#11 On Being Cringe - and The Four Agreements That Set Me Free

#11 On Being Cringe - and The Four Agreements That Set Me Free

A few weeks ago, while walking the Camino de Santiago, I found myself cringing- at the hikers, the greetings, my hiking poles. But as I reflected, I realised it wasn’t about anyone else; it was about me. This episode dives into the feeling of cringe: why it holds such power over us, how it quietly shapes our self-expression, and how we can move through it with curiosity and compassion. Drawing on The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (the best book I have ever read!), I explore how self-judgment keeps us small, and how leaning into cringe might actually be the most liberating thing we can do. An exploration into why “being cool” often means being disconnected and how embracing our own awkwardness can bring us closer to who we really are. You can find Leora at:  IG:@a.healing.guide.pod [https://www.instagram.com/a.healing.guide.pod/%20] ; @leorabf [https://www.instagram.com/leorabf/] Resources: * Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements Timestamps: 00:41 Reflecting on the Camino de Santiago 02:23 Understanding Cringe 04:58 The Four Agreements: A Path to Self-Liberation 09:46 Embracing Cringe and Personal Growth 11:58  Final Thoughts and Inspirations

#10 The Camino de Santiago: Walking as a Path to Healing and Transformation

In this episode of 'a healing guide', I dive into the power of walking as a practice for healing, clarity, and transformation. Having just completing 16 days on the Portuguese route of Camino de Santiago, I share my insights from the pilgrimage and why walking has been one of the most impactful tools on my healing journey. I share my thoughts on: * Walking as more than exercise but meditation, prayer, and therapy in motion * The healing power of the Camino de Santiago and its rich history as a pilgrimage * How carrying a backpack reveals the “baggage” we hold in life and how to let it go * The stages of transformation that unfold during consecutive days of walking * The role of nature, community, and rhythm in creating breakthroughs Whether you’re curious about the Camino, drawn to pilgrimage, or simply looking for ways to improve your mental health, this episode is an invitation to step into the the incredible capacity for peace and wellbeing from the simple act of walking. You can find Leora at:  IG:@a.healing.guide.pod [https://www.instagram.com/a.healing.guide.pod/%20] Resources: * Thich Naht Hanh Poem on Mindful Walking  [https://plumvillage.org/articles/walking-meditation-a-poem-by-thich-nhat-hanh] * Camino resources * https://caminoways.com/camino-de-santiago * https://stingynomads.com/ * Facebook groups are amazing- look for the groups for the route you choose Time stamps 00:56 The Healing Power of Walking 02:34 Historical and Cultural Significance of The Camino 04:09 Personal Journey on The Camino 10:58 Why I think The Camino Leads to Healing & Transformation 18:32 Final Reflections and Encouragement 19:28 Closing Poem by Tich Nat Hanh

#9 I'm Going on a Pilgrimage: Camino de Santiago, Kumano Kudo & Lessons from The Alchemist

You can find Leora at:  IG:@a.healing.guide.pod [https://www.instagram.com/a.healing.guide.pod/%20] I am about to embark on a range of journeys and adventures- types of 'pilgrimages' and will be sharing my experiences, learnings and challenges in real time.  In episode, I explore the idea of pilgrimage and I share why I’m beginning a series of pilgrimages across the world — from the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal, to the Kumano Kodo in Japan, to sacred mountains in India, and my ancestral villages in Lithuania. I reflect on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a profound and metaphorical story of a young man who goes on a quest to find treasure- to discover the treasure was within all along. Interestingly Paulo Coelho wrote this book based on his own experiences walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage across Spain A quote to carry with you: "When the road ends and the goal is gained, the pilgrim finds that he has traveled only from himself to himself. But the God that led him unto it was all the while in him, around him, with him, beside him" – Sri Sathya Sai Baba 00:00 Recording in Beautiful Places 00:26 What is a Pilgrimage? 01:02 Upcoming Adventures and Pilgrimages 03:05 The Story of The Alchemist 05:31 Lessons from The Alchemist 06:38 Personal Reflections on Pilgrimage 08:03 Life as a Pilgrimage 09:11 Personal Legends and Dreams 10:33 Invitation to Join the Journey

#8 Letting Go of Control: Finding Freedom, Flow, and Trust in Uncertainty

Inspired by a Tibetan Buddhist quote and a river in Portugal, this episode explores how surrendering to life’s flow can bring more peace, trust, and joy, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. You can find Leora at:  IG:@a.healing.guide.pod [https://www.instagram.com/a.healing.guide.pod/%20] "The bad news is, you’re falling without anything to hold onto. The good news is, there’s no ground to fall on." - Chögyam Trungpa  The above quote has been guiding me lately and I share a story from my time living in Portugal, floating down tidal rivers and learning what it really means to surrender. Just like the river carries us effortlessly when we stop resisting, life has its own intelligence that guides us, if only we can let go of control. Together, we explore: * Why letting go can feel so terrifying and so freeing * How to build trust in the unknown when you can’t control outcomes * The wisdom of flow, whether in career, love, or creativity * Seeing rejection as redirection, not failure * What rivers (and life) can teach us about surrender, resilience, and trust This episode is a gentle reminder (for me as much as you) that we don’t have to figure it all out , we only need to take the next step, let go a little more, and trust that life is carrying us exactly where we need to go. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Exploring the Concept of Letting Go  02:53 Portugal and its Rivers 03:51 The River as a Metaphor for Life 06:12 Trusting the Flow of Life 10:07 Applying Trust in Different Areas of Life 11:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#7. Healing through Dance: Getting Lost and Finding Yourself with Galit Criden

In this episode of 'A Healing Guide,' I sit down with the wonderful Galit Criden, a choreographer, somatic practitioner, community builder to explore the bodies most ancient medicine: movement. We dive into Galit’s journey with dance and her transformative RESET classes, where movement becomes a way to process emotions, release old stories, and rediscover joy. Galit shares how dance can be a daily practice of meeting yourself exactly as you are- whether you’re moving through grief, rage, joy, or feeling disconnected or lost. We talk about what we’ve collectively forgotten about movement, how to reconnect with our bodies, and why creativity, community, and play are essential for healing and motherhood. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * What we’ve forgotten about the natural language of movement * How Galit’s RESET classes use dance to process life in real-time * Why letting go doesn’t mean losing yourself * The role of touch in reconnecting with yourself and others * How to foster creativity in yourself and in children * Why community and shared movement can amplify healing Whether you’re a dancer or someone who swears they “can’t dance,” this episode invites you to reclaim your body, liberate your emotions, and remember the joy and freedom that comes from moving without self-judgment. You can find Galit at: IG: @Galit.Criden [https://www.instagram.com/galit.criden/] Her RESET classes: IG:@reset_dance [https://www.instagram.com/reset___dance/] You can find Leora at:  IG:@a.healing.guide.pod [https://www.instagram.com/a.healing.guide.pod/%20] Recommended resources: * RESET Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3C06fTE4o3Xvw8p8zzZbHm?si=lhmmKK2FRkOJ07McQrXrCw&nd=1&dlsi=7386a1472a2147b1 [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3C06fTE4o3Xvw8p8zzZbHm?si=lhmmKK2FRkOJ07McQrXrCw&nd=1&dlsi=7386a1472a2147b1] * Connection between dancing and healing https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/transformative-rx-burnout-grief-and-illness-dance-2024a1000hqj?form=fpf [https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/transformative-rx-burnout-grief-and-illness-dance-2024a1000hqj?form=fpf] * Matriachal principles: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2xdVFqIsD6/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/C2xdVFqIsD6/] * Books involving Matriarchal Principles * The Thirteen Clan Mothers: Jamie Sams * Braiding Sweetgrass: Robin Wall Kimmerer * Serviceberries: Robin Wall Kimmerer [https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-serviceberry/] Timestamps: 00:17 Defining Somatic Movement 01:12 Meet Galit Criden 02:34 What we Have Forgotten about Dance and Movement 03:54 The Healing Power of Dance 06:54 Inside a Reset Class 15:00 How To Letting Go Without Losing Yourself 20:30 Daily Practices for Presence  25:08 Nurturing Creativity and Boldness 27:34 Integrating Creativity into Motherhood 33:39 The Power of Stillness and Closing Thoughts