The Skeptic Metaphysicians | A Pragmatic Guide to Spiritual Awakening, Metaphysics & Enlightenment

You know the pattern is there. You've seen it loop enough times to wonder if the universe is taking notes. If you've ever felt like certain doors refuse to open, or open too easily at exactly the wrong moment...this conversation reveals what's been quietly influencing your choices before you even made them.Episode Overview Astrologer and intuitive guide Gabrielle Celeste joins Will and Karen to explore how consciousness, astrology, and subconscious patterns shape the decisions we think we're making freely. This isn't about horoscopes or vague predictions. It's about understanding why specific themes keep surfacing in your relationships, career, and timing, and what your birth chart reveals about the patterns you're unconsciously running.Gabrielle shares her journey from corporate fall guy to full-time astrologer, explains how your chart functions as a cosmic roadmap (not a prison sentence), and breaks down the difference between sun, moon, and rising signs in terms anyone can grasp.She also delivers a sobering forecast for 2026, including a February week that demands your attention.Questions This Episode AnswersIs your birth chart a cosmic blueprint or a predetermined sentence? Gabrielle explains what your natal chart actually captures, and whether you're stuck with what it reveals.Why does knowing you're a Gemini (or any sun sign) tell you almost nothing about yourself? Discover which of the "big three" astrological placements reveals the truest expression of your soul, and why most people are reading astrology backwards.How do professional astrologers actually see what's coming? Gabrielle reveals how she blends chart readings with intuition, numerology, and shamanic training, and shares examples of eerily specific predictions that came true years later.What separates ethical spiritual practitioners from the grifters? Hear Gabrielle's unfiltered take on what's required before you're qualified to hold space for others...and why bypassing your own shadow work harms the people you claim to serve.What astrological events in 2026 should actually be on your radar? Gabrielle breaks down the most significant transits of the year, including a cosmically loaded week in February and why October/November might echo unfinished business from 2018.How can you tell when you're resisting alignment versus actually lacking it? Gabrielle offers a surprisingly simple divination tool you already have...no chart required.Why This Conversation Is Different Gabrielle doesn't sell certainty or comfort. She acknowledges the paradox of free will versus cosmic influence without pretending to have all the answers. She's transparent about what astrology can't predict (and what she refuses to touch, like exact death dates). She calls out grifters in the spiritual space who chase profit over purpose. And she frames astrology not as mystical fortune-telling, but as a practical lens for understanding subconscious blocks, timing friction, and recurring life patterns; concepts skeptics can respect even if they don't "believe."This episode avoids both spiritual bypassing and cynical dismissiveness. It's grounded, curious, and refreshingly honest about the limits of any single system.For the Skeptic Still Reading You don't have to believe in astrology for patterns to exist in your life. You don't have to accept fate to recognize that certain themes keep surfacing. Gabrielle's work, whether you interpret it as cosmic influence or psychological archetype, offers a framework for seeing what you've been unconsciously repeating. If nothing else, it's a mirror. And mirrors don't lie, even when the reflection makes you uncomfortable.Curiosity isn't gullibility. Exploring astrology doesn't mean abandoning critical thinking. It means asking: What if there's a structure I haven't noticed yet?Listen If You Want ToUnderstand why astrology goes far deeper than daily horoscopesLearn what your rising sign, moon sign, and houses actually meanHear how one woman went from corporate scandal to professional astrologerGet a heads-up on 2026's most intense astrological windowsExplore the intersection of intuition, shadow work, and consciousnessQuestion whether free will and cosmic blueprints can coexistTopics: spiritual awakening, astrology, consciousness, intuition, natal chart, shadow work, metaphysics, soul purpose, modern spirituality, Saturn return, subconscious patterns This is just PART of the conversation! Head over to Spiritual Sisters Podcast to hear the rest of this cosmic discussion. We're doing a full episode swap, and trust us, you're gonna want both sides of this story. (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0spUA4Xi30DtPHND0tacJ5?si=0e71702905e34f0d)Speical Offer:Use the code "20AGUA" for 20% off any of the services listed on her website.Connect with Gabrielle CelesteWebsite: https://www.aguaastrology.comSpiritual Sisters Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/76R1e2m64NVuAzfp9cBuOXInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguaastrologyListener Survey:Help shape the future of the Skeptic Metaphysicians. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us, and as a thank you, we'll send you a free copy of our ebook, the Power of Mindful Mornings, a $17 value survey! Find the survey here: https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/survey/2026-listener-survey/The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

If the world feels louder, heavier, and more emotionally exhausting than ever...and your spiritual practice isn’t giving you the calm it used to...this episode is for you. What if the problem isn’t that you’re “doing it wrong,” but that you’ve misunderstood what peace actually is?In this reflective solo episode, Will shares a Zen-inspired story; The Silent Mountain, and uses it as a grounded framework to explore a very human question: how do we stay present, awake, and spiritually connected when the world feels chaotic and emotionally overwhelming? Rather than chasing spiritual highs or bypassing discomfort, this conversation reframes spiritual awakening as a spiral, not a summit. Peace isn’t found by escaping the noise of life...it emerges when we learn how to relate to it differently. This is modern spirituality without platitudes, gurus, or denial of reality.Key Insights & TakeawaysSilence isn’t the absence of sound, it’s the ability to remain internally steady even when life is loud.Spiritual awakening isn’t linear; growth happens in cycles, with ascents and descents that are equally meaningful.Feeling anger, grief, or outrage doesn’t mean you’re failing spiritually, it means you’re engaged with the human experience.The danger isn’t emotion, it’s getting stuck in it and losing perspective, agency, or gratitude.Awareness changes everything: when you stop fighting the “noise,” you begin to notice the larger pattern...the symphony underneath it all.You can hold gratitude and discomfort at the same time without invalidating either.Why This Conversation Is Different This episode avoids spiritual clichés like “just stay positive” or “everything happens for a reason.” There’s no spiritual bypassing, no denial of injustice, and no promise of instant peace. Instead, Will explores consciousness and metaphysics through lived experience, acknowledging real emotional weight while refusing to let it collapse into despair. It’s an invitation to stay awake inside the mess, not pretend the mess isn’t there.Listener Reassurance Questioning doesn’t make you cynical. Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way. And curiosity does not equal gullibility. This is a space where skepticism and intuition can coexist, and where modern spirituality is allowed to be honest, imperfect, and deeply human. Call to Action Listen with curiosity, not expectation. Reflect on where you might be fighting the noise instead of listening to the larger rhythm beneath it. And if this episode resonates, join the conversation, because navigating awakening is easier when we’re willing to talk about it honestly. The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if consciousness isn’t passive...but responsive? *SCROLL DOWN FOR SPECIAL OFFERS FROM HEATHER!*In this episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, we explore a grounded, modern approach to the Akashic Records, not as a mystical abstraction, but as a living field of consciousness that reflects your patterns, choices, and potential in real time. Our conversation reframes the Akashic Records as a practical tool for intuition development, spiritual awakening, and soul purpose, revealing how energetic patterns influence relationships, money, leadership, and self-trust. Rather than predicting the future, this work focuses on helping you recognize what’s running your life right now, and how to participate more consciously in your own spiritual growth. We unpack how intuition actually works, why skepticism can be healthy (and necessary), and how consciousness may behave more like a relational system than a static database. Along the way, we explore topics like non-linear time, manifestation as momentum rather than wishful thinking, and how ancient wisdom is increasingly intersecting with modern science...including research into water’s intelligence and the quantum field. This episode is especially for seekers who love modern spirituality but crave clarity, agency, and grounded insight, without bypassing real life. In this episode, we explore:What the Akashic Records really are (beyond the “cosmic library” idea)How intuition development works in everyday, practical termsWhy spiritual awakening isn’t about prediction, but participationThe role of consciousness in manifestation and decision-makingHow skepticism can strengthen spiritual growth rather than block itWhy consciousness, energy healing, and even water may be deeply connectedHow to explore spiritual insight without abandoning critical thinkingWhether you’re navigating a period of awakening, questioning old belief systems, or simply curious about how consciousness actually operates, this conversation offers a grounded entry point into modern spirituality...with depth, nuance, and zero fluff.Participate in our 2026 Listener Survey:https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/survey/2026-listener-survey/OFFER #1 - AKASHIC TRAIINING:UNLOCKING ACCESS TO THE AKASHIC RECORDS... AT ANY  LEVELWithin your Akashic Records lies a vast reservoir of knowledge about YOU—your soul’s history, present possibilities, and future potential. These records offer guidance for all questions you hold, empowering you with clarity, insight, and deeper understanding. How you choose to use this wisdom is entirely yours. Sometimes it sparks new, healthier choices. Other times, it offers the “why” behind patterns or experiences—bringing peace, healing, and expansion.OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITIES (All 3 parts included in your registration)Part 1: Discover your soul’s purpose and direction by learning to read YOUR Akashic RecordsPart 2: Be of service by learning to read the Akashic Records for OTHERSPart 3: Open the door by learning to read the Akashic Records of ALL THINGS (plants, animals, business, planets and more)AKASHIC TRAINING: https://www.heatherivany.com/akashic-record-trainingUse this code to save $500: 500-OFF_________________________OFFER #2 - BOOK AN AKASHIC READING :Discover your Akashic Records like never before. I read the Akashic Records in a clear concise way offering actionable steps, clearing what is not serving and offering additional insights and wisdom pieces to grow, expand and align with your incarnated purpose, your relationships, or your business. The records are always compassionate, non-judgmental, and direct. The information is pure- it moves through me and is related to you in the NOW-present moment.BOOK AN AKASHIC READING : https://www.heatherivany.com/akashic-readingsUse this code to save 25%: AKASHIC-25Listener Survey:Help shape the future of the Skeptic Metaphysicians. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us, and as a thank you, we'll send you a free copy of our ebook, the Power of Mindful Mornings, a $17 value survey! Find the survey here: https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/survey/2026-listener-survey/The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

Reality doesn’t always break loudly...sometimes it just misplaces a nut, duplicates a shirt, or drops a thought into your mind at the wrong moment.In this first short-form episode, Will explores true, head-scratching “Matrix glitch” stories, starting with one he and Karen personally experienced, and invites you to decide: coincidence, subconscious mind, or something stranger at work?Listen in, then weigh in, because these moments don’t ask for belief, they demand explanation.To chime on the stories on this episode, please head to https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/.You'll find the "Leave a Voicemail" tab on the right side of the site, so that we can play your comments on the air...or hit the "Contact" tab at the top of the site to send us an email instead.Can't wait to hear your thoughts!Listener Survey:Help shape the future of the Skeptic Metaphysicians. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us, and as a thank you, we'll send you a free copy of our ebook, the Power of Mindful Mornings, a $17 value survey! Find the survey here: https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/survey/2026-listener-survey/The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if manifestation doesn’t fail because you’re doing it wrong, but because your nervous system is stuck in survival mode? In this episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, Will and Karen sit down with Christy Whitman, two-time New York Times bestselling author and transformational teacher, for a grounded, practical conversation about flow, energy mastery, and why so many well-intentioned spiritual practices backfire. Rather than relying on affirmations, vision boards, or spiritual bypassing, Christy explains how true manifestation begins by regulating the nervous system, releasing stored energetic blocks, and shifting from survival consciousness into creator consciousness. This conversation bridges modern spirituality, energy healing, and consciousness work with real-world application, especially for listeners who feel exhausted, stuck, or emotionally reactive despite “doing the work.” In this episode, you’ll explore:Why manifestation feels exhausting when practiced from stress instead of flowHow fight-flight-freeze responses sabotage spiritual growth and intuition developmentThe connection between stored trauma, energy blocks, and physical symptomsWhy compassion is the fastest way to regulate the nervous systemHow to stop forcing outcomes and let life actually cooperateWhat a true flow state feels like, without collapsing into vague positivityThe difference between survival consciousness and creator consciousnessHow intuition becomes clearer when energy is alignedWhy detachment is essential to manifestation and soul purpose alignmentChristy also shares deeply personal insights from her decades of work as a spiritual teacher, including her experience channeling the Council of Light, and how energy mastery can support spiritual awakening, emotional regulation, and long-term spiritual growth. This episode is especially powerful for anyone navigating:Burnout during awakeningEmotional reactivityConfusion around manifestationNervous system dysregulationA desire for practical, grounded spiritual toolsIf you’ve ever wondered why manifestation techniques haven’t delivered the peace, clarity, or abundance they promise, this conversation reframes everything.Listener Survey:Help shape the future of the Skeptic Metaphysicians. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us, and as a thank you, we'll send you a free copy of our ebook, the Power of Mindful Mornings, a $17 value survey! Find the survey here: https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/survey/2026-listener-survey/The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

Welcome to Classic Skeptic Metaphysicians! We're re-releasing some of our back catalog so that these gems can be re-discovered!This week: Consciousness Expansion & Heart Opening with Cacao Plant MedicineWhat if one of the most powerful tools for spiritual awakening and consciousness expansion has been hiding in plain sight—inside something you’ve already consumed most of your life? In this episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, Will and Karen sit down with cacao ceremonialist and spiritual teacher Judy Machado to explore the ancient, heart-opening intelligence of ceremonial cacao—a plant medicine used for thousands of years to support spiritual growth, emotional healing, and expanded awareness. Unlike psychedelics often associated with modern plant medicine conversations, cacao offers a gentle, grounded pathway into higher consciousness. Judy explains how cacao works with the heart rather than overriding the mind—helping release emotional blockages, soften limiting beliefs, and reconnect us with our soul purpose through presence, intention, and ritual. Together, they explore:How cacao functions as a non-psychedelic plant medicine for awakening and emotional clarityThe difference between ceremonial cacao and commercial chocolate (and why intention matters)Why cacao is often called a “heart opener” rather than a hallucinogenHow ritual and reverence activate cacao’s energy healing propertiesThe role cacao can play in intuition development, creativity, and manifestationWhy cacao ceremonies are re-emerging in modern spirituality—and what to look for ethicallyHow working with plant intelligence mirrors larger truths about consciousness, unity, and spiritual remembranceThis conversation also touches on broader themes of modern spirituality, free will, and the idea that spiritual teachers—whether human or plant-based—don’t give us answers… they help us remember what we already are. If you’re curious about plant medicine but hesitant about altered states… If you’re navigating your own spiritual awakening and looking for a grounded entry point… Or if you’re seeking a heart-centered practice that supports awareness without leaving your body… This episode may quietly change how you think about chocolate forever. 🎧 Listen now and discover how cacao invites us back into the heart—one conscious sip at a time. The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if the chaos you’re witnessing—in your life and in the world—isn’t random… but necessary? Recorded live at SpiritFest USA in Virginia Beach, this conversation with spiritual teacher, certified medium, and chronic healer Rev. Nancy Lee dives headfirst into the concept of a global vibrational shift, and what it means for your spiritual awakening, consciousness, and soul purpose. Rev. Nancy explains why humanity is being asked to release old emotional patterns, karmic ties, and unresolved trauma to move into higher frequencies associated with love, healing, and expanded awareness. Drawing from her decades of work in energy healing and intuition development, she breaks down how unresolved emotional energy can become “stored” in the body, fueling everything from addiction to chronic imbalance, and how true healing requires energetic, not just behavioral, change  You’ll hear a grounded exploration of:Why forgiveness, release, and emotional clearing are essential for spiritual growthHow remote energy healing can support individuals, even without their conscious awarenessWhat the “fifth-dimensional frequency” actually represents (and why not everyone will choose it)How near-term global upheaval may be part of a larger consciousness expansionThe role of higher vibration, love, and alignment in navigating today’s polarized worldThis episode doesn’t ask you to abandon logic or blind faith. Instead, it offers a modern spirituality perspective, one that blends intuition, energetic awareness, and personal responsibility, challenging listeners to look honestly at what they’re holding onto and what they’re ready to release. If you’ve been questioning where humanity is headed, feeling the internal pressure to evolve, or sensing that “something bigger” is unfolding, this conversation will resonate deeply.Why This Episode Matters This isn’t abstract metaphysics. It’s a practical lens for understanding spiritual awakening, emotional healing, and why transformation often feels uncomfortable before it feels liberating. Whether you’re deeply immersed in spiritual work or cautiously exploring the edges, this episode offers clarity, challenge, and perspective.Key Topics CoveredSpiritual Awakening & Consciousness ShiftsEnergy Healing & Emotional ReleaseIntuition Development & Vibrational AlignmentNear-Death Experiences & Multidimensional Awareness (contextual discussion)Soul Purpose & Collective EvolutionSpirit Guides, Forgiveness, and Energetic BoundariesThe Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What happens when a conversation about spiritual awakening moves beyond belief and into lived experience? In this expansive live episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, Will and Karen sit down with Viviane Chauvet, a spiritual teacher and multidimensional healer whose work bridges consciousness, energy healing, intuition development, and human evolution. Viviane describes herself as an Arcturian being incarnated in human form, a claim that naturally raises eyebrows. Instead of shying away from skepticism, this conversation leans directly into it. Together, they explore what awakening actually feels like in day-to-day life, how consciousness expands beyond the limits of the 3D mind, and why emotional depth may be humanity’s greatest evolutionary advantage. Throughout the episode, Viviane addresses topics many listeners are curious about but rarely hear discussed with nuance, including:What spiritual awakening looks like beyond spiritual languageHow intuition development unfolds over timeThe role of energy healing and frequency in personal transformationWhether higher-dimensional beings and spirit guides interact with humanityThe relationship between galactic consciousness and soul purposeWhy awakening is not about escaping the human experience—but inhabiting it more fullyThe discussion also ventures into larger questions around life after death, the nature of creation, angelic realms, and whether consciousness evolves across lifetimes and even across worlds. This is not an episode that asks you to “believe.” It invites you to listen, question, and feel for yourself. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODEA grounded definition of awakening that doesn’t rely on dogmaWhy emotional complexity is central to spiritual growthHow fear-based thinking keeps consciousness locked in survival modeWhat multidimensional awareness actually changes in everyday lifeThe difference between imagination, intuition, and expanded perceptionWhy awakening is often subtle, not dramaticHow to stay integrated after a powerful spiritual experienceWHO THIS EPISODE IS FORListeners exploring modern spirituality without abandoning critical thinkingThose curious about consciousness, multidimensional reality, and intuitionSkeptics who want substance, not slogansSeekers questioning their soul purpose or sensing an inner shiftAnyone navigating a spiritual awakening and wanting language for the experienceFINAL NOTE This live conversation is intentionally unfiltered and exploratory. You may not agree with everything you hear, and that’s the point. Awakening isn’t about certainty; it’s about expanding the range of what we’re willing to examine. If something in this episode resonates, sit with it. If something challenges you, question it. That tension is where growth happens.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

Join us LIVE for an exclusive monthly Q&A session where you can ask your burning questions about spirituality, metaphysics, consciousness, and personal transformation directly to The Skeptic Metaphysicians team (and sometimes special guests!)This is YOUR opportunity for real-time interaction and authentic dialogue. Get direct answers to the questions that matter most to your spiritual journey.What to Expect:-Live, unscripted conversation with your hosts-Real-time responses to your questions in the live chat-Deep dives into spiritual and metaphysical topics you want to explore-Community engagement with fellow conscious seekersReplay available for those who can't make it liveHow to Join:Subscribe to our YouTube channel or Facebook page and enable notifications to be alerted when we go live. Questions? Submit them in the YouTube or Facebook live chats during the broadcast.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if manifestation isn’t about thinking positive thoughts, but about what your nervous system is actually broadcasting to the universe? In this solo reflection, Will dives deep into the misunderstood idea of the “feel-good frequency”, not as spiritual bypassing, but as a practical intersection of consciousness, emotional healing, and real-world tools that support authentic spiritual awakening. Inspired by Rhonda Byrne’s Countdown to Riches, this episode challenges a common trap in modern spirituality: trying to meditate your way out of unresolved emotional wounds. Instead, Will makes a grounded, sometimes uncomfortable case for why energy healing must be paired with 3D inner work, including therapy, shadow work, and emotional processing, if manifestation is ever going to stick. You’ll explore:Why consciousness responds to emotion, not intentionHow suppressed experiences quietly block spiritual growth and abundanceThe difference between raising your frequency and avoiding your painWhy spiritual teachers increasingly emphasize integration over transcendenceSimple, immediate tools to shift your emotional state when life feels heavyHow genuine healing opens the door to intuition development and aligned actionThis episode is especially for seekers who love modern spirituality, but refuse to abandon logic, self-responsibility, or psychological truth in the process. If you’ve ever wondered why manifestation “works for everyone else,” or why your spiritual growth feels stalled despite doing all the right practices, this conversation offers a grounded, compassionate—and very real—answer.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if the stress, fear, and autopilot living so many of us experience isn’t “just life”… but a kind of invisible matrix we’ve been conditioned to accept? In this episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, Will and Karen sit down with former attorney turned spiritual teacher Casey Berman, who walked away from a high-powered legal career after a profound awakening forced him to question success, identity, and what it actually means to live with consciousness and intention. Rather than preaching escape fantasies or spiritual bypassing, Casey delivers a grounded, pragmatic approach to spiritual awakening and spiritual growth; one rooted in awareness, personal responsibility, and small, actionable steps. He shares how fear, societal conditioning, and identity traps keep us disconnected from our true nature, and how reconnecting with presence can quietly transform everything from career choices to parenting. This conversation explores:How awakening often begins with subtle moments, not dramatic near-death experiencesWhy fear and anxiety are powerful signals, not personal failuresThe role of consciousness in dismantling stress, burnout, and misalignmentHow intuition development happens naturally when we unplug from constant noiseWhy soul purpose isn’t found, it’s rememberedThe difference between “escaping the matrix” and learning from itYou’ll also hear why Casey believes modern spirituality must be practical to be sustainable, and how awareness alone can be a form of energy healing without ever calling it that. If you’ve felt disconnected, uninspired, or quietly questioning the life you’re living, this episode offers a grounded reminder: awakening doesn’t require abandoning your world...it begins by seeing it clearly. Key Topics DiscussedSpiritual awakening without spiritual theatricsConsciousness as a tool for everyday lifeFear, stress, and societal conditioningIntuition development through awarenessParenting after awakeningSoul purpose vs. external successLiving fully present in a distracted worldWhy This Episode Matters This is not a conversation about “escaping reality.” It’s about waking up inside it, and learning how to live with clarity, intention, and agency in a world designed to keep you distracted. If you’ve been sensing there’s more, without wanting to abandon logic, responsibility, or common sense, this episode meets you exactly where you are.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What happens when your spiritual awakening goes quiet? In this deeply personal solo episode, Will does something different; recording his thoughts while walking, right in the middle of a season where spirituality felt distant, joy felt muted, and life felt heavy. No studio. No script. Just an honest exploration of what happens when modern spirituality collides with real-world challenges. From family health struggles and burnout, to surrender, presence, and an unexpected moment of reconnection, this episode is a reminder that spiritual growth isn’t a straight line...it’s a spiral. And sometimes, feeling disconnected is not failure… it’s part of the process. More importantly, Will doesn’t just share the story, he offers practical, grounded steps you can take to reconnect with:PresenceJoyConsciousnessAnd your own sense of spiritual awakeningWhether you’re actively exploring intuition development, navigating a spiritual plateau, or simply trying to feel something again, this episode meets you exactly where you are, without pressure, performance, or spiritual bypassing. In This Episode, You’ll Explore:Why trying to “feel spiritual” often pushes presence further awayHow surrender can unlock healing when control failsThe role environment and energy play in consciousness and emotional well-beingWhy joy is usually quiet, subtle, and easy to missA powerful reframe for spiritual awakening when life feels heavySimple, realistic practices to reconnect with yourself, even when motivation is lowThis is an episode for anyone navigating spiritual growth in real life, not just in theory.Why This Episode Matters If you’ve ever questioned your soul purpose, doubted your path, or wondered why intuition and connection suddenly feel muted, this conversation will remind you that nothing has gone wrong. Sometimes, awakening isn’t about rising higher. Sometimes, it’s about coming back to the moment you’re already in.Listener Invitation / CTA How have you been feeling lately? What challenges have shaped your spiritual journey this year? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a review, send us a message, or share your experience... because this show has always been about community, not perfection. The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

If you’ve been telling yourself you’re stuck...stuck in your career, your relationships, your spiritual growth, or your sense of purpose...this New Year’s Eve episode challenges that assumption head-on. In this powerful solo reflection, Will explores a truth many people encounter during spiritual awakening but rarely talk about: that feeling of being stuck often isn’t confusion or lack of clarity, it’s fear of becoming the next version of yourself. This episode dives into the quieter, more uncomfortable side of modern spirituality... the part that doesn’t promise instant manifestation, constant alignment, or easy answers. Instead, it looks at how awakening expands consciousness before it brings peace, why insight without action creates anxiety, and how real transformation begins with release rather than effort. You’ll hear a grounded, honest exploration of:Why awareness doesn’t automatically lead to changeHow identity shifts affect intuition development and decision-makingThe hidden emotional cost of staying “almost ready”Why growth often feels destabilizing before it feels freeingHow to recognize when a chapter is truly completeRather than offering resolutions or surface-level inspiration, this episode invites deep self-inquiry, the kind that supports genuine spiritual growth, clearer intuition, and alignment with your evolving soul purpose. If you’re navigating awakening, questioning old beliefs, or sensing that something in your life has quietly run its course, this conversation is designed to meet you exactly where you are...without bypassing, platitudes, or pressure to pretend. Listen with honesty. Sit with what surfaces. And allow space for what’s ready to begin.KEY THEMES & TAKEAWAYSSpiritual awakening doesn’t always feel peaceful, it often feels unsettlingWhy fear is a signal of expansion, not failureThe difference between insight and integrationHow intuition strengthens when you stop betraying what you already knowWhy release is often the missing piece in manifestationLetting go of outdated roles, identities, and expectationsReframing “stuck” as a threshold of consciousnessThe Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

This is a standalone crystal bowl sound healing designed to help you slow down, regulate your nervous system, and return to a more balanced internal state. Recorded live during our conversation with sound healer Ryan Stanley, this session uses the resonant tones of crystal alchemy bowls to support deep relaxation, mental clarity, and emotional release,  without effort, belief, or prior experience required. Use this audio when you’re feeling overstimulated, anxious, scattered, or simply need a reset. Listen with headphones or speakers, get comfortable, and allow the sound to do the work. Many listeners return to this session repeatedly as a grounding practice, meditation aid, or stress-calming ritual. No talking. No analysis. Just sound, vibration, and space to recalibrate.Enjoy!The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if the key to silencing your overactive mind exists at a specific frequency? In this episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, hosts Will and Karen dive deep with Ryan Stanley, owner of Sacred Sound of the Soul, to uncover how sound healing moves beyond relaxation fluff into genuine neurobiological transformation.Ryan, a former corporate executive who pivoted to exploring consciousness expansion through sound, reveals the science-backed mechanisms behind why crystal bowls induce immediate calm, from vagus nerve stimulation to frequency-based entrainment. But here's what makes this conversation different: he refuses to oversell the "woo," instead grounding energy healing in practical, observable results that listeners can replicate at home.In this episode, you'll discover why stress has become our baseline operating system and how 15 minutes with a crystal bowl can reset your nervous system. You'll learn the neurobiological mechanics of how sound vibrations impact your vagus nerve and central nervous system. Ryan shares how to choose your "bowl mate"; the one that matches YOUR unique energy signature, and demystifies the myth about crystal bowls and chakras. The hosts experience a live sound healing demo and Will even leaves his body, proving online sound healing genuinely works. You'll hear Ryan's personal spiritual awakening story with the "super grade" crystal bowl that triggered samadhi at 3 AM, and discover practical daily-use strategies whether you have 3 minutes or 60+ minutes to dedicate to vibrational medicine.This is modern spirituality for skeptics, practical tools for spiritual growth, and everything you need to understand why your body responds to vibration even when your mind says BS.Coupon: Listeners of Skeptic Metaphysicians can use the code SKEPTIC to receive $100 off their first alchemy crystal singing bowl from Sacred Sound of the SoulKey Topics & KeywordsSound Healing & Vibrational Medicine: Frequency-based healing, crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, sonic frequency therapy, vagus nerve stimulationConsciousness & Spiritual Development: Spiritual awakening, consciousness, consciousness expansion, spiritual growth, frequency entrainment, somatic experiencingEnergy & Metaphysics: Energy healing, energy signature matching, subtle body work, frequency alignment, vibration entrainment, modern spiritualityIntuition & Soul Connection: Intuition development, soul-level resonance, intuitive bowl selection, soul purpose, inner knowing, somatic listeningPersonal Transformation: Stress relief, anxiety management, nervous system regulation, emotional reset, rest & digest response, awakeningSpiritual Guidance: Spiritual teacher perspective, consciousness hacking, accessible spiritual practice, practical metaphysicsTimestamps & Deep Dive[00:00] – Intro: "Stress as our baseline operating system" & the one tool that shuts your brain up faster than a dead iPhone battery[00:04] – The neurobiology of sound: How your eardrum, neural pathways, and brain interpret vibration into healing[00:06] – Three theories of how sound healing works: energy entrainment, somatic holding space, and the science we don't fully understand yet[00:08] – Real talk about tinnitus, frequency sensitivity, and whether sound healing can trigger trauma (and why that might be progress)[00:10] – Why your nervous system responds to bass differently than Karen's (psychological vs. physical frequency reception)[00:12] – The yoga studio revelation: How thousands of fidgeting students instantly got still the moment a bowl was played[00:14] – Skin benefits, deep rest, and how sound healing indirectly supports skin health through restorative biology[00:15] – From five-dimensional consciousness to actual morning playlists: How your "vibe match" determines your entire day[00:17] – Crystal bowl mechanics: Why width, height, and wall thickness create different frequencies[00:19] – Can you change a crystal bowl's frequency with water? (Wine glass effect explained)[00:20] – The frequency spectrometer myth-buster: Every bowl contains infinite frequencies—your intention determines which one you "hear"[00:22] – Ryan's personal awakening: The 16-inch super-grade crystal bowl that triggered samadhi and a 3 AM kundalini pull[00:24] – Why the magic isn't just in expensive bowls—accessibility matters[00:25] – How to play crystal bowls (2-3 minute learning curve)[00:26] – Session duration breakdown: 3-5 minutes for clarity, 1+ hours for deep meditation, 15 minutes for optimal balance[00:28] – One bowl or an orchestra? The receptivity-and-strength dance of extended single-bowl sessions[00:30] – Harmonic bowl families: Why assembling sets means you "never hit the wrong note"[00:32] – Live sound healing experience—15 minutes of pure crystal bowl frequency (best with headphones)[00:47] – After the sound bath: Reports of tingling, sinus opening, top-of-head burning, and profound nervous system release[00:48] – Does online sound healing really work? The science of how vibration travels through digital mediums and directly impacts your body[00:52] – Crystal vs. Tibetan bowl differences and why one requires effort while the other flows[00:53] – The "Bowl Mate" concept: Finding your soulmate bowl through visual intuition and energy signature matching[00:54] – How to buy a crystal bowl: In-person consultations or online sound recordings for remote buyers[00:56] – Contact info and Ryan's approach to helping people find their perfect bowlGuest BioRyan Stanley is the founder and owner of Sacred Sound of the Soul, a crystal bowl healing studio in Encinitas, California. A former corporate executive who transitioned from "crunching numbers" to facilitating consciousness expansion through sound healing, Ryan has spent years mastering the subtle art of crystal bowl selection and vibrational medicine. He's witnessed thousands of people experience immediate nervous system shifts, emotional breakthroughs, and spiritual awakening through his work, and he approaches it all with refreshing skepticism and genuine humility about what he does and doesn't understand.Resources & LinksSacred Sound of the Soul: www.sacredsoundofthesoul.comEmail: info@sacredsoundofthesoul.comLocation: Encinitas, California (consultations available online and in-person by appointment)Bowl Selection: Browse 500+ unique crystal bowls with audio recordings available onlineListener TakeawayYou don't need to understand why sound healing works to benefit from it. What matters is that your body responds. This episode strips away spiritual jargon and gives you practical tools to use crystal bowls for immediate stress relief, deeper meditation, and the kind of spiritual growth that happens when your nervous system finally stops fighting to survive. Whether you're seeking tools for anxiety relief, meditation enhancement, or genuine spiritual awakening, sound healing deserves a place in your consciousness toolkit.Perfect for: Skeptics curious about alternative healing, meditation practitioners, anxiety sufferers, yoga instructors, conscious creators, energy workers, and anyone exploring modern spirituality without sacrificing critical thinking.The Skeptic Metaphysicians: Where we question everything, ditch the fluff, and dive straight into tools that actually shift your consciousness.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

Welcome to Classic Skeptic Metaphysicians! We're re-releasing some of our back catalog so that these gems can be re-discovered!This week: Travelers: A Spiritual Quest for Proof of the Metaphysical WorldWhat if the line between mental health, spiritual awakening, and non-ordinary reality is far thinner than we think? In this episode, we sit down with Donald Altman—psychotherapist, former Buddhist monk, internationally known mindfulness teacher, and award-winning author of Travelers: A Spiritual Quest for Healing.Altman has spent decades at the intersection of consciousness, mindfulness, and the mysteries that modern psychiatry can’t explain. His new novel isn’t just a story—it’s a guided initiation into the deeper layers of the self: grief, fear, synchronicity, healing, and the unseen forces shaping our lives. Altman doesn’t come to this conversation with vague spirituality or soft-focus platitudes. He brings lived experience, clinical insight, and firsthand encounters with the “impossible” — including a real-life synchronicity mirroring the events in his novel down to the injuries he described months before they happened. This is the kind of conversation that forces you to reevaluate what’s real, what’s possible, and what the human mind is truly capable of. In This Episode, We Explore: ✔ The real difference between mindfulness and meditation Why one trains focus, while the other trains perception — and why confusing them sabotages your inner work. ✔ Emotional eating, distraction culture, and why most of us are terrified of presence Altman’s brutally honest account of using food to numb emotions… and the monastery moment that changed everything. ✔ A psychotherapist’s take on spiritual awakenings vs. schizophrenia Where the line really is, what most people get wrong, and why some awakenings mimic mental illness. ✔ Quantum consciousness, astral experiences, and non-local events Including the stunning moment Altman lived out a scene from his own book — in a place he had never visited before writing it. ✔ How fear blocks intuition, spiritual growth, and authentic manifestation And why stepping into the unknown is the true doorway to transformation. ✔ The healing power of story, symbolism, and myth Travelers isn’t entertainment — it’s a mirror, a catalyst, and an invitation to confront the parts of yourself you’ve avoided. ✔ Mental health through a spiritual lens Mindfulness techniques, energetic awareness, and presence-based practices that help reduce anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm. Why This Episode Matters Because your awakening doesn’t happen in meditation apps. It happens in the moments you’d rather avoid: fear, grief, confusion, uncertainty, longing. Altman shows how spiritual growth and psychological healing aren’t separate journeys — they’re the same road. And Travelers might just be the companion guide you didn’t know you needed. Who This Episode Is ForAnyone navigating a spiritual awakeningSeekers exploring modern spirituality without bypassing realityListeners curious about manifestation, consciousness, or intuition developmentThose healing grief, loss, or emotional traumaAnyone fascinated by the edges of science and mysticism — quantum consciousness, synchronicity, and non-ordinary experienceReaders who loved The Celestine Prophecy, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, or The AlchemistLinks & ResourcesDonald Altman’s books & blog: MindfulPractices.comHis Psychology Today column: Practical MindfulnessMeditation community: Facebook.com/mindfulpracticesThe Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What if the most powerful tool for emotional healing, trauma release, and spiritual awakening has been inside you since birth? This week on The Skeptic Metaphysicians, we sit down with Kurtis Lee Thomas, global corporate mindfulness trainer, founder of Breathwork Detox, #1 bestselling author, and the man NASA, Nike, and The Today Show call when their people are breaking down. Kurtis doesn’t preach modern spirituality fluff. He delivers physiological, neurological, and emotional transformation through a deceptively simple modality: breathing. But not the casual inhale-exhale you do every day… We’re talking about a deep diaphragmatic technique capable of:Releasing stored trauma and emotional blockagesTriggering profound energy healingOpening intuitive channelsRewiring the nervous systemSupporting spiritual growth and consciousness expansionCreating the clarity needed to step into your soul purposeIf that sounds impossible, wait until you hear the stories:✔ A five-year chronic illness completely resolved in one session✔ Instant clarity and breakthroughs in people who’ve felt stuck for decades✔ Engineers, veterans, and skeptics experiencing Kundalini-like activations✔ A mind-bending account of spontaneous physical healing that you’ll need to hear to believe Breathwork Detox isn’t just breathwork, it’s a full-body energetic purge designed to clear the emotional “weight” you’ve been carrying your entire life. Whether you’re navigating your own awakening, seeking deeper consciousness, exploring intuition development, or simply trying to stop your stress from running your life, this conversation will reset your understanding of what healing can look like.IN THIS EPISODE: • Why most people breathe incorrectly, and how it blocks emotional & energetic flow • How unprocessed experiences lodge in the body and manifest as anxiety, illness, and stuckness • The exact 3-part breathing sequence used in Breathwork Detox • The science behind clarity, flow state, and shutting down the overactive mind • How breathwork triggers profound spiritual awakening experiences, even in total skeptics • Why clarity (not bliss) is the real engine of manifestation • The four types of people who benefit the MOST from this practice • Why energy healing works even for people who don’t “believe” in it • How breathwork can support emotional transitions, hormonal shifts, and the stress of modern lifeWHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS If you feel overwhelmed… foggy… disconnected… stuck in old patterns… or blocked from the spiritual growth you know is possible, then you’re likely carrying far more emotional residue than you realize. You don’t need a guru. You don’t need a plant medicine ceremony. You don’t need a near-death experience to wake up. You need to clear what’s standing between you and the truth already inside you. And this modality gives you the key.ABOUT OUR GUEST — KURTIS LEE THOMASFounder of Breathwork DetoxCorporate mindfulness trainer for Nike, NASA, and Fortune 500 companies#1 international bestselling authorBoard Chair of the Just Breathe FoundationGlobal teacher helping thousands detox emotional blockages, trauma, and mental overwhelmCONNECT WITH KURTIS Website: BreathworkDetox.comFree masterclass, virtual sessions, facilitator training & more inside.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

What happens when a sixth-generation shaman, psychic medium, and spiritual activator sits down with us live at Spirit Fest? Energy surges so strongly it literally knocks the livestream offline. In this electrifying conversation, we meet Jax Cassie, the first female shaman in her powerful Vietnamese lineage, a role traditionally passed only to men. But Jax didn’t choose the path. The path chose her… and it began the moment her father appeared to her one week after he died. From that moment forward, Jax stepped into a destiny rooted in spiritual awakening, intuition development, and deep ancestral alignment.During our conversation, she demonstrates her ability to: ✨ Communicate directly with the spirit realm✨ See and feel energies, ancestors, and spirit guides✨ Astral project into someone’s home to diagnose energetic imbalances✨ Track a person’s life purpose, alignment, and future opportunities✨ Deliver real-time intuitive readings that activate the listener’s own awakening And yes… she gave both of us a shockingly accurate on-the-spot reading...including predictions about collaborations, media expansion, and a major consciousness-driven platform shift. Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode pushes you to rethink modern spirituality, the mechanics behind manifestation, and the real-world application of energy healing in everyday life. You’ll hear Jax explain:Why true shamans serve as “Oracles of the Village”How she sees spirits through their skin, and how she learned to control her visionThe difference between wishful thinking and aligned manifestationWhy intuition is useless without actionWhat a 12-month energetic forecast really looks likeThe role of ancestors in guiding your soul purposeWhy awakening often accelerates when you meet certain people at exactly the right momentIf you’ve ever wondered how near-death experiences, life after death, spirit communication, and higher-level healing might actually operate behind the scenes… you won’t want to miss this conversation. This is spiritual growth with no fluff. Awakening with no filters. Practical mysticism for the modern world. And according to Jax, if you’re listening to this episode, it isn’t an accident... it’s an activation.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe truth about shamanic lineage and why certain abilities are inheritedHow ancestral energy influences your success, relationship choices, and timingWhat a psychic actually sees when a spirit enters the roomWhy many people misunderstand manifestationHow to know if you’re in alignment with your soul purposeWhat happens when your energy field begins expanding faster than your life circumstancesWhy meeting the “right person at the right moment” is often a spiritual activationAbout Jax:A sixth-generation Vietnamese shaman, psychic medium, and healer, Jax is known for her ability to see energetic misalignments, communicate with ancestors, and guide people into powerful states of alignment and awakening. She specializes in life purpose, intuitive activation, and multidimensional clearing work. Her presence alone shifts energy, and Spirit Fest audiences feel it instantly.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

Most people think their pets just want food, walks, or belly rubs. Alicia Sweezer says they’re doing far more than that; they’re guiding your spiritual awakening.  In this eye-opening conversation with intuitive guide and professional animal communicator Alicia Sweezer, we uncover how deeply our animals understand us, mirror us, and even help us evolve emotionally, energetically, and spiritually. If you’ve ever wondered whether your pet takes on your emotions, reacts to your stress, senses your awakening, or sends you intuitive messages… this episode will confirm far more than you expect. Alicia breaks down how pets communicate across dimensions, how they stay connected to universal consciousness, and how their behavior often reveals what’s unresolved in us...from emotional regulation to intuition development to resisting our soul purpose.  Animals don’t lose their connection to 5D consciousness. We do. And according to Alicia… they’re trying to help us get it back.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 🐾 How Animals Mirror Your Energy & Emotional State Why your pet’s anxiety, reactivity, or odd behaviors often reflect hidden emotional or spiritual misalignment within you.  🐾 Are Pets Empaths? Do They Absorb Your Illness or Stress? Alicia explains why pets sometimes take on their human’s energetic “stuff”, and how to stop it before it becomes physical.  🐾 Soul Purpose, Soul Contracts & What Your Pet Chose Before Incarnating Yes, your animals choose you, and choose how long they stay. Their “assignment” may surprise you.  🐾 The Truth About Animal Intuition & Spiritual Intelligence Animals never disconnect from universal energy. Humans do. Alicia explains the bridge between the two.  🐾 How to Tell When Your Pet Is Sending You Messages What signs to look for, how to interpret them, and how to avoid confusing imagination with real intuitive communication.  🐾 How to Start Communicating with Your Pets (Even if You Think You Can’t) Alicia shares the foundational skill every person needs for intuitive communication, and how to discover your strongest “clair.”  🐾 What Happens After Pets Cross Over (and How They Visit You) From subtle signs to unmistakable “calls,” Alicia breaks down how animals communicate from beyond.  🐾 Why Your Pet Might Be Giving You Spiritual Homework No, really. And it might be exactly what your journey needs next. KEY THEMESThis episode dives into:• Spiritual Awakening through the lens of animal consciousness• Animal intuition & intuition development• Pets mirroring human energy healing needs• Animal experiences of life after death• What pets know about consciousness• Soul contracts, reincarnation, and soul purpose• How animals guide our spiritual growth• Pets as unexpected spirit guides• A modern, grounded approach to modern spiritualityWHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS If you’re on a spiritual awakening journey, you’re probably searching for clarity, guidance, and support from teachers, books, or meditation practices. What if one of your greatest spiritual teachers has been sitting on your couch this whole time? Alicia reminds us that animals don’t get lost in the noise of the human world. They are intuitive, conscious, deeply aware, and absolutely connected to the field of universal intelligence. And if you know how to listen, they will help you find alignment faster than most spiritual teachers ever could. ABOUT OUR GUEST Alicia Sweezer is an intuitive guide, animal communicator, and medium who helps humans and their pets understand each other on an emotional, energetic, and spiritual level. Her work spans behavioral issues, energy alignment, intuitive development, and supporting pets and humans through life transitions...both physical and metaphysical.RESOURCES & LINKS Learn more about Alicia: https://whoknewhealing.com Her podcast: Insights with Alicia (YouTube + all major platforms) If you’ve ever wondered what your pet is trying to tell you, or what wisdom hides behind their quirks, this episode will transform the way you see your animal companions forever. The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician

For years, we were told that the secret to spiritual awakening was simple: stay positive, think high-vibe thoughts, avoid negativity, and manifest harder. But what if that entire framework is backwards? What if the real catalyst for consciousness expansion isn’t escaping low vibration...but using it? In this solo episode, Will cracks open the myth of “high vibes only” and exposes why so many seekers feel stuck, frustrated, or inconsistent in their manifestation progress. Drawing from a raw, paradigm-shifting conversation with spiritual teacher David Strickel, this episode reframes low vibration—not as failure, but as the entry point to real transformation. If you’ve been trying to “stay positive” your way out of discomfort, suppress your shadow, or force your way into alignment, what you’ll hear today may just save you years of spiritual wheel-spinning.What You’ll Learn in This Episode • Why ‘High Vibes Only’ Actually Blocks Spiritual Growth Will breaks down how bypassing your shadow stalls true spiritual awakening and stops manifestation at the root. • The Spiral, Not the Ladder Your awakening doesn’t ascend in a straight line. It winds up, down, and inward. Understanding this model can instantly remove years of self-judgment. • The Hidden Beliefs That Sabotage Manifestation Most people don’t manifest because they’re sending a signal of need, not alignment. Will exposes how fear masquerades as desire, and shuts the door on abundance. • Detuning vs Letting Go David Strickel’s groundbreaking concept of detuning shows you how to dissolve emotional charge without bypassing, sugarcoating, or faking forgiveness. • Why Low Vibration Is Not a Problem—It’s a Message Fear, grief, anger, anxiety...these aren’t spiritual failures. They’re invitations to examine the subconscious patterns shaping your reality.The Three-Step Framework for Real Integration A grounded, practical method to use immediately...no woo-only fluff, no 90-day shadow-bootcamps necessary:Recognize When You’re “Down the Spiral” Stop mislabeling discomfort as failure; start seeing it as a signal.Go Into the Basement Your subconscious has boxes you’ve never opened. Will guides you through how to begin...safely, intentionally, and without overwhelm.Detune Through Appreciation Not toxic positivity. Not forced affirmations. Appreciation is the only emotional state that dissolves resistance without repression.Why This Episode Matters Right Now Spiritual seekers are burned out on polished, performative modern spirituality that denies half the human experience. This episode offers a grounded alternative, one rooted in intuition development, emotional honesty, and the true mechanics behind manifestation. If you’ve ever wondered:Why does my shadow keep resurfacing?Why does manifestation work one week and collapse the next?Why do positive thoughts feel like a band-aid instead of transformation?Why do I feel worse the more I try to “stay high vibe”?…then what Will shares here will land like a breakthrough.Perfect For Listeners Interested In:Spiritual AwakeningManifestation (minus the clichés)Intuition DevelopmentEnergy Healing & Emotional RegulationShadow Work that Actually WorksSoul Purpose & Consciousness ExplorationModern Spirituality Without BypassingLife After Death Concepts & Higher Perspective ThinkingNear-Death Experience-inspired frameworksSpirit Guides & Inner Dialogue with the ShadowsIf This Episode Hit Hard… Share it with someone who’s tired of performative positivity and ready for real transformation. And subscribe for more episodes that challenge assumptions, deepen awareness, and make spiritual growth practical, grounded, and honest.The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you’re navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician