Healing Together

Martyn has a conversation with second-time guest Ali Goldie. They talk about the pressures people can feel at Christmas time, how they manage these pressures themselves, and offer some ways to find self love and true peace over this festive period. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and thank you for supporting Healing Together, lots more to come in 2023! Links from the episode:MIND Christmas Support - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/christmas-and-mental-health/why-christmas-is-hard/Poem - https://tinybuddha.com/fun-and-inspiring/if-the-mountain-seems-too-big-today-then-climb-a-hill-instead/

This is the second part of Episode 17. Martyn continues the decent into his 'Dark Night of the Soul' experience and comes out of the other side. He talks you through what led to him being in, and struggling with, an emotionally abusive relationship, continuing to turn up for himself with his Lakesman training, shedding what was no longer needed and coming out of the darkness feeling refreshed and more him than ever. As the world around him helped him recognise how he had abandoned himself his whole life, he managed to finally fall in love with himself and this wonderful experience of life - all of it.

Martyn uses the concept of 'Dark Night of the Soul' to discuss with you the unravelling he encountered following the 'failed' adoption experience he shared in Episode 16. He uses his social media history to recount the experiences of the time. He filled the gap created after deciding to not adopt with a deep dive into yoga, starting to train for the Lakesman (an Ironman distance event), continuing to overwork, seek perfection and consequently becoming extremely vulnerable.This is part 1 of Episode 17, in part 2 he will explore the dissolution he had to go through, perfectly catalysed by a deeply unfulfilling and emotionally abusive relationship, and shedding so many unhelpful layers of who he knew himself to be. From this empty and dark place the Lakesman training was a constant and brought him out the other side stronger, more resilient, lighter and ready for the next chapter.

***Content Warning: Self Harm, Emotional Abuse***Martyn is joined by Jonny Simpson, enlightened coach and Cystic Fibrosis survivor, to talk about his many years of suffering physically and emotionally which eventually led to his first 'awakening'. They explore the often inaccessible concepts of awakening and meditation, using their own experience and reflecting on their work with clients.Martyn also sets up the next solo episode, where he will share his difficult experience of a failed adoption, then reaching new depths through completing an Ironman distance event at the same time as coming through an emotionally abusive relationship. The themes of awakening and meditation will be further explored through these difficult life experiences he will share with you.Links from this episode:4 Soul Questions -Get comfortable, sitting or laying down as you would for meditation. For each of the questions below relax and be receptive to whatever comes to you. For the first question try to be in the presence of your Being/Spirit which is different from your ego. For the other questions, be open and allow any sensation, image or thought flow to you. Breathe and repeat each question until you feel satisfied and are ready move on. You might want to record your answers or write down what came to you afterwards.Who am I?  What do I want or what is my deepest desire?  What is my purpose? What am I grateful for?  I hope you find this as helpful as I did. As a yoga teacher once told me, “We’re perfect just the way we are, we just need a little work.” ♥Book Jonny mentioned - The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment https://g.co/kgs/zo1Em8Jonny's Instagram - @jonnypopsimpson

***Content Warning: HIV and suicide***Matt was floored when he discovered his HIV+ status aged 25, only a few months after coming out as gay. His mental health was significantly impacted as he tried to come to terms with his diagnosis and the difficult process of integrating it into his life and relationships. He also talks about the unexpected highs of recently 'coming out' about his positive status and his gratitude for it. A shining example of finding strength, being open, kind and grateful.Links from the episode:Terrence Higgins Trust: https://www.tht.org.uk/National AIDS Trust: https://www.nat.org.uk/NAM AIDSMAP: https://www.aidsmap.com/George House Trust: https://ght.org.uk/Lunch Positive: https://lunchpositive.org/ (this is the charity Matt volunteers with - they are only based in the South East)Tackle HIV: https://tacklehiv.org/Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/MIND Suicide Toolkit (for sufferers and loved ones): https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/about-suicidal-feelings/Matt's Instagram: @meandhivMatt's YouTube: youtube.com/c/MattWebster1986

***Content warning: Graphic descriptions of domestic abuse and suicide***Martyn and Ruth talk about her horrific experiences of domestic abuse when she was younger. She describes how easily she became the subject of the darkness of generational abuse due to her naivety, and how difficult it was to escape. She talks about the additional struggle with Endometriosis and how she was later diagnosed with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a consequence of bio-psycho trauma she holds in her body for years after the abuse ended. She is the personification of how bathing darkness with light can soothe such horrific abuse, and has found healing through community and her love of fitness and yoga.Links from the episode:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-helpWomen Out West - https://www.facebook.com/womenoutwestcumbriaIt Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle https://g.co/kgs/xCAVw8Endometriosis - https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/ending-endometriosis-starts-saying-itPMDD - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd/getting-a-pmdd-diagnosis/http://www.westcoastyogastudio.co.uk/Ruth's Yoga group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/450586498659278/?ref=share

Martyn has a very inspiring conversation with Cyn (short for Cynthia). Cyn orignally hails from New York and has had a wonderful life, full of joy and fulfilment and loved living her life being a highly positive person. Since moving to the UK 20 years ago she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, resulting in a loss of who she knew herself to be, exacerbated by the painful loss the love of her life, her beloved Brian, 2 years ago during the Pandemic. She came to Martyn for support in warding off the darkness of the depression that followed these losses; she wasn't at all keen, but little did she know that unwillingly facing her vulnerabilities would be so healing for her.

Martyn guides you through a cord cutting and forgiveness meditation. The first 10 minutes or so describes energy cords and the purpose of forgiveness. If you want to go straight to the meditation then forward to 10 minutes 48 seconds.Credit to debbieguidinglight.blogspot.com for the meditation script.