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The Void and The Flame

The Void and The Flame

By: The Starlit Path Collective
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 The Void & The Flame is where healing meets rebellion. Raw, poetic, and unapologetically real, this podcast is for cycle-breakers, black sheep, and wild souls ready to stop carrying what was never theirs. Hosted by Rachel, each episode blends unfiltered storytelling, spiritual fire, and trauma-informed truth to burn through the bullshit and reclaim your life. This isn’t self-help—it’s self-rescue.The Starlit Path Collective Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • You’re Not Lazy, You’re In Protective Mode

    You’re Not Lazy, You’re In Protective Mode
    Sep 1 2025
    Content WarningThis episode discusses grief, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you’re in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.When stress, grief, or trauma hit, your brain can shift into protective mode—withdrawing, numbing out, or feeling “lazy.” That isn’t a moral failing; it’s biology doing its best to keep you safe. In this episode, Rachel/Ray shares Brian’s story of profound loss and the slow return to connection, and offers simple, biology-backed practices (grounding, micro-movements, temperature shifts, voice notes, and music) to help you work with your nervous system instead of against it.Song spotlight: Sleep Token — “Infinite Baths.”Excerpt shared in-episode. Listen here: https://youtu.be/noWUQci7BsU?si=dk1nBeZV5DqIvph35-4-3-2-1 grounding to orient to safetyMicro-movements (stand, stretch, tap fingers, short walk)Temperature shift (splash cold water/hold an ice cube/step outside briefly)Paced breathing to nudge the vagus nerve and calm arousalVoice note from “future you” (record on a good day; play on a hard day)Music as regulation (one song that matches your state, then one that lifts it slightly)Connection/co-regulation (reaching out; even quiet presence helps)U.S. — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or chat via the official site. 24/7, free & confidential. Hey NHSCrisis Text Line (U.S.): Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a live, trained Crisis Counselor. 24/7.The Trevor Project (LGBTQIA+ youth, U.S.): Call, text, or chat for 24/7 support. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation TrustTrans Lifeline (peer support, U.S./Canada): Community-run hotline for trans people. MDPISAMHSA National Helpline (U.S.): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for mental health/substance use treatment referrals. Hey NHSOutside the U.S.: Find your country’s helpline via Find a Helpline (global directory). PMCThese services are not a substitute for ongoing care. If you can, consider reaching out to a licensed mental-health professional in your area.Stress, amygdala & prefrontal “offline”Review of how acute stress chemistry (e.g., catecholamines) can impair prefrontal cortex functions (planning, motivation) and bias us toward survival responses. PNASNaming emotions (“affect labeling”)Putting feelings into words can reduce amygdala reactivity and engage regulatory networks. (Accessible review summarizing classic findings.) AcademiaGrounding / 5-4-3-2-1A commonly recommended sensory grounding technique in clinical guidance (NHS). PubMedPaced/slow breathing & vagal activitySlow, regular breathing is associated with increased heart-rate variability (a marker linked with vagal regulation) and calmer arousal. SCIRPTemperature shifts & the “diving reflex”Brief cold-water facial exposure can trigger parasympathetic responses (slowing heart rate), which some people find calming. PMCSocial support & threat reduction (co-regulation)Supportive presence/handholding can dampen neural threat responding; perceived support matters. Oxford AcademicMusic and the brain’s reward systemPowerful musical moments engage dopamine-related reward circuitry, which can help with mood regulation. PMCGuest story: Brian (shared with permission).Music mention: Sleep Token — “Infinite Baths.” Please support the artist via official channels.Host/Producer: Rachel (“Ray”).Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational information; it is not therapy or medical advice.
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    29 mins
  • Why Music Feels Like Magic

    Why Music Feels Like Magic
    Aug 25 2025

    What is it about music that feels like magic? Why do certain lyrics cling to us like whispers in the dark, reshaping how we see ourselves, the world, and even what we believe?

    In this episode, Rachel explores the hidden power of music — not just as entertainment, but as language, rhythm, and resonance that speaks directly to the subconscious. From the way artists like Sleep Token weave hypnotic patterns into their songs, to how our own interpretations of lyrics can become prayers, spells, or survival tools, we dive into why music so often feels otherworldly.

    You’ll hear about:

    • ​How lyrics and rhythm bypass logic to hit us on a deeper level.
    • ​Why music can feel like prayer, spellwork, or therapy in disguise
    • ​What makes certain songs linger in our minds and hearts long after the last note fades.

    This episode is for the seekers, the skeptics, and anyone who’s ever had a song save their life.


    Feel free to reach out to my on one of the platforms below.

    Instagram: @thestarlitpathwc84

    Facebook: @ The Starlit Path Tarot and Transformation

    Tiktok: @thevoidandtheflame
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    27 mins
  • Survival Patterns: Freeze, Fawn, Dissociation

    Survival Patterns: Freeze, Fawn, Dissociation
    Aug 18 2025

    In this episode, I open the door to my story — not as a lecture, but as an invitation. I take you into the patterns I’ve survived, the heaviness I’ve carried, and the turning points where I chose not to be crushed by it. Through raw honesty, metaphor, and reflection, this episode is both a beginning and a mirror — showing how darkness and light can exist side by side, and how choice lives inside that tension.

    If you’ve ever felt like the weight you carry might break you, this is for you. You’ll hear not only my story, but tools and perspectives you can hold onto when the ground feels unsteady.


    Feel free to reach out to my on one of the platforms below.

    Instagram: @thestarlitpathwc84

    Facebook: @ The Starlit Path Tarot and Transformation

    Tiktok: @thevoidandtheflame
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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