Issue 3 - Fierce Truths Magazine by fiercetruthsmagazine

fierceTRUTHS Real. Raw. Awake.

MAGAZINE

Are you struggling with your mental health?

Tap into

Coping through crisis

IS IT TIME TO FIND YOUR TRIBE?

SAM HIGGINS MEET

our

TIPS TO GET CONNECTED

Joy GIFTED GODDESS

SEPTEMBER 2020

ISSUE 3

Take a deep dive into this months Gifted Goddess interview as Sam Higgins talks leadership, Covid, and mental health

â&#x20AC;&#x153;To live your truth fiercely is the greatest gift you can give yourselfâ&#x20AC;?

Welcome! from our fierce founder

elcome to our September issue of Fierce Truths Magazine! With the energy of Libra overshadowing this issue, you’ll be taken on a journey of interpersonal connection, relationship, and balance. Prompting you to focus on how we as individuals can collaborate together instead of experiencing the separateness we can often feel from each other. You’ll be taken on a journey to discover your own version of joy and shown ways to tap into your own creative expression and how your life can be a reflection of that. And if you are feeling a little

IMAGE © zolotareva_elina / Adobe Stock

MAKEUP - Zoe Karabatos @zoekmua

disconnected… You’ll get the down low on how to meet your soul tribe so you can always have people in your life that get you! In this issue will also tackle the big subject of coping with mental health through crisis and what it can mean to be a leader throughout our current world climate. Especially as you read the amazing Gifted Goddess interview we have for you this month. You’ll be inspired to recognise how your life has prepared you for this moment and how you can turn that around to make a difference in the lives of others. Our intent with every issue of Fierce Truths Magazine its to deliver you spiritual-self-development-in-abox. Hoping that one or more of our articles will be that missing piece you need to remember how extraordinary you are and how incredible your life can be. Then when you are ready to dive in a little deeper into your own soul growth. You can unlock your own purpose and get clear about the magic you are meant to bring to the world by diving into our Passion. Purpose. Pathway online course. This month is set to deepen the relationship you have with yourself and others in our life. Whether that be with an intimate partner, friendship tribe or family, because building community around us is the fabric of human beingness So sit back and enjoy our September issue!

With fierce love,

Kim Bleeze Founder and CEO

@fiercetruthsmagazine @fiercetruthsmagazine

fiercetruthsmagazine.com

Contents 3 Fierce Truths Magazine

Letter from Founder Meet our founder Kim Bleeze

Kickstart Your Mornings How to start your day with a boost

Contents Check out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in our issue!

Finding Your Creative Groove Set your creativity free

Editing Team Meet our editing team

Our Fierce Experts Who are our fierce experts?

Feeling Disconnected? Tap into tribe

Fierce Fitness Health and fitness

Our Gifted Goddess Meet Sam Higgins

Radical Thinking Re-think your way into joyous living

Coping Through Crisis 19 Struggles of mental health

Earth Whisper Words of wisdom from the Earth

A Recipe for a Joyful Life 23 Tips for living in joy

Wild Living Sauerkraut Recipe Nourish yourself

The Relationship Quandary 27 A conscious relationship series

With Love From the Afterlife Spirit, soul, and psychic advice

Beauty Below the Surface 33 Rachel shares her self-love journey

Numerology Read your numbers for this month

Healthy Boundaries 35 How to introduce boundaries

Horrorscopes and Stars What do your stars say?

Amethyst 37 Our crystal of the month

You Are Invited Are we looking for you?

The Editing Team Creative Director and Writer

Director of Operations

Kim Bleeze

Nikki Bowler

Communications Manager and Editor

Writer

Scott Grasso

Elizabeth Vigar

Graphic Designer

Thank You! To our Editing Team and our Fierce Experts for all their hard work!

Andrew Karabatos

Fierce Truths Magazine

5 Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE ÂŠ zolotareva_elina / Adobe Stock

Feeling Disconnected? It might be time to

Tap Into by Meg Crawford

Tribe

Because it ’s never been so important to build community, a former lone wolf shares her top tips for finding crew I’m all about tribe – unabashedly – and I have a number of them too. For starters, I’m a sober woman, a practicing witch and a dyed-in-the-wool Richmond supporter. I’m also fortunate to have family and pals I love dearly. All of these connections make my life rich, and bring me meaning and purpose. However, I haven’t always felt this tapped in. Towards the end of my drinking I was as isolated AF. I was bored to bits and my life extended no further than work and the local. No wonder I was lonely – it’s difficult to commit to doing anything when you’re permanently hungover.

Since pulling the pin on drinking, I’ve watched my life unfold in ways I couldn’t have anticipated, but in almost all of these developments, there’s been an aspect of community. Undoubtedly, while we’re in the thick of a pandemic, there are some practical limitations on how we can build community, but it’s not impossible. I know from experience, feeling isolated does me no favours, so, right now, I have to try a little harder. With that in mind, here are my primo suggestions for finding your peeps and getting connected.

Fierce Truths Magazine

1. What f loats your boat? What stirs your soul? Chances are, if you can find something about which you’re passionate, other people will share your enthusiasm – new pals just add water, right there. I love so many things; I have to whittle down the list. But if you’re feeling stumped, think about what you loved doing as a kid. I dug on hula hooping and it turns out there’s a world full of mad-keen hula hoopers with whom I can share that. PreCovid, we hooped in warehouses, at circus schools and in parks. Right now, we’re hooping online together in our lounges, (until you get sent outside for breaking something), emailing each other and chatting on Instagram. Don’t be afraid to go full dork either. Deep dive into your loves. Andy Warhol said to do something “Either once only, or ever y day ”. I don’t quite have Andy ’s discipline, but I do subscribe to the theor y that I have to tend to my passions consistently. You can’t build skill or tribe if you’re flitting in and out.

3. Livin’ la vida locaLivin’ la vida loca Remember that Sesame Street song about the people in your neighbourhood? I’m like a walking version of that. For instance, I’m a book nerd to my core, so upon moving to Richmond, one of the first things I did was to take out a librar y card and

2. Pour love on your existing bonds Business development gurus tell us that the best way to drum up new trade isn’t to hustle new clients; it ’s to tap into your existing networks. Maybe you’ve already got crew, and it just needs a shine up? Because I’m not perfect at this, I diarise texting people and making calls. Also, I make darn sure I see them on the regular. At the moment, this means booking a lot of zoom dinners and linking it with something fun we’d do ordinarily. Right now, a few mates and I are having takeaway at our respective abodes, and then watch live-streamed comedy while texting each other for extra lols.

4. Go online I’ve been a freelance journo for a few years now, so I know that it ’s possible to forge bonds with people over the interwebs or on the phone. However, to get to that place, I needed to get good with the technolog y and view it as an adventure. You know how I said I was a practicing witch? Prepandemic, I engaged in lunar love with my local witch pals, but we can’t right now. So, since March, I’ve been celebrating the new and full moons with witches in Salem. That ’s a dream right there. Also, down under, I’m a day ahead, so technically it makes me a time traveller ever y time we do it.

start hanging out in the aisles. Hell, sometimes I’d visit daily. Over time, I became mates with the librarians. Like proper mates, who’d organise to catch up outside of the librar y. Also, I know my neighbours by name. I’m especially

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller

fond of our elderly Greek neighbours, George and Georgina. When we started to grow fruit and veg in our front yard they called us “good kids”, and we exchange baked goods. Sometimes, if I’m negligent, I find Georgina watering our tomatoes. Plus, one of my biggest joys is being part of the “Cheek y Chook Crew ”, which looks after the dear hennies at the local community garden. I bring them brekkie and put them to bed two days a week. What I’m saying here is, don’t underestimate your ’burb for opportunities to become “a part of ”.

7 Fierce Truths Magazine

Meet Meg Meg Crawford is a word nerd (ie. writer, freelance journo, contributor and general pen for hire). Her side hustle is being a lawyer. She’s a rock dog to the core and likes Ghostbusters just a little bit too much. You can find her communing with chickens, bunnies and cats, when she’s not engaging in witch business under a full moon.

5. Got issues?

6. Don’t wait to be asked

I tried to do things, like not drinking, by myself for

It might be awkward, but if there’s something

years. It was torturous and never worked. It was

you want to have a crack at, just do it. I’ve done

only when I hooked in with other folk who weren’t

a bunch of stuff solo in recent years – ever ything

drinking that I was able to do so myself. Turns out,

from go-go dancing classes, hula hooping, playing

that principle applies to just about ever ything in

ukulele to palm reading. And I’m shy. The payoff

my life. I need community or other people with

has been exponential – I’ve met like-minded souls

lived experience to show me how to do it. If I have

who wanted to do other classes with me, or have

a problem these days, I don’t even hesitate to

dinner before we got cracking. These are people

look for the crews who have walked in my shoes.

I’ve grown to know, now adore and look forward to

Another example was when I had breast cancer for

seeing, and they were perfect strangers in the not

the second time – I needed to talk to women who’d

too distant past.

had it and who could share their experiences with me.

Finally, building community is a skill, just like any other – I had to start awkwardly, practice and incrementally get a bit better at it. Now, although

whether there are groups tackling the same thing.

it ’s second nature, the work goes into maintenance,

A problem shared is a problem halved.

but that ’s another stor y…

IMAGE © simona / Adobe Stock

So, if something ’s plaguing you, investigate

Fierce Truths Magazine

Meet

Sam Higgins Our gifted goddess by Kim Bleeze

We all have an inner light to shine. One that has the potential to create a positive impact on our little version of the world. Yet, we often may find ourselves shying away from that truthful part of ourselves. Choosing instead, to remain hidden and only dreaming about our dreams rather than daring to make them come true. Then there are those fierce women in the world who understanding their worth, their drive, their passion and see it as a non-negotiable. Taking a leap of faith with both feet first and going after what calls to their heart, instead of allowing their fear to be in the driver’s seat. It will be those women whose inner light shines naturally brighter and for no more a reason than choosing to know courage and own their fierce truth. They dare to follow their dreams and in doing so, become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others whom they touch along the way. These are our Gifted Goddesses. Women just like you and me who dared to follow their calling and leap with both feet, intuitively following their souls’ path and saying yes to where their intuition guides them. These women not only live with passion and purpose, they use it to create a massive impact too. I trust you will be as inspired by their stories as we are and for this month’s issue, let us introduce you to Sam Higgins. Sam is a voice hearer, CEO of AwakenHQ, and creative heart-driven entrepreneur, who has a passion to help speakers share their message to the world. Here is what she had to say.

9 Fierce Truths Magazine

Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE ÂŠ Sam Higgins personal collection / Kellie Ralph Photography

KIM: I would love for you to start by telling us who Sam is? Sam: That’s a very hard question. It’s like an unfolding mystery and I feel like I’m as excited as anyone else to figure out the answer. I can talk about what I do in terms of the experiences I have. Like I’m a voice hearer, I’m a CEO, I’m a creative entrepreneur, I lead humans, I work with speakers. The more personal aspects of life, I would say like my values, I’m a visionary, I am a heart-driven and a multi-passionate human. I love learning, growth and change. In many ways I suppose I’m quite sensitive and emotional, emotionally connected I suppose. Now more than in the past I’d like to think. But who knows who I’ll be in a couple more years, right? That answer is so different to the answer I would have had five years ago. There is such capacity to evolve it blows me away, I love it.

KIM: Sam, you run an events company called Awaken HQ. You support leaders in sharing their message, and are a leader yourself. Has this year and the experience of Covid been difficult for you given the nature of your work?

Our team culture is that we are human first before we’re employees. When people are at their best and they’re shining, they’re bringing the work of their heart and they’re known. They can see and be appreciated and then they don’t have to leave their human parts behind. We get to celebrate with them. We don’t have the masks or the filter or the buffer and when we’re not okay, you can tell. For every single thing we have to get done, at the end of the day we don’t do that at the cost of sacrificing our own personal wellness, happiness and commitment to our own self and our own lives. What’s great about that is it starts creating space and permission for conversations about emotions, and how we feel and to be real with that. What kind of sucks about that is that when people aren’t okay, we do need to create authentic space and conversations of how we deal with that. I’ve had a slightly emotional morning where I’m running around stressed, trying to solve three problems. The different demands and pressures of running events. And because of Covid I don’t have the same team members that would be traveling in to help me run the events. It’s a lot more on me personally, so today I’m not okay. I’m getting

11 Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE © Sam Higgins personal collection / Kellie Ralph Photography

Sam: It’s been a great year to run an events company, I’ll tell you that. [Laughter] I’m really noticing the pressures of managing an emotionally connected team. When everyone’s going through a lot of emotion it’s challenging, and I really had to lean into what the work I’m here for is. What piece of the puzzle am I meant to bring and how does my business reflect that? It’s not been easy. Growth and letting go, and I’m really choosing how I get to express what I do.

thrown around by the extra requests so I have to show up as a leader, and I don’t have the answers. Other days, where I have the compassion, the empathy and I can help you find your answer; today, I need someone to help me solve it. There are a lot of pressures on leaders to show up with half the solution already done. Am I supposed to disconnected from the weight of that and go “Here’s the vision” and then inside me, I don’t even know how I’m going to pay you guys next month right? Covid has shown us so much of that. There are a hugely disproportionate number of CEO’s, entrepreneurs, and business owners right now who are sitting there losing sleep each night, wondering how they’re going to keep their organization flowing. We have a real vulnerability, do the businesses keep going? We’ve put a pause on some of those decisions. Not everything can pivot and here’s the thing, even the things that can pivot, not everything should. My heart, soul and passion is in running live events, it’s bringing communities together, it’s the curating content and creating, like, collaborative multi-speaker experiences that are transformational and educational. They help people see themselves create better choices in life and become open to what’s possible. In November 2019 we started our new company Awaken HQ. We had clients booked in for event tours up until July, with people like, starting to lock in September and November events. We had to cancel it all and it was heartbreaking. And I had such a clear vision of where we were going and what we were doing, and the work we were here for. I had the 10year plan and the first year was like this, and then we’re going to use that base to go out and build our community online. So that the online was never not there but we were going to do it on our terms, and then we had to stop and go cancel the events. So I saw I need to build something new. But I don’t want to build a reaction, I want to build a solution. I want to build something that I’m not bored with after three months. So I got to go deep inside myself and the first three months were really quiet. There were no answers coming back. It’s very humbling and that’s been such a personal soul-searching journey. I live my business in a guided way, and I am partly told what to do in my business. I am led to the steps and the service that

I’m meant to be walking, to create certain conversations in the world. To support the rise of certain aspects of humanity and healing that were very silent for a while. So the answer was “Don’t do anything yet” and then a couple of months ago, we started getting the clarity come through. To shift onto online. The online Mental Health Conference we’re working on now, that’s coming out the start of October to coincide with Mental Health Week, is kind of cool. It’s, how do I describe it? It’s the fruition of most of my life’s work, and I use work very loosely because it’s also my life’s pain, trauma, heartache, self-flagellation, and my personal failings. They have gone into being able to fuel this vision and this conference coming together. I still feel very imperfectly capable of executing it, but I’ve learned that it is just part of doing anything in life. You never feel like you’ve got it. Like this beautiful vision, I feel like I’m executing that quite imperfectly, but just knowing that, that is the work.

KIM: What else has this crisis shown you? Sam: One of the pieces of wisdom I was shown in the first sort of few months of the crisis was that there are three waves of it. The first wave is what we see the health scares and fears, the physical restrictions and lockdowns and that sense of control. That’s the first wave of crisis and its impact on people. The second wave is financial crisis, and we haven’t really even started to really experience that, and that’s probably still 12 to 18 months out. Like, “What did we do to the world in terms of locking things down?” It’s increased unemployment, it’s increased recession and whether that dips into depression. The reality of what people are struggling through right now, it’s that second wave crisis. The history of my company has been helping people run their businesses, helping speakers and trainers and educators to run events and to run their businesses. The answers I received back, I was told very clearly: “Your work is not helping with the financial money and business crisis. It’s helping with the third wave of crisis, and that’s the only work you’re here for.”

Fierce Truths Magazine

KIM: What is that third wave of crisis Sam? Sam: The third wave of crisis is what I call spiritual, but it’s the loss of meaning, purpose, hope and identity. It’s the “Who are we now, if we’re not any of the things that we thought we were?” The population isn’t employable because there literally aren’t enough jobs. We will need to find our meaning and identity and our purpose outside our work. What’s beautiful about it is the roles that will emerge. So caring, nurturing roles, teachers, artists, creatives and poets. The forms of expression and creativity will multiply and diversify. People will find new ways to express themselves and make a living through art, through care, nourishment, self-connection and supporting others. We could call it the personal development industry if you want to go into it. But it’s actually the future of learning, growth, and health education. The future of education isn’t through our government institutions, it’s through diversity and individual choice. So a future where most people can’t be employed by industry and organizations because the jobs no longer exist. It is a future of the solopreneur, the creator, the individual teacher, and carer and whether that’s paid or unpaid work. That’s where our source of meaning has to go as a collective, towards individual expression. This transition point, this transitional crisis, one of the biggest issues is, well, let’s just touch on the mental health issues we’re seeing on the rise. Suicide is one of those things. The tracking and reporting on suicide is an area that has been calling for reform for the last decade because numbers are usually about 12 to 18 months behind. It is just poorly regulated, poorly funded government bureaucracy. So people are saying “Tell us the numbers”; “Tell us the stats.” We all know in our heart and through our lived experience and of stories of friends, that people are not okay. The two biggest indicators of suicide in a population are unemployment and youth unemployment. Those two stats will give you the biggest correlation to the suicide rate in

13 Fierce Truths Magazine

a population, which we’ve got an abundance of now and it’s going to get worse. So this is the wave of change, our own crisis that I was told: “Your work’s there, we’ve trained you your whole life for this part of the work.”

KIM: What do mean by saying you’ve been trained to do the work that is now dropping in around mental health? Sam: What I mean by that is, my soul has been training me to handle this kind of project, this kind of vision. Some of those are very like technical skills. My first degree, two degrees were in maths and law and they are skills that profoundly shape how I see and perceive the world. How I make decisions, how I analyse data. My heart’s passion was always to work in events. I started crewing at 21 years old. My dad took me along to crew a Robert Kiyosaki event, and there’s a part of my heart that fell in love with the live event community, the conversations of people. Something inside that was magnetic for me and that’s the skill sets around being able to run, manage and organize larger scale events through the work of my heart. But then there’s also the more emotional and energetic aspects of training. The spiritual aspect of what I do. Where life pulls you off track and throws you in the shit for a few years. You hate every single part of it and it’s a struggle. The pain, trauma, drama, and it feels like a black hole and then you come out of it. It takes a while to recover from the fact that you’re in that space. Then 10 years later you look back and you go “That was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because now I know who I am and what I’m meant to do here.” I profoundly believe I was always meant to have the experiences I had. I’ve been shown time and time again that what I do now links back to things I learned in the darkness of psychosis or addiction. Or inside the trauma of some of those years and the short version of my dark night story, which is not one night. I wish my dark night were just one night! [Laughter]

KIM: What was younger Sam like? Can you go into that a little deeper? Sam: I was in my very late 20’s. I started getting involved with different drugs and I got stuck in a spiral of drug addiction. To ice amongst other drugs as well. Through that time I was working temp jobs at a company for multiple corporations. I was driving around all night, so not sleeping at all. Whether that was partying or getting involved in the drug scene and using drugs. And then through that, I started experiencing psychosis and hearing voices. So the hearing voices experience became one that has completely reshaped my perception of life and reality. There have been times where it’s been beautifully ecstatic, spiritual, connective, and meaningful. And there have been times when it’s been terror, trauma, intense pain, fear, overwhelm and complete loss of self. At times I still label it as hearing voices. I don’t label it as channelling or guidance, or anything spiritually labelled. But I also don’t label it anything medical like auditory hallucinations. I can give you a whole hour’s lecture on why that’s not what it is. Yet hearing voices, it cracked myself open to questions I didn’t even know were possible in life. Firstly, about the multi-dimensional layer of reality and the world we live in. From the start I was more fascinated than scared. I want to understand, and I dived into and followed that with a real innocent curiosity. I probably regretted it later when I found a lot of dark places.

KIM: Aside from how these experiences shaped your purpose of working in mental health, what other affects did your past have on you? Sam: What really opened me up was how our society, our community and our relationships generally deal with the situation where someone’s not okay. Where if you have a different or an intense experience, or your perception of life and reality and truth is different from others. How do we include that? And the short answer is, for most of society, we don’t include it. It’s a very exclusionary focus where

people are, by habit, attempting to create a consensus conversation of what’s normal, what’s allowed and what’s safe to say. Instead of how it could look instead for those that really want to break that mould.

It’s actually made it harder for someone to fully express where they’re at. What it could look like instead is that we completely de-link the two concepts of emotional state or mental verbal expression. The emotions I feel or communicate, and someone’s worth and capability, and we don’t right now. We’re consciously constantly making these assessments of this person based on the physical experience, their emotional expression, the way they dress. Whether they’re capable of this or not capable of that. What’s behind the snap judgments is that we want to create an identity for someone else and have it fixed. Then we want them to just live inside that one identity or judgment that we made about them. We don’t want to include all the parts of them. We don’t want people to change. It reminds us that we’re changing. We want to have an illusion about ourselves as always being capable and competent and that equals valuable and worthy. Whereas if we knew we were always valuable and worthy, like even if there is no way I can cook dinner for

IMAGE © Sam Higgins personal collection / Kellie Ralph Photography

We can get a sense of what that underlying sense of conforming and behaving looks like, but what we don’t really see is how many unconscious things play a part in that. So we can go “Look, that’s bullying”, and “That’s judgment”, and “That’s really shameful behaviour” and some of it is. It’s quite labelling and exclusionary but there are a lot of other neutral, wellmeaning behaviours that tend to make it harder for people to share the things they’re ashamed of. To share their differences, to share their inner hurt, their pain and their trauma. There’s a lot of shame that underlies everything and controls all our unspoken behaviour. The fact is that our social identities are so constructed by unconscious shame that we all collectively buy into it. It’s quite hard to talk to people about what it really takes to create something different, because there’s a lot of behaviour we accept as completely fine and normal.

Fierce Truths Magazine

anyone tonight. Or no way I can go do a content video or effectively run this team meeting or give so and so feedback about their work. I could still be worthy and valuable and have an important place inside this company or with this family or this community.

KIM: If everyone reached a more accepting place like that, how do you believe that would then affect mental health and peoples’ struggles?

The second is really teaching emotional intelligence and we don’t. Emotional intelligence, relational communication, how to understand your boundaries and communicate that to another person. How to hear where they’re at in their emotions and not take it on as blame or judgment for yourself, and then react out of that. How to hear wherever they’re at, whatever they say and go understand them from a place of empathy. Saying “It sounds like there’s a lot going on for you right now.” When I went into rehab in 2010, I was at a point of complete collapse and surrender in my life. And I had to make that really difficult decision to go into rehab for 10 weeks. In that 10 weeks I learned some of the most valuable things I ever learned in my whole life. One of those was a series of trainings that are called DBT (Dialectic Behaviour Therapy). It’s designed for people that have borderline personality to equip their concerns. They were teaching it in this rehab for women because they

15 Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE © Sam Higgins personal collection / Kellie Ralph Photography

Sam: I think it would be huge. Belonging is one of our greatest human needs and it can be a needy feeling. Like we need to present an illusion of who we are to the people that know us, trust us, care about us, love us. So in order to preserve belonging we often sacrifice ourselves. Our own truth, our own feeling, our own darker emotions, our own darker needs or self-expression. If we’re in pain, we don’t want to let anyone know so we’re not a burden to them. But we also don’t want to let anyone down. So that it that first piece, that identity and the linking of capacity and worth.

found a lot of the similar underlying chaos and disorder impacted addicts. Someone who spent my whole life in education was like: “Why on earth did we not learn this in primary school?” And that toolkit changed my life. I would prescribe that for all kids in every primary and high school. I think we would see radical transformative shift inside one generation.

KIM: What’s the vision for your work now that you’ve stepped into this space aimed to help people with mental health struggles? Sam: My vision is to support individuals and community leaders. Whether that’s families, organizations, or companies to relate to their humanity differently. We’re building an online membership that has a lot more collaborative focus. We’re really looking at the holistic impact of how people work and live by looking at your mind, body, heart, and your social relationships. How aligned do you feel to your meaning? For me there is always a spiritual element underlying it. And one of my favourite insights is, if you’re looking at the world and you’re asking one of these four questions… 1. Who am I? 2. What is my place in the world? 3. What the fuck is going on? 4. How can I help? If you’re asking any one of those questions, you’re on a spiritual quest and I literally don’t care what answer you come up with. It doesn’t need to have a god or a divinity. It can be very conventional and physically focused on the aspects of your friends, family, or life. It doesn’t need to be esoteric or mystical in any form. If you’re asking those questions, that search for meaning is spiritual. You can come up with a completely atheistic answer to it and it’s still spiritual. So you know it’s to support the spiritual emergence of stronger cultures around our humanness. It’s working with leaders, it’s building communities, it’s supporting people to work together. If we shift our culture towards this,

the final piece is really that we would stop deifying the experts. During my own, we’ll call it the dark night years, no one had a better answer about me in my life than me. But when I fully embrace that for myself, what I need to extend it out to every other person is that I do not have a better answer for them than they have themselves. We can have our own domains of expertise and passion and research, but there’s a point where we are not the expert that everyone should always listen to. We need to be cultivating the ability to discern, to think, to help people check into their own truth and their own sense of their own personal story. Their constellation of values, meaning, relationships and life direction. Like, “Where do I want to go?” What’s their choice based on? Their own life and intention? I’d rather teach people how to think, than teach them what to think, if that makes sense. Our culture has become so fixated on “Let me teach you the correct thing.” It’s at a very deep level of empowerment, the deep nurturance of each person’s sense of self control over their own power, their own ability to choose. I think that’s so important. It’s not like all the experts are bad they’ve all got it wrong. It’s that we as a population, when we need support, we want someone else to hold all our power and fix us. I’ve done that too. Sometimes we don’t necessarily have the capacity; we are quite vulnerable in that space. I would like to think that I’m going to see someone who understands and respects my vulnerability, and takes the time to teach and educate me and show me what’s important about the issue. We don’t have necessarily the bandwidth to solve everything

KIM: When you finally embarked on your own personal healing journey, were there certain steps that you took? Or did it just unravel for you? Sam: I think there are definitely key decision points that I reached, key learnings or moments where things shifted, and a new awareness would drop in. I first started hearing voices

in 2007 and I’ve been clean from drugs since the end of 2010. So I can identify huge changes in the years since then, but there are definitely big milestones. The first one was sometime through 2009-2010, before I went into rehab, where I got clear with myself on the self-awareness that what I was doing was damaging me. Like you can be an addict and know, but not face it. There’s a point of facing it and bringing the selfawareness that leads to a new choice. I sat without awareness for literally 18 months before I actually went into rehab. So that’s trying to be clean, trying to do better, trying to say no. Having a detox, or a short period of abstinence, and then getting sucked back into it before realizing how fully out of my depth I was. So firstly, I got clear. Like this isn’t working, I’m really hurting myself right now. But not only that, I’m hurting everything I want for my future. It’s not just about right now, as painful as that is. I’m shutting down my hopes and dreams and the person I’d wanted to be. I’m giving up on her right now because of this. And I’m not okay with it. There’s a choice point where you’re not okay. Then there’s another decision point, which is when I decided to go into rehab, which was when I sort of half-assed around getting help. I had an addiction counsellor and I’d done a few other things that I could conveniently fit into what I was already doing in life. Then there’s a moment of like: “I can’t half-ass the asking for help, I have to take 10 weeks out of my life.” Every day for six weeks before I went into rehab, I had to call the centre and say I still want to come in. I had to commit, and I had to commit to going into rehab over Christmas. How disruptive that would be for my mum and my family. And everyone would know and be talking about it. I had to surrender those parts of me and my ego, that thought I could keep pretending. That first year clean was also one of the worst years of my life, and I was so depressed and physically healing. I had no motivation, no ability to work, I’d put on so much weight because of the antipsychotics and the medication I was on. I had so many days I didn’t care if I lived or died, and slept 16 or more hours a day. If I could have slept 24, I would have.

Fierce Truths Magazine

What turned the corner for me and shifted me out of that is, I was asked to crew at a few events. And I was asked to help co-facilitate “Hearing Voices”, a support group for other voice hearers. Over the course of that year, I started to have to teach values to other people and I had to reflect on my own core values. I got to see that most days I would be struggling to get out of bed by 11am, and sleeping the 16 hours and not wanting to get up. But if I had to be in the city to crew at 6 a.m., I would be there. I had to run a hearing voices workshop and it needed three or four-hours prep before that. I’d be up at 7-8am and I’d be able to do that. I got clear how my core values were to contribute, to be of service, to create, to teach and educate. I could physically feel it, they would bring the life force energy into my life. I got to see that values, that passion, was the answer. If I don’t want to live my life in a haze of grey, then I needed to keep following those little threads that lit me up and brought the passion and love into my life. Just fill my life with all of that, so the next things shifted direction because I knew what to look for. I knew the answer was to find these little things and bring them in. And I did that, and it has unfolded again and again and again. Another big decision point and this one’s related. I was working for an events company that went broke, and kind of getting by on that job. It was fine, but I was also working part-time for the mental health service as a consumer educator for them. After the events company went broke the health service came to me and said: “Do you want to work for us three days a week?” At the same time I had an opportunity to start a business helping one of the speakers to look after his clients, payments, and events. I sat there. One was a big risk, and one was safe money. I went back to the health service and I said: “No, I don’t want to work for you. Because even though my vision is still to change the message around mental health, I don’t want to be dependent on a system that doesn’t want me to say half of what I think actually matters.” And half of what I think matters is this spiritual approach, the multi-dimensional aspects of our life. The role of physical therapies, like movement, breathwork, and energetic release techniques.

17 Fierce Truths Magazine

Later I would get into the role of plant medicine, and other forms of different healing, and so much I can’t say inside mental health. I was always trying to hold my tongue so that I didn’t offend people by saying “I don’t think medication is for everyone.” So I had to choose the risk of my dreams. And at a surface level the mental health system would have been a clearer match to my vision. As I’ve described, my vision and purpose is to help people who are in pain and struggling with their mental health. That job would have been a clearer match. But I had to take the risky path of having a business, and not knowing where that would go, and to trust myself to figure it out. That’s been huge. It’s brought leadership, business strategy, accounts, and financial management. It’s brought the highs and lows of business and it’s completely cracked me open, the entrepreneurial path, not having the safe “I’m employed by someone else who takes that risk.” Now my work has come full circle and back around to the mental health. My intention in starting the first events company in 2014 was to create the resources, skills, connections, and have the capacity to be able to have the impact that I want to in terms of mental and emotional health. But I’d almost forgotten that until about three months ago. I was reading through my old vision material and what my goals were from back then, and I went “Oh my gosh I’m doing it.” That’s where I really had to surrender and humble myself to whatever it is guiding me, universe, spirit, the connected plan. There’s a plan and I’ve learned I can’t fuck with the plan. The final decision, or I suppose growth and change point for me, was I started working with a shamanic teacher and some different plant medicines in 2015. That has radically reshaped my perception and awareness around mental health, spirituality, consciousness. The same places I would see and experience through psychosis and with voices are the exact same places and kinds of realms or realities that I’ve experienced through plant medicine. I just had different context, a different teacher, a different story about what was happening for me. I had support and I was calling in

guidance and plant allies, and I was held in a container by someone who comprehended those spaces to a point. So really seeing that half of what we’re talking about around telling people how it is because however you describe your reality right now is correct. But it can evolve and I’ll say for me, it reached a point where I evolved to realize that all the spaces of fear, terror, trauma and psychosis that I had been lost in, it’s the same kind of nature and experience of reality and the multi-layers of consciousness that I experienced through medicine. That completely shifted my perception of mental illness and what’s happening.

KIM: Last question, what is your fierce truth Sam? Sam: My fierce truth is that there’s a reason I’m here. There’s a purpose, there’s an intentionality behind my life and the experiences I’ve had. Now my ego and my conscious self doesn’t know the half of it. Sometimes there’s such a huge role in in surrendering and getting out of the way. To trust that intentionality and that purposefulness. The thing is, the world is in this huge amount of change, transformation, and upheaval right now. Everyone who is accessing and receiving these types of conversations, because not everyone is, has a part to play. There is an intentional thread pulling you through your life. Of whom you’re meant to be, how you’re meant to show up and the things you’re meant to learn, integrate, and contribute. A collective transformation, a collective shift or collective awakening if we use that word. The best question that we could ever be asking ourselves is “What are we awakening to?” Then you get to show up and choose it.

How Are You Navigating Life Right Now? This virtual conference is innovative and groundbreaking in its practical, diverse and holistic vision. Join us and be inspired to learn more about how we can work together to support mental and emotional health in our families, teams and communities.

Why Join Us At INLiGHTen? 2020 has been one of the most intense years for many individuals and for our communities. It’s time for more genuine connection and healing. It’s time for more proactive and all encompassing solutions. It’s time to remember what is possible when people work together to overcome these challenges.

INLiGHTen IS FOR YOU IF... You’ve experienced a rough year personally OR you are wanting to support others in their mental and emotional health challenges.  Perhaps as a carer or friend, as part of your professional work or for members of your team or community. If you'd love to learn more balanced ways to support yourself and others then this conference is for you.

Holistic Themes Every Day

・ DAY 1 - OPENING FRAMES - Trauma, Recovery & Holistic Approaches ・ DAY 2 - CRISIS - Distress, Meltdowns & Coping With Intensity ・ DAY 3 - BODY - Physical, Somatic, Movement ・ DAY 4 - SOCIAL - Relationships, Carers & Connection ・ DAY 5 - HEART - Emotions, Feelings & Sensitivity ・ DAY 6 - MIND - Mental, Cognitive & Beliefs ・ DAY 7 - SPIRIT - Sense-making, Reflection & Meaning

and so much more!!

PRESENTED BY SAM HIGGINS & AWAKEN HQ

www.awakenhq.com Tickets Available At www.AWAKENHQ.com USE DISCOUNT CODE "TRUTHS" TO RECIEVE $30 OFF TICKETS

Coping Through Crisis by Lisa Westgate

IMAGE © VectorMine / Adobe Stock

Covid and the Struggles of Mental Health

any of us right now are feeling overwhelmed, stressed and, particularly for Victorians, a little like a caged lion. We have every right to. This year, the globe has been swept by waves of fear, trauma and distress. It’s only natural for us, as humans, to respond to this feeling of being under threat. The threat or danger response system in humans is built in. We have an entire system of neurological networking that kicks into action when we are feeling unsafe. You may have heard of the “fight/flight/freeze” response. This is part of the neurological response. This clever body system was “designed” for short-term threats, like being chased by an animal with large teeth when we ventured out of our caves. We also have strong evidence that a prolonged threat response is detrimental to many other systems in the body. When you are under a perceived threat, blood is shunted away from digestion and high-level brain functions for more base level, survival related concerns. Blood goes to the legs (to run away from the threat) and the basic

19 Fierce Truths Magazine

functions of the brain take charge. In a modern-day crisis, such as a pandemic, we feel these changes in our physiology reflected in our psychology. We may experience a loss of appetite or conversely, comfort eating. A drop in libido and a concurrent craving for connection. Connection is one of the “Six Core Human Needs”, based on the work of Abraham Maslow. It is my opinion that our deeply ingrained requirement for connection is at the root of the distress many are experiencing currently. Whether physically isolated as an individual, a family unit or a geographical area, it is our perceived lack of, or restriction of, our ability to connect that people are finding particularly challenging. A common question that is being asked currently is “How can I feel better?” Firstly, let’s appreciate these are unique circumstances. Most of us have never experienced anything like this in our lifetime, and therefore have no prior strategy to call

Let’s also acknowledge that however people are responding to their current circumstances, they are doing the best they can, with the resources (both internal and external) they have available to them. Next, understand that no two people will behave the same way and therefore there is no room for judgement of others. The good news for you is that we as humans have also been given choice. It may not feel like it at the moment, but we have choice over some very important aspects of our lives that can heavily influence how we traverse these challenges.

We have choice over our words. The words we use towards others externally and the words we use towards ourselves internally. Language has power. How are you using your power? In “A Return to Love” Marianne Williamson says: “Thought is Cause, experience is Effect. If you don’t like the effects in your life, you have to change the nature of your thinking.” And, “A Course in Miracles” (a spiritual guidebook) says that there are only two emotions, love and fear…that fear is the absence of love, the way darkness is the absence of light…that all loveless emotions (like anger and jealousy) are a product of fear. We can choose our words from Love or from Fear. There is a lot of fear around at the moment. Perhaps some of those responding from fear are unaware they have a choice. Let us meet them with love, compassion and kindness.

We have choice over our actions. Behaviour is a fabulous indicator of emotional state. More than that, behaviour can determine emotional state. Even in Stage 4 restrictions, we are able to spend time outdoors in fresh air with our bare feet on the ground. This practice, known as “grounding”, is accepted now, even by many in traditional mental health roles such as psychology as having a positive effect on mood. Looking after our physical body through good nutritional choices, mindful breathing techniques, regular movement however gentle, and limited screen time has profound effects on our mental health. Our mental wellness does not only exist between our ears. Wellness is a full body endeavour. We have choice over our thoughts. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Darkness cannot drive out

darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” This author takes the liberty to extend, similarly, fear cannot drive out fear, only gratitude (a love-filled emotion) can do that. You may be familiar with a gratitude practice. The idea is that at a set point of the day, typically morning or evening, you commit to paper an itemised list of things you are grateful for. In the world of Positive Psychology there is much research around the benefits of a gratitude practice. I encourage you to take gratitude beyond a practice and implement a gratitude “filter” in your mind. Think of it like a sieve that all your thoughts, observations about the world and feelings must pass through. When you first begin, you may find that some thoughts slip through and avoid the sieve. Notice how these ones make you feel as opposed to ‘filtered’ thoughts. With Martin Luther King Jr’s wisdom ringing in our ears, pushing down negative thoughts and feelings doesn’t erase them. Flooding your mind and body with gratitude and loving kindness is far more powerful. Reinforce the “good”. You may have heard a life coach somewhere say “Where your focus goes, grows” or something similar. This is amplified in the echo chambers of social media. Seek out the feelings you want to be feeling, the thoughts that empower you, the people that inspire you. Then you will begin to feel more confident in exercising your choices in how you feel, think and behave.

IMAGE © Anna Kutukova / Adobe Stock

on when looking for how to respond.

Earlier, it was stated that everyone is doing the best they can with the resources they have. This includes you. Be proud of you. Be gentle with yourself. All things are temporary.

Meet Lisa Lisa Westgate is the Founder of Freedom Mindset Training. An inspirational Speaker, Trainer and Best-Selling Author on topics of Mental Health, Personal Evolution and NeuroLinguistic Programming.

Changemakers: IWD Edition and Lisa’s e-book “3 Keys to Outgrow Trauma: An Alternative Perspective from Lived Experience” are available at www.lisawestgate.com Fierce Truths Magazine

Click here to support #change5000

Click here to watch how RizeUp make a difference

IMAGES © Microgen / Adobe Stock

Recipe for a

Joyful Life by Andrea Martell So here we are in the 2020 twilight zone. We’re wondering what the hell has just happened, how did we get here and how did we land in this crazy? See, we have all been busy and distracted with making ends meet and doing all the things we have to do. Looking after health, family, home, careers, relationships, finances and holidays etc. etc. The Universe has said “Enough! Time to pay attention to our inner world, time to sit, time to listen, listen within.”

23 Fierce Truths Magazine

We all just got thrown into an involuntary life coaching session. Many of us are kicking and screaming, saying that we didn’t ask for this. But this is the perfect time to become aware of what we haven’t been acknowledging. Where have we been lying to ourselves? What have we been doing that hasn’t been in service to ourselves? What are the human constructs we have created that don’t align with the human condition and nature? Imagine a pond with a lot of sediment, debris and sticks at the bottom. These have fallen in over the years and gradually sunk to the bottom, so it’s really dark and murky underneath. You wouldn’t know it though. On the surface the pond is pristine with fresh clear water. No one would ever question that the pond needing cleaning, and there was no reason to suggest that was necessary. So what has happened now? The pond has been stirred up by a whirlpool. All the gross stuff at the bottom is rising up, becoming visible and messing up the once clear pond. It’s a strong whirlpool and it can be difficult to anchor ourselves. If we try to resist the tide of water, we will be knocked over. Welcome to 2020.

system (RAS), which controls focus and alerting us to help us get what we want. It’s a huge part of the quantum science behind the Law of Attraction. ACTION: Take a moment and think of three things you are currently grateful for. Better yet, write them down, allowing yourself to really feel gratitude as you contemplate. Notice the internal sensations as you feel gratitude for these things.

IMAGE © Igor Link / Adobe Stock

Cultivate Courage

The world and the future of humanity feels like it’s at a tipping point right now. We are in dire need of solutions and new ways of bringing these into fruition. As humans we have a core role to play. These times call for greater emotional resilience and flexibility. I’m proposing that we do this through embodying Joy. Those who embody Joy are confident, self-loving and accepting. They know their own worth, are strong and uphold their own boundaries. They excel, shine and inspire by being an example to others. We need Joy-embodied humans more than ever. Below is a recipe containing five key actionable ingredients to be and apply Joy, enthusiasm and emotional resilience to our world.

Gratitude is the attitude of Joy Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps us feel more positive emotions and relish good experiences. It improves our health and assists with dealing with adversity. It changes our physiology and the feel-good hormones in our bodies. It also activates the reticular activating

The quickest way to grow and upgrade ourselves is to get outside our comfort zone. Doing the things we have fear around builds confidence, self-esteem, resilience and flexibility. When we do things that create discomfort, we are teaching our neurological paths that these things are safe. It prevents us from entering into the sympathetic nervous system state and also changes our beliefs about what is possible. ACTION: Start with something small that you are resisting due to the unpleasant feelings that arise. Acknowledge those feelings, and remember to breathe. Of course, you can check in with your doctor or counselor to make sure that this is right for you. Then, feel the fear and do it anyway. It may be easy to overanalyze the results; however, repetition is key to training our bodies that we are safe in this new action. So look for opportunities to do this thing numerous times. Gradually it will becomes easier as you are upgraded to the new You, Version 2.0.

Feeling feelings Emotional resilience involves getting comfortable with those unpleasant emotions and learning how to work with them. Anger, sadness, fear and guilt are all part of the human experience. We can learn to tap into their roots and actually begin to enjoy the wisdom of what they have to offer. Allowing and being ok with these emotions is like giving ourselves super powers. There is immense Joy in knowing we can survive the depths of our despair and hopelessness. Sitting with intense feelings and coming through the other side is a powerful and transformational gift that life has to offer us.

Fierce Truths Magazine

Purpose

ACTION: Discover your preferred feeling-processing tool. There are many such as journaling, artwork, movement, dance, singing, speaking, time in nature, meditation and contemplations. The key is to feel; allow it to surface and, acknowledge its’ perspective without judgment. Be compassionate towards the part of yourself that feels this way. Get curious and ask it what it needs. Often just the process of allowing, feeling and acknowledgement is ample for the energy behind the feeling to be transmuted from your system.

Self-Responsibility Self-responsibility is the key to empowering ourselves and our world. We can’t change what we don’t own and take responsibility for. Imagine if we could change anything we desired in the world, what would we do? What sort of world would we create? If the world was a reflection of our connection to ourselves, what then could we improve in ourselves to have a different world reflected back? ACTION: Reflect on the questions above whilst also asking yourself “What am I refusing or resisting taking responsibility for? Where am I blaming things external to myself? Where am I not being honest with myself, in what areas do I lie to myself?” Take your time with this, come at it with curiosity and compassion. When this brings up unpleasant feelings, refer back to the last ingredient to assist in processing them.

Life and our modern culture are full of entertainment, distraction and drama. There are so many things to focus on that give us the next hit of dopamine, which makes us feel happy. However, this is a hamster wheel. Once we are on, it requires us to constantly feed it for the next hit. We are programmed to be continually looking for the next thing. Once we have the career, it’s the relationship, the house, and the kids and so on it goes. Have we ever considered that the things we think we want are actually what our heart deeply desires? Joy resonates from within, regardless of external conditions. Find Joy with all that we have now, without the pressure to have or do anything else than being where we are now. ACTION: Reflect on “What am I here for, what’s my intention?” Ask yourself this with everything you do. Every decision you make is either beneficial or detrimental to yourself. When you start to ask these deeper questions of yourself, you grow and learn. You navigate yourself to a stronger sense of purpose and intention in all you do, thus being of greater service to yourselves and those around you.

The Joyful path is a courageous path. It’s our own hero’s journey, choosing to connect and knowing the depths of ourselves. The pond is stirred up right now, revealing the messiness at the bottom. It’s an opportunity to clear the murkiness that has appeared on the surface. Unlearning, eliminating, integrating, and committing to experimenting with our own Joy recipe is our own quest for Joy. We have the opportunity to clear everything that isn’t us, revealing a vibrant, compassionate, self-accepting authentic, whole and aligned self. Knowing this, knowing we will survive this and any circumstances, is Joy.

Meet Andrea Introducing Andrea Martell, a Joy Scientist combining academic science and her own experiments to create and spread Joy. She is a professional trainer, facilitator and transformational coach specializing in Joy Embodiment, Leadership & Communication, working with people who desire a richer and more fulfilling life. Special invite for you … Click the facebook icon to join the campaign to spread joyflu Or follow Andrea’s experiments through andreamartell.com

25 Fierce Truths Magazine

Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE Â© Igor Link / Adobe Stock

The Relationship Quandary At some point in our life, we’ve all been there right? Navigating the ups and downs of an intimate relationship and doing the best we can to create harmony and lasting connection. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don’t. Either way, each experience with a partner or potential partner can bring us an assortment of lessons, learnings, love and yes sometimes, heartbreak. Each month we will bring you conscious and authentic conversations with singles and couples alike. Discussing with them the answers to some of those important relationship questions we’ve all potentially asked at some point. “How we should communicate?” “What makes a relationship successful?” “What is key to lasting relationships?” “What does love mean?” “What should I look for in a relationship?” “How do I communicate what I want?” Intimate Relationships are an imperative aspect of emotional and mental wellbeing in human and spiritual development. So take a journey with us each month to see how others are navigating the relationship quandary.

27 Fierce Truths Magazine

Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE Â© Prostock-studio/ Adobe Stock

IMAGE © Sam & Daniel Chante personal collection

Meet Sam & Daniel Chantè Samantha and Daniel Chante are both extraordinary heart-centred humans making a difference in the world, and in each other’s lives. Through sharing their thoughts and deep understanding of relationship, connection and love, they show us that communication is always key to a lasting relationship.

29 Fierce Truths Magazine

Kim: How long have you both been married? Daniel: Five years. It’s odd for a husband to remember that one isn’t it! [Laughter]

Kim: Did you go into your marriage with expectations? Daniel: None at all. It was actually seamless. Literally, the whole relationship has been seamless. Sam: At first when I first met Daniel, I said to him “I’m going to marry you.” And he looked at me and he said “I don’t want to crush your dreams but we’re not going to go down that path. I’ve been married before, let’s just start off as friends and if it morphs into something better, fantastic.” Daniel: We built a friendship, and the first thing I did with Sam was show her my values, and I was transparent on every part of my life. And I gave her every option to walk away. So it just morphed into a relationship and then I was trapped into marriage. [Laughter] Sam: It was a surprise wedding. I didn’t know I was getting married.

Daniel: So in 2015 we were on one of our own tours we run. Just by chance her mum and her brother decided to come on the tour, and I had in my head that I wanted to marry Sam in Israel. I just felt that I wanted it to be the most raw and real version of true love, and our wedding day was the most perfect day you could ever imagine.

Kim: What has marriage been like to navigate? Sam: I love it. I’ve learnt so much more about myself as an individual, but also as a wife to my husband. I teach all about relationships and I thought I’d mastered it. That is incorrect. In our marriage it’s taught me so much, and Daniel is a very supportive and understanding husband. He is so transparent with me which I actually found a little bit challenging at first, but now I absolutely love it and admire that about him. He has an understanding of the feminine energy and how we are as women. He supports me in every way possible. I have total freedom. Daniel: As I said, the friendship is the biggest thing. We do everything together and we’re eight years down the track. Our marriage actually gets stronger. Sam: We actually live on the road, so we have really learned to respect each other’s space. Even though we spend most of our days together, I’ll still go off and do my things and Daniel will go off and do his things. We really get each other. Daniel: We’re very independent in our own relationships and our communication is outstanding, always has been. We have breakfast, lunch, dinner together, and we communicate over that on everything. Most relationships are not a relationship, they’re an ownership. Sam has free will to do anything. If I can’t trust her there is no relationship. The key thing in any relationship is; if your intention for the other person is just to be happy, then no terms and conditions apply. When you do that, you’re actually of service to that person consistently without it being a task and it just becomes a natural basic instinct. And that’s what we actually have with each other, that’s what makes it work.

Kim: Are you always in tune with each other? Daniel: I’d say yeah, we do have disagreements but as I said before we communicate extremely well. So sometimes we might have a disagreement and we need that time out, so we’ll take it. It’s time to absorb what we what we’re going through and then we’ll come back later and have a proper discussion about it and then finalize it. We don’t like things dragging on. Sam: I said to him at the very beginning: “Babe, for me, I need you to come to me if I’m doing something inappropriate or it’s leaving a bad feeling with you.” I said “because if I’m not aware of it, I can’t heal it, I can’t change it, and I am a woman that loves to grow into the best version of herself.” Daniel: It’s more of a prevention over cure model. I’d rather

bring something up you know, and it might sting a bit, but I’d rather bring it up early in the piece and get over it. Than it just go to crap.

Kim: When you’re going through, and you’ve probably answered this a little, but when you’re going through a difficult time how do you come back to a place of love and balance with each other? Sam: That’s so easy. Daniel: Yeah, Sam is very loving, and for my childhood I struggled with that sort of thing because it was quite a challenging childhood. So Sam has brought that to the table with me. Sam: When we come to an agreement and both understand where we’re both at within ourselves. Allowing him to have freedom in his thoughts and his words and his thinking, all that kind of stuff. You come together so easy. Just because he doesn’t agree with me doesn’t mean that that he’s not the person for me. It just means I need to respect that part of him. Things might get heated, so we go off and do our own thing and then come back together and we just we just look at each other and go “okay well that’s your opinion” and he says “that’s my opinion” and then I’ll just sit with him. We just don’t hold on to it. Daniel: No matter what happens we always align back to our values, that’s what actually holds it together.

Kim: What makes a relationship successful? Sam: [Laughter] Communication, intimacy and always focusing on moving forward. And having those outcomes that you want to achieve together. Because if you don’t have that you’ve got nothing to strive for, the relationship just becomes dead. Daniel: I’ll add one thing to that. As adults we become too serious, I’m probably the most sarcastic pr*ck out there. But inside me, my intention is; I make my wife smile every day. We laugh our guts out together like two little cheeky kids all the time. We do that a lot and I want to bring the fun element into it and that’s what I’ve done. I think life should be fun. Sam: I’ll just quickly add to that. I also believe it’s about respecting each other as individuals, and respecting the space. That Daniel’s so comfortable in his skin and I’m so comfortable in my skin. As individuals we’re very strong people and that’s really helped as well. Because I know in a past relationship where I was not so confident in me as an individual, it caused arguments. Now, I’ve done so much work on myself and learned how to respect Daniel as my husband, and giving him that freedom to do what he needs to do to grow within himself. That’s so important and Fierce Truths Magazine

insecurities are a death nail for a relationship. Daniel: That’s what I said about ownership, that it’s an insecurity. That’s where the rule book comes out. As soon as you’ve got the rule book out, you’re gone. Because you’ve got to abide by so many things, and you don’t have freedom. I think we’re all free spirits, we should be anyway. I said to Sam from the start: “I’m a free spirit. Please don’t try and clip my wings because I won’t hang around.”

Kim: What do you both believe is the most important quality of a relationship? Sam: It is, it really is communication. It’s you as an individual, it’s self-love. And what I find in relationships is so many people looking for that other person to fill that void and for them to make them happy. But it’s all inside yourself.

Kim: What would your advice be to, say, a budding new relationship that might be navigating those early stages, of what communication needs to look like for them? Daniel: First of all, have a set of values, that’s the key thing. Communicate really well. Build a friendship first because when you build a friendship, you see what their habits are like and all the innuendos. We get people coming to us all the time asking us about relationships, or they’ve got someone in mind. We ask them, basically “what baggage are they taking into that new relationship from their past relationship?”

Kim: What would be a red flag be at the beginning of a potential relationship that says, “this relationship isn’t for me”? Daniel: If they don’t align with their values and more so if they’re not prepared to sit down and write them together. You get in a relationship like buying a dog or having a kid, they’re here for a long time. So why would you not invest that short period of time in creating something that you’re both aligned to, to eliminate conflict long term? Doesn’t make sense, so that would be my advice to anyone.

for Sam, good for everyone involved. Our business and our personal lives are based on that. It’s good for everyone involved and if it doesn’t do that, we don’t do it. Sam: Can I just add something to that, always go into a relationship to see what you can give to that person. Not what you can take and that’s the biggest mistake I see with my clients. I’m always looking at how I can give to my husband. What is it that I can do today to give him an amazing experience or just more love? I don’t look for it to come back to me because I know I just need to be the person that gives to him. And when I do that, I get it back 10 times. Daniel: I’ll share one more thing with you Kim. It’s like when you said about expectations. When I do a seminar, I say to people: “Have you ever told someone you love them, and you didn’t get the response you wanted? How do you feel?” And they go “I’m pissed off, I’m disappointed.” And I go: “Why did you tell them you love them? Would you tell them you love them because you genuinely love them, or did you tell them you love them because you wanted a reaction?” When you lose that expectation and you’re just doing it for that right intention, it limits your disappointment levels.

Kim: Last question. What does love mean to both of you? Sam: Love… oh my goodness I could talk about this all day. To me love is when you open your heart up and you give to another, because what you give to another is what you give back to yourself. But you’re giving to yourself first. Daniel: I’d agree with that and I’d say when you do it as a basic instinct, it has the most impact. My intention for Sam was always that she’s safe and secure and that’s what women really want in a relationship. So instinctively I’ve given it to her, and then Sam goes above and beyond to make sure that I’m looked after without me even having to ask a question. That’s how we operate. Sam: Working from our hearts. Daniel: That’s how we roll. [Laughter]

Kim: Can you give one example of what a shared value would look like for you guys? Daniel: Absolutely. The first two values of ours, we’ve got ten, but I’ll tell you the first two. The first one is, value yourself first. So I value myself first over Sam, and Sam values herself first over me. Most people see it as a selfish act, but if you’ve ever been on an airplane and the mask drops what do they say? Put it on yourself first. Otherwise you’re going to turn blue and you’re not going to be able to help anyone else. So you’ve got to build that foundation within yourself first. So to value yourself first is key. The second one is actually just as important. We call it ecological, so every decision we make is good for me, good

31 Fierce Truths Magazine

Make sure you tune in to our next issue for part two in The Relationship Quandery series.

Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE ÂŠ Sam & Daniel Chante personal collection

True Beauty is Found Below the Surface Rachel Smith Shares Her Journey of Self-Love Rachel Smith’s issues with her body image became serious when, at 14, she developed Anorexia Nervosa. As an impressionable teen, she witnessed how addiction and mental illness could disempower her loved ones, and during school, she had been a victim of bullying and suffered through various controlling relationships. These circumstances made Rachel feel a desperate loss of control over her life that she would do anything to reclaim. Even though she was fit and active, her eating disorder was a way for Rachel to create more control in her life. She needed to control what she did and did not eat, and what she weighed. Rachel eventually learned that she would never feel satisfied with how she looks on the outside until she healed her wounds on the inside. To find a place of self-acceptance and to understand that beauty comes from within is often a difficult journey for both women and men. We are saturated with images of airbrushed models that can easily make us feel inadequate. This can make us obsess over our physical appearance and can create a detachment from our inner beauty or soul beauty. The truth is, we are all beautiful. And when we can love ourselves and accept ourselves as we are, our inner beauty shines through our eyes and smile, attracting all those who meet us. Rachel has found this to be true through her learning experiences. Coming from a privileged upbringing, Rachel says that people

33 Fierce Truths Magazine

often assume that you are immune to difficulties. Having material needs met, or going to a good school, does not mean that you aren’t vulnerable. It can be very lonely when everyone around you believes that you are ok when you aren’t. Rachel is 5’10” and, at her worst, she weighed only 46 kilos and her severe weight loss was causing many issues that were having a devastating effect on her health. “I had scabs on my back, and I had to get 4 new teeth because the enamel came off, and my hair was falling out. It’s a miracle I have 3 kids now because my periods stopped.” Rachel dealt with a lot of selfloathing because she wanted to be something other than what she was. She wanted to look like other girls whom she was physically incapable of looking like. It didn’t matter how much weight Rachel lost, she never felt like she was good enough. Looking in the mirror became a heartbreaking activity, and it has taken Rachel years to find a place of self-acceptance.

“I’ve finally realised that skinny doesn’t equal healthy.” Now when Rachel looks in the mirror she feels proud of her body, but it’s not easy. Every day she has to be conscious of her self-talk and make sure she stays on a positive path. The path to healing sometimes needs others to accompany us on it. For Rachel, she needed a psychologist, naturopath, dietician, and numerous fitness experts to help her. Dealing with serious body issues is not easy to get over. Often, we need help. Rachel says that it’s ok to have bad days, but what matters is that you don’t let yourself stay stuck in those moments for too long. Be kind to yourself, believe in yourself, and know that you are worthy of

love just the way you are. Rachel is proud of herself for learning to not take life so seriously anymore. She can now be in the moment with others and enjoy laughter, which helps her to remember to prioritise what matters. Finding the courage to accept herself the way she is has given her the confidence to follow her dream of becoming a radio announcer. So instead of worrying about what size clothes she wears, Rachel asks herself different questions and encourages all people who struggle with their weight and body image to do the same. “How are my energy levels?” “Am I happy?” “Does my skin look good?” “Am I sleeping well?” Once you can truly love yourself for all the unique reasons that make you a wonderful human being, you will naturally see yourself as a more beautiful person. To do this, we all have to change our priorities and work on things that make us feel good about who we are. As Rachel says, health, family, laughter, and being able to be yourself, that’s what matters. Being real means not being ashamed of your battles and being honest about them, with yourself and others. This shows strength and vulnerability, which are both beautiful. “You have to love every part of who you were, and look back and love every part of you through every stage. I send love to the young girl who didn’t love herself. I send love to that Rachel and every Rachel that I’ve been. That brings peace to the Rachel I am now.” It all comes back to self-love. Practice these three powerful affirmations every day to help you build self-love and acceptance. “I believe in myself. I love myself. I am worthy.” Written by Elizabeth Vigar

Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE ÂŠ Rachel Smith personal collection

Healthy Boundaries Why they are important, and how to introduce them into your life now!

id you know that establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries is an essential part of creating healthy relationships and looking after your mental health? It is such a vital ingredient in making sure we feel happy and comfortable. But there are those of us who have no idea what healthy boundaries are, and even fewer of us who know how to properly implement them. Setting personal boundaries is what will help protect you from situations that have the potential to cause you harm, be it physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. When your boundaries are solid, and you have a clear idea about your limitations, it makes it easier to recognise when something happens that doesn’t align with your values. It is impossible to establish personal boundaries when you are unsure of where your lines are or if they have even been crossed. Have you ever sat down with yourself and delved into your feelings? What is most important to you? What causes you stress? What is acceptable? What won’t you tolerate? For some of us, we pretend that we don’t have certain limitations because we worry that they will be unacceptable to others. This results in us experiencing situations that can hurt us. Do you sometimes experience feelings of guilt or resentment with others? This could be a sign that you are not honouring your own unique set of values. Instead, you may be trying to adhere to someone else’s.

35 Fierce Truths Magazine

If you are like me, you may fall into the category of “people-pleaser.” This will give you a predisposition to avoid being direct, for fear of causing confrontation. You might suffer from feelings of guilt, doubt, and fear when you think about revealing your true feelings. Unfortunately, when we are disingenuous about what is important to us, we are bound to confuse people and cause misunderstandings. This can lead to conflict, which is the exact thing you were trying to avoid anyway! As you can see, boundaries are not just about having healthy relationships with the people you encounter. Personal boundaries are also about the relationship you have with yourself. Honouring what matters most to you, and refusing to compromise on that,

says to others (and yourself) that you value yourself and have high self-esteem. By being honest and direct with others about where you stand shows them that you respect yourself, which will help them to respect you, too! Once you have established what your boundaries are, now is the challenging part. You have to consistently follow through with consequences when your boundaries are violated. This is sometimes difficult and often leads to unwanted compromise. Learning how to feel comfortable saying “NO” is a crucial step in being open, honest, and direct with those around you. Put yourself first and prioritise your feelings. This is not a selfish act but an act of self-care. Often, we question ourselves and it

IMAGE © Tierney / Adobe Stock

makes it very hard to say “no”. But you will find that when you start expressing yourself this way, people will feel safer with you because they will understand your limits. This will improve your relationships, not only with romantic partners but also with your family and co-workers, too. But what do I do if I know my boundaries have been violated? You are not responsible for how people respond to your boundaries. You are responsible for communicating your boundaries honestly and respectfully. If a person chooses to get upset because of it, they are the one who is responsible for that. It’s often the way that toxic people who exhibit controlling, abusive, or manipulative

behaviour will disrespect and test our boundaries. When this happens, you must summon your inner strength and remain firm. Do not waver, do not apologise. You are entitled to set personal limits that protect your wellbeing. Trust your instincts. Always. It all boils down to good communication. Setting boundaries does not instantly happen. It’s a skill we learn and it takes a lot of practice before it feels natural and easy to recognise when our boundaries are being crossed. Always be forgiving with yourself and look for support when you need it. Sometimes just being able to talk about your feelings will give you the clarity, courage, and strength to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. The better you get at it, the

more you will encourage people into your life who will appreciate you for who you are. And it will be easier to say goodbye to those who don’t.

In a Nutshell: •Honour your limits •Focus on your feelings •Respect your own needs •Don’t compromise •It’s healthy to say “No” •Trust your instincts •Be assertive •Find support Written by Elizabeth Vigar

Fierce Truths Magazine

Clear Your Mind, Engage Your Intuition with

IMAGE © zlatamarka / Adobe Stock

Amethyst

Amethyst, which has been called one of the “Master Healing Crystals of Spirituality,” can be useful in many ways. Its’ ability to connect you deeply with your Third Eye Chakra and Crown Chakra means it is a powerful aid with all troubles associated with the mind. Amethyst, admired for 37 Fierce Truths Magazine

its connotations of nobility, comes in many shades of purple, ranging from a milky pale lilac to a dark, deep grape with red highlights. Keep one of these precious gems close to you to guide you through mental distractions and difficulties and help you on your path of spiritual awareness.

Being so closely associated with all elements relating to the mental sphere, Amethyst is the perfect stone for learning how to open your third eye and listen to your intuition. All of us have an “inner voice” that keeps us in alignment with our destiny and protects us against what does not serve us. For some of us, our intuition is strong, but for others, we need help to pay attention to our spiritual side. Amethyst helps you to quieten your mind, facilitating relaxation, rest, and meditation. This helps us to journey through life at a higher frequency and deepens our connection to self. Once you can develop a connection with your Third Eye Chakra, you can allow your intuition to be a strong and protective guiding force in your life. When we listen to our intuition, we are trusting in our ability to move in the direction of happiness and self-love.

IMAGE © zlatamarka / Adobe Stock

Ways to Use an Amethyst Place an Amethyst stone under your pillow or near your bed to help give you peaceful dreams, and keep nightmares away. Wear a piece of Amethyst to promote clarity of thought, inspiration, and to keep negative thoughts at bay. Keep a stone in your office to combat tension and stress and to facilitate better concentration.

The Potentian Health Benefits of Amethyst Amethyst is a notoriously sobering stone that can serve as your personal warrior. By keeping one close, it can help to soothe the mental, emotional, and psychological pain associated with trauma, stress, anxiety and addictive traits. Furthermore, by helping you channel your intuitive powers, and creating the right energetic field, amethyst will promote healing on a deep and personal level. Governing the realm of the mind, Amethyst can help with headaches, stress and also relieves tension. It can help you to communicate better and increase your feelings of self-worth. Spiritual practitioners claim that Amethyst can also have great physical benefits. It is said to potentially strengthen the immune system and reduce chronic pain.

How to Look After Your Crystal The best way to maintain and maximise the powers of your crystal is to recharge it under the light of a full moon. First, wash it under cool running water and place it under the moonlight for a night. This will restore all of its natural energy. You could also try smudging your Amethyst with Sage. Burn a smudge stick and allow the crystal to be bathed in the smoke, while you visualise any negative energies disappearing. Losing sight of who we are and living in self-doubt may make it impossible for you to feel confident in yourself and to love yourself first and foremost. Amethyst is said to clear your mind and bring you back to yourself, enabling you to connect with your intuitive self. When we feel confident to listen to ourselves, we will know what we need to be healthy and happy in life. This will help us to overcome our obstacles. Written by Elizabeth Vigar

Fierce Truths Magazine

Kickstart Your Mornings

How to start your day right and get the boost you need to succeed. by Kim Bleeze

How you choose to start your day matters. It contributes significantly to how the rest of your day can potentially flow, and whether you have a good day or a bad day. For instance, the way you wake up. The number of times you do or do not press snooze. What you put in your body. What path you allow your thoughts to take and what you allow into your awareness. So not just how you fuel your body, but how you fuel your mind, your soul, and your spirit too. When it comes to the type of day you will have, every choice you make matters, especially in the morning. You might be asking why, right? Why shouldn’t I just press that snooze button one more time? Why shouldn’t I let my thoughts run away with negativity? Well, all the above that I mentioned will help you start your day with momentum, excitement, and enriching enthusiasm. It will help you to feel amazing and pumped to create a better version of the day than you may have had yesterday. And that momentum will be easier to retain throughout your whole day if you set yourself up to succeed in this from the moment you awake. If you don’t know where to start here are some tips you can try.

Step 1.. NO MORE SNOOZING! Constant snoozing can confuse your brain and make you feel more tired than what you are. Making it harder for your brain to meet the new day productively. This limits the boost you need to kickstart to your day. Not to mention, when you delay waking up, there is the potential you are resisting your life.

Step 2.. HYDRATE In the 7-8 hours or so you’ve been asleep, you’ve most likely become dehydrated. So it is important for brain health and body function to hydrate and regain the fluids you lost whilst sleeping. So after you wake drink a 1-2 glasses of water. The health benefits will help you feel great.

Step 3.. LEAN INTO THE SILENCE Start your day in stillness and silence. No phone, no computer, no TV. This will help clear your head and reduce stress so you can start your day with inner peace and without the external noise. So take a moment to reflect within as you breathe life into your heart and become present in your day. JUST BE. 39 Fierce Truths Magazine

Step 4.. POWER THOUGHTS What you think affects your moods. Affirmations can be a powerful tool to enhance your thinking power. If used correctly they can help overcome limiting beliefs and create healthier self-talk. Use these tips: 1. Create your affirmation around what you are literally committing to. 2. Get clear on why that is deeply meaningful to you. 3. What daily action needs to happen to ensure that commitment becomes a reality?

Step 5.. IMAGINE YOUR BEST DAY Be present in what you are creating for your day. Take time to visualise how you want your day to go, and the outcomes you desire. Really see what you see, feel what you feel and hear what you hear as you bring a successful day to life through your visualisation. The more you can invoke an emotional “feel-good” response, the better.

Step 6.. MOVE YOUR BODY Exercise enlivens your day. It enhances your energy, stimulates the blood to flow through your body and increases your vitality. It can be for as long as you want: 1 minutes, 5 minutes, an hour or even longer. Do what feels great for you, and if you can take your exercise outside in the fresh air and to feel the earth beneath your feet, even better.

Step 5.. NOURISH YOUR MIND What you nourish your mind with matters and contributes significantly to quality of thoughts and feelings that follow. Spending 30 minutes doing this will help create a healthy thought process for the rest of your day. So immerse yourself in positive, inspirational, and motivational content. Enriching your mind is key to a healthy mindset.

Step 6.. CREATE WITH WORDS

1. What are you grateful for? List at least 3 things. 2. What ways is abundance already showing up in your life? 3. What 3-5 actions are you committed to doing today? There is immense reward in starting your day off right, and the forward effect it can have on your wellbeing and life can be extraordinary. Perhaps exactly what you need to live the best version of your life.

So take a moment to take inventory. What changes do you need to make? Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE © Yurok Aleksandrovich / Adobe Stock

After you have nourished your soul, body, and mind, I invite you to write and journal. Here are some prompts to help you get started:

Find Your

Creative Groove And Learn to Express Yourself Freely

Slowing down and finding you have more time on your hands can create feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, especially when you were not expecting a change to your routine. For many of us, we have been spending more time at home lately, not able to do the activities we usually would enjoy. The extra time at home can give you a golden opportunity to reflect, get in touch with yourself, and enjoy some time and space to get your creative juices flowing. The act of being creative can serve you in so many positive ways, that there was never a better time to explore your potential. When our lives are busy, we simply do not have the opportunities to think about what creativity means to each of us. The truth is, we are all creative beings. Learning how to channel your creativity and find a way to express yourself will improve the quality of your life immensely. The action of being creative decreases stress and anxiety, thereby encouraging more positive emotions. Nothing compares to the feeling of pride when something you have done or created is acknowledged and appreciated by others. Creativity can improve your ability to think in a non-linear way. It enables you to see more options so that you can become better at problem-solving. This is a skill that will come in handy in all aspects of your life. Creativity teaches us that “failure” is okay, and a natural part of life. It is the process of trying and enjoying new things that is important. This helps us to develop our confidence and resilience.

41 Fierce Truths Magazine

On the flip side, a lack of creative expression in your life can lead to feelings of rage, grief, sorrow, shame and judgement. It’s almost like we each have a creative volcano inside of us that needs to release regularly, otherwise, we can stagnate and feel blocked. Some of you might be thinking, “But I am not a very creative person”. The thing is, creativity is not just about being able to draw well, or taking painting classes, or writing poetry. There are many ways to explore and express your creativity in your day to day life. Many of which you might already do! Choosing what to wear is expressing creativity. Enjoying your home space and decorating is a way to express your creativity. Cooking is a very creative process, as is gardening. Then when current events allow, hosting a party or organising a function is an expression of your creativity. Travelling can be a very creative experience. Learning how to recognise how you are already creative in your life, and continuing to enjoy and make regular time to do more of the creative activities you love, will help you to feel happier and more fulfilled.

Some simple ways to welcome more creativity into your life: • Prepare for future travels – travelling is a great way to inspire you and see life a little differently. • Take a walk – This simple act can increase your mindfulness

and open up more space for creative thoughts. • Take up a new hobby – Regularly try new things, but don’t force yourself. A hobby should be fun! • Be open to new possibilities – Practice being aware of what is around you and look at things from different angles. • Develop your curiosity – Enjoy learning about new things, ask questions, and explore. • Accept your mistakes – Even the great Masters make mistakes. Accept that mistakes are a part of life and represent learning opportunities, not failures. • Set realistic expectations – Start small, and don’t expect perfection overnight. Creativity is a journey, not a destination. • Practise! - You will feel proud of yourself when you become aware of how you improve. • Don’t give up! – Working on something will give you a sense of achievement that is wonderful for your self-esteem. Creativity is a choice. It requires you to put your thoughts into action and produce something. Without action, your thoughts stay in the realm of your imagination. Trust in yourself, and your ability to live a more productive and creative life. You will be amazed at what you will achieve. Written by Elizabeth Vigar

Fierce Truths Magazine

IMAGE Â© Viktoriia Protsak / Adobe Stock

IMAGE Â© magann / Adobe Stock

LET YOUR INTUITION GUIDE YOU

DIGITAL MINI COURSE

PASSION PURPOSE PATHWAY RECEIVE THE CLARITY YOU NEED TO UNOCK YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE fiercetruthsmagazine.com

OUR

Fierce Experts Check in monthly to see what advice our experts have for you

45 Fierce Truths Magazine

Jo’s Fitness

Radical Thinking

Earth Whisper

Jo Lastro

Scott Grasso

Renée McCready

A 1st-Degree Muay Thai Kickboxer and sole owner of Jo’s Fitness Studio. Muay Thai has made Jo stronger, more comfortable in her own skin, and taught her to have faith and trust in herself. She now hopes to inspire, and help others overcome their own obstacles by sharing her expertise in fitness.

A Melbourne-based healer, intuitive and mentor. For the last 27 years, Scott has worked with men and women who want to find a new way of peaceful living that is in harmony with their true selves and others. He believes that any personal journey is an “inside job”: it begins with focusing on ourselves.

A plant wisdom keeper, ceremonialist, shamanic healer and therapist. Also a kitchen witch, plant based chef, yoga teacher, earth doula, bio-regionalist, and a practising animist. She runs workshops, sacred cacao ceremonies, mentoring programmes and will bring through earth wisdom.

With Love from the Afterlife

Numerology with Steph

Horoscope and Stars

Kim Bleeze

Stephanie McKinnon

Lana F. Jackson

A free-spirited gypsy traveller and creative at heart who has worked as a medium, psychic, mentor, teacher, speaker, and healer for over 10 years. She has passion for inspiring people to be real, raw, and awakened to their soul’s path, and will be sharing stories and bringing messages through from spirit.

An expert Numerologist, psychic medium and teacher of her crafts. She has a passion for sharing the benefits of Numerology as a key to understanding everyday life and awakening the soul’s journey. Stephanie will reveal current cycles and identify areas that may need to be enhanced or nurtured.

An Internationally recognised Intuitive Astrologer, medium, psychic and entrepreneur who has been working professionally in her craft for over 25 years. Lana will be sharing her invaluable expertise as our in-house Astrologist each month and is renown for her accuracy and detail.

More of

Our Fierce Experts

coming soon...

Fierce Truths Magazine

Fierce Fitness by Jo Lastro

Interpersonal Relationships and Exercising We’ve all been there before; hitting snooze on our alarm clock so we don’t have to get up for that early morning walk we promised ourselves we’d do the night before. Or getting to the end of the work day and struggling to talk ourselves into hitting that HIIT workout. Let’s be honest, finding motivation to work out is not an easy achievement at any time, let alone in the current crisis we are in. Our current state of living is strange, stressful, and emotionally exhausting, and getting fit is probably the last thing on your mind. However, moving your body doesn’t just help you keep fit, it can also help you stay sane. So how do we motivate ourselves to stick to a routine at a time when our motivation levels have taken a bigger hit than ever before? You guessed it, working out with others. If you’ve never worked out with someone before, you probably wouldn’t have guessed the answer to that question. However, if you have, then you would already know that there is incredible power in working out with a friend, partner or family member. The strength really is in the numbers, as they say. Whilst working out with others is not a new concept, it has certainly grown in popularity rapidly over the years. It’s not hard to see why when it has such a significant impact on our health and wellbeing, and when the act itself can even result in better interpersonal relationships with those closest to us.

Consistancy and Accountability: Working out with someone can be a healthy form of competition, not to mention a great way to keep fit. Exercising together will push you both to work harder and be more consistent, leading to better performance and stamina. Scheduling sessions together also helps hold you accountable for getting your workout done. Being accountable with someone by your side will push you to show up for your sessions and make you continue to work on your health. Plus, no one wants to be the one to cancel!

Motivation: If you’re worried about not doing a form of exercise right, or are feeling low and wanting to quit, having someone beside you can be a great source of motivation

47 Fierce Truths Magazine

and guidance. Whether it’s a small tweak in your posture or helping you lift heavy weights, a friend can help you get the most out of your workout or make sure you don’t injure yourself. They can also boost your confidence and encourage you to keep going, even when it seems like that difficult last set will never end.

Conversation: Time flies when you’re having fun - or at least when you are distracted. Having someone to chat with between sets makes you focus on something other than just your workout, making the time go by faster. Exercising with your family is a great way to make the most of the limited time you likely have together in your day, and enjoy a fun activity all at the same time. I would love you to try out this fun exercise with your family. This is a great one with kids, as kids

will generally try anything. You don’t need any fancy exercise equipment or gym gear. Find a spot standing against the wall, and do a wall sit. 1. Make sure your back is flat against the wall. 2. Place your feet firmly on the ground, shoulder-width apart, and then about 2 feet from the wall. 3. Slide your back down the wall while keeping your core engaged and bending your legs until they

BANNER IMAGE © doozydo / Adobe Stock

4. Hold your position for say 30 seconds whilst contracting your Ab muscles. Try for longer next time round (nothing like healthy competition). 5. When you are ready take a few seconds to slowly come back to a standing position while leaning against the wall.

Ways to Work Out with Others: Working out with someone else can take shape in many ways. Whether it’s heading to the local gym to attend a group class (once restrictions have eased) with a colleague on your break, joining a local running or hiking group, or simply going for a walk with a friend or neighbor. The possibilities of working out with others are endless, so choose something that will work for you and your lifestyle. If your current situation doesn’t allow you to meet up with someone else, there are lots of ways to stay connected or find a

friend or group to connect with online.

Exercising Online: Living alone, even if it’s what you normally do, occasionally feels lonely. During lockdown it presents even more challenges as our freedom has been taken away. However, technology has come a long way and during these difficult times, it helps us to stay connected anytime, anywhere, and everywhere especially in keeping fit. I have a few close friends who live alone, and they have tried exercising by themselves and within a short time gave up. Seeing their health and fitness decline, they were inspired to take up exercising with a group online. If you are contemplating trying online sessions, the benefits are: * workout anytime of the day/ night * affordable (lots of free classes) * access to a professional fitness coach all over the world * workout from any part of your home

* no long term commitment required * no fear of judgement * someone to talk to (because someone cares) * lots of fun and laughter

Staying Accountable Virtually: If an online group class is not your thing, there are lots more options you can try. Make a pact with a friend and check in on each other’s daily goals, host a face time workout session with each other or perhaps just try the same YouTube workout one day and discuss your thoughts after. Remember, you don’t have to adopt it all, just pick one or two things that work for you and your workout partner.

Ending: So, the next time you’re feeling unmotivated to work out, I totally get it! Try to find a buddy and get moving, and see if it makes a difference. You will find movement really is the best medicine.

IMAGE © M.studio / Adobe Stock

are in a 90-degree angle (so if someone wanted to sit on your lap, they could). Yahoo, the kids say!

Fierce Truths Magazine

R A D I C A L

H I N K I N G

By Scott Grasso

Re-Think Your Way Into Joyous Living Hello family! I am delighted to share my experience with you about making healthy changes regarding how we think about ourselves, others and the world. There has never been a greater need for selfaware, empowered sisters and brothers who are radiating their light and love in the world.

my needs met. I am stupid, bad and wrong. I don’t deserve to be happy, joyous and free. This is pure self-loathing, and often triggers a powerful Victim Mentality.

L ast month, we considered the radical idea that we behave badly when we are triggered by two core fears:

Yikes! Could you ever imagine consciously teaching this stuff to your children? Yet my inner critic Phyllis often whispers these terrible untruths to me, without my even being aware of it. I still struggle with a small and ugly nugget of self-loathing that rears its’ ugly head periodically when I feel threatened.

1. Fear that we are going to lose what we have. 2. Fear that we are not going to get what we want. I also suggested that you name the negative dis-eased voice that may be in your head. Mine is Phyllis. Now I’d like to continue our

49 Fierce Truths Magazine

self-examination. In addition to the fears listed above, many people also have two hideous negative core beliefs that trigger even more dis-eased thinking and isolating behaviour: 1. There’s not enough: Not enough time, love, money, sex, food, recognition, attention, work or prosperity. This is called a Deprivation Mentality. 2. I’m not enough: Even if there was enough, I am not worthy to have

Where do you experience these core beliefs in your life? Write them down, sit with them for a few days, and then reflect on them

sex, recognition and safety for everyone. 3.And what if you ARE enough? What if you are the precious child of a loving Universe? What if you DO deserve your fair share?

IMAGE © monsitj / Adobe Stock

“What if there IS enough? What if you ARE enough?”

again. You can also share this with a trusted friend or advisor. I find that speaking about these core beliefs, even out loud to myself, can provide clarity and often takes away a lot of their power.

The response: Practice contrary

thinking.

If these toxic fears and core beliefs resonate with you, I have some good news. Once identified, they can be replaced. To begin the process, ask yourself: 1.What if your core fears and beliefs are incorrect? 2.What if there IS enough? Enough time, love, money, fulfilling work,

Integrating radical new thinking into our dis-eased minds can take some time. For me, I sat in meditation with these new questions for a couple of weeks. Then I began to experience a warm, golden glow that seemed to surround my icy, closed heart. “Well,” I reflected, “If the thoughts in my head are dis-eased and there really is enough, and I really am “enough”, then I probably need to discard those old ideas. I need to stop listening to Phyllis.” From that first awakening, I began to practice actively choosing what I wanted to believe. With help and repeated practice, I gradually threw out the old fears and deprivation ideas and adopted an abundance mentality.

Don’t react: re-think.

Congratulations! You’ve made a great start on radically re-thinking your interior world. Problem is, there are still people in your lives who installed or reinforce your old core beliefs and fears. Or you hang out with people who also share the same old ugly truths. So you are going to get triggered by their words and actions, or unbalanced by their fears. When this happens, it is so important not to react. I suggest counting to ten and asking for a “grace moment” from your guardian angel or spirit team. A “grace moment” is that sacred instant between your triggered fear reaction and a more considered response that is based on your new abundance beliefs. When confronted, always pause and breathe. Tell your version of Phyllis to go back into her caravan for a time out.

Here’s an example; you have a family member who always complains about how she never has enough money. She loves to whinge, and is convinced that she will never find a way to feel secure and happy. What do you do? Here is an opportunity to re-think your old programming and to respond with love. Say something like: “You know, I have the same core fears too. But I’m finding that the more I stop and reflect, I realise that I can choose to believe something different. What if this is an abundant world that is filled with possibilities? I’m choosing to believe that it’s my birth right to be happy and secure.” When that new positive energy is released in you, just watch for the surprising results that follow! Our words are just like spells – so be very careful about what you are saying to the Universe. If you say that you are small and unworthy of love, the loving Universe will deliver that experience to you. Because that is what you chose. It’s the spell that you cast. Instead, use words that express your highest desires. How about: “I am the beautiful child of a loving Goddess. I choose abundance in all areas of my life and welcome assistance in living joyously.” Try it! You don’t even need to really believe it. Just having the willingness to say the words can change things for you.

Keep the focus on you.

It’s so easy to get drawn into other people’s drama. To experience that rush of the anger drug, and to feel triggered to point the finger at others and proclaim your righteousness. As a total buzz-kill, I am routinely reminded that: “When I am perfect, only then I can judge and criticise others.” Grrrrr. But, it is definitely my experience that you will have so much more peace and contentment in your life when your keep your “helpful” opinions and thoughts to yourself! Namaste.

Fierce Truths Magazine

EARTH By Renée McCready Lady Pachamama, Earth Wisdom Keeper

Emergence of the Inner and Outer Ecology In last month’s edition, I discussed Nature as our Evolutionary Home. It included a ritual to help you reawaken your connection to nature. Each month I plan to help you add to your earth wisdom toolkit, with empowering ways to experience your relationship to the natural world. Most humans have become disconnected from ourselves, our bodies’ innate knowledge and our physical environment. We see ourselves as separate, or even superior to other environments. But what if there is no separation?

What if there is only one ecosystem? An ecosystem is made up of multitudes of biomes, interconnecting each and every living thing through an unseen interface or energetic continuum. This interface is constantly in a flow state of reorganizing the disorganized on both a macrocosm (largest) and microcosmic (tiniest) level.

“Humanity is an aspect of the diversity of the natural world, but no less or more important than any other child of nature.” What if humanities agreed-upon collective role is to be a steward of earth? And what if the disconnection we feel from ourselves is a result of the loss of our part in this self-regulating system?

What is a “biome” or a “life zone”? This is a community of living organisms that is constantly adapting and supporting its’ habitats and the networks of life that exist within it. There are two main categories of biomes that exist on earth from a macrocosmic level; terrestrial and aquatic. These include the types of biomes known as deserts, forests, grasslands,

51 Fierce Truths Magazine

savannas, tundra and freshwater environments. All of these biomes hold all the dynamic interweaving and intricate balance of life. They are inclusive of the microbiomes that live in the air, soil, trees, plants, seeds, animals, inside and on our own bodies. We can also entertain the idea that biomes of thought, ideas, sound, dream, time, space and spirit also exist. At a cellular level we are made up of the same material as other life forms. From the smallest microbial cell, to the dark matter that is in and around us, to the fabric that makes up stars and even galaxies.

All living things depend on the microscopic world What if your gut microbiome was connected to the microbiome of the earth’s soil? Humans developed in close contact with soil as their physical basis for living. Soil provided shelter, water as well as food for daily life. In the old ways, we had

WHISPER Similarly, plants are coated in bacteria and fungal microbes on their leaves and roots. Wild animals take “dust baths” that effectively bathe their skin in soil bacteria that help to keep them clean.

The question is: How can we begin to create the right relationship between our inner biome and our outer biome? How can we re-establish a healthier ecology and thus create awareness of our part in the greater ecosystem of life?

a deep sacred respect for the land, soil, plants and elements. We interacted with them constantly. We also had a tenderness and admiration for the water, fire, soil, microbes, air, plants and animals. We believed that they were sentient beings much like ourselves. The intestinal microbial community represents an ecosystem of a trillion microbial cells, made up of bacteria, fungi and microbes. We have evolved alongside microbes for millions of years. You are first exposed to microbes when you pass through your mother’s birth canal. There is even evidence that suggests that babies may come in contact with some microbes while inside the womb. So we inherit the primordial microbiota from our mothers, grandmothers and further on the matrilineal line. Microbial vertical transmission extends back to our much earlier ancestors including our plant and soil ancestors. We all share the same primordial ancestor called “LUCA” (The Last Universal Common Ancestor ). A single-cell, bacterium-like organism thought to be the first life on earth.

This is a big question. My advice is to start small. This will create an opening to larger action and a deeper understanding of the universal law – “As within so without, as above so below.”

“Poor diet, over processed foods, environmental factors, living in urban landscapes, detachment from nature and antibiotic resistance amongst other things has lead to a disconnection and disregard for our original microbial ancestors, the intrinsic link between our soil heath, our connection to the earth and our own digestive health.” One of the best methods I find to help my students understand this relationship is through ancestral food-ways. For example, making sauerkraut is an old-world technique that requires us to tend to our relationship with our food. We use our hands, our energy. We invite our own body’s microbiome and that of our own environment, biome or “life zone” to interact with the plants and vegetables. This assists the breaking down and fermentation process to take place. It also encourages us to be present, as you’re creating life-giving food, to feed yourselves and your loved ones. It’s an opportunity to give thanks to the plants, vegetables, and healthy bacteria that will help your gut health flourish. We also honour the wild ways of the soil and elements that grew the plants for you to eat.

Fierce Truths Magazine

Lady Pachamama’s

Wild Living

Sauerkraut Recipe

Sauerkraut is probably the most well-known lacto-fermented vegetable. One of the main things to remember is to create an anaerobic environment, which is essential in the sauerkraut making process. The cabbage must be completely submerged under the brine in order for the lactic acid bacteria to proliferate. This is important for protecting your ferments from unwanted bacteria and moulds.

Ingredients

1 whole cabbage - use a mandolin to slice it into fine shreds 2 carrots peeled & julienned 1/2 bunch very thinly sliced black kale leaves 1 big thumb fresh ginger grated 2 tablespoons celtic sea salt Discard outside leaves of cabbage. Using the mandolin, slice the entire cabbage into a bowl until it’s thinly shredded. Peel & julienne the carrots and mix with the cabbage. Very thinly slice the kale leaves. Mix it in with the cabbage and carrots, then grate the fresh ginger into the mix. Place the 2 heaped teaspoons salt on top of mixed cabbage, kale, carrot and ginger.

Method Thoroughly wash your hands so they are very clean. Then massage the salt into the mix until it starts to release liquids (this becomes the brine). Keep massaging until the mix shrinks in size and takes on the look as if it’s been cooked. This will take about 10 minutes. Be present and even say your intent and prayers into the mix as you’re massaging it. Do not discard any liquid, as this is a very important part of the fermentation process.

53 Fierce Truths Magazine

With a clean sterilized glass jar, push the mix tightly down into the jar including the liquid (brine). Make sure the brine is just above the mix and is submerging it. Take some big leafy outside leaves of the cabbage and push them on top to weigh down the mix, so it stays submerged under the liquid. Then keep it on your kitchen bench so you can interact with it each day. You can also purchase a dedicated fermentation weight or fermentation lid to prevent your sauerkraut from rising. or an actual fermentation jar or crock pot online. Everyday make sure the mix is under the liquid. You will be able to tell it if you need to pour a little of the brine off, as it will overflow over the jar.

Leave for around 10-14 days to allow the good bacteria to do its job, and for it it to interact with its biome. Once fermented, place in the fridge. It will keep refrigerated for up to 6 months.

Love

With from the

Afterlife Spirit, Soul, and Psychic Advice

with Kim Bleeze

Spirit are always there. Are you listening? There are many ways to experience spirit. We can hear them, we can see them, we can feel them, and we can simply know that they are there. How they choose to come through will depend on them. And how you receive or perceive that information will depend on you and your natural spirit-speaking abilities. Because yes, you have them too. If you think back far enough, maybe you can recall an experience you even had with them when you were small. I did. But it wasn’t until I was in my 30’s and discovered the existence of spirit that I realised what those early childhood experiences actually were. I recall many times very vividly and let me share one with you. When I was young, perhaps around 5 years old, I used to have sleep over at my grandparents’ place. There was a room at the back of the house that I would sleep in. When I think back to it now, I have the vague memory of being scared to go to bed at night. I remember lying in bed as this little girl and being terrified of the dark around me. Not because I was scared of the dark, well, I don’t think I was. But because of the things I thought I was sensing in the dark with me. I remember I would pull the blanket high over my head, sink as deep into the mattress as I could go, and just hide. I would then often have the experience of something sitting or lying on the bed. Right on top of the blanket. Back then I remember believing they were skeletons. I used to fall asleep a terrified little girl, too scared to uncover my head in case they got me. While I can have a giggle about it now, back then it definitely wasn’t funny at all! I had many experiences over the years. But to be honest I just thought there was something wrong with me, that I was weird and strange. I wasn’t until I stepped into my first spirit and psychic development class that I began to see the truth. That all those experiences had been spirit and that the existence of an unseen world around us was in fact very real.

55 Fierce Truths Magazine

I wonder, if you were to think back over your life, if you would recognise moments where you may have seen into this unseen world yourself, the spirit world. I am sure you probably have and how do I know this? Well, the spirit world is our home and that was pretty much where we were hanging out before we were conceived. In those early years after we are born, we stay extremely connected to our spirit roots. This connection will remain strong in some people all throughout their life. For others, it will simply slip into the back of their awareness and remain buried with all the other childhood memories suppressed over the years. Maybe to be unlocked later on, like it was for me, or maybe not. We all have our own path to unfold. However, we are living in a time when more and more people are starting to awaken to this innate connection to the spirit world. Because guess what? They want us to know they are here with us, and they love us so very much. I feel it every time I connect to them, a love so powerful and so strong I never feel alone. And you don’t have to be a medium like I am to have this experience. We all can, and they want us all to. So I can pretty much guarantee they are trying to get your attention in some way. We just don’t always listen or know what to look for. Maybe I can help.

Here are a couple things to look out for: 1. Do you glimpse flutters of movements out of the corner of your eye, but then when you look there is nothing there? Yep, it’s spirit. 2. Do you ever hear your name getting called when you are alone? Sometimes it might even sound like someone you know? Yep, it’s spirit. 3. Do you occasionally feel a cool breeze or tingles on your skin, or maybe what feels like you are getting touched? Yep, it’s spirit. 4. Do you often get what sounds like ‘fuzzy white noise’ in your ears, or a tingling, or any other weird sound? Yep, it’s spirit. 5. Do you ever have the sense of a deceased loved one in the room with you? Or perhaps hear their voice in your head? Yep, it’s really them! 6. Do you dream of your deceased loved ones? Or have any other strange encounters in your sleep? Yep, it’s spirit. 7. Do random ideas, messages, or visions just ‘pop’ into your head giving you that answer that you’ve needed for you or for someone else? Yep, it’s spirit. Knowing spirit enriches our life in a way I don’t think anything in this world can do (I’m biased of course!). There are many ways they will make their appearance known to you. The more that you are open to experiencing them, the sooner you can begin to let them in. And if you are doubting yourself? Just remember, you were born for it.

IMAGES ÂŠ Cristina Conti / Adobe Stock

Have a question to ask Kim? Send it to ask@fiercetruthsmagazine.com

Fierce Truths Magazine

Numerology With Stephanie McKinnon

September 23-09-2020 – October 22-10-2020 Numerology is the study of the sacred numbers in your life. In this column, I want to educate and empower you to understand your own life. I will draw your awareness to characteristic traits and patterns, as well as, highlight aspects or events that will be played out with every month’s themes as you move throughout your life. All this is revealed through the numbers in your date of birth. This is known as your life path number. You will also discover your personal year number, understand the current year theme of 2020 and the current theme of each month. All this will give you a bigger picture or overview of how or what your current cycle and month means for you. Current Energy Themes of 2020 2020=4 – This is the universal overall theme, and here are the traits that you will experience this year: 2020 is a year that we are given the opportunity to rearrange our personal values. Universal laws will be seen and felt. The theme touches in areas of security and this will affect work, finances, relationships, home, family, friendships. Health and emotions will also be touched. It is a year for us to be personally responsible in all matters of our lives.

Be aware of what is known as the “shadow you”. This may be traits or patterns within ourselves that we can ignore or be completely unaware of. However, we will need to accept, own or face these at some point in our lives. The 2020 shadow patterns will show up as moments of: Insecurity Instability Being rigid, stubborn, dictatorial, overbearing or lazy September 2020

Truth, justice, law, and order will be highlighted within our world.

September is the 9th month, so it will share an energy of transformations and the closing of chapters.

A year for us to get back to what really counts. For some, releasing false beliefs will appear quite challenging and testing at times.

September is the time for you to walk your talk. Hence, follow through on all matters of your heart and everyday life. This is a time to reflect and learn from your past by applying these learnings into your everyday life. Be willing to learn as you move through what can feel like unchartered waters. Align with your positive principles. There is a critical opportunity for you to forgive yourself

It shares a theme of internal and external reorganizational work.

57 Fierce Truths Magazine

Overall Month Theme & Pattern for 23- 08-2020 – 22- 09-2020

This is a brilliant time to get your life in complete order by consciously aligning with your values and integrity. We are currently moving through a great gateway of transformation at this point in time. We have reached a point of no return in the way we perceive and do things across the board, from our self-identity to matters of the heart, emotionally, physically, and psychologically.

or others of any earlier hurts. This will enable you to move forward with inner peace. October will highlight your understanding of what truly matters to you, helping you to re-establish your connection with yourself and your loved ones. The energy of karmic lessons and debts will be felt and seen inside our current global conditions. Surrendering your attachments to outcomes will serve you well. This is a positive time to bring your ambitions and inner pioneer to the forefront. Keep your eye on your goals. Be careful not to abuse your power or take shortcuts to achieve your desired targets. There is a conscious awakening within, and this will either be subtle or a big bang.

Remember, everything you do and say has a ripple effect in our world. Do not be selfish, sarcastic, or greedy through your insecure moments. This will not serve you well. Remember, you are more than capable of overcoming any challenges that you face. With some courage and willingness to step out of your comfort zone, victory can certainly be yours. This is a wonderful time of awakening. So be sure to ask yourself: “How can I support myself better?” Be aware of this month’s Shadow theme. Patterns seen or felt could include: The rebel within expressing itself in areas where might feel you are being controlled. Being insensitive, aggressive, arrogant, and strongly opinionated. Feeling impatient, pushy and selfish.

Below is your guide for your life path and your personal year. Please note, if you are life path of 9 and in a personal year of 7, read both to get your personal forecast. Then consider the 2020 theme and the current month’s theme. Life Path Number This is calculated with your date of birth. Start by adding up the individual numbers within your date of birth. Then, keep breaking them down untill you have a single digit. The exceptions are the numbers 11, 22 and 33. To put it simply, your life path is an important piece in the puzzle of your life. It is the main theme that you walk and grow through in your daily life. Below is an example breakdown of a Life Path. This example is based on Elvis Presley. Elvis’s Date of Birth is 08/01/1935 0+8+0+1+1+9+3+5=27=2+7=9 So Elvis’ life path number is 9. Personal Year Your personal year is calculated by adding the numbers of the date and month of birth together with the year of your last birthday. So if your last birthday was in the previous year, then you use that year. Your personal year goes from birthday to birthday. Then continue to break down the numbers until you get one digit. The exceptions are the numbers 11-22-33. Personal year is the theme you learn and grow through this year, in conjunction with your life path theme. So if Elvis was alive this year, we would calculate this as 08/01/2020, then break it down to a single digit. 0+8+0+1+2+0+2+0 =13=1+3=4. Elvis’s personal year would be a 4. Fierce Truths Magazine

Numerology With Stephanie McKinnon

Your Numbers

1’s

A time to reflect and ask yourself: “ What is your past asking of your tomorrows? ” This is a

transformational period with themes of releasing, expansions or re-birthing your self-identity. During this period, you can really find your focus on your goals. It is a positive time for you to build your foundations. Look beyond your restrictions to the new possibilities and options that you now have. Re-align yourself with your values. It is an essential time to work with integrity and honour. Watch for moments of ego and pride getting in your way. This is a time where the mind can be in overdrive and your thoughts scattered.

2’s

Ask yourself: “How can I nourish and support myself better? ”

You are on the path to awaken and grow emotionally through all matters of relationships, family, and work. This is a valuable time to prioritise your needs and wants so you can do better. As your head and heart battle with each other, trust your instincts and do not put off the unavoidable until tomorrow. This will be a time that sees you fluctuating between emotional moments and a determined mind. At times this might feel like a roller coaster. Remember to include yourself in this equation as you support others going through this period.

3’s

Ask yourself: “ When making choices, is this supporting my future self in a positive way? ”

Let go of doubts, and express all things through your heart at this time. Now is a wonderful opportunity to recognise where you wish to create new chapters and express life through a different lens within areas of work and relationships. At times, this energy may feel heav y and dull. It is asking you to create new structures that will be more supportive for you through the wisdom of your past experiences. There will be a strong need for social contact, and if you are restricted here this could trigger you.

59 Fierce Truths Magazine

4’s

Ask yourself: “ What does security feel and look like within me? How can I give myself this? ” You

5’s

This is a time that asks you to let go of any attachments to how you perceive life, and how this should look for you. Now is

6’s

Ask yourself: “ What does a life of peace and harmony feel like to me? What am I willing to surrender to reach it? ” This

may be feeling focused, driven to achieve your goals and looking to tick plenty of boxes. Detachment is the key when you are dealing with what life shares with you around how your outcomes are delivered. If you are willing to do things differently, plenty of opportunities will be waiting for you. All you need to do is look outside the box, rather than stick with your tunnel vision. This is a wonderful time to surrender old patterns, habits, or conditioning from society.

a time to focus on how you can manage your life more productively. Set yourself some new goals or adjust the ones you have already to suit today ’s global conditions. You will feel the changes taking place both internally and externally, so be aware not to self-sabotage if your insecurities start to rise. Adaptability is the key right now, as life can change in the blink of an eye.

energy can leave you feeling like your head and heart are going into battle as your attachments to how things “should” be come to the surface. This period could see your central nervous system heightened in sensitivity, so make sure you do something for yourself daily to find inner peace. You will require peace and harmony within all areas of your life, especially with your home and family. Keep your eye out for an opportunity to advance your career. This can also enhance your personal growth along the way.

7’s

Ask yourself: “ What old familial, societal and even cultural conditioning can I surrender, and implement new ones that align with my heart? ” This is the time to

trust, believe and be honest with yourself. A great time to put those thoughts into action and walk your talk. Re-assess on how you would like to move forward with your life to feel more secure within. Your intuition will be enhanced as you are led by your instincts, so try not to overthink it all when this happens. This is also a good time for you to let go, forgive and walk in peace, rather than honouring old wounds. Witness your own growth.

8’s

Ask yourself: “If finances were not an issue, what would I do? ”

During this time, you will either feel under a lot of pressure or you will experience great moments of progress. This is a brilliant time to bring in an overall balance in your life, especially with your family, work, and financial areas. Legal matters may arise or finalise. Think with a business heart and mind to find the best stability within your life as you move forward. This is a time that requires focus, enthusiasm, and a great deal of effort to achieve success.

9’s

Recognise “ Where can I do better and lead by being the example?“

This is a wonderful period to reflect at how far you have come in life and the terrific wisdom it has shared with you. Your tolerance can be triggered, so remind yourself that not everyone has your wisdom. Make the most of this period and be willing to look at what you need to change and let go. This is a massive transformational time in more than one area. Your full presence is needed for you to achieve all you need too. Be prepared to your heart to be pulled on at times. Now is the time for you to take control and be the natural leader you are.

See you all next month.

Stephanie

For all Life paths and personal years of an 11/2 - 22/4 - 33/6 please refer to both numbers e.g. 11 and 2. You will alternate between both numbers and will need to apply both to achieve your desires. These numbers share a heightened potential with you. However, how you choose to integrate them is in your hands.

11’s

Ask yourself: “ What emotionally fills my cup?“

It ’s an important awakening period for you in all areas of selfidentity, relationships, emotions, and what you require to make you feel emotionally and physically safe. Your optimistic leadership and willpower will be needed to inspire and encourage others throughout this period. Your tolerance, patience and trust can be triggered through this and your emotions can be further intensified. There will be moments when you need to detach to get the bigger picture of situations, as you will have some big energies that you are dealing with. This is a point in time to re-evaluate and align with your personal values going forward.

22’s

Ask yourself: “ What footprint would I like to leave in our world? ” This

33’s

Ask yourself: “How can I nourish and nurture myself better? ” This is a core

is a phase where you, the natural leader, will need to manage areas of home, family, and work. Be careful not to micromanage, as it will frustrate everyone involved and be counterproductive. It will be felt as a time of running a tight ship as you transition through some profound changes. Yet it offers opportunities of fresh starts that will bring with it a lot of laying of new grounds and stepping out of your comfort zone. It can therefore be felt as all work and no play. This is a time when you need to delegate, as you cannot do it all.

period where you can be the visionary to create and nurture in areas of all your life, especially in family communications. It is a period where some sacrifices will be needed to move forward; therefore, you might feel highly strung and drained at times. This is a period where you get a reality check, which can be triggering as it unfolds some truths with areas of family. Know when to walk away and where your power is. Fierce Truths Magazine

Relationships, interpersonal connection, balance, equality, fairness and justice will be the themes for us to work with as we move into the time of Libra between the 22nd September and the 23rd October 2020. Libra is an air sign, cardinal and masculine in its energetic expression. It is ruled by Venus; the planet of love, beauty, relationships, peace and harmony. The air nature of Libra is intellectual and related to social connections and interaction, communication, the law.

Horoscopes

Stars

and

By Lana F. Jackson

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE PLANETS

Libran energy represents the laws of civilisation and peace keeping. It is also intellectual and social. Society needs rules to maintain justice, equality and fairness. Peace keeping and diplomacy will be very prominent to avoid confrontation. We will be prompted to look at both sides of a situation to find middle ground. However, Libran energy can also stir up trouble in its own way and will also provoke a good debate or argument, taking all our strength to remain impartial. Our ability to make comparisons and to think in relative terms will be tested, with the ultimate goal of looking for the most harmonious or right way to conduct our lives. This is a time of idealism with high expectations about how things should be done. As a leadership sign, Libran energy, combined with Venus, will provide the opportunity to combine communication and socialisation to see the beauty in others. However, the challenging side of Libra can be quite judgemental and negative towards those who do us wrong or put us to shame. So at this time, it’s important to remember not to judge others and to look for the reasons behind a particular behaviour or action of the people around you. The month of Libra will show us that our personal ideals around balance, peace, harmony, justice

61 Fierce Truths Magazine

and fairness are not necessarily the same as others. This will prompt us all to focus on how we as individuals can cooperate and collaborate to find the middle ground for everyone. In keeping the balance, this energy is connected with looking for the win/ win for everyone in all situations. The Moon, planet of emotions, intuition, the subconscious and soul memory begins in the complimentary position of Sagittarius. This focuses our emotions on knowledge, personal philosophy and truth. Between the 24th and 26th September, the Moon will move into Capricorn beside Jupiter, Saturn & Pluto in Capricorn. This energy will challenge our ideals around initiative and leadership, showing us the bigger picture, on a personal and global level, to create fairness and justice for all. Between the 26th and 29th September,

the Moon in Aquarius magnifying innovation, unconventional change and politics. This Moon will highlight any imbalances and bring them to the surface for humanity to reassess. When the Full Moon peaks in Aries at 7:06am on the 2nd October, emotions will be centred around the Self, goals and desires, leadership and initiative. This is a time to focus on the Self and where you stand in your relationships across the board. The Aries Full Moon opposing the Sun in Libra will bring in the balance for making decisions and looking at “What’s in it for me.” On the 7th October, when the Moon moves into Gemini, the energy will be positive and focused on communication on all levels in relationships. At this time, it’s important to remember that everyone is focused on their own

At 6:31am, on the 17th October, the New Moon in Libra lines up with the Sun in Libra. This brings with it an energy that is centred on deep emotions and love on all levels. It is starting a new lunar cycle around emotional definitions of love, peace, harmony, fairness and justice. This is an interpersonal energy and this energetic frequency is calling for deeper contemplation in these areas of your life. When Mercury moves into Scorpio on 27th September at 5:41pm, communication, thoughts and ideas will be drawn to dive deeper. This deep and intense energy is connected with death and transformation, manifestation and connecting with all resources to achieve your goals and desires. When Mercury starts its Retrograde transition between the 13th and 15th October for the following three weeks, this energy will intensify. Working with Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, this energy will be powerful and karmic. Lessons will be brought to the surface personally and globally. What you resist, persists; so going with the flow will help to focus and reassess the way forward. It’s time to think outside the square. Venus, ruler of Libra and the planet of love, beauty and material possessions moves into Virgo on the 3rd October at 6:48am. This energy brings our attention to every relationship we participate in. In Virgo, Venus helps us to analyse and identify what works and what doesn’t in our daily lives. Focusing on self love and supporting the people in our family, workplace and in society to do the same, will help as we navigate both positive and challenging times. This will also intensify as Mercury in Scorpio heads Retrograde. It’s important to take the time to stop and smell the roses, in order to discriminate on how we show up in our relationships on all levels. Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn will amplify the bigger picture on authority and responsibility. This will prompt us all to determine what is no longer serving us, so we can take the initiative to move forward to focus on manifesting material desires. Mars, the planet of goals and desires remains Retrograde in Aries for this month. Sitting in direct opposition to Libra, the Universal mirror will be reflecting both what we want and what we don’t want. Whilst the atmosphere for making plans and executing them can feel like it is challenging us with the potential for emotional frustration, it is also delivering valuable lessons around the Self, decision-making and balance. Mars is calling for us to dig deep and really define what we truly want, and what actions we are prepared to take to achieve our plans

for the long term. Jupiter, the planet of expansion, wisdom, education and benevolence will remain in Capricorn this month. Jupiter will challenge us to take the appropriate self responsibility to learn and expand in the areas of career and interpersonal relationships. Remembering and acknowledging the wisdom how far we have all come will serve well with growth, business and career decisions. This highlights the direction for us all to expand on further.

perspectives. Home and family will be amplified and potential challenges can arise when the Moon moves into Cancer on the 10th October. Make the most of this opportunity to sit on the fence to reassess how balance and fairness can create peace and harmony for everyone. The Moon moving into Leo on the 12th October will connect with the heart chakra, creating the right atmosphere for self love.

Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn and the planet of career, status, authority, responsibility, business, finance and karmic lessons, heads direct between the 28th and 30th September. This shift in Saturn can feel like the floodgates have opened. It is calling for us to really focus on our own personal authority, karmic lessons, business, finance and career choices. Having an understanding of our previous karmic lessons will help us to embody our personal wisdom and how we can collectively make decisions to move forward. Focus on these areas with that sense of taking control of our own paths. Working together will help us to achieve the bigger picture of a world that we are all striving to achieve. Uranus, the planet of innovation, technology and unconventional change remains Retrograde in Taurus this month. The foundations and structures of society, politics, money and finance are undergoing radical changes. This is challenging the traditions that we have taken for granted, leading to breakdowns for breakthroughs. It gives us the opportunity to identify how this can be leveraged to work differently as we move forward. Neptune, the planet of spiritual connection, influence of the masses and imagination remains Retrograde in Pisces this month. In the dignity of its ruling sign, Pisces, Neptune is calling us to release ourselves from the illusions of the past by encouraging us to use our imagination to determine our own personal and spiritual truth. Pluto, the planet of transformation, regeneration and all that lies beneath the surface heads direct in Capricorn between the 3rd and 6th October. This will pull back the curtain on responsibility, authority, finance, status and karmic lessons globally. It will help us to reflect inward in order to understand our own power and control, so that we can continue to grow in more productive ways for the good of all. As we draw to the close of Libra for 2020, we are given the opportunity to finally reflect on all that was in the areas of relationships, peace, harmony, equality, balance, fairness and justice. On the 23rd October 2020 at 10:00am, we move into the energy of Scorpio. Scorpio is the most powerful energy in the Zodiac and we will be drawn to dive deeper into our understanding and application of transformation and regeneration, along with manifestation, resources, depth and intensity. Fierce Truths Magazine

22nd September to 23rd October 2020

Libra

Happy Birthday Libra! Happy Personal New Year Libra! A new year brings with it new opportunities. This is your time to shine, feel the love and connect with your own version of balance, peace, harmony, equality, justice and fairness. It’s

all about perspective and timing, Libra. If you’ve been feeling held back from achieving results, remember Mars is still Retrograde in your opposition of Aries. It’s time to prioritise and strategise your goals and desires to define and collaborate with like-minded souls who have the same intentions as you. Whilst you may feel your leadership, career and financial goals are being tested, stay open to new perspectives and directions to move forward. Take advantage of the Full Moon in Aries, to release and become more in alignment with your higher purpose and personal desires. Personal expectations can lead to disappointments when you are interacting with family, friends or work colleagues. It’s important to remember that like beauty, perfection is in the eye of the beholder. Don’t underestimate your contribution to humanity. Feel into your personal truth and power to see the potential for new growth around the 30th September. Pay attention and trust your intuition when communicating your personal desires with family and friends between the 7th and 12th October. Be mindful of how you are expressing your thoughts and ideas once Mercury heads Retrograde on the 15th October. You may have to provide more details for everyone to understand and relate to your vision. The New Moon in Libra will bring the opportunity to reset and dive deeper to find answers within, to take the right initiatives to achieve the balance you are yearning for. As we prepare to move into Scorpio on the 23rd October, you will be taking your own personal truth and philosophy to work with and transform.

63 Fierce Truths Magazine

The Horoscopes you are reading have been cast according to Australian Eastern Standard Time. If you are born on the cusp of your sign, your time of birth will indicate which sign you are.

SCORPIO

23rd October to 22nd November 2020

SAGITTARIUS

22nd November to 21st December 2020

CAPRICORN

22nd December 2019 to 21st January 2020

The time of Libra is calling you to determine the meaning of balance, peace and harmony to create your own sense of fairness and equality. Shifts in your social circle will reveal who is really there for you, creating an emotional pull around what is expected of you and what you will deliver. Go with the flow and pay attention to your language as you manifest your desires when Mercury moves into Scorpio. Take advantage of this time to work with your personal power and intuitive thoughts. There will be an opening for you to associate your life purpose and career path with wealth creation. The Universe will always deliver; your challenge is to accept it unconditionally. Feel into alignment and direction, rather than control. Analysing relationships will help you to determine who is an asset or a liability. Authority and responsibility will also be highlighted. Feel into how your thoughts and ideas can manifest your desires and new reality. Take time to weigh things up and don’t over think everything. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s not. The Libra New Moon will support this with authentic relationships and connections before we move into your energy on the 23rd October.

True balance comes when you are working in your truth and expanding your philosophies. This is an opportune time to identify emotional freedom and create space to expand. It’s more productive to focus on integration and growth to see where everyone and everything fits in your life. Focus on winning friends and influencing people to reap the rewards. Be mindful of your delivery when speaking your truth. Remember, not everyone will see things the same way as you. Goals and desires, career and finances are all lining up. See the big picture and find what works for you. Don’t get caught up in petty details. Avoid being impulsive and think about it first when speaking your truth. It’s not necessarily what you’re saying, it’s in the delivery. Pay attention when others are sharing their truth with you. You might not like what they have to say, but there is plenty for you to learn from their perspectives without compromising who you are. Revisit your intentions and how you can work with everyone around you to create the reality that you crave so deeply, before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October for deeper contemplation and manifestation.

Just when you thought the top of the mountain was in your sights, the time of Libra will have you really feeling into what you are going to do when you get there. It’s time to focus and contemplate on the best way to achieve peace and harmony so you can honour your plans. The curtains will be pulled back around the right career opportunities for you. Assess how much responsibility is involved to avoid overloading yourself in different roles and becoming too serious about the work you do. Take time to reassess your goals and desires to decide what is right for you. You’re a natural leader, but the direction may change along the way. All relationships will be under the microscope, including your relationship with yourself. Refine and polish what is working to identify how you can make it work better. Pay attention to the signs and don’t be afraid to delegate when you need to. You will be surprised at the results when you let other people do what they do best. The New Moon in Libra will help you move into a manifestation mindset before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October. Fierce Truths Magazine

AQUARIUS

21st January to 19th February 2020 If you thought the time of Virgo was working in your favour, the time of Libra will enhance that even more. This is really positive energy for you to connect into relationships on all levels and be the true humanitarian. Communication and interpersonal connections will be high on the list to explore this month. Finding balance and equality is the key to creating your own version of peace and harmony. Detachment will serve you well in relationships. Be prepared for some hiccups around compatibility in the way you perceive and think about the people around you. Take a breath, Aquarius. Whilst this may feel like a test, it’s also a great opportunity to learn from different perspectives. Take some time to feel into what works for you when achieving your goals. Try not to get distracted by other peoples’ dramas. Your ability to be innovative with a different approach will definitely come in handy. Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio will have everyone feeling more introspective. If they’re not answering your calls, it’s not personal. The New Moon in Libra is a positive energy for you to connect or reconnect with big ideas before we move into the time of Scorpio.

PISCES

19th February to 20th March 2020 The time of Libra can feel like a positive test for you to dive deeper into your personal definition of peace, harmony, fairness and equality. Whilst emotions may feel like they’re running high, it’s really important for you to protect your energy this month and put the oxygen mask on yourself first. This global energy will be felt far and wide. You are prone to absorbing the energy of others and your environment. Meditation will definitely help you to reconnect with your soul’s purpose to honour what you are here to do and stay grounded. Remember Pisces, you don’t have to sacrifice anything, particularly in your career. If you are feeling your family, friends and work colleagues are a bit more demanding, simply find a healthy compromise. Emotions will be running high. Feel into what works for you and allow everyone else to be responsible for themselves. Support does not have to mean sacrifice. The New Moon in Libra will assist with finding a balance across the board in all relationships, so go with the flow. Allow this time to work with your intuition and abilities before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October.

ARIES

20th March to 20th April 2020 Aries, it’s time to be aware of your choices as we move into your opposition of Libra. Relationships are the focus this month. Although you are independent, you can’t be a leader if you’re the only one in the team. Whilst honouring yourself is important, paying attention to those whom you want to follow you will make things much easier to achieve results. Mars is still Retrograde in your sign. Try not to fire up if you are feeling tested by karmic lessons. This is an opportunity to stop and reassess everything around your goals and desires. If you’re feeling challenged with taking action, remember there are many ways to achieve your aims. Focus on who you can work with and how they can help to get the job done. At times, you may feel held back from manifesting your dreams. You are simply being given the opportunity to be more strategic with your vision and the resources required to create them. The New Moon in Libra will help you to focus on finding your own sense of balance, peace and harmony. This will help you to move forward and connect within before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October.

TAURUS

20th April to 20th May 2020 Your nature is to look for the finer things in life Taurus. The time of Libra brings your ruler, Venus, shining her light on all things around beauty, peace, harmony, balance and the material. This is a positive time for inner growth in many ways. Pay attention to your emotions and energy levels, so you can focus on the bigger picture and make the most of what is available outside your comfort zone. The Universal Mirror will show you what you need to let go of to create the space for what you are manifesting. Focusing on career, finance, authority and responsibility will help you see how you can achieve a work/play balance in your life. You will be shown the right people to help you plough your way forward. Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio could leave you feeling you have to work harder, rather than smarter. Reassess your perception and thought processes to see the opportunities that are waiting for you. The New Moon in Libra will help you emotionally connect to your loved ones, so you can feel the love and gratitude when they connect with you before we move into the time of Scorpio, your opposition on the 23rd October.

65 Fierce Truths Magazine

GEMINI

20th May to 21st June 2020 As we move into the time of Libra, this is a positive time to focus on how you are sending and receiving messages in all relationships. Make the most of your versatility and adaptability when you connect with your social circle. It’s time to dive deeper around the things that matter to you most including your career choices, so bring your ‘A’ game. The Full Moon energy will help you release any self doubt, so you can see which path is best for you. Don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from achieving your goals and desires. Focusing your thoughts, ideas and communication in a positive direction will help you to manifest what you are calling in. This is a sensitive energy for most people, so try not to take things to heart. The New Moon in Libra will bring in fresh energy around your definitions of peace, harmony and balance. Whilst you love to interact and mingle Gemini, it’s best to avoid negative people or thoughts at this time. This type of energy can take you away from some really great opportunities to connect with your path before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October.

CANCER

21st June to 22nd July 2020 As we move into the time of Libra, you are being called to sit on the fence to weigh things up around the relationships in your life. Whilst this may feel challenging, it’s actually helping you to include yourself in the equation. Peace, harmony, equality comes from choice. Take the time to identify the karmic lessons you have learned around authority and responsibility from the people you are connected with. Allow yourself to let go of what and who no longer serves you. If you’re feeling more sensitive to other people’s vibration, protect your energy and stay focused. The Aries Full Moon will push you to find a balance in your leadership, self discipline, career and finance. You can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s important to identify which goals and desires will achieve results and who with. Your empathy and compassion should be directed where you place value, not where others decide it should be. The New Moon in Libra will prompt you to identify and prioritise all relationships in your life. Don’t resist this, it’s all contributing to your big picture before we move into the time of Scorpio when your intuition will feel like it’s on steroids.

LEO

22nd July to 23rd August 2020

VIRGO

23rd August to 22nd September 2020

Relationships on all levels are the key and it starts with your relationship with yourself, Leo. It’s a good idea to start with self-love and focus on connecting with the people who compliment your worth. Whilst you work from the heart, your ego still has lessons to learn. You are being called to reassess your career choices and finances to identify where you are heading and how you choose to work with authority and responsibility. The full Moon in Aries will help you to release anything you feel is holding you back. It’s time to detach and see how everything fits, so that you can be more creative and bring your ideas into form. Pay attention to your interpersonal connections and how they contribute to your big picture. Global shifts will help you to identify how you can contribute to others on a larger scale. Don’t take things too personally when emotions are running high around you. This will highlight how you can help others to understand themselves on a deeper level. The New Moon in Libra will assist with balance and coming back to the centre before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October.

It’s important to examine your definition of balance, peace, harmony and equality for yourself this month. Your career path will be the focus as new opportunities are presented in your workplace and your community. This energy is calling for you to also identify your alignment with self discipline, authority, responsibility and career. Remember, it’s not just about the work that you do, it’s the way that you do it. The Full Moon in Aries will help to identify what works for you and to release anything that no longer serves you or is blocking your productivity. Emotions will run high, so avoid over-analysing the way other people react, and work on yourself instead. Be mindful that everyone is learning their own lessons at the same time. It’s a good time to determine which connections are contributing in a positive and productive way. This is actually a great time to take advantage of this energy to really pay attention to the thoughts and ideas that are coming to your surface. The New Moon in Libra will introduce new relationships and connections, or reinforce the ones you currently have before we move into the time of Scorpio on the 23rd October. Fierce Truths Magazine

Order You r Copy of

CH A NGE M A K ER S

25 inspirat ional women share w hat dr i ves t heir v ision to s er ve ot her s , create busines ses and enr ich li ves in t heir communi t ies and around t he g lob e. You â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ll b e inspire d by t heir p as sion for creat ing change and moved by s tor ies of los s , renewal, and courage and lear n how each woman overc ame challenges to b e a force for goo d in t he wor ld. T heir unique s tor ies w ill inspire you to push t hroug h your limi t at ions unt il your ow n v ision for imp ac t b ecomes a reali t y. Includes a chapter f rom our ver y ow n founder, K im B leeze.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR AU TOGR A PHED COPY

YOU ARE INVITED! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for advertisers, article submissions, poetry, short stories, and interesting people to interview. Partnerships also welcome.

Please visit our website and fill out the contact form if you would like to be involved, and we will be in touch. www.fiercetruthsmagazine.com

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your fierce truth? Shoot a short video sharing your fierce truth and tag us for a chance to win monthly prizes.

@fiercetruthsmagazine