How to Heal After Betrayal: 5 Powerful Tools to Alchemise the Hurt

There’s no pain quite like betrayal. Whether it comes from a romantic partner, a close friend, a family member, or a trusted colleague, the sting of betrayal can shake your foundation and leave emotional scars that linger far longer than the moment itself. Why? Because betrayal comes from those we once trusted—those we believed were safe.

But here’s the truth: betrayal doesn’t have to define your future. If you’re willing to do the inner work, you can transform the hurt into something meaningful—and reclaim your power in the process. In this guide, spiritual mentor and author of The Rainbow Tablets, Sia-Lanu Estrella, shares five transformative tools for healing betrayal. From emotional release techniques to rituals that reconnect you with your true self, these practices are designed to support deep soul healing and help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and wholeness.

Whether you're navigating the fallout of infidelity, a broken friendship, or a deep wound within your family, these practices will help you shift from survival mode into sacred self-restoration. Let’s dive into the healing process—and discover how to alchemise betrayal into gold.

Why does betrayal hurt so much?

Betrayal cuts so deep because you only feel betrayed by someone you trusted. You believed in their integrity and intentions towards you. So, the behavior comes as a complete shock. It’s like an earthquake against your foundations of safety. And it can trigger your fight or flight response.

Left unhealed, this response can become toxic coping mechanisms that damage your future happiness. This could include putting walls around your heart, setting out to get revenge, or toxic positivity and spiritual bypassing. None of these will serve your highest good.

Yet, with the right tools, you can alchemise the hurt and rise like the phoenix from the ashes.

5 Powerful Tools to Alchemise the Hurt

Allow yourself to process the emotion

You are an incredible cosmic being. But you are also having a human experience. Betrayal hurts, and that can’t be bypassed. Give yourself permission to feel heartbroken. But do it from a place of processing the pain rather than being swallowed by it.

It’s important to move the emotion out of the body. The most common way is through tears. No doubt, there will be some time of just wanting to lie on the couch. And because the situation is such a shock to your nervous system, it’s common to experience fatigue, headaches or back pain. But if you stay in that for too long, the energy becomes stagnant.

When an impala escapes being chased by a predator, what’s the first thing it does? It shakes off the fight or flight response. Yet, as humans, we tend to store it. This can cause depression, lack of motivation and even illness. 

Each day, bring in movement. This could be a walk in nature, gentle yoga, stretching or flow dance. If the emotion shifts to anger, you could try boxing at the gym, jogging or even jumping up and down and shaking it out of the body. You can also use your voice to release. And breathe deeply. Trauma can cause shallow breathing, so even just deepening the breath brings healing.

Develop a nourishing toolkit

After the initial shock, the instinct can be to push the hurt aside and “move on”. But sweeping it under the rug will just hinder you from manifesting the relationships and life you desire. That’s why it’s important to draw on tools and practices that keep you in your true essence.

The most powerful is your morning practice. This will clear your energy field and align you to the highest possibilities in the day ahead. The 10-minute Rainbow Pyramid Sovereignty Practice is great for this. If you have more time, you might want to add journalling, yoga, time on the beach, or something equally nourishing.

Ceremony will deepen your connection with yourself, Mother Earth and the universe. One beautiful personal practice is cacao ceremony. This heart-opening plant teacher is amazing for healing and expansion. See how to prepare your cacao ceremony here.

Sometimes residual pain might get triggered throughout the day. This could be as simple as hearing a particular song or passing a significant place. It helps to have soothing and uplifting essential oils or sprays in your bag. This will help you clear your energy and come back to your heart.

Be disciplined with your thoughts

Getting stuck in an endless cycle of going over the events will drive you crazy. Usually, you are left with two versions of the person. There’s the one you trusted, and the one who betrayed you. The person you knew “never would have done that”. But they did. And trying to understand how they could have treated you so badly will not serve you.

When you encounter betrayal, it won’t make sense. Their behaviour was not about you, it was about them. Trying to come to grips with it from the mind will only prolong the pain. Part of healing betrayal means accepting that it happened. The mind cannot help you with this. It has to come from the heart. All of the previous tools will assist with this, as will being disciplined with your thoughts.

If your mind starts heading down the rabbit warren, catch yourself and cut off that train of thought. It can help to use a visual. You might want to place the thought into a bubble filled with the violet flame and send it to the sun, knowing it is transmuted. Then replace the thought with something positive that you feel deeply. For example, “I release this fully and reclaim my highest, most loving, joyful and abundant timeline.”

Invest in yourself

When you’ve been betrayed, the aftermath often syphons and depletes your energy. Take back your power by engaging with something uplifting for yourself. It could be gifting yourself a healing program or retreat, getting fit, or learning a language. Choose something that lights up your heart. And keep feeding your soul. Read books and listen to podcasts that feel expansive. Re-awaken your magic. The Rainbow Tablets: Journey back to wholeness is great for this.

Investing in yourself shifts your focus from the past, back to the present and all that you are creating for the future. This is a wonderful way to maintain your sovereignty and consciously manifest your highest timeline.

Alchemise it and find the gold

To truly alchemise betrayal, it helps to arrive at forgiveness. This is not about the other person. It’s about you. It’s about letting go so this experience doesn’t keep weighing you down.

When processing betrayal, there can be a lot of blame. A large portion might be aimed at the person who betrayed you. But you might also slip into self-blame. Why did you not see the signs? How did you let this happen? First and foremost, be gentle with yourself. You are learning and growing. Look for the lesson in the experience. It’s not about “toughening up” or putting walls around your heart. Rather, it’s about seeing the opportunity for growth. This is the gold. It’s how you alchemise the pain into something that elevates you.

When it comes to forgiving the person who betrayed you, this does not mean you condone their actions. Rather, it is about dissolving the energetic ties with them, so they no longer have power over you. And you don’t have to tell a person you’ve forgiven them. If they are out of your life, leave it be. Forgiveness is about you moving on.

If you’re stuck on this, it helps to step back and take a higher perspective. You don’t know what experiences they endured to make them that way. Remember, this is not about you. Or, if you do know their past and feel bad for them, remember that they still made that choice. Nothing “just happens”. People choose. It is not your job to fix that person.

Your only role is to honour yourself. Reaching a point of forgiveness will set you free. Then you can move forward, taking the gold with you. Your love for yourself has to be bigger than anything that took place. Because you deserve that! So, re-focus on creating your most magical, joyful and abundant life. And if you’re ready to step into the next level of your cosmic gifts, you can dive into The Rainbow Tablets books here.

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How a Plastic Surgeon Uses Exosomes to Transform Recovery + Skin Health

We were one of the first to call it: exosomes aren’t just a trend—they’re the future of skincare and recovery. These microscopic messengers have officially made the leap from lab bench to beauty cabinet, and at this point, the science isn’t just promising—it’s personal.

But let’s be real: not all exosomes are created equal. And when it comes to understanding which formulas are worth your face (and your money), we go straight to the experts doing the work.

Enter Dr. Daniel Gould—a plastic surgeon with a PhD in bioengineering who’s bridging the gap between operating room results and regenerative skincare. He’s not just dabbling in the science; he’s deep in it. And his go-to? Plated Skin Science, a brand harnessing platelet-derived exosomes that mirror the body’s natural wound-healing genius.

We caught up with Dr. Gould to talk about what makes Plated’s formulas different, how they’re changing the post-op game, and why the smartest skin protocols start before the first incision is ever made. If you're curious about how real science is raising the bar in beauty and recovery, you’re going to want to read this.The Message and the Medium: Why Plated Stood Out

“When I first began exploring exosomes, I was intrigued by the way they carry messages between cells,” Dr. Gould shares. “It’s not just what they say—it’s how they’re packaged that determines whether they actually make an impact.”

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles that act as couriers between cells, delivering potent molecular signals that influence how tissues behave, heal, and regenerate. While many brands have entered the space with stem cell-derived exosomes or synthetic mimics, Dr. Gould zeroed in on Plated’s platelet-derived formulation because of its unique biological relevance.

“Platelets are the body’s natural first responders to injury,” he explains. “They’re primed to activate the healing cascade—reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow, and recruiting cells to repair the tissue. Using their exosomes is like mimicking nature’s own method for restoration.”

Plated's delivery mechanism ensures that these signals are not only present, but bioavailable—meaning they can be absorbed and acted upon by skin cells quickly and effectively. That kind of high-fidelity communication is what makes a visible difference in healing.

From Aesthetics to Regeneration: A New Era of Healing

Traditionally, aesthetic surgery has focused on reshaping, lifting, or resurfacing—but as Dr. Gould points out, there’s a growing shift toward regenerative outcomes.

“We’re moving away from just aesthetic enhancement and into regenerative medicine,” he says. “That means less trauma, faster healing, and better, longer-lasting results.”

For patients, this shift translates to improved skin quality and shorter downtimes. For surgeons, it opens up new ways to support recovery and optimize results beyond the scalpel.

“With regenerative tools like Plated’s exosomes, we’re not just managing wounds—we’re actively upgrading the healing process. It allows us to treat the skin as a living, responsive organ rather than just a surface to alter.”

It’s a mindset shift that could eventually change the standard of care across the entire aesthetics field.

The Pre-Op Edge: Conditioning the Skin Before Surgery

One of the most exciting uses of exosomes, according to Dr. Gould, is in preconditioning the skin before surgery or laser procedures.

“Think of it like prepping a garden before planting,” he explains. “When you reduce inflammation and improve skin barrier function before a procedure, the tissue becomes more resilient, and the results are noticeably better.”

Using Plated’s Daily Serum in the weeks leading up to surgery helps decrease baseline inflammation in the skin while improving hydration, nutrient flow, and cellular communication. At the microscopic level, this means improved blood supply and perfusion to the soft tissues, which sets the stage for a smoother recovery and more uniform healing.

“It’s not just about prepping for the sake of it—it’s about setting your skin up to respond at its highest potential,” he says. “And that changes everything.”

The Intraoperative Advantage: Applying Exosomes in Real Time

Dr. Gould often applies Plated’s Intense Serum immediately after procedures like CO2 laser resurfacing, microneedling, or surgical treatments—right when the skin is in its most vulnerable and responsive state.

“In those first few hours post-procedure, your skin is incredibly receptive to regenerative signaling,” he says. “By applying Plated’s exosomes right away, we can jumpstart the healing response.”

These exosomes work by increasing platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factors (FGF)—key molecules that downregulate inflammation while stimulating blood flow, cellular renewal, and tissue remodeling.

“The effect is tangible. Patients often report less redness and irritation, and we see faster regeneration of the skin barrier,” Dr. Gould notes. “It’s like flipping the switch from trauma to repair.”

Recovery Reimagined: What Patients Actually See

Across various treatments—from facelifts and laser resurfacing to body contouring—Dr. Gould sees consistent benefits in patients who integrate Plated’s exosomes into their recovery plans.

“Patients who use Plated post-op tend to experience visibly reduced swelling, less redness, and shorter healing timelines,” he says. “It’s not subtle—these are the kinds of results that change the experience of recovery for the better.”

This kind of accelerated healing also means patients can return to work or social activities sooner, with fewer complications or setbacks.

“It’s one thing to promise quicker recovery—it’s another to see it happening again and again in real patients. That’s what makes me a believer.”

Not All Exosomes Are Alike: The Power of Platelets

Dr. Gould is quick to point out that the source of exosomes matters—a lot.

“Stem cell-derived exosomes can be incredibly powerful, but they’re often less targeted,” he explains. “They’re like a Swiss army knife—useful for a lot of things, but not always specialized.”

By contrast, platelet-derived exosomes, like those used in Plated’s formulations, are purpose-built for healing. “They know exactly what to do when there’s an injury. They’re optimized to reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, and stimulate the vascular and immune responses required for recovery.”

That’s why Dr. Gould consistently reaches for Plated—not just for aesthetics, but for the science behind the results.

Beyond Recovery: Supporting Long-Term Skin Regeneration

While exosomes are best known for their immediate post-procedure benefits, Dr. Gould emphasizes their long-term regenerative effects as well.

“These aren’t just band-aid solutions,” he says. “Over time, we see enhanced collagen production, improved dermal thickness, and increased cellular turnover—especially in patients dealing with aging or damaged skin.”

Plated’s ability to activate PDGF and FGF pathways helps increase circulation and nutrient delivery deep within the skin layers, resulting in firmer, more resilient tissue. With consistent use, the skin doesn’t just heal—it begins to transform.

“This is where exosomes start to blur the line between clinical treatment and advanced skincare,” Dr. Gould adds.

What’s Next: Bridging Biology and Beauty

As both a surgeon and scientist, Dr. Gould is always looking to what’s next—and he’s currently at the forefront of a few exciting innovations.

“I’m working with CollPlant, a company using plant-derived collagen to develop tissue-engineered constructs for regenerating breast tissue,” he reveals. “It’s a whole new chapter in biocompatible design and personalized medicine.”

He’s also exploring topical delivery devices that improve how exosomes, peptides, and small molecules penetrate the skin—making them even more effective.

“This is where we’re headed: smarter ingredients, better delivery, and regenerative results that actually last.”

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Living Well with Barb Stegemann, Founder of The 7 Virtues: On Redefining Activism Through Sustainable, Clean Perfume

When Barb Stegemann’s best friend was wounded in Afghanistan, she made a promise—to carry on his mission of peace. Her path didn’t lead through politics or the military, but through an unexpected vehicle: perfume. With that, The 7 Virtues was born, a clean fragrance brand that sources ethically from post-conflict zones and turns everyday purchases into acts of peacebuilding.

For Stegemann, fragrance isn’t just about smelling good—it’s about shifting power. “Women hold 80% of household buying power,” she says. “That’s not a stat, it’s a force.” And with bestselling scents like Vanilla Woods and Clementine Dream now at Sephora stores worldwide, her message is clear: beauty can be a form of activism.

In this conversation, Barb shares how each fragrance tells a deeper story, how she’s using business as a tool for change, and why peace smells a lot like purpose.

Living Well with Barb Stegemannk, Founder of The 7 Virtues

You began by asking, “What if we could use perfume to rebuild nations?”—a radical idea at the time. How has your understanding of what it means to “build peace through beauty” evolved since then? I promised my best friend in the hospital I would carry on his mission of peace. He was severely wounded serving in Afghanistan. I realized as a woman I didn't have a way to touch peace. By that I mean that due to the patriarchy we are not in the numbers we deserve to be in leadership, as world leaders. I felt like we as women needed to harness our power in a new way by owning our buying power (80 per cent of household decisions are made by women - that's a lot of power). We own the voting power, if we held hands and voted in the same direction, entire governments would rise or fall because of our collective vote.  I wanted to shift away from the old way of thinking and empower women to harness our voting and buying power to "touch peace" in new ways. 

At a speech in Vancouver, the Dalai Lama said in that it will be North American women who will bring world peace. That has always stuck with me -  peaceful women would create peace. To me that meant that we don't need to do it the old way. and that absolutely every single woman can touch peace by choosing brands that are changing the world. By choosing socially responsible, B Corp, social enterprise focused, sustainably sourced brands that are funding ways to empower women. And simply by voting. NOW we take our power back. That's why we are a movement more than a brand. 

So I wrote the book The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen—a woman’s guide to living and leading in an illogical world (and it’s a very illogical world these days). I wrote it so women here in North America would run for office, launch companies, and end bullying.

Then I brought the thesis to life and began sourcing sustainable orange blossom and rose from farmers in Afghanistan so they wouldn’t have to grow the illegal poppy crop. When the Taliban took back over and we could no longer purchase those oils—after investing hundreds of thousands of dollars—I was frustrated. That’s when I discovered the next path to building peace.

We began funding Days for Girls because the way to end war is through women. When a girl is not locked in a shed in Afghanistan, or Nepal, or any country simply because she’s on her period—and she can go to school, become literate, decide how many babies she wants—then she can run for office, launch a social enterprise, and end bullying in her own community. That is how we build lasting peace. And perfume? That’s just our way in.

The 7 Virtues isn’t just a name—it’s a code. How do those virtues show up in your leadership today? I always stay in a state of wonder. That’s where all great decisions come from—there are no barriers to wonder. It’s a daily practice, like a muscle. You have to work it, even rip it, to build something new. That’s how I stay open to what can be. It’s how we innovate, how we challenge ourselves and each other with kindness. The virtues—Wonder, Balance, Truth, Courage, Justice, Wisdom, and Beauty—create a culture rooted in ethics. And beauty is really our power and our dignity. Never hand them over. Never allow anyone to take them from you. Even when there’s disagreement, the virtues keep you and your world in check. They allow for tough conversations where everyone still feels respected. That’s leadership. And that’s how you stay on track to live your destiny—with purpose and joy.

You were the first female Honorary Colonel at your base and have broken barriers across industries. How has your view of leadership evolved through those titles and experiences? Honorary Colonel remains the greatest honour of my life. I wanted to join the military with my best friend, but I was born with a hereditary hearing impairment and wouldn’t have passed the entrance test. Trevor told me, “Use the power of the pen—change the world that way.” So I earned my Bachelor of Journalism degree and followed that path.

Historically, Honorary Colonels were wealthy white men in business who would support the military. I am not a wealthy white man—I come from humble roots, and I still get excited when the water is free at an event. So to be appointed the first female Honorary Colonel in the history of our RCAF Greenwood base after giving a talk on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day—that meant everything.

When women soldiers came up to me and said they admired my way of building peace—my approach—that’s when I felt it: this is where I belong. Leadership comes in many packages. We need to keep breaking the old stereotypes and finding new ways to build peace together.

We can’t ask our brave military to do all the heavy lifting. Where are we as citizens in coming up with ways to build peace? That’s where we belong—together.

What do you hope The 7 Virtues teaches consumers about the unseen cost of fragrance—and how their choices can be a form of activism? We want people to know that fragrance isn’t just about smelling beautiful—it can be a force for good. We care deeply about our clients and their health. That’s why our perfumes are hypoallergenic, clean, and free of phthalates, parabens, and hormone disruptors. Our ingredients are sustainably sourced, and we support Days for Girls to help end period poverty. When a girl has dignity, she has freedom. When she can go to school, become literate, and decide how many children she wants—she can change her world. So yes, your perfume can be activism. Every time you choose a fragrance that empowers rather than exploits, you're creating a ripple effect.

What’s one sustainability practice you’ve implemented behind the scenes that most people wouldn’t know—but you’re proud of? Our atelier in Halifax is zero-waste. Every perfume made is designed to be worn and kept. Nothing gets poured down the sink. We designed it so you can’t fail—everything blends. That’s not just sustainable, it’s empowering. You leave with a scent and a story you created yourself.

We’re also the first and only B Corp certified perfume brand at Sephora. That means we meet the highest verified standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It’s not a marketing label—it’s a rigorous process that measures how we treat people and the planet. We did the work, and we’ll keep doing it.

Let’s talk about Vanilla Woods—your signature scent and best-seller. What was the story behind creating it, and why do you think it has struck such a chord with so many people? I designed Vanilla Woods while I was in the Sephora Accelerate program, rebuilding my brand from the ground up. It was a pivotal moment. The VP of Fragrance at Sephora—who became a mentor to us all—personally worked with me and our perfumers to redesign it. Together, we created what became our number one hero perfume.

I wanted something grounding—comforting, but with strength. It’s got pear, rose, vanilla, and a little caramel. It’s soft and sensual but never disappears. And it’s hypoallergenic—people who couldn’t wear perfume for years now tell me they can spray it on their skin or their scarf and breathe it in all day. It’s developed a real cult following. It makes people feel beautiful and safe—and you get loads of compliments when you wear it.

Is there a particular fragrance in the line that surprised you—either in how it came together or how it was received by your community? Clementine Dream. We knew there was white space in the market—no one was really filling it for citrus. Citrus is a top note and usually blows off quickly, so we spent a year and a half and went through many versions to design the longest-lasting citrus perfume. We just launched it this spring, and it’s already as big as Vanilla Woods.

I’ve been blown away by the love for Clementine Dream. I’m so glad we took the time to get it right—to build a multi-layered citrus that truly stays with you.

If someone is just discovering The 7 Virtues for the first time, which scent would you recommend as a starting point? Vanilla Woods, for sure—it’s our bestseller and it wears beautifully on everyone. If you’re feeling bold, try Cherry Ambition. If you love beachy notes, Coconut Sun is sunshine in a bottle. And if you really want to understand the heart of our brand? Come make your own at the atelier. You can’t mess it up. We made it so every blend works.

And after the atelier—or if you’re not near one—pick up our new sampler set. It has all eight perfumes in it so you can play and design your own signature scent no matter where you are.

You often describe your perfumes as tools for peace. Which fragrance, for you personally, has brought the most peace into your life—whether emotionally or spiritually? Amber Vanilla. It’s so calming. It’s in the second skin category of perfumery—it wears like an extension of you. It’s you, magnified. It’s a pheromone perfume, so when I wear it, I feel more centred, more myself. I reach for it before giving a talk, or when I need to feel grounded in the middle of a busy schedule or city. It really helps me on airplanes too—I give it to the flight attendants. It brings peace with just one spritz.

You lead a mission-driven brand, speak globally, and have lived through intense personal and professional chapters. What grounds you on a day-to-day level? Swimming. I swim every day—it’s where I think clearly. Where I process. Where I come back to myself. And I ask one question that keeps me steady: What does life require of me right now? That’s the compass.

How do you refill your creative well when you're running on empty? Are there certain places, books, podcasts, or people that you return to when you need to remember your “why”? Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. I found that book when I was trying to rebuild my life—after growing up with very little, after struggling with body image, after being abandoned. It helped me understand how powerful our self-image is—and how we can shape it. I’ve transformed my life many times. As Simone de Beauvoir said, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” There is a becoming throughout our lifetimes—we get as many chances as we like to visualize and transform. We have the power to become what we want in our lives. And as Mary Wollstonecraft said, “The beginning is always today.”

I re-read Psycho-Cybernetics every year. Travel also inspires me—London, Grasse, Miami. But mostly, it’s the people I’ve met along the way who remind me why I keep going.

You’ve said before that “business is the new way of making peace.” When you look at your journey so far, what impact are you most proud of? I’m proud that we are the first and only Canadian perfume brand in Sephora, now in 19 countries. That we’ve helped farmers in places like Haiti, Rwanda, and Afghanistan grow something that brings dignity and income. That we found a new way to build peace by supporting Days for Girls to help end period poverty. And that we’re expanding our ateliers to touch more lives here at home—so more people can create their own scent story and be part of something meaningful.

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What a Sound Healer Does to Stay Grounded When the World Gets Loud

In a world where everything feels increasingly loud—digitally, energetically, emotionally—Allison Bagg offers a rare kind of quiet. But don’t mistake her softness for subtlety. A certified sound healer, breathwork facilitator, and visual artist based in Los Angeles, Allison works at the intersection of spirit and science, using vibration to retune the nervous system, recalibrate emotional overwhelm, and bring the body back into a deeper rhythm of healing.

What sets her apart isn’t just the expansive toolkit (think: gongs, crystal alchemy bowls, planetary chimes, tuning forks, breathwork, and energy healing), but the way she weaves them together—like instruments in a symphony—to create personalized “sonic sanctuaries” for both individual and collective transformation.

She calls sound a “Trojan horse” for silence. A portal. A way back to yourself.

In this story, we tune into the rituals, reflections, and real-life practices Allison leans on to stay grounded—especially when the world feels overwhelming. From her brainwave-aware morning routine to the boundary work that’s helped her become a “retired people-pleaser,” here’s how she navigates burnout, energetics, and beauty in the in-between.

What’s one non-negotiable thing you do each morning to tune your energy before tuning into the world? A morning ritual is so important because within the first 20 minutes of waking up, we are in an altered brain wave state. Essentially, we are in meditation while waking up (hypnopompic state) and falling asleep (hypnagogic state). Using this moment for visualization, mantra work, or a simple gratitude practice can be super profound. And it also rewires the brain! On an ideal morning, I tongue scrape, oil pull, do breathwork under my red light panel for 20 minutes, and finish with a little qi gong. If I don’t have time for all that (because: life!) sipping on lemon water with a pinch of salt in the sunlight for a few minutes will do!

Sound healing can feel so mystical—how do you explain it to someone who’s only just starting to dip their toes into this? Absolutely! I love sharing about sound because it invites us to remember that we are vibrational beings and that sound is a universal language we all speak. Our first sensory experience is the sound of our mother’s heartbeat in the womb, and they say the last sense to go before we transition is our hearing. In this way, sound bookends our life. A beautiful piece of music recorded 50 years ago can still evoke emotion and send tingles down the spine - this is the power of sound. It transcends time and space and brings the body into harmony.

You can think of a soundbath (an intentional experience using vibration and frequency) as a way to retune parts of us (whether physical, mental or emotional) that have become misaligned. Sound travels 5x faster in water, and since we are made of crystalized water, it enters into the body, the tissues, the muscles, the organs and bones to reach those nooks and crannies that other things can’t quite get to. Through the power of resonance and entrainment, a soundbath brings greater coherence to the system so that everything is firing together. It brings our hearts and brains (which are often on different wavelengths) into alignment, and lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, allowing us to drop into a slower rhythm where healing can occur.

There is so much more to say about the measurable benefits of sound, but I always like to invite in the remembrance that your body knows exactly how to receive and to trust the process. A sound journey is very much about getting out of your own way and allowing the sound to do its thing!

When your brain feels a little fried (tech burnout, emotional overload, etc.), what’s the first thing you reach for: breathwork, a bowl, or a boundary? For me, a simple walk in nature always does the trick! Part of why I was drawn to sound healing was burn out and electromagnetic sensitivity. I was becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the amount of noise I was consuming - the literal noise from citylife, the more intangible atmospheric noise from wifi, bluetooth and satellite frequencies, and the astral noise from social media and societal fear. This led me to study silence as an antidote, and the power of specific frequencies to offset digital debris.

What I came to find out was that we have increasingly been cutting ourselves off from the healing resonance of the Earth, muddying the waters with all the noise we have created. But by gently plugging ourselves back into the Earth whether through grounding (feet in the grass, etc), sitting near a waterfall (lots of negative ions near running water), or simply walking and being around trees, we can reconnect to the supportive frequency of the Earth. I often tell people that my sound journeys are really just an invitation back to silence and that sound, in a way, is a trojan horse! Silence in nature is my #1 prescription!  

You’re certified in so many tools—gongs, tuning forks, crystal bowls—how do you choose which instrument to use in a session? Is it intuitive, or is there a method to the magic? Intuition definitely plays a huge role, but I also like to think of each instrument as a portal. They invite in different elements - whether Earth, Air, Fire, Metal, Crystal, Water or Ether. Different instruments can also be cooling or warming. They all have a role to play. Some are there to open and close the space, some are there to sustain us in a lazy river of sound that we can melt into. Some are there to say hello to our inner child (chimes are great for this!). Some are activating and create release, others are grounding. I love to craft a narrative and use each instrument as a texture to weave a larger tapestry.

In my sound training, I teach the history and lineage of each instrument, what they’re calling in, how they can be used to move energy or create relaxation, and how to elicit many sounds out of each so that you can explore tonal painting! It’s so fun! The most important thing is to spend time with all your instruments, map how they feel in your body and what shifts you feel. We can only ever help others walk along a path we have traversed ourselves!

What’s your favorite underrated sound healing tool that everyone should try at least once—and how do you use it? Tuning forks! They are relatively inexpensive compared to other instruments, compact and user-friendly. There are two types: weighted and unweighted. I recommend getting a weighted fork so you can place it on the body for a vibroacoustic experience. This just means, it will send vibrations into your body, which is so relaxing! Try them on acupressure points! And when in doubt, a weighted fork on heart will do you wonders. I love having them with me on long flights!

You describe your work as a marriage of spirit and science—what’s one nerdy brain fact about sound healing that most people don’t know but should? Sound naturally drops us into a slower rhythm. You can think of brain wave states as different rhythms of consciousness. In an active state, we are in beta, which is fast and alert. (Fun fact: people with ADHD have trouble staying in beta so we effectively give them speed to amp up their brain waves into this state).

When we are relaxed, our brain waves slow down to alpha. Meditation is associated with the even slower pace of theta, which is also what we drop into during REM and dream sleep. An even deeper and slower brain wave state is delta, which is dreamless sleep. I like to think of this as the rhythm of oneness, the pace of the collective unconscious. A soundbath using overtone emitting instruments naturally takes us into these slower rhythms without us having to do anything at all! It’s the ultimate hack for meditation!

Some people cry during sound baths without knowing why—what’s happening on an emotional or energetic level in those moments, from your perspective? This is a beautiful release. Sound is evocative. It can wring us out to release trapped emotions or stuck energy. Some might call this process combing through ancestral rivers. When we have a release (maybe through crying, yawning, laughing, coughing, sighing, twitching, etc), it might not even be our own experience that we are clearing. It might be something within the lineage that we are healing for our ancestors. They say when we heal ourselves, we heal 7 generations back and 7 generations forward. I always invite people to trust their own intuition around what this release might be, but also sometimes going into story keeps us attached. Trust your body to let it go. You don’t need to hold on anymore.

How do you lovingly say “no” when your energy’s running low—but the world wants you to show up anyway? This is an ongoing journey! I am a recovering people pleaser who has a history of attuning to other people’s needs over my own. Sound has played a profound role in inviting me back to my own experience, and creating safety within my body so that I can establish stronger boundaries around my time and energy. I think for a lot of people who are drawn to spiritual modalities, there might be a tendency to “leave” or dissociate. This is something I always caution clients around during sessions, and instead invite them to ground and connect with themselves, which strengthens a pathway of safety with self.

When we cultivate safety within, we stop worrying about what other people think and start to claim our needs. That being said, I’ve noticed there are seasons of expansion and seasons of contraction. In a season of expansion, I have learned to stretch my nervous system to hold more and push past my limit.

As an entrepreneur, I am always juggling many things at once (I like to say I didn’t want a 9-5 so instead I work a 24/7!), so I try to notice my creative waves and look to astrology and nature for support around when to speed up and slow down. Growth edges teach us so much! Sometimes the lesson is: I’m never doing that again! Other times the lesson is: Wow, I am capable of more than I thought. Both of these experiences help to inform how we make decisions and what we say yes or no to in the future!

You’re also an artist—how do sound and visual art feed each other in your world? Do you see sound in images or colors when you work? I don’t have synesthesia (the melding of senses), but always love when people share specific colors with certain instruments or tones in my sound journeys! The through line for me for both my sound and visual offerings is storytelling.

I was a film major in college and have always loved creating narratives and journeys. Both music and art allow for emotional interpretation. They are intuitive mediums of cosmic connection. They offer us an opportunity to see and hear ourselves in new ways. I think of them both as mirrors. What you get out of each is just a reflection of your inner world. And that’s why they’re both so subjective! I will always love both equally!

Can you share a time when your practice truly saved you or carried you through something hard—emotionally, energetically, or even physically? After traveling to Egypt in 2019, I returned with some sort of energetic flu. Something about the pyramids, the temples, the land itself, activated within me what some might call a Kundalini awakening. The thing they don’t tell you about this kind of activation, though, is how scary it is! I felt completely ungrounded, out of my body, lightheaded, queasy, and incredibly sensitive to all kinds of energetic and sensory input.

Sound helped me to come back into my body slowly and gently during this time. It taught me to ground and feel my feelings, not just think them. It showed me that I had been living my life outside of myself, and very much in the mental realms. During this time, I worked with sound to walk the very profound path from the head to the heart.

What does “energy hygiene” actually look like in your daily life? Beyond sage or crystals—what do you do to clear and protect your field before and after sessions? This is a huge topic and perhaps the most important module I teach in my sound training! Energetic hygiene is EVERYTHING! It all starts with discernment: is this mine? Did I pick this up somewhere? When and where? Take inventory first. Then: ground. When we are fortified in our own field, we are less likely to take on and enmesh with others. But if we do happen to enmesh or take something on, there are many tools to neutralize and clear this energy.

I mention neutralization because a lot of people employ a “return-to-sender” practice, but this could keep you enmeshed with whomever or wherever the energy came from. This creates karma. It’s best to neutralize first. You can do this by envisioning a golden rose and sending the energy into this flower to be neutralized. You can send it into the Earth to be transmuted and alchemized into gold. A very easy practice for clearing is washing hands after a session and inviting anything that isn’t yours to rinse off you and down the drain. A bath or shower with essential oils and salt is even better!

For my daily practice, I find movement and sweating to be very supportive. Shaking off the energy, grounding into the body, and moving the lymph is so important! Breathwork has also been a big ally for clearing and releasing. There are so many more practices for grounding, shielding and centering that can be employed, but for all practitioners I always like to teach around becoming a conduit rather than employing your own life force energy.

Spaceholders need to be held, too. Connecting with your support system (whether it’s ancestors, your higher self, plant allies, etc) is an ongoing journey, and something to employ in your morning ritual and every day routine. Don’t wait until you need to clear something - fortify yourself every day! Think of energetic hygiene like your immune system. Work on strengthening daily.

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4 Surprising Things You Need to Be Happy, According to Dr. Steven Gundry

We often think happiness comes from a dream job, a great relationship, or just “good genes.” But according to renowned heart surgeon and bestselling author Dr. Steven Gundry, there's a lesser-known source of joy that might be even more powerful: your gut.

In his new book, The Gut-Brain Paradox, Dr. Gundry unpacks the fascinating and often overlooked connection between gut health and emotional well-being. The truth? Many of the factors affecting our mood have less to do with external achievements—and more to do with what’s happening inside our microbiome. From the benefits of dirt to the power of fasting, here are some of the most surprising ways your gut could be the key to real, lasting happiness:

1. Dirt—Yes, Dirt: It turns out that our obsession with cleanliness may be making us sicker—and unhappier—than ever. We live in an age of antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers, and sterilized environments. However, according to Dr. Gundry, this war on microbes has weakened our gut microbiome and, in turn, affected our brain’s defenses against stress and anxiety.

Microbes found in soil contain beneficial bacteria that help train the immune system and promote a balanced gut. Without exposure to these microorganisms, we lose essential bacteria that produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, which directly impact our mood. So the next time you’re hesitant about walking barefoot on the grass, letting your kids play in the dirt, or snuggling with your pet, you might want to reconsider. Your gut—and your happiness—may depend on it.

2. Bitter Foods: We tend to associate happiness with sweet treats, but one of the most important flavors for mental well-being is actually bitterness.

Bitter foods—like dark chocolate, extra virgin olive oil, and coffee—are packed with polyphenols that fuel gut bacteria and reduce inflammation. And when inflammation in the gut is reduced, inflammation in the brain calms down as well. Since chronic inflammation is linked to anxiety, depression, and even brain fog, increasing your intake of bitter foods may be an easy way to boost both your gut health and your mood.

3. Fasting—The Happiness Reset: It might sound counterintuitive, but skipping a meal could actually make you feel better. Dr. Gundry is a strong proponent of time-controlled eating—simply put, shortening your daily eating window, which not only improves gut health but also enhances mental clarity and mood.

When you limit your eating window or even go on a 5-day vegan diet, your gut bacteria go through a reset. Fasting triggers a process called autophagy, where the body clears out damaged cells and creates new, healthier ones—including brain cells. Research also shows that fasting increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein that supports cognitive function and emotional well-being. So if you’re feeling sluggish or down, skipping breakfast (or dinner) might be the mental reset your body needs.

4. Socializing Feeds Your Gut—Literally: Your gut microbiome isn’t just influenced by what you eat—it’s also shaped by who you spend time with. Social interaction helps diversify gut bacteria because we naturally share microbes through touch, shared spaces, and even the air we breathe.

People who live in isolation or have limited social engagement tend to have a less diverse microbiome, which has been linked to mood disorders like anxiety and depression. Surrounding yourself with positive, health-conscious individuals can be especially beneficial—not only does it uplift your mood and mindset, but their healthy habits can also rub off on you, encouraging better dietary choices, an active lifestyle, and stress reduction. Plus, spending time with others—especially in nature or communal settings—exposes you to a wider range of microbes, strengthening your gut’s resilience.

 

Want to Learn More?

Dr. Gundry explores these surprising gut-brain connections in his new book, The Gut-Brain Paradox, where he reveals even more unexpected ways to boost happiness through gut health. You can pre-order your copy now here to discover how small changes in your diet and lifestyle can transform your mood—and your life.

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Living Well with Priscilla Tsai, founder and CEO of Cocokind: On Clean Beauty, Clear Boundaries, and the Cult-Favorite Cream That Defines Her Brand

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From redefining “clean beauty” to reinventing what a founder’s morning routine actually looks like (hint: it includes garage workouts and school drop-off mayhem), Priscilla Tsai is the kind of industry voice we never get tired of listening to. As the founder of cocokind—a brand that's built major trust for being radically transparent, refreshingly affordable, and quietly ahead of the curve—Priscilla has never played by traditional beauty rules.

We sat down with her to talk skincare myths, ingredient sourcing, the $20 cream that’s quietly become a cult favorite, and why she’s saying no to fluffy marketing—and yes to celery extract. Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered what a beauty founder swears by in her supplement cabinet? We’ve got that too.

Living Well with Priscilla Tsai, Founder and CEO of cocokind

How do you personally define 'clean beauty' now—and how has your definition changed since launching Cocokind? The term “clean beauty” is so broad and means different things depending on who you ask. Early on, I thought it meant avoiding a long list of ingredients. But over time I realized that fixating on what isn’t in a formula doesn’t guarantee that what’s in it is actually effective or good for your skin. 

At cocokind, we try to avoid fluffy marketing terms that can be confusing to consumers. Instead, we focus on showing the work like our formula facts and sustainability facts on our boxes. It also means developing high-performing formulas that are clinically tested for sensitive skin, using ingredients backed by science, and taking into account our supply chain and environmental impact.

We like to be super transparent about how and why we formulate the way we do. At the end of the day it’s about building long term trust with our community, not just checking a box.  

What does your morning routine look like these days—any small practices that set the tone for how you show up as a founder and human? I wake up between 5 and 5:30 every day. I make myself coffee, look at some emails, and review my calendar for the day. I love being an early bird and having this quiet, alone time every day to get centered.  Then, I do a quick work out at 6 in my garage. At 7, my kids wake up so it’s absolute mayhem getting them ready and out the door for school! 

We love a peek into someone’s supplement cabinet—what do you swear by? I’m currently taking a Garden of Life prenatal, Nordic Naturals fish oil, Pure magnesium glycinate, and vitamin D. 

What skincare myths do you wish more people would let go of for good? That more is always better! Overloading your routine with too-strong actives or using harsh formulas can actually do more harm than good, especially for sensitive or reactive skin.

Also that great skincare has to be expensive. Efficacy isn’t about how pricey a product is, but about how it’s formulated. You can absolutely get the results you want without overdoing it or overspending. 

What’s been your proudest “no”—a moment you turned down something that didn’t align with your integrity, even if it looked good on paper? Early on, someone told me that our pricing philosophy was “no man’s land.” She said that I could easily charge double our prices, and that consumers wouldn’t believe that the product was high quality at our $15-$25 price points. I’m so glad I ignored this advice!

Do you feel like the beauty industry is evolving fast enough when it comes to cultural representation—or does it still feel like a box-checking exercise sometimes? There’s been great progress, but there’s always more work to do. We are committed to representing the real people in our community - from bringing them on brand trips, celebrating them on our socials, and casting them in our campaigns. Personally, being able to honor my own heritage and create a safe space for others to do the same has been really meaningful! 

Your formulas often highlight ingredients we don’t always see in the mainstream: celery, sea grape caviar extract, sake. How do you decide which active ingredients make the cut—and how do you marry innovation with gentleness? Every active we use is backed by research and clinically tested. We formulate them in a way that can be used without compromising sensitive skin. We believe in “a little bit often”, which means using sometimes stronger actives but at a lower % to still get great results! 

If you could only bring three Cocokind products to a desert island (or just into your carry-on), which ones would make the cut and why? I’m definitely packing Ceramide Lip Blur Balm (our latest launch!) because I can’t go anywhere without it. It has the best hydrating, cushiony feel that isn’t sticky. I’d also bring Ceramide Barrier Serum and Electrolyte Water Cream, both help calm stressed skin and give lightweight hydration which is a must for me in hot, humid weather!

If someone could only try one product to understand Cocokind’s soul, which would it be and why? Definitely our Electrolyte Water Cream. We’re so proud of the formula that we created for its $20 price point (water creams usually cost a lot more!). It works for all skin types, especially if you’re breakout-prone. It’s just one of those products that really does it all…breathable hydration, helps with redness, and has a super light texture that’s perfect for every day.

What’s one wellness practice you’re currently obsessed with? My husband and I had a resolution this year of doing way less ordering of takeout and way more cooking. All the home cooked food has made a huge difference in how I feel every day!

Is there a book or podcast currently on your rotation that’s inspiring the way you think about life, business, or beauty? Glossangeles is still the best beauty podcast around town! Sara and Kirbie couldn’t be more witty, smart, curious, and fun to follow along. 

 If you could only pass on one advice to the next generation of women entering beauty and wellness—what would it be? Be unique and you! This industry is so competitive, the only way to stand out is to lean into your authentic self. 

The post Living Well with Priscilla Tsai, founder and CEO of Cocokind: On Clean Beauty, Clear Boundaries, and the Cult-Favorite Cream That Defines Her Brand appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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Pressed Juicery’s New Açaí Protein Bowl Is a Game-Changer for Wellness on the Go

Pressed Juicery is leveling up your post-sweat snack game. Starting tomorrow, May 6, their newest wellness bowl hits menus nationwide—and it’s a protein-packed powerhouse worth clearing your schedule (or at least your morning routine) for.

Meet the Açaí Protein Bowl: a creamy, fruity, and functional meal that’s as satisfying as it is nourishing. Whether you’re headed to Pilates, powering through a packed calendar, or simply looking to reset after a weekend of indulgence, this bowl is built to support you with real nutrition—and serious flavor.

So what makes it so crave-worthy?
Pressed took their signature açaí base and gave it a performance-driven makeover. It’s got:

+ 27g of Protein – A plant-based and whey protein blend designed to energize your day and keep you full.

+ Fresh Fruit Toppings – A vibrant medley of bananas, strawberries, and blueberries that adds natural sweetness and essential nutrients.

+ Crunchy Goodness – Think crispy whey protein puffs, chopped almonds, and just the right amount of texture to keep things interesting.

+ Functional Add-Ons – Infused with collagen to support skin and joint health, and finished with a rich almond butter drizzle for that extra layer of decadence.

Why We’re Excited
We’ve long been fans of the Beauty Bowl—with its glow-enhancing vitamin C, bee pollen, and added collagen, it’s one of our go-tos for skin support from the inside out. The Açaí Protein Bowl brings that same Pressed magic but shifts the focus toward strength and recovery, making it a perfect complement for days when you need a little more fuel in the tank.

And in classic Pressed fashion, it’s all made with clean, quality ingredients—no corners cut.

Where to Find It
The Açaí Protein Bowl launches May 6 at participating Pressed Juicery locations nationwide. If you're already a bowl devotee, this new addition might just be your next healthy obsession.

Ready to fuel up? Swing by Pressed and dive in—you’ll get your protein fix and your smoothie bowl moment in one delicious bowl.

The post Pressed Juicery’s New Açaí Protein Bowl Is a Game-Changer for Wellness on the Go appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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