In this episode, Debra and Rob discuss the first stage of the Hero’s Journey, Departure, exploring its powerful connections to Jung’s concept of individuation. Together, they break down what it truly means to heed the “call to adventure,” grapple with the natural impulse to refuse that call, and why venturing into the unknown is such a pivotal moment for personal growth.

Drawing from Joseph Campbell’s celebrated framework, our hosts discuss the fears, resistance, and life changes that often spark the journey toward transformation—whether it’s a breakup, a new opportunity, an illness, or the desire for a more meaningful life. Debra and Rob illustrate how these external events become invitations to look inward, confront our unconscious, and begin the path toward authentic self-discovery.

You’ll hear thoughtful insights on why true change requires moving beyond comfort zones and external markers of success, and how the support of mentors and guides—especially those skilled in inner work—can help us cross that critical threshold. Whether you’re navigating a challenging transition or searching for deeper purpose, this episode offers both practical guidance and soulful inspiration for embarking on your own hero’s journey. Tune in and take the first step toward discovering the hero within.

Here’s a recap of the elements in the First Stage of the Hero’s Journey: The Departure:

• The call to adventure
• Refusal of the call
• Supernatural aid/Mentor
• Crossing the first threshold
• Belly of the Beast

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Unlock the deeper meaning of your personal growth journey by understanding the timeless connection between myth and psychology. In this kickoff episode of our new series, we're exploring how Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey aligns with Carl Jung’s process of individuation—and why this matters in our fast-paced modern world.

From ancient myths to modern movies, discover how these universal patterns can empower you to reclaim your true self and create a life of purpose. In this episode, we discuss:

• The key similarities and differences between the hero’s journey and Jungian individuation
• Why shadow work is the crucial first step to authenticity and meaningful change
• The role of archetypes like the hero, shadow, anima, and animus in transformation
• How embarking on your own inner journey leads to wholeness—not just for you, but for the collective

Ready to answer the call to adventure within? Subscribe and join us for a series that unpacks these stages each week!

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
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Ready to see through the illusions and discover the true nature of reality? In this transformative episode of Soul Sessions with CreativeMind, Debra and Dr. Rob Maldonado guide you into the depths of “Maya”—the mysterious force behind the appearance of the world as we know it.

Building on last week’s insights on non-dual consciousness, this episode demystifies ancient Eastern philosophy and makes it accessible for anyone ready to live a more awakened, empowered life. In this conversation, we explore:

• What Maya is—and why it’s more than just “illusion”
• How your mind projects reality, and why you experience life as separate and fragmented
• The practical impact of understanding Maya on suffering, relationships, and daily life
• Ways to navigate life’s challenges by embracing non-attachment and higher knowledge

Join us as we blend science, psychology, and timeless wisdom to help you wake up from the dream and live with greater freedom and joy.

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
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In this conversation, Debra and Dr. Rob dive deep into the nature of consciousness from both Eastern and Western perspectives, exploring the fascinating concept of “self-luminous consciousness.”

They break down how past experiences condition our minds to prioritize survival and fear, often shaping our perceptions of reality in limiting ways.

Drawing from ancient Eastern philosophy and insights from neuropsychology, the episode uncovers how consciousness is not just a byproduct of our brains, but the fundamental fabric from which all reality emerges. You’ll hear powerful metaphors and practical examples—including the intriguing analogy of the mind as a customizable app—that help demystify abstract concepts and show how they can be applied to your everyday life, especially when it comes to wealth, self-perception, and personal growth.

If you’ve ever wondered about the deeper connection between the self, the world you experience, and your ability to create a more fulfilling reality, this episode is for you.

Tune in as Debra and Dr. Rob set the stage for next week’s exploration of Maya, promising even more mind-expanding insights into the workings of our consciousness.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between mind, body, and pure self-luminous consciousness
• How past conditioning and the “ego app” limit your possibilities
• The Eastern view that consciousness is the ground of all reality (not a product of the brain)
• Transforming your relationship with fear, success, and abundance by recognizing the true Self
• Practical ways to break free from limiting narratives—whether in money, career, or relationships

Let us know what topics you'd like us to cover. Visit CreativeMindLife.com

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | creativemindlife.com | connect@creativemindmethod.com

What if everything you knew about reality was an illusion?

Continuing our series on Consciousness and Non-Dual Philosophy, In this episode, “Why is there suffering?”, we answer some common questions asked on this topic:

• Why is there suffering in the world?
• Am I the cause of bad things happening to me?
• What is my purpose if everything is one?

Here’s a quick recap of what we covered:

The Three Principles of Non-Dual Philosophy

• Everything is consciousness—without exception.
• Consciousness is one and indivisible. There is not ‘consciousness and something else’—it’s all one.
• YOU are that consciousness!

We explore why the intelligence that created the world would allow bad things to happen. Why is there war and evil? How am I responsible for the events that happen to me in my life?

Dr. Rob breaks it down for us that these tough questions usually come from the ego’s limited perspective. Instead of blaming ourselves, we are invited to see that we are part of the whole, much like branches on a tree. Yes, tragedy and injustice exist in the play of Maya (illusion), but our awareness of them is what connects us, not makes us to blame.

Key Points:

• The three foundational principles of non-dual philosophy and how they apply to daily life
• Why bad things happen to individuals and the world at large from the lens of consciousness, ego, and Maya
• The purpose of suffering, personal identity, and how trauma fits into the greater play of life
• Finding personal and universal purpose: the role of creation, individuation, and the power of inner work

✨ Exercise for the Week Ask yourself: What if I am one with everything? Meditate on that. Notice what arises.

00:00 Introduction
00:15 The Paradigm Shift: Consciousness & Non-Dual Philosophy
01:23 Three Principles of Non-Duality
04:43 Why Do Bad Things Happen? Suffering, Ego, and Responsibility
10:37 Personal Suffering and the Purpose of Pain
12:26 Maya, Duality, and the Nature of Reality
15:37 Healing, Changing Patterns, and Free Will
18:11 Creativity, Evolution, and Lila
19:36 Purpose: Are We Born With It or Do We Learn It?
25:32 Theory, Practice, and the Path to Individuation
26:33 Shadow Work as a Path to Oneness
29:40 Practical Wisdom and Final Thoughts

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

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This week, Debra and Rob peel back the curtain on the concept of non-dual consciousness—a perspective rapidly gaining momentum in science and transformative coaching. Are you just your body and brain, reacting to an outside world? Or are you the consciousness that gives rise to your entire experience?

Here’s what you’ll uncover in this episode:

• The Shift from Materialism to Consciousness: Why leading-edge scientists—and great seers of the past—say consciousness is the ultimate reality, not matter.
• The Rope & The Snake Story: How our minds project meaning onto the world, sometimes mistaking a harmless rope for a dangerous snake. What are you projecting onto your life right now?
• Dreamlike Nature of the World: Are your experiences as solid as you think—or more like passing scenes in a dream?
• Coaching Implications: Learn how these profound frameworks can empower you (or your clients) to move beyond surface-level change and access profound creative power.
• Dealing with Suffering: Why acknowledging the “apparent reality” of your challenges actually opens the door to relief, creativity, and deep joy.

00:00 Introduction & Recap of Consciousness
00:54 Why Non-Dual Consciousness Matters
03:12 Shifting Scientific Paradigms & What It Means for Coaches
04:45 The Upanishads and the Nature of Reality
06:22 Appearance vs. Reality: The Dream Analogy
08:21 Awareness as Absolute Reality
09:16 The Concept of Maya: Apparent Reality
10:31 Implications for Personal Growth and Coaching
11:27 Projecting Happiness and Power Outside Ourselves
13:39 How the Mind Constructs Reality
15:04 Transactional and Apparent Reality
16:20 Does Anything Matter if Reality is an Illusion?
19:30 Is Suffering Real?
21:42 Understanding Suffering Through Awareness
22:21 Coaching Through Questioning Apparent Reality
26:57 Will Life Become Numb Without Suffering?
28:10 Living a Full, Enlightened Life

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
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What if everything you’ve believed about consciousness—and your sense of self—is just the tip of the iceberg? Dive into this mind-expanding episode of Soul Sessions with CreativeMind, as Debra Maldonado and Dr. Robert Maldonado unravel the profound concept of pure consciousness and its origin in ancient non-dual teachings.

Discover how understanding the witness within you can unlock freedom from limiting roles, dissolve feelings of separation, and radically shift how you coach, create, and experience life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What pure consciousness is (and what it isn’t)—drawing from the Upanishads and non-dual philosophy
• The illusion of separation between subject and object, and how your “dreams” shape waking reality
• Why shadow work is essential for truly experiencing non-duality
• Practical ways this awareness can free you from anxiety, redefine your identity, and transform your approach to coaching

Subscribe for the rest of our consciousness series, and tap into the unchanging truth at the core of who you are.

00:00 Introduction
01:03 The Meaning of Consciousness and Non-Duality
02:43 Subject vs. Object: True Nature of Pure Consciousness
05:44 The Illusion of Separation
07:48 Western Science vs. Non-Dual Perspective
09:00 The Witness and the Nature of Thought
16:15 Non-Dual Consciousness and Its Impact on Coaching
17:25 Roles, Shadow Work, and Personal Identity
21:03 Thoughts vs. Pure Consciousness
21:48 The Upanishads’ Story: Dream, Reality, and the Witness
24:45 Implications for Personal Life and Inner Peace

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
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In this captivating episode, we get into the heart of what it means to engage with our shadow, a concept rooted deeply in Jungian psychology. Dr. Connie Zweig illuminates how our shadow comprises all that lies outside the light of awareness—our hidden emotions, desires, and traits suppressed during our upbringing. Whether it's the unfulfilled dream of becoming an artist, a lover of athletics, or the rebellious critic within, your shadow house treasures waiting to be unearthed.

Key Highlights:

• Discover the power of identifying and working with shadow figures such as the inner judge or procrastinator.
• Learn practical methods and cues to recognize when your shadow is emerging in everyday life.
• Understand the impact of shadow work on relationships and how embracing this personal journey can transform interactions and deepen connections.
• Explore the phenomenon of spiritual bypassing and the critical need to balance spiritual aspirations with psychological development.

This episode promises to enrich your understanding and offer practical tools so you can embrace all parts of yourself, creating a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Connie Zweig, Ph.D. is a retired Jungian therapist and author of Meeting the Shadow (A New Edition is now available) and Romancing the Shadow (A New Edition is now available). Her award-winning book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends Shadow-work into midlife and beyond and explores aging as a spiritual practice. Her book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening, extends shadow-work into religion and spirituality. Her new PODCAST, Dr. Neil’s Spiritual Awakening to Non-Duality, posts on all podcast platforms. See her new SUBSTACK for livestreams and new writing: https://www.shadowworkawareness.com/about.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:56 Defining the Shadow

04:59 Translating Shadow Work for Everyday Life

06:03 Methodology for Shadow Work

12:51 Shadow Work in Relationships

16:29 Understanding Projection in Relationships 20:12 Spiritual Bypassing and Projection

24:32 Emotions, Shadow Work, and Spiritual Bypassing

33:58 Approach to Shadow Work in Therapy

44:48 Society, Institutions, and Shadow Work

50:24 Personal Development and Collective Contribution

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Want to be a Certified Jungian Life Coach? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/download-now-lct-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | creativemindlife.com | connect@creativemindmethod.com