The Gathering Room Podcast

I’m thrilled to be joined by my guest Chase Jarvis for this special “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room podcast! Chase is an award-winning artist, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author, who has a new book out called NEVER PLAY IT SAFE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FREEDOM, CREATIVITY, AND A LIFE YOU LOVE. This remarkable book helped me take a few big leaps in my own life, and I hope that listening to my conversation with Chase will inspire you to do the same. Enjoy! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that everything around you is conscious and responding to you in various ways?It may sound woo-woo, but there’s legitimate scientific research to support this idea! In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I talk about the synchronicities and “God winks” that occur when we realize we’re all one field of consciousness. If you’re ready for more magic, more synchronicity, and more play, be sure to join me for the full episode. Let’s invite the universe to play with us! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve long believed that a transformation of human consciousness would take place in my lifetime. And I feel that this “new consciousness” is both a state and a place that we can access. I’ve also been thinking more about what I call “wayfinding” and how it can help us all reach this new consciousness. In this "Listen Again" episode of The Gathering Room, I share how to “wayfind” to the new consciousness—a field of openness holding us all in a matrix of love. Curious? Tune in and meet me in the field! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that the right hemisphere of your brain is doing supercomputer-level processing all the time, whether you’re aware of it or not? Wild, right? Martha calls the right hemisphere “the magician” because it can come up with the most amazing, brilliant solutions to very difficult problems, seemingly out of thin air.In this episode of The Gathering Room: Awakening Your Magician, Martha talks about how we can activate our highly creative right hemispheres, so we can solve the problems in our lives—and in the world.And the best part is, reawakening your own creative genius can actually be a lot of fun! To learn how to use Martha’s 4 C’s (calm, curiosity, courage, and feeling cornered) to rev up your right hemisphere and start solving problems as if by magic, tune in to this fascinating episode, which also includes Martha’s Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our culture generally teaches us that anxiety will keep us safe—but really it’s our intuition that does that! In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I explore how to tell the difference between anxiety and intuition, and how to hear what your intuition is trying to tell you.  To find out more about listening to your intuition and how to discover its frequency of joy—and to join me in my anxiety-relieving Silence, Space, and Stillness meditation—be sure to tune in for the full episode! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Listen Again episode of The Gathering Room, Martha talks about following your curiosity to activate the right side of the brain, which is where our passion lives. And our passion is what leads us to our life’s purpose. If you want to start looking for things that draw your attention (rather than push yourself toward the things you think you should do), and you’re ready to prepare yourself to follow your curiosity wherever it leads, tune in to the full episode—it may contain just the spark you need! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no question about it—we’re living in chaotic times.  We’re all trying to be happy and at peace, and we often think we need to find external circumstances that are conducive to those states. But did you know that there is a bedrock of stillness and kindness that we can drop into, no matter what’s going on around us?  In this “Listen Again” episode of The Gathering Room, I’ll guide you to this still, calm place through a very special meditation that you can revisit any time you feel tempest-tossed. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Martha says, “We are the ones who can start to lead our lives in the direction that our higher selves are signaling to us to go and potentially help a lot of other people whose sensitivities may not be quite as strong—and in this way we serve the world.” To learn how to appreciate, listen to, and trust your powerful sensitivity, join Martha for the full episode, where she’ll also guide you in her grounding and calming Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever found yourself striving for spiritual growth, only to feel anxious and exhausted by all your efforts?The reason is that nothing moves during the times we’re striving and stressing. It’s only when we let go completely that the universe brings it to us. In this episode of The Gathering Room, I explore this peculiar spiritual paradox: how pushing ourselves harder to attain alignment—for example, becoming attached to the pursuit of non-attachment—can keep us from the peace and fulfillment we’re trying to find.If you come to The Gathering Room often, you know that I believe we are all meant to experience an awakening, a transformation of consciousness that will help us heal ourselves and the world. In most religious traditions that have talked about enlightenment, there is the idea that this kind of awakening requires great effort. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and the message I’m getting is something different: that we are all trying way harder than we need to. We spiritual seekers tend to overexert ourselves, but what I’ve discovered—and what I share with you in this episode—is that real magic happens when we let go.One thing that is difficult for many of us to understand or fully internalize is the idea that if we’re on the path to awakening, much of the transformation is actually done for us when we let go of attachment and striving. True progress often comes from surrendering effort rather than increasing it.Some of the things that take us toward awakening are inward, like sitting in meditation, and sometimes awakening requires that you go out and act. In those times of action, it’s hard not to attach to the things you’re trying to get. And of course, this attachment causes suffering. Imagine yourself: You’re trying so hard. You’re trying to do without attachment. You’re trying to be good without seeing any progress. You’re exhausted from being attached, and you’re exhausted from trying not to be attached.What you may not understand is that you are surrounded by beings of consciousness that are aching to help you. In fact, there is an infinite amalgamation of consciousness whose job it is to hold and love you and facilitate the awakening that is meant to come.It is a pool of consciousness that understands you completely and loves you absolutely. In this episode I guide you through a new meditation to help you visualize this pool of loving consciousness and allow yourself to be buoyed by it—so you can let go of all effort and open yourself to the blessings that are meant for you.Acknowledging that you are being held by the consciousness that’s around you is the quickest way to dismantle the ego, come into enlightenment, and make your dreams accessible to you. Everything you have ever asked for is sent to you from these loving beings, but they always send it to your real address—peace. It is peace that allows us to let go of our attachments, let go of form, and let go of all effort.If you’d like to experience more peace, discover how to let go of attachment, and learn how to access the support that’s always available to you, tune in for the full episode. Together we’ll discover the magic that can happen when we allow ourselves to be held in the loving pool of consciousness, rather than continuing to struggle all alone. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lately I’ve been feeling lost… How about you? It’s not surprising. The world is undergoing some truly unprecedented things, and it’s creating unprecedented changes in many of our lives. Navigating the unprecedented means we have to venture into uncharted territory. And that feels a whole lot like being lost.In this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m talking about feeling lost during times of personal and global upheaval, letting go of what’s familiar, and stepping into the unknown to awaken to a new consciousness.If you’re familiar with my work, you’ll know I’ve long believed that we need to experience a radical change of consciousness in order to move forward as a species in love and harmony and care for the planet and each other. That journey of awakening will require us to go to places we’ve never been before. And when you’re going into the unknown, the path itself must disappear—it must become a non-path or what is known in Zen as “the pathless path.” No one has ever traveled the path you’re meant to travel. Your way is unique. It lies beyond any maps. So as you move forward not knowing where you are going, there will come a time when you’ll feel like you’ve lost the path completely. (Maybe that’s where you are right now.)You may find yourself feeling things like: Am I on the right path? Is there even a path? I don’t know where I am or who I am anymore—am I the only one who feels this way?Here’s the thing: The moment that you feel lost might be the moment that your soul has finally slipped the leash of cultural conditioning. It may feel strange and alienating, but it’s a sign that you’re not off track, you’re unmapped—and you are free.At these times I follow a practice called “Naming the Shape of the Unknown,” where you:Allow the unknown to simply be.Put words on what you don’t know.Sit quietly with this named not-knowing.You don’t have to solve a problem, you just have to make a little space where you can be aware of your own not-knowing and how it makes you feel.For example, if you feel stuck about your career, instead of running around working on your resume, pause and just see where the pathless path has taken you. You may find yourself feeling things like: I don’t know what I want, I don’t know whether the life I built still fits me, I don’t know what’s coming next, and I’m terrified.All you have to do is sit with these feelings. Sit with the terror, sit with the pain. Trust that the river knows where it’s going, even if you don’t. If you can sit with those “I don’t know” phrases, it may be uncomfortable or painful, but you start to realize that it is also intimacy with the mystery.Your not-knowing can be the map to the place you’ve never seen, to the person you’re becoming that you’ve never been, to your new home.Tune in for the full episode to hear more about the practice of sitting with the unknown, how our living spaces mirror our inner lives, and how to use imagination and yearning to channel new possibilities. I’ll also answer listener questions on how to remain on the fluid path while setting strong boundaries, how to comfort yourself through grief and uncertainty, and why transformation is a lifelong spiral. And I’ll lead you through my Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation to help you reconnect with your inner compasses—the only guidance you ever need. Remember that The Gathering Room is not a room with walls. It is a clearing where lost ones find each other and remember they were never alone. So if you’re lost, tune in and be lost with us. We’ll find each other in a place none of us has ever known before. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m very excited, Gatherers, because lately I feel that something is changing in this world in a profound way, and I don’t think I’m the only one… There’s a feeling of irrational hope, a strange joy, a sense that something wonderful is happening in the midst of all the horrors. I’ve always been obsessed with the idea that we humans would change the way we live in a dramatic way at some point during my lifetime. I call it “pool consciousness”—where we move from hierarchical, pyramid-shaped structures to a more fluid, interconnected “pool” way of being. In this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m diving deep into pool consciousness and sharing a list of 12 signs that indicate you may be experiencing this shift now, too: A quiet but persistent sense that Something is happening Irrational hope and joy rising amidst upheaval and uncertainty Easy laughter, more fun, more delight—for no particular reason “Itchy mask syndrome”—an inability to be inauthentic A softening of rigid striving Intense emotional waves that cleanse without drowning you An expanding capacity for paradox and holding opposites Feeling more yourself than ever—but also more connected to everyone Disinterest in “keeping up” with traditional life goals An inner rebellion against hierarchies Strangeness with time-speeding up, stretching, collapsing A sense of being guided by signs, synchronicities, and “God winks” If you are experiencing any of these twelve signs, or a clump of them, you may be part of something happening that has never happened before in human history. Even though the world is going to hell in a handbasket, at the same time, there is something new rising—something that we’ve all been waiting for our whole lives, maybe even since the human species first evolved.  I don’t know exactly what it is, but I’m excited to be part of it! Tune in for the full episode to hear about “The Pyramid and the Pool” metaphor and learn more about each of the 12 signs of pool consciousness.  I’ll also share how to access hope during personal struggles, how to recognize synchronicities and guidance, and how authenticity, cooperation, and openness are key to navigating this new consciousness. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this Gathering Room episode, I drew inspiration from a recent Ani DiFranco concert, as well as Ecclesiastes 3 and the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, to explore the unexpected emergence of hope in this time of global upheaval—and how you can learn to access it.  If you’re searching for connection, comfort, or the motivation to keep “dancing,” tune in for the full episode, where I’ll also lead you through a special Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation to help you connect with a deeper sense of community and support.  When we gather together, we can feel wild with hope and art and beauty—and we can dance, even in the middle of the worst place ever. Come join me and find out. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever find yourself wondering if it’s foolish to keep hoping for good things to happen, especially with our world in the state it’s in? Whenever I have this thought, I remind myself that if we stop ourselves from hoping, we cut ourselves off from the creativity that is meant to build what comes next. It’s only by refusing to use the human capacity for hope that we can be truly defeated. On this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m talking about what I call the art of hope, which is both a creative practice and a spiritual one. When you’re hoping but there’s no proof that what you hope for will ever come to pass, there is a temptation to do a spiritual bypass where you just say that you’re in the present moment and don’t care what comes. The problem with that is that we humans were designed to care about what comes!  I firmly believe that there’s not a human group on earth where people don’t hope for wonderful things to happen. Hope is not just an idle longing for more—it’s part of the act of creating a different future.  Sometimes the things we hope for don’t come to pass in the way that we’ve imagined them. But hope without proof is something different—it’s part of the creative arts. And what is coming for you will feel the way you imagine the thing you hope for would feel—but it will be better.  The art of hope is to hope without fear. Hope without fear is faith, and that faith is not hollow because it’s walking out on the word of a consciousness that is somehow part of yourself. There’s something very visceral and plaintive and sweet about hope, something that is uniquely human. You have to surrender to the openness to grief in order to touch that place of hope—that is the art of hope without proof. Whether you’re hoping for green leaves on the trees, a new love, or a brighter future for us all, tune in and we’ll practice the art of hope together—starting with a guided visualization blending gratitude, imagination, and surrender to help you connect with and nurture your hope.  Our hopes—big and small—help create the futures we live into, and the art of hope is a vital, magical part of being human. If you want to become an artist of hope, this episode is for you. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All my life I’ve been waiting for a transformation of human consciousness. And I always thought that it would be a gentle and beautiful awakening, essentially like what the Buddha experienced.  I suppose in some universes it might happen that way…but in the universe where I find myself now, I’m seeing massive upheaval and disruption instead. In this episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I’m sharing my reflections on the breakdowns we’re experiencing in the world today—social, political, and personal—and how in the midst of this chaos there is actually the potential for profound breakthroughs. As a breakdown comes down on you, a breakthrough can come up and into you, as if from the marrow of your bones, and it can shift the way you see your experiences. There’s a one-hundred-year-old experiment from quantum physics called the Double-Slit Experiment that I use as a metaphor for how our perception shapes our reality. Because life is both matter and energy, we have the power to see disruptions as waves of potential. In this episode, I’ll guide you through a visualization where you imagine two doors: one leading to a world of breakdowns and fear—what our culture insists is the only reality—and the other leading to a realm of pure love, connection, and infinite possibilities. And here’s the secret: You don’t have to choose one or the other—it’s possible to walk through both doors at once! This visualization can help you go from whatever breakdown you’re experiencing to a breakthrough into something much sweeter and calmer and more reassuring. To learn how to move from breakdowns to breakthroughs and step into a state of love, light, and fluidity, be sure to tune in for the full episode. I’ll also share my daily practices to stay grounded, answer some questions, and lead you in my Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation to help you connect with your Self (with a capital S) and shift from identifying with matter to embodying pure energy and light. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These days life can seem extremely chaotic—have you felt it, too?  Whether it’s the noise of the world or the noise of your own thoughts, there’s so much happening and so many things to think about that it can really get your head spinning with questions like: What am I supposed to be doing?  Where is my attention supposed to be?  How do I rest my heart? The good news is this: You already have a still, magnetic center within you, and on this episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I share how you can access it.  The world can be chaotic, confusing, and sometimes absolutely terrifying—but that’s only when we let ourselves spin. It’s not about escaping the chaos but finding your still center within it. One effective way to connect with the point of stillness within each of us—what I call the “inner compass”—is meditation. I’ll lead you through a version of my Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation to help you let go of tension and allow your nervous system to regulate inward. I’ve only just begun to realize how when you center yourself in that place and allow it to be enough, the answers to your questions about the most trivial things and the most immense things will come without effort into your consciousness.  There is an intelligence and a love so great for you that hears you in your confusion and amidst the terrifying cacophony of this world. Ro and I recently took Lila on a trip to the Central Park Zoo, and it was pure pandemonium in New York City: screaming kids, crowds of parade-goers, Hare Krishna worshipers, blaring bands, and all of it bathed in the city’s current signature scent…weed.  As we were driving home through all this chaos, Lila declared, “There’s a lot of music in this town, girls!” before promptly falling asleep in her car seat. This reminded me that stillness is always available—even in the loudest moments of life.  There’s no need to rush or try to fix everything. Your destination is right here in the present moment. Be here now. Your inner stillness holds the answers to your questions, even those you haven’t asked yet. When we ground ourselves in the space, silence, and stillness and stand in the huge wide plain where there is no one but you and your compass that is pointing straight into your own being, your presence becomes the portal. It opens to the instructions for what you need to do next. If you’d like to hear more about trusting your inner compass, how to stay creative amidst chaos, and how to find the answers you’re seeking, tune in for the full episode. We’ll take a collective deep breath and ground ourselves in “the still point of the turning world” together. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m thrilled to be joined by my guest Chase Jarvis for this special episode of The Gathering Room podcast! Chase is an award-winning artist, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author, who has a new book out called NEVER PLAY IT SAFE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FREEDOM, CREATIVITY, AND A LIFE YOU LOVE. This remarkable book helped me take a few big leaps in my own life, and I hope that listening to my conversation with Chase will inspire you to do the same. Enjoy! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like a hamster running on a wheel? Hamsters may love to scurry, but it tends to make us humans anxious and exhausted. Unfortunately, we live in a world that constantly pressures us to keep up with an increasingly frantic pace. And while we run faster and faster, the only place we ever reach is burnout. It’s when we start to get to burnout and the wheel is still going so fast that we start to get frantic to keep up. In this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m talking about how you can get off the hamster wheel by taking tiny, true steps towards whatever brings you a sense of relief. By “tiny, true step” I mean any small movement or action that feels like relief to you, like a relaxing exhale. In fact, a relaxing exhale could be the one tiny action you take. Or standing up to stretch. Or taking a bathroom break. Or doing just five minutes of any creative practice.Whenever you’re feeling frantic or overwhelmed, taking one tiny, true step is enough to move you toward peace. And then if you do it tomorrow and the next day and whenever you feel exhausted and frantic, those tiny movements toward relief will start to change everything. Remember: You are meant to live in peace, and nature never requires you to do more than you can do in peace. Although embracing this mindset can be challenging in a society like ours that values constant busyness, you have to trust that small steps are enough to radically transform your life. Try it and see.To learn more about the profound transformation that can come from taking small steps toward your true destiny, tune in for the full episode. We’ll even take a small step together by doing my guided Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no question about it—we are living in chaotic times.We’re all trying to be happy and at peace, and we often think we need to find external circumstances that are conducive to those states. But did you know that there is a bedrock of stillness and kindness that we can drop into, no matter what’s going on around us?  In this episode of The Gathering Room, I’ll guide you to this still, calm place through a very special meditation that you can revisit any time you feel tempest-tossed. As my partner Rowan, recently pointed out to me, self-kindness can always be accessed by recognizing that the universe is essentially kind. We can cultivate stillness in our chaotic world by aligning ourselves with this universal kindness.I had never thought of kindness as being the essential component of the universe. So I started doing meditations and thought experiments where I focused on the kindness that there is in the world and began to anchor myself into that—and that’s what I’ll be teaching you in this episode.I have a new take on our usual Space, Stillness, and Silence meditation, and it involves imagining yourself as a point of consciousness above a stormy ocean and dropping a thread of consciousness into the depths to reach the stillness at the center of the earth.By learning to find and anchor into this stillness—which is the same as universal kindness—you can find peace and stability, no matter what the circumstances. We are all on an odyssey in this life where the journey is the goal. We’re heroes who have taken the call to adventure, and we’re here for the adventure itself. Tune in for the full episode to anchor into universal kindness and learn how it can help you see the good in difficult situations, help you navigate loss, self-doubt, and other turbulent situations, and help you become a safe harbor for others. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is a weird world out there right now, and if you’re like me, you’re feeling more than a little anxious. Anxiety has been called the mental illness of our time, but in fact, it’s not a mental illness. It’s an understandable reaction to an abnormal world that we never evolved to handle. As I’ve written in my book Beyond Anxiety and talked about at length, creativity is the opposite of that anxiety. However, there’s a crucial step you must take to go from anxiety to creativity, and you cannot skip it. That step is kindness. Kindness is the greatest creative fuel in human existence, and in this episode of The Gathering Room, I’m sharing the 5-step exercise I follow to cultivate kindness toward myself, get out of anxiety, and generate creativity and joy.In fact, for the first time ever on The Gathering Room, I’m recommending that you bring a pencil and paper and work through this exercise with me. It’s fun—and powerfully effective.You start by identifying and acknowledging your negative feelings, whether you’re feeling anxiety, anger, sorrow, or something else. Imagine the part of yourself that is feeling this way as a separate entity, and you are the compassionate observer.Ask this part of yourself how it’s feeling, and then offer this three-word phrase, which is probably the most powerful thing you can do to heal yourself or another human being: “Tell me everything.”The vast majority of people, including our inner parts, just want someone to sit with them and witness what’s going on inside them. And this act of kindness—of listening—gives a place for the pain to flow. Every time you make the choice to be kind to yourself, you are creating a whole new brain that is going to be a lot happier and more creative. This will lead you to the one way that you can create beauty that no one else ever could, your unique contribution to the world.To work through the full five-step kindness exercise with me, be sure to tune in for the full episode. I’ll also guide you through my Space, Silence, and Stillness meditation as that is one kind thing I often give myself when I’m in an anxious place. CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Gathering Room podcast, I’m talking about the power of inspiration and how we can actively go “hunting” for it amidst the sea of misinformation and disinformation we all have to navigate each day. To learn more about actively hunting for inspiration and how it can help you create positive change in the world, join me for the full episode! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.