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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

Continue Reading

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

September is such a threshold month in Ayurveda. 🍂 We begin to move into the cool, dry, mobile qualities of vata, which means many women start noticing more anxiety, dryness, irregular digestion, trouble sleeping or feeling a little less rooted. It’s time to lean into warmth and nourishment, and favor foods that build steadiness.⁠
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(For my Southern Hemisphere ladies… you’re moving toward spring and increasing pitta, so your bodies may be craving lighter and more cooling support. ❤️)⁠
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Some of my favorite September foods:⁠
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• Lentil soup is warming, grounding and nourishing for digestion as the air turns cooler⁠
• Nuts bring healthy fats and density, helping counteract vata’s dry, light qualities⁠
• Ghee lubricates tissues, supports digestion and mitigates dryness⁠
• Cooking your apples makes them softer and easier to digest in autumn⁠
• Sweet potato is grounding and helps build stability in the nervous system⁠
• Onions help stimulate sluggish digestion as temperatures drop⁠
• Oats are heavy, warming and comforting, making them ideal for balancing early vata season⁠
• Garlic stimulates agni and helps keep digestion strong⁠
• Dates are sweet, building and nourishing for depleted energy and dryness⁠
• Potatoes provide grounding carbohydrates when paired with healthy fats and spices⁠
• Chicken is warming and strengthening, helping rebuild tissues and sustain energy⁠
• Sesame seeds are one of Ayurveda’s favorite foods for vata because of their oily, warming qualities⁠
• Carrots offer sweetness and earthiness while supporting nourishment through seasonal transition⁠
• Basmati rice is easy to digest and pairs well with warming spices during autumn⁠
• Salmon provides nourishing fats that help counter dryness in the skin, joints and nervous system⁠
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🌹 The doors to our 2027 Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Certification are officially OPEN for Early Bird enrollment. If you’ve been feeling called to study Ayurveda in a deeper way, comment AYURVEDASCHOOL below and we’ll send you more information.⁠
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🌿 If you’re ready to explore an intuitive and embodied approach to healing and women’s health, comment WISDOM to get our free Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda mini-course right now.
Your body may not be asking for another supplement Your body may not be asking for another supplement, protocol or wellness optimization.⁠
⁠
She may be asking for your attention.⁠
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For touch. For rhythm. For nourishment. For a deeper understanding of the incredible systems constantly working beneath the surface.⁠
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In this one-hour workshop, Katie Silcox, NYT bestselling author and founder of The Shakti School, will explore full-body wellness through the lens of Feminine-Form Ayurveda. She will help connect the dots between hormones, stress, inflammation, digestion, lymphatic flow and the autonomic nervous system.⁠
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And you’ll learn the ultimate self-massage: a physical, sacred and deeply feminine practice you can bring into your own rhythm of self-care.⁠
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✨ FREE LIVE WORKSHOP⁠
✨ September 23 at 11am ET⁠
✨ Can’t make it live? Sign up and we’ll send you the recording.⁠
⁠
🧬 Register via the link in bio or comment FLOW and we’ll send you the link directly!
You can also use apples, apricots, pears and cherr You can also use apples, apricots, pears and cherries (as many fruits as you like!) in this beautifully warming winter fruit stew. Reserve the extra liquid for desserts, or even drink as a tea. 

As September winds down in the Northern Hemisphere, Ayurveda reminds us that our digestion begins to shift along with the seasons. As vata starts to rise, agni (our digestive fire) can become a little more delicate, making this the perfect time to welcome in warm, cooked, gently spiced foods that nourish both the gut and the nervous system. 

Sweet, sour and salty tastes become especially supportive right now because they help ground, hydrate and steady the body. This cozy stewed fruit recipe is one of my favorite ways to do that!

✨ Early Bird registration for our 2027 Level 1 Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Certification Training is now open. Comment AYURVEDASCHOOL to learn more or book a free call with one of our graduates.

🌀 Want to understand why foods and practices like this are so supportive for your nervous system? Comment ENERGY and we’ll send you the replay of my free class, Somatic Ayurveda: Balancing the Nervous System with Ancient Embodiment.
We’ve been taught to chase healing like an endle We’ve been taught to chase healing like an endless laundry list of ways to “fix” ourselves. ⁠
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But nervous system regulation doesn’t come from doing more…it comes from being with what’s here.⁠
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If you’ve been feeling amped, anxious or like your nervous system’s running on fumes, I FEEL YOU. ⁠
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And you’re not alone. ⁠
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But the truth is: your body was never meant to live in fight-or-flight all the time. ⁠
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What is more, have you ever noticed that you feel GUILTY about feeling out of whack? ⁠
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It’s like a double whammy to the soul (and the nervous system). ⁠
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Here’s what I want us all to remember: your nervous system isn’t broken.�⁠
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It’s just overwhelmed. Overcooked. Overlooked. I know you, because I AM you. ⁠
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Here are a few new ways I’ve been helping myself calm down from the inside out:⁠
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1️⃣ 🌬 Low-belly breath and minerals in my water before coffee. Two minutes. Hands on your womb. Feel the exhale lengthen. Drink water BEFORE caffeine in the AM. ⁠
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2️⃣ 🌿 Warm and wet heals everything. Warm water, warm foods, warm embraces and warm words to yourself.⁠
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3️⃣ 💃 Micro-movement = macro-shift. Roll your shoulders. Circle your hips. Shake for 60 seconds. ⁠
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4️⃣ 🕯 Create a micro-altar. Light a candle. Put a sticky note on it. Whatever it takes to find moments of intention.⁠
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5️⃣ 💗 Replace self-fixing with LOVING the ever loving heck out of this incarnation. You don’t need another plan. You need presence and love dropping down into your flesh like HONEY. ⁠
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With love,�Katie⁠
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💻 Want my FREE video masterclass on Somatic Ayurveda: Balance Your Nervous System with Ancient Embodiment? Just comment ENERGY below and I’ll send you the class where we dive in deep.⁠
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✨ At The Shakti School, we believe women's wellness isn't another protocol to perfect. It's a lifelong relationship with your body, your intuition and the wisdom of Ayurveda. Early Bird registration for our 2027 Level 1 training is officially open: comment AYURVEDASCHOOL to book a free coaching call and learn more.
Ready to learn how to transform your digestion wit Ready to learn how to transform your digestion with Ayurveda and support others in doing the same?! We have a whole module on Nutrition & Ayurvedic Cleansing in Ayurveda School Level 1, plus cooking classes with incredible chefs to inspire you! ⁠
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In the Nutrition & Cleansing Module we cover:⁠
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🥄  Six Tastes, Cravings, Rasa⁠
🥄  Digestion⁠
🥄  Kitchen Setup and Cooking Basics & Making Kitchari⁠
🥄  Cleansing Guide⁠
 🥄 Psychology of Eating⁠
🥄  Embodied Nourishment & Cooking⁠
🥄  Ayurvedic-Inspired Desserts Making⁠
🥄  Ayurvedic Dinner for the Whole Family Cooking Tutorial ⁠
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...and so much more!⁠
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Want to dive deeper? Katie shares ALL the Ayurvedic digestion secrets in Episode 4 of Spirit Sessions. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or comment “004” and we’ll send the episode straight to your DMs! ⁠

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