À PROPOS DE CET ÉPISODE
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/keeganread Sarah Potter's website: https://www.iamsarahpotter.com/ Reflection Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M3C8Vd6t7cuQnMCOqkDkzWA1YsOLmCWD/view?usp=drive_link
Summary
In this episode of Retrieving Sanity, host Keegan Read speaks with Sarah Potter, a renowned psychic and tarot reader, about her journey through recovery and the transformative power of tarot. They discuss the importance of self-reflection, the role of rituals in daily life, and how tarot can serve as a tool for understanding oneself better. Sarah shares her insights on the intersection of spirituality and recovery, emphasizing the need for community support and the acceptance of discomfort as part of the healing process. The conversation highlights the ongoing nature of recovery and encourages listeners to embrace their unique paths.
Takeaways
Tarot can help individuals navigate their feelings and relationships. Self-reflection is crucial for personal growth and recovery. Recovery is a multi-dimensional process that requires various tools. Embracing discomfort can lead to personal empowerment. Community support is vital in the recovery journey. Rituals can provide structure and stability in daily life. Vulnerability in sharing one's story can inspire others. Curiosity about oneself can lead to deeper understanding and healing. Change is often challenging but ultimately beneficial. Every small victory in recovery should be celebrated.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tarot and Healing 09:13 The Journey of Recovery and Sobriety 14:58 The Fool's Journey: Embracing the Unknown 20:48 Rituals and Daily Practices for Recovery 24:18 Creating a Recovery Toolkit 27:04 The Journey of Recovery and Self-Discovery 29:36 Embracing Curiosity in Recovery 32:03 The Creative Process and Vulnerability 35:49 The Role of 12 Steps in Recovery 38:29 Living One Day at a Time 41:01 Managing Triggers and Discomfort 43:51 The Ongoing Nature of Recovery 45:58 Spirituality and Recovery 54:23 Connecting with the Community 📣Check out the website for a list of all guests! -- https://retrievingsanity.com 🔔Subscribe for more content ~2x/week #retrievingsanity #recovery #sobermagic #tarot #selfdiscovery #spirituality #healing #addiction #rituals #community #witchcraft
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TRANSCRIPTION 🔗
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So many magical and painful and challenging
things come into our lives at that age. Sobriety
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has given me the gift of not keeping sobriety
in the forefront of my mind anymore. Every
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00:00:14,243 --> 00:00:19,815
sacrifice I've made has been well worth it for
the gifts it's brought to. Discomfort used
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00:00:19,815 --> 00:00:23,316
to feel like it was going to kill me. Discomfort's
not gonna kill anyone.
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00:00:28,686 --> 00:00:32,498
Hello, hello, and welcome back to Retrieving
Sanity with your podcast host Keegan, and this
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00:00:32,498 --> 00:00:36,980
is your podcast for recovery-focused healing
from addictions and traumas. Today, we are
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joined by a guest who proves that magic isn't
just found in ancient forests, but in the heart
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of New York City and within the quiet moments
of our own healing. Sarah Potter is a world-renowned
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psychic, tarot reader, and the author of the
transformative book, Sober Magic. She has designed
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bespoke rituals for brands like Marc Jacobs
and Held Space for hundreds of immersive full
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moon ceremonies, but her true mastery lies
in helping individuals use the tarot to build
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a bridge back to themselves. So Sarah, how are
you doing today and how did you find yourself
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reading tarot like you do? I'm so good. I
just like, I love Sunday. Sunday is such a
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good day. I feel like I don't get the Sunday
scaries anymore. So it's just lovely to be
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here with you. And Tarot's been part of my life
for a long time. I found Tarot when I was 12.
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I feel like so many magical and painful and
challenging things come into our lives at that
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age. I feel like there's a reason so many spiritual
rites come around that time. Because for me,
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That was when I was really first accessing
or attempting to understand my sense of power
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and agency and really trying to understand
the world around me. I grew up as a psychic
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child and Taro helped me make sense of everything
I was putting together and feel or help me
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put together everything I was sensing and feeling
and Just to be like totally honest, I fell
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into tarot because I wanted to know who had
a crush on me. And I felt that I could use
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the cards to navigate that. it was so funny.
I shared that with a friend of mine and he's
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like, isn't it always like back to love? He's
like, that's when I picked up a guitar. And
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he was like at 12, I picked up a guitar to
try to connect with others and understand
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like loving connection in that way. And uh
I think that's really sweet to think about.
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So, you know, that's when I found Tarot and
I've had a, feel like any long relationship,
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it's been up and down and there were times I
put my cards away and then pick them back
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up. uh But now, you we're stuck together. We're
together every day. it is my longest lasting
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relationship. and truly wonderful. Oh, I
love that. That is really awesome. And I just
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got to say, I think you're right about that
whole 12, 13 year old range, because that's
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what my shift happened to, you know? Oh, yeah.
So like, I bet you that's something to really
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ask a bunch of people, you know? But I love
how you use tarot like that, because and you
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made that connection because what was it? I
saw something on Facebook not too long ago
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where it was like if you were into the little
thing that could do the paper shape. Yes. And
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like if you could do that or if you like did
something else to like just read fate or whatever,
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you're probably into witchcraft and tarot now.
And I was like, oh, yeah, that's right. How
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they know? that amazing? I was I loved making
those things. I was always making those things.
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I was playing mash. Did you ever play mash?
um Yes. Yes. OK. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry.
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was a, oh wow, that's an old memory. Holy cow.
Yes. My, one of my greatest muses is my teenage
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self. So I think a lot about my interests at
that time and how they've grown up with me
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into adulthood. And so I really love that you
saw that on the internet because yeah, those
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little like, I don't remember what those little
thingies were called that you fold up and.
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play with, like, yeah, that and MASH are two
of my like favorite games. it's like, of course
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she grew up to be the tarot reader. uh Here's
one question though that I've kind of, I want
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to help people dispel real quick before we get
too far into tarot, because tarot has a lot
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of misconceptions with it. And one of my guests
back uh in October, I think it was, She said
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the divination or tarot rather was black magic
and I just I was like, okay, like you're free
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to have that opinion. But uh like, I mean from
a certain perspective, maybe but after exploring
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it experiencing it and really just getting to
know what it is. I hold the opposite if anything,
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it's a tool for great good, but I could see
how it's also scary to some people right because
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like you said. Sometimes you put your cards
away and I know sometimes I don't touch them
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whatever I don't want to know the truth. So
of course. Well, you know, I think that. What
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I immediately think of actually is Taro's temperance
card, which is balance and moderation. Not
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everything is a taro situation. I think that.
Discernment is really important and I think
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that anything in excess is not going to be
supportive and as far as whether divination
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is Good or or bad or how like the morality
of it For me as a spiritual advisor. I'm not
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here to tell you your moral compass, that's
for you to understand. I think that tarot
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is such a beautiful tool for self-reflection.
And I feel like that is such an important foundation.
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I feel like so much of this world is designed
for quickness and distraction and being present
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and still can be uncomfortable for so many different
reasons. and why I love tarot is it helped
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me find the comfort and peace in stillness and
to think about, what is it that I want? What
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is it that I need? And really getting to understand
myself better. And to me, there's evil about
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knowing yourself better and self-reflection.
But when morality comes into something, I
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believe that's up to the individual. And you
know what? Tarot doesn't need to be for everyone.
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It doesn't need to be for you. Not everything
is for everyone. And that's okay. I think like
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how beautiful to celebrate differences or to
know what works and what doesn't work. that's,
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I just gave up arguing about the validity of
tarot a very long time ago. And I'm actually
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in full acceptance of like, it doesn't have
to be for you. That's okay. I don't know. I
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want to know what that person was doing at 12.
I'm actually far more curious about that. Tell
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me. Like, I want to know. I love hearing everyone's
story. Yeah. Okay. Oh, so thank you for just
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highlighting that it's not for everyone necessarily.
And it's not for everything either, because
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I think whenever some people go down the spiritual
path, quote unquote, Sometimes people will
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lead themselves into a psychosis of sorts or
totally into something that is a worse situation
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than whenever they started the whole journey,
you know, uh but that's like what you said
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temperance uh balance in all things. And I
just got to say the title of your book, Sober
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Magic, kind of implies that you may have had
too much of something in the past, right?
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I'd say so. uh Yeah, well. Through, I am in
recovery and I've been sober now. You know,
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it's so funny. feel like sobriety has given
me the gift of not keeping sobriety in the
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forefront of my mind anymore, but I am sneaking
up on nine years of continuous sobriety. thank
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you. It feels good. And, and it's. Through my
journey and through writing this book, I could
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really understand that I was turning to substances
at quite a young age to combat my great sensitivity
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to the world and to dull my senses and to
dull my emotions um in a way that was harmful.
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And through recovery, I've gained tools that
are actually supportive and the understanding
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of how to move through feeling a lot of feelings
and deal with discomfort and all of the challenges
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that I feel like come with being a human. And
for me, what inspired writing this book was
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thinking about how Tarot and witchcraft and
12 steps have come together to support my recovery
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journey because this is the longest continuous
sobriety I've ever had in my life. Sobriety
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started at a pretty young age for me, but my
recovery journey does include several relapses.
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I really see the whole world through tarot.
That's how my mind works.
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The introduction of my book describes the inspiration
of the book when I had a psychic attack and
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blacked out in a concert venue. And I started
thinking about it and I was like, wow, like
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afterwards in this reflection of really celebrating
my recovery time in that moment, I was thinking
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like about the Fool's Journey of the Major Arcana
and how 12 steps is a Fool's Journey too. And
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I was like, how has anyone like put these two
together? And then I looked online, I was like,
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has anyone done this? And it's like not a deep
dive, like a deep dive book. And and it just
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made so much sense to me. And I was thinking
about how, you know, through Tara, we go through
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the fool's journey and we go from the fool to
the world. And then we start again at the fool,
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much like in 12 steps and that the the layers
of healing show us more layers to heal. And
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I was like, oh, this is my book. Oh, that is
way too cool. And I love the tie in connection
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right there, because you're right, like Whenever
I first started, oh I just want to also say
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congratulations on your longest free of recovery
because that is just way too cool. Thank you.
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Yeah. And it really does highlight that you,
no one has to follow this paradigm of someone
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else's design. If that is what you're called
to kind of follow, right? Because everyone's
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recovery is a little bit different. Some tools
help some people and some people don't even
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want to touch. other tools, you know, so whenever
it comes to the fool's journey and stuff like
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that, where did you find your first like journey
with the fool? Does that make sense? think
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so. Like, do you mean like the concept of taking
a chance and like diving into the unknown?
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Or actually here, how do you how would you
also equate tarot to the 12 steps besides
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just that? fool's journey because tarot is
way intricate and like we can dive. We have
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a whole like series on every single card, you
know. Yes. How would you describe tarot to
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someone that's possibly looking to take that
deep dive? Well, what I love about tarot is
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the visual storytelling aspect and how each
card points out different notions, archetypes,
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concepts to consider and how to apply them.
And going in order with the 12 steps and
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that fool's journey in the major arcana, which
in my book, I also back it up with the miners
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to to kind of flesh out the everyday details
as as the minor arcana does. And I felt like
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it brought in really supportive aspects to
consider and even going in order thinking of
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these parallel fools journeys that I thought
integrated quite easily just other ways to
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think about it making it practical to embody
and and being able to see how these concepts
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really support each other and for me like I
just think it's lovely to be a fool. I love
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the concept of a fool card. have a friend of
a dear friend of mine. We have had endless
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conversations about why we love that card so
much. And I think when you really, I mean,
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there's challenges to being a fool, but I also
think it's really lovely to dive into the unknown,
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free of expectations or the concept, something
I've really leaned into through recovery is
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It's okay to be scared, but do it anyway. And
to me, like the fool really embodies that energy
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of just kind of fearlessness that comes with
great fear and being able to not know what's
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next, but go into it. And it could be so much
better than you ever imagined. mean, recovery,
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my recovery journey has been challenging, but
everything good in my life is because of recovery.
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And in that way, it's beyond my wildest dreams
of what I could have ever, ever thought could
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be possible or part of my reality. And so I
think sometimes we just need to be a fool
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and embrace it fully. Yeah, I'd have to agree.
it now that I'm thinking about it, it is
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really just kind of like addiction was a fool's
journey. you know, in a sense, but at the same
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time, the aspect of recovery is a fool's journey,
too, because it's scary as hell. I don't know
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about you, but I thought getting sober was going
to be like the end of the world. Oh, yeah,
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absolutely. Of course. I thought I was going
to give up everything, but every sacrifice
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I made has been well worth it for the gifts
it's brought to you. Mm Yeah. And, ah, kitty
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cat. Wanted to be on camera, huh? Always the
star of the operation here. Speaking of cats
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and recovery, how has your cat helped you in
your recovery and mental health? Oh, so much.
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She really has. She's I am when I adopted her,
I was still it was before recovery and Actually,
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like through my step work, I did make an amends
to her and it was very sweet. She was very
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accepting and and she was like, you know, it
was kind of fun when you were hung over and
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we would lay in bed for two days watching movies
like I kind of like that. But that's not how
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I want to show up in this world. And I think
it's something that I really love about her
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presence in my life. is being responsible for
something outside of myself um and she's so
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in tune with her intuition. She's very much
like understands boundaries and has no problem
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communicating them. She knows what she needs
and wants and makes sure that those needs and
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desires are met. And it's taught me, like it
really has taught me to embody that as well.
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And... Oh, she had so much to my life. She's
part of everything, just as much as she's
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part of this interview. She's a part of every
ritual. She loves to join readings and sit
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in my lap and she's commenting as well and
offering her insight. you know, when I was
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writing this book, I was thinking about like
how to bring in familiars and how she's
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assisted my recovery and it was just, it was
one of the things that kind of got cut away.
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So that's going to be another book. But I think
that it's just, we learned so much from animals.
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And I think if you're in a space to share
your life with an animal and have a familiar
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in recovery, I think it can be so helpful and
so wonderful. And em She's just, she's added
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so much to my life. I'm so thankful for her.
Yeah. I can't imagine the kind of adventures
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that y'all had throughout the whole journey
because I mean, if it was before recovery,
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I can only imagine how hectic it actually got,
you know, cause I know how hectic recovery
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itself is and I know everything before. So.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was it, I really appreciate
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how she's been an anchor in my life and I'm
here now. I'm like really excited to get
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out of bed every day and I love the morning.
I love waking up early and and she's part of
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my routine and she travels really well. So this
cat has stayed in some of the most luxurious
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hotels. It's it's quite incredible. And I
do full moon parties at the Asbury Hotel once
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a month and as they park New Jersey. and they
are pet friendly, so she comes and only on
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the full moon, because I'll usually stay for
a few days and do readings, and she's a lovely
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guest, but on a full moon, she wants to run
out into the hallway. And I feel like, you
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know, the full moon, it's a wild energy. so,
it's really late at night, I always the full
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moon like. Really, I think there's a lot of
adrenaline like leading a ritual for a uh huge
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crowd But also like we're right near the ocean.
So I feel this adrenaline so I'm up like late
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and I I'll let her like like think she's sneaking
out of the room and like run in the hallway
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and she startled a bachelorette party on the
full moon and That was really funny. They thought
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that and I was in like a long white gown with
like pearls in my hair so they thought that
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like They saw this black hat and they thought
it was like an omen. And then they saw me,
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the ghost and like, I was like, oh, I like
picked her up and I was like, I'm sorry. We
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startled you. And then like disappeared back
into my room. And I was like, you frightened
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the bachelorettes, but you know, the witches
got to have a little fun too sometimes. So
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that was our little full moon prank or not.
don't know if it's a prank, but like a little
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full moon fright. Yeah. Yeah. We have fun.
I can only imagine that actually have played
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like, like I wish that y'all had the CCTV.
You know, that'd be hilarious. know. I know.
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We do. We have a lot of fun over here. So, yeah,
I wish we had that footage too. Yeah. Uh,
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one thing that you said before though, was that
now you're ready and excited to get out of
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bed in the mornings and she's part of your routine
and everything. And. I think another word for
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routine could be a ritual per se, right? That
is true. Absolutely. So what kind of rituals
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do you talk about in your book? Are they things
that people can do on their day to day to have
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anchor points themselves, like in whenever they
get up or if they just had a really rough day
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or something? Absolutely. So I designed this
book to be read from from first to last. OK,
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but I also feel like it can be a lovely oracle.
So if you are feeling something or maybe you
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don't have the direction today, open to a random
page, see what's there, it's meant for you.
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And each chapter is accompanied by tarot spreads
and rituals to help you understand and embody
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and integrate the lessons of that step. So,
and you don't have to do the rituals in order.
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You don't have to do this. the tarot spreads
in order either. But I always feel like, you
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know, there's a moment where I'm like, like,
I think that's a step four issue I'm having
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today. And often I think when I'm having a step
four issue, I'm actually probably having a
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step one issue. So I might go back to that
and do that ritual today or or use that tarot
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spread. And I mean, that's what I really love
about tarot and being a pagan is it taught
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me how to create a routine because I was able
to ritualize everything. had really like very
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little boundaries, no routine before I got
sober. And to be able to learn how to start
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somewhere, the first ritual I engaged in in
very early sobriety is just pulling a tarot
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card in the morning and reflecting on that,
seeing that, um and then reconnecting with
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it at the end of the day, seeing how the lessons
were unfolded, writing about it in my journal.
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And from there, I learned how to have consistency
and build upon that. And because of the amount
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of energy work I do every day, I do a lot of
rituals to start my day, to end my day, but
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also throughout. And I really feel like I
needed to learn structure. And that's how
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I was able to understand the type of structure
I needed in my life. Yeah, the structure and
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that's one of those words that I both simultaneously
love and hate. yeah, completely. Yeah. And
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so you were able to structure your own structure,
which is great because I mean, from what I've
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experienced and have heard lately is that creativity
is not our thoughts per se, but more or less
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possibly divine guiding us and saying, hey,
go this way a little bit. And so maybe the
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structure that you create for yourself was
the higher you or whatever guiding you along
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the way saying, Hey, do this. It'll help you
out. I believe so. think so. Um, but so
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you're saying that someone can sit there and
if they're wanting to start their recovery
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journey, they could actually pick up your book
and just start reading it and help them get
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sober. Well, I think it can be a tool in your
toolkit. I think that. I really do believe
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that healing and recovery is a multi-dimensional
process. find and I think it's wonderful to
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live without like limiting ourselves. I don't
think that, you know, for me, the recovery
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process being a multi-dimensional experience
has been really important. So I find that I
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would love for my book to be one of the tools
within One's recovery toolkit. Yeah, that's
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awesome. I just got to say thank you for making
that in the world because I for myself. That's
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one thing that if I saw that on a bookshelf
whenever I was in active addiction, I would
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have been like, hey, that sounds cool. I want
to read it. You know, that's good to hear.
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Wow. Yeah. I'm very inspired uh by creating
the thing I wish had been there for me. And
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I really wanted, I needed a book like this.
And I really wanted, I felt ready to share
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my story and my perspective. I mean, well, do
you ever really feel ready to be courageous
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and vulnerable? Not really, but something bigger
than me. was uh lovingly pushing me, maybe
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off the fool's cliff, uh into writing this.
I, you know, I love hearing others' recovery
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stories. And I really admire vulnerability
and courage in others. It's a lot to put yourself
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out there. It's a lot to, think, There's no
such thing as perfection, but I think to admit
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like I'm not perfect. I've, um, I've struggled,
I'm struggling, I'm figuring things out and
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this is what worked for me. I mean, that's something
I really love about, um, my experience in
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recovery communities is how we can learn from
each other's perspectives and to understand
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that something that can feel so lonely and so
solo is a very, it's a valid experience, it's
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an understandable experience, and it's often,
it is a resonating, a resonant experience.
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And, um, and I just, I mean, I found addiction
to be quite lonely. and recovery is so filled
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with love, multi-dimensional love, multifaceted
love. And, um, so if anyone can feel a
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little less alone in any way. But if you can
feel that they're reading my book, I mean,
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the work is done. I really would be honored
if anyone can relate to that experience because
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it can be tough to be a human, you know? Yeah,
it can be super tough to be a human from time
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to time and It's one of those things that getting
into recovery, some people may think that you
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have to meet certain career requisites or you
may have to follow certain things to get sober,
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to get healthy again. And that was kind of
my thing. You know, I stayed out of it because
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I was like, Hey recovery, like I have to go
back to church and stuff like that. And I'm
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not about to do that. So no, and that was just
one of the things that kind of held me back
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from doing it. wasn't the entire truth of anything
because like you said recovery is multifaceted
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you know I really can relate to that I understand
I think that and maybe maybe this is like how
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we place limitations on ourselves but I I didn't
know if I qualified as an addict and I didn't
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know if I qualified as a witch I mean I think
there's like I had all these ideas of like
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well this is what makes a witch or This is what
makes an addict. it's just like, to be honest,
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I can't, this is how I feel. If you think you're
an addict or you think, or no, if you think
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you have a problem with substances, explore
it, be curious. If you think you're a witch,
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explore it, be curious. It's probably a yes
to both. And like, so just there's something
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telling you that that's a facet of yourself
to, to, to dive into more. and explore and
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I really, I know that being an addict doesn't
look one way and neither does being a witch.
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So you don't need to wait for someone else
to tell you. Don't let it get that far. I
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think in either vein, like, you know, just
it's wonderful to be curious and. There's
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help out here. There's support. Yeah. Yeah,
for sure. Um, and you said something about,
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uh, being curious and being that fool, you know,
and sometimes we're pushed off the ledge and
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we don't really want to jump off the ledge,
but we're never really quite ready. So at
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the same time, how do you say that you were
able to accept the fall? Because a lot of
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the time Like you said, we can we can sit there
at the edge as long as we want. But like writing
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the book, you were kind of in free fall as you
were writing it, right? Yeah, I feel like
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I mean, for me, I think it's like getting sober
and even taking the fool's journey of writing
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a book. It's like the reality of not doing
it was far more painful than the reality of
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saying yes. And. You know, there are other
books I thought I was going to write and I
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didn't and someone else did. And I really do
believe in any creative act. Look, I went
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to art school. had a professor in art school
who said everything has been done. It's all
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been done. It's just up to you to do it from
your perspective. And that's how you do it
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differently. And I've really held on to that.
I really do believe that. Don't let the fact
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that Oh, it's already been done to stop you
because you haven't done it yet. So it hasn't
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been done. But there was something that I just
knew that this, needed to share my story.
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This was part of like why I'm here. And this
is part of, I feel like my spiritual path,
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my sober path, my creative path. And I did
feel an urgency of like, this just needs to
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come out of me and it needs to be shared.
And as terrified as I was to write it because
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there was a lot of fear around the vulnerability
that comes with any creative act, but really
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sharing some of the deepest, darkest challenges
I've faced and overcome where like now, like
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anyone can pay. I think 1899 and find out about
those things about me. um But it's also a story
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of redemption and finding one's power again.
it's, just, I don't know, I think anything
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good requires some sacrifice and anything
good is gonna come with a mix of emotions and.
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Fear is often one of them and I think it's
good to get out of our comfort zone. It's good
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to see how truly powerful and resilient we are.
And I really do believe that when someone
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shows up in acceptance of themselves, when
someone shows up with honesty and vulnerability,
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it encourages others to do the same. And that's
the type of world I want to live in. I really
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do believe that we can create the space we desire.
But sometimes we have to be that fool and take
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the first step. Yeah. Thank you for being open
and vulnerable with us on all that. And I mean,
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I completely feel you, you know, I think creativity
is a sacrifice in its own right. You know,
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we do produce something, but what do we have
to sacrifice to make the thing, you know, because
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it kind of goes down to alchemy. Everything
is kind of just transmuted, kind of like how
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recovery is just pain transmuted into love.
yes, I love that. It's so true. Uh, what
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would you say that is one of the aspects of
your story though, that other people need to
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hear, like if they're listening to this episode
right now, what is something that your story
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just needs to be heard from that person or to
that person? Did I say that right? Probably.
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I think you did. You know, change is really
hard, but change, I feel like change is always
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for our greatest good. And I feel like I live
in Manhattan and I make my living as a witch.
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And that is so cool. I just, I know. can believe
it, no one can believe it like think like less
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than I can. I'm just like, this is incredible.
And I really do feel that we can make our dreams
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come true. I mean, it did take a lot of hard
work and sacrifice. And I know my devotion
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to my recovery and sobriety is what allows me
to be able to, to do this book. always like,
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kind of like joke around with people I love
that it's like, I mean, of course, like this
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book wouldn't exist without me being sober because
it's about how I got sober. But like, I couldn't
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do it if I wasn't, I couldn't be in devotion
to the practice of writing a book if I wasn't
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in devotion to sobriety. And I think it's just
really important to remember that like life
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can look very different. And of course, like
that's, good, bad, surprising, otherwise, but
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we are not beholden to our addiction. And something
that I love about 12 Steps, I have a lot of
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mixed feelings about 12 Steps, probably because
I'm an addict. But for me, it works. It provided
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that framework that I needed to reflect and
understand myself, my motivations, my choices,
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and to make changes to act differently. Something
that I love about recovery is it gave me the
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understanding of like hey what you're doing
isn't working So try something else and the
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confidence to do that so You know, I was at
the deepest darkest depths of a pit when I
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was uh drinking and A lot of ways my first
year of recovery felt like clawing my way out
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of that pit like through sheer, I don't know,
might, terror, maybe some ego, you know, probably,
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but like, you know, we're so resilient as humans
and having that willingness and readiness,
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but like, I never thought that I, like, I don't
know, like nine years ago, 10 years ago, would
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think. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I'd
be looking out at Central Park, talking to
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my friend Keegan about my recovery journey.
That's nearly nine years of sobriety. Like,
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it's incredible. And I just feel like, like,
I really do feel like if I could do it, like,
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and you're considering it, you're listening,
you're considering it. You can too. This is
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00:37:42,186 --> 00:37:50,327
like, my life is not a total 180. And... as
challenging as getting sober is and staying
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sober. It's wonderful. I mean, I love that.
I always like butcher all the like AA-isms
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because I like, I think there's a lot of thoughts
going on in my head, but it's like, what is
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it? Like my greatest day drunk is nowhere near
my worst day sober or something like that.
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You know, that sentiment. And it's so true.
Like my greatest day drunk, what was I doing?
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m nothing of merit, know, like nothing loving
towards myself. Like now I just it as challenging
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as clarity can be sometimes it's the greatest
gift and I have it in abundance. So. Yeah,
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wonderful. That's an amazing message for anyone
out there that really needed to hear that.
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And I mean, seriously, if someone heard that
and they're like, maybe I need to get So where
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maybe I need to look into recovery. Totally
do it. Like it's it's not a membership. know,
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it's. That's right. Yeah. If I guess if you
don't like it, you could cancel it. Yes. I
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wouldn't advise that. I'm not saying do that,
but like it's not locking you in like those
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gym memberships. Yeah. Right. And oh, I'm glad
that you said that because as we're recording,
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we're coming up on the new year. And so by the
time this gets. release it's going to be little
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bit after but everyone still needs to hear this
because I feel that like recovery is a lot
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like a New Year's resolution and I have a resentment
towards New Year's resolutions. Same. Because
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I've never kept a single one. uh Really? Yeah.
I've never kept a single New Year's resolution
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because I never could commit to a full year.
You know, it's kind of like recovery. have
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to do this forever. Are you serious? And that
was the mindset. But in recovery, I've learned
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it's a moment at a time. It's a breath at a
time. It's five minutes at the day. And I
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just think a lot of us kind of screw ourselves
whenever we think if I do this now, I have
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to do it forever. I'm just doing this one
day at a time. And somehow now it's nearly
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nine years. So. That's all it is. hmm. Yeah.
And I mean, it's like you said, sometimes
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that clarity is challenging and sometimes that
new challenge brings about old triggers that
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we thought we were kind of done with or whatever.
And we're like, oh, well, how do you handle
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those situations? Because I mean, that's how
a lot of people end up falling into a really
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bad relapse and maybe not get out of that relapse,
you know? Oh, of course. And I have a lot
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of compassion for that. And I've been there.
That's that's part of my story. And something
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00:40:39,896 --> 00:40:50,159
that I really love about recovery is something
you already mentioned. It's just, it's moment
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to moment. And I really think that if you look
at anything like a big mountain, of course
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that's intimidating. But when you just do it
one step at a time, it's manageable. And something...
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00:41:07,314 --> 00:41:17,991
I've learned in recovery is like, so discomfort
was a big trigger for me. It still is. Look,
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we live in a world filled with triggers. Like,
that's going to be it. Recovery is not going
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to take those away. I hate to spoil it for
everyone. is triggers will remain. But I think
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self-compassion is a lovely anecdote to triggers.
Acceptance, understanding of what you need
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and how you can be supported is wonderful.
And, you know, I don't want to like not leave
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my house personally, so I'm going to venture
out into the world with my triggers. I mean,
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there's triggers going on in my own mind, so
they're going to find me wherever I am. But
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I do feel that now I have the skills and tools
to combat it and discomfort used to feel like
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00:42:07,559 --> 00:42:16,517
it was going to kill me. it's actually not discomfort.
It's not going to kill anyone. The destructive
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00:42:16,517 --> 00:42:23,893
habits to cope with it could, though. And the
reality for me is I can be uncomfortable for
357
00:42:23,893 --> 00:42:29,928
five minutes. And and after that, I can check
in with myself and see, like, am I still really
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00:42:29,928 --> 00:42:36,607
uncomfortable? Well, do I have to be in this
situation? Or can I go? Can I do something
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00:42:36,607 --> 00:42:44,330
else? Can I have help and support? I don't
have to do everything on my own. Recovery's
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00:42:44,330 --> 00:42:50,613
taught me there's tons of help available. And
things that used to make me uncomfortable,
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00:42:50,905 --> 00:42:57,406
I can actually have the help there with me.
So I'm not navigating it alone. Even if it's
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just texting someone I love or having a little
phone call or having that reminder. Or you
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00:43:03,728 --> 00:43:09,160
know what? mean, maybe they're going to come
with me and or maybe I don't have to go.
364
00:43:09,558 --> 00:43:18,785
I just feel like there's but universally I've
understood I can handle that discomfort. And
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00:43:18,785 --> 00:43:24,927
the 12 steps has provided that framework for
me to actually understand where the discomfort
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00:43:24,927 --> 00:43:31,470
stems from. And I for me, when I figured out
what that was, I could accept it more easily.
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00:43:31,930 --> 00:43:40,774
accept myself and show myself some love and
compassion where it needed and um, but Not
368
00:43:40,914 --> 00:43:49,058
at least we don't need to react to everything
so I think just embracing stillness and And
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00:43:49,058 --> 00:43:54,460
actually reflecting on what is it that I need
right now so that I don't feel like I have
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00:43:54,620 --> 00:44:03,271
to to pick up and use or drink and I think
that can be really helpful in moving through
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00:44:03,571 --> 00:44:12,223
those really painful or challenging experiences
and moments and just breaking it down. really
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00:44:12,223 --> 00:44:21,806
is sometimes just one moment at a time and
all those moments add up. Yeah, they do add
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00:44:21,806 --> 00:44:28,878
up and they add up really quick. that was really
good too. thank you. Thank you. Of course.
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00:44:29,262 --> 00:44:36,442
And I mean, it's one of those things, too, that
recovery has all these different facets to
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00:44:36,442 --> 00:44:44,142
it. And I mean, we're never really done recovering.
I think I think it's an ongoing process. And
376
00:44:44,142 --> 00:44:51,682
I love how you also said the whole mountain
metaphor instead of the elephant, because I
377
00:44:51,682 --> 00:44:54,802
don't know about you, but every time someone
says, how do you eat an elephant? It's like,
378
00:44:54,802 --> 00:44:59,263
well, yeah, you deviate up, you cook it, blah,
blah, blah. But that's the thing is like,
379
00:44:59,263 --> 00:45:03,305
I've never going to eat an elephant. Like, please
come on. Like, that's a bad metaphor. Now a
380
00:45:03,305 --> 00:45:10,048
mountain. I have done a mountain and it was
very interesting. So I can I can relate to.
381
00:45:10,048 --> 00:45:16,642
thank you. You're welcome. I'm a vegan. I'm
not telling anyone to eat an elephant. Fair
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00:45:16,642 --> 00:45:24,066
enough. I don't blame you there. oh I just got
to say before we get into our little game show
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00:45:24,066 --> 00:45:28,446
segment, do you think that we could have you
back on the show in the future to see how your
384
00:45:28,446 --> 00:45:34,246
recovery has gone and possibly dive even deeper
into tarot and everything like that? Oh, I'd
385
00:45:34,246 --> 00:45:40,506
love to. I'd be honored. I'd love to come back.
Thank you. Of course. Thank you for just showing
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00:45:40,506 --> 00:45:47,346
up and everything like that. But it's one of
those things that I've always well, maybe not
387
00:45:47,346 --> 00:45:53,035
always. I've been trying to get people more
along my own. spiritual line to get on here
388
00:45:53,035 --> 00:45:57,800
and talk about recovery because it's a it's
an angle that not a lot of people talk about
389
00:45:57,940 --> 00:46:05,006
online or in general. So it's one of those things
like, hey, pagans or witches or non Christians,
390
00:46:05,006 --> 00:46:10,371
they can all recover to know it's one of those
things that you don't have to fall into something
391
00:46:10,371 --> 00:46:16,205
that you don't want to just to get healthy again.
completely agree. And I think it's good to
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00:46:16,205 --> 00:46:24,084
work with the energy work with the Um, sometimes
it's, it's, feel like it's been really helpful
393
00:46:24,084 --> 00:46:30,466
for me to be seen in my recovery process and
I'll come back anytime you'll have me. Awesome.
394
00:46:30,466 --> 00:46:37,309
Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Um,
but with that being said, I've got a little
395
00:46:37,309 --> 00:46:44,242
bit of a game if you want to play it real quick.
Yes, I do. I love games. All right. So everyone
396
00:46:44,242 --> 00:46:50,493
out there, our game today is going to be called
rapid fire ritual. I'm to provide Sarah with
397
00:46:50,493 --> 00:46:56,087
a common obstacle. It's going to be a feeling
or situation. And she has 20 to 30 seconds
398
00:46:56,087 --> 00:47:02,061
to assign a tarot card to that situation. And
then after that, provide a little micro ritual
399
00:47:02,061 --> 00:47:07,845
or something to help shift the energy back
to the positive flow of things. So are you
400
00:47:07,845 --> 00:47:16,100
ready? I'm ready. All right. So up first,
you're stuck in traffic and your anxiety is
401
00:47:16,100 --> 00:47:22,950
spiking. that's OK. Yes. I live in New York
City. don't drive anymore, but I am stuck in
402
00:47:22,950 --> 00:47:31,550
traffic. Let's see. Okay. Honestly, I would
say four of swords. like don't go to sleep,
403
00:47:31,550 --> 00:47:38,990
but take a little rest. If you're stuck in traffic.
I have been to LA quite a bit for work. So
404
00:47:38,990 --> 00:47:47,370
I do know about traffic. Sometimes you just
need to recenter and breathe and, but like,
405
00:47:47,650 --> 00:47:52,484
so that could be like an ace of swords, but
I'm going with four of swords. You just need
406
00:47:52,484 --> 00:47:58,948
some mental clarity. Like to be honest, where
do you need to be? Just give yourself enough
407
00:47:58,948 --> 00:48:05,643
time to get where you're going. Be realistic
with your time. Get a good night's sleep. I'm
408
00:48:05,643 --> 00:48:10,387
giving, the Virgo is giving you a lot to do
here, but like even in the moment, I think
409
00:48:10,387 --> 00:48:15,738
sometimes just closing your eyes, that could
be like a teeny little nap. and then reset
410
00:48:15,738 --> 00:48:21,958
and just be like, okay, it is what it is. the
traffic, you're not gonna be in traffic forever.
411
00:48:22,138 --> 00:48:29,658
That's gonna move, you know? Even if you're
in LA. Yeah, that actually makes me think about
412
00:48:29,658 --> 00:48:35,558
a lot of different things, because my job has
me drive a lot and I usually hit traffic points
413
00:48:35,558 --> 00:48:40,718
at the time where I'm really flustered. So that's
weird. I'm gonna have to do that next time.
414
00:48:41,078 --> 00:48:45,269
All right, good. Yeah, just go to bed. Just
go to sleep. This off, then the traffic goes
415
00:48:45,269 --> 00:48:55,383
away. All right, up next. You just had a triggering
phone call with a family member. I understand
416
00:48:55,383 --> 00:49:04,477
that. Let's see. Family's tough. Family dynamics
are really challenging. So this is what I would
417
00:49:04,477 --> 00:49:11,850
say for that. Okay. Is I actually am really
feeling the 10 of cups, which is such a beautiful
418
00:49:11,850 --> 00:49:22,377
card of a chosen family. And so I find that
if you just had a really difficult, uh triggering
419
00:49:22,377 --> 00:49:30,932
phone call with a family member, call someone
where you feel at peace in your heart and
420
00:49:30,932 --> 00:49:37,855
someone that you choose to have in your life
that feels like all of those good, sweet feelings
421
00:49:37,855 --> 00:49:43,847
of family. And to me, that feels like someone
who can really see you who really knows you
422
00:49:43,847 --> 00:49:50,301
on that heart level. And I think that when you
remember you're not alone and there's so much
423
00:49:50,301 --> 00:49:57,596
love in your life and in your world, it's a
beautiful anecdote to a triggering conversation
424
00:49:57,657 --> 00:50:04,771
such as being described here. Oh, I love that.
Thank you. It really goes back with the whole
425
00:50:04,771 --> 00:50:12,215
balance aspect. All right. What about feeling
imposter syndrome before a big present Before
426
00:50:12,215 --> 00:50:21,963
a big presentation. Oh, no, I love this. Oh,
before a big presentation or undeserving after
427
00:50:21,963 --> 00:50:31,191
the applause. Six of wands. OK, throw yourself
a parade. uh Celebrate your victories. And
428
00:50:31,191 --> 00:50:36,996
I feel like imposter syndrome. So understandable,
so relatable. feel like unless you're an egomaniac,
429
00:50:36,996 --> 00:50:42,269
everyone faces imposter syndrome. But I really
do think it's quite empowering to remember
430
00:50:42,950 --> 00:50:48,395
your wins. Like, and you don't need to be precious
about this. Like sometimes when you're feeling
431
00:50:48,395 --> 00:50:54,250
bad, getting out of bed is a win. Like putting
yourself together for the day is a win. It
432
00:50:54,250 --> 00:50:58,144
doesn't have to be something extraordinary.
I'd love for you to pick something extraordinary.
433
00:50:58,304 --> 00:51:03,949
But anytime that you felt proud of yourself,
hold that feeling and let it guide you into
434
00:51:03,949 --> 00:51:09,814
what's next because You are very deserving of
every opportunity that comes your way. If you're
435
00:51:09,814 --> 00:51:15,559
human and you're living in your existing, you've
been through a lot and you've won many times.
436
00:51:15,559 --> 00:51:21,914
This is your moment to recognize that and
let that energy carry you through that imposter
437
00:51:21,914 --> 00:51:32,163
syndrome. Okay. I love that one too. Thank
you. All right. Up next, you're craving a drink
438
00:51:32,163 --> 00:51:40,014
at 6 PM on a Friday. coworkers are going out
to celebrate. That's tough. So I'm going to
439
00:51:40,014 --> 00:51:45,594
say four of wands. Go out with other people
and celebrate. Yeah, there's like, there's
440
00:51:45,594 --> 00:51:51,054
always something to celebrate. Make up your
own occasion, make up your own holiday. I don't
441
00:51:51,054 --> 00:51:54,894
know, maybe coworkers hang out a little too
much. Like, do really need to hang out with
442
00:51:54,894 --> 00:52:01,154
your coworkers? Like, I get it. Sometimes you
do need to and like, but I don't know, Friday
443
00:52:01,154 --> 00:52:07,928
at 6pm. That's when things are really popping
off. So go find something else to do and celebrate
444
00:52:07,928 --> 00:52:12,460
that. You've had enough time with your coworkers.
You've been with them. I'm hearing Friday
445
00:52:12,460 --> 00:52:17,682
at 6 p.m. I'm imagining you've been with them
nine to five, Monday to Friday. Enough. Do
446
00:52:17,682 --> 00:52:23,825
something else. Celebrate that. Yeah, I like
that. Be a little independent. Yeah, it's
447
00:52:23,825 --> 00:52:30,267
always fun to be had. Yeah. All right. And
how about this last one that's going to bring
448
00:52:30,267 --> 00:52:36,492
us back to the recovery pass? You feel totally
disconnected from your own spiritual path today.
449
00:52:36,572 --> 00:52:42,395
Okay, I want to say two cards. Okay. So I would
say the High Priestess and the Ace of Pentacles.
450
00:52:42,395 --> 00:52:48,239
And so this is why the High Priestess is going
to invite that stillness and self-reflection,
451
00:52:48,239 --> 00:52:55,293
that reconnection to your inner voice, your
intuition and the Ace of Pentacles, because
452
00:52:55,293 --> 00:52:59,985
it's just one step at a time. You have to start
somewhere. I always think of the Ace of Pentacles
453
00:53:00,225 --> 00:53:05,572
as the acorn. And then the ten of pentacles
as the oak tree. You don't get from the acorn
454
00:53:05,572 --> 00:53:10,734
to the oak tree overnight. You take one step
at a time. It's one little bit of growth at
455
00:53:10,734 --> 00:53:18,947
a time. And so I think like, it's like any
relationship. You have to give it time and
456
00:53:18,947 --> 00:53:25,070
devotion and nourishment for it to thrive. And
that includes our spiritual relationship. So
457
00:53:25,070 --> 00:53:32,694
create that space for devotion, reflection,
to hear your intuition. And because it's like,
458
00:53:32,694 --> 00:53:38,114
I know, I haven't had a burning bush moment.
I don't know about you Keegan, but like, that's
459
00:53:38,114 --> 00:53:44,034
I think quite rare. So we have to kind of cultivate
that relationship. And it's just, just start.
460
00:53:44,534 --> 00:53:49,394
So that's why I feel like and think of it as,
I don't know, to me, my spiritual journey,
461
00:53:49,474 --> 00:53:57,134
my spiritual path, that relationship in my life,
it's ongoing and ever evolving. And it it needs
462
00:53:57,134 --> 00:54:04,055
different nourishment at different times. And
And I'm in full acceptance of that. So I think
463
00:54:04,055 --> 00:54:13,748
those two cards are in alignment for a way
to solve that issue. Oh, I love that. That
464
00:54:13,748 --> 00:54:19,019
is some deep thinking and quick thinking too.
So thank you for that. Welcome. I love your
465
00:54:19,019 --> 00:54:24,871
questions. Of course. Oh, I did forget to
ask a little earlier on, where can people find
466
00:54:24,871 --> 00:54:33,238
you? You can find me all over the Internet.
I am. big fan of the internet. In moderation.
467
00:54:33,798 --> 00:54:40,798
I am on Instagram. I am Sarah Potter, Sarah
with an H. My website is I am sarah potter.com.
468
00:54:41,098 --> 00:54:47,938
You can book a reading with me and on either
I have an acuity with my calendar. I'm on sub
469
00:54:47,938 --> 00:54:56,758
stack, which is really fun. It feels like blogging
again. And I'm on cameo. Wherever the internet
470
00:54:56,758 --> 00:55:04,600
exists. So do I. That's awesome. uh It's one
of those things that we've got to use the internet
471
00:55:04,720 --> 00:55:11,283
as well. is a tool. It is a networking aspect
of things. I mean, whenever I think of the
472
00:55:11,283 --> 00:55:18,927
web, um ever since I've really learned more
about spiders and stuff there and the internet
473
00:55:18,927 --> 00:55:24,099
is a giant web. So we can create our own realities
through the internet. kind of interesting.
474
00:55:24,099 --> 00:55:29,898
cool. Spiders are so cool. They're a lot cooler
once you start to dive into the symbolism and
475
00:55:29,898 --> 00:55:35,118
you're not afraid of it anymore. But there's
still a little like don't want them to bite
476
00:55:35,118 --> 00:55:42,418
me. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's actually funny if the
spiders are like the one fear I'm not conquering.
477
00:55:42,718 --> 00:55:48,778
Like I've conquered all of them and like I love
spiders and I respect them. But I'm OK with
478
00:55:48,778 --> 00:55:57,029
having like one thing. I I think that's a healthy
fear. know. Thank you. Yeah, well, we developed
479
00:55:57,029 --> 00:56:02,695
fears of spiders for a reason, think. I agree.
Yeah, I don't think that that's one that's
480
00:56:02,695 --> 00:56:08,200
really taught. I think that that's one that
is kind of just innate in people because they're
481
00:56:08,200 --> 00:56:12,153
little tiny things that like they could bite
you and kill you. So you got to be on the lookout.
482
00:56:12,434 --> 00:56:18,840
Yes. Well, I really appreciate your perspective
on that because I think it's very validating.
483
00:56:18,840 --> 00:56:24,227
So thank you. Of course. I just got to say
thank you for validating everyone out there
484
00:56:24,227 --> 00:56:29,659
today that has wondered if they can get sober
and be on a recovery journey without having
485
00:56:29,659 --> 00:56:37,843
to go down any other predetermined path. So,
oh, oh and they can find your book on imsarapodded.com
486
00:56:37,843 --> 00:56:44,175
too, right? Yes, and on my Instagram, it's available
wherever books are sold, Silver Magic, Using
487
00:56:44,175 --> 00:56:49,758
Tarot and Ritual, and Your Journey Away from
Drinking out on Running Press. Awesome. Well,
488
00:56:49,758 --> 00:56:58,495
Sarah, We'll see you in the future. Oh, I
did forget this last bit for uh for your amazing
489
00:56:58,495 --> 00:57:05,539
work in the Rapid fire ritual we are giving
you the title of the architect of the luminous
490
00:57:05,539 --> 00:57:14,172
path for retrieving sanity. So Thank you I
receive it amazing and is there anything that
491
00:57:14,172 --> 00:57:21,512
you'd like to leave the audience with for this
wonderful Sunday afternoon? Mmm. Ooh. I encourage
492
00:57:21,512 --> 00:57:30,017
you to be curious. If something's lighting
you up, follow it. Mmm. Ooh. And then if it's
493
00:57:30,017 --> 00:57:34,300
a little scary, that's probably the sign that
you need to take a little bit of a leap of
494
00:57:34,300 --> 00:57:44,488
faith. Yes, I love that. If it's scary, do
it now. uh Fair enough. Right? Yep. All right.
495
00:57:44,488 --> 00:57:48,581
Well, with that being said, everyone out there,
thank you for listening to Retrieving Sanity
496
00:57:48,641 --> 00:57:54,754
on WDJY 99.1 FM. And this has been Keegan.
This has been Sarah. And we'll see y'all in
497
00:57:54,754 --> 00:57:59,837
the future. And don't forget to try to love
yourself, love others if you can, but you gotta
498
00:57:59,837 --> 00:58:04,880
love yourself first. And if you're having a
mental health crisis, call 988. And if you're
499
00:58:04,880 --> 00:58:10,553
in the LGBTQ plus community, that was the Trevor
Project up in Canada. And we'll see y'all
500
00:58:10,553 --> 00:58:16,146
in the future. And that being said, much love.
Bye!