A Journey of Grace with Miranda MacPherson. In this riveting episode, we explore how grace can touch our lives with the masterful Miranda MacPherson. Miranda shares her profound practice of Ego Relaxation that emphasizes true surrender and how it is deeply connected to her discovery of experiencing nothing-ness. Drawing from her interfaith background and extensive study of world wisdom traditions, Miranda shares insights about living a life of grace through meditation, inquiry, and psychological integration. She also shares how spiritual practices can provide inner peace and contribute to addressing contemporary global crises. Miranda offers practical wisdom on integrating spiritual practices into daily life, no matter your background or faith.

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Meet Miranda Macpherson

01:38 Miranda's Spiritual Journey

02:58 The Awakening Experience

07:29 Integration and Challenges

14:35 Ego Relaxation Explained

25:56 Spiritual Practice and Collective Wisdom

35:58 Cherishing Spiritual Practices

48:24 Conclusion and Upcoming Programs

To learn more about Miranda and her teachings, visit: https://mirandamacpherson.com/

You can also find her books on Amazon: The Way of Grace, The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation, Boundless Love, and Meditations on Boundless Love.

If you are interested in her upcoming course, “The Way of Grace” on The Shift Network, you can reach out to her directly at: info@mirandamacpherson.com

In episode three, Monika and Elizabeth engage in an immersive conversation with the organically joyful, undeniably wise, and playful Richard Miller about yoga nidra, non-dualism, connecting with our inner essence, the indestructible ease we all carry within us, accepting and welcoming our challenges, (re)discovering that nothing is wrong, radical truth and authenticity, making peace with life, and so much more.

About Richard Miller

Richard C. Miller, PhD, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 is the Founder, Chairman, and Executive Director of iRest Institute, Co-Founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and Founding Member and past President of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology.

He is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar, and spiritual teacher who, for over 50 years, has devoted his life to integrating western psychology and neuroscience with the ancient nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Author of Yoga Nidra, The iRest Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing, iRest Meditation: Restorative Practices for Health, Healing and Well Being, The iRest Program for Healing PTSD, and Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga, Richard serves as a research consultant studying the nondual somatic-based meditation protocol he’s developed —iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation— researching its efficacy on health, healing, and well-being with diverse populations and issues. Grounded in 35+ research studies, the US Army Surgeon General and the Defense Centers of Excellence have recognized iRest as a Complimentary Program for healing chronic pain and PTSD. Richard leads international trainings and meditation retreats on the integration of enlightened living into daily life.

Connect with Richard to learn more about iRest, his simple and accessible form of meditation designed for modern living, yoga nidra, and nonduality, or to attend any of the trainings and events he offers, including the free 10-Step iRest Protocol.

A copy of his book, Yoga Nidra: The iRest Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing is found here. And, as promised, here is The Open Secret in the book's Introduction:

"When we dwell in the pleasures of our senses, attractions to further pleasures arise. From attraction comes attachment, the desire for possession that leads to passion and burns into anger. Passion and anger cloud judgment and lead to confusion, the inability to learn from past mistakes, and the failure to choose between what is wise and what is unwise.

This is the path of separation. But when we move in the world of the senses, yet keep our senses in harmony, free from attachment to attraction or aversion, we rest in the wisdom heart of our Essential Nature,

In episode two, we engage in an awe-inspiring dialogue with the wildly popular punk rock legend and lifelong nature lover, Mark Coleman. This episode dives deep into ephemerality, loss of identity, and how to reclaim the sense of our highest self, beauty, connection, being in the presence of 'wild things,' nervous system regulation, protecting the natural world, the great turning, remembering what it means to be human, opening to what is, and so much more.

May you find spaciousness, calm, and mystery in our wondrous conversation with Mark

About Mark Coleman:

Mark is a life-long nature lover and is passionate about guiding people into the beauty of meditation and nature. He has led wilderness nature retreats for over twenty years worldwide. Through his organization Awake in the Wild Mark leads year long nature meditation teacher trainings in the US and Europe.

Mark has trained extensively in the Buddhist tradition, both in the Insight meditation and in the Dzogchen tradition. He is a senior teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught insight meditation retreats since 1997.

Co-founder of the Mindfulness Training Institute Mark also leads year long professional mindfulness teacher in Europe and the US.

Mark also founded the non-profit Mindful of Nature, that takes nature meditation work to communities and populations that will most benefit from these resilience building practices.

He is author of Awake in the Wild - Mindfulness in Nature as a Path to Self-Discovery, Make Peace With Your Mind, From Suffering to Peace and his recent book A Field Guide to Nature Meditation.

He lives in Sausalito, CA and likes nothing more than hiking, biking, kayaking, and being outdoors.

Connect with Mark

To learn more about The Heart of Now and the hosts, visit us on Instagram, LinkedIn or online.

ER - PART SIX: Meeting Adversity

“Steadying like a mountain.”

In a world full of noise and distraction, what’s your recommendation for maintaining equanimity?