Episodes

  • The Voice of Intuition

    The Voice of Intuition
    May 7 2021
    The Voice of Intuition  Sexy Spirituality Episode #42  Host: Lezli Goodwin  Guest: Rev. Beverley Strutt, Assistant Minister at CSL East Hawaii  Guest: Rev. Nan Bankston, ancient lightworker and modern-day minister at CSL Grants Pass     Small Talk  Lezli, Rev. Bev and Rev. Nan share their stories about mothering in honor of Mother’s Day.    The Voice of Intuition  I’m delighted to have to lovely friends with me today, both of whom live from their deep well of intuition.  Our topic today is “The Voice of Intuition”  Beverley, can you start us off with your personal definition of intuition?:  First thing that rises up is “did I make the right choice”; however today, it is the voice I hear inside that is literally a constant guide.  I don’t even question it.  I listen and just do.  In hindsight I recognize it as that internal guidance of the Divine.  Nan:  Shows up for me as a deep knowingness without question that I’m making the right turn or decision.  There is ease.  I just know I am always guided and directed and it is always life affirming.    Life Affirming:  moving us in a positive direction, never cruel, never takes.  A giving and a guiding.  Nan:  Anything that looks smells or sounds like fear is not intuitive.  Life affirming for me  is also based in loving action for myself and others; not a knee jerk response.  Bev:  Over time listening to intuition, we allow the opening so when we hear it we tend to choose it.  Then there’s no doing anymore, we are just flowing.  Nan:  Intuition is always flowing down stream and it’s easy.  If I’m trying to fight my way upstream that is not intuitive insight.  It’s always easy and down stream.  Lezli:  I’m hearing Karen Drucker’s “Let go of the Shore”   How would you advise people to nurture their intuition? Nan:  There must be a connection to source.  The more time in communion with that presence, the more I developed the relationship that supported me to be able to receive the wisdom.  So, be still.  Be with yourself, your source energy and be open to receive.  This will develop a sense of confidence.  It takes consistency persistent and patience.  Bev:  It’s about reflection and connecting the dots because often we fail to look back enough to see what happened that led to where we are.  We then learn to trust the voice of intuition.  Lezli: Be in the listening, in the silence, pay attention to what has happened.  I also like journaling as reflecting and on the flip side, we can actively invite the opportunities to notice intuition in the present.  Practice on silly things; should I eat soup or carrot?  A feeling rises up from the inside and we then can learn what that feels like rising up within.    Bev: Willingness and desire are important too.  A willingness to feel vulnerable and trust the process.  I call willingness the combo code; it unlocks everything.  Open that desire to be guided.  Let’s talk Story! Share an Intuition Story!   Bev takes a cruise; Nan moves to NM; and Lezli shadow boxes with God.  Good News – Intuition will always come back around.  What is yours to be/know/have you can’t lose.  It will keep coming back around and may even become a 2x4 and smack you upside the head!  We mentioned Karen Drucker https://www.karendrucker.com/, Marianne Williamson (The Law of Circulation) https://marianne.com/,      Something Good  Nan:  I have been working on my website, https://www.123spiritinme.com/, it is an oasis of calm and wonder.  A pit stop in the middle of your day to get refreshed and revitalized.  Take a good look at it and let me know if there’s something you’d like to see.  My email is on the website.  Bev:  I invite anyone that wants to come and visit the big Island virtually, join us at Centers for Spiritual Living East Hawaii, http://hawaiicsl.org/.  We are a beautiful community.  Our church has no walls, so it is all open and all inviting.  Come on in.  We are on Youtube.  I speak the 2nd weekend of every month.  I’d love to see you there.  If you do stop in please send a little message in the live stream chat!  Lezli: My something good is…I have a FREE online class coming up called "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership.” This is an experiential class based on the book of the same name. If you are ready to show up with more integrity, as well as experience more success, this class is for you. This is a 4-week class, and it’s completely free but a Love Offering to New Vision CSL is always welcome.  Class starts Tuesday, May 25 at 6:30 PM PST. To find out more, go to lezligoodwin.com/onlineclasses    If you’d like to support Sexy Spirituality Podcast, please consider joining us on Patreon at  https://www.patreon.com/SexySpirituality.  From bonus content to insider access, our patrons get ...
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    35 mins
  • Healthy Boundaries Happy Lives

    Healthy Boundaries Happy Lives
    Apr 27 2021
    Healthy Boundaries, Happy Lives  Sexy Spirituality Episode #41     Host: Lezli Goodwin  Guest: Savanna Riker, Spiritual Coach, Author and Minister  Guest: Sarah Forbes, Spiritual Guide and Transformational Coach    Small Talk  Lezli, Savanna and Sarah talk: what’s bringing you Joy today?    Healthy Boundaries, Happy Lives  We’ve brought together a round able of very powerful women today. Each of us are in different phases of life, in different places in our careers. And yet, today’s topic is powerfully present for each one of us.  Savanna, give us a nutshell description of how healthy boundaries became such an essential area of exploration for you: This is the biggest thing yet up for me.  It used to be a dirty word; I didn’t ever want to talk about boundaries because I didn’t have any.  I started digging deep into my past traumas of childhood and the ways in which I felt unsafe. So for many years of my life, I started to wonder why my relationships were so hard with so much dysfunction.   Brené Brown, I believe, said, “Boundaries without consequences are merely suggestions.”  I didn’t know what a boundary was.  I wasn’t modeled that growing up.  I didn’t understand how my experiences were informing my relationships going forward.  Once I started to grasp that boundaries are very important in my life, I said I have to dive in.  I have to really explore what this means and how it actually creates safety between us as human beings.  It has been a huge interest of mine for a while now.  Lezli:  As humans we reach a point where we look around and go wait I might not be doing this in the way that serves me best. In my first marriage I am not sure I really had any understanding of adult relationships at all.  The list of things that I didn't do to take care of myself in that relationship could wallpaper a house!  What a joy it is to know that with every breath we get to look at it again and see how to do things differently   Sarah: I had my second baby a couple years ago. He's two now.  After I had him I was diagnosed with postpartum depression.  While I was going through that I had a lot of responsibilities and a lot of expectations in my home life, with my husband and my family, and I also had a lot of expectations in my career.  I had to learn how to set clear boundaries otherwise I couldn't heal and I couldn't do what I needed to do to find my center again.  It was really crucial for me to figure out a way to get clear about what the feelings going on in me meant and once I could get clear about that I could communicate what I needed and what I wanted and really set boundaries.  This time period was one of the main reasons that I was able to come out of it so quickly.  Postpartum depression can last a long time for people and for me it was about six months and it's because I was working with a professional and was working in my life to really honor my feelings and communicate what was going on in me and letting people know I can't do that right now.  I really got clear about the language I used and how direct I was.  I've had to maintain that even two years later to make sure that I'm not going back to the other side where I just say yes to everything to helping everybody to being the best mom.  We have this idea especially being maternal and having maternal instincts and social conditioning around what it means to be a mom.  We have to learn, as moms especially, how to care for ourselves because it's not something we're taught.  Lezli: When I was a young mom I’m so glad Pinterest wasn’t a thing yet as I’m super crafty and it creates an expectation that everybody put up their brightest and shiniest and the expectation is that not only are your children going to be clean, fed, and loved, but they're also going to have sculptures for their snacks and handcrafted everything! As a mom/step mom of 5, I'm just glad nobody's been to jail they all still speak to each other!   I'll take it!  Savanna:  The thing that I have found so tricky about being able to set boundaries with people is that I didn't always have the self-esteem and self-respect to know the behaviors that were happening which were crossing my boundaries.  I wasn't really clear that I was feeling violated or betrayed, often because it was normalized behavior and how I grew up.  So in order to create boundaries I have to have enough self-esteem and self-respect to know when this is OK or that is not OK.  If you don't know what's not OK for you it makes it really challenging to not have [boundaries] violated often.  Lezli: What constitutes a boundary?  There are internal boundaries and external boundaries.  They are a way of communicating either to yourself or to someone else that something needs to change, or something needs to stop right there.    Determining if something is OK or not OK or doesn’t ...
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    41 mins
  • Exploring Spirituality through Songwriting

    Exploring Spirituality through Songwriting
    Apr 10 2021
    4.9.21 Sexy Spirituality Show Notes  “Exploring Spirituality through Songwriting”  Recorded 2.9.21. 10:00 AM MST    Exploring Spirituality through Songwriting  Sexy Spirituality Episode #40     Host: Lezli Goodwin  Guest: Denise Rosier, Contemporary New Thought artist, and award-winning singer/songwriter  Guest: Heather O’Day, Musical Director of Sonoran Desert Center for Spiritual Living in Amado, Arizona     Small Talk  Lezli, Heather and Denise talk birthdays!    Exploring Spirituality through Songriting  Okay, we’ve got singer/songwriter madness going on here today  I wanted to have Denise and Heather on today, as they are both wonderful songwriters, performers and spiritual leaders. I came to know each through the Empower Music and Arts organization, the group that gives the Posi Awards for positive music. Https://empowerma.com  Denise, give us the nutshell version of how you landed in positive music: Starting out as an inspirational Christian artist, as my spirituality changed my music changed. During a performance break, someone suggested that a spiritual center community would appreciate my music. I didn’t know the songs, so I had to write to find songs that would work.  Heather: A director at Tuscon New Thought was looking for musicians to sit in for Sunday Celebration Services. My path was taking me there, but I didn’t have a community or a name for it. Before I knew it, there was an entire community at home, in my back yard, and led to a Music Director position. There was no hymnal! So, I was guided to some new thought musicians, and I did a retreat with Karen Drucker, who said, “This genre needs new voices. This genre needs your voice. Why not start now”    Lezli: I came to all of this exactly background. I grew up doing performing arts, and then I took a 16-year break & developed stage fright. During practitioner training, I was assigned, “Go do the scariest thing you can think of.” The scariest thing I could think of was to go back into vocal training. Dawn Kerlin made herself available to do some vocal training, which turned into song writing, which turned into recording albums.  The more you write, the better it gets. You have to get the muck out.  Tom Kimmel once gave me the homework to go home and write a hundred terrible songs! It takes the pressure off.  Densie: a Christian label pushed me to write, as they wanted every singer to write their own songs, and I loved it. Sometimes I have to just be with a song until a word lands, just let them move around in my mind and then BAM, there it is.  It’s amazing how people have such deep meaning and feelings about songs, and I remember, “I was microwaving spare ribs when I thought of that line.” The funniest things stand out.  Writing songs (and messages for Sunday) come from what we’re working on in our own lives. It’s true in inspirational music as much as any other kind of music.  Denise: I was very clear that I was going to write the songs I wanted to write and produce them the way I produce them. I didn’t care of anyone else liked them. Luckily, people did respond to them.  When it comes to inspirational music, I am simply just reaching out to Spirit and having a conversation with God. We’re kind of like the greeting card writers for people who maybe don’t know quite how to say what they are feeling. We create a space for people to be with God in that moment.  “To sing is to pray twice.”  St. Augustine (sorry for the misattribution)  What is the greatest lesson from being a spiritual song writing for non-writers:  Heather: That everything is an act of creativity, that there is only One Mind and One Heart. It’s all coming from a personal place.   We mentioned Daniel Nahmod http://www.danielnahmod.com/, Karen Drucker https://www.karendrucker.com/, Tom Kimmel https://tomkimmel.com/, Harold Payne https://haroldpaynemusic.com/, Lezli & Dawn  https://www.reverbnation.com/lezlidawn.    ….  Something Good  Heather: I am the host of Wednesday Night Live, which is a New Thought music driven video podcast Facebook.com/CSLSonoranDesert. Plus, new music called “The Journey” at  www.heatheroday.com for info.  Denise: In addition to my music, one of the things I did during COVID was work on some ministry resources. Go to deniserosier.com for info for ministers and music directors, free chords for congregational songs. I’m developing workshops for pulpit ministers and music directors to build a stronger connection for creating a bigger and more robust music ministry. And I’m starting a new album this year!  Lezli: My something good is…I have a class coming up called Podcasting 101. Podcasting can be a fun, creative way to embrace the idea of a church without walls, connecting with people all over the world. It can seem overwhelming, but there are simple, inexpensive ways to make your ...
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    38 mins
  • Spirituality and Pop Culture

    Spirituality and Pop Culture
    Mar 27 2021
    Spirituality and Pop Culture  Sexy Spirituality Episode #39     Host: Lezli Goodwin  Guest: Rev. Dr. Raymont L. Anderson, Senior Minister of The Center for Spiritual Living Greater Baltimore  Guest: Rev. Barbara Bue, Manager of Field Services for Centers for Spiritual Living     Small Talk  Lezli, Ray and Barb talk about favorite Easter goodies and traditions. For Ray, it’s chocolate. For Barb, it’s Cadbury Crème Eggs. So terrible and so amazing.      Spirituality and Pop Culture  We’ve got a gathering of proud geeks here today  I wanted to have Ray and Barb on today, because these are two people I can always count on to get my geeky references and take them one step further, exploring the spiritual messages in pop culture.  Ray. Tell me about how you came to connect your favorite pop culture icons with your spiritual life.  Ray: I originally got into all of this through reading. Wonder Woman, Bionic Man, Bionic Woman. But at Carlo College, a philosophy teacher and a nun told me that spirituality and mythology are closely connected. Also, that the Bible is not in inerrant word of God. And then my father re-introduced me to Joseph Campbell. In order for SPider Man to become Spider Man, Uncle Ben taught him that with great power comes great responsibility. If we’re going to walk this walk, there is responsibility. It’s in Yoda, and in the Judeo-Christian theology.  Barb: It’s also practice, choice-points, the biggest opportunities for growth. Let’s use Harry Potter – they learn your word is your power, but you must practice to say it rightly and use intention. All the things Science of Mind has been teaching for 150 years is in all of this, even from way before of course.  The journey is never complete. You can be successful, and then step right back into the next expansion of the self. There is always another Heros Journey.  Yoda learned for 600 years, to become the person who said you failed because you did not believe, you’re not convicted. Two generations now have grown up with the Star Wars universe, and it’s changing the world and wanting to make the world be different.  The MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) is the most current wave in culture, echoing what Star Trek and Star Wars did in the last generation, comic books before.  George Lucas is a Science of Mind guy! The Force was what he came to about God from the Science of Mind.  Ray: Gene Roddenberry, communicators & now flip phones. Touch screens are now literally touch screens. Thought becomes form, it’s in real life now. In Harry Potter, “Is this just my imagination?” Dumbledore, of course it’s in your mind. WHy would that make it not real?  Do we ever get to let go of the war or idea of the need to fight? The Declaration of Principles says the ultimate goal of life is freedom from discord of every nature, and this freedom is sure to be attained by all. Luke was at war with himself. We can get past the idea of needing to harm another, and move into challenging ourself and others. Like chess – that's a challenge, but not war.  We can talk about how we can all win. Some people think that’s fantasy thinking, but this is that episode! It’s the old rising tides should float all boats.  This idea that fantasy is just daydreaming, but Albert Einstein said imagination is more important than knowledge. All new things come from imagination, fantasy, thought first. Fantasy is just another way that the Divine is expressing.  The key is separating the idea that fiction is for children. We do such a good job teaching children that anything is possible, and then we tell them to grow up. Lezli’s generation (born in 1975) never knew a world without Star Wars and Star Trek, and we never stopped believing in possibilities and the bursting forth of technology shows it.  Dr. Strange: At the root of existence, mind and matter meet. They are not divorceable. There is only one Mind, and that Mind is God.  We know mind affects the body, physiology. If not, there wouldn’t be 1-900 numbers. That wouldn’t be a multi-billion -dollar industry.  “Don’t worry yourself sick.” We say that because we know you can.  So many of these stories also involve intuition, trusting the inner voice.  How do we reconcile the comic book “There is only one” in a teaching where we are taught that we are all the chosen one? Each one of us are The One, and it’s always manifesting as individuals, and as a team.  Buffy had the Scoobies. Harry Potter had Ron and Hermione. Spider Man had the Avengers. They set it up as “The One,” and then the hero chooses to build a family/team. Nobody is the Ron in their version of the story. Nobody is Xander. This even holds for Jesus, Jeshua, the Christ. But he says that he did these things but you will do greater. He built the family of apostles and then awakened it for all of us. IF we connect to it.  What is our...
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    39 mins
  • New Thought and New Media

    New Thought and New Media
    Mar 12 2021
    New Thought and New Media  Sexy Spirituality Episode #38     Host: Lezli Goodwin  Guest: Rev. Robert Brzezinski, founding minister and Creative Director of New Thought Media Network  Guest: Cerise Patron, Singer, Songwriter, Speaker and Author, Spreading the message of Love to the world.     Small Talk  Lezli, Robert and Cerise talk about what book really inspired them.  Cerise: The book that changed my life was “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsh (https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-God-Uncommon-Dialogue-Book/dp/0399142789)  but the one that really set me in motion was “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”  by Suzanne Jeffers (https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-God-Uncommon-Dialogue-Book/dp/0399142789)   Robert: Thank you so much, Cerise, for not limiting yourself to one! “The Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield (https://www.amazon.com/Celestine-Prophecy-James-Redfield/dp/153873026X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NFDQDJ3Z9OAM&dchild=1&keywords=the+celestine+prophecy+by+james+redfield&qid=1615562059&s=books&sprefix=the+celestin%2Cstripbooks%2C202&sr=1-1) but I read it long before I was introduced to New Thought. What really launched me was “The Science of Mind” by Ernest Holmes (https://www.amazon.com/Science-Mind-Complete-Ernest-Holmes/dp/1585428426/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2BRDXADYW24QW&dchild=1&keywords=the+science+of+mind+ernest+holmes&qid=1615562145&s=books&sprefix=the+science+of+m%2Cstripbooks%2C223&sr=1-3) But the most influential is Michael Singer’s books like “The Untethered Soul” (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=michael+singer&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2)   Lezli: “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson (https://www.amazon.com/Return-Love-Reflections-Principles-Miracles/dp/0060927488/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VDCFP56KV8B2&dchild=1&keywords=marianne+williamson&qid=1615562328&s=books&sprefix=marianne%2Cstripbooks%2C208&sr=1-1) and “This Thing Called You” by Ernest Holmes ( https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ernest+holmes+this+thing+called+you&crid=2DIAN49ELMXM4&sprefix=ernest+holmes+this%2Cstripbooks%2C201&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_18_ts-doa-p)      New Thought and New Media  I wanted to have Robert and Cerise on today, because I see each of them using New Media to expand their message to a broader audience in interactive ways.  Robert, it has been really interesting to watch you walk out your New Thought ministry through New Media.  Tell us a little bit about how this focus came about for your ministry.  Robert: The thing behind it all is the Life Visioning process. After exploring a pulpit ministry, I came to explore what ministry was going to be for me. I dove deep into the Life Visioning process, and an old idea of a New Thought radio station emerged and I launched New Thought Radio. It was a hobby at the times. Through the development of that music radio station, more emerged. Talk radio? YouTube? Videos? Out of prayer, the New Thought Media Network was born. I was posting prayers and very quickly there was a timeframe behind it. We now have 20 hours of live video broadcasting on Facebook per week.  Mental Equivalent: the capacity to envision the fullest capacity of your vision, how big can you see your dream getting? You can’t realize more than you can imagine.  Cerise: The pandemic, when it happened, I had just launched Sacred Spiritual Tours and had 4 tours planned in South America for 2020. So I went from an amazingly busy planned year – and I don’t like it when plans don’t come to fruition. Technology is really spectacular, and I created virtual reality travel experiences (one on one session in her home). The experiencer wears a virtual reality device walking through all of these amazing places while I sing to you and lead you in meditations. So concerts, showing up virtually for church services, reaching the most people is boosted by technology even during this pandemic.  We can all find a way to connect with ministers, meditations, good news and be a blessing in the world.  Lezli: Rev. Karin Lewis and I were able to pivot immediately when everything went online, so we didn’t really lose anyone. But we’re finding that out online campus has grown by about 40% over the pandemic period. And it’s very active, engaged, not just being a passive “watching” population.  The landscape has changed. We all became global overnight. With that came the necessity for ministries to shift to what is more palatable to the online audience. Shorter segments, Interactivity. Things that draw people in more.  Friday Night Game Night, Zoom fellowship, the hilarity of how we figure out how to do things together online is as fun as the actual connection.  What is our responsibility to share the New Thought philosophy via New Media? Robert: If we wish to stay relevant, absolutely. More and more people spend time in front of a screen of some kind. It is experiencing life. It’s our responsibility to be available in the ...
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    43 mins
  • Rocking Recovery the New Thought Way

    Rocking Recovery the New Thought Way
    Feb 26 2021
    Rocking Recovery the New Thought Wat Sexy Spirituality Episode #37   Host: Lezli Goodwin Guest: Jolene Baney, Co-Founder and Spiritual Coach at Qualia Recovery, providing case management and supported residential living for long-term recovery Guest: Ron Trunnell, licensed practitioner, new ministerial student living and breathing his own recovery for 22 years, and founding member of Renewal in the Desert, an annual spiritual retreat for sober gay men in Phoenix, Arizona   Small Talk Lezli, Ron and Jolene talk about what’s inspiring them right now. Jolene: Opening Qualia Recovery, a new residential facility (8 apartments) in Phoenix. I am inspired by creating the coaching program & helping people reconnect with their passions.Ron: I’m really focused on the concept of “Back to Basics” both in the Center, where we focus on the basics of Science of Mind, and in recovery where we go back to the idea of powerlessness.Lezli: The New Vision Center for Spiritual Living’s annual theme, “The Spiritual Hero’s Journey” -- combining Joseph Campbell’s theory of the Hero’s Journey and New Thought. I’m loving having reasons to talk about Harry Potter and Buffy.   Rocking Recovery the New Thought Way Ron and Jolene are both good friends and fellow partners at New Vision Center for Spiritual LivingOur topic today is “Rocking Recovery the New Thought Way”Sometimes, Recovery and New Thought are conceived of as philosophically antithetical.Ron: Recovery can come across as traditional, New Thought less so. But there are places in the Big Book of AA (called “We Agnostics”) that sound like it could be literally out of The Science of Mind or written by Ernest Holmes. Holmes also spoke of AA very positively, focusing on “The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.” (Gender due to the age it was written.)Where does the misunderstanding come up that 12 Steps are against Science of Mind? Jolene: It can be the word “powerless.” I think of it as I have turned away from the power of God that is always there. I’d been choosing not to plug in.Ron: Look below the surface. If I only look at the surface, look how different Jolene and I are. But within we have so much in common. The common thread is there. The same is true of the two philosophies, but you have to look beneath the surface to the deeper meaning.Jolene: Surrender is one of those words where you feel like you’re surrendering your power, or you can give it over and gain Freedom. That’s what I chose. It’s such a relief.Georgia Prescott, “Powerful or Powerless.” https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Powerless-Georgia-Prescott/dp/0982681704Jolene: It’s about rediscovering your passion and good, that there is an intuition and a power in your body, in your being. You wake up to it through meditation, affirmations, reconnecting your mind-body connection.Joe Dispenza: infecting the Quantum Field https://drjoedispenza.com/“What the Bleep Do We Know,” https://whatthebleep.com/Ron: It’s all just a choice away. “The entire universe will conspire for you at that moment of choice, that moment of commitment.”Jolene: doing monthly World Cafes to connect with people all over the world. http://www.theworldcafe.com/key-concepts-resources/world-cafe-method/Sacred Service & being a sponsor, ways of sharing our experience, strength and hope with those who are new to the path of self-healingHonoring every path, every philosophy, every faith tradition. It’s about what is right for each person as an individualized creation of the Divine.Ron: There are many paths. THe important thing is to make a choice and move in that direction.Jolene: People in recovery are not broken. There are the most wonderful, powerful, creative people in the world.Lezli: There is nothing you cannot do. You just have to take the first step and trust there will be stone underneath your foot when it lands. The entire Universe conspires to bring you the things you need to walk it out.   Something Good Jolene: I mentioned Qualia Recovery, our new residential center in Phoenix Arizona. www.qualiarecovery.com I also mentioned Passion Maps, and my website for that is www.premiererecoveryoptions.com Ron: There are people out there already loving you. So whoever you are, whatever your situation is, just know that there’s a power of Love already supporting you. And by making that choice, whether it is to pursue a 12 Step program, perhaps Alcoholics Annonymous, search that out and find a meeting and simply say yes.  If it’s about finding that deeper spiritual connection, find a Center for Spiritual Living near you or online (www.newvisioncsl.org streams online) and connect with people who want to love you. Lezli: My something good is that we have NEW pieces of Science of Mind jewelry on our website www.newthought.shop. New colors in bracelets, some beaded earrings, good stuff. Check it out and save 20% with Promo Code “Sexy2021” to save 20% off your order. Again...
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    38 mins
  • Loving Yourself First

    Loving Yourself First
    Feb 12 2021
    Loving Yourself First  Sexy Spirituality Episode #36  (Our first episode back after hiatus!)     Host: Lezli Goodwin  Guest: Rev. Dr. Michelle Medrano, Lead Minister at Mile Hi Church in Lakewood, CO  Guest: Rev. Kathleen Sibley, solo minister at the Center for Spiritual Living in Prescott AZ     Small Talk  Lezli, Michelle and Kathleen talk about favorite Valentine’s Day goodies and traditions     Loving Yourself First  Michelle and Kathleen are women who have had a profound influence on my spiritual life and my career. I’m psyched!   Our topic today is “Loving Yourself First,” a primary aspect of New Thought teachings.  I don’t know about you folks, but getting to the place where I really love myself has been a long journey  You become the sum of the five people you spend the most time with.  Michelle: Is honored that people see her as someone who loves herself outloud. She came to that place while serving as senior minister for 17 years at New Vision CSL, having to shed her need to appear perfect. The more she was her authentic self, the more she could be love and feel love. If someone couldn’t love the real her, if she wasn’t their cup of tea, that’s okay. The deep desire to love and be loved, Real Love, couldn’t be met as long as she was hiding behind a façade.  Kathleen: It changes all the time, and there is so much deeper to go. She’s so grateful that instead of being the intensely driven person she thought she was supposed to be, the God of her understanding loves her exactly the way she is. She gets exhausted when she tried to be what she is not. “If you try to put me up on a pedestal, you’re just going to find that A. I need a pedicure and B. I don’t know how to hem pants.’  Letting go of the voice that says, “What’s the next impressive thing I have to do so I can earn the air I breathe?”   Rev. Dr. Penny Macek’s truth bombs!! She helped Lezli see the belief that she was as valuable as she was useful. Oof!  Kathleen: Was raised to believe that if she’s not pleasing or serving people, why is she here? It’s good to see the newer generation release this old mindset.  Michelle: Similar concern – the busier I am, the more important I am. We often need someone to be present with us, not busy. Being too busy to do spiritual practice or foster self-growth. The younger generation is much more open to spending time, money and energy on self-development.  Kathleen: It’s a newer thing to love myself enough to spend the time and money on whatever I need to be the happiest. “I had a real ‘Come to Kwan Yin moment...”  Michelle: We believe that big and little are meaningless in the Divine. The cumulative effect of a lifetime makes a HUGE difference. We really do impact each other for Good in ways we don’t realize.  Kathleen: It’s like Emma Curtis Hopkins, who almost no one knows about, but her students created whole spiritual movements and taught thousands and thousands of people.  Michelle: Anything can be a meaningful ministry. She tells a story of a task she hated doing, and how she found a way to make it meaningful. Accessing love in every mundane task by blessing it, to make a bigger impact.  When you stray from the self-love path, how do you get back on track?   Michelle: Access self-love through the deeper process of feeling and sensing your highest self. If I’m living in that higher space, what would I really be thinking and feeling about this?   Kathleen: I just realize there’s a little girl inside me throwing a hissy fit because she needs a metaphysical nap. So, I just hug her. I plop myself down in Divine Mother’s lap and let her rock me.  Lezli: Recognize the feeling without needing to push it away, and then do the scary thing anyway. Doing that gives everyone around me permission to do their own thing, too. That’s enough to pull me out of it.  Something Good  Kathleen: If you are local to Prescott, Arizona, we are reopening our labyrinth, which is open to the public. You can be a part of our community no matter where you are in the world through our online ministry at www.cslprescott.org. You can also find out more about our marketing at www.MadScience.marketing.   Michelle: I’m so excited to be offering an alternative February 14 Valentine’s Service at Mile Hi Church, which people can access by going to www.milehichurch.org or going to our Mile Hi Church Facebook page. We’re going to do a commitment service that day. We’re going to tlk about the deepened experience of Love that we can have, and commit that to ourselves, whether we’re in a relationship or not in a relationship. And then for anyone looking for a future partner, we’re going to commit to a future partner.  Join us!  Lezli: My something good is that we have NEW pieces of Science of Mind jewelry on our website www.newthought.shop. New colors in bracelets,...
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    45 mins
  • The Spirituality of Inclusion

    The Spirituality of Inclusion
    May 6 2019

    The Spirituality of Inclusion

    Sexy Spirituality Episode #35

     

    Co-Hosts

    Lezli Goodwin

    Sonia Byrne

    Guest Host: Michele Synegal

     

     

    Small Talk

    Sonia, Lezli and Michele talk about how Spring has sprung in Newfoundland and DC.

     

    The Spirituality of Inclusion

    • Michele Synegal is the chair of the Diversity Inclusion Commission for Centers for Spiritual Living.  
    • The Diversity Inclusion Commission was born when a group of 7 ministerial students of color were told they were required to attend the CSL convention.  Upon looking at the program information, they decided to boycott, as they didn't see themselves represented by the presenters, leadership or staff of the convention. They then became more strategic in affecting change, and offered up a proposal to the 2011 convention, creating the Diversity Inclusion Commission.
    • Many denominations have been active in diversity and inclusion for decades, notably the Unitarian/Universalists.  Unity and CSL have entered this field more recently.
    • Michele has been working in diversity and inclusion since 1979. She joined the CSL Diversity Inclusion Commission in 2017 and became its chair in 2018.
    • The Commission works to raise awareness that planners of events and conventions must be cognizant that there is diversity in the greater organization, helping organizers to be mindful. It gives input around  educational offerings, including ministerial training. 
    • If we want to be viable as an organization, we MUST be more inclusive.

    Something Good

    Sonia: For non-profit organizations, it's strategic planning time!  We can do three-day retreats or meet over Zoom, and we can make it FUN!  Find out more by emailing me at coach@soniabyrne.com

    Michele: We have about 5 months to get ready for World Day of Service! The 2nd Saturday in September, this year we'll be celebrating on September 14, 2019. All around the world, this is a day for CSL communities (and other communities, too!) to step up in service to their greater community. You can find out more by emailing me at revmichelesynegal@gmail.com

    Lezli: On May 14, we are starting a free five-week interactive book study on Brene Brown's book Dare to Lead. If you want to become a more courageous, inspirational leader, come join us on Tuesday nights, 6:30-8:30 PM at New Vision Center for Spiritual Living in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more and register at www.newvisioncsl.org

     

    Thank you for joining us for Sexy Spirituality. This episode is our season finale! We'll be back with you again soon, talking about real spirituality for the modern world!

     

     

     
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    25 mins