Advertise on podcast: Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine

Happy International Podcast Day! In this special episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, I’m sharing the unexpected story of how podcasting became one of my favorite parts of my spiritual business. I never thought I would love podcasting. I have always loved teaching, talking, sharing information, and helping people understand new ideas, but I absolutely hated hearing my own recorded voice. The thought of sitting behind a microphone, recording myself, editing episodes, and putting my voice out into the world felt uncomfortable and honestly a little intimidating. That changed when I began working with Kim from Podcasting for Your Spiritual Business. Kim helped me understand that podcasting did not have to be complicated or overwhelming. Through classes, office hours, master classes, guidance, and ongoing support, she helped walk me through the process step by step. As someone who has spent most of my life as a teacher, I appreciate when someone can take something that feels confusing and make it understandable. That is exactly what happened for me with podcasting. Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking about podcasting as recording my voice and started thinking about it as another way to teach. That changed everything. Now podcasting feels like another classroom. It gives me the opportunity to talk about spirituality, intuition, tarot, oracle cards, yoga, Divine Feminine teachings, spiritual development, healing, personal growth, and what it is really like to build a spiritual business. In this episode, I also share more about the leap of faith I took when I left my career in education and began putting more of my energy into my own spiritual work and business. Leaving education did not mean I stopped being a teacher. It simply meant my classroom changed. Today, I teach through yoga, workshops, private sessions, spiritual development, the Priestess Academy, newsletters, videos, and this podcast. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that starting a spiritual business requires more than having a spiritual gift or a service you love. You may be an incredible Reiki practitioner, tarot reader, yoga teacher, intuitive, coach, medium, or healer and still feel completely lost when it comes to marketing, pricing, websites, email lists, social media, and podcasting. That does not mean you are not meant to have a business. It simply means that business is another skill to learn. That is also why I offer a free self-paced spiritual business class for people who are starting or growing their own spiritual businesses. I also offer private 1:1 spiritual business training for those who want more personalized support. If you are wondering whether podcasting could help your spiritual business, whether you should start your own podcast, or whether your voice really matters, this episode is for you. Google Questions Answered in This Episode How do I start a spiritual podcast? Can podcasting help grow a spiritual business? Do I need to like my voice to start a podcast? What equipment do I need to start podcasting? Is podcasting good for spiritual entrepreneurs? How can a podcast help me build trust with my audience? How do I start a spiritual business? What should I know before starting a spiritual business? How can I market a spiritual business authentically? Can I start a spiritual business later in life? How do I find my voice as a spiritual teacher or entrepreneur? What does a podcast coach help with? Do I need a podcast coach to start a podcast? How can podcasting help me teach online? How do I turn my knowledge into podcast content? Can podcasting help me attract clients? How do I overcome the fear of hearing my own voice? What are the benefits of podcasting for small businesses? How can women over 40 or 50 start a new business? How do I take a leap of faith and start over in my career? This episode is especially helpful for spiritual entrepreneurs, yoga teachers, Reiki practitioners, tarot readers, oracle readers, spiritual coaches, intuitives, healers, teachers, women starting businesses later in life, and anyone thinking about starting a podcast as part of their business. If you are building a spiritual business and want help getting started, visit Bertena.org to learn more about my free self-paced spiritual business class and my private 1:1 spiritual business training. While you are there, sign up for my newsletter to receive updates about new podcast episodes, Divine Feminine classes, yoga, workshops, Priestess Academy offerings, spiritual development opportunities, and upcoming events. Happy International Podcast Day, and thank you for listening to Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine. Search Keywords International Podcast Day 2026, spiritual podcast, spiritual business podcast, starting a spiritual podcast, how to start a spiritual podcast, spiritual entrepreneur, spiritual entrepreneurship, spiritual business coach, podcasting for spiritual entrepreneurs, starting a spiritual business, how to grow a spiritual business, podcast for beginners, podcast coaching, finding your voice, women entrepreneurs over 40, women entrepreneurs over 50, career change after 50, starting over after 50, Divine Feminine podcast, spirituality podcast, spiritual growth, spiritual teacher, yoga teacher business, Reiki business, tarot business, intuitive business, online spiritual business, heart centered business, authentic marketing, spiritual business training, spiritual business class, Bertena Varney, Spiritual Sanctuary podcast, bertena.org 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Find Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here

What is the difference between tarot cards and oracle cards? Which deck is easier for beginners? Can you use tarot and oracle cards together—and how do you choose the right deck for your spiritual practice? In this fun and beginner-friendly episode, Bertena explains the differences between tarot and oracle cards without making either practice feel complicated or intimidating. Tarot and oracle cards can both support intuition, spiritual growth, self-reflection, journaling, and personal guidance, but they do not follow the same system. A traditional tarot deck contains 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. Tarot follows a recognizable structure that includes four suits, numbered cards, and court cards. Because the cards belong to a shared system, tarot can offer a detailed look at relationships, decisions, challenges, repeating patterns, and possible next steps. Oracle decks have much more freedom. There is no required number of cards or universal oracle-card structure. Each creator chooses the deck’s theme, artwork, messages, and method of interpretation. Oracle cards may focus on goddesses, angels, ancestors, animals, affirmations, moon cycles, chakras, healing, shadow work, or another spiritual subject. If tarot is a language with its own grammar, every oracle deck is an individual conversation. In this episode, Bertena explains why oracle cards may feel easier when you are beginning, how tarot becomes easier once you recognize its patterns, and why you do not have to choose only one. In This Episode You Will LearnThe main differences between tarot and oracle cardsWhy traditional tarot decks contain 78 cardsHow the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana workWhy oracle decks do not follow one universal structureWhether tarot or oracle cards are easier for beginnersHow to choose your first tarot or oracle deckHow to ask better questions during a card readingHow to combine tarot and oracle cards in the same readingHow to begin reading cards without memorizing every meaningWhether you need to use reversed tarot cardsWhy you do not have to receive your first deck as a giftSimple ways to connect with your intuitionHow to use cards without surrendering your judgment or personal power Bertena also guides you through a simple card-reading practice you can try during the episode. If you are using an oracle deck, you will pull one card and explore its message, imagery, and connection to your life. If you are using tarot, you will pull three cards representing: What you already knowWhat you may not be seeing clearlyOne helpful next step You do not have to produce a perfect interpretation. Begin by noticing the colors, people, symbols, emotions, and movement within the card. Your honest first response can be just as valuable as the meaning in the guidebook. Can Tarot and Oracle Cards Be Used Together?Yes. Tarot and oracle cards can work beautifully together. You might begin with one oracle card to reveal the main spiritual theme of your reading. You can then pull tarot cards to explore the situation, challenge, and next step in greater detail. Finish with another oracle card for encouragement, reflection, or a closing message. Think of the oracle card as the title of the chapter and the tarot cards as the pages that explain the story. Learn Tarot and Oracle with BertenaIf you are ready to explore tarot and oracle cards in a welcoming and practical environment, join Bertena for her upcoming in-person class on October 11. Bertena also offers live Zoom classes for students who want to learn from home and online courses for those who prefer to study at their own pace. These classes are designed for beginners, returning students, intuitive readers, and anyone who wants to build confidence while developing a deeper relationship with the cards. Visit Bertena.org to explore current classes and registration information. While you are there, sign up for Bertena’s newsletter to receive announcements about upcoming tarot and oracle classes, Zoom gatherings, online courses, podcast episodes, spiritual teachings, and special events. Subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with someone who owns a deck—or someone standing in front of an entire wall of decks wondering which one to choose. Episode Keywordstarot vs oracle cards, difference between tarot and oracle cards, tarot cards for beginners, oracle cards for beginners, how to read tarot cards, how to read oracle cards, tarot and oracle reading, tarot deck meanings, oracle deck meanings, beginner tarot reading, choosing your first tarot deck, choosing an oracle deck, Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, tarot card suits, intuitive card reading, spiritual card reading, tarot classes, oracle card classes, online tarot course, Zoom tarot class, tarot and oracle workshop, develop your intuition, divination for beginners, Bertena

Many people say they hate history—and honestly, that breaks my heart. As an historian, former high school and college history teacher, and lifelong lover of ancient history, I understand why people feel this way. Too often, history is taught as a lifeless collection of names, wars, rulers, and dates to memorize. But real history is filled with sacred stories, powerful women, ancient goddesses, spiritual traditions, political struggles, acts of resistance, and people searching for meaning. History is not separate from the priestess path. It is one of its foundations. In this episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, I explore why understanding history, mythology, and cultural context is essential for anyone studying goddess spirituality or answering the call to become a modern priestess. We look at the stories and traditions surrounding Inanna and Enheduanna, Isis, Demeter and Persephone, Hecate, Brigid, and Oshun. These sacred figures teach us about initiation, grief, transformation, healing, protection, creativity, leadership, cultural respect, and the responsible use of spiritual power. We also discuss why goddesses cannot be reduced to simple keywords or inspirational sayings. Aphrodite is more than romance. Sekhmet is more than anger. Hecate is more than a dark-moon aesthetic. Isis is more than motherhood. The goddesses are powerful, complicated, and sometimes contradictory—and that complexity has something important to teach us. Knowing history helps a priestess understand where spiritual practices originated, how myths changed over time, whose voices were preserved, and whose stories were ignored or erased. It also teaches us how to distinguish between an ancient source, a later tradition, a modern spiritual interpretation, and something received through personal intuition. All of these can be meaningful, but they are not the same. In this episode, we also explore cultural appropriation, colonization, living spiritual traditions, historical evidence, primary sources, mythology, ritual, divination, spiritual discernment, and ethical priestess leadership. History does not take the magic out of spiritual practice. History gives the magic roots. In This Episode, You Will DiscoverWhy history is an essential part of priestess trainingWhy many people believe they hate historyHow mythology carries cultural and spiritual memoryWhat Inanna’s descent can teach us about initiation and responsibilityWhy Enheduanna remains important to women’s sacred writing and spiritual leadershipHow Isis demonstrates healing, perseverance, protection, and sacred intelligenceWhat Demeter and Persephone teach us about grief, power, consent, and transformationWhy Hecate’s crossroads can help us understand ethical spiritual guidanceHow Brigid connects creativity, healing, devotion, and living traditionsWhy Oshun must be approached with respect for Yoruba religion and its practitionersThe difference between historical fact, mythology, modern interpretation, and personal intuitionHow historical knowledge strengthens ritual, divination, and intuitive developmentWhy honoring the Divine Feminine also requires examining power, culture, colonization, and inequalitySimple ways to study ancient history without becoming overwhelmedWhat history can teach modern priestesses about accountability, consent, boundaries, and leadership A Question to Carry With YouWhat would it mean for you to become a better spiritual ancestor? The communities we create, the language we normalize, the people we welcome, the boundaries we uphold, and the teachings we pass forward will become part of someone else’s spiritual inheritance. You do not have to memorize thousands of years of history to walk the priestess path. You simply need to remain curious, ask thoughtful questions, honor your sources, and be willing to keep learning. Continue Your Priestess JourneyIf this conversation awakens something within you, I invite you to explore the Priestess Academy and Level 3: Awakening the Priestess Within. This training brings together historically grounded goddess studies, Divine Feminine wisdom, mythology, intuition, ritual, healing, embodiment, ethical spiritual leadership, and modern priestess practice. The goal is not to imitate an imagined ancient past. The goal is to become a wise, grounded, embodied, and responsible priestess in the world we are living in today. Learn more about my Priestess Academy, spiritual classes, courses, podcast, and other offerings at: https://www.bertena.org Connect With Spiritual SanctuaryListen to more episodes of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine: https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves goddesses but still feels nervous whenever she hears the word “timeline.” SEO KeywordsPriestess training, modern priestess path, goddess spirituality, Divine Feminine spirituality, goddess mythology, ancient goddesses, sacred history, women’s spirituality, Inanna, Enheduanna, Isis, Demeter and Persephone, Hecate, Brigid, Oshun, spiritual leadership, intuitive development, divination, sacred ritual, mythology and history, cultural appropriation, ethical spirituality, goddess studies, priestess initiation, Divine Feminine wisdom, ancient religion, spiritual discernment, women in ancient history

What does it mean to be a Priestess today?Do you need psychic abilities, elaborate rituals or devotion to a particular goddess to become a Priestess? Or could the Priestess already be present in the way you teach, heal, create, study, lead and support others? In this episode of the Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast, Bertena explores the meaning of the modern Priestess, the history of feminine spiritual leadership, the Sacred Feminine, goddess spirituality, intuition, discernment and sacred ritual. Perhaps you do not need to become a Priestess. Perhaps you are being invited to remember the Priestess already within you. What is a modern Priestess?A modern Priestess is someone who consciously creates a relationship with the sacred through spiritual practice, intuition, study, healing, ritual, creativity, community or service. She does not have to work in a temple or publicly call herself a Priestess. She may be a teacher, healer, yoga practitioner, intuitive reader, artist, caregiver, business owner, spiritual coach or community leader. What are the different Priestess archetypes?In this episode, you will meet eight modern Priestess archetypes: Temple Priestess: Creates ritual, ceremony and sacred spaceOracle Priestess: Works with intuition, tarot, dreams and symbolsHealing Priestess: Supports healing through Reiki, yoga, meditation or compassionate presenceEarth Priestess: Connects with nature, seasons, plants, animals and the moonScholar Priestess: Studies mythology, religion, history and spiritual traditionsCreative Priestess: Expresses the sacred through art, writing, movement or musicCommunity Priestess: Gathers people and creates spiritual belongingThreshold Priestess: Supports others through grief, menopause, illness, awakening and life transitions You may recognize yourself in more than one archetype. What is the Sacred Feminine?The Sacred Feminine is not limited to softness, nurturing, beauty and moonlight. She also represents boundaries, courage, righteous anger, grief, transformation, death and renewal. She is the Maiden, Mother, Lover, Warrior, Queen, Witch, Mystic, Elder and Crone. The Sacred Feminine reminds us that our bodies, voices, emotions, boundaries and lived experiences can all be part of our spiritual paths. How can you tell the difference between intuition and fear?Intuition is often simple and clear. Fear may feel repetitive, urgent, catastrophic or overwhelming. However, there is no perfect formula. Spiritual discernment asks: Does this message create clarity or panic?Does it empower me or make me dependent?Does it respect consent and personal choice?Does it align with my values?What facts support or challenge it?Could this feeling come from fear, hope, grief or projection?Do I need more information before acting? Spirituality should support your judgment—not replace medical care, mental-health treatment, legal advice, financial guidance or practical action. How do you begin a Priestess practice?You do not need hours of daily ritual. A realistic Priestess practice might include lighting a candle, pulling one card, journaling, meditating for five minutes, practicing gentle yoga, walking outside, studying a goddess or creating a small sacred space. One sincere practice can become a doorway. In this episode, you will learn:What a Priestess isWhat the Priestess Path means todayHow ancient and modern Priestess roles differEight modern Priestess archetypesWhat the Divine Feminine and Sacred Feminine representHow goddess spirituality can support personal growthHow to develop intuition with discernmentHow to create sacred rituals for everyday lifeHow to begin a realistic spiritual practiceHow to recognize the Priestess already within you Join Remembering the PriestessJoin Bertena for: Remembering the Priestess: A 3-Hour Introduction to the Sacred Feminine Path Sunday, 1:00–4:00 PM Central Attend in person at Cosmic Connections in Nashville or live on Zoom No previous experience or particular religious belief is required. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore. Register for the in-person or Zoom class: https://www.bertena.org/en/event/remembering-the-priestess-in-person-and-on-zoom/5427/ Connect With BertenaListen to the Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast: https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thespiritualsanctuary11 Read more spiritual articles: https://www.bertena.org/en/blog Explore classes, Priestess teachings, spiritual coaching, books and inclusive yoga: https://www.bertena.org/en About BertenaBertena is a Priestess, spiritual coach, yoga teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, intuitive reader, author and lifelong student of the sacred. She combines decades of teaching experience with Divine Feminine spirituality, goddess studies, Reiki, meditation, yoga and divination. Her work helps women and spiritual seekers strengthen their intuition, reconnect with their bodies and create grounded, accessible and authentic spiritual practices. Questions Answered in This EpisodeWhat is a Priestess? What does a modern Priestess do? How do you become a Priestess? What is the Priestess Path? What are the different Priestess archetypes? What is the Sacred Feminine? What is the Divine Feminine? How do you awaken feminine energy? How can you develop your intuition? How do you distinguish intuition from fear? How do you create a spiritual practice? How do you create sacred rituals at home? SEO KeywordsPriestess Path, modern Priestess, what is a Priestess, how to become a Priestess, remembering the Priestess, Priestess archetypes, Sacred Feminine, Divine Feminine, goddess spirituality, feminine spiritual leadership, spiritual awakening, develop intuition, intuition versus fear, spiritual discernment, sacred ritual, spiritual practice, women’s spirituality, Priestess training, Priestess Academy, Reiki, meditation, tarot, oracle cards, Nashville spiritual classes, online Priestess class, Zoom spiritual class

Discover Ishtar, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, desire, sovereignty, courage, and transformation. In this episode of the Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast, Bertena explores the mythology, symbols, spiritual meaning, and enduring wisdom of Ishtar, who is closely connected with the earlier Sumerian goddess Inanna. Ishtar is associated with the planet Venus, the morning and evening star, the lion, the rosette, and the eight-pointed star. She embodies qualities that may appear contradictory: love and warfare, tenderness and power, beauty and danger, heaven and the underworld. You will learn about: The history and mythology of Ishtar and InannaIshtar’s connection with love, power, desire, and warfareThe spiritual meaning of the lion and eight-pointed starIshtar’s descent into the underworldThe seven gates as a modern tool for spiritual reflectionReleasing outdated roles, expectations, and identitiesReclaiming your voice, confidence, desires, and personal powerHonoring both your softness and your strengthUsing goddess mythology to support personal and spiritual transformation This episode also explores what Ishtar can teach modern spiritual seekers about boundaries, sacred desire, shadow work, confidence, spiritual awakening, and becoming more fully ourselves. If you feel drawn to Ishtar, Inanna, goddess spirituality, or the Divine Feminine, visit https://www.bertena.org to explore the Ishtar guided meditation, Divine Feminine Meditation, Priestess Academy, and Level 2: Goddess Studies. Subscribe to the Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast for more episodes about goddess teachings, intuition, Reiki, meditation, divination, spiritual development, sacred leadership, and creating an authentic spiritual practice. Keywords: Ishtar goddess, Inanna goddess, Divine Feminine, Ishtar mythology, Ishtar descent, goddess meditation, goddess spirituality, Mesopotamian goddess, spiritual awakening, shadow work, sacred feminine, priestess path, goddess studies, personal transformation, spiritual development🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

Connect with the powerful energy of Ishtar, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess associated with love, courage, desire, sovereignty, transformation, and the morning and evening star. In this guided Divine Feminine meditation, you will be invited to slow down, connect with your inner wisdom, and reflect on the parts of yourself you are ready to reclaim. Ishtar reminds us that we can be loving and powerful, gentle and courageous, spiritual and fully human. During this meditation, you will be guided to: Connect with the light of the morning and evening starRelease identities, expectations, and beliefs that no longer serve youReclaim your voice, desires, confidence, and personal powerHonor both your softness and your strengthListen for guidance from your intuitionReflect on the next stage of your spiritual journey No previous meditation experience is necessary. You may participate while sitting in a chair, resting in bed, or lying comfortably on the floor. Choose the position that best supports your body. Please do not listen while driving or doing anything that requires your full attention. To continue exploring Ishtar, goddess traditions, and the Divine Feminine, visit https://www.bertena.org. You can also learn more about: Divine Feminine MeditationLevel 2: Goddess StudiesThe Priestess AcademySpiritual coaching and intuitive developmentReiki, meditation, and online spiritual courses Subscribe to the Spiritual Sanctuary YouTube Channel for guided meditations, goddess teachings, intuition development, Reiki, divination, spiritual reflection, and practical support for creating a sacred practice that is truly your own. #Ishtar #IshtarMeditation #GoddessIshtar #Inanna #DivineFeminine #GoddessMeditation #GuidedMeditation #PriestessPath #GoddessStudies #SpiritualAwakening #Intuition #SpiritualSanctuary🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

Have you ever reached a point where your body simply said, “Enough”? That is where I found myself this week. I have been in pain since Sunday, sleeping more than usual, waking at strange hours, and feeling like I have quite literally been hit by a bus. I don’t completely know what is happening physically yet—and I believe we should always listen to our bodies and seek answers when something doesn’t feel right. But while I was lying there, exhausted and hurting, another thought kept coming to me: It is the last week of August. And this time of year has always felt like a spiritual threshold to me. We are moving out of the fullness of summer and toward harvest season. Nature begins changing, and perhaps we are being invited to change with it. In this deeply personal episode, I talk about the spiritual meaning of the end of August, seasonal transitions, releasing what did not come to fruition, and choosing what we truly want to carry with us into the next season. I keep imagining ourselves as trees. Throughout the year, we grow leaves—dreams, plans, relationships, expectations, projects, identities, and hopes. Some flourish. Some change. Some never become what we thought they would. And eventually, the tree has to release its leaves. Not because the leaves were failures. But because their season is complete. In this episode, we explore: The spiritual meaning of late August and harvest seasonWhy seasonal transitions can feel emotionally and physically intenseListening to your body when you are exhaustedThe difference between resting and giving upReleasing dreams, plans, relationships, and expectations that no longer belong to youWhy something not working out does not necessarily mean you failedHow to recognize what still feels alive in your lifeChoosing one thing to intentionally carry into your personal “harvest”Letting go without anger, shame, or regretThe connection between nature, spiritual practice, intuition, and our own cyclesHow rest can become part of our spiritual practice I also share some of what I have personally been carrying—building, teaching, planning, creating, dreaming, and constantly thinking about what comes next—and what happens when the body finally becomes louder than the plans. This is not an episode about pretending that every illness, ache, or difficult experience has a spiritual explanation. Sometimes our bodies simply need care. But perhaps we can also become curious about the seasons of our lives. What are you carrying simply because you have carried it for a long time? What are you still trying to force into fruition? What dream has changed? What expectation are you ready to release? And most importantly: What still feels alive? As we move toward harvest season, perhaps we do not need to carry everything forward. Perhaps our work is simply to: Hold what’s alive. Let the rest fall. Grab your journal, find a quiet place, and spend this hour reflecting with me on release, rest, intuition, seasonal spirituality, and preparing yourself for the next chapter. SEO Keywords: spiritual meaning of August, end of August spiritual meaning, harvest season spirituality, spiritual awakening, letting go spiritually, seasonal spirituality, autumn spiritual meaning, spiritual exhaustion, spiritual rest, intuitive living, releasing what no longer serves you, personal growth, end of summer reflection, spiritual self-care, harvest reflection, Divine Feminine spirituality, spiritual podcast for women, women over 40 spirituality🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

Dolly Parton was more than music to me. She was part of growing up Appalachian. I was raised in Eastern Kentucky, grew up listening to Dolly’s music, and remember visiting Dollywood as a child. Now, many years later, I live just north of Nashville. As I reflect on Dolly and what she meant to so many of us, I keep coming back to something deeper than her incredible career: Dolly made it okay to be seen. For those of us from Appalachia, that mattered. She came from the mountains of East Tennessee and never seemed to believe she needed to erase her accent, her roots, her femininity, her humor, or her larger-than-life personality to be taken seriously. She showed women that we could be smart and feminine, ambitious and kind, powerful and funny. We could take up space without asking anyone else to become smaller. In this personal tribute, I share memories of growing up in Eastern Kentucky, childhood trips to Dollywood, my connection to Appalachian culture, and how differently I understand Dolly’s influence now that I am an adult living near Nashville. Most of all, I reflect on what I believe may be one of her most beautiful legacies: be yourself, allow yourself to be seen, and love other people enough to let them be themselves too. This is not simply a conversation about a country music legend. It is about Appalachia, belonging, self-acceptance, kindness, women taking up space, remembering where we came from, and what it means to leave love behind. Be seen. Be yourself. Remember where you came from. And love others enough to let them be themselves too. Topics: Dolly Parton tribute, remembering Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton legacy, Appalachia, Appalachian women, Eastern Kentucky, East Tennessee, Dollywood memories, country music, women empowerment, authenticity, self-acceptance, kindness, love, Appalachian culture, Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

Are you interested in inclusive yoga teacher training but worried that you are too old, plus-size, inflexible, inexperienced, disabled or living with too many health challenges to become a yoga teacher? Bertena understands that fear because she was once told that she was too sick to complete yoga teacher training. In this heartfelt episode of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena shares her personal yoga journey, the pain of being excluded from her first yoga teacher training opportunity and how she found another teacher and another path. She explains how that experience eventually inspired her to create Rose Temple Yoga School and its 200-Hour Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training. This episode explores why yoga and yoga teacher training must become more welcoming to older adults, people in larger bodies, beginners, people with disabilities or limited mobility, and those living with chronic illness. Bertena discusses the difference between adapting yoga to support the individual and forcing the individual to fit a narrow image of yoga. She shares why accessible yoga is not “lesser” yoga and why using a chair, wall, bolster, blanket or bed can be a respected part of the practice. You will also learn about: Bertena’s experience of being told she was too sick for yoga teacher trainingHow she completed her 200-hour training while teaching collegeWhy representation matters in yogaInclusive, accessible and trauma-aware yoga teachingGentle yoga, chair yoga, restorative yoga and Yin yogaSomatic movement, meditation and Yoga NidraYoga teacher training for older adults and changing bodiesYoga for people with chronic illness or limited mobilityRose Temple Yoga School’s professional teaching pathwayThe personal and spiritual enrichment pathwayIn-person and hybrid Zoom training optionsHow to request information about the 2027 program Rose Temple Yoga School believes that you do not have to be young, thin, athletic or exceptionally flexible to practice yoga or become a meaningful yoga teacher. The inaugural Rose Temple 200-Hour Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training begins in January 2027. Students may participate in person at Cosmic Connections in Nashville or through the hybrid Zoom option when they cannot attend every session in person. Some live Zoom lectures and gatherings are required for all students. Early-enrollment tuition is $2,500 through November 30, 2026. Tuition increases to $3,000 beginning December 1. A $250 nonrefundable deposit reserves your place and is applied toward tuition. Payment plans are available. Books, supplies, yoga props, travel and lodging are not included. Learn more and request information about the Rose Temple 200-Hour Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training: https://www.bertena.org/en/yoga-teacher-training Explore more episodes of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine: https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast Learn more about Bertena’s classes, books, spiritual teachings and services: https://www.bertena.org/en If this episode speaks to you, follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who has ever believed that yoga was not meant for their body. Your body belongs in yoga. Your wisdom belongs in the room. Your path can begin here. Keywords: inclusive yoga teacher training, 200-hour yoga teacher training, accessible yoga, chair yoga teacher training, gentle yoga, restorative yoga, Yin yoga, somatic yoga, yoga for older adults, yoga for plus-size bodies, yoga for chronic illness, adaptive yoga, trauma-aware yoga, spiritual yoga teacher training, hybrid yoga teacher training, Nashville yoga teacher training and Rose Temple Yoga School.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

A New Moon in Leo, a total solar eclipse, a six-planet morning alignment, and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower are all arriving together—creating a powerful moment for reflection, creativity, courage, visibility, and release. In this episode of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena explores both the astronomical events and their possible spiritual meanings. The New Moon and solar eclipse in Leo invite us to consider how we shine, lead, create, and express our authentic selves. The six-planet parade encourages us to bring communication, action, faith, structure, freedom, and intuition into balance. The Perseid meteor shower offers a beautiful reminder that release can become light. Bertena also shares a fun and personal reflection on her birth chart as a Scorpio born on November 11. She explores her Scorpio Sun, Virgo Moon, strong Sagittarius influence, and Mars in Pisces—and why a Leo eclipse centered on visibility feels especially personal. Bertena is not a professional astrologer. She simply enjoys studying astrology as a language of symbolism, reflection, and self-discovery. Sometimes your birth chart offers meaningful insight. Sometimes it seems to be minding entirely too much of your business! In This EpisodeWhat is happening in the sky on August 12, 2026The difference between astronomy and astrologyThe spiritual meaning of the New Moon in LeoHow a solar eclipse may represent temporary darkness and transformationCreativity, confidence, leadership, and authentic self-expressionThe difference between healthy visibility and performing for approvalHow to be seen without abandoning your boundariesThe meaning of the six-planet paradeThe spiritual symbolism of the Perseid meteor showerWhy releasing an old identity can be beautifulA guided meditation for courage, creativity, and releaseBertena’s personal Scorpio birth-chart reflectionJournal prompts for integrating these celestial themes The Four Celestial EventsNew Moon in LeoThe New Moon in Leo emphasizes creativity, courage, joy, leadership, confidence, and expression from the heart. It asks: What part of you is ready to step out of the shadows and be seen? Total Solar Eclipse in LeoThe eclipse offers a powerful symbolic reminder: Covered is not the same as destroyed. There may be seasons when grief, illness, rejection, exhaustion, shame, or disappointment passes in front of our light. That does not mean our light has disappeared. Six-Planet Morning AlignmentJupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune will appear spread across the morning sky. Spiritually, these planets can represent different voices within us: Mercury: thought and communicationMars: action and courageJupiter: faith and expansionSaturn: structure and boundariesUranus: freedom and changeNeptune: spirituality, imagination, and compassion Perseid Meteor ShowerThe Perseid meteor shower reminds us that ancient debris can become light. Something can end and still create beauty. Something can be released without being rejected. A former version of ourselves can be honored without being allowed to control our future. Journal PromptsWhat part of me is ready to be seen with love?Where have I confused humility with invisibility?What am I ready to create from my heart?What outdated identity am I ready to release?How can I become more visible without abandoning my boundaries?Which do I need most right now: clarity, action, faith, structure, freedom, or compassion?What practical step will help my intention become real?What am I ready to let burn into light? Closing AffirmationI honor the mystery above me and the wisdom within me. I welcome beginnings rooted in truth. I allow myself to be visible without abandoning my boundaries. I create from the heart, act with discernment, and release what has completed its purpose. Even when the light is temporarily hidden, I remember that it remains. And I remember that I remain. Listen and ConnectExplore more episodes of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, along with Bertena’s classes, books, spiritual resources, and community: https://www.bertena.org Podcast page: https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast Join Bertena on Substack: https://bertena.substack.com Book an in-person service, reading, energy session, or private class with Bertena at Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com/pages/bertena-varney Podcast SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Cosmic Connections, Nashville’s metaphysical and spiritual resource center. Use code BertenaPodcast10 to receive 10% off your in-store or online purchase. https://yourcosmicconnections.com Eclipse SafetyNever look directly at the Sun during an eclipse without certified eclipse viewers meeting the ISO 12312-2 safety standard. Regular sunglasses are not safe. Cameras, binoculars, and telescopes also require properly fitted solar filters. DisclaimerThis podcast is offered for education, spiritual reflection, and entertainment. Bertena is not presenting herself as a professional astrologer or astronomer. Astrology is discussed as a symbolic tool for personal reflection and should not replace professional medical, mental-health, legal, or financial guidance. Keep what resonates, leave what does not, and remain the authority over your own life.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com Leo solar eclipse 2026, New Moon in Leo, August 12 eclipse, spiritual meaning of eclipses, planet parade, planetary alignment, Perseid meteor shower, Divine Feminine spirituality, eclipse meditation, Scorpio astrology, spiritual awakening, authentic self-expression, visibility and confidence, New Moon ritual, Bertena Varney, Spiritual Sanctuary podcast

Can you be deeply spiritual, devoted to serving others, abundant, supported, and well-paid? In this episode of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena welcomes Leslie of Music City Healing for an honest and transformative conversation about womb healing, spiritual abundance, devoted service, and the subconscious beliefs that can keep women trapped in poverty, sacrifice, and overgiving. Leslie shares her personal experience of devotion and taking a vow of poverty during her time as a nun. Together, Leslie and Bertena explore how formal and informal “vows” can continue influencing our relationships with money, visibility, self-worth, service, and receiving—even after our lives and circumstances have changed. Many healers, intuitives, caregivers, spiritual teachers, and heart-centered women have been taught that being spiritual means giving without limits. We may believe that charging for our gifts is selfish, that suffering proves our devotion, or that caring for ourselves takes something away from the people we serve. But devotion does not have to mean deprivation—and sacred service should not require self-abandonment. Leslie explains the “trance of lack” and how subconscious beliefs may cause women to undercharge, remain invisible, reject support, feel guilty about desiring more, or give until they are depleted. She also discusses how transformational hypnosis can help release these limiting beliefs and anchor a more empowering truth: We can be spiritual, in service, abundant, supported, and well-paid. Bertena then explores Divine Feminine healing and the womb as a sacred physical, energetic, and symbolic center of creativity, intuition, receiving, transformation, and personal power. Womb healing is not limited to fertility or motherhood. This practice can be meaningful for women of every age and life experience, including those who are postmenopausal, have experienced hysterectomy or pregnancy loss, or do not have a physical womb. The healing centers on reconnecting with the body, creative center, intuition, and capacity to receive. In this episode, you will discover: The difference between spiritual simplicity and chronic lackHow inherited, religious, cultural, and subconscious beliefs can affect abundanceWhy healers and caregivers sometimes struggle to charge for their giftsHow overgiving can become a form of self-abandonmentWhat it means to serve from fullness instead of depletionHow hypnosis can help transform subconscious beliefsThe womb’s connection to intuition, creativity, power, and receivingWhy boundaries are an essential part of sacred serviceHow to embrace abundance without compromising your spiritual valuesWhat it means to embody the Sovereign Feminine Questions for ReflectionWhat did you learn about women, spirituality, money, and service?Where are you giving more than you can sustainably offer?Do you feel guilty when you rest, receive help, or charge for your gifts?What belief about poverty or sacrifice are you ready to release?What part of your feminine power are you ready to reclaim?What are you finally willing to receive? Join Us In PersonContinue this healing journey with Leslie and Bertena at: The Sovereign Feminine: Womb Healing, Abundance & Devoted Service Sunday, August 9 12:30–2:30 p.m. The Healing Society of Nashville Investment: $55 During this powerful in-person experience, Leslie will share more of her story and guide participants through transformational hypnosis to help release the trance of lack. Bertena will then lead a Divine Feminine Healing and Womb Healing to help participants reconnect with the womb and creative center as a sacred place of power, abundance, intuition, and receiving. The gathering will close with journaling and reflection to help you integrate what you have released, reclaimed, and opened yourself to receive. Visit Bertena.org, click Classes, and register for Sunday’s event. Book a Private SessionWould you like to work privately with Bertena or Leslie? Visit our sponsor, Cosmic Connections, to learn more and sign up for private readings, healing sessions, spiritual guidance, hypnosis, and other services. While you are there, use code BERTENAPODCAST10 to receive 10% off your in-store or online purchase. To explore Bertena’s classes, podcast, books, healing work, and spiritual community, visit Bertena.org. To learn more about Leslie, transformational hypnosis, Akashic Records readings, abundance work, and private spiritual healing sessions, visit MusicCityHealing.com. Closing AffirmationI release the belief that I must suffer to be of service. I am allowed to be spiritual, devoted, abundant, supported, and well-paid. My body is sacred, my gifts are valuable, and I am open to receiving. SEO KeywordsSovereign Feminine, womb healing, Divine Feminine healing, spiritual abundance, releasing scarcity, vow of poverty, transformational hypnosis, women and money, healing overgiving, spiritual women, feminine sovereignty, receiving abundance, healing the womb, devoted service, healer burnout, subconscious money beliefs, Nashville spiritual events, Nashville womb healing, Divine Feminine Nashville, Music City Healing, Bertena🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

What is Lammas, and how is it connected to the older Celtic festival of Lughnasadh? In Episode 125 of The Spiritual Sanctuary, Bertena explores the history, meaning, and spiritual symbolism of the first harvest celebration traditionally observed around August 1. Lammas is often associated with bread, grain, gratitude, and the beginning of the harvest season. Its name comes from the idea of “loaf mass,” when bread made from the first grain harvest was offered in blessing and thanksgiving. The episode also explores Lughnasadh, the older Gaelic festival connected with Lugh, the many-skilled god associated with leadership, craftsmanship, poetry, music, knowledge, and mastery. Although Lughnasadh carries the name of Lugh, one of the most meaningful figures connected with the celebration is his foster mother, Tailtiu. Tailtiu is remembered as a legendary queen who cleared the land for agriculture and died from exhaustion after completing the work. Lugh is said to have established funeral games and a great gathering in her honor. Today, many spiritual practitioners honor Tailtiu as a goddess or sacred figure connected with the earth, agriculture, harvest, land, sovereignty, sacrifice, and the unseen labor that makes abundance possible. In this episode, Bertena discusses how the story of Tailtiu can be especially meaningful for women. Her story reminds us to honor the work that often goes unnoticed while also recognizing that women should not have to exhaust or sacrifice themselves completely to prove their worth. Lammas and Lughnasadh invite us to celebrate what is beginning to grow and ripen in our lives, even when the full harvest has not yet arrived. In This Episode, You Will LearnWhat Lammas means and why it is called the first harvestThe difference between Lammas and LughnasadhThe history of Lughnasadh as a Gaelic seasonal festivalWho the Celtic god Lugh wasWhy Lugh was known as the many-skilled oneThe story of Lugh’s foster mother, TailtiuWhy Tailtiu is associated with the land, harvest, sacrifice, and women’s laborHow Lughnasadh was celebrated through fairs, games, markets, music, storytelling, pilgrimage, and community gatheringsThe spiritual meaning of bread and grainWhy the first harvest represents progress rather than completionSimple and respectful ways to honor Lammas at homeHow to recognize your own emotional, spiritual, and personal harvest Simple Ways to Celebrate Lammas at HomeYou do not need an elaborate ceremony or expensive spiritual tools to connect with the season. You can honor Lammas by: Blessing and mindfully eating a piece of breadPreparing a meal with seasonal or locally grown foodSupporting a local farmer or marketDonating food to a community pantryCreating a small altar with grain, fruit, flowers, or a candleWriting about what has grown in your life this yearThanking someone whose work is often overlookedResting instead of pushing yourself into exhaustionCaring for your garden, neighborhood, or local environmentSharing food, time, encouragement, or wisdom with someone else The heart of Lammas is gratitude, community, reflection, and recognizing that the first signs of growth are worthy of celebration. Join the Lammas Women’s CircleBertena will be leading a special Lammas Women’s Circle this Sunday at Cosmic Connections in Nashville. This gathering will offer women an opportunity to honor the first harvest, connect with the symbolism of Lugh and Tailtiu, reflect upon what is ripening in their lives, and gather in meaningful spiritual community. You do not need previous experience with Celtic spirituality, Paganism, goddess traditions, or the Wheel of the Year to attend. Come as you are and bring both the parts of your life that are flourishing and the parts that are still growing. This Episode Is Sponsored by Cosmic ConnectionsCosmic Connections is a spiritual store and gathering place in Nashville offering crystals, books, herbs, candles, divination tools, spiritual gifts, readings, healing sessions, classes, and community events. Use the code BertenaPodcast10 to receive 10% off your purchase online or inside the Cosmic Connections store. Receive the Wheel of the Year Monthly Mini LessonsSign up for Bertena’s newsletter at bertena.org and receive the Wheel of the Year Monthly Mini Lessons, a spiritual lesson collection worth more than $60. To join: Visit bertena.org and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the newsletter signup form. The Wheel of the Year lessons explore the seasonal festivals and sacred turning points of the year, including: SamhainYuleImbolcOstaraBeltaneLithaLammas and LughnasadhMabon These lessons will help you create a deeper relationship with the seasons, spiritual cycles, ritual, reflection, and the rhythms of nature. Reflection QuestionsUse these questions for journaling after listening: What is beginning to ripen in my life?What progress have I overlooked because the journey is not complete?Which of my skills deserve to be recognized and developed?Whose unseen labor has helped prepare the way for me?Where am I giving so much that I am becoming depleted?How can I allow my harvest to nourish me too?What can I share with my family, community, or spiritual circle?What am I ready to gather, celebrate, or release? Connect With BertenaVisit bertena.org to learn more about: Spiritual classes and gatheringsDivine Feminine teachingsPriestess AcademyTarot and oracle readingsTea leaf readingsReiki and energy-healing sessionsChakra balancing and energy clearingInclusive yoga and meditationSpiritual coaching and life coachingBooks, downloads, podcasts, and community offerings Listen and FollowFollow The Spiritual Sanctuary so you do not miss future episodes exploring the Divine Feminine, seasonal spirituality, goddess traditions, intuition, meditation, divination, sacred circles, healing, and spiritual growth. If this episode speaks to you, please share it with someone who is learning to honor her own seasons, recognize her progress, and celebrate the sacred harvest within her life.

Celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene on July 22 with a guided spiritual experience centered on Divine Feminine wisdom, sacred intuition, healing, courage, and personal transformation. In this special episode of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena guides you through the history and spiritual meaning of Mary Magdalene’s feast day, an invocation of the Divine Feminine, a relaxing guided meditation, a sacred candle-and-water ritual, intuition-development exercises, journal prompts, affirmations, and a closing prayer. Mary Magdalene is remembered as a devoted disciple, sacred witness, and courageous messenger. She remained present through grief, witnessed the resurrection, and carried a message of hope to the other disciples. Because of this important role, she has often been called the Apostle to the Apostles. Her story invites us to explore our own spiritual voices. Where are you being asked to trust your intuition? What truth are you ready to acknowledge? What part of yourself are you being called to reclaim? What new beginning may be emerging from an ending in your life? This guided Mary Magdalene ritual will help you slow down, listen within, and reconnect with your sacred inner wisdom. In This Episode, You Will ExperienceAn opening invocation of the Divine FeminineThe spiritual meaning of Mary Magdalene and her July 22 feast dayA teaching on Mary Magdalene as a sacred witness and messengerA guided Divine Feminine meditationA Mary Magdalene candle ritualA sacred water blessing for healing and intuitionA rose ritual for spiritual unfolding and self-trustAn optional heart-anointing practiceAn intuition-development exerciseGuidance for distinguishing intuition from fearMary Magdalene journal promptsA closing prayer and feast-day affirmation Gather These Optional Ritual ItemsBefore listening, you may wish to gather: A candle or battery-operated candleA bowl or glass of waterA rose or another flowerA journal and penAn oracle card deckA meaningful spiritual objectRose water or a skin-safe anointing oil You do not need any special supplies to participate. Every part of the ritual can also be completed through visualization. Please do not participate in the guided meditation while driving or performing a task that requires your full attention. This Episode Is for You If You AreExploring Mary Magdalene spiritualityHonoring the Feast of Mary MagdaleneDeveloping your intuitionFollowing a Divine Feminine spiritual pathHealing your relationship with self-trustLearning to distinguish intuition from anxiety or fearReclaiming your spiritual voiceMoving through grief, change, or transformationCreating a personal feast-day ritualInterested in meditation, ritual, journaling, or sacred feminine wisdomSeeking a deeper connection with Mary MagdaleneLooking for a guided spiritual practice for July 22 Mary Magdalene Journal PromptsAfter listening, reflect on one or more of these questions: What does Mary Magdalene represent to me?What part of her story speaks to my current season of life?What ending am I currently grieving?What new beginning may be quietly emerging?What part of myself am I ready to reclaim?Where have I been taught to distrust my intuition?What truth have I known but hesitated to acknowledge?Where am I being asked to choose courage instead of approval?What boundary would help protect my spiritual and emotional energy?What message of healing, hope, or love am I being asked to carry?As I embrace my Divine Feminine intuition, I give myself permission to… Feast-Day AffirmationI honor the sacred wisdom within me.I remain present to love.I trust the truth revealed within my heart.I release the need for everyone to understand my path.I walk forward with devotion, discernment, and courage.My voice carries light.My life carries meaning.I am willing to become a messenger of hope.Listen to more episodes of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine and explore Bertena’s spiritual classes, Divine Feminine teachings, Priestess Academy, readings, and energy-healing services at: bertena.org Please share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that her intuition, spiritual experiences, wisdom, and voice matter. Mary Magdalene, Mary Magdalene Feast Day, Feast of Mary Magdalene, July 22 feast day, Mary Magdalene ritual, Mary Magdalene meditation, Mary Magdalene prayer, Divine Feminine, Divine Feminine meditation, Divine Feminine ritual, sacred feminine, feminine spirituality, intuition development, how to trust your intuition, spiritual intuition, guided meditation, sacred ritual, candle ritual, water blessing, rose ritual, spiritual healing, spiritual awakening, women’s spirituality, Divine Feminine wisdom, Mary Magdalene spirituality, Apostle to the Apostles, sacred feminine healing, journal prompts, spiritual self-trust, priestess path, feminine empowerment🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com

In this episode of The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena explores Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy, courage, skilled craftsmanship, and sacred leadership. Athena teaches us that wisdom is more than gathering knowledge—it is knowing when, why, and how to use what we know. Her presence invites us to combine intuition with discernment, approach challenges thoughtfully, establish healthy boundaries, and transform our ideas into purposeful action. In this episode, you will explore: Athena’s extraordinary birth and the hidden wisdom of her mother, MetisThe differences between strategic action and impulsive reactionThe spiritual meanings of Athena’s owl, armor, olive tree, and weavingHow to balance intuition with intellect and discernmentAthena’s teachings about courage, anger, and healthy boundariesThe complicated story of Athena and ArachneWhat Athena can teach us about sacred leadershipPractical ways to honor and connect with AthenaReflective questions for your own spiritual journey The teaching concludes with a gentle transition into a meditation for meeting Athena and connecting with the wisdom already living within you. You may experience the meditation from a chair, bed, or the floor. Closing your eyes is always optional. Journal PromptsWhere in my life do I need greater clarity?What situation requires strategy instead of an immediate reaction?Where do I need to establish or strengthen a boundary?What truth am I ready to acknowledge?What am I weaving through my daily choices?How can I bring my intuition and practical wisdom together?What does sacred leadership mean to me? Explore the Priestess PathIf you feel called to explore goddess wisdom, intuition, ritual, sacred service, and Divine Feminine spirituality, you are invited to learn more about the Ancient Arts of the Priestess Academy. Begin with Level 1: The Call of a Priestess, or deepen your journey through Level 2 Goddess Studies, a year-long exploration of the wisdom, archetypes, stories, and spiritual teachings of 52 goddesses. Explore the classes and learn more at bertena.org. Connect With BertenaVisit bertena.org for spiritual classes, events, meditations, priestess teachings, somatic yoga, and membership opportunities. This podcast is offered for spiritual education and personal reflection. It is not a substitute for medical, mental health, or professional care.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com Mentioned in this episode: Cosmic Connections

Discover what somatic yoga is and how gentle, mindful movement can support nervous system regulation, release tension, and deepen your connection with your body. Join Bertena’s Tuesday Somatic Yoga class in person or on Zoom. Visit yourcosmicconnections.com and use code BERTENAFREEYOGA to attend for free.🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhA Subscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville. 🎁 Listener perks: Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11 Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners. 👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com