What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality
by Karen Wyatt
Dr. Karen Wyatt shares the life wisdom she learned from her hospice patients as they faced their last days. Learn how to navigate life's challenges and become your best self in the process as Karen shares what she's learning from day to day on her own journey. You'll discover tools, practices, wisdom, and stories to help you figure out what really matters in your own life.
Episodes
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Ep. 172 How and Why to Keep a Nature Journal
In this episode I introduce you to my new favorite practice for emotional and spiritual health - nature journaling. I hope you'll consider trying it to with the help of the resources I'll list for you below. This episode includes: The benefits of spending time in nature Why nature journaling…
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Ep. 180 Grief Travel on the Sonoma Coast
In this episode I'm taking you along on my journey to the Sonoma Coast where I practiced "grief travel" as I always do when I'm away from home. Grief travel means that I keep my heart and mind open for evidence of grief wherever I go - and I always find it. Every little trek and journey becomes...
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Ep. 179 How do I forgive myself?
In order to grow spiritually forgiveness is one of the most important tasks we need to accomplish. And forgiving ourselves is a necessary step before we can fully forgive others. In a companion Soulcode Post I've written about why self-forgiveness is so hard to do. In this episode I share some...
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Ep. 178 Roses for Tracey and Grief with Wings
This special Father's Day episode is a companion to my latest post on Soulcode: We Need Another Word for Grief. I'm sharing some thoughts about how grief grows and changes over time by telling the story of my niece who died too soon of cancer, and a synchronicity involving roses after she died....
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Ep. 177 Grieving the Chosen Goodbye
This episode is a companion to two previous EOLU Podcast episodes and a Substack post on Medical Aid in Dying. Here I share the story of a colleague with ALS who wanted to use MAID and my thoughts about grief after a chosen death. This episode includes: Obstacles faced by many who want to use…
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Ep. 176 How Our Attention Shapes Our Experience
This episode is a companion to the previous 3 episodes on Levels of Consciousness (173), Kindness (174) and Presence (175.) I share how what we pay attention to in our environment shapes our experience of reality and why we need tools to help us expand our awareness. This episode includes: How…
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Ep. 175 Presence: The Most Important Skill for Uncertain Times
In this episode I talk about the foundational skill of Presence: being able to focus on the present moment and also remaining calm in the midst of difficulties. This episode includes: Why calm presence is contagious How having greater presence helps you practice kindness How humans are hard-wired...
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Ep. 174 Kindness is Contagious and We Need it Now More Than Ever
In this episode I'm sharing research by Dr. Jonathan Haidt that demonstrates the ripple effects transmitted from each and every act of kindness. When other people see us being kind it changes them. And this moment in time--when people are feeling overwhelmed, polarized, frightened, and...
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Ep. 173 Why People See the World So Differently
In this episode I share a useful and simple metaphor for levels of consciousness that can help us understand why there are so many opposing views of the world in our society right now - and how to navigate them. This episode includes: The "building" metaphor for levels of consciousness How the…
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Ep. 172 The Weight of Unforgiveness
In this episde I share two interlocking stories about the burden we carry when we hold onto resentment, anger, self-blame, and self-loathing. Find out how I learned to begin to let it go. This episode includes: My forgiveness garden How I finally recognized the cost of carrying negative emotions...
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Ep. 171 Keeping Vigil While the World is at War
War is unfolding in many parts of the world right now, yet for many of us life continues largely unchanged. In this episode I reflect on the difference between how earlier generations experienced war—especially during World War II—and the distance many of us feel from today’s conflicts. Drawing…
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Ep. 170 Practices for Preparing for Elderhood
This episode is a companion for my latest post on Substack which you'll find a link to below. Many of us are reaching a stage in life where it is important to begin cultivating our life's wisdom in order to move into the role of an elder for our society. Read about that on the post first and then...
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Ep. 169 My View of the Afterlife
In this brief episode I'm sharing with you my own experience of the spiritual realm and the afterlife since many people have wondered whether or not I "believe" the afterlife exists. This episode includes: Childhood experiences of the spiritual realm Why I don't "believe" in heaven or hell but...
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Ep. 168 The Power of Lovingkindness
In this episode I share with you a powerful tool that we all need right now: The Lovingkindness Blessing. You can use this every day to transform your life and relationships - the world is starving for lovingkindness right now so I hope you will give this practice a try! This episode includes…
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Ep. 167 Finding a Path of Love in a Hate-Filled World
In this episode I'm sharing my own up and down journey of learning how to step forward with love in this world where hatred surrounds us. This episode includes: My desire to not add to the burden of hatred the world is already bearing How the March for Peace by Buddhist monks inspired me this…
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Ep. 166 Wisdom for the Long Arc of Societal Change
In this episode I talk about the horrific state of affairs in the world and especially here in the US where we are confronted on a daily basis with violence, hatred, and inhumanity. We are awake now to the reality of the dark side of human nature and though we feel change is coming we don't know...
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Ep. 165 Going Nowhere and Why It Matters
This episode is a post-illness reflection on what happens when all our plans and aspirations get waylaid and we end up getting nowhere that we had planned to be. It includes: How my end of year plans got upended A metaphor of going NOWHERE on a forlorn highway Why nowhere is exactly the right…
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Ep. 164 The Ego and It's Immortality Projects
In this episode I discuss "immortality projects" - a term coined by Ernest Becker to describe the ego's efforts to escape the fear of death. This episode includes: What type of "projects" the ego creates to hide from death The cost of denying death Why denying death makes us vulnerable to cults,...
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Ep. 163 The 4 Elements of True Love
Today I'm sharing Thich Nhat Hahn's 4 elements of true love, which is a Buddhist perspective on love that I find valuable. This episode includes: Loving-kindness: May you be truly well Compassion: Your pain is not separate from mine Joy: Your joy is my joy Equanimity/Freedom: Love that doesn't...
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Ep. 162 The Hidden Work of Bearing Bad News
In this episode I talk about the timing of delivering bad news and the experience of carrying that bad news until the moment it can be shared. This episode includes: The weight of carrying bad news The divine timing that sometimes asks us to wait Why pausing is a survival skill in our current...
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Ep. 161 Tools for the Chrysalis: What to Do When Everything Falls Apart
In this episode I'll share insights from my recent Substack post on the metaphor of the butterfly life cycle and why as a society we are in a "chrysalis phase" right now. This episode includes: The need for grief rituals - both individual and collective - as we navigate this time of dissolution…
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Ep. 160 Contemplating The Tao of Death
This episode is Part 2 on the mini-series on dealing with the fear of death. Today we look again at the 5 doorways of exploring death and I share verses from The Tao of Death that can help us contemplate the deeper meaning of each doorway. The episode includes: Why we need to go within to learn...
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Ep. 159 How Do I Rise Above the Fear of Death?
In this episode I share some thoughts from ChatGPT along with my own about how to deal with our innate fear of death. Next week I'll continue with this topic and share some wisdom from The Tao of Death but first we begin with a deep dive into death. This episode incudes: What if we dive beneath…
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Ep. 158 Into the Unknown: Using Frozen 2 to Talk About Grief
In this episode I share how to use the Disney film Frozen 2--which I've been watching on repeat with my 3 year old granddaughter--as a catalyst for conversations about loss and grief. Here are some tips for using the film and a discussion guide you can download for your own family movie night.…
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Ep. 157 The Healing Power of Visible Grief
In this episode I share how my own grieving process was helped by experiencing the visible evidence of mourning I encountered when traveling through Italy (as written in Wild and Holy). This episode includes: How grief is visible in Italy but repressed and hidden here in the US The cost of...
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Ep. 156 How Grief Can Fuel Creativity
In today's brief episode I share some thoughts about how my travels through Italy revealed to me that grief is a powerful source of creativity if we face it directly. This episode highlights the poetry of Andrea Gibson, whose journey through cancer sparked luminous creativity in the midst of…
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Ep. 155 BONUS Introduction to Wild and Holy
In this special episode I’m sharing with you the Introduction to my new book Wild and Holy! I hope you enjoy listening to this brief excerpt and that you’ll consider backing the Kickstarter campaign where you can receive many wonderful bonuses for your support. Wild and Holy has been named a...
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Ep. 154 Clearing the Field to Improve Challenging Relationships
Today I'm sharing a personal practice I've used to clear my own energy field when I'm faced with tense and challenging relationships. With all the polarization and hatred present in our society right now we need tools like this to help us find peace and reconciliation wherever possible. This...
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Ep. 153 When Grief Comes Back Like a Volcano: The Second Wave
In this episode I share my experience of having grief return to me in a sudden, unexpected wave like a long-dormant volcano erupting. This event is the subject of my new book Wild and Holy, which is launching on Kickstarter this week. This episode includes: What is the second wave of grief and…
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Ep. 152 Healing Grief to Heal the Heart
In this episode I will share my own personal journey of healing for the heart condition I was unexpectedly diagnosed with last year. This story has a rather miraculous conclusion so listen to the end! This episode includes: How I began a healing journey for body, mind, and spirit after learning...
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Ep. 151 Navigating the In-Between of Growth from Ego to Soul
This episode is Part 3 of a mini-series on From Ego-Driven to Soul-Led: A Journey of Integration. In Part 1 we focused on the ego and Part 2 centered around the Soul, or Higher Consciousness. Today we cover the "dance" that occurs between the ego and the Soul as we gradually learn to hand control...
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Ep. 150 What it Means to be Soul-Led
This is part 2 of the mini-series on From Ego-Driven to Soul-Led: A Journey of Integration. Today we are talking about the Soul (or Higher Self) and how we can learn to live more fully by the light of the soul after we transcend the ego. This episode includes: What is the Soul (or Higher...
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Ep. 149 What the Ego Is and Why We Need It
This is the first episode in a mini-series on Integrating the Ego and Soul. We begin with a primer on the ego to help us recognize our own ego, how it behaves, and when it might trip us up. This episdoe includes: How the ego develops in childhood What role the ego plays Why the ego's main tool is...
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Ep. 148 A 5-Step Reset Ritual for Unsettled Times
In today's episode I'm sharing a simple ritual that can help you get centered after being pulled into a negative spiral by the events of the day. This is a tool you can use anytime, anywhere that can quickly shift your energy and focus. This episode includes: Listener question on the benefits of...
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Ep. 147 Why Death Awareness is Essential for Spiritual Growth
In this episode I talk about death awareness as a necessary step to help us manage the ego and begin to recieve guidance form the Soul. The episode includes: Why the ego fears death The ego's obsession with external control and avoidance of death Why death awareness helps us live life fully There...
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Ep. 146 The 7 Lessons from the Dying: A Spiritual Path for These Times
Today I'll be sharing with you the 7 Lessons from my book 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying. We'll look at how each of these lessons help form a soul map for our spiritual growth that is death-aware, ego-wise, and love-rooted. This episode includes: How understanding impermanence helps us cope...
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Ep. 145 Why Spirituality Matters Now More than Ever
In this episode I'll share some thoughts on why we need to talk about spirituality and its importance - apart from religion and even from belief in God. I'll share why I'm relaunching this podcast right now at this time in history. This episode includes: Why we all need to look inward at this…
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Ep. 144 Where I've Been
I'm back and in this first episode of the relaunched podcast I'll fill you in on where I've been for a year and a half. This episode includes: Why I had to leave the mountains How I'm approaching my heart issue The benefits of somatic therapy Spiritual practices for the heart Low sodium life Why...
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Ep. 143 Following My Heart
I'm back briefly after a long hiatus! In this episode I describe some health issues that began shortly after the previous episode and how I set out to manage them. I have been listening to my heart as a messenger for my soul and have been making some big changes in my life. You'll hear an update…
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Ep. 142 Part 11 Only Love is Eternal
In this concluding episode of the series on my grief travel through Italy I share some insights I gathered on a subsequent trip that introduced me to a doctor who became a saint. This episode includes: The life of Dr. Giuseppe Moscati who was later canonized as a saint Embracing the fact that…
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Ep. 141 Part 10 We're Here for Love and Grief
In this 10th episode in the grief travel series we visit the city of Sorrento and the ruins of Pompeii for the final novena prayer. This episode includes: The disappointment that comes from being attached to expectations The universality of loss and grief throughout time and space The…
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Ep. 140 Part 9 Accepting Disappointment
In this 9th episode from the series on grief travel in Italy we travel to the beautiful city of Assisi and learn about the beloved St. Francis of Assisi. This episode includes: The story of St. Francis His message of love, simplicity and care for nature being usurped by commercialization How life...
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Ep. 139 Part 8 Lifting the Weight of Guilt
In this episode of my ongoing series on grief travel through Italy I visit the village of Cortona Italy and learn how to carry the guilt that accompanies my grief. This episode includes: How an artist portrayed his grief in his paintings A patron saint who overcame guilt and shame to bring...
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Ep. 138 Part 7 Finding Purpose in Grief
This episode is Part 7 of my ongoing series on grief travel through Italy. If you haven't done so already I recommend you listen to the previous 6 episodes first! Today we travel to Siena Italy where I came face-to-face with the depths of my grief. This episode includes: How Siena became "frozen"...
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Ep. 137 Part 6 The Healing Power of Nature
In this episode of my series on grief travel through Italy we journey to the Cinque Terre region, which is a stunningly beautiful collection of 5 small villages along the Ligurian coast. This episode includes: How nature reminds us to be fully present in the moment Nurturing the 5 senses can help...
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Ep. 136 Part 5 Grace and Growth
In part 5 of the series on my grief travel through Italy we visit more sites in the great city of Florence and learn about grace, gratitude and growth. This episode includes: The great flood of Florence The 5 gratitudes Sacred geometry at San Miniato Get my latest books here Support this podcast…
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Ep. 135 Part 4: Rising from the Ashes
In part 4 of the ongoing story of my grief travel through Italy we arrive in Florence and learn about the history of the Renaissance which began in this beautiful city. This episode includes: How the Black Death influenced the birth of the Renaissance The remarkable expansion of consciousness…
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Ep. 134 Part 3 Grief is All Around Us
Part 3 of the grief travel story takes place in Trastevere, the Jewish Ghetto of Rome, and an island in the Tiber River. This episode includes: A funeral in one of Rome's oldest churches A 2000 year old bridge Heroism at a hospital during WW2
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Ep. 133 Part 2 Light in the Darkness
Part 2 of this grief travel story takes place in Rome and at the Vatican. Be sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven't already! This episode includes: Learning about chiaroscuro The loving embrace of the Divine Feminine Losing my identity
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Ep. 132 Grief Travel in Italy Part 1
In this episode I begin a series of stories from a trip to Italy I took several years ago that was "ruined" by grief. I'll share the amazing insights and lessons I learned on that journey over the next several weeks. This episode includes: The H1N1 influenza epidemic Getting lost in Rome The…
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About this show
Dr. Karen Wyatt shares the life wisdom she learned from her hospice patients as they faced their last days. Learn how to navigate life's challenges and become your best self in the process as Karen shares what she's learning from day to day on her own journey. You'll discover tools, practices, wisdom, and stories to help you figure out what really matters in your own life.
Hosted by
Karen Wyatt
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