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LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Reclaim Your Energy: Letting Go of the Past and Reclaiming Your Power How much of yourself are you still giving to a past you've already left behind? We invest enormous time, energy, emotion, and attention in our relationships, careers, dreams, and personal goals. But what happens when those chapters end? Do we truly let them go, or do we continue carrying their weight without even realizing it? In this episode of LightSong Talking Stick, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the fascinating relationship between personal energy, intention, awareness, and the attachments we accumulate throughout our lives. Drawing on decades of shamanic practice and personal experience, Jan and Micah discuss how our expectations, beliefs, and unconscious patterns can keep us connected to things that no longer serve us. They explore the shamanic concept of reclaiming our energy from past experiences and how doing so can create space for renewed clarity, creativity, and personal empowerment. The conversation also examines one of the great challenges of personal and spiritual growth: learning the difference between taking purposeful action and trying to control the outcome. How often do we become so focused on what we think should happen that we miss what is actually unfolding? How might our lives change if we approached our experiences with greater awareness, curiosity, and a willingness to surrender? Jan and Micah explore several interconnected themes: Reclaiming your energy: Understanding the shamanic perspective on how we invest ourselves in experiences and how we can consciously reconnect with that personal power. Letting go of outdated attachments: Recognizing when old dreams, relationships, expectations, and commitments are still influencing our present lives. The power of awareness: Discovering how unconscious beliefs and recurring patterns shape our reactions, decisions, and experiences. Intention versus expectation: Learning to create meaningful change without becoming attached to a particular outcome. Aligning actions with intentions: Understanding why what we do matters just as much as what we say we want. Choosing where your energy goes: Exploring simple practices such as journaling, meditation, and conscious reflection to support greater clarity and personal choice. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful invitation to examine where your attention and energy are going—and whether those investments reflect the life you want to live today. You don't have to keep carrying every expectation you've ever held, every dream you've pursued, or every story you've told yourself about who you are. Sometimes moving forward isn't about finding more energy, working harder, or doing something new. Sometimes it's about reclaiming what you've already given away. Join Jan and Micah for an engaging exploration of energy, surrender, and the freedom that comes from consciously choosing what you carry forward—and what you're finally ready to release. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, author, and founder of LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than four decades, Jan has explored consciousness, healing, personal transformation, and humanity's relationship with the unseen realms. She has performed thousands of soul retrievals and trained students around the world in shamanic practices designed to help people reconnect with their innate wisdom and spiritual nature. Jan is the author of Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart and Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine. Learn more about Jan, LightSong, classes, and shamanic training at LightSong.net. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, author, and shamanic practitioner who has spent more than 30 years helping people discover and express the stories that matter most. His work explores the intersection of writing, creativity, discernment, inner guidance, and personal transformation, helping writers move beyond formulas and external expectations to uncover what is authentically their own. Micah is the author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman and works with writers, authors, leaders, and creators to use writing as a means of exploration, discovery, and authentic expression. Learn more about Micah at ShamanSezz.com. For information about writing and publishing, visit InspiredLifePublications.com.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Ayahuasca and Spiritual Awakening: Is There Another Way? Can a powerful psychedelic experience lead to lasting spiritual transformation? Or is there a deeper connection available without plant medicine? Ayahuasca has become increasingly popular among people seeking spiritual awakening, healing, personal transformation, and a deeper understanding of themselves. But what happens when the experience ends? And are there risks that aren't always discussed? In this thought-provoking episode of LightSong Talking Stick, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the growing fascination with ayahuasca, the spiritual traditions surrounding its use, and the important distinction between having an extraordinary experience and developing a lasting relationship with the divine. Jan brings decades of experience as a shamanic practitioner and teacher, including working with people who have struggled following plant medicine ceremonies. Micah offers a different perspective, sharing his firsthand experiences with ayahuasca in Costa Rica—and the unexpected message he received each time: "You already know how to do this. Why are you doing this to yourself?" What began as curiosity ultimately became a powerful confirmation of something he had already learned through years of shamanic journeying. Together, Jan and Micah explore the questions that anyone considering plant medicine—or simply seeking a deeper spiritual connection—may want to ask. In this episode, you'll discover: Ayahuasca and its cultural roots: Why understanding the traditions, training, and relationships surrounding sacred plant medicine matters. The risks behind the experience: Concerns about ceremonial ethics, psychological vulnerability, difficult experiences, and the importance of integration afterward. Spiritual connection without psychedelics: How shamanic journeying offers a different approach to exploring consciousness and developing a personal spiritual practice. The difference between experience and transformation: Why a profound moment doesn't necessarily translate into lasting changes in everyday life. The temptation of spiritual shortcuts: How seeking a dramatic breakthrough can sometimes distract us from developing our own awareness and abilities. Discernment and intention: Why understanding what you're truly seeking may be more important than the method you choose. Jan also introduces the shamanic understanding of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds, explaining how her tradition approaches spiritual allies, sacred space, and intentional connection with benevolent helping spirits. Throughout the conversation, both Jan and Micah emphasize respect for traditional plant medicine practices while encouraging greater awareness, personal responsibility, and caution. They share their own experiences and spiritual perspectives rather than presenting them as universal conclusions. At the heart of this episode is a question that reaches far beyond ayahuasca: Are you looking for an extraordinary spiritual experience—or are you looking for a way to bring spiritual connection into your everyday life? For Jan and Micah, the deeper opportunity lies in developing the ability to connect with your inner wisdom and spiritual guidance, rather than depending on an external experience to access it. Whether you're curious about ayahuasca, have participated in plant medicine ceremonies, practice shamanic journeying, or are simply exploring your spiritual path, this conversation offers an opportunity to consider what genuine transformation means to you. Because sometimes the greatest discovery isn't something new. It's recognizing the wisdom and abilities you already possess. This episode shares personal experiences and shamanic perspectives. It is not medical advice or a substitute for professional guidance regarding psychedelic substances or mental health. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, author, and founder of LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than four decades, Jan has explored consciousness, healing, personal transformation, and humanity's relationship with the unseen realms. She has performed thousands of soul retrievals and trained students around the world in shamanic practices designed to help people reconnect with their innate wisdom and spiritual nature. Jan is the author of Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart and Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine. Learn more about Jan, LightSong, classes, and shamanic training at LightSong.net. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, author, and shamanic practitioner who has spent more than 30 years helping people discover and express the stories that matter most. His work explores the intersection of writing, creativity, discernment, inner guidance, and personal transformation, helping writers move beyond formulas and external expectations to uncover what is authentically their own. Micah is the author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman and works with writers, authors, leaders, and creators to use writing as a means of exploration, discovery, and authentic expression. Learn more about Micah at ShamanSezz.com. For information about writing and publishing, visit InspiredLifePublications.com.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Hold the Vibration: Trusting the Dream Before Seeing the Results What happens when you believe in the life you're creating—but the results haven't shown up yet? In this episode of LightSong Talking Stick - Manifesting Miracles, Jan Engels-Smith and members of the LightSong community explore what manifestation looks like in everyday life—not simply imagining what you want, but learning how to remain grounded, trusting, and connected to your vision when circumstances seem to say otherwise. Through personal stories and practical examples, the conversation explores the delicate balance between taking action and letting go of the outcome. How do you pursue a dream, build a business, make a major life change, or move through uncertainty without allowing fear, disappointing numbers, other people's opinions, or the constant need for external validation to take over? Jan shares one of the central teachings of the episode: "The only job that you have in this creation is holding the vibration." That doesn't mean sitting back and waiting for something magical to happen. It means noticing the energy from which you're acting. Are you creating from inspiration, trust, and possibility—or from fear, urgency, and desperation? The group discusses how easily the mind can turn uncertainty into worry, how slowing down and becoming present can interrupt that cycle, and why practices such as meditation, prayer, visualization, gratitude, and time spent in stillness can help us reconnect with what we know internally. You'll also hear creative and practical approaches to manifestation, including personalized AI vision boards, manifestation documents, gratitude lists, celebrating small successes, working with spiritual allies, and imagining how you would live today if the future you desire were already secure. The conversation also explores: Why small miracles build trust for bigger changes The difference between allowing and trying to control an outcome How constantly checking results can undermine your confidence Why turning a passion into something that has to succeed can drain the joy from it How to honor disappointment without allowing it to define what's possible Why appreciation for what you already have can change how you experience your life The importance of practicing a new way of being until it becomes more natural Leaving room for "this or something greater" than what you originally imagined Ultimately, this episode isn't simply about getting what you want. It's about learning to live differently while you're creating it. Instead of waiting for the perfect result before allowing yourself to feel successful, peaceful, abundant, or grateful, what if you practiced those qualities now? What if you celebrated the sale you made instead of worrying about the four you didn't? What if you noticed the small miracle instead of waiting for the enormous one? What if you stopped allowing one disappointing email, setback, or number to erase everything that's already working? Jan closes with a powerful invitation to look at the goodness that is already present in your life—and to celebrate it. Because manifestation isn't only about creating something you don't yet have. It's also about recognizing how much of the miracle is already here. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, author, and founder of LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than four decades, Jan has explored consciousness, healing, personal transformation, and humanity's relationship with the unseen realms. She has performed thousands of soul retrievals and trained students around the world in shamanic practices designed to help people reconnect with their innate wisdom and spiritual nature. Jan is the author of Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart and Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine. Learn more about Jan, LightSong, classes, and shamanic training at LightSong.net. Hashtags #LightSongTalkingStick #ManifestingMiracles #HoldTheVibration #Manifestation #Shamanism #ShamanicWisdom #TrustTheProcess #ConsciousCreation #Gratitude #CelebrateLife #Abundance #InnerKnowing #FollowYourHeart #SpiritualGrowth #PersonalTransformation #VisionBoard #CreativeVisualization #Allowing #Surrender #InnerGuidance #MindsetShift #SpiritualPractice #CreateYourLife #ThisOrSomethingGreater #EverydayMiracles

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Finding the Magic: Breaking Free from Doomscrolling and Choosing What Feeds You What are you feeding with your attention? In this episode of LightSong Talking Stick, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore how easily we can become caught in the noise, conflict, fear, and constant stream of information surrounding us—and what happens when we consciously choose something different. The conversation begins with a phenomenon many of us know all too well: doomscrolling. Social media algorithms quickly learn what captures our attention. If we're drawn toward conflict, fear, outrage, conspiracy, or drama, we're likely to be shown more of it. Before long, that stream of information can begin to feel like an accurate picture of the entire world. But is it? Jan and Micah explore the difference between the world we're being shown and the world we actually experience when we step away from the screen and engage directly with life. The question becomes: What are we looking for? Are we continually searching for evidence that the world is dangerous, divided, and falling apart? Or are we also noticing beauty, kindness, creativity, possibility, and connection? From a shamanic perspective, Jan explains, attention is energy. What we continually focus upon affects our emotional and energetic state and influences how we experience our lives. The antidote doesn't require pretending difficult things aren't happening. It begins by deliberately noticing what else is here. A sunrise. The sky. The sound of the river. Thousands of shades of green in a forest. Music. Art. A conversation with someone you love. The simple experience of stepping outside and reconnecting with the natural world. The magic hasn't disappeared. We may simply have stopped noticing it. Jan and Micah discuss practical ways to interrupt the patterns that keep us trapped in fear or frustration: putting down the phone, changing what we consume online, spending time in nature, creating art, learning something new, taking a nap, changing our physical environment, and surrounding ourselves with people who support the life we're trying to create. We may not control everything happening around us, but we can become more conscious of what we give our attention to, what environments we place ourselves in, what stories we repeatedly tell, and what energy we choose to carry forward. Ask yourself how you feel after consuming something—and whether it is feeding you or draining you. And perhaps most importantly, ask: How do I want my life to be? Then begin making choices that support that life. Because even amid the noise, uncertainty, and chaos, the magic is still there. We simply have to choose to look for it. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, author, and founder of LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than four decades, Jan has explored consciousness, healing, personal transformation, and humanity's relationship with the unseen realms. She has performed thousands of soul retrievals and trained students around the world in shamanic practices designed to help people reconnect with their innate wisdom and spiritual nature. Jan is the author of Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart and Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine. Learn more about Jan, LightSong, classes, and shamanic training at LightSong.net. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, author, and shamanic practitioner who has spent more than 30 years helping people discover and express the stories that matter most. His work explores the intersection of writing, creativity, discernment, inner guidance, and personal transformation, helping writers move beyond formulas and external expectations to uncover what is authentically their own. Micah is the author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman and works with writers, authors, leaders, and creators to use writing as a means of exploration, discovery, and authentic expression. Learn more about Micah at ShamanSezz.com and InspiredLifePublications.com for information about writing and publishing.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast - Manifesting Miracles It's an Inside Job: How Our Beliefs Shape the World We Experience What if the thing you most want to change isn't actually outside of you? In this episode of LightSong Talking Stick - Manifesting Miracles, Jan Engels-Smith explores a foundational principle of shamanic practice and manifestation: lasting change begins within. Through questions and deeply personal stories from members of the LightSong community, Jan examines what happens when we stop trying to fix other people and begin paying attention to our own beliefs, expectations, judgments, and perceptions. The conversation begins with a difficult question about loving someone whose behavior has caused pain. How do we remain loving without expecting another person to change? Is it possible to accept someone exactly as they are while still honoring ourselves? And what role might challenging relationships play in our own spiritual evolution? Jan offers a deceptively simple answer: You don't have to change them. You change yourself. From there, the conversation opens into unconditional love, soul contracts, acceptance, and the ways our judgments can lock both ourselves and others into roles we've unconsciously assigned them. One participant shares a remarkable example from her own life. For years, she carried the painful belief that she was excluded by her family and that her father would never reach out to her. Rather than attempting to change him, she began examining the belief itself. She deliberately looked for evidence of inclusion, noticed the ways her father did express love, and interrupted the familiar thoughts that reinforced her old story. Then something unexpected happened. Her father called her. It was something he had never done throughout her adult life. For Jan, the story illustrates one of the central teachings of this conversation: change inside, and the world outside can begin to look very different. The discussion goes deeper into the nature of unconditional love. Is unconditional love truly possible while we're living a human life filled with opinions, reactions, and judgments? Jan suggests that learning about love is one of the purposes of being here—and that the difficult people and circumstances in our lives can become catalysts for that learning. Another participant shares an extraordinary experience after a severe injury in which her ordinary sense of identity disappeared. In its place was an overwhelming experience of oneness—a vast field in which there was no separation, conflict, personality, or judgment. There was simply love. She returned from the experience with one clear message: We are here to help each other. The group also explores the relationship between observation and reality, the energetic power of our opinions, shamanic journeying into possible futures, and what happens when we begin questioning beliefs we've previously treated as facts. Who have you placed into a category because of something they did years ago? What expectations are you carrying into your relationships? What belief about yourself or someone else have you repeated so often that it now feels like truth? And what might happen if you allowed something—or someone—to simply be? The episode closes with a word that captures much of the conversation: Allowing. Allowing doesn't mean approving of everything that happens. It means releasing the constant need to judge, label, control, or force an outcome. It creates the neutrality from which something new can emerge. Because ultimately, as one participant beautifully summarizes: "It's an inside job. All of the answers are within me." About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, author, and founder of LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than four decades, Jan has explored consciousness, healing, personal transformation, and humanity's relationship with the unseen realms. She has performed thousands of soul retrievals and trained students around the world in shamanic practices designed to help people reconnect with their innate wisdom and spiritual nature. Jan is the author of Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart and Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine. Learn more about Jan, LightSong, classes, and shamanic training at LightSong.net.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast The Wounds and the Gifts: Reclaiming Your Creativity and Power What if the parts of yourself you learned to doubt were never missing at all? In this episode of LightSong Talking Stick, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore creativity, imagination, self-worth, and the beliefs that can separate us from our natural sense of who we are. We enter life as creative beings, filled with curiosity, imagination, and possibility. Yet somewhere along the way, many of us receive messages that tell us we aren't talented enough, worthy enough, creative enough, or important enough. We learn to question our instincts, compare ourselves to others, and look outside ourselves for validation. Jan shares teachings from decades of shamanic work about the innate value of the human spirit and why imagination is one of our greatest creative powers. She describes how experiences such as bullying, rejection, and childhood wounds can shape an identity based on unworthiness—but also how those very wounds can point us toward gifts we developed because of them. As Jan puts it, the wounds and the gifts aren't on opposite sides of the coin. They're on the same side. Micah connects this idea to creativity and writing, exploring how beliefs about who we are can shut down creative expression. Whether through writing, painting, designing a home, inventing something new, imagining a different future, or simply creating the life we want to live, creativity is not reserved for people who call themselves artists. We are all creators. The conversation also explores the idea of writing your own creation story: not simply describing the beliefs you've inherited but consciously imagining what you choose to believe about yourself, Spirit, Source, and the life you are creating. Jan and Micah discuss how childhood dreams and visions can reveal something deeper about our nature, why children often arrive with distinct personalities and gifts already visible, and what might change if we learned to recognize those gifts rather than shaping everyone according to the same expectations. Along the way, they share stories about soul retrieval, art and inspiration, childhood dreams, twins with remarkably different personalities, an unexpected message from a newborn baby, and the mysterious ways our identities sometimes reveal themselves. Ultimately, this episode offers an invitation: Look back at the places where you were wounded, diminished, or taught to doubt yourself—and then look again. What strength did you develop? What gift emerged? Where have you already created something extraordinary despite believing you couldn't? And what becomes possible when you begin seeing yourself not through the limitations you've accumulated, but through the innate value, creativity, and possibility that were there all along? Your imagination matters. Your gifts matter. Your life has an impact. And perhaps reclaiming your power begins by remembering that. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, author, and founder of LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than four decades, Jan has explored consciousness, healing, personal transformation, and humanity's relationship with the unseen realms. She has performed thousands of soul retrievals and trained students around the world in shamanic practices designed to help people reconnect with their innate wisdom and spiritual nature. Jan is the author of Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart and Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine. Learn more about Jan, LightSong, classes, and shamanic training at LightSong.net. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, author, and shamanic practitioner who has spent more than 30 years helping people discover and express the stories that matter most. His work explores the intersection of writing, creativity, discernment, inner guidance, and personal transformation, helping writers move beyond formulas and external expectations to uncover what is authentically their own. Micah is the author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman and works with writers, authors, leaders, and creators to use writing as a means of exploration, discovery, and authentic expression. Learn more about Micah and his work in Life Coaching at ShamanSezz.com. For information about Micah's Writing Coaching, editing, and publishing work, visit inspiredlifepublications.com,

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Techno Spirits: A Shamanic Perspective on AI, Technology, and Fear Is technology something to fear—or could it actually be part of humanity's spiritual evolution? In this fascinating episode of the LightSong Talking Stick Podcast, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore an unexpected concept that emerged during one of LightSong's shamanic practicums: Techno Spirits—spiritual allies associated with technology that may be here to help humanity navigate one of the greatest periods of change in history. Rather than viewing technology, artificial intelligence, and constant digital connection through the lens of fear, Jan and Micah invite listeners to consider a radically different perspective. What if technology is not something to resist, but something to enter into conscious relationship with? The conversation moves beyond debates about AI, 5G, and emerging technologies to explore the deeper spiritual questions beneath them: How do we respond to change? What role does fear play in shaping our experience? And how can discernment, trust, and intentionality help us move through an ever-changing world? During the episode, Jan and Micah discuss: The origin of the concept of Techno Spirits during LightSong's online practicums. Why resistance to change has accompanied every major technological advancement in history. How fear and belief shape our relationship with technology. Viewing AI and technology as tools rather than threats. The importance of discernment when working with new technologies. How AI can support creativity by freeing the mind from repetitive tasks. The relationship between intention, vibration, and the technology we use every day. Lessons from Fukushima, evolution, and humanity's remarkable capacity to adapt. Why raising your own vibration may be one of the greatest contributions you can make to the world. How choosing trust over fear creates a different experience of life. Micah also shares how he incorporates AI into his professional editing process—not as a replacement for creativity, but as a practical tool that allows him to spend more time doing the deeply creative work that only humans can do. Jan expands the discussion into a broader spiritual teaching: every challenge, whether technology, politics, climate change, or uncertainty, ultimately becomes an invitation to examine our relationship with fear and consciously choose another way. Throughout the conversation, one message rises above the rest: Life continually presents opportunities to evolve. When we shift from resistance to relationship, from fear to trust, we open ourselves to entirely new possibilities. Whether you're fascinated by artificial intelligence, curious about spirituality and technology, or simply looking for a more peaceful way to navigate change, this episode offers a refreshing perspective that bridges ancient wisdom with the modern world. About Your Hosts Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, and founder of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. With more than four decades of experience, she has trained thousands of students worldwide in shamanic healing and spiritual practices. Learn more at LightSong.net. Micah Schwader is an author, transformational writing coach, editor, and shamanic practitioner who helps people discover clarity, purpose, and healing through the power of story. Learn more at InspiredLifePublications.com and ShamanSezz.com.

Lightsong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Recognizing the Patterns That Shape Your Life Why do we keep finding ourselves in the same situations, even when the people, places, and circumstances change? In this thought-provoking episode of the LightSong Talking Stick Podcast, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore one of the most transformative concepts in personal growth and shamanic practice: patterns. From recurring relationships and life choices to deeply held beliefs and daily habits, they discuss how recognizing these patterns can become the key to healing, self-awareness, and lasting transformation. Drawing from decades of experience in shamanism, counseling, writing, and personal development, Jan and Micah share powerful stories about how journaling, memoir writing, shamanic healing, and conscious self-reflection reveal the hidden narratives that quietly direct our lives. They explain why we often remain trapped in familiar cycles, how our stories shape our reality, and what it takes to finally break free. The conversation also explores: How journaling and stream-of-consciousness writing uncover lifelong patterns. Why recurring life experiences often point to deeper spiritual lessons. The difference between habits and patterns—and why both matter. How changing your story can transform your future. The role of the Medicine Wheel in breaking repetitive cycles. Why vulnerability is essential for healing and authentic storytelling. The importance of witnessing yourself rather than remaining trapped inside your story. Shamanic perspectives on soul loss, unfulfilled dreams, and reclaiming your energy. How healing requires changing not only your energy but also your daily behaviors. Why patterns can be blessings as well as obstacles. Along the way, Jan shares remarkable insights from her books Becoming Yourself and Through the Rabbit Hole, while Micah reflects on the life-changing lessons that emerged from writing his memoir, Stumbling Into Grace. Together, they reveal how awareness is the first step toward freedom—and why the stories we tell ourselves may be the very thing standing between us and the life we're meant to live. If you've ever wondered why certain experiences keep repeating, or you're ready to create a new chapter in your life, this episode offers practical wisdom, compassionate guidance, and a fresh perspective on transformation. About Your Hosts Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, and founder of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. With more than four decades of experience, she has trained thousands of students worldwide in shamanic healing and spiritual practices. Learn more at LightSong.net. Micah Schwader is an author, transformational writing coach, editor, and shamanic practitioner who helps people discover clarity, purpose, and healing through the power of story. Learn more at InspiredLifePublications.com and ShamanSezz.com. #patterns #personalgrowth #shamanism #spiritualawakening #selfawareness #journaling #memoirwriting #writingtherapy #storytelling #healingjourney #consciousliving #mindset #innerwork #transformation #selfdiscovery #discernment #soulretrieval #shamanichealing #spiritualgrowth #personaldevelopment #habitchange #energyhealing #lifepurpose #podcast #LightSongTalkingStick

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Unconditional Love: A Shamanic Path Beyond Judgment What does unconditional love really mean? Is it something humans can truly experience, or is it an ideal we continually grow toward? In this thoughtful episode of the Talking Stick Podcast, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore unconditional love through the lens of shamanism, spirituality, and everyday life. Together they examine why the human mind naturally creates judgments and conditions, while the spirit world embodies an entirely different state of awareness—one of acceptance, allowing, and profound connection. Their conversation moves beyond philosophy into practical ways of cultivating greater peace and presence. They discuss the healing power of nature, journeying, meditation, breathwork, and reconnecting with the rhythms of the Earth. Jan shares the remarkable story of spending more than a year sleeping outdoors after receiving guidance from Spirit, and how that experience transformed her relationship with nature, rhythm, and consciousness. Micah reflects on the lessons of his own vision quest, discovering how asking for grace brought life's greatest challenges—and deepest transformation. Together they explore: What unconditional love really means in shamanic practice Why the ego struggles with acceptance and comparison How nature offers one of our clearest experiences of unconditional presence The spiritual practice of journeying beyond judgment Why intention matters—and why we should be careful what we ask for The difference between love, kindness, acceptance, and allowing Simple practices that help us reconnect with ourselves, Spirit, and the natural world Whether you're new to shamanism or simply seeking greater peace in a complex world, this conversation offers a compassionate invitation to move from judgment toward presence, from separation toward connection, and from striving toward simply being. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is an internationally respected shamanic teacher, author, and healer with more than four decades of experience helping people reconnect with Spirit, nature, and their inner wisdom. She is the founder of Lightsong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine, where she taught Core Shamanism, spiritual healing, and personal transformation. Jan is the author of Through the Rabbit Hole: Explore and Experience the Shamanic Journey and Energy Medicine and Becoming Yourself: The Journey from Head to Heart. Learn more about Jan, her books, classes, and events: https://www.lightsong.net About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, developmental editor, publisher, life guide, and shamanic practitioner with more than 30 years of experience helping authors, thought leaders, and changemakers discover and express their authentic voice. Drawing on his experience as a writing coach, he now helps people looking to make changes in their lives reconnect with their inner guidance system through the practice and power of writing. Micah is the author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman, a memoir chronicling his journey through identity, spirituality, and profound personal transformation. Through his coaching, writing, and The Art of Discernment Method™, he helps people use writing as a path to clarity, self-trust, and meaningful change. Learn more about Micah's writing, coaching, retreats, and resources: https://www.shamansezz.com

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Raise Your Vibration: How Your Thoughts, Words, and Beliefs Shape Your Health and Life Can your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence your physical health? In this thought-provoking episode, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the relationship between consciousness, energy, and well-being through the lens of shamanism, personal experience, and everyday life. They examine how the frequencies we embody—through our thoughts, emotions, words, and beliefs—may affect not only our emotional state but also our physical health, relationships, and the experiences we attract. The conversation begins with a simple story: a friend experiencing high blood pressure after suppressing difficult conversations at work. What initially appeared to be stress caused by someone else revealed a deeper truth—the body's response wasn't to the external situation, but to the internal resistance of avoiding it. From there, Jan and Micah discuss the shamanic perspective that illness often begins as an energetic imbalance long before it manifests physically. Rather than viewing symptoms as isolated problems, they invite listeners to see the body as a messenger, constantly communicating where healing, honesty, or change may be needed. In this episode, you'll discover: How your body reflects emotional and energetic patterns The difference between repression and genuine acceptance Why words carry energetic power that shapes how we feel How childhood labels and beliefs continue influencing adult life The connection between vibration, manifestation, and daily experiences Practical ways to raise your personal frequency through gratitude, awareness, and intentional thinking Why your response to life's challenges matters more than the challenges themselves How changing your beliefs can begin changing your reality Stories of healing, resilience, and unexpected transformation through mindset shifts Simple daily practices that can help cultivate greater joy, peace, and well-being Micah shares personal stories about recognizing when his own body signaled misalignment, including becoming physically ill before attending a class that conflicted with his deeper values. He also reflects on remarkable experiences of "parking karma," effortless travel, and unexpected synchronicities that emerged when approaching life with optimism and positive expectation. Jan introduces practical exercises for maintaining a higher vibration, including creating a daily list of high-frequency words, keeping a gratitude journal, and paying close attention to the beliefs that quietly govern our lives. Together they emphasize a recurring theme throughout the podcast: beliefs are choices, and changing those choices begins by becoming aware of them. The episode also explores inspiring stories of people who faced serious illness by changing their outlook on life—including an author who lived nine years with Stage 4 lung cancer after transforming her relationships, priorities, environment, and inner world, as well as discussions of the work of physicians who integrate mindset and healing into their approach to medicine. Whether you view these ideas through a spiritual, psychological, or personal growth lens, this conversation offers practical insights into becoming more conscious of the energy you bring into every interaction—and how small shifts in awareness may create profound changes over time. Ultimately, Jan and Micah leave listeners with a simple but powerful reminder: If you want your life to change, begin by changing your vibration. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, and founder of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than three decades, she has trained practitioners around the world in shamanic healing, energy medicine, and spiritual development. Her teachings emphasize personal empowerment, direct spiritual experience, and practical tools for living with greater awareness and vitality. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, shamanic life coach, and author of Stumbling Into Grace. Through storytelling, coaching, and spiritual practice, he helps people reconnect with their authentic voice, navigate life's transitions, and transform personal experiences into wisdom. He is the founder of Inspired Life Publications and lives in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, where nature continually informs his work. Visit ShamanSezz.com for Micah's shamanic work.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Inner Authority: Learning to Trust Yourself in an Uncertain World Who—or what—is guiding your life? In a world filled with competing opinions, social pressure, uncertainty, misinformation, and constant demands for your attention, it has never been more important to reconnect with your inner authority. In this deeply personal episode, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the profound difference between living from external authority—allowing others, institutions, fear, or culture to dictate your choices—and living from the quiet confidence of your inner knowing. Micah shares intimate stories from his own life, including how losing trust in his intuition as a child eventually led to decades of searching for truth, identity, and belonging. He reflects on how his transgender journey became one of reclaiming his inner authority after years of listening to everyone else's expectations instead of his own soul. Jan expands the conversation by examining how many cultures teach us to seek validation and permission from outside ourselves—whether through religion, institutions, experts, or societal expectations. She offers a different perspective: true inner authority doesn't need to be loud, defensive, or prove itself. It is calm, grounded, and quietly certain. Together they explore: The difference between inner authority and outer authority Why many people lose trust in themselves early in life How fear, conditioning, and past experiences disconnect us from intuition The relationship between trust, courage, and personal transformation Why trusting yourself is a choice that grows through practice Learning to recognize physical and emotional signs of alignment The role of discernment when receiving advice from teachers, experts, or spiritual practitioners Powerful stories of healing through Lakota ceremonies and direct spiritual experience Why life's greatest setbacks often become unexpected turning points How uncertainty, artificial intelligence, political division, and social change are increasing the need for inner guidance Practical ways to strengthen self-awareness and rebuild trust in your own decisions Throughout the conversation, Jan and Micah return to a simple but transformative idea: trust is not something we wait to feel—it is something we choose to cultivate. As that trust grows, fear begins to lose its grip, decisions become clearer, and life becomes less about reacting to circumstances and more about responding from a place of grounded wisdom. Whether you're navigating a major life transition, questioning long-held beliefs, or simply trying to find clarity in an increasingly noisy world, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to reconnect with the one voice that has always been with you—your own. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, and founder of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For more than three decades, she has trained practitioners around the world in shamanic healing, energy medicine, and spiritual development. Jan's teachings emphasize personal empowerment, direct spiritual experience, and helping people rediscover the wisdom that already lives within them. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, shamanic life coach, and author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman. Through storytelling, coaching, and spiritual practice, he helps people reconnect with their inner guidance system, navigate life's major transitions, and transform personal experiences into sources of wisdom and healing. Micah is the founder of Inspired Life Publications and lives in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, where nature and spirituality continually shape his work. For more information, visit ShamanSezz.com.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Discernment in a Noisy World: Wisdom, AI, Empathy, and Inner Knowing How do we know what's true in a world overflowing with information, opinions, technology, and constant noise? In this timely and thought-provoking episode, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the art of discernment—the ability to recognize what aligns with your deepest truth, what serves your growth, and what deserves your attention. The conversation begins with Micah's experience teaching Storytelling in the Age of AI and his growing realization that while technology can provide information and intelligence, it cannot replace human wisdom, intuition, lived experience, or heart-centered knowing. As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily life, the need for discernment becomes increasingly important. Jan brings the discussion into the world of shamanism, where discernment is essential for interpreting spiritual experiences, receiving guidance, and sharing healing stories. She explains how practitioners learn to set aside personal bias, avoid projection, and communicate spiritual messages in ways that empower rather than frighten. Together, Jan and Micah explore: What discernment really means beyond dictionary definitions The difference between knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, and inner knowing Why feelings and intuition are essential forms of guidance How discernment plays a role in shamanic healing and spiritual practice The importance of telling healing stories rather than fear-based stories Lessons from dismemberment journeys and spiritual transformation The relationship between discernment, empathy, compassion, and boundaries How empaths can avoid taking on other people's emotions The role of AI as a tool—and why human wisdom remains irreplaceable Learning to trust your own inner authority in a rapidly changing world Through personal stories, spiritual teachings, and practical examples, this episode offers listeners a powerful reminder that while information is abundant, wisdom still requires presence, experience, reflection, and heart. Whether you're navigating spiritual growth, developing your intuition, exploring new technologies, or simply trying to make sense of a complex world, this conversation will help you strengthen one of the most important skills of our time: discernment. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, and founder of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. For decades, Jan has trained practitioners around the world in shamanic healing, spiritual development, and energy medicine. Her work helps people cultivate direct relationships with spirit, strengthen intuition, and access their own inner wisdom for healing and transformation. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, shamanic life coach, and author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman. Through his work with writers, seekers, and changemakers, Micah helps people uncover their authentic stories, navigate life's transitions, and connect with deeper sources of wisdom and meaning. He is the founder of Inspired Life Publications and ShamanSezz.com and lives in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, where nature, spirituality, and storytelling continually intersect.

What does it really mean to be spiritual but not religious? In this thought-provoking episode, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the growing movement of people who identify as spiritual while stepping away from organized religion. Together, they examine the difference between religion, spirituality, and direct communication with the spirit world, sharing personal stories, shamanic perspectives, and powerful experiences that challenge conventional beliefs. Jan discusses the shamanic understanding that everything in existence—from rocks and rivers to animals and trees—carries intelligence and spirit. She shares stories of communicating with the unseen world, working with spiritual allies, and the profound lessons that emerge when we open ourselves to guidance beyond the physical senses. Micah reflects on his lifelong questioning of religious dogma and his search for a more direct relationship with the divine. He shares moving stories about spirit animals, ancient stones, childhood experiences with organized religion, and the journey that led him toward a spirituality rooted in personal experience rather than prescribed belief. Together, they explore: The rise of people identifying as "spiritual but not religious" Why direct spiritual experience matters The shamanic belief that all things possess intelligence and spirit Power animals, spirit allies, and sacred relationships with the unseen world Personal stories of elephants, snakes, rocks, and synchronicity The difference between dogma and direct connection Why respect, compassion, and interconnectedness are central spiritual values The Lakota concept of Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ ("All My Relations") How spirituality can deepen our relationship with nature, ourselves, and each other This conversation invites listeners to reconsider where spiritual wisdom comes from and to explore the possibility that guidance, connection, and meaning may be far more accessible than we've been taught. About Jan Engels-Smith Jan Engels-Smith is a shamanic practitioner, teacher, and founder of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine. With decades of experience training practitioners around the world, Jan is the author of numerous books on shamanism, spiritual healing, and personal transformation. Her work focuses on helping people develop direct relationships with spirit, access their innate intuitive abilities, and live with greater purpose, balance, and connection. About Micah Schwader Micah Schwader is a transformational writing coach, editor, publisher, shamanic life coach, and author of Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman. Through his work with writers, seekers, and changemakers, Micah helps people uncover their authentic stories, navigate life's transitions, and connect with deeper sources of wisdom and meaning. He is the founder of Inspired Life Publications and ShamanSezz.com and lives in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, where nature, spirituality, and storytelling continually intersect.

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast Death, the Great Mystery: A Shamanic Perspective on What Happens After We Die Death is one of life's greatest mysteries—and one of its most universal experiences. In this profound and deeply personal conversation, Micah Schwader and Jan Engels-Smith explore death through the lens of shamanism, spirituality, personal experience, and the wisdom gained from working with those who have crossed over. Together, they discuss the shamanic view that death is not an ending but a transformation—a process of shapeshifting from one form of existence into another. Jan shares teachings about the soul's journey after death, the role of belief systems in shaping our transition, and why many indigenous traditions placed such importance on preparing for a "good death." Micah reflects on near-death experiences, encounters with discarnate spirits through compassionate spirit release work, and the profound lessons learned from the deaths of both parents. The conversation explores life reviews, soul journeys, the concept of the Inner Akasha, unexpected deaths, spirit communication, and the healing that can occur when we release our fear of the unknown. Along the way, Jan recounts remarkable stories of assisting souls during their transition, witnessing life reviews, and discovering that the spirit world appears far more compassionate and accepting than many religious traditions suggest. The discussion challenges conventional ideas of heaven, hell, judgment, and reincarnation, inviting listeners into a broader exploration of consciousness, purpose, and the soul's eternal nature. Both hosts share deeply personal stories — including Jan's experience guiding her own father's soul through a life review, and Micah's encounter with past-life memories on the sacred Scottish island of Iona — that point to the same truth: death is far more expansive, compassionate, and mysterious than most of us are taught to believe. Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, curious about what lies beyond this life, or seeking a more expansive understanding of death itself, this episode offers comfort, insight, and a reminder that mystery need not be feared. Sometimes it can be embraced with wonder. The conversation covers: ·      The shamanic understanding of death as transformation rather than ending ·      How belief systems may influence the death experience ·      Unexpected deaths versus conscious transitions ·      Why souls sometimes get "stuck" after death — especially in sudden or unexpected deaths — and the compassionate shamanic practice of psychopomp work (spirit release) that helps them move on ·      The role of discarnate spirits and how they can affect the living ·      Personal near-death experiences and what they revealed about fear, the unknown, and the nature of consciousness ·      The concept of the inner Akasha — your soul's internal record of all lifetimes and existences ·      The ancient, instinctive wisdom that can arise in the moment of death ·      Finding peace with life's greatest mystery Memorable Quote "I don't think death is what we're making it out to be. It's not this horrible thing. The fear comes from not knowing—the mystery is the most fearful part of death." — Micah Schwader Audience Takeaway What if death is not an ending, but a transition? This episode invites listeners to examine their beliefs, release fear-based narratives, and consider the possibility that consciousness continues beyond the physical body. Through stories, teachings, and personal experiences, Micah and Jan offer a compassionate exploration of one of humanity's oldest questions: What happens when we die?

LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Healing Talking Stick Podcast AI, Imagination, and the Quantum Field: Creating with Clarity in a Changing World In this thought-provoking episode of the LightSong Talking Stick Podcast, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the surprising relationship between artificial intelligence, manifestation, imagination, fear, and the quantum field. What begins as a conversation about AI quickly becomes a deeper reflection on what it means to be human. Micah shares how AI, when used consciously, can support creativity by handling linear, left-brain tasks while freeing more space for imagination, intuition, and authentic expression. Jan expands the conversation into the quantum realm, exploring how intention, focus, belief, and vibration shape the realities we experience. Together, Jan and Micah discuss the parallels between prompting AI and working with the universe: clarity matters, intention matters, and what we put into the field influences what comes back. They also explore fear, resistance, root chakra survival patterns, worry as negative imagination, and the power of bringing hidden beliefs into awareness. This episode invites listeners to become more conscious creators—whether engaging with technology, spiritual practice, creativity, relationships, or personal transformation. Rather than resisting what is emerging, Jan and Micah encourage curiosity, discernment, and alignment with higher-frequency possibilities. Websites: LightSong School of 21st-Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine: https://www.lightsong.net Micah Schwader / Shaman Sezz: https://shamansezz.com