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Inspired Action Alchemy

Inspired Action Alchemy

By: Jaye McElroy & Leta Herman
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Join us on an Alchemical Transformational Journey... this podcast is for anyone interested in creating more balance in life (through the Nine Palaces), understanding your Five Element energetic natures, finding the path of greatest ease (your Wu Wei path), releasing the baggage of this lifetime (with the Ghost Points and more), or discovering ancient Alchemy (the Nine Stages of Alchemy) that can help you fly in your life... it's all about having more fun in your life and living as authentically as you can today!2026 Inspired Action Inc. Spirituality
Episodes
  • 148 - Want Is NOT a Dirty Word!

    148 - Want Is NOT a Dirty Word!
    Aug 28 2026
    In this episode, we explore the role of desire and wanting in the Alchemy journey. While some spiritual traditions teach desirelessness, Alchemy actually begins with igniting your passion and understanding what you truly want from life. This episode clarifies why wanting isn't something to transcend—it's the fuel that powers transformation. We discuss the Nine Stages of Alchemy, the concept of "un-peopling" for clarity, and why the Alchemists in the caves knew that the real work starts with ordinary human nature, not transcendent experiences. Key Themes: Desire as fuel, not the enemyWhy Alchemy doesn't ask you to kill your passionBeyond the "spiritual bypass"The Alchemist caves and retreating from distractionsBeginner's mindThe Nine Stages of Alchemy as a roadmapStage one: Is your life flowing or is it hard?Stage two: What are you guarding against?Stage three: What did you inherit?Why the fast track doesn't work (and why that's good news)The role of Wood energy in forward momentumWhat "un-peopling" means and why Alchemists needed it Free Meditation — Start Here What Do I Really Want? (20-minute guided meditation) Access: AlchemyLearningCenter.com/wantHow to use: Do this meditation 2-3 times if nothing comes up the first time. There's no pass or fail. You're just slowing down and opening to what your heart truly wants. Homework for Listeners #1: Notice How You Reach Catch yourself trying to skip aheadAre you looking for shortcuts or the fast track?Are you trying to bypass steps?No judgment—just observe #2: Name Something You're Still Guarding Against Reflect on what you're protecting againstYou might think you already dealt with it (through therapy, meditation, etc.), but notice if you're still triggeredDon't try to fix it; just admit it's thereThis observation is often the most important part of the work #3: Free Meditation What Do I Really Want? (20 minutes, guided)Give yourself permission to want whatever you actually wantIf nothing comes up the first time, do it againThere's no pass or fail—you're just slowing downAccess: AlchemyLearningCenter.com/want Resources & Links Learning Programs & Courses From Seeker to Alchemist (Self-Paced Online Program) A self-paced online program for anyone new to or deepening their alchemy practiceIncludes: Nine Stages of Alchemy, modules, and exercises you can do at home at your own paceStatus: Almost complete (launching soon)Link: AlchemyLearningCenter.com/courses/from-seeker-to-alchemist Alchemy Life Strategy Sessions 1-on-1 sessions with JayeFocus: Applying the Nine Stages to your life, building momentum, and discovering easeLearn more: AlchemyLearningCenter.com Alchemy Learning Center Full catalog of courses, workshops, and resourcesWebsite: AlchemyLearningCenter.com Books Cultivating the Thirteen Ghost Points (by Leta Herman & Jaye McElroy) Available: Soft cover edition (newly released for wider accessibility)Where to buy: Amazon and other major retailersSpecial campaign: Leave a review and receive Inspired Action Alchemy or Alchemy Learning Center swag (T-shirts, hats, mugs, including the limited edition "Gui Are People Too" tee)How to participate: Send review screenshot to leta@inspiredactionpodcast.com or jaye@inspiredactionpodcast.com Connecting Your Circle (by Leta Herman & Jaye McElroy) — FREE What it covers: How to balance all Five Elements and become flexible and fluid in any situationAccess: AlchemyLearningCenter.com/connecting-your-circleAlso available: In soft cover on Amazon Other books by Jaye McElroy & Leta Herman: Through the Mystery GateThe Energy of LoveThe Big Little Gua Sha Book Previous Episodes Referenced Episode 147: Plant Spirit Alchemy with Brittany Chowning Topics: Connecting with plant spirits, natural world wisdom, multidimensional travel, shamanic journeysWorkshop: 3-hour live workshop on using artemisia (mugwort) and plant spirits to enhance alchemical journeysPre-Order in the Alchemy Learning Center Episodes 140 & 141: Alchemy Stone Medicine with Mikhael Oskarrson Topics: Connecting with stone spirits, Alchemy Stone Medicine, natural world wisdom, multidimensional travelFREE Alchemy Stone Medicine Workshop: AlchemyLearningCenter.com Upcoming Episodes Episode 149: Rebellious Qi — What Happens When You Declare What You Want Teaser: The moment you identify what you really want, your mind builds a case against it (I can't do it, I don't have enough money/time, etc.). This is called "rebellious qi" in Chinese medicine—and it's not a metaphor, it's a real physical phenomenon you can work with. Episode 150: The Wu Wei State Teaser: A major milestone episode diving deep into Wu Wei (inspired action) and pure presence—the state Jaye and Leta work toward in their Alchemy practice. Quotes & Memorable Moments "The passion or the wanting isn't the challenge here. The passion is the fuel. It's what we do with it that gets interesting." "There is only now. That's all we have—every day of our lives, all we have is now."...
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    35 mins
  • 147 - Plant Spirit Connection: The Magic of Mugwort and Multi-Dimensional Travel

    147 - Plant Spirit Connection: The Magic of Mugwort and Multi-Dimensional Travel
    Jul 21 2026

    In this episode, Jaye and Leta are joined by acupuncturists and plant spirit practitioner Brittney Chowning for a deep dive into Alchemy Plant Spirit Connection: the magic of plant spirit, moxibustion and Alchemical treatments featuring Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort).

    Brittney shares her journey from acupuncture school into Plant Spirit Medicine, tracing her lineage back to Eliot Cowan's Plant Spirit Medicine work and her studies with practitioner Suzanne Burnell. Leta, who began studying with Eliot Cowan in 1999, connects their shared roots in the tradition. Together, the three explore what Plant Spirit Connection actually is, how indigenous traditions have long communicated directly with plant spirits, and how this practice fits within the Daoist Alchemy framework of seven dimensions.

    The conversation covers:

    • What Plant Spirit Connection means, and how it differs from conventional herbalsm
    • Multidimensional travel: drumming, meditation, and altered states as ways to access plant, stone, and spirit worlds
    • Daoist Alchemy's seven dimensions and where humans, plants, and immortals fit within them
    • Personal stories of direct communication with plant spirits, include Leta's roadside encounter with a plant that "waved her down" before a treatment
    • Why Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) is considered a uniquely generous, universally healing plant
    • How plant spirit moxibustion offers an alternative for practitioners who can't burn moxa in their clinic (due to smell sensitivies, shared office space, or building restrictions)

    Links:

    • Episode 146 (Part 2 of the Firehorse Year discussion) - the context of 2026's Firehorse Year.
    • Eliot Cowan's Plant Spirit Medicine book (the foundational text/lineage for both Leta and Brittney)

    Upcoming Workshop: Alchemy Plant Spirit Connection - The Magic of Plant Spirit Moxibustion in Alchemical Treatments, featuring Artemisia Vulgaris

    Date: Friday, July 25, 2026, Noon - 4:00 PM

    Includes: Journey work, meditation, drumming, a guided meeting with the spirit of Artemisia Vulgaris, and practical guidance on incorporating more Plant Spirit Connection into clinical practice

    Promo code for listeners: Moxa99

    Register / replay after July 25: AlchemyLearningCenter.com
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    32 mins
  • 146 - Double Fire, Double Intensity, Double Fun: Navigating the Fire Horse Year (2026) Through the Five Elements

    146 - Double Fire, Double Intensity, Double Fun: Navigating the Fire Horse Year (2026) Through the Five Elements
    Jul 13 2026

    The Fire Horse is at a full gallop as we are halfway through 2026. The question is: are you enjoying the ride, or letting go of the reins?

    The Fire Horse year in the Chinese calendar is associated with Double Fire... that's a lot of Fire even for the people who have a Fire Element energetic stack-up. It's no wonder things have felt fast, intense, and sometimes overwhelming. In episode 146, Jaye and Leta break down what the Fire Horse year actually means energetically, why the same year can feel like a gift to one person and an assault to another, and how your Five Element nature shapes your personal experience of it.

    Leta explains how each Element is likely to experience this year, from Fire people running hot at the starting gate to Earth people being quietly nourished, Wood people feeling pulled in every direction, Water people finding unexpected steadiness, and Metal people being asked to yield to something bigger than themselves. Then Jaye and Leta get into the method they use to help ease the overwhelm of the Fire Horse year: the Daoist concept of Xuan Fu, the mysterious openings throughout the body that determine whether Cosmic Qi flows freely through you or whether you're running on your own limited reserves.

    Plus an update on the newly launched 2026 Summer Alchemy Lab Workshop Series, a preview of the upcoming Alchemy Plant Spirit Connection workshop featuring Artemisia Vulgaris with Brittney Chowning on July 25th, and a tease for next episode's interview all about multidimensional healing with plant spirit connection. What is multidimensional healing? Join us next time to find out!

    Summary of this episode:

    • What makes 2026 a Fire Horse year, and why that combination amplifies everything Fire represents, including joy, passion, and forward momentum.

    • The difference between controlling your outer world and creating from your inner center, and why the heart is called the supreme controller in Chinese medicine.

    • How each of the Five Elements, Fire, Earth, Wood, Water, and Metal, is likely to experience the Fire Horse year differently.

    • The Daoist concept of Xuan Fu, the body's energetic openings, and how closed doors leave you running on your own reserves while open doors connect you to Da Qi, or unlimited Cosmic Qi.

    • Why the free Open Your Doors Meditation can support you through this year's energy.

    Links:

    Alchemy Learning Center: https://alchemylearningcenter.com

    Open Your Doors Meditation (free): available inside Your First Alchemical Meditations

    Alchemy Plant Spirit Connection Workshop, July 25th, 12:00–4:00 PM ET

    Alchemy Healing Center: https://alchemyhealingcenter.com

    Inspired Action Alchemy Facebook Group

    Instagram: @inspiredaction

    Email us your questions or suggestions: leta@inspiredactionpodcast.com and jaye@inspiredactionpodcast.com
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    27 mins
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