So pleased to be in conversation with my guest Chelsea Odhner. Chelsea supports increasing the accessibility of Swedenborg's ideas through their role as the Vice President of Publishing at the Swedenborg Foundation. A licensed massage therapist, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 practitioner, and Newfield Network Certified Coach, Chelsea is passionate about helping people live whole, authentic lives. Together with their husband, Johanan Odhner, they are developing an array of offerings to support people in applying the IFS model for the sake of healing. They live in Glenside, PA.
Summary This conversation explores the topic of love and its role in the church and in personal lives. The speakers discuss their personal experiences with love and how it has been taught and shown to them. They also delve into the practices that foster love and the obstacles that can hinder it. The conversation touches on meditation, yoga, and the concept of self-leadership. The speakers reflect on the teachings of Swedenborg and how they relate to their own experiences of love and healing. They discuss the idea of the new church as a journey of regeneration and the importance of relationships and compassion in this process. The conversation concludes with a discussion on surrender and the paradox of freedom and responsibility. The conversation explores the nature of the outermost level of life and the risk of falling for appearances. It discusses practices that help connect with the inner reality, such as IFS therapy, meditation, dance, and experiencing sacred spaces. The importance of listening to and honoring the body's sensations and feelings is emphasized, as well as the role of grief in healing. The conversation also touches on the shift in understanding who we are as humans and the potential for collective healing. The new titles from the Swedenborg Foundation, 'Surviving Suicidal Ideation' and a book on Swedenborg and Internal Family Systems, are mentioned as resources for healing and understanding.
Keywords love, church, meditation, yoga, self-leadership, healing, Swedenborg, regeneration, relationships, compassion, surrender, freedom, responsibility, outermost level of life, appearances, inner reality, IFS therapy, meditation, dance, sacred spaces, body sensations, feelings, grief, healing, shift in understanding, collective healing
Takeaways
* Love is a fundamental aspect of the church and is central to personal growth and spiritual development.
* Practices such as meditation and yoga can help foster love and deepen the connection with consciousness and the divine.
* Healing and regeneration are ongoing processes that require self-reflection and the cultivation of compassion.
* The new church is not just an external institution, but a personal journey of inner transformation and connection with the divine.
* Surrendering to the flow of love and recognizing the paradox of freedom and responsibility are key aspects of spiritual growth. The outermost level of life is based on appearances, but it's important to remember the inner reality.
* Practices like IFS therapy, meditation, dance, and experiencing sacred spaces can help connect with the inner reality.
* Listening to and honoring the body's sensations and feelings is crucial for healing and self-awareness.
* Grief is an essential part of the healing process and should be embraced.
* There is a shift in understanding who we are as humans, and the potential for collective healing is emerging.
* The Swedenborg Foundation has new titles Chelsea is excited about, including Surviving Suicidal Ideation: From Therapy to Spirituality and the Lived Experience available for pre-order and a book she is co-authoring on Swedenborg and Internal Family Systems that is expected to be released within a year’s time.
Chapters
00:00 Exploring the Mystery of Love
07:49 Practices for Fostering Love and Connection
14:00 The Role of Healing and Regeneration
21:56 Surrender and the Paradox of Freedom and Responsibility
25:43 Navigating the World of Appearances
27:11 Practices for Connecting with the Inner Reality
28:08 Honoring the Body's Sensations and Feelings
32:55 The Role of Grief in Healing
35:41 The Shift in Understanding Who We Are
43:18 New Titles for Healing and Understanding
Our Theme Music is “I Love it,” by Luke Concannon www.lukeconcannon.com
