The Kindling Spirit Podcast

Creative Spirit Collaborative
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health
  • Monthly

The Kindling Spirit (formerly "Mystical Musings") Podcast is an ongoing conversation series with mental health practitioners Rachelle and Brenton, that explores out-of-the-box techniques, practices, and approaches to mental and spiritual health. Our talks explore the topics, themes, and practices that help us navigate life with grace and alignment, based upon nearly half a century of combined experience, centered around topics that matter today. creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Oct 22

    Dharma & Authenticity Part 2: Fantasy, Play, & Authentic Being

    In this episode of The Kindling Spirit podcast, hosts Brenton and Rachelle welcome special guest, fantasy lover, and photographer Desiree Tien of @fernwehvisions. Des shares her unique work with play, cinematic, and fantasy-inspired photography in the Pacific Northwest, opening up a vibrant discussion on how imagination and fantasy can serve as powerful tools for self-discovery and healing. Together, they explore the therapeutic value of stepping outside conventional boxes to reclaim play, honor inner child needs, and embody true authenticity in a world that often demands conformity.MORE ABOUT DESIREE TIENDesiree Tien is the photographer behind Fernweh Visions, a moody, cinematic, fantasy-inspired portrait business based in Vancouver, Washington. She believes dressing up isn’t about pretending to be someone else, but about giving yourself permission to show who you really are. Drawing on romantasy, folklore, and the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest, she creates sessions where clients can play, explore, and finally see themselves as the main character of their own story.Listeners of the Kindling Spirit Podcast get 15% off any portrait session in 2027. Just mention the podcast when you book! You can find Des and explore her work on TikTok and Instagram (@fernwehvisions).If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to @creativespiritcollaborative for more somatic tools, creative wellness tips, and nervous system support. You can also dive deeper with us in Patreon (it’s FREE)! * Website: creativespiritcollaborative.com * Patreon: patreon.com/c/creativespiritcollaborative This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

    Dharma & Authenticity Part 2: Fantasy, Play, & Authentic Being

  2. Sep 29

    Dharma & Authenticity Part 1: Finding Purpose in Today's World

    In this episode, hosts Brenton and Relle gather together on-location by the Willamette River for an immersive ecotherapy experience. Surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature, they dive deep into a conversation about living authentically, discovering true purpose, and understanding the concept of dharma. Key Topics Covered: * Nature as a Mirror for Authenticity: How the effortless flow of the river serves as a model for surrender, interconnectedness, and living in alignment. * Understanding Dharma vs. ‘My Dharma’: Unpacking Stephen Cope’s work on the Bhagavad Gita and exploring how personal purpose connects to the broader flow of life. * Deconstructing Capitalist Striving: Examining how Western productivity and capitalist mindsets infiltrate spiritual growth, and how to transition from “doing” to simply “being”. * Karma & Reverential Service: Re-evaluating karma beyond Western misconceptions and discussing karma yoga as a way to bring oneself back into alignment with dharma. * Grounding the Nervous System: Practical perspectives on slowing down, releasing societal expectations, and trusting the wisdom of your body and heart. Episode Wrap-Up & What’s Next: Brenton leaves listeners with an invitation to step outside, take a walk, and observe the natural authenticity of the world. Plus, get a preview of upcoming episodes, including a discussion on play, fantasy, and inner child healing with fantasy photographer Desiree Tien. Connect & Community:If you’re a healing professional or caregiver seeking connection and resources, join the community at patreon.com/creativespiritcollaborative or visit creativespiritcollaborative.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

    Dharma & Authenticity Part 1: Finding Purpose in Today's World

  3. Jun 24

    What is Presence? (& what's present right now for us)

    Welcome to an intimate "in-between" episode of Kindling Spirit. 🌲✨In this casual sit-down, Brenton and Rachelle step away from the usual "prepared" format to share some personal reflections as they navigate major life and business transitions. Together, they dive deep into what it truly means to stay grounded and present in a world designed to keep us distracted.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the fast-pace of modern life, technology, or societal pressures, this conversation is a gentle invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with your inner wisdom.💬 Key Topics Covered in This Episode:-What is True Presence? Moving past the buzzword to explore presence as an energetic, heart-centered alignment of body, mind, and spirit.-The Art of Deep Listening: How to develop the discernment needed to figure out which modern influences (societal norms, ads, systems) nourish you, and which ones drain you.-Systemic Critique: A honest look at how modern societal structures—like the medical industrial complex—often force us to override our body's natural wisdom for the sake of profit.-Practical Tools for Grounding: Simple, zero-cost practices you can start today (like body awareness scans and nature connection) to combat apathy and anxiety.🚀 Exciting News!Brenton is officially relocating to the Pacific Northwest! This means the next chapter of Kindling Spirit will feature in-person recordings, bringing you higher production quality and a whole new dynamic. Stay tuned!👇Drop a comment below: What is one small practice you use to bring yourself back into your body when life gets chaotic? We’d love to hear from you.👇#KindlingSpirit #Presence #Mindfulness #DeepListening #GroundingPractices #PodcastReflections #PacificNorthwest #HolisticLivingIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to @creativespiritcollaborative for more Kindling Spirit, as well as somatic tools, creative wellness tips, and nervous system support. You can also dive deeper with us in Patreon (it's FREE)!Website: creativespiritcollaborative.comPatreon: patreon.com/c/creativespiritcollaborative This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

    What is Presence? (& what's present right now for us)

  4. May 7

    Tapas: Yogic Fire for Activating Times

    Fire has always been a teacher: purifying what no longer serves, illuminating what we’d rather not see, and bolstering courage in the dark. In this episode, Brenton and Rachelle explore two of yoga’s most potent niyamas: Tapas, the heat of transformation and disciplined practice, and Svadhyaya, the reflective self-study that keeps that fire from burning wild. Together these principles form a kind of inner alchemy—the courage to face difficulty and the wisdom to turn that facing inward. In times that call us toward reaction, this conversation offers a quieter invitation: to meet the fire you’ve been fleeing, and let it refine you. Drawing on Gandhi’s image of the spiritual path as a “constant heart churn,” and the ancient Mundaka Upanishad’s parable of two birds in a tree (one tasting every experience, one simply witnessing) Brenton and Rachelle weave together the personal and the contemplative. Tapas without Svadhyaya burns; Svadhyaya without Tapas drifts. This episode sits in that dynamic tension, exploring how discipline and self-inquiry together polish the mirror through which we begin to see ourselves—and each other—more clearly. -- This podcast episode doubles as the April Wisdom of Yoga call recording, continuing our journey through the Yamas and Niyamas. We open and close with guided practices, so you might save this episode for a time when you have time and space to join along. (If you’re interested in joining our study group calls and the other aspects of our virtual community on patreon, you can begin for free!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

    Tapas: Yogic Fire for Activating Times

  5. Feb 28

    The Places Where Authenticity & Social Justice Meet

    What does it truly mean to be “authentic”? While we often treat it as a buzzword for self-care, the Greek roots of the word suggest something much more radical: to act on one’s own authority and to be true to one’s original thought. In this episode, we explore the vital intersection of individual authenticity and collective social justice. We dive into why social justice isn’t just a political movement, but a biological imperative mirrored in the natural world. From trees that signal threats to protect the entire forest to the symbiotic relationships of the animal kingdom, nature maintains a “background balance” that we are still striving to achieve in our human communities. We sit with the uncomfortable questions: Is my place of authenticity actually outside of my comfort zone? What happens to a society when an entire population chooses to stay inauthentic? And, perhaps most importantly, how do we continue to work, serve, and stay connected when the world no longer feels safe? Join Brenton and Rachelle in a new season of the Kindling Spirit podcast, as we discuss the “felt experience” of authentic community and how the practice of yoga calls us back to this essential alignment. (NOTE: we renamed/rebranded our podcast from “Mystical Musings” to “Kindling Spirit” as we continue to explore the same relevant, esoteric, and deeply human topics moving forward.) Want more? Join us on Patreon and watch this podcast on video…it’s FREE to join! You’ll also get access to an incredible (and growing) library of therapeutic practices, written series, interviews and conversations, and more! www.patreon.com/c/creativespiritcollaborative This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

  6. 12/30/2025

    Community as a Spiritual Practice

    In this final episode of the year, CSC’s Brenton and Rachelle talk about the healing power within community. Our conversation flows through the challenges in finding and being in community, as well as the many healing benefits that come when experiencing genuine human connection. We also talk about ways to experience and discover community beyond your family/friends, and even beyond people. (Note: This first season includes episodes under our previous name, The Mystical Musings Podcast. We’ll continue to offer the same pertinent, in-depth conversations in our new venture, The Kindling Spirit Podcast.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

  7. 12/17/2025

    Finding Trust in Times of Chaos

    Join Rachelle and Brenton in another episode of the Kindling Spirit Podcast (formerly Mystical Musings), where we discuss how to find trust during challenging times. Our conversation meanders through the energy and embodied experience of trust, as well as practices and suggestions for cultivating trust when it feels out of reach. (Note: This first season includes episodes under our previous name, The Mystical Musings Podcast. We’ll continue to offer the same pertinent, in-depth conversations in our new venture, The Kindling Spirit Podcast.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

  8. 11/29/2025

    Healing Sovereignty & the Intersectionality of Healing

    Join Rachelle and Brenton in another episode of the Kindling Spirit Podcast (formerly Mystical Musings). In this episode we talk about the innate healing power we have within us and the ways our society tends to pull us away from that. They also discuss the ways we can build compassionate awareness of our deep connection with life and the planet, as well as ways to align with the natural world to foster health and vitality. (Note: This first season includes episodes under our previous name, The Mystical Musings Podcast. We’ll continue to offer the same pertinent, in-depth conversations in our new venture, The Kindling Fire Podcast.) Thanks for listening! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and episodes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

  9. 11/15/2025

    Coaching vs. Counseling: Finding Your Guide

    Join Rachelle and Brenton for another Kindling Spirit Podcast (formerly Mystical Musings) episode, this time about the differences between counseling and coaching. As they share their perspective and experience as counselors and coaches, you’ll learn about some of the subtle (and not-so-subtle) distinctions between each path and how to know which is right for you, now. This experience is something we all encounter, and having inside perspective can help clarify how (and who) to choose for this work. (Note: This first season includes episodes under our previous name, The Mystical Musings Podcast. We’ll continue to offer the same pertinent, in-depth conversations in our new venture, The Kindling Spirit Podcast.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

  10. 10/30/2025

    Shining Light on Shadow Work

    Join CSC’s Brenton Harris and Rachelle Cornelius for a dharma talk perfect for spooky season: shadow work. From fear and trauma to blind spots and aversions, shadows are a normal aspect of human experience. However those shadows are more often friends than monsters and if we can come to know them as parts of ourselves, new paths open inside of us for awareness, insight, and growth. (Pardon our singing friends in the background🐦‍⬛ :) (Note: This first season includes episodes under our previous name, The Mystical Musings Podcast. We’ll continue to offer the same pertinent, in-depth conversations in our new venture, The Kindling Spirit Podcast.) Thanks for listening! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and episodes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Kindling Spirit (formerly "Mystical Musings") Podcast is an ongoing conversation series with mental health practitioners Rachelle and Brenton, that explores out-of-the-box techniques, practices, and approaches to mental and spiritual health. Our talks explore the topics, themes, and practices that help us navigate life with grace and alignment, based upon nearly half a century of combined experience, centered around topics that matter today. creativespiritcollaborative.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Creative Spirit Collaborative
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Creative Spirit Collaborative
  • Show Website
    The Kindling Spirit Podcast