Authentic Living

Before Eastern, particularly Indian philosophical and religious concepts were popularized in the West, there were not many allowable options for how a person might recognize the connection between mind and body, or how one might meditate and get in touch with deeper aspects of self. But even though the real explosion of the popularity of Vedic concepts occurred in the 1960’s people like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman were way ahead of the game as they subscribed to some of these concepts. Today, we want to learn more about this shift in consciousness, and Philip Goldberg, author American Veda: How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, is going to tell us all about it. This shift has enlarged our understanding of mind and body and is still dramatically changing how we see ourselves. This show is going to open our consciousness yet further as we explore the slow steady move from East to West.

We do need to know don’t we! We need to think that we know, that we are certain, that we are sure. Most of our traditional faith is made up of that need to know. We’ve got it written down, and we’ve interpreted it literally and that is how we know. Science is equally an effort to know. History—though it is often told by the winners of the wars—is an attempt to know our past. And often we try to know our future by making goals, creating our vision boards and deciding what it is that the Universe should give us. But there is a mystic way that does not need to know. Where knowledge is ever-evolving experience and where mystery is power. But it frightens us to not know, or to think we don’t know, and that is why so many of us are actually employed by persons who make it our job to know something. So, how do we overcome this fear of not knowing enough to lean into mystery? And why would we want to? Don’t miss this one—there’s hidden power here.

Death is one of the most frightening and awesome of life’s mysteries. Because it is, we’ve developed all manner of mythology about it—including the myth that life is over when we die. But many have experienced, first hand, another reality. And while there are still many who still assert that death is death and life is life and never the twain shall meet; our guest today offers moving and profound information to the contrary. Hollister Rand is an internationally renowned medium. Known for the detailed messages she provides from loved ones living in the spirit world, Hollister is clairvoyant, clairaudient and clairsentient—meaning she can see, hear and sense the presence of spirits. One of her primary messages is that “Life is never over,” and her book, I’m Not Dead, I’m Different: Kids in Spirit Teach Us About Living a Better Life on Earth is the subject of the Authentic Living show today. If you have lost loved ones and are wondering where they are—tune in. You’ll be glad you did.

Now there’s a question you don’t hear every day on the streets of downtown USA, Europe or Asia. But it’s one that our hearts long to answer, whether or not we yet even understand the question. As Eastern philosophies are more and more accepted in the Western world, the terms, dharma and karma have been tossed about quite a bit. But really, do you know your dharma? Well, Lissa Coffey comes to the Authentic Living show today for the second time to introduce us to our dharma. Her book just out, entitled What’s Your Dharma? Discover the Vedic Way to Your Life’s Purpose” is the subject of our talk today. Author of 6 books and expert on relationship, Ayruveda, Feng Shi, Aromatherapy, Hypnotherapy and other ancient philosophies, Lissa brings profound insight, about which Deepak Chopras says: “Your heart will thank you for Lissa’s helpful and heartful vision.” Don’t miss it.

What if you are not the sum total of all of your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions? What if you are not even the sum total of your experience? What if all of your wounds are but windows to your soul? What if all of your memory is but a shift in your alchemistry? What if what you see is only image? And what if what you don’t see but can sense, feel and intuitively touch is the real essence of who you are? Wouldn’t that be interesting? Wouldn’t it be even enlightening—to come to know yourself as soul, right here, right now on planet earth? Why is it that we think we have to wait until we die to know ourselves as soul? And if it is true that you could come to know yourself as soul—would you be interested? Well this week, we are going to go to the very highest transcendent peak of who you are and peek over the edge. Ready for an adventure? Come join us.

We’ve talked many times on the Authentic Living show about duality and it’s insistence that we are separate from the divine and from each other and all things. Well today we are going to be talking about how to reunite consciousness with soul. Susann Taylor Shier is our guest today, and she’s written a book called “Soul Reunion: The Return Home from Separation,” in which she thoroughly explains both the soul-level disconnection and the path to reconnection between consciousness and the largely unconscious soul. Susann presents Soul Mastery, Soul Radiance, and Soul Reunion workshops, book events, trainings and teleclasses. She’s been featured on numerous TV and radio shows, and she works internationally as a psychotherapist and intuitive counselor both in person and by telephone. If you are one of those people who longs to bridge the psychic gap of duality, you do not want to miss this show.

You know we have many teachers and gurus out there telling us that nothing is impossible. But what do we really believe about that? Sometimes it turns out that when we are believing really hard—we are just doing what has come to be known as magical thinking. Sometimes when we are believing really hard, we’re really just bargaining: IF I believe this, THEN I won’t have to look at that. And sometimes when we are believing really hard, we’re just avoiding the essential growth of looking difficulty right in the face. So, really now, what is actually possible for a human being to do? And how do we know the difference between bargaining, magical thinking, avoidance and real belief? Well this show is going to provide answers for some of those fundamental questions. Right here at the beginning of the New Year, we might need some clarity about where to put our energy. Don’t miss this one. You’re going to need it soon.

How many times in a single lifetime do we have to start over? Sometimes starting over is the only possible path to take. And sometimes each inhalation is a beginning again. Many of these kinds of beginnings start with a drastic and painful ending. But there are other kinds of beginnings. For example, most of us think of the New Year is a kind of beginning. But for many this means the making, and eventually breaking of resolutions. This is not a true beginning. True beginnings originate at a much deeper level than any resolution will ever attain. But is it possible to begin again without being forced into it through a painful ending? This week we are going to come to terms with both how to begin again as a result of a painful ending, and how we may reach down into those deeper levels of consciousness in order to trigger another true beginning. Don’t miss it.

‘Tis the season for peace, is it not? For many, right this minute, it is far, far from a season of peace. Life does not stop its incessant requirements just because it’s Christmas. And sometimes our worst fears arrive already unwrapped at our front door right at Christmas time. So, where can we go to find peace in the midst of the traumas and dramas of our lives—seasonal or otherwise? Is it possible for us to face chaotic, frightening, even traumatic times in our lives in peace? Most people would tell us that we just have to keep our heads down and keep our focus on moving on through it. But what if it really were possible to live in peace regardless of the circumstances? Would that mean living in the paralysis of Pollyanna-world? During this show, we are going to learn how to access peace—no matter what. A peace that not only allows us to calm down and feel deeply connected to the divine within, but also raises our ability to focus and deal with whatever is presented. Don’t miss it!

We all know that no one can change for us. What we don’t necessarily know is that no one changes just like us. So, what is the nature of change for you? Change is not only a matter of desire, determination or action. All of these pieces of the puzzle are important, but there is more to it, a missing piece. This week our guest is Laura Young, author of “The Nature of Change” and during this show we’ll be talking about how to put all the pieces of this puzzle together. We’ll discuss the power of the unconscious and how befriending its holdings offers greater success. And we’ll look at some tools to assist in going beyond fear of change in our own “signature” way, by looking at our personal patterns both when we decide to change and when change is thrust upon us. Laura is a psychotherapist, author and radio show host in her own right, who runs the Life Resource Center. Are you in the throes of change? Don’t miss this show.

You know there are a lot of people out there talking about enlightenment, what it means and how to get it. The biggest hype about it is that if you are enlightened you are living in a constant state of bliss. But can most people really attain that? A better question is: Is that what enlightenment is really all about? Well our guest today is going to answer that question. He is Robert Forman, PhD, author of the book Enlightenment Ain’t What It’s Cracked Up To Be: A Journey of Discovery, Snow and Jazz in the Soul, in which he exposes his own journey to enlightenment in some very enlightening ways. The book is so candid as to become an opening in the psyche of the reader to allow room for the affirmation of one’s own journey, while simultaneously busting some of the mythology about enlightenment. If you are on your own journey to enlightenment, you are not going to want to miss this show.

You know for centuries now we’ve thought of ourselves as basically evil at the core, striving ever to be good enough to get the rewards that life gives to those who deserve them. It’s only been within the past 20 or 30 years that we’ve begun to even consider the concept that we are not innately evil—that maybe the concept of original sin doesn’t really fly. But then it also doesn’t fly that we are innately good either—for we are not even sure what the term good means. In fact, as we have grown into the practice of meditation and expanding consciousness, as we get closer and closer to the core of our own experience we discover neither goodness nor badness—rather something far more mysterious. We discover the existing one, the I AM that I AM, the ipseity, the divine self. So, while the law of attraction as we currently understand it has us seeking fulfillment by attracting our dreams, the ipseity continues to call us home. Don’t miss this show.

We welcome Dr. E back again to the Authentic Living show this week for the fourth time, this time to talk about her latest book, “Untie the Strong Woman.” For many years, Dr. E has been sending a message to the world that the feminine aspect of humanity is powerful, beautiful and essential. The depth of her understanding of the feminine aspect of human (both male and female ) consciousness has facilitated an increased global awareness of the essentiality of the conscious expression of this power. And that is exactly what we’ll be talking about on this show. Author of the bestselling “Women Who Run With the Wolves” Dr. Estés has also been conducting online events at Soundstrue.com on specific topics relevant The Dangerous Old Woman, topics on which previous interviews have here on Authentic Living have been conducted. This week we are going to learn how to untie the feminine. Don’t miss it.

Today we are so fortunate to be talking to the Director of blockbuster comedies such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, Bruce Almighty, Patch Adams, Accepted , and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and the winner of four people’s choice awards, and one Golden Globe nomination. But, you might ask, why would Authentic Living be interested in comedies? Because due to his own personal life crisis, Tom Shadyac’s latest project is a documentary called I AM, in which he travels the world to ask some of the world’s most profound thinkers, these two questions: What is wrong with the world and what can we do about it? This film won two awards at its premiere at the Mountain Film Festival in Telluride, CO, the Audience Choice Award and the Student Choice Award. And it has the potential of advancing the evolution of global consciousness exponentially. So, you are not going to want to miss this discussion about it. Tune in.

Many—oh so many—of us are caught up in magical thinking without knowing it. We are magically thinking that we’ll be able to make the abusive husband stop abusing by being a good wife. We are magically thinking that overprotecting our children will help them to arrive at adulthood knowing how to manage life. We are magically thinking that the hounds at the financial doors will just go away if we keep running our vision boards. Collectively we magically thought when we agreed to lower the standards for mortgages and remove the financial rules for Wall Street financiers. And quite often we use magical thinking as a very poor substitute for spiritual thinking. But how do we know? Aren’t we taught to believe that anything is possible? Aren’t we taught to believe that we can move mountains with a mustard seed of faith (or vision boarding and affirming)? This show is going to clarify the difference. Don’t miss it.

Dr. Bernie Siegel, or Bernie—as he is affectionately called—is back to the Authentic Living show for the second time today to talk to us about his latest book, filled with beautiful true stories about healing and love. Once upon at time, Bernie thought that a miracle was something for which there is no explanation. Now he believes that everything is a miracle. In his more than thirty years of practice, speaking and teaching, he has built up an impressive collection of riveting, warm and belief expanding stories—some of which are included in his latest book, “A Book of Miracles: Inspiring True Stores of Healing, Gratitude, and Love.” His first bestselling book, Love, Medicine and Miracles, led to several other self-help books on healing by learning to live authentically. More recently he’s written a children’s book, Smudge Bunny, a parenting book, Love, Magic and Mud Pies, and a book for anyone struggling with loss, Buddy’s Candle. Don’t miss this beautiful show.

This year, we’ve heard a lot about the bullying of gays and lesbians in schools all over the country. What we don’t hear so much about is the bullying of members of the GLBT population in churches and in Christian communities all across the nation. In fact, both overt and covert bullying is most often done by people who want to exclude members of the GLBT population based on the erroneous notion that God hates them, or wishes them punished or excluded. Well, today, we are going to be talking to United Church of Christ minister, Candace Chellew-Hodge, author of “Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians.” While far too many still think that the words “Christian” and “Gay” and “Lesbian” are oxymorons, Chellew-Hodge will tell GLBT Christians how to reclaim the authentic self and survive the onslaught of abuse coming from their own communities. If you fall on either side of this issue, you are not going want to miss this show.

While there is still much of mystery left in our world, there are some answers we can get to several of life’s most vital questions. And some of the most urgent questions of today are being asked by those who are trying diligently to make the law of attraction work for them, but are unable to do so. These questions seem to hold the balance of life itself within them. Well today, some of the previous guests of this show, profound spiritual leaders, who have reviewed the book, “The Law Of Attraction: The Soul’s Answer To Why It Isn’t Working And How It Can,” are going to be asking specific questions about the law of attraction, about a revision in the law of attraction and about the nature of the divine and humanity. These are YOUR deepest questions. And today, you are going to get your answers. So, do NOT miss this show. It might just change your entire approach to the law of attraction, and, indeed, to life itself.

Rosanne Cash comes to the Authentic Living show this week to discuss her latest book, Composed: A Memoir, the powerful, poetic and poignant story of her own inner journey, which touches us at a deep essential and spiritual core. Rosanne is one of America’s preeminent singers and song writers with fourteen albums and eleven # 1 singles to her credit. Her albums, which reach people from across the various music genres, include: Right or Wrong, Seven Year Ache, Somewhere in the Stars, Rhythm and Romance, King's Record Shop, Interiors, The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, Black Cadillac, The List and The Essential Rosanne Cash. First known as the daughter of Johnny Cash, she moved on to find and live into her own genuine perspective, talent and personality, as she created song after song that reflected on the deeper meaning of life. She is also the author of two other books, as well as several essays and short stories published in major national magazines. You don’t want to miss it!

It works just like gravity. The only way to get away from gravity is to go live in outer space, or find yourself an anti-gravity chamber—which, by the way, is being held down by gravity. But once you step out of that chamber, and once you come back down to earth, you are going to become a part of the law of gravity again. And the law of gravity works, even when things are working against it. It just includes itself into the ultimate equation and becomes an integral part of the process. And that is exactly how the law of love works. No matter what you’ve seen, how you’ve been hurt, or what you fear, the law of love is simply including itself into the equation and becoming an integral part of the alchemical process of becoming fully aware of who you are. So, even though we live in the world of duality, our antigravity chamber, that very chamber is being held down by love. Further, everything, absolutely everything ultimately falls down into love. Want to know more? Don’t miss this show.