The Aurora Smedley Podcast

This episode expands on the idea of "Levers in the Universe" and "Wu Wei" by discussing Light Revealing Actions. These are actions that we take which bring light to the darkness and accelerate our soul's growth & manifestations.

Last week I dropped my first song and recorded... actually two music videos. But as all of this was going down, I had a *lot* of obstacles to getting the music video done. In this episode, I talk about my experience and takeaways dealing with hater comments, overcoming setbacks in recording music videos, and becoming the "bouncer" of my own social media accounts. As always, I hope to be an inspiration for your own process, and I thank you for getting out there and making your own dreams happen.

Spiritual Experiences are very common and yet people shroud them with "woo" language. This makes them inaccessible for most people. In this podcast I break down different spiritual experiences in plain english so you know what they are, how they arise, and how to deal with them if you have them.

In this episode I discuss the greatest blocks to manifesting your dreams, and how to overcome them.

In this week's episode, I speak to the power of AI music as well as its philosophical and existential ramifications! I look forward to your thoughts.

In this episode I discuss how to turn anxiety, fear, and uncertainty into certainty.

"The real problem with a spiritual awakening is that no one will understand you."In this week's episode I discuss "spiritual awakenings," what I feel defines a "spiritual awakening" as well as the challenges that happen after it happens. Most people talk about how amazing spiritual experiences are (which is true), but do not delineate the aftermath (integration) which is characterized by two significant challenges:1) that your center of gravity has changed (as far as your values and reality-perception), and2) that your experience is not part of our society's consensus reality. (Therefore no one understands you, and will often diminish or brush over your life-changing experience.)In this episode, I discuss my own journey to having spiritual experiences, the context of my mental health journey, as well as the challenges afterwards, and how I overcame them.

In today's episode, I discuss how to overcome doubt in your life. Doubt is actually a "gatekeeper" to expansion. So encountering doubt means that you are at the threshold of massive growth. In this video, I discuss how to overcome doubt in order to reach your greatest potential.

In an interview, when asked where the idea for songs come from, Michael Jackson gestured vaguely and whispered "out there." In this episode, I discuss "where creativity comes from," drawing on perspectives from the ancient Greeks, other writers, and myself. I discuss developing yourself as a channel, using completion of works to increase inspiration, and how showing up for the work sends you more ideas. As creatives, we need to develop ourselves as *channels* of the work, rather than seeing our job as being the "genius" behind it.

Is using GPT for therapy moral? Is it safe?In this episode, I discuss the advantages and disadvantages (and risks!) of using Chat GPT for "therapy," how I use it, and the benefits I've seen from conversing with the AI. Disclaimer: Please use caution if you do this. This information is for entertainment only and I am *not* a therapist or mental health professional, nor am I endorsing the use of AI for therapy. I'm simply sharing my own experiences and weighing the pros and cons of its use.

DISCLAIMER: Please do your own research before doing dangerous things. DO weigh your own judgements and research, DON'T listen to me blindly. If you do dangerous things and you get hurt, I am not liable for your actions. Thank you!In this episode, I discuss having a nuanced relationship with danger in order to realize your full potential. I discuss:- Danger is often a cultural construct. - The risk of not *becoming.*- Danger is dependent on competence. - The risk to adolescents being shielded from danger.

In this conversation, I discuss what to consider if you are asking yourself the question "Should I do music?" I discuss six factors that people usually don't talk about, and what people outside of music will not tell you.This episode is direct and I pull no punches. I do not sugarcoat this one, and I'm also not prescriptive. I share what I would consider if you are deciding whether this is your path. 1. If you know, you know. 2. Are you committed through good and bad?3. What does success look like for you?4. Are you willing to create a successful business? 5. 6. It's vulnerable!! Thank you for considering music. 🫶🏻

In this episode, I discuss why I stopped making New Years resolutions and how you can create life change at any time of the year.I further discuss why focusing on our inputs (actions) is more effective than focusing on results, how to keep showing up, and how to re-center when we mess up. // Chapters //0:00 – I don't make New Year's Resolutions0:50 – Reducing the Pressure of New Year’s Resolutions 2:00 – The "New Year" is All the Time 4:51 – Focus on Inputs, not Outputs 8:38 – Why Should You Show Up? 11:17 – Removing Shame from our Resolutions 14:29 – What to Do When You Mess UpKeywords:#NewYearsResolutions #PersonalGrowth #SelfLove #MindsetShift #AuroraSmmedley #LifeChanges #NoResolutions

The power of giving without expectation and how it can attract miracles into your life. In this episode of the Aurora Smedley Podcast, I share why true giving isn’t about guilt, approval, or getting an ROI — it’s about opening yourself to the flow of the universe and becoming a channel for abundance - and the Dao.Giving without agenda transforms your relationships, your mindset, and your reality. This episode is for anyone seeking spiritual growth, joy, and a deeper connection to all of life.✨ Like, subscribe, and share if you want more insights on living a life of giving, receiving, and alignment with universal abundance.Keywords: giving without expectation, attract miracles, spiritual law of giving, abundance mindset, true giving

How do we keep creating when we get stuck?In this episode of the Aurora Smedley Podcast, I share my "creative funnel" concept — a powerful perspective to understand how creative blocks work and restore creative output. I further discuss how perfectionism and external validation are limited beliefs that block creativity, and simple ways to reconnect with inspiration, and allow creative works to shape themselves.Perfect for artists, musicians, writers, and soul-led creators.0:00 — When You Don’t Want to Create1:42 — The Creative Funnel (Unmanifest → Manifest)3:11 — Small Actions Unlock Creative Flow4:18 — Completion & Release7:01 — Example: Midnight Daughter Album release9:01 — Stop Creating for Validation14:20 — Listening to the Song itselfKeywords: creative blocks, creative flow, artist motivation, songwriting tips, creativity, inspiration, creative burnout

There is one resource that is worth more than money or time...Connect with me:Instagram: www.instagram.com/aurorasmedleyTiktok: www.tiktok.com/@aurorasmedleyWebsite: www.aurorasmedley.com

"And what is it but fragments of your own self you would discard that you may become free?"  —Kahlil GibranWe typically make freedom an external job:I'll be free when I have XXXXXX amount of money in my bank account.I'll be free when I travel.  I'll be free when I leave my 9-5.In truth, every situation contains both freedom and non-freedom.  Light and darkness. There are advantages and disadvantages to  every situation, so our opportunity is to choose our freedom in any moment by shifting our perspective.  This episode features @motionbalance as he chimes in with questions & comments. Look forward to your thoughts on this one!

Most logic is actually not logical —it comes from fear and limitation.In today's episode, I overview illogical decision making. I discuss:why illogical decision making is actually critical for human happinesswhy logic is usually emotional, and how to access illogical thinkingThis one is counterintuitive! I look forward to your comments on this one.

The holidays are a time of joy, but they are also a time of being thoroughly triggered by our family members. In this video, I discuss four simple strategies that have transformed my relationship with my own family. I look forward to hearing how this supports you this holiday season!Love, Aurora

Buying and giving is... so emotional. Entangled in it are hopes, fears, excitement, and worries.Given the context of the upcoming holidays and Black Friday, I wanted to discuss the emotional context of consumerism and how we can go about our consumption in a more "enlightened" way.I discuss four "methodologies" for grappling with this concept of consumerism: minimalism, essentialism, Marie Kondo, and —my own term— enlightened consumerism."Enlightened consumerism" is my current (aspirational!) practice. I do this by asking myself questions like:- Is this item expanding my essence (my me-ness)?- Is this expanding my ability to create? (or others' ability to create)- Am I increasing my light and the light of others through this item? Conversely, to prevent buying from negativity, I ask myself:- Am I buying to fill a void?- Am I buying out of fear, guilt, or shame?- Am I buying because I have been told to do so?I look forward to your thoughts on this one!Love, Aurora

"The question is not whether or not to take action, but how to take action from a sense of wholeness."In this episode, I discuss how to take action while staying in the flow, in the context of the Daoist concept of Wu Wei. I point out that the Universe itself is an agent of change, therefore action itself is not misaligned with the Dao. However, we often take actions from a place of fear, lack, or scarcity, which creates distortions in the flow of the Dao. This "turbulence" creates negative repercussions that affect us later on. So the work is not actually in taking action, but taking action from an inner sense of wholeness and worthiness, clearing our fear, and allowing the correct actions to arise from us through the Universe's intentions for itself. I look forward to your thoughts on this. Love, Aurora

Wu Wei differs from "leverage" in that it takes into consideration Universal flow. In this week's episode, I discuss the Daoist concept of Wu Wei, which translates to least effort. In this episode I clarify what this means for us accomplishing our goals with ease. I point out that Wu Wei is not about not working hard, but rather about directing our hard work based on the context of the "Universe weather."I make the metaphor of the "Universe weather" being like the currents in the ocean, our intuition being our compass & weather vane, and wu wei being the art of navigating to where we want to go while considering currents & weather patterns. I look forward to your thoughts on this episode!

The opposite of negative thinking is not positive thinking —it's no thinking.In this episode I share three potent techniques for transforming your internal state. Eliminate scattered thoughts with 3 questionsOne fact to clear any negative thoughtRemoving thoughts en mass through one techniqueThis is what I have found to *actually* work, rather than positive thinking, affirmations, gratitude lists, or meditation.I'm very excited to hear how this affects you.Love, Aurora

When I experienced severe depression, in 2015, I soon realized that therapy wasn't really going to work for me. So what was I supposed to do?What followed was about four years of looking for answers, from hiking 2000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, to pursuing a music career, to having mystical experiences (both with and without psychedelics).In the end, I got way happier. Here are ten things I learned along the way. Love,Aurora

In this episode, I answer the questions "What is reality?" and "What is a spiritual awakening?" I first point out that reality is subjective and dependent on perspective. I then discuss three types of reality:1. Perspective Reality (the reality of an individual)2. Consensus Reality (the reality of a society)3. Perceptual Reality (reality as limited by human perception)Then, I use these definitions to point to what a "spiritual awakening" is. To do this, I differentiate between two kinds of awakenings:1. Societal awakening (realizing that consensus reality is not reality)2. Spiritual awakening (realizing that physical reality is not the only reality) Then I point to the challenges of spiritual awakening because consensus reality does not include nonphysical reality.I hope you enjoy this as some delicious food for thought. 🍜Love,Aurora

Happiness comes from a connection with the magic of Life itself. In this podcast, I discuss a concept I call "levers in the Universe," which allows you to manifest rapidly, expand your happiness and fulfillment, and create disproportionate and unlikely results in your life. Levers in the Universe are energetic levers that create disproportionate results. These "levers" are:Resolving Karma Completion (of a soul task)Identity ExpansionI'm excited to hear the results of how this affects your life!Love, Aurora

What is five element theory? The five elements (Wu Xing 五行) in Chinese Medicine are not the same as the Western four elements. They refer to attributes of energy, and simultaneously apply to emotions, directions, seasons, and energetic characteristics. In this episode, I discuss five element theory, as well as some of the underlying principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Enjoy!

Periods of loss are critical to the next expansion phase. In this episode is inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) five element theory, though simplified to just four seasons rather than five. I discuss the purpose and spiritual lesson in each phase, and why they are all critical to our development. Spring: movement, growth. Summer: culmination, celebration, arrivalFall: Loss, stripping down, grief. Winter: Lying fallow, processing.Love, Aurora

"The breakdown is the breakthrough."In this episode, I discuss the different stages of a quantum leap, what to expect at each stage, and how to navigate them.STAGE 1: The BreakdownSTAGE 2: Rock BottomSTAGE 3: AscentSTAGE 4: ArrivalThank you for your questions, and I hope you enjoy this podcast!

Tarot is present-telling, not fortune-telling. In this episode, I discuss how tarot works, why it is always wrong (and right!), and what this means for you when you do a reading. Key takeaways:- Tarot is a physical tool to interrogate your intuition. - The cards are quantum-entangled with all of reality.- Tarot provides a snapshot of the current Universe "weather." - Tarot allows you to elevate your consciousness through awareness. I hope you find today's episode thought-provoking. Love, Aurora

Everything has energy!In this episode, I discuss how energy reading can be used on objects, spaces, and even food in order to make decisions intuitively. Energy reading gives you access to instantaneous information, rather than information that must be analyzed through the conscious mind. This can be used to find the correct information for your soul (such as in books), to find the most nourishing food for your body, and to find spaces that are life-giving. I also discuss how I use energy to shape my fashion tastes over time, and to reflect on my evolving identity. Enjoy!

You can read energy!In this episode, I point out that anyone can read energy! And I discuss how to read energy in three steps:1) Does this person have a good vibe or a bad vibe?2) Where am I getting that information from? (Where in my body do I feel the good/bad vibe?)3) How can I get a higher-resolution image? (Of the good/bad vibe)I further discuss how reading energy can be beneficial to choosing the people you surround yourself with, improve your relationships, avoid people that may not be beneficial, and more. Enjoy!

Your dreams are the Universe's desires for itself. In this episode, I discuss the importance of dreams for personal fulfillment. I point out that they are messages from Universal consciousness and therefore critical to your connection with Source.Key takeaways:- Your dreams are sacred. - "Realistic" means "common" or "socially acceptable." - If humanity can go to the moon, you can realize your dreams.Many blessings. 🫶🏼

Our culture is a figment of our collective imagination.In this podcast, I discuss how travel is an investment in your lifelong perspective, and how travel enables you to view your own culture from a more objective standpoint.Key takeaways:reality is subjectiveby understanding culture, your participation in it becomes a choice rather than a defaulttravel can help you answer your big questionsThank you for your amazing feedback on my work.

"Being realistic means reality controls you."In this episode, I discuss how to find your creative voice —both in your art and in your life. Finding your creative voice means connecting with your inner voice and doing what it says, regardless of your fears, doubts, and limitations. It also requires ignoring reality to create something that does not yet exist. I touch on:creative voice is not found —it is here in the now"phases" are an essential part of creative growthliving is the ultimate creative actThank you for listening and sharing this podcast.