Spiritual Grit

“Whatever space you make, the thing that you most desire will come to trust that the universe has your back and magic will happen as it always does.” - Leslieann Hobayan We are on our 2nd of the 4-part series - Light of the World: Midlife Transitions and Spirituality. In this conversation, we will lay out where we are right now. Midlife women are in, what I’m calling, “the threshold of change”. This is the point in most people’s lives where they pause, look around, and say: “This is it? I thought there was more.”  When you were younger, you imagined The Path – the career, the kids, the house. But did you dream past that? Because that’s where we are now. That place where no one told you that you’d be sandwiched between starting to care for aging parents while still raising kids. This threshold where we can see the second half of life opening up before us. Will we continue down the path we’ve been on? (We know where that goes.) Or will we answer the call of our heart’s burning desires? The call of our life’s purpose? (And let’s not forget the magical chemistry of The Pause!) Where do you go from here? What life do you want to intentionally create? * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! * Subscribe to my NEW! advice column, Dear Tita Tarot, to get insights on all of your burning questions about life, relationships, money (say what? yes, money!), and sure, spirituality, too - haha! For just $11.11, you'll also get monthly tarot-inspired writing prompts to help you dive deeper into your spiritual development. And if you sign up for an annual subscription, you'll get 2 months free! Subscribe today! First column drops June 1st! Eeeee! I'm so excited!! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned: Oracle Deck: Loosing our Grip

We interrupt our 4-part series: The Light of the World: Midlife Transitions & Spirituality to pause and take some time to digest the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas. In this episode, I offer some solace, some suggestions on ways of being, on embracing grief and understanding that it is a companion that will never leave. It’s up to you to decide the kind of relationship you want with it. I see grief as a teacher, showing me just how expansive my capacity to love is. How can we ground ourselves and care for ourselves during this time? It is a necessity so that we can then take action to help incite change for the better. #TexasShooting #Texas #specialepisode #leslieannhobayan #spiritualgrit

How Far Have You Come? Part 1 of Light of the World: Midlife Transitions and Spiritualities Healing has many layers, just because we think we feel one thing, doesn’t mean that we’re done, it's just this continual peeling away of layers” - Leslieann Hobayan In today’s episode, we have the 1st of the 4-part series I’m calling the Light of the World: Midlife Transitions and Spirituality. It’s my hope that over the next four episodes you can create a map of your life – where you’ve been, where you are now, where you are going –and how you might get there. Midlife is the time when most folks take a look at their lives, after having realized the goals they set for themselves when they were in high school or college (or even younger). We think we’re planning a life we want to live, but what we don’t realize is that these plans were actually planted in our minds early on. Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? Are you now that person you imagined? Or have you fallen into the mold of what you’re “supposed” to do (like work a corporate job for “security” - whatever that means!). Pause and listen to this episode to really consider how you got to this place. Are you satisfied with where you are? Have you come closer to your dreams? Or further away? For this first episode in the series, I’m inviting you to take inventory. How have you come to this place where you are now? In order for you to figure out where you want to go, you need to take a look at how you got to your present moment. For next week’s part 2 will check in with where you are now. Listen in! * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned: Oracle Deck from The Star Seed Oracle Deck by Rebecca Campbell “Where Everything is Music” by Rumi Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned: Joyful Meditation : https://suryagian.com/joyful-meditation The Story of Joy: https://suryagian.com/subscribe Magic of I Journal: ​​https://au.magicofi.com/ Suryagian Newsletter: https://suryagian.com/subscribe

This week’s episode features a conversation with special guest, Terry J Stokes, who is an associate pastor at the Reformed Church of Highland Park, NJ, where he gives spiritual care to the youth of the congregation and of the town. He holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelor's from Yale University. His book Prayers for the People was published by Convergent Press in 2021. Terry loves dance, tennis, songwriting, and pop culture. And we talk about ALL the things! Finding your people. Building intentional community. Covenants we can make with other people aside from a relationship that leads to marriage. A church that is focused on being of service to the community. Religion/Christianity versus secular spirituality. A sense of belonging. Christian tourism and imperialism disguised as missions. Expanding the vision of what’s possible for kids of color. Y’all, we talked about it all! Take a listen to this important (and fun!) conversations we have about spirituality and activism. And Terry closes the show with the gift of song!! * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned: Tarot Card: Six of Wands (from The Light Seers Deck by Chris-Anne) Courses/Exclusive Content Mentioned: Joyful Meditation : https://suryagian.com/joyful-meditation The Story of Joy: https://suryagian.com/subscribe =============== Keywords: #podcast #leslieannhobayan #meditation #fellowship #womanofcolor #womenofcolor #space #divineself #sacredlove #perception #divinelight #devotionalpractice  #suryagian #mindset #positivemindset #personaldevelopment #positivity #selfaware #positivemindset #sharing #personalexperiences #guidance #youarenotalone #podcastinglife #podcastlife #podcasters #possibilities ===============

In today’s episode, I talk about strength and how we can be strong through love and compassion, not by forcing our will upon others. When we force things, often the result is less than desirable. When we love, there is only ease in the strength we demonstrate. But there is also the idea of strength as in “What are your gifts to the world?” How do you know what your strengths –your gifts– are? Much of it has to do with who you are BE-ing. WHO are you being? Are you stepping into your most authentic self? How can you tell? I also talk a little bit about what it’s like to work with me on your healing journey and how healing is a very specific, individual transformational experience. (And yeah, I bring in the butterfly analogy because, well, how perfect is that!) Take a listen to find out how you can bring your gifts forward in becoming your truest self and how that is in service of the highest good of all. * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned: Tarot Card: #8 Strength (from The Light Seers Deck by Chris-Anne) Tarot Card: Page of Swords (from The Light Seers Deck by Chris-Anne) Courses/Exclusive Content Mentioned: Joyful Meditation : https://suryagian.com/joyful-meditation The Story of Joy: https://suryagian.com/subscribe =============== Keywords: #podcast #leslieannhobayan #meditation #fellowship #womanofcolor #womenofcolor #space #divineself #sacredlove #perception #divinelight #devotionalpractice  #suryagian #mindset #positivemindset #personaldevelopment #positivity #selfaware #positivemindset #sharing #personalexperiences #guidance #youarenotalone #podcastinglife #podcastlife #podcasters #possibilities

“When things start to settle down, you start to less stimulated so how do you continue the practice, how do you continue to be inspired?”-Leslieann Hobayan For today’s podcast, I am looking at how we can be passionate and driven by the things that light us up. How can following our passion create a life of ease and flow? How can it create a life of abundance? Some people give up their passion because it doesn’t pay the bills, so they don’t have time for it. But what is your life’s purpose? To pay the bills? Or to follow your heart’s deepest desire? What kind of life are you living now? Is it full of challenge? Or ease? Fear often drives us away from what makes our heart sing. Especially when our passion in life isn’t “practical”. We don’t trust ourselves to our true heart’s calling. As a result, our lives feel blah, full of heavy obligation. Can you focus your attention on what lights you up? Can you trust that each step towards your passion brings you closer and closer to your life’s purpose? You are born with a purpose, so tune into those intuitive hits, those seemingly “random” ideas. Don't compromise on how you are BE-ing. Tune into your passions and choose. You have the power of choice. Are you really being who you have been called to be? Take a listen to know what your heart’s desire and see what’s in alignment for you. * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Reading mentioned: Tarot Card:  The King of Wands (Reversed) “Chain You To My Body” by Hafiz

“We don’t know what we don’t know so be open to possibilities”-Leslieann Hobayan For today’s episode, I invite you to be open to possibilities. Back in the day, I worked (temporarily) at a corporate law firm in Manhattan. We all make assumptions what that was like. What I discovered was that it was possible to be creative, thrive, and enjoy that space. These days, what’s coming forward for me now is tarot. I didn't expect it to become such a big presence in my life and in what I do to connect people with their divine knowing. (Of course, now that I say it out loud, it makes sense!) We don't know what we don't know. We don’t know what possibilities lie beyond our bubble of what we do know.. Ask yourself what you want right now and tune in to that. Learn and discern between your ego voice and your heart’s desire by how your body feels. What if this day turned into everything you hoped for and more? Here’s a challenge: begin the day with a sense of possibility, with a beginner’s mind. Approach this day as if you were trying something new: be open, be flexible and be ready for anything. Now go play and step into the mystery! Take a listen as I invite you to have fun. Think about what you can create in your life to have more fun and play for yourself. * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Reading mentioned: Tarot Card:  The Dragonfly “Track Black Wing Bird Emm Gryner 2006” From the book “Letters To Young Brown Girl” by Barbara Jane Reyes

“We are at a time in this life, in this era where we are coming to a realization that what other people expect of us doesn't always serve our life’s purpose, our inner truth”-Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I talk about how experiences can bring about big realizations in life, particularly those during this time of c*vid. It seems we, collectively, have come to understand that there is more to life than living up to other people’s expectations. Many of us are asking: what is our life’s purpose? There has to be more than the job, the house, the partner, the kids; more than just working to accommodate others. So how do we step into our full being? How do we do that AND live in this human experience that relies heavily on the material necessities of money and other things? Many of us have a hard time finding balance between life and work. We’ve lost sight of our larger purpose. What cost are we willing to pay in order to feel “secure”? Are we willing to lose our true selves?  Your divine spirit knows what it wants and your body responds accordingly. Your body can help lead the way to your purpose. Your body knows the truth of who you are. So how can you use the body to tap into your life’s purpose? Take a listen to know how and what you are being called to do with your divine presence on this planet. * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Reading mentioned: Tarot Card:  The World Tarot Card:  The Knight of Cups

“Your body is the best truth-teller, ever. Your body and its vibrations help guide you in the direction you need to go” - Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I talk about how we can turn to the tarot for guidance. We are limited to what we know. How do we expand beyond that? Tarot can create a new awareness around how we see our lives. With this awareness, we start planting good thoughts in how we perceive our world. We can shift our mindset into positivity even if it doesn’t feel that way in that present moment. How we see things or what we think affects HOW we are BE-ing. And how we are BE-ing affects how we act in our lives and how we commit ourselves to what we do. Do you move through the mundane with drudgery or with devotion? Do you interact with others with a chip on your shoulder or with love? The answers are in your body. You know when you are not in alignment; you know when you’re doing something that doesn’t make you happy. Can you see beyond what your five senses show you? Can you see there are larger forces at play? Tarot can help us see what’s beyond the physical world. And what we focus on, where we bring our attention to– that’s the thing that will grow. It’s what will keep expanding in our lives.  Shift where your attention goes and energy will flow. Take a listen to figure out where you focus your attention so that everything works out in your favor. * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Reading mentioned: Light Sears Tarot Deck by Chris-Anne: The Star “Prayer Near A Farm by Black Mountain North Carolina 11:36 pm Early May” by Matthew Olzmann

“ If you’re really looking at the transformation, everything needs to have more than one entrance or more than one gateway” -Lisbeth White For today’s episode, I have the lovely Lisbeth White. She is a lover of the earth and wanderer of lands, an alumna of VONA, Bread Loaf Environmental Conference, Tin House and Callaloo Creative Writing workshops. Her writing has been published in Obsidian and she is co-editor of the anthology Poetry as Spellcasting: Poems,Essays, and Prompts for Manifesting Liberation and Reclaiming Power, forthcoming in Spring of 2023. Her debut poetry collection, American Sycamore, winner of the Perugia Press Prize, that will be published in Fall 2022. In this conversation, Lisbeth and I talk about how we balance engaging in the spiritual realm with the mundane of the physical world. She shares about what it’s like to be a witchy writer of color and how one practice informs the other and vice versa. She gives us a glimpse into her writing process, talking about how she tries to stay open to the magic of possibility, of discovery. It’s all about surrender. (Easier said than done! Hah!) We also talk about the importance of REST - real rest!-- and the work (hah!) required to unlearn our conditioning, to give ourselves permission to REST! Take a listen to also learn how Lisbeth made the shift into full-time writer after closing her private practice and the learnings she’s gathered in the process. Also! There’s a bonus secret “half episode” at the end. Shhh… haha! * Follow me on Instagram for Maverick Mondays, Free Verse Fridays, and some real talk about healing, poetry, AND play: @leslieannhobayan or email me at leslieann@suryagian.com * Sign up for Joyful Meditation, a 5-part introductory series to meditation. Each recorded class is just a half-hour. Five classes to create self-awareness and inner peace-- for just $11.11! Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Reading mentioned: Tarot Card: The Black Panther “Sonnets to Orpheus: Number Two” by Rainer Maria Rilke