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Podcast

Ep. 150 The Healing Climate in Spiritual Practice (and life)

Spirit Sessions Podcast Guest for website

For the past four years, I have had the incredible good fortune to work very closely with a one-on-one mentor and therapist named Cristal Mortensen.  And today, I am so honored to share this podcast with you where I interview her. In it, we discuss what she calls "the healing climate," and why, without it, our efforts to heal ourselves and to hold space for others may work against our deepest desire. This podcast touches deep into the essence of my personal inner practice, as well as the ethos we are working each day to do our best to uphold within what we teach at The Shakti School.

In this episode you’ll hear: 

~ What the healing climate is and how it can help us 

~ Resistance and how finding ‘the spot’ within ourselves can be supportive of healing 

~ The importance of compassion and gentleness toward ourselves

~ Letting awareness be the light that shines through our uncomfortable feelings, rather than changing them

~ Our unique resources within and how we may be able to better access them

~ How these techniques can impact manifestation intentions

~ Noticing how we experience ourselves energetically and the way it can bring self-compassion

~ Being in relationship with energy

~ Join Katie and The Shakti School for the Embodied Ayurveda + Mystical Mind live in-person and virtual retreat May 6th and 7th. Live spaces are filling up fast, so register now to get in! Payment plan options available.

~ Cristal Mortensen is a trauma and nervous system specialist and Certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, in private practice for over 20 years. She helps people heal and clear unresolved trauma, attachment wounds, balance energetic, emotional and mental disequilibriums, find their way back to themselves and discover their wholeness.  Her multidimensional approach to trauma healing developed out of her own journey of healing, which began when she learned yoga and meditation at the age of 16 and henceforth dedicated her life to the path of healing.  She has healed from debilitating complex PTSD, severe anxiety and depression, addiction, disordered eating, chronic pain and physical illness and has dedicated her life to supporting others in healing from the pain of trauma and finding freedom. 

Cristal’s ability to deftly weave between and integrate the realms of the mind, emotion, physical body, subtle body, energy and spirit and bridge ordinary and non ordinary reality, along with her compassionate presence has made her unique work highly sought after.

She has practiced and studied extensively over the past 30 years with masters in the fields of trauma, attachment, somatics, meditation, breath, movement and energy healing, bringing the balance of ancient wisdom and modern science to her work.  She has developed Multidimensional Trauma Healing and Sacred Attachment work, out of the need for an approach to trauma healing that is truly effective and transformative.   Her work builds access to an organizing matrix from which inherent safety, security and an integrated mind and body can develop, creating a new template from which we can heal and our life can evolve.  Her mission is to be a guiding light for those suffering from trauma.  She believes passionately that the seeds of healing and transformation are within each of us, waiting to be discovered and activated.  You can connect with her at awarealignedawake.com

 

This episode is brought to you by PAAVANI Ayurveda. Use discount code SHAKTI15 at checkout for 15% off a one time purchase on paavaniayurveda.com

Female founded PAAVANI Ayurveda is an artisan line of small-batch, pure, organic health & skincare products formulated in Northern California. 

Handcrafted with the wisdom of Ayurveda, these gals seek to raise conscious awareness of the whole by practicing the philosophy of ahimsa or nonviolence in making their products. This means that their offerings are certified cruelty free and vegan and that PAAVANI carefully selects herbal ingredients that are sustainable, ensuring that plant medicine is abundant for future generations. 

In addition to mindful formulations, PAAVANI Ayurveda packages their products in glass to maintain the integrity of their herbal ingredients. Additionally, their labels are printed on recycled paper stock, using water-based inks that generate little to no paper waste & no harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

With every purchase made with PAAVANI Ayurveda, you are supporting a female founded, small business that strives to maintain the health of not only your skin, but also our earth. 

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Katie

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Summertime is the time for salad—the possibiliti Summertime is the time for salad—the possibilities are endless. 🌺🌱🍅 In the Virginia summers, greens grow in abundance, fruit starts popping off and there are edible flowers galore! It’s one of my favorite times of the year. ⁠

Of course Ayurveda suggests not over consuming raw food, but there are plenty of ways around this. Salads are appropriate in the hot summer months and if your digestive system is a little sluggish, you can always pair your greens with a cooked element or additional spices to support your specific needs. ⁠
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I love going to the farmer’s market in the summer and seeing what creations I can make with the various colors and shapes of the vegetables. Making food should feel like an art (of course it’s not always going to feel easy), but it is an act of creativity that can really serve you well. ⁠
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When it comes to making salads you can get really creative. Just simply think of what flavors and textures you love most and create a salad from that. For me, I love crunch, I love FAT and I love citrus. I usually end up making a big bowl of greens, some sort of seed sautéed in ghee, avocado, radishes and all of it topped with a lemon vinaigrette. I often will always add some sort of protein source. Grilled chicken, fried tempeh and hard boiled (farm fresh eggs) are all my favorite go-to forms of protein.
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about what you If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about what you want to do with this one precious life, the most recent episode of Spirit Sessions podcast is for you! ⁠
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In this solo cast, Katie explores the Ayurvedic concept of sankalpa, a heartfelt intention or vow rooted in the soul's deepest desire, and how it differs from your life goals and career ambitions. Katie shares the spiritual significance of living with intention and how to create a sankalpa that aligns with your inner truth and life purpose.⁠
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In this episode you’ll hear:⁠
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~ What is a sankalpa?⁠
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~ Why is it important to live an intentional life?⁠
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~ Common mistakes people make when creating their sankalpa⁠
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~ Katie’s sankalpa story⁠
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~ How our sankalpas evolve over time⁠
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~ What to do if you can’t figure out your life purpose⁠
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~ Reflection questions to live life with more intention⁠
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~ A powerful sankalpa setting practice⁠
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…and more! Click the link in bio to tune into this episode now! 🎙️
When the clock says it’s time to leave but your When the clock says it’s time to leave but your inner Vata goddess can’t skip the song that just came on. 🤷🏼‍♀️

We know that Vata is the dosha of movement, creativity and spontaneity... but it can also be the dosha of always-being-late ‘cause your getting ready routine just turned into a full-blown mirror performance. 💃🏽🌀
We all have Pitta dosha in our constitution, but s We all have Pitta dosha in our constitution, but some of us have a bit more “fire” inside. 🔥⁠
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It’s important to get to know the qualities of Pitta dosha—especially if you live in the Northern Hemisphere—because as we move into summer, Pitta will be on the rise. The macrocosm of the seasons and the microcosm of our bodies are closely interrelated, so when the fire element increases in the external environment, it requires that we counterbalance this excess heat with our food and lifestyle decisions. If you’re a Pitta type in a hot climate, you may be especially prone to becoming “hot-headed” or inflamed as we move into summer! ⁠
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In our year-long Ayurveda certification program, you’ll learn Ayurvedic wisdom for identifying the doshas, gain insight into your own constitution and develop the expertise to help others find balance. ⁠
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This is the final call for our 2026 book bonus! We're giving all the books you need for class (that's a $200 value) to the first ten women who sign up for 2026 Shakti Ayurveda School—and there’s only ONE spot left to claim this free gift! 📚 ⁠
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The next goddess to sign up for 2026 Ayurveda School will get all of your books, including copies of each of my books signed by yours truly, straight to your doorstep. Register now for 2026 at the link in our bio. 🌷
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