The ModernZen Collective Podcast
Are you ready to elevate your mind, body, and spirit? Join Lizzy Sutton and Nikki Sucevic on The ModernZen Collective Podcast, where conscious women come together to explore the art of living with purpose, balance, and spiritual grounding. Whether you're a single professional navigating the pressures of urban life or a stay-at-home seeker yearning for deeper connections, this podcast is your sanctuary for holistic practices and personal growth.
Tune in as Lizzy and Nikki delve into ancient wellness secrets, expand your consciousness, and help you discover your true life purpose. We tackle the challenges of work-life stress, the quest for inner peace, and the journey of rediscovering who you truly are, to be able to live in alignment. Here, we embrace the unconventional, celebrate community, and empower you to step beyond societal norms to find balance, joy, and holistic living.
The ModernZen Collective Podcast is here to guide, educate, and connect women ready to transform their lives. Discover a world where balance, joy, and holistic living are within reach. Connect, grow, and thrive with The ModernZen Collective—your space for holistic wellness in the modern world.
The ModernZen Collective Podcast
Embracing Life’s Cycles: The Season of Harvest
The ancient rhythms of nature have always been our most profound teachers, if only we pause long enough to listen. As summer's vibrant energy begins to shift, we're reminded that every season serves a purpose—including the seasons within ourselves.
This episode explores the wisdom of fall's dual invitation: to harvest what we've cultivated and to release what no longer serves us. Drawing inspiration from Jim Rohn's philosophy of life's four seasons, we examine how working with natural cycles rather than against them brings greater clarity, balance, and purpose to our journey. You'll discover why September's rare "double nine" numerological energy makes this month particularly powerful for transformation and letting go.
But wisdom without practical application remains just philosophy. That's why you'll learn tangible methods to attune to your body's innate wisdom when deciding what to keep and what to release. From simple standing meditations that reveal your body's truth to journaling prompts that unlock deeper insights, these tools bypass your analytical mind and tap into your authentic knowing. You'll also receive seasonal self-care practices, spiritual rituals, and gentle ways to honor transitions throughout your day.
The most beautiful truth about release is that it creates space—space for what lights you up, space for new possibilities, space for alignment with what truly matters. Whether you're contemplating major life changes or simply seeking more balance this season, this episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance for moving forward with intention. Join us as we embrace fall's wisdom together and prepare the soil of our lives for whatever wants to grow next.
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Hi, I'm Lizzie and I'm Nikki. Have you ever felt that your life was missing purpose, joy or deep connection? Welcome to the Modern Zen Collective podcast, where we embrace holistic living for a joyful, purpose-driven life.
Speaker 1:In this podcast, we'll explore holistic practices, consciousness expansion and spiritual alignment. We will dive into personal development practices that connect mind, body, spirit and share secrets that ancient cultures have known for centuries. Together, we aim to guide, educate and connect individuals eager to transform their lives.
Speaker 2:Join us weekly on the Modern Zen Collective podcast and elevate your mind, body and spirit. And now on to today's episode.
Speaker 3:As the air shifts and the days grow shorter, nature whispers a simple truth that every season has its own rhythm and so do we this September on the Modern Zen Collective podcast.
Speaker 3:We're leaning into the season of harvest and release. Together, we'll explore how to gather the wisdom and blessings we've cultivated this year, gently release what no longer serves us and align our lives with the deeper cycles of nature. From deep conversations on the seasons of life to interviews with holistic wellness practitioners, to practical with holistic wellness practitioners, to practical rituals for letting go, each episode this month is designed to help you move with a natural flow, not against it, because when we honor the season we're in, life unfolds with more clarity, ease and purpose. So welcome and let's get going.
Speaker 1:So welcome and let's get going.
Speaker 3:Hello friends, lizzie here, welcome to today's episode of the Modern Zen Collective Podcast. As we move deeper into September, I've been reflecting on the wisdom of the seasons, not just outside in nature but also in our own lives, and one of my favorite teachers, jim Rohn, spoke often about what he calls the seasons of life. I'm not sure if you've heard of Jim Rohn, but he's one of those OG personal development guys who's got some really great one-liners, and I just love a one-liner. You know just one sentence that just sticks in your mind and really just hits home. And Jim Rohn believed that just as the earth moves through spring, summer, fall and winter, our lives also move through these life cycles. Spring is the season of beginnings, planting seeds, setting intentions, having the courage to start something new. Summer is the season of growth, when we tend to those seeds, nurture our habits and protect what we're building. Fall is the season of harvest, a time to gather the rewards of our work, to celebrate what has bloomed and to also acknowledge where we may have neglected to care for what we planted. So it's both a season of abundance and release. So it's both a season of abundance and release, and winter is the season of rest, the quiet space for reflection, renewal and building inner strength before the new cycle begins. So Jim Rohn's core message is really that we can't control the seasons, but we can choose how we show up in each one, and when we learn to work with the cycles instead of against them, we move through life with greater clarity, balance and grace. So today I just want to explore what this looks like for us right now, as we step into the season of fall, and how we can bring more awareness to our own inner harvests and releases. So first I want to start off with asking you a question, and I'd like you to think about what seeds you planted earlier this year. So what things did you already start putting in motion earlier on this year, maybe in the spring, maybe in the summer, and what comes to mind right now?
Speaker 3:So personally, for me, I have been wanting a life more of freedom, freedom of location, able to kind of go where the wind blows us, raise my kids outdoors. We are really big national park travelers, and so we love to go to different national parks, different state parks. I love to have my kids outside to do activities that are free. You know, there is so much fun stuff to do outside and children. They're so curious and they can literally have so much fun just playing with grass, with sticks, with leaves, with a puddle of water, a puddle of mud and they're just happy as little clams in there. So for me I just love to take them to beautiful places and just facilitate that outdoor play, that curiosity, climbing trees, all the different kinds of things.
Speaker 3:And we ended up, my husband and I, talking to our financial planner in April and it came about, after we ran all the numbers, that it did end up working out in our favor to go on the road. We were going to actually save quite a bit of money every month by selling our house and going on the road with my husband for his job, which is something that we have kind of been talking about doing for a while, and now it's actually a really great possibility. So in April we had this conversation with them and we kind of started working along the way to get there, of started working along the way to get there and fast forward all these months. Later we're in September, now in the fall, and we just sold our house in August. We're out of the house, we've got storage units and we're about to take off on the road with my husband. So this life of freedom that I've been looking for, that I've been asking for that I've been taking little steps for throughout the year, as they felt aligned, as they made sense. Here we are, in the fall and I'm about to harvest this goal of having this life of freedom on the road, which is something really excited that I didn't really see happening. And here we are now. So for me, that's kind of what's going on in my fall. So I'd really like for you to think about what have you talked about earlier this year? What little action steps did you take, and what is showing up for you as we move through this month of September? The other thing about fall is this crazy duality. It's both abundance and its release, and one thing that I really love is numerology, and I just kind of want to bring this in to this talk about September.
Speaker 3:2025 is a universal year. Nine, and nine is the number of completion and release. So this year is the final stage of a cycle that began nine years ago. Our life and just things in general happen in sections of nine a collective moment for letting go, forgiving, preparing new beginnings. Its energy really encourages reflection. What have you learned? What can you release, what's ready to be completed so you can step into the next cycle with clarity?
Speaker 3:The other crazy thing is that September is a universal month. Nine. September is the ninth month of the calendar year and when we add it to the universal year number, it creates the universal month number. So this year, september carries the exact same vibration as the year itself another nine. So that means double nine energy Endings, closure, release and transformation.
Speaker 3:They're all amplified. It's just the energy is blowing and going. So it's like the universe is underlining, bolding, highlighting the message that it's time to let go. So this theme of release becomes even more powerful when we bring in the lens of numerology. It's a rare moment in this month of September where the energy of completion and release is amplified. So I just want you to think of it as a cosmic invitation to reflect on what you've been carrying around too long, what has served its purpose and what you're finally ready to just sit down and let go. This double nine energy asks us like what can you lovingly release now so you can enter into the next cycle lighter and freer?
Speaker 3:It's really important for us to release, for us to let go, because that creates space for new growth later, for opportunities to come in and for us to say yes to things that light us up. If our calendars are full, if our days feel full, if our months feel full, if our years feel full, there is no room for us to be able to say yes to those things that we really want to say yes to, for us to be able to say yes to those things that we really want to say yes to. So is there something that you've been doing for a while, maybe an organization you've been a part of that you've been spending a lot of time with. Maybe you are a board member and you've been on the board for a long time, like I was on the Benbrook Parks and Recreation Board for eight years and this year I've stepped down. I have let that go because it's time for me to find a new place that I can spend my time, my talent and my experience in something that lights me up now.
Speaker 3:So I really want you to think about what you are ready to let go, what you're ready to set down and it may not be everything that you're thinking about. So when you think about these things, I want you to think about each piece of your life that you're thinking about letting go, and then I want you to close your eyes and take a moment and allow your body to give you the answer Is this worth staying with, is it worth carrying into this winter, or is it time for me to let it go? And one thing that I saw on Instagram the other day, which is totally true and just reminded me of this, is that when you ask your body a question and your eyes are closed, try standing up with your feet firmly planted on the ground, about shoulder width apart. And when you ask yourself a question, and if it's true for you, your body will naturally start to lean forward, and if it's false for you, your body will naturally start to lean backwards. So that can be a really good way for you to start to learn what is right for you in this moment.
Speaker 3:Another way is to sit, close your eyes, think about the question, think about the thing, and does your body feel lighter? Does it feel expanded? Do you have space in your chest? Are you able to breathe easily, more fully, or does your body contract? Does your chest seem to tighten a little bit? Does it feel a little bit heavier, and that is another really good way for you to be able to tell what is right for you right now and what is not right for you right now, and this is just a right now thing. If you're letting some things go, this might be forever and this might be something that you come back to later on in life. So I just wanted to give you some practical tips for you to actually allow your inner compass, your body, which never lies to you, to be able to help you make these decisions that we so often get stuck in our mind about. I also wanted to give you some practical ways to align with this fall energy, some seasonal self-care practices.
Speaker 3:It is very important for us to be able to rest, to ground, to reflect before we decide to make all these crazy decisions, and they're not crazy. They might sound crazy to people outside of us, but only you know what's best for you. So, in terms of resting, I would love for you to be able to give yourself permission to go to bed a little bit earlier or enjoy some slow, cozy mornings with some tea or journaling. So even just 10 to 15 minutes of intentional rest can really reset your nervous system. And it's also very important to ground. I love to walk barefoot on the grass Me and my kids are always barefoot so you can try that. You could sit against a tree or even just add some more root vegetables to your meals so carrots, beets, squash, anything that grows in the ground like that to literally bring the energy of the earth into your body. Sometimes having a little bit extra dirt on your stuff it's not bad for you, it's actually really good for you.
Speaker 3:I also want to give you some journaling prompts so you can spend some time reflecting. So I want to give you three journaling prompts right here, so I will read each of them, give a little pause, you can write them down if you'd like and come back to them later, or you can just think about them right now. The first one is what am I harvesting from the intentions I set earlier this year? Number two what feels complete and ready to be released? And number three where am I craving more balance in my life?
Speaker 3:There's also some really great spiritual practices that I'd like to highlight for this month as well. One is creating a gratitude list. Each night or morning, you can write down three to five things you're grateful for big or small Gratitude is a really great grounding practice that helps shift your mental and subconscious from scarcity into abundance, which is really key during this harvest season. Another thing that I like to do is refresh my altars. I'm not sure if you have a sacred space at your house, but it's a good time to refresh it with some seasonal symbols maybe some leaves, pine cones, acorns, or maybe a candle that's in an autumn color. Use it as a reminder of balance and release as you step up to your altar each and every day.
Speaker 3:Another thing that you can do this fall is some moon rituals. I love moving with the moon. I don't always get a chance to do moon rituals every month, but a great full moon ritual, which is the time for release, is to write down what you're letting go of and burn or bury the paper. So this month of September, we're doing our manifestation challenge and I actually took the time to create a fire releasing ritual for you as a bonus, which is included in our downloadable workbook in this manifestation challenge. So if you're interested in getting a little more information on that, check out our website. Sign up for the challenge and you will receive emails each and every day with the prompts for the day, as well as the downloadable workbook For the new moon. This is time to set intentions. So set your intentions, aligned with balance, grounding and clarity for the months ahead. If that sounds like it interests you, just check out when the lunar cycle is happening over the course of this month.
Speaker 3:Another thing that you can do is work on your daily rhythms, slowing down, honoring the transitions that are happening. So, for the morning rituals, you could begin your day with slower, intentional practices such as breath work, meditation or stretching, instead of rushing straight into the activity of the day. Also, for the sunsets, as the days grow shorter, you can create your own sunset ritual. The days grow shorter, you can create your own sunset ritual. Turn off your screens an hour before bed and wind down the day with journaling, reading or tea or just some really nice family time. And in terms of honoring the transitions, make sure you mark the in-between spaces in your day before meals, between work and home, before bed, before meals between work and home, before bed with a deep breath in and out or with a few moments of gratitude. These micro pauses signal your body and spirit that it's safe to slow down and scientifically, all it takes is six breaths to change the state of your nervous system, to change the state of your nervous system. So taking six deep breaths in and deep breaths out is just a great way to signal to your body that it's safe to slow down. So together, any of these practices can be a great seasonal framework for you Rest for your body, gratitude and ritual for your spirit and slower rhythms for your soul and they really align perfectly with this Double Nine Energy of September, helping y'all release with intention and step into balance.
Speaker 3:I really appreciate y'all joining me for today's episode. It's a little bit of a shorter one, which I am happy to have on the podcast. Sometimes we do not have 45 minutes an hour plus to just sit down and listen. So if any of this resonated with you, please try any one of the practices more if you'd like, but even just one, and try to incorporate it into your life.
Speaker 3:For the season of fall and as we move through this month, you know we're really highlighting this season of release and harvesting. So next week on our podcast we are diving into the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to help you navigate the shift from summer's fiery energy to autumn's grounding rhythm. Our guest, sasha Bershadsky, is an Ayurvedic practitioner and the host of the Ohas Oasis podcast, and she's going to be sharing her personal journey into Ayurveda and offering powerful practical tools for thriving during this seasonal transition. So thank you so much for joining today, and I'd love for you guys to take just some moments this week to really reflect on your own inner harvest and what is showing up for you this fall. Thanks again, guys, and we'll see you on the next episode.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for joining us today on the Modern Zen Collective podcast. If this episode resonated with you, we'd love for you to share it with a friend and leave a review. It helps more conscious women like you find our community, and if you're craving a deeper connection to your practice, we've created something just for you the Modern Zen Collective app a sanctuary in your pocket. Inside, you'll find guided meditations, soulful workshops, energy updates and intuitive channeling, all curated to support your spiritual and holistic wellness. Plus, for just $3.99a month, you'll receive timely push notifications with astrological insights and gentle reminders to realign with your highest self. It's rooted in ritual, made for modern life and always within reach. Just head to the App Store or Google Play and search Modern Zen Collective to download the app and begin your journey with us today. And, as always, any links or resources we mentioned in this episode can be found in the show notes. Until next time, keep trusting your path and honoring your unfolding.
