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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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In North America (and all around the globe) the us In North America (and all around the globe) the use of sweets in celebratory events has been a historical tradition. Though the cultivation of sugar dates back to 8,000 BC, we see the use of sugar in celebratory events as early as 2,400 BC (!) where there is evidence of beekeeping and the collection of honey for honey cakes found at a religious temple near present day Cairo, Egypt. (Hippocrates Health Institute - The Sugar Timeline)⁠
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We also see this in the Hindu/Yoga tradition where bringing sweets to the temple as an offering to the Gods is commonly practiced. Traditionally, before industrial sugar cane manufacturing, sweets were more of a luxury item and were considered “sattvic,” or pure. Of course, this is in reference to sugar in the form of dates and honey which aren’t nearly as taxing on the body as the chemically refined sugar we most commonly use today.⁠
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So, how do we go back to making sugar sacred?⁠
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It all comes back to eating whole foods and preparing food at home. If we all made an effort to only eat sugar when we could prepare our own sweet treats, it would likely lead to much healthier options (no matter if you’re cooking with white sugar or not). ⁠
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If you want your family to be blown away, show up to the holiday dinner party with this amazing (and healthy) pumpkin pie! It’s not going to spike your blood sugar, it’s going to make everyone in the room happy and eating it might even be a sacred act.⁠
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This no-bake pie sweetened with dates and maple syrup is the perfect nourishing dessert to enjoy with those you love. You’re not gonna regret making it. 🥧  And shout out to my sister @marymcquate who inspired us with the recipe. ⁠
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🍁😍 Comment PUMPKIN below and we’ll send you the recipe!
Tag a bestie who feels like home. 🌸💗⁠ ⁠ There's so Tag a bestie who feels like home. 🌸💗⁠
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There's something so special about the friendships that make us feel safe, seen and deeply loved.⁠
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We were never meant to carry everything alone. And sometimes, learning to receive love is just as important as giving it.⁠
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In her latest podcast episode, Katie explores the beautiful power of female friendship, the science of social connection and how sisterhood can nourish our nervous systems and support our well-being.⁠
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✨ Comment “260” and we’ll send you the podcast link!
In Ayurveda, digestion is about SO much more than In Ayurveda, digestion is about SO much more than just the food we eat. We're constantly digesting life itself! The sights we see, the sounds we hear, the experiences we have and everything we take in through our senses. 💗⁠
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In this episode of the Spirit Sessions Podcast, Katie takes us back to the basics, exploring the foundational principles of Ayurveda and how they can help us live in greater harmony with ourselves and the world around us.⁠
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🌿 The five elements of nature and how they shape us⁠
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🌿 Understanding your unique mind-body type (dosha)⁠
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🌿 The importance of digestion, daily rhythms and seasonal living⁠
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🌿 How to become more intentional about what we take in through our senses⁠
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🌿 Simple self-care rituals to restore balance and nourish your whole being⁠
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Ayurveda invites us to look beyond what's on our plates and consider how we're nourishing ourselves through ALL of life's experiences.⁠
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Comment “258” and we'll send you the link to listen to the full episode! 🎧
The air and ether elements continue to bring cold, The air and ether elements continue to bring cold, dry and mobile qualities that can leave us depleted if we don’t stay nourished. We balance these vata qualities with warmth, oiliness and sweetness this month.

(If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, reverse it! Think cooling + lightening foods to balance the seasonal heat.)

Here are some Ayurvedic allies for November:

• Walnuts: Rich in healthy fats that nourish the brain, nervous system and tissues while replenishing ojas.
• Garlic: A warming ally that kindles agni, supports circulation and strengthens seasonal immunity.
• Cloves: Stimulate digestion, ease gas and support healthy circulation.
• Cinnamon: Supports blood sugar balance and warms cold hands and feet.
• Pecans: Nourishing fats and minerals that lubricate tissues and calm the nervous system.
• Soft Cheeses: Creamy, grounding nourishment to balance autumn dryness.
• Ghee: Ayurveda’s favorite nourishing fat to support digestion and carry nutrients deep into the tissues.
• Yogurt: Enjoyed at midday with warming spices to support digestion and gut health.
• Potatoes: Grounding carbohydrates that restore depleted energy.
• Bone Broth: Rich in minerals and collagen to nourish the gut, joints and connective tissues.
• Mulled Cider: Warm apples and spices that gently kindle digestion and circulation.
• Dates: Ojas-building, rich in minerals and natural sweetness.
• Leeks: Gently warming and supportive of healthy elimination.
• Golden Milk: Turmeric and spices that soothe inflammation and calm the nervous system.
• Cooked Cranberries: Tart, while supporting urinary tract health.
• Cooked Whole Grains: Warm nourishment that provides steady energy.
• Nutmeg: A calming Ayurvedic ally for relaxation and restful sleep.
• Fresh Figs: Fiber-rich and gently nourishing for healthy elimination.
• Persimmons: Hydrating and supportive for dry autumn skin.
• Winter Squash: Naturally sweet, grounding and rich in beta carotene.
• CCF Tea: Classic Ayurvedic blend to strengthen digestion, reduce bloating and support nutrient absorption.

🌿 2027 Shakti Ayurveda School begins in January. Become a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach—comment AYURVEDASCHOOL to learn more.
What if you didn't need to push harder, do more, o What if you didn't need to push harder, do more, or become some shinier version of yourself to feel well? 🌸

What if your body simply needed the right conditions to thrive?

Ayurveda offers a softer, wiser approach to healing. One that honors your hormones, nervous system, intuition and natural rhythms.

In her most recent live class, Katie dives into the core principles of Feminine-Form Ayurveda, exploring the elements, doshas and how this ancient wisdom can help us cultivate more self-compassion, rest, radiance and vitality.

✨Comment "THRIVE" and we'll send you the FREE class replay so you can watch it now!

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