The Spiritual Virgins

Masculine & Feminine Energy: Why These Labels Trigger Me (And What I Discovered About Myself)

Have you ever had a word or label instantly trigger you without fully understanding why? In this episode, Deborah has an unexpected emotional reaction to the terms "masculine" and "feminine" — and what unfolds is one of the most raw and revealing conversations yet. In this episode: * Why the word "masculine" triggered Debra and what it revealed about her past * Growing up in a conservative church where women were expected to be "helpmmates" * Fighting for equality vs. wanting the freedom that came with being "one of the boys" * Masculine energy: leadership, action, direction, assertiveness and focus * Feminine energy: receptivity, intuition, nurturing, creativity and emotion * Defaulting to masculine energy as a trauma response and protective mechanism * The difference between choosing an energy vs. reacting from a place of fear * Debra's revelation: feeling emotionally non-binary while identifying as female * How raising a non-binary child cracked open an entirely new perspective * Why blending both energies without the labels feels most authentic * Polarity in relationships and whether opposites truly attract * Breaking generational patterns so they don't get passed down * When swinging the pendulum too far becomes its own wound * Why being triggered by a word is always an invitation to go deeper * The goal isn't balance — it's awareness and the freedom to choose If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit neatly into a label, or if religious and cultural conditioning has shaped how you see yourself, this episode will hit home. Connect with Debra: debraleighbryant.com | Instagram @debraleighbryant Connect with Shirley: shirleyhollinger.com | Instagram @theshirleyhollinger

Judgment: Self-Awareness, Compassion & Healing Old Programming

What happens when Spirit calls you out on being judgmental—especially when you thought you weren't? Debra shares her meditation revelation about judgment and how it's showing up everywhere once she became aware of it. In this episode: * The difference between healthy discernment and harmful judgment * How judgment keeps us safe but can also hold us back * Self-judgment and the stories we tell ourselves (I'm not smart, I can't spell, I'm not good enough) * Deborah's NLP work to reprogram dyslexia beliefs and improve spelling * Finding the anchor moments where limiting beliefs first formed * Why judging others is really about our own insecurities and programming * Body image, weight, and toxic family messaging around appearance * Society's ever-changing beauty standards and learning self-acceptance * How judgment activates a threat response and increases cortisol * Using judgment as a mirror: what does this reveal about me? * The problem with trying to separate ourselves from what we judge * Re-parenting your inner child who learned to judge herself * Bringing compassion to judgment instead of stacking more judgment on top * Why processing emotions fully prevents them from getting stuck * Becoming more honest with yourself as true spiritual development Whether you're working through self-criticism or noticing judgment toward others, this episode offers a compassionate framework for using awareness as a healing tool. Connect with Debra: debraleighbryant.com | Instagram @deborahleebryant Connect with Shirley: shirleyhollinger.com | Instagram @theshirleyhollinger

Thoughts & Feelings: Nervous System Regulation, Emotional Processing & Creating New Set Points

Do your thoughts control your feelings, or do your feelings drive your actions? Debra and Shirley explore both the top-down and bottom-up approaches to understanding how we process emotions and make decisions. In this episode: * Top-down vs. bottom-up theory: thoughts to feelings vs. nervous system first * How your nervous system constantly scans for threats and triggers reactions * Anniversary reactions: when your body remembers before your mind does * Why the same text message triggers different reactions in different people * The power of the subconscious mind and stored emotional patterns * Moving from emotionally reactive to regulated and zen * Pattern interrupts: breaking routines to shift your state * Why processing emotions in the moment prevents them from getting stuck * Creating space between stimulus and response — finding the pause * Byron Katie's "The Work" for examining thoughts from every angle * Re-parenting yourself and tracing feelings back to their source * Questioning old beliefs: is this really mine or inherited programming? * How meditation and hypnotherapy create new emotional set points * The difference between suppressing emotions and choosing your response * Why feelings, not logic, often drive behavior and decisions Whether you're working on emotional regulation or curious about why you react the way you do, this episode offers practical insights into the mind-body connection. Connect with Debra: debraleighbryant.com | Instagram @deborahleebryant Connect with Shirley: shirleyhollinger.com | Instagram @theshirleyhollinger

The Pull: How to Hear, Feel & Trust Your Intuition | Intuition 101

The Pull: How to Hear, Feel & Trust Your IntuitionIntuition 101 — that quiet knowing you can't quite explain? Deborah and Shirley are finally giving it a full episode. In this episode: * The mysterious pull to Snohomish — and how following it led Shirley to the perfect office space (and dreaming the floor plan before ever stepping inside) * Leaving a high-paying job with zero fear — Deborah on what calm, steady knowing actually feels like * The many forms intuition takes: gut feelings, visions, sounds, physical sensations, impressions, and even smell * Why you can't access intuition when your nervous system is dysregulated — and simple ways to get back into reception mode * Intuition vs. anxiety: how to tell the difference * The role of spirit guides in nudging us in the right direction * Why receiving intuitive guidance requires slowing down and embracing the feminine, receptive state * Sonia Choquette's Trust Your Vibes — fun, practical exercises to start building trust with your intuition * Following your joy as one of the clearest intuitive signals you have * Why the path rarely ends where you think it will — and why that's the whole point Whether you're just starting to tune in or deepening a practice you already have, this episode is your reminder that the quiet knowing has always been there — you just have to get still enough to feel it. Connect with Debra: debraleighbryant.com | Instagram @debraleighbryant Connect with Shirley: shirleyhollinger.com | Instagram @theshirleyhollinger

Beyond Death: Near-Death Experiences, Past Lives & Soul Connections

Beyond Death: Near-Death Experiences, Past Lives & Soul Connections What really happens when we die? Debra and Shirley dive deep into near-death experiences, past life memories, and the profound connections that transcend this lifetime. In this episode: * John Davis's transformative 7-minute NDE and the central message: there is no death * The common thread across all NDEs — it's only about love * Life reviews without judgment: learning from our experiences with compassion * Why we choose to come to Earth and select our soul groups before birth * Meeting your soul tribe when you live authentically as yourself * Dr. Mary Neal's 30-minute underwater NDE and receiving information about her son's future death * Navigating grief while holding belief in the afterlife * The indescribable vibrancy, color, and love experienced on the other side * Brian Weiss's "Many Lives, Many Masters" — uncovering past life trauma through hypnotherapy * Children's verifiable past life memories and ongoing research * "Heaven Is for Real" and a 4-year-old's detailed account of meeting Jesus * Why some people experience depression after returning from NDEs * Finding peace and freedom in understanding death as going home * The physical and emotional experiences unique to being in a body Whether you're seeking comfort around death, curious about past lives, or wanting to understand our soul's journey, this episode offers hope, connection, and perspective on what lies beyond. Connect with Deborah: deborahleebryant.com | Instagram @deborahleebryant Connect with Shirley: shirleyhollinger.com | Instagram @theshirleyhollinger