BALLOON
BALLOON explores the big questions and mysteries of life and our spiritual existence with humour, awe and lighthearted seriousness. I started this podcast as a pure experiment, in response to a conversation with my teenage son. I asked, “What would you most like to hear on a podcast? What would you stop your life to listen to?” His answers delighted me: What is going on here? What is the purpose of human life? Why are we here? How should we use our emotions? What about life after death? BALLOON is response to those questions (and more!). Let’s be clear: BALLOON is a Response- a joyful exploration into deep mysteries of life - not a summary of answers. I don’t subscribe to the notion that we should chase after answers the way we have been taught to do in school. Because answers, if we aren’t careful with them, most often close down our pathways to awe and wonder. And I believe it is in the realms of real AWE where we become truly open to new thoughts, ideas and inspirations. It is in that space of open wonder that we can become enlightened and connected to feelings and registrations of the unknown, deep, mysterious parts of ourselves and this place of our existence. I wholly believe the quest for awe is much more important than the quest for answers. And so, BALLOON began with one simple experiment. One episode. I gave it to my son to listen to and he said: “WOW. Mom, this is really good. I was totally locked in. You should do this. You should start a podcast. People would want to listen to this.” Now there’s a way to inspire a mother! So, I recorded another episode, still with no idea where it might go. I sent it to a few friends and asked if they would have a listen. The feedback was amazing, very encouraging, asking for more. So I kept going. And before you knew it, there were 15 episodes. Most interesting for me about the whole thing, was how buoyant it was. How freeing. How thought provoking. The process was alive and vibrant. It’s like the task of recording these switched on some light in my mind, causing me to see things and notice things. And most fascinating, it seemed that it was doing that to the people who were listening too. There was what I called the “Surround sound” of this experiment- profoundly interesting, open conversations sparking with my friends and with the people who had started listening. One enthusiastic friend shared it with her friend and suddenly I had feedback coming from across the world, from someone I had never even met. Very electric! The podcast was having an effect on us, and it was bright, light, inspiring, fun and free. Before long there were some hurdles to overcome. What is this? Where to put it? Is this actually going to “Be something” or just be a little small thing shared with a few friends? What is it’s name? Should I promote it somehow? And there was a question that inspired much debate: Do I actually need to introduce myself? Yes, I really tried to squirm out of that one, eventually choosing a ‘stage name’, which you will soon discover if you listen! I wasn’t really sure what to do with the growing pile of recordings. But some very keen listeners urged me: “Put it online. Do it. It’s great! Keep going! We are loving this. It’s unique and fresh. You should find out if others want to hear it by sharing it, otherwise you will never know!” And so, here it is. From the very first episode on-wards. Unedited. As it happened. If you want to listen from the beginning you will hear how it unfolds very organically. If you want to just launch in and choose an episode, be my guest! There is most definitely not a ’right way’ to listen! I have a personal motto I wrote for myself: I WANT TO BE A LIVE BEGINNING, NOT A DEAD END. Putting BALLOON out there is most definitely a live beginning! Let’s see where it goes. I am most curious about your responses and where this takes you. Please reach out to HelloAmystery@yahoo.com And Please, if this inspires you - Tell 2 Friends! THANK YOU! ENJOY!
Episodes
Episode 32 of Balloon Promotes the idea of deliberately making space for what is truly IMPORTANT. Can we relieve ourselves of that constant feeling of 'shortfall' that is so common in today's life? What can we do to make space for things like HOPE, INSPIRATION AND BUOYANCY in this world and in ourselves? And can we make space for those wildly important PAUSES and empty spaces so that fresh good things can enter us?
Episode 33 of BALLOON launches into the power of AWE to transform us and to assist us in busting through our own familiar patterns and thinking. Can Awe change us, and can our awe help enhance the world? This episode travels into AWESOME territory and gives tips and tricks for how to lead yourself through simple observational pathways, like a yellow brick road straight into the Land of AWE. Hopefully you will never look an an or...
Balloon Episode 31 could start off with, " And now, for something completely different". This episode is a slow, deep guided meditation that aims to bring ease and settlement and to offer an escape route into calm, higher perceptions for when we are in serious stress, and feeling overwhelmed.
There is no "Goodbye" at the end of this episode... It seemed more appropriate to be still and quiet and just let it be at the end. So tha...
Balloon Episode 30 dives into practical, mind elevating pathways that lead to peace and settlement. This is a meandering meditative journey into wonder and awe as a natural, side-effect free anti-depressant. Feeling down? Maybe a healthy dose of wonder can help!
Balloo 29 is Oh so fun, allowing a moment to stop and look at the wonder that is right before our eyes. Amystery gives a live demonstration of a thought process that can lead to awe and wonder... and of course, the results are surprising! Here lies an introduction to a guaranteed pathway to expanded perception...
Balloon episode 28 begins where 27 left off, in deep contemplative waters. It knocks on the door of some serious considerations about how we often internalize and hold onto things we ought to let go of. Thankfully though, we are designed to "digest and eliminate"! It's always a good time to learn to let the guk go!
Balloon 27 is an impassioned foray into a big topic: YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE. Are people really impressed by what our accomplishments or are they weighing the value of the qualities we radiate? This episode introduces "The Asshole Scale", and asks things like, "What will anyone remember of us when we die? What really matters in the end?"
Episode 26 of BALLOON swims into deep, spiritual, holy waters with consideration of how to rescue ourselves when we fall into woe. Joy is an essential nutirent! How to be of service and to truly assit this world? Why are we so afraid of our inevitable departures? And what can be an effective prayer?
BALLOON Episode 25 continues on from the deep place we left off in episode 24... and take us deeper into the truth that We Become What We Think About. Always good to be mindful about where we put our minds!
Episode 24 of Balloon leaps into the wonders nature's textbook and the fundamental duality locked in all things, in this first response to a question about 'Advice for a young man'. What makes the wind and the universe spin?
BALLOON 23 offers some free, unsoliticted advice for how to pull yourself out of the dumps and lift yourself into an inspired buyoant place. IMAGINE! This is a short little burst of encouragement to go do some simple things that can instantly lift you up and fill your life with good feelings and strength. Whoohoo! Bring it on!
Episode 22 of Balloon asks a question that may actually for once have a direct, answer. We might not like to hear it, but it seems pretty clear that the way most of us are using the internet is.. Not good for us. Surprise! How well are you managing your digital diet? Want to get together and turn it all off?
Episode 21 of Balloon, shares a very practical simple and most powerful exercise that can transform your leadership presence into something truly brilliant.
What kind of leader do we all wish we had? Guess what? YOU can be that person with a little practise...
It seems this episode is "free advice for leaders and wanna-be leaders everywhere." ENJOY!
And if you like Balloon, please share with 2 friends! :-) THANK YOU!
BALLOON EPISODE 20 celebrates the first ever Guest visit! "Another Mystery" joins us and shares her amazing story of a transformative relationship with Body Image- literally and figuratively.
This episode is sure to offer new perspectives on weight and the many heavy ideas we carry. Time to ditch the garbage thoughts!
So fabulous to have had a chance to dialogue like this. THANK YOU to our fabulous mysterious guest!
What does it mean to 'Self- Counsel"? And how can we summon the best, wisest parts of ourselves to help us when we stumble into trouble? Episode 19 of BALLOON explores this wonderful tool that can take us out of our Woe, into Wonder and WOW.
Episode 18 of Balloon jumps into the water of what it means to BE YOURSELF and dreams of a day when we can all take off the straight jackets that tell us how we ought to be to just be the amazing awesome curious people we actually are.
Balloon 17 wakes up to the state of Peace. What if the states we generate are enough to change this world? Can we deliberately decide to create a state of peace in ourselves? And if we do that, what can that cause?
BALLOON Episode 16 Looks at the value and importance of making a deliberate decision to have a Open Mind.
Balloon Episode 15 jumps into the big and gnarly topic of Forgiveness and ponders the astounding immaturity that surrounds us all.
Balloon 14 explores the defiant act of not letting things get the better of us, and rising above what tries to take us down on a daily basis. It offers a look at the power of being bright and joyful in the face of adversity.
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