In Episode 14 of The Alighted Way, Janelle sits down with Jody for a fascinating conversation about her experiences as what others have called a “dragon keeper.” Jody shares how her lifelong connection with dragons gradually evolved from childhood fascination into a deeply personal spiritual relationship characterized by intuition, guidance, and a sense of stewardship rather than ownership.

Together, they explore dragon communication, sightings in cloud formations, the experience of assigning dragons to individuals in need, and the role dragons play as companions, protectors, guides, and energetic allies. The discussion also touches on dragon eggs, dragon riders, sacred travel, and the concept of dragon lines woven through the Earth’s energetic landscape.

Moving beyond dragons themselves, the conversation becomes an exploration of trust, surrender, soul healing, ancestral integration, and personal evolution. Through stories, reflections, and shared experiences, this episode invites listeners to consider the possibility that transformation often begins when we learn to listen to subtle guidance and follow the call into the unknown.

🔥 Key Moments

00:08 — Introduction to Jody and the concept of being a dragon keeper

01:09 — Childhood connections and the first dragon sightings

02:45 — Hearing dragon messages and developing deeper communication

04:16 — Being called the 'keeper of dragons' and what that means

05:11 — Sending dragons to people in need of support and protection

07:44 — Dragon eggs, dragon companions, and personal dragon journeys

10:43 — Calling upon dragons for protection and guidance

13:18 — Knowing when someone is ready to receive dragon support

15:00 — Sacred travel, energy work, and following intuitive guidance

16:00 — Dragon lines, ley lines, and working with Earth's energy

20:42 — Dragon riders, initiations, and memories of other lifetimes

24:00 — Soul healing, wholeness, and reconnecting with lost aspects of self

29:31 — Laying down the warrior's weapons and choosing love

💬 Memorable Quotes

“They're just there. It's the knowing.”

“I don't keep dragons. I tend to them until they're needed somewhere else.”

“I just allow. The dragons are much wiser than I am.”

“You don't even need to move. You just hold a space of love.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Dragon Guidance • Intuition & Trust • Protection & Stewardship • Dragon Lines & Sacred Sites • Soul Retrieval • Personal Transformation • Spiritual Evolution

💠 Takeaway Message

This episode reminds us that meaningful transformation often requires trust in what cannot always be explained. Whether viewed as spiritual allies, symbols, or archetypal forces, the dragons in Jody’s story represent guidance, protection, wisdom, and the ongoing journey toward wholeness. By listening deeply, following intuitive nudges, and remaining open to mystery, we may discover new dimensions of ourselves and our connection to the world around us.

✨ Call to Action

If this episode sparked your curiosity, share The Alighted Way with someone who enjoys exploring spiritual mysteries and personal transformation. Follow the podcast for future conversations about dragons, sacred sites, energetic landscapes, and the many paths that lead us toward deeper self-discovery.

Together, they explore the role dragons can play in supporting emotional balance, grounding the nervous system, strengthening personal sovereignty, and encouraging gentle courage. Renee introduces listeners to Igor, the red dragon who serves as one of her primary guides, and discusses how dragon energy can help people feel supported, connected, and safe as they navigate everyday life.

The conversation highlights imagination as a sacred tool for spiritual growth and encourages listeners to develop their own direct relationship with dragon energy through meditation, nature connection, and trust in their personal experiences.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:00 — Introduction to Renee (Sagittarius Way) and her dragon-centered meditation work

• 02:53 — How dragons first appeared through Celtic wisdom studies and shamanic training

• 03:35 — Meeting Igor, the red dragon guide

• 04:53 — Dragons as grounding allies for boundaries and personal sovereignty

• 07:16 — Why dragons may be appearing more prominently in people's lives

• 09:55 — Connecting dragon energy with nature, clouds, and the elements

• 12:05 — Dragons as companions, guides, and sources of support

• 13:57 — The importance of imagination, play, and joy

• 14:24 — Practical ways to begin connecting with dragon energy

• 16:44 — Experiences of healing, comfort, and kindness from dragons

• 18:09 — Invitation to continue exploring the dragon path

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “Dragons will connect with us in a way that we understand.”

• “It helps me stay grounded without losing my own sovereignty.”

• “Play and joy are where the conversation starts.”

• “Trust that the truth that comes from the connection is your truth.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Dragon Energy • Grounding & Nervous System Regulation • Personal Sovereignty • Meditation & Intuition • Celtic Wisdom • Imagination & Play • Nature Connection • Spiritual Guidance

💠 Takeaway Message

Dragons invite us into a relationship built on trust, patience, imagination, and personal experience. Whether viewed as spiritual allies, symbolic guides, or archetypal energies, they offer a pathway toward greater grounding, courage, emotional balance, and connection with the natural world.

🔗 Resources

• Sagittarius Way Website

• Sagittarius Way on Insight Timer

✨ Call to Action

If this episode inspired you to explore dragons, intuition, or meditation, share The Alighted Way with a friend. Follow the podcast for future conversations exploring spiritual growth, symbolism, and the unseen forces that help guide us through life.

In this episode of The Alighted Way, recorded on International Women’s Day, Colleen sits down with Edie — a counselor, educator, and Soul Coaching® practitioner — to explore her remarkable journey into the world of dragons. What began with a gifted book and a Reiki vision became a living relationship with a baby dragon named Folly, discovered at the sacred site of Newgrange in Ireland.

Edie shares how the fire and water dragon came into her life, what it means to work with the elements through Soul Coaching®, and how Diana Cooper’s dragon teachings connected her spiritual dots. She reflects on the playful, creative energy Folly carries — a reminder not to take life too seriously — and shares her vision of writing dragon fables inspired by these encounters.

The conversation also touches on the divine feminine, the goddess connections to dragon energy, and why dragons may be showing up in so many people’s lives right now.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:01 — Welcome and International Women’s Day shout-out
• 00:28 — Introduction to Edie: counselor, educator, and Soul Coaching® practitioner
• 01:29 — How Edie first encountered dragons — a gifted book and a Reiki vision
• 02:08 — Seeing through dragon eyes: orange eyes and visioning during a Reiki session
• 03:13 — Diana Cooper’s dragon work and connecting dragons to the elements
• 03:51 — Oracle card reading: the Earth Dragon arrives
• 05:00 — Newgrange, Ireland and the discovery of Folly at the Folly hut
• 07:00 — A medium confirms the baby dragon — fire, water, and color
• 08:18 — Naming the dragon: how “Folly” came to be
• 09:51 — Dragon meditations and the vision of “The Fables of Folly”
• 11:00 — Folly’s message: more play, more creativity, less seriousness
• 12:21 — Fairy Doors, portals, and weaving elements into storytelling
• 13:17 — Does Folly have a message for the audience today?
• 14:14 — Why are dragons here? Clearing energy, dimensions, and the bigger picture
• 15:56 — Dragons, courage, and the divine feminine on International Women’s Day
• 16:52 — Visualizations in Diana Cooper’s dragon book
• 17:18 — Closing reflections on fire, water, and being a Sagittarian fire horse

💬 Memorable Quotes

“The fire dragon burns off lower energies. The water dragon brings love and play.”

“Folly is all about play. We need to play more.”

“It’s connected to the divine feminine, the matriarchal, the goddesses.”

“Sometimes I’m on the back of a dragon going to different places — I want to bring that into stories.”

“She’s your touchstone, your keystone.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Fire & Water Dragons • Soul Coaching® & the Elements • Sacred Sites & Spiritual Encounters • Playfulness & Creative Expression • The Divine Feminine • Dragon Communication • Newgrange & Celtic Mysticism • International Women’s Day

💠 Takeaway Message

Dragons meet us where we are. For Edie, Folly arrived not with thunder and fire but with colour, warmth, and a gentle nudge toward play. Whether through Reiki visions, oracle cards, or sacred sites halfway around the world, dragon energy invites us to lighten our step, trust our creative instincts, and remember that the divine feminine — and a little bit of folly — might be exactly what the world needs right now.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Diana Cooper — Dragons: Your Celestial Guardians (book & oracle cards)
• Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland — a sacred Neolithic passage tomb
• Soul Coaching® — a four-element personal transformation process
  
  

✨ Call to Action

Did Folly’s story spark something in you? Share The Alighted Way with someone who could use a reminder to play more. Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes exploring dragons, symbolism, and the forces that shape our inner landscapes.

In Episode 11 of The Alighted Way, Janelle explores the powerful and mysterious Michael–Apollo line—an energetic alignment of sacred sites stretching from Ireland to Mount Carmel in Israel. Through storytelling, mythology, and personal experience, she examines how this line connects ancient pagan sites, Christian shrines, and enduring Earth energies.

The episode expands beyond explanation into lived experience, as Colleen joins for a reflective discussion. Together, they explore what it feels like to stand on these sites, how energy is perceived and worked with, and whether mythology should be understood as symbolic, literal, or something in between.

Janelle shares her journey into dowsing, the role of ley lines in Earth’s energetic system, and how these lines may require activation, healing, or alignment. The conversation also explores the layering of belief systems over time, and the relationship between humans and landscape as a co-creative force.

🔥 Key Moments

00:07 — Introduction and overview of the Michael–Apollo line

02:00 — Archangel Michael, Apollo, and dragon symbolism

03:14 — Pagan sites and Christian overlays

04:20 — Dowsing explained and Janelle’s origin story

07:40 — Feng Shui school and teaching journey

07:50 — Key sites from Ireland to Italy

12:10 — Transition into the Apollo line in Greece

12:39 — Delphi, Athens, and Delos exploration

17:00 — Apollo origin story and Delos mythology

21:18 — Dragons: literal beings or energy metaphors?

22:21 — Chit chat begins: personal experiences on the line

25:30 — Energetic shifts and working with ley lines

27:40 — Myth vs lived experience

29:20 — Were these sites intentionally aligned?

31:50 — Pagan foundations and religious layering

33:30 — Skepticism and direct experience

36:10 — Do landscapes shape belief—or vice versa?

💬 Memorable Quotes

“It’s a living energy—you’re working with something real in that moment.”

“Every time I’ve worked on the line, it changes you.”

“The land is alive—it works in partnership with us.”

“It’s good to be skeptical—come experience it for yourself.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Ley Lines & Energy Work • Sacred Geography • Archangel Michael & Apollo • Mythology & Meaning • Dowsing • Human–Landscape Relationship • Spiritual Layering

💠 Takeaway Message

Sacred sites are not just remnants of the past—they may be part of an ongoing energetic dialogue between Earth and humanity. Whether approached through myth, personal experience, or skepticism, these places invite us into deeper awareness, connection, and curiosity about the unseen forces shaping our world.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

The Michael–Apollo Line (St. Michael’s Line)

Ley lines and dragon lines

Dowsing and Feng Shui practices

Sacred sites: Skellig Michael, St. Michael’s Mount, Delphi, Delos, Mount Carmel

✨ Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone curious about sacred sites, energy work, or ancient mysteries. Follow The Alighted Way for more conversations that explore the intersection of mythology, lived experience, and the unseen world.

In Episode 10, Janelle welcomes Annette Rugolo, a practical mystic and soul whisperer, to explore the world of dragons through the lens of vibrational healing and universal connection. Annette shares her lifelong relationship with dragons, describing them as powerful protectors, healers, and guardians of energetic portals. The conversation dives into how dragons assist with clearing energy fields, both globally and within individuals, and how connecting with them can elevate consciousness and personal power.

🔥 Key Moments

00:08 — Introduction to Annette Rugolo

02:26 — First experiences connecting with dragons

04:15 — Dragons and etheric field clearing

06:10 — Dragons as protectors of portals

07:30 — Personal transformation through dragon connection

09:11 — Lifelong relationships with dragons

10:18 — Dragon healing vs Reiki

13:57 — Misconceptions and fear of dragons

15:46 — Dragons and planetary evolution

20:50 — How to connect with your dragon

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Everyone has a dragon they can connect with.”

“Dragons are powerful healers and protectors.”

“They help clear the energy of the Earth.”

“Connection begins in the heart.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Dragons & Healing • Energy Fields • Protection & Portals • Consciousness Expansion • Universal Connection

💠 Takeaway Message

Working with dragon energy can open pathways to healing, protection, and expanded awareness. By connecting through the heart, individuals can access guidance and support from these powerful beings.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

Annette Rugolo • Vibrational healing • Dragon energy practices

✨ Call to Action

If you’re curious about connecting with dragon energy, explore further and stay open to the unseen. Follow The Alighted Way for more episodes that illuminate hidden dimensions of experience.

In Episode 09, Janelle speaks with Janet about her lifelong connection with dragons, including a powerful past-life experience as a dragon rider and squad leader. Janet shares how reconnecting with her dragon deepened her sense of protection, emotional resilience, and spiritual awareness. The conversation explores dragons as wise, multidimensional beings who offer companionship, guidance, and energetic support. Through personal stories, Janet reflects on healing, leadership, and the role dragons may play in humanity’s awakening.

🔥 Key Moments

00:09 — Introduction to Janet and her dragon rider past

02:16 — Dragons as protectors and companions

03:31 — Emotional support and safety through dragon connection

05:01 — Past-life injury and energetic healing

08:12 — Communication with dragons through thought and emotion

09:04 — Dragons and global awakening

10:33 — Dragons as intelligent spiritual beings

13:47 — Light and dark dragons in history

16:01 — Roles and hierarchy among dragons

18:54 — Lifelong connection and guidance

💬 Memorable Quotes

“They’re not mine—they choose to be with me.”

“When I feel afraid, I know I’m safe with them.”

“They communicate through thought and feeling.”

“Dragons are wise, caring, and deeply protective.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Dragons & Protection • Multidimensional Connection • Leadership & Roles • Emotional Healing • Awakening & Balance

💠 Takeaway Message

Dragons can serve as powerful allies in both seen and unseen realms, offering protection, wisdom, and emotional grounding. Connection to these beings may reflect deeper aspects of self, leadership, and healing across lifetimes.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

Dragon energy • Multidimensional awareness • Personal protection practices

✨ Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone exploring spiritual connection or personal growth. Follow The Alighted Way for more conversations that expand perception and deepen awareness.

Through this reconstructed dialogue, listeners are invited into Marilyn’s lived experience of working with dragons—not as myth, but as a consistent, supportive presence in her everyday life. What begins as an unconscious “dragon breath” during Reiki evolves into a deeply embodied relationship with a full “dragon entourage” that surrounds, protects, and guides her.

The conversation explores how these connections emerge organically through breath, intuition, and openness. Dragons are described not as something to summon, but as beings already present—offering protection, guidance, and energetic support, especially in moments of vulnerability or transition.

Woven throughout the episode are themes of trust, spiritual partnership, and the quiet knowing that we are not alone. The discussion also touches on dragons as protectors, their role across realms, and how they may work alongside other spiritual allies such as angels.

This episode gently expands the listener’s perception of what is possible, encouraging curiosity about the unseen forces that may already be walking beside us.

Key Moments

• (00:08) - — Introduction and context: recreating Marilyn’s original interview
• (02:18) - — Entering the role-play format to retell Marilyn’s experience
• (03:08) - — First encounters: Reiki, breathwork, and the emergence of “dragon breath”
• (04:45) - — The Sedona experience and first conscious dragon sighting
• (05:02) - — Dragons appearing in dreams and energy work
• (06:13) - — The concept of a “dragon entourage” and constant presence
• (07:25) - — The significance of Marilyn’s dragon tattoo and feminine energy
• (08:56) - — Interaction vs. peaceful knowing: how Marilyn relates to her dragons
• (10:07) - — Calling in dragons for protection during travel
• (10:39) - — Dragons as guides rather than beings to fear
• (11:01) - — Dragons existing in another realm
• (11:51) - — A fall, protection, and unseen intervention
• (14:15) - — Working with both dragons and angels (including Archangel Michael)
• (15:13) - — Patterns emerging: dragons as protectors and guides
• (16:05) - — Curiosity around “dragon breath” and embodied practice
• (17:32) - — Closing reflections and invitation into future dragon stories

Memorable Quotes

Themes Explored

Dragons as Protectors • Spiritual Partnership • Breath & Embodiment • Intuitive Knowing • Multidimensional Realms • Energetic Safety • Angels & Dragons Working Together • Everyday Mysticism

Takeaway Message

Dragons, in this context, are not distant or mythical—they are present, relational, and responsive. Whether experienced through breath, dreams, or intuitive awareness, they represent a form of support that is already available.

This episode invites a subtle but powerful shift: rather than seeking extraordinary encounters, begin by noticing what may already be surrounding you—guiding, protecting, and waiting to be acknowledged.

Resources & Mentions

Thealightedway.com
Dragon breath 
Archangel Michael
Dragon courses available through The Alighted Way

Call to Action

If this episode sparked reflection or curiosity, share it with someone who feels drawn to the unseen and the symbolic. Follow The Alighted Way as we continue exploring real experiences that stretch beyond conventional boundaries—always grounded in awareness, curiosity, and safety.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Janelle speaks with Joyce about her lifelong relationship with dragons—not as mythic beasts, but as protectors, companions, and ancestral presences. Drawing from Indonesian cultural roots, Eastern cosmology, and lived spiritual experience, Joyce shares how dragons have always been part of her world: guarding sleep, offering guidance, and helping her stay true to herself.

This episode invites listeners to soften rigid beliefs, question Hollywood narratives, and consider dragons as ancient intelligences woven into Earth, fire, stars, and human ancestry.

🐉 Key Themes & Reflections

• 01:09 Dragons as protectors rather than aggressors
• 03:45 Dragons as companions
• 06:50 Dragons power can’t be taken 
• 08:00 Ancestral memory and spiritual inheritance
• 06:50 Dragons power can’t be taken 
• 13:48 Fire, volcanoes, and Earth-based cosmology
• 15:54 Mythology as fragments of lived truth
• 20:02 Eastern vs. Western cultural understandings of dragons
• 21:35 Wisdom without dominance or control
• 28:19 Personal responsibility that comes with spiritual gifts

🔥 Highlights from the Conversation

• Joyce describes dragons as being “like dogs”—always present, loyal, and protective, especially during vulnerability such as sleep.
• Dragons are portrayed as non-judgmental guides, helping redirect Joyce when she strays from her authentic path.
• The episode explores how Komodo dragons and volcanoes shaped Indonesian cosmology and spiritual understanding.
• Joyce reflects on how gifts like intuition or spiritual sight are not “special powers,” but responsibilities.
• Dragons are framed as beings that share wisdom only when invited, never through force or domination.
• The discussion touches on dragons as ancient energies—possibly star-born—who have “always been.”

🌱 Notable Quotes

“They don’t hoard gold. They don’t want your trinkets. They’re just doing their thing.”

“It’s not a gift—it’s a responsibility.”

“You don’t have to change the whole world. Just keep your little corner safe.”

🌍 Cultural & Spiritual Context
Indonesian ancestral traditions and daily gratitude rituals

• Fire, volcanoes, and Earth guardianship
• Feng Shui symbolism of dragon and tiger energies
• Mythology as lived cosmology rather than fantasy

🔔 What’s Next

The next episode continues the dragon theme with Marilyn’s story of dragon breath during Reiki and her dragon tattoo.
📅 Drops March 26

In Episode 06 of The Alighted Way, Janelle and Colleen move fully into the Eastern understanding of dragons and serpents as benevolent, ancient forces of creation rather than monsters to be conquered. This episode explores cosmology and creation myths in which chaos, darkness, water, and the void are not threats, but fertile, maternal conditions from which life itself emerges.

Janelle traces global serpent and dragon lineages—from primordial water dragons and cosmic eggs to Nagas who are half human, half serpent kings—revealing how these beings have long been revered as protectors of wisdom, thresholds, sacred knowledge, and life giving forces. Drawing on Buddhist, Hindu, Egyptian, Greek, and Indigenous traditions, the episode reframes regeneration, shedding, and cyclical destruction as necessary stages of creation.

A reflective closing conversation grounds these myths in lived experience, exploring how chaos, messiness, balance, and renewal show up in everyday life, creative work, and personal transformation.

🔥 Key Moments

00:00 — Eastern dragons as allies, protectors, and symbols of prosperity

01:10 — Cosmology, oneness, and the birth of duality
02:30 — The void, chaos, and maternal creation forces

03:40 — The cosmic egg, caterpillar transformation, and regeneration

04:55 — The great mother serpent and cyclical creation and destruction

06:50 — Symbolism of the egg, fertility, and rebirth

07:20 — Nagas, mermaids, and ancient serpent lineages

09:40 — Dragons as protectors of Buddha, wisdom, and sacred texts

11:40 — Serpent symbolism across Hindu, Egyptian, and Greek traditions

14:05 — Archaeological evidence of serpent ritual and deep human history

16:30 — Wholeness, masculine and feminine principles, and eternal cycles

Chit chat

• Janelle shares her experience with a Chinese New Year egg ritual, using the peeling of an egg to reflect on the year that has passed and the year emerging
• A grounded discussion on how perfection looks different for everyone—and how “productive chaos” can be its own form of order
• Everyday examples of how creation often arises from messiness, whether in art, craft, or life itself

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Chaos holds all potential before form exists.”

“Perfection cannot be sustained—life moves between order and mess.”

“There is a perfection in my messy piles.”

“Dragons guard the thresholds where creation and transformation happen.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Eastern Dragon Mythology • Creation Myths • Cosmology • Chaos & Order • Regeneration • Sacred Serpents • Guardianship • Balance • Transformation

💠 Takeaway Message

Eastern dragon and serpent traditions remind us that chaos is not something to eliminate, but something to honor. Creation, destruction, and renewal exist in an eternal cycle, and transformation often arises from darkness, uncertainty, and messiness. These myths invite us to soften our need for control and trust the regenerative forces at work within and around us.

✨ Call to Action

If this episode shifted how you understand chaos, creation, or transformation, share The Alighted Way with someone navigating change. Join us as we continue exploring dragons as mirrors, guardians, and guides through the great cycles of becoming.

What’s Next

In the next episode, Janelle will be joined by Joyce, who shares her personal dragon experiences and how dragons are said to have protected her family—stories that weave myth, memory, and survival.

Stay Connected

• Visit thealightedway.com to explore upcoming offerings, including Janelle’s Introductory Dragon Course launching February 2026
• Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help others find their way to the flame
• New episodes drop twice monthly on Thursdays

Until next time, keep the flame of curiosity burning. 🔥

In Episode 05 of The Alighted Way, Janelle and Colleen step into the Western mythological tradition to examine how dragons came to be framed as monsters—and why heroes were celebrated for slaying them. Through stories drawn from Christian, Norse, and Greek mythology, this episode explores the cultural roots of the dragon-slayer narrative and what it reveals about power, fear, and moral storytelling.

From St. George and Archangel Michael to Thor, Apollo, Medusa, Typhon, and Python, Janelle traces how dragons were defeated, subdued, imprisoned, or killed, and questions whether these victories were truly heroic—or simply a matter of who survived to tell the story. The conversation expands into Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey and the blurred line between good and evil, asking listeners to reconsider who the real monsters might be.

A reflective dialogue follows, where Janelle and Colleen unpack these myths through lived experience, travel, and personal reflection, setting the stage for a future shift toward Eastern perspectives where dragons are revered as guardians, allies, and teachers rather than enemies.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:00 — Entering the Western lens on dragons and hero myths
• 01:00 — Monsters, perspective, and who gets to tell the story
• 03:30 — Origins of the word ‘dragon’ and ancient interpretations
• 06:20 — St. George, Christianity, and conditional salvation
• 08:45 — Archangel Michael and the myth of cosmic battle
• 11:00 — Norse mythology: Thor, the World Serpent, and Ragnarök
• 14:00 — Greek dragon myths: Medusa, Typhon, and Apollo
• 17:30 — Blood, purification, and the cost of dragon-slaying
• 19:00 — Reflective dialogue: story-making and lived experience
• 24:30 — Medusa reconsidered and reframing villain narratives
• 28:30 — Setting up the Eastern perspective on dragons

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such.”
• “People fear what they don’t understand—and call it a monster.”
• “The victor is usually the one who gets to tell the story.”
• “The line between good and evil is rarely as clean as fairy tales suggest.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Western Dragon Mythology • Hero’s Journey • Monsters & Morality • Power & Perspective • Storytelling & Cultural Memory • Fear vs. Understanding

💠 Takeaway Message

Western dragon myths often frame destruction as heroism, reinforcing the idea that what we fear must be conquered. By revisiting these stories with discernment, we can begin to see how narrative, power, and perspective shape belief—and open the door to more nuanced ways of understanding both dragons and ourselves.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• St. George and the Dragon

http://www.saintgeorges.ca/our-patron

• Archangel Michael and Michaelmas

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/st-michaels-day-and-michaelmas-traditions

• Norse mythology: Thor and Jörmungandr

https://www.norsegarde.com/en-ca/blogs/lore-and-mythology/thor-and-jormungandr-the-eternal-rivalry-that-ends-in-ragnarok?srsltid=AfmBOorZeWc5UXk984Ike8I1SspPsEaAFpzYUCoH8Czz4OdRSYV2Ppj2

• Greek mythology: Medusa, Typhon, Apollo, Delphi

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html

https://www.theoi.com/Gigante/Typhoeus.html

https://www.theoi.com/Ther/DrakainaPython.html

• Joseph Campbell – The Hero’s Journey

https://www.jcf.org/learn/joseph-campbell-heros-journey

✨ Call to Action

If this episode challenged how you think about heroes and monsters, share The Alighted Way with someone who enjoys myth, meaning, and re-examining old stories. Join us next as we turn toward the Eastern reverence of dragons as allies, guardians, and guides.

This conversation explores how spiritual guides can arrive in surprising forms, how readiness and trust shape these relationships, and why dragons may be appearing more frequently during times of collective healing.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

• First encounters with spiritual guides during Reiki practice
• What it means to work with a dragon guide
• Trust, timing, and spiritual readiness
• Dragons as symbols of protection and healing
• How guides evolve alongside us
• Subtle versus vivid spiritual experiences
• Personal boundaries and consent in sharing spiritual connections

Episode Timeline

• 02:20 – Welcome & Introduction
• 02:41 – First Meeting Praxis
• 03:27 – Who Is Praxis?
• 04:10 – Comparing Reiki Guides
• 05:00 – What Was Most Surprising
• 06:14 – Looking Back: Dragons Then and Now
• 07:02 – The House Guardian Dragon
• 08:10 – Messages, Readiness, and Consent
• 09:32 – How Communication Happens
• 10:18 – Do Others Have Dragon Guides?
• 10:57 – Abilities and Surprises
• 11:45 – The Dragon Realm
• 12:29 – Why Dragons Now?
• 13:06 – Closing

Resources mentioned:

• Colleen's website: omspirit.ca

Notable Quotes

• “He’s my Reiki guide, but he’s also just a regular guide—and he’s not going anywhere.”
• “It’s about levels of readiness, not just mine, but the dragon’s too.”
• “The world needs a lot of healing—and for me, that healing came in the form of a dragon.”

Listener Reflection Prompt

Have you ever had a guide, symbol, or presence show up in a way you didn’t expect?
What helped—or hindered—you in trusting that experience?

Janelle expands the conversation globally, touching on phallic rites in Greece, Italy, Nepal, Japan, and beyond, before transitioning into the deep mythic heart of Bhutan: dragons. With striking storytelling, she recounts her powerful dragon initiation at Burning Lake, where a vision of a small dragon named Orchow became a transformative companion during her shamanic training. The episode closes on themes of guardianship, spiritual relationship, and how beings of myth offer wisdom for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.

🔥 Key Moments

02:03 — Welcome to Bhutan: Land of thunder dragons, and unabashed phallic reverence.

03:16 — Phallus Culture Explained: Protection rituals, fertility symbols, house blessings, and rural traditions.

04:52 — A Global Pattern: Parallels in Greece, Nepal, Italy, Japan, and even modern Iceland.

10:20 — The Divine Madman: Drukpa Kunley, his flaming thunderbolt of wisdom, and the temple rituals linked to his legacy.

12:30 — Festival of the Naked Man Dance: A sacred cultural rite.

13:40 — Dragons & Bhutanese Mythology: Thunder, lightning, protection, and national identity.

14:20 — Burning Lake Vision: Encountering a guardian serpent and receiving permission.

15:12 — Dragon Initiation: Meeting Orchow, exchanging essence, forging connection.

16:16 — Power Animals & Shamanic Training: How Orchow participated and evolved.

17:38 — Endings & Return: Orchow’s healing departure, and lasting presence.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“It symbolizes fertility, protection, and good luck. In Bhutan, the phallus is never just a phallus.”

“He struck the demoness with the thunderbolt of flaming wisdom.”

“The dragon ran straight toward me. We circled each other, eye to eye, soul to soul.”

“They come for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. For Orchow it was a season.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Cultural Symbolism • Tradition and Modernity • Mythic Beings as Teachers • Vision States • Fertility & Creation

💠 Takeaway Message

Symbols endure because they hold cultural memory, spiritual power, and collective meaning. When we meet these symbols with openness, we step into deeper relationship with ourselves and the unseen world.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Fertility temples of Bhutan

• Divine Madman (Drukpa Kunley) 

• Phallic festivals worldwide

• Icelandic Phallological Museum

• Burning Lake (Mebar Tsho)

• Dragon symbolism in Bhutan

✨ Call to Action

If this journey into Bhutan’s mysteries stirred something for you, share The Alighted Way with a friend, leave a review, and follow the show for upcoming episodes exploring symbolism, spirit allies, and the extraordinary woven into everyday life.

Mark shares decades of experience capturing fine art photography and describes how sprites—animal, mythic, and symbolic forms—emerge within flames during body fire sessions. These shapes, often perceived differently by each viewer, appear to mirror the inner world of the person working with fire, revealing deeply personal meanings and emotional truths.

The conversation moves beyond spectacle into psychology, boundaries, and integration. Fire becomes a marker experience—a high-water point that recalibrates how fear is measured in everyday life. Through stories of transformation, healing, and reclaimed agency, this episode highlights how consciously chosen challenges can reshape identity and restore personal power.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:07 — Welcome back to The Alighted Way and introduction of Mark Laurie
• 02:19 — Elementals and body fire: empowerment through safe fire work
• 03:09 — What are sprites? Animals, mythic beings, and meaning in flames
• 05:36 — Perception and symbolism: how sprites differ for each viewer
• 06:36 — Witnessing body fire: fear, awe, and rapid transformation
• 08:29 — Trusting the fire practitioner and the importance of safety
• 09:23 — Fire as a playful but powerful initiatory tool
• 10:49 — Fire as a personal benchmark for fear and resilience
• 12:34 — Boundaries, discernment, and conscious risk-taking
• 15:36 — Integration, healing, and reclaiming agency after trauma
• 17:14 — Closing reflections and invitation to the dragon path

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “The flames speak to different people on different wavelengths.”
• “Fire becomes the high-water mark for fear.”
• “Once you push one boundary, the next one gets easier.”
• “Safety always comes first.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Sprites & Elementals • Empowerment Through Fire • Perception & Symbolism • Boundaries & Consent • Fear Recalibration • Healing & Integration

💠 Takeaway Message

Fire, when approached with preparation and trust, becomes a mirror rather than a threat. The courage cultivated through embodied experiences does not end in the moment itself—it continues as a reference point, reminding us that we are capable, resilient, and far more powerful than we once believed.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Inner Spirit Photography – Mark Laurie
• Body fire photography
• Elementals and sprites in flame
• Fire as an empowerment practice
• Public speaking and confidence-building through challenge

✨ Call to Action

If this episode sparked curiosity or reflection, share The Alighted Way with someone who values conscious transformation. Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes exploring dragons, symbolism, and the forces that shape our inner landscapes.

The episode weaves together personal narrative, cultural observation, and philosophical reflection, moving from glowing coal paths to erupting volcanoes in Hawai‘i and Iceland, from sacred fire dances in Bali and Polynesia to the controlled intensity of a live lava show. At its core, this episode asks what it truly means to take calculated risks, to know one’s limits, and to step willingly into experiences that demand trust, focus, and surrender.

The conversation closes by reframing fire not as reckless danger, but as an initiatory force—one that reveals resilience, sharpens self-knowledge, and leaves behind sparks of insight for those willing to walk through it.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:07 — Welcome to The Alighted Way: Adventure, transformation, and the call of fire
• 01:10 — Fire Eating & Fire Walking: Technique, trust, and mind-over-matter
• 01:48 — Coal Walking: Entering the “mind palace” and committing fully
• 04:40 — Volcano Encounters: Lava flows in Hawai‘i and risk awareness
• 06:45 — Icelandic Fire Experiences: Lava shows and the line between awe and safety
• 08:25 — Fire Performance Traditions: Polynesia, Māori poi, and Balinese Kecak dance
• 10:28 — Being Lit on Fire: The photoshoot, expectations vs. reality
• 12:25 — Sprites & Dragons in the Flames: What reveals itself in fire
• 13:20 — Closing Reflections: Courage, boundaries, and walking beside one another

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “Those who have walked through the fire leave sparks of light everywhere they go.”
• “Some fear the fire. Some become it.”
• “The fire which enlightens is the same fire which consumes.”
• “Safety always comes first.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Fear & Courage • Calculated Risk • Embodied Presence • Fire as Teacher • Cultural Fire Traditions • Transformation Through Experience

💠 Takeaway Message

Transformation does not come from recklessness, but from conscious choice. Fire teaches us that clarity, preparation, and self-awareness determine whether we are burned—or illuminated. Knowing when to step forward, and when to step back, is part of walking an aligned path.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Fire walking and fire eating traditions
• Active volcano experiences in Hawai’i: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Live lava shows in Iceland: https://www.lavashow.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21031327585&gbraid=0AAAAAC8xrHeUBLvnLevk0pYlui-oJz2_x&gclid=CjwKCAiAmp3LBhAkEiwAJM2JUBIsiJgwIhzcfHWTpWOs_FJ_XoVJnSq1xdCgk5C6XJWGGITbCXU_0hoCaqUQAvD_BwE
• Polynesian fire performance: https://www.polynesia.com/packages?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19311784&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ZKoa-BfJE8-GkhcYus6QogM5_b&gclid=CjwKCAiAmp3LBhAkEiwAJM2JUNoGz615ZARW7c66qZHt9yo0poEtmSMa7qd1F4zyTRsI-9v0CF_y3RoChAIQAvD_BwE
• Māori poi spinning
• Balinese Kecak (fire) dance: https://www.theungasan.com/blog/the-kecak-dance-a-fiery-display-of-balinese-culture/
• Cultural fire rituals across the world

✨ Call to Action

If this episode sparked reflection for you, share The Alighted Way with someone who appreciates meaningful risk and deep listening. Follow the podcast for future episodes exploring elemental wisdom, spirit encounters, and the stories that shape who we become

This show is about pushing limits into the unknown, discovering who we really are in the process, and celebrating the moments of connection that make us feel more alive.

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Contact Janelle & Colleen: 

• TheAlightedWay.com
• Instagram: @TheAlightedWay
• Email: thealightedway@outlook.com