Sacred Scars Podcast

This episode dives deep into the often messy, emotional terrain of belief swapping and spiritual seeking. Mike and Lori revisit their personal stories of shedding old certainties, wrestling with liminal space, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Together, they explore how identity can feel lost, agency can feel foreign, and the journey forward is rarely linear. With honesty and warmth, they unpack the pain, confusion, and gradual reconstruction that follow a spiritual upheaval—offering companionship to anyone navigating the wilderness between faiths or struggling to reclaim their own authority after leaving behind old beliefs.Key Topics/Stories:- The vulnerability of sharing unfinished stories in public- What belief swapping looks and feels like—from Catholicism and Baptist roots to new spiritual paths- The restless pursuit of truth, and how it shapes the journey- The weight of religious authority, and the challenge of reclaiming autonomy- Navigating liminal space: identity loss, grief, and the slow process of becoming- The risks of replacing one guru or system with another- Finding playfulness and possibility in belief—learning to hold things looselyLori and Mike are certified existential health practitioners through the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality. Lori is also a certified grief companion.Links:Sacred Scars Substackhttps://sacredscars.substack.com/Lori Bickelwww.loribickel.comhttps://spiritualunraveling.substack.com/Michael Loyhttps://www.thewanderingnautilus.com/https://thewanderingnautilus.substack.com/Center for Non-Religious SpiritualityCenter for Non-Religious Spirituality This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredscars.substack.com

Have you ever questioned the beliefs that once defined you? In this opening episode, we share the raw stories of unraveling faith, confronting uncertainty, and learning to trust ourselves again.This conversation explores the emotional and existential turbulence that follows religious deconstruction—grief, loss of identity, and the gradual, sometimes messy work of rebuilding meaning on the other side.Key topics and stories include:- Personal journeys from clergy and congregant through deconstruction- The concept of "belief swapping” and why certainty is so hard to let go of- How grief and emotion show up physically during the process- The unique masculine/feminine dynamic in healing and rebuilding- The importance of community, storytelling, and finding resonanceWe hope you find connection in our stories, whether you’re just beginning to question or are years into your own journey. There’s a seat for you at our table.Lori and Mike are certified existential health practitioners through the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality. Lori is also a certified grief companion.Find more conversations and resources at:Sacred Scars Substackhttps://sacredscars.substack.com/Lori Bickelwww.loribickel.comhttps://spiritualunraveling.substack.com/Michael Loyhttps://www.thewanderingnautilus.com/https://thewanderingnautilus.substack.com/Center for Non-Religious SpiritualityCenter for Non-Religious Spirituality This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredscars.substack.com

Welcome to Sacred Scars. Lori Bickel and Mike Loy introduce the show and the questions at the heart of it — what lives in the spaces between the masculine and the feminine, the clergy and the congregant, deconstruction, and what comes next.Our trailer — the intro and theme song you'll hear at the close of every episode — says it best: the wounds we carry are "the gold that's glowing from deep within." This show is for anyone who's been through something and is still figuring out what it made them. Whether you're in the thick of deconstruction or somewhere on the other side, there's a seat at the table for you.Links:Sacred Scars Substackhttps://sacredscars.substack.com/Lori Bickelwww.loribickel.comhttps://spiritualunraveling.substack.com/Michael Loyhttps://www.thewanderingnautilus.com/https://thewanderingnautilus.substack.com/Center for Non-Religious SpiritualityCenter for Non-Religious Spirituality This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredscars.substack.com