What's the difference between a light worker and a shadow worker — and do you actually need both?

In this episode I break down how light work and shadow work address different dimensions of the psyche, why they're not at odds with each other, and how integration is the often-overlooked piece that connects the two. I talk about the pitfalls of each — how toxic positivity and endless self-inquiry can both become sophisticated forms of avoidance — and how to recognize which type of work or guide you actually need at any given moment.

I also interview myself about my own practice as a depth worker: how I came to shadow work, what a session with me actually looks like, how my human services background shapes the way I hold space, and why I use tarot, Vedic astrology, and cacao as my primary tools.

If you've ever felt like spiritual practice should feel better than it does, or like you've been doing the work but nothing is actually changing, this one is for you.

What is shadow work — really? Not the journal prompts and aesthetic content you've seen on Instagram, but the actual depth psychological process Carl Jung was pointing to when he wrote about the unconscious.

In this episode I break down the Jungian model of the psyche, define the shadow and explain why it forms, and talk about what shadow work actually looks like in day to day life — which is a lot quieter and less dramatic than social media would have you believe.

I also get into common misconceptions, the difference between catharsis and integration, when trauma is involved and what that means for how you approach the work, and how to know if it's actually doing anything.

If you've been curious about shadow work but wanted something more grounded than what's circulating online, this one's for you.

In this first episode of Moon Lodge Mingle, I introduce myself and share the story of how I came to do the work I do. I grew up in the Seattle area in a complicated household, and those early experiences — the chaos, the love, the grief — turned out to be the very things that set me on a path toward healing and self-understanding.

I talk about my lifelong fascination with psychology and altered states, how meeting my husband opened a door into metaphysics I hadn't been ready to walk through, and the dark night of the soul experience in 2019 that cracked everything open and brought me to therapy, spiritual practice, and eventually to the Moon Lodge.

I also share why I left my career in human services and disability advocacy to do this work, and what I believe is at stake when people commit to their inner lives.

This is a free-form, personal show. Expect honesty, depth, and the occasional ramble.