Spiritual Grit

Leslieann has so much fun and play in this conversation with Lola Pickett, mentor and coach of empaths and highly sensitive people, talking about how play and self-expression can support us during stressful times. Lola says, “Play is the medicine for resilience to see us through.” During these times of global crisis and visceral change, it’s necessary to create beauty, to create joy – it’s a survival mechanism! It’s also important to ask: who are we going to be and what are we going to build? And what about the unknown future? It’s about making plans without expectation, without attachment to a specific outcome. Tune in to learn more! // Hafiz’s poem “Turn Left A Thousand Feet From Here” (from _The Gift_ trans. Daniel Ladinsky), Rumi’s poem “#110“ (from _Like This_ trans. Coleman Barks) // Find Lola Pickett here: lolapickett.com and on IG: @thelolapickett And check out her amazing life-changing course, EMPATH*ology! // California retreat info: California retreat (Aug 5-9, 2020) info: suryagian.com/petaluma-retreat (YES! We got a new website!!) // #meditation #poetry #play #createjoy #createbeauty #selftrust #spiritualgrowth #chooselove #suryagian

In this episode, Leslieann invites us to consider what we might learn from this quarantine experience. How can we grow from this global moment in time? Eckhart Tolle reminds us to be present in the NOW – that the past is a longing for something we used to have and the future is an imagined outcome. There is nothing real but the present moment. So how can we be present in the age of self-isolation and social distancing when we are distracted by fear? How can we turn our focus to getting centered and being present in the now? // Hafiz’s poem“What Do White Birds Say”; films referred: “A League of Her Own”, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”; Leslieann Hobayan's “Shopping in the Pandemic” (work-in-progress) // California retreat (Aug 5-9, 2020) info: suryagian.com/petaluma-retreat (YES! We got a new website!!) // #meditation #poetry #makefriendswithfear #pandemic #selftrust #spiritualgrowth #evolve #leap #letgo #suryagian

In this episode, after several takes (haha), Leslieann talks about how our mindset affects our physical health, how we can lean into the fear and get curious about it – what lies there beneath the fear? What can we learn about ourselves when we embrace our fear and ask it questions like we would a new friend? She also invites us to take time to pause, take inventory of what really matters to us, and to extend compassion, kindness and care for others. // Hafiz’s poem “That Lamp That Needs No Oil” from The Gift and Jacob Saenz’s poems “Evolution of my Block” from The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-hop // California retreat (Aug 5-9, 2020) info: suryagian.com/petaluma-retreat (YES! We got a new website!!) // #meditation #poetry #makefriendswithfear #selftrust #spiritualgrowth #evolve #leap #letgo

Identity Evolution and Self-TrustIn this episode, Leslieann talks about life transitions and evolutionary growth, how self-trust is key, and letting go of old patterns creates space for new things to come in to play in our lives so that we might thrive. “What we focus on we create more of.” What do you want to create in your life? “Dividing God” by Hafiz opens the episode and “Graveyard Shift” by Su Hwang closes the show. // Books: The Gift by Hafiz trans. Daniel Ladinsky and Bodega by Su Hwang // California retreat (Aug 5-9, 2020) info: suryagian.com/petaluma-retreat (YES! We got a new website!!) // #meditation #poetry #selftrust #identityevolution #spiritualgrowth #evolve #letgo

Today’s guest is poet and essayist, Camille T. Dungy, author of several books, including the poetry collection Trophic Cascade and the essay collection, The Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History. In this episode, Leslieann speaks with her about the practice of language and how we use it, being open to receive, and the Big Snap. They talk about how the practice of poetry and awareness can allow for us to engage with alternate intelligences (the intelligence of trees, birds, all of nature) and act with radical empathy. // Find Camille here: http://camilledungy.com // California retreat (Aug 5-9, 2020) info: leslieannhobayanyoga.com/retreats // #meditation #poetry #lovewins #alternateintelligences #radicalempathy #suryagian

Let’s celebrate! We’ve got our first guest on the show! In this episode, Leslieann speaks with Veronica Corpuz, Pittsburgh poet and visual artist. They talk about how poetry creates doors into our spirituality, how we can try to see the Buddha in everyone, how meditation can happen anywhere and how it can look like everyday tasks like doing dishes. The conversation ranges from deep engagement with writing to being examples for the people around us, including our kids, but above all things: LOVE rules! // California retreat (Aug 5-9, 2020) info: leslieannhobayanyoga.com/retreats // #meditation #poetry #washingdishesismeditation #awareness #seethegodineveryone #seethebuddhaineveryone #bepresent #satnam #suryagian

In this episode, Leslieann speaks about the recent allegations of sexual abuse against Yogi Bhajan, the man who brought Kundalini Yoga to the West. There are no specific details about sexual abuse mentioned, but rather this is an inquiry to the role of spiritual teachers in our lives. How can we discern who is a good teacher for us? What do we do when our teachers fail us? There are no answers here, only more questions to consider. There is also a reminder that we are in control of the choices we make in our lives. // Mentions: Premka: A White Bird in a Golden Cage by Pamela Dyson; Simrad Bhagavatam, Haifiz poem from The Gift: “The Great Expanse” // #kundaliniyoga #bhaktiyoga #raghunathcappo #kaustubhadas #wisdomofthesages #satman #suryagian

The labels and roles we play are not who we are at our very essence. Awareness and meditation can help differentiate between the roles we play and our true identities, the Sat Nam within us. How can we release attachment to these labels and roles? And how can this help us find our life's purpose? Reference to Hafiz's The Gift (trans. Daniel Landinsky) and Michael Singer's The Untethered Soul. Looking ahead: interviews and conversations with poets and writers and spiritualists! /// website: leslieannhobayanyoga.com /// retreat info: leslieannhobayanyoga.com/retreats /// meditation life purpose healing true selves sat nam role breaking poetry

How can poetry help us dive deep into our inner personal work? What might happen if we saw poetry as a portal into our spiritual selves? Shake off your ambivalence about poetry and see it as a tool for connection. Maybe it'll hit you like the "breaka breaka dawn". Leslieann invites you to find a poem for yourself and share it with her by emailing her at: leslieannyoga@gmail.com You can also get more info about her offerings on her website: leslieannhobayanyoga.com #meditation #poetryaspractice #poetry #spiritualpath #spiritualwork #spiritualword #divineself #satnam #liveyourtruth

Welcome to this podcast that uses poetry as a window into ourselves and meditation as a tool to connect with our divine selves so that we might live a life of purpose in service of our highest good.With each new year, we set resolutions, goals and intentions. Unfortunately, many of us give up after the first month. Why does this happen? It's not a matter sheer of willpower. It's deeper than that. It's about who you are BEING. Who is the person that realizes these goals? Who is the person that manifests these intentions?