The Gathering Pod

In this special episode of The Gathering Room, I got to talk with Jonny Miles—musician, naturalist, and author of the one of the most extraordinary novels I’ve ever read, Eradication: A Fable. We talk about the mysterious process of writing, what it really means to heal a wounded ecosystem, why solitude is essential for original thought, and how great art dissolves our preconceived ideas rather than confirming them. It’s an inspiring conversation and an incredible book—you won’t want to miss either! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many of us are trying way too hard on the path to awakening: straining to let go, striving to stop striving. In this favorite “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about how you can actually let go of attachment, experience more peace, and access the support that’s always available to you. Tune in to discover the magic that can happen when we allow ourselves to be held by the loving “pool of consciousness,” rather than continuing to struggle all alone. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I explore the disorienting, identity-dissolving place we enter after major life changes...what I call “Square One” in my Change Cycle methodology. I walk you through all four stages of the Change Cycle, answer listener questions about navigating change, and lead a calming meditation to help you surrender the wheel and trust what comes next. If you’re in Square One and want to get through it with more grace and ease, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about how to live through a time of societal upheaval and how we can still find our footing, even when the road ahead is uncertain. I explore how to navigate systemic collapse through Wayfinding: regulating our nervous systems, resisting panic and polarization, grieving fully, creating beauty, and building circles of community, integrity, and purposeful action. If you’ve been feeling alone or overwhelmed, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your soul has been leaving you a trail to follow? In this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I talk about tracking animals with my then-two-year-old and how it led me to ponder the question: How do we track our own spirit? In this episode, I share the three signs of a spirit track, how to tell spirit from fear, and why your body is not the enemy. I'll also lead you in a meditation to help you rest in stillness and listen for tracks of joy. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I sit down with the brilliant Eric Zimmer, author of How A Little Becomes A Lot—one of those rare self-help books that’s easy to read, backed by science, and deeply spiritual. In our conversation, Eric shares his “still points” for embedding tiny shifts into your busy life, “choice points” for building good habits, and Zen insights on the unbroken unity of everything. It’s a life-changing book and an inspiring conversation, so be sure to tune in! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Always” and “never” feel so satisfying... But they’re almost always wrong. In this Gathering Room episode, I explore how absolutist language keeps us stuck in self-judgment, bad relationships, and susceptibility to false prophets. The antidote is one little phrase: “sometimes, maybe.” This cracks open curiosity, cools down conflict, and tells the truth. And once you loosen the grip of absolutes, you can finally find what’s genuinely always there: a deep, unshakeable peace at your core. Come listen. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Gathering Room, I set out to interview author Eric Zimmer about his brilliant new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot, but life had other plans. Due to some frustrating tech failures, we were forced to reschedule. But in the shambles of my expectations, I felt inspired to talk about a core concept in Eric's book: the resiliency to bounce back after something hasn't worked. Tune in to learn how failing is essential for success, and how you can find peace, and even joy, in failure. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re living through a “phase transition,” but I believe it’s what our souls signed up for. In this Gathering Room, I explore why the chaos of our times isn’t a sign of collapse, but of metamorphosis. Using the metaphor of ice to water to steam, I share how relaxation, not clinging, is the key to navigating radical change. I’ll also guide you in our Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation and share why your wackiest fascination may be your best compass right now. Join me, and let’s learn to fly. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Gathering Room was inspired by…my neck. Painful, stiff, and cranky, like it’s got a personal grudge against relaxation. As it turns out, it’s teaching me the ultimate lesson: that pain isn’t the enemy, but a doorway to awakening. In this episode, I share how a brutal bout of food poisoning finally cracked me open to Divine relief flowing down my spine, relaxing what I couldn’t relax on my own. If you're suffering any kind of pain and need some help, this episode is for you. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the way to “win” at life isn’t self-help, productivity, or prizes, but making deep connections with other people? In this Gathering Room, I share how a reality TV show made me realize that the clock time of modern culture has replaced the communion time that once shaped human days. To hear how to escape the tyranny of the clock, build community amid chaos, and win by connecting, join me for the full episode! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Gathering Room, I'm questioning the idea of accepted reality as I share stories of telepathy, near‑death experiences, animal visitations, and the ways that denial keeps our lives narrow. I talk about deciding to “live wide” by kicking down the walls of what our materialist culture tells us we should think, and opening ourselves up to magic, joy, and connection instead. If you'd like to discover how to live wide, and what your life would be like if you did, join me for the full conversation! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Gathering Room, I share how a perfectly wonderful, creative day unexpectedly led to a moment of anxiety, and how that experience transformed my understanding of fear, struggle, and even death. We reframe the old familiar saying “waiting for the other shoe to drop” to acknowledge joy as our true, natural state. Join me for this conversation to explore how “dropping both shoes” can take you out of left-hemisphere anxiety and suffering and back to freedom, connection, and bliss. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Gathering Room, I explore what it means to “let it be” when life feels unfinished, messy, or even painful. Through stories of near‑death experiences, spiritual teachers, personal loss, and wild synchronicities, I reflect on the idea that having experiences—good, bad, and everything in between—is the true meaning of life. I also lead you in a meditation and answer listener questions about spiritual bypassing, when to rest, and how to trust your path when you can’t see the next step. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could turn even your most painful moments into a pathway to bliss? In this episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about the Hindu concept of satcitānanda—which means the joining of truth, consciousness, and bliss—and how we can drop into this state by letting go of resistance. I’ll share a "formula" for how to do this that I learned from the zen monk and mathematician Shinzen Young, and I’ll guide you through a meditation to help you take a shortcut to bliss right now. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you one of the millions of people who are struggling financially right now? In this episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about how to navigate times when money feels tight and the old ways of surviving just aren’t working anymore. I share how “dancing sideways”—following flutters of discomfort that nudge us toward something new—helped me create work I love, and how it can help you too. We end with our meditation to help you feel held, guided, and ready to take your own creative sideways step. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I'm talking about synchronicities—moments that hint that our universe is not random. Drawing on Dr. Lisa Miller’s research from The Awakened Brain, I share how being open to spiritual realities can improve health, boost resilience, and protect against anxiety and depression. To learn ways to keep your “spiritual docking station” open—including a meditation to allow those synchronicities to start showing up in your life—join me for the full episode! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Been feeling lost lately? It’s not surprising. The world is shifting in ways we’ve never seen before, creating unprecedented changes in many of our lives. Moving through these unfamiliar landscapes can make us feel uncertain where to go—which is a lot like feeling lost. In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I’m talking about feeling lost during times of personal and global upheaval, letting go of what’s familiar, and stepping into the unknown to awaken to a new consciousness. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this extended episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about what it means to live through a time of social unraveling, and how we can still find our way, even without guarantees or clear paths ahead. I explore how to navigate systemic collapse through Wayfinding—regulating our nervous systems, resisting panic and polarization, grieving fully, creating beauty, and building circles of community, integrity, and calm, generative action. If you’ve been feeling alone or overwhelmed, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do you go when you don’t trust what’s around you? In this week’s Gathering Room, I talk about how to navigate our chaotic, rapidly changing world by turning inward to the body's wisdom. I’ll guide you through a Wayfinder visualization to help you feel held in safety, and show you how this state can become your most trusted navigation system. Join me for the full conversation to shift from victim to hero, follow your inner compass, and wayfind through uncertainty with more compassion and peace. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever felt an irresistible pull toward something new, even when it didn’t make any logical sense? In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I tell the story of my family’s recent bold leap—leaving behind a home we adored to start anew in upstate New York—led only by intuition and a string of joyful coincidences. This conversation is all about how real freedom begins when we trust our inner compass and dare to “wayfind” toward what feels most free. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever try to make forward-thinking plans, but then you get hit with surprises you never saw coming? In this encore “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about how to move forward by embracing change and uncertainty—and the delightful surprises that can come your way when you do. I’ll also guide you through a meditation to help bring your attention to the field of connection that’s pulling you toward what you’re meant to do next. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our culture, there's nothing good about aging. But what if growing older is really a spiritual strategy, not a personal failing? What if it's the way your soul finds its way home? On this episode of The Gathering Room, I explore how the slowing down of the body allows it to fill itself with more light, more spiritual awareness, and a deeper sense of peace. Tune in to hear about “prodigies of aging” who grow more luminous with age, and how we can learn to “turn the lights on” in our own lives. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hoping to survive the holidays without betraying your Essential Self? In this episode of The Gathering Room, I share how to navigate this season of stress, family dynamics, and cultural expectations using your inner compass instead of willpower and resistance. You’ll hear about following wild synchronicities, living from your heart, and giving yourself permission to be yourself. Tune in for the full episode to discover how to find your way through the holidays and celebrate what you truly love. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever played Minecraft? My five-year-old pulled me into it, and I started seeing it as a metaphor for how we move through real life. On this Gathering Room, I share stories from my journey through decades of Survival mode, my awakening into Creative mode, and what it feels like now to live mostly in Adventure mode, guided by something wiser than my everyday mind. If you’ve ever felt stuck in Survival mode or longed for more magic, guidance, and meaning in your life, this episode is for you. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Gathering Room, I explore the tendency to assign difficult or unsavory tasks to “Tomorrow Me,” thinking I’ll magically want to do them in the future. Tune in to hear personal stories, practical tips to plan things out of joy instead of obligation, and why it’s kinder and wiser to honor what your “Today Self” genuinely wants and needs. If you’re ready to break the cycle of overcommitting your future self and find more happiness in the present, this episode is for you. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gatherers—I’m thrilled to be joined by special guest Dr. Lisa Miller, author of The Awakened Brain, for this episode of The Gathering Room podcast! In this episode we discuss the surprising neuroscience of spirituality, ways to awaken your perception of the world around you, and how suffering can expand your spiritual awareness. Dr. Miller also shares some guided meditations to help you access your connection to the Divine. It’s an inspiring and moving conversation you won’t want to miss. Join us! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greetings, Beloveds! I’ve returned from my walk along Spain’s Camino de Santiago, and on this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m sharing what it taught me about turning everyday life into a pilgrimage. I explore how adventure, faith, and story weave meaning into our days. (Back home, even a plumbing disaster became part of my wild journey...) To learn how you can travel through life in “Adventure Mode,” seeing every twist and turn as part of your own sacred path, join me for the full episode! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that until you are truly compassionate to yourself, you can’t be compassionate to any other person? In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about building compassionate communities—and how a safe, loving, mutually supportive community is probably the most important thing we can ever have, especially during chaotic times. I’d love for you to join me. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I explore what I call “sanity quilting” and offer practical advice for maintaining your mental well-being during turbulent times. Like crazy quilting, sanity quilting involves building a life out of things you love in order to stay peaceful, calm, inspired, and sane. Join me for the full episode to learn more about stitching the things you love into your life, so you can cultivate peace, sanity, and calm during even challenging times. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I dive into the big themes of my most recent book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose, and share how my ongoing research, writing, and real-life experience have given me deeper insights than ever before. I talk about why moving beyond anxiety starts with radical kindness to yourself, and how creativity follows when we shift energy away from fear and toward curiosity—even in our everyday choices. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that recalling positive sense memories creates connections in the brain that reinforce positive, joyful times instead of fear or anxiety? That’s what I’m talking about on this special encore episode of The Gathering Room! Listen again to hear how you can rewire your brain to access a place of wisdom and the peace that passes all understanding. You can also follow my guided Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation to help you drop out of matter and connect with the deepest sense memory. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another episode of The Gathering Room! This week I’m broadcasting from a co-working space, thanks to ongoing house repairs at our new home. But my less-than-ship-shape house is possibly the perfect metaphor for the topic we’re diving into today: the idea that “progress” might not always look or feel like we (or others) expect it to. In fact, progress is making us, not the other way around. If you suffer from the idea that you aren't making enough progress, you won't want to miss this one! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever felt pulled toward something new without knowing exactly why…when there seems to be no logical reason for it?In this episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I share all about my family’s recent wild adventure of leaving behind the home we all loved and moving to upstate New York, guided only by the pull of our inner compasses (and a series of delightful coincidences). It's an exploration of how true freedom comes from daring to "wayfind" by following what makes us feel most free. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this slightly (or very?) “woo-woo” episode of The Gathering Room, I share how leaving our beloved home for one that needs a sledgehammer has shaken my normally steady joy... Throughout this difficult time, I’ve received some loving guidance that’s helped me sit with the pain so it can ripen into sweetness—and I’m feeling so much better. Tune in to hear more! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Gathering Room, beloveds! In this episode, we’re going to talk about flying—both in the literal sense and as a metaphor for living our wildest dreams. I also answer listener questions about how to strengthen your metaphorical flying muscles, follow the pull of your intuition, and embrace life’s magic. I also guide you through a meditation to focus on the truest identity you have: wildly alive, loving, excited, compassionate, gentle, and fearless. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever tried to “let it go,” only to find that you can’t? That’s because whatever you're struggling with—sadness, fear, anxiety, rage—you don’t have it. It has you. On Episode 215: When You Can’t Let it Go of The Gathering Room, I talk about how to sit with those difficult emotions and just let them stay—and why this is one of the most powerful, transformative things we can do. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith isn’t something outside you—it’s a muscle you build from within. If you’ve been depending on outside voices or practices to feel okay during these daunting times, I invite you to return home to your own inner knowing. On this episode of The Gathering Room, we’ll quiet the noise, find our stillness, and surrender into the consciousness that holds us always. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I’m sure you’re keenly aware, people are extremely divided these days. From our politics, to our attitudes, to our ways of speaking about others, we are growing more and more polarized—and mutually destructive.On this episode of Listen Again: The Gathering Room podcast, I’m talking about how upset many of us feel, why that upset is not always coming from a place we can trust, and what we can do about it. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m thrilled to be joined by my guest Chase Jarvis for this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room podcast! Chase is an award-winning artist, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author, who has a new book out called NEVER PLAY IT SAFE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FREEDOM, CREATIVITY, AND A LIFE YOU LOVE. This remarkable book helped me take a few big leaps in my own life, and I hope that listening to my conversation with Chase will inspire you to do the same. Enjoy! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that everything around you is conscious and responding to you in various ways?It may sound woo-woo, but there’s legitimate scientific research to support this idea! In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I talk about the synchronicities and “God winks” that occur when we realize we’re all one field of consciousness. If you’re ready for more magic, more synchronicity, and more play, be sure to join me for the full episode. Let’s invite the universe to play with us! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve long believed that a transformation of human consciousness would take place in my lifetime. And I feel that this “new consciousness” is both a state and a place that we can access. I’ve also been thinking more about what I call “wayfinding” and how it can help us all reach this new consciousness. In this "Listen Again" episode of The Gathering Room, I share how to “wayfind” to the new consciousness—a field of openness holding us all in a matrix of love. Curious? Tune in and meet me in the field! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that the right hemisphere of your brain is doing supercomputer-level processing all the time, whether you’re aware of it or not? Wild, right? Martha calls the right hemisphere “the magician” because it can come up with the most amazing, brilliant solutions to very difficult problems, seemingly out of thin air.In this episode of The Gathering Room: Awakening Your Magician, Martha talks about how we can activate our highly creative right hemispheres, so we can solve the problems in our lives—and in the world.And the best part is, reawakening your own creative genius can actually be a lot of fun! To learn how to use Martha’s 4 C’s (calm, curiosity, courage, and feeling cornered) to rev up your right hemisphere and start solving problems as if by magic, tune in to this fascinating episode, which also includes Martha’s Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our culture generally teaches us that anxiety will keep us safe—but really it’s our intuition that does that! In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I explore how to tell the difference between anxiety and intuition, and how to hear what your intuition is trying to tell you. To find out more about listening to your intuition and how to discover its frequency of joy—and to join me in my anxiety-relieving Silence, Space, and Stillness meditation—be sure to tune in for the full episode! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Listen Again episode of The Gathering Room, Martha talks about following your curiosity to activate the right side of the brain, which is where our passion lives. And our passion is what leads us to our life’s purpose. If you want to start looking for things that draw your attention (rather than push yourself toward the things you think you should do), and you’re ready to prepare yourself to follow your curiosity wherever it leads, tune in to the full episode—it may contain just the spark you need! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no question about it—we’re living in chaotic times. We’re all trying to be happy and at peace, and we often think we need to find external circumstances that are conducive to those states. But did you know that there is a bedrock of stillness and kindness that we can drop into, no matter what’s going on around us? In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I’ll guide you to this still, calm place through a very special meditation that you can revisit any time you feel tempest-tossed. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Martha says, “We are the ones who can start to lead our lives in the direction that our higher selves are signaling to us to go and potentially help a lot of other people whose sensitivities may not be quite as strong—and in this way we serve the world.” To learn how to appreciate, listen to, and trust your powerful sensitivity, join Martha for the full episode, where she’ll also guide you in her grounding and calming Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever found yourself striving for spiritual growth, only to feel anxious and exhausted by all your efforts?The reason is that nothing moves during the times we’re striving and stressing. It’s only when we let go completely that the universe brings it to us. In this episode of The Gathering Room, I explore this peculiar spiritual paradox: how pushing ourselves harder to attain alignment—for example, becoming attached to the pursuit of non-attachment—can keep us from the peace and fulfillment we’re trying to find.If you come to The Gathering Room often, you know that I believe we are all meant to experience an awakening, a transformation of consciousness that will help us heal ourselves and the world. In most religious traditions that have talked about enlightenment, there is the idea that this kind of awakening requires great effort. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and the message I’m getting is something different: that we are all trying way harder than we need to. We spiritual seekers tend to overexert ourselves, but what I’ve discovered—and what I share with you in this episode—is that real magic happens when we let go.One thing that is difficult for many of us to understand or fully internalize is the idea that if we’re on the path to awakening, much of the transformation is actually done for us when we let go of attachment and striving. True progress often comes from surrendering effort rather than increasing it.Some of the things that take us toward awakening are inward, like sitting in meditation, and sometimes awakening requires that you go out and act. In those times of action, it’s hard not to attach to the things you’re trying to get. And of course, this attachment causes suffering. Imagine yourself: You’re trying so hard. You’re trying to do without attachment. You’re trying to be good without seeing any progress. You’re exhausted from being attached, and you’re exhausted from trying not to be attached.What you may not understand is that you are surrounded by beings of consciousness that are aching to help you. In fact, there is an infinite amalgamation of consciousness whose job it is to hold and love you and facilitate the awakening that is meant to come.It is a pool of consciousness that understands you completely and loves you absolutely. In this episode I guide you through a new meditation to help you visualize this pool of loving consciousness and allow yourself to be buoyed by it—so you can let go of all effort and open yourself to the blessings that are meant for you.Acknowledging that you are being held by the consciousness that’s around you is the quickest way to dismantle the ego, come into enlightenment, and make your dreams accessible to you. Everything you have ever asked for is sent to you from these loving beings, but they always send it to your real address—peace. It is peace that allows us to let go of our attachments, let go of form, and let go of all effort.If you’d like to experience more peace, discover how to let go of attachment, and learn how to access the support that’s always available to you, tune in for the full episode. Together we’ll discover the magic that can happen when we allow ourselves to be held in the loving pool of consciousness, rather than continuing to struggle all alone. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lately I’ve been feeling lost… How about you? It’s not surprising. The world is undergoing some truly unprecedented things, and it’s creating unprecedented changes in many of our lives. Navigating the unprecedented means we have to venture into uncharted territory. And that feels a whole lot like being lost.In this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m talking about feeling lost during times of personal and global upheaval, letting go of what’s familiar, and stepping into the unknown to awaken to a new consciousness.If you’re familiar with my work, you’ll know I’ve long believed that we need to experience a radical change of consciousness in order to move forward as a species in love and harmony and care for the planet and each other. That journey of awakening will require us to go to places we’ve never been before. And when you’re going into the unknown, the path itself must disappear—it must become a non-path or what is known in Zen as “the pathless path.” No one has ever traveled the path you’re meant to travel. Your way is unique. It lies beyond any maps. So as you move forward not knowing where you are going, there will come a time when you’ll feel like you’ve lost the path completely. (Maybe that’s where you are right now.)You may find yourself feeling things like: Am I on the right path? Is there even a path? I don’t know where I am or who I am anymore—am I the only one who feels this way?Here’s the thing: The moment that you feel lost might be the moment that your soul has finally slipped the leash of cultural conditioning. It may feel strange and alienating, but it’s a sign that you’re not off track, you’re unmapped—and you are free.At these times I follow a practice called “Naming the Shape of the Unknown,” where you:Allow the unknown to simply be.Put words on what you don’t know.Sit quietly with this named not-knowing.You don’t have to solve a problem, you just have to make a little space where you can be aware of your own not-knowing and how it makes you feel.For example, if you feel stuck about your career, instead of running around working on your resume, pause and just see where the pathless path has taken you. You may find yourself feeling things like: I don’t know what I want, I don’t know whether the life I built still fits me, I don’t know what’s coming next, and I’m terrified.All you have to do is sit with these feelings. Sit with the terror, sit with the pain. Trust that the river knows where it’s going, even if you don’t. If you can sit with those “I don’t know” phrases, it may be uncomfortable or painful, but you start to realize that it is also intimacy with the mystery.Your not-knowing can be the map to the place you’ve never seen, to the person you’re becoming that you’ve never been, to your new home.Tune in for the full episode to hear more about the practice of sitting with the unknown, how our living spaces mirror our inner lives, and how to use imagination and yearning to channel new possibilities. I’ll also answer listener questions on how to remain on the fluid path while setting strong boundaries, how to comfort yourself through grief and uncertainty, and why transformation is a lifelong spiral. And I’ll lead you through my Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation to help you reconnect with your inner compasses—the only guidance you ever need. Remember that The Gathering Room is not a room with walls. It is a clearing where lost ones find each other and remember they were never alone. So if you’re lost, tune in and be lost with us. We’ll find each other in a place none of us has ever known before. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m very excited, Gatherers, because lately I feel that something is changing in this world in a profound way, and I don’t think I’m the only one… There’s a feeling of irrational hope, a strange joy, a sense that something wonderful is happening in the midst of all the horrors. I’ve always been obsessed with the idea that we humans would change the way we live in a dramatic way at some point during my lifetime. I call it “pool consciousness”—where we move from hierarchical, pyramid-shaped structures to a more fluid, interconnected “pool” way of being. In this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m diving deep into pool consciousness and sharing a list of 12 signs that indicate you may be experiencing this shift now, too: A quiet but persistent sense that Something is happening Irrational hope and joy rising amidst upheaval and uncertainty Easy laughter, more fun, more delight—for no particular reason “Itchy mask syndrome”—an inability to be inauthentic A softening of rigid striving Intense emotional waves that cleanse without drowning you An expanding capacity for paradox and holding opposites Feeling more yourself than ever—but also more connected to everyone Disinterest in “keeping up” with traditional life goals An inner rebellion against hierarchies Strangeness with time-speeding up, stretching, collapsing A sense of being guided by signs, synchronicities, and “God winks” If you are experiencing any of these twelve signs, or a clump of them, you may be part of something happening that has never happened before in human history. Even though the world is going to hell in a handbasket, at the same time, there is something new rising—something that we’ve all been waiting for our whole lives, maybe even since the human species first evolved. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I’m excited to be part of it! Tune in for the full episode to hear about “The Pyramid and the Pool” metaphor and learn more about each of the 12 signs of pool consciousness. I’ll also share how to access hope during personal struggles, how to recognize synchronicities and guidance, and how authenticity, cooperation, and openness are key to navigating this new consciousness. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this Gathering Room episode, I drew inspiration from a recent Ani DiFranco concert, as well as Ecclesiastes 3 and the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, to explore the unexpected emergence of hope in this time of global upheaval—and how you can learn to access it. If you’re searching for connection, comfort, or the motivation to keep “dancing,” tune in for the full episode, where I’ll also lead you through a special Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation to help you connect with a deeper sense of community and support. When we gather together, we can feel wild with hope and art and beauty—and we can dance, even in the middle of the worst place ever. Come join me and find out. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.