Zen Station Monica V Cao

Hello beautiful people of the multiverse, my name is Monica also known as zen and welcome to zen station ~ a podcast for exploring, discovering and understanding the true nature of self. We’re going to be unpack on our thoughts, feelings, experiences and explore what it means to live with purpose.

be prepared to get real deep in here with me and at the end let me know what you took out of this experience! Submit your comments to Hey@Monicavcao.com or send or voice note via Anchor. And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to be part of the journey. Much love, thank you and let’s get into it!

Website: MonicaVCao.com

Instagram: instagram.com/MonicaVCao

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First I’d like to express my love and gratitude…    

To the self: the sacred temple of mine that keeps me moving, breathing, and growing. My mind, for her capacity to hold so much life experience. To my spirit, that guides and aligns me in the direction of my purpose. My ancestors and spirit guides that I carry in my heart and spirit.  

To those who have been supportive & shown love to all that I’ve been working on — whether you are still beside me, or have been before, I thank you for your wisdom to teach me the lessons I needed to learn. Cultivating and using my voice on a platform that invites all types of feedback especially on a topic that is my life and of the healing journey I still am on is incredibly difficult. But It’s mine, and part of that path is for me to share. I just hope that my voice reaches those who need to hear it most, whether you are or were in a similar journey then these messages are for you, and also a leading voice my younger self wished she had.   



Throughout my journey I’ve done a lot of inner work and growing older only has gotten me to become aware of how much more there is to explore, how I could better understand myself and in turn reach others in the same capacity to better serve them. To tell you the truth, I don’t really know how I’ve got to where I am. There is no luck, or special formula and I’m especially not a how-to book but what I am is a result of the work I put in to heal and live in my purpose. Perhaps telling my story over and over again will help you and I to better understand it all In the first place. Maybe it can be a catapult for you to begin or end something for the betterment of your life. But first, let me tell you a little bit about my journey.   



✨ TOPICS & LESSONS ✨



✨ Experiences with sex, sensuality as something shameful, to a sacred practice 

✨ From a toxic mindset to healthy relationships 

✨ Learning healthy boundaries & consent 

✨ Finding peace & making time for solitude 

✨ Dealing with abuse & trauma


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Hello beautiful people of the multiverse, my name is Monica also known as zen and welcome to zen station ~ a podcast for exploring what it means to live with purpose in our daily lives.

Submit your comments to Hey@Monicavcao.com or send or voice note via Anchor. And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to be part of the journey. Much love, thank you and let’s get into it!

Website: MonicaVCao.com

Instagram: instagram.com/MonicaVCao

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In this episode, Kedre (@KedreDesigns) and I play the very popular game, We’re Not Really Strangers. Feel free to listen while you create, work or join us in by either playing with yourself, a partner or friends & family!

WNRS is a purpose driven card game and movement all about empowering meaningful connections.

Three carefully crafted levels of questions and wildcards that allow you to deepen your existing relationships and create new ones.



⬇️ Purchase them here ⬇️

Card Game: https://www.werenotreallystrangers.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/werenotreallystrangers/?hl=en



Some questions we explored:

✨ What is my body language telling you right now?

✨ Rating our dancing skills from 1-10

✨ What was your first impression of me?

✨ What do you think is the hardest part of what I do for a living?

✨ Have you ever told someone I love you, but didn’t mean it? Why?

✨ What is a dream you’ve let go of?

✨ Is there anyone you’re missing right now, and do you think they’re missing you too?

✨ Wildcard: Ask a question you’d be too afraid to ask, something you wouldn’t dare to ask.

✨ Wildcard: Both players write a note to your younger selves. [1 min]

✨ What do you recommend I let go of, if anything?

✨ Do you believe everyone has a calling, if so do you think I have mine?



Thank you Kedre for being in another episode with me! I love recording with him so much & I feel like there’s still so much for us to explore. Let us know what you’d like to hear us talk about next!

Kedre’s website: Kedredesigns.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kedredesigns

Twitter: twitter.com/kedredesigns

Youtube: YouTube.com/kedredesigns


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zenstation/message

🎀💭Zen Station 💭🎀

Hello beautiful people of the multiverse, my name is Monica also known as zen and welcome to zen station ~ a podcast for exploring, discovering and understanding the true nature of self. We’re going to be unpack on our thoughts, feelings, experiences and explore what it means to live with purpose.

Be prepared to get real deep in here with me and at the end let me know what you took out of this experience! Submit your comments to Hey@Monicavcao.com or send or voice note via Anchor. And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to be part of the journey. Much love, thank you and let’s get into it!

Website: MonicaVCao.com

Instagram: instagram.com/MonicaVCao

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In this episode, Kedre (@Kedredesigns) and I have an open conversation about our practices as artists, while we create artwork #SketchExercise — the practice in creating regularly that builds creative habits, rather than relying on talent. We explore how our craft intertwines with the healing work we are on & tap into the experiences from being a student vs. a teacher of the craft.

More specifically we dive deeper into:

✨ Art practices: Feeling vs. Style & Technique

✨ How creating from ‘feeling’ relate to our healing practice

✨ Flaws in the art school system vs. Teaching from a space of safety and non judgment

✨ Morality in your craft

Kedre’s website: Kedredesigns.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kedredesigns

Twitter: twitter.com/kedredesigns

Youtube: YouTube.com/kedredesigns


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zenstation/message

Often times I re-evaluate if I’m on the right track, making sure I don’t go off course. But the truth is, it’s absolutely okay to stray off if that’s what needs to be explored in the moment. Being off course, bored, and even frustrated is what can spark us to keep going and make the wins worthwhile.

Being an artist doesn’t mean you’re full of inspiration, motivation or creating constantly, wouldn’t that be amazing? The truth is we reach a plateau of creatives block, stagnancy or burn out. When the passion dies, and you’re left with a big question mark on what to do next —

How do you stay inspired? If you don’t rely on inspiration, how do you find motivation?

Creating this episode wasn’t necessarily out of inspiration, rather a need to explore these questions and share them with whoever feels called to listen. I’ve had the privilege to hear other artists processes, their downfalls and wins — so I hope you take these episodes with a grain of salt. Be open and take what works for you and your practice, leaving what doesn’t.



I GO OVER THE TOPICS OF:

⬇️ Exploring Newness ⬇️

Reaching a space of feeling uninspired is a common fork in the road — plateau of creative block or / burn out. At this point you need to decide on what you need to do next to serve your purpose. Sometimes you’re just bored of what you’re doing & when this happens it’s great to use this time to explore. This doesn’t mean the journey you’re on is over, but perhaps in the moment it needs to be, to start something new.

Exploring:

✨Different mediums

✨Styles/ Techniques

✨Processes

✨Or a whole new hobby/career if you feel most called to — it’s never too late to start over



⬇️Setting Yourself Up For Success ⬇️

When I feel uninspired, I like to make it a habit to set myself up for success even if I don’t feel like it. Practicing simple exercises and habit building that make the process to create EASY & NON-EXCUSABLE.

Practices/ Habits:

✨Prepping your space & tools the night before sos everything is well prepared to get started. Clear space = Clear mind — But even creating from a bad head space is good, so as long as you express it and move the energy around then it served it’s purpose

✨3 Minute Loose Doodles — Just like it says, don’t be afraid of a blank canvas and let loose whatever comes to mind. This is something you can practice as a simple doodle, or the underlay of a painting since it’ll get covered up anyways! Let loose, and have fun.



⬇️Inspiration Comes With Boredom ⬇️

Sometimes the best ideas, sparks or inspiration come from doing absolutely nothing.

Especially during a time that social media is primarily how we communicate, entertain and do business. It can be addictive, so our mind goes into auto pilot scrolling through social media & receiving instant gratification. How can we be bored & just sit still when these things exist?

Practices:

✨Block out time for your sacred practice (it can be anything that benefits you — Journalling, reading, creating, meditating, moving, exercising)

✨Notice the action of you reaching for your phone, pivot and do something else

Have you noticed that just like it’s impossible to be happy all of the time, same goes for inspiration. Be bored.



In the end of the day, inspiration comes and goes and that’s okay. As long as you are true to the path of your Dharma / Life’s Purpose — for me that looks like creating in any form — then you’re on the right track. Remember that you’re on no other timeline than your own, enjoy the process, it’s yours to create.



Submit your comments to Hey@Monicavcao.com or send or voice note via Anchor


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zenstation/message

Hello beautiful people of the multiverse, my name is Monica also known as zen and welcome to zen station ~ a podcast for exploring, discovering and understanding the true nature of self. We’re going to be unpack on our thoughts, feelings, experiences and explore what it means to live with purpose.

So be prepared to get real deep in here with me and at the end let me know what you took out of this experience! Submit your comments to Hey@Monicavcao.com or send or voice note via Anchor. And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to be part of the journey. Much love, thank you and let’s get into it!

Website: MonicaVCao.com

Instagram: instagram.com/MonicaVCao

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In this episode, I introduce my first guest @KedreDesigns as we explore our collaborations in healing through creativity.

Kedre and I have been exploring independently and collaboratively in both our healing and creative work. He’s not only shown up for me with unconditional love and support, but is also a beacon of light to many that know him. If you’ve ever been around Kedre, you know what I mean.

We go deeper in the topics of

✨ Beginning in film photography versus digital

✨ Beginning in exploring modelling & how that impacted our healing journey

✨ Affirmations and Life Lessons learnt from starting a Graffiti/Mural business

✨ Talent vs. Hard work

✨ Being an Artist in the time of Social Media

Thank you Kedre for always being in my corner, celebrating my wins, and for reminding me of my magnificence when I’m too low to see it In myself. You’re lit, and loved.

Kedre’s website: Kedredesigns.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kedredesigns

Twitter: twitter.com/kedredesigns

Youtube: YouTube.com/kedredesigns


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zenstation/message

Hello beautiful & welcome to zen station. Today’s episode I go back to reflect on my last episode 002 || Getting Started Before You’re Ready. During the process of feeling extreme stagnancy, in my body, mind and creative spirit, I realized a couple of things that I thought I’d share here to help you move through feeling stagnant, and to go back into living in your purpose.


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zenstation/message