The Numinous Podcast

TNP36: Carmen Spagnola Answers Listener Questions {Part 2}

Trusting your pendulum: this week I seek advice from a veteran spiritual bookstore owner and also give three tips for getting more accurate information from this practical and useful tool.
The book I suggest in this episode is called The Pendulum Bridge to Infinite Knowing by Dale W. Olson. He also has pendulum chart books.

TNP35: Carmen Answers Listener Questions Pt.1

Mailbag time! I'm always getting questions about how to trust one's intuition more and in this episode, I get ranty about it. This is part one of a 3-part series in which I respond to questions submitted by students of The Numinous School of Intuition, my online intuition development course.

TNP34: Marketing, Healing + Authenticity with Tad Hargrave

Tad Hargrave of Marketing for Hippies is a dear friend and trusted teacher, advisor and mentor of mine. If you like my style of marketing, you'll enjoy his work because he's probably had the strongest influence on my approach. I'm proud to count him as a friend and I'm delighted to finally capture one of our conversations.
In this episode, Tad brings up his views on "charging what you're worth" and I give a shout out to one of my all-time favourite of his hundreds of blog posts. He also mentions our mutual friend, Sufi business guru and all-round nice guy, Mark Silver.

TNP33: Community, Autonomy + Forgiveness with Michael Phillips

In this third and final episode of my three part conversation with Michael, he tells me about leaving Berkeley and the Communist Party behind, finding himself teaching at a Quaker school in rural Canada, and coming to a place of belonging after decades of seeking, betrayal and resistance. 

TNP32: Sex, Spirituality + Intuition with Lesley Stedmon

We're going there this week on The Numinous Podcast: sex, spirituality, intuition and creativity with Registered Nurse and Certified Sexual Health Educator, Lesley Stedmon. How does our spiritual life influence our sex life and vice versa? How do we draw the line between being "good, giving and game" as a partner and not honouring our authentic self? How do we cultivate creativity and healthy sexuality in the course of busy, modern life?
In this episode, Lesley gets personal and shares what intuition feels like in her body. She also gives some great advice on "discrepancy of desire". To learn more about Lesley's work, visit her site thesensualsisterhood.com

TNP31: Creating Community with Carolyne Taylor

Carolyne Taylor is a community organizer and connector. Known for producing inspirational and uplifting events such as the Victoria Yoga Conference, Conscious Conversations, yoUnlimited, Pitch Your Passion, and the Unlimited Woman Awards, Carolyne is like the Oprah of her city. But what do you do if you want to be part of a heart-centered community and you don't have a Carolyne on call? What if you're an introvert?
In this episode, Carolyne shares with us how she avoids burn-out as a natural "giver" and connector. She also gives sound advice for when you're starting from scratch or joining a new community. Finally, we talk about how to handle the challenges of belonging to or leading a heart-centered community, (especially as an introvert!)
Click to tweet! "Wishes come true when we put action behind them" ~ Carolyne Taylor

TNP30: Kate Sitka on Intuitive Communication with the Animal Kingdom

Kate Sitka has been able to communicate psychically with animals since she was a little girl. In this episode of The Numinous Podcast, we're talking about how to open dialogue with your pet, the difference between domesitcated and wild animals on the intuitive level, and whether there's a place for animal communication on the farm.
Kate mentions two of her favourite teachers on the show, Sonja Fitzpatrick and Penelope Smith. I also mention my husband's website The Small and Delicious Life (sign up for his occasionally-sent newsletter to follow our adventures in urban homesteading or check us out on Instagram #smallanddeliciouslife).
You can connect with Kate on her website tofinopsychic.com and find her delightful podcast at JoyfulTelepathy.com.

TNP29: Conscious Parenting with Colleen Adrian

How do you teach your child about intuition and staying connected to their inner wisdom? What if your child really doesn't want to listen? What do you do if you get a bad feeling about one of your child's friends? My guest this week is conscious parenting expert, Colleen Adrian. We're talking about control, power dynamics, and messy bedrooms from a spiritual perspective!
In this episode, Colleen mentions two great resources that I heartily endorse as well:
Marshall Rosenberg's system of Non-Violent Communication (also known as Compassionate Communication). To download the "Feelings and Needs" list, check out my colleague Rachelle Lamb's website.
Power vs Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour by David R. Hawkins is a classic in the self-help genre because of its groundbreaking perspective on applied kinesiology, consciousness and energy dynamics.

TNP28: Communism, The Beatniks + the Guru with Michael Phillips

Welcome back to my very special guest, Michael Phillips! In this week's episode, Michael tells about his upbringing as a Communist in 1940s America, followed by the Beat Movement in the '50's and attending UC Berkeley in the '60's.
My previous interview with Michael was called "Grieving Susan + Civilization". 
Enjoy!

TNP27: Shamanism + The Corporate World with Agneta

This week's episode features my friend, Agneta, a Swedish executive leadership coach who, oh by the way, also studied shamanism with some of the most famous teachers alive. 
In this personal interview, Agneta shares what drew her to the shamanic path.  She also talks about the challenges of balancing her spiritual life with her corporate work. I love the end of this interview where she talks about being a catalyst - very inspiring for those who are trying to introduce spirituality in somewhat hostile atmospheres.
Some resources Agneta mentions include:
Psychosynthesis
Alberto Villoldo's Four Winds School (more of a South American tradition).
I've also heard good things about the Institute for Contemporary Shamanic Studies here in Canada.
 
I met Agneta when we were on a vision quest with Sparrow Hart of Circles of Air and Stone. He also shares medicine wheel teachings and several shamanic rituals.

TNP26: Working with Masculine + Feminine Energy with Judee Gee

I'm so pleased to have my beloved teacher, Judee Gee, returning to The Numinous Podcast this week. We're talking about Yin + Yang, Shiva + Shakti, tantra, and the Apostle to the Apostles, Mary Magdalene. Juicy, juicy stuff!
In this conversation, Judee and I share our deep gratitude for the wonderful book by Cynthia Bourgeault, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene. That book truly changed my life.
I also mention my pilgrimage to La Grotte de la Sainte Baume, the grotto where Mary Magdalene lived out her days as a hermitesse.
I can't wait to one day take Judee's Tantric Woman workshop. I believe she is doing a North American tour in 2015 so if you'd like to bring her to your city, you should send her an email ASAP!
If you don't already own it, I highly, highly recommend Judee's book, Intuition: Awakening Your Inner Guide.
Trained as an intuitive psychic, breath therapist and teacher of alternative healing methods in Australia and the USA in the early 1980’s, Judee settled in France in 1988 where she created The Intuition School (L’Ecole de l’Intuition). From 1988 to 2000 she taught her intuition development program in several regions throughout France and also published Intuition: Awakening Your Inner Guide, during that period.
Judee is the past President (1998–2001) of the International Breathwork Foundation and a founding member (2000) of the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance, where she currently serves on the Board of Directors.

TNP25: Findhorn + Facilitating Inner Knowing with Kate Sutherland

Have you, like me, dreamed of quitting everything and going to live indefinitely at Findhorn in Scotland? I'd say I give it serious consideration every five years or so, and a passing thought every other day. It's definitely going to happen one day. Until then, I have Kate.
Kate Sutherland is Faculty with THNK, The School of Creative Leadership, and a social entrepreneur, author, speaker and coach. As Kate sees it, each of us has an inner guidance system, available 24/7 and stunningly accurate. (I agree!)
But most of us barely begin to tap the potential benefits, in part because we don't know how, and in part because society emphasizes outer authority rather than the subtle signals of our inner knowing.
Kate's two books, Make Light Work and Make Light Work In Groups, are a wonderful resource for accessing that inner knowing and drawing it out in others.
Kate will be leading her workshop, Barefoot Facilitation, at Findhorn in August 2014.
Learn more about The Transformation Game here.

TNP24: Grieving for Susan + Civilization with Michael Phillips

This week's episode is a tender portrait of loss, destruction and the pain of living in our times. 
 I have a very special friendship with Michael; a kinship and delight in our conversations, a warmth and joy in his presence that lifts my spirits. I love his lyrical way of communicating. I love how he surprises me - one moment a poetic rumination, the next a pragmatic shrug. I usually need lots of kleenex for our conversations. He just has a way of speaking to the human condition in a way that opens and soothes my soul. I hope you enjoy sharing in this small portion of one of our recent talks.
By the way, the following quote (which I sort of bastardize  in the show) is from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:
"After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

TNP23: Georgia Nicols on Making the Most of Mercury Retrograde

Think you're out of the woods because Mercury has finally gone direct? Nuh uh says Canada's favourite astrologer, Georgia Nicols.
On this week's episode of The Numinous Podcast we're talking about how to deal with Mercury Retrograde, that thrice annual occurrence when it seems all things technology, communication and travel-related go haywire. Georgia explains what it is, why it happens and how to deal with it. 
You can get Georgia's daily updates by subscribing on her website or you can follow her on Facebook to find out when the Moon alerts are in effect.

TNP22: The Vision Quest with Sparrow Hart

This week we're talking about the ritual of the vision quest with Sparrow Hart. For over 30 years, Sparrow has personally gone on vision quest every year and has led hundreds of people through their own wilderness rights of passage. I feel privileged to have been guided by Sparrow when I did my vision quest in the desert.
This is a truly rich conversation in which Sparrow gives so. many. resources. Not only has he written a beautiful ode to questing called Letters to the River: A Guide to a Dream Worth Living, he also mentions some of the books that were formative in the early years of his questing such as Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt, People of the Deer by Farley Mowatt, the work of Carlos Castadenda and Laurens van der Post.
I really can't recommend more highly a vision quest experience with Sparrow. Of all of my spiritual undertakings, these teachings were some of the most formative. If you are an ardent pursuer of the spiritual path and maker of your own myth, then a week with Sparrow will be a gift to your heart and a balm for your soul. Do it!

TNP21: Culture, Colonialism + Spirituality with Josiah Neufeld

This week I'm talking with Josiah Neufeld, a Vancouver-based writer whose journalism, essays and short fiction have appeared in The Walrus, Hazlitt, The Globe and Mail, Prairie Fire, The Vancouver Sun, Geez Magazine, The Winnipeg Free Press, Rhubarb and elsewhere. Josiah grew up in West Africa, the son of Mennonite missionaries.
In this episode, Josiah shares his story and what he values most about the cultures that shaped his spiritual path.
In this episode, Josiah mentioned Malidoma Patrice Somé's work including his book Ritual: Power, Healing and Community. He also noted the Five Pillars of Islam when discussing spiritual practices.
This conversation leads us gently into usually rather barbed territory - colonialism, evangelism, and such - but I think you'll enjoy Josiah's thoughtful nature and the warm-hearted way he is integrating many cultures, practices and patterns into his own personal spirituality.

TNP20: Llynne Phillips + Sacred Poetry

This episode celebrates the poetry that touches our soul and moves us. Llynne Phillips is a poet and poetry fan and today she shares her favourites and helps us discern their meaning.

TNP19: Monique Gray Smith on Ceremony + Sacredness with Children

In this episode, I'm talking with author and speaker, Monique Gray Smith, about how parents can weave ceremony and ritual into every day experiences with their children.
Monique shares several traditional First Nations rituals and we explore how we can support our children's growth through exposure to elements of ceremony to inspire their own spiritual connection.
Monique is the author of Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience, and also the founder of Little Drum Consulting, an Aboriginal-owned and operated firm that provides consulting services to governments and Aboriginal communities and organizations.
In this show, I mentioned the wonderful coming-of-age event, G Day for Girls. Check out their website to find out how you can make this great event happen in your city! {Tell them Carmen sent you!}

TNP18: Arthurian Legend Leadership Lessons with Kent Osborne

This week on The Numinous Podcast is Kent Osborne, an Executive Coach and Leadership Development Trainer with a unique approach. Kent incorporates the mythology of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table into his work to evoke greatness in his clients.
Kent has 20 years' experience working with corporate clients internationally and since we're friends, I'm lucky enough to have experienced his unique approach to coaching for myself.
 
In this interesting conversation, we touch on the Arthurian Cycle, The Four Treasures of Tuatha Dé Danann and The Kalevala of Finnish folklore.

TNP 17: Shakti Roumagoux: Catholic, Quaker, Engaged Buddhist

I'm thrilled to introduce you to a Friend, elder and spiritual mentor, Shakti Earleen Roumagoux. She grew up Catholic and attended Jesuit university. She spent 20 years following the Hindu tradition and for the past few years she's been a staff member at Thich Nhat Hanh's Buddhist community, Plum Village in France. In this conversation we touch on mindfulness, sensing energy and the challenges of spiritual seeking.