Samantha Wills: Creativity Is the Ultimate Spiritual Connection

Samantha Wills: Creativity Is the Ultimate Spiritual Connection

From The Spiritual Book Club.   Samantha Wills is a creative visionary - a woman who’s learned to follow feeling over logic, and to heed the quiet whispers of the soul that are constantly vying for our attention. It’s what led her to create a global jewellery empire - one of Australia’s greatest fashion success stories - and then, in a life-defining act of courage, walk away from it all to make way for her next evolution.   Samantha joined us in The Spiritual Book Club to discuss her powerful memoir, Of Gold and Dust - a story of transformation, healing, and the magic that can unfold when we trust wholeheartedly in our intuition.   In this conversation, she shares why seeking validation from the outside world can be a dangerous trap, why it’s vital we pay attention to the nudges from the universe, and how creativity is the ultimate spiritual connection.   In this episode, Samantha shares:   *  Her daily spiritual practice: sitting down to create *  Her method to follow feelings over logic *  Trusting in the Universe, even when it’s not what we think we want *  The purpose of life is to keep moving forward and evolving *  The trap of seeking validation from outside of ourselves *  The gift of vulnerability *  The breakdown that led to Samantha’s spiritual awakening *  Tuning in to the ‘whispers’ of our soul   Key Quotes  “Our intuition does not lie to us”.   “That soul whisper, if it lingers on it turns into the feeling of regret or remorse, or 'I knew that and I didn't act on it’. That is the worst outcome for this life”.   “‘I like to zoom out like you're on Google Maps and just look at how big everything is. When we're in our heads, our world becomes so small. I use that visual to see it's all going to be okay. We just need to take a step back”.   “The universe only ever has three answers: Yes, not right now, or ‘I have something better in store for you’’.   “We don't have control of the timeline. We can put up the desire, but be flexible with how we get to that vision. Put the wish up and then release it”. Spiritual practice: Being creative.   Books and references: Of Gold and Dust. A Memoir of a Creative Life [https://www.amazon.com.au/Gold-Dust-memoir-creative-life/dp/1760876542/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by Samantha Wills Add links: Intuitive Being [https://www.amazon.com.au/Intuitive-Being-Connect-Spirit-Intentional/dp/0062436546]by Jill Willard Big Magic. Creative Living Beyond Fear [https://www.amazon.com.au/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1594634726] by Elizabeth Gilbert Any books by Caroline Myss [https://myss.com/]. The Creative Act [https://www.amazon.com.au/Creative-Act-Way-Being/dp/1838858660/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by Rick Rubin.   More Information   Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chezzidenyer/]: https://www.instagram.com/samanthawills [https://www.instagram.com/samanthawills]   Website: https://samanthawills.com/ [https://samanthawills.com/]   You can get involved with My Spiritual Side online   Youtube: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng] IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en]   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794]   The Spiritual Book Club   Find out more about The Spiritual Book Club here: https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/ [https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/]       ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Awakening is Not for the Faint-Hearted: Megan Dalla Camina

This might sound familiar.   Your life looks great from the outside - a successful career, a family you love, all the signs that you’re on track. And yet…there’s a quiet ripple of discontent.   It’s subtle at first. A sense of discomfort. Restlessness. Agitation. Maybe even resentment. Until one day, it becomes impossible to ignore.   That’s how it unfolded for Megan Dalla Camina. A women’s leadership expert, and bestselling author, Megan spent 18 years at the top of her game in   her corporate career —often the only woman in the room—until she reached a breaking point and realised she couldn’t continue living a life that no longer felt true. What followed was a profound return to herself. A self-described “forever seeker”, Megan has empowered tens of thousands of women to reconnect with their feminine energy, and their truth. In this episode of My Spiritual Side, she shares why awakening isn’t for the faint hearted —it’s a heroine’s journey—and how it begins with one powerful question: Is this what I want for my life?   In this episode, Megan shares: * Her daily spiritual practice including meditation, pranayama, reflection, mantras, japa practice and kriya breathwork. * The concept of spiritual lineage—being connected to teachings passed down through generations of masters. * Why she describes herself as a “forever seeker,” deeply committed to her spiritual path while building a high-profile career in leadership and women’s empowerment. * The life events that changed her trajectory - including chronic fatigue syndrome and a car accident in her 20s- which forced a profound redirection. * Her successful 18-year corporate career, often as the only woman in the room, which caused her to disconnection from herself. * How burnout at 36 became a wake-up call—a “blinding light” that revealed her way of living and working was no longer sustainable. * Why transformation rarely begins with clarity or awakening, but instead with discomfort, resentment, and a quiet sense that something needs to change. * The cost of living out of alignment; Many women live a “double life” disconnected from their truth. As Megan says: “It costs us our soul.” * The first step towards change is radical honesty, asking, “Is this what I want for my life?” and creating space to really tune into the answer. * Why awakening “is not for the faint-hearted” - it’s a heroine’s journey shaped by small, aligned actions rather than dramatic, life-altering leaps. * The return to self is about reconnecting with our inner wisdom and feminine energy - not by rejecting ambition, but by integrating both feminine and masculine energy. * The importance of tuning into the body, intuition, and curiosity as it guides us back to alignment.   Key Quotes “I’m a forever seeker and a forever student.” “Success without soul eventually feels like betrayal.” “The first point isn’t awakening. It’s the discomfort - the restlessness, the agitation, the resentment. Then we get the crack, and then we start to see the light.” “The first step is to ask yourself an honest question: ‘Is this what I want for my life?’ And then listen - really listen - to the answer in your body.” “This is a heroine’s journey. It’s not for the faint-hearted. I think we do a disservice to women when we present the Instagram version of awakening. For most women, it doesn’t look like that”.   Spiritual practice: meditation, pranayama, reflection, mantras, japa practice and kriya breathwork.   Books and references: She Who Remembers [https://www.amazon.com.au/She-Who-Remembers-Awakening-feminine/dp/1764247612/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by Megan Dalla Camina Death Must Die: Based on the Diaries of Atmananda [https://www.amazon.com.au/Death-Must-Die-Diaries-Atmananda/dp/8186569324] A Return to Love [https://www.amazon.com.au/Return-Love-Reflections-Principles-Miracles/dp/0722532997/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0]by Marianne Williamson   More Information Instagram: @megandallacaminWebsite: https://megandallacamina.com/ [https://megandallacamina.com/]   You can get involved with My Spiritual Side online   Youtube: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng] IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794]   The Spiritual Book Club   Find out more about The Spiritual Book Club here: https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/ [https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Coming Out of The Spiritual Closet: Chezzi Denyer

As a child, Chezzi Denyer liked wandering through graveyards.   A true free spirit herself, she thought nothing of communing with spirits, assuming that’s how it was for everyone.   Until she got the message loud and clear that it most certainly wasn’t —   From teachers, to the nuns at school, to her own mother - who feared Chezzi might go the way of her maternal ancestors once labelled “mad” but were more likely deeply intuitive.   In an attempt to belong, Chezzi shed her “spiritual skin,” as she describes it. Until a series of profound experiences—including a past life encounter—reawakened the psychic abilities she’d long suppressed - guiding her back to her true self… Once a news journalist grounded in facts, Chezzi is now a certified medium, embracing a gift she believes has been passed down through generations. In this episode of My Spiritual Side, Chezzi shares how she’s leaning into her mystical self, the power of past life healing, how to recognise signs from beyond, and the freedom that comes from fully embracing your ‘weirdness’. In this episode, Chezzi shares:   *  The morning meditation she tries to do to keep her grounded - but why it’s also OK to miss it when life gets busy *  Why she felt forced to “shed her spiritual skin” as a child - disconnecting from her intuition in order to feel safe and accepted *  The shame she carried around her intuitive gifts *  The moment she realised her grandmother and great-grandmother were likely mediums, despite being misunderstood in their time *  How a series of events led her back to her authentic self - and why her book feels like a “coming out” *  How studying mediumship felt like “the shackles coming off” *  Her belief that intuitive and psychic abilities are inherent in all of us *  How spirits communicate with us - and an introduction to the different “clairs” *  The power of past life healing and regression therapy *  How to ask for signs from the universe *  The freedom in embracing your “weirdness”   Key Quotes [Re studying mediumship]: “It was like light bulbs going off. Every time I leaned into it I felt this like the shackles coming off. I felt like I was finding myself and I felt this huge relief and newfound confidence.. It changed everything”.   “I was far from woo woo. I didn't even have a crystal. I was the least woo-woo person around”.   “..It is OK to talk about this stuff. It is OK if you it was shameful, if you had experiences you couldn't explain. Hey, I'll be the weirdo. I'll put myself out there and you guys can say, ‘We're with her. She's the queen weirdo’”.   “When we die, we don't disappear”.   “Look out for signs and talk to your past loved ones. They can hear you. Practice talking to them, ask them for a sign”.   Key Mantra: “I am enough”   Spiritual practice: Guided meditation (when there is time)   Books and references: The Weird Little Girl Who Talked to Ghosts [https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-weird-little-girl-who-talked-to-ghosts--chezzi-denyer/book/9781761280559.html]by Chezzi Denyer   The Medium School HERE [https://themediumschool.com/]   Rory Walkom YouTube channel meditations HERE [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1S6tzxB_mFBykoVzMiHSZA]   Toni Reilly Institute HERE [https://tonireillyinstitute.com/] Dr. Matthew Bourke HERE [https://optimumhealthessentials.com.au/] Dr Gabor Mate HERE [https://drgabormate.com/]   The Untethered Soul [https://www.amazon.com.au/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0]by Michael A. Singer   Donna Ashworth poetry HERE [https://www.amazon.com.au/Donna-Ashworth-Collection-Books-Hardback/dp/1785305751/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2EWYO6J98E3XS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hLZg0qgs2xnQAv0BpMDW0q468B5qW9wDCSo6p-Chz7yEU9P00yI7RJ-RNL0NYZCIL_Hr0axqysFdWgt9xMxiZScknuBrBS0G8PpqSItaliEaUukqBxL36q9UVePvHPznc5tz9UQrBE0lkKwnhB9Gr3fGLMhoYWX-fUIuovRbZ5Upr-fynLe1TfiM4Bk9VjksJ3aCdTmez921LQ2badFgVHHPRwBZgBSoqWSgl3-eGks.Xs45tUuQNrpRb0bNf9QNYgAveVkDayFfNOW53TTbX8w&dib_tag=se&keywords=donna+ashworth&qid=1776218593&s=books&sprefix=donna+ashwort,stripbooks,438&sr=1-10]   More Information   Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chezzidenyer/]: @chezzidenyer   Website: https://chezzidenyer.com.au/ [https://chezzidenyer.com.au/]   You can get involved with My Spiritual Side online   Youtube: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng] IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en]   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794]   The Spiritual Book Club   Find out more about The Spiritual Book Club here: https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/ [https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Pia Miranda: The Art of Surrender

You probably think you know Pia Miranda. She’s that girl who starred in the iconic movie, Looking for Alibrandi, in 2000 - and has since built an impressive career across film, TV, and theatre. She’s also the woman whose determination saw her outlast a fierce field to win Australian Survivor in 2019. But there’s far more to Pia than the bubbly, vivacious face she shows the world. A self-described “seeker,” she learned to read auras with her Italian aunts, embraced yoga as a teenager, and has been practicing meditation for as long as she can remember. Today, Pia is on a spiritual quest to connect with her true self - alongside her “heart tribe”, a trio of friends guiding each other along the way. In this episode of My Spiritual Side, Pia shares: Why giving up auditioning at 50 has liberated her, how parenting became her greatest spiritual lesson, and how leaning to surrender on Survivor is an art that will stay with her for life.   In this episode, Pia shares: *  Her morning ritual: self guided meditation and visualisation *  How her Italian heritage opened her mind to reading auras and ‘other ways of thinking’ * How practising yoga since she was a teenager has transformed her life *  Exploring spirituality with friends, her ‘heart tribe’ *  Her acting career as a conduit to personal growth and compassion *  Learning to balance her ego and cope with rejection * Why she retired from auditioning at 50 and how that has freed her * How competing on Survivor became a spiritual quest *  How learning to surrender changed her life: “If something comes up, I go ‘Stop, pause, surrender, it’ll be what it'll be’” * Parenting as a spiritual practice * Practicing gratitude in everyday life   Key Quotes “My role on this earth is to make sure that I'm putting out as much good as I can”.   “At this part of my life, who I am is more important than the jobs I get”.   The art of surrender:   “What if I just surrender? What's the worst thing that can happen?”   “Whatever's going to face me is going to face me regardless of how I think. I can only do what I can do within my control”.   “When I'm feeling out of control, when I'm feeling like my mind's going too fast, I just stop and breathe and say the word ‘surrender’ to myself, let it go. What's the worst thing that can happen?”   “Parenting is the thing that has really given me the most spiritual growth”.   Key Mantra: “Be the meditation”.   Spiritual practice: Yoga. “I can't imagine my life without yoga. It's the thing that saved me, changed me and helps me grow still”   Books: Finding My Bella Vita: [https://www.amazon.com.au/Finding-My-Bella-Vita-working/dp/0733649831/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.t78kInGpVuA7SW9x9TdUkw.P2yJXncm8ofkGZjF1thbvq7Z4IJyEufGKnIsr4brTbg&qid=1773207897&sr=8-1]A story of family, food, fame and working out who you are by Pia Miranda   The Yamas & Niyamas: [https://www.amazon.com.au/Yamas-Niyamas-Deborah-Adele/dp/0974470643/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele   The Untethered Soul [https://www.amazon.com.au/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by Michael J. Singer The Surrender Experiment [https://www.amazon.com.au/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/147362150X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by Michael J. Singer   More Information   Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/_piamiranda/?hl=en]   IMDb page [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592180/]   You can get involved with My Spiritual Side online   Youtube: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCB_Yt6I-5Zbx7OhKIr5g8ng] IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en]   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794]   The Spiritual Book Club   Find out more about The Spiritual Book Club here: https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/ [https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/]   ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Showing Up as Your authentic Self Like Jane McCann @TheMiddleAgedGoddess

If you’re under the impression that midlife is a time to dread, Jane McCann is here to set the record straight. Better know as The Middle Aged Goddess to her devoted Instagram community of more than 200,000 followers - Jane is proving that this chapter of life can be liberating, joyful and deeply transformative. Showing up as her wise, authentic self, she inspires women around the world to embrace midlife as a gift: an opportunity for connection, self-discovery, and reinvention. Through candid conversations about menopause, mental health, loss and learning to love yourself, Jane is shifting the narrative around ageing for women. In this episode of My Spiritual Side, she opens up about her ongoing quest for personal growth, the spiritual practices that sustain her, and why manifesting a dream life isn’t luck - it’s a conscious choice   In this episode, Jane shares: * Her spiritual rituals: including a morning ocean swim and coffee * Her Vedic meditation practice - including the mantra that came to her in Bhutan * Her connection to White Tara as a guiding deity and “spirit sister” * Moving through her “dark nights of the soul” * The complicated relationship she had with her mother - and the realisation, after her death, that some wounds can’t be mended * Parenting “on the job,” apologising when she got it wrong, and the importance of saying “I love you” * Practicing the pause before reacting * Losing her sister at 57 - and how that fuels Jane’s desire to truly live * How she unexpectedly became an Instagram influencer - and her commitment to using the platform for good * Learning to love herself, fully * The unexpected gifts of menopause - including time for herself, perspective and rediscovering childhood joy * Beginning every day with the words: “Thank you.” * Why everything she does revolves around keeping herself mentally well * The role “Madame Universe” played in finding her partner * Her advice to make meditation part of your day - no matter how brief * The power of sitting in silence (often in the car) * How manifesting a dream life is not luck, it’s a choice   Key Quotes Menopause: “Menopause gets such a bad rap these days, but menopause absolutely helped me get there [to self love]. As your oestrogen starts to decline, it's almost like you stick your head out like a turtle and go, ‘Hang on a minute, I've been caring for you and you and you and now I'm gonna care for myself’.”   “All the physical stuff that comes with menopause, like the wrinkles that suddenly appear and the tummy… It was a real revelation for me about beauty standards and what I had held myself to. And I realised, I can't do that anymore. There is no way of stopping this. You can have all the Botox, all the fillers, all the things, but you're gonna age and there will be signs of it. So I had to really learn to love all those parts of myself”.   Gratitude: “My first thought in the morning is ‘thank you’. I've really coached myself into doing this. Put your hand on your heart and say, ‘thank you’. And you lift the corners of your mouth and you smile and it's like an instant mood fixer. While your hand is there, you just say, ‘I love you. Thank you’. It's that easy. After a while, you start to believe it”.   “When people go, ‘you're so lucky’, it's not luck, it's choice”.   “Nothing changes if nothing changes. Because nothing will change unless you change it”.   Key Mantra: Bigger, better, beyond Books: Buddhism for Mothers [https://www.amazon.com.au/Buddhism-Mothers-Sarah-Napthali/dp/1742373771/ref=asc_df_1742373771?mcid=3cbb4e9b6dc3345f80dc85ce403b5ab5&tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=712262659422&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18443827992260737391&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071783&hvtargid=pla-494147710063&psc=1&gad_source=1] by Sarah Napthali Mother Zen [https://www.amazon.com.au/Mother-Zen-Jacinta-Tynan-ebook/dp/B00R76MTQI/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0] by Jacinta Tynan Guts: A Memoir of Food, Failure and Taking Impossible Chances [https://www.amazon.com.au/Guts-memoir-failure-impossible-chances/dp/1922616761/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by Melissa Leong   Podcast: BodhiHeart Podcast [https://www.bodhicittasangha.org/bodhiheart-podcast-with-khenpo-sherab-sangpo/]with Khenpo Sherab Sangpo. More Information Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themiddleagedgoddess/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/themiddleagedgoddess/?hl=en]   Website: https://www.themiddleagedgoddess.com.au/ [https://www.themiddleagedgoddess.com.au/]   Follow My Spiritual Side online on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualbookclubofficial/?hl=en], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091456576794]. Find out more about The Spiritual Book Club here [https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/]. The Spiritual Book Club: Find out more about The Spiritual Book Club here. [https://www.thespiritualbookclub.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.