Following the Aliveness
Janine Schipper
“Following the Aliveness” takes a deep dive into the sacred in everyday life in under 15 minutes, making it a perfect way to start your day, your meditation practice, or simply providing a moment of sacred time amidst life's busyness and chaos.“Following the Aliveness” is hosted by Janine Schipper, a forest wanderer, mother, meditation teacher, environmental sociologist, and explorer of the deep mysteries that lie within. New podcast episodes are available twice weekly.
Mid-Week Breather 22: Exploring Mind, Body, and Being
In today’s Mid-Week Breather, you'll gently explore the interconnectedness of your Mind, Body, and Being, guided to experience them as one unified, luminous presence.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Please listen in a quiet, safe space where you can focus. If you’re driving or need full attention, wait until you're in a safe environment. 🙏🏼 Explore the “Following
Episode 22: Walking Awake
“There was no separation, no boundary between self and world.” Join us today as Janine shares how the Mind, Body, and Light of Being intertwined during a "walking awake" experience through the forest, despite feeling physically tired. Today’s contemplative reflection, “Walking Awake” was written by Janine Schipper on February 3, 2025.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday.
Mid-Week Breather 21: Easing Pain with Presence
This mid-week breather offers a gentle meditation to help ease pain or discomfort in your body. While not a substitute for medical care, it’s a simple practice you can return to anytime you need support.This meditation is inspired by: Lucialorn. 2019. The Incredible Reality of YOU: A Spiritual Guide to the Awakening of Consciousness. Library and Archives Canada.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-W
Episode 21: Silence within Silence
“Part of me aches to return to the early morning shadows, feeling as if within those shadows live other shadows and realms unknown.” In today’s episode, follow Janine into the silence as she reaches for a deeper quiet that seemed just beyond her grasp.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Please listen in a quiet, safe space where you can focus. If you’re driving or need
Mid-Week Breather 20: Sleeptime Rainbow Meditation
Here’s a Sleeptime Rainbow Meditation designed to inspire rest, calm, and a touch of magic for all.✨🌈To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Please listen in a quiet, safe space where you can focus. If you’re driving or need full attention, wait until you're in a safe environment. 🙏🏼 Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com
Episode 20: Old Friend
“Every now and then Mind tries to reclaim centerstage. I calmly step aside and let it continue on its way.” In today’s episode, Janine explores the antics of the mind and shares how a morning encounter with a group of crows helped her shift her perspective on the constant chatter within. Join us as we reflect on how to gently step back and observe our thoughts, rather than letting them take center stage.Today’s contemplative reflection, “Old Friend” was written by Janine Schipper on January 10,
Mid-Week Breather 19: Metta Meditation: Cultivating Loving-Kindness for Yourself and the World
In this week’s Mid-Week Breather, we engage in a loving-kindness meditation (Metta) to nurture compassion for ourselves and the world around us. This practice offers a gentle way to connect with the heart and extend care to all beings.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Please listen in a quiet, safe space where you can focus. If you’re driving or need full attention,
Episode 19: When the World is on Fire
“‘Take care of your heart,’ the trees called forth.” In this episode, Janine explores the overwhelming weight of the world’s suffering and the question, “What can one person do?” Join her as she shares one accessible approach to navigating these moments with tenderness and care.Today’s contemplative reflection, “When the World is on Fire” was written by Janine Schipper on January 13, 2025.Reference:Dossey, Larry. 2014. One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Collective Consciousne
Mid-Week Breather 18: Connect with your Inner Guidance
Discover the power of your intuition in this week’s mid-week breather! Janine guides you through a meditation designed to help you tap into your inner wisdom—perfect for moments of uncertainty or when tough decisions arise. This is an opportunity to pause, tune in, and connect with the quiet, steady voice within that so often holds the answers you’re seeking. Reference:Chestney, Kim. 2020. Radical Intuition: A Revolutionary Guide to Using Your Inner Power. New World Library.To share comments, se
Episode 18: The Wise One Within
“The wise one within at last makes an appearance, saving me from the throws of self-deprecation that I have fallen into.” Join us today as Janine shares a vulnerable experience and how she connected with her inner wisdom to guide her. Her journey invites listeners to reflect on their own capacity to access inner guidance.Today’s contemplative reflection, “The Wise One Within,” was written by Janine Schipper on January 26, 2025.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunda
Mid-Week Breather 17: The Diamond that Cuts Through Illusion
This Mid-Week Breather offers a guided meditation designed to help listeners cut through the illusion of separation, guiding them to directly experience the interconnectedness of all things and the constant, ever-shifting flow of reality.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact
Episode 17: Remembering, Forgetting, and Remembering Again
“Sometimes I forget that each step is a magical, wonderous dance of existence. Until I remember, again.” Join us as Janine shares her experience of moving in and out of clarity—one moment fully present, the next lost in a dream, and then finding her way back. Today’s contemplative reflection, “Remembering, Forgetting, and Remembering Again” was written by Janine Schipper on January 14, 2022.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following th
Mid-Week Breather 16: Portals into the Unknown - Meditation
In today’s mid-week breather, I’ll guide you into the space between breaths, thoughts, and sounds- entering “portals into the unknown” and exploring the subtle qualities of these transitional moments.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.followingtheali
Episode 16: Portals into the Unknown
“I seek doorways into this Great Mystery, the easiest one for me being the space between two breaths, but there are infinite entry points.” Join us as we explore transitional spaces—where boundaries dissolve and we have access to the great mystery of the unknown. Note: this episode references the “What If Game.” You can hear more about this in Episode 3: The What If Game and Mid-Week Breather 3: Playing the What If Game.Today’s contemplative reflection, “Portals into the Unknown” was written by
Mid-Week Breather 15: Setting Intentions for a New Year
In this mid-week breather, we’ll explore the practice of setting a spiritual intention for the new year—one that aligns with your inner truth, growth, and connection to the present moment. May you find peace and wellbeing. As you move through the year ahead, may you Follow the Aliveness!To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website
Episode 15: Birds Flying in My Heart
“If one discovers oneself moving as the heart of the Universe, it becomes clear that we are all an outpouring of the Great Heart.” Join Janine as she explores a shift in perception, where the Universe and the self merge. Experience a meditation that invites you to play with this shift, offering you a taste of what it feels like to perceive the world in a whole new way.Today’s contemplative reflection, “Birds Flying in My Heart,” was written by Janine Schipper on December 6, 2024.Reference:Donald
Mid-Week Breather 14: Touching the Sacred in Everyday Spaces
In today’s midweek breather, I’ll guide you through a simple visualization. We’ll begin by connecting with a space that feels sacred to you, whether it’s a place in nature, a place of worship or a quiet space. Then, we’ll bring that sacred energy into an ordinary space—one that feels neutral or mundane—and watch as it transforms, infusing the everyday with the beauty and presence of the sacred. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following
Episode 14: Walgreens meets The Enchanted Forest
“Suddenly, I transformed from an alien in a foreign world to a forest dweller who carried the spirit of the forest with me into the Walgreens.” Join us as Janine explores and blurs the lines between sacred space and those places that we consider ordinary and anything but sacred. Today’s contemplative reflection, “Walgreens meets the Enchanted Forest,” was written by Janine Schipper on January 19, 2024.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “
Mid-Week Breather 13: The Diamond Within Visualization
This week’s Mid-Week Breather offers an extended version of the last episode’s visualization of the Diamond Within. May this visualization help you touch the diamond within yourselves and help you connect with peace and wellbeing. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine
Episode 13: The Diamond Within
“The true value lies … in the stillness that allows the diamond within to shine undisturbed.” Join us as Janine reflects on a place of crystalline beauty that shines bright within each one of us. Today’s contemplative reflection, “The Diamond Within,” was written by Janine Schipper on December 25, 2023.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Al
Mid-Week Breather 12: Finding Peace within the Body
This body scan meditation gently guides listeners to explore the sensations within their bodies, cultivating a sense of presence and peace. By bringing awareness to each part of the body with curiosity and care, it invites a deeper connection to the stillness within. Perfect for grounding yourself and finding calm amidst life’s busyness.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesd
Episode 12: This One Miraculous Moment
“In the present moment, there is only the miracle of existence.” In today's episode, Janine delves into the struggle of staying present when the mind's chatter takes hold. She shares how, despite this, a single mindful breath can unveil the miracle of the moment, far beyond what the mind can conceive.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Alive
Mid-Week Breather 11: Flowing Through Time and Resting in Timelessness
Today’s mid-week breather offers a guided meditation to help listeners connect with the flow of linear time while also experiencing the timelessness of the present moment.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/contact Find “Fol
Episode 11: The Passage of Time
“Time creates the world, and despite all its heartache and pain, the world remains exquisitely beautiful.” Join us as Janine reflects on the swift passage of time while taking moments to pause and rest in the present—the timeless space beyond the flow of time. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingt
Mid-Week Breather 10: Insight Meditation (Vipassana)
In this Mid-Week Breather, Janine offers a guided insight meditation practice, or Vipassana, designed to deepen present-moment awareness and uncover insights into the nature of reality. We hope you enjoy this session and find it beneficial. You might even consider saving it to revisit as part of your regular meditation routine. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Expl
Episode 10: Indra's Net and the Fantastical Interconnectedness of the Universe
“The crystals of Indra’s Net emerge as you and me, as a dew drop and a baby elk, as my cell phone and a dandelion puff. We are the jewels of the Universe.” Join us as Janine explores the metaphor of Indra’s Net—a radiant web where each jewel mirrors every other, illustrating the interconnectedness of all existence. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Foll
Mid-Week Breather 9: Quieting the Inner Noise
Today's mid-week breather helps listeners break free from the grip of compulsive thinking, offering a sense of release, calm, and presence.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/contact Find “Following the Aliveness” on Faceboo
Episode 9: Savor and Let Go
“Each day brings a new energy, just as things naturally shift and change over time. Holding onto yesterday isn’t wise.” Join us today as Janine shares her heartfelt journey of launching her podcast, explores meaningful connections, and offers practical insights on savoring the moment while gracefully letting go.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Followin
Mid-Week Breather 8: Deep Peace, Boundless Awareness
In today’s Mid-week Breather, Janine guides listeners through a meditation designed to nurture a deep sense of peace and awareness, starting from their innermost core and extending to the vastness of the universe.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.fo
Episode 8: What Matters Most
“A precious life is built moment by moment, day by day.” Join us today for an exploration of what truly matters in life. In a world where each moment is filled with infinite possibilities—and in a culture constantly competing for our attention—where should we place our focus?To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://
Mid-Week Breather 7: Calming Anxiety
This week’s Mid-Week Breather invites listeners to release tension in their bodies and visualize a serene scene, allowing themselves to enter a state of calm, ease, and wellbeing.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/contact F
Episode 7: The Heart's Remembering
“I slow down my pace until it becomes so relaxed that I can hear my heart’s tender longing to return to itself.” Join us as we delve into the heart's deepest longings and discover the direction your heart wishes to take you.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: htt
Halloween Bonus Episode: In the Shadows
In this special Halloween bonus episode, join Janine for a journey into the Shadows, where hidden mysteries await both within and around us.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/contact Find “Following the Aliveness” on Facebo
Mid-Week Breather 6: Warm Blanket Meditation
Today's guided meditation offers a gentle invitation to connect with your practice in a tender, nurturing way. For those of us carrying the weight of stress or anxiety, this meditation grounds us in the core of our being, helping us rediscover a sense of calm and inner ease.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://w
Episode 6: Feeling Deeply into the World
“I have returned to a world where the gossamer wings of a fly that has landed on my foot has the capacity to fascinate and fill me with joy.” Join us for today’s episode as Janine shares her journey into forging deep connections with the more-than-human world and offers insights on how we can all cultivate a closer relationship with nature. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wed
Mid-Week Breather 5: Awakening to the Now
Today's Mid-Week Breather offers an extended version of the closing meditation from this past Sunday's episode titled “Waking Up to the Moment.” May you experience peace and well-being. As you go about your day, may you embrace the aliveness within you!To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealivene
Episode 5: Waking Up to the Moment
“From this place of endless possibilities, my heart is not restricted but opens wide and wild.” Join us for this week’s episode as Janine explores the freedom that is possible within one aware moment. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.followingthealiveness.com/Contact Janine at: https://www.followingtheal
Mid-Week Breather 4: Observing the Wild Nature of Thoughts
Today's mid-week breather offers an extended version of the closing meditation from this past Sunday's episode titled “These Wild Thoughts.” May this meditation help you to connect with the sacred in everyday life. May you find peace and wellbeing. As you move through your day, may you Follow the Aliveness!To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Explore the “Following the
Episode 4: These Wild Thoughts
“I wonder, as with the ways of the forest, might the thinking mind simply reflect the wild within?” In today’s episode, Janine delves into the wild terrain of thoughts, drawing parallels to the untamed nature she encounters on her morning walks. Join us as we explore the wild nature of our thoughts.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Sunday contemplative reflections a
Mid-Week Breather 3: Playing The What If Game
Today's Mid-Week Breather offers guidance on a way to play The What If Game. If you’d like to learn more about The What If Game, please listen to this past Sunday's episode. To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Sunday contemplative reflections are available in written form on the Following the Aliveness Substack at https://followingthealiveness.substack.com/ Explore t
Episode 3: The What If Game
“What if everything I see is part of me?” In today’s episode, Janine delves into the idea that we are much more than we realize—beyond just individual, separate selves—by introducing a game she calls “The What If Game.” Join us for this intriguing episode and play along! To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Sunday contemplative reflections are available in written form
Mid-Week Breather 2: Finding the Calm Space Within
This week, with many friends struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, I wanted to offer a meditation to help us find the calm within. Additionally, many of us are feeling anxious and overwhelmed—whether by the upcoming election, ongoing wars, the effects of climate change, or our own personal challenges. So I hope this meditation helps you center yourself and immerse yourself in a deep sense of inner stillness.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a
Episode 2: The Essence of Things
“You are never alone. / We co-arise together / Swapping breaths / In this mysterious dance of form.” ~Spider Tree as quoted by Janine SchipperIn today’s episode, Janine ponders what it means to connect with the essence of everyday objects, exploring “the essence of things” like her rocking chair or a rock on her windowsill. Join us and connect with the essence of everyday objects in your life.To share comments, send us a text.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following t
Mid-Week Breather 1: Taking One Sacred Step
Send us a textToday's Mid-Week Breather offers a short meditation that will help you come fully into the present moment and take one sacred step. Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a new episode of “Following the Aliveness” and enjoy a Mid-Week Breather every Wednesday. Sunday contemplative reflections are available in written form on the Following the Aliveness Substack at https://followingthealiveness.substack.com/ Explore the “Following the Aliveness” website at: https://www.following
Episode 1: Greeting This Sacred Moment
Send us a text“There was a nobility in the silence of the early morning, a graciousness offered to me by the first light that called me to take a different approach to the day.” In this episode we explore how a single step can be a gateway to connecting with what’s most sacred in our lives. We discuss the challenges of taking that step and how nature can guide and support us along the way. Tune in for insights on embracing the sacred in everyday moments.Support the showJoin us every Sunday for a
Welcome to Following the Aliveness
Send us a textFollowing the Aliveness takes a deep dive into the sacred in everyday life in under 15 minutes, making it a perfect start to your meditation practice, providing a moment of sacred time during a busy day, or even in the midst of life's chaos.Join us every Sunday for a new episode. And enjoy a Midweek Breather every Wednesday, a guided meditation inspired by the previous Sunday’s episode. We're excited to announce that the first episode will launch on September 22nd, just in time to