08: Connecting to the Sacred Through Sound and Spirit with Mark Carter Rael Talk

My guest on this episode is Mark Carter, a dear friend and one of my most trusted spiritual mentors. Mark co-owns and operates Zen Soul Balance, a holistic wellness company based in San Diego specializing in yoga, sound therapy, mindfulness, and meditation. He holds dual-graduate degrees in education and spirituality, and has several certifications in yoga and sound healing therapy. Mark has completed post-graduate work in the disciplines of spiritual formation and leadership and has served as a retreat leader for over 15 years. As an artist and yogi, his interests focus on the intersection of meditation, asana and sound therapy as a catalyst to inspire others to live wholehearted, healthy lives.

We have a very deep and personal conversation that I hope inspires you, wherever you are on your spiritual journey. I encourage you to take notes, to pause and reflect as much as necessary to engage with and really feel into these topics. Mark is an exceptionally articulate, brilliant and a compassionate teacher and it's a huge honor for me to be able to take in and share his insights through this platform.

HIGHLIGHTS:
-What does it mean to be spiritual? What is a contemplative life?
-Common truths & crossovers in global disciplines (Western faiths and Eastern practices)
-The power of mystery, prayer, and rituals
-The essence of being human—encountering infinite Love
-Chakra theory & how it influences spiritual maturity
-Embodied spirituality—Experiencing how everything is connected
-How to recognize & connect to that which is Sacred
-The benefits and future of sound healing and sound therapy
AND SO MUCH MORE!

Follow Mark and Zen Soul Balance on IG @zensoulbalance or @mcphoto_and_yoga or go to www.zensoulbalance.com for events and upcoming trainings.

Books and Authors for Reference:
James W. Fowler, American Theologian & Professor of Theology
Erik Erikson, German-American Psychologist (Theory of Psychosocial Development)
Henri Nouwen, Dutch Catholic priest, & theologian(Life of the Beloved)
Thomas Merton, American Trappist monk & mystic (Mystics and Zen Masters)
Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk
Julie Cameron, American teacher & writer (The Artists' Way)
Richard Rohr, American writer & Franciscan friar(Everything Belongs)
Joshua Leeds, American sound researcher & music producer (The Power of Sound: How to Be Healthy and Productive Using Music and Sound)
The Scripps Institute, The Shiley Fitness Center (www.scripps.org)
Mitchell Gaynor, American oncologist & w (The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music)

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