Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Podcast

ISTA Facilitator Nimai Sun Ra grew up without a father. As a result, he has felt, perhaps more urgently than most, the need to become his own father figure. To provide himself stability, guidance, and the strength that a biological father might often provide. In recent years, he has been on a journey of extending that experience of fatherhood from himself to his own two young sons. As he tells us in this conversation with Usha, the journey of fatherhood has been the best, most important, thing he has ever done. Every initiation he has been through in his life, he says, has been a preparation for the initiation of fatherhood. And it has been an initiation, with wonderful new realisations mixed in with unavoidable difficulties. In this episode Nimai talks about how his relationship with his beloved, the mother of his children, shifted dramatically, how he could not get through it without the support of other, older brothers, and how he had to deal with failure. And he reflects deeply on the spiritual journey of fatherhood, on how important a role it is to be able to play in the world, whether it is with your own children, other’s, or in a more symbolic way. Nimai also covers: Navigating fatherhood and open relatingThe value of focussing on fatherhood without distractionHow becoming a father can shifts romantic relationshipsThe importance of community when kids come alongThe role of your inner parentDistortions in the role of the fatherHow the father is often the one called on to set boundariesIf you loved this episode, share it with your friends!You can learn more about ISTA at www.ista.lifeAnd via our social media channels: @ista.community

Growing up in rural Austria, ISTA facilitator Ashisha Arpana’s favorite toy was her imagination. She gleefully played with it, eventually turning what happened in her mind's eye into a career in film and media. The imagination, she tells us in this deep and exploratory episode, is one of the most important keys for us in letting go of the old, disempowering stories we tell ourselves and getting back into currency with life as it moves through us. Ashisha explains that we can spark our imagination—our vision of an amazing, vibrant present—through mythology. This is not just a collection of stories from ancient cultures, but living, breathing codes for tapping into the source of our inner worlds. It is where the pulse of life comes from. And there are some simple things we can do to allow this source of our inner life to pour through us into the world, allowing us to shape-shift and, ultimately, choose how our future will go.Simon and Ashisha also discuss:how we often out-source our imagination to Hollywoodhow myths are always evolving. They’re not for copywriting!coming back to the child-like sense of wonder in each of usour bodies as instruments of the soulwhat a soul is and how to communicate with itcollective dreaming and shaping culture from therethe imagination of the heart in the Sufi traditionhow to reclaim your own story, step-by-step, without judgementIf you love this episode, why not leave a review and share it with your friends!And if you want to learn more about ISTA, follow us on social media: @ista.tribeOr visit our website: ista.life

In this episode, Usha talks with ISTA Facilitator Aya Kamānakai about reclaiming sexuality as a pathway to personal empowerment and spiritual connection.Growing up in the Christian church, Aya was taught to shut down her sexuality. As she moved into adulthood, she found herself unable to access pleasure in her body and had resigned herself to a life without it. This was until, in desperation, she sought out a sexual healer who guided her into releasing her full, orgasmic potential. Almost immediately, she was able to allow this release of repressed energy to literally pour out into other areas of her life: her relationships, her business, and her visions for cultural evolution. Sex magic, as she explains in this episode, is possible when we use pleasure as a doorway to whatever wants to be expressed. We can use the power that comes with this deep freedom of expression to bring what we dream into reality. Some of the topics Aya and Usha discuss are: The profound significance of Aya’s first time squirtingThe connection between sexual energy and purposeHow self-pleasure works best when we don’t feel like itFinding our easiest access points to pleasureHow you can transform any aspect of your sexuality, even physiological onesHow to access your sexual energy by yourselfAnd, as a delicious extra, at the end of the episode, Aya leads a beautiful meditation into connecting with life-force (44:00-49:00). About Aya:Allured by the wild and the beauty within us, Aya Kamānakai is a passionate advocate for embracing pleasure and reclaiming our sexual energy. With a deep reverence for ancient wisdom and a belief in the intelligence stored inside our bodies, Aya calls upon all beings, but especially women, to reconnect with their innate power and unlock their highest potential. 

Picture this: you’re in a long, long-term relationship with another person. You both have dynamic, ‘larger-than-life’ personalities. You have four kids together, and busy schedules full of big projects. It seems almost impossible to fit in time for each other. Life is interesting, but you’re realizing how easy it is to put off moments of deeper connection. Then, one day, almost out of nowhere, you decide together that you’re going to make love every day.Every. Single. Day.This is no imaginary story! In this episode of the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic Podcast, ISTA organizer and certified coach, Matilda Gregersdotter, talks with Ria about how her and her husband have had s*x everyday since 2008. That’s 15 years, if you do the math. As she explains, it has been a beautiful journey, with many benefits she is keen to share with others.These are just some of the topics that Matilda and Ria cover:how regular love-making is nourishing and refreshinghow to effortlessly include love-making in a busy schedulethe idea of ‘meeting each other’resolving conflict that would make s*x impossibleexpanding what love-making meanshow the body and mind become more receptive to touch, not lesshow it’s impossible to get bored when you treat each time as the first timehow to practice the art of coming back to lovethe brilliant Game of “Yes”what happens when we find ways to release unnecessary resistanceIf you loved this episode, share it with your friends and leave us a 5-star review!To learn more about what we do at ISTA, visit ista.lifeYou can also follow @ista_tribe on Instagram and Facebook.

If you've ever been to a spiritual retreat, you might know that they can be totally blissful places. Dancing, good food, vibrant people, deep teaching. Paradise! Yes, they can involve difficult emotions, and sometimes the teachings can be complex, but that's often part of the experience.So, what happens when it all comes to an end and you have to head back home and, somehow, put all you learned and experienced into action for real? Well, in this episode of the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic podcast, ISTA Lead Facilitator Crystal Dawn Morris tells us about her own experiences with blissed out states of being and how she integrates them into her ongoing life. She shares about some important tools she teaches in ISTA trainings for processing tough emotional experiences and maintaining our sensitivity, and goes deep on a unique experience she has designed especially for bringing spiritual training into every day reality, "Living Level One."She also talks about: Her first ever altered state of consciousnessThe concept and practice of "sonic driving"Our Emotional Guidance SystemThe practice of Aspecting and how to do itHow the emotional body worksIf you loved this podcast, leave us a review! And you can follow us on social media @ista_tribeTo learn more about ISTA teachers and our retreats, visit http://ista.life

In this episode of the Spiritual, Sexual, Shamanic Podcast, ISTA facilitator Aaron Kleinerman delves into the topic of men's work and the importance of creating safe spaces for men to explore their vulnerability and receptivity.Through many years of holding these kinds of spaces, Aaron has found that there is great benefit in men embracing both their masculine and feminine energies. It can lead to a deeper sense of inner union and empowerment. He acknowledges that societal conditioning often discourages men from fully embodying their feminine side, and that this can hinder their personal growth and evolution. The overall aim is for men to be able to break free from these constraints and unlock their full potential.In response to criticism of men's work, Argues argues that it is not about reinforcing the patriarchy or promoting conservative gender roles. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity for men to relax into their masculinity, to let go of their fears and insecurities, and to share experiences with other men who may have had similar life experiences. From this more relaxed place, men can show up for themselves, the people in their lives, and their communities in a more healthy way.Overall, Aaron’s message is one of empowerment and growth. By embracing both their masculine and feminine energies, and by creating safe spaces for exploration and growth, men can achieve a deeper sense of inner union and become better equipped to navigate the challenges of life.If you loved this episode, leave a review and share it with your friends!To learn more about ISTA, visit our website: https://ista.life/Or follow us on social media: @ista_tribeTo learn more about Aaron, visit his website: https://aaronkleinerman.com/

In this episode, Usha talks with s*x engineer, Elisa Caro. An Apprentice Facilitator with ISTA, Elisa dives into one of her favorite topics: the many different kinds of orgasm that people in femme bodies can experience. Elisa covers some of these juicy and, some may consider, controversial areas of discovery: how femme bodies are wired for pleasurethe importance of breast playthe difference between implosive and explosive orgasmhow you can turn waves of pleasure into states of orgasmhow to access orgasm if you find it difficultprioritizing comfort and pleasureallowing time for arousal to developmentSo much of ISTA's teaching is about coming back to feeling subtle energy as it moves through the body. As Elisa explains, this process of coming back to feeling is a beautiful and profound journey, especially for people in femme bodies. The kinds of orgasm Elisa talks about are: nipple ones (yum)anal ones (lube and slowness, please)vaginal opening ones (lots of nerve endings)g-spot ones (requires preparation)cervical ones (super deep)clitoral ones (glorious)full body ones (the ultimate)Get ready to learn a whole bunch about what your beautiful body can do!

Dos conceptos que suelen encontrarse separados, pero ¿Cuál es la relacion entre ellos?En esta conversación con Luis, KamalaDevi McClure nos habla sobre:El uso del Eros como medicina sagrada, su experiencia como figura poliamorosa, coach y madre, y el potencial del chamanismo para sanar heridas sexuales.El matrimonio Interior, y cómo el cosmos está contenido dentro de cada uno de nosotros.El aprendizaje y estudio del chamanismo.Las experiencias "negativas" en los viajes chamánicos.Contenidos de los niveles 1 y 2 de ISTA.Si te ha gustado este episodio, déjanos una valoración y una reseña. Para conocer más sobre trainings de ISTA o para trabajar con nuestro profesorado, visita www.ista.life , o encuentranos en las redes sociales. FB: ista.life e IG: @ista_tribe

Initiation is an unavoidable part of life. We’re constantly being initiated into new experiences, whether we like it or not. Sometimes we thrive in these experiences, but sometimes they can be traumatic. Sometimes we get stuck in a loop in the process. What a dedicated space for initiation can provide is a way to go through important rites of passage deliberately, powerfully, and with the attentive support of a community…Laura Deva, who is a ISTA + Highden Temple facilitator and psychotherapist, illuminates this on our show. In conversation with Simon, she explores the differences and similarities between therapeutic spaces and spaces of initiation. Some of the topics Laura touches on are: Getting stuck on ‘loop’ when life is giving you an initiationThe importance of resolution and integrationThe power of group processesThe element of surpriseLetting our bodies guide usReaching out for helpIf you like this episode, please leave a rating and review! To find out more about ISTA trainings or to work with our faculty, see www.ista.life, or find us on social, FB: ista.life and IG:@ista_tribe

When ISTA Apprentice Dane Tomas got started in spirituality, his focus was on ascension. "It was 'go up to the higher realms'; it was Buddhism, it was psychedelics, it was meditation, and it was all so wonderful," he says. But he started to realize that, although the people he was hanging out with there "in Rainbow Dolphin Land," were mentally and, maybe, ethereally powerful, "they were all fucking broke and couldn't pay their rent." What he found, through experimenting with his own life, is that the missing piece was integration. The people who knew a lot about money and how to get it were blocked in their sexuality, and the people who were super juicy in their sexuality struggled to make any money. So, Dane started working with people on embodiment, creativity, shadow work, and being unapologetically themselves, creating modalities like The Spiral to make this teaching around manifestation stick. Now, he helps people understand what magic actually is: getting your intention and your reality into alignment. In this episode, hosted by Ria Yoshida, Dane talks about: Beginning as a broke Aussie rapperHating the coaching industryHow to use spiritual techniquesThe nervous system's tolerance for changeNavigating open relatingWhy we get rejectedHow paying your taxes is sexyIf you like this episode, please leave a rating and review! To find out more about ISTA trainings or to work with our faculty, see www.ista.life, or find us on social, FB: ista.life and IG:@ista_tribe