In this fourth episode of our "Self-Care as Magic" series, I speak with sexual educator and sensual self-care teacher Reba Thomas, aka Reba the Diva. Together, we discuss what it means to live a life that's emergent with magic and share ways that our sensual self-care is a form of magic in and of itself. Deeper, Reba coaches me through some of my own blocks to pleasure in real-time and helps me uncover a few important root fears. If you've ever struggled to receive pleasure, you'll want to listen to this!    We also discuss... - What it means to be a "magical" person. - Why following our spiritual path can simply mean being open to experiencing magic. - Ways that authentic anti-racist work is a much-needed form of magic. - And much more!   I hope you enjoy this episode and bask in Reba's radiance! You can learn more about Reba's work on her website and on Instagram.    Also, I explain in the introduction, I'm going to take a break from the podcast while I deal with some family medical issues this winter. However, I don't feel anywhere near done with this conversation about self-care as magic, so please expect some exciting new episodes as we get closer to spring!  

Welcome to our third episode in the self-care and magic series! Together we've been exploring the unique and often overlooked place magic has in our self-care and our lives. In this episode, I talked to my wildly talented and magical friend Sarita Rhodes. (We've known each other since I was 15 and in overalls!) Sarita is a dance scientist, choreographer, and movement lover. During our conversation, Sarita shares her magical journey of becoming herself and what it takes to live an uncharted creative life. We also talk about why she finds so much magic in dance, in motherhood, and just in simple day-to-day living.

We also discuss:

- How our attitudes about abundance influence our experience of magic.  - Why it's so easy to overlook the everyday magic of living in our modern world.   - Why having an imagery practice is so important for self-care thriving.

And much more! 

Listen and be inspired! I always am when I talk with Sarita. You can learn more about Sarita's work at http://www.saritalou.com and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/saritalou/

 

We're back with the second episode in my new series on self-care as magic! In this one, I speak with folk healing artist Richael Faithful (pronouns they/them) about how to live a magical existence within the very real realities of our modern world. Richael shares about their own journey with magic--through their childhood connection to nature through their current practice of the African diasporic tradition of conjure. Further, we discuss why embracing magic is the self-care technology that can help us evolve through the current world crises and relearn what it means to live in a community.    We also speak about:  - How to handle the tension between magical and scientific approaches (they're not as different as you may think!). - Why it may be important to choose a magical self-care practice connected to your own background and ancestry.  - Why learning how to help others through moments of grief may be one of the ultimate magical self-care practices.  - And much more!    I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it with Richael! Please listen and let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.    You can learn more about Richael's work at https://www.richaelfaithful.com

Hello podcast listeners, I've missed you! After more than 10 months, I'm back with a new podcast. Actually, I'm back with a whole new podcast series! 

Over December and January, I'll be exploring the relationship between magic and reality in our self-care, our lives, and our world. Finding the right balance of these two extremes has completely transformed my life. Now I believe this balance could be helpful for our world, especially as we enter into what looks like another tough year of life.    As part of this magic + reality series, I have amazing guests lined up with lots of self-care goodness to share! Expect to meet some of my favorite magical realists over the next few episodes of the show.    In this episode, however, it's just me! I share my thoughts on why truly becoming an adult means finding the sweet spot between magic and reality and offer three super boring self-care practices that will give you an amazing amount of magical energy. Listen to learn more!    Are you intrigued by how this relationship between magic and reality can fuel your self-care in 2021? If so, please sign up for my Sensational New Year's Self-Care Jubilee workshop on January 1st from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. I'll share my favorite life-affirming self-care with you and also include lots of surprises, a touch of mystery, and a special guest or two. One hundred percent of the money will go to pay BIPOC teachers within my self-care community who hold the space for the BIPOC members.     Also, please consider buying my book "selfcarefully" for your loved ones this holiday season. It's a great option for anyone who's had a tough year or could just use more of the life-giving energy of self-care in their lives. Get your copy here!

Feeling your feelings seems like a pretty simple concept, right? But if so, why do so few of us know how to really do it? Perhaps we need to go back to the basics, or as Rachel Kaplan of the Healing Feelings Sh*t Show podcast puts it, do some emotional potty training. Rachel has dedicated herself to helping others learn to feel their feelings and have fun in the process of self-exploration. 

In our conversation, we discuss: why it can be so hard to access our feeling within our current society, the connections between our emotional blocks and our physical blocks (ie, the sh*t), the tools that can help you process hard-to-feel feelings, and so much more!    To stay in touch with Rachel's work, please check out the healingfeelingshitshow.com or search for the Healing Feeling Sh*t Show wherever you find podcasts. 

How is your unaddressed trauma affecting your self-care? Do you sense that facing the difficult places in your past will help you move forward in your life?   My conversation with psychotherapist and somatic intimacy coach Lori Beth Goldman will help you find self-care as you explore the harder parts of your life journey. A trauma specialist, Lori helps women move past chronic suffering into true confidence and power.    In our conversation, we discuss the importance of feeling and trusting our bodies, why women need to take particular care when addressing their trauma, and how facing our trauma can actually unlock loads of joy. I hope you enjoy and find the self-care you need!   To learn more about Lori, you can check out her website and blog at www.loribethgoldman.com or by phone at (510) 414-5701. You can also follow her on facebook at loribeth or on instagram at feminine.somatic.alchemy     She also shares her personal transformational journey in the essay "Your Freedom Lies in the Struggle" as part of the Amazon compilation book, "The Empowered Woman Series."  

If you've read even a little bit about psychology, you've probably encountered the concept of having a "shadow." So, what does this really mean and how does the shadow relate to our personal self-care?   In this conversation with Danish Organizational Psychologist Nina Jensen, we take time to explore the shadow, particularly why we tend to avoid it and how facing our shadows directly can help us grow in incredible ways. Nina shares from her personal experience of learning to see and embrace her shadow as a source of strength and the ways she's learned to apply these self-care tools to her work with helping organizations work through conflict and grow. To learn more about Nina's work (and if you read Danish!), visit: https://cosma.dk

Do you feel turned off or disillusioned by the political discourse these days? Or, do you just want to understand more about the connection between your personal self-care and progressive politics?

If so, my conversation Mckayla Wilkes, who is running against incumbent Steny Hoyer in Maryland's 5th District of Congress, will inspire your own political and personal power. Mckayla decided to run for office after a series of difficult experiences in the criminal justice system that stemmed from trauma in her youth. Instead of hiding her story out of shame, she's decided to share her full experience to help others who are struggling and heal a system that lacks empathy for challenging life experiences. Now she's taking on one of the most powerful members of Congress and gaining amazing momentum!

During our time together, we discuss: the power of empathy and how progressive politics is fueled by it, how to recognize and honor your personal power (even when it's doubted by others), the self-care you need to run for office, and much more.

Also, as I mentioned in the opening, my husband Micah and I are hosting a fundraiser for Mckayla on November 10th in Washington, DC. If you can make it, we'd love to have you there! Use this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mckayla-fundraiser-1110 to buy tickets or just make a donation. To learn more and support Mckayla's campaign:Website: www.mckayla2020.com Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Handle: @MeetMckayla

Do you wish you had more intimacy in your life? Or maybe you want less? Or perhaps you just want to figure out what healthy intimacy really means?   If you struggle to find the right balance of intimacy, you're most definitely not alone! Sex and relationship coach Dalia Perez struggled with those same issues herself and in working through them, found a path for helping others in their relationships.     During our conversation, we discuss: why boundaries are so important in our relationships (and still can be so hard to set!), how motherhood can affect our desire for intimacy, intimacy self-care for those not in romantic relationships, and much more!   To learn more about Dalia's work visit her website: https://dalia-perez.com

Are you interested in learning more about Ayurveda, but feel like it's hard to integrate the ancient knowledge into your modern lifestyle? Ayurvedic teacher France Brunel started her wellness platform Yoom to help make Ayurveda's practices and philosophies more accessible to today's world. Her goal is to help democratize this healing tradition so that more people may benefit from its self-care wisdom. 

In our conversation, we discuss: how the Ayurvedic framework can radically change your sense of self, simple ways to practice Ayurveda that don't take extra time and money, and why democratizing Ayurveda is so important for our collective well-being. 

 

You can follow France's work here:  https://www.liveyoom.com @liveyoom (Instagram)

Do you lose yourself easily in relationships? Do you have a hard time being okay when others aren't? Do you watch the news and often get lost in your rage about our current state of political affairs?

Join the club! So many of us are struggling with these incredibly challenging codependent/enmeshed dynamics in our personal relationships and beyond. These toxic forces can subtly and overtly disrupt our self-care and leave us feeling like we aren't worthy of caring for ourselves.

There is relief though! In this episode, I share the three self-care practices and perspectives that have helped me come into healthy relationship with the people in my life. I also offer the ways I create more internal serenity with the bigger political/societal forces at play, while not losing my focus on creating a more just, beautiful world for all. 

Understanding the connection between the personal and political is more important than ever. If you struggle with practicing self-care, it's important to understand how these damaging societal forces are inhibiting your well-being. If you are trying to make bigger change in the world, a practice of authentic self-care will ensure that you're not unconsciously furthering toxic dynamics in your activism. 

One of the most powerful ways to practice self-care is by joining a self-care community. For this, almost a year ago I created the Beautiful Life Collective, a community of amazing women practicing authentic self-care together. This is the self-care that changes lives and creates a true culture of self-care (the kind that spreads quickly to the other people in our lives and beyond!).

We are open for new members until Friday, June 21st until midnight EST! To learn more go here: https://gracy-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/thebeautifullifecollective

Please write me at gracy@selfcarewithgracy.com if you have any questions about joining! Looking forward to supporting your self-care! 

Woohoo, Micah and I got married! To celebrate (and process our immense wedding weekend), I invited my now-husband back on the podcast. During our conversation, we spoke about: why our wedding ceremony felt so intense, how we are practicing self-care while parenting a toddler, ways to embrace the mundane aspects of life as spiritually transcendent, and much more! Have a listen and see what self-care it sparks for you!

 

Right after turning 50, author and speaker Maria Leonard Olsen's whole life changed. She got divorced, she got sober, and she started taking self-care seriously. These important self-care shifts launched a more authentic life for Maria, one that she bravely shares with others to support their healing.    In our conversation, we speak about the connections between self-care and social justice, how to set stronger boundaries so we can live with more purpose, and why it's important to be vulnerable and share our whole selves in order to heal.    To learn more about Maria's work: www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com https://www.facebook.com/FiftyAfter50/...  https://www.instagram.com/fiftyafter50/  https://twitter.com/FiftyAfter50

Despite trying not to care what others think, do you still find yourself struggling with you "should" and "shouldn't" do as a woman? Underneath it all, do you limit your life out of fears of what might happen if you were to really be authentic?    During my conversation with WOMENdon'tDOthat podcast and blog founder Myrrhanda Novak, we cover a lot of territory! We discuss what it means to be a modern, integrated woman and how live as a feminist against the backdrop of seemingly-conventional institutions, like Christianity. Also, Myrrhanda shares the experience of losing her 16 month-old son and the self-care that helped her through this immensely difficult period.    To stay in touch with Myrrhanda and and connect to the WOMENdon'tDOthat movement, you can visit her website

Do you wish you could "do" mindfulness better? Do you find yourself getting perfectionist about your spiritual practices? If so, please listen to this conversation to find much-needed relief!   In my conversation with Buddhist Teacher Annie Mahon, we share our own messy, real-life stories of spiritual development, and together, debunk the myth that spirituality should look any certain way. We discuss Annie's concept of "raw mindfulness", our experiences of authentic leadership, and the self-care practices that keep us truly grounded in ourselves.   Learn more about Annie's work: At her website: On Facebook: On Instagram:

Do you wish you could "do" mindfulness better? Do you find yourself getting perfectionist about your spiritual practices? If so, please listen to this conversation to find much-needed relief!   In my conversation with Buddhist Teacher Annie Mahon, we share our own messy, real-life stories of spiritual development, and together, debunk the myth that spirituality should look any certain way. We discuss Annie's concept of "raw mindfulness", our experiences of authentic leadership, and the self-care practices that keep us truly grounded in ourselves.   Learn more about Annie's work: At her website: On Facebook: On Instagram:

Are the little things in life - the errands and chores - burning you out? How can we make the everyday stresses of "adulting" a creative act? During this episode, I speak with creativity-focused life coach Helen McLaughlin about ways to bring more self-care and joy into the seemingly never-ending to-do list of being a responsible adult.    In our conversation, we discuss our views on this recent article about the "burnout generation", ways to bring more creativity into a 40 hour work week, and why it's so important create joy out of the monotonous acts of parenting.    To learn more about Helen's work, visit helenmclaughlin.com and sign up for her weekly newsletter: helenmclaughlin.com/theinsiders. Also, she's on Instagram at @wonderinghelen  On the second Friday of every month, Helen hosts a free co-working event called Get It Done Day. They've been going strong since November 2017! Folks need only to register (at that link above) and then show up with a handful of their most dreaded tasks, or those things they've just avoided doing for too long. Together, we get our stuff done...and have some fun in the process.  

In this episode, I interview designer + illustrator Maria Habib and Erin Segal, creator of Thick Press. Together we make up the team that is creating my upcoming book "Selfcarefully."    Listen to our conversation to learn how I wrote my book over a series of short train rides, the ways we incorporated self-care into our planning process and our ideas on publishing a book in a revolutionary way.    Also, get ready to order your copy of "Selfcarefully," which will be available this spring! 

During this self-care interview, revolutionary herbalist April Rameé shares why we feel so at home in nature and how to extend these same principles to being in community with people. We also discuss how to learn from and heal with plants, even when you are really busy and the world kinda feels like its falling apart. April's ideas are as revolutionarily uplifting as they are anciently wise.    Leran more about April's work: At her website  On Facebook On Instagram

This episode features one of my oldest friends who also happens to be one of the most creative thinkers I know! Creativity expert Harper Marten has brought together her years of arts education with her path of spiritual self-inquiry to create a business of subscription creativity boxes that helps others connect and grow through fun, interactive art projects.     During our time together, we spoke about why creativity is so dang important, why we need to practice it often (especially within the many problems in our world) and how the practice of self-inquiry fits into a creative lifestyle.     As a special gift for Self Care with Gracy podcast listeners, Harper is offering a 25% discount on her creativity boxes through December 1st! Visit her website, click on "Shop" and to receive your discount, enter in coupon code: BeautifulLife