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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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Welcome to Pitta Season, where the sun’s out, th Welcome to Pitta Season, where the sun’s out, the fire element is high and yes—you can stay up a little bit later than usual without wrecking your routine .☀️😎

This is the time of year when Ayurveda gives us a little more wiggle room (that is, if you’re not experiencing any major health challenges or imbalances!). That means, chilled mint tea? Go for it. 🌿 Poolside lounging? Deeply therapeutic. 🏖️ Late-night dance party under the stars? Honestly, dance parties are soul medicine. 🌕

In the summer, Pitta dosha dominates, inviting us to partake in the season’s passion and fire. The trick is to enjoy this fiery boost without burning out.

So, as you up the passion, keep in mind these Pitta-mitigating habits:

~ Sip cooling teas like rose, mint or fennel.

~ Snack on watery fruits to stay hydrated (hi, watermelon!).

~ Skip the ice bucket—chill your beverages by leaving them in the fridge for a few hours instead.

~ Moonbathe as much as you sunbathe: Pitta is reduced by gazing at the moon!

Here’s the bottom line: You’re not off the Ayurvedic hook, but you do get a permission slip to embrace the season of passion and love. 😘
In this heartfelt episode of Spirit Sessions Podca In this heartfelt episode of Spirit Sessions Podcast, Katie opens up a compassionate, non-judgmental conversation about Ozempic and weight loss drugs through the lens of Ayurveda. ⁠
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With deep love and understanding for those on these medications, she explores how true healing comes from discernment and addressing the root causes of imbalance.⁠
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We’ll also explore Ayurvedic insights on hunger and the sacred role of fat in the body, reminding us that our fat carries the wisdom of our lineage. Tune in for a warm, honest discussion that weaves together science, spirit and self-love. ⁠
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🎤 Click the link in bio to listen to Episode 217 Ozempic: A Compassionate Ayurvedic Perspective.
When the heat is rising…whether from the sun or When the heat is rising…whether from the sun or your own INNER spice…you need herbs that soothe your system. ⁠
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These are some of my favorite spice-mitigating plant allies that help cool intensity 🌶️:⁠
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🌸 Rose Tea is cooling and heart-opening. It soothes emotional intensity and helps balance heat in the blood and skin.⁠
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🌿Peppermint Tea is naturally cooling to the digestive system. It helps reduce inflammation and is great for those overheated summer moments—whether they’re physical or emotional.⁠
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🌺 Hibiscus Tea is cooling and cleansing—it’s tart flavor is oh-so-refreshing and the perfect addition to your summer mocktails.⁠
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✨ Fennel Tea aids digestion without increasing heat. Its sweet and mildly cooling properties help to calm too much fire in the digestive system.⁠
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🍬 Licorice Root Tea is deeply hydrating. It helps support natural energy without overstimulation. Plus, its naturally sweet taste helps soothe the Pitta craving for intensity and control.⁠
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These herbs can be enjoyed individually or blended (like rose + fennel + peppermint) for extra balancing benefits. Pro tip: Let them cool to room temperature or serve slightly chilled during summer months for extra Pitta-soothing power. 🌺🌬️⁠
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Ready to deepen your wisdom in spiritual herbalism?⁠
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In Shakti Ayurveda School, you’ll learn how to use food, ancient Ayurveda and feminine-form principles to help yourself and others find healing, purpose and radiant health.⁠
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💫 Get a taste of what it’s like inside The Shakti School—comment WISDOM to access our free Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda course now.
…when you’re in a love affair with your own in …when you’re in a love affair with your own inner best friend, healer or parent and realize that you have a presence within you that offers the guidance, love and acceptance you really long for. 💞 

When you meet this inner companion, the need for outside validation begins to fade. You realize that the most powerful healing force you’ve ever known lies with your relationship to your Higher Self or personal connection to Divinity.

Or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have one of those few special friends in your life who serves in this role for you—tag someone below who makes you feel this way. 🤝🏽
On the summer solstice, the earth is closest to th On the summer solstice, the earth is closest to the sun. Solar energy reaches a peak, and we can experience this solar energy within us on a subtle level if we pay close attention.⁠
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The solstice is a time to let our UP + OUT energy flow, experience the higher frequencies of celebration and bask in the abundance of light.⁠
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P.S. Go deeper with us into an elemental study of nature and your body’s innate wisdom in our free Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda mini-course. Comment WISDOM below to get access now. 🌼🌿

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