Walking in the Wilderness

Season 2 Finale! We're talking about clearing out what is no longer serving us, and transforming into new ways of being - in friendships and professional development.

Beth J and Beth Z share about their personal experiences with religious deconstruction, specifically leaving the modern American Christian church of their upbringing. Beth J has found herself in a new phase in which her religious deconstruction is no longer occupying much space in her brain. It's a welcome new freedom, and has given her the opportunity to discover and enjoy new interests and pursuits. Together, the Beths explore what this means, including what moral standards they use now, how they grapple with the pain and regret that come from having invested so much time in an endeavor they no longer pursue, and how they explain their current religious and philosophical views to others. 

In this minisode, Beth J shares about the ways in which her understanding of romantic love has expanded over the course of her relationship with her husband. While her previous simple, transactional view of love was not exactly incorrect, it certainly would not have encompassed the dynamic interdependence that she's now come to enjoy. 

In today's episode, Beth Z and Beth J share their recent experiences delving into the ancient tradition of tarot. Together, they go over recent spreads they have both drawn for themselves, and share the insights they have gleaned from the readings.

Embodiment and wellness can mean different things to different people, and the Beths agree that what's important is to define them for yourself. Beth J shares how her own practice of embodiment has transformed over the past few years, culminating in her most recent embodiment exercise: writing a letter to her body and writing a letter from her body to herself. At first, she shares, she cringed a bit at the thought of engaging with this exercise, imagining that it would be cheesy or silly. After going through the exercise, though, she discovered how freeing and grounding it is to recognize both the unity and the distinction between the body and the self. Beth Z discusses her own embodiment journey, exploring her decision to stop taking hormonal birth control and instead tracking data from her body in order to map her cycle. This journey has been both freeing and informative for her, allowing her to connect much more deeply with her body and to feel a closer connection with nature as well. For both Beths, the past several months have been ones of sinking deeper into their bodies, enjoying the sensations of living and aligning with natural cycles and patterns.

Talking about our relationships - Beth Z letting each partner be their own person, handle themselves. Beth J on learning to express your own needs and desires, coming out of Christianity

It's presidential election week in the US, and the two Beths continue Season 2 with a conversation about challenges, both global and personal, that they are learning to navigate. Beth J explores her role in the current American political scene and the frustration and pain that arise when human rights issues become politicized. Together, the Beths discuss their own political evolution and development, as this is just one type of wilderness that they are both learning to navigate. Beth J discusses an unexpected health challenge she faced during election week, and the way that chronic illness continues to shift her perspective and re-focus her energy on the things that she can personally manage and control. For better or for worse, this disease flare has served to distract her from global issues, and the Beths discuss the implications and outcomes of this distraction. As always, both Beths explore these challenges and encourage each other in their explorations. 

The Beths discuss a current buzzword: "wellness." Beth J shares about her recent chronic illness diagnosis, recounting the ways her body has demanded that she pay attention to her new and changing needs. Over the past year, she found herself in pain she had never before experienced, requiring hospitalization for the first time in her life, and ultimately receiving a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease. Through this journey, Beth J learned to honor her body's limitations and to more deeply treasure the strength and physical abilities that she does have in the present moment. Beth Z shares about her exploration of biohacking, the practice of making small, evidence-based lifestyle changes based on her own body's specific responses to behavioral factors. Through experimenting with her habits surrounding diet, sleep and exercise and observing her responses to stimuli, Beth Z has gathered valuable information about how to honor and care for her body. She discusses the ways that caring for her physical health relates to her mental, emotional, spiritual and psychological health. Wellness, both Beths agree, goes far beyond physical appearance; wellness, when honestly pursued, permeates every aspect of the human experience. 

Beth Z has a lot to share with Beth J about her recent journey in the wilderness. Beth Z spent three days fasting alone in the woods, spending her time with trees, spiders and plants, and the forest taught her precious truths about herself and her place in her world. Beth J shares some observations she's made about her own emotions, and together they explore what it means to be emotionally honest. They ask each other how they can go about about sitting with what is, allowing the present moment to unfold, and taking part in the natural ebbs and flows of their emotional lives. The Beths explore what it means to have healthy emotional expression and how to avoid resisting emotions. They begin to move away from labeling emotions "good" or "bad" and instead explore what it means to allow emotional states to arise naturally while maintaining stability. 

Welcome to Walking in the Wilderness, a series of conversations between two friends and creatives as they explore nature, spirituality and science. In this episode, Bethany Zabiegalski and Elizabeth Jeffries (Beth Z & Beth J) introduce the theme of this podcast: exploration and experimentation. The two Beths invite you to listen in and to share in their journey as they share their own journeys with each other.