Encore: Spiritual Awakening – The Myths & The Realities
September 9, 2021
Hosted by Gord Riddell, RP with Co-Host Alexia Georgousis, ND
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Episode Description
Are we in a catch-22 with mental health and spiritual awakening? On the one hand we are finally seeing mental health moved out of the darkness and being recognized for its crucial role in our overall wellness but on the other hand, people talk of the Covid-19 pandemic as being a global spiritual awakening. Why is it a catch-22? Both mental disorders and spiritual awakening can share similar symptoms and experiences but if treated the wrong way can alter the outcome. A Spiritual Emergency and the Dark Night of the Soul may not always be part of spiritual awakening. Both however can include depression, dissociative experiences, feeling disconnected and psychosis. Experiences that many people may wish to go to a therapist for or it may be suggested that they go to their health care provider. If the health care provider prescribes medication, which given the conditions above would seem like a good choice, the spiritual emergency has now been moved to a psychiatric emergency. The medication will help alleviate the symptoms and the person may start to feel more ‘normal’. However, In a spiritual emergency the awakening process has been halted, at least temporarily. We have seen a tragic increase in opioid related deaths recently. Untreated spiritual emergencies can lead to substance abuse and suicidality. Today’s practitioners must become familiar with not just mental illnesses and disorders but also spiritual disorders. If we are bringing mental illness out of the darkness and include with the body, then the spirit must also be moved from the back of the line to be integrated with mind, body and spirit. The spirit requires us to act as a midwife or a psychopomp, allowing it to successfully transition through its journey of awakening. Wednesday September 1st at 7 pm at 3300 Yonge St Suite 302 Gord will be presenting a 3-hour mini-workshop on Spiritual Awakening. Covering Dark Night of the Soul, Spiritual Emergencies, Awakening and Spiritual Bypass. Discover the signs and symptoms of each and differentiate mental disorders from spiritual disorders. How can we best assist in guiding others and ourselves through a Spiritual Awakening when the road is not clear and ofttimes bumpy. This workshop is for anyone wanting to understand their own journey and for practitioners to understand the role they can play guiding clients through their spiritual journey. Masks are Mandatory. Pre-Registration required. https://www.transformationalarts.ca/product/11-spiritual-awakening-the-myths-and-the-realities/
Things Worth Considering
Thursday at 5 PM Pacific Time/8 PM Eastern Time on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel
This is a show about connections. Connections to your self, your spirit, your feelings and your story. One of the most powerful healing tools we have is our connections. Connect to your intuition and explore your AHA moments. Discover how we get in our own way and how we can overcome obstacles to move on. How we think, what we think, what we believe, and our attitudes define how we experience our life. The fascinating idea that we shape our reality to what we believe it should be, in our minds. How we connect to our families, our aging family members and slowly we become caregivers, not caretakers.
Embracing the reality of aging, not into senior citizens but living the archetypal Elder, the Wise One. Living the Spiritual idea of being of service but not being someone’s servant. As we explore the many roads of the human journey with our guests, we will connect to each other by embracing many of the mysteries of life and there we arrive at things worth considering.
Gord Riddell, RP with Co-Host Alexia Georgousis, ND
July 1988, Gord Riddell, with another member, signed Transformational Arts College into existence. Greatly influenced by his grandmother’s mediumship and her role as a Pastor, Gord followed somewhat in her footsteps with a few detours enroute. Attending York and the University of Toronto, he found his niche at the Spiritual Sciences Institute. Some 32 years later, he is President of Transformational Arts College, a Registered Psychotherapist, Instructor and Clinical Supervisor. He is a Spiritual Director with a specialty in End of Life Care. He is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, and Spiritual Directors International. An international teacher he brings humour, storytelling, inclusiveness, and a directness that his audiences embrace.
Dr. Alexia Georgousis is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and Conscious Awareness Facilitator. In addition to her private practice, Alexia is on Faculty at Transformational Arts College in Toronto. A graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, she went on to become the Associate Dean of Clinical Studies at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in British Columbia. Alexia's life and work are influenced by her belief in the integration of mind, body and spirit through consciousness and Earth Medicine. Her innate kindness and welcoming smile invariably invite you to share in her humour, curiosity and belief that we are all meant to thrive.
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