Inner Work: A Spiritual Growth Podcast

The process of awakening will cause you to outgrow certain situations, relationships, people, habits, and ways of thinking/being. This happens naturally as you evolve and shed old, outdated layers of yourself. In this episode, partly inspired by the 8 of Cups from the Tarot, I talk about this process of outgrowing things and people and how it can bring up some deep fears of losing your identity, status, and the life you've been building for years or even decades. Join me for a conversation on: possible signs & indicators that you've outgrown something how to deal with the discomfort of walking away from an established relationship, career, or personal situation how to start figuring out what needs to be released from your life the importance of conserving your energy by stepping away from the things, people, and situations that no longer fit you   Thank you for tuning in! One of my current goals is to keep the podcast ad-free for good while I continue producing this content every week. To help me achiev

My guest for this episode is Dr. Lissa Rankin, a healer, author, mystic, and activist committed to healing the landscape of healthcare. In this interview, we reflect on deep questions including:  When it comes to healing from illness and injury, how is it that some people do everything right and stay sick, while others fully recover? How does faith healing work - or does it? Can we make ourselves more miracle-prone to faciliate healing and recovery? Why do some healers and doctors abuse their power, and how does a healer's personal qualities factor into the healing process?   In her new book, Sacred Medicine: A Doctor's Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing, Dr. Rankin shares her seven-year journey to answer such questions, from pilgrimage spots to holy mountains, from faith healers to prayer circles, as well as her conversations with healing and trauma experts including Dr. Gabor Mate, Donna Eden, and Richard Schwartz. In her book, Dr. Rankin shares the wisdom and practical healing tools learned from e

There are so many choices you make every day, from the mundane and minor to life-defining choices. This episode of AWAKENING is all about using the choice points you face every day as a kind of spiritual practice - as an opportunity to notice what you're choosing for yourself as well as which parts of you are informing your decision-making. Bringing more consciousness to this can help you slow down and make the most aligned, supportive, and life-affirming choices. For some specific examples, we'll look at how you're navigating choices around food, rest, and sticking to a daily spiritual practice or routine (and what happens when resistance comes up or if you have conflicting parts of you pulling you in two directions). In this episode, I mention my goal to keep the podcast ad-free indefinitely. If you've gotten some value out of the podcast and can help me make that happen, you can donate ANY amount that works for you here: https://square.link/u/2O7ZaHO0 Thank you so much for your presence and support! The po

What is shadow work? And how can you do it responsibly and effectively? This episode of Inner Work explores the shadow as a "dark aspect of the personality", in the words of Carl Jung. Your shadows are aspects of yourself that, for whatever reason, you've deemed as unacceptable or shameful. And so you repress these aspects into the subconscious. However, your unexamined and un-integrated shadows will continue to make themselves known and influence your behavior in one way or another. So, this episode addresses: what is shadow work? secondary and primary shadow archetypes (which do you recognize in yourself?) key principles and suggestions to make your shadow work as effective and transformative as possible how to avoid spiritual bypassing when doing shadow work a 4-step method for doing shadow work as an ongoing practice in your life   Here's the blog post where I outline my 4-step shadow work method, in case you want to refer to that: https://josephinehardman.com/how-to-do-shadow-work-a-4-step-guide/ To c

This episode of AWAKENING focuses on all kinds of childhood losses, from the seemingly minor to the life-altering. I talk about some of the intangible childhood losses that might still be impacting you today - for instance, the loss of childhood innocence or playfulness if you were forced to grow up too fast. This episode also defines childhood losses as anything that, ideally, you should've been given as a child but - for whatever reasons - was not provided. Some essential things that were not provided might include a feeling of safety and belonging, comfort, encouragement, the soothing presence of an emotionally stable caregiver, and unconditional support. I share how I've been coping with some of my own childhood losses (related to moving away from my home country at age 11) and suggest a few practices for you to work through yours. For example, I mention working with the throat chakra through a guided meditation. You can find that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwzSOF9GEHo&t=31s Important note:

My guest for this episode, Johnny Guidry, is a speaker, podcaster, and spiritual and career coach focused on helping others awaken to their most authentic and intuitive life. His career progression includes 16 years of learning design and management, human resources, project management, and operations.  Johnny’s current path of spiritual growth has been a decade-long process facilitated by his experiences with alcoholism, compulsions around eating, shopping, and sexual behavior, morbid obesity, social anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. Today, Johnny has been sober for over 13 years, has lost 200 lbs, recovered emotional and physical health, is debt free, and most importantly has learned to be still, connect with his highest self, and live by intuition.  In this episode, we talk about: the path of sobriety surrender & self-acceptance as healing practices letting go of self-defense dropping ego attachments reshaping your identity after a spiritual awakening   You ca

As humans, we sometimes develop a survival or coping mechanism of bracing against - bracing against other people, against pain and suffering, against potential criticism or rejection, against vulnerability, and even against life itself. As a spiritual and psychological state, bracing serves at least two functions: to push away unpleasant things, and to hold on tightly to the people, things, and relationships we already have in our lives (typically out of fear that you might lose those things in the future). In this act of bracing, which involves a self-defensive stance, there's a fundamental lack of trust. A lack of trust in yourself, in life, and in your ability to handle life - no matter what arises. Bracing for a long time can have harmful effects on your entire system, including your body, physical health, mental health, and ability to connect spiritually. In this episode of AWAKENING, I delve into this coping mechanism of bracing, discuss its long-term consequences and effects, and offer some suggestions

This episode of Inner Work addresses some common questions and misconceptions about the Akashic Records. Specifically, I answer these questions: Is there only ONE way, method, or prayer to access the Akashic Records? Aren't the Akashic Records a tool of the third dimension? Where are the Akashic Records located? Why are the Akashic Records accessible to us? What's the ultimate purpose for humanity? Can healing happen spontaneously inside the Records?   I mention a few resources in this episode. You can access those here: Free introductory guide to the Akashic Records: https://josephinehardman.com/akashic-records-intro/ Akashic Records Level 1 course: https://josephinehardman.com/work-with-me/akashic-records-training-level-1/ Akashic Records Certification Program: https://josephinehardman.com/work-with-me/akashic-records-certification-program/ Thank you for tuning in! Please send a note to me@josephinehardman.com if you have questions or feedback. I love to hear from you and respond to every email. Music &

Ideally, on the spiritual path we use our triggers and challenges as opportunities to become more conscious and awake. This brand new series, AWAKENING, is our next adventure - and evolution - following my TRIGGERED! series.  Awakening is a continuous, ever-unfolding process and not something we can force, rush, or put on any specific timeline. With this series, we'll continue exploring some of our triggers and challenges while also delving into key spiritual concepts and practices that can help us move through those challenges. This inaugural episode focuses on SURRENDER: what does surrender really mean, and how can we practice it? how surrender can liberate you from anxiety, ego attachments, codependence, and the tendency to control your life and the lives of others 3 specific examples of surrender from my own life (in career, friendships, and health) surrender as a practice of making friends with WHAT IS and becoming free of resistance   To explore my work, please visit www.josephinehardman.com I'd also

Join me for this episode of TRIGGERED! as we explore all things ego. Your ego carries your sense of self, your self-image, the stories you tell and believe about yourself (especially as compared to other people), and your attachments to things like your car, house, relationships, social status, money, etc. The ego's primary agenda is to make sure you're keeping up appearances, looking good to others, being accepted, and maintaining the status quo. Therefore, the ego is constantly on the lookout for anything that might threaten your sense of identity. In this episode, we'll explore: what is the ego? the mechanisms the ego uses to try to maintain the status quo and avoid risk & discomfort some of the common lies and illusions your ego might tell you how the ego causes suffering how to help yourself transcend your ego - or at least shift your relationship to it   To explore my services or connect with me, please head over to www.josephinehardman.com  You can also send a note to me@josephinehardman.com  I l

This is the final episode in my four-part series on the Tarot suit of Cups. Join me for a conversation on: - learning how to reclaim your intuition and dance to your own rhythm with the Page of Cups  - the Knight of Cups as encouraging you to fall in love with life (or a person!) again, but without idealizing people or relationships - learning how to be highly sensitive and maintain a sense of emotional stability with the Queen of Cups - the King of Cups as a card of emotional intelligence, wisdom, and being mindful about overindulgence   To request episodes on the Tarot suits of Wands and Pentacles (which I haven't covered yet), please write to me@josephinehardman.com and let me know you'd be interested! Some resources I mentioned during this episode: Podcast episode 114: The Sword Court Cards (with a general introduction to the court cards) Abraham Hicks on using your emotions as a guidance system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzlWDkFxo3g Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the podcast!   Mus

Welcome back to TRIGGERED! New year, new triggers for us to deal with.  In this episode, I talk about the experience of having an emotional flashback. This is when something (or someone) triggers you to regress to a feeling or emotional state from the past, which could be from an earlier age in your current lifetime or even a past life. Topics include: what is an emotional flashback? common triggers that set off an emotional flashback signs & symptoms that you're experiencing an emotional flashback a 3-step process to support yourself and move through an emotional flashback In this episode, I mention a book by Pete Walker, Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. I highly recommend this book if you want to explore childhood trauma, complex PTSD, and emotional flashbacks in more depth. To suggest a future topic, ask a question, or share feedback, please write to me@josephinehardman.com To explore my services, courses, or healing work, head to www.josephinehardman.com Thank you for tuning in! Please take

Welcome to the third episode in my four-part series on the Tarot suit of Cups. This installment covers the 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Cups, focusing on: - the 7 of Cups as a card of new possibilities (and both the excitement and paralysis that can arise from having to choose a path) - a cup-by-cup interpretation of the 7 cups (what they each mean) - the 8 of Cups as a card of outgrowing established relationships, career, hobbies, habits, and lifestyle - the 9 of Cups and the importance of releasing guilt and feelings of selfishness for doing well and manifesting abundance for yourself - the 10 of Cups as a fairytale ending card, but inviting you to define your own version of happiness To explore my courses and services, please head over to www.josephinehardman.com  To get in touch, share feedback, ask a question, or suggest a future topic, send a message to me@josephinehardman.com  I host free monthly Tarot challenges to help you develop your intuition and Tarot reading skills. To join the next one, go here: https://

This is part two in a four-part series on the Tarot suit of Cups. (I highly recommend listening to episode 1 first and then returning to this one, if you haven't already! The episodes build on each other in some ways.) In this installment, join me for an exploration of: the 4 of Cups as a card of apathy, restlessness, and boredom - and how to shift out of this state to receive help and inspiration from the Universe the consequences of forgetting to "look up" to the heavens and getting caught up in day-to-day life the 5 of Cups as a card of deep, sometimes paralyzing grief and disconnection from Spirit the 6 of Cups as a card of nostalgia - and how that sense of longing for (or idealizing) the past can sometimes prevent us from being present now the healing power of laying the past to rest To connect with me directly, you can visit www.josephinehardman.com or join me at https://instagram.com/healer.josephine to participate in my free monthly Tarot challenges. Questions, feedback, or suggestions for a future

Perfectionism and hypervigilance are often maladaptive ways in which we've learned to stay safe in the world (or to at least try to stay safe). They're also patterns that we sometimes acquire in response to trauma, and to prevent a similar trauma or hurtful experience from happening again. The problem with these patterns is that they keep you so limited, living a tightly controlled life as you try to do everything perfectly - to BE perfect - and avoid making any mistakes. Some of the core symptoms of being stuck in perfectionism and hypervigilance include: difficulty settling down after activity and fully relaxing (especially if the activity is stressful or highly stimulating) feeling creatively drained or blocked ("if it's not going to be perfect, I'm not even gonna try" syndrome) constantly bracing yourself for the other shoe to drop being stuck in hyper-activity, hyper-productivity, and ruminating thoughts harsh inner critic and constant self-evaluation (and paralyzing fear of others' criticism!) feeling

Due to overwhelming demand following my series on the Tarot Swords, I'm happy to present this four-part series on another Tarot suit: the Cups. In this first installment of four episodes, I lay the groundwork for taking you through a deeper, psychospiritual understanding of the suit of Cups. Join me for a discussion of: - the suit of Cups as representing a primarily feminine energy (in contrast, particularly, to the very phallic suit of Swords) - how the suit of Cups challenges us to embody the energies of surrendering, flexibility, flow, and receptivity - the Ace of Cups as a card of total Divine connection and spiritual solace - the 2 of Cups as a card for healing dysfunctional relationship patterns, especially unequal power dynamics in romantic relationships - the 3 of Cups as a card that challenges us to overcome interpersonal trauma so we can celebrate ourselves and each other, particularly in the context of female friendship I'll be referring to the Rider Waite Smith deck if you want to follow along wit

Aaah, the holidays... a magical time of gathering with loved ones and celebrating our blessings. That is, ideally!  For many people, the holidays can be a lot more stressful, draining, or anxiety-inducing than the picture-perfect image of a loving family gathered around a fancy table. The holidays - whichever ones you choose to celebrate - can bring up mixed emotions or fill you with anticipatory dread, worry, and stress. In this special holiday edition of TRIGGERED!, I talk about: - the importance of breaking with old traditions that feel draining, confining, or dysfunctional - creating your own traditions that feel more aligned and peaceful - reinforcing boundaries with family members during the holidays - liberating yourself from burdensome family expectations and using the holidays as an opportunity to practice saying NO - ways to protect yourself energetically & physically if you choose to gather with family You might find this resource helpful if you do get triggered at some point during the holiday

Tyrone is a dream-time coach and creator of The Activated Dreamer Workshop and Masterclass. In the past, Tyrone was a stuntman, co-founder of a non-profit art therapy program, and founder of a mindfulness app. His background is in energy medicine, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, and shamanism.   He teaches students around the world to use their dreams as a healing modality and transformational tool, so they can tap into their inner source of wisdom and guidance.   In this conversation, we talk about: Tyrone's early fascination with dreams and how he discovered their healing potential  the importance of developing your own system or approach of dream interpretation (without automatically turning to books or other sources of dream interpretation) what anxiety dreams and nightmares are trying to communicate to you the possibility of traveling to the astral plane through your dreams the practice of lucid dreaming - and some techniques to get started To explore Tyrone's work, please visit https://www.soul-dreamer

Have you found yourself reaching for whatever it is you can - a substance, experience, behavior, or whatever else - to escape the present moment? Yup, I've done that too. Many times! This episode of TRIGGERED! is, in many ways, a continuation of my episode on addictions and compulsive behavior. But this time we're focusing on the impulse to "check out", to not be here, to not be in your body, to escape reality. Join me for a discussion of: - where the impulse to check out or escape comes from (and how it relates to being highly sensitive) - why and how this impulse drives us to engage in self-destructive or harmful behaviors - why it's important to NOT demonize or punish yourself for wanting to escape - recognizing that your addictions and attachments to the things, substances, and behaviors you use to check out are not happening in a vacuum; there are entire industries invested in keeping you addicted (and how touching into your sacred anger about this can help in breaking those attachments) To connect with

Mary O'Dwyer holds a PhD in food science and is a certified Transformational Breath facilitator. She helps her clients heal emotional traumas and release limiting beliefs, which then allows them to move forward in life with renewed conviction, direction, and purpose. In this interview, we talk about: how Mary's Catholic upbringing informed her behavior and self-perception (and how she shifted from being "religious" to being "spiritual") how Mary realized that despite many external achievements, her life was not fulfilling her - and what she did to transform that the process through which Mary learned to open her heart and become vulnerable what Transformational Breath is and how it can help you release trauma and heal the importance of moving beyond "talking" to heal at a somatic and spiritual level To connect with Mary, please visit www.marysbluedoor.com or https://instagram.com/marysbluedoor To connect with me (Josephine), head over to www.josephinehardman.com Thank you for tuning in and supporting the po