My guest on this episode is Mark Carter, a dear friend and one of my most trusted spiritual mentors. Mark co-owns and operates Zen Soul Balance, a holistic wellness company based in San Diego specializing in yoga, sound therapy, mindfulness, and meditation. He holds dual-graduate degrees in education and spirituality, and has several certifications in yoga and sound healing therapy. Mark has completed post-graduate work in the disciplines of spiritual formation and leadership and has served as a retreat leader for over 15 years. As an artist and yogi, his interests focus on the intersection of meditation, asana and sound therapy as a catalyst to inspire others to live wholehearted, healthy lives. We have a very deep and personal conversation that I hope inspires you, wherever you are on your spiritual journey. I encourage you to take notes, to pause and reflect as much as necessary to engage with and really feel into these topics. Mark is an exceptionally articulate, brilliant and a compassionate teacher and it's a huge honor for me to be able to take in and share his insights through this platform. HIGHLIGHTS: -What does it mean to be spiritual? What is a contemplative life? -Common truths & crossovers in global disciplines (Western faiths and Eastern practices) -The power of mystery, prayer, and rituals -The essence of being human—encountering infinite Love -Chakra theory & how it influences spiritual maturity -Embodied spirituality—Experiencing how everything is connected -How to recognize & connect to that which is Sacred -The benefits and future of sound healing and sound therapy AND SO MUCH MORE! Follow Mark and Zen Soul Balance on IG @zensoulbalance or @mcphoto_and_yoga or go to www.zensoulbalance.com for events and upcoming trainings. Books and Authors for Reference: James W. Fowler, American Theologian & Professor of Theology Erik Erikson, German-American Psychologist (Theory of Psychosocial Development) Henri Nouwen, Dutch Catholic priest, & theologian(Life of the Beloved) Thomas Merton, American Trappist monk & mystic (Mystics and Zen Masters) Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk Julie Cameron, American teacher & writer (The Artists' Way) Richard Rohr, American writer & Franciscan friar(Everything Belongs) Joshua Leeds, American sound researcher & music producer (The Power of Sound: How to Be Healthy and Productive Using Music and Sound) The Scripps Institute, The Shiley Fitness Center (www.scripps.org) Mitchell Gaynor, American oncologist & w (The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music)