Willow Healing Matters Podcast

What if the life you’re longing for isn’t waiting somewhere “out there”—but is already trying to reach you through your intuition?
In this powerful episode of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani is joined by Christine J. Gold, empath empowerment speaker, mentor, author, and creator of The Clarity Code™, for a deeply honest conversation about spiritual awakening, self-trust, healing, boundaries, and breaking free from the patterns that keep us stuck.
Together they explore why so many empaths struggle with people-pleasing and self-sabotage, how nervous system regulation changes everything, and why your intuition is one of the greatest gifts you can learn to trust.
Whether you’re navigating a spiritual awakening, recovering from burnout, healing childhood patterns, or simply searching for greater clarity and purpose, this conversation offers grounded wisdom and practical insights to help you reconnect with your own inner authority.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✔️ How to trust your intuition with confidence✔️ Why self-sabotage keeps repeating (and how to stop it)✔️ Healing after burnout and toxic workplaces✔️ The connection between your nervous system and intuition✔️ Why empaths struggle with boundaries and people-pleasing✔️ Spiritual awakening after life’s biggest challenges✔️ The importance of healthy relationships and energetic boundaries✔️ Why healing is a lifelong journey—not a destination✔️ How to reconnect with your authentic self and purpose
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction01:01 Meet Christine J. Gold01:50 From corporate burnout to spiritual awakening05:00 Why so many people awakened after 202006:00 Nervous system regulation and trusting your body08:45 Why your intuition already knows the answer10:10 Christine’s book Intuition Saved My Life12:20 Why science is finally catching up to spirituality14:20 Spiritual bypassing and authentic healing17:20 Healthy boundaries for empaths19:00 People pleasing and reclaiming your power22:00 Family dynamics and energetic boundaries25:00 Recognising energetic vampires27:30 Escaping the hamster wheel of life28:20 Healing, forgiveness and your soul’s purpose30:45 Final message: Don’t die with your music still inside you
About Christine J. Gold
Christine Gold is an Empath Empowerment Speaker, mentor, and creator of The Clarity Code™, where she helps empaths and purpose-driven leaders break free from self-sabotage and step into clarity, confidence, and soul-aligned leadership.
She is the host of the Heart Led Soul Fed Podcast, author of Intuition Saved My Life, and creator of The Empath’s Journey Oracle Deck. Christine blends trauma-informed practices, intuitive guidance, and her own lived experience of transformation to inspire audiences around the world.
Connect with Christine
🌐 Website:
https://christine.gold
📘 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/MediumChristineGold
📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/MediumChristineGold
▶️ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ChristineJGold
Connect with Catherine Crestani
Host of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani is an Inner Authority Guide, spiritual teacher, author, and founder of Willow Healing Matters.
Through her work, Catherine helps people reconnect with their inner authority, expand consciousness, trust their intuition, and navigate spiritual awakening with grounded wisdom.
🌐 Website:
https://willowhealing.org
📸 Instagram:https://instagram.com/willowhealingsh
▶️ YouTube:https://youtube.com/willowhealingsh
📝 Substack:
📚 My Virtual Obsession:https://amzn.asia/d/07lOz3x5
🌿 Support Willow Healing Matters
Thank you so much for listening and supporting the podcast. 💛
☕ The ceremonial cacao Catherine personally drinks and recommends
Perfect for meditation, grounding, journaling, spiritual practice, heart-opening rituals, and quiet moments of reflection.
👉 https://creationcacao.com.au/collections/powerful-ceremonial-cacao-at-a-reasonable-price?sca_ref=8943091.vyvJxtUKl7h
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#intuition #spiritualawakening #selftrust #empaths #healingjourney #innerauthority #boundaries #nervoussystem #personalgrowth #consciousness #energyhealing #spiritualgrowth #willowhealingmatters #christinejgold #catherinecrestani


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Can someone with dyslexia go from a first-grade reading level to transforming the way reading is taught?
In this fascinating episode of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, New York State Senate-funded dyslexia researcher and founder of DyslexiaClasses.com, to explore an evidence-based approach that is challenging traditional methods of teaching dyslexia, reading, writing, and literacy.
Russell shares his extraordinary personal journey—from being evaluated at a first-grade reading and writing level while attending college to developing a word-analysis-first instructional method inspired by Yale neuroimaging research by Dr. Sally Shaywitz. Together, Catherine and Russell discuss why motivation matters, how special interests can unlock learning, why many students struggle within traditional education systems, and what parents and educators can do differently to support neurodivergent learners.
Whether you’re a parent of a struggling reader, a teacher, homeschool educator, speech pathologist, psychologist, or simply curious about dyslexia and learning differences, this episode offers practical insights that challenge conventional thinking.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✔ Russell’s remarkable dyslexia journey✔ Why traditional reading instruction doesn’t work for everyone✔ How motivation transforms learning outcomes✔ Teaching from the specific to the general✔ The importance of a child’s interests and strengths✔ Supporting students with dyslexia, ADHD and neurodiversity✔ How writing can strengthen reading development✔ Executive functioning and learning✔ The future of education in an AI world✔ Why curiosity may be the greatest learning tool of all
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction00:40 Meet Russell Van Brocklen02:15 From first-grade reading level to researcher05:00 Why motivation changes everything08:00 Teaching dyslexic brains differently11:00 The Mary Poppins learning exercise17:00 Building vocabulary through writing19:30 Typing vs handwriting for dyslexia23:30 Supporting struggling readers25:30 Finding a child’s motivation28:00 Can this method help every learner?30:30 Rethinking education and neurodiversity32:20 Preparing students for the AI future33:20 If Russell could change education…33:45 Where to learn more
🌿 Connect with Russell Van Brocklen
🌐 Website:
https://dyslexiaclasses.comhttps://www.skool.com/dyslexia-classes-2483/about
Russell Van Brocklen is a New York State Senate-funded dyslexia researcher and founder of DyslexiaClasses.com. Evaluated at a first-grade reading and writing level in college, he developed a word-analysis-first instructional method grounded in Yale neuroimaging research by Dr. Sally Shaywitz. His work has helped highly motivated students make remarkable gains in reading and writing, and he is the co-author of If You Write, You Will Read. Through his courses and interviews, Russell shares practical, evidence-based strategies that parents and educators can apply immediately.
🌿 Connect with Catherine Crestani
Host of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani is an Inner Authority Guide, spiritual teacher, author, and founder of Willow Healing Matters. Through her work, Catherine helps people reconnect with their inner authority, expand consciousness, and navigate spiritual awakening with grounded wisdom.
🌐 Website:
https://willowhealing.org
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/willowhealingsh
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/willowhealingsh
✍️ Substack:
📖 My Virtual Obsession: https://amzn.asia/d/07lOz3x5
🌿 Support Willow Healing Matters
If you enjoyed this conversation, please:
💚 Like this video
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💚 Share it with a parent, teacher, or educator
💚 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear from you.
☕ Support Your Energy
Looking for a beautiful ceremonial cacao to support meditation, grounding, journaling, or your own spiritual practice?
Catherine personally drinks Creation Cacao as part of her daily rituals.
👉 https://creationcacao.com.au/collections/powerful-ceremonial-cacao-at-a-reasonable-price?sca_ref=8943091.vyvJxtUKl7h
#Dyslexia #ReadingDifficulties #LearningDisabilities #Neurodiversity #ADHD #Literacy #Education #Teachers #Parents #Homeschool #SpecialEducation #SpeechPathology #ExecutiveFunction #Reading #Writing #ChildDevelopment #LearningDifferences #WillowHealingMatters #RussellVanBrocklen #CatherineCrestani


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit willowhealing.substack.com/subscribe

What if grief wasn’t something to “get over”... but something sacred to move through?
In this deeply moving episode of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani sits down with Shamanic Medicine Woman Martha Wright to explore the forgotten Celtic practice of Keening, the profound wisdom of death and rebirth, and why embracing grief can become one of the greatest pathways to healing.
Together they unpack Celtic spirituality, shamanic traditions, ancestral wisdom, spirit communication, life after death, and the transformational power of allowing ourselves to fully feel.
Whether you’re navigating loss, experiencing a spiritual awakening, or feeling called to reconnect with ancient wisdom, this conversation offers both practical insights and soulful reflection.
✨ In this episode you’ll discover:
00:00 Introduction01:32 Martha’s journey into shamanic healing02:14 What is Celtic spirituality?09:10 Becoming a Shamanic Medicine Woman10:50 Learning from Spirit vs traditional qualifications15:30 What is Keening? Ancient Celtic grief healing explained19:45 Why grief is sacred—not something to fix22:20 Death, Spirit and what happens after we die24:50 Reincarnation, soul lessons and karma27:10 Earth as the emotional university28:20 Healing animals through energy work30:00 Spirit communication with animals34:35 Healing separation from nature and each other35:50 How to connect with Martha Wright
🌿 Topics Covered
* Celtic spirituality
* Keening
* Grief healing
* Shamanic healing
* Death and rebirth
* Life after death
* Spiritual awakening
* Spirit communication
* Ancestral healing
* Energy healing
* Shadow work
* Soul purpose
* Animism
* Sacred feminine
* Emotional healing
* Conscious living
🍃 Connect with Martha Wright
🌐 Website:
https://www.marthamw.com
📸 Instagram:https://instagram.com/marthamedicinewoman
▶️ YouTube:https://youtube.com/@marthawrightshaman
🌿 Connect with Catherine Crestani
I’m Catherine Crestani, founder of Willow Healing Matters, Inner Authority Guide, intuitive healer, author and podcast host. My work supports people in reconnecting with their inner authority, expanding consciousness, and navigating spiritual awakening with grounded wisdom.
🌐 Website:
https://willowhealing.org
📸 Instagram:https://instagram.com/willowhealingsh
▶️ YouTube:https://youtube.com/@willowhealingsh
📝 Substack:
📖 My Virtual Obsession:https://amzn.asia/d/07lOz3x5
🌿 Support Willow Healing Matters
☕ The ceremonial cacao Catherine personally drinks before meditation, healing sessions and ceremony.
Perfect for grounding, opening your heart and deepening your spiritual practice.
👉 https://creationcacao.com.au/collections/powerful-ceremonial-cacao-at-a-reasonable-price?sca_ref=8943091.vyvJxtUKl7h
💛 If this conversation resonated...
✨ Subscribe for weekly conversations on spirituality, consciousness and healing.
👍 Like this video to help more people discover it.
💬 Comment below:What does “death and rebirth” mean in your own life right now?
🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Willow Healing Matters.
#keening #griefhealing #celticspirituality #shamanichealing #spiritualawakening #lifedeath #spiritualpodcast #ancestralhealing #energyhealing #shadowwork #willowhealingmatters #catherinecrestani #marthawright #medicinewoman #innerauthority


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit willowhealing.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever felt like you’re failing at meditation because you can’t quiet your mind or sit perfectly still?
In this thought-provoking episode of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani sits down with Will Johnson, radical meditation teacher and author, to explore a different way of approaching meditation—one that honours the body, liberates the breath, and invites genuine awakening.
Together, they discuss why many traditional meditation practices can feel inaccessible in today’s fast-paced world, how breathwork transforms consciousness, the connection between the nervous system and spiritual growth, and why learning to trust your body’s wisdom may be the missing piece in your meditation practice.
Whether you’re new to meditation, struggling with mindfulness, exploring somatic healing, or looking to deepen your spiritual awakening, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective grounded in experience.
🌿 In This Episode
00:00 Introduction to Will Johnson
01:15 Why traditional meditation can feel difficult
02:45 Breathwork vs sitting perfectly still
05:40 The nervous system’s role in meditation
10:15 Trusting your body instead of your mind
13:10 Loneliness, technology & reconnecting with yourself
16:30 Why we avoid feeling our bodies
19:30 Practical meditation tips for beginners
23:30 Finding the meditation practice that’s right for you
25:45 Physical movement and spiritual awakening
27:40 If Will could heal one thing in the world
28:30 Where to find Will Johnson
30:00 Final reflections
About Will Johnson
Will Johnson teaches a radical approach to meditation that awakens the body and liberates the breath. Rather than encouraging rigid stillness, his work invites natural movement, embodied awareness, and breathing that flows through the whole body—creating a direct pathway to expanded consciousness and authentic awakening.
🌐 Website:
https://embodiment.net
📚 Books: Available through Amazon and major booksellers.
Connect with Catherine Crestani
Host of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani is an Inner Authority Guide, spiritual teacher, author, and founder of Willow Healing. Through grounded spirituality, intuitive guidance, and conscious conversations, she helps people reconnect with their inner authority, navigate spiritual awakening, and create lives aligned with peace, purpose, and authentic power.
🌿 Website:
https://willowhealing.org
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/willowhealingsh
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@willowhealingsh
📝 Substack:
📖 My Virtual Obsession: https://amzn.asia/d/07lOz3x5
🌿 Support Willow Healing Matters
If this conversation inspired you:
✨ Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring spirituality, healing, consciousness, intuition, energy, relationships, and human potential.
👍 Like this episode
💬 Share your biggest insight in the comments.
📤 Share this episode with someone who thinks meditation “isn’t for them.”
☕ Ceremonial Cacao Catherine Uses
Perfect for meditation, ritual, grounding and heart-led practices.
👉 https://creationcacao.com.au/collections/powerful-ceremonial-cacao-at-a-reasonable-price?sca_ref=8943091.vyvJxtUKl7h
Keywords
Meditation, Breathwork, Somatic Healing, Embodiment, Mindfulness, Nervous System Regulation, Spiritual Awakening, Consciousness, Body Awareness, Buddhist Meditation, Emotional Healing, Breath Awareness, Trauma Healing, Inner Authority, Catherine Crestani, Will Johnson, Willow Healing Matters
Hashtags
#Meditation #Breathwork #Mindfulness #SomaticHealing #SpiritualAwakening #Embodiment #NervousSystem #Consciousness #Healing #Wellness #WillJohnson #CatherineCrestani #WillowHealingMatters #InnerAuthority #Podcast


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit willowhealing.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when success no longer feels aligned?
In this inspiring episode of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani sits down with Mikael Avatar, a former Paralympic world record holder who overcame cerebral palsy, survived 45 minutes without oxygen at birth, lived with chronic pain for over 40 years, and made the life-changing decision to leave everything behind in Sweden for Thailand.
Today, Mikael helps high performers stop living behind a performance mask and reconnect with authentic power through The Mikael Avatar Method.
Together, Catherine and Mikael explore what it really means to trust your intuition, embrace uncertainty, leave your comfort zone, and discover the life you were always meant to live.
Whether you’re experiencing burnout, questioning your purpose, navigating a spiritual awakening, or simply feeling stuck, this conversation offers practical wisdom and profound inspiration.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✨ How Mikael became pain-free after decades of chronic pain
✨ Why leaving your comfort zone is essential for transformation
✨ The surprising link between authenticity and healing
✨ How to stop performing for others and start living for yourself
✨ The importance of taking action instead of waiting for certainty
✨ Why purpose is discovered through experience—not overthinking
✨ How to recognise when your soul is calling you in a new direction
✨ The power of positivity, curiosity and trusting your inner guidance
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more waiting for you beyond the life you’ve built, this episode is for you.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Meet Mikael Avatar
01:22 Living with cerebral palsy and 40 years of chronic pain
03:50 Moving to Thailand and becoming pain-free
06:00 Walking away from success to follow intuition
08:00 Why action creates transformation
10:10 The power of trying new paths
11:30 Synchronicity, purpose and following life’s clues
12:00 Discovering his true calling
15:50 Creating space to hear your inner wisdom
17:20 Why money isn’t the real obstacle
18:10 The Mikael Avatar Method explained
20:00 Helping people rediscover who they really are
21:10 Why “You Already Know”
22:00 Asking for guidance isn’t weakness
22:58 If you could heal one thing in the world...
23:35 Where to connect with Mikael
24:45 Final reflections on courage and authenticity
Connect with Mikael Avatar
🌐 Website:
https://mikaelavatar.com
📷 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mikaelavatar/
💼 LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/mikaelavatar
📘 Facebook:https://facebook.com/mikaelavatarstjernvall
🎵 TikTok:@mikaelavatar
About Mikael
Mikael Avatar is a former Paralympic world record holder (long jump, Atlanta 1996) who overcame cerebral palsy, surviving 45 minutes without breath at birth, and more than four decades of chronic pain to live pain-free since 2009. Today he helps high performers remove the performance mask, increase energy, and reconnect with authentic power through The Mikael Avatar Method.
Connect with Catherine Crestani
Host of Willow Healing Matters, Catherine Crestani is an Inner Authority Guide, spiritual teacher, author, and founder of Willow Healing Matters. Through her work, Catherine helps people reconnect with their inner authority, deepen spiritual awareness, and navigate personal transformation with grounded wisdom.
🌿 Website:
https://willowhealing.org
📷 Instagram:https://instagram.com/willowhealingsh
🎙️ Podcast:https://willowhealing.org/podcast
▶️ YouTube:https://youtube.com/willowhealingsh
📰 Substack:
📖 My Virtual Obsession:https://amzn.asia/d/07lOz3x5
🌿 Support Willow Healing Matters
☕ Creation Cacao
The ceremonial cacao Catherine drinks for meditation, grounding, ritual and heart-centred living.
👉 https://creationcacao.com.au/collections/powerful-ceremonial-cacao-at-a-reasonable-price?sca_ref=8943091.vyvJxtUKl7h
❤️ If this conversation inspired you:
👍 Like this video
💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on spirituality, healing, consciousness, intuition, personal growth, energy healing and authentic living.
#AuthenticLiving #PersonalGrowth #SpiritualAwakening #Purpose #HealingJourney #Mindset #InnerAuthority #Transformation #CerebralPalsy #ChronicPain #WillowHealingMatters #MikaelAvatar #SelfDiscovery #ConsciousLiving #Podcast


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit willowhealing.substack.com/subscribe