**This episode is a replay of the 2020 Summer Solstice. Enjoy!**

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year; the most light we see in a 24 hour period.

Today’s meditation is a practice of shining the light. Let’s get to it.

Today’s episode is a special interview with Thomas Moore, author of one of my favorite books - Care of the Soul. He is here today to talk about his new book, Soul Therapy.

Today, I introduce a new series to the podcast called Meditation IRL, and it is simply stories.

Stories about how one meditates. What their practice is like. What they love and what they struggle with. How they learned and the tools they use.

It is simply stories; an inner glimpse of private meditation lives.

My hope is that we find threads of connection and ways to lean into even those that challenge us the most so that we can remember that we belong to each other.

And with that, I want to introduce the FIRST Meditation IRL guest: long-time student and friend, Dr. Ashanté M. Reese

Today, I introduce a new series to the podcast called Meditation IRL, and it is simply stories.

Stories about how one meditates. What their practice is like. What they love and what they struggle with. How they learned and the tools they use.

It is simply stories; an inner glimpse of private meditation lives.

My hope is that we find threads of connection and ways to lean into even those that challenge us the most so that we can remember that we belong to each other.

And with that, I want to introduce the FIRST Meditation IRL guest: long-time student and friend, Dr. Ashanté M. Reese

his week’s mini meditation is a special offering from my meditation app, Shoreline.

In this meditation, The Call of the Lizard, you'll hear the sounds of Kalahari desert in South Africa in the evening. You can hear the winds blowing and the quiet call of the barking gecko. Within this meditation, we reflect on the energy of both the desert and the lizard. The lizard is known for its sensitivity to the subtle; its keen sensory awareness, and its ability to be perfectly still as it takes it all in. ⁠

This is one to repeat several times and journal afterwards each time. Notice how lizard energy shows up for you.

Now, I know y’all know that I am a deep lover of oracle cards, and the first episode I did on working with oracle cards is still one of my most popular episodes! So, today, I am THRILLED to share an interview with Tarot & Oracle card creator MJ Cullinane.

In this episode, MJ and I talk about the difference between oracle and tarot decks, her creative process, and her favorite way to work with her decks.

Who do you invite into your meditation practice and why do you do it? Today’s mini meditation is an opportunity to explore what support, connections or wisdom you might connect to within your meditation practice. 

This is a snippet of my personal meditation practice at this time and I am excited to share it with you. Let’s practice!

I mentioned in last week’s class that within my personal practice, I often start by honoring the ancestors of the place I live {the Muscogee/Creek Nation} as well as my own familial ancestors. Afterwards, a student mentioned that she struggles with inviting her ancestors into her meditation practice because she doesn’t think her ancestors were particularly good people.

Another friend mentioned that she struggles with inviting her ancestors into her meditations because she doesn’t know much about her family stories. 

These questions and struggles are so common so I thought it worthwhile to explore.