Episode 020: Tools for a Spiritual Quest
With lisa ciccoli
Along our spiritual journeys, we build our spiritual toolbox with all of the wisdom of our experiences. And, if we're lucky, we can share these learnings with others to support them in their spiritual quests.
On this episode, I speak with Artist, Meditation Coach, and Healer, Lisa Ciccoli about her journey from Catholicism to shamanism, and intuitive healing.
This conversation was chock full of tools to support you on your spiritual journey. From developing intuition, meditation practices, manifestation techniques, and investigating belief systems, Lisa and I share many things that can help you in your own self-discovery. Think of this episode like a spritual toolbox for your journey.
Please join us inside the Path & Purpose Community where we continue the conversation and inspiration!
I invite you to schedule a Soul Purpose Illumination Session© where I will personally support you to gain clarity and momentum on your journey.
Connect with my guest, Lisa Ciccoli:
https://insightandharmony.com/
ig: insightandharmony
fb: Insight & Harmony
e:insightandharmony@gmail.com
Episode Transcript:
Lisa: I feel way more certain now than I have ever in my life. I mean, of course I have moments of uncertainty and what the heck am I doing? I have no idea. But I, I know a way to get back to certainty now by going, going back into meditation and getting into that quiet stillness
Cameron: welcome to the Path and Purpose Podcast, where your journey of self-discovery meets with a collective awakening of humanity. I'm your host, Dr. Cameron Martin. In this exciting time of expansion and growth, we are witnessing a profound shift in consciousness. As spiritually awakening individuals, we are called to embrace our inner wisdom intuition and the deeper knowing that we're meant for more.
As an eternal student of the universe and a spiritual leader, I have dedicated my life to supporting your journey of transformation. Through this podcast, we embark on a shared exploration where you can find [00:01:00] inspiration, insights, and guidance from the stories of others who are walking similar paths, to see your truth reflected in their experiences, and to ignite the confidence to believe in the bigger purpose that awaits you.
This podcast is here to provide inspiration, insights, and guidance so that the path to living your soul's purpose becomes less of a mystery and more of a discovery.
Humanity's Ascension is calling for courageous souls like yours. Together we rise, aligning with our higher selves and embracing our divine nature. Get ready to be inspired, encouraged and reminded of the magnificent being that you are. Join me for this episode of the podcast where we will explore the many paths to living our soul's purpose.
I'm here today with Lisa [00:02:00] Ciccoli. Lisa is an artist meditation coach and healer who uses art sound and her intuitive abilities to reconnect people with their heart center. She has a background in music, art, and energy work with over 25 years of experience. Her energy work is a unique combination of readings.
And healings that specialize in helping her clients reconnect with their joyful open heart. Welcome, Lisa.
Track 1: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here.
Cameron: So excited to connect with you today. Actually, Lisa and I have had many conversations before and I've been on her podcast, so this is kind of fun to reciprocate and play on this side.
Track 1: I agree, I we could talk for hours, so I'll try to keep it brief.
Cameron: The boundaries of living our purpose, of course. But, um,
Track 1: right?
Cameron: I'd like to start with just the same question I ask everyone in the beginning, which really what marked the beginning of your spiritual.
Track 1: Yeah, [00:03:00] great question. I love that you sent them before so I could prepare, but this one was an easy one. . So, um, I was raised, uh, Catholic. And, um, I just, growing up in that environment, I just always felt like something was missing. You know, it was sort of like, this isn't quite resonating with me, something's missing.
And then it was in my early twenties, a friend of mine said, Hey Lisa, you should get a reading with this, uh, native American shaman that lived not far from where I did. And I was like, okay, sure. Um, her name is Eagle Skyfire and she was amazing. So I had my first reading, I don't even remember, 20 something and. It was just a profound experience. It really opened me up to a myriad of possibilities of where my spirituality could go. And I actually ended up, um, asking her if I could learn from her. And I studied with her for about a year and did my, um, vision quest with her. And [00:04:00] yeah, it was great. Amazing. And that sort of was the trajectory that, you know, quit me on the path where I am today.
Cameron: Hmm. Can you describe what a vision quest is? 'cause I have not had anybody talk about this yet on the show.
Track 1: Oh, sure. Yeah. Sure, sure, sure. So you, um, when you're in shamanic training, you, well, at least with, um, Eagle Sky Fire, she has, you learn with her for a year. So you're with her for a full year learning, um, the traditions. Running ceremonies, things like that. And then at the end of the year, you go on a vision quest and that's sort of, um, it's time on your own to really dig deep into evaluating everything you've learned.
You know, getting closer to spirit and getting messages from spirit about like your next step and where you wanna go, where you should go, things like that. So it was. Four days. So funny. It was four days out in the wilderness. , so it was me, my tent and some water and clothing and that was it. And there was four of us that actually were in [00:05:00] training together and we all sort of walked away from the center, um, point and we picked our own . Place, uh, far away from the center. Not that far, but you know, far enough.
And then we just, were there in nature. Um, experiencing all the experiences that you do when you're not eating for four days. And you know, Oh, . I'm just drinking water. I had a lot of dreams about, um, sugar, corn pops, when I was out in my fishing quest. That's what I missed. um, . But it was really, for me, that whole experience was um, A deep dive into my fears, you know, like what are the things that scare me? And that was, um, quite, uh, an experience and being able to [00:06:00] see that I could survive them. Um, and that when I always felt the whole time I was there, I always felt like Mother Earth was right there with me, like holding my hand, like right there.
Like, I'm here, I got you. We got this. You know? And so one of my biggest fears was. Oh my God. If I see spirit with my physical eyeballs, you know, like a ghost walking up or something like that, or Spirit walking up to my camp, I think I'm gonna lose my boop . That was one of my fears. And um, I never saw Spirit, but I heard spirit like in the distance we were allowed to have our drums.
With us. So we would drum, a lot of us would drum, like when we were like feeling an angsty and stuff like that. And so I would drum and then I would hear a response in the distance when I stopped and I was like, Oh, . Something is over there. Um, but yeah, so there was one night, I can't [00:07:00] remember what night it was, and I was just in utter fear because I could hear it, you know, I'm like, oh my gosh, beard is here, beard is here.
And that I just said, you gotta face this, Lucy. You gotta face this. So I actually went out of my tent. 'cause of course I was in my sleeping bag, you know, with my head under under my sleeping bag. And I said, no, no, no, I'm gonna face it. So I. Got outta my tent and I was outside and I just remember like laying on the earth going, okay, you got me right Mother Earth, you got me right?
And she said, yep, I got you. And then I just laid there and eventually I just fell asleep. And then I woke up the next morning and it was, you know, beautiful day in the morning. So it really was lot of fear facing and. Figuring out what my next step was, spiritual pathwise, which was not actually not continue on as a it with my Shamanic training any further.
It was to explore other things, which also led to my move to California. So[00:08:00]
Cameron: Okay, well, we'll get there in just a second. But, um, yeah, what you speak about as a, as an experience, I had a similar experience. I mean like very different, like the kindergarten version of that experience. , um, in one of my retreats, uh, in Mexico while I was traveling just like a month ago, a few weeks ago, and we did like, we knew it was a mini vision quest of sorts where we were, uh, like we went out in nature.
Not for very long. It was like less than an hour. So nowhere near the experience probably that you had and it was daytime . But um, with the intent of going out to just connect with nature. And for me, I really wanted, I. to know about purpose. You know what? What does this, I mean, I have this conversation about purpose all the time.
I live, sleep, eat, and breathe it. So I was like, okay, what do I need to know about [00:09:00] purpose from nature and from Gaia? And my goodness. So many things like came, it was like I saw this tree and that bird and all the lessons that came through was like, I ended up writing down, I think a list of 15. If I knew that we were gonna have this conversation today, I'd have them present.
But I.
Anyway, uh, and it was just really profound. Like so much happened in such a short period when I connected and realized, oh wait, nature is loud out here actually, and there's everything you need to know about existence. You can. Learn from nature. Why? Because we are nature, and unfortunately, we have lots of fears and things like that because we divorce ourselves, we separate ourselves from nature.
And in most human beings, we live in this world where we don't even go outside for goodness sake. And we're very much in the mind and in the mental space. We're not even in the physical body. So when we go out in nature, we're experiencing all kinds of fears, which is [00:10:00] really just a fear of our own net.
Nature , our own
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: our own traumas, et cetera. Anyway, so I think this experience is super powerful. Um, and you hear about vision quest or things like this inside many spiritual traditions. I mean, you talk about Jesus going into the desert for 40 days, whether that was 40 days or not. Um.
Track 1: Right.
Cameron: We, it doesn't really matter, but we, there's a significance to the number 40.
But did he actually do it for that long? Who knows? Doesn't matter. And many other spiritual, uh, teachers have done the same thing. And so the experience of abstaining from food, so fasting, right. And then I imagine when you're literally feeding off of the energetics of nature, you hear, you see, you feel, you know, yeah.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm. Yeah, it was, um, I totally agree with you. I just, I all, my most profound [00:11:00] aha moments were somehow related to an experience in nature or celebrating nature of some oh, in some way or things like that. Um, I totally agree with you. There's a power in nature that you just cannot get anywhere else. In a book.
You can't get it on tv. You can't get it like you have to be in it. And like just the bird sound and the wind sound and the water and yeah, I got visit, I was visited by a, you know creatures, you know, like porcupine just walked through my camp and I was like, wow, I've never seen one of those before. . And I know in the wild.
So there's some amazing . Gifts that nature can give you. If you take the time to be out there and to listen, like you said, you really, you need to listen. 'cause there's nature has a lot to tell you,
Cameron: Yeah, when I was in Mexico, I was spending time in Tulum, Playa del Carmen in um, Cancun. So that whole area of the Riviera, Maya's jungle, [00:12:00] there's all kinds of, you know, life there. And one day I was at lunch, and I only realized this like this week, but one day at lunch there was an iguana that was hanging around and like real close, I was kinda like, and he was hanging around the table and.
Um, at one point he actually, I say he, I don't know, maybe it was a female, but I don't think so. Didn't feel like that to me. Um, anyway, he stepped on my foot. And I freaked out because from under the table I'm like, oh my God. And I even said that, and the ta, the restaurant people are just staring at me.
There's this little boy at the table next to me. I, uh, igan, uh, Igan, uh, and I was like, yes, yes, little boy. I know this. That's what just touched me. And he kind of scurried a little bit. But I realized later I had been actively working with Dragon Energy for
Track 1: Mm
Cameron: of the summer in my own personal transformation.
And [00:13:00] I realized like just a couple days ago, like there was a dragon that touched me.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Yeah.
Cameron: And I kind of freaked out because I, you know, wasn't fully aware. Um. But it's interesting my time in, in Mexico in particular, definitely I was with shamans and I did a temescal, which was a, it's like a, uh, sauna, uh,
Track 1: mm-Hmm.
Cameron: experience.
Sauna sounds really relaxing.
Track 1: Is it like a sweat,
Cameron: a sweat lodge. Thank you. Yeah, and it's like intense. I know.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm. Oh no. totally different. Yeah.
Cameron: Listening and connecting with these elders who really understood not only our connection to nature of course, but to ancestors as well. Really, really
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: So I love that, that really for you is the beginning of your journey. Um, 'cause mine definitely didn't have anything to do with nature that I'm aware of.[00:14:00]
So, okay. You left this experience and basically you received clarity on where your journey was taking you next, which was where.
Track 1: Yeah. Well, not right away. Well, the only thing I knew was that I wasn't gonna go, uh, continue on with my shamanic training. You know, like I was like, I, I'm not gonna be a, you know, a Native American tradition keeper, even though it was, you know, it was an honor to be chosen to be able to learn these things, but it just wasn't quite the right path for me. Um, but the. The information was incredible and I just, I also felt like I was completing some karma as well. Like as I left, I was like, Nope, I'm, I'm done. Um, in a really nice way was sort of like moving on. And then I would say probably not even a year later, um. I was working and they were opening a location out in California and I said, I'd like to move
And so we did, and [00:15:00] I. My husband and I traveled out here and set up shop in California, and about six months into moving here I found a wonderful center called Intuitive Way, and it was an intuitive training center and I spent a good long time, about seven years there, learning all the things that I could possibly learn at Intuitive Way. That was a step two. Chapter two,
my well, actually it's chapter three. Catholicism was one, shamanism was two. Intuitive training was three.
Cameron: I guess, could you expand a little bit more on the spiritual modalities, the techniques, the tools that were helpful for you along the way? Obviously your shamanistic experiences as I'm saying this, a black cat is walking by my window, , whatever, that's a symbol of,
But what tools, techniques, um, healing modalities, these kinds of things have been really [00:16:00] important to you or have attracted you along your own journey?
Track 1: Um, well, we talked about being connected to nature. That was, that's like a big, big, big one for me. Um, the other thing are the tools that I learned at an intuitive way, and it was, um, I. You know, I've always sort of kind of meditated, sort of, kind of, but not. Really like, you know, you think when you're meditating you're like, I just have to sit here and quiet my mind and like, I should have no thoughts going through my mind whatsoever.
And that's a good meditation, right? . And so of course I know, right? So I try that. It didn't work. I gave it up, forget it. But when I went to Intuitive Way, it was sort of a, a. Different approach to meditating of going, well hey, you know, you can use visualization to help move energy and um, bring in energy.
So it's not a passive thing. Meditation doesn't have to be a passive thing. So there were some tools I learned at Intuitive Way that are so helpful. One is grounding. So it was really visualizing [00:17:00] that first chakra connecting into the center of the earth and releasing. So it really helps your body release all the 'cause you, you're constantly absorbing energy all the time.
and you can't hold it all like, well, I mean you could try , but it doesn't . It's not very good . Yeah, you'll get sick or super stressed out or anxious or whatever it is. So using a tool like Grounding is a wonderful visualizations release. Okay, I'm gonna let go. I'm gonna take this moment and just let go.
And that's the number one tool that I teach everybody, um, when I work with them is, is that tool. 'cause it is really the most powerful tool that I've found to help people sort of step into a meditative state, into a healing state or anything like that. Um. Also using visualization. So I know a lot of people do do visualizations and meditations, and it's sort of like, you know, bring in a golden sun or like a golden light and see it surrounding your body and things like that.
So [00:18:00] tools, um, and I really believe in there's a balance when you're doing energy work, right? So you're removing, you're letting go and you're also bringing in, so you, if you just do one without the other. , it doesn't quite work. So if you're constantly just bringing in, bringing in, bringing in, and you don't let go, you run outta room and there's, you can't quite fit in it.
Or if you're letting go, letting go, letting go, letting go. And there you're not putting intention what you wanna bring in. You're just gonna sort of fill it up with what you just let go, because you're not putting that intention out there of saying, okay, I'm removing this, but I wanna bring this in to replace the thing.
Uh, so those, that has been big lessons for me on how to shift energetically and, um, mindset wise. It also works with belief systems, right? So if you. We're all programmed with belief systems through our entire [00:19:00] life. You know, it starts very early as a kid, you know, to keep us safe. You know, like, don't touch the hot stove , you know, and that's good programming, , but there's other things that you sort of accumulate along the way that maybe isn't the best thing for you.
And when you're a kid, you just absorb it all, absorb it all, absorb it all. Um, but as you get older, it's time to evaluate and go. Was that, is that belief system ? Current for me. Is it working for me? Is it true to my heart? And if it's not, then you let go. But then you have to say, well, what is, what do I wanna bring in instead of that?
So I'm releasing this belief system, but I'm bringing in this belief system. Um, and I love what you said. Yeah. I love what you said this morning about, or not this morning, but at the beginning of our conversation. You're talking about all of these technical problems. Right. And I got mad, but then I said, no or you said no.
He said, I'm gonna bring love to this. Right. So you let go of the anger and frustration, you said, no, I'm gonna replace it with love and I'm gonna just [00:20:00] deal with it. with love.
Cameron: Yeah, but you bring
up a super important point, um, that I actually wrote about in my email this week. So we're recording around the or right after the. Eclipse in Taurus. The lunar eclipse was this past weekend. I don't know when you're listening, but doesn't really matter 'cause the message is eternal here.
It eclipses are times or periods, but there's a lot of energy, a lot of potent energy. And it eclipses in particular, are really beautiful times for releasing, for letting go, for seeing old patterns. But, and this is exactly what I wrote about in today's email. It is also a time for manifesting and getting really clear about what you want, because as you said, we are energetic beings.
When we let go and we don't bring in something intentionally, we will attract probably more of the same thing that we just let go, but we create a void or create a vacuum and it doesn't [00:21:00] work that way. So we have to be intentional. So either when you're setting intentions for manifesting. Or letting go, releasing.
They're one in the same, or rather, both processes need to happen. Um, maybe not exactly at the same moment, but pretty darn close to one another, right? So, yes, I'm letting go of this, but I'm calling in this, so I'm letting go of this old pattern or this anger with this person or this frustration with, you know. Whatever it might be with this project or with me today and letting go of this anger and this frustration with technology. 'cause it's been a real interesting, uh, morning. Um, and I'm calling in this instead. So, you know, we hear a lot about in
spiritual communities, let go release, let go cry, I'm
all this kind of stuff.
And that's definitely important in your healing process. But equally as important as you're saying is what are you drawing in, what are you calling towards you?
Um.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: I was actually thinking today about the whole, [00:22:00] um, what would I, how would I describe this? The shadow work addict, spiritual
community. People are always healing,
who are always having huge feelings, who are always processing the collective.
And by the way, I don't mean to be judging or sound judgmental, but These are things that you hear sometimes that feel a little bit like ungrounded inside of the spiritual community. Now, mind you. I've been doing inner work for years and this journey that I just went across the world, I am now moving through some huge, huge, huge shifts, but we can get really addicted to needing to heal, feeling shadow work, having emotional release, letting go, and it can feel like, oh my God, why am I doing this all the time?
Well, perhaps if you're not being clear about what you are calling in, you haven't
actually let go. Or you may have,
but you attracted something very similar in its place.
Track 1: right. Yeah. I had a huge [00:23:00] aha moment about this in a couple years ago where I realized. Because I was always like, okay, I gotta fix it, right? So there's an energy that I don't like in my space. I'm gonna fix it, I'm gonna remove it, I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do that. And I was like constantly like looking, looking, looking, digging, digging, digging.
Um, and there's a term at intuitive ways called blowing a picture, right? So you visualize the thing you wanna remove, blow it up, release it, let it go. And I had this moment where I was like, I could blow up pictures for eternity and it will never be gone. Unless , I start figuring out what do I want in place of it.
You know, it was sort of like the pile will never, it's like Sisyphus, like pushing the boulder up the mountain. It's always gonna roll down and you're gonna have to roll it up again, and then it's gonna roll down, roll up again. If you don't balance it out with what do I want? Where do I wanna go? What, what, what is the thing I wanna become?
Or go towards and, um, honestly, Cameron, [00:24:00] you are, you are part of my chapters because when I met you , you recommended Jesus: My Autobiography and that. Opened up a whole new chapter of learning for me because it led me to the Course in Miracles, which talks a lot about like who, who you truly are.
And you are not a being of pain and suffering. You are a being of love and light, and that is who you truly are. So, um, start working that way.
Cameron: maybe you have, uh, for sharing that, by the way. Yeah, that book was transformative
for me too. And, um, I've had guests on the show speak about, um, what did you just say? Why did I blank on this? Course
of miracles
Thank you. Talk about Course of Miracles before. Um, guys, this is a, this is real. This show is real.
It's my own [00:25:00] processing here. Um, I'm curious what maybe opinions or thoughts you have about, um. As I share this about energy work, look, we can actually release lifetimes of trauma, familial patterns, all kinds of things in an instant, because we are light
beings, we can literally
let go of something in an instant. But as related to what you were saying, calling something in it requires a choice. To do
something else or to call something else in its place, right? So, yes, I can release the trauma of my childhood, but if I, and in that moment I get to choose, what I'm saying is, I don't want this anymore. This isn't a program that helps me or serves me anymore. I'm willing to let this go and in its place, I'm gonna do this instead. So instead of judgment.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: Anger at my parents. I'm choosing to see them in the light of the creator, right? Um, [00:26:00] I'm choosing to see them in love and without judgment.
If we don't do these two things right in any sort of energy healing, whether it be, uh, reiki, whether it be any
sort of intuitive session or just your own journaling, letting go on a full moon or something, um, it's the choice. For what's next. That's super important,
Track 1: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely agree with you.
Cameron: which is why I think it's really important to learn how to heal yourself, because you're always healing yourself when you're giving your
power away over to energy healers all the time. Oh my God, my chakras are outta balance. They're outta balance. Yeah, they're outta balance all the time. Because you live in a world you know,
you see a movie and all of a sudden
your heart hurts.
And now the heart chakra.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: a different state or something. You know, people are addicted to, I got, oh my, my chakras are blocked, and this and that. It's like, well, yes, and you
can work on that all the time.
Track 1: [00:27:00] Yeah. That's my approach with my healing work and my readings is like, I'm not doing it for you. Wait. We're doing this together, right? So I am seeing an energy or helping you, and I'm telling you of an energy, but you are the one who's making the choice whether to move it or not. this was a big aha moment for me too.
'cause in the beginning I was like, I'll do it for you. I'll do, I'll fix it, I'll fix it, I'll fix it. You know, I love to fix things. I'm a problem solver, you know, and as I kept learning and growing, I realized that I am mechanically like energetic mechanics. I, I, I'm just making up that word. Like I cannot mechanically do it for the person.
Like, I could sit there and visualize. Like say, I see there's this really heavy purple energy in your heart chakra and I'm gonna move it out like me, Lisa gonna move this person's, I, I really can't, like what I'm doing with my client is saying energetically, Hey, I see this energy in your heart chakra. You [00:28:00] need to move it.
I can help you move it, but I can't. Do it for you. So the like verbalizing it and vis helping the other person visualize it, helps them see it and then helps them go, okay, I'd like to move that and get it out of here and bring
Cameron: Well, and understanding that
we are beings of free will always. And so
when healers, uh, overstep that, uh,
this is not only, I mean, it's an issue, of course it can like. Hmm. You know, it, it does impact people. Energy work is legit, but it also violates universal law. So
I've heard of healers who have cut cords for people or have done this or done that.
It's like, yo, bro, did you ask? And, um,
Track 1: Yeah. That's, yes.
Cameron: a little PSA for anybody out there, you are your own healer. Sometimes we do need
assistance of people or from people
who can help us. I have seen many healers along the way. [00:29:00] But I will say this, A healer, a true healer, will always honor your free will and ask you.
They
won't just do things for you on your, or on your behalf and say, oh, this is clear. Boom, boom, boom. You've got to be a participant in that experience. I mean,
Jesus himself, well known healer. Um, not everybody stayed healed.
Why? Well, maybe they didn't believe they didn't want it. They didn't accept it, because guess what?
A lot of people actually want to be sick. There's a lot of people in the world who
actually want to be a victim. I know this might sound surprising, but
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: it, the world, you can see this. There's a lot of people who actually do not want help because they're used to being in a particular mode or being in a particular role.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: And if you work to
shift something, this can change not only the trajectory of their life, but it can impact karma as well. So for all of you
energy workers out there, hopefully you understand this, but for any of you who are [00:30:00] seeking the help of, uh,
different energy workers too along your journey, make sure they're honoring your free will.
Always 'cause
it, your, your choice, your energy, your intention is going to, I mean, it's everything.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm. . Absolutely.
Cameron: So, okay. Can you tell me about a time where maybe you just felt really, really connected with your higher self, or even your mission, or you're like, oh yeah, boom.
Track 1: Yeah, I, um, let's see, what is my, my favorite moment when we moved to California? There is a place down south of where I am, east, southeast of where I am, um, called Bishop California and it's a high desert plateau. And when the first time I visited there, we hiked up among the rocks and we're sitting there and there was this incredible, uh, [00:31:00] stillness that I felt while I was sitting there.
And I was like, wow, this is really profound. Like, I've never experienced this anywhere else in my, in my entire life. Like this is something, you know, and I didn't know what it was at the time. This is when we first moved here over 20 years ago, right? And I was like, wow. Amazing. Amazing. Um, but you know, when I when I, as I'm learning along the way, you're always evolving, right?
And learning and growing and wisdom. And I realized that was it. That was my connection to my higher self when I'm in meditation. You know, sitting on my sofa, meditating, you know, and I can get to that spot where I have that quiet stillness. It's just this incredible peacefulness that sits in your heart and you, your mind is not worried about paying the rent or want what's on tv or like, I gotta go to the grocery store or anything.
It's, that's all gone, right? And it's just this moment of quiet stillness and I'm like, that's me. Wow, that's me, . And you know, I can't say [00:32:00] I sit there for hours and that's me. You know, I don't, because you know, I do have to, you know, go to the grocery store and pay the bills and you know, do all that stuff.
But , I have noticed that. The more times I can visit, you know, revisit that moment and re-go, go back and go, okay, I'm gonna check in and I'm gonna sit with me. And if it's five minutes or 15 minutes or 20 minutes, it the level of certainty that I can, um, I. Have in the life when I'm not in those moments is much stronger.
Like, I feel way more certain now than I have ever in my life. I mean, of course I have moments of uncertainty and what the heck am I doing? I have no idea. But I, I know a way to get back to certainty now by going, going back into meditation and getting into that quiet stillness.
Um,
Cameron: I asked this
question about connection with your higher self because I think it is vital for living your purpose [00:33:00]
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: You know, I think the way you described it is this stillness and the connection with the heart I think is really beautiful. I often, we try to use words to get people to understand this, but I often talk about being the observer or the watcher of
noticing just your internal
experience, thoughts or not,
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: then viscerally feeling this I am presence. This just like.
Oh, that's, that's what I am not even who, like
Track 1: Mm-Hmm. . Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: is just this presence, this energy, this state of being really, and again, these words are barely touching the experience I'm trying to describe, but. The
point is, unless we are able to cultivate, have an experience like this and cultivate that experience, we can't live our soul's purpose because [00:34:00] we won't receive guidance appropriately from our own inner well, from our higher self.
Really, and you described it really beautifully, that even when you're not in moments of this, 'cause you're not doing it all the time. Me either. You gotta
function. I drive a car, I know my Tesla.
Track 1: Right. ? Yes.
Cameron: Anyway. But even so knowing like yeah, that presence, that ever presence, that just sense of who I be is always there. I can go
back to it when we know that
and I can talk about this and for those of you who are listening are like, yeah, I felt that I know this. And there are others who said I, I don't know what he's actually talking about 'cause I haven't
experienced that yet. This is not a mental experience. It is not something that you can think into being. It is only something that you can experience viscerally in your body. You know, very similar, I would say to like, when you're in awe of [00:35:00] something beautiful when
you are, you know, maybe on, uh, the mountaintop or on the plateau or in nature,
and we just feel this. Oh, okay. And there's a presence there that's you and that's your
higher self. And, um. Thank you for describing it the way you did. 'cause hopefully it is helpful for those listening. But if you haven't had
that experience yet, not to fret it is part, I mean, it's within your beingness to
do it. Um,
and find the ways that work, meditation, I mean, that's key. And another thing I
like to teach people is that meditation is not about doing it isn't about emptying your mind. Good luck trying to do nothing by doing something. Like, you can't take your mind
and dump it out like trash. This is not, it doesn't work
like that. Um, because actually your thoughts are not your own.
You are AN antenna, downloading and receiving thoughts all the time.
So if you think you can empty it, good luck. You can't necessarily, but. [00:36:00] You can relate to your mind differently. You can relate to the
total essence of your being differently. I talk about meditation as hanging out with yourself, hanging out with your higher self. Can you sit on a couch
next to a best friend and say nothing and still love their presence? Yeah. Well, that's pretty much what's
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: when you're in a state. Meditation like this. Um,
Track 1: Yeah.
Cameron: for those of you who maybe, you know, I don't meditate so much, but maybe I pray fine. I remember,
I remember years ago I actually went to a priest and I was like, I think something's wrong.
He's like, why? I said, because I'm praying, but I'm not asking for anything. I'm not even having a conversation. I'm just like hanging out with God. I'm just chilling there. Like nothing's, nothing's really happening. I'm just like, enjoying. You know
the language I had at the time, his presence. And he looked at me and he goes, well, that's the highest form of prayer. And what I
realized is [00:37:00] this is also the highest form of meditation. And this is what it feels like to be
in alignment, to be connected with one's higher self, God source,
universe,
cosmos, whatever you want to call it. It doesn't really matter,
but that connection. Is really necessary if we want to be living our soul's purpose. It's one thing to be done here
trying to achieve. It's another thing altogether to be really tapped in and knowing why you're here and enacting that on the earth. And the only way you can do it is if you have this connection and you know how to sustain it.
Track 1: Yeah, I agree. And, um, a tip for the listeners too. I think one of the biggest, um, well, having that experience in nature was really profound for me of sort of starting to get it. But another thing that I, um, I learned is that your mind. Like we're so used to, I call it the surface mind. You know, the mind that thinks and drives the car and does the groceries and do all the things.
But there is a part of your mind that is much, much deeper [00:38:00] and you could say higher. Higher mind. Deeper mind. I like deeper. 'cause you're going within further. Um, and that there's a deeper part of your mind. And that is the part that I'm talking about when I talk about that quiet stillness like that. So sometimes, um, you know, words can help.
So if you, if you're find yourself meditating, go, like, I would like to experience my deeper mind and see what happens. You know, maybe, maybe that those, that is a, a key phrase that can help you get there. You know, there's always, there's something, there's a trigger that you're gonna find
Cameron: I.
Track 1: wherever
it is,
Cameron: gonna shift in my teaching because, um, it's another paradox. Spiritual spirituality is full of paradox 'cause our whole existence is
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: But yeah, when we're connecting with our higher self, yeah, you actually have to go deeper in order to do it
Track 1: Mm-Hmm. .
Cameron: So there's another
that I love it.
Um, thank you.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm. . You're welcome. . [00:39:00] Good. I liked it
Cameron: Yeah, but it's true. Um, so do you think then that you've discovered your soul's purpose?
Track 1: My first answer is yes, but
and then I said, all right, Lisa, what do you mean by yes, but, and, um, I feel like I am an ever evolving being, right? I don't feel like. Let me, let me say it differently. Maybe it's programming, right? So as you're, as a kid, you're told, what do you wanna do with your life? What, what's your career? Whatcha you gonna do?
What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? And there's all this pressure to figure it out. Like, oh my God, I'm gonna be an artist. That's what I am. You know? And I went to school for art and, and I said, that's what I'm gonna be. So there's this programming in my mind that says, if you're aligned with your purpose, it has to be like one thing, , the one thing.
And as I've . Early in my journey, spiritual journey, I've [00:40:00] always tried to find that one thing and then I was like, yes, this is it. And then something would come along and totally pull the rug out from under me and I'd be like, okay, that's not the thing. . So then I let go and I said, okay, it's not one thing.
I'm just gonna follow this path. And I, so at the core essence, I would say my purpose is. Knowing who I truly am and sharing that process with others so they can find and learn who they truly are. That re that is my purpose and what shape that takes and what form it takes and how it sort of manifests in the world changes I learn and I grow, um, in, in my own spiritual journey.
So that's the but
Cameron: I love it and yeah, for sure. I mean, similarly we have very similar missions for sure.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: and what it will look like always has changed because
I am growing and the world is changing and all that kind of thing. [00:41:00] This is why I even
have this podcast, ' cause I talk to people all the time about Purpose and what it looks like, and it's not the easiest. Again, we're gonna fall into the space of another paradox. It's not the easiest thing necessarily to do, but humans over complicate it. It's actually the most
natural thing to do.
Track 1: Yeah.
Cameron: live our
purpose, but it is, we
overcomplicate it. So there's your paradox for the day, right? Our purpose in living, our purpose is actually the most natural thing for us to be doing,
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: it isn't the easiest because of all kind, because we live on planet Earth. let's put it.
Track 1: Yeah. Yeah. . Yes. Yeah. There's a lot of conditioning down here that you gotta get past
Cameron: Yeah, for real. So I guess, what do you think are some of the biggest barriers? I mean, you said conditioning here, but what do [00:42:00] you think are some of the biggest
barriers for people then when it comes to living their purpose?
Track 1: Yeah. It's, I really think it's, it's conditioning, it's belief systems and not looking at them. Because for years, you know, I just was like, okay, this is how I was raised. This is what I'm supposed to do. And then I was like, why am I so unhappy? ? And then as you know, I start going down my road and learning the things that I've learned.
I realized, wow, you really need to, at multiple times in your life, really evaluate what belief system am I functioning from? Um, and do I want that ? You know, I'll give you a prime example. Like for me, . Um, my entire family is very, um, money fearful, like fear of money and money running out and all scarcity and all that stuff was just like drilled into all of us day one , [00:43:00] you know?
And so, you know, very early on I realized I don't want that. Beliefs like that is a, that is a system like it took me a while to realize it is a belief system, right? That is, yes, there was some experience had, but it was perpetuated by this belief system over and over and over and over, and passed down.
And so I said, no, , I don't want that. You know, I wanna be more aligned with abundance. So I . Said, okay, so you set that intention, right? So I'm setting the intention. I'd like to change my belief system around money, and then multiple things would show up for me, you know, like a workshop or a blog or anything to give me another way of looking at it.
You could look at it like this or like this, or like this or like this. You don't have to look at it like that. Um, and then, then you start integrating those ideas and reforming the belief systems that you have, that I have about money and it, that is an example, right? [00:44:00] So, but we should do that all the time with career, right?
Like, so my beliefs about who I am at my job. Is that what I want? You know, like I'm always like, I gotta, I gotta be the problem solver. I have to fix everything. I have to be of service, I have to do, do, do, do, do. And maybe I don't have to do, do, do, do everything
Cameron: Yeah.
I mean, it is not an exaggeration. Your entire
reality is created by your belief systems. What you think creates an energetic frequency, and this is the the miracle, the joy, whatever, of being a human. What you think creates an energetic frequency that will project. Outward into the external and you'll attract it to you, period. It's how it works. You know, we talk about the law of attraction and manifesting and all these sorts of things, which you can find online in tons of teachers, but it ultimately comes down to your belief system, period. 'cause that's how this begins
and is where it begins from An energetic signature, a thought. [00:45:00] Um, technically if I want to back this up, the Bible even speaks about like the word There was nothing and then
God spoke a word, had a thought.
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: fleshed,
it became materialized. You're not talking about whatever. I don't need to go into the religious aspect of it, but it is thought that then creates
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: physical reality and so. Uh, you're gonna need to investigate your thoughts and your beliefs,
uh, thoughts that perseverate or that persevere over time. Create belief systems. So if you think something long enough,
you're gonna believe it. And a lot of times our belief systems are inherited by ancestors, by our societies, et cetera. One of the belief systems that I'm really, I have to work with, that my whole family inherited. You said lack and scarcity for me and my family. It's abandonment.
Track 1: Mm.
mm-Hmm.
Cameron: some level, this, this,
and various ways, [00:46:00] but this belief that maybe we're not lovable and we're gonna be alone and whatever, and
we all have this at various
levels and in order to really follow our path and on the spiritual journey, you're gonna have to at some point if you wanna shift your life, I. Truly examine your belief systems. And most humans are not doing this. They believe. They just
think things are, and they take on other people's beliefs and society's beliefs and what the news says and all this stuff without questioning. But if you want to shift something, and so here's the free exercise for you.
Anybody listening, there's an area of life where you would like to manifest something differently and sit down with a journal or a piece of paper and ask yourself, what do I believe about this?
Track 1: Mm-Hmm.
Cameron: Because
what you believe is creating what happens and you can shift and change your beliefs. Uh, why is it that cultures around the world different people behave and think and act in different ways? Uh, I'll be more concrete here. We talk [00:47:00] about India, for example, where there is a pervasive belief in the importance of arranged marriages. They believe many things about that, that a successful marriage is better or more likely if your parents pick it for you or you know, whatever. There's many beliefs on top of that system, but in the United States, if you're not like Indian American, we'll say, um. You probably don't believe that and you probably
wouldn't want your parents picking your husband or your wife or you, and you would probably think that this
is ridiculous or crazy, and it's not though. But these two realities are formed by fundamental belief systems. Personally, I actually believe there's a lot of beauty in in that in different practices in India, but. My heart is definitely like partially Indian so. It's your belief system that creates everything. So if you [00:48:00] want to shift
something because something in your life isn't really working for you or you don't like it anymore, you get to choose a different belief system. But you first have to get very honest and reflective, what do
I believe about this thing? What do I believe about work? What do I believe about entrepreneurs? What do I believe about money? Guess what? Lots of people on planet
Earth believe that money is greedy and evil and dirty,
and I can't make a lot of money and be. Um, doing good for the planet. Well, let me tell you what, one thing, rich, wealthy people who are controlling much of our society, they don't carry those beliefs at all,
Track 1: Yeah.
Cameron: That's why they've got money
in their pockets or their bank accounts. They don't believe those things. Um,
Track 1: right?
Cameron: anyway, really, really powerful lesson
here for all of us on our on.
I just wanna ask you, what do you think that it means to live with purpose?
Track 1: For me it's living. Um, and you [00:49:00] described it when you just talked about me in the very beginning. It's living with a loving heart, that open, loving heart. When you do that, you're aligned with your deeper self. That's my experience. And you just, there was this one line in the Course of miracles that has just completely shifted my brain.
It's like God wants you to be happy and joyful. God does not want you to suffer, and when you live your purpose, you don't suffer. Right. You are living with that. Open loving heart every day and experiencing the world that way every day. And I, you know, I wish I could say I'm in that moment, like all the time, but I'm not yet yet
But living, you'll know when you're living your purpose, when you feel like that, when you have that joy and that love in your heart, and every
Cameron: Hmm. I love it. Well, thank you so much, Lisa, for connecting with me today, sharing this conversation.
[00:50:00] I loved it.
Track 1: Yeah, me too.
Cameron: those of you who are interested in connecting with Lisa or her work finding out more or learning about her podcast, you can check out the links in the show notes below.
Earlier in the episode, I spoke with Lisa about a vision quest journey, and I mentioned. My recent VisionQuest of sorts in Mexico. And the lessons that I learned. I mentioned this when I was talking to her, but I pulled out the lessons to share with you. So when I went on my little vision quest one afternoon to. The jungle. Um, these were the lessons that. Gaia mother nature gave to me.
The first, the journey is easier with the right tools.
Number two, it's important to regroup some times. Number three. He will know when you are not welcomed somewhere. Number four, take time to enjoy the music. Number five, [00:51:00] there will be friends along the way. Number six, if it comes easily, it's meant for you. Number seven, who can be soft and strong. Number eight.
Don't take what? Isn't yours. Number nine. Sometimes we're naive when we begin. 10 discomfort is okay, but it isn't always necessary. It can just slow you down. Number 11, there is beauty along the way. And number 12, he'll be startled or scared sometimes come back and regulate your nervous system before moving on. These were the lessons that I received when I was walking through the forest that day. Uh, and if you haven't done a vision quest, maybe like Lisa was talking about. You don't have to go spend four days in the woods, but you could spend an hour this afternoon. Um, going into nature and just open yourself up and see what lessons nature has in store for you.
My mission on this planet is to support spiritually [00:52:00] awakening humans in discovering their soul's purpose. And I know that if you're listening to this episode, discovering your purpose matters to you too. And I also know that sometimes it can feel like the spiritual journey is never ending, and that our purpose is some far off thing, but there's no need to waste precious time living without clarity and alignment.
Living with purpose can start right now. So if you're struggling to figure out what your purpose is, and as a result you're feeling frustrated, uncertain, or maybe even a little lost, then I invite you to stop spinning your wheels. Life is way too precious and you are too important. I've created an easy way for you to recenter and reconnect with your path.
I've created a sole purpose illumination session for people who are driven to know their soul's purpose. So if this is you, I invite you to book a session.
You can find the link to book this session with me in the show notes
I'm grateful to share this episode and time with [00:53:00] you, my listeners. And I want you to know that our time together does not have to end here. I've also created an online community where spiritually awakening people can receive my support and guidance and connect with others as they discover their own unique paths to living their soul's purpose.
Look for the link in the show notes to learn more about the path and purpose, community support, connection, and inspiration for your journey. It's all inside.
A special thanks to this week's guest for sharing their journey with us. And I want to thank you for listening to today's episode. My name is Dr. Cameron Martin, and it has been my honor to serve you on your journey of self-discovery. See you next time.