She Talks

Over the years, when I work one-on-one with women, they often share that something they want for their lives, and to gain from working together, is to establish a solid, daily meditation practice. I love that they want this for themselves and that they see the value in this. Because if you’re to pick one daily ritual to implement that will have the biggest impact on every area of your life, that is without a doubt a daily, meditation practice. To help support you with this, I’m going to start sharing some guided meditations here on the podcast. Today’s is one from a virtual retreat I led in my online spiritual practice community, Women’s House of Wisdom. In it, we take refuge in our belly centers– known in many spiritual traditions as our “true home.” It’s the seat of our intuition, our wisdom, our highest selves. May today’s guided meditation be of benefit. The Deep Rest Retreat: https://bit.ly/2XWyfwM Sara's website: www.SaraAvantStover.com Newsletter: www.SaraAvantStover.com/#subscribe Women

In honor of tomorrow being the first day of Women's History Month (how did it get to be March already?!), I want to give voice to something that has afflicted nearly every woman I know at some point in her life, in some form. It's something we started grappling with when our bodies started growing from girl to woman. It's something our sisters, mothers, and grandmothers often suffered from. It's something that stays with us in subtle, yet pernicious ways. It's something that we deny, judge, and hate – but also secretly love. Above all, it's something we stay silent about. I want to talk today about our eating disorders. In the opening chapter of my second book, The Book of SHE, I recounted the story of an intense, and startling, bulimia relapse I had eleven years ago when I was overcome with self-doubt and inner criticism while writing my first book. Upon reading my story, many women reached out sharing "I, too, was bulimic in high school and sometimes have relapses as an adult. I've done so much sp

Happy Valentine’s Day, happy Galentine’s Day, for all who are celebrating. And- yay- we’re just over half-way to the equinox now. This is our final stretch in the underworld that is wintertime. Fitting for this season, today I’m sharing an excerpt from a dharma talk I gave during a retreat last month in my online women’s yoga & meditation community, Women’s House of Wisdom. In it, I speak about “The Power of Yin.” In a world that still condemns the feminine, or yin energy-- like softening, resting, being, allowing-- we still have a ways to go before really restoring this fundamental energetic balance, first within ourselves and then on the planet. Women's House of Wisdom: www.WomensHouseofWisdom.com Sara's website: www.SaraAvantStover.com Join the newsletter: www.SaraAvantStover.com/#newsletter Sara on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/SaraAvantStover Sara on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SaraAvantStoverAuthor

Today, I’m looking forward to sharing with you our first podcast guest of the season, Ari Honarvar. Ari is full of treasures– a woman I sense you’re going to be seeing a lot more of in the months and years ahead. She’s a wonderful female role model for these times, in so many ways. Ari Honarvar is an award-winning writer, visual artist, activist, and speaker who grew up in war-torn Iran. Today, she’s turned her childhood trauma into ecstatic service by bringing the medicine of Iranian mysticism and poetry to refugees and asylum seekers at the U.S./Mexico border. The Iranian Musical Ambassador of Peace, Ari has spearheaded the Drop Poems Not Bombs project and is also the Vice President of Gente Unida, a human rights border coalition. We speak about what it was like to grow up as a young-girl in an unstable country where women and girls were stripped of their rights, what it was like to move to the United States without her family at the age of fourteen, and all the ways mystical poetry saved her life. W

We women face many challenging transitions on the pilgrimage from girlhood to womanhood: menses, love and heartbreak, motherhood, childlessness (by choice or not), menopause, illness, loss, and financial devastation (to name a few). Devoid of a central narrative, these rites of passage too often happen in shame, isolation, and secrecy, leaving women doubting their personal power, self-worth, and, at times, sanity. Yet these very thresholds– or initiations– are what’s required to expand our personalities and nervous systems to better hold the largeness of our souls. Today, I'm mapping out the three biggest dangers of undergoing a modern-day initiation– or transformational cycle of unbecoming and becoming. I'm also sharing three antidotes to best work with these inopportune societal conditions. May these words provide validation and context-making for wherever you are in your process. And, as always, blessings on your journey! For women who want to go deeper into this with me and with one another, I'm lea

As we near the end of 2020, a monumental year for us all, I called on my friend, colleague, and esteemed astrologer and success coach, Jennifer Raccioppi, to shed some light on the cosmic forecast for the month of December, and into 2021. In our conversation, we talk all about Jenn’s new book, Cosmic Health, and why, from an astrological standpoint, 2020 was so intense. She shares some interesting shifts happening in a couple of weeks– most notably the new moon eclipse on December 14, and a rare astrological conjunction on Dec. 21 that will seed a paradigm shift in 2021 and beyond. We touch on practical ways you can align with these changes, why it's imperative that you "ride your erotic edge," what her current spiritual practice consists of, her recent heartbreak and encounters with the Dark Mother, and her current growing edge. Settle in with us, and enjoy. Jennifer Racioppi's website: JenniferRacioppi.com Sara's website: SaraAvantStover.com Cosmic Health book: indiebound.org/book/9780316535298 Wom

Today I have a really wonderful conversation to share with you. Spring Washam is a well-known meditation teacher, author, and visionary leader based in California and Peru. I first came across Spring this past summer, just after George Floyd’s murder when the Black Lives Matter movement really burst into the collective field. At that time I saw an online course she was offering that intrigued me, called The Dharma of Harriet Tubman. Spring and I speak about: - Her personal visitations from Harriet Tubman - How Harriet’s an archetype so needed for these times - Ways that Black women are the backbone of this country (The United States) and why white women need to support them - What it’s like to be a biracial woman on the spiritual path - How she’s created diverse, accessible spiritual communities - What it’s like to lead “the church” of Harriet Tubman - And how plant medicine plays a pivotal role in both of our lives, especially in healing trauma There’s a lot of richness in here. Enjoy! Spring's websit

Today I’m sharing a segment of a dharma talk I gave a couple of weeks ago in my online spiritual practice community, Women’s House of Wisdom. This talk was a lead-in to Part 1 of a two-part virtual retreat series I'm leading this fall, called “Preparing for the Darker Months, and Times.” In this series, I'm sharing six teachings, as points of focus to apply and orient around when things feel more murky and uncomfortable and there’s not as much light illuminating our path to know the next steps forward. While I am speaking directly to the energetics of the fall season here, these teachings also apply to you if you’re in the southern hemisphere. At the macro level, they also hold true anytime in our lives when we’re passing through the points in the creative cycle of dissolution and death. Enjoy! ------------------ Join us live for Part 2 of this series in a virtual retreat on Saturday, November 14. Learn more and register: www.WomensHouseofWisdom.com

Even when there's a lot going on in our lives, it's important to pause and honor important milestones. Today's SHE Talk does just this. It's a deep, honest interview that I recorded in honor of a few big anniversaries. First, the podcast is 5! I started it in 2015 with a special interview series to mark the birth of my second book. And, yes, the second milestone is that five years ago this Tuesday, to be exact, The Book of SHE: Your Heroine's Journey into the Heart of Feminine Power was published. The biggest thing I want to honor today – which is the real focus of today's episode – is that five years ago my own heroine's journey took a...how should I say....unfathomable (!) direction. I've since been warned: "Be careful what you write a book about! You'll need to embody those teachings at the deepest level." I'll leave it at that because today's talk (in which my good friend Emma Teitel turns the tables and interviews me) goes into this in-depth. We cover a whole range of things from: - How we’r

Those of you who have been here for a while will remember that just over two years ago, in July 2018, I published a story, both on my website and here about a harrowing abortion experience I underwent in April 2017. In case you’re interested, my story can be found in episode 53 of this podcast. Episodes 54, 55, and 56 also pertain to abortion. At the time of publishing my story, I was also starting up abortion support circles, to help fill the gaping hole I found in women’s health care when it comes to abortion. There is literally very very little to no adequate support for women when it comes to abortion– both in helping women to decide whether or not to have an abortion. And in how to heal after abortion. It’s not always but often is a complicated process, one that can still haunt women decades later. Two years ago I led a pilot online program on this topic, and, since then, also led in-person abortion support circles. Now, I’m feeling called to take this work deeper and to make it even more widely

I’m happy to be here with you, after a long hiatus over the Northern summer here in the United States. Since I last connected with you here, I moved from Santa Barbara, California–where I lived for a couple of years–back to Boulder, CO. I’m settled into my new home here and adjusting to life again at 5000 feet above sea level. It feels good and right to be here. I was packing up and leaving the west coast right as the fires started burning there. I send heartfelt support and care for all who are impacted by the smoke, the fires, the hurricanes, the racial injustice, the pandemic, and the various confluences of all of these factors. To say it’s a lot is an understatement. May today's SHE Talk be a place of refuge for you. This was recorded a couple of weeks ago, on the second day of an online weekend retreat I taught with Shambhala Mountain Center, entitled “Creating a Beautiful Life in Hard Times.” In this particular talk, I address the need to cultivate a particular flavor of wisdom in these times.

Grief is taking a more prominent role in all of our lives these days, and if you haven't yet been initiated into its wild and rough ways, you're likely experiencing this, to some degree, right now. This can be confusing, given that we live in a very grief/darkness/death-adverse culture. In light of this, I wanted to share a talk I gave a few years ago in an online course I taught called "Healing from Heartbreak." In it, I share the wisdom grief has to teach us, how we can make space for it in our lives, and the danger of not giving it a seat at the table. My wish for you is that you welcome and surrender to grief so that it can become a powerful ally on your journey. If you'd like to go deeper into this, I'm offering the entire "Healing from Heartbreak" online course for 50% off at www.TheWayoftheHappyWoman.com/store And our next live community offering is a virtual yoga & meditation retreat on Saturday, May 9 on the topic of the Divine Mother. To learn more and join us, visit www.WomensHouseofWisdom.c

Today's talk is a recording from one I gave on the morning of New Year's eve this past year at a women's retreat I led at 1440 Multiversity. In it, I share how healing ourselves, our lives, and our world, is a creative act. This process of "mending" ourselves into wholeness is an art form that requires courageously weaving together all the different parts and pieces of ourselves. It requires acknowledging and resolving inner and outer conflicts, for these very conflicts are both the ground for our healing and our path forward. Enjoy and many blessings! You're also welcome to join me and our community for our next virtual retreat, on Saturday, May 9. This month's theme is "Calling on the Divine Mother." You can learn more & join us at www.Women'sHouseofWisdom.com

Hello friends, I wanted to share with you a short talk today on Wake-Up Calls, mostly to offer a chance for you to think/reflect more on how this time serves as a "wake-up call" for you to live a more honest, sovereign life. And for those who want to dive into this topic more with me and our community, I'm leading a virtual retreat this weekend (Saturday 4/11 10am-1pm Pacific) in Women's House of Wisdom. To be accessible to all right now, the retreat is pay-what-you-can. You can learn more and register here: www.WomensHouseofWisdom.com In either case, I'm wishing you and your loved ones much strength of heart.

Here's the recording from our second community call held earlier this week, where Sara shares ways to draw on deeper levels of support during these trying times. May this be of support! If you'd like to join Women's House of Wisdom, the online women's practice community (pay-what-you-can & the first virtual retreat is Saturday 4/11), you can do so here: www.WomensHouseofWisdom.com And to learn more about Sara and her work, visit www.TheWayoftheHappyWoman.com

This evening, as rain drizzles outside, the wisteria in my garden reveals its buds, and the first case of COVID-19 was just reported here in Santa Barbara, I feel deeply called to write to you. I've been holding this community – and our entire global family – in my heart. (I also want to acknowledge that it's been just about a year since I last published a podcast. I've been on a sabbatical of sorts since then, changing and living a lot, as I imagine is true for you too!) And...here we are. Amidst all the fear and uncertainty, let us remember that THIS is what we've been practicing for. THIS is our collective time in the chrysalis, transforming together from the caterpillar to the butterfly. THIS is the time to ground yourself, open your heart, stay present, use all your tools, and dance with the unknown. THIS is the time to turn from me to we and to choose love over fear. Moment, by moment, by excruciating moment. THIS is it. Let's look more deeply into the opportunity presenting itself. This week,

Today's talk comes from a recent Facebook Live class I taught on "Essentials for a Daily Practice." A daily practice doesn't need to be strict and mechanical. Rather, it can feel supportive, like seeking the solace of a good friend. In this class, I share essentials of an effective, nourishing (and doable) daily practice. This is a potent time of year to rekindle our passion for our practice. Plus, the world is calling us to more-- and that more isn't possible without a solid foundation of a serious, daily practice. May today's class inspire you to deepen your inner sight this season. And, if you'd like support, inspiration, and sisterhood on incorporating all of these elements into your life in 2019, registration for my year-long women's spiritual practice community, A Year of SHE, is open for a couple more days! You can learn more and register here: www.AYearofSHE.com

What if life is happening for you, not to you? What if everything that you’re experiencing is an answer to your deepest prayer? What if your greatest challenges were doorways into your greatness? In the sixth and final Dakini’s Den episode, I share an excerpt from a class where I speak about resilience, overcoming challenging emotions, and viewing life as your initiation. If you’re feeling beaten down by the circumstances of your life, today’s talk will inspire and uplift you. And, registration is open one more week for A Year of SHE or the SHE Leadership Circle. You can learn more here: www.AYearofSHE.com

Today, in the second-to-last episode in the series, “Dakini’s Den,” I’m sharing a talk on the dangers of being a “solopreneur” and how service and collaboration are the highest forms of feminine leadership. “Self-Care Isn’t Selfish,” reads one of the sections in my first book, The Way of the Happy Woman. I wrote those words almost nine years ago, and we women were in a very different place then than we are now. As I look around today, I see that there’s now too much emphasis on self-care. We’re overly fixated on: How can I get what I want? How can I get the dream home? The dream car? The dream spouse? The dream job? How can I get more for me? At the same time, we underestimate our strength. We don’t give as much of ourselves as we’re capable of because we tell ourselves the story: “I’m introverted. I’m sensitive. I’m overwhelmed.” But here’s the thing: you may be introverted and you may be sensitive, but you’re not fragile. You’re made of all that the Universe is made of– tornadoes and rain forests

Welcome back to the second half of our Dakini’s Den series. Today’s talk is an excerpt from one of this year’s SHE School classes. In it, I discuss the power of the mind. I’ve learned over the years just how powerful my mind is. I can create heaven or hell around me, depending upon my thoughts. A Course in Miracles teaches that every thought creates form on some level. Can we just take that in for a moment? On retreat, after a few consecutive days of being quiet, moving more slowly, resting, staying off my phone/computer, and meditating a lot, my mind starts to slow down. Rather than being a victim to my unconscious program, I can begin to see my thoughts, one at a time. Then I can choose: Is this a thought I want to think? Who will I be tomorrow if I think this thought today? What will my life look like a year from now if I think this other thought instead? It’s worthwhile to take some understanding how the Universe (and your mind) works so that your life can work better. Today’s talk will help you do