The Mountain Mystic Podcast

Katie Hemphill

From yoga and embodiment to mountains and ultra running, I bring you a podcast that gets to the heart of the wild, messy, complex living of the modern human being. Welcome to a new kind of ascension journey: an embodied spirituality for modern times — one that's grounded, centered in physical reality, as we explore what it means to be em-bodied as the wild, beautiful, creative human beings that we are. I get it. Times are wild right now, and I don't mean that in a good way. Here, we find the path forward — one that keeps us grounded, centered in the spaces that matter most. And as we cultivate greater presence for the experience unfolding in every moment, we turn our gaze upward, reaching toward what's brighter, more beautiful, and entirely possible to experience here on Earth. This is an embodied spirituality that demands we know this very real, very alive world — even as we simultaneously go within, know ourselves more deeply, and walk the discerning path of healing, transformation, and wild, deep fulfillment. Here, I teach The Embodied Path — four steps toward a life fully inhabited: Grounding — coming home to the body, to the earth, to what's realCentering — finding your still point amid the noiseAlignment — re-attuning to your true nature, and to Nature herselfDiscernment — finding your way through it all, clear-eyed and awake The good news? When we do this work, we get to experience life for the joy, the wonder, the beauty, and the bliss that's actually here. And we get to face the very real, serious challenges our modern world is up against — with our feet on the ground instead of our heads in the clouds. Brought to you by Katie, a modern-day Earth Priestess and Embodiment Coach, teaching skillful connection with self — and further, into connection with this planet Earth. Because you are not here in these times to be taken down by the dark chaos unfolding around us. And you're not here to embrace some spiritual bullsh*t that pulls you out of the grounded experience of what's actually happening. More about Katie... When I left my life as a Biomedical Researcher in pursuit of a path that could truly help heal the world, I didn't expect my greatest teacher to come in the form of Earth herself. But that's exactly what happened. With guidance from a diverse set of ancient wisdom traditions — yoga, tantra, Buddhism, shamanism, and more — and from some phenomenal modern teachers, I've carved my own path out of the modern industrial complex, learning moment by moment to choose what's healing, nurturing, joyful, and fulfilling. Here, I teach this so you can build your own Embodied Path too. As a trail runner and rock climber, it's my bond with the great outdoors that taught me the deepest truths about our misalignment — with Nature, and with our own selves. Here, we step into conversation focused on re-alignment with our true nature. Through it, we find a better path forward as we heal the deep wounds cut into all living systems. Systems thinking meets embodied living and holistic healing — brought to you by the mind of a Biomedical Engineer turned Yoga & Meditation Teacher.

  1. 4d ago

    How to Center Yourself When Everything Feels Chaotic | A Guided Embodiment Practice

    How to Center Yourself When Everything Feels Chaotic | A Guided Embodiment Practice.  In this episode, we explore the second step of The Embodied Path: Centering — the practice of coming into the core of your being while staying connected to the world that expands far beyond you. Episode Summary Center isn't a fixed point — it's a tool. It's what lets us collapse the complexity of our being into a single, simple location, while still holding the infinite potential of who we are. In this episode, we talk about what it means to be centered in Self (with a capital S — mind, body, heart, soul, spirit, and all the parts of us we haven't yet met) without disengaging from the world around us. This episode sits as a threshold between two of the practices in our 11-part embodiment series: Practice #3 (focused consciousness) and Practice #4 (expanded consciousness). Centering is the hinge — it's what allows us to hold a single point of attention while our awareness expands outward into the whole of life. What We Cover What "center" really means — and why it isn't a fixed, physical pointThe difference between the egoic self and the whole SelfWhy centering is not a selfish or isolating act, but a way into deeper connection with the worldThe relationship between focused consciousness and expanded consciousnessA guided centering practice you can do right along with the episodeWhy centering matters especially now, in genuinely unstable timesFinding a spiritual center that exists in perpetuity — even when the external world offers no stable ground The Practice (Follow Along) A simple centering practice referenced in this episode: Settle into a comfortable seated position; take 5–10 easeful breathsBring your attention to your center — heart, solar plexus, below the navel — wherever you feel it todayRest at center for 8–10 breaths, gently returning your attention whenever it wandersBegin expanding awareness outward — body, room, building, community, world, universe — while a part of your attention remains at centerClose by returning fully to center, feeling your body in the space you're in Key Takeaway You don't need to be conscious of every part of yourself to be centered. Centering is about collapsing complexity into stillness — and from that stillness, staying open to everything beyond you. Continue the Series This episode is part of The Embodied Path, a series exploring a 4-step framework — Grounding, Centering, Alignment, Discernment — for navigating life with presence and skill. Read the companion blog post and previous installments on Substack. Links: Join Membership! Companion blog post - Centering Grounding Practice (Earth Embodiment) Learning The Embodied Path (Roadmap) Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  2. Apr 14

    Movement as a Spiritual Practice

    Movement as a Spiritual Practice: Move your body every day, throughout the day. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, so long as you do, indeed, go move. Walk. Run. Dance. Bike. Lift. Wander. Swim. Do yoga. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, as long as you do, indeed, move! Furthermore, do not just do this as a one-off. Make it a part of your day, throughout your day! Get in the habit of being in motion. Toss your sedentary lifestyle away! As you move, there is an invitation to release distractions. Let go of external metrics and tech. In their place, turn inward. Connect consciously with your body. Move. As you do, go within. Connect with your body as you are in motion: Feel into your body - your muscles, bones, and other tissues in motionGround into your body - feeling the support that your body holds (as well as the Earth as she holds you)Experience fluidity - breathe in sync with movement and get into the flow of lifeLet this experience bring you joy, bring you healing, and bring you into sacred connection with all that you are. - In this episode: Movement as a spiritual practice — and why your body is a sacred spaceSimple practices for bringing more consciousness to your movementHow to make your movement practice authentically your ownRead the accompanying blog post Read Practice: 1 - A Practice in Physical Stillness Read about all 11 Practices for Cultivating an Embodied Spirituality #embodiment #embodiedliving #spiritualawakening #movementpractice #yoga Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  3. Mar 16

    Coming Home to Your Body: An Introduction to Physical Stillness

    Welcome back to The Mountain Mystic Podcast. After a quiet winter of rest and renewal, Season 3 is here — and it carries something close to my heart. This season, we're walking together through The Embodied Path: a spiritual framework rooted not in transcendence or escape, but in the radical, tender act of being here — present, grounded, and alive in your body. The Embodied Path is a spiritual framework developed by myself, Katie Hemphill, built around the principle that true spiritual growth happens in the body, in the present moment, and in the ordinary textures of daily life. Over the course of Season 3, we will move through 11 foundational practices — beginning here, with stillness. In This Episode: The Bigger Picture: Why Grounded Spirituality Matters I share the "why" behind everything I teach. So much of spirituality focuses on ascension — rising above, transcending, escaping the human experience. The Embodied Path offers something different: a spirituality that descends into life rather than away from it.  The First Practice: Physical Stillness We arrive at the first of 11 practices that form The Embodied Path. Physical Stillness is a foundational form of meditation — simple, accessible, and deeply powerful. I walk you through the practice itself, step by step, along with additional guidance to help you settle in and make it your own. When This Practice Isn't for You (And What to Do Instead) Not every practice meets every person where they are — and that's not a failure, it's wisdom. I speak honestly about who this particular practice may not serve, and offer gentle alternatives and pathways forward for those who find physical stillness challenging or inaccessible right now. Links: Join the Newsletter at https://forestbody.comSign up for my Stillness short coursePhysical Stillness Blog Post11 Spiritual Practices Blog PostThe Great Dance Podcast EpisodeMy Meditation Practice Broke Me (YouTube Video)If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to leave a review or share it with someone who is on their own path of awakening. Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  4. 12/18/2025

    Journey to Your SoulFire: A Sagittarius New Moon & Winter Solstice Practice

    Embody the energy of this powerful moment—the Sagittarius New Moon aligning with Winter Solstice creates a rare opportunity for alignment and intention-setting. In this episode, we explore how to harness the fiery wisdom of Sagittarius during the darkest time of the year. You'll discover a special guided practice to commune with and ignite your inner SoulFire, release what no longer serves you, and set bold intentions for the new cycle ahead. This isn't surface level shedding and manifesting. This is a journey deep into your inner truth - communing with soul as you align to all the spaces that will bring you your highest joy and deepest fulfillment. Episode Highlights Understanding the spiritual significance of the Sagittarius New Moon and Winter Solstice convergenceGuided meditation to connect with your inner Soulfire energyRitual practices to honor the darkness and welcome the returning lightThe most powerful way to set intentions to manifest what you are ready forHow to align your personal goals with this expansive Sagittarius energyJoin me for this transformative practice and step into the new year with clarity, courage, and your soulfire fully ablaze. #SagittariusNewMoon #WinterSolstice #SoulFire #NewMoonRituals #SpiritualPractice #AstrologyPodcast #MoonMagic #WinterSolsticeRituals #Sagittarius #NewMoonIntentions #SpiritualJourney #MindfulnessJourney #SacredPractice #InnerWisdom #Embodiment #EmbodiedLiving #SpiritualAwakening Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  5. 10/09/2025

    The Mountain Archetype: Grounded Awareness & Aligned Living

    What would it feel like to move through life with the stability of a mountain? In this transformative episode, we explore the Mountain Archetype - an ancient wisdom teaching that helps you cultivate unshakeable grounding, expansive awareness, and skillful navigation through life's ever-changing landscape. This is not just a conversation about the mountain - it's an experiential journey. Throughout this episode, you'll be guided through multiple embodiment practices designed to help you directly experience what it means to be grounded like a mountain, to hold open awareness like vast sky meeting stone, and to move forward through life with purpose and grace. Key Topics Covered Archetypal Embodiment: Calling in the wisdom that is available to us through Earthly formsAwakening through chaos: Yes, the world around us is in chaos. Instead of pulling you down, let it transform you for the betterStaying Centered: Maintaining your groundedness while showing up for life in a way that mattersEmbodied Practice: Turning inspiration into consistent, meaningful actionWho This Episode Is For Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the world's problems and wanting to cultivate deeper groundingAnyone looking for deeper, more sacred connection to EarthThose who want to move beyond inspirational quotes to actual embodied practiceLeaders and changemakers looking to ground their impact in what truly mattersThose seeking to find union of feminine and masculine in archetypal embodimentRelated Content: Embody The Mountain YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/_6eRc8fJyAE?si=v7_5l5bI9LimsoXe Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on The We Are The Forest Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Substack Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here.  #MountainArchetype #Grounding #Embodiment #SpiritualPractice #Mindfulness #InnerPeace #Meditation #Awareness #PersonalGrowth #SacredArchetypes  Support the show Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  6. 07/03/2025

    Be the Light in This World: Grounded Practice for Making Real Impact

    Episode Summary "Be the light" has become such a common phrase that it's lost much of its transformative power. But what if we could reclaim this concept and turn it into something practical, grounded, and genuinely impactful? In this episode, we get to practice what it means to call in and embody "the light," and we get to dive into what it means to apply this in what has become a dark world. As we find our grounding and connect into our own embodied selves, we get to learn to show up for this life authentically connecting to what matters most. Key Topics Covered Reclaiming what it means to be the light in a dark world: Moving beyond empty platitudes to embodied actionStrategic Service: Being of service where it actually matters and makes a differenceProblem-Solving with Purpose: Focusing your energy on solving important problemsStaying Centered: Maintaining your groundedness while showing up for life in a way that mattersEmbodied Practice: Turning inspiration into consistent, meaningful action Key Takeaways ✨  Spiritual practice requires staying grounded - Without a solid and embodied foundation, our spiritual intentions stay too airy fairy and don't impact what matters ✨ Practical service over performance - True impact comes from addressing real needs, not from looking good ✨ Centered action is sustainable action - When we stay focused on what matters most, we can maintain our service long-term ✨ Kindness is a practice, not just a feeling - Learn how to actively call in kindness rather than waiting for it to happen Who This Episode Is For Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the world's problems and wanting to make a meaningful differencePeople seeking practical ways to be of serviceThose who want to move beyond inspirational quotes to actual embodied practiceLeaders and changemakers looking to ground their impact in what truly mattersAnyone ready to reclaim the power of "being the light" through concrete actionQuestions for Reflection Where in your life are you performing "being the light" versus actually embodying it?What important problems are calling for your specific gifts and attention?How can you call in more kindness in your daily interactions?What does staying "grounded and centered" look like in practice for you? Tags #BeTheLight #GroundedPractice #KindnessInAction #ServiceOriented #MeaningfulImpact #EmbodiedLeadership  #PracticalSpirit #AuthenticService Love this episode? Please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  7. 06/20/2025

    Embodying Light: The Journey of an Ultra Running Earth Priestess

    Right now, I am up in the big mountains of Colorado, training for my 3rd 100 mile ultra-running event later this summer. Join me as I explore the rugged beauty of the Colorado mountains as I train for this wild 100-mile race. More than just miles and vert, this podcast delves into the profound connection we share with the Earth, inviting you on a journey of embodiment and self-discovery. But the trails are under threat. Powerful forces are at play, attempting to disconnect us from the healing power of nature. That's why it's never been more critical to cultivate discernment, take meaningful action, and reclaim our rightful place in the wild. Join me as we run, reflect, and rise to the challenge, one step at a time. Join me in Earth Embodiment practice - coming to you directly from the mountains - on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5MVyHmuGxAE?si=W_kugszfL-pRkGfi Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

  8. 05/08/2025

    Embody The Mountain - Grounded, Centered, and Present on your paths forward through life

    We have made it! After many episodes this season we are ready to jump into the core theme - the heart, the soul, the inspiration - for The Mountain Mystic Podcast! The Mountain. In all her majesty. In all her glory.  We all know the sayings and the cliches about The Mountain, including its use as a metaphor for our journeys through life. But I want to take you deeper. I am here to invoke The Mountain, to inspire her within you as you call her in, embody her, and let her guide you into connection with life that is grounded, fulfilling as it fills you with light and joy. In this practice-centered podcast, we take what we all know about the metaphor of The Mountain and we embody it. We do this through guided visualizations, turning it all into an embodied meditation that you know I love to do in this space! Deepen into practice: I have created an entire library worth of guided meditations and embodied activations to help you deepen into this work! Join in at a price that works best for you at upwardslopes.com/library A Walk Through The Forest: Follow along on YouTube Read the accompanying blog post:  Support the show Join me in Earth Embodiment Circle! The newest addition to the many ways you can join me in practice and in community. Learn more here. Deepen into practice in Membership - The Forest: A Library of Guided Meditations and Embodiment Practice. Learn more here. Read my Earth Embodiment Ebook! We Are The Forest: Walking an Embodied Path of Collective Healing: Read it here Deepen your grounding: Practice Earth Embodiment with my free Deep Roots Meditation Find writings and deepen into guided practice on Substack or on The Mountain Mystic Blog Follow my trailrunning and mountain adventures: @katiethemountainmystic Music: "The Beat of Nature" from Pixabay

Trailers

About

From yoga and embodiment to mountains and ultra running, I bring you a podcast that gets to the heart of the wild, messy, complex living of the modern human being. Welcome to a new kind of ascension journey: an embodied spirituality for modern times — one that's grounded, centered in physical reality, as we explore what it means to be em-bodied as the wild, beautiful, creative human beings that we are. I get it. Times are wild right now, and I don't mean that in a good way. Here, we find the path forward — one that keeps us grounded, centered in the spaces that matter most. And as we cultivate greater presence for the experience unfolding in every moment, we turn our gaze upward, reaching toward what's brighter, more beautiful, and entirely possible to experience here on Earth. This is an embodied spirituality that demands we know this very real, very alive world — even as we simultaneously go within, know ourselves more deeply, and walk the discerning path of healing, transformation, and wild, deep fulfillment. Here, I teach The Embodied Path — four steps toward a life fully inhabited: Grounding — coming home to the body, to the earth, to what's realCentering — finding your still point amid the noiseAlignment — re-attuning to your true nature, and to Nature herselfDiscernment — finding your way through it all, clear-eyed and awake The good news? When we do this work, we get to experience life for the joy, the wonder, the beauty, and the bliss that's actually here. And we get to face the very real, serious challenges our modern world is up against — with our feet on the ground instead of our heads in the clouds. Brought to you by Katie, a modern-day Earth Priestess and Embodiment Coach, teaching skillful connection with self — and further, into connection with this planet Earth. Because you are not here in these times to be taken down by the dark chaos unfolding around us. And you're not here to embrace some spiritual bullsh*t that pulls you out of the grounded experience of what's actually happening. More about Katie... When I left my life as a Biomedical Researcher in pursuit of a path that could truly help heal the world, I didn't expect my greatest teacher to come in the form of Earth herself. But that's exactly what happened. With guidance from a diverse set of ancient wisdom traditions — yoga, tantra, Buddhism, shamanism, and more — and from some phenomenal modern teachers, I've carved my own path out of the modern industrial complex, learning moment by moment to choose what's healing, nurturing, joyful, and fulfilling. Here, I teach this so you can build your own Embodied Path too. As a trail runner and rock climber, it's my bond with the great outdoors that taught me the deepest truths about our misalignment — with Nature, and with our own selves. Here, we step into conversation focused on re-alignment with our true nature. Through it, we find a better path forward as we heal the deep wounds cut into all living systems. Systems thinking meets embodied living and holistic healing — brought to you by the mind of a Biomedical Engineer turned Yoga & Meditation Teacher.