In this special episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, we explore the ancient festival of Samhain, a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds thins. Together, we dive into the roots of this sacred season—reflecting on fertility, transformation, and the mysteries of life, death, and renewal. Drawing on Celtic traditions, All Souls Day, and the wild woman archetype, we embrace the symbolic crone energy that encourages us to release what no longer serves and prepare for new beginnings.

We’ll also discuss how Heavenly Mother, Asherah, and the Tree of Life echo through these cycles, connecting Samhain’s themes to faith journeys in Mormon, Catholic, and American traditions. Along the way, we’ll explore the interplay between the divine feminine and masculine and how Samhain invites us to honor our ancestors, engage with spiritual reflection, and embrace the beauty in both endings and beginnings.

Join us for this 20-minute episode as we reclaim Samhain as a holy day, steeped in reverence and renewal, guiding us into the dark season with intention, wisdom, and gratitude for the cycles of life.

Advent Week 1: Hope Through Prophecy

In this first episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, host Amy Sedgwick introduces the meaning of Advent and outlines what listeners can expect over the next six weeks as the podcast journeys through themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Amy explores the theme of hope through ancient prophecies pointing to the Savior’s birth, beginning with Nephi’s vision of the Tree of Life. She examines the symbolism of Mary as a representation of the Divine Feminine and the condescension of God, offering profound insights into the spiritual preparation for the Christmas season. The episode also highlights Samuel the Lamanite’s bold prophecy of Christ’s birth and its enduring relevance in inspiring hope today.

Resourses from episode:
1. Mandy Green's Reflecting Light Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reflecting-light/id1535274643?i=1000637235893

2. Mandy Green's Website: https://www.mandybgreen.com/

3. Daniel Petersen's "Nephi' and his Asherah"
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol9/iss2/4/

4.  The Ascension of Isaiah RH Charles
https://amzn.to/3CBxmRS

To close, Amy leads listeners in a calming meditation, inviting them to connect with the spirit of hope and reflect on how these sacred stories can bring light into their own lives this Advent season.

To learn more about what Amy offers visit www.wisdomtreeholistic.com
Also follow up on Facebook and Instagram 

Advent Week 1 Meditation – Hope in Prophecy

In this episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, host Amy Sedgwick leads a guided meditation centered on the theme of hope in prophecy. As we begin the Advent season, this meditation invites you to reflect on hope as a sacred force working within the cycles of your life—whether you’re waiting in faith, fertility, or healing.

Through gentle breath work, grounding visualization, and heartfelt reflection, Amy guides listeners to connect with the light of hope stirring within, even during seasons of waiting. Drawing inspiration from the natural rhythms of life and the holy anticipation of Advent, this meditation offers a space to center yourself in trust and surrender, nurturing the quiet assurance that new beginnings are always on their way.

Take a few moments to breathe, reflect, and embrace the promise of hope with this soul-centering practice. Carry the warmth of this meditation into your week, and may it anchor you in peace as you journey through the sacred season of Advent.

In this episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, we continue our Advent journey by exploring the theme of peace through the story of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Elizabeth’s experience of long years of waiting, her steadfast faith, and her ultimate joy remind us of the sacredness of patience and trust in God’s timing.

Through scriptural reflection and heartfelt insights, we delve into how Elizabeth’s story teaches us to find peace in seasons of waiting and uncertainty. Whether you are navigating your own journey of hope, fertility, or faith, this episode offers a gentle reminder that even in silence, God is working miracles behind the scenes.

Join us as we reflect on Elizabeth’s sacred waiting and discover how her story inspires peace and trust during the Advent season.

Protevangelium of James

https://amzn.to/4ixQAYZ

In this Bonus meditative episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, we reflect on the story of Elizabeth, whose faith and perseverance embody the essence of sacred waiting and the Divine Feminine. Guided by Amy Sedgwick, this meditation explores Elizabeth’s journey as a symbol of peace, wisdom, and grace, offering timeless lessons for women navigating their own seasons of waiting and transformation.

Through calming breath work and reflective prompts, listeners are invited to connect with Elizabeth’s strength as a nurturer, prophetess, and spiritual guide. Drawing on her archetypal role as the Crone in the divine feminine cycle, this meditation encourages you to embrace your own wisdom, nurture others, and trust in the sacredness of life’s unfolding.

Join us to find inspiration and peace in Elizabeth’s story, and let her example guide you in stepping into your own divine role with courage and faith.

“Welcome to Embracing Sacred Cycles: Advent Reflections, a podcast dedicated to exploring themes of faith, fertility, and divine connection through the lens of sacred scripture, history, and symbolism. In this Advent series, we journey alongside Mary, mother of Jesus, as we uncover the rich tapestry of her story—her divine calling, creative power, and the sisterhood that sustained her.

In this week’s episode, The Annunciation and Visitation: Weaving Sacred Stories, we explore:

•The ancient symbolism of weaving as creation, connection, and divine preparation across cultures.

•Insights from the Protoevangelium of James, revealing Mary’s early life and sacred preparation.

Protevangelium of James

https://amzn.to/4ixQAYZ

•The Annunciation, where Mary humbly accepts her role as the bearer of the Savior.

•The Magnificat, Mary’s revolutionary song of joy and justice.

“In this special bonus episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles: Advent Reflections, we offer a standalone guided meditation centered on the ancient and sacred symbol of weaving. This meditation invites you to explore the creative power within you, honoring your body as a sacred vessel and connecting to the divine lineage of women who have woven life, wisdom, and purpose throughout history.

Through rich imagery and gentle guidance, you will:

•Envision yourself in a sacred space of women weaving threads of life, love, and divine creation.

•Reflect on the sacred body as a temple woven with purpose and light.

•Connect to the threads of divine wisdom passed down through generations, from women like Mary and Miriam to the women in your own life.

•Embrace your role as both a weaver and a thread, part of a vast tapestry of creation and connection.

In this episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, we light the Candle of Love and reflect on the often-overlooked men of the Advent story: Joseph, the humble protector; Zechariah, the hopeful witness; and the innkeeper, whose simple offering made room for the divine.

Drawing from the Protevangelium of James, the King James Bible, and Islamic tradition, we explore:

•The miraculous provision of fruits out of season to Mary under Zechariah’s care, inspiring his faith and hope.

•Joseph’s quiet strength, trust, and divine witness as he accepts his role in this sacred story.

•The symbolic meaning of the innkeeper’s humble stable and the timeless question: Do we make room for holiness in our crowded lives?

We also examine the journey to Bethlehem—both historical and spiritual—reflecting on Bethlehem as the House of Bread and Jesus as the Bread of Life. As we ponder the lyrics from “Let Him In”—“Let Him in… let the stranger in…”—we are invited to reflect on our own hearts: Where am I being called to trust, to hope, and to make space for the divine?

This episode is a journey of trust, humility, and love—reminding us that the divine often arrives in unexpected places and through unexpected people.

Islamic Nativity Story https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/islamic-history-2020/id1510763938?i=1000502819218

Protevangelium of James https://amzn.to/4ixQAYZ

The Forgotten Carols: Let Him In https://youtu.be/KLRwI4cepuU

In this special meditation episode of Embracing Sacred Cycles, you are invited to journey inward and embody the quiet strength and wisdom of three sacred figures: Zechariah, the hopeful witness; Joseph, the humble protector; and the innkeeper, the threshold keeper.

Through guided reflection and breathwork, we’ll explore:

•Zechariah’s hope: Witnessing divine provision and trusting in miracles when all seems lost.

•Joseph’s trust: Stepping into the unknown with quiet courage, choosing love over fear.

•The innkeeper’s invitation: Making space for the sacred, even in humble and unexpected places.

This meditation is a chance to pause, breathe, and reflect on the sacred masculine energies of hope, trust, and generosity—reminding us that the divine often reveals itself through quiet actions and open hearts.

Take this time to reconnect, reflect, and embody the lessons of these three humble guardians of the Nativity.

In this episode, we explore the intimate and transformative relationship between Mary, Heavenly Father, and Christ, reflecting on teachings of past LDS Leaders about Jesus’ conception and the profound symbolism it offers. We weave this with insights into the soul’s journey to become the Beloved of God, embracing the divine invitation to experience love as a living, healing reality.

I take a deep dive into the elements of the Christmas story—Mary’s role as a vessel for divinity, Joseph’s partnership, the Nativity, the shepherds, the Wise Men, and even the manger—and explore their mystical meanings. Each piece of the story becomes a symbol of spiritual rebirth, divine partnership, and the invitation for us to embody sacred love and fertile transformation.

By reclaiming the mystical depth of these well-known narratives, this episode invites listeners to see their lives reflected in the Christmas story and to experience their own divine call to become the Beloved of God.

Resources: 

Yoga of Jesus

https://amzn.to/4fvB5xW

Christmas Conversations: Birthing the Christ within 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latter-day-faith/id1458918113?i=1000545219430

Stick of Joseph- The veil of the temple 

https://youtu.be/stdxxgwhcdM?si=XkWJBfU7YIfQvEBR

In her Image- The tree of Life the pinnacle of the temple

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-image-finding-heavenly-mother-in-scripture-scholarship/id1566494543?i=1000676350543

This guided meditation takes you into the heart of the Christmas story, where you experience the mystical invitation to become the Beloved. Visualize yourself stepping into the sacred moments of the Nativity: witnessing Mary’s humility and courage, Joseph’s trust, the shepherds’ awe, and the Wise Men’s reverence. Each element becomes a doorway to deeper connection with the Divine.

You will imagine yourself standing before the Christ child—symbolizing divine love and rebirth—where you are fully embraced, seen, and cherished as the Beloved of God. Through breath and reflection, you will allow the sacred energy of this moment to fill you, awakening your heart to divine partnership, peace, and purpose.

This meditation will leave you feeling grounded, loved, and spiritually renewed as you accept the invitation to embody divine love in your own life.

“Reflections on the Epiphany and At One Ment ”

In this special episode, we explore the profound meaning of Epiphany and its invitation to align ourselves with the divine. Drawing on rich spiritual traditions, sacred texts, and symbolism, we uncover how Epiphany represents not just the revelation of Christ but also a call for each of us to embrace our own sacred journey. Through the lens of the Yoga of Christ and yoking—a concept symbolizing partnership and unity—we discuss ways to deepen our connection with the Divine and embody the wisdom, light, and purpose revealed during this holy season. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about faith, reflection, and sacred alignment.

The Yoga of Christ: https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/146-30-45.pdf

At-One- Ment Thomas McConkie https://amzn.to/3W4DDfI

The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You 2 Volume Set://a.co/d/22qtf7Y

Reflections on the Epiphany and At-One-Ment

This meditation invites you to explore the sacred revelations of Epiphany through the lens of at-one-ment—the profound unity between the Divine and ourselves. As we reflect on the light of the season, you’ll be guided to open your heart to the transformative power of connection, symbolized by the Epiphany’s timeless story. Through intentional breathwork and visualization, this practice offers a pathway to align your soul with divine purpose, finding harmony, peace, and oneness in the sacred journey.

In this episode, we delve into the profound symbolism of Isaiah 3 and 4, reinterpreting the parallels between the man without bread and apparel and the sevenfold woman who does possess them. We explore how these contrasting figures reflect themes of spiritual authority, covenant identity, and the journey of ascension and descent.

We reexamine the daughters of Zion and their loss of adornments, often interpreted as a judgment for vanity, through a new lens—seeing it as a symbolic loss of divine power, priestess roles, and sacred authority. This stripping away represents a spiritual descent from their covenantal responsibilities and divine connection.

Through these passages, we uncover rich archetypal connections to the divine feminine, the cycles of descent and ascension, and the restoration of sacred power. This reinterpretation invites a deeper understanding of covenant relationships and the role of the feminine divine in the scriptures.

In this special episode, we explore the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, a sacred threshold between winter’s stillness and the first stirrings of spring. We’ll dive into the mythology of Brigid, the fiery goddess of inspiration, healing, and fertility, and Callieach, the winter crone, uncovering how they are two faces of the same Divine Feminine cycle.

Together, we’ll explore:

•The origins and meaning of Imbolc

•Brigid’s deep connection to sacred wells, fire, milk, and fertility

•The Celtic Wheel of the Year and the rhythm of nature

•How the Crone (Callieach) transforms into the Maiden (Brigid)

•Rituals and traditions like Brigid’s crosses, bannock bread, and sacred fire ceremonies

Through storytelling, ancestral reflection, and a guided meditation by the sacred well, we will connect with the cycles of nature, our ancestors, and our own inner transformation.

What seeds of renewal are stirring within you? Join me around the sacred fire and step into the light of Imbolc.

Gáa Breed Bak Air – May Brigid bless you on this day.

Folk Round-

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/folk-round

License code: EGKUUWPWL4Y1AXMZ

Sound geometric shapes: https://youtu.be/wvJAgrUBF4w

Myth of Callieach and Brigid:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGeAYMCjNY/4_aVhlnDHbJEUkgOkM23xg/watch?utm_content=DAGeAYMCjNY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h550f1b378e