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We're living through unprecedented technological acceleration, where AI threatens jobs, privacy vanishes, and digital distractions fragment our attention. Yet amid this shifting terrain, our internal compass remains our most reliable guide—if we know how to calibrate it.

Drawing from decades of practice, I share my personal approach to maintaining centered awareness in chaotic times. While quick morning routines have their place, the transformative power comes from being a bit more.

Many resist longer practices, finding endless excuses to avoid confronting themselves. But that resistance precisely highlights why extended sessions matter—they break through barriers smaller practices cannot touch.

The guided 20-minute meditation included offers a starting point, focusing on breath awareness and simple mantras. Remember that thoughts will arise—meditation isn't about stopping thoughts (a myth) but developing awareness of when you've drifted. Picture thoughts as soft rags bouncing harmlessly off you rather than obstacles to overcome.

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Have you ever noticed how a simple scent can instantly transport you back to a specific moment in your past? That's because the part of our brain that processes smell is directly linked with memory centers – making aromatherapy not just pleasant, but potentially transformative.

As we celebrate five years of Awakened Conscious Conversations, today's episode explores the often-overlooked power of scent as a pathway to healing and nurturing ourselves. I share personal discoveries about how simple aromas like fresh lime in warm water or the eucalyptus leaves from my garden have become powerful tools in my daily well-being practice. We dive into the psychology behind different scent categories – why zesty, uplifting scents boost concentration while earthy, grounding aromas prepare us for restful sleep.

Whether you're struggling with creative blocks, seeking deeper relaxation, or simply wanting to enhance your daily experience, this exploration of aromatherapy offers gentle yet effective tools to support your journey. What scent will you bring into your world today? Listen, explore, and discover how this neglected sense might become your most powerful ally in creating moments of presence and joy.

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A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.

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Nature offers wisdom on how to live with balance if we open ourselves to its lessons. This episode explores seasonal transitions, moon cycles, and our relationship with Mother Earth as pathways to personal growth and connection.

• Finding metaphors for balanced living in nature, like robins who are friendly yet maintain boundaries
• Embracing the gifts of each season whether entering summer's abundance or winter's restorative slowness
• Using the new moon in Gemini as an opportunity to see from multiple perspectives
• Recognizing Mother Nature's unconditional love despite humanity's harmful behaviors
• Creating havens for wildlife even in urban environments
• Taking mindful steps toward change through forest meditation
• Finding extraordinary meaning in ordinary moments
• Accepting that growth often requires stepping into temporary discomfort

If you would like an online healing session, please reach out through our website.

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A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.

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What would Jesus ask us today if he returned to a world divided by hatred, judgment, and religious dogma? Regina B. Cates, author of "The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us to Have: A Call to Bravery, Peace, and Love," joins the Gentle Yoga Warrior to explore this profound question through her personal journey from religious persecution to spiritual awakening.

Regina shares her experience growing up gay in a fundamentalist Christian environment in the American South during the 1960s—a background that led her to question religious teachings while maintaining deep respect for Christ's essential message of love. Now describing herself as a "fan of Christ" rather than Christian, Regina offers a perspective that transcends religious boundaries to focus on universal principles of compassion, inclusion, and integrity.

The conversation delves into why we must confront uncomfortable beliefs, heal through feeling our emotions fully, and recognize that "love has excellent vision" rather than being blind. Regina challenges listeners to consider how religious institutions have promoted the idea that humans are inherently sinful or worthless—creating psychological wounds that make it difficult to love ourselves or others authentically.

Perhaps most provocatively, Regina questions why many Christians passively wait for Jesus to return and "save" the world, rather than actively creating the heaven on earth his teachings promote. This perspective shifts responsibility back to humanity—challenging us to become our own saviors by overcoming personal wounds, treating others with dignity, and being stewards of our planet.

Though her book centers on Jesus, Regina emphasizes that her work speaks to universal principles that transcend specific religious identities. One reviewer even called it "a blueprint to repair humanity," addressing fundamental issues like women's rights, environmental stewardship, economic justice, and treating each person with dignity regardless of differences.

Join this transformative conversation about what it truly means to embody love in action. Whether you consider yourself religious, spiritual-but-not-religious, or none of the above, this episode offers wisdom for anyone seeking to create more compassion in their life and in our world.

Regina's contact details:https://www.reginavcates.com

Regina's book can be find on Amazon and also in most book stores.

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A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.

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I got up early to celebrate Beltane, an ancient Celtic festival marking the start of summer that survived Roman invasion and is widely celebrated in my town. The ancient rhythms of Beltane pulse through my town as dawn breaks on this first day of May. Rising before sunrise, I witness the gathering crowds, distant music, and even a magnificent dragon air balloon soaring overhead as celebrants honor this Celtic festival that marks the symbolic start of summer.

Beltane isn't some New Age invention but a deep-rooted tradition that survived Roman occupation and continues to thrive today. The rituals unfold with women digging holes for the maypole, which men erect before community dances weave ribbons in celebration of life and fertility. Throughout town, faces painted green and adorned with elaborate masks embody the Green Man, while dragon celebrations add mythical dimensions to the festivities that will continue all weekend.

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A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.

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Have you ever questioned whether your self-worth is tied to your bank account? Financial struggles can make manifesting our dreams seem impossible, yet prosperity and abundance stem from somewhere deeper than our wallets.

The gentle yoga warrior offers a refreshing perspective: true abundance comes from within. Rather than mourning what we lack, we can shift our focus to experiencing richness through simple pleasures – the warmth of sunlight, birdsong, time with loved ones, or even rediscovering forgotten resources in our pantry. These moments of genuine connection create the emotional foundation needed for authentic manifestation.

A beautiful guided meditation invites us to float on "pink waters of possibility," collecting symbols that represent our journey toward our soul's purpose.

When external circumstances feel overwhelming, remember that you always retain control over your internal landscape. By cultivating feelings of abundance regardless of financial reality, you create the energetic conditions for manifesting what truly matters. Listen now to discover how to build your personal "satchel of hope" and transform your relationship with prosperity, one small step at a time.

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The concept of manifestation has become so commercialised that many of us have grown skeptical of vision boards and their promises. As the Gentle Yoga Warrior, I've experienced this jadedness myself until a dear friend reminded me of their true potential when approached with authenticity and purpose.

True manifestation isn't about luxury cars or designer clothes—it's about creating a visual representation of how you want to feel and the life you want to create daily. This episode explores how shifting focus from material desires to emotional and spiritual needs gives vision boards genuine substance and transformative power.

April brings particularly challenging energy, with negative mirroring between people and the world sometimes leading us down hopeless rabbit holes. During such times, our manifestation practice becomes even more crucial. By examining our emotions—catching them before they sweep us away—we can question whether our reactions reflect reality or learned behaviors. This emotional awareness helps "clean our lens," allowing us to see more clearly what we truly want to manifest. The episode concludes with a guided meditation to help you begin creating your own heart-centered vision board, focusing on what will genuinely help you grow while lovingly accepting yourself as you are.

Ready to transform your approach to manifestation? Listen now, and join us next week as we continue building our vision boards with practical exercises to bring your deepest desires into reality.

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A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.

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Angela Williams Gorrell is a speaker, consultant, and an ordained minister in the Mennonite Church USA with over fourteen years of ministry experience. She has taught at schools including Yale University, Baylor University, and Fuller Seminary. Her research has been highlighted by the New York Times, NPR, and the Washington Post among others. Her publications include Always On: Practicing Faith in a New Media Landscape and The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found.

Angela William Gorell shares her framework for navigating life's difficult decisions through practical and spiritual guidance. Drawing from her own experiences of deciding whether to pursue tenure and whether to stay in her marriage, she offers wisdom on finding clarity when facing life's crossroads.From the Author My goal is not that you reach the same decisions as me or the other people featured in this book, but that you learn how to take your own journey into and through difficult decisions.

• Braving Difficult Decisions combines practical guidance with spiritual wisdom
• The decision-making journey integrates historical wisdom, real-life stories, and proven practices
• Surrender is not giving up but a process of purifying our intentions and accepting reality
• Physical practices like open-palm meditation can help embody the practice of surrender
• We often choose between familiar pain and unfamiliar pain when making difficult decisions
• Working through grief requires naming our experience, questioning, and imagining transformation
• All difficult decisions are made with humility - we never have complete information
• Your story is important and can always be edited, regardless of past choices

You can find Angela Gorell at www.angelagorrell.com or on social media @angelagorell.

Her book "Braving Difficult Decisions" is available in hardback, Kindle, and Audible formats worldwide.

Support the show

A note for every episode: we do not necessary agree with all the views on our podcast and leave listeners to make their own mind up with what they do or don't agree with.

For a Shamanic healing session with our host
Want to be a guest on the show or want to book great guests?