Spilling the Spirituali-TEA: Recent Episodes
Hilary Loewenstein & Rev Rob Banaszak
Two longtime friends and spiritual practitioners chat about their triumphs and challenges in applying their spiritual knowledge/understanding to day to day life.
"Judge not, lest ye be judged..." seems like such an accessible concept. In other words, its probably not a good idea to judge someone for a behavior they display or for a choice that they have made, because that leaves us open to be judged with the same kind of scrutiny. So I'll get out of your business (which is none of my business anyway), and (hopefully) you'll stay out of mine. Easy peasy, right?
Anyone who has struggled with being a "judgy" person knows that this can be much easier said than done. Born out of our survival instinct, we have been conditioned since the beginning of humanity to judge situations, people, ourselves, so we can make choices that most effectively cultivate or advance our well-being.
And even though our primitive survival threats have long been extinguished, our instinct to judge has become a distorted lens of perspective: we judge to feel better about ourselves at others' expense OR we judge ourselves mercilessly because we think others are better than us.
Either way, focusing on someone else's life, choices, situation, experiences means that we are taking our eye off the ball of our own life's relationships, behaviors, and choices.
Hilary and Rev. Rob spill their "spiritual
-TEA" about their personal experiences and relationship with judgment in their own lives.
Do you receive "signs" that reveal or illuminate decisions you must make on your Life's journey? If so, do you follow those signs?
In this episode, Hilary and Rev. Rob share their personal experiences with seeing and following signs, and encourage listeners to begin to pay attention to how they might be receiving signs or guideposts in their own lives.
Hilary recently lost her father. Rob lost his parents nearly 10 years ago, and a partner nearly 30 years ago. While experiencing profound loss, both have felt a profound and exquisite beauty by being present with their dying loved ones. They talk about that beauty on this first episode of Season 4 of Spilling the Spiritual-TEA.
Faith... What is it? Do we always have it? And what happens when we have a crisis of it?
In this first of a lively two-part discussion, we explore faith and how to trust that still, small, powerful voice that guides us to our highest and best life.Hilary Loewenstein is a Life Coach and Spiritual Teacher. She offers private counseling, mindfulness groups, retreats, and public speaking. Reach out to her at hilaryloew@gmail.com if you are interested in any of her services.Find Hilary on these platforms:Website: https://hilarysmindfulliving.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hilarysmindf...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilarysmind...Buy Hilary's Book: https://smile.amazon.com/Answer-Handb...Rob Banaszak is a Spiritual seeker, Spinning instructor, tune-spinner, and metaphysical minister! Rev Rob is The Spiritual SPINister, offering inspirational speaking, intuitive reading, energy healing, wedding officiating, spiritual guidance, dance music mixing, and more.Find Rev Rob on these platforms:YouTube: / @thespiritualspin... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualSPI...
When was the last time you did something that made you feel uncomfortable? Or tried something new that scared you? Or took a leap of faith without knowing what the outcome would be? If you can't remember, watch this video and let us inspire you to get out of your comfort zone. Rob and I share experiences that made us uncomfortable but ultimately were completely rewarding. Life is meant to be an adventure full of joy and fun. Get out there and live it!
What is the most effective way to handle conflict with people? If you confront someone is it fair to expect they will understand and see the situation the way you do? And if you don't say anything but privately stew about it, you close your heart and risk becoming bitter. What then is the solution? This is exactly the discussion Rob and I have in this week's episode. We offer an unusual and unpopular solution. Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Though it's hard to admit, grief is a good thing! It helps us process and our the losses we experience in our lives...of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or anything significant that is ending in your life. Hilary and Rev Rob and I unpack this topic by exploring the ways we grieve, and reminding us that there are no rules about grieving...we all grieve in our own way!
Why are we so afraid of death? All things must die. It's the cycle of life. Yet humans, particularly in Western culture do everything we can to avoid it, or even thinking about it. Whether we believe there is something -- or nothing -- after death, there is one thing that we can learn from it. Death's inevitability can make the life we have here rich, meaningful, and precious. Hilary and Rev Rob have an honest, sometimes uncomfortable, conversation about death, and reveal how their experiences of it has impacted their lives and helped to clarify the beauty in living.
It's Valentine's Day and while it's great to enjoy the day with someone you love, it's even more important to love YOU! If you don't love yourself how can you effectively love someone else?
Rev. Rob & Hilary have an open chat, and even do an exercise where they each share what they love about themselves.
Make every day Valentine's Day by falling in love with YOU!
*Rob Banaszak is a Spiritual seeker, Spinning instructor, tune-spinner, and metaphysical minister! Rev Rob is The Spiritual SPINister, offering inspirational speaking, intuitive reading, energy healing, wedding officiating, spiritual guidance, dance music mixing, and more. Find Rev Rob on these platforms:
Website: www.thespiritualspinister.com
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/spinister
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx2E...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualSPI...
. *Hilary Loewenstein is a Life Coach and Spiritual Teacher. She offers private counseling, mindfulness groups, retreats, and public speaking. Reach out to her at hilaryloew@gmail.com if you are interested in any of her services. Find Hilary on these platforms: Website: https://hilarysmindfulliving.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hilarysmindf...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilarysmind...Buy Hilary's Book: https://smile.amazon.com/Answer-Handb...
What does it mean to be vulnerable?
The dictionary definition of “vulnerability” says it is “the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally." So it can be pretty easy to see how in our culture vulnerability might be considered a weakness. Why would we knowingly, or voluntarily, expose ourself to this risk of attack, either physically or emotionally?
Hilary and Rev Rob take a closer look at vulnerability, and how our choice to expose ourselves to possible pain or rejection has the potential to be strengthening and empowering for us, and help reveal our own authenticity, while cultivating intimacy in our relationships.
We all feel the heavy burden of shame. In this episode Rev. Rob and Hilary discuss their takes on two kinds of shame: 1) When we hide something about ourselves, or what we are doing, from others; and 2) When we are ashamed for actions or behavior we consciously engaged in to hurt others. As usual, they "spill the t" with candid examples of their own experiences with shame in their lives.
Hilary and Rev. Rob hit the ground running, and get even MORE real with the first episode of Season 3, talking about SEX, yes SEX, and how it is a part of our Spirituality -- or can be - if we are open to experiencing it as such. And what better topic to join the conversation about? Subscribe to the podcast, like the episode, and leave a comment!
Once again honest and revealing, Hilary and Rev Rob discuss their addictions to consumption and consumerism around the holiday season, and share how they snap themselves back into the true "Spirit" of the Season. Take a listen, maybe you can relate? Happy Holidays everybody!
It's easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed by the noisy demands that Life is placing on us, and that we continue to place on ourselves. We need to remain diligent at not forgetting Who We Are, especially as the demands pile on, or the noise gets louder. When we are secure in our own "Being," we claim our own power over the challenges in our life, we don't let those challenges have power over us.
You are not alone! Rev. Rob and Hilary share their own challenges at navigating through life's noise, and have a few tips & tactics that might help you "snap outta" your own stress spiral, and re-align with the You that is the unique and powerful gift in the Universe.
In this bonus episode, Hilary and Rev. Rob talk about the creative ingenuity of the sublime animated film "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On," and start to explore the connection between creativity and spirituality!
Let's talk about the Holidays. Gratitude. Families. Authenticity. FOMO. In this bonus episode, Hilary and Rev. Rob get REAL with their first-ever Instagram Live stream, which, through the miracle of technology, was recorded and is now available here as a podcast!
In the season 2 finale, Hilary and Rev Rob go to the movies! They kick off an ongoing discussion of spirituality in popular culture by sharing thoughts about their favorite metaphysically-themed movies, ranging from blockbuster classics like The Matrix, to recent independent gems like Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Their fun but earnest chat reveals spiritual insights and principles that can be found in many of our favorite movies -- past and present, dramatic and comedic, animated and live-action.
Do you have a favorite metaphysically-themed movie? Or a movie that revealed spiritual truths to you, even if most don't think of it as metaphysical? Listen to our lively chat and let us know your thoughts!
We sure have spilled some Spiritual-TEA this season, and are grateful to YOU, our listeners and viewers for being a part of them! Look for more friendly, fun and fascinating chats coming to you when Spilling the Spiritual-TEA returns for Season 3 soon! .
The conversation continues!
Hilary and Rev Rob continue the Truth-sharing -- including with one another! Stuff has gotten real and you can be a part of it!
Ah Truth...Sharing your Truth about what you are feeling may mean you hurt or upset someone. Keeping it bottled up to avoid hurting or upsetting someone may seem like a good, safe idea, but ultimately can breed a lack of self-respect, passive-aggressive interaction, and a resentment of others. How do we learn to share our Truth, and to receive Truth from others? In this intimate episode, longtime friends Hilary and Rev Rob share their transformative experiences of expressing sometimes-difficult Truths with each another, and even reveal some new, never-before shared Truths to each other during this supersized, two-part discussion.
Let us know your thoughts about part 2 of this powerful conversation about Truth!
Ah Truth...Sharing your Truth about what you are feeling may mean you hurt or upset someone. Keeping it bottled up to avoid hurting or upsetting someone may seem like a good, safe idea, but ultimately can breed a lack of self-respect, passive-aggressive interaction, and a resentment of others. How do we learn to share our Truth, and to receive Truth from others? In this intimate episode, longtime friends Hilary and Rev Rob share their transformative experiences of expressing sometimes-difficult Truths with each another, and even reveal some new, never-before shared Truths to each other during this supersized, two-part discussion. Take a listen to part one and let us know how you deal with speaking or not speaking your truth, and how it has impacted the relationships and situations in your life.
C'mon admit it...you've been jealous of someone before...haven't we all? It's not a good feeling, nor is it a good look, so we likely have felt ashamed or embarrassed for feeling jealous, even though it is a universal, human emotion. Hilary and Rev. Rob feel you on all of it! In this episode, they each reveal some of their own struggles with jealousy (and the accompanying shame that comes with it), and offer several in-the-moment strategies to help work through jealousy, and its equally destructive sibling, envy.
*Hilary Loewenstein is a Life Coach and Spiritual Teacher. She offers private counseling, mindfulness groups, retreats, and public speaking. Reach out to her at hilaryloew@gmail.com if you are interested in any of her services.
Find Hilary on these platforms:
Website: https://hilarysmindfulliving.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hilarysmindf...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilarysmind...
Buy Hilary's Book: https://smile.amazon.com/Answer-Handb...
*Rob Banaszak is a Spiritual seeker, Spinning instructor, tune-spinner, and metaphysical minister! Rev Rob is The Spiritual SPINister, offering inspirational speaking, intuitive reading, energy healing, wedding officiating, spiritual guidance, dance music mixing, and more. Find Rev Rob on these platforms:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx2E...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualSPI...
mindfulness #healing #awakening
Authenticity has become quite a popular buzz word in today's culture. Are we living an authentic life? What does it mean to live -- or be -- authentic? Would you go out in the world without makeup? When you fill out your medical forms are you honest about your weight, how many drinks you have each week, or that you smoke? Do your family and friends know everything about you?
How, why and when did we even start to express ourselves inauthentically? Rev. Rob and Hilary open a Pandora's box full of perspectives on authenticity -- and even turn off their Zoom filters -- to get the ball rolling on what is sure to be an ongoing discussion about what it means to live as our authentic selves.
Has someone suddenly ever gone off on you for no apparent reason?
Have you ever realized you just unloaded on some poor unsuspecting soul because you were having a bad day?
Often when folks seem to be angry with us it may have NOTHING to do with us, and everything to do with something they are going through. (Ever heard of being HANGRY? )
Instead of facing the real issue -- or the person we are angry with -- most of us can probably point to a time when we've taken our anger on the person in our direct line of sight..partner, friend, store clerk, restaurant server, etc. So if someone's just lost it out of the blue and you just happened to be in the line of fire, it probably wasn't you. An,d if you just exploded at the barista, or your kid, or your spouse, out of the blue, it probably IS on you!
Misdirected anger is common human experience! Hilary and Rev Rob dive into this topic and discuss coping mechanisms to help you quickly identify misdirected anger, and productively respond to it, when it is coming to you, and from you.
We are HUMAN BEINGS, not HUMAN DOINGS! Why is it then, that society applauds "busy-ness" and discourages relaxation?
For instance, the “lazy days of summer” are over (even though we still have two weeks left of the season) and, as of Tuesday morning after Labor Day, we have gotten “back to reality.”
Why is our time of “being,” considered lazy, while our return of work, school, and a life of busy-ness considered reality?
What if we aren’t “doing” anything? Is that not “real?”
And who are we if we aren’t "doing?”
Rev Rob and Hilary look at the ways we have been programmed in our culture to value lots of stuff to do, rather than cultivate our best way to simply be...
It has become a cultural norm to accept without question, the teachings, insights, authority of our spiritual leaders, bosses, lawmakers, teachers, even celebrities. The best leaders, however, help us discover our own answers within, to tap into our own authority, and to claim responsibility for our own lives. Thinking that one knowledgeable or charismatic person holds all the answers and ideas, or lives with superhuman mastery of those ideas, can lead us to place them on pedestals, or "worship" them as a guru. We relinquish our agency, leave ourselves vulnerable to disappointment, or, even worse, emotional, spiritual or financial exploitation. Hilary and Rev. Rob open up about their respective experiences of pedestal-placing and guru worship, and affirm their belief that we recognize our leaders and teachers as human beings who may have challenges with maintaining integrity with their own professed ideals, and more importantly, embrace the "guru within." ;
We've all heard a version of the quote “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." And we probably also know what it is like to realize that that we have become a "fish-giver-on-demand," for someone in our lives, when we really meant to be the teacher of the fishing process. We realize that we are an enabler, contributing in some way to the growth/evolution/autonomy in someone because we set a precedent of taking care of, looking away from, or covering up, something that our someone needs to discover for themselves.
In this week's episode, Hilary chats with Rev. Rob about how her own enabling tendencies have impacted her life, what she's learned about becoming aware of, and shifting, enabling behavior.
We've changed our pod name and honed our format! Hilary and Rev Rob chat about their spiritual solutions for life's challenges and triumphs!
On this season one finale, faithful viewer and friend Alice Soluri joins us to share her insights about each episode as well as her take-away message from the the entire season!
Are you easily "offended?" Do you get upset, mad or hurt often? Hilary and Rev Rob talk about claiming power over feeling offended, upset, mad or hurt--by seeing those feelings as an opportunity to choose differently!
Do you worry that choosing self-care might actually be selfish? Hint: if you are asking the question, chances are it isn't--and you aren't--being selfish at all. Hilary and Rev Rob take look at a definition of self-care as way bigger than getting a massage or a manicure.
Once again, Hilary and Rev Rob "get real” with each other about judgment: why do we judge, how can we minimize judging, and yes, how we might maximize the information we get when we do get "curious, not judgy..."
Do you say "yes" all the time because you are a people pleaser? Or do you say "no" because you are afraid of being taken advantage of? Hilary and Rev Rob get real with their thoughts -- and their actions -- about boundaries.
There are no coincidences, right? Hilary and Rev Rob explore that awesome occurrence when random circumstances all align to be something way bigger than we ever thought!
In our third High-Vibin video, Hilary and I talk about being connected. Not just the two of us--! But to EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!
Hilary from Hilary's Mindful Living and Rev Rob aka The Spiritual SPINister share, with each other and their listeners, stories of their spiritual journeys.