Today, an announcement: after five incredible years of creativity and growth together, we have decided to close She Makes Magic. To explain this decision, and to celebrate the immense beauty of all She Makes Magic is and was, we recorded a special podcast for you.

She Makes Magic: The Podcast Series

034 - Thank you

Katie Dean, Mindset and motivation mechanic, first dropped into my life just over a year ago when she invited me to be a guest on her website YOUR WILD LIFE. I was instantly attracted to Katie's quirky sense of humour, her down-to-earth nature and her pure heart of gold. As you'll hear in this interview, Katie has this unique capacity to go deep and honest in conversation while keeping things light-hearted and simple. You'll hear her talk about her journey with anxiety, what this has meant for her family life and for her business, why she ultimately decided to take anxiety medication, and how she's learnt to find the humour as she's navigated this path. In this interview, Katie shares: + Her journey with anxiety, why she ultimately decided to take anxiety medication and the stigma she faced around this. + Redefining success after the birth of her son. + The reality of being a Mum while running an online business. + Why your outside world is a direct reflection of your internal landscape. + The danger of defining yourself by your job title / business.

033: Katie Dean - finding the humour in the shadows

Vienda Maria's first memory of the desire for freedom came at the age of six when her step-father cut off her beautiful long hair. From that day forward, she dreamed of living life on her own terms. And, just like the manifesting goddess that she is, that's exactly the life she has created. Vienda has spent the majority of her life travelling the world and choosing a path that best honours the desires of her soul. You'll hear her explain that, more often than not, this has required her to go against the status quo. But, in turn, has taught her how to deeply trust in her own inner guidance. Here's a woman who walks her talk and is a shining example of how magical life can be when we stop looking for the answers outside ourselves and start listening to the wise voice within. In this interview, Vienda shares: + Her story from psychology student, to the music festival scene, to blogger, to online biz owner and mentor. + Her experimentation with psychedelic drugs and how this gave her a deeper understanding of human behaviour, belief systems and thought processes. + How to cultivate trust in your own intuition. + The importance of spending time with people who are thriving examples of the kind of life you want to live. + Why she believes our fears are doorways to breakthroughs and how to sit with the discomfort of fear. + Why creating space and time to journey inwards is essential for living a life of freedom. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-032-vienda-maria

032: Vienda Maria - freedom is a feeling

Caroline Sanchez, an oncology nurse, hoop dancer and women’s movement guide, began her soul work at the age of 21 when her mother Grace passed away from breast cancer. Following the subtle thread of her soul’s guidance, she became an oncology nurse, discovered hoop dancing in a city park, married the alternative art of hoop dancing with the Western medicine world through her Masters thesis, and became a Women's Empowerment Movement Mentor. Having worked as an oncology nurse for over 12 years, supporting women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, Caroline has a very unique and potent way of looking at the world. Be inspired by her joy for life and her message of letting go of the good girl archetype and learning to resource from the fierce unapologetic love for our gifts and passions. Even when this might look wild, crazy, ugly or inappropriate to others. In this interview, Caroline shares: + Discovering her soul work at the age of 21 after her mother Grace passed away from breast cancer. + Her experience with burn out and compassion fatigue in the nursing world. + How and why she started hoop dancing and what this daily practice has taught her about joy, body play and her soul gifts. + Marrying the alternative art of hoop dancing with conventional Western medicine and how her fear of being dismissed and judged as a "hippy" influenced this journey. + Feeling guided on the soul path and tuning into the subtleties of symbolism and synchronicity. + What it means to truly let go of the "good girl" archetype and show up in our raw fullness, even when this might look wild, ugly or inappropriate. + Learning to trust that your unique offerings and gifts are needed in this world. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-031-caroline-sanchez

031: Caroline Sanchez - saying goodbye to the good girl archetype

If you're here, it's likely that you have, at some point in your life, felt the nudge of your soul calling you to explore deeper and ask the bigger questions. This soul inquiry process often starts out gentle – like a small quiet whisper – but eventually it gets louder and more urgent. What this can often lead to is a stripping away, crumbling or destruction of all that no longer serves us. Often we drop into a period of unknown mystery. A time when we are no longer the person we once were but who we are to become is yet to make itself known to us. I like to think of these periods as stripping for the soul. A process of removing all the layers we have outgrown. These times can be wild, erotic and empowering or they can feel awkward, uncomfortable and very vulnerable. This interview catches Laura Anne Page three years into a period of soul stripping or, what she refers to as, journeying into the soul underworld. Intrinsically tied to Laura's story is her former name Shakti Sunfire. A name which she used for over 10 years to promote her gifts as a hoop dancer, yoga instructor, movement educator, and mentor for women, amongst many other things. This is the first time Laura has spoken publicly about the journey of returning to her birth name and what this has meant for her business, her intimate relationships and for her soul. If you're in a period of mystery, if you're feeling called to strip away all the identities and labels you've placed on yourself, if you're feeling lost and confused about where to head to next, this is the interview for you. In this interview, Laura shares: + Her three-year journey with exploring the unknown mysteries of her soul and why letting go of the name Shakti Sunfire has been paramount in this exploration. + The resistance and fears that showed up when she felt the call to explore deeper, including issues within her relationships and discomfort in her career. + Why the story that has come before now – however this story may look for you – is sacred and deserves to be honoured. + Why being in the mystery of the unknown is maginalised in our society and why it's important to honour these dark, unknown voids in our life, even when others around us might not understand. + Her personal inquiry process for tuning into the voice and wisdom of your soul. + Why she believes all of us have special soul gifts to offer the world. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-030-laura-anne-page

030: Laura Anne Page - navigating the unknown and mysterious underworld of the soul

Nadine Lee has always had a deep connection to her spirituality and sexuality. At the age of 14, she had an intense and totally unexpected Kundalini awakening. At the time, Nadine thought she was losing her mind. With no one to turn to and no idea what was going on, she shut down her connection to spirit. What followed was total abandonment of her soul path. Her life became filled with self-destructive habits -  partying, alcohol, drugs, casual sex and eating disorders. Listen in as Nadine shares her journey from a disconnected marketing and advertising guru to connected tantra yoga teacher, sacred sexuality guide, energy healer and nutritionist. In this interview, Nadine shares: + Why she shut down her connection to spirit after an intense Kundalini awakening at the age of 14 and how this impacted her schooling, career and life choices. + What it feels like in the body to be disconnected from your soul path. + Using drugs, alcohol, sex and food to fill the void. + Her experience with sexual abuse as a young child which eventually lead her to discover Tantra. + How overcoming the desire for acceptance propelled her business forward. + Why feeling good is paramount to creating an abundant life. + Moving through the fear of doing your soul work by aligning back to your heart. + Her exploration with breaking away from labels and defining her worth through her work. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-029-nadine-lee.

029: Nadine Lee - spirituality, sexuality and connecting back to soul

Back in 2003, Michelle Marie McGrath was living in Australia in a beautiful house on the water. She was excelling in her career and winning national awards. She appeared to be happily married. For an outsider looking in, it seemed Michelle was living the dream. On the inside, however, Michelle was miserable. She says she felt like she was living someone else’s life. One night, while deep in meditation, Michelle found herself asking “What do I most need?” "Self-love" was what she heard in return. This simple yet profound question propelled her down a path of deep introspection and awakening. As you’ll hear Michelle share in this interview, committing to self-love wasn’t easy. She suffered a miscarriage, her marriage broke-down and she battled with illness, anxiety and depression as she rediscovered her lost love for herself. Yet, what I adore about Michelle’s story, is her unwavering commitment to herself and her trust in her own intuition. You see, even though it seemed like her entire life was crumbling around her, Michelle still followed the soft whispers of her soul. Intuitively she developed a self-love range of alchemical oils which she used on herself to release old patterns and then eventually she began offering these oils to other women, forming the foundation of her intuitive-based business, Sacred Self. Now Michelle is a self-love mentor for other women and host of the ground-breaking podcast series Unclassified Woman. Michelle is passionate about helping other women commit to a loving relationship with themselves and create lives of purpose beyond traditional paradigms. In this interview, Michelle shares: + The story of her 10-year exploration and quest for self-love. + How she used meditation and her intuition to create her self-love range of alchemical oils. + Her battle with depression and the interesting experience in brazil which helped her to move through this. + Why seeking love externally rather than cultivating it within yourself can create confusion and anxiety. + How your relationships can change as you walk the soul-path and why this isn't necessarily a bad thing. + Why your relationship with your parents becomes a filter through how you perceive your relationships with others and with yourself. + Why she created her hugely popular podcast series – Unclassified Woman – which speaks to an audience of women who don't have or don't intend to have children. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-027-michelle-marie-mcgrath.

027: Michelle Marie McGrath – falling in love with yourself

A few years back, Bec Shann swapped her plum job as a government agricultural research scientist for a simpler life on the land. She and her husband went to live in a tiny two-bedroom cabin on an Australian organic farm, where they became solely responsible for growing an enormous veggie patch and raising chickens and pigs. Out there in the sunshine and rain, Bec came up with a beautiful alternative theory that you need to know about if you’ve ever dreamed of embracing the simple life. In this interview, Bec shares: + How she stumbled across the very thing that made her feel super passionate – despite previously having no idea what she wanted to do in life. + Why she describes being made redundant as one of the most fortuitous turning points in her life. + How honing in on how she wanted to feel created stepping stones of opportunity toward the life she craved. + Why she says the simple life isn’t necessary easy, but rather it’s a life of intention. + What growing a garden has taught her about wider life. + Her strategies for accessing trust when fear and doubt come a-knocking. For links to all the resources mentioned in this podcast, head to http://shemakesmagic.com/podcast-026-bec-shann/.

026: Bec Shann on the simplest way to create a simple life

**Please note: In July 2016, after almost five incredible years of creativity and growth together, we decided to close She Makes Magic. This podcast no longer receives new episodes but remains for now as an archive of incredible interviews. While She Makes Magic is now closed, we’d still love to hear from you. You can find Koren at korenhelbig.com or Alana and her new Untangled podcast series over at alanahelbig.com/untangled.** Hosted by Australian sisters Koren and Alana Helbig, She Makes Magic: The Podcast Series is a collection of raw and gritty interviews sharing the real life stories of women who have left behind lives that don't quite fit right to bravely follow their wild hearts. We ask each woman to share her story – how she uncovered her gifts, faced her fears and challenges, learned to trust her intuition and continues to financially support herself. And how she embraces both the darkness and light, the success and the struggle – an inevitable part of growth and transformation. Through her story, we all find the courage to explore these parts of our own journey, too.

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She Makes Magic: The Podcast Series

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