A Quest for Well-Being

— We are not here on Earth to be alone, but to be part of a living community, a web of life in which all is sacred. Ceremonies and rituals are powerful tools that promote and sustain healthy changes as we move though life's passages. They help you release old patterns, call in healing energies, bring empowerment to new intentions, honor rites of passage, and connect you with a deeper sense of support and guidance from Spirit in your life. Sandra work with you to create ceremonies that best support your intentions, and to honor your life transitions in a meaningful and sacred way. As a non-denominational ordained Minister of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream and Shamanic Practitioner, Sandra works with clients from diverse cultural traditions, spiritual beliefs and practices. Valeria interviews Sandra Lloyd — She is Urban Shaman, Shamanic Hypnotherapist, Spiritual Midwife, Modern Alchemist, Ceremonialist, Badass Cosmic Mother, Shamanic Healer and Speaker. As a Certified Hypnotherapist through the Foundation of the Sacred Stream in Berkeley, CA, Sandra has received expert training in Depth Hypnosis, Shamanism, Buddhist Psychology, Energy Medicine and Hypnotherapy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology. Sandra's path of healing service has been informed by two separate diagnoses and recoveries from cancer, as well her work since 2004 providing hands-on, unconditional support and advocacy for pregnant and birthing women navigating the complexities of the initiation of birth and passage into motherhood. Energetically "holding space" in the birth environment, and grounded in her connection with spiritual allies, she has been privileged to assist the safe and empowering passages of hundreds of new lives into this world.  In the summer of 2014, Sandra journeyed to Peru to join an expedition with Alberto Villoldo and Marcela Lobos of the Four Winds Society. Taking part in daily teachings and ceremonies, led by renowned medicine men and women, deepened her understanding of the ancient teachings of shamanism and of the Q'ero. She received the Munay-Ki rites of initiation directly from these master shamans and lineage keepers in ancient places of power in Peru's Sacred Valley. Since 2016, Sandra has continued her training in shamanic practices designed for spiritual evolution and healing with don Oscar Miro-Quesada, respected kamasqa curandero and altomisayoq adept from Peru, founder of the Heart of the Healer Mystery School and originator of the Pachekuti Mesa Tradition of cross-cultural shamanism. As a Shamanic Practitioner, Depth Hypnosis therapist, Ceremonialist and Birthkeeper, Sandra Lloyd/Urban Shaman brings ancient healing practices to guide her clients in addressing challenges that arise in relation to fertility, reproductive choice, pregnancy, miscarriage, labor, birth and the powerful initiation of Motherhood. She offers contemporary applications of shamanic practices (altered states/shamanic journey, regression, soul retrieval, power retrieval, removal of energetic interference) for releasing old patterns, uncovering and healing core woundings/trauma, and (re)connecting to one's authentic self. To learn more about Sandra Lloyd and her work, please visit: https://www.sandralloyd.net/

— Charlyn Spiering has been along the adoption and foster parenting path many times with a variety of organizations and in several capacities. Since beginning her journey, she has learned a lot from her own mistakes and the experiences of adoptees and first mothers that have allowed her insight into their lives. Together we can look at the realities of what adoption and foster care is like today and see where you might fit in. As a coach, Charlyn walks alongside you and help you understand the process and the responsibility we have as adoptive and foster parents to the children and first families we interact with. Valeria interviews Charlyn Spiering  — She is  an adoptive parent, a former foster parent, and a former foster care volunteer.  In the last couple of years, Charlyn has been actively podcasting and writing about many topics from all sides of adoption and foster care. She has talked to adoptive parents and foster parents, but also adoptees, birth mothers, and others. Charlyn doesn’t just interview people about their personal stories, but she also gets their ideas to improve adoption and foster care. One goal of this strategy is to encourage creative conversations about how to make these institutions better for everyone involved. This has truly broadened her understanding of how the systems we have in place and the support we lack affect people within this community and beyond. Charlyn can only do so much to change the structure we have, but she feels she is in a unique position to work with individuals who have been touched by foster care or adoption, helping them build confidence and reach their goals. Most recently, Charlyn has become a professional life coach offering services to people touched by adoption or foster care. She thinks it is important when helping people within adoption and foster care move toward their desires that the person they work with understands common issues they may face and can compassionately help them find a way through. To learn more about Charlyn Spiering and her work, please visit: https://adoptgrowthcoaching.com/

Personal
 oracles
 have
 been
 around
 for
 as
 long
 as
 people
 have
 inhabited
 this
 planet.
 Almost
 every
 religion
 and
 culture
 throughout
 history
 has
 embraced
 its
 own
 oracle
 stories
 and
 practices.
 The
 ancient
 Babylonians,
 for
 example,
 looked
 to
 the
 clouds
 for
 oracle
 messages.
 Called
 Nephomancy,
 cloud
 gazing
 is
 one
 of
 the
 oldest
 and
 most
 widely
 used
 forms
 of
 divination
 in
 the
 world.
 The
 Druids
 used
 it
 extensively
 but
 called
 it
 Neladoracht.
 Also
 in
 the
 western
 world
 were
 the
 ancient
 Greeks,
 who
 still
 retain
 a
 reputation
 for
 being
 oracle
 aficionados.
 For
 them,
 oracles
 were
 wellsprings
of
divination
and
prophecy
available
to
all
citizens,
from
the
common
worker
to
kings,
 philosophers,
 and
 religious
 leaders.
 Oracles
 addressed
 personal
 issues,
 politics,
 philosophy,
 religions,
law,
social
mores—no
topic
was
taboo.
 This
 understanding
 of
 the
 relationships
 that
 bind
 together
 natural
 forces
 and
 all
 forms
 of
 life
 has
 been
 fundamental
 to
 their
 ability
 to
 live
 for
 millennia
in
spiritual
and
physical
harmony
with
the
land.
 Valeria interviews Ann Bolinger McQuade  — She is the author of  “Everyday Oracles: Decoding The Divine Messages That Are All Around Us.” Ann Bolinger-McQuade is a regular contributor to magazines, a popular workshop facilitator and radio talk show guest. Ann shares her curiosity and passion for discovering the hidden obvious and encourages us to tune into the guidance and support that surrounds us all. Bolinger-Mcquade’s perspective of the world as alive, nurturing and filled with personal oracles springs naturally from her Native American ancestry. As a child growing up in Kansas she was intrigued with the idea of having Native American ancestors, but never considered her heritage relevant to her life. Her ancestral imprints began to emerge when a series of personal events that were triggered by her breast cancer diagnosis sent her hurling onto what she describes as an invisible moving sidewalk. (Imagine the people carriers in airports.) She believes that at certain times we all land on such a sidewalk, designed to carry us to a specific destination. This particular sidewalk transported her to a place where oracles that were hiding in plain sight seemed to magically appear at precisely the right time. Ann coined the term personal oracles to describe those mysterious messages that guide and often comfort us, and in so doing illuminate an interconnected world that is tuned in and available to us at all times. Ann makes her home in Tucson and Taos with the love of her life --- her husband Kenneth --- and her dog Pandora and a cat named Moon Boy. For the many blessings in her life she gives thanks. To learn more about Ann Bolinger McQuade and her work, please visit: https://everydayextradimensions.com

—  “Believe it or not, we have all fire walked before. Every single one of us. We have all gone through difficult times, life transitions, radical change. Fire transforms. If we remember each of our life’s big challenges and the resulting change, then we all know fire, we’ve all walked through fire. The question is, was it done with intention or not? Was it a ceremony in your life or an utter mess? Community fire walking gives us an opportunity to re-wire some of those past transitions and to embrace a broader perspective. It allows each of us another chance to go through the fire, this time with clear intention and support, to make it to the other side.” Valeria interviews Jen Hudziec — She is the author of “Ancestral Healing: A Guided Journal for Observations, Reflections, and Connections With Your Ancestors.” Jennifer Hudziec is a Ritualist. Her whole life has been shaped by the transformative powers of ritual. As a child she was raised Roman Catholic but was an animist at heart spending all her waking hours outdoors communing with the natural world. Jen departed institutionalized religion when she was 18 and began a lifetime of exploring various spiritual paths. The common thread in each of these paths was ritual. It was through ritual, initiations, and rites of passage that she transformed her life and found her true calling as a Ritualist.  As a Ritualist, Jen holds a safe and tender space for ancestral healing, spiritual mentorship, and rites of passage including death & dying support. She also has a passion for teaching and passing on what she has gleaned from all her experiences and training. She is truly dedicated to being able to meet people where they are and therefore provide a spectrum of offerings from free online rituals to group work, and private sessions.  To learn more about Jen Hudziec and her work, please visit: https://jenhudziec.com/fire-walks-jen-hudziec-ancient-pathways-1 and https://jenhudziec.com/

— “I believe that each human being has a UNIQUE GIFT to offer to the WORLD. I found mine and I made it my mission to support you to discover it, to develop it, to own it and share this gift with the world”. ~ Flora Valeria interviews Flora Bami!  She is an award-winning ICF PCC Integral Coach and Holistic Wellbeing expert, trained in happiness, mental health, mindfulness, NLP, mental fitness, yin yoga and yoga Nidra. She has over 16 years of international corporate experience in Finance, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing across big multinational organizations.  Flora is an optimist, passionate about people’s growth and on a mission to have positive impact on our world. She is a motivational speaker, writer and often guest speaker on podcasts.  Her mission is to support you in reaching your potential, improving your well-being, and boosting your happiness through my ‘’from fear to love’’ holistic coaching framework. To learn more about Flora Bami and her work, please visit: https://www.florabami.com/

— Tuned In is an inspiring story of one man's relentless pursuit of a dream, and a revealing testimony to the power of music in all our lives. The unique confluence of Jim Wilson's two careers - piano technician/confidant to the stars and a globally successful recording artist - has led to extraordinary experiences with some of the world's most exalted music legends: singing Beatle songs with Paul McCartney, limo rides with Elton John, road trips with Carole King, and horseback riding with Dan Fogelberg. But beyond this everyman's unique telling of intimate celebrity tales, Tuned In is an inspiring story of one man's relentless pursuit of a dream, and a revealing testimony to the power of music in all our lives. Emerging from a troubled childhood in a broken West Texas home, a young man moves to Los Angeles to pursue fame and fortune as a singer-songwriter. He soon strays from his mission when his piano tuning sideline blossoms into a career as piano technician to the entertainment industry's biggest names. His help in the development of the world's first MIDI-adapter for acoustic piano leads to him sharing adventures, sessions, meals, and laughs with dozens of his childhood heroes. His front row seat provides him with a rare and fascinating view into their creative processes. But when his world is shattered by his dearest friend's sudden and untimely death, he is forced to question the true meaning of success. He returns to his heart's purpose, takes a leap into the unknown, and sets out on a solo career, recording and performing his signature style of piano-featured instrumentals. Valeria interviews Jim Wilson — He is an Acclaimed Composer and Performer — the author of TUNED IN: Memoirs Of A Piano Man: Behind The Scenes With Music Legends And Finding The Artist Within. Jim Wilson could have simply dismissed himself as a competent piano tuner-technician, even an exceptional one. But he was, and is, so much more. From a broken home in Amarillo, Texas to a multi-award-winning recording artist, Jim Wilson’s journey is a captivating tale of showbiz glamour, personal tragedy, self-discovery, and dogged determination. And, as is typical of Jim Wilson, he’s turned out to be a pretty good wordsmith. Tuned-In: Memoirs of a Piano Man is a page-turner and a life-changer. It’s a self-help book in the form of an autobiography. It is entertaining, revealing and full of lessons for musicians, fans, and all readers. Jim Wilson’s life direction was set when he was given a guitar at age 7, then began composing songs at age 9. Soon after moving from West Texas to LA in his early 20’s, he gained a reputation as a respected piano technician, catering to the highest echelon of the music industry. Jim helped develop the first MIDI-adapter for acoustic piano in the 80’s, which became an instant hit with artists and studios around the world.  It was the shocking, untimely death of his closest friend that forced Jim to question the whole purpose of his life. With the love and support of his musical heroes — most significantly his friend and mentor, Dan Fogelberg — Jim set out on a solo career, composing, recording and performing his signature style of piano-featured instrumentals. Four of Jim’s ten recordings have hit the Billboard Top-20, he’s had two PBS specials, and his music has been streamed over 75 million times by fans around the globe. He was recently made a “Lifetime Member” of the Recording Academy. He enjoys scuba diving, skiing, pilot lessons, and mountain biking. Tuned In is Jim’s first book. To learn more about Jim Wilson and his work, please visit: https://jimwilsonmusic.com/

— “We are far more compelling and powerful as a species than we realize. Embracing the elements that make us uniquely human gives us awareness, wisdom, and compassion. It teaches us to love, and to lead, which is exactly what is required to live in an AI world. When AI confronts and conquers us at the singular point of intelligence, it’s actually doing us a favor. It’s saying to us: You’re more than this. Just as we can clearly comprehend that we are not a gorilla, our evolutionary cousin, and appreciate all that differentiates us from the magnificent animal, so too can AI, in all the ways it’s seemingly similar to us, help us see all the ways we stand apart, untouchable. So, let’s not idolize AI, because AI is just a mirror. If we place it on a pedestal, we will be following an empty guru.  The next step is to re-recognize ourselves by getting in touch with our interior worlds. There, we can clearly see that our inherent value and worth does not come from our intellect, something our Information Age has convinced us of. Then, we can easily remember the radiant human staring back at us, already equipped with a heart, body, spirit, and soul capable of changing the world.” Valeria interviews Lela Tuhtan — She is a CTI-trained coach, writer, and facilitator who helps individuals and teams unlock purpose, creativity, and self-mastery.  With a background in psychology, education, and the arts, she integrates diverse disciplines into transformative coaching programs that empower clients to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Based in San Francisco, Lela is the creator of Shift the Way You Lead™ and serves as a key leader at Noria, an executive coaching collective focused on leadership development. To learn more about Lela Tuhtan and her work, please visit: https://lelagrace.co/

— A big part of why we haven’t designed a better world yet is that we haven’t designed a better inner world. The truth is, all of us carry pain we haven’t fully processed. Some of us have been deeply mistreated by the system. Others have more privilege, more resources—access to therapy, meditation retreats, time for self-reflection. But regardless of where we fall on the spectrum, every single one of us carries unresolved wounds. Your thoughts are shaped by the pain you haven’t yet faced. If you’ve tried everything to change your circumstances and still feel stuck, here’s why: Your nervous system is wired to protect you from pain. It’s not going to let you just "think a different thought" if that thought contradicts the survival strategies you developed to avoid overwhelming pain in childhood. And those strategies? They live deep in the body. We have to face the pain — we need to actually discharge it from the body. Pain doesn’t just sit in our minds. It’s stored in our nervous systems, locked away in patterns of tension, contraction, and avoidance. And to unlock the full power of our minds—to become the creative, limitless beings we truly are—we have to physically release that stored pain. Transformative Listening is the way we’re designed to heal.  It’s through connection. All of our wounding happened in the absence of loving connection. As infants, we were completely vulnerable. We needed caregivers who could attune to us, hold us, soothe us. And where that didn’t happen? We developed compensatory strategies—numbing, shutting down, staying small. But the good news? We can heal. We just need someone to be present with us while we do it. Valeria interviews Ilya Parizhsky — He is a licensed psychotherapist and the creator of Transformative Listening. Ilya helps leaders, innovators, and change-makers form structured partnerships that transform setbacks and pain into fuel for growth, resilience, and transformation - enabling them to face challenges head-on and emerge stronger. He emphasizes the importance of connection and closeness in this process, creating a space where individuals develop advanced emotional engagement skills - both for themselves and in their interactions with others. These skills facilitate deep healing and transformative breakthroughs. Through this immersive, experiential approach, Ilya guides individuals in harnessing the energy of pain and turning it into vitality, resilience, and well-being. His work empowers people to break free from emotional stagnation, cultivate powerful relationships, and expand beyond their perceived limits.  To learn more about Ilya Parizhsky and his work, please visit: https://transformativelistening.love/

— “Healing begins with connection... connection to ourselves and connection to others. The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important relationship we will ever have. When we are more connected to ourselves and our emotions, we are able to cultivate more confidence, a healthier inner dialogue, and a better relationship with our bodies and food. Being in community and connecting with others is powerful medicine. There is something deeply healing about sitting in circle with others, witnessing each other in our own individual processes and allowing ourselves to be seen and take up space. You will have the opportunity to connect and share, however, it is never required.” Valeria interviews Miriam Jacobson — She is a triple board-certified Functional Medicine Dietitian and Breathwork Facilitator. With 15+ years of experience helping people improve their physical and mental well-being through food, mindset, lifestyle, breathwork, and somatic treatment, so they can feel more alive in their bodies.  The founder of Every Body Bliss, Miriam’s holistic healing approach challenges current medical narratives by examining physiological, biochemical, social, and emotional factors to resolve underlying ‘mystery symptoms’ of poor digestion, fatigue, and mood imbalances. To learn more about Miriam Jacobson and her work, please visit: https://www.everybodybliss.com/

— Yoga nidra, which is derived from the tantras, is a powerful technique in which you learn to relax consciously. In yoga nidra, sleep is not regarded as relaxation. People feel that they are relaxing when they collapse in an easy chair with a cup of coffee, a drink or a cigarette, and read a newspaper or switch on the television. But this will never suffice as a scientific definition of relaxation. These are only sensory diversions. T rue relaxation is actually an experience far beyond all this. For absolute relaxation you must remain aware. This is yoga nidra, the state of dynamic sleep. Yoga nidra is a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. The term yoga nidra is derived from two Sanskrit words, yoga meaning union or one-pointed awareness, and nidra which means sleep. During the practice of yoga nidra, one appears to be asleep, but the consciousness is functioning at a deeper level of awareness. For this reason, yoga nidra is often referred to as psychic sleep or deep relaxation with inner awareness. In this threshold state between sleep and wake­ fulness, contact with the subconscious and unconscious dimensions occurs spontaneously. In yoga nidra, the state of relaxation is reached by turning inwards, away from outer experiences. If the consciousness can be separated from external awareness and from sleep, it becomes very powerful and can be applied in many ways, for example, to develop the memory, increase knowledge and creativity, or transform one’s nature. Valeria interviews Ruthie Ayzenberg — LMFT, LPCC, PMH-C, RYT-500, she is a compassionate psychotherapist with over a decade of experience, specializing in anxiety, depression and maternal mental health. Additionally, Ruthie is a dedicated yoga student and teacher with comprehensive training in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, and Yoga Nidra. She is the creator and host of the Na’aleh Yoga Nidra Journeys for Deep Rest+ podcast, where she shares the transformative power of Yoga Nidra, a practice that has deeply impacted her own life. When Ruthie was introduced to Yoga Nidra during her very first yoga teacher training, her life changed beyond what she could have imagined. What began as a personal journey soon evolved into a passion for sharing this gently transformative practice with others by crafting culturally-sensitive journeys steeped in reverence for both the Yogic lineage and Jewish tradition, while remaining inclusive to people of all cultures. Every episode is created from the heart with mindfulness and love.  In her private practice, Mental Fitness Therapy, Ruthie offers personalized holistic healing using a handful of modalities, Yoga Nidra guidance, and group sessions, helping clients manage stress, reconnect with their inner selves, and heal from within. Ruthie has 100% trust in her clients' abilities to heal themselves when given the right conditions.  Ruthie enjoys blending yoga, psychology, and spirituality throughout daily life and practices what she preaches.  To experience the benefits of Yoga Nidra, tune into Na’aleh Yoga Nidra Journeys for Deep Rest+ or connect with Ruthie through her practice. To learn more about Ruthie Ayzenberg and her work, please visit: https://www.mentalfitnesstherapy.org/ https://naalehyoga.podbean.com