We explore the profound truth that we are spiritual beings having a spiritual experience in human bodies, and how fully understanding this concept unlocks radical acceptance and forgiveness. This episode unpacks how to hold the paradox between human pain and divine purpose.

• Bad things happen to good people, and even devoted spiritual seekers struggle with acceptance and forgiveness
• The spiritual path isn't about avoiding mistakes but learning to accept our fallibility while striving to improve
• Every one of us is the villain in someone else's story at some point
• We live in two worlds simultaneously: the world of divine truth and the world of humanity
• Life isn't random but provides opportunities for spiritual growth through relationships
• On a human level, no one asks for suffering or pain, and suggesting otherwise is spiritual bypassing
• To transform energies like victimhood, fear or hate, we must first fully experience them
• The integration of human and divine perspectives is a process that requires patience and self-compassion

If you learned something or enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it or leave a review and make sure you're following so you won't miss Friday's episode about my other favorite questions to ask myself when I get stuck or I'm having a tough time.

Related Episodes:

Episode 5 - Journaling

Recommended Reading:

Your Soul's Plan: Discovering the Real Meaning of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born by Robert Schwartz

Radical Forgiveness: A Revolutionary Five-Stage Process to: Heal Relationships, Let Go of Anger and Blame, and Find Peace in Any Situation Paperback by Colin Tipping

Questions or Comments? Message me!

The seventh chakra, located just above the crown of the head, represents our connection to spiritual insight, wisdom, and higher consciousness, governing our right to know and seek both intellectual knowledge and spiritual truth.

• Sahasrara (thousand-fold) is commonly associated with violet or white light and represents transcendence beyond the material world
• Opening the crown chakra means surrendering attachments, rigid belief systems, and the need to control
• Our early experiences with authority figures deeply influence our ability to trust and surrender to something greater
• Consciousness is both our final destination and means of travel—the unified field in which all existence is embedded
• Attachment becomes a major obstacle at the crown chakra level because it prevents us from opening, expanding, and transcending
• Spiritual addiction occurs when we use spirituality to escape the more demanding work of the lower chakras
• Meditation creates space to expand awareness beyond identity, preference, and time
• Finding balance means honoring both our divine nature and human experience without judgment

If you learned something from this episode, please consider sharing it or leaving a review, and make sure you're following the show so you'll be notified when new episodes drop later this week. For questions or thoughts, click the message me button on Spotify or email rootsofarise@gmail.com.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 7 - Heart Based Meditation

Episode 64 - Breaking Free from BS: How Your Belief Systems Keep You Stuck & What to Do About It

Further Resources for Chakra Exploration

Episode 63 - the Sixth Chakra: Seeing Yourself and the World with Clear Vision

Episode 60 - The Fifth Chakra: Unlocking Authentic Communication and Self-Expression

Episode 57 - Fourth Chakra Introduction

Episode 52 - Third Chakra Introduction

Episode 47 - Second Chakra Introduction

Episode 44 - First Chakra Introduction

Episode 43 - Introduction to the Chakras

The Chakras by C. W. Leadbeater

Eastern Body Western Mind by Anodea Judith

Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith PhD

Questions or Comments? Message me!

Intuition is not a mystical gift for the chosen few but a natural skill available to all of us. We explore what intuition really is, how it manifests, and practical ways to reclaim this powerful inner resource.

• Intuition is unconscious pattern recognition—our subconscious picking up on information our conscious mind can't process
• Fundamentally passive, intuition responds to presence and receptivity, not force or willpower
• Meditation creates the settled mind necessary for intuitive awareness to emerge
• Doubt blocks intuition by activating the analytical mind and drowning out subtle knowing
• Common manifestations include nagging feelings, clarity, bodily sensations, and symbolic images
• Intuitive messages typically arrive as brief phrases or symbols rather than lengthy explanations
• Acting on intuition strengthens it, while ignoring it weakens the connection
• Start with non-emotionally charged questions about simple choices
• Ask "what serves my highest good?" rather than "what should I do?"
• Remember that intuition provides data points for decisions but doesn't control them

If this episode sparked your interest in developing your intuition or answered questions you've had, please share it with a friend. For questions or to share your intuition experiences, message me on Spotify or email rootsoftherise@gmail.com.

Related episodes:

Episode 7 - Heart Based Meditation

Questions or Comments? Message me!

We dive into the power of illusion, especially the self-created kind that keeps us stuck in patterns of suffering when reality doesn't match our expectations. Our BS (belief systems) create self-reinforcing cycles where confirmation bias selectively gathers evidence to support what we already believe, shutting down our natural curiosity and critical thinking.

• Most of our limiting beliefs aren't original – they were modeled, inherited, or absorbed before we could evaluate them
• Illusions persist because they protect us from uncertainty, form part of our identity, and represent loyalty to family patterns
• Confirmation bias filters reality to match existing beliefs, making us interpret everything through our established worldview
• We often unconsciously sabotage ourselves to prove our negative beliefs true
• Breaking free requires replacing illusion with vision – not escaping reality but transforming it
• The word "yet" is powerful in keeping possibility alive: "I haven't found fulfilling work – yet"
• Questions that help unravel illusions include: What might I be getting wrong? What belief shapes my reality? What assumptions have I never questioned?

Email me at rootsoftherise@gmail.com with your thoughts or use the message button on Spotify. If you found value in today's conversation, please share it with a friend or leave a review.

Related Episode: Episode 6 - Curiosity Required

Book: Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life; The Revolutionary Process Called "The Work" by Byron Katie

Questions or Comments? Message me!

We explore the sixth chakra, or third eye, in this episode focused on perception, intuition, and our ability to see the truth of our lives clearly. This energy center governs our inner vision and houses our right to see —its demon is illusion, which keeps us from perceiving reality accurately.

• The sixth chakra (Ajna) is located in the center of the forehead, though more accurately in the third ventricle of the brain
• Associated with the color indigo, it represents perception and the ability to command our attention
• Perception is not passive but an act of creation—what we focus on shapes our reality
• This chakra begins developing in adolescence when we start asking "who am I?" and "who do I want to become?"
• Trauma impacts the sixth chakra through repression (putting on blinders) or dissociation (disconnecting emotions from images)
• Being told our perceptions aren't real as children causes us to doubt our intuition later in life
• Signs of sixth chakra imbalance include difficulty visualizing, denial, rigid thinking, and inability to hold multiple perspectives
• Healing practices include meditation, third eye bodywork with oils (like shirodhara), developing intuition, and creating visual art
• Try drawing your chakras as a visual journaling exercise to connect with your intuition

Join us Wednesday and Friday for follow-up episodes focused specifically on illusion and intuition.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 55 - Breaking the Silence: How Shame Holds Us Back and How to Heal

Book: The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling by Stephen Cope

Further Resources for Chakra Exploration

Episode 60 - The Fifth Chakra: Unlocking Authentic Communication and Self-Expression

Episode 57 - Fourth Chakra Introduction

Episode 52 - Third Chakra Introduction

Episode 47 - Second Chakra Introduction

Episode 44 - First Chakra Introduction

Episode 43 - Introduction to the Chakras

The Chakras by C. W. Leadbeater

Eastern Body Western Mind by Anodea Judith

Wheels of Life b

Questions or Comments? Message me!

Speaking honestly and openly is essential, but it's equally important to learn how to speak your truth well—saying what you mean without being mean.

• The way we express our truth matters as much as the content itself
• Words spoken in anger leave lasting marks, like nails hammered into a fence
• We often confuse our assumptions for truth and react without complete information
• Female friendships require symmetry, support, and secrecy/trust to thrive
• Speaking your truth doesn't excuse hurtful behavior or absolve you from growth
• Truth should serve as a bridge for connection, not a weapon for defense

If this episode resonated, please share it with a friend or take a moment to leave a review. You can also reach out with questions or comments by clicking the message button on Spotify or emailing rootsoftherise@gmail.com.

Great Podcast on Friendship: Mel Robbins podcast with Danielle Bayard Jackson

Related Episodes:

Episode 5 - Journaling

Episode 22 - Non Violent Communication Basics

Questions or Comments? Message me!

We explore the damaging impact of dishonesty on our authentic selves and how reclaiming truthfulness can lead to deeper connections and self-acceptance.

• Lies erode authenticity and disconnect us from our inner truth over time
• Many people lie to avoid conflict, escape consequences, or protect a self-image
• Dishonesty creates internal dissonance and emotional weight, even when unconscious
• The truth almost always surfaces eventually, causing more damage than initial honesty would have
• Finding courage to speak your truth requires deep self-love and willingness to be seen
• Small steps toward honesty build momentum for authentic living

Today's prompt: Identify one area where you're not telling the full truth and ask yourself what truth wants to be spoken here. Consider how it might feel to release the weight of that lie.

Questions or Comments? Message me!

We explore the fifth chakra, our center of communication, and how it governs our ability to express ourselves clearly and truthfully. Located at the throat, this energy center (Visuddha in Sanskrit) represents purification and acts as a bridge between body and mind.

• The throat chakra is associated with the color blue and governs communication, conscious creativity, and our right to speak/hear truth
• When balanced, communication flows with clarity and ease, allowing both authentic expression and deep listening
• Imbalances appear as fear of speaking up, excessive talking, poor listening skills, or gossiping
• This chakra develops primarily between ages 7-12 when we begin to seek recognition for our expression
• Major blocks include shame, fear for safety, family secrets, mixed messages, and disconnection from our authentic self
• Healing practices include emotional processing, clear communication skills, active listening, toning/singing, breathwork, journaling, and meditation

Take time to reflect on what truths you've been holding back. Try speaking them aloud, even if just to yourself, and notice what happens in your body. If you'd like to share your experience or have questions, click the message me button on Spotify or email me at rootsoftherise@gmail.com.

Check out Postsecret

Further Resources for Chakra Exploration

Episode 57 - Fourth Chakra Introduction

Episode 52 - Third Chakra Introduction

Episode 47 - Second Chakra Introduction

Episode 44 - First Chakra Introduction

Episode 43 - Introduction to the Chakras

The Chakras by C. W. Leadbeater

Eastern Body Western Mind by Anodea Judith

Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith PhD

Questions or Comments? Message me!