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Ep. 209 A Good Death: Sensuality, Life and Learning to Die Authentically with Katy Butler

Spirit Sessions Podcast Ep. 209 A Good Death: Sensuality, Life and Learning to Die Authentically with Katy Butler

Today Katie is joined by Buddhist journalist and New York Times bestseller, Katy Butler. Her books examine how our culture has over-medicalized death and lost touch with its sacredness. In this episode, Katy and Katie candidly discuss the topics others often avoid including food addictions, death and finding your voice in the bedroom!

If you’re ready to deepen your spiritual practice we invite you to join the 2025 class of our Divine Feminine Ayurveda School. Doors close soon, so click here to learn more and enroll today!

CW: Abuse against women and childhood abuse are mentioned in this episode which may be triggering for some listeners.

In this episode with Katy Butler, you’ll hear:

~ An invitation to our Feminine-Form Ayurveda School!

~ How Katy overcame her food addiction

~ How to start shedding shame

~ Katy Butlers’s experiences studying with Thich Nhat Hanh

~ The importance of telling your story

~ How Katy Butler found her journalistic voice

~ The five Buddhist remembrances

~ Lessons learned from watching a loved one die

~ What is a good death?

~ The Ars Moriendi (The Art of Dying)

~ Bringing homegrown ritual into your life and death

~ Finding your voice in the bedroom

~ How Katy keeps her relationship steamy in her 70s

~ Get our free mini-course about Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda!

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

~ Learn more about our Ayurveda School

~ Connect with Katy Butler on her website and Facebook

~ Katy’s first book, Knocking on Heaven’s Door

~ Katy’s latest book, The Art of Dying Well

~ Read Katy Butler’s article in Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Not Empty, Not Full

~ The Hite Report: A National Study of Female Sexuality

~ Our Spirit Sessions Membership

~ Follow The Shakti School on Instagram and Facebook

Related episodes:

~ Ep. 142 360 Degree Love: It Ain’t All Sex, Bonbons and Roses

~ Ep. 205 Winter Magic, Death and Dignity

Or Subscribe on iTunes

Learn more:

  • Ayurveda Certification
  • The Shakti School Subscription

Help Us Spread Our Pod Wings!

I hope you loved this discussion with Katy Butler! This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you love show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes
  3. Share this show with one friend right now!

It’s seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

From my heart to yours,

Katie

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Ep. 186 Menopause Made Me Look Like My Mother with Mary Thompson

This is a picture of Mary Thompson and Katie Silcox. It links to the show notes for and episode of the Spirit Sessions podcast about menopause.

If you’re perimenopausal or know someone in menopause, this episode is for you! Unfortunately, much of the mainstream conversation around menopause shames women for experiencing symptoms, but in this episode, Katie and fellow Ayurveda wise woman Mary Thompson offer a softer, more spiritual perspective. They discuss common symptoms of perimenopause, simple Ayurvedic practices you can use to mitigate these symptoms and the spiritual gifts of menopause!

Want to learn more about menopause and women's wellness from Mary Thompson and our other amazing teachers? Our year-long Ayurveda School is open for registration!

 

In this episode you’ll hear: 

~ What's going on in your body during menopause?

~ Freeing yourself from shame

~ Common perimenopause symptoms

~ Ayurvedic practices to prevent and soothe symptoms of menopause

~ The deeper meaning of our symptoms and struggle

~ What does Ayurveda say about bioidentical hormones?

~ The maiden, mother, creatrix and crone

~ The Ama - Agni - Ojas formula

~ Benefits of seasonal Ayurvedic Cleansing for hormone balance

~ The spiritual gifts of menopause

~ Sign up for our free mini-course about Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda!

 

Other links mentioned in this episode:

~ Mary's Podcast: Ayur.. What Now?

~ Mary’s website: The Ayurvedic Approach

~ Herbalist Susun Weed

~ Book: Strong Women Stay Young

Or Subscribe on iTunes

Learn more:

  • Ayurveda Certification
  • The Shakti School Subscription

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

Did you love listening to this conversation about menopause and Ayurvedic practices to sooth perimenopause symptoms? This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes
  3. Share this show with one friend right now!

It seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

Have fun stepping into the menopause energy of the Creatrix!

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

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Ep. 31 Better Digestion, Sex and Less Wrinkles? Thanks, Ghee!

Learn the ancient healing knowledge of Ghee and how it can be used to boost your digestion, sex and nourish skin.

In this episode I discuss:

~What the heck is a fat free burger?

~A dream about Ghee

~The truth about Fat

~How Ghee is healing and why Fat is your friend

~A fat-free lifestyle is a sex-free lifestyle.

~The mama energy

~The nectar of love

~Ghee as a Gut Balm

~Ghee moisturizer I love!

~Other Ghee products for the body: Banyan’s Beauty Balm, other balms

~How Ghee effects different tissues in your body

~How Ghee effects our fertility

~Ghee as a metaphor for love

~The use of Ghee in detoxification

~How to MAKE Ghee!

~Lineage of Love Free Trial!

~We have new friends in the Ahara Ghee family! Use promocode GHEESPOT at checkout for $5 off your order.

Studies Cited:

~Harvard Study: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/is-butter-really-back/

~Fats: https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/know-your-fats/the-skinny-on-fats/

Or Subscribe on iTunes

Learn more:

Shakti Ayurveda School

Lineage of Love Community

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes
  3. Share this show with one friend right now!

It’s seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

Continue Reading

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theshaktischool

TheShaktiSchool

Cleanses give you a sacred pause. A moment to say Cleanses give you a sacred pause. A moment to say hold on, let me get myself back. To stop running (or spinning) at max speed, reset your nutrition, get some deep sleep, and finally create space for the self care your body has been craving.⁠
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If your body has been whispering (or maybe screaming lol) that it needs some TLC, you are invited into the cozy cleanse cocoon we are creating.⁠
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This experience doesn’t just create surface-level change. It sticks. Here’s what a couple recent participants shared:⁠
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“Charlotte is an expert in what she does - her guidance is thorough, compassionate, and deeply supportive. The cleanse wasn’t just about me; it helped our entire household shift into a healthier, more balanced place - mentally, physically, and emotionally. I noticed improvements in digestion and sleep, and positive habits shifted quickly. What surprised me most was how nourishing and sustainable the experience felt - it wasn’t just a temporary reset, it genuinely changed the way I approach my well-being for my entire family. I feel capable of holding the changes long term.” - Christina Davis⁠
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“I felt immensely supported with Charlotte at my side! Her expertise and compassion were invaluable. I had never gone through a cleanse and was quite nervous. She made this understandable, doable, and her encouragement and wisdom helped me be successful! The combination of the nutritional cleanse with the spiritual practices really did allow me to heal some old lingering wounds and connect to myself on a whole different level.” - Megan Bailes⁠
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So if you’ve been thinking about joining, this is your gentle nudge. Our Kickoff Call is tomorrow at 12pm US Eastern and we begin the cleanse together this Monday, May 4th (active cleansing phase runs May 4-8). We’ll check in midweek on May 6th and wrap up with a Closing Call on May 9th to integrate your experience.⁠
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Can’t make it live or aren't able to cleanse that particular week? Don’t worry! All calls will be recorded and available to rewatch.⁠
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🌿 Comment “Cleanse Info” below for the link to register pay in full ($188) or with our payment plan option ($47/mo).
We’re so excited to announce that Dr. Jaclyn Tol We’re so excited to announce that Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, Board Certified Family Medicine physician, osteopath and functional medicine doctor will be teaching this month in Level 1! Her class will offer a holistic understanding of the thyroid. 🌿🫚🌀✨⁠
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🌸 Module 4 in our Level 1 Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Certification Training explores the bridge between Western science and Eastern wisdom, offering a grounded introduction to hormones, stress, inflammation, gut health, the nervous system, sleep and thyroid function through a holistic lens. You’ll also begin working more subtly with the body through energy work and learn how to craft your own meditations, so the teachings become something you can actually feel and embody.⁠
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We’re so excited to bring Dr. Tolentino’s dynamic expertise and wisdom to this module! Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino is a board-certified family medicine physician and Doctor of Osteopathy specializing in integrative and functional medicine, with a focus on hormone health, longevity, and root-cause healing. A 2022 member of The Shakti School’s Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Level 1 Program, Jaclyn brings both clinical expertise and a deeply personal approach to her work, bridging science with a whole-person, systems-based view of the body.⁠
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Her path into this work was shaped not only by her medical training through different modalities, but by her own healing journey, which continues to inform how she cares for patients and teaches others. Jaclyn is passionate about helping people understand the interconnected nature of the body—especially when it comes to the thyroid, hormones, and the role of the nervous system and environment in overall foundational health.⁠
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Jaclyn is the Founding Lead Functional Medicine Physician at Love.Life Los Angeles and has been featured in publications including Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, The Good Trade, Women’s Health, and many more.⁠
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Level 1 students — what topic from Module 4 are you most looking forward to? Let us know below. 👇🏼 🌹
When you were born with a whole ‘lotta pitta dos When you were born with a whole ‘lotta pitta dosha in your constitution… 🤣🔥🧨⁠
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One “quick task” turns into ten, the inner fire gets a little too bright and suddenly vata comes in and starts whipping it around… now you’re scattered, overdoing it and wondering why you’re completely burnt out. I bet you can relate, no? 😉⁠
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🌱 Learn more about the three Ayurvedic doshas in my podcast episode, “The Three Doshas: Are You a Bullfrog or an Orchid?” Comment “179” and I’ll send you the link!⁠
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Meme: Unknown
Ayurveda divides the tastes into six categories: s Ayurveda divides the tastes into six categories: sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent. The goal is to get a little of all six tastes into your meals (unless you are working with a specific imbalance or disease). ⁠
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Each taste has a medicinal value for both the body and the mind, in the proper amounts and at the right time. Here are the energetics of each.👇🏼⁠
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🥛 Sweet: Increases kapha, reduces pitta ⁠
• Grains, breads, rice, honey, sugar, meat, milk, most fats, most fruits, nuts⁠
• Builds, rejuvenates, nourishes, satisfies, grounds.⁠
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🍋‍🟩 Sour: Increases pitta and kapha, reduces vata ⁠
• Vinegar, sour apples, raspberries, tempeh, yogurt, fermented foods, citrus fruits⁠
• Cleanses, aids digestion, creates alertness in body and mind⁠
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🧂 Salty: Increases pitta and kapha, reduces vata ⁠
• Rock salt, sea salt, seaweed, seafood ⁠
• Opens blocked channels, improves circulation, creates a sense of enthusiasm⁠
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🌶️ Pungent: Increases pitta, reduces vata when taken in small amounts, reduces kapha⁠
• All spicy peppers and chilies, ginger, garlic, basil, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mustard, horseradish, oregano, rosemary, thyme, spearmint⁠
• Boosts appetite, purifies food, helps dissolve fat and toxins⁠
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🍵 Bitter: Increases vata, reduces pitta and kapha ⁠
• Leafy greens, green tea, mate⁠
• Antibacterial, detoxifying, the body, reduces tissues, cleanser for the organs⁠
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🫘 Astringent: Increases vata, reduces pitta and kapha ⁠
• Most lentils and beans (including green beans), green apples, pomegranate, cranberries, açaí berries, asparagus, teas high in tannins⁠
• Antiseptic, constricts channels that are overly open, holds nutrients in the body⁠
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🌙 Begin your study of feminine-form Ayurveda⁠. Comment WISDOM to get our free Women’s Wisdom & Ayurveda course and start learning.
This is your invitation to slow down and come back This is your invitation to slow down and come back to yourself. ✨⁠
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This spring cleanse is a week carved out just for you… to feel, to heal, to let go, to deeply nourish and restore.⁠
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This cleanse is for the ones who are always holding everything and everyone else, and are ready to create a little space for their own body, their own rhythm and their own breath.⁠
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An Ayurvedic Cleanse isn’t about deprivation. It’s about true nourishment… the kind you can feel in your digestion, your energy, your mood and your heart.⁠
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You’re invited to join us May 4–8 for a 5-Day Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse & Gut Reset guided by Charlotte Oddi, Ayurvedic Health Counselor and Shakti Ayurveda School graduate. This gentle, supportive experience is designed to help you reset digestion, lighten what’s been building and reconnect with your natural rhythm.⁠
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🌿 Included with registration:⁠
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• 3 live Zoom calls (Kickoff on Saturday the 2nd, mid-week call on Wednesday the 6th, and Closing Call on Saturday the 9th, all taking place at 12pm Eastern US Time)⁠
• Cleanse 101 Class to learn more about what Ayurvedic cleansing is (ready for you to watch in the classroom as soon as you sign up!)⁠
• Private cleanse community⁠
• Detailed Cleanse Guide + recipe book⁠
• 1 year access to recordings⁠
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Live calls are recorded, so you can still participate if you can’t attend live.⁠
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If this is calling to you, comment CLEANSE INFO for the link to join us. 💛⁠

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