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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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TheShaktiSchool

A little less hustle, a little more trusting our i A little less hustle, a little more trusting our intuition. 🌙🌹⁠
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Consider this your permission slip to slow down, listen to your body, honor your inner wisdom and maybe be a little more in tune with the rhythms of the season. ⁠
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Because sometimes the most radical thing we can do is remember what women have known for centuries.⁠
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And if you're feeling called to explore that ancient wisdom a little deeper, we'd love to gather with you. ⁠
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Join Katie Silcox on October 27 at 11 AM ET for a FREE live workshop on Feminine-Form Ayurveda, where we'll explore a more intuitive, nourishing approach to caring for our bodies. 🤍⁠
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Can't make it live? Everyone who registers gets the replay!⁠
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🌹 Comment THRIVE and we'll send you the invitation.⁠
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(Images: Pinterest)⁠
Okay, I have to show you something we are all ridi Okay, I have to show you something we are all ridiculously proud of over here at The Shakti School. Check out our Ayurveda Wellness Coach Course Manual. ⁠✨️⁠
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Over the years, our team and teachers have poured SO much love, research and practical Ayurveda wisdom into this book that I sometimes pick it up and think: OMG I wish I could take this course again for the first time.⁠
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Inside you'll find seasonal guidance, Ayurveda (secret) formulas, herbs and home remedies, client-ready handouts, coaching tools, charts, food and lifestyle recommendations and the foundational teachings you'll return to again and again.⁠
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This isn't a workbook you finish and stick on a shelf. It's your Ayurveda handbook for LIFE. We know this cuz’ one of our students wrote us 6 years later and saying she STILL pulls out her Level 1 manual when she needs guidance.⁠
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I love that she’s using it SIX YEARS LATER. ⁠🥹⁠
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That's exactly what I wanted when we created Level 1: not information that disappears when the course ends, but wisdom you can actually live with. ⁠
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Dog-ear it. Highlight the heck out of it. Bring it into your kitchen. Pull it out when your digestion goes sideways. Reference it when the seasons change. Use it with your family. And someday, open it across the table from a client if that's your path. ⁠
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Because Ayurveda isn't meant to live in your head. It's meant to live in your life. ⁠🌿⁠
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And this beautiful manual is just ONE piece of everything you'll receive when you join us LIVE for Level 1.⁠
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With love,⁠
Katie ⁠
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P.S. By the end of Level 1, I want this thing looking loved, lived-in and USED. That's exactly what it's for. Mine is covered in tea and turmeric stains :-) ⁠
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💚 Comment AYURVEDASCHOOL to learn more and view our syllabus!
Whether you're brand-new to Ayurveda or you've bee Whether you're brand-new to Ayurveda or you've been curious about this ancient wisdom for a while, we're so happy you're here! 🩵⁠
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Ayurveda is often called the science of life, and at its heart, it's about learning to understand your unique nature, reconnect with your body's wisdom, and create more balance in your everyday life.⁠
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And the beautiful thing? You don't need to know your dosha, have a perfect morning routine, or understand Sanskrit to begin.⁠
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We've gathered some of our favorite starter resources to help you get started. Think of this as your Ayurveda starter kit, filled with free teachings, practical rituals and a little inspiration for your journey.⁠
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At The Shakti School, we believe Ayurveda is so much more than a collection of wellness practices. It's a lifelong journey of getting to know yourself, honoring your unique nature, and learning to live in greater harmony with the world around you. ✨️⁠
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We recently shared our FREE Ayurveda Starter Stack with our email community!  If you missed it and would love a copy, simply comment “STACK” below, and we’ll send you the link to the full collection!
In October, the air becomes cooler, drier and more In October, the air becomes cooler, drier and more mobile. You may begin to notice more anxious thoughts, dry skin, irregular digestion, disrupted sleep or feeling ungrounded in your body. We can balance these vata qualities with moisture, nourishing foods and grounding rhythms for our nervous systems. ⁠
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Some of my favorite October foods:⁠
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• Butternut squash, acorn squash and pumpkin are sweet, grounding and deeply nourishing for dry autumn tissues⁠
• Ginger kindles agni, supports circulation and helps keep digestion strong as temperatures drop⁠
• Mung beans are one of Ayurveda’s most digestible legumes, bringing nourishment without heaviness⁠
• Garlic offers warmth and stimulation, helping counter sluggish digestion and coldness⁠
• Cardamom gently supports digestion while bringing warmth without excessive heat⁠
• Oatmeal is heavy, soft and grounding, making it one of autumn’s most supportive breakfasts⁠
• Warm spiced milk nourishes ojas, supports the nervous system and invites deeper rest⁠
• Black pepper awakens digestion and helps the body absorb nutrients more efficiently⁠
• Cinnamon is warming, circulatory and especially supportive during cold, windy seasons⁠
• Cloves bring heat and stimulation while supporting digestion and respiratory wellness⁠
• Turmeric supports healthy inflammation response and keeps digestion moving well⁠
• Sweet potatoes are sweet, earthy and stabilizing for an overstimulated nervous system⁠
• Warming stews provide moisture, softness and sustained nourishment as vata rises⁠
• Soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds offer healthy fats and density, helping combat seasonal dryness⁠
• Root vegetables literally grow beneath the earth, carrying grounding qualities that help us feel more rooted too⁠
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P.S. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’re moving further into spring and rising pitta, so your body may be asking for lighter and more cooling support right now. 💦⁠
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Early bird enrollment for our 2027 Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Certification closes THIS MONTH. ⁠
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☎️ Comment AYURVEDASCHOOL to learn more or book a complimentary call with our team!
One of the biggest questions I get from women expl One of the biggest questions I get from women exploring our program is “What can I actually do with an Ayurvedic coaching certification? What’s the scope of a coaching practice?”⁠
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Becoming a certified coach is absolutely a viable career path, and it can also enhance the offerings that you already have. 🌿⁠
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With an Ayurvedic Wellness Coach certification, you can legally and ethically work with people as a coach and educator in so many ways, including:⁠
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📒 Working 1:1 as a wellness or lifestyle coach, helping clients with digestion, stress, hormones, energy, daily rhythms and self-care (within the coaching scope and with proper insurance)⁠
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🧘🏽‍♀️ Teaching workshops in yoga studios, community spaces, retreat centers or online⁠
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🌬️ Guiding people through nutrition education, daily routines, seasonal resets, meditation and nervous system support⁠
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🥀 Supporting women with cycle awareness, womb wellness and feminine rhythm education⁠
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🪐 Weaving Ayurveda into your existing work, whether it’s yoga, bodywork, coaching, energy work, movement or spiritual mentorship⁠
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🗓️ Creating group programs, circles or educational offerings rooted in preventative care and self-healing⁠
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💗 Using Ayurveda first and foremost for your own life, and letting your lived experience become your medicine⁠
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Working as an Ayurvedic Wellness Coach is about teaching people how to live well, how to listen to their bodies and how to create daily practices that actually work in real life.⁠
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And yes, when you go through our program you’ll also leave with real tools: a gorgeous training manual, client forms, starter business resources and a community of women walking this path with you.⁠
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We’d love to welcome you into our school. Early Bird pricing ends this month, so now is the time to get in and save $500 off tuition!⁠
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✨ If you’re ready to dive in right now and start learning divine feminine Ayurveda, comment WISDOM and we’ll send you our free Women’s Wisdom + Ayurveda course.⁠

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