From Stage to Self: Dancing on Coals and the Transformative Spiritual Journey of Cynthia Moore

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Cynthia Moore about her multifaceted career from a playwright and performer to a psychotherapist, and, more recently, the author of “Dancing on Coals: A Memoir of an Overperformer.” In the book, Cynthia chronicles her transition from the sphere of theatre to the domain of psychotherapy. She reflects on how her longstanding pursuit of approval, recognition, and enlightenment was rooted in formative childhood desires for a sense of belonging. Yet she has discovered that life’s most fulfilling experiences tend to be found in the simplicity of everyday moments rooted in the present, including a pancake breakfast on a lazy morning. We also talk about the transformative era of the 1970s, when theatre was marked by innovation and a willingness to challenge established conventions. Cynthia shares her dynamic and at times tumultuous experiences in the theatrical community, alongside the revolutionary and occasionally precarious relationships she encountered along the way, as well as the difficulties of asserting her authentic voice within a predominantly male environment. Furthermore, we talk about psychology and spirituality and how Cynthia’s decision to pursue psychotherapy was not simply a career change, but rather a leap into uncharted territory—a personal “dark night of the soul.” Through this journey, she found a space for genuine self-expression and healing, integrating personal challenges, spiritual practices, and the principles of therapeutic support. This was further enriched by insights into childhood trauma, the role of intuition, and Buddhist meditation, again culminating in the recognition that true contentment is to be found in the present moment.