For Thought's Sake

In this episode: Priming for one experience, then unintentionally being prepared for the unexpected When the energy it takes to retell a story isn't supportive or helpful for you The stress and nuance of question based interactions Support and connection looking different for different people What are Alex and AJ's points of connection with each other? 

In this episode: AJ has someone she has lived past lives with who keeps popping up in her dreams Cord cutting and ending a karmic relationship Boundary setting in person and energetically Alex's recurring dream of teaching dance in annoying circumstances Surviving Death on Netflix, specifically the reincarnation episode Children who have specific past life memories at young ages What are the implications of knowing the exact person you were in a past life? 

In this episode: Waking up in a dark headspace Personalizing morning routines based on how it feels vs. productivity Timing and cycles in relation to implementing different regulating tools in your life Routines with room for flexibility and room to evolve Variations in how a tired brain presents in different people Trauma symptoms at night and changing routines to accomodate this Craniosacral still point inducer to balance the autonomic nervous system

In this episode: An overburdened liver as a root cause for chronic illness Why Alex is joining AJ as a vegan The controversy that is the Medical Medium The importance of individualized health protocols Liver detox reactions, emotions, and cravings Being led by intuition vs. ego when it comes to food choices

Welcome to Season 5! In this episode: Alex is reading Fatal Conveniences by Darin Olien  Environmentally conscious choices don't always line up with best health choices When an attempt to solve one problem causes other problems Toxic athletic attire Financial component of being able to purchase non-toxic products Moral implications of giving away toxic products Different facets of reasons why we make the choices we do

In this episode: TENS unit mishaps A year of starting from scratch for Alex Acceptance of the cards you've been dealt Recognizing what you need in order to function at baseline Quantifiable and relative judgements about how your year has gone AJ's journey of uncovering her trauma The constant and consistent work of survival and stability Viewing your natal chart through a different lens in relation to how you navigate life

In this episode: Go back to listen to part 1 and watch the documentaries Escaping Twin Flames on Netflix and Love Has Won on HBO Max Mother God is triggering for both AJ and Alex for more personal reasons Living in delusion because it's easier than processing your own suffering Health conscious ideations coming from fringe groups When the sheep replace the shepherd Where does the line of accountability and responsibility lie for cult members? What level of intergenerational trauma healing needs to happen in society at large in order to make meaningful, incremental change?

In this episode: Alex and AJ discuss two documentaries they watched on cults. Go watch the docs before listening!  Escaping Twin Flames on Netflix and Love Has Won on HBO Max Spiritual concepts being twisted so severely by cult leaders Intelligence meets substance abuse meets psychosis meets new age metaphysical beliefs Spiritual aesthetics that look like rainbow barf How does our upbringing inform our perspectives of other people's living situations? Empathy for people who fall prey to cult leaders There is going to be a part 2 to this episode because we have so much to discuss!

In this episode: Alex is a bonafide fire builder and cake wrangler. Call her for all of your birthday needs. AJ, the birthday queen, reflects on her prior year being a boring one What does boring mean for someone used to chaos?  Dive bar shenanigans What environments do we feel comfortable in based on authenticity, prior trauma, etc.?  Alex and AJ navigate the same environments very differently AJ has the satisfaction of a perfectly landed joke to cap off her birthday celebration  

In this episode: Does "beginner" yoga really exist at yoga studios? Competition and hypervigilence in movement classes At home vs. in person classes Gluten free bakery names and prices Behavioral activation to help with dysregulation Making choices when you're dysregulated vs. in touch with your intuition Kristin Collier's FREE workshop. Sign up at CollierConnections.com Follow us on Instagram: @wildiriscollective @alexandrajthomsen    

In this episode: Vent sesh about all things vacationing Pets as a hinderance to vacationing  Is vacationing worth the cost? Alex and AJ's dream vacation destinations and situations Astrocartography - locational astrology that combines astrology and geography to understand areas in the world that best align with your energy

In this episode: Tips and tricks for recovering from the stomach flu Feeling alone and vulnerable when you're sick Limbic system limiting your access to choice Vent sesh about manifestation "High vibes" as a diminishment of consciousness Moving through a "low vibe" Getting out of your cognitive thinking and into your emotional and somatic self as a way of manifesting Follow us on Instagram! @alexandrajthomsen @wildiriscollective 

In this episode: Animals feeling the thinning of the veil on Samhain Asking spirit for what you do or do not want Healthy dissociation vs. protective dissociation Definition and connotation of the word "problem"  Herbalism Infusions, teas, bath teas, syrups You get what you give in terms of Halloween energy

In this episode: Alex can't watch scary movies anymore Comfort, control, and catharsis in relation to watching Law and Order: SVU What are you playing on your mind movie? More spiritual visitors as the veil gets thinner At this point in the episode we shift to topics that may be difficult for some people to hear, so feel free to discontinue listening here Alex uncovered some new layers of her childhood trauma Recognizing the healing capabilities of spiritual practices in the right circumstances Shifting perspectives on abuse and the abuser EMDR vs. claircognizance Science catching up with spirituality

This one's for all the anxious, neurodivergent, trauma surviving baddies out there: Not being able to access your toolbox of skills when you're "in it" Using self care techniques as prevention for and recovery from dysregulation Awareness does not always equate to behavior change Definition of "hard" or "challenging" when it comes to working on mental health Follow through when working with a practitioner vs. trying to do the work on your own Early childhood trauma reactions vs. taking ownership of your choices

In this episode: Witchy dreams Cowboy Hat makes a comeback Are people visiting you in dreams or are you conjuring them? Utilizing religious practices as part of your spirituality, but not identifying as religious Take Back the Magic by Perdita Finn Heirophant in the Tarot Communicating with the dead Find us on Instagram: @alexandrajthomsen @wildiriscollective

In this episode: Present moment awareness vs. future thinking Theoretical spiritual practice vs. real life practical application  Choosing to do a task vs. waiting for it to meet you when you're ready Judging ourselves for engaging in calm, joyful states of being Kitchen witchery How you are viewed from the outside vs. what is felt from within Functional ways to feed our instinctual trauma responses in order to prevent escalated responses in the future Addressing sensory disregulation with a punching bag

In this episode: Alex was a guest on the But I'm Spiritual Podcast! Listen here! The struggle of trying to fall asleep, especially if you have intrusive thoughts Differentiating between developmental trauma symptoms and energetic entities Ego/cognition getting in the way of spiritual downloads Sleeping in your own room, not with your partner Building bedtime routines to address both the body and the spirit Noise sensitivity when falling asleep

In this episode: Constructive feedback from listeners of the pod Increasing clarity and being vocal about our intention Speaking about certain topics when you have no lived experience Talking about something out of curiosity vs. having an opinion or judgment People pleasing as it relates to attachment

In this episode: Having a conversation with yourself in your head Priming for the outcome of a future conversation Asking questions that don't have answers Having a hospital birth vs. a home birth Informed decision making when it comes to birth Advocating for the birth you want and will your doctor listen The medicalization of birth