Hey all! Navigating my own Grief while hosting a podcast about Grief has been interesting. And today’s episode is a short, honest check in from the middle of a season that’s held more grief and complexity than I can fully name. Not here, or now.

But what I can do, is show up the best way I know how, in the middle of the messy and not just at the end. While simultaneously practicing what it means to honor my capacity, show up without full clarity and to follow the quiet invitation to observe rather than explain.

You’re gonna hear my reflection on faith, the irony of my last episode on repression (thank you, Ricky!) and the sacred tension of asking God for assurance and finding presence instead.

Short and sweet.

And as always, thank you for being here.

-Rachel

How well can you experience big emotions and still stay present with yourself and others? Do you tend to push your feelings down or find them overwhelming to navigate? These questions are at the heart of what we discuss in today’s episode.

Dr. Ricky Barrows is a Clinical Psychologist originally from Lester, England now based in Nova Scotia, Canada. In his private practice, he provides psychological therapy and assessment for adults facing a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges.

If you've ever found it difficult to process your emotions or noticed a recurring pattern of shutting down during intense conversations, this episode will equip you with practical tools to break free from that cycle.

With his incredible gift of knowledge and grounding presence, Dr. Barrows makes this conversation both effortless and full of practical wisdom.

Press play and soak in an hour of free therapy that just might change the way you approach your emotions.

-Rachel

Find Dr. Barrow, here: https://www.drrickybarrows.com/

I can’t imagine hosting a podcast about grief and not having a conversation about suffering and how we understand its role and impact in our lives.

Today’s episode is a nod to my 16 year old self, who having experienced some life changing events already, craved conversations that could help me make sense of the suffering I had witnessed.

With me today to dive deep, is my friend Tamal. He is a mentor, storyteller, social-philosopher, retreat-leader and ceremonialist. He is also a painter, dancer, hermit and preposterous clown.

Tamal has been studying and teaching ancestral wisdom traditions for 27 years. Among other things, he was a monk for 11 years based in India, and trained in shamanism in Peru for 4 years after that. His summary conclusion about life is that the task is to transform our paradigm of duality into one of polarity. A fundamental part of this process is a re-orientation toward suffering.

We discuss his perspective on why looking directly at our own suffering, as well as that of those around us—in our homes, communities, and globally—can help us become more loving, beautiful, and potent in our service and our callings.

Imagine what can shift in our lives when we allow ourselves to be honest about the effects of our suffering, name our confusion and doubt, and dive deep beneath the surface to connect to sacred wisdom.

If you are someone who has wrestled with your own faith while suffering, no matter the framework of belief you come from, I believe this conversation will encourage you in your deeper exploration.

Push play, share and subscribe (of course)!

Also, thank you for supporting the show!

-Rachel

Where to Find Tamal:

Moonshine Mundali Community

Instagram: @Tamal.Kunj