( Audio is available for online streaming and download below).

Preparing for, and then engaging in a meaningful and important conversation with Andrew was undeniably soul -satisfying, deeply enriching and moving. In fact I have since listened to our conversation several times (and most recently while adding some music to the interview) and each time am elevated to new heights by the hope he invites us all to discover and take upon ourselves to realize, and by the sheer depth from which his words emanate.  Andrew Harvey is a renowned and distinguished mystical scholar, Rumi translator and explicator, poet, novelist, spiritual teacher, architect of Sacred Activism, and author of over 30 books. His newest book The Hope A Guide to Sacred Activism provided the basis for our conversation on Heart Beat.

In this conversation you will hear Andrew talk very personally and intimately about : Sacred activism- what we can do right now to become sacred activists and help birth a new world- suggested practices and disciplines to maintain hope and inspired action-why it is so important to live from our heart in these rapidly changing times- the importance of deep shadow work,  joy, love and justice and much more.

Please enjoy this conversation.

Psychotherapist and researcher, Dr. Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person, introduced the world to the ‘highly sensitive person’ and the associated traits of  high sensitivity. According to Dr. Aron  “the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment.” Through her research, she discovered that between 15- 20% of the population exhibits high sensitivity. Dr. Aron explains that the traits of a highly sensitive person are innate,  normal and she also encourages HSPs to really understand and value their sensitivity. On Dr. Aron’s web site it says “Sensitivity is anything but a flaw. Many HSPs are often unusually creative and productive workers, attentive and thoughtful partners, and intellectually gifted individuals”. You can take the test designed by Dr. Elaine Aron and determine whether you have these traits and are perhaps an HSP. Self-test.

I like to stay away from labeling myself or remaining  in any one category or “group”  but nonetheless I have been intrigued by Dr. Aron’s research and insights and I do in fact  identify with the traits of a highly sensitive person. Not to mention growing up and even still today, I often hear these words ” Julie, you are so sensitive (in other words too sensitive)”.  Since learning more about what it means to be sensitive  over the years and in my continued self-discovery and research on intuition, now when I hear these words about being too sensitive, I smile back and say ” yes, I know and I’m so glad” .  Afterall, it is not who I am fully and completely but it is an important part.

There are lots of  great resources on the web pertaining to this topic. One great resource I am a member of is Jenna Avery’s Sensitive Professsionals Network. Jenna is a life coach for sensitive souls and has created a really neat professional network for sensitive professionals worldwide. Since being a member I have connected with other great professionals there. Grace Kerina is one such individual. She kindly invited me to be profiled on her web site, Highly Sensitive Power. She asked me some really interesting questions and our exchange can be found here .

May you embrace who you are more fully each day. All the best!

I am often asked to explain the difference between coaching, consulting and therapy. Recently I was featured in an article in The Montreal Gazette about my Coaching practice and was asked exactly this question. This was my response.

“A therapist is like an archaeologist who delves into the past to reveal wounds and to facilitate healing.”  “A consultant is more like a teacher – an expert in a specialized field one can seek out for advice – while a coach is similar to an architect, called upon to examine an existing structure and to achieve improvements, congruent with future goals.” ” I come to the process with no agenda of my own and with the idea that my client is well and whole,” . “I’m not there to fix anything but to facilitate bringing out what is already there.”

I would like to add to this explanation that coaching provides an on-going supportive relationship whereby the client’s strengths, values & desires are unearthed and expressed in their daily life.  Clients are held accountable to their coaches between each session in support of their goals, desires and aspirations.

I strongly believe there is a crucial place for coaching, consulting and therapy in one’s life. By understanding their differences and learning about their strengths, we can make more powerful choices when the time feels right in our lives to seek counsel and professional support.  I have benefited tremendously from incredibly gifted individuals in all three of these professions and know the importance of each. I am grateful that there are important distinctions between these three professions and that more than ever we have a choice of  varying methods and modalities that can support us with our healing and transformation.

May all your choices feel empowered and right for you.

Gangaji is a spiritual teacher and author I had the sincere pleasure of meeting and studying with at a silent retreat at Kripalu last September. You can find out more about her at her beautiful site www.gangaji.org. She will be joining the conversation on Heart Beat July 29th at 4pm ET and I know it will be a truly special and rich conversation. On July 29th you are invited to listen live here.

Dr. Rollin McCraty is the Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Institute of HeartMath. Dr. McCraty will speaking about the importance  and science of heart- based living , the science of intuition and the cutting edge research taking place at HeartMath. This will be a truly meaningful and important conversation taking place on July 17th at 4pm ET here. www.heartmath.org

Marilyn Mandala Schlitz is the President and CEO of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. She is a scientist and anthropologist and is a pioneering researcher in the area of transformation and healing.  Speaking with Marilyn Schlitz will be a real treat and is sure to be profoundly inspiring and transformative. This is a conversation you will not want to miss.  I look forward to having you join the conversation with us on July 22 at 4 pm ET here.   www.mandalaschlitz.com and www.noetic.org

I really look forward to having you join us in these meaningful conversations. You can send a question you would like addressed ahead of time to julie@juliecusmariu.com. You can  also call in to the show live and join the chat room and send your questions and comments there. For more information visit here. Note that all shows will be available on the archives.

You can listen to the most recent show here

Conversations with individuals who live and lead with their heart

Heart Beat- internet radio with a pulse- Wednesdays at 4pm ET on BlogTalkRadio

Core Energetics on Heart Beat Radio. Julie Cusmariu in conversation with Madonna Maher

” We live in our bodies. Our bodies carry the experiences, feelings, beliefs and images of all that has ever happened to us. It is through our bodies that we come to a deep knowing of what is standing in the way of our full aliveness, as well as how to transform those places. ” Madonna Maher, Core Energetics Practitioner, madonna_maher@ hotmail.com

Core Energetic Therapy is a rich and profound body centered psychotherapy that takes us into our innermost self, to unlock stored emotion so that we can free up our life force and live more fully. I stumbled upon Core Energetic Therapy several years ago and have benefited so tremendously from my experience with it.  This work has supported me in opening up more fully to who I am and has led me to not only understand more about myself but also to understand others and what it means to live the human experience.  As Madonna Maher says, Core Energetic Therapy  is “richly rewarding and practical” and it is a life affirming sacred journey in which we heal those wounded places within”.

Madonna has incredible compassion as a therapist and in response to me highlighting this in our conversation she explained that ” we learn compassion through feeling our own suffering. Once we feel the hurt we have endured, it becomes very difficult to hurt others… and until we can feel the depths of our own pain and suffering we continue to inflict it on others… and that is the whole crux of this work for me”.

Core Energetic Therapy uses tools such as deep breathing, expressive movement, grounding techniques and body awareness to free “blocked” energy in your body and release your “life force”.

Listen below as Madonna Maher, Nurse, Massage Therapist and Core Energetics Practitioner, tells us about Core Energetics and shares her experiences as a therapist with us. Recorded live on April 1, 2009 on BlogTalkRadio.

Madonna Maher, Core Energetics Practitioner