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

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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

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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

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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!

Explore how the transformative power of love offers a path to healing from mental, emotional, and spiritual pain when we rediscover it within ourselves.

• True love is not casual or throwaway but a divine expression in action that is always present and accessible
• Love manifests through various facets: acceptance, invincibility, authenticity, presence, gratitude, joy, forgiveness, and compassion
• Acceptance allows what is to be without judgment, recognizing there's a deeper order to life
• Invincibility comes from surviving everything life has brought, creating unshakable security
• Alignment between inner self and outer life provides inner guidance and intuition
• Presence reminds us that peace, joy and love can only be felt in this moment
• Gratitude is the key to wealth and attraction, opening the door to generosity
• Joy dissolves the illusion that fulfillment comes from outside ourselves
• Forgiveness reclaims our power and releases judgment
• The walls we build around our hearts initially protect us but ultimately imprison us
• Healing begins by honoring our protective mechanisms before gently opening our hearts

Resources

Awakening the Heart: Discover Your True Capacity for Joy, Inner Peace and Boundless Love by Paul Dugliss M.D.

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As Jamie Anderson says, “Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”

Grief comes in many forms beyond death, including change, loss, and unmet hopes, and can either harden us or become a quiet teacher when met with compassion.

• When denied, grief makes us numb not only to pain but to our own aliveness
• Grief requires reclaiming the part of ourselves that was attached to what was lost
• Grieving is uniquely individual - there's no "right way" or timeline
• The "pain button" analogy: grief doesn't shrink, but our lives grow bigger around it
• Relationships change during grief - some people withdraw while others try to help in ways that don't match what we need
• To heal: feel your grief, name what was lost, meet yourself with compassion, express your emotions
• Finding meaning and integrating loss means carrying what we've lost with grace
• Healing doesn't mean forgetting - it means allowing love to change form

Resources

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert

The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos R.N.

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We continue our chakra exploration series with the fourth chakra, Anahata – the bridge between our physical and spiritual selves located at the center of our energetic system.

• The heart chakra represents our core programming around love – how we give it, receive it, and whether we truly believe we're worthy of it
• Anahata means "unstruck" or "unbeaten" in Sanskrit, with green as its associated color representing balance and healing
• The heart chakra develops between ages 4-7 when children grow beyond egocentricity and develop genuine interest in relationships beyond parents
• Childhood experiences during this period shape our beliefs about whether we can be both authentic and loved
• Healthy boundaries are essential for the heart chakra – they're structures that allow the heart to stay open without becoming overwhelmed
• Abuse or conditional love creates "faulty wiring," confusing love with pain, control, or fear
• Grief – the demon of this chakra – manifests not just after death but in all forms of loss, including relationships ending or life transitions

Starting today, the podcast will shift to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday release schedule to create more breathing room between episodes. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating/review, or share with a friend!

Resources:

Episode 50 - Saying No Without Guilt: Mastering Healthy Boundaries

Episode 54 - Why Loving Who You've Been Can Change Everything

Episode 11 - Forgiveness and one way to get the apology you always wanted

Further Resources for Chakra Exploration

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!