Podcast appearances and mentions of kim johnston

Kilvington LIVE Interview with Kim Johnston by Ralph Barba

What do you do when your healing work is done? In this podcast episode, Geneva Robins and Kim Johnston chat about the neverending awakening and expansion of the spiritual journey. Our favourite thing to talk about is the transformative process of unpacking old stuff and expanding further into the light. With an engineering background, Kim had been doing energy healing work since childhood but kept that part of her life hidden. The journey of learning Reiki helped her go through some really challenging times. She began learning Reiki with Geneva while in graduate school to get her Ph.D. in engineering. In graduate school, there are times when it can be really difficult and lonely. Like many people in grad school, Kim was dealing with impostor syndrome and thoughts like "What am I doing here in graduate school?", "What can I do with my life?" and "Who am I?"Learning Reiki helped Kim feel more comfortable and confident and heal old thought patterns. Coming into the community of Reiki class was so supportive and nurturing. Opening her heart up to self-love, expansion, and acceptance was a big shift in her spiritual journey. Now, as an engineering professor, Kim works with psychologists to create programs that are starting to change the culture. Mental well-being is essential, and we need to be able to talk about difficult topics everywhere, including in the university setting.We're human beings, not human doings.Our culture teaches us that much of our value is based on productivity and accomplishments. A big part of the spiritual journey, in the beginning, was unlearning that attachment to having to be productive, to have value. The truth is that your worth is just simply you being you. You just have to show up and breathe, and that's enough. Connect to the unconditional loving spaceIf your worthiness is based on something external, you pay such a great inner cost. You're always chasing the thing outside of yourself. It's always just beyond your grasp. It doesn't matter what you accomplish; it doesn't matter how good you are. If there's a tape in your head that says "Never enough, " it just never shuts up. There's no amount of enoughness to satiate that beast. And then, in the chasing of the external, we can lose that numinous, luminescent, ephemeral beauty that's part of life. We lose our ability to witness the miracles happening all around us all the time. The spiritual practice is really about connecting to unconditional, loving energy. And the spiritual doorway or mind-body mental health tool that gets you to that luminous state is up to you. That unconditional love state can be created inside you by connecting to the universal lifeforce energy. For us, Reiki is one of the many pathways we use to connect to that infinite well-being. You get in harmony with the greater flow of Divine energy, and then you can create absolute magic in the world.  And so then, what's next? What do we do when we've healed our stuff?The first few years of the spiritual journey are often about healing the old stuff, clearing out limiting beliefs, and things from childhood. Then there's a time when your spiritual work shifts from the pain of the past to expanding further into joy and happiness. You come to a place where you're really comfortable and in a good place on many levels. You begin to love yourself and have true inner acceptance and peace. Transformation and Elevation in the Spiritual JourneyThe work transforms as we do. You begin to ask how you can help support other people in their journeys and start to heal our culture. How can I be the next level of myself and usher in a little bit of a new way of being for myself and society? What opens up is choice and freedom. Letting go of the idea of a 'right' or 'wrong' choice and opening up to all options being good and wonderful in their own way. Sometimes when you're faced with multiple options, you can feel trapped because it might seem like there is a right way or wrong way, that one way is safe and the other is not.But after clearing and healing old beliefs, a new, open, and expansive environment is created, where all of the options are actually beautiful and delightful. You start to flow easily with creativity and choice. When you start doing your healing work, you realize everything we do is a choice; we get to choose every aspect of it. Connection to Creativity on the Spiritual JourneyThe old internalized beliefs fade away as you follow your spiritual journey. Dualistic beliefs, that we are one thing or another, lessenas we do our spiritual work. We let go of the idea that you're either creative or scientific. You're either a man or a woman; if you're a man, you don't get to be womanly, and if you're a woman, you must not be manly. When those limiting beliefs fade, you can be anything.Aspects of creativity can open up, and you get ideas for projects you want to make and bits of life you want to experience. These can be artistic or applying creative solutions to your daily work. It is all part of the greater creative flow of energy that naturally opens when you are on your spiritual journey.Keep Going with your Spiritual PracticeThe exact same practice that helped you heal will also elevate and transform you as you expand into your spiritual self. And really, both happen at the same time. No matter how far along you are on your spiritual path, there can always be things to heal and bring to the light. And even if you are new to the path, you can have these deep and transformative experiences that elevate yourself and others.When you have something to be healed, Reiki will heal it; when you don't have something to be healed, Reiki will elevate and transform you and uncover something new. As you deepen your spiritual practice, you undergo a process of unveiling and transformation. You unveil different aspects of yourself and allow the most genuine version of yourself to be uncovered. In that process, you bring more of yourself into your life, and in that way, you create so much good in the world around you.Your Spiritual Journey Heals the WorldUncovering the creative self opens up after healing trauma. You connect to the energy and ideas within you with flexibility and openness. And most importantly, your healing creates the safety to play. You create a safe space to explore who else you can be and how else you can express things. That space opens for you, but then you can also hold that space for others.Your spiritual journey creates a massive shift in communities and, ultimately, the world. Because if everyone felt safe to bring the best of themselves to the world, that would bring about illumination on a global scale. It means transcendence of suffering and the flourishing of the individual and everyone else.Human consciousness is evolving in a bit of a different way. People are no longer content to be kept in one little box of identity. All of the things that used to be rigid and unyielding are becoming a lot more expressive and open. We are expanding our consciousness and are using all these tools, Reiki, yoga, meditation, reading, self-help books, and positive psychology. It all works together to create joy and expand the light.It's an exciting time to be alive in the space of expansion of human consciousness. We have a new podcast episode every month! Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can send us your question in the comments below or record your question here: https://www.lunaholistic.com/podcast/We are also very happy to share the gift of Reiki through our Giving Back Program! Every month we give away free Reiki sessions to exceptional people. Learn more here: https://www.lunaholistic.com/giving-back-program/   LunaHolistic Podcast 06 TranscriptWhat Do You Do On Your Spiritual Journey After You've HealedHosted by: Geneva Robins – LunaHolistic Facilitated by: Kim JohnstonPodcast Air Date: Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022Episode: LHP060:05  Welcome to the show.GENEVA ROBINS: Welcome to the LunaHolistic podcast! I'm your host, Geneva Robins, and every month on this podcast, we'll talk about Reiki, as well as answering your questions on all things spiritual. We are gratefully located in Calgary in Treaty 7 Territory. Thank you all, and welcome to the show!Welcome to the LunaHolistic podcast! My guest today is Kim Johnston, and we're going to be talking about this big, huge spiritual expansion and awakening journey, that you can ride many wild carpet rides through [on] your spiritual path. Reiki has been a big one of ours. And so, we'll be talking about that today. Say hi, Kim.KIM JOHNSTON: Hello everyone! I'm so happy to be here.GR: Yeah, welcome! It's so great to have you here. And to talk about our most favorite thing in the whole world, which is this big spiritual awakening we've all gone through and [are] going through, it's a never ending journey. Basically, what do you do when your healing work [is] done? When you've kind of patched up all the holes in yourself? And then what? You know, where do you go from here? So, we're gonna be talking a little bit about that. So, thank you for being here.KJ: Thank you. I'm so excited! I love that you said it's our favorite thing because it is – our favorite thing! GR: [laughs] Literally the favorite-ist thing in the world. KJ: It's just - it's so good digging into yourself, and then being like, what's the next little thing that I'm going to unpack and expand?GR: Yes!KJ: It's my favorite thing to talk about. GR: Yay! Fantastic. Awesome. 2:00 If you're in a still place, just take a deep breath of relief.We like to start this podcast with a little collective breath of gratitude, which is just a little mini meditation, just to help everyone fully arrive [in] the moment. Of course, if you're driving, you know, keep your eyes open, for sure. But if you're in a stationary – or still, or passenger even – location, then you can gently close your eyes now, and just take a deep breath of relief. Sometimes just a simple sigh can connect you back into that anchor inside yourself. And then, feeling that energy below you, deep in the earth. That wise, nurturing, supportive energy in Mother Earth rising up to greet you, to meet the bottoms of your feet. And just send an enormous amount of gratitude into the Earth. And feel that gratitude rebounding, reflected back to you, nurturing and supporting you in all ways. Letting it fill you up all the way, filling your heart with gratitude, letting it extend out through your throat, and the top of your head. Sitting in a bubble of gratitude, feeling grateful for the air that you're breathing now; for all the plants and animals that keep everything functioning and flowing. Just noticing the harmony within life, and harmony within you, interconnected with all of the interconnections.Coming back to your bubble, noticing the energy around your body and your aura. Coming back to your feet and your ground. And when you're ready, you can open your eyes.[Sighs] Wonderful. Thank you! Thank you everybody. It's always nice to have these little mini moments of meditation. I find it such a little anchoring practice. I like to sprinkle these little suckers in everywhere [laughs] in my day. So, anytime I am in a place of waiting, then I'm doing these – grounding, the violet breath of Reiki – just coming back to my bubble. And back to that sort of, clear, still space inside. So, yeah, thank you. How'd that go for you, Kim?KJ: Well, that was delightful! I've been, you know – you and I just mentioned this before we got [onto] the call – but you and I have been together for 10 years. And so, I've been meditating to your voice for 10 years. And it does wonderful things for me, like immediately just connects me, and grounds me, and brings me into a different kind of vibe. So, thank you! GR: Aw, that's so sweet!KJ: Thank you for your voice.GR: Thank you for the very generous compliment that I certainly did not pay or bribe you to say [laughs]. KJ: [Laughs] That one's free. Cheque's in the mail. GR: Yay! Awesome. [Laughs] Thank you!So Kim, we have known each other for quite a long time!. We've been on this Reiki ride together, especially the teaching part, because you were one of my first Reiki students! But I'd love to hear sort of, your take on what Reiki has meant to you, this last bit? Oh, yes! For people who are new, Kim is a Reiki Master with me here at LunaHolistic and does many other marvelous, wonderful, spiritual things. But yeah, what sort of drew you into Reiki? What's your Reiki history?KJ: What a delicious question! Thank you. GR: [laughs]06:12 The journey of coming out of the spiritual closet. KJ: It's varied. And it's been a wild ride. I do really like that kind of word. And it's interesting, I think some of this journey for me is going to include a little bit of like, coming out of my spiritual closet.I'm an engineer in my day job. And, you know, I went into engineering school right out of high school. And I worked as a professional engineer. And right now – I went back to like, I went back to grad school. And I am an engineering professor currently. And so, there were periods of time for me when my spiritual journey was a little bit closeted. And I didn't necessarily feel like it was okay to be both of those things. So, I sort of learned to do some energy work when I was a kid – my mom taught me some energy work. And that was something that was very secret, like my family knew about it, but nobody else really knew. And I met you, Geneva, when I was in graduate school. So, I was doing my PhD. And I was feeling a little bit like "I need something else in my life, other than just engineering." And just that.And you had another synchronicity, which we discovered when we met, which was – I went for my very first Reiki session at almost the exact time when you got attuned to your master symbol. And that had been, like, about five years before we met. And then we met! I was like "I'm ready, like, I'm ready to go and explore this." And you, I think, were just ready to start teaching. And both of us kind of came out of the closet a little bit together. And it was 10 years ago. The journey of learning Reiki really helped me go through some, like, challenging times. I don't know if anyone – I know that you've done graduate school. I don't know if anyone else who's listening has done graduate school – there [are] times where it can be really, really hard and lonely.Now, some of the work that I do as an engineering professor, I actually work with psychologists. Mental well-being is a really big topic these days. So, we actually work with psychologists around like, how are we starting to change the culture so that we can talk about mental well-being in the three dimensional world – like in the university setting. One of the topics we talk about is Imposter Syndrome. And so, probably at that point in time, like, I had a ton of impostor syndrome, and like, "what am I doing here in graduate school?" And "what can I do with my life?" and "who am I?" I'm coming into community, with you and with Reiki – [which has] really helped me feel more comfortable in myself, for myself. Like, there's a word, you know, we're human beings, not human doings. 08:40 The importance of self-love in healing. I've really learned a lot of my value is based on my productivity and my accomplishments. And some of what happened for me in my spiritual journey was like – learning [about] that attachment to having to be productive to have value. And so, learning to sort of like, open my heart up to love and expansion and acceptance – self-love, self-acceptance. "I'm willing to change" is such a big mantra for me. That was 10 years ago. And at that point in time, really, the beginning of my Reiki journey was the beginning of my connection to my emotional self, the beginning of my connection to my spiritual self. And starting to do a lot of my own healing. At that point I was probably close to 30. So, I had sort of 30 years of stuff that had been building up that I needed to clear through. And that was a lot of the work, was like clearing my patterns from my childhood, and clearing my patterns that were keeping me stuck, and clearing my thought patterns that were holding me back. And that was probably the first few years of my journey, was like healing my old stuff.I've also gone on a bit of a myriad path. I went and did Kundalini Yoga teacher training as well. I've explored some – for myself – some Sacred Sexuality. And so like, blending of sexual energetics with my healing spirituality as well, which has been a pretty transformative experience for me. And then in the past few years, it sort of changed from like "Okay, I think I've caught up on all of my past healing." You know, I've kind of come to a place where I'm really comfortable. And I really do love myself and I can get to this place of self-love and self-acceptance. And so, then what's next?And in the past few years, I feel like I've really tapped into a different vibration of like, transformation and elevation. And how can we use this work to – first of all, help support other people in their journeys – but also start to heal our culture? In some ways there's, like, challenges with our culture.And so, just like – "How can I be the next level of myself, and usher in a little bit of a new way of being?" For myself, for society, for everywhere around. So, that's been the piece of it for the last couple of years.GR: Yeah, that integration and wholeness!KJ: [Sigh of relief] Yeah!GR: And yeah, I love what you said about that switch from, you know, the way our culture raises us. And it's kind of been fairly effective, you know, we can get a lot of stuff done with like, pressure intention. And that focus on 'what you do is your worth', you know, that your worthiness is tied to what you can accomplish and what other people can see and use. Versus your worth being an innate quality of your being, that you just have to show up and breathe, and that's enough, you know.And that transition is such a joyful one, but very difficult, because in some ways, you have to sort of dismantle these learnings that aren't helping you. In some ways, it can be quite a [successful outer] pattern, but you pay such a great inner cost, which is, you know, you're always chasing the thing outside of yourself. If your worthiness is based on something external, you're sort of always [chasing it]. It's always just beyond your grasp. It doesn't matter what you accomplish, it doesn't matter how good you are. If there's a tape in your head that says "Never enough, never enough, never enough," then it just kind of never shuts up. You know, because there's no amount of enoughness to satiate that beast, you know. And in the chasing of it, we can lose what is most – like that numinous, luminescent, ephemeral beauty that's part of life. We lose our ability to witness the miracles that are happening all around us all of the time. In the midst of this murky, mucky, chaotic life, there's real beauty happening all of the time. And we connect to that with our being, you know, when we drop into that "being" space. Like you were saying, like identifying with your beingness, and that beingness doesn't have to move, you don't have to be better than you are, you don't have to be in a different place.It's really connecting to that unconditional, loving energy. And it's sort of – which spiritual doorway or which mind-body mental health doorway gets you to that luminescent state. You know, for some people, it's going fishing, being out in nature and being in [that] harmony and flow for them, you know, casting this fly on the water. And other people, it's Reiki. For us it's mostly Reiki, I'm not a fly fisher!KJ: [laughs]GR: Even though I also come from a science background, too, you know. And I know that feeling of like, you know – you work so hard on your graduate studies, and then you have to finish it with a defense. You have to like, stand in front of, or be in front of this panel of people who you know are going to criticize you. It's terrible. [laughs] KJ: [laughs] Yes!GR: And then switching it, you know, is – one of the ideas that I've kind of connected with lately is this idea that, you know, there's different chemicals in our body that are tied to different emotional states. So, that stress "fight or flight" state, it is that sort of cortisol, adrenaline cocktail inside our bodies where we can sort of push the final mile, we can hike up that last bit of hill. It's the pushing, it's the Go, Go, Go. It's the doing, doing, doing. And that works for short little bursts. But it isn't great. It's like a long term, 30 year wave mode of being [that] grinds you down, because there's no rest in it. There's no rest and digest. There's not enough nurturing. The other chemical that motivates us to action is oxytocin, which is the love chemical, which is the bliss chemical. And so, we can use pushing, or we can use love, and that love can be generated inside us by that connection to that Universal Life Force Energy –which for me, I connect easily with that with Reiki, that's my doorway to the Divine. And many others – I like going for walks too. [laughs] But when we are in harmony with our spirit and our being, I always think, like, the work – that the external world work is the last 5% of it. You know, it's like 90% Yin and 5% Yang, you know. If you think of like, a baby being incubated in a womb, right, it's like most of that magic is happening in darkness.It is just simply being, it's doing its own thing. And then there's a big, you know, labor push at the end. But like, a lot of the miracle of life, even at the, you know, most visceral level, is happening of its own accord. And when we get in harmony with, like, the rhythm of nature, rather than the rhythm of culture, I think we get in harmony with some [of] this greater flow.  And then we can create magic! We can create absolute magic in the world.So, which kind of leads us to our question today. Thank you. That was a lovely little ramble. [laughs]KJ: Thank you. Thank you for your lovely little ramble. There's so many juicy nuggets in there.GR: There's so many juicy nuggets in all of it. Yeah. [laughs]16:16 What do we do after we've healed ourselves? So, our question today is like, what do we do after we've healed all of our stuff? What's left on the spiritual path? Because a lot of people get drawn into things like Reiki, and meditation, and yoga, and many other forms of healing and spiritual work. You know, therapy, and all of that sort of stuff. You get drawn into it, because the [motivation] – like, you've got this sort of like hound on your heels, [laughs] you know, of your pain and trauma. And you do your work as a reaction to that, you know, trying to soothe or heal that pain in a new way. Rather than using an addictive or coping way, trying to find a new path to a place of peace and comfort. And that's a great doorway in, but then you get to this, like you said, that space where you feel whole, where you feel pretty good about yourself. And then there's this, sort of like "and now what?" "What could I do with the time on my hands?" Because I find for me, it's like a, you know, huge sort of creativity opens up. But I'm curious for you, like, what is the path after? Like, how do you guide – you're definitely in that space of guiding people through that all the time. What's your take on that?KJ: I think it's such an interesting question. And part of the reason I think it's such an interesting question is because I grappled with it a few years ago. It was like, I was almost so used to having the negative self-talk, and the stresses, and the fears that like – what brought me to this work was healing those, you know. And then I'm starting to get into this space of – like it works, like, the work works. So when it really is healed, and I go back, and I look through my mind, and I'm like "Hey, I actually don't have anxiety happening in there."  Like, I don't have this fear monster that's chasing me, that's trying to like, you know, keep me down. And so, then what do you do in that space? And it's been really, really interesting for me, because what's really opened up – I'm loving this word "choice" lately, like just "choice and freedom". I feel like ten years ago, when I was faced with multiple options – in some ways, I even felt trapped when I had choices, because I felt like there was a right choice or a wrong choice. Or a way to do it to keep myself safe, or a way to not be safe. And there's a risky one, and there's a good one, and there's a bad one. And in these last few years, what I've really felt is this open, expansive environment, where all of the options are actually beautiful and delightful and possibilities. And you can start to easily flow with creativity and choice. And in that space, what I've really started to find is that this work has started to become transformative for me, instead of healing for me. I'm finding that the same sort of practices – and it is the exact same practice. Like, when you're healing, you can go sit in a meditation and the meditation tool is the same tool. 19:26 Reiki is something that will heal you.The meditation works for you wherever you're at. If you have something that needs to be healed, meditation is something that will heal it. Reiki, when you have something to be healed, Reiki will heal it. When you don't have something to be healed, Reiki will elevate you and transform you and uncover something new. So, what keeps happening for me is this process of unveiling and transformation – like I meet new aspects of myself. I sort of connect with, like, masculine and feminine energies and the Divine Goddess and so, I actually keep sort of unveiling different aspects of the Goddess for myself. I unveiled entire aspects of my creativity. Like I say, I'm an engineering professor. When I was young, I internalized a belief, that's a bit of a dualistic belief, that we are one thing or another, you're either creative, or you are scientific. And those two things are exclusive. Right? You're either a man or you're a woman. If you're a man, you don't get to be womanly. If you're a woman, you don't get to be manly, like there's internalized dualistic beliefs. I internalized a belief that because I was good at science, there was no aspect of me that could be creative. And so, in these last few years, aspects of creativity have opened. There's a simple aspect of it, which is art – like, I actually just, I really like creating art these days, which I never knew that I would. But there's also an element of creativity that goes into my day job – like, I teach engineering classes. And if you want to try and connect the concepts to different people in different minds, that actually takes creativity. Like, even though I'm teaching a concept that's been around for hundreds of years – something like an equation that's about fluid flow, and how we represent laminar fluid flow – different minds interpret it [in] different ways.And so, actually this delight and creativity of – I learned it in a lecture in a certain way. And then, if I want people to learn it in … or if I have a diversity of minds in my engineering classroom, we need to get creative in how we teach. And uncovering that level of creativity for myself is an option that opened up for me, in this post "healing my trauma" space. You know, having this flexibility and this openness, and the safety to play. 21:47 Human consciousness is evolving in a different way. People are no longer content to be kept in one little box of identity. And so, "who else can I be?" And "how else can I express things?" And what other opportunities can open for the people that I'm connecting with? I think it's such an exciting experience, and I'm seeing it almost everywhere that I go – I think that our world's like, post the global emergency that was the pandemic, is actually – it's like the human consciousness is evolving in a bit of a different way. I think that the people that I'm interacting with, and the people that I'm seeing, are no longer content to be kept in one little box of identity, right? Like, we're seeing it where even just a gender – like you as a person, it's okay for you to be somewhere in that androgynous aspect. You can be in a female body, and you can embody masculine traits, and all of those things are becoming a lot more expressive and open. So, I feel like what's happening is human beings are expanding their consciousness, and are using these tools – Reiki, you know, we've mentioned this, Reiki is a big one for you and I. All of the tools work, you know – yoga, meditation, reading self-help books, Positive Psychology. Even like the study [of] psychology, the science of psychology, used to be about fixing disorders, and it's moving towards helping people be better. We're not just fixing problems in psychology – [we're] moving to places like "how do you help healthy people thrive more?"   GR: Yeah. KJ: Right? We're learning to elevate, we're learning to transform, we're learning to become more of who we are. It's just a delightful and exciting – I feel like it's an exciting time to be alive, in the space of expansion of human consciousness.GR: Yeah. Which is really, really cool!KJ: So, just that!GR: It's so good! I love – there's like a billion things I would love to dig into [laughs]. But all of the ... like every single ... there's just like – I do this little thing, so that I can listen to people, where I like, I program my fingers to help me remember what I want to talk about. And I was like "I'm running out of fingers!" [laughs]KJ: Amazing! GR: I want to come back to this, and so I'll hold my thumb. And then I remember…KJ: I love the sentiment of using up all of Geneva's fingers! GR: [laughs]KJ: I feel like – I didn't know that that's what I've always wanted to do, ever since I was a little girl, but I've always wanted to just use up all of Geneva's fingers.GR: I would just – there's so many things, and I'm like "yes!" I agree with you on so many of those different levels. And I love that element of choice, and coming back to – what's really interesting is that as you start doing the healing work, the things that we thought were automatic, like, "oh, I have to do this because it's always been done this way." I can't say no to this person. I have to go to, you know, my family's for this holiday because it's always happened that way, even though it may not be a great whatever. Not saying that's the case for me [laughs].But it's like, people encounter these difficult choices, but they don't see them as moments of choice. But when you start doing your healing work, you realize everything we do is a choice, we get to choose every aspect of it. And when you're doing your healing work it would seem like – and I love the Tao Te Ching for this, because they talk about like, there's a point where you need rules, and you need a sort of restricted form, to sort of contain the chaos, you know. But then as you keep on doing your healing work, the need for rules fades because you develop your own internal rules, because you become in harmony with the life force spirit that's running through you, which provides that natural balance. And that brings us into that state of balance. So, even just balancing the needs for the internal versus the external, or balancing the needs for spiritual versus physical. And then there's a point where you don't even really see those as opposites, because they're really not, they're all one thing. And we get to flow and choose, depending on what part of us or what aspect of our life needs tending. And what needs care. So I love that. And I love that, like, the flourishing of creativity and the different forms that creativity can take. Because I think, yeah, people feel like creativity is, you know – it's like our culture takes something that's, like, diverse and wants to shove it into these little, confined boxes, you know. So it's like, it's not creative unless – it's not real creativity, or real art, unless it's hanging in a gallery, and people paid millions of dollars for it. You know, I think that can inhibit people. Or "I am not a person who is creative" or somebody criticizes – you know, we carry these, like, creative wounds. And part of doing the healing work is we lift out those wounds. So, then we can start exploring – like, "Gee, now, what could I do with the time I have?" And there's this neat part of like, bringing your gifts to the world. Bringing the things that you've always wanted to do, the things you've always wanted to experience, you know. All of the little creative ideas. And it can come through in things that look like art that you can hang on a wall, and it can look like things that happen just connecting to Creative. 27:22 Connecting to the energy that's flowing in. These sort of leaps in logic, because I think of it as like the – in science it would be like the Eureka effect, you know, of like, the knowledge exists in this energy state. And how do you connect to the energy that's flowing in. And that's where, you know, Reiki for scientists and engineers is fantastic, because if you're stuck, it gets you unblocked, you get connected to – especially if you feel like the idea, the thing, is just out there, I just can't put my hands around it. Sometimes going into that sort of diffuse and lantern-like consciousness where you're not in that sort of focus state, but you're in the sort of broader, faster way – it lets all the ideas sort of fall into place, and make those sort of greater connections, which I think is so, so cool. Yeah, I've run out of fingers and toes. So, I love all of those things. But yeah, I think that, you know, one of the things that you said that really resonated was this – that we're entering this Golden Age of Miracles, and it's nice to hear from you. Because I know you deal with a lot more people on a regular day than I do [laughs]. I still deal with a lot of people, or meet a lot of people, but you know, like seeing on mass. And that's, you know, when we look at the news and we see the world, and you're like "oh my gosh," war and famine and plague, and another plague [laughs]. Like, "Oh, and there's another one." And people, you know, [are] still stuck in very old modes of class-based and racist and "ist" thinking, and it can be kind of disheartening for people, but I see this rapid rise of people's compassion. Like you said, like we all got sent to our rooms [laughs] for the pandemic, and it pushed people inside, but it also connected people with this huge well of compassion. And so, what I see is – there's this wave of compassionate action in the world and people connecting very, very deeply, and very rapidly to their healing, to their spiritual connection. They're coming in for a Reiki session. It's blowing their mind and then they're like "I want to learn how to do this. And this is the thing I want to do now," which I've experienced. I know you have people that you've been interacting with where they're just like – it's this sort of, like, what's the doorway? What's the thing that's gonna make the spark of connection, where it sort of lights you up physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? Kind of like all your chakras just light up like a Christmas tree. And it's the thing that resonates with you. 30:16 Reiki is the first doorway into the enlightened path.And it's, you know, maybe not the only doorway into that sort of enlightened path, but it is the first one maybe. And that's really cool. And then, also the sort of progression of like, what you said, that transformation and elevation of spirit. That we're all sort of moving towards this – not just getting healed, but getting really, really well. And then bringing the best of ourselves to the world, which is really neat. So it's like, all of the things that you've been dreaming of, now you don't have an inner critic telling you not to do it. So, then you can just start the making of it. And if the inner critic's voice is quiet, then it's easier to make attempt, after attempt, after attempt, which is like – with creativity, the people who are most masterful are the ones who are willing to fail, over, and over, and over. And just be in the joy of it, be in the experience of the process, loving the technique, and that fluid flow of consciousness that happens, when we sort of connect into that, you know, those flow states. And yeah, so all of those things.KJ: Yes. GR: Blerg la la [laughs] came out. And it feels like a random order. [laughs]KJ: It is – it's a random order. And it is what it is, you know? We're all this big mishmash of a variety of different things that are happening. And it's just, it's such a delight, I think, connecting with people over and over again, who are becoming more of themselves. Like, I do feel like this huge elevation in consciousness in this Golden Age of Miracles is – there's a dismantling of the artificial hierarchy and it's a bit of a dismantling of the gurus, and the experts. And there's this new way of being, that can be that people can be their own experts. And you can start to move through life, starting to learn to trust yourself and starting to learn to just use the tools that work for you, right? And Reiki is like this as well. Reiki is a spiritual practice, but it's not a jealous spiritual practice. Like "Come try Reiki, try any other type of meditation." Psychology is doing this too, like "go do gratitude journaling, try anything and see." See who you are and see what works for you. And we're ushering in this new way of being that is: your gifts and your light are there to elevate everybody else, and just go be that, and shine that [light], in this, like, beautiful constellation of consciousness elevation.GR: Yeah, I've found that it's been coming for quite a while, this sort of increase in awareness. And even just like how common Reiki is now, is how rapidly it's been increasing. Because we've been doing this for a while, and when I started out, I'd tell people that I did Reiki and they'd be like "what?" And they'd look at me really strange. And then sometimes – I have had experiences where people have shuffled backwards [during a] house party... KJ: [laughs] GR:  ...and go "uh huh, uh huh, uh huh." And then they just, like, don't talk to me or make eye contact with me for the rest of the night. And so, it was this very, very weird thing. And now it's like, I think it's on Bling Empire, like everybody's sort of talking about this spiritual connection. And I think it's because everybody is wanting – yearning – for that sort of connection to something more, and something greater. And they're finding it through Reiki, through meditation – like you said, there's so many ways that you can drop into that state. And when we're in that sort of connected state, I always think of it as like – when we do Reiki, I'm not adding anything, I am opening up the space so people can connect to themselves. And that, you know, we do this work of, like, setting an intention in a Reiki session – basically to dial in the frequency that the person wants to sit in, you know, and then wants to harmonize with, and/or expand and you know, let that continued transformation and elevation happen. And when we do that, it's almost like we couldn't get to that intention statement if it didn't already live within the person. That there's a light inside and it's just letting go of the stuff that's restricting that light flow. And that, you know, people are basically their own spiritual authority and nobody can interpret that Divine connection other than you. Each person understands it in their own way. 35:08 Reiki sessions can take you to a deeper understanding of yourself, your purpose, and the nature of the universe.And I love that Reiki is so multi-faith as well. It works really well with all faith backgrounds. For me, I'm quite visual. So, I connect to Ascended Masters and whoever that person prays to shows up in the Reiki session. So if they work with Jesus, there's Jesus in the session. If they're Sikh, it might be Guru Ram Das, or one of the other gurus. If they connect with angels, or if they connect with spirit animals, like, those beings are present, because prayers are real [laughs] and they create a big vibration. And then, if the person's atheist it's like, I see galaxies swirling. So, I love that, sort of, like, you can take this energy wherever you need it to go. It's fluid, it doesn't have to conform to any known understanding. It can take you to a deeper understanding of yourself and the nature of the Universe itself. Wherever you want to go. And you don't have to have something to "fix" to come in for Reiki. It can be about like, helping shine a light on your purpose and your path, and where you want to take, sort of, these ideas. And sort of shining the spotlight of where the next step is, or how to, you know, access that greater being inside of yourself. So, we've got like, Reiki sessions – so you can do distance Reiki or Reiki at LunaHolistic, we do that. We do intuitive readings, too. And a resource that might be helpful for other people, who have these sort of big creative ideas and they're like "I'm ready to like, share this next big thing with the world." Under construction mode is this Energetic Eight Business School, which is basically how you take [steps on] your creative dream or idea. Maybe you want to write a novel, maybe you have a business idea that you want to make. It basically takes you through the energetic blueprint of the chakras. And you connect to sort of that deeper why you want to make or bring this work to the world. And chakra by chakra, we just sort of work through the expansion of that. Yes, so the Energetic Eight Business School, you can find that on our resource page on LunaHolistic.com. If you have questions about the Universe, and the Spiritual Consciousness, and this Age of Miracles that we're in, and how to get support with fellow lightworkers, and transformational Goddesses and Gods that we all are, you can send in a question through a little recording widget on our LunaHolistic podcast page. So, go to LunaHolistic.com/podcast, and send in your magical question, and we might answer it in our next episode. We love to hear from you. Even if you just want to share a comment, just drop us a little line. We love to hear from you, and how maybe you have filled up your fingers and toes with things that you want to add to our conversation! You can always drop them in there. We'd love to hear what you've been experiencing through your expansion journey. So, thank you all so, so much! Thank you, Kim, for joining me! It's been fantastic having you here. And we'll catch you next time!KJ: Thank you so much for having me! It was lovely to have the conversation.GR: Thank you! Thank you. Bye everybody!KJ: Mwah!Outro:GR: Thank you for joining us on the LunaHolistic Podcast. We're so grateful that you are here. If you've got a question, we'd love to hear from you. Go to LunaHolistic.com/podcast and we'll answer you in an upcoming episode. Be sure to subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And also, please rate, because you never know where your little five stars will go to shine light into somebody's heart today. So, thank you very much and we'll see you next time.

In this podcast, Geneva Robins and Rita Reddy talk about change! Ugh, sometimes it's the actual worst. There can be some real gross parts of change, but some delicious bits too. Rita shares a lesson from her work in Trilotherapy, the Apple Tree Cycle. The metaphor of the apple tree cycle is a simple yet profound way of understanding change as an organic and natural part of learning and growth. You get a gentle way of looking at each stage of the cycle of life without fear or resistance. It's a really supportive and transformational Trilotherapy tool.What is Trilotherapy?Created by Zen Master Nissim Amon, Trilotherapy is based on his own training in Zen Buddhism and meditation plus elements of his learnings in Western psychology and Eastern philosophies. It's a retreat-based program with a series of workshops that can be taught individually or in a group setting.The main philosophy of Trilotherapy is that you have a Center self that you're born with and come into every life with, and two inner children, your rational mind and emotional mind. And our job in Trilotherapy is to help you figure out what place you're making decisions from; to help you make decisions from the Center, which is always your true self. Your two inner children, we call them your rational mind and your emotional mind; they create your personality. They take in all the information and process it, and then you're the one who's going to be making the decisions. Sometimes we're allowing these children to make the decisions for us. But the idea is to parent ourselves and these inner children to help us make the best life decisions. Trilotherapy helps us figure out where we're coming from and why we decide certain things.How do you deal with change?At times we all have to deal with enormous amounts of change and the feelings that come along with it, like grief and loss. Big changes can really challenge our ability to let go.Nobody likes change... unless it's the good parts of change! When the bad parts come around, which are always going to come around, that's when things get really hard. We sometimes misname change to be only the gross parts we don't like, but there is beauty in the whole cycle.Embrace Change with the Apple Tree CycleThe Apple Tree Cycle is a Trilotherapy tool to explore the natural cycles of change in our lives, so it's not so scary. The stages of change are represented by the metaphor of the life cycle of the apple tree:seed and gestation, which is the new idea or start of something new;plant and growth stage; where your new creation is expanding;fruiting and enjoying the creation;death, where the creation is complete, the fruit falls, and the tree dies; it involves letting go;rotting, which is the disintegration and complete release of the creation back to fertilizer; andback to gestation, the cycle always returns to the start.Everything goes through the apple tree cycle, even tiny little mini ones. You might go through 10 of them a day. It's basically the beginning, the middle, and the end of anything that's going on, whether it be a relationship or going to the store and getting groceries.We tend to like the beginning parts of the cycle when the little sprout is happening. There's forward progress like things could change; that'll be amazing. Then the growth part, you see things take form, and everything is expanding. And then, in the fruiting stage, you're starting to enjoy some of the things you've created and put into motion. But then there's the rotting and death stages, where in the apple tree cycle, the apple's fallen off of the branch and is now in the process of letting go and returning to the earth. It's when things degrade and turn into fertilizer. And so that's usually when we feel like poop!But it's also so beautiful because you know that poop is nourishing. It's food for the seed. And that's what we need. And there's beauty in it, even though it's the stinky gross part of change. Gratitude helps us Embrace ChangeThe Signs of Spring is a process from Geneva's book The Secret Art of Happiness: Change Your Life with the Reiki Ideals. It's a gratitude process that you use daily. It is especially helpful when you're in an uncomfortable place, and you're the in the turmoil of change. But even in those places, there's forward movement and progression, tiny sprouts and signs of spring. And when you start noticing them, tiny little signs that things are turning in your favour, then it can be the fuel that pulls you through the rough parts. Even at the lowest point, there's some little thing you can look to that says, "This is a temporary state. And it's going to get better." Life is a Cycle, just like the Apple TreeOur western world thinks after the end is nothing. It is a very linear view; the start and the end never link back up with each other. The end is final, and there's nothing but the abyss of loneliness and terror on the other side of death and rotting. But with the apple tree cycle, what's on the other side of that death and rotting is more life. This is the life-death-life cycle, which comes up in one of Geneva's favourite books, Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. The book deconstructs fairy tales in a Jungian and poetic analysis. It turns out that many ancient stories exist to help us so that we don't need to fear the death and loss stages of our lives. Because it is in the death and rotting stages where we get our strength and courage. Sometimes in times of hardship and struggle, we come together as a community. We reach out to other people and start learning and connecting with our inner and outer resources in new ways that maybe we wouldn't have before the change happened. The Wilderness of ChangeWhere do you find that comfortable place with the uncomfortable? Having an understanding of what stage you are in helps you to release fear. You can spot when you leave the cycle or cut things off before they grow. By reflecting on the apple tree cycle, you can see where you may self-sabotage. You get an opportunity to notice your patterns in the cycle and what part of the cycle gives you the most trouble. Seeing things from a different angle can make all the difference. Your Center might know more than the emotional or rational mind. But when we choose from the Center self, it might make you stand out, which puts you out into the wilderness. This is incredibly uncomfortable but is also often very necessary. We have to be willing to find our own way to our own Center.Even the people that love you the most aren't able to know the core of your own heart. And when they make kind suggestions, they can only recommend what has worked for them. It's not a replacement for following your own guidance. Only you can know your own heart. Sometimes people do what they think they should do rather than what is calling their own heart forward. They end up living a life that doesn't fit them. They're fitting in rather than really belonging. The book Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown is really helpful if this sounds familiar. In order to truly belong, you have to first belong to yourself completely. That is where choosing from the Center self can lead you to that wholehearted life.Reiki supports people through change. Reiki is very gentle and supportive. It helps connect you with this eternal, everlasting energy that supports all things. Reiki is connected to the energy within the fabric of life itself and the continuity of the cycles. It taps us into this eternal yet timeless frequency. And in that frequency, there's this moment of real peace and grace. And with great loss, sometimes it's only that which heals. There's a moment where we go into the infinite.We get comfort and peace with that transition stage so we can honour the love underneath the pain. Reiki helps set the grief to rest and let go with respect, love, and grace. We get to a place of peace, comfort, and acceptance. We're always here to help you no matter what part of the apple tree cycle you are in. We can cheer you on when things are going amazing and let things those roots deepen and ripen. And we can also help you process any pain that might pop up. You can get a bit of help, soothing, and support no matter where you are. You're doing great.  We'll have a new episode every month! Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Add your question to the comments below or record your question here: https://www.lunaholistic.com/podcast/  LunaHolistic Podcast TranscriptEmbracing Change with the Apple Tree CycleHosted by:             Geneva Robins – LunaHolistic Facilitated by:        Rita ReddyPodcast Air Date:  Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022Episode: LHP040:05  Welcome to the showGENEVA ROBINS: Welcome to the LunaHolistic podcast! I'm your host, Geneva Robins, and every month on this podcast, we'll talk about Reiki, as well as answering your questions on all things spiritual. We are gratefully located in Calgary in Treaty 7 Territory. Thank you all, and welcome to the show!Welcome to the LunaHolistic podcast. My name is Geneva Robins and I'm here today with Rita Reddy. Hi, Rita.RITA REDDY: Hello.GR: I'm so glad you can make it here today. Rita is a Reiki Master and Trilotherapist here in Calgary with me at LunaHolistic. And today, we're going to talk about a whole pile of things connected to spirituality and Reiki.Before we dig into that, we'll start with a little collective breath of gratitude, so just a little mini-meditation. If you happen to be driving, you can skip ahead, or just, you know, don't close your eyes or anything. But otherwise, if you're in a nice, safe space, you can gently close your eyes and take a few inner breaths. Just settling in, letting all of your energy regroup and reground. Feeling a sense of gratitude and wonder for the planet that we are sitting on. Feeling the energy below you rise up to greet you from the centre of the Earth to support you. Rising up through your body and out the top of your crown, and radiating all around you like a beautiful rainbow, completely held in safety, love, and support, yet also feeling free to expand. Sending some gratitude to all of the plant life that surrounds you, to the air, that fresh air the plants create, to the animals and birds and insects that live all around you, the life within everything. And sending out some gratitude to all the people that inhabit your world. And, of course, gratitude for your own heart for being here with us today. Thank you for joining us. Ah! And when you're ready, you can open your eyes. Ah! That's nice. How was that for you, Rita?RR: Oh, yeah, that was great. GR: Good, yeah. We've got some nice, juicy questions to explore and ponder. Before we jump straight into that, maybe we can start with what drew you into Reiki?3:17  What drew you into Reiki training?RR: Yes. I love this question. Because I was curious. I was in a healing kind of journey. And then I was meeting all these people who knew about many different things, like Reiki and Trilotherapy and other therapies. Yeah, in the circle that I was in, I came across some people who were doing Reiki on each other. And I asked them what that was, and they kind of showed me you know, like, what it was. And then I was curious. So, I found your course. I can't even remember how – maybe it was through Kim Johnston. Yeah, I just signed up because I was curious about what Reiki was, and how I fit in, because most of the people were telling me, "Oh, you'd be really good at Reiki because you're already, like, tapping into things that that you can tap into way better with Reiki training." And so, I was like, "Cool, what is it, like, what's Reiki training?" And so, I looked into all different kinds, and I found yours. And I really liked the way it was set up, like with 10 sessions of, like, going through your chakras, and I'd just gone through another course about chakras. And I was really like, on this like, path of learning about that. And so, I loved how your workshops were set up. And so, I, yeah, I signed up for the first one, and then of course, I was in! I was hooked. GR: [laughs]RR: And so, I wanted to know everything about it. I wanted to become a Reiki healer as well. And so, here I am.  GR: Yay!RR: Yeah!GR: You are a Reiki master, and a good one. [laughs] And one of the first couple of students I ever taught, too. RR: Yeah.GR: So, it's been really, really cool to get to go on this ride with you, which is awesome. RR: Yeah! GR: Oh, so great. I love it. I love the winding paths that we find our way into spirituality. RR: I know, right?GR: And I find it's like a little path that's sort of dotted with these gems, and you just get led from courses to classes to books to – you get the resources you need all along the way, which I think is amazing, so.RR: Yes.GR: Yeah. So great. Well, thank you. Thank you for being here. One of the things that we were talking about, and something that we've talked about quite a bit, you and I have talked about this a lot. And your take on this has really helped me, which actually comes from your Trilotherapy background, which maybe, before I ask the question, you can just briefly, like, what is Trilotherapy, and how do you use it to help yourself and help other people?6:24  What is Trilotherapy? How does it work?RR: Trilotherapy is created by Zen Master Nissim Amon. I met him in Calgary, but he lives in Tel Aviv in Israel. He basically invented Trilotherapy based on a bunch of his own training in Zen Buddhism and meditation. And he uses elements of his learning about Western psychology, and then Eastern philosophies. And he brought them together in this program called Trilotherapy, which is basically like another set of workshops. It's a retreat-based program. But at LunaHolistic, obviously, I teach it as well, on a one-on-one basis. The main idea is that you have a centre-self that you were born with and you come into every life with. And then you have these two children that are like your rational/irrational brain and your emotional brain, your emotional mind. Those three aspects work together to kind of guide you through decisions in life. And our job in Trilotherapy is to help you figure out what place you're making decisions from and kind of get you to making decisions from the centre, your centre-self, which is always your true self and your highest self. Yeah, your two inner children, we call them your rational mind and your emotional mind, are, they create your personality, and they take in all the information and process it and then, yeah, you're the one who's going to be making the decisions. And sometimes we're making decisions and allowing this child to make the decision for us. But the idea is to, like, parent ourselves and parent these children to help us make best decisions for our lives and figure out, like, where we're coming from and why we're deciding certain things.GR: I love it. It's so great. I find it's quite transformational. And it shifts your perspective with these sort of beautiful analogies, probably drawing from the Zen Buddhism aspect, where you have these very simple, seemingly simple-on-the-surface things, but they have very, very deep roots. And they can, I find when, you know, we've worked together on a few sessions, that it helps really flip my script. And, like you said, like, it [can] get me from, you know, my two little bratty children that, when, like [laughs] – they're both throwing temper tantrums and fighting with each other, and get me back into the centre where I can actually just care for them in a loving way with compassion, and sort of give them what they need without giving in to them.RR: Yeah, totally.GR: Just like bratty little children are just, you know, they just have needs that are unmet, and meeting them in a way that is nourishing rather than addictive, you know. RR: Yes! Totally.GR: Like the toddler in Superstore throwing a fit about not getting candy, when really they need a nap, right? So, it's like coming from that wisdom place. You give them the nap. You don't give them the candy, you know, and from an adult perspective – you go for a walk, you don't have a beer, you know. [laughs]RR: Exactly.GR: Or whatever example of numbing you might use. Yeah.RR: Exactly, yeah.GR: Yeah, amazing. So, the question that comes in from many people who are dealing with a lot, as we all are, because just, our whole world changed, and is changing again and changing again, and it just seems like a constant, a constant thing dealing with outer-world changes, but then also inner world changes as we sort of adapt to things like losing jobs and changing relationships, and all kinds of things are kind of up for people, which is just sort of life these days. [laughs] But for you, Rita, what are some tools that you use to deal with this enormous amount of change, and maybe the feelings that come along with it, like grief and loss and an ability to let go, like, what works for you, or what's your go-to thing in your back pocket when you're in that mucky change business? Ugh, who likes change?RR: Ugh, nobody likes change, unless it's the good parts of change. Change has so many good parts, and then when we have bad parts come around, which are always going to come around, that's when things get, like, really hard. That's what we call change, sometimes, like, we misname change to be like, the gross parts. 11:23  The Apple Tree Cycle is a Trilotherapy workshopBut my tool, my main tool, I think, that has been coming up so much for me lately, is the Apple Tree Cycle. And it's a Trilotherapy workshop that Nissim taught us. And I teach myself pretty much all the time. It's basically going through the stages of an apple tree, from the seed being fertilised and the gestation period of a seed, to the growth and the plant coming out. Growth is the next stage and then fruiting. So, all the fruits of your labour, and then the inevitable death of the cycle, and then a rotting of the cycle. And then back to that gestation period, where something new comes about.And you know, everything, everything goes through the cycle, even tiny, little, mini-ones. Like, you might go through like 10 of them a day, you know, like, it's just basically the beginning, the middle, [and] an end of anything that's going on, whether it be a relationship or going to the store and getting groceries.GR: Yeah, we tend to, but not always, like the beginning parts of the cycle. Like, when the little sprout is happening, it's like, you can see, oh, there's forward progress, like, things could change, that'll be amazing. And then the growth part, you get to see, like, how putting things into action are expanding. And then in the fruiting stage, it's like you're starting to get to enjoy some of the things that you've created and put into motion. But then there's that rotting and death stage, where, you know that, in the apple tree, it's like the apple's fallen off of the branch, and is now in the process of letting go and returning to the earth, which is like the fertilisation. And so, that's usually when we feel like poop. [laughs] You know?RR: Yeah, because we're turning into poop. GR: We're turning into poop. [laughs]RR: But it's also so beautiful, because you know that that poop is nourishing, and it's food for the seed. And that's what we need. And that's like, there's beauty in it, even though it's like the stinky, gross part of it. GR: Mm-hmm. Yeah.RR: Yeah, and I just thought of something, I think in your book, The Secret Art of Happiness. You talk about the Signs of Spring. Is that where you talk about it? GR: Yes.RR: Yeah, so Signs of Spring are so wonderful. And that's where the little sprouts come out. And yeah, everyone loves that. When you're going to plant like, that's your favourite part. You're like, it's happening, it has a plant!GR: It's happening. Yeah, yeah. And that Signs of Spring is like, we do that, for me, I do that process which is basically like a gratitude process. You're noticing that, even before you see any change happening, you're in an uncomfortable place, you're dealing with the grief and loss and the turmoil and you're in a, maybe even a stuck place and you don't like it, you know. Sort of like the winter season, where it's just like, there's just snow and ice and it's miserable and I don't like where I am, I'm uncomfortable. But even in those places, there's forward movement and progression. And when you start noticing them, like tiny, tiny little signs that things are turning in your favour, and then really heaping love and gratitude on those things, it can be the fuel that sort of pulls you through the rough parts, so that even when I'm feeling at my lowest point, there's some little thing that I can look to that says, "This is a temporary state and it's going to get better." Which, I like the idea of a cycle, is that – and that might be with, like, the way the rational mind likes to think about things, which is very linearly, that there's, that it's a line, it's, we have a start, we have a middle, and we have an end. The start and the end never link back up with each other. The end is final, and there's nothing but the abyss of loneliness and terror on the other side [laughs] of that death and rotting. And with a cycle, it's like, no, what's on the other side of that death and rotting is more life, and more growth, and more fruits, and then more death, and then more life. And it's this life-death-life cycle, which comes up in one of my favourite books. So, the book that, you know, totally changed my life is Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. And she talks a lot about, she sort of deconstructs fairy tales, in this sort of Jungian analysis. And I love, I love, love, love that book. And she talks a lot about this life-death-life cycle. And so, that we don't need to fear, sort of, these death parts of our lives when there's a feeling of loss or there is actual loss that we have to process. Because in that, there is beauty, like you'd said, and that's also where we get our strength, our courage. Sometimes in the times of hardship and struggle and turmoil is when we come together as a community. You know, we reach out to other people, we start learning and connecting with our inner resources and our outer resources in new ways that maybe we wouldn't have before all of the change happened, so yeah. Yeah, I love that. I love, it's such a neat, it's such a neat metaphor, for sure.17:40  The Apple Tree Cycle during the fruiting stage, and seasonal cycles.RR: And I'm really glad you said the thing about winter, because also in Nissim's workshop, and in Trilotherapy, in the Apple Tree Cycle during the fruiting stage, we can think of things as having seasons, so interests are like spring, summer, fall, and winter. And then again, so they're, the mini cycles are happening even though, you know, the larger tree is still here, you can see, like, the different mini-cycles happening in the fruiting stage. And that's okay, too. And just like you use the apple tree, or the apple falling off of the tree, rather than the tree dying itself. So, that's the seasonal cycle, and so there's also that. And you can find those in life and in your cycles that are happening.GR: Yeah, I find it's such a gentle way of looking at it that can help, you know, I find those, like, "reframes" really useful to just, seeing things from a different angle sometimes can make all of the difference. But yeah, when you get to that, like, moment, though, where you're right in it, you know? [laughs] Like, when you're in that, like, moment of discomfort, where do you find that comfortable place with the uncomfortable, you know? [laughs]RR: Yeah, so I think having an understanding of what stage you're in, I mean, sometimes, you know, people will sabotage, in my diagram, in my mind [laughs] of the Apple Tree Cycle, there's all these exit doors at each stage, where we might jump ship, like, you know, you're in a new relationship, and you're going through that growth stage, and you're ready for commitment. But you're so afraid of it, because there's sometimes these little traumas that come into play that are like, you know, “I'm not worthy of that,” or “I can't commit right now.” And you're just like, you jump, you take a perfectly good, budding relationship, and you might say, you know, “I don't deserve that,” or “I can't have that right now.” And you leave and you exit and you fast-forward to the death and the rotting. But having that awareness, you know, over time that that's what you're doing, I think, like, sometimes people get these, like, lightbulb moments where they're like, "I always leave the relationship at this stage." And things like that, like, just noticing the patterns in your cycles and noticing where, you know, you kind of have the most trouble.And I mean, I think I was telling you this earlier that most people come to get healing or Reiki or help when, or, you know, like in therapy, when they're in that death and rotting stage, because those are the grossest parts. And like, that's when you're like, "Can I handle this? I can't handle this." 20:32  Understanding the cycles of your life.The positive parts are where, you know, you see the Signs of Spring, and you're growing, and you're having fruits of your labour, like, you know, you're loving the person you just met, and you move in together, and you get engaged, and you're having a wedding. And like, those are such beautiful parts. And like, those are the parts that are even idealised in media and everything, and nobody loves talking about the breakup and the decline of the relationship. And nobody loves talking about stuff like that, no, but nobody loves being in it. [laughs] So, understanding the cycle, and like, that's like, and the stage you're in, is so important for healing and for making it through to the, to the next, you know, the next relationship or the next business idea, or whatever, like, that didn't work out. And so, the part where you're, it's not working out, you can also, once you recognize the cycle, you can jump out at that death stage and be like, "Nope, I know that this is dead, and I am letting it go and I'm moving on. And I want to start something new." And, you know, sometimes your next cycle is already percolating within your current cycle. And so, you can do that. You can like, fast-forward things if you are, have an awareness about what's happening.GR: Yeah, the change that you choose, you know, of the relationship metaphor, because instead of, you know, seeing it through all the way through its fruit and rotting, it's like, you might know, like, your centre, your core, might know at the first date that this is not the fruit you want to be picking, you know. RR: Yup.GR: That this isn't leading you forward, and it can be really scary to say "no" to somebody or to let somebody down or to end something or step away, because we don't want to make them feel bad. We don't want to hurt them. You know, it's uncomfortable for us. Why would we ever leave something that looks so good on paper, you know. And I think we can allow our rational and emotional minds to sort of pull us off our centre when we know deep inside what we truly need and want. And turning inward and listening to your inner wisdom is the piece, which is your inner guide knows what part of the cycle you're on and if this is a cycle you need to be on for your soul's growth. RR: Yeah.GR: And, because anything else won't feel right, you know. Even if there's discomfort, I think there's, when you're doing something that is meaningful and matters to you, and, in whatever capacity, there's joy in every stage. And I like that you talked about the exit points – there's joy in every stage, and there's also terror in every stage. [laughs] You know.RR: Yeah, right. GR: And that, you know, and some people might not even want to plant that seed, you know. Don't even think about things being better, because then I might hope for things to be better, and then my hopes might be dashed. And then it's a very painful place. So, don't even start to change anything because it might turn out badly. So, knowing where, which part of the cycle stops you, and that only really bothers us when it sort of bothers us deep inside. It's like, "No, but I'm longing for that. There's something inside me that maybe writes, wants to write that book." Or maybe you want to have children one day, or maybe you don't want to have children one day and maybe you want to travel the world and explore things and you don't want a relationship or any of that stuff, but you think you have to because that's what you've been told to do. So, you keep on hopping out because you don't actually fit in that cycle. And you need to find your, what calls your own heart and spirit forward, which can represent a big shift and change in, you know, changing things that, changing things from the status quo. So, maybe you're not an apple tree - maybe you're an orange tree, you know, [laughs] and you're not living, maybe you're not a tree at all, you know? [laughs]RR: Yeah, yeah. Totally. GR: Some other living being that has its ... RR: Some other organic thing is what everything is.GR: Yes, yes. Maybe you're a fish in the sea, and you need to swim. [laughs] Just be in freedom.RR: Yeah, or fly, like you're a bird and you want to fly. And that's, like, you're not rooted in that same sense that a tree is rooted. Yeah. And if they do, like, they're not rooted, but they're having these organic experiences and like, having this cycle where, yeah, it's true, like, it doesn't fit into the formula. That's a really interesting point, too. I was gonna say, about exiting too early – so, when I was talking about fast-forwarding, you could technically, you know, like, you're having a relationship, you know, you've been in it for 20 years, and then you jump out, and you make a new one with somebody, like, tomorrow. That's probably too early, because you also need to go through, sometimes, the death and the rotting stage, and sometimes people avoid it. And so, it's really important to know if you're avoiding something, or if you're actually aware of, like, what your needs are during those stages. And yeah, if you're really, like, processing and allowing your, kind of, spirit to, like, heal and become new again and be ready for the new cycle.26:41  What happens if you decide to leave early?GR: So, if you do decide to leave early, so, at the germination stage, it's like, "Oh, I tried this thing, I sampled a bit of life. This isn't for me, and I know it isn't." Letting yourself go through the, completing the cycle, and knowing that the part of the cycle that we avoid, tend to avoid the most is the death and rotting stage. So, it's like, letting it rot and letting it turn to compost and letting it get into the space where you're truly okay with not sampling that bit of life, you know. And processing that, you know, sometimes it's a processing that by not wanting to sample that bit of life, that maybe is part of a cultural norm or a stereotype or whatever it is, that there's another rotting that happens underneath that, which is that by choosing myself, sometimes it puts me at a distance from structures and, you know, traditional supports. And maybe it also makes me stand out a little bit, which puts you out into the wilderness a little bit, which is incredibly uncomfortable, but is also often very necessary when we're going through massive change, you know. We have to be willing to find our way to our own centre. I think of it, like, with one of the things I share a lot in Reiki is the importance of following your own heart, because even the people that love you the most can't know the core of your own heart. RR: No, yeah.GR: And when they make suggestions, which might be very kind, loving, helpful suggestions, they only have the capability of recommending what has worked for them, or what they've seen work for other people. RR: Yeah.GR: And it's not a replacement for following your own guidance and knowing, and recognizing that when people are offering kind suggestions, you know, you might have a real reaction. It's like, "Ahh! Stop telling me what to do!" And that's okay, like I'm greeting that reaction, because all it is is that it isn't in sync with what your heart is telling you to do, but it is in sync with their hearts. And so, sometimes what I find is that when people do what they think they're supposed to do, they're the good girl or the good boy or the good person, genderless person, that they do what they feel they ought to do or they should do, rather than the thing that is calling their heart forward. They end up living a life that doesn't fit them. They're fitting in rather than really belonging. And I really love the book Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown, because she talks a lot about that concept that in order to truly belong, in order to truly feel that peace and harmony, you have to first completely belong to yourself. And when you completely belong to yourself, then when people connect with you, you feel that true connection.30:06  How would you support someone through the gross parts of change with Reiki?RR: How would you support someone through the gross parts of change, or the really good parts of change with Reiki? Like, how would we use Reiki to support people through change?GR: Yeah, what I love about Reiki is that sometimes you can have the awareness, but it still doesn't shift the feeling, because the feelings are, get really locked in there, and they can be really complex. So, there is that, sort of, embracing and respecting, sort of, the grief parts of loss, like the grief, the loss, that sort of death and rotting. And sometimes it can be processing actual deaths of people that you know and love, and that represents, sort of, a very big, massive change that you didn't get to choose, but is part of the inevitable, organic nature of our being, is that all things will age, and all things will also die. And in that passing away, it creates space for transformation and growth. It's a change in that person's energy from one state to another state. The grief we feel when somebody we love passes is there because we love them. It's somebody passing away, but we can also feel that grief when we transition from a job or a child goes from one grade in school to another grade in school, you know, or switches schools, and we're supporting a kid through, you know, if we're parents, supporting a kid through that change, and we can see them, basically every day, walking further and further away from us, which is difficult. [laughs] You know? And can bring lots of tears. There's some really huge losses, and there's also many smaller losses, but respecting that "passing away", that there's an ending of a cycle. And that the reason that we feel a lot of grief around it is because we care so much. And so, it's like an honouring and respecting the feeling. And one of the things that I love about Reiki is that it's really, really soothing. And it's very gentle and supportive, and helps connect you with this sort of eternal, everlasting energy, the energy that supports all things, that's within the fabric of life itself, and is the continuity of the cycles, that taps us into this eternal yet timeless frequency. And in that frequency, there's this moment of real peace and grace. And with great loss, sometimes it's only that that heals it. There's a moment where we let go into the infinite. But it's like we get some comfort and peace with that transition stage so that we can honour the love that's underneath it. And we can process the pain that's overtop of the love. And when we process that pain and trauma, what we're left with is the gifts. We're left with the strength and the resilience and all of the things that we've learned. And we basically, you know – fully processed, any emotion at its core turns into wisdom. And so, then we can take the gifts, take the lessons, what did we learn? And the last cycle through the Apple Tree Cycle, and then we can incorporate that, we can take all of the good experiences, we can hold the love close to our heart, we can hold the lessons and the experience close to us. And then we can let everything else go. We can shut it and let it be released. And that's the other part that's amazing with Reiki is it helps clear off the stuff that's covering up all of the other good stuff or the nice feeling stuff. And it can sort of safely discharge and, kind of, setting it to rest, really, and honouring it, you know. There's this memorialising it or placing it in a place of respect and love and grace, and letting it go to a place of peace and comfort and acceptance. And that might take many times, you know, there's big things that take a lot to fully process and heal, and just giving yourself that space of like, "Oh, I'm grieving. I'm grieving this loss and grieving is okay. It's uncomfortable. But underneath grief is love, and underneath pain is lessons and growth and wisdom. And when I understand the lessons, and then when I transform this pain, I will be left feeling whole. I will be in a different place, because there's no 'back'. I will be transformed by this process of change. And I will accept and embrace the new me that is now living this new life. And I will move forward day by day with grace and gratitude and strength." And for me, that's what Reiki gives me. I find I can tap into that space where I don't know how, but I just sort of know deep in my core, the part of me that's eternal, that's seen everything, that part knows I will be okay with this. So, that's what it is for me. How does that sit with you? 35:53  The 'fifths' of the apple tree cycle.RR: Yeah, that's so beautiful. I thought of something, maybe like the rational side of the Apple Tree Cycle, is to think of things in fifths. So, you know, if your relationship was five years, then one of those years is going to be spent on that death period. And then the next is the rotting period. And if your relationship was 25 years, then five of those years are going to be death, and five of them are going to be rotting because five was gestation and five was growth and five was fruit. And you know, you have those 15 years of wonderful change, but what you were saying about the pain, being inside of that loss, and, like, on top of it at the death and the rotting stage, that comes from all of this wonderful, beautiful stuff, the positive stuff, I guess. And yet, this is beautiful, too – the other pieces, like, that all of it becomes fertiliser for the next. And it becomes this nourishing fertiliser for the next cycle and the next thing. Yeah, I love that energy that was there, and it's being, like, released and expressed. Always, like constantly.GR: Yeah. Amazing. Thank you so much, Rita, for joining us here today. And yeah, I'm just so, so grateful that we got a chance to connect and talk about this. Those of you listening will have some of these resources, the books that we love, about processing change, and all of that in the show notes. And as always, you can look at LunaHolistic.com/resources for some great resources and meditations and courses and whatnot to help you process any of the changes. You can book in Rita for Trilotherapy and Reiki, and we're always here to help you, no matter what part of Apple Tree Cycle you happen to be in. We can cheer you on when things are going amazing and let those roots deepen and ripen. And we can also help you process any pain that might be popping up between – trauma, grief, all of that stuff. You can get a bit of help and soothing and support, no matter where you are. You're doing great. You're doing great today! So, thank you all. And thanks, Rita.RR: Thanks, Geneva. Thanks, I always love talking with you.GR: Thank you for joining us on the LunaHolistic Podcast. We're so grateful that you are here. If you've got a question, we'd love to hear from you. Go to LunaHolistic.com/podcast and we'll answer you in an upcoming episode. Be sure to subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And also, please rate, because you never know where your little five stars will go to shine light into somebody's heart today. So, thank you very much and we'll see you next time.

Nick Hancock welcomes Kim Johnston, Director at CityFibre, to talk about some exciting developments to broadband in Harrogate, Knaresborough and eventually Ripon! We talk about what changes will be made, how this will affect residents, a change in internet habits due to the pandemic and the goal of CityFibre - to make broadband so reliable it becomes 'boring!'

In our latest HRLocker podcast, we talk to Kim Johnston from Q Agency about outsourcing and contracting and how it is fast becoming a new way to work.We asked Kim about the pros and cons of outsourcing, the decline of the office workspace and how best to manage remote working teams.

Outsourcing and Contracting – Why should you do it? In our latest HRLocker podcast, we talk to Kim Johnston from ... Read MoreKim Johnston, Q Agency – The benefits of outsourcing & contracting was last modified: September 8th, 2020 by Jenny Martin

What do kiwis, sheep and Burt Munro have in common? New Zealand. That’s where you just might want to consider going for your next adventure. We talked with Zoe Cano, who travelled there last year, and with Kim Johnston from South Pacific Motorcycle Tours. Listen to over 250 adventure travel by motorcycle episodes on Adventure Rider Radio at https://adventureriderradio.com. Please rate and review us on iTunes or your favourite podcast app. Did you know about our other show ARR RAW? Over 40 episodes available on our website. Thanks for listening and please tell your friends about us. Get an ARR sticker (postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website. Have a comment? Go to the episode show notes on our website and have your say at the bottom of the page. Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we're grateful to have your support in any way we can. Ride Safe and Happy Travels!

On this podcast, Maanda Tshifularo interviewed Kim Johnston who is director of SQS SA and heads up the management consultancy business as well as the Jhb Business Unit. With a qualifications in Business Information systems, a diploma in Business Coaching, a qualified life line councilor and nearly completed a further degree in Business Psychology.Kim has […]

On today’s spooky scary episode of the Home Hour, we’re talking about what you need to know if you think your house is haunted! No, for reals, this is important! Or maybe not? This episode is all about the serious, the scary, and the silly of spirit life.  Join hosts Kirsten & Graham as they chat with fellow mom and real life ghostbuster, Kim Johnston to learn the ins and outs of graciously welcoming a ghost to your home. (Yes, even ghosts need a little “Welcome Home” every now and then!) Plus, toilet seat ground rules when sharing your bathroom with a ghost, why you should never buy a house painted blue, and what to do when the baby sleeps through the night, but the ghosts still need sleep training! Links We Mentioned on the Show: SCARE of Alabama Large California White Sage Frankincense and Myrrh Essential Oil Combo Pack  Copaiba (Copal) 100% Pure, Best Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil  Sponsor Spotlight: Bark Box: Monthly Dog Joy just a click away! Established in 2011, BarkBox is the dog-crazy, dog-obsessed company that celebrates the special connection you share with your dog. They create a monthly gift that both you and your dog can’t wait to open. The same anticipation and delight you felt as a kid for every party, birthday, and Christmas is the same joy we deliver to you and your dog every time a BarkBox arrives. Every month, BarkBox sends the best all-natural treats and chews, and innovative toys to match your dog’s unique needs. All toys are designed in-house, with the very best materials, like stomach-safe T-shirt rope, spiky ball cores, and dozens of innovative squeakers. All treats are grain-free, and never contain soy, wheat, or corn. All meat is sourced in the USA and all treats are made in the USA and Canada. It’s also the very best value— each box has free delivery and contains over $40 worth of toys and treats, with subscriptions starting at $20. For a FREE EXTRA MONTH of BarkBox when you subscribe to a 6 or 12 month plan, visit barkbox.com/thehomehour ! Sponsor Spotlight: Holly & Tanager: Stylish Leather Bags & Wallets Holly & Tanager handbags were born to keep up with your busy schedule while taking organization to the next level. Without ever sacrificing fashion for function, their timeless designs display a bold desire to accommodate a woman’s lifestyle effortlessly, day after day. Check out one of our favorite products: “The Professional Backpack Tote”, which effortlessly converts from a Backpack to a tote to a crossbody bag! As a listener of The Home Hour, get 15% off your first order!  Visit: https://hollyandtanager.com/thehomehour and use the promo code THEHOMEHOUR at checkout. The post The Chill Up Your Spine Could be Real! The Home Hour, Episode 132 appeared first on Life, Listened.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Johnston, CEO and Founder of Aussie Cordial, arrived in the US in 2006 from Australia and was shocked to find the main choices of beverages to be sugar laden soft drinks with horrific ingredients. Kim's mission is to contribute to a world without sugar addiction, diabetes or obesity.