Episodes

Send us a text We all have an inner critic - a voice that tells us we are “too this” or “not enough of that,” a voice that chides us for not doing things the “right way,” a voice that tells us in one way or another: You’re bad. Today we take some time to talk about developing our awareness so that we can recognize when this voice is coming in, dampening our experiences and creating disconnect in our lives. Join us as we explore ways to release this voice so that we can hear God’s voice more c...

Send us a text Today, Marv Baldwin joins us to talk about the experience of engaging the spiritual journey to discover the pull on our hearts towards love and compassion, the struggles we tend to encounter once we become aware of that internal desire, and what we can do to stay grounded and centered in the midst of it all. Marv Baldwin is a pastoral counselor and spiritual director living in Western Springs, IL. He founded Soul Journeys in 2018 and is honored journeying with small group...

Send us a text It can be easy to get caught up in feeling like kids need things from us and that our job is to teach them. And this is true. But it’s also true that kids have the ability to teach us. Today we talk about what has surprised us and mesmerized us in our work with kids. We talk about how taking the time to provide space for them to move from their ordinary world into the special world of contemplation and beauty winds up offering us the exact same gift. Join us as we explore the i...

Send us a text There’s something special about enjoying connection and abundance in the context of hospitality. Across time and culture, it would seem that each of us is hard-wired to give and receive from one another. And yet, for some, we may find we feel more comfortable in the giving role. Or we may feel we need to adhere to a certain style of hospitality that just doesn’t work for us. Today we take some time to talk about the contemplative aspects of connecting through the art of hospita...

Send us a text Many times, when we think of contemplative practices, what comes to mind is stillness and silence. But it turns out that there are so many ways to engage with the contemplative – art, movement, and even play! Both rest and play are important to our lives. And for each of us, there are often specific-to-us ways we like to do that. In this week’s episode, we ask: What all can count as play? How do others fit into our experience? And what can we do if we realize that something jus...

Send us a text For many of us, being an adult can sometimes look like trying to have all the answers. We can easily feel foolish to have to say, “I don’t know.” But what if the thing that lies on the other side of “struggle and not knowing” is possibility? What if choosing to live with “the question” is what allows us to evolve and transform? For certain, this requires an internal culture shift. But given the anxiety and stress that comes with feeling like we have to have all the answers, per...

Send us a text Transformation can happen in both big and small ways. It may come as we intentionally nourish our souls, or it may come quite by surprise. We may find ourselves feeling the sting of impatience or the burden of rigidity, both of which can feel unsettling to our souls. But the contemplative can help us find joy in this moment now, even as we journey towards our next moment. Join us as we talk about the remarkable journey of transformation. Additional Resources: Tree: The Bu...

Send us a text Today, we’re talking about the benefits of our contemplative practices as it relates to the brain. It turns out there are four main brain chemicals playing a role in how we experience happiness and wellness in our lives. But no two people are exactly alike. What helps one may not at all be helpful for another. Join us as we talk about what we’re learning in regards to our motivations and anchors. Additional Resources: Movie: What about Bob #BrainChemicals #Intermittent...

Send us a text Today we’re talking about the possibility for evolution in our personalities as we grow and mature. For many of us, we tend to notice personal internal variances. Maybe we behave one way at home, one way at work, and another way in social situations. Maybe spiritual practices that used to work for us seem not to offer us the same spark and connection to the Divine that they once did. Today we talk about what might be going on for us as we walk through our lives, looking to unde...

Send us a text Today we talk about the spiritual practice of paying attention to the people around us, making space in our days for each other, and being willing to be interrupted. For some of us, this comes naturally while for others, we may need to schedule it in to our days. But the delight and the closeness we can experience by living in to the present moment is worth it. Join us in seeing the person in front of us with full attention. Additional Resources: Quote: Meister Eckh...

Send us a text Today we’re talking about how contemplative practices can help us when our bodies and nervous systems are feeling unsettled due to stress or trauma. Many of us have heard about the body’s ability to access fight, flight, or freeze at the turn of a dime. When that happens, the thing that we most need is Fawn – the chance to shake off the aftermath of whatever caused us to feel dysregulated in the first place. Join us as we talk about ways to process, calm, and shake off the trig...

Send us a text Grief is a universal experience. And yet, how it manifests, what we need in that time, and how long it takes to work out our grief will vary from situation to situation and from person to person. We’ll also talk today about how residual grief can affect our present griefs. We’ll embrace the importance of naming our grief. And we’ll close by taking a moment to honor even this part of who we are and how we experience life. We hope you’ll join us. #NamingGrief #StagesO...

Send us a text The Summer Solstice is a time to relish the abundance of light, beauty, and life, soaking it all in with great joy. Today we talk about accepting the invitations that come at this time of year, to take a more leisurely pace, shift our schedules, and celebrate by paying attention to the things that allow us to see that goodness and hope are available to us. Everywhere we look, life is radiating! Join us as we take a contemplative moment to bask in the wonder and awe of it all.&n...

Send us a text We often talk about nature as a pathway to the contemplative here on the podcast. But what if we don’t consider ourselves outdoorsy? As it turns out, how we engage the outdoors seems to involve both our personalities and the evolution of our personalities. Today we take some time to celebrate the many different and wonderful ways that each of us connects with nature, engaging in its wonder and beauty, and noticing the role nature plays in our great ecosystem of life. Addi...

Send us a text Many of us have hopes for what life will look like as we age. The question is: What will it take for us to live well, and even thrive, in our later years? It turns out that those who are in that stage of life often have helpful words of advice – lived experience that we can soak up and benefit from. Join us as we muse about our own aging experiences and take time to embrace the words of wisdom that are coming from the sages who have crossed our paths. Additional Resour...

Send us a text Stress is an unavoidable part of our lives. And fortunately, there’s a certain kind of stress that’s really good for us! But when we find ourselves in distress, the question becomes, “What resources do we already have – and what resources do we still need – to carry us through this moment?” Join for a conversation about our mind-body responses to the external pressures and challenges we face. Additional Resources Author: Megan Hyatt Miller Book: Thrive by Dan Buettner Sh...

Send us a text Poetry can sometimes feel like an acquired taste, like maybe you either love it or you don’t. But what many of us find as we pursue a contemplative life is that poetry can become a helpful way to slow down and take a nice, long look. We sometimes find that poetry becomes a doorway to being able to drink in that present moment. So join us as we talk about the power of poems to aid our engagement of the world around us using our senses, emotions, and intuitions. Additional ...

Send us a text In recent years, many of us have watched stores and spiritual communities alike, places that embodied the fabric of our childhood, disappear. The American landscape is changing. Many people today are opting to take a mosaic approach to meeting their spiritual needs. And at the same time, many are looking backwards, remembering times when they felt more spiritually alive than they do right now. Today we’re taking some time to talk about the spiritual landscapes many of us...

Send us a text Technology has done wonders for our lives. We use it. We need it. And we’re thankful for it. At the same time, sometimes it creates unhelpful patterns in our lives that affect us negatively. We feel it. We know it. And we want something different for ourselves. And so today we talk about how our contemplative practices can help us find the balance we’re looking for when it comes to screens, media, and all the rest. Join us as we talk about outward engagement paired with inward ...

Send us a text Each of us, regardless of the relationship we currently have with our parents, is someone’s child. And throughout our lives, how we relate with our parents tends to evolve as both us and our parents enter into new seasons and experiences. Today, we talk about how Contemplative Practices have helped us – and continue to help us – engage lovingly, compassionately, and with gratitude. We hope you’ll join us. #Compassion #Evolution #Gratitude #ContemplativePractices For...

Send us a text As we engage in deep listening, we discover the inner wisdom of the spirit. In this episode, we talk about the benefits of having companions to help us notice the deep well that lies within. When we begin to listen to our bodies, our intuitions, and the quickening of the Spirit, a world of empowerment opens to us. Join us as we explore the art of paying attention in contemplative ways. Additional Resources Book: The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck #SpiritualC...

Send us a text Today we’re talking about the expansiveness that non-duality can bring to our awareness and thinking. Feeling like things are either/or can be comforting to us at times. But it can also cause us to feel stressed out, limited, and disconnected from the Divine. What do we do with suffering? What do we do when we’re afraid we’ll do the wrong thing? Join us for a tour of some of the many ways that non-duality can help us to experience more of the nuances life has to offer. A...

Send us a text Today we talk about how being a lifelong learner connects to the contemplative life. For many of us, adulthood brings with it the pressures of feeling like we need to know the answers. And over the course of months and years, we can begin to lose track of what can emerge when we see the world with wonder. We lose that willingness to start from wherever we are and grow from there. But the good news is: There’s an antidote! Join us for a conversation of inspiration. Additio...

Send us a text In many ways, the spiritual journey is about putting language to what is hidden in our souls. And in order to do this, many of us benefit from companions and mentors along the way. We need someone to help us ask ourselves: How do I leave “this” and move into “that?” And when we’ve reached some of those goals that once seemed so far away - now what? Join us for a conversation about our universal quest to uncover the emerging soul. Additional Resources Book: The Critical Journey ...