Would you ever keep a photo of a loved one taken after they died? Or wear a bracelet made from their hair?

In this episode of Spirit Speakeasy, we’re exploring some of the most haunting—and surprisingly heartfelt—mourning practices from the past.

From Victorian post-mortem photography and death masks, to hair jewelry and family hair wreaths displayed in living rooms, these tangible tokens of grief may seem strange by today’s standards… but they once carried deep spiritual, emotional, and cultural meaning.

💀 You’ll learn about:
— Why photographing the dead was once considered an act of love
— How human hair became a powerful symbol of remembrance
— What death masks revealed (and preserved)
— The oddly beautiful tradition of hanging woven hair art in the home
— How these forgotten practices might help us better understand grief today

✨ Whether you find them creepy, beautiful, or both… these keepsakes remind us that grief has always found a way to take shape.

Show Notes:

Select Sources & Further Reading

Photography:
• The Burns Archive – Historical post-mortem photography
https://www.burnsarchive.com

Mourning Jewelry & Hair Art:
• Relics of Death in Victorian Literature and Culture – Deborah Lutz
• V&A Museum – Mourning Jewelry Collection
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/mourning-jewellery
• National Museum of Funeral History
https://www.nmfh.org
• Strange Remains – “The Hairy Art of Victorian Mourning Jewelry”
https://www.strangeremains.com/?p=1016

Death Masks:
• Britannica – “Death mask”
https://www.britannica.com/art/death-mask
• Atlas Obscura – “Why Death Masks Were Once All the Rage”
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/death-masks

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We’re officially halfway through this powerful 9 Universal Year—so what does that mean for your soul, your energy, and your next steps?

In this mid-year check-in, I’m sharing 5 soulful, intuitive questions to help you reflect on what’s shifting within you, what’s asking to be released, and how to prepare for what’s quietly unfolding.

Whether you’ve been actively working with the energy of this 9 year or just sensing big internal shifts, this episode will help you:

✅ Recognize subtle forms of resistance (and what they’re trying to teach you)
✅ Gently acknowledge hidden grief or emotional closure you may still need
✅ Identify energetic, emotional, or physical clutter blocking your clarity
✅ Retire outdated roles or identities you’ve outgrown
✅ Begin laying the spiritual groundwork for your next aligned chapter

💡 This isn’t about rushing toward the next thing. It’s about honoring what’s ready to shift—and consciously aligning with what truly matters.

So whether you’re journaling, walking, folding laundry, or simply taking a breath… let these questions walk with you through the rest of your summer.

Mentioned Episode:
🎧 9 Themes of a 9 Year (2025) →

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2084888/episodes/16312287

Video: https://www.joyfulmedium.com/blog/9-Themes-2025

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What’s it really like to live your life as a working medium? In this soulful and unscripted episode, I sit down with my dear friend and gifted colleague, Michelle Simmonds, for a soulful conversation on the real, raw, and often unseen sides of mediumship, from the inside out.

Michelle and I go way back in our spiritual journeys, and in this honest exchange, we pull back the curtain on:

✅ What it feels like to connect with spirit—emotionally, energetically, and physically
✅ The personal challenges, integrity checks, and growth edges that come with this work
✅ How our mediumship evolved over time, and what surprised us most
✅ Why our friendship has been a lifeline in the spiritual trenches
✅ The quiet beauty, power, and responsibility of this sacred calling

There’s no script, no polish—just two mediums sharing from the heart about our experiences with spirit and the transformational lessons that continue to shape us.

Whether you're an intuitive, a fellow practitioner, or just curious about what it means to walk between two worlds, this episode is a peek behind the veil you won’t want to miss.

Show Notes:

Michelle Simmonds’ Bio:

Michelle Simmonds is a spiritual life and business coach, intuitive medium, and the founder of Michelle Simmonds Coaching. She helps purpose-driven women awaken their inner power, align with their soul’s truth, and create lives filled with confidence, abundance, and meaning.

As an evidential medium, Michelle also works closely with those who are grieving, offering comfort, healing, and connection through messages from loved ones in spirit.

Her compassionate approach brings peace to clients by providing clear and validating evidence that their loved ones are still near.

With well over a decade of psychic mediumship and coaching experience, Michelle blends spiritual connection, mindset support, and soulful guidance to help her clients move forward feeling supported, seen, and spiritually empowered.

Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.michellesimmonds.com
Instagram (Coaching): @michellesimmondscoaching
Instagram (Spiritual Medium): @michellespiritualmedium

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In this heartfelt and awe-inspiring episode of Spirit Speakeasy, I’m sharing my own childhood experience of being rescued by what I now believe was an angel in human form—plus four other real-life stories that will open your heart and expand your view of what's possible.

🤍Whether you believe in angels, spirit guides, or divine interventions through human vessels, these stories remind us that we are never truly alone.

✨ In this episode, you’ll hear:
• My personal story of being rescued in a snowstorm at age 7
• A hospital nurse’s unforgettable second encounter with the same angel
• A soulful train conversation with “Angelo Fortunato”—the “lucky angel”
• A mysterious voice that saved a child’s life at a backyard party
• And a quiet, unexplained nudge that prevented a house fire

🤍 If you’ve ever wondered whether angels walk among us—or if you’ve had a moment you still can’t explain—this episode will speak to something deep within you.

🤍These aren’t just miracle stories—they’re soul stories. Quiet reminders that love, help, and grace can appear when we need them most.

Show notes:

Story: The angel in the hospital (share via Guideposts)

https://guideposts.org/angels-and-miracles/angels/the-angel-in-the-hospital/

Story: Angel on the Train (via personal account)

https://mihaelaida.com/2017/10/02/the-angel-from-the-train/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Story: Angel in the Blinds

https://www.catholicexorcism.org/angel-stories?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Story: A Voice That Saved a Child

https://jenelizabethsjournals.com/2025/02/21/true-angel-story-a-voice-that-saved-a-child/

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Don’t step into the second half of 2025 unprepared! In this powerful follow-up episode, astrologer Sheetal Story returns to Spirit Speakeasy to reveal the major astrology themes and transits coming your way from June through December 2025. Sheetal shares practical tips and cosmic context to help you prepare, plan, and stay aligned through the energetic twists and turns of the second half of the year.

Whether you're curious about big shifts, seeking guidance for planning ahead, or wondering how planetary movements might affect your personal journey, this episode is packed with insight and intuitive wisdom.

This is your roadmap to navigate the rest of the year with clarity and intention!

💫 You’ll learn:

• The deeper message of the second half of 2025
• How it the upcoming energies impact your personal growth
• The best times to focus on love, money, and communication goals
• A heads up for how to best get active BEFORE November and why!
• How to work with the final Mercury Retrograde of the year (and why it's not what you think!)
• What the November/December energy might be inviting you to release or finally move forward with
• How to set yourself up for 2026 in the best ways!

🪐 Grab your calendar—this is one you’ll want to take notes on!

Show Notes:

Bio:

Sheetal Story is a Psychic Medium, Spiritual Grief Support Counselor, and Professional Astrologer with a Master’s in Coaching and a Business Degree from the University of Alberta.

She empowers women—from entrepreneurs and professionals to stay-at-home moms—to break through blocks, trust their intuition, and uplevel to the next stage of their lives.

Specializing in navigating grief and life transitions, Sheetal combines spiritual insight with grounded expertise to help her clients transform challenges into opportunities for growth, alignment, and joy-filled success.

Connect with Sheetal:

Website: www.SheetalStory.com

Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/StoryofSpirit/

Instagram: http://Instagram.com/sheetalstory

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCsKJg8srvX70HMYpyQMJnw

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/sheetal-story-72871421

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLhcFFmC/

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Feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or emotionally heavy lately? You're not alone—and you're not imaging it. In this powerful episode of Spirit Speakeasy, we’re diving into 7 soul-aligned, grounding truths to help you stay regulated, centered, and spiritually connected during chaotic times.

Whether you're absorbing collective grief, reeling from world events, or just feeling energetically “off,” this conversation offers deep reassurance and real spiritual tools—not just surface-level tips. These truths are designed to bring you back to yourself and help you reconnect with your inner wisdom in practical ways, even when everything around you feels uncertain.

🌀 You’ll learn:

• Why your nervous system is sacred space—and how to honor it
• How to recognize and release energy that isn’t yours
• The surprising power of micro-actions when the world feels too big
• How to connect with your spiritual support team (even when you feel disconnected)
• Why stillness isn’t escapism—it’s strategy
• The truth about spiritual bypassing in emotional times
• How your frequency really is a force of light

✨ Plus: A gentle reminder that even in the midst of heaviness, your alignment matters more than ever. Your presence is medicine.

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Want to set better boundaries without guilt—or burnout? Meet Suzanne Culberg, aka The Nope Coach, who helps over-givers finally say no with love, clarity, and self-respect.

In this powerful and refreshingly real conversation, Suzanne joins Joy to explore why so many sensitive souls struggle with boundaries, especially in relationships, parenting, and even gift-giving. You’ll hear practical ways to reclaim your energy, why people-pleasing doesn't serve your soul, and how to shift from reactive to empowered responses—without being rude or cold.

Whether you're an empath, intuitive, or just someone who feels stretched too thin, this episode will help you finally start honoring your needs and set limits that feel good on a soul level.

🔑 You’ll Learn:
• Why boundary-setting is not selfish (and what it actually creates space for)
• How to say “no” clearly—and kindly
• The subtle difference between asserting a boundary and being perceived as rude
• Ways to model healthy boundaries with children, friends, and partners
• How to reset your people-pleasing habits without guilt

Show Notes:

Bio: Suzanne Culberg is ‘The Nope Coach’ who helps over-givers and people pleasers learn to set boundaries and say 'No' without feeling like a b!+ch

Suzanne is known for being direct AF and for her wacky t-shirts. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and 2 awesome children.

Her book: The Beginning is Sh*t -BY SUZANNE CULBERG

Connect with Suzanne:

https://www.suzanneculberg.com/newsletter

My e-mails rock! 🎸🎶

And they’re how you access unique content, offers and fun!

https://www.suzanneculberg.com

https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_culberg

https://www.youtube.com/@suzanneculberg

https://www.facebook.com/suzanneculberg

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Ever wonder what your soul has experienced before this lifetime—or what unseen influences are shaping your path right now? In this episode, you’ll learn what the Akashic Records are really all about—and how you can begin to access this powerful, energetic archive of your soul’s journey.

We’ll explore what the Akashic Records can reveal about your past lives, soul contracts, repeating patterns, and even the next aligned steps on your current path.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What the Akashic Records actually are (and what they’re not)
• What the Akashic Records can teach you about your "life purpose"
• What kinds of questions you can (and should) ask when accessing them
• My personal experience with Akashic healing and how it helped shift old emotional patterns
• Common myths and misunderstandings about who can access the Records
• The difference between past life readings and Akashic guidance
• Practical ways this information can help you heal, grow, and align in daily life

If you’ve ever been curious about reincarnation, soul-level guidance, or why certain patterns keep showing up—this conversation will give you insight, tools, and inspiration.

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