#49 Martina Drassl & Cvita Mamic Are Back Talking About Their Personal Experiences With Plant Medicine

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Martina Drassl was born in 1975 and grew up in South Tyrol, a border province in the North of Italy, close to Switzerland and Austria. She speaks German, Italian, English and Spanish. 

After many years of work experience as Hotel Receptionist and Youth Coordinator Martina moved to the Peruvian Andes where she coordinated a Non Profit organization for sustainable development and cooperation. 

 In 2009 her healing journey with Amazonian Master Plants began. She worked for extensive time periods as a facilitator in the Retreat Center Nihue Rao in Iquitos, Peru. She studied Somatic  Experiencing Trauma Release in Los Angeles and Burlingame, CA to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). Martina divide her time between, South Tyrol/Italy, Peru, USA and Canada. 


Cvita Mamic is a visionary artist, writer, and a co-founder of Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual Ayahuasca Healing Center in Peru. While working and living at Nihue Rao, she focuses her energies as a healer in the Shipibo tradition of shamanism.

Cvita brings her shamanic, educational, life and world travel experience to her practices and is a bridge across many divides – cultural, spiritual, and ethnic, to name but a few.


In part two of this special episode with Martina Drassl and Cvita Mamic we discuss in detail their extensive personal and professional experience with master plants and the heart healing powers they hold.



When I drank ayahuasca for the first time I realized my life made sense. Before I didn’t understand why I felt so lost. Ayahuasca brought the pieces together.
— Martina Drassl

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Thank you!

#48 How an Artist/Healer and Somatic Experience Therapist Healer Discovered the Healing Effects of Master Plants in Peru With Martina Drassl & Cvita Mamic

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Martina Drassl was born in 1975 and grew up in South Tyrol, a border province in the North of Italy, close to Switzerland and Austria. She speaks German, Italian, English and Spanish. 

After many years of work experience as Hotel Receptionist and Youth Coordinator Martina moved to the Peruvian Andes where she coordinated a Non Profit organization for sustainable development and cooperation. 

 In 2009 her healing journey with Amazonian Master Plants began. She worked for extensive time periods as a facilitator in the Retreat Center Nihue Rao in Iquitos, Peru. She studied Somatic  Experiencing Trauma Release in Los Angeles and Burlingame, CA to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). Martina divide her time between, South Tyrol/Italy, Peru, USA and Canada. 


Cvita Mamic is a visionary artist, writer, and a co-founder of Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual Ayahuasca Healing Center in Peru. While working and living at Nihue Rao, she focuses her energies as a healer in the Shipibo tradition of shamanism.

Cvita brings her shamanic, educational, life and world travel experience to her practices and is a bridge across many divides – cultural, spiritual, and ethnic, to name but a few.


In part one of this special episode with Martina Drassl and Cvita Mamic we discuss in detail their extensive personal and professional experience with master plants and the heart healing powers they hold.



When I drank ayahuasca for the first time I realized my life made sense. Before I didn’t understand why I felt so lost. Ayahuasca brought the pieces together.
— Martina Drassl
When I met ayahuasca I felt this pure form of the spirit saying I see you and I want to help you.
— Cvita Mamic

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

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RESOURCES:

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Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#47 Listening to Ayahuasca with Rachel Harris

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Rachel Harris, PhD is the author of Listening to Ayahuasca. She received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator’s Award, has published more than forty scientific studies in peer- reviewed journals, and has worked as a psychological consultant to Fortune 500 companies and the United Nations.

LISTENING TO AYAHUASCA: New Book Offers Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, & Anxiety. Used for thousands of years by indigenous tribes of the Amazon rainforest, the mystical brew known as ayahuasca is now being used by increasing numbers of people in Western countries. The tea, composed of two plants, contains DMT (dimethyltriptamine), a powerful and illegal psychedelic with great therapeutic potential. A growing list of celebrities, including Sting and Chelsea Handler, have shared how their ayahuasca experiences changed their lives. These stories are often dramatic and seemingly miraculous. People in search of ayahuasca tend to be well-educated, sophisticated and are often called cultural creatives. Some are hoping for relief from psychiatric illnesses after failing to find help from Western medicine. Others are seeking personal healing, consciousness exploration or spiritual experience. Some people travel to South America to drink ayahuasca; others find discreet ceremonies in North America. The enclosed advance reading copy of Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety (New World Library, March 15, 2017) explores how ayahuasca is being used in a Western, psychospiritual context. The book is based on Dr. Rachel Harris’s original research which stands as the largest study to date of the ayahuasca underground in North America. Dr. Harris includes stories from her own journeys with ayahuasca and how she integrated those experiences into her daily life. Chapters explore the shamanic ritual use of ayahuasca, mediumship in the ayahuasca churches from Brazil, the shadow side of the medicine, and the latest research on how the medicine opens the opportunity for therapeutic breakthroughs. The book will help people thinking about exploring ayahuasca to make an informed decision. It will give those who have experienced the medicine creative ways to work therapeutically with their experiences. And it will offer insight to therapists who work with people after their ayahuasca journeys.


In this episode Rachel and I continue the discussion of the many wonders of ayahuasca and specifically how it has the potential to facilitate healing of the heart.



It is a chance to open up more inner freedom and see things differently. This cannot be underestimated for it can be a major energetic shift.
— Rachel Harris PhD on the wonders of Ayahuasca

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Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#46 A Journey From Musician to Computer Scientist to an Astrologist and Awakening to the Meaning of Life with William Stickevers

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Astrology, Consultations, and Coaching

William provides his clients with strategic guidance to achieve their goals, move through challenges gracefully, and make the RIGHT decisions. With vast knowledge of both "real world" circumstances and spiritual truths, William counsels his clients with expertise few astrologers have on the economy and how it affects the client; psychology, the subconscious, and the psyche; metaphysical and transpersonal growth; and effective strategy according to the client’s natal chart, transits, and economic environment. From around the world, William's consulting clients include business owners, executives, finance managers, entrepreneurs, investors, Nobel Prize winners, Hollywood producers and screenwriters, professional astrologers, pioneering UFOlogy authors, world-class psychic mediums, professional singer/songwriters, professional performing artists, fashion designers, doctors, holistic health practitioners, and retirees. He enjoys working with clients who are committed to personal growth and spiritual development. William served as Treasurer on the Board for the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR) San Francisco Bay Area Chapter 2014-2017 and is an active member of the World Future Society. In 2013, William left his thriving computer consulting business to devote himself full-time to consulting for clients from over 28 countries, teaching practitioner level courses for professional astrologers and serious astrology students, and forecasting what lies ahead with a rare synthesis of real- world data and mundane astrological portents. For those who wish to know more about William's astrological studies, from 1986 to 2002 William apprenticed in psychological astrology with Vera Waltz of Philadelphia and Bob Cook of Cold Spring Harbor (NY), Astro*Carto*Graphy (certified) with Jim Lewis, Medieval Astrology with Rob Hand, Horary and Electional astrology with Alphee Lavoie of AIR Software, Medieval Astrology and Alchemy and Medieval Prediction with Robert Zoller, and Astrological Magic with Christopher Warnock of Renaissance Astrology. See a scope of work outline here.

Beyond Astrology

In addition to astrology and cutting-edge technologies, William earned a B.S. in Music Performance (Clarinet) from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) in 1989 and a CCRS Diploma in Computer Science from Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY) in 1996. From 1996 to 2013, he ran a thriving computer consulting business, and musically, has performed internationally and has been a finalist in several international music competitions.

In this Episode William and I discuss how astrology can play a role in helping us understand what we need to do to actualize our true self.



You had to go through that event for the learning lessons to be integrated into the soul.
— William Stickevers

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Thank you!

#45 I Love Rock 'n' Roll with Mark Galbo

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Telluride local Mark Galbo is an innovative educator and a leading voice in contemporary music education. His unconventionally relaxed and spontaneous approach to teaching has endeared him to thousands of students across the country. Especially in the Telluride region.

Mark Galbo opened his Rock and Roll Academy in 2003. The initiative has since expanded big time, traveling beyond Telluride to California, Florida, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona and Aspen.

“When I think of my experience with RRA through the years, I think of a quote I often share with students who are trying to figure out ‘what they are doing with their lives’. The quote happens to be from the Buddha, who said, ‘Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart give yourself to it.’

The Rock and Roll Academy program is best encapsulated as a music-based collaborative rock band model that focuses on social and emotional learningIn that important work, Galbo is ably assisted by Brett Neuman, facilitator, who defines his role as “modeling kindness, respect, and inquisitiveness.”

In this episode, Mark Galbo and I discuss the importance of creating a sacred space for children to explore their inner self through art and creativity.



The learner in your classroom isn’t looking for an expert. Your learner is looking for someone who will accept them, draw out their own knowing, and witness them standing in their power as an autonomous human being. This is our highest calling as educators.
— Mark Galbo

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Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#44 A Neurosurgeons Transformation After a Near Death Experience with Dr. Eben Alexander

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After decades as a physician and teacher at Harvard Medical School and elsewhere, renowned academic neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander thought he knew how the brain, mind, and consciousness worked. A transcendental Near-Death Experience (NDE) during a week-long coma from an inexplicable brain infection changed all of that – completely. Memories of his life had been completely deleted, yet he awoke with memories of a fantastic odyssey deep into another realm – more real than this earthly one! Since his 2008 NDE he has been reconciling his rich spiritual experience with contemporary physics and cosmology. We are conscious in spite of our brain. By probing deeply into our own consciousness, we transcend the limits of the human brain, and of the physical-material realm. His story offers a crucial key to the understanding of reality and human consciousness. A pioneering scientist and thought leader in consciousness studies, Dr. Alexander has been a guest on Dr. Oz, Oprah, and many other media programs. His most recent book, Living in a Mindful Universe: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Heart of Consciousness (co-authored with Karen Newell), has garnered accolades from many scientists around the world who study the mind-body question and the nature of consciousness. His earlier books, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife and The Map of Heaven: How Science, Religion, and Ordinary People Are Proving the Afterlife, have collectively spent more than two years atop the New York Times and international bestseller lists.

In this episode Dr. Eben Alexander and I discuss his near death experience and some of the profound wisdom he learned from the spiritual realms he experienced.



The binding force of this universe is love and we must take care of one another because we are all intertwined. When we hurt others, we hurt ourselves.
— Dr. Eben Alexander

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

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RESOURCES:

  • Dr. Eben Alexander’s WEBSITE

  • Click HERE to purchase Dr. Eben Alexander’s books

  • Click HERE for Karen Newell’s and Dr. Eben Alexander’s free webinar

  • Listen on APPLE PODCASTS

  • Listen on SPOTIFY

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#43 Sacred Acoustics: How Sound Facilitates Healing the Heart with Karen Newell

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As an innovator in the emerging field of brainwave entrainment audio meditation, Karen Newell empowers others in their journeys of self-discovery. Using Sacred Acoustics recordings, she teaches how to enter and engage your own consciousness in order to connect to inner guidance, achieve inspiration, improve wellness and develop intuition. Her lifelong interest in ancient cultures and sacred sites catalyzed her drive to understand the purpose of our existence. She became fascinated with esoteric spiritual texts and sought alternate explanations for humanity’s collective history. In her search for answers, it was clear that direct experience is crucial. She was intrigued by accounts of ancient mystery schools, where initiates were led through a series of trials to learn the secrets of the universe. With no modern mystery school to attend, she enrolled in hands-on experiential courses to investigate and develop such skills as lucid dreaming, astral travel, telepathy, remote viewing, self-hypnosis, and different forms of energy healing, which bolstered her strong sense of inner knowing and alignment to her higher nature. With focused dedication, she evaluated different theories and techniques through experiments in her daily life. Using this body of personal evidence, she cultivated a personal knowing, not only of the reality of the spiritual realm, but also a facile expertise in living that life of daily connection with universal consciousness. Among her greater attributes is the rare skill of discernment, of being able to separate the wheat from the chaff in navigating a pathway towards truth. Meditation and heart awareness were central elements to her many different subjects of study. Her most successful forays into consciousness involved listening to sounds such as gongs, crystal bowls and tuning forks. Recordings containing binaural beats were particularly effective at minimizing distracting thoughts and restlessness, allowing her to finally reach the expanded states of awareness she sought. Karen joined with Kevin Kossi to create original recordings unmatched by any others either of them had experienced. Together, they created Sacred Acoustics. At international workshops presented with best-selling author Dr. Eben Alexander, Karen demonstrates key practices of consciousness exploration: heart awareness, intention, maintaining neutrality, emotional management and cultivating internal knowing. She is co-author with Dr. Alexander of their latest book, Living in a Mindful Universe: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Heart of Consciousness. During 26-years working in the magazine and newspaper publishing field, Karen held key leadership positions involved with the direction and management of technology transitions faced by the print industry. Her business skills include web development, desktop publishing, communications, information technology, project management and strategic planning.

In this interview Karen and I discuss the evidence of how sound can have the ability to aid in healing the emotional and physical body.



Hardships are a part of life and how we learn. We can choose to learn with grace, or we can choose to learn with fight and resistance.
— Karen Newell

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

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RESOURCES:

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#42 The Relationship Between Science, Plant Medicine, Spirituality and Healing with Dr. Joe Tafur

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Dr. Tafur has been an Integrative Medicine activist throughout his medical career - while in medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and during his Family Medicine Residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While a resident, he collaborated on research projects with the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine and the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine.  After residency, Dr. Tafur subsequently completed a two-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry under psychoneuroimmunology expert Dr. Paul Mills. 

Dr. Tafur has observed that modern medicine struggles with certain mental and psychosomatic health problems because the system fails to address the emotional and spiritual dimensions of these illnesses. Under the guidance of master shamans, Dr. Tafur has learned about the importance of acknowledging the emotional body and its role in modern disease, and how spiritual approaches can be used to heal the emotional body and, in turn, the mind and physical body.

In Peru, Dr. Tafur learned how Ayahuasca shamanism (a ceremony involving the use of Ayahuasca, a traditional medicinal Amazonian plant known for its spiritual properties) could be used to heal the emotional body. After observing hundreds of people experience this kind of spiritual and emotional healing, Dr. Tafur recognized the broader value of spiritual healing techniques.

Dr. Tafur is the author of The Fellowship of the River, a fascinating account of his journey through the Amazon jungle as he comes to understand how psychoactive plants interact with the complex network that connects our minds and hearts to our physical anatomy. Dr. Tafur serves on the board of Modern Spirit, a non-profit organization dedicated to demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare by illuminating the intersection between biology, emotion, and spirituality.

In this third interview with Dr. Tafur, we discuss the science behind plant medicine, and why it can be so effective at addressing the root causes of emotional trauma.



Science is not medicine. It is important, but it is not medicine. Medicine heals, even spiritual medicine and science should not limit healing works.
— Dr. Joe Tafur

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

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RESOURCES:

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Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#41 A Personal Story of Healing with Ayahuasca and Master Plants with Martina Drassl

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Martina Drassl was born in 1975 and grew up in South Tyrol, a border province in the North of Italy, close to Switzerland and Austria. She speaks German, Italian, English and Spanish. 

After many years of work experience as Hotel Receptionist and Youth Coordinator Martina moved to the Peruvian Andes where she coordinated a Non Profit organization for sustainable development and cooperation. 

 In 2009 her healing journey with Amazonian Master Plants began. She worked for extensive time periods as a facilitator in the Retreat Center Nihue Rao in Iquitos, Peru. She studied Somatic  Experiencing Trauma Release in Los Angeles and Burlingame, CA to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). Martina divide her time between, South Tyrol/Italy, Peru, USA and Canada. 

In this episode, Martina and I discuss how Ayahuasca has the potential to help us access a deeper level of our spirituality and discover emotional healing. Martina explains from personal experience how to manage expectations with an ayahuasca experience and how to prepare your mind and body. 



With Ayahuasca we have the possibility to tap into other dimensions.
— Martina Drassl

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

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RESOURCES:

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#40 The Science and the Mystery Behind Acupuncture and Energy Healing with Dr. Jill Blakeway

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Dr. Jill Blakeway is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, a licensed and board-certified acupuncturist, and clinical herbalist. Jill founded the Yinova Center in 1999 and currently acts as Clinic Director alongside her husband, Noah Rubinstein. As a practitioner, she is known for her intuitive approach to Chinese medicine and particularly for her skills as an acupuncturist and energy healer.

Jill has always been passionate about helping women achieve a healthy pregnancy—so much so that the New York Times described her as a “fertility goddess” and named her as one of Manhattan’s top acupuncturists. She credits much of her success to combining the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine with modern, conventional biomedicine. To this end, she joined forces with a reproductive endocrinologist to co-author the bestselling book, Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility (Little Brown, 2009) about how to conceive naturally. She also authored a second book about women’s sexual health called Sex Again: Recharging Your Libido (Workman Publishing, 2013). Jill’s third book Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing (Harper Collins) was published in 2019. In it Jill describes what it means, personally and scientifically, to be an energy healer and draws on cutting edge research to explain how acupuncture and energy medicine work.

Jill’s expertise extends beyond her clinic; she founded the acupuncture program at NYU Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, where she acted as Head of Inpatient Acupuncture Services for many years. She currently teaches gynecology and obstetrics as a visiting professor in the doctoral program at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego and in Chicago. She speaks at Chinese medicine conferences and her research has been published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Jill was the first acupuncturist to ever give a TEDTalk, at TEDGlobal in 2012.

As a popular authority on alternative medicine and women’s health, Jill often makes media appearances, on-air and in print. Formally the host of a CBS Radio weekly podcast called Grow Cook Heal, Jill has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, The Early Show, Good Morning America, NBC News, ABC News, Fox News, the Real Housewives of New York, and The Talk. She has also been quoted in New York Magazine, New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, W, and Town & Country to name a few titles.

Jill is currently seeing new patients for the first time in 10 years. If you are interested in booking an appointment with her, please email her schedule coordinator, Erin: info@yinova.com

In this fascinating interview, Dr. Jill Blakeway and Marla discuss how modern science has recently been able to give us insight into how the ancient practices of acupuncture and energy healing work on the body. We also dive into a conversation about the importance of accessing a higher level of consciousness and what that means for emotional healing.



Energy is bigger than all of us, you can call it God or whatever you want. The same energy runs through all of us, therefore we are all one. We come here to experience duality, the light and the dark.
— Dr. Jill Blakeway

NOTES

  • Dr. Blakeway details how modern science can give us insight into how acupuncture and energy healing work on the body.

  • Dr. Blakeway details the importance of teaching children from a young age that we are all connected and how that can impact their life.

  • She explains the importance of meditation to help us raise our consciousness. 

  • After many years of experience Dr. Blakeway shares with us some of the greatest lessons she has learned and how her work has changed the way she walks through life. 


You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#39 The Love, The Gift and The Responsibility with Dr. Joe Tafur

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Dr. Tafur has been an Integrative Medicine activist throughout his medical career - while in medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and during his Family Medicine Residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While a resident, he collaborated on research projects with the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine and the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine.  After residency, Dr. Tafur subsequently completed a two-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry under psychoneuroimmunology expert Dr. Paul Mills. 

Dr. Tafur has observed that modern medicine struggles with certain mental and psychosomatic health problems because the system fails to address the emotional and spiritual dimensions of these illnesses. Under the guidance of master shamans, Dr. Tafur has learned about the importance of acknowledging the emotional body and its role in modern disease, and how spiritual approaches can be used to heal the emotional body and, in turn, the mind and physical body.

In Peru, Dr. Tafur learned how Ayahuasca shamanism (a ceremony involving the use of Ayahuasca, a traditional medicinal Amazonian plant known for its spiritual properties) could be used to heal the emotional body. After observing hundreds of people experience this kind of spiritual and emotional healing, Dr. Tafur recognized the broader value of spiritual healing techniques.

Dr. Tafur is the author of The Fellowship of the River, a fascinating account of his journey through the Amazon jungle as he comes to understand how psychoactive plants interact with the complex network that connects our minds and hearts to our physical anatomy. Dr. Tafur serves on the board of Modern Spirit, a non-profit organization dedicated to demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare by illuminating the intersection between biology, emotion, and spirituality.

This second interview with Dr. Tafur further explores the practice of plant medicine as a transformative method of self-healing, with insights into how one can achieve continuous and lasting spiritual healing and growth.



Spiritual practice is spiritual healing, and spiritual healing is spiritual practice, and both can help to heal the emotional body and in turn, the mind-body.
— Dr. Joe Tafur
In this next wave of consciousness, the purpose of spiritual practice is to nourish our spiritual well-being.
— Dr. Joe Tafur

NOTES

  • Dr. Joe Tafur describes the ideal conditions for the use of Ayahuasca.

  • Ayahuasca has been transformative for many people, but it is not for everyone. Dr. Tafur describes those candidates/situations that may not be an appropriate fit for plant medicine. He emphasizes that plant medicine should not be considered a quick fix.

  • Dr. Tafur talks describes the conditions and practices that support lasting spiritual benefits of Ayahuasca.

  • Dr. Tafur explains how “The Love”, “The Gift” and “The Responsibility” apply to the importance of commitment in the use of plant medicine.

  • In addition to fully becoming immersed in indigenous culture, there are other ways to explore Ayahuasca. Dr. Tafur recommends www.iceers.org as a good source of guidelines.

  • Dr. Tafur offers encouraging insights about how spiritual practices are starting to become integrated into western medicine.

  • Click on the image below to view Dr. Tafur’s book:

 
 

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#38 What a Medical Doctor Learned in the Jungles of Peru with Dr. Joe Tafur

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Dr. Tafur has been an Integrative Medicine activist throughout his medical career - while in medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and during his Family Medicine Residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While a resident, he collaborated on research projects with the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine and the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine.  After residency, Dr. Tafur subsequently completed a two-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry under psychoneuroimmunology expert Dr. Paul Mills. 

Dr. Tafur has observed that modern medicine struggles with certain mental and psychosomatic health problems because the system fails to address the emotional and spiritual dimensions of these illnesses. Under the guidance of master shamans, Dr. Tafur has learned about the importance of acknowledging the emotional body and its role in modern disease, and how spiritual approaches can be used to heal the emotional body and, in turn, the mind and physical body.

In Peru, Dr. Tafur learned how Ayahuasca shamanism (a ceremony involving the use of Ayahuasca, a traditional medicinal Amazonian plant known for its spiritual properties) could be used to heal the emotional body. After observing hundreds of people experience this kind of spiritual and emotional healing, Dr. Tafur recognized the broader value of spiritual healing techniques.

Dr. Tafur is the author of The Fellowship of the River, a fascinating account of his journey through the Amazon jungle as comes to understand how psychoactive plants interact with the complex network that connects our minds and hearts to our physical anatomy. Dr. Tafur serves on the board of Modern Spirit, a non-profit organization dedicated to demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare by illuminating the intersection between biology, emotion, and spirituality

In this episode Dr. Joe Tafur details how plant medicine, specifically Ayahuasca, can act as a portal to mystical experiences and can help many find profound emotional healing.



One can initiate forgiveness in the brain, however true healing cannot be found until you are able to forgive in your heart.
— Dr. Joe Tafur

NOTES

  • Joe gives us a glimpse into how plant medicine and different modalities helped get him through a difficult time in his life. This personal experience was the catalyst that lead him to dedicating much of his career to the study of plant medicine. 

  • Joe explains what Ayahuasca is, how it is used and what to expect during a ceremony. 

  • Through the lens of his many years of experience, Joe explains how he believes Ayahuasca can often times be a gateway to profound emotional healing.

  • Click on the image below to see Dr. Tafur’s book:

 
 

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

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RESOURCES:

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Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#37 Plant Medicine and the Path to Healing and Wholeness With Dr. Jeff McNairy

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Dr. Jeff McNairy is the Chief Medical Officer at Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica. He has a doctorate in Psychology and a masters degree in Public Health from UCLA. Dr. McNairy has been working in the health care field for 25 years in a variety of medical environments and has seen the struggle individuals have when actually trying to heal. He has found that the current Western system of heath care is deficient in healing the population as it is more concerned with managing symptoms and using external sources for “change.” Through Dr. McNairy’s intense experience with the most desperate patient populations (those suffering from addiction, acute mental health issues and trauma), he has seen that the only real healing can come from within.

In this fascinating interview, Dr. McNairy shares the journey that led him to his current position as Chief Medical Officer at Rythmia, a medically licensed wellness retreat facility in Costa Rica which specializes in a number of breakthrough modalities for life transformation, including yoga, breathwork and medically supervised plant medicine. His explanation of how plant medicine works in the brain to help heal past wounds and traumas is riveting.



We believe that all cause of unease is related to being unplugged from the true self, whether that’s anxiety, depression, addiction, all kinds of mental health issues... also illnesses, auto immune disorders... a big part of it is not being united with the actual, true self.
— Dr. Jeff McNairy
The soul contract that you have with yourself in your life is with this “little you”; it’s the authentic you... it represents who you really are...
— Dr. Jeff McNairy

NOTES

  • Dr. Jeff McNairy explains how his early interests in medical anthropology, ethno-botany and indigenous cultures led him to pursue multiple degrees and clinical experiences in order to arrive where he is today.

  • Jeff describes the process in which young children “split” or dissociate from their true selves, which can ultimately result in addiction and a multitude of illnesses and pathologies.

  • Jeff’s describes the amazing transformation of one of his more challenging patients, leading Jeff to explore the use of plant medicine by indigenous cultures and ultimately establish Rythmia in Costa Rica.

  • He explains how Ayahuasca (a form of plant medicine) works in the brain in order to enable people to reconnect with their authentic selves and heal themselves. He uses his own experience to illustrate.

  • Jeff and Marla emphasize how Ayahuasca is not for everyone and should only be administered under medical supervision.

  • Jeff offers insights on a number of topics… the wisdom of young children, the amazing gifts that autistic children possess, and the crucial role that empathy plays in changing the world.


You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#36 Lessons of Love During a Transformative NDE With Tricia Barker

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Tricia Barker experienced a profound near-death experience during her senior year of college, and this experience guided her to teach overseas, in public schools, and at the college level. The story of her near death experience has been featured on I Survived:  Beyond and Back, Season 1, Episode 5, National Geographic’s April 2016 article “The Crossing,” the cover story for Simple Grace Magazine, an article in Women’s World MagazineCoast to Coast AM, and featured on The Doctor Oz Show.

Tricia’s memoir, “Angels in the OR: What Dying Taught Me About Healing, Survival, and Transformation” tells the story of her near-death experience, teaching mission, and eventual triumph over childhood trauma and sexual assault. The book also focuses on the importance being of service to the world. She believes that joy, humor, and healing are available to everyone through a deeper connection to divinity. Her book can be ordered HERE, and is also available through Audible.

Tricia is a graduate of The University of Texas. She also received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Currently, she teaches English and Creative Writing at a beautiful community college in Fort Worth, Texas. She interviews other near-death experiencers, researchers, healers, spiritual teachers, and mediums on her YouTube Channel. Tricia’s poetry and essays have been published in several publications including The BinnacleThe Paterson Literary Review, and The Midwest Quarterly.

Tricia’s capacity for love and joy is clearly evident in this captivating podcast episode, in which she describes her NDE in vivid detail and explains how she found her life purpose and changed the way she views the world as a result of her visit to the other side.



That was the best moment of my life; the closer I got to God the more peace I felt, the more loved I felt, the more I felt okay as myself.
— Tricia Barker
Love should be our legacy... everything we take with us is made of love.
— Tricia Barker

NOTES

  • Tricia describes in detail the NDE she experienced when her heart stopped while undergoing spinal surgery after a car accident… what she saw, how she felt, and the important lessons she learned.

  • While in an NDE state she experienced a consciousness that was stronger than anything she had known while alive.

  • She describes in detail the all-encompassing sense of love, peace and safety she felt as she got closer to God.

  • Her life review gently revealed things about herself and others that would change how she approached life and the many people she encountered.

  • During her NDE Tricia realized she would become a teacher, which was something she never expected of herself.

  • Tricia describes how she is best able to connect with her students, many who come from underprivileged backgrounds.

  • The importance of love above all else was the most important message Tricia took away from her near-death experience.

  • You can read about Tricia’s NDE in detail in her BOOK, “Angels in the OR”.

  • Tricia is hosting a free online NDE Summit on August 2-3. Click HERE for more information.


You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#35 A Transformative Journey with the Beings of Light with Dr. Ingrid Honkala, PhD, Part 2

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Dr. Ingrid Honkala, Ph.D. became aware of other life dimensions from her near-death experience at the age of two and was gifted with the wise input of Beings of Light. This helped her face the challenges of growing up in her native Colombia and finding her destiny as a scientist and a giver of Light. Her worldwide oceanographic surveys and her love for travel have brought her to visit 56 countries. Throughout her journey, she faced deadly war zones, underwater explorations, and time at a NASA research center. She learned any human experience can be illumined from within. 

In her autobiography, “A Brightly Guided Life: How a Scientist Learned to Hear her Inner Wisdom,” Ingrid details her amazing journey with the Beings of Light. 

In this second of two interviews, Ingrid describes her life following her early childhood NDE, her struggles with feeling different and alone, and how the Beings of Light guided her through many challenges in order to find the answers she sought so that she could ultimately fulfill her life purpose. This interview is filled with profound wisdom and insight about the deep importance of love and connection with each other and the universe.



None of this happened TO me, it happened FOR me, so I can be where I am today.
— Dr. Ingrid Honkala, PhD
We have always been that light, we have always been the children of God; we just got distracted.
— Dr. Ingrid Honkala, PhD
All of this was so you can bring back the message of the power of connection.
— Dr. Ingrid Honkala, PhD, as told to her by the Beings of Light

NOTES

  • Following her near death experience as a small child, Ingrid initially wanted just to sleep. This is where she first began to see shining starlight figures, which she called “Beings of Light”.

  • As she continued to see and communicate with these beings throughout her childhood, she felt different from others, and struggled to connect with her peers and those around her.

  • The Beings of Light explained that it would take many years for her to understand why she had been chosen to have this experience. But it was clear that her purpose would ultimately be about helping others.

  • Ingrid experienced many challenges in her life. She connected with an amazing psychologist who helped her to make sense of her experiences.

  • Just as she had been told by the Beings of Light, it took 20 years before Ingrid was fully able to have her questions answered and her destiny become clear.

  • Ingrid describes the profound importance of love and connection, and how we all need to work together in order to make a difference.

  • Click on the image below to view Ingrid’s book on Amazon:

 
Click on the image above to view book at Amazon.

Click on the image above to view book at Amazon.

 

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#34 Illuminated by The Light - An NDE At Two Years Old with Dr. Ingrid Honkala, PhD (Part 1)

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Dr. Ingrid Honkala, Ph.D. became aware of other life dimensions from her near-death experience at the age of two and was gifted with the wise input of Beings of Light. This helped her face the challenges of growing up in her native Colombia and finding her destiny as a scientist and a giver of Light. Her worldwide oceanographic surveys and her love for travel have brought her to visit 56 countries. Throughout her journey, she faced deadly war zones, underwater explorations, and time at a NASA research center. She learned any human experience can be illumined from within. 

In her autobiography, “A Brightly Guided Life: How a Scientist Learned to Hear her Inner Wisdom,” Ingrid details her amazing journey with the Beings of Light. 

In this first of two interviews, Ingrid describes in vivid and compelling detail what she saw and felt while in a near-death state as a small child, and how her life was profoundly transformed as a result of her NDE.



I went from a state of horror to a state of absolute peace and serenity.
— Dr. Ingrid Honkala
Now I am in the silence, I am in the space of well-being, I am surrounded by the light.
— Dr. Igrid Honkala

NOTES

  • Ingrid describes in vivid detail her experience of drowning in a well when nearly 3 years old.

  • Her NDE was an experience in contrasts, going from dark to light, noisy to silent and from being sickly to experiencing profound well-being.

  • She was revived by her mother giving her CPR and had no choice to return to her previous state, despite her desire to stay on the other side where she felt, for the first time, a sense of being home.

  • Ingrid experienced a strong sense of not belonging after her NDE… not recognizing herself, and being unable to relate to other children.

  • She possessed new abilities after her NDE that she’d never had before, including the ability to read and write and do mathematical calculations not typical for children her age, yet she did not have the language to describe what was happening to her.

  • She had out-of-body experiences following the NDE, and realized that the door had opened and never closed.


You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#33 Grief To Growth With Brian Smith

Brian Smith is a certified life coach, a grief guide, and a small business consultant. Brian's mission is to help others by sharing lessons he has learned from decades of experience and study.

Brian became well acquainted with grief in 2015 after the sudden passing of his fifteen-year-old daughter Shayna. After Shayna's passing, Brian felt his life was over. He had to learn to survive for the sake of his wife, Tywana, and their daughter, Kayla. Brian has studied the nature of life and death and how to progress through grief.

In his grief work, Brian provides a safe space where you can safely share what you are experiencing.  Brian share techniques that he discovered and developed after his devastating loss. Perhaps most importantly, he can help you understand that death is not goodbye and that your relationship with your loved one can continue. His understanding is not a religious-based belief, but a position arrived at based on reason and evidence.

Shortly after Shayna transitioned, Brian discovered Helping Parents Heal, a non-profit peer-to-peer support group for parents of children who have passed. Brian volunteers with Helping Parents Heal and is a leader of the Helping Parents Heal Online group. Brian has worked with hundreds of parents who have lost children. Brian is a member of the Board for Helping Parents Heal. He volunteers for the SoulPhone foundation.

Brian is on the board of the SoulPhone Foundation and Helping Parents Heal. Brian is the author of "Grief 2 Growth: Planted. Not Buried." He is the host of the Grief 2 Growth podcast. You can find Brian at www.grief2growth.com.



NOTES

  • Brian shares his journey of childhood and his fear of death.

  • Brian explains how he needed to know so much more, and how his quest for the truth began.

  • He shares his journey after the tragic passing of his daughter.

  • In his purpose of helping others Brian has created the podcast and written the book: “Grief To Growth” (click image below to view on Amazon):

  • He also shares his work with Helping Parents Heal.

  • Brian Smith’s book:

Click above to view book on Amazon.

Click above to view book on Amazon.

 

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#32 The Forever Angels - Children and the Near Death-Experience With PMH Atwater

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Dr. P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D. is an international authority on near death experiences. A survivor of 3 near-death episodes herself, she has completed over 44 years of research on the subject, and has written 18 books, including her most recent book, “The Forever Angels: Near Death Experiences in Childhood and Their Lifelong Impact”. In her quest for knowledge she has interviewed over 5000 people, including young children who have had such experiences, and older adults who have lived their lives after NDEs. Her immersion in the topic has led her to the firm belief that the near-death experience is not an anomaly, but part of a consciousness transformation or “brain shift”.

In this interview, you will learn about the many ways that people who have experienced NDEs, particularly the very young, experience the world differently than the rest of us. Dr. Atwater’s enthusiasm for her subject knows no bounds!



A vast majority (of NDEers) never lose their sense of home.”

”They really are different because their brains formed differently.”

”They’re bringing that knowledge and openness with them.
— P.M.H. Atwater, on early NDEers

NOTES:

  • Dr. Atwater describes the in-depth research she has done on people experiencing NDEs.

  • Her most recent book is “The Forever Angels: Near Death Experiences in Childhood and Their Lifelong Impact”.

  • Children process near-death experiences much differently than adults do. Without a sense of what life was like prior to an NDE, they have no sense of “before”.

  • She describes some of the challenges these children have as they try to compensate for their experience, including trouble bonding with family, fitting in at school and with friends.

  • An early NDE is like a “jump-start” to the brain, and to the sensory system.

  • PMH provides fascinating statistics about the IQs of many NDEers.

  • Sadly, many NDEers experience suicidal ideation as they long to “go back”, in spite of outward appearances of success.

  • P.M.H. suggests ways for early NDEers to reinforce and validate their experiences, including the use of visualization, and by “writing their book”.

  • P.M.H. talked about IANDS (International Association for Near Death Experiences) and the incredible work they are doing as a global community to provide access to information about NDEs.

  • Marla announced the upcoming IANDS live online conference taking place of August 14 to August 16. PMS Atwater will be speaking at the conference on Augest 15th from 10AM to 11AM PST. Click HERE for a link to the conference website.

  • There is much more information regarding NDEs and more on Dr. Atwater’s website, including links to her books as well as a free monthly newsletter.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

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Do you have a spiritual story or an experience that you have experienced or a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#31 Beautiful Survival Story After a Suicide Attempt and Profound NDE with Chris Batts

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Chris Batts is the author of “Boom! The Life and Times of a Suicide Near Death Experiencer”. After a suicide attempt resulting in an NDE, Chris met guardian angels in spiritual realms and he learned his purpose in life.

Chris is a para educator and para translator for special education children.

In this interview we will talk about Chris’s difficult childhood, growing up in foster homes and eventually not wanting to continue living in the earthly realm. His NDE changed his life profoundly when he was told by the divine that we are all loved, and much more!



NOTES

  • Chris shares with us his difficult childhood and how it resulted in suicidal thoughts.

  • Chris talks about his profound NDE where he met “God” and divine beings including angels.

  • Chris explains how his life changed forever after this experience, knowing that his true purpose was to let the world know that they are loved.


You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!

#30 Lightning Strikes and a Musician is Born with Dr. Tony Cicoria

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Dr. Tony Cicoria is a part time board certified Orthopedic Surgeon in Maine, former Chief of Orthopedics at Chenango Memorial Hospital, Norwich, New York, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at SUNY Upstate Medical School in Syracuse. He received his BS in Biology from The Citadel and is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina (MD, PhD) and the University of Virginia Orthopedic Surgery Residency.

Dr. Cicoria had the unfortunate (or fortunate) luck of being struck by lightning in 1994 while speaking on a public telephone during a family reunion near Albany, NY. As a result of the lightning, Dr. Cicoria had a near death and out of body experience (NDE, OBE) and became a sudden savant for classical piano music and composition. Because of his unusual introduction to the world of music, Dr. Cicoria has been featured in various magazines and was featured in Dr. Oliver Sacks’ book “Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain”. Tony has given numerous recitals featuring music that he has composed, and has appeared in various television presentations around the world. He published his first works on a CD entitled “Notes From an Accidental Pianist” through CDBaby.com, and is currently working on a book about his experience called “On the Other Side of Life”

In this follow-up to the previous interview, Dr. Cicoria describes the sudden emergence of musical gifts that become available to him following his near death experience resulting from being struck by lightning.



The music from the dream went through a lot of trouble to get here, the least you can do is write it.
— Dr. Oliver Sacks, as told to Dr. Tony Cicoria
I truly felt like I had tuned into a frequency and the music was downloaded into my head.
— Dr. Tony Cicoria

NOTES

  • After being struck by lightning and a vivid near death experience, Dr. Tony Cicoria developed an insatiable craving for classical piano music, something that had previously held no interest for him.

  • He describes a powerful dream in which he was performing music in a concert hall. Upon awakening, the music continued to play in his head for a long time.

  • Urgently searching for a way to play his music, he took music lessons from a Julliard-trained teacher and attended an adult music camp, “Sonata” in Vermont.

  • In 2006 he was introduced to Dr. Oliver Sacks, a British neurologist who wrote “Awakenings”. Dr. Sacks strongly encouraged Tony to find a way to write the music, which he ultimately was able to do.

  • After Dr. Sacks published an article in the New Yorker, there was a lot of interest in Tony’s unusual story.

  • Tony describes the experience of playing his music in concert and the effect that it had on a number of members of the audience.

  • He explains how, on multiple occasions, emotional triggers would result in music “downloading” into his head.

  • Tony underwent a personal transformation after his NDE, becoming more empathetic and with a new approach to life.

  • He comments about how small children can still see the other side, and feels that it is important to recognize and validate what children are seeing.

  • During his near death experience his conscious self never wavered, even while he was dead, leaving him firmly convinced of the fact that his spirit would live on forever.


You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And while you’re there, please leave me a Rating and Review

We do care what you think! What would YOU like to hear on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Click HERE to send us your thoughts.

Would you like to be featured as a guest on the Interviews with Innocence Podcast? Contact Us, and tell us a few words about yourself!     


RESOURCES:

CONNECT WITH MARLA:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.interviewswithinnocence.com

Have you had a spiritual experience? Do you have a story that a young child has shared with you?  Please contact Marla and share your story.

Thank you!