicely with our check in. Jason relates his story about his employment history. His views determined decisions about staying where he was, finding a new job, and what jobs to pick. The discussion evolves into how to know if work is working for you. We talk about the different thoughts and boundaries we place and perceptions we have about where we have worked and around Jobs in general. Our Off the Rails this week is based around the New Year's traditions from other countries. Most cultures celebrate New Year's. Each have customs different than our own. We discuss some of these customs and our familiarity with them. Some will seem funny; others will arouse our curiosity.

This week we start off with Jason for our Check-In. Jason has shared with us in the past that he has a recurring nightmare. Every time he has had the nightmare it has been basically the same. This week Jason shares with us how his nightmare has changed. Instead of starring his wife it stars his biological mother. We talk about this breakthrough and what it means for him and the work he is doing around abandonment. In our Deep Dive this week Edward has recently come across the idea of Revenge Sleep Procrastination. Edward often deals with this challenge at bedtime and relates his experiences, where it often comes from, and how he is starting to work on it. Jason and Lorri ask questions and relate their own stories of similar experiences and we come up with more ideas of how to address this “more common than we realize” affliction. This week's Off the Rails is a blast from the past! We revisit vintage trends that we remember from our youth that are making a comeback. From there we are reminded of stories and situations in our lives that really are quite humorous to look back on.

Edward finds himself ready for the return of his House Manager. Edward talks about looking forward to time off, then returning to doing only his job. Edward explains to Jason where he is at using Spoon Theory. Spoon Theory is often used to describe the amount of energy or the ability to do a specific task when one has an autoimmune disorder. In this case Edward uses it to describe his brain activity and the processes that don't seem to be working for him currently. Jason asks Edward if he thinks it will be difficult to transition from problem solving mode and having a sense of responsibility. Edward feels that he may have a hard time transitioning but talks about giving himself the time to do so and then using his vacation time to reset. Edward and Jason talk about setting hard boundaries so that Edward can fully detach from that side of things. In this week's Deep Dive, we talk about burnout, and compassion fatigue. We discuss the differences between these two states of being. We also talk about the signs that we are suffering from burn out and compassion fatigue. These signs can include inefficiency at work, feeling of uselessness, not being able to feel compassion for other's circumstances, and more. Lastly we discuss some ways to recover from these spaces.

Jason is getting ready to attend a wedding with his wife in this week's Check-In. The only challenge is trying to find something to wear. Jason doesn't often “dress up” so finding clothes appropriately for a wedding is a little difficult. This is compounded by the fact that Jason has a hard time committing to an outfit that might not be as comfortable as he needs it to be. Jason talks about his need for clothes that don't just look good, but also feel good as well. The Human Brain can make only so many decisions per day. In this Deep Dive we explore the way that our brains make decisions and what decision fatigue is. During the average day we may be asked to make thousands of decisions, when our brain can handle only hundreds. We discuss how best to use those decisions, and how to combat decision fatigue.

We are still on Summer Break, but we wanted to complete our analysis of Astrology signs through the rest of the summer. Gemini often gets a bad rap as a sign that is unstable, but as you'll hear this week, Gemini's are incredibly loyal, emotionally adept and incredibly fun to be around. This week we take a deeper look into what it means to have a Gemini in our lives and the benefits that come along with that relationship. Join us as we explore the duality of the twins.

This week's Episode starts out with a tale of two wills. Edward finds himself in a situation when he and someone he works with start to co-escalate. Hindsight is 20/20 and, in this case, quite funny and educational. Jason also shares a story of a similar situation in which he found himself. Laughs are had and lessons are learned in this Check-In. In our Deep Dive, this week Jason and Edward play a “game” with each other to illustrate what it looks like to engage in reality testing. We talk about reality testing as a tool to combat anxiety, trauma response, and even depression, but we rarely talk about how we go about doing it. If you've ever wondered how to use this tool, Jason and Edward use real world personal examples of issues they face in this game of what if.

Our Check-In this week is our Season Finale. Jason and Edward sit down and share the highlights of what made this season special for them. This is the episode when we hear about favorite episodes, learning experiences, growth recaps, special moments, and of course plans and goals for next season. Join us as we celebrate three years of Stumbling Through Enlightenment! Our Deep Dive this week is also a special one. A shout out and encouragement to those who share their trauma and shame in a healthy way to heal their lives. Talking about what has happened in our past is fundamental in the healing process. Jason and Edward discuss sharing their experiences in the podcast, support groups, and in therapy. Each member of our podcast team has found healing in the processes that we share. Our number one past episode is based on the sharing of shame around what has happened to us. Jason and Edward speak about the importance of processing their pasts and the benefits that come along with it.

Edward shares with us more changes in his life and how he is experiencing them. Edward starts off speaking about taking on a temporary roommate whom he has known for several years. Edward discusses the change in his home environment and the change in the relationship with this person. Though a good space for growth, Edward is finding it challenging dealing with change in so many areas of his life. Jason and Edward also discuss the closing of the church where Edward has played hand bells on and off since high school, and the work he is doing with overcoming his religious trauma. Edward admits that the amount of change hasn't been bad, but there is a certain feeling of being frozen due to all the moving parts. Our Deep Dive today focuses on the differences between trauma responses and intuition. While we work on ourselves and throughout our healing, we often come into the realization that our intuition can be a useful tool. We also start to realize that some of our feelings are just our trauma revisiting us. How do we tell the difference? Jason and Edward discuss the key differences between trauma responses and intuition. The discussion includes signs and even a checklist style identification system to figure this out.

Jason leads us off this week with a discussion about leaving a legacy. For Jason the podcast has been many things within his mental health journey. One of the parts that has recently come into his experience is that this podcast is part of a legacy to his family. Jason doesn't speak much with his children about the depths of his abuse. Jason was not able to understand what happened from his parents without more abuse. Jason has also been working on writing down some of the things that happened to him and how he has dealt with them over the years. Jason and Edward discuss how important this podcast has been to him as way for his children to learn about his past if they ever choose. After he's gone this work will stand as a reminder of how much he loves them and what his journey was like. Our Deep Dive this week is all about Taurus. Our favorite bull is full of nurturing. Taurus is known for their levelheaded nature. In this monthly discussion of our Zodiac signs, we explore the world of Taurus and what it means to have one in our lives. Slow to anger, stubborn, nurturing, and a home builder are terms that many of us connect to taurus. They are also incredibly intuitive and creative, and those are just some of the good qualities. Join us as we deep dive into what makes a Taurus one of the most loveable signs of the Zodiac.

This week's episode is a little longer than typical, and a little different. Instead of starting with a check in, we will be starting out with our Deep Dive. When we listened to the recording of this week's check in, Jason realized that there was an opportunity to add some content in the form of a deep dive. That information will be helpful in processing the conversation we have in our check in. In our Deep Dive this week we discuss neuroplasticity, specifically the way it relates to the ADHD brain. Neuroplasticity is a relatively new concept that describes the brain's ability to change and adapt on the physical level to changes in stimulation, thoughts, and the environment. This is not split-second adaptability, but the type that happens over time. In short, we discuss how our brain can be trained into new ways of working. This is particularly beneficial for those of us with ADHD. Our Check In starts out with Edward discussing the changes that he is experiencing at work. Obviously the a new client in the home is a big change and challenge for his adaptability. Edward also brings up that the office situation is changing and he will be working more in the middle of the house. This open Edward up to more stimulation and a greater number of potential distractions. Jason offers advice in the form of new skills and approaches to Edward's job. Edward finds it hard to process the information, but through communication and some time Jason assists Edward in understanding the steps and processes involved.

Edward starts us off this week with a check in about reaffirming boundaries. Edward has consistently had difficulties setting boundaries with his mother. Within the last week he had to do so on the phone in front of a friend who really likes is mother. Surprisingly his friend understood and encouraged the boundaries which Edward found to be a huge affirmation. Jason and Edward discuss some of the growth that Edward has experienced around the boundaries with his mother. They also discuss how the boundaries have changed, and some work in therapy. In this episode we welcome back Deb Burk to share with us stories of rescues that she has helped rehabilitate, and even given homes to. Join us for heartwarming stories centering around animal of all kinds. We discuss the lessons they've taught Deb and the love they've shared. To get in touch with Deb you can email her at Da.Burk@roadrunner.com, or on Facebook Deb Burk TTouch Maine Animal Connections.

Jason shares with us some parental growth this week. His eldest son has been fired from his job for stealing. A perfect storm of circumstances come together to create the perfect environment for his son to steal from his job. Jason shares with us the circumstances, but also how he and Jessica are working through the parenting process. Jason and Edward also share some of their own experience from being that age. Our Deep Dive this week is all about the step by step process of how to grow towards recovery from trauma. The steps we discuss are from a book called The Origins of You: How Breaking Family Patterns Can Liberate the Way We Live and Love by Vienna Pharaon. Each step breaks down the much bigger task of working into a healthy state from a life shaped by our trauma. The task of working through trauma can be filled with pitfalls and seem overwhelming. This book and the steps we discuss can break that down into workable chunks for a healthier life, more in line with our true selves.

Jason starts us off this week with a check in about the time change. Time changes can be difficult for any of us with mental health issues, especially depression. Jason realizes that the springtime change is good for him. We discuss legislation to end Daylight Savings Time falling through. Jason shares with us the challenges he finds in the winter as well as the lack of light. Jason talks about movement in the summer and lack of movement in the winter. We also talk about being in our bodies and stretching. Finishing up we talk about our dreams of spring and summer: Kayaking, fishing, motorcycles, and how to ease into these activities during the cold as it warms up. We find ourselves at the beginning of the Zodiac. Before the Julian and Gregorian calendar, spring was the start of the year. Aries is the fire sign that brings in the spring. The sign of the Ram is playful and full of wonder. Not evolving from other signs, Aries tend to be passionate children with very few self-imposed limitations. Just like a child exploring the world for the first time, Aries doesn't understand the idea of can't. If they want to do something they will find away as they continue to plow ever forward. Listen in as we learn about our friends born under this sign and discover all of the famous Aries out there.

This week Edward starts us off by sharing with us some stories from his vacations starting with him losing his voice and being sick. As sometimes happens in our lives this setback created an opportunity for Edward to reconnect with a young man whom he had helped raise. Edward goes on to tell us the trials and tribulations of trying to get an instruction manual printed for a Reiki Class that he taught over the weekend. The class went well, but the lesson learned of letting go was an important one as things kept going in unplanned directions. So you've got a new diagnosis. Now what? In this week's Deep Dive, we discuss the pros and cons of living with a diagnosis. Pathologizing is an act where someone with a diagnosis identifies all behavior with that diagnosis. As humans we tend to over identify with what's wrong with us. This can take a useful tool, such as a diagnosis, and turn it into an inward focused weapon that can make our healing journey all the more difficult. From the pros of being able to find the correct treatment and support groups to the cons of misidentifying traits as the diagnosis and using it as an excuse for our behavior among other things, we discuss the uses of diagnostic tools and the pitfalls that can come along with them.

We start our episode with Edward processing news that he received that morning about one of his highest needs clients has passed away the day before. Edward and Jason discuss the loss and the combination of relief and grief that these situations bring up. Jason starts off on a tangent the stops himself, but Edward picks it up due to his own frustration with the care system in his area. This takes a turn as Edward and Jason compare their experiences in the Human services field as well as the differences in how the many companies, they have worked for handle client hospitalizations. Our Deep Dive this week comes from trigger work Edward was doing, that prompted him to research the effects of experiencing gaslighting as children. In addition to discussing the effects of being gaslit as a child Edward and Jason go through a list of common phrases and situations that they both experienced as children. Sharing their own experiences, Edward and Jason break down some of these common forms of gaslighting into categories of which parent they received them from, if there were intentional(used with the specific intent of manipulation), unintentional (used due to a trauma response from their own parent's experiences), and cultural norm ( used due to cultural views from the time period they grew up in or their parents grew up in. ) This in depth look addresses what growing up with parents that gaslit was like and what the challenges have been in their adult lives moving through and healing.

Jason starts us off this week with some news about an ongoing trauma. His wife Jessica is leaving for a weekend and Jason shares with us what working up to this event looks like. Jason discusses some of the coping skills he is building around the weekend, but also how he is using desensitizing practices to prepare himself. Jason and Edward discuss the practices and also how to use them in more day to day endeavors. Our Deep Dive this week finds us speaking with Deb Burk again. This week she tells us more about Tellington Ttouch which she practices. She shares with us particulars about the therapy including some of its history and why and how it is used. Deb also shares with us some amazing stories about using this beautiful healing modality. To get in touch with Deb you can email her at Da.Burk@roadrunner.com, or on Facebook Deb Burk TTouch Maine Animal Connections.

Edward Starts us off this week with a story about his week at work. On of his Clients is going through a rough time which has triggered some memories and trauma responses for Edward and his co-worker. The conversation works through the issues, but also looks at what PTSD is. This week's Deep Dive is all about recovery and the maintenance around it. So many of us with mental health challenges wish it came to a point where we were cured. Some people feel that there is a space like that within their journey, but mental health recovery tends to be much more complex. Edward and Jason discuss the different ways that recovery can present in a person's life.

We check in with Jason this week as he shares with us stories of parenting a young adult. Jason's oldest has a license and car and within a year will be able to leave home. Jason again finds himself in a stage of life that he has only experienced in unhealthy ways. Jason is reading books, and listening to professional advice to learn what the transition looks like. His current struggle centers around offering to join activities with his son, without either feeling obligated. Jason shares with us a book that he is reading that he hopes will give him some insight into how to continue to offer a welcoming space to his son while at the same time allowing his eldest to become the young man he is destined to be. As we enter the second half of the month, we find ourselves Dreaming with Pisces. The last sign in the Zodiac, the sign of Pisces is all about the depths of mysticism, the occult, the unseen, and of course emotions. Pisces view the world through Rose colored glasses not always seeing what is but the potential of what could be. Join us as we explore the dreamscape that is the Pisces season.

This week we start our episode checking in with Edward about some musical exploits. Edward shares that he recently has bought a new gaming computer. At first he thought about it only for gaming, but with all the computing power he thought about getting back into some composing. Edward discusses his use of MuseScore 4 with Jason, and the joy that it is bringing him. Edward also shares with us some of the upcoming projects he is hopeful for. Today in our Deep Dive we discuss Medication Compliance. In a world where medications may be needed for day to day function due to mental health challenges, there can be so many things to get in our way. We discuss all the reasons people who suffer from depression, anxiety, ADHD, Bi-polar and other mental illnesses stop taking medications as prescribed. We share some personal stories, as well as some helpful hints to remember to take your medications, but also to take them.

Jason starts off this week's episode with a story about a new intrusive thought. While in the shower one day, Jason thoughts turn to ideas that his oldest son isn't his. As he starts ruminating, he catches himself and understands that these thoughts come from a recent therapy session. Jason goes one to discuss with us the way he compartmentalizes his traumatic past into ways that allow them to remain in his history, but in a way that he's able to deal with them. This week we sit down again with Deb Burke and talk about how she got started doing the work that she does. Join us as we shares her story of healing and animmals

This week Edward starts talking about a realization that clicked for him about some of his behavior. Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, Edward was often described as being lazy by teachers and even his parents. To rectify this Edward worked even harder to the point of exhaustion. In the discussion Edward realizes that he takes so much on, especially at work but even in home life, because he still carries the viewpoint that if he isn't accomplishing specific things, he's being lazy. The discussion continues with talk about deprograming the inner voice and separating himself from the identity that he was given as a child. Our Deep Dive this week is part of a larger conversation. In this part of the conversation Jason and Edward discuss being genuine in the face of trauma and mental health challenges. The discussion focusses on what it looks like to come out as your authentic self and your limitations after people have seen your trauma self. They talk about tools that keep us within our trauma and disfunction.

Edward starts us off this week recounting the last couple of weeks and the realizations he's had around timing. Edward relays to us a few stories of appointments that have come up amid some time crunches. When Edward usually finds himself in these circumstances, he tells us that he panics. These last couple of weeks he has found a way to “be ok” with where he finds himself. In addition Edward has had a few experiences where his timing has been perfect, with enough time to do what needs to be done and to relax for a few minutes afterwards. Jason and Edward discuss what these experiences have meant to Edward and what he has discovered through them. As the Sun transitions from Capricorn into Aquarius we explore one of the more philosophical signs in the Zodiac. If Capricorn is considered the father of the Zodiac and Cancer the mother, then Aquarius would be the child. Ever full of wonder and looking for new experiences, Aquarius forms its own philosophy and stands by it. Fiercely independent yet friendly, those born into this sign tend to keep moving through a life of discovery.

We catch up with Jason about the light levels, now that we have past the longest night. Jason relays to us that he is feeling a little better, but also has hope due to a meme about how many days it will be until it is light at 7:30pm. Jason and Edward discuss Jason's Christmas, including his son's gift of a car. Jason also laments the end of hunting season as it was something that he was doing regularly and now is looking for an activity to take its place. Our Deep Dive this week is about deconstruction, which has become a buzz word recently. Edward and Jason go through the basics of deconstruction, including using it within the subject of religion. Edward stumbled upon the philosophy when looking into religious trauma. This raises the question: Is there room for critical thinking in religion?

This week we check in with Jason about the lack of light and his sleep patterns. Jason has been struggling with the beginning of the winter season. Through conversation we discover that part of that is light related but also trauma echoes from Holidays past. Jason and Edward discuss lighting options and other possible solutions. The conversation takes some interesting turns and has a few tangents, including discussing Jason's physical work environment and some thoughts on probability. In the end they discuss the differences between SAD lights and grow lights and a plan of action. In our Deep Dive this week, we meet Deb Burk. Deb is an animal communicator, Tellington TTouch practitioner, and an animal sitter. To get in touch with Deb you can email her at Da.Burk@roadrunner.com, or on Facebook Deb Burk TTouch Maine Animal Connections. Today Deb speaks with us about how she started down this path, some of her experiences, and a little more in depth about what she does. The stories she shares with us are touching and loving.