Ep. 158 Into the Unknown: Using Frozen 2 to Talk About Grief

In this episode I share how to use the Disney film Frozen 2--which I've been watching on repeat with my 3 year old granddaughter--as a catalyst for conversations about loss and grief. Here are some tips for using the film and a discussion guide you can download for your own family movie night. This episode include:Frozen 2's backstory of griefElsa's Hero's Journey in the film and what we learn from itAnna's journey through overwhelming grief and how to talk about itTeaching moments for familiesHow to talk with children after the movieGet the discussion guide hereLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I share how my own grieving process was helped by experiencing the visible evidence of mourning I encountered when traveling through Italy (as written in Wild and Holy). This episode includes:How grief is visible in Italy but repressed and hidden here in the USThe cost of repressed grief to our emotions and physical bodyHow shared grief can be healingThe connectedness we can experience through grief is needed in our society to heal our divisionsHow to make our own grief more visibleHow to help others share their grief more comfortablyPlease check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In today's brief episode I share some thoughts about how my travels through Italy revealed to me that grief is a powerful source of creativity if we face it directly. This episode highlights the poetry of Andrea Gibson, whose journey through cancer sparked luminous creativity in the midst of grief. This episode includes:How grief breaks us open to allow creativity to emergeGrief becomes fertile ground for creative ideas to flourishHow grief can become a medicine, as described in Andrea Gibson's poetryGrief as a transformational fire that burns away what doesn't matterHow grief ultimately connects us will all humanity and creativity can create a ripple effect of hope and innovationPlease check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this special episode I’m sharing with you the Introduction to my new book Wild and Holy! I hope you enjoy listening to this brief excerpt and that you’ll consider backing the Kickstarter campaign where you can receive many wonderful bonuses for your support. Wild and Holy has been named a “Project We Love” by Kickstarter, which is an amazing honor I’m happy to receive. Check it out and reserve your copy – available now only through Kickstarter!Go to this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2136452733/wild-and-holyThanks in advance if you choose to support the campaign!

Today I'm sharing a personal practice I've used to clear my own energy field when I'm faced with tense and challenging relationships. With all the polarization and hatred present in our society right now we need tools like this to help us find peace and reconciliation wherever possible. This episode includes:The sacred Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponoponoHow taking responsibility for our own energy and issues can help us find healing in our relationships, even remotelyThe power of asking What if it's all me?Why we need to challenge the ego to let go of its attachment to being right (which makes everyone else wrong)Please check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I share my experience of having grief return to me in a sudden, unexpected wave like a long-dormant volcano erupting. This event is the subject of my new book Wild and Holy, which is launching on Kickstarter this week. This episode includes:What is the second wave of grief and why does it happenHow hidden grief may return when we are strong enough to navigate itHow grief and guilt can be stored in the physical body and somatic therapies may be neededHow society exerts pressure to move on from grief and adds to shame and guilt over prolonge or recurrent griefHow to navigate your own second wave of griefSign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter pageLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I will share my own personal journey of healing for the heart condition I was unexpectedly diagnosed with last year. This story has a rather miraculous conclusion so listen to the end! This episode includes:How I began a healing journey for body, mind, and spirit after learning that my heart condition was quite seriousHow I created a "Heart Journal" and used journaling practices to explore my own ShadowWhy I renamed my own heart conditionHow I was led to start focusing on griefWhat inspired the writing of the book Wild and HolySign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter prelaunch pageLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

This episode is Part 3 of a mini-series on From Ego-Driven to Soul-Led: A Journey of Integration. In Part 1 we focused on the ego and Part 2 centered around the Soul, or Higher Consciousness. Today we cover the "dance" that occurs between the ego and the Soul as we gradually learn to hand control over to our higher selves. This episode includes:The Dance of Life - an excerpt from The Journey from Ego to SoulHow growth in consciousness occurs gradually as we fact the Shadow issues of the egoHow triggers arise from wounded egoHow to reflect on what triggers us - at first after we react negativelyThe goal of pausing to listen to higher wisdom and reflect before we reactSign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter prelaunch pageLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack post

This is part 2 of the mini-series on From Ego-Driven to Soul-Led: A Journey of Integration. Today we are talking about the Soul (or Higher Self) and how we can learn to live more fully by the light of the soul after we transcend the ego. This episode includes:What is the Soul (or Higher Consciousness) and what does it doHow the ego learns to loosen control in order to be guided by the SoulWhy this process is often catalyzed by grief, loss, illness, or other adversityHow spiritual practice can help us hear and follow the guidance of the SoulWhy this journey requires patienceGet the handout for Soul Supporters on PatreonLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack post

This is the first episode in a mini-series on Integrating the Ego and Soul. We begin with a primer on the ego to help us recognize our own ego, how it behaves, and when it might trip us up. This episdoe includes:How the ego develops in childhoodWhat role the ego playsWhy the ego's main tool is fearWhy we need the ego to function in the worldHow "spiritual ego" may trick us into believing we are more enlightened than we really areGet the handout for Soul Supporters on PatreonLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack post