The Gathering Room Podcast

Our culture generally teaches us that anxiety will keep us safe—but really it’s our intuition that does that. In this episode of The Gathering Room—Episode #184: How to Access Intuition When You Really Need It, Martha talks about how to tell the difference between anxiety and intuition and how to hear what your intuition is trying to tell you. There’s something Martha calls the “sense of truth,” which is a feeling of concord, peace, and calm that comes into us when we believe something that feels true at the deepest levels of the self. It’s trusting that whatever we’re believing at that moment is actually real. “It turns out that a lot of the things we are anxious about are not real—not yet,” Martha says. “They’re potential, but they’re not real in this moment.” Unlike fear, which is a rational response to a clear and present danger, anxiety is a chronic, suffering sense of being afraid of things that may not ever happen. Martha says that one of the lies anxiety will always tell you is that only by staying anxious can you be safe—because when you’re not anxious, you’re not alert. However, exactly the opposite is true: People who are anxious can’t stay alert. Real intuition arrives when our anxiety is quiet. So many of us are walking around constantly anxious, thinking we’re alert, thinking we can trust our intuition, when in fact, we’re blotting out our intuition with anxiety.  To access intuition, we have to go into a state of stillness and peace and then listen for the fun—that’s the state of being where your intuition can talk to you. “Your intuition can come in the goofiest, most wonderful ways,” Martha says, “once you realize it’s meant to be a frequency of joy and never a frequency of anxiety.”  To learn more about listening to your intuition and finding its frequency of joy—and to join Martha in her anxiety-relieving Silence, Space, and Stillness meditation—be sure to tune in for the full episode!   CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state of the world right now is unnerving. In this episode of The Gathering Room, she shares how we can start to heal the parts of us that are in pain or despair over the state of things. Martha says that when we experience trauma, shock, fear, or loss, our psyches can split into different parts to help us cope. To heal this loss of integrity or wholeness, we need to unite all the parts of ourselves that are hurting. And we do this by loving them unconditionally. In this episode, Martha walks us through a powerful visualization exercise to help us access our deepest capacity for love, hope, and joy, so we can welcome the suffering parts of ourselves to “be warmed by the fire of love.”  As she describes it, “We have to come together as individuals held by the intelligence of nature, by the consciousness of the universe.” When we can love all the different parts of ourselves, including our sorrow, our fear, our anger, we can love the people around us. And when that happens, vibrant communities begin to form—like Wilder, the “sanctuary for the bewildered” that Martha created with Rowan Mangan. As Martha shares, “Everything I’ve seen online from the people I respect most, whether they’re politically savvy people or psychologists or community organizers, everybody’s saying the same thing: ‘Join something. Connect, connect, connect.’” Shock, overwhelm, fear, and rage are ameliorated as we connect with others who are feeling the same way. And this coming together of the shards of all of us could be what creates the calm beyond the storm. If you’re feeling devastated or uncertain, isolated or afraid, and you want to learn how to let faith, love, and hope guide you to connection and the next right step, don’t miss this reassuring episode of The Gathering Room. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how the right hemisphere of your brain, dubbed 'the magician,' can unleash your creative genius! Learn about the decline of creativity from childhood and the societal pressures that contribute to it. Explore how calmness and curiosity can lead to those 'Eureka' moments. Delve into various educational options for nurturing curiosity in children. Finally, uncover the strength found in overcoming adversity and the vital role of supportive communities in fostering personal resilience.

Discover the transformative power of the heart healer within each of us. Explore how self-reflection and acceptance can pave the way for emotional wellness. Art emerges as a vital tool for navigating heartache, illustrating its cyclical healing nature. The conversation delves into the relationship between individual healing and community wellness, emphasizing collective resilience. Learn about the nuances of grief and emotional acceptance, advocating for compassion towards oneself as a key component in the healing journey.

Discover the humorous side of spirituality as laughter becomes a gateway to prayer. Explore the distinction between spiritual and religious faith, and learn how to harness guiding energies for delightful life surprises. Engage in discussions about non-religious spirituality and the role of meditation in fostering inner peace. Uncover the joys of manifesting with integrity, emphasizing lightness over ego, while sharing personal stories that illustrate the magic of spiritual awareness.

Discover how curiosity can ignite your passion and lead to your life's purpose. The discussion emphasizes the importance of pursuing personal interests over societal expectations. Learn how leisure activities can help unveil your passions and navigate anxiety. There’s a meditative journey to explore the interconnectedness of body and mind, providing insights into finding inner peace. Embrace the idea that fulfillment often springs from rest and creativity, encouraging listeners to follow their curiosity wherever it may lead.

Dive into the liberating idea that you don’t always need to do more to achieve more. Discover how embracing minimalism in creativity and relationships can enhance meaningful connections. Learn about the freedom found in simplicity by prioritizing what truly matters. Navigate the balance between joy and obligation, and explore how aligning with your true self can diminish future anxieties. This enlightening discussion offers practical advice on simplifying life for greater fulfillment and purpose.

Martha, a talented watercolor artist, shares her journey navigating the ups and downs of her craft. She reveals how stepping back and embracing rest led to breakthroughs, allowing her intuition to take over during her creative process. Martha discusses the importance of playful experimentation and personal growth, emphasizing that learning doesn’t always follow a linear path. She also highlights her favorite ways to recharge, including laughter and meditation, reminding us that sometimes, doing less can lead to doing more.

Martha is an advocate for authentic connections and self-discovery. She shares her insights on the joy of bewilderment and the importance of stepping away from societal expectations to embrace our true selves. Discover how technology can foster genuine relationships and build community through her new platform, Wilder. Martha also discusses navigating personal integrity, creativity, and resilience in the face of life's challenges. Join her journey of finding others and savoring the simple joys of life!

There are times when really important things are happening, and we really care about the results. At such times, it’s hard not to get stuck in that awful place between hope and fear.In this episode of The Gathering Room, Martha is talking about how hope and fear are on the same continuum. The moment you get attached to a hope, you’re also afraid it won't happen. And the moment you’re afraid of something happening, you also hope that it won’t.As it says in Martha’s favorite book, the Tao Te Ching, “Hope is as hollow as fear. Whether you go up the ladder or down, your position is shaky. When you stand with your two feet on the ground, you will always keep your balance.”Hope and fear are fundamentally future directed, Martha says, so to get off this shaky ladder and plant your feet on the ground, you must bring yourself to the present moment by practicing mindfulness and equanimity.When we are mindful, we are fully present and aware of our surroundings and sensations, and with equanimity, we can maintain a calm state of mind, regardless of challenges.To hear Martha’s insights on how to step off the shaky ladder, ground yourself in the present moment, and mother yourself during difficult times, don’t miss this encouraging episode, which includes Martha’s guided meditation to connect with peace, compassion, and joy. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.