Are you feeling stagnant or tired or uncomfortable? We are in eclipse season! So this portal is expediting change rapidly whether you want it to happen or not.

This week, the Eight of Cups comes forward to remind us that letting go of old stories, limiting beliefs, even people in our lives is important to making room for our growth. In this episode, I offer a couple of tools (including one ritual) to help with identifying what needs to be released and how. Tune in to this lesson-filled episode to learn more!

Email me to get the ritual for releasing the old: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card: Eight of Cups

• Poem: “Galleon of Prayer” by Barbara Jane Reyes

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠
  

In this episode, I'm in conversation with JS Park, a Korean American hospital chaplain based in Florida whose compassion has made an incredible impression on so many people, including myself.

J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, former atheist/agnostic, sixth degree black belt, suicide survivor, Korean-American, and follows Christ. He. is author of The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise. Published by Northfield/Moody. He is currently serving at a 1000+ bed hospital, one of the top-ranked in the nation, and was also a chaplain for three years at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast.

We talk about compassion and grief, which do not have clear definitions or prescriptions for embodying them. Both grief and compassion look different for each individual person. It's not a one-size-fits-all. We also talk about how we might hold compassion for those whose beliefs are rooted in our oppression. And how we might identify this collective grief we are currently feeling but can't quite name. Listen in as we dive into how we can human better together.

Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned:

• Oracle Card: Trust the Timing

• Poem: "Torso of Air" by Ocean Vuong

Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• JS Park Website: ⁠https://jsparkblog.com/⁠

  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jspark3000/?hl=en

What does the nervous system have to do with activism? What does it have to do with spirituality? In this week's episode, I talk about the importance of caring for our nervous system, which serves as the bridge between the spirit realm and the earthly world. Without it, we can't see clearly where we are being guided and know what aligned action to take in order to move forward.

We are of no use to anyone if our cup is empty and our nervous systems are fried. So it is essential to strengthen our nervous systems while also understanding how to regulate them. Our bodies have been living in survival mode for too long. We need to give ourselves real, somatic rest so that we can be effective in our fight for revolution. Tune in to hear more!

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

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Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card:The Knight of Swords

• Poem: “Blue Madonna” by Vandana Cana

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@hobayanhouse.com
  Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠

When you hear “nervous system”, do you think about your high school biology class? When you hear “nervous system REGULATION”, do you ask yourself: what does any of this have to do with spiritual practices or liberation work?

In this week's episode, I'm talking about the importance of nervous system regulation in relation to spirituality as well as our human experiences. How does this science term and our understanding of it have anything to do with connecting to our Divine selves or hearing our intuition? Everything, actually. Tune in to learn more!

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

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Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card: Seven of Swords (Reversed)

• Poem: “Advent” by Wendy Chin Tanner

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠

The pace of our world today makes it easy to forget that we have physical bodies. There are so many things in our face to distract us from being physically present in the Now. As spiritualists, we are more interested in what's happening deep within that we forget to ground ourselves. As activists, we want to single-handedly save the world, which gives us no time to pay attention to the fact that we have a physical body with needs, like food and water and rest.

In this week's episode, I am bringing us back to basics: care for our bodies. Tune in to hear about some somatic practices that help make sure that our bodies are in good health and resilient while the world continues to burn. We need to serve from full cups, not broken, leaky ones. Listen in today! Oh, and if you want to reach out and get on my mailing list to hear about future breathwork and Kundalini yoga sessions, email me here: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com (note: I've got a new domain!)

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

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Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card: The Devil

• Poem: “The Art of Forgetting” by Neil Akin

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos”

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠

• Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠

• Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠

It's still January and so we still have the New Year vibes! This week, I'm asking you what your intentions are for this new year. Intentions give us focus and help to infuse a certain kind of energy into the goals we set (including the dismantling of émpirè).

Relatedly, I want to know: what are your gifts that are to be offered to the world? Do your goals align with these gifts? Are you sharing your light or trying to hide it? Tune in to hear how goals, intentions, and sense of self are all intertwined as we continue to work towards a liberated world.

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

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Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card: The Six of Wands

• Poem: “Religion” by Sheryn Maddon

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos”

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠

• Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠

• Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠

As empiré continues to crumble, it doubles down on its destruction by taking as many with it as possible. This is akin to the death rattle. Gasping for its last breath. As people living in the center of empiré, we must remain steadfast in our resolve for a liberated world. But how?

Community and creativity. The key is to remember that we are not alone and that we have the power to create. And creativity doesn't just mean painting or writing or theater (which are all excellent things!), but it can be as simple as making a meal for yourself or for another person. Tune in to hear more about how this does not just mean survival, but thriving amidst the upheavals that include violence and tragedy.

And yes, if you want to connect: reach out to me at leslieann @ suryagian.com

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

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Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card: The Page of Cups

• Poem: “Faith” by W. Todd Kaneko

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos”

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠

• Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠

Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠

Happy New Year listeners! Welcome to a fresh new start! I don't know about you, but I am glad to see 2026! In this week's episode, I'm talking about the difference between setting intentions and making resolutions (don't even bother with the latter). And using goals as a place for your focus rather than a marker of achievement.

This year needs to be different. This year is about community and sharing, kindness and compassion–and of course LOVE! – all the soft things that we cannot assign metrics to. In order to build a world that is truly liberated, we need to work towards right relationship with each other as well as with mother Earth. Tune in to hear more!

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

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Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

• Tarot/Oracle Card: Ace of Pentacles

• Poem: “Televangelism” by K-Ming Chang

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Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

• Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos”

• Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

• Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

• Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠

• Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠

  • Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠