Renee LaVallee McKenna public
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Spiritual PsiKology

Renee LaVallee McKenna, MA

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Snackable teachings on spirituality, psychology and all things personal growth. Renee shares her 30+ years as a recovering addict, therapist and Shamanic healer with depth and humor. This short show offers a wide range of topics designed to evoke and provoke your own self-development. Each segment provides practical tips and tools to nudge and nourish your own authentic self. From anxiety and archetypes to death and depossession, Renee delivers moving client stories and her own crazy life ex ...
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Authentic human connection is imperative for our health and well being. Many of us have individual connections, but are deprived of the richness and complexity of community. Connection is a core need. When we are disconnected, we often try to fill our unmet needs with addictions and compulsions for alcohol, drugs, food, sex or shopping. When our ne…
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Devotion is a powerful energy and intention that we can focus toward others, toward God or Source, or even toward ourselves. Learn about devotion to the mysterious Black Madonna and the many forms of devotion, like Bhakti, the Hindu devotion to a particular Goddess or God. Devotion is an aspect of love that includes loyalty, selflessness and a part…
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Embracing our vulnerable selves is an act of profound courage and self-compassion. It means allowing ourselves to be seen and heard, imperfections and all, without the fear of judgment or rejection. Vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but a testament to our strength, as it requires immense bravery to acknowledge and share our true emotions and …
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We all have a hero and a victim within us. These archetypes are fundamental aspects of the human psyche. Heroes embody qualities such as courage, resilience, and selflessness. Our inner hero helps us rise to overcome challenges and bring about positive change. On the other hand, victims are characterized by suffering, weakness and a sense of powerl…
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The 8 C's of Internal Family Systems, or IFS, are compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness. We all have these incredible resources for presence, empowerment and healing within us. Join me for and exploration of these innate tools and some helpful, hopeful tips on how to discover and cultivate these in…
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Unveil the interplay of wisdom and intuition in the Fool & Magician Tarot Cards. Explore their symbolism, meanings, and the guidance they offer each of us. Every tarot card is an archetype that points to deeper strengths and shadows that exist within ALL of us. Join me as we unravel the secrets and insights hidden within these inspiring archetypes.…
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There are many ways to pray. Prayers of gratitude, affirmation and asking for what we need can be powerful tools for self growth and for manifestation. Prayers of intercession or prayer for others can elevate our own consciousness and put us in direct connection with divine will. -- Join my new Opendoor Community on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ! Live Q&A, Livest…
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Explore three foundational principles that have guided seekers on their spiritual journey for generations: trusting God, cleaning house, and helping others. Drawing from 12 Step recovery, ancient wisdom and real-life experiences, we consider the importance of faith in a higher power, the transformative impact of clearing internal clutter, and the f…
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Comparing our insides to somebody else's outsides is a set up for failure. It is much more beneficial to compare ourselves with ourselves. Looking at our own personal growth path can be a helpful and inspiring tool. Looking deeply at who we are today and comparing that with the person we were last year, last decade or in childhood, is a powerful, e…
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Grief is a natural, healing and digestive process. We each have our own timing to process loss. Sometimes it can take years or even decades to fully process death or loss. We can also get stuck or frozen in grief, which stops us from opening to new relationships and experiences. It's important to recognize and honor our own soul level timing, but i…
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The Four Agreements are the wisdom teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz. Each of these four principles offers simple, practical approaches to life which will improve and transform our life experience in positive and powerful ways. Simple, but not easy. The Four Agreements call us to grow in maturity, integrity and personal power. --Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
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The average human life is about 4000 weeks, or 80 years. Life is not a dress rehearsal, as Oliver Burkeman points out in his book titled, Four Thousand Weeks, that turns common ideas about time management upside down. What we really get in life is time. How we spend our time really IS up to us. We have free will, but many of us don't believe it. We…
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It is common to project our own limited beliefs or past experiences onto the God of our understanding. We place limits on the infinite creative force. We might even believe that "God is love, or loving," intellectually, but deep inside we don't expect to be provided for, or that our dreams and hopes could be fulfilled. Examining our practical belie…
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It's easy to be overwhelmed by the news these days. But when we are present and mindful, things are not as bad as they may seem. In fact, there is quite a bit of evidence that things are pretty good on many counts. We need to be compassionate with ourselves and selective about the information we consume. How we nourish our minds is as important for…
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Unravel the secrets of effective time management to boost your productivity and live your goals and dreams. We explore proven strategies, insightful tips and practical tools to help you maximize your efficiency and make the most of your time. It's time to craft a more productive, balanced and fulfilling life. --Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Y…
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We all carry tribal energy within us. Tribal or cultural norms and taboos can hold particular power to evoke shame meant to control our behavior so that we act in ways approved of by our society, family or religion. But what is considered right or wrong is not fixed or static. Cultural norms vary wildly over time and across continents. What is OK i…
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Telling our truths, or lies, is an ancient, soul cleansing process. Looking honestly at ourselves, known in 12 Steps as "taking personal inventory," is a very healthy practice or self examination. Sharing what we find, getting honest about how we really feel and revealing the behaviors and beliefs that cause us shame and guilt is incredibly liberat…
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Healing is possible in every area of our life. Mental, emotional and physical healing can be really challenging. Our modern expectations of instant gratification can frustrate us in these often slower natural processes. Learn about the 4 phases of healing on these levels and how to trust the wisdom of the healing that is available to us. This episo…
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There is a time to stay and a time to leave. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Knowing what time it is from this perspective, determines the best actions to take. When we take right action, our life unfolds in smoother, happier ways. Renee offers the most important question to ask yourself to determine the next right steps in any circumstance.…
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"We are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it come true. We may have to work for them, however." - Richard Bach We all have goals and dreams, and if we don't, we should. Following our heart or soul's desire is a compass to expansion, joy and fulfillment. Growing to be able to hold and express these dreams is our work. We…
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Can we care too much? Empathy Fatigue is when we feel depleted, numb or shut down after caring too much for others and not enough for ourselves. Empathic people feel deeply and are often highly intuitive. Learning to manage our energy and our compassion is really important with the challenges facing us these days. --Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yo…
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Many traditions teach that peace is our natural state. From this perspective, finding peace is more about removing what blocks us from peace than about getting to some new destination. When we face and heal the things that cause our suffering; anger, fear, addiction, unresolved trauma, destructive emotional patterns, we can find that peace that is …
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There is wisdom in both hope and hopelessness. Each has it's purpose when approaching difficulties, addiction and dysfunction. Healthy hope opens our minds to new possibilities and helps us be willing to make positive change. However, we need to know when to give up, let go and admit when something is hopeless, so that we can put our energy in cons…
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It's common to react in patterned ways when we get upset. But our patterned reactions can take us on a roller coaster ride of conflict and old behaviors that keep us stuck in cycles of shame, fear, resentment or disempowerment. Renee offers a simple and effective 4 step process to practice responding over reaction. When we learn to respond to circu…
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Like many of you, I've struggled with anxiety much of my life. Though it's better than it's ever been, anxiety is still a feeling that comes up. Feelings always carry information if we turn toward them in helpful ways. In this episode, I offer some really practical, grounded tools for managing and relieving anxiety that have worked really well for …
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In a time of fake news and AI, being authentic, genuine and real is very valuable. Miriam Webster chose authentic as the word of the year because it was searched so much. When we act from our authentic self, we are in integrity. We grow in confidence and self trust and others trust us, too, because we are trustworthy. --Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Y…
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We can all grow in relationship and there are many ways we relate to other people. Some of these patterns of relationship are healthy and others are destructive. Renee compares the unhealthy signs and symptoms of codependence and love addiction with the healthy hallmarks of interdependence. Where are you struggling, fearful or insecure and where do…
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An attitude of gratitude can be a game changer for how we feel and for our perspective on life. We live in a culture filled with addictions and distractions, yet gratitude can bring us present and deeper into ourselves and what's really important to us. Renee talks about recovery, relapse and the redemptive power of gratitude as a tool for healing …
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Loneliness and isolation are unfortunately common in modern life. The suffering of isolation isn't just emotional, it can become systemic and lead to deeper disconnection and dysfunction. Renee sites the work of bio-engineer and scientist Michael Levin who is studying how connection, even on a cellular level, is necessary for healthy functioning of…
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How do we get what we really want and let go of what no longer serves us? Hoarding, addiction, bad jobs or dead relationships are all indications that positive change is being called for. But change requires us to release the old and make room for the new. This can be easier said than done, yet we can all grow in trust that the Universe has our bac…
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We all have ancestors, whether we love and respect them, distance ourselves from their dysfunction or whether we have been separated by immigration or adoption. This is the week of Halloween, All Souls and All Saints Day and Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. The veil between the worlds is thin this time of year and connecting with our deeper…
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Caring for others is part of being human. We have concern. We wish people well. We want to help. Caring feelings and actions are acts of love and kindness. But there can be a shadow side of caring, when we slip into control, criticism or worry. When we care too much what others are doing or feeling, we may lose sight of ourselves and do more harm t…
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Talking to God doesn't have to be formal prayer or proper, fancy language. We can just talk, ask for direction or say thank you. We can also spend quiet time listening for the response or the inner guidance we need. Learning God's language of serendipity and coincidence, of receiving answers and solutions in different and unexpected ways is central…
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We are always exchanging energy with other people and the environment. Most of the time this is fine, but sometimes this means we are picking up energies or emotions of places, people and things that don't belong to us without even knowing it. There are simple ways to protect ourselves, to be grounded and empowered in all circumstances. Renee gives…
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They say there are two forces in the Universe, Love or Fear. We could also call them order vs chaos. Rather than being opposing forces, these are two sides of the greater whole. Each provides a dynamic tension that creates balance of the endless cycles of endings and new beginnings. Order and chaos are a creative duo and each has a role to play in …
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We often think in terms of success or failure, win or lose. This black and white perspective takes the color and flavor out of the many interesting circumstances in our lives. It is said that life is a journey, not a destination. Alternately, we can view the many twists and turns as unique experiences, or even as guiding forces that carry us on a s…
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Our perspective creates our reality. Our emotions and level of consciousness are like glasses we look through to see the world. But these glasses can be changed. Renee uses David Hawkins Map of Consciousness and Frederick Dodson's Levels of Energy to describe how our emotions determine our experience and how we can use these tools to create the exp…
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Life is difficult. This is a great truth. Once we accept this truth, life actually becomes less difficult. Problems can actually be opportunities for growth. Pain is important information that something needs attention or change is called for. Joy and peace call us forward towards our soul's path or purpose. Facing our problems can be like followin…
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Many of us have been taught to "be nice" rather than to be honest. We ignore our own deeper instincts and don't develop needed survival skills in the face of the darkness, danger or selfish motives of others. Date rape is all too common, as is bullying in the workplace of adults as well as it is with kids at school. There are predators and there ar…
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Caring for our deeper self is more than naps and hot baths in candle light. In fact, we often confuse comfort with self care. Sometimes the deeper caring is to push ourselves toward or through difficulties or discomfort that will make us stronger or healthier in the long run. True self care is putting long term good over short term comfort. ----- ⁠…
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Is the glass half empty or half full? This question points to the idea that our perspective has much to do with our experience of reality. It's easy to believe that our world view or perspective is fixed, that "this is just the way that I am." But this is a fallacy. All personal growth work and deep spiritual practice is aimed at shifting, expandin…
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Letting go of people, relationships, plans and ideas can be really challenging. When we detach, we separate or disengage from someone or something. We can detach with love, or we can let go with resentment, hopelessness or retaliation. When we truly let go, or detach with love, it can make room for the Grace of God to enter situations in surprising…
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Taking time to assess our life from a meta-perspective is a potent practice for finding happiness, joy and fulfillment. Annual or bi-annual self survey of our work, relationships, health and family can really clarify what's working and what's not working for us in our life. Getting conscious about where we are satisfied or unsatisfied, happy or unh…
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Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is what allows us to face the scary, difficult or dangerous thing and do it anyway. Courage helps us move into new terrifory, take risks and expand our life experience - and hopefully make it better. ----- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please follow me on Insight Timer! Women Who Run With The Wolves Bookclub Rate, Review & Subs…
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Many think of freedom as the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want. But this idea of freedom has a shadow side and may be more fantasy than reality. Real freedom is deeper, more internal and more rewarding than we might be aware. ----- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please follow me on Insight Timer!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate, Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. If you like …
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When we change how we think, we change how we feel. When we consider wounds from our past, we are often thinking about things in a habitual way. Although we may believe that facts don’t change, our relationship to our experiences can absolutely change. Healing the past means changing our perspective on it. ----- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please follow me on Insight Ti…
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Show up. Tell the truth. Leave the results to God. These three suggestions or spiritual principles are a powerful foundation for moving in positive, constructive ways in life. It is said that 90% of what happens is a result of our simply showing up. But once we show up, it is doubly potent to tell the truth, to tell our own inner truth. Finally, su…
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Physical healing can be a model for how we heal emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The physical world is a metaphor or even a manifestation of the metaphysical. Eastern wisdom about life energy, chakras and prana or chi can add to our knowledge of biology and science to empower our natural healing functions and become aware of places we are stu…
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I believe we are here to be our unique and quirky selves in this world. Following our dreams is the shortcut to happiness and fulfillment. When we cultivate and nourish the secret hopes and desires of our heart, it satisfies our soul. But most people live in limitation and disbelief. We don't believe our dreams are possible and so we never pursue t…
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Letting go can bring us peace, relaxation and even new directions and opportunities in our life. But it's hard to let go of our fears and need for control. It can be hard to trust that the Universe has our back and that God really knows what He's doing. How do we let go and let Goddess? ----- ⁠⁠Please follow me on Insight Timer!⁠⁠ Rate, Review & Su…
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