Finding Guidance Beyond the VisibleFinding Guidance Beyond the Visible
A Quest for Well-Being
Counsellor and forest therapy guide Amanda Chapman shares how nature, subtle spiritual signs and daily rituals can ease suffering born from attachment, trauma and co-dependency. The conversation highlights gentle ways to move from fear to love while finding guidance beyond what’s visibly seen.
52:21•30 Aug 2026
Finding Guidance Beyond the Visible: Forest Bathing, Spirit and Letting Go of Suffering
Episode Overview
- Pain is part of being human, but suffering often stems from attachment and can lessen as we loosen our grip.
- Co-dependent patterns and an exaggerated sense of responsibility can create deep, ongoing suffering in relationships.
- Intentional time in nature—sitting quietly, walking slowly, breathing deeply—can restore calm and reconnect you with yourself.
- Simple daily rituals, like waking gently, noticing morning thoughts and greeting your guides, help shift life from fear towards love.
- Spiritual experiences and inner knowing are accessible to everyone; people are "wired" for connection with something greater.
“We are forgetting that we are that love, that peace, that joy.”
What drives someone to seek a life of deeper peace, especially after periods of pain, anxiety and feeling completely knocked off course? This conversation between host Valeria Teles and counsellor–guide Amanda Chapman speaks to anyone in recovery who senses that sobriety is only the beginning of healing. Amanda shares how the Covid era pushed her into a "hard reset" of her life, moving from traditional talk therapy into nature-based and spiritual work.
Her story of a traumatic theft, followed by a cascade of meaningful "lion" signs and synchronicities, becomes a living example of how guidance from beyond the visible can feel real, comforting and oddly practical. As she puts it, "Suffering is when we are holding on with attachment," and much of her work helps people loosen that grip. You’ll hear Amanda explain the difference between unavoidable pain and optional suffering, using co-dependent relationships and prolonged grief as clear examples.
For anyone dealing with addiction, trauma or codependency, her "be the lighthouse, not the coast guard" metaphor lands especially well: shining steadily instead of burning out trying to rescue everyone. Nature and forest bathing run through the episode as a gentle, accessible practice. Simple things—finding a quiet "sit spot," walking barefoot on grass, waking slowly and noticing morning thoughts, or saying good morning to one’s guides—are shared as everyday rituals to reconnect with love rather than fear.
Amanda stresses that spiritual experiences aren’t reserved for "special" people: "We all have this ability… we are wired for it." The tone stays warm, non-judgemental and honest, with plenty of humour around ego, control and the messy parts of being human. If you’re sober or working towards it and sense that healing needs to reach your heart, body and spirit, this episode offers gentle companionship and practical ideas grounded in lived experience.
Could spending more time with trees and quiet inner signals be your next step toward peace?
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