Podcasts about self inquiry

Leave an Amazon Rating or Review for my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Check out the full episode: https://greatness.lnk.to/1985DMJonathan Fields told Lewis Howes that when everything finally lines up, career, relationships, the whole thing, that's exactly when the old patterns come back to burn it down.His answer wasn't more willpower. It was scaffolding. Inner practices plus an environment engineered so the right action happens by default, before you've spent a single unit of cognitive bandwidth deciding.Fields has done a breathing and meditation practice every single morning for over a decade. Not for bliss. So that when the day goes sideways he responds instead of reacts.On being stuck, he reaches for Byron Katie's The Work. Four questions. Is it true? Can you absolutely know that it's true? Where's the evidence for it? Where's the evidence against it?The stuckness is almost never about the thing you think it's about. Find the bigger thing underneath and the rest loosens on its own.Sign up for the Greatness newsletter: http://www.greatness.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's episode is part one of a deep dive into romantic relationships – the interest in them, the fear of them, and the frustrations of having them. In this first half of the two-part series, a participant speaks to the belief that men will not be interested in her romantically. When Tom asks what her mind is using as proof for that concept, she identifies the thought that men only look at the surface of a person, never deeper. This is one of those concepts that, from a certain perspective, seems pretty fair. But how does it affect us when we are actively seeking a romantic relationship while simultaneously believing this kind of thought? This inquirer notices how it undercuts the whole process of meeting people, infusing it with a sense of defensiveness. As Tom sometimes points out, we are free to continue believing whatever stories we like. And the invitation in this episode is to question the ones that bring stress into our lives.

Episode 187 The Missing Initiation: Why Men Struggle to Step Into Their Full Masculinity with Oak MountainWATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE HERE- https://youtu.be/6XC5BRAddLA?si=p9Q2MkHomWioeGXYWhy do so many men feel like they are meant for something more, yet have no idea how to cross the threshold into it?What happens when a culture loses the rites of passage that once helped boys become men?In Episode 187 of the Power & Purpose Podcast, we explore masculine maturation with Oak Mountain, author, philosopher, mentor, and founder of Beyond the Hero. We dive into the missing initiation, the psychology of the “forever boy,” masculine rites of passage, dependency, accountability, purpose, and what it actually means for a man to participate in his own becoming.Oak shares why men can spend years doing inner work, therapy, plant medicine, spiritual work, and personal development while still sensing that something has not fully shifted. We explore the role of initiation, mentorship, community, personal responsibility, and the willingness to move from waiting for life to happen into actively creating it.We also explore practical ways men can reconnect with themselves through journaling, self inquiry, meaningful questions, accountability, and deeper relationships with other men.00:00 Episode Preview 00:55 Who Is Oak Mountain? 04:42 Authenticity, Conformity and the Mystical Experience That Changed Everything 11:30 Masculinity vs. Masculine Maturation 12:32 Why Modern Men Are Missing Rites of Passage 15:29 Dependency, Responsibility and Becoming Dependable 16:34 The Forever Boy and Peter Pan Syndrome 21:43 How Masculine Initiation Work Actually Works 24:16 Why Men Need Community and Accountability 27:03 The Subtle Signs a Man Is Still Waiting for Life to Happen 28:43 Journaling, Purpose and Powerful Self Inquiry 33:17 Blame, Victimhood and Personal Accountability CONNECT WITH OAK MOUNTAINWebsite: http://beyondthehero.caInstagram: @mythicmystic_Free Three Headed Dragon Lecture: https://beyondthehero.ca/dragon CONNECT WITH VANESSA SOULWebsite: https://vanessasoul.com/theempireBufo and Kambo in Tulum, Mexico with Vanessa https://vanessasoul.com/bufokamboInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessaasoulFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.spiva.9Podcast: https://podcast.ausha.co/power-and-purpose-podcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This week on Love Is The Power, Tom invites participants to notice the habit of trying to control things in life. Money, love, security, health… You name it, the ego will attempt to control it. It can be so liberating to look at this pattern and notice what it actually does to our lives. Does it empower us? Does it relax us? Or does it cause stress and fear? As Tom points out, living is like surfing. And this habit can cause us to attempt to control the wave instead of riding it. It could be that as soon as we let go of the need for control, life becomes light again and we remember our freedom to live playfully and joyfully. If you want to find out for yourself, enjoy this week's episode on learning to respond to the wave of life.

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageWhat happens when someone who spent years questioning everything stops arguing and starts listening.In this episode, I sit down with Sam Kukathas, a former academic philosopher who spent over a decade as a skeptic before finding he could work with the human voice as a kind of frequency, bringing people back into their own body and their own knowing. When I ask him what he actually does, he stops explaining and offers to show me instead.We talk about readiness, about the difference between searching for something outside yourself and remembering what's already here, and about what happened the day a voice moved through him that he hadn't expected and couldn't fully explain. Sam also leads a short experience during our conversation, so it's worth finding a quiet moment to listen.If you've ever sensed that the teacher, the method, or the next insight isn't where the answer lives, this conversation may land somewhere familiar.About the Guest:Sam Kukathas is the creator of Neuro-Resonance Optimisation and the founder of Soul Purpose Leaders and Resonance OS. With a background in academic philosophy, his work explores the human voice as a frequency that can open us to who we already are. He was recently named one of the Top 5 Spirituality and Mindset Leaders Creating Extraordinary Impact by the High Impact Awards.Find Sam:Website: www.soulpurposeleaders.comResonance OS: www.resonanceos.ioInstagram: www.instagram.com/samkukathas...............If you want to explore this more deeply, I've put everything together here. You're welcome to subscribe to my email list and be the first to know about the next round of Seeing Through the Separate Self Experience.https://zcmp.eu/1XWaMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

A mystical experience as a young man helped launch Avikal Costantino (Swami Avikal) on a remarkable spiritual journey—from Venice to Mexico, encounters with brujos, and eventually studying and working alongside Osho in India. Avikal joins Karl Gruber to explore radical self-inquiry, spiritual awakening, unconscious programming, nonduality, the present moment, and awakening from the dream of separation. Who are we when we stop identifying with everything we've been conditioned to believe?You can also watch World Awakenings not only on YouTube, but also on New Reality TVTo find out more about Avikal just go to his website https://www.avikal.co/If you would like a copy of Avikal's new book, "A New Language: Flowing in Being", just click this link.#SpiritualAwakening #SelfInquiry #Osho #Nonduality #Consciousness

This week's episode brings you one of Tom's favourite questions to pose: What, if it were true, would give you a big fat ‘YES' to life? In a popcorn-style meditation, the group explores this question and comes out with some profound answers to what the nature of creation would have to be in order for it to feel good. For example, it would have to be true that no one can actually be permanently harmed. Or, life would have to not be serious. Could it be that these desires we have for reality are actually reality itself, and only our internalized beliefs stand in the way of us and the life we'd like to be living? Could it be that the answer to, “What's it all about,” is whatever we want it to be about? What would give you a ‘yes' to life?

Hiro Ikushima leads us through a simple form of self-inquiry: noticing the difference between what is happening and what our mind adds to it.What actually happened? What story am I telling myself about it? And what changes when I notice the difference?He explores how meditation can help us become more curious about our thoughts and reactions without immediately believing them. Self Inquiry Young Urban Zen

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageWhat happens when the person who taught you the most about awakening is also the one who needed you to stay small?In this conversation with Nicole Wordlaw, we explore the difference between the awakening we imagine, permanent, painless, almost superhuman, and the one that actually happens, ongoing and fully human. Nicole speaks openly about a cage that formed in her mind long before she met her teacher, and how that same cage was later reflected back to her inside a devoted spiritual relationship. We talk about rest as an unexpected teacher, the quiet work of giving herself permission, and what it means to stop looking for a final arrival.About the GuestNicole Wordlaw is an African American clinical psychologist, longtime meditator in the Buddhist tradition, spirited coach, and the author of Waking Up Alone, Navigating the Narrow Passage Through Master-Slave Narratives. Her training at Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley honed her thinking mind. But the wisdom she needed did not come from a book, nor did it come from staying away from the difficult. The wisdom she needed arose from spirited practice, practices that illuminated the quiet, still voice that always sounds like Love. She lives with her two children and partner on the Indigenous lands of the Monacan people in Virginia.Website: https://www.nicolewordlaw.com/ Substack: https://nicolewordlaw.substack.com/ Book Waking Up Alone: https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Alone-Navigating-Master-Slave-Narratives/dp/1591813735Join my email list: https://zcmp.eu/1XWaMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

This week's episode explores the popular concept of having a fair share. As humans, we can get pretty touchy if we believe someone is getting more than their ‘fair share' of something, and pretty stressed if we believe that we have more than our fair share (whether of money, time, privilege, luck, etc.) One of the great things about self-inquiry is that we get to really get into these commonly held concepts and take a good, long look at them. Is there actually such a thing as a fair share? Is that how this Universe is set up? How do we react when we think that's how it is? How does it affect us? Does it allow us to show up the way we'd really like to? Or does it end up contributing to more miserliness in the world? Who might you be without this story?

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Daniel Segundo to discuss why today's social networks have evolved into entertainment networks and how Daniel is building Bien, a social app focused on depth over breadth. Daniel shares his journey from trading commodities to creating a platform designed to keep users genuinely connected to their inner circle, inspired by insights gained while meditating in caves in India. The conversation covers everything from the problems with the "like button" and algorithmic feeds to Daniel's contrarian approach of removing public-facing engagement metrics and using voice notes as the primary interaction method. They also explore the challenges of building consumer social products, the impact of AI on development, and Daniel's philosophy drawn from Eastern mysticism and his study of Ramana Maharshi. To learn more about Bien, visit bien.social or follow Daniel on Twitter at @DanielPSegundo.Timestamps00:00 Daniel introduces Bien as a real social network, contrasting entertainment networks disguised as social platforms05:00 Building with AI tools allowed bootstrapping the app before hiring a five-person team for professional development10:00 Social networks evolved into entertainment networks optimized for engagement and advertising rather than genuine connection15:00 The advertising model incentivizes dopamine delivery and algorithmic content over posts from actual friends20:00 Removing the like button and public comments forces deeper interaction through private voice notes instead25:00 Social graphs become stale over time because unfriending feels awkward, so people curate for weakest relationships30:00 Matrix and Nostr protocols enable interoperable messaging, suggesting a Cambrian explosion of new social apps35:00 Depth matters more than metrics—success means users actually feel closer to their inner circle40:00 Voice notes combined with photo sharing mimics natural storytelling behavior when friends gather in person45:00 Meditation in Ramana Maharshi's caves in India inspired reflections on silence, self-inquiry, and building products mindfullyKey Insights1. Daniel Segundo was inspired to create Bien after recognizing that existing social networks excel at breadth but fail at depth of connections. While meditating in caves in South India, he went through his phone contacts and realized only about 5 percent of his 1,700 contacts were people he actually wanted to stay close to, with the remaining 95 percent being noise. He saw that tools like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have solved the problem of maintaining surface-level relationships across broad networks of people, but there was no good tool for maintaining deep connections with your inner circle beyond basic messaging apps like iMessage or WhatsApp, which still suffer from having too many contacts with access.2. The fundamental problem with current social networks is that they have become entertainment networks rather than true social networks, driven by the advertising business model. Instagram only shows content from your actual friends about 7 percent of the time, with the rest being algorithmically suggested content designed to maximize engagement and ad revenue. The like button, while useful for maintaining broad social graphs and understanding your status in larger groups, reduces complex human relationships to superficial interactions. This creates what Segundo calls a circus-like experience where you are constantly bombarded with entertaining content rather than meaningful updates from people you care about, and the advertising model incentivizes this transformation because the product is ultimately about delivering dopamine to keep people scrolling.3. Bien removes traditional social media features like public likes and comments, replacing them with private voice note responses capped at 60 seconds. The theory is that hearing three voice notes from close friends provides more genuine connection than receiving 300 likes on a post. This design choice stems from recognizing that while the like button serves a useful function for breadth-first social networks where people want quick validation from large peer groups, it is completely inadequate for depth-first relationships. By forcing more intimate and effortful interaction through voice, Bien attempts to upgrade the quality of connection rather than the quantity, building off existing habits like sending voice notes to close friends rather than trying to create entirely new behaviors.4. The traditional follower-following model creates stale social graphs because people are uncomfortable unfriending or unfollowing others as relationships naturally evolve over time. Instead of this model, Bien uses a system where each user maintains a private list of people they want to stay close to, and if two people have each other on their lists, they see each other's content. This eliminates the social awkwardness of unfriending someone while allowing social graphs to naturally evolve. The current model forces people to curate their sharing based on the weakest relationship in their network because they do not want to offend distant connections or go through the work of managing close friends lists, which results in less authentic sharing overall.5. Segundo is building Bien on a paid subscription model rather than an advertising model to align incentives directly with users. He believes no one can build a compelling social network on the advertising model anymore because it creates conflicting incentives where the company must serve both advertisers and users, ultimately degrading the product into what he calls slop. The straightforward deal with customers is that if the product cannot provide value equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee per month through premium features, then there is no justification for the business to exist. This allows Bien to focus solely on whether users feel closer to their inner circle after using the product rather than optimizing for maximum scrolling time.6. Segundo bootstrapped the initial development of Bien using AI coding tools like Replit before hiring a team of five people to develop it professionally. He notes that with current AI tooling, if you can think clearly and understand the problems you are trying to solve, you can build solutions much more cheaply than even five or ten years ago. He eventually hired a designer and iOS and web developers to do things properly with a do it right or do not do it at all mindset. The app is currently iOS-only, built in Swift for a premium experience, with plans to potentially build a React Native version for Android if there are stronger signs of product market fit.7. Segundo's background in trading commodities and futures, along with his deep interest in Eastern philosophy and self-inquiry practices, significantly influences his approach to building Bien. He spent time studying Ramana Maharshi and practicing meditation in caves at Tiruvannamalai in South India, which he says has a profound impact not just on spiritual practice but on thinking about product development and participating in markets. His experience with a major trading drawdown in 2025 after running up a small account 25 times led him to this period of reflection that ultimately resulted in the conception of Bien, demonstrating how his various interests in trading, philosophy, and technology intersect in his approach to building a depth-first social network.

In this episode of The Being Herd podcast we have a returning guest with us! Maureen Rogers, a leading pioneer in the field of Equine CranioSacral. Founder of Equine CranioSacral Workshops, Equine CranioSacral TV, and Posture vs Confirmation Myths Unveiled. Together we explore the conversation of one big word: COMPENSATION. Maureen explains how, generally speaking in the industry, Horses' bodies are continually working from a compensated frame until recognised and given an opportunity to heal. We discuss the effects of these compensatory patterns, what Horses need post treatment, and how the earlier years in a horse's life are fundamental for foundational development which leads to balance, stability, and overall wellbeing. And what happens when that foundation is compromised. Maureen teaches Equine CranioSacral internationally as well as hosting online assessment classes and seminars for her students. Go check out her online platform Equine CranioSacral TV for more! Connect with Maureen Rogers:Instagram: @equinecraniosacralWebsite: www.equinecraniosacral.com

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageThere's a question the voice in your head has never been able to answer. Most of us have never actually asked it.In this episode, the second part of a live Zoom meeting, I work directly with four people, each caught in a different version of the same voice. Shame that's become an identity. Guilt over other people's feelings. The quiet certainty of not being good enough. An inner critic that still feels completely real even when it's seen clearly. Each time, we ask the voice one simple question, and each time, something in it goes quiet.These live meetings happen every third Thursday of the month, and everyone is welcome to join. Sign up to my newsletter to receive the link. If you want to explore this more deeply, I've put everything together here. You're welcome to subscribe to my email list and be the first to know about the next round of Seeing Through the Separate Self Experience. https://zcmp.eu/1XWaMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

Welcome back from summer vacation, Love Is The Power listeners! We're easing into September this week with a meditation and group style inquiry led by Tom on noticing some of our favourite ways to stop ourselves from living in harmony with life, and questioning those root beliefs. The inquiry goes from looking at the simple belief that it isn't possible to live in harmony with life given specific sets of circumstances to studying a pattern of feeling hurt by other people. As Tom points out, the mind will often minimize the positive effects of peace. But could it be true that taking care of our own inner world and questioning the thoughts that disrupt our ability to live in harmony with everything around us is one of the best ways to serve the world?

Are you chasing happiness, success, or the "next thing" in life, only to find that the moment you reach it, you're still not truly fulfilled?After more than 20 years as a civil engineer, Sarah Collins realised that the version of success she had been pursuing wasn't actually what she wanted. Her journey through depression, overthinking, mindfulness, meditation, and self-inquiry helped her recognise how thought patterns and conditioning can shape the way we experience reality. In this conversation, she explores why we so often fight against the present moment, believe the stories our minds tell us, and postpone happiness until some future event.Learn how to create distance from your thoughts instead of automatically believing or following them.Discover simple ways to practise acceptance in everyday situations and reduce unnecessary emotional struggle.Understand why happiness isn't something you need to achieve in the future, and how fully experiencing every moment, including difficult emotions, can change the way you live.Play the episode to discover how noticing your thought patterns, accepting the present moment, and letting go of the constant pursuit of future happiness can help you stop fighting with life and start living it more fully.˚KEY POINTS AND TIMESTAMPS:01:09 - Meet Sarah Collins: From Civil Engineer to Life Coach02:41 - Redefining Success and Letting Go of Society's Expectations05:48 - Living with Depression, Overthinking, and Low Self-Worth07:02 - You Are Not Your Thoughts10:29 - The Stories We Believe About Ourselves12:33 - Practicing Acceptance: Start with the Small Things15:34 - Rethinking Happiness as a Present-Moment Experience22:38 - Self-Inquiry, Spiritual Teachers, and Finding Your Own Answers29:21 - Closing Thoughts, Where to Find Sarah, and Final Takeaways˚MEMORABLE QUOTE:"The more you notice those thought patterns, the more you notice how it's creating your reality—you stop fighting with life and start living."˚VALUABLE RESOURCES:Sarah's website: https://www.livingfullywithsarah.com/˚Coaching with Agi: https://personaldevelopmentmasterypodcast.com/mentor

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageThe voice in your head has been talking your whole life. But have you ever actually stopped and asked it who it's talking to?In this live meeting, we look directly at the voice in the head, not as something to argue with or quiet down, but as something worth seeing clearly. We trace how it turns into the inner judge, why it can be so convincing, and where this pattern actually came from in the first place.Rather than trying to fix what the voice says, this conversation points somewhere simpler: seeing it for what it is. Partway through, I bring in a question I use often in Deep Looking. Mind, are you at peace? It's simple, and it opens something.If you've ever felt caught between believing this voice and hating yourself for believing it, I think this one will speak to you.If you want to explore this more deeply, I've put everything together here. You're welcome to subscribe to my email list and be the first to know about the next round of Seeing Through the Separate Self Experience. https://zcmp.eu/1XWaMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

What happens when life looks successful on the outside, but something inside still feels incomplete?On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed welcomes intuitive life coach and creator of Living Fully with Sarah, Sarah Collins. After spending more than 20 years working as a civil engineer, Sarah began questioning the constant pursuit of achievement, the pressure to reach the next milestone, and the belief that happiness was always somewhere in the future.Sarah shares how mindfulness, self-inquiry, and a deeper exploration of identity helped her understand the thought patterns, beliefs, and conditioning that can keep people waiting for life instead of fully experiencing it.Together, Shemaiah and Sarah explore awareness, overthinking, personal awakening, fear, inner wisdom, and what becomes possible when we stop searching outside ourselves for every answer.This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, out of alignment, or ready to look beneath the surface and begin living more fully, no matter what life brings.Learn more about Sarah Collins at LivingFullyWithSarah.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.Subscribe now at YouTube.com/@RefocusedNetworkThank you for your time. 

Dear People. Due to Spotify changing its algorithm and Insight Timer changing the way they support meditation teachers, I will only be posting clips of longer, free meditations that you can find in full on Insight Timer. This helps support the time, effort, and devotion put into creating these pieces, without the use of social media or advertising. I truly love the deeper conversations that come from these pieces, and if you want to step closer, you are always welcome to become a member of my Substack. Over the years, I have desperately wanted to simplify my life and my offerings so only what is true and full of heart remains. Thank you for your support, and the way your presence shapes my own life. In deepest regard, Sez_____About this episode...We are about to discover, through direct experience, what emptiness feels like. Not as a concept that can further dissociate us from our bodies. Not as a spiritual claim that self or no-self is the final truth. But by going beyond both, we can touch the heart of emptiness as an undeniable, lived experience.My own exploration of emptiness has profoundly changed the place from which I live my life. It has transformed what once felt like complete isolation from the world and from others. But I also wandered into extreme views that became just more concepts to uphold.I feel these teachings can easily become disembodied from our humanity, so I'd love to offer an alternative: a gentle, nature-based journey that reveals emptiness not as something fearful, dull, or void, but as something deeply alive and intimately woven into our experience.The field sounds were recorded at Kårup Skov. I'd love to hear how this lands with you.Listen to the episode for free, and in full here.Support the showFor guided courses, full episodes, meditations and access to extended versions of my sleep journeys, please go to Insight Timer. Every Thursday, I send out unpublished poems & audio essays to help us embody our felt sense of wholeness through nonduality, nature, and self-inquiry on my Substack. You can also find supportive courses on my website or grab a book for your journey onwards on Amazon.  ✨

 In order to solo travel, you need to be equipped with the knowledge of how to be alone. It's hard to be alone if you don't know who you are or what your intention is for traveling. Self-discovery and reflection not only make solo traveling more enjoyable, but they make for a more meaningful experience overall. This episode offers essential journal prompts/reflection questions to contemplate before solo traveling. Find the reflection questions here. *this episode is a glimpse of my FREE "Ultimate Guide to Your First Solo Trip" course* ━━━━━━━━ ⟡ ━━━━━━━━connect with me here :)Instagram:✨ @lydiaschultzzhttps://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/ ✨Travel Blog:gotacaseofwanderlust.com✨https://linktr.ee/gotacaseofwanderlust

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageSomething in you is looking for relief right now, whether you call it awakening, peace, or simply wanting to feel okay again. If that's where you are, you're welcome to join Deep Looking Immersion: [LINK]What are you really looking for underneath the hope for awakening? This episode comes from a live meeting, opening with a short talk on where seeking actually begins, not curiosity, but suffering, and the quiet hope that once the self is seen through, everything difficult will finally stop.From there, four real conversations unfold. Ben, George, Swen, and Tammy each bring something different to look at, an old assumption about awakening, a fear of feeling good, a belief that something is wrong with them, and each one is met directly, as it happens rather than talked about from a distance.Music by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

This week's episode is an exploration of the search for freedom. For those of us who find ourselves on some kind of spiritual path, practicing techniques that allow us to expand into truer, fuller expressions of what we really are, it can be tempting to identify as ‘seekers.' Usually what we're seeking is a sense of freedom. One such seeker poses the question in this episode, “Is there such a thing as freedom?” All the mystics – ancient and modern – say there is. But why is it so hard to find it? And how does it connect to the idea of free will? Are we actually controlling the events of our life? Could it be that real freedom comes from releasing the “I” that thinks it needs to manage everything? Join in the group inquiry, get still, and notice what arises within in response to these questions.

This week's episode explores subconscious beliefs and how to empty the reservoir of the unconscious mind. Using self inquiry, we're continuing last week's exploration of the mind's tendency to divide things under the labels of ‘me' and ‘not me.' How do we live when our life experience is ruled by those concepts? What if what we've been believing ourselves to be is nothing but a fictitious character? And who might we be if we opened our minds enough to experience ourselves without these stories? Could it be that who we are is much broader, much more expensive, than we've allowed ourselves to imagine?

This episode originally aired in 2025 and, as one of our most-loved conversations, we're sharing it again with you today.Today, Erin and Sasha dive into the beauty of the Sahasrapadma Chakra. “Sahasrara” means thousand and “Padma” means lotus. Together, it is referred to as the “thousand-petaled lotus.” Much like the human experience, a lotus begins its life in the depths of muddy, murky waters—our struggles, attachments, desires, and ignorance (Avidya). Just as the lotus remains rooted in the mud, we too are born into the material world, facing suffering, karmic cycles, and obstacles. As the lotus stem rises through the water, it symbolizes the seeker's journey through self-awareness, discipline, and inner purification. The phrase represents the infinite layers of consciousness. And through our efforts in Yoga, Meditation, and Self-Inquiry, overcoming obstacles, refining the mind, and aligning with higher consciousness, we unfold one petal at a time, moving closer to Divine realization. Sahasrapadma Chakra is located at the crown of the head, and is the gateway to pure consciousness. When it is balanced, we experience deep inner peace, clarity, and a profound connection to universal wisdom. Life flows effortlessly, and we feel aligned with our highest purpose. When imbalanced or blocked, it can manifest as mental fog, chronic stress, anxiety, or depression. On a physical level, disharmony in this chakra is often linked to neurological disorders, migraines, hormonal imbalances, sleep disturbances, and even autoimmune conditions. Some may struggle with disconnection from their spiritual path, while others might experience an overwhelming sense of isolation or existential confusion.Through meditation, pranayama, acts of surrender, nourishing ourselves with sattvic foods like coconut, almonds, and ghee, occasional fasting with fresh juices or herbal teas, and using Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Gotu Kola, and Tulsi, we unlock the potential of this energy center. Yoga asanas like Sirsasana (headstand), Savasana (corpse pose), Vrikshasana (tree pose) and Padmasana (lotus pose) further help stimulate this center of Divine connection. When the lotus reaches the surface, it blossoms in the sunlight, untouched by the water below. This represents the final stage of spiritual awakening, the self-realization (moksha), where one transcends suffering, duality, and illusion (maya). The enlightened being, like a lotus, remainds in the world but is no longer affected by its turbulence. Despite its impure surroundings, the lotus remains pristine and beautiful, symbolizing that true beauty and purity arise from within, regardless of external circumstances. Send us Fan MailThis episode is brought to you by Ojas Oasis Ayurveda, Sasha's private clinical practice. Schedule a 30-minute strategy session here. For 10% off Kerala Ayurveda, use code OjasOasis. For 20% off GarryNSun, code OJASOASIS20. For 10% off Ora Cacao, code OjasOasis10. Support the showTo learn more about working with us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageHere's the Buzzsprout description for episode 133, in your voice, mentioning the live Zoom recording and the open invitation to join next time.You can already understand that there is no separate self, clearly and without doubt, and still feel that nothing has changed. The understanding sits in the mind like a fact you have memorised, while life keeps arriving with the same fears, the same upsets, the same quiet sense that something still isn't right.This episode is a recording of a live Zoom meeting, and it moves through three parts. It opens with a talk for the seeker who looked for the self, found nothing, and quietly decided that meant they had failed. We look at the expectation waiting underneath the search, and at what happens when you turn back toward the very nothing you keep dismissing.From there I sit with a few people, and two of those exchanges stay with me. George is eighty-five and has understood for over ten years that there is no separate self, yet still wants to know how to get there. Together we look at how an upset is really an energy moving in the body, and how the me is a story that borrows its weight from the feeling underneath it. Then I speak with Sebastian, and we follow a lifelong guilt down into the body, into the shame beneath it, and into the young child who first learned it. This is where the looking becomes a kind of healing.If you understand all of this clearly in the mind and still feel it hasn't quite landed in the body, this conversation may speak to where you actually are. These meetings happen live, and you are warmly welcome to join the next one. You can find the details and stay in touch here: https://zcmp.eu/1XWaMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

This week's episode is the 300th episode of Love Is The Power! So we thought we'd tackle a big question: What is real? At Tom's invitation, we are looking at our own direct experience in this moment to see if we can actually find a border between ourselves and anything – or anyone – else. The tendency to refer to things outside the body as “Not me” is a long, long habit of humanity. But what if it's true that separation is just a belief? What if it's not a fact of life? And what amazing avenues of existing might we discover beyond this illusory thought?

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageThere is a particular kind of loneliness in believing you are in here, and everything else is out there. Most of us carry that feeling for years without ever asking where it came from, or whether it was ever true.In this episode of Awakening Now, I'm speaking with Sabina Witzel, a German awakening guide and author who has spent years supporting people through the awakening process. Early in our conversation, I ask Sabina what awakening actually means to her, and she offers something simple that stays with you: "awakening to me is like closing the gap."Together, we spend real time in direct pointing and self-inquiry, searching for the actual line between inside and outside, self and world, the illusion of a separate self most of us never think to question. Sabina describes what she found when she looked closely: "there was no dividing line, there was just an idea, like inside, outside. There is no line in experience." Near the end, she says it even more plainly: "all of it is just an idea, all of it."This conversation may speak to you if you've had a glimpse of this seeing but still feel the old sense of separation returning, or if you're drawn to nonduality and direct inquiry but want it explored simply, without unnecessary jargon.You can find Sabina at www.sabina-witzel.com/enMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

This week Tom invites participants to share some of their favourite stories to tell that make them miserable. One share uncovers the thought “I could lose something” which becomes a group popcorn-style inquiry. If you know what it's like to live from the fear of losing something, or out of fear in general, this contemplation is for you. How do you react when you believe you could lose something vital (like your job, house, partner, child, parent, health)? Does the thought bring peace or stress into your life? Who might you be without it?

In this week's episode of Love Is the Power, Tom invites participants to contemplate this question: Is it true that what you're living right now – whatever it is, exactly as it is – is not the best thing for you? Can you absolutely know that? This profound group inquiry delves deeply into the question, all the way to the worst imaginable realities one might live. One of these situations is one Tom lived through himself, and he elaborates on how it ended up being the best thing for him and his family to experience. Could it be that the things we're most afraid of are nothing but portals into an unconditionally loving existence?

Byron Katie says there's nothing so dark that we cannot put it on paper, question it, and set ourselves free. She also says that we live in a friendly Universe. Those two statements are really put to the test in this week's episode of Love Is The Power, where a participant brings up the trauma of getting news that two of her community members had been murdered. This is intense, heavy inner work to take on, which is why it's so beautiful to be able to share it together. We invite you to find that inner sense of devastation at the cruel ways humanity can treat each other, and follow along with this profound and brave inquiry.

Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageIn this episode of Awakening Now, I speak with Sukhdev Virdee, author of sixteen books on Advaita Vedanta and nondual philosophy.Sukhdev works with people who have already explored the teachings deeply. They have read the books, watched the videos, understood nonduality intellectually, and yet still feel that something hasn't fully landed.We explore Sukhdev's own awakening experience and the years of inquiry that followed. Together we look at the relationship between awakening and understanding, the role of spiritual teachings, self-inquiry, and a question many seekers eventually face:What happens when the pointers are no longer getting you anywhere?This conversation touches on consciousness, awareness, identity, the nature of reality, and the subtle ways seeking can continue even after profound insights have occurred.If you've ever felt that you understand the teachings but something remains unresolved, this episode may speak directly to your experience.Sukhdev Virdee works with those who have already done the work, read the books, watched the videos, understood nonduality intellectually, and still find something hasn't fully landed.Most teachings point one toward Awareness and stop there. Sukhdev goes in the opposite direction. He turns toward what is false and dismantles it precisely, the ego, the I thought, the mechanics of how the mind keeps confusion alive, until the mind has nothing left to rebuild the seeking from. Understanding ends the seeking. Believing doesn't.He is the author of sixteen books on Advaita Vedanta and nondual philosophy and teaches through his YouTube channel and one-on-one mentorship.YouTube: youtube.com/@sukhdevvirdeeBooks: amazon.com/author/sukhdevvirdeeMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com

 Self inquiry isn't about fixing your thoughts or choosing better ones. It's about turning the lens back on the one who's thinking — and asking the most powerful question you can ever ask: who am I, really? When you stop long enough to look, what you find changes everything. Now streaming on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts. #PerspectiveShift #TheRideOfLife #GoWithTheFlow #ConsciousLiving #MindsetShift #LifeJourneySupport the show

This important and special guidance by Moojibaba is very powerful when sat with in a dedicated way. It is a clear path to Self-understanding, and a tool for transcending mind and that which keeps us feeling bound by passing states. “When the mind becomes noisy, know this is because you became personally identified. For the seeker of truth, this is the time to inquire into the true nature of both mind and the true Self. Witnessing without identity brings us to the no-witnessing state of pure, silent Awareness—your natural state.” Monte Sahaja, Portugal ~ More talks like this are available on Sahaja Express: mooji.org/sahaja-express If you would like to support the sharing of Satsang, you can donate here: https://mooji.org/donate?tcode=mtv7 #Mooji #satsang #spirituality #advaita #nonduality #awakening

This week's episode begins with an invitation from Tom to pick something in your life you don't like, and to see if you can notice what story you're living by experiencing it. For example, if you're experiencing a difficult work situation or financial hardship or a frustrating relationship. The underlying story you're living might be “I'm a disappointment,” or “Nobody cares about me,” or something entirely different — but equally painful — that is expressing itself through the situations in your life. What if self-inquiry and self-liberation aren't serious? What if it could just be playful and light? What might you notice about the experiences in your life that are less than enjoyable? Join the meditation group to notice for yourself.

Embodied Intuition: A Chakra Map for Your Clair SensesChristel Arcucci introduces The Mystic Body Show and guides a body-based guided mindfulness practice to help empaths and sensitive listeners recognize that psychic gifts (“claire”) are already communicating through physical sensation rather than dramatic signs. She invites listeners to settle into a comfortable seated posture, place a hand on belly and heart, and set the intention to listen and trust the body. This episode is part of Ecstatic Empath. Where being an empath shifts from painful to pleasurable. Visit https://www.ecstaticempath.comUsing chakras as a flexible framework for self-inquiry, she explores clairsentience and psychometry with the root, emotional clairsentience with the sacral, claircognizance with the solar plexus, clair empathy with the heart, clairaudience/clairalience/clairgustance with the throat, clairvoyance with the third eye, and mediumship plus precognition with the crown, then closes with a full-body scan, integration, and an invitation to revisit the practice and explore related offerings.If you're ready to release the version of yourself you built for everyone else and begin the chapter you didn't dare write yet, the Akashic Recode is your next step. 21 days to begin your Unapologetic Era. https://www.MysticBodyAcademy.com/recode00:00 Intuition Is Already Here00:34 Show Welcome And Mission01:10 Ecstatic Empath Resources01:56 Settle Into The Body02:49 How This Practice Works08:27 Root Chakra Clairsentience10:19 Sacral And Solar Knowing12:00 Heart And Throat Claires14:42 Third Eye And Crown Gifts16:57 Integration And Closing19:18 Akashic Recode Invitation20:11 Final Sign OffQuestions? Message me here :-)Support the showDid you know the chapter you didn't dare write yet is already written?The Akashic Recode  helps you stop pouring energy into the life you've outgrown and pour every ounce of life force into the life you want to be living. We're not rehashing what didn't work. We're shifting the agreements you've been unconsciously keeping so you can release the version of yourself you built for everyone else and begin the pleasure-led, purpose-filled life that's been waiting for you.This is designed for the pleasure-led woman who is ready to own her power, embody truth, and live unapologetically.Begin your Unapologetic Era. https://www.MysticBodyAcademy.com/recode

Last week we looked at the belief in the seriousness of life, especially related to being a parent. Parenting is one of the big things that we can tend to use as proof of the serious nature of everything. But that inquiry revealed the truth of what the belief was creating in the parent's life: stress, both for herself and her kids. What about other situations, though, the mind wants to know. Surely some things really are serious? What about when a friend shares news of their cancer diagnosis with you? What if you receive a diagnosis of something yourself? We think we're protecting ourselves from everything we don't want to experience when we hold tightly to the story of seriousness, but it might be that what we're giving ourselves is an existence based purely on survival – not really living. If you're ready to question this story and live a life without fear, follow along in this group-inquiry episode that asks: Is life actually serious?

Send Rachel a text message.What if your thoughts and emotions are experiences you have, not the essence of who you are?In this episode, we explore:non-duality and the quantum fieldthe difference between awareness and identitywhy emotions rise and fall like waveshow to stop letting thoughts run the showa simple reflective exercise to reconnect with the eternal SelfThis is about reclaiming your power—not by suppressing emotion, but by remembering what remains aware beneath it all.

This week's episode begins in a conversation around the idea of pleasure. What the group notices is that the experience of pleasure can be purely joyful, but that when we become attached to good feelings, we (ironically) suffer. Another thing the inquiry group notices is this idea that pleasure is somehow wrong. This leads to a deepening of the contemplation and a popcorn-style inquiry on the deeply-ingrained beliefs we have about the polarities of right and wrong, good and bad, and acceptable and unacceptable. Enjoy this conversation that leaves everything out in the open, or as Tom might put it: coming up into the light to be released.

This week Tom offers this prompt: imagine that you have just arrived in the body you're in, with exactly the same memories and name attached to it. What is it like imagining that none of the memories, images, or identities associated with this body-mind actually have any relevance to who you are? This little thought experiment leads to a profound group dialogue inquiring into our real nature. According to Tom, our nature is freedom. But it sure doesn't feel like that sometimes…especially when we live out the conditioning we receive as children that life is serious and you can get it wrong. If you've gotten that message and responded by either becoming extremely obedient or rebelling (which isn't freedom either), and are interested in a truer experience of who you are, this episode is for you!

Support the showFor guided courses, full episodes, meditations and access to extended versions of my sleep journeys, please go to Insight Timer. Every Thursday, I send out unpublished poems & audio essays to help us embody our felt sense of wholeness through nonduality, nature, and self-inquiry on my Substack. You can also find supportive courses on my website or grab a book for your journey onwards on Amazon.  ✨

Dr. Paul Conti is a psychiatrist, trauma specialist, and author whose work centers on one deceptively simple idea: that understanding yourself is the most powerful thing you can do for your mental health. In this conversation, we explore how the unconscious mind quietly sets the boundaries for how we think, feel, and move through life, and how much of what we assume is just "who we are" was actually formed long before we had the words for it.What struck me most in this conversation is Paul's insistence that looking inward doesn't have to be frightening. He introduces the concept of the generative drive, the part of us that moves toward creativity, altruism, and genuine contribution, and makes a compelling case that this is what separates a life that feels full from one that simply accumulates. We also get into the myths we build from isolated facts, why the traditional psychiatric model falls short, and what it actually means to bring compassionate curiosity to yourself.BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleephttps://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyselfUse code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkoutTry LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro02:05 Assessing Mental Health Like Physical Health03:04 The Unconscious Mind and Its Hidden Influence06:30 How Identity Forms in Early Childhood08:23 Compassionate Curiosity as a Practice11:02 Empowerment, Agency, and the Healthy Self15:34 The Assertion, Pleasure, and Generative Drives24:26 What Humility Actually Means27:09 Ad: BiOptimizers28:18 Shame, Feelings, and the Lessons We Carry35:10 How Memories Build the Myth of Self42:32 Ad: LMNT43:41 Waking Up vs. Growing Up48:10 The Limits of Diagnosis-Driven Psychiatry51:07 What We're Really Striving For58:18 Self-Worth and External Achievement1:02:12 Anxiety as Adaptive and Maladaptive1:09:52 Defense Mechanisms and How They Shape Us1:16:51 Tools for Self-Inquiry and Lasting Change1:25:52 Repeated Patterns and Relational Wounds1:29:45 Hard-Won Growth and Gratitude1:32:12 Paul's Personal Story: Loss and the Path to Medicine1:37:17 Presence, Suffering, and the Art of Helping1:41:35 Closing Message: Your Mind Is Your Friend___________Episode Resources: https://www.drpaulconti.com/https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-Right-Powerful-Optimizing/dp/1538776049https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

This week's episode is a group inquiry on the thought “I need my discontent” and in the exploration of what it's like living from this belief, what surfaces is the real reason we hold onto it so tightly: feeling like we need justification. Notice: without the idea that you need to justify something (maybe ending a partnership, choosing a career path, making a big move…) do you still need to hold onto discontent? Or is discontent only necessary when it's being used as proof that we have to do what we simply would like to do? Without the need for justification and discontent, what would be possible? What actions could you take for the simple reason that you want to take them?

This meditation guides you through a process of calming the mind in order to begin the process of self inquiry based on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. After establishing a degree of calm and settledness, it invites you to explore and question the nature of this mind-body experience and the relative and ultimate truths. The meditation is grounded in the principles of Bhagavan's teaching and interspersed with some direct quotes of his.

This week's episode looks at an old faithful belief: He/she/they took advantage of me. From having cab drivers hold back five bucks from your change to being hoodwinked in a business deal or transaction, we've all likely experienced something that caused us to pick up this belief that we can be taken advantage of. In some cases, like one of the brave and vulnerable shares in this episode, that belief is very well backed-up with some horrifying past images and experiences. In these cases, it's pretty radical to open to the idea that what Byron Katie says might be true – if people could do better, they would. Whether this sounds like spiritual bypassing to you, or something in you is curious about what it might be like to live from this perspective, we invite you to follow along in this profound inquiry with a situation from your own life where you believed you were taken advantage of.

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This week's episode brings you a beautiful and profound group inquiry that begins with considering the possibility that who and what we are is actually good. Tom has brought up this line of inquiry many times before, but in this setting what comes up is one of the main fears that blocks us from experiencing ourselves as good: the fear of getting hurt. It seems logical, right? If we're loving and open, we could theoretically get hurt more easily. For many of us, the solution we come up with is to close our hearts off from others. Interestingly, this contributes to our sense of ourselves as Not Good people. But what if there's no need to close our hearts? What if the hurt we've experienced actually comes from a lack of openness to something? What if we don't have to fear getting ‘hurt,' and can allow ourselves to live our loving nature?

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Kashi, a longtime yoga practitioner and former monk, to explore the deeper layers of yoga philosophy and what it really means to live the practice. From his early days in Israel to years spent studying in India, Kashi shares a powerful journey shaped by discipline, self-inquiry, and a commitment to understanding the roots of yoga.We dive into how yoga extends far beyond the physical, touching on themes of community, personal transformation, and the role of philosophy in navigating modern life. A central part of our conversation explores trauma-sensitive yoga and how supportive environments can help people reconnect, heal, and feel seen through shared experience.Kashi also reflects on his transition from monastic life to becoming a householder, offering an honest perspective on change, identity, and staying true to your path even when it challenges expectations. We discuss the relevance of classic yoga texts like the Bhagavad Gita and how their teachings can still guide us through uncertainty, growth, and everyday life.This episode is for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their practice, a better understanding of yoga philosophy, or a grounded perspective on how to stay consistent and authentic on the path.What You'll Learn:• Why community plays a key role in healing and growth• How yoga supports trauma awareness and emotional resilience• The importance of discipline and long-term practice• How yoga philosophy applies to modern life• What it means to evolve while staying true to yourselfListen if you're interested in: yoga philosophy, trauma-sensitive yoga, meditation, personal growth, and building a sustainable yoga practice.Listen to Kashi's lecture on BG hereCheck out Kashi's retreat hereListen & subscribe for more conversations on yoga, healing, and personal growth.

This week's episode begins with an invitation from Tom to try on the statement “I'm ready to devote my life to serving what serves Love.” Notice what comes up with that sentence. Is there a willingness? Or is there some sticky fear that still takes precedence? In a group setting, this episode is an exploration of what thoughts still hold us back from serving Love in our lives (thoughts that insist we, others and reality should all be doing something better, for example), and what it might be like to let them go.

Welcome back, Love Is The Power listeners! This week's episode is a lively and profound group inquiry beginning with questioning the thoughts, “It's serious,” and, “What I do matters.” From there, the line of inquiry brings to consciousness the need to be special, and Tom points out that eventually…the body dies. So with that awareness, he asks, what becomes important now? If your answer falls somewhere in the zone of “I just want to enjoy life now,” you're going to love this episode. If your mind went somewhere else, feel free to bring it to this inquiry and experience the joy and power of the present moment.

This week we're bringing you another old favourite episode from the vault (November 2021!) as the Love Is The Power retreat last week meant no new recordings. Enjoy! We'll see you next week with a brand new episode. Have you ever considered that desire, lack, and fear might go together? For example, you believe something's missing from your life (like a romantic relationship) and then you desire to fill that gap. Or, you desire to be with a partner and simultaneously fear rejection. Many of us have bought into the idea that the formula for bringing something into our experience is to identify lack and to desire what is evidently missing. But if lack and fear bookend desire, wouldn't you rather choose a more effortless and natural way to live? Rather than playing the desire, fear, and lack game, what if you let people and relationships come and go as they may? Who would you be in this moment if you were completely free of desire?

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Ido Portal, a movement coach and world expert on human movement. We explore the science and practice of movement, including how the nervous system shapes our actions, the distinction between reflexive and deliberate movement patterns and how emotion and awareness influence our movement. Ido shares how to build a holistic movement practice into everyday life through an exploration-based approach grounded in playfulness and self-inquiry. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Ido Portal (00:00:20) Movement Practice, Self-Inquiry (00:02:08) Wordlessness, 3 Core Elements of the Body; Focus & Movement (00:06:35) Sponsor: LMNT (00:08:09) Mental & Physical Postures; Virtuosity (00:12:36) Vision & Eyes; Focus vs Relaxed Vision; Tool: Panoramic View (00:17:53) Hearing; Different Opinions (00:20:59) Body Shape; Developing Many Walks (00:23:53) Sponsor: AG1 (00:24:45) Playful Exploration, Openness (00:27:25) Peripersonal Space & Movement, Proximity, Reactivity, Discomfort (00:32:18) Exercise, Traditional Movements; Examination of Movement (00:37:43) Exploration; Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices