Video: Anne Bérubé on the role of healing symbols in Huna philosophy.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
And so in the Huna tradition, there's a series of healing and manifesting symbols that people use to either heal themselves, heal someone else, or manifest a desired outcome. And so the way that Laura taught the symbols to me was very different than maybe other teachers in Hawaii. Instead of just giving me the symbol, she would actually wait for the symbol to reveal itself to me in time. So one night, after spending a couple of days with her, I had a dream of the Waha-Hamama symbol, it was in her awareness, she wanted to share it with me, but she wanted to wait until the symbol would reveal itself to me, I had a dream about it. And the next morning, I didn't know it was a symbol. And we were painting, that was one of the ways that she shared with me through art. And I started to paint the symbol. And that's when she knew I was ready to consciously receive this symbol. So what...

Deepening our trust in ourselves and in life allows us to reclaim a power we have disconnected from a long time ago, a power that lives in the body.

When rediscovered, this power helps us tap into our purpose from within and lead our life guided from within.

I'd like to share with you a visual guide—a compass of sorts—that beautifully illustrates the transformation that occurs when we choose to invite trust into our lives.

The chart below juxtaposes 'A life without trust' with 'A life with trust', illuminating the shift from self-doubt to self-love, from the fear of failure to viewing it as an opportunity for growth, and so much more.

It's a gentle reminder that when we choose to trust, we allow our inner light to guide us, transforming our fear into freedom. Now, let's dive into this exploration together.

From Fear to Freedom: 10 Powerful Shifts Through Embracing Trust

This podcast conversation was first published on June 15th, 2021.

We've all had moments, those seemingly insignificant decisions we make, without realizing that they could entirely alter the trajectory of our lives. Some moments are powerful reminders that life is unpredictable, ephemeral, and profoundly spiritual.

A harmless morning run: Amanda’s unexpected journey

One such moment in time was experienced by Dr. Amanda Eller, who opted for what seemed to be a harmless choice — a morning run. Little did she know that this decision would lead her down a path she hadn’t anticipated and one she'd remember for the rest of her life.

In May 2019, Amanda found herself lost amidst the thick foliage of the Maui jungle. It was not just a test of her physical stamina and resilience but an intense spiritual awakening, one that held her in its embrace for more than two weeks.

The uncharted spiritual expedition behind the sensation

On this gripping episode of the Embodied...

Listen to an audio version of this blog post, narrated by Anne Bérubé. Simply select the play button on the media player above.

The river loses its name as it flows into the sea.

-Kahlil Gibran

The last 2 years have been a period of transition for me. I knew I was done with how I had been doing things for the past decade, but I didn't know how things would change or where I was going. I remember thinking: I'm ready to give it all up, if this is the invitation. I don't have to keep any of it, if it doesn't fit with where I am going.

I began to make space by letting go of some things, but I quickly realized that it wasn't enough. This wasn't just about a change in what I did and how I did it. It was a change in identity. A transition in identity is always a little more tricky, especially if you enjoy who you have become.

I had become a teacher, an author, a guide. I created programs people enjoyed, and they were getting results. I wrote books people read and...

This 7-minute breathing practice invites you to enhance awareness and energy by deeply breathing through the skin and the surrounding space.

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth. When you breathe in, reach for the in-breath from deep inside your belly. Your belly is soft. And when you breathe out, drop your jaw soften your lips, soften your neck, and soften your throat.

Deepen your breath, and slow your breath down. When you breathe out, make a little constriction in your throat to make the sound "haa." And when you do this, it elongates your exhalation, building power, building strength, building energy. And it's also massaging your vagus nerve, this nerve that goes from the base of your brain, wraps around your organs as it goes down through your body and it tells your parasympathetic system that it is safe, that it can heal, that your body can tap into creativity and access something new.

Bring your...

This podcast conversation was first published on January 28th, 2021.

I had the honor of sitting down with the inspiring Naomi Irons and the illuminating Deborah Gleason for a heart-opening conversation on a topic that is, paradoxically, both deeply universal and profoundly personal: intimacy. This wasn’t just about the intimacy we share with others, but the profound connection we cultivate within ourselves, the one that ultimately shapes and deepens every other relationship in our lives.

In our hour-and-a-half-long discussion, I found myself reflecting on a thought I've been cradling for a while now: that death is perhaps the ultimate moment of intimacy. It’s a point in our lives where the veil between the tangible and the ethereal becomes so thin that it almost disappears. It's when we truly come face-to-face with the very essence of our being.

Highlights from our podcast discussion include:

• Connecting deeply with the Earth (Gaia) as a model of living and source...

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of connecting with the remarkable Bronnie Ware on the Embodied Podcast. Bronnie is acclaimed for her internationally bestselling memoir, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”; her life philosophy is centered around embracing regret-free living, a concept deeply resonant with my own teachings.

During our podcast conversation, we found ourselves reminiscing about the ever-inspiring Dr. Wayne Dyer. Recounting stories of our unique connections with him, our conversation wove through the realms of parenting, illness, and the importance of self-kindness. We reflected upon the essence of "leaving space"—a pause for breath, for presence, for allowing life to unfold organically.

We also discuss the writing process. We talk about our journeys through the winding paths of writing and publishing, and the complexities of public life. We explore the conundrums of creating a sustainable business model as a writer, a journey entwined with its own...

An audio version of this blog post is available. Navigate to the audio player above and select the play button to hear this blog post narrated by Anne Bérubé.

A trait spiritual masters share is their ability to feel emotions deeply. They know that their body is a highly sensitive instrument that permits them to know truths through feeling all of life, moment to moment.

They no longer need to actively establish defensive barriers; these arise naturally from the deep-seated knowledge within them. They no longer perceive threats they need to defend against. All of life is safe when you trust your instrument to lead the way.

The unseen impact of trauma: interrupted feeling and self fragmentation

Fully feeling the depth of each moment without barriers is a gift we all possess.

This capacity changes as we grow to adapt to our environment.

When trauma happens, a part of us shuts down and our subconscious mind doesn't allow us to feel certain aspects of an experience.

The...

This ten-minute guided meditation invites participants to focus on their breath and heart to connect with their innermost selves. 

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Make your breath deeper and more expanded. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. As you breathe deeply like this, just let your body know that for the next 10 minutes, there's nothing for you to do, nowhere to go, nothing to be worried about or concerned about but just letting yourself be guided.

As you go deeper into yourself see if you can reach for your in-breath deep inside your belly, so your belly is soft, like a Buddha belly, just hanging, and allowing the belly to expand, and the ribcage, and shoulder blades go back. And then when you breathe out and invite your jaw to drop, constricting the throat a little bit, softening your lips, your teeth, your gums, your jaw, the back of your neck, front of your throat with every exhalation, that's it.

Constricting the throat a...

An audio version of this blog post is available. Navigate to the audio player above and select the play button to hear this blog post narrated by Anne Bérubé. 

The importance of trust in transformation

I've been thinking a lot about trust lately and how it is such an essential element for any true transformation.

For many of us, trust is fragile, so when we are asked to trust ourselves, our body, that life has our back, or in the process of surrendering, it feels like putting our life into something or someone else's hands and it feels impossible. Yet, we need it to move forward, to allow newness to come into our life, and it is a required ingredient to experience authentic fulfillment.

Trust allows us to be vulnerable while feeling connected and safe. It will enable us to go to new places and explore new territories without worrying that we will be interrupted, arrested, or punished for having put our walls down.

The absence of trust shuts down...