Alex Lewis Podcast Transcript

Welcome to the fashion weekly podcast coming up. [00:00:05] alex: this beautiful woman comes into my room and sort of circles my bed and asked me questions. And she tells me that I'm going to lose my left arm above the elbow or lose both of my feet and my ankles and lower leg. [00:00:20] They're not sure if they'll be able to save the knee. And that they would need to, carry out some facial reconstruction [00:00:27] and then she was gone [00:00:29] [00:00:29] I'm your host Miranda holder. And I can honestly say that fashion has saved my life. As I broke into the industry in my late thirties, following a life-changing car accident that nearly left me wheelchair bound and paralyzed. I promised myself that if I recovered, I would realize my lifelong dream and years later, after a long grueling recovery, I'm doing what I love. [00:00:55] I'm now lucky enough to be a luxury fashion stylist and stylist stars. [00:01:00] I also create fashion shoots for glossy magazines and can regularly be found sharing my passion for dressing well as a style expert on TV and radio, I'm also dedicated to trying to help others through their own challenging times. This podcast is all about bringing a little light into your day. As I chat to stylish friends from the world of show business and beyond who share what fashion means to them, as well as inspirational insights and feel good advice on topics, which fascinate me. [00:01:29] And I think you'll love as well. All of which are intended to help you look and feel your best. If you feel others would benefit from this podcast and please do share it on social media. As this will allow me to reach more people and help me get my message across a little review would be wonderful and helped me so much. [00:01:48] And finally, don't forget to subscribe. So you never miss an episode. This is the fashion weekly podcast with Miranda holder. [00:01:56] me: If you're feeling a bit low today and in need of a perspective shift, and [00:02:00] I've got the episode for you. I am chatting to quadruple amputee, Alex Lewis, who is quite simply the most inspiring human I have ever met, despite his shocking story and challenging circumstances. Alex is a shining example of living life to the fullest and making the most of what you have. [00:02:21] This is such an uplifting and powerful. Age 34 Alex thought he had man flu, but collapsed and was rushed to hospital. He was given just hours to live and a 3% chance of survival. In fact, he contracted strep, a followed by septicemia, which led him to having all four limbs amputees. As well as losing his lens, Alex also lost his lips and nose surgeons have since grafted the skin from his shoulder onto his face, leaving him, he jokes, looking like a Simpsons character and with a nose that constantly runs instead of spiraling into despair [00:03:00] and retreating into a state of self-pity, Alex took a truly inspirational approach to what happened. [00:03:06] The positivity 40 year old Alex has found since his life-changing illness has been remarkable, many would find it hard to believe, but he says that great things have come of it. In the past six years, Alex has set up the Alex Lewis trust to raise funds for his rehabilitation, which has given him a huge impetus to help. [00:03:27] He continues to break barriers by becoming the first quadruple amputee to kayak around the Southern tip of Greenland and complete a 320 mile expedition along the orange river in South Africa. [00:03:39] Then in 2019, he became the first quadruple amputee to hand cycle, 15,000 feet at the highest mountain range. Anything. Alongside his fundraising and charity work. Alex delivers motivational talks, entitled a minor setback. His aim is to motivate others, to overcome adversity and take on [00:04:00] new challenges in life. [00:04:01] Alex inspires people to see life differently, take every opportunity that comes their way and live life to the full, enjoy the episode. [00:04:13] So Alex Lewis, thank you so much for coming on a fashion weekly podcast. How are you today? [00:04:19] alex: I am very well. Thank you. Thank you for having me [00:04:22] me: I am blown away to have you actually, we were just saying before we came on air and started recording that you are local to me [00:04:29] and I've known your story through being a part of the local community here and also having you speak at my kid's school, which was just incredible. I know you, you blew them away. [00:04:40] Um, and it's quite hard to blow teenagers or teenagers away. It has to be said. [00:04:46] alex: cross. [00:04:47] me: They offer that reach off crowds. Yes. And I have just read, I will have just read your bio that you sent me as an introduction and that bio itself, when I read it, when your, um, PA said Rosemary centered over, [00:05:00] I mean, that is just incredible in itself. [00:05:02] It is one hell of a story that you've got and want to have with him that you've been through. And that there's just so much that I want to ask you. So what we'll dive straight into in a moment, but I want to start, um, as I always start by asking every guest about their fantasy dinner party, and if they could have Any three guests. saver alive or dead, who would they be and what would they cook? [00:05:23] What would you cook? [00:05:25] alex: Any three guests. So I think I would have, um, the type of words, uh, because golf was my thing. Before I fell, I would love to sit down and talk to him. Um, Stephen Fry, because I think he just keep the whole thing going very, very easily. And a human is wonderful. I think the third would be, um, the half Lucy, um, cause she's just amazing. [00:05:57] She's like almost by my side. [00:06:00] Um, so I don't think it would be a dinner party without her being in the rooms as well. [00:06:04] me: your partner, Lucy. Yeah. Well, this Lucy is why that's happened because she flagged me down. And in the Greyhound carpark having, I was sort of instant recognized, which, which does happen very occasionally, not too often, but very occasionally. And we had a lovely chat and I'm such a fan of your amazing pub or in the gray handle on the test in Stockbridge, which for everyone listening is a lovely place to go and stay and has the most delicious food. [00:06:30] And we got talking and I had a little light bulb moment and, uh, and here we are today. So Yeah. [00:06:34] we have a lot to thank Lucy for, I think. And so to the listeners. [00:06:37] alex: Yeah, absolutely. [00:06:39] me: So what would you say. [00:06:42] alex: Uh, I would do Japanese. Um, I love Japanese. Um, it's by far my favorite by the country Mart and only really got into it probably about eight or nine years ago. Um, but now we always search out the best Japanese food. I mean the [00:07:00] last Japanese meal we had resided the Asia in, um, fantastic. [00:07:06] Could not recommend it highly enough. And a good friend of ours is the executive chef there. So that, that helped as well. [00:07:10] me: oh, that's really helpful. It's on my head less than I haven't been yet. So I'm I'm well gel. I will write, done deal. Okay. So let's go straight into it. I've outlined a little bit of your story, um, in the instruction to you, but I'd really like it, Alex, if you could just say, tell us in your own words, really what happened. [00:07:37] alex: And so it was late 2013 in mid November. And I was, uh, at that time I was a stay at home dad, um, with my little boy who was about two and a half at that point. Um, at least you, I, we had one pub in the countryside that we were living with. And we've just taken the Greyhound as a second site. Um, but I was a functional alcoholic.[00:08:00] [00:08:00] Um, I was, I was the wrong kind of guy living in the wrong kind of place. Um, and I caught a manly, common cold as most people did in mid November. And we just assumed I called it off. One of the regulars that came in the pub, um, and it got worse over the course of two weeks to the point, the algebra two weeks. [00:08:23] I remember going to spend one night waking. And I went to the Luna's blood in my urine. Um, I remember the sort of staggering events debated explaining this to Lisa and Lisa saying goes in the morning, you still feel bad. We'll call the doctor. So when I woke up the following morning, I remember trying to lift my arms up and they waited at 10 and my skin was turning purple. [00:08:45] Um, I was semi conscious. I couldn't, I couldn't put clothes on, I couldn't buy my shirt. Um, and Lucy had gone to open up the Greyhound. And the next thing I remember was a knock at the back door. And I remember almost falling down the [00:09:00] stairs and getting to the back door, managing to unlock it. And then Lucy opened it and my stepfather was stood behind her and they just had this look of horror on their faces of what they saw. [00:09:13] Um, the paramedics are called straight. Um, they came within about five minutes that I was pushed into the back of the ambulance immediately. And we raced to Winchester, which was about sort of 20, 25 minutes away. And I remember double doors flying open during the movies and being wheeled through, uh, lots of questions being asked. [00:09:35] Um, and then that's it. Then the rest is a mystery. And so I wake up, uh, four days later. Um, and while I was in an induced coma, they, they gave me a 3% chance of survival and the third night. Um, and then luckily the fourth day I managed to wake up and then I think, I thought in [00:10:00] my mind, I, I got through the worst, the worst of it all. [00:10:03] Um, but then they said that we can't continue with your care. We're going to move you to Saulsbury. They wouldn't tell me why. Um, and I remember being put in another, another ambulance being driven out in Saulsbury and getting there and going out to a unit and the beds that kind of fear and the room was bigger and nicer and everything was quite plush. [00:10:23] Really. I thought this is all right, this is great. Um, and then I met my plastic surgeon for the first time and this beautiful woman comes into my room and sort of circles my bed and asked me questions. And in about a minute and a half, um, she tells me that I'm going to lose my left arm above the elbow or lose both of my feet and my ankles and lower leg. [00:10:47] They're not sure if they'll be able to save the knee. Um, and then they were going to try and say my right arm with a pioneering surgery never been dumped for, um, they weren't sure if it was [00:11:00] going to work and that they would need to, um, carry out some facial reconstruction at some stage in like in my. [00:11:10] And then she was gone and me freaking out thinking my goodness, me, I'm not staying here. Uh, but then the following day, and I went and that started a kind of steady stream of surgical procedures over the next probably 18 months. Really. Um, I had a seven month stay in Saulsbury where unfortunately I lost both legs above the knee, um, left on, went off. [00:11:36] They did say my right arm. Um, and I was looking at it for a long time thinking it may work. It may not. But then sadly, when I came out of hospital in, I think July, 2014, uh, no. So I left in May, 2014. I was back in July when I, I rolled over in the middle of the night and I managed to break my arm in half and couldn't. [00:11:59] Uh, he was the [00:12:00] strangest thing. Um, and then I was rushed back into a and D and they said, as it happened, there was strep strep play that I call it. The maybe say will, uh, had got into my bone subsequently I lost my right arm below the elbow. [00:12:16] So that's kind of a brief, a brief description of the, my, my time in Winchester and silverware. [00:12:23] me: I mean, you, you retail that and I'm with you, but it's just so hard when you listen to it to even comprehend. I can't believe what it must've been like to go through. And, and just the shock of all that sort of unfolding before you, I mean, how on earth did you wrap your head around that? it must've all happened so quickly. [00:12:43] alex: I mean, it did happen incredibly quickly, but in reality, we were so heavily, heavily drugged that any kind of thought process or decision I may have had it wasn't really. Very good. I didn't really know what was going on and I couldn't fully [00:13:00] comprehend. Instead of psychologist came to see me in trauma in Salisbury, and she said, look, the thing is, if we don't amputate your limbs, you will die. [00:13:09] Do you want to leave? I said, of course. And she said, well, there you go. So the amputation must take place. And I, I took that on board pretty quickly and I've never forgotten that because it was just sort of, this is the problem. This is what's going to sort it out. And I understood that. Um, I felt that the first few weeks it was tortured and in and out of surgery all the time, I never really had time to understand what, what, what was happening. [00:13:34] I remember getting Christmas day 2013, and I hadn't seen my son for, or seen something in November and I'd missed him terribly. And we're such a, an amazing two and a half years together. And I just wanted to see him so desperately, but I was obviously worried about. How he would understand it if he could understand it. [00:13:57] And I remember Lucy bringing him in and as he walked [00:14:00] into the intensive care unit, he hid behind Lucy's legs and he couldn't, he couldn't look at me. He couldn't come close to me and everything that had gone on before that was insignificant, because that was by far the worst thing that I ever had to deal with in my entire life to see my son, not, not really see as well that he couldn't see me. [00:14:20] Um, and it was heartbreaking. And that, I think that was the hardest part of the whole thing. [00:14:27] me: oh yeah, yeah, No. I can imagine. I, I can, um, So this all started with, uh, with just a common cold, but you happen to also have strap, straps, quite common. Isn't it? That bacteria. And it doesn't affect everyone like this. [00:14:43] alex: No. I mean, for whatever reason, my immune system at that point just didn't want to fight the common cold. Um, I'd had calls before in the past and been actually fine. I'd never had flu. Um, and yeah, we, we there's, no, [00:15:00] we still don't understand why he chose not to fight. Um, and we were very fortunate to survive. [00:15:07] And I think in Winchester hospital, when I went in there in 2013 in the decade prior to that, I think they'd had eight cases of strep a and I think I was the only one to survive [00:15:20] me: you're kidding. [00:15:22] alex: and to survive with so severe amputations. Highly irregular. So, I mean, we were, yeah, the odds were stacked against us. You got a better chance to win a year and millions, I think, coming out as we did. [00:15:35] me: So, in some ways, you know, you are incredibly lucky. [00:15:39] alex: yeah, unbelievably so, but we, you know, and since then, since understanding how close you came and how lucky you were to survive, then there was any kind of almighty go. [00:15:50] And that was to just release, open off and enjoy. [00:15:55] me: well, I mean, again, having read your bio and I'm going to delve into this [00:16:00] shortly, you you're making a blooming good go of it. And I think you are just one absolutely incredible inspiration and example to us all Alex, because, um, you're showing us all how to, how to make the most of our lives. And that life is absolutely too short, which I identify with wholeheartedly. [00:16:15] And I think is just the most important message. Um, so. No. I mean, how do you bounce back from something like that? I mean, you seem to have done, you seem to have absolutely just, just bounced back. [00:16:28] You've got a zest for life. You're getting out there. You're getting on. Um, I'm sure that the people listening at home and, and me just listening to this just you must've gone into depression. No. you must've been in despair. Anger, confusion. [00:16:43] alex: I had none of that. I started you confused as to, I guess in my time in Salisbury through the day you had nothing, you had no time to really think about what was going on. You were in and out of different salt baths and all sorts of procedures and dressings and [00:17:00] all that sort of thing is quite a foot on a time. [00:17:03] But at night it's a night when he starts to look at the ceiling and you think not really sure how, how I've got to this point. You know, what, what was it, what did I do? Um, uh, the, the NHS were sublime. I mean, they were phenomenal from the guys in Winchester and Jeff Watson and Steve Winbush. Then they'd seen that saved my life too. [00:17:26] And it's quick. And the guys in Saulsbury, you know, jeopardy Alex, and now two of my closest friends, their competence, they're just their mentors. And, you know, it wouldn't have been the same without those two people being involved in it. Um, Lucy was phenomenal, but, uh, the health care assistants and the nurses that worked through the night, they were also great because they would come in and talk to me and they would see if you were down and they'd knock on your door and say by your bed. [00:17:54] And, you know, they would keep you buoyant when you didn't want to bring your other half [00:18:00] when you couldn't get hold of your surgeon, because you'd gone out and, you know, those guys had to step in and they were, they were playing the role of, um, best friend, um, psychologist, counselor all through the night, every night for months and months on end, so that it made the whole thing bearable really, you know, it was down to them that we came out as well as we did. [00:18:25] And when it came to me going home, I had my best mate, my best mate, Chris, who he knows to live together in Winchester for two years. And then one day he decided he was going to go do a ski season and cautious around. He never came home. So he's in the mountains for about 12 years now. And he would fly in every four nights come and see me. [00:18:45] And I would look forward to that weekend because it was just me and him. We could just chat by the old days and all the things we've got up to and, you know, talk about the future and then just great to be with my mate, really. Um, and when it came to me going, Hey, [00:19:00] and he threw in for the last weekend and he said, you look a bit tense and aggravating. [00:19:04] I said, I am I'm I'm, I'm worried. I'm scared. I don't want to be a burden solution, Sam, I don't want to be a burden. Uh, in the future, you know, but I said, the truth is when I leave there, I've got no wheelchair that I can use. I haven't got any prosthetics that I can use. I can't close myself. I can't go to the loo on my own. [00:19:23] I can't shower on my own. You know, there's no work and make myself a drink, eat anything like that. And the more, the more I was saying it, the more kind of upset I got and he, and he sort of, he came over to me and he said, look, you mustn't worry about that. And I said, what'd you mean, I must've worried about, of course I've got to. [00:19:41] He said, no, no, you don't understand. And I said, well, what'd you mean you don't understand? And he said, I've given up my job in CAUTI hour and I'm going to move in with you and Lucy inside. And we're going to figure it out together. The three, the three of us as I am a dog, we're going to work, work through it. [00:19:56] And you know, we'll understand how we make it work and [00:20:00] how you're going to push on through. And when he said that was from a good, I mean, one in a hundred million, you know what he did. In the next six minutes was absolutely paramount to get me to this point today. You know, I would not, I would not be doing what I'm doing now. [00:20:20] If I hadn't have had that, that rock that was there 24 7 for six months, that allowed Lucy to go to work and not worrying about what was happening to me that allowed Sam to be picked up from school and brought home without people that we didn't know, being in the house, looking after us, um, knowing that the dog would get whooped, you know, all these things he did. [00:20:41] me: What an amazing friend. [00:20:43] alex: he was, yeah, he still isn't and he's just an absolute dog. Um, but it was, yeah, it was crucial. And it, it gave all of us time to come to terms with what was going on and to understand how it was going to work for the.[00:21:00] [00:21:00] me: Yeah. [00:21:00] I mean, you know, what a water change. So to be clear, you you've got your pole, uh, you've had amputations with every single then. Yeah. So w where, where do your prosthetic start from, with your, your legs and your arms? I can see your arms down to the elbow on the screen here in front of us. [00:21:21] alex: Yeah. So I have, um, all I wear is, uh, a split process through the day, which is enough for me to get up in the morning, get dressed, cook, eat, uh, work, um, do everything I need to in the house independently, without anybody here, which is great. Um, I lost both legs above the knee, unfortunately. So I have, um, stumps of about 18 to 20 inches and everything. [00:21:50] Um, unfortunately prosthetic wise, for me, I'm incredibly expensive. We were lucky to be picked up by, and she tries he early, early on in, uh, uh, coming out of [00:22:00] hospital and they sent us over to America. So just to get an idea of the cost of disability, because the NHS cannot give you a figure, a position to guide you on what things are going to cost you privately and are. [00:22:13] And against the U S did loose and we spent four days at a clinic there. And at the end of the clinic, they gave me a live quote and my quote with pretty rudimentary prosthetics, but with good legs, uh, came to about three and a half million pounds. I think it was, uh, to get me to 60. So that's 30, so 25 years and he quit. [00:22:39] So we got back on the plane flying back. I mean, we just didn't know what to say that his legs were not going to be a thing. Um, not when, you know, realistically, if I was to wear legs and prosthetics on both arms, you'd be looking at 60,000 pounds a year just to [00:23:00] walk out the house and [00:23:03] me: don't think about this kind of thing in everyday life? Do you, you don't think I just need to have a little fun just in case I need some prosthetics and later life. [00:23:11] alex: and then you have to look at the cost benefit analysis, really, you know, what is it honestly gonna make a massive difference to my life because I've got to Shawnee joints and legs, great legs that look great. But I still like to go and have a drink with Lucy at night. I still want to go to restaurants and not worry about having to walk downstairs and walk out and worry about balance and actually the lifestyle I lead. [00:23:38] Probably not suitable for the X really. Um, and a wheelchair is by far as expensive, but very much cheaper option. Um, but it's a, yeah, it's a very expensive disability to have this one. [00:23:53] me: . So have you got, have you got a prosthetic on each arm or just on the one. [00:23:56] alex: No. So I tend to just use my right [00:24:00] arm because I have an elbow joint. Well, my right arm and left arm is above the elbow and it means that the prosthetic has to go almost up to where you see that strap and my shoulder. So it can compensate all of my shoulder, the socket and it's in is quite cumbersome. [00:24:14] You don't really have any idea of spatial awareness when you've got it on the doorframes paint work, they all get knocked and chipped and again, in the house, it's fine. But if I go out, I'll put it on because I didn't want a. Uh, electric wheelchair. Um, did the hospital tried to give me one because I said, you'd never be able to propel a wheelchair with prosthetics. [00:24:40] And I said, well, I'm not going to know until I try. And I had a massive fallout with the OT over this. And she said, no, you need an electric chair. I saw that when I was three months, always out of the prime and I've always stuck with a manual wheelchair. So I tend to propel myself anywhere. Flat is, is fine, and I can get, um, [00:25:00] you know, go shopping, go to west key or London wherever. [00:25:03] And maybe just with one visit by the house. [00:25:06] me: Okay. And what about your face? So you've had, uh, is it, we construct to have surgery on your face and some skin graphs, is that correct for your lip? Because you lost your, your lips, is that correct, Alex? Yep. [00:25:19] alex: Yeah, my, my lips, um, strep, just attacks from the extremities. So fingertips go then your arms and your upper arm, and then it comes out and if it gets into your main source, so then you've got real problems. But at the end of my nose was damaged. I lost my septum underneath my nose. Um, talked to my ears. [00:25:41] They went and my lips got really like, they got it really badly. Um, and in the end they took a, I think it was like a 16 inch piece of my right shoulder. And they fused, it's never been done before. This is one continual piece of [00:26:00] skin with her mouth only. Um, but again, it was pioneering, um, and a, a test case, really a study to see if it worked. [00:26:08] Uh, and yeah, I mean, I think it's, it's involved. I think I probably have. [00:26:17] 1416 operations on it. Um, and now I have it, uh, tattooed, um, with an amazing lady up in Harley street called Karen bats. So there'll be six months to a year. I go up and she brutalizes me with a needle, but there's big run in color into it. And it makes it look as near to the rest of my skin is as it could be really, um, that it has, it has been a wonderful thing to see evolve. [00:26:45] Um, but there was a big psychological, uh, downturn at the beginning when I had the surgery done, we were joking through for months and months on end, Lisa and I, and Lucy saying, you know what you want? And I said, well, I just want to look like I used to look. [00:27:00] And she said, well, can I have like a George Clooney stroke bracket? [00:27:04] me: I love it. [00:27:06] alex: And I asked my plastic surgeon and we joked Briggs about, yeah, we'd like to sort of, you know, clearly pit loved child looks. And that when we had the surgery done, we were so excited and we were naive and thinking that I was going to come in to surgery with these amazing lips. And then I would just have maybe one or two operations after that. [00:27:27] And off I go. But the reality was when I woke up, I had an adverse reaction to the anesthetic. So I felt I was being, I was, I think I woke up in intensive care. So I was worried that I was really, really else on, had gone wrong because I hadn't been in intensive care for months. So I was stressed out about that. [00:27:46] And then I saw this enormous piece of skin sticking out my mouth and I just had this mass panic and I thought it's gone wrong and I'll be right. Um, and because I had this reaction to the [00:28:00] setting, I didn't sleep for seven days straight. So I was delirious. Um, and when I did finally get some sleep and I woke up, they, they put a mirror in front of me and I was just mortified with what I was looking at. [00:28:14] And I could not see how that piece of skin that was on my house. At that point was going to turn into what we're looking at. Now. We were a million miles away from that, but then my surgeon explained that this is operations, where you come in every two to three months, we thin we have to open up all the old skyline and we thin the tissue down and it was just constant for so long. [00:28:41] Um, but the end result for a test study is, is pretty amazing. [00:28:46] me: I I'm looking at you now. And it, I genuinely on the screen cannot see where the, the new skin begins and all sort of cheats and things. And, um, I remember earlier photographs of you and it was, you could see clearly there was [00:29:00] a sort of two tone effect, you know, um, and you could see where the new skin was very clearly. [00:29:04] It was much paler, but now it's absolutely incredible at [00:29:08] alex: Is there, it's amazing, you know, what counted bets and as cricket managed to achieve is phenomenal, really, um, what they had to play with. I mean, it was the last piece of my body that my surgeon could use. You know, we we'd run out of pieces of skin. Um, and the reason that they left this huge cone on the end for a while, was it the first one didn't take, then we had a second shot at it, but if the second one didn't work, then that was it. [00:29:35] We couldn't do anything. So we were very lucky that the first one did take and it's this continued to, um, I don't know, sort of merge on similar face in a way. And I had that skin that sort of facial skin is much thinner than shoulder skin. I just assumed skin was skin. Um, but shoulders are much thicker and fattier.[00:30:00] [00:30:00] And that was the, that was what we didn't understand all this, all these things we were learning as we went really. Um, so yeah, it was brutal to look at, to begin with, um, w where it is now is, is much more appealing. I think [00:30:14] me: so you're, you're telling me how lucky you are, and you're looking at all these upsides and counting your lucky stars, which is incredible that you're able to have that attitude, but I know that there must have been points where all of despair and just grieving for the previous life that you had. How did you find the mental strength to carry on? [00:30:37] How do you come back from something. [00:30:41] alex: I was very fortunate when I was in hospital. Um, that first in the first instance with the psychologist, you, you know, you want to survive, you must have done irritated. Once I got my head around that, then that was the beginning of almost like a snowball effect. You're getting. And, [00:31:00] uh, the down days came when, uh, it was something like Easter, for instance, and, you know, Lucy and Sam were coming to me and they were going home to open Easter eggs and, and do all that sort of sort of family thing. [00:31:13] Really. And then I was stuck in hospital and when it got to about Easter, I felt that I was desperate to go home, but I couldn't understand how I was going to make it work on, go there. So I'd reached a juncture really in my care where I knew that I had stay in hospital a bit more, but I felt that I could see myself going home in some capacity. [00:31:34] And once I, once my mind had shifted into that, that's when I tended to get upset because I just want it to be there so desperately. And I, I couldn't go yet. Um, but really, I would probably say I had four or five really down periods. Um, I've always been called. Uh, willing to talk about my emotions, my feelings, [00:32:00] my mother was very, uh, my mother raised me pretty much and 10 onwards. [00:32:05] Um, so it was always about talking about how you feel and I've never struggled with that. So actually it was a blessing really, when I ended up in, I was told I could talk to anybody that came in the room about how I was feeling. Um, and friends and family would come see me sit on my bedside. I don't think there was never a single day where I didn't have it as to, and, you know, for seven months straight. [00:32:33] And that was amazing. had happened through COVID where I couldn't have it as well. Your, your guests as good as mine [00:32:42] me: It's a whole different, whole different ballgame. Yeah. [00:32:45] alex: psychologically, we were in the best place at the best time, in a situation where all and sundry to visit whenever the. Um, and that made a huge difference. And as soon as [00:33:00] I'd come out of hospital, uh, I think it was only six weeks later that we were being followed by a documentary maker. [00:33:09] So then he became my counselor slash persons talk to all the time as well. And then when Chris went back to France, the documentary guy was still 18 months away from finishing his work. So, um, quite talked about it. I'd never stopped talking about it. And I think because of that, nothing is harder to nothing is, uh, tucked away waiting to come out. [00:33:33] Um, I feel that willingly tell anybody anything about it? There's never been a question or I haven't settled. I'm not answering that. Um, I've always been willing to talk about it. And I think that that has been the most powerful tool in dealing with it. [00:33:49] me: I agree. I agree so much. I think talking particularly for guys, because we still live in a conditioned world where it's, it's still a sort of, bit of a stigma for guys [00:34:00] to talk about their feelings in many circles. You know, it's, it's all about being macho and Manning up and getting on with it. You know, I hate that phrase mining up. [00:34:07] Um, but it is a factor, isn't it? I had, uh, Robin Windsor on the podcast a while ago who, um, did try and commit suicide and has suffered with mental health a lot. And the one thing he says that gets him through is to talk and just open up and share your feelings. And it's, it's incredibly, incredibly healing. [00:34:27] alex: absolutely. I mean, it was the only way I was going to get through it. And the, and the driving force for me getting through it was to be able to be with Lucy and Sam, if it meant that poking up and talking about it all day long was going to get me home, get me home to them. Then that was it. That was the way. [00:34:48] Um, I remember really early on, I think J my facial reconstruction, uh, Chris Martin from Coldplay sent an email to us really random, never [00:35:00] met a guy and was going to find, and he recommended that I read a book called man's search for meaning by friend, and I'd never been a still normal to me. I wasn't a big reader, but I thought, well, you know, he's recommended it. [00:35:15] So I should do it really. And I had all this surgery coming outside of time, on my own in hospital with nothing today. So I read the book in the email. He said, there'd be somebody in there that resonates so closely to the wheel going through the 11 massive impact on me. And so I read the book and there was a quote and it wasn't by Frankl, but it said, once you work out the Y you will injure anyhow. [00:35:40] And it was like a lightning bolt moment when I realized that the why will Luciens arm and the highway. Could you plantation station surgery in that hospital, such that you could easily get through, if it meant that it got you back to that [00:35:55] me: yes. [00:35:56] alex: always been, you know, from reading that I [00:36:00] kind of knew it. I just needed to be, I needed to get to be hammered in sleep while I was doing. [00:36:07] me: Yeah, [00:36:07] Sometimes we need it from a different perspective in order for it to strike home. So you found your, you found your why, and you realized what your, why was, and that gave you the clarity and the focus to, to carry on. So just to recap that book, that was the man's search for reading by, sorry, for, for meaning by Frankl. [00:36:25] alex: yeah. Man. Search for meaning by Franklin. [00:36:28] me: Thank you guys. I know [00:36:29] alex: Have you read, but it's well, what they went through as far west in concentration camps in the world war two, but it was a fascinating study. The one man observing thousands of. Thousands of other human beings and the ones that survived and the ones that didn't, and then I'll ask him and, you know, we'll push them through and yeah. [00:36:54] And you know, it could be, I was fortunate that I had Lucy, Sam had a Labrador. [00:37:00] I had so many people to fight for. Um, but it doesn't have to be that many. It could be your, your cat. It could be your, your uncle. It could be anything in your life. Really. It's just, it's just defining the one. [00:37:12] me: Yeah, that's so powerful. So talking about your, why, the wonderful Lucy, um, she's been through a hell of a lot too. I mean, obviously we were just saying before we started people focusing on you obviously fit for very, very understandable reasons, but Lucy has been going through this absolutely. With you and is your, your right hand woman and confidence and everything. [00:37:37] Okay. I wrote in so many ways, how has she coped with it all? [00:37:44] alex: I always knew she was strong and stoic and she had a work ethic, like no one else ever met in my life. Um, and I could do the Baylor ethic sometimes, but he was just, just relentless and just [00:38:00] incredible. And when it all happened, I don't think she missed a single day at work. There wasn't a day through my stay in Saudi where she didn't go to work, but there wasn't a day that she never saw me in hospital, but, you know, fortunately we lost the part in the countryside and Lucien Simon homeless per period. [00:38:23] So they were living out suitcases at friend's houses, families, houses, you know, Sam was just, he was three and a bit, it was a Torrid time for them. And as we said earlier, is, is wrongly around really? But the care was so focused on. And I don't re I don't remember anyone asking in the unit has Lucy and Sam coping, do they need any help you can do to make it easier for them. [00:38:51] Um, but in hindsight, I don't think Lucy would have taken anyway. He just sort of battled through. And I think there [00:39:00] were certain feelings and emotions that were bottled up, um, just to make sure that I was straight when I got home. And I think they came out was about a year, 18 months later, she had a bit of a debt and it worried us for a bit really. [00:39:15] I think, I think it was just caught up with that. You know, I think she'd buried so much of it because it just was go to work, work late. You know, we would lost the business. We've got to survive. Um, Lucy is very much she'll kill me for saying this, but she's right up very nice. A lot of my mother, but in the sense that they'll do anything so that anything. [00:39:37] You know, my mom is a very strong woman, but she struggled with it. Seeing her only son go see what he did. Um, but yeah, Lucy was, yeah, she's amazing. She was as, will be very strong, very lucky to have her in my corner. [00:39:55] me: Absolutely. Yeah. And I love the fact that you're saying [00:40:00] lucky, grateful, you know, you're, you're finding all these amazing positives Alex, which is fantastic. And this has really been a theme for you because you've gone on to kind of take the world by storm. Haven't you, and I really want to talk about some of your achievements because they are unbelievable. [00:40:16] Um, tell, just tell me about some of the sporting achievements you've done cause you broken some records and they're not just, you know, I don't know, even running the marathon, which is fairly tame, but by comparison, that's pretty, pretty epic or what you've gone on to do. [00:40:33] alex: Yeah. I didn't really have much of a thirst for. Uh, life or adventure, I suppose, for a little. Um, but when we were picked up by the military boys, it was a chance meeting through a, a lady ITB. And I went to meet a charity called the Pilgrim bandits. And I met the founder of the charity there and he said, look, your mindset is pretty similar to a lot of these engine lands, um, who I'd met in souls, be a few of them.[00:41:00] [00:41:00] And he said that we do some stuff. We think it'd be great if she got involved. And I was, I was on it really because I was the only civilians to be invited to join the military charity. Um, so I thought that's pretty cool. And I said, well, the sort of thing to do. And he said, well, we do some sky diving, kayaking has cycling, whatever we want, really, whenever we fancy it, he said, do you want in? [00:41:23] I was like, yeah, this is, let's get into that. Um, and he said, well, we're doing something in a couple of weeks time. And I said, what saying we're skydiving? And I said, yes, let's do it. Fantastic. And I remember going home thinking, God, you know, going to guess. And before I'd fall a nail, you would never go me into a plane. [00:41:43] And I was going to jump out of the plane. I was getting seen for a fellow was on his way to the Caribbean to be the best sort of plane. But I remember going, uh, going to the day and there was hundreds of guys, angel lads doing it. And at [00:42:00] no point was I, um, scared or worried or anything like that, it was just exhilarating. [00:42:06] And I just felt amazing all the way through it. And when we got to the point to, with a huge guys strap behind me, let's see the scholar died. As soon as we hit that one minute of free fall. It was the best minute since leaving hospital, really, because it was, I didn't feel disabled. It didn't matter if you didn't, if you had legs and arms that there, you, you, it didn't matter. [00:42:29] So for that one minute, it was just in the moment, listening to the words. Looking out around Saulsbery and Hampshire and seeing the Ottawa and London the other way. And it was just fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And when I got to the ground, I remember the document you guys were running over to me and thrust and a carrier in my head and he said was do it again. [00:42:50] And I said, yeah, in a heartbeat. And from then on we, we, well, we just don't have everything. That's come our way. So, you know, we'd quiets around the [00:43:00] Southern tip of Greenland. We tie up on the orange river, um, got taken a year. [00:43:06] me: on a minute. I think she had to pause that because you're reeling it off now. Like it's, you know, just nothing but not that for anyone is an incredible achievement. The kayaking let's just take the kayaking for a second around the Southern tip of Greenland, but how did you do it? Because, I mean, the mind boggles, it's incredible. [00:43:24] alex: So with the kayaking, actually with anything serious sport, when you've lost both of your arms. There are prosthetics out there. And I think I just assumed that I would go to, uh, a prosthetic clinic and they would say, right, you need ABC DNA and off you go. But I remember going to the clinic and I just bought a hand cycle, a race head, and I just thought let's buy bike because what I wanted to see more than anything was to be able to ride a bike from my little boy and try and help teach him to learn, to ride a bike. [00:43:55] So I bought the bike first, not thinking too much about how I was going to attach to it. [00:44:00] And when I got to the clinic, they said, um, so what, what do you want to do? And I said, I want to, I want to hide soccer with my son. Right. And you, well, we've never done that before. And I said, but you're the Julian, your UK is number one, prosthetic connect the sport. [00:44:18] they said, well y'all. Yeah, yeah. But we've never done. Um, double a double honor. With prosthetics and severe as severe as you, I said, right? So how's it going to work them? And they were like, we're going to ourselves. And that was the beginning of my kind of end user led design, really, because I worked with them all the way through it. [00:44:39] And we arrived with these sports arms and it did enable me to ride a bike, which I still do even I love, but the sports owners also then enabled me to kayak as well. Um, and I mean, these sports arms are like 35 grand, I think, all in with attachments and bits and pieces, but the joy they brought me and my son [00:45:00] and even Lucy, because it means I'm away for weeks and weeks and weeks on its own was that it's been it's money well spent. [00:45:08] Um, and it enabled this enabled me to go to incredible countries and, and be seen, be visible, um, Greenland, where we were had never, ever seen a quadruple amputee, let alone seeing, seeing getting a kayak. You know, in, in an icebergs and all the ice cap and just, it was an amazing 10 days. But more importantly, I think, was that all of these adventures that are going on has always been with my best friend. [00:45:35] He, he and I we've never have done any of the stuff that we've done in the last five years, but I hadn't before now we would never have thought to ourselves, should we go kayaking around Greenland? Nobody thinks I only do one thing and it certainly wouldn't have been me and him. And he was at that 10 day break and it was just the best time. [00:45:56] And I remember that we got to the, I think the second to last night, [00:46:00] um, and he and I, there was a, we were on an island called skyline island because it was one of the last little islands in Southern tip where the last settlers set off, but they left the elderly because the elderly wouldn't have made the kayak back to the land. [00:46:16] So it's just for grades really. Quite macabre, 900 shopping up on top of this block and looking out, we watched the sunset and the distance and the sat beside me. I said, you know, we, we would never have been here. I had been full of new, but I said, I'll just, I think that's been the most amazing Sundays in my life with you doing what we did, the ninja dads and another friend of ours was there and it just, it just made he, and I realized that we'd been missing out. [00:46:46] We'd missed out on so much. Um, so I haven't said no to anything sensor um, every opportunity that's come our way. We've said yes to Ireland said no to anything. Um, and he's taken me all over the world. [00:47:00] Uh, and if, you know, Greenland and Namibia, South Africa, um, Canada, um, Ethiopia, which was just phenomenal. And then sadly through a lockdown, we had, uh, a trip to the Gobi desert, the respondent, um, which we're doing on next year. [00:47:22] And then at the moment, I'm in training to row from Falmouth to Dover in, uh, oceangoing rowing boat, um, raising money for the science and children's unit and hospitality action. Um, so yeah, I mean, it's, yeah, it's been phenomenal and we just keep dropping. [00:47:43] me: it's amazing. I am in I'm incomplete or you're total action, man. Now aren't you basically. [00:47:51] alex: Definitely wouldn't call me that if you see me through locked down slots and around doing nothing for 18 months, there's no connection there, but I just think [00:48:00] we've, we've had such a, it sounds really odd, but the last seven years has been the best seven years. [00:48:06] me: I can't believe that Alex, I can't believe that you're saying it's so incredible that you're saying that and really moving just your whole attitude is absolutely so beautiful. And just so moving I'm so touched just talking to you about this and you know, you're, you're looking at it as a gift on you basically. [00:48:27] alex: Yeah, absolutely. It has been again, I mean, don't get really, it was terrible at star awful. Um, but I think that just made, it made the seven years richer for it, that we was so close to not being on this planet, that my son would have grown up without his father than Lucy wouldn't have had me around all those things. [00:48:47] You know, you know, a mother who lost her son, but not from that moment on, uh, the 21st of November when I woke up to now has just been incredible. And [00:49:00] yeah, it does sound weird when I say it has been best seven years, but I just didn't make enough of the lifestyle I had in the previous 33, [00:49:08] me: So what would you do if you could go back and talk to your younger self? If, if the accident wasn't on the cards, what would you go back now and say to yourself at 32 30. [00:49:20] alex: uh, work harder. Take on take opportunities. Just those two. And just not just work harder, you know, in terms of, um, work and, you know, choosing wise is what you want to do with your life, but work harder with relationships with people, just kind of more effort in its entirety. Really. Um, I was so laid back. I still am laid back, but I know when to turn it on. [00:49:49] If I had to train for an event, if I want to do something really incredible that I need to put some workings to make happen. Um, we, you know, from the venture to the university [00:50:00] research, to working in prostate design, to try and change the cost of these bits of equipment that are required, you know, this is a global community and you know, global communities cannot afford the Westerners. [00:50:17] Can't afford 3 million quick. In places like west Africa or India, you know, I just think it's nuts that it has just instilled in me this kind of drive to make it different better, um, while having an amazing time on the way. So if it, if it means that I'm in a position to that, I want to learn to row that I want to row across the channel for 14 days. [00:50:46] Um, public speaking in the afternoon, schools holding events at night on the water. Then on, on a lucky guy, you know, we can raise a ton of money while having a great time doing it. And that's an [00:51:00] amazing thing. Um, I think I have one kind of selfish ambition is to cross the say in 20 23, 20 24. That would be [00:51:12] me [00:51:12] me: I hope. [00:51:13] alex: in a notion around volume. [00:51:15] I think. No transport. I think I'd like to take part in the task of whiskey, race and compete as best I can to become the first quadruple amputee to cross an ocean. I can take that box that that's the kind of box that I wanted to book somewhere online. Maybe thought I'd done it. The rest of it's incredible. [00:51:39] But for me, that would be, that'd be pretty cool. [00:51:41] me: that's the nice thing. Oh my goodness. Well, I wish you all the luck in the world with that. That's so exciting. I'm sure you'll do it. I have no doubt that you will nail it, Alex. [00:51:50] alex: I hope so. By Hertz, training's quite intense. Weirdly. I'm kind of liking the pain at the moment. I think I've obviously got a thing for pain having gone through months and months [00:52:00] to surgeries and procedures. [00:52:01] me: it. It doesn't kill you. [00:52:04] alex: Um, but yeah, I, yeah, we were in a position where we can help and yeah, it's been seven years of just some pretty amazing, really. [00:52:15] me: I'm very curious. Do you believe in fate, do you believe this was meant to be, or was it just a freak accident? [00:52:22] alex: I think it was a free camps, then I think it was something so innocuous, um, nothing like that ever happened to me before in any kind capacity in terms of where things go on or, you know, like whatever it may be, um, it just happens, you know, wrong well, right place, right time as it transpires that point, you've got a wrong place, wrong zone, but now it has been a, it's been a gift. [00:52:49] Um, and it just doesn't stop giving really. And I think, you know what we've got planned. I've never, ever had plans. [00:53:00] And since holding ill, it's always been about what are we going to do next? What's happening next year? What are we doing? Where do we want to be? What do you want to achieve? Um, and for me to think. [00:53:13] Um, well, I just, my best mate, the blessing comes along with all these things that we might be crossing an ocean in two years. Time is just phenomenal. You know, a bit of kayaking with some ninja lands is one thing. It was awesome. But then, you know, spending 40 days at sea in a little boat is for me, the physical was one thing, but the psychological is, is the, the great, even in my mind, [00:53:39] me: Oh yeah. [00:53:40] alex: mentally cope with that, [00:53:42] me: Please document it because I'm sure we will all want to hear all about it. I have no doubt. As I said that you're going to do it. [00:53:49] alex: it's documented, we did document Ethiopia, which was equally incredible because we set up a wheelchair patch over there, which is just wonderful. [00:54:00] Yeah. So yeah, of course you locked down is put all those kinds of things on hold thing made all sorts of documentary footage is coming out on some of the things we get. [00:54:11] me: Excellent. So my final question to you before we hit the fashion section, which does have to be done. Are you ready for that? Um, is what would you say to people that are finding themselves in similar situations and, you know, they're, they are about to lose limbs or have lost a limb or limbs and are just not even knowing how to move, move on. [00:54:38] They are absolutely overwhelmed with the whole situation. What advice would you give those people? [00:54:44] alex: I mean, you, you mustn't, mustn't give up, you know, I think as soon as you, if you resign yourself to it, then it will envelop you. And it will be really, really Torrid times trying to climb out of that. [00:55:00] The open about how you feel. There are so many different ways of contacting various people that have gone through similar circumstance on contactable, if it's limb loss. [00:55:11] Um, I think we're lucky in a digital age where we can access all sorts of various platforms and we can get access to people that we may not have, you know, 20, 30 years ago. And I think making the most of those, um, but don't look at it as a, as a negative. It sounds really odd because you just don't know what's going to come with it. [00:55:35] Post-surgery and, you know, I think the people I meet people at the end of servicemen just have a great time doing it and trying to make it different, but make it visible that people can see that. Yeah, you can go and do it. You know, there are ways that you can make it work. There were ways of making anything happen. [00:55:57] Yeah. And choosing the team wisely. [00:56:00] You know, I have amazing people in my corner. Um, people like Leandra and Rosemary, you don't get talked about an awful lot, but rosary call is fine. She's my boss really. Um, and I wouldn't have done half the things that we've done without her being behind me, organizing, coordinating, and keeping me buoyant. [00:56:19] When, you know, sometimes you do dip thinking things aren't gonna work out. That's not going to work, um, being open-minded as well as another big key thing. Um, because any kind of Lemnos requires lots and lots of different, different people's opinions on what you require. Um, we do have a voice, you can say what's going to work and what isn't and you know, how you live, you know, where you live and what you want to achieve when you do go home in the early days. [00:56:50] So don't be afraid to speak up and say, right, actually I don't think that's right. You know, I remember nobody ever asked me, where did I live when they were trying to give me [00:57:00] legs that weren't suitable. Um, and in reality, I lived on a farm. If they given me the 60,000 legs, they tried to, I would have taken them out the NHS system. [00:57:09] I would've put them in a cupboard and left them to roll. So, you know, you gotta, you gotta be heard. [00:57:17] me: That's great advice. Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm so honored to have had this conversation and I'm just, just so inspired. By you. I think it's just the ultimate lesson and reframing and rinsing every last ounce of a light and laughter out of this thing called life. And I'm just making the most of it. [00:57:38] And you aren't doing that beautifully and showing us how. And, um, I'm so excited to see, uh, just to start with the ridiculous boat, probably that you're going to go across the Atlantic [00:57:51] alex: Yeah. [00:57:52] me: and I wish you all the luck in the world with that. [00:57:55] alex: Thank you. [00:57:57] me: Okay. So we're changing gear. We're doing a little bit of fashion [00:58:00] because it wouldn't be fashion weekly podcast. [00:58:03] So Alex, I'd love to hear what fashion means to you. [00:58:08] alex: So when I had legs, uh, freshmen was incredibly important because I just loved shoes. I just massive, huge collection of students from all sorts of wrestling room leads, kg to Patrick Cox back in the day. And I love my feet. I don't know why I slept wearing shit there. When I lost my limbs, the prospect of never wearing shoes again was quite quite daunting. [00:58:34] Um, and I think the fashion to me is that identity really, you know, I still want to look. For Lucy, I still want to look cool for sound. Um, and I'm very fortunate that I get to work with brands like Belstaff and, you know, motorbikes and all sorts of weird bits of equipment. And I need different sorts of clothing, but, um, yeah, I [00:59:00] think it's an identity you still want to, no matter what shape you're in, you still want to look good and you still want to feel good. [00:59:08] And I think fashion can really enhance that in some ways. So I think fashion is really born. [00:59:15] me: God. I'm so glad you said that. I'm so glad I just makes me so happy. I believe very firmly that dressing well is a form of self care and kind of self-love and, and looking after yourself. Um, and I thoroughly believe in the transformative power of a cracking outfit to make you feel well, Bulletproof, really? [00:59:34] If necessary. [00:59:35] alex: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I remember when, I mean, I think when I came out of hospital, I weighed about. Just under six stone, I think. Um, but I'm now probably just under twice that way. So clothing has been sort of evolutionary as I've been away. Um, but yeah, I, you know, you still want to, I, I felt that for years in the [01:00:00] nineties, you couldn't get a fish fitted shirt for love nor money. [01:00:02] There was no such thing as tapering. There was no such thing as fitted and everything just looked like a sack. And then all of a sudden, when I fell ill, everyone had taped chefs then. So when I came out, it was like, this is it. I can start again and kind of, um, maybe change it up a little bit. And it was, it's been quite, I mean, wrong. [01:00:23] It's really, it's not easy when you haven't got legs and arms. One of the things for sure that I don't buy trousers is obviously, um, but yeah, I still want to wear a suit for a formal occasion and I still want to look smart at a wedding. I don't believe in being uncomfortable for the duration of events, because that's just doesn't make anyone feel any better. [01:00:46] Um, so there still has to be a degree of comfort in it, but yeah, I think it's really important. I mean, I love what she is. I like, uh, all sorts of different shirts, GLS, you [01:01:00] know, clothes, clothes at Lucy buys clothes all the time. And there's always packages arriving through the week. Um, I'm signing for on her behalf. [01:01:11] So I think looking good and feeling good is something that listen or we've always kind of maintained that [01:01:17] me: I love that. [01:01:18] alex: little bit of things for as well as this [01:01:20] me: Brilliant. Brilliant. I love that. I can feel a little styling collaboration coming on. You know, Alex, I am only down the road. We will have to have a chat, about this, but, so, yeah. [01:01:30] alex: chat, large bottle of wine. [01:01:33] me: sounds, sounds perfect. Sounds perfect. Much better than the coffee that the Lucy originally suggested. We'll upgrade it. Okay. [01:01:41] So your house is on fire and all of the people in it are safe, but your wardrobe was now in flames and you're able to pop back in and rescue one item from your wardrobe. What would it be? [01:01:55] alex: Uh, my Belstaff wax jacket. [01:01:57] me: Oh Yeah. Love, love a bit of bell stuff.[01:02:00] [01:02:00] alex: Yeah. That's the one for me, I would say very often because, because I am very lazy. All my blood's got nowhere to go. So I've got the same amount of blood. I'm hot. So it has to be about minus two for me to put it on and feel comfortable in it. But it is by far one of the best things I've ever had. [01:02:22] I love it. [01:02:23] me: it's worth it. Just sling it. [01:02:24] over your shoulders and let down call for, for half an hour or whatever. It's all about the accessories. And that's obviously an accessory for you. Really [01:02:33] alex: It is. Yeah. [01:02:34] me: love it. Okay. Final fashion question. Describe your personal style in three words. [01:02:42] alex: Muted. Um, functional. Classic. [01:02:48] me: very good. I'm going to get with, with a lot of very nice Belstaff bits and pieces T, which is that, which is right up. [01:02:55] alex: Yes. [01:02:57] me: Fantastic. Thank you so much, Alex, [01:03:00] best podcast guest ever. Sorry, everybody else. But that was just mind blowing. I am so honored, so inspired. I know all our gorgeous listeners are going to be feeding the same. [01:03:10] So thank you so much for spending the time with us today. [01:03:14] alex: But I thank you for having me on appreciate it. [01:03:16] me: Thank you. [01:03:17] Thank you so much for listening. I do hope you enjoyed the show. There's plenty more where that came from. So do click follow and subscribe so you can catch future episodes. If you'd like to get it in touch, you can contact me on social media on Instagram and Facebook. You'll find me under Miranda holder LDN. [01:03:36] Twitter is Miranda holder L N. Feel free to leave me a little comment or review. It would be so appreciated. Thank you so much again, can't wait to see you next time.

Estelle Bingham Podcast Transcript

Estelle Bingham Welcome to the fashion weekly podcast. So if we're starting that journey, we go to the crystal shopping.And when you arrive home and it's about trusting your power, and I am clearing these crystals of all unwanted energy negativity and I'm programming this rose court for universal love. And that's a powerful thing, because again, it's, it's very empowering to believe that you can co-create and we can co-create. That's how we manifest. I'm your host Miranda holder and I'm a TV and celebrity style expert at Miranda holder London. I'm lucky enough to style the stars. Create fashion shoots for glossy magazines and can regularly be found sharing my passion for dressing well as a style expert on TV and radio. I can honestly say that fashion has saved my life. As I came into the business in my late thirties, following a life-changing car accident that nearly left me wheelchair bound and paralyzed. I promised myself that if I recovered, I would realize my lifelong dream and years [00:01:00] later, after a long gruelling recovery, I'm doing what I love. . I'm now dedicated to trying to help others through their own challenging times. This podcast will hopefully bring a little light into your day. As I chat to stylish friends from the world of show business and beyond who share what fashion means to them, as well as inspirational insights and feel good advice on topics, which fascinate me. [00:01:23] And I just know that you'll love as well. All of which are intended to help you look and feel your best. [00:01:29] If you feel others fit from this podcast, then please do give it a share on social media. As this will allow me to reach more people and help me get my message across on Instagram and Facebook, you can find me at Miranda holder L D N. Twitter is Miranda holder hour, and all you can reach me on my website, which is www.mirandaholder.london. [00:01:53] a little review would be wonderful and helped me so much. And finally, don't forget to subscribe. So you never miss an [00:02:00] episode. This is the fashion weekly podcast with Miranda holder. [00:02:04] by popular request. Here is an episode all about crystals. I chat to the beautiful soul that is Estelle Bingham, psychic author, and critically acclaimed holistic healer, who lifts the lid on everything to do with crystals and lots of. [00:02:21] Estelle shares her insights on how crystals work, the properties of different stones and how to work with the different shapes. We talk about how to choose a crystal and what to do with your first crystal. When you get it home, including cleansing programming and different uses around the house. We also discuss how to work with angels meditation and what it's like being a fourth generation psychic if ever you've been drawn to crystals, but have never really known what to do with them. [00:02:49] This is a lovely lesson. [00:02:51] I hope you enjoy the episode. [00:02:52] me: So Estelle, thank you so much for joining me today on fashion weekly podcast. How are you? [00:02:59] Estelle: I'm well, and [00:03:00] I'm very happy to be here. So thank you for having me Miranda. [00:03:02] me: Ah, no, my pleasure. So I get asked so much on social media, about crystals. I love crystals myself. I've always been into them, but I know there are lots of people that have come to them quite recently, and don't really know where to start. They're attracted to them. They're fascinated by them, but really have no. [00:03:24] Idea about which ones to buy or how they should use them. So if someone is drawn to them and they have absolutely no knowledge whatsoever, where would you recommend? They start? [00:03:35] Estelle: Well, I feel there's been a lot of Halabaloo around crystals, like you say, and it's it sort of, isn't a buzzword, isn't it? It's sort of like shakras crystals, yoga frequently. Um, and I've, I've got a wonderful relationship with crystals and I use them in my work and what I always say to people to not over. [00:03:56] Mythologized something or not overcomplicate something, you know, it's [00:04:00] all about sort of taking that out of that story and just really trusting your instinct. So when it comes to crystals, one of the first ways I say to just tune in is to just try it. And, and that's actually what the relationship with crystal is all about. [00:04:15] It's actually just about the kind of an inner journey, a sort of healing journey and a journey with energy. Really. So it's about trusting what you are drawn to. And often it's just about the color. Okay. So I always say that the crystal in the beginning, when you're starting out with crystals, they choose you. [00:04:32] So if you go into a crystal shop and you go, go on a really like the blue of that crystal, or I like the shape of that crystal, or I like the way when I pick that up, how it sits In my hand and that's enough and that's a really wonderful way to begin is just to actually just allow yourself to kind of feel into it, to feel into the colors, if it didn't fit into the shapes and the sizes, and you will always end up with the right crystal. [00:04:56] me: So how do they actually work? [00:04:59] Estelle: [00:05:00] So crystals are. An interesting phenomenon. If you don't really know about energy, it's a weird one to get your head around. But I always say it's like, when we go into, if you go into the, garden and you've got a favorite part of the garden, or you go for lovely walk along the beach, and there's a part of the beach that you like, where you just like the C diff. [00:05:22] Space is whole different energy and it's the same with crystals. They come out of the earth and they hold different energy. So, , we can go to that cliff and it can, and the wind can be blowing through our hair. And , we feel like we're getting a little bit of a kind of a care out. Could just be really good to kind of clear the mind. [00:05:39] We breathe in that oxygen and, oh, it feels like a really big relief. We get a little bit of clarity and our thoughts can start to change. All we're just really relaxing and we feel really held, we're maybe sitting under a tree and it feels really gentle and soft and the energy feels nurturing. [00:05:56] And so it's the same with crystals as crystals come out of the earth, [00:06:00] but they come out of the earth with different energies. [00:06:04] me: Yeah. [00:06:05] Estelle: And so the, the big kind of cosmic story is of course that they've been charged with different energies and we tune into those energies. But it depends where you are. [00:06:14] Again, , it's like anything, we can meet ourselves in nature and we can meet ourselves with crystals, wherever we are. Really, we don't have to have big belief systems, when we've had . These lockdowns and everyone was started to, , walk in nature. We, we started to meditate and we'll do a little bit of yoga online because there wasn't really much else to do, you know, to really just deal with the anxiety and the fear and a lot of the stuff that started to come up through lockdown. [00:06:38] Lot of that. Energy you were left with when we couldn't fill all lives anymore. But it's, it's sort of like, we don't have to have a lot of understanding it, just showing up to it really. So you show up to that, walk in the country and you feel better after it, then that's great. [00:06:53] You've kind of connected with nature and it doesn't have to be a really big cosmic thing. [00:06:56] me: Beautiful. So they come in a range of gorgeous [00:07:00] colors as you've touched upon. Is there a difference between those different types of crystals in the colors, what they can do for you? [00:07:07] Estelle: Yeah. I mean, I always say to people, if you? [00:07:10] want to just start with one or two or three crystals often, people come to see me and they've always got a little tumble stone, rose, quartz, tumble stone. That picked one apple. If someone's given them one for their birthday and there's a tumbled stone in the bra. [00:07:25] Tom will stay in the pocket. And often it's a rose quartz and rose courts, that love their lovely pink, crystal, if you don't know what they look like, most people do, but they are great for laugh, you know, and I just feel like sort of basic crystals are rose courts, a sort of an amethyst the clear quartz crystals and maybe a black obsidian. [00:07:44] Those crystals also. Where do you work with or different Shaq quiz? The colors often do work with the chakra system. So rose is the kind of pink of the heart and can really heal all aspects to love. So really grow that [00:08:00] self-love, you know, we open us to more love in relationship and also. [00:08:05] With the earth and our interconnectedness, the amethyst is that purple of the crown. So it's the purple in the shotgun crew system is the crown. So it really helps us with our clear thoughts, you know, really clearing the thoughts and Yeah. [00:08:23] Also with a kind of connection to the metaphysical as a connection to the divine tourmaline is a wonderful, crystal and black obsidian. [00:08:31] They are really big protective crystals. And I always say to people that have a little bit of maybe, you know, a lot of images. People who type is incredibly sensitive. We'll get a little bit of social anxiety or, I feel a little bit shy or, just kind of pick up on energy. Obsidian is for you, get yourself a little bit of black tourmaline or black obsidian. And that is a really protective crystal black absorbs, so it absorbs that negativity and I'm [00:09:00] really basic crystal just to feel into, and then the coolest is the clear crystal and that's okay. The, the coolest crystals are, they amplify all the crystals around them and they are a master healer. [00:09:14] So if, if you only got one crystal just getting a plain quartz would be fine. [00:09:19] me: And there are so many different shapes. Aren't Mack, there's carvings. There's your points, your clusters. How do you choose, what do the different shapes do? [00:09:28] Estelle: Shapes hold different types of energy. Um, but if you're starting out and you're sort of starting out with tumble stones, you know, and a couple of little pieces, you know, to get a nice courts of just a sort of single quartz point or a couple of rows courts, point like a small one and a couple of tumbled stones. Perfect. [00:09:48] me: Okay. [00:09:49] I've gone to the shop. I've chosen some cuts, some tumble stones. I've got my starter kit that you recommended, which is an amethyst arose courts, uh, courts, and then a black corn, either an obsidian or a [00:10:00] tourmaline. Um, and what do I do? I get them home. What's this cleansing, malarkey all about. [00:10:06] Estelle: The canes is really important. And again, I would say that, um, just remember what it feels like when you go into a space and you kind of, you don't mean like, Versus going into a space where you do, and that's your intuition, that's your instinct, this isn't the head and the back of your arm. [00:10:25] It's that trust again? Isn't it like, oh, I really want to live here or no, this doesn't really feel right. And that instinct that trust, that intuition, trusting that intuition is trusting the space that you're in. So that's your sacred space. And we clear our space. We clear what we quit. We clear the spaces that we live. also we clear ourselves and we clear the, the, the crystals that we work with. And so it's a little bit of a sort of thing. Keeping everything clear with other people's energy. And just so you are [00:11:00] actually in a very safe space, crystals come with the energy wherever they come from. So you always want to cleanse them. [00:11:08] And there are three ways to kind of crystals. Actually four. So one of the ways is with a smarter state, which got a lot of people have heard about seeing those smart or Palo Santo when you like Smogen Palo Santo though. Cause I was talking to a client of mine this week and you know, it's really important to be quite intentional with your smarter state you're in, in the sense it could be some frankincense and Yeah. [00:11:32] And so is that I'm clearing these crystals. All of them wanted energy, putting them with love and light. Um, sound is really dirt. You know, you can play some maybes for music or if you've got times or whatever, you know, if anyone's got bowls, but whatever, but the, the easiest and the seat, the easiest, most simple, uh, sunlight and Moonlight, so full moon. In a bowl of salted water, put all those crystals out on the full moon to bathe in the full moon for full child [00:12:00] or in the sunshine. They love the sunshine. So you're filling them with, with life energy. It's it's, it's this energy of the moon of the energy of this. [00:12:09] me: Lovely. And what about programming? [00:12:12] Estelle: I'm programming. So that comes back to this, this part where I was talking about the intention, right? The really setting the intention so basic again. And I feel that this is a really important thing to remember about crystals is that these things on the outside are really just reminders of the power that we have on the inside. And, and it's, and are ways to really heal our relationship with self so that we come into a place of true self love, like self-belief and where we really listened to ourselves. So the crystals are great and the moon is great, but ultimately you have, you have all of them. And so when we get a crystal from, and this is what, so if we're starting that journey, we go to the crystal shopping. [00:12:55] We don't really have all the knowledge about crystals, but we go in and we rose. Cool. [00:13:00] It's really speaks to us. We're taking that home. We're taking that home. We're taking that home. And when you arrive home and it's about trusting your power, and I am clearing these crystals of all unwanted energy negativity and I'm programming this rose court for universal love. I'm programming. This rose calls to open my heart. I'm working in co-creation with this rose quartz for more self-love and, and that's a powerful thing, because again, it's, it's very empowering to believe that you can co-create and we can co-create. That's how we manifest. We co-create, we can co-create our reality, but we have to be engaged in that. [00:13:37] It doesn't just fall on our heads. [00:13:39] me: okay. So I'm holding the crystal. I'm going to program it. Do I hold it in a particular hand? [00:13:47] Estelle: Yeah, good question. Um, I think it's just that again, the, these, most of these, there's a sort of sacredness, isn't that right? Who you are and what you choose to do. So, you know, [00:14:00] I would say, get out into, into the garden and programming crystals, but you don't need to, you can sit on a balcony, you can sit in your front room, quiet and really not the sacred space and lights and candles and make it where you get your new crystals and get them in salty water. [00:14:11] Make that like a ritual create that lovely ritual of the day. Like there's this part of me taking care of myself. This is part of me making the statement to the universe. I am bringing him all up. I am love. And so. It can hold any of the hand? [00:14:26] Different energies are all on different sides of our bodies. [00:14:28] And the left-hand side is the feminine, not the right-hand side is the masculine, but it's also. One. So it doesn't really matter where you hold it, but just to really hold, hold that. And, and I would always say to hold one crystal in one hand and the hall in the other. So placing the heart on the other hand and just close the eyes and really tuning in and just taking a few moments to reaching in. [00:14:52] But understanding as you set that time, You all connecting that crystal into a sort of universal energy. [00:15:00] And that doesn't mean matter what you believe system is. It's just light and love really that you can read back because you know, or nature bringing, you know, just, uh, an energy that is bigger than you. [00:15:11] And that's what the quaint you, you tune the crystal into, and then you you're programming. [00:15:16] me: For me, I years ago, I used to always wait for some sort of lightning bolt to hit me, you know, when I was holding my crystal your through it. Okay. Bring on the energy. But more recently, and I spoke, um, on a previous podcast about the sort of spiritual awakening that I've really had over the last year or so I've always been, um, Master for years and very drawn to crystals, but this last 18 months or so, it's all sort of suddenly gone crazy for me in a very exciting way, but it's also sometimes quite terrifying as well on your whole reality changes. [00:15:47] But what I've learned works for me with the programming and with the working with crystals is when you set your intentions, it's about sort of closing your eyes and really just visualizing it. And. Imagine [00:16:00] that seeing the question in your mind's eye sort of lighting up or changing or radiating the right energy or, or whatever it is. [00:16:05] And I find that really effective. [00:16:08] Estelle: Yeah. [00:16:09] It's so, so that's our, I suppose when we're talking about Friday, you know, that's, that's the kind of idea mind, so, you know, really. There is no time and there is no space and it is it's what, when you, what you envisage in the mind that in that create the creative mind. That's what I mean about charting. [00:16:26] This wisdom is what we can co-create. So that's a perfect way to tune into the soul of the crystal because crystals will also, you can meditate with your crystals. And spend it, you know, have a loving, real meditation with your crystals. And again, it doesn't have, like you say, you have to be Yeah. [00:16:40] Lightning bolt, but you may have, uh, you may just meditate with that rose court on a full moon, on a new moon or just on a Monday. And then you're, if you was to show a pen for you. And again, it's a sort of, the language of the crystals is that you're opening yourself up to something. That is other than what it is that we just sort of see in this, [00:17:00] in this three D Nancy. [00:17:02] So, um, but you also open yourself up to a wisdom it's like your own soul wisdom, but in, in, in, in relationship with the crystals, [00:17:10] me: Yes. And I find that different crystals speak to me at different times. And I guess that's right. Someone once said to me that sometimes they. Come into your life for a specific purpose. And then you may fall out of love with them, or be less drawn to them because they've done their job then. And it might be moving on to another one. [00:17:28] Um, I want to ask you about multivite because I've recently got some of that and there was my daughter who's 13, literally burst into tears and the crystal shops, mommy, mommy, I only ever taught people, have books motivate and they've died or, you know, their lives are changed. It's all been disastrous, but it's known to be a really transformational state and yeah. [00:17:48] Estelle: I mean molded my Grimaldi. [00:17:50] me: Yes. [00:17:51] Estelle: But the green device is the most powerful, um, crystals, you know, normal, or it's basically one of my [00:18:00] palpable crystals. And it's a crystal that calls you in, you know, it sort of pulls you in a certain time. [00:18:07] me: Yes. [00:18:08] Estelle: Um, and Yeah. [00:18:10] it's, it's about holding the power of multi-part art really, because it's, it has, you know, if we're thinking about, um, there can be sort of downloads with crystals or information the crystals have for you, like you say different parts of your journey when you grow with crystals and you start to develop a communication sort of language and, and these. [00:18:33] You know, motivates like a Mo is quite a master crystal. So it's, and it's very, very powerful. And you know, again, it's like sometimes you may be drawn to a crystal, um, and he might just wanna have it in your atmosphere, but you might not necessarily want to use it. So you might have a crystal, you could have that moldable on the shelf for two years and then you'll kind of go, oh, actually now's the time. [00:18:54] But it's like, it's almost like it needed to be in your orbit. It needs to be in your, or for that [00:19:00] time. And, and, or, you know, sitting on the mantle piece, it's actually it's clearing and refining the aura and sort of preparing you without directly preparing you [00:19:10] me: Yes, yes. Yes. [00:19:12] Estelle: But molded like jewelry is yeah. [00:19:14] Like, you know, it's sort of quite, it's very hard. tech types, like a don't take tight. So it's got a lot of, sort of, um, or a lot of power and it's holding the it's about holding the power of, and that's why you'll do this. We're saying people don't, you know, because it just might be that the motorbike wants to be in that person's all a bit, but maybe they weren't quite ready to sort of hold the energy. [00:19:40] Not that your crystals, it, that that's not, they're not going to kill you. It's it's, it's, it's subtle, you know, sometimes like you say, um, you know, I really liked that nuts, not paced, and I'm really drawn to that lap and I've got to wear that Lopez last you lay, um, [00:20:00] as you lie, um, Netflix. Because maybe that's something you will not speaking about, but, and the throat Chuck really needs clearing and cleansing. [00:20:08] And that's what, since addiction times it's been used that we beautiful blue lap is a bit for real powerful. It's a real Royal stone really for power, but for the sort of speaking your truth and actually. There's other times when that's just not where you're, where you're at. So like you say, sometimes crystals break on people and I always say, when they break them, then it's put them back into the us. [00:20:30] So you can do, I will put them back into the earth and a full moon. You just offer them back. Um, yeah. So, Yeah. [00:20:38] motive. Beautiful, amazing and powerful. Very beautiful. [00:20:42] me: Well, it is it, things are happening. It's definitely taking me down a slightly different track. And it's interesting. I, um, yes, I'm ready for it. And I sort it when I bought it, I thought, no. Okay, come on. We're ready for this. And I've been wearing the necklace and it's. [00:20:58] Estelle: a lot of communication with multiple, right. [00:21:00] A lot of sort of communication with guides and there's a lot of stuff that happens around mobile. Um, but like I said, so aren't so like a port for light. Um, there's another one of my favorite crystals of all time. Probably it's. [00:21:13] it's looks like sort of, um, little jewels it's white, but that is a really angelic it's all about the angels port flight. [00:21:22] Um, Like sailor style is, which is pale blue gobies will. And they're quite easy. Crystals. They're quite easy crystals for that type of communication. Like just to bring, bring your angels in or, you know, to just create that space in your home, in your bedroom. Very easy. Multivite is a little bit more Sparky. [00:21:43] If that makes [00:21:44] me: Yes, it total sense. So if I, if I wanted or, or listener wanted to connect with some angels at, through a crystal, how would they go about doing it? [00:21:55] Estelle: The angels love crystals, you know, [00:22:00] angelic energy, um, loves the energy of, of that sort of, you know, the, the sacredness that comes from. Having crystals that you look after and that you love. So angels love gardens. You know, they love flowers. They love spaces that are attended by us in loving ways. [00:22:22] Ultimately, you know, angels are, they, they exist in a dimension of free will. So, and it's that they know we exist in a dimension of free will angels exist in a dimension of service. So they, they come to, it was whatever, however, we, we show up. But when we have environment, the all have angel have, have angelic crystals or candles or. [00:22:47] Flowers and bits and pieces. They love that, you know, cause you can really call them in. And I would say do an angelic meditation. Um, you like candle, you call in the age of the day and [00:23:00] you call it? [00:23:01] an angel, an Archangel that you just have a relationship. You know, often, or that you, you have a feeling for people say to me, oh, I can't call them the angels because they've got too much to do. [00:23:11] Who am I to call in Archangel Gabriel, who am I to call in? You know, maths Chon. Like they, they I'm too. I'm not enough. And the fact is is that we, apart from anything else that the angelic consciousness isn't singular it's, it's, it's infinite. So it has an infinity infinite energy to it. So Archangel Gabriel. [00:23:33] You know, how many thousands upon thousands of people at once. So calling an angel is what they want to do. They want to be of service to you. They're so excited when you call them in. It's like it's made their day. So I just think that's your call. I just be like thinking that is what the data is, because that is what the deal is. [00:23:54] So when you get a little bit of Salazar, When you sit with that set of stuff, you like kind can do a nice and be nice and long nights. And off I [00:24:00] call you in all kinds of Gabriel into, into my meditation. I pray, but, and also Eastern by my side, by my left on my right, you've heard me before me, above me, below me, they were over the moon and just allowing, you know, we, we show up to that place. [00:24:17] Um, and if you show up to that place, sort of every day does daily, even for five minutes, you will feel the angelic vibration. In your, in your experience? Because they respond [00:24:31] me: So what are the different ways the angels can help? [00:24:35] Estelle: well, the angels are, as you know, they are, um, either family members who've passed over into the light who, who come back as sort of, you know, angelic part of our, our family in the light or angelic family in the night. So often people feel, I know my mother's. I feel that all the time, you know, or someone comes to see me [00:25:00] and a grandparent shows up and it's the grandparents that talk to them because no one else did or, you know, an ex what goes on like that. [00:25:09] And that those, those souls come back in the light to be in all ancestral line. The ancestral line. So we, we, we, we, we know those and that's part of our spiritual family and those souls sort of know us and kind of want to make sure that we, we kind of, they'll not just, we'll make Sure. [00:25:29] that we kind of, when the work-life balance is great, that kind of be like one. Okay. [00:25:35] So, um, you know, by the red dress, not the green one or, you know, whatever it is and sort of. Just the gentle, not just if you let them in. Sometimes it's nice to know that they're there because we feel protected and we don't feel alone. And then the angelic in terms of the angelic realms and then having a guardian angel and then the big angels that come in, they help us with our lives and, and, and [00:26:00] being in our lives and healing our lives and transforming our lives. [00:26:03] They help us stay safe. They help us make the work choices every day because we're in the dimension of free where we can make a choice. That's good for us. It's not good for us, you know, or sometimes we got to know what choices to make. They can really help with that guidance. They can really, you know, thoughts we'll drop in, you'll see signs, there'll be synchronicity. [00:26:24] And the more you call them in the more the synchronicity happens, the more you call them in the more we were in the slipstream, more you're in an angelic slipstream and they. Desperate to accompany now, desperate to accompany us on the, in this very short time that we have on the planet and they are there for us. [00:26:48] And so, um, Yeah. [00:26:50] every aspect of all human existence, you know, there, there is no angel that's too great. They don't work like that. We weren't like that. That's our [00:27:00] human ego that says, oh, you know, I can't ask this angel to help me pass this exam, or I can't help this angel to help me pass my driving test or, you know, I'm S I'm grieving my divorce and, you know, well wing in some angelic assistance. [00:27:17] me: Yes. So you know so much about this, partly because you are a fourth generation psychic, correct me if I'm wrong. Um, which is fascinating. When did you first learn that you had this ability. [00:27:35] Estelle: Um, well, yeah, so for me, I, I, I get asked this question quite often and my mother's psychic, my mother's very psychic. Um, but she's a little bit of a negative psychic. She's a psychic that you don't really want to have. It [00:27:51] me: Oh, why? Why? [00:27:53] Estelle: will tell you, you know, a dog's going to die or. Yeah. [00:27:58] really. So, [00:28:00] um, but, but her grandmother was so I keep too, and it's actually, so I keep the female line on my mother's side, but also my father's side, um, as well. [00:28:10] And so it's sort of, because my mother is psychic and that's a lot, that's the kind of, we, I grew up when I S I was, um, I learned how to meditate and then teach transgender meditation when I was seven years old. So it was sort of, I grew up in a world where it was sort of accepted, but I. Feel and see, um, energy from a radio the age. [00:28:34] So from a really early age, I could just feel that energy. I could, I could feel sense energy in spaces and around people. And, [00:28:43] me: that feel like? [00:28:45] Estelle: um, well, I think there are certain inclinations where we're born as empath. And then also what happens is the lifetime. And so our early childhood can also make us hypervigilant, so impact. [00:28:58] So often born into [00:29:00] a family environments where they all, they have to become hypervigilant. So it can, it's like a double whammy. Um, but being, being an EMP, being an empath or feeling energy psychically, um, it's, it's sort of a little bit more than three dimensions. [00:29:19] me: Right. [00:29:20] Estelle: It's like things have a vibration and you can do with migration. [00:29:25] So it's like having, there's a call and you it's like the core isn't switched on, but it is switched on so you can hear how it sounds. [00:29:32] me: I see. Oh, fascinating. [00:29:35] Estelle: Um, and then when I was quite young, I, so I still see feeding the angels at around eight years old. And I sort of had felt I had visitations from the angels and like write about them. I wrote a lot of, I wrote a lot about angelic energy. Um, and then they left for bits and then they came back in my early twenties. [00:30:00] [00:30:01] me: So you'd, I'm just write this down. You pause because you see that I'm furiously making notes here as you're talking. So I don't forget what were the visitation? [00:30:11] Estelle: So the visitations were fixed. It was an energy that would come in and it would come in sort of, not every evening, but some evenings. And it's about, and I really understood this, this idea of creating space. So I sort of create space. For goal to create a sort of divine space for something sacred that I was just aware to. [00:30:39] I sort of, that was something that I do. Part of the reason I would do that was to get away from some of the stuff that was happening at the time in my childhood, around me. So I go to my room and I create the space. Angelic energy when it comes in is really pat. It's really real. It's very palpable. It's actually much more so [00:31:00] when I do my meditations, I do formerly meditations and people come and they feel people who are kind of agnostic, um, feel we call them the angels and in their houses, you on zoom, they feel this, the energy move into the room and it is quite powerful. [00:31:16] me: Hm. [00:31:17] Estelle: Which is quite amazing. So yeah. So the, so the angels would cut, they'd come in and I'd write, and I do a sort of a type of, um, downloading [00:31:26] me: Yes. [00:31:27] Estelle: the download [00:31:28] me: Information from them. Fascinating. So I had a vision of sort of, uh, an angel, uh, uh, angel Gabriel sort of character and long golden white robe sitting at the, at the edge of your bed. It was nothing like that. Then it was more of a sensing. [00:31:45] Estelle: Yes. it was, it was, it wasn't a Archangel Gabriel. It was, it was, it was a strong sense. Yeah. [00:31:51] me: Yeah. Beautiful. So talking again about crystals and we bought them with Claire, then we've programmed [00:32:00] them, um, where they're in our bra and our pockets. What other uses are there for them around the home? For example, can we place them in special places to do jobs for us? [00:32:11] Estelle: Well, I just think, you know, at the moment, so many people are having these lists, this sleep, anxiety, sleep story, Andre, um, and. [00:32:20] me: Okay. [00:32:21] Estelle: Bedrooms are a great place for crystals, but make sure that you clear those crystals by the bedside team, because crystals absorb a lot of the energy, the frantic energy that we are discharging in our sleep now in our. Um, and I'll sleep time. We discharge a lot of the panic and fear and thoughts and doubt. And even when we don't remember our dreams, you know, but that's, what's happening in that time. And so, um, and amethyst, for example, which is brilliant for sleep brilliant for alignment, brilliant clearing. Panic and anxiety. [00:32:56] All of that stuff is a lovely one to have by, by the bed. I mean, I [00:33:00] think rose quartz is a lovely ones, have photographs, you know, um, apophyllite is, is a great angelic. If you want to sort of have really sort of light and lovely, a sort of sense of light and lucky dreams and all your clearing, your bedroom. [00:33:13] From old past traumatic relationships or boyfriends or girlfriends that you want to just, you, it's not, you come to an end of a relationship there, but you've been going for two years and they've gone and you want to just re group in that room. You want to take, we sort of ownership back. That's a fabulous one to do from also having proposed calls in the bedroom for set that sort of generating that self-love meaning. [00:33:37] So we can. Some really positive, um, self image, you know, like some good, some good positive self-talk happening. Yeah. Well, a great way to program the unconscious is in is when you're sleeping. Right? So, and the unconscious thoughts are the, uh, where we make our conscious thoughts. So, um, a great [00:34:00] way to do that is while you're sleeping. [00:34:01] So you've got that love, you guys caught a little, a little tumbles stone onto the pillow. Also, you can have, um, crystals, their computers to clear EMF. You can have, um, crystals around your, if you want to get more creative, you know, you can have different crystals to help with creativity, which trying to write, we trying to focus, um, different crystals in different places really work around home. [00:34:27] me: Yes. Yes. I have got with me today. I always have my Tangerine courts with me for work, which is great for creativity. Yeah. As well. [00:34:34] Estelle: Yeah, that's lovely. [00:34:36] me: it's a really lovely one. Yes. And then for EMF, I think that's really key, especially. Yeah. More people are spending time, probably at computers than ever before now doing their zoom calls and things. [00:34:46] I know there are a few different crystals for this. Do you have a particular favorite for absorbing that? [00:34:52] Estelle: I would wait. He recommends one guy shouldn't go is a great one to have close to your computer, [00:35:00] or even next to the wifi box, you know, really, um, powerful for sort of absorbing the EMS from mobile phones, although devices. But I definitely say when you're sleeping, make sure it's. I mean, people do know that, but do try and get the phone out of the room anyway. [00:35:17] Um, but in terms of the rest of the house, Yeah. [00:35:20] Sean got is great. [00:35:21] me: Tell me about crystal skulls. Cause I've had a real affinity for these for the last year. Do you have many options? [00:35:29] Estelle: I don't actually have any crystals goals Miranda, but people who get drawn to crystals goals are sort of drawn specifically. For a reason. So they, there's a sort of medicine in those schools. There's a message in those schools. And this is something, um, about the, what the skulls, the energy that the schools are aligned to. [00:35:49] That's kind of for you, [00:35:51] [00:35:51] me: Well, I've got a, um, a beautiful smoky quartz crystal skull on my desk downstairs, and it chose me. I [00:36:00] didn't choose it. I was walking around the crystal shop and I sort of, I sort of said, okay, under my breath, Spirit guides angels. If there's one in one crystal for me here, just let me know. And I'm sort of wandering around thinking, oh, okay. [00:36:12] I have no idea is there's far too much choice here. And then literally the music. Cause I gazed upon this crystal skull, the music sort of suddenly did a D. Different noise, which I totally tuned into my heart. Kind of, I had an emotional moment. My heart kind of felt like it burst open. And I gave some to the eyes of this crystal skull and I felt all of a sudden, quite emotional. [00:36:37] And I just knew instantly that I had to have it. So that's the story of my very first crystal skull who was downstairs. [00:36:44] Estelle: So there's crystal skull, I feel was chosen you. Um, and there were 13 that were found at some point, the team's goals. [00:36:52] me: Okay. [00:36:53] Estelle: And they were believed to be left by aliens. It's a source of potentially, uh, yeah, like a bit of an [00:37:00] interdimensional communication happening there. [00:37:02] me: Fantastic. Oh, interesting. Well, we had Tim wild on the podcast a couple of weeks ago and, um, we were talking a little bit, we touched upon. Extra terrestrial life and life and other well, the universe, the multiverse, the plier is serious, et cetera. Um, the fact that there's so much more out there potentially than, than just us. [00:37:24] Um, so that would all fit in beautifully with that. [00:37:27] Estelle: Yes, absolutely. [00:37:28] me: I wanted to ask you you about transcendental meditation. So I meditate and I've only recently again, properly learnt how to do it. [00:37:37] It's just sort of really come naturally over the last year or so. I used to sort of force myself into it and, but my mind would just switch off all the time, but I've found that visualizing. And sort of almost going places with it has really helped me stay focused and in the moment, and I love it now, whereas before it would always be something that I felt that I had to do. [00:37:57] Um, but what is this [00:38:00] transcendental meditation? [00:38:02] Estelle: So transcendental meditation was a meditation from back in the sixties. Um, been handed down what to various yogis in India to very certain or Indian scientists. Um, and I ended up with someone called Maharishi Mahesh, Yogi, who was the, uh, guru of her time. He taught the Beatles chatter, never meditation, but I know meditation? [00:38:27] in the seventies. [00:38:28] me: Yeah. [00:38:28] Estelle: Um, when I was seven and it's, it's all it is, is it's a, it's a, it's a mantra based meditation. So it just sort of Sanskrit word mantra based meditation, but you can do any religion, any there, isn't a sort of, it's not based in a religion. Um, but it's wonderful as a way to bring your mind into this, into this state where the B two waves shift to alpha waves. [00:38:56] So you will. I interviewed a guy called Bob [00:39:00] Roth on my podcast. And he he's been teaching to try and learn meditation for years. Since the, since the sixties, he's taught Oprah Winfrey how to meditate and all of her production staff and you know, all of these kind of speak stars and celebrities and athletes in America. [00:39:18] And he talks about how it's scientifically proven that when you meditate, you only need to meditate 10 minutes a day. Some people say 10 minutes a day, twice. A day, but I just say stop for 10 minutes a day. Um, and what happens is you, you know, it's, it's not about stilling the mind cause there's different types of meditation. [00:39:38] There's meditation about, you know, where we mindfulness meditation or where we still the mind or the TM is about allowing the mind to do it's burbling and it's bubbling. And then when you keep coming back to the practice, What does happen is eventually you come back to the practice and we S we drop into a state that exists within [00:40:00] all of us, which is, is, uh, it's the, it's a state of, um, uniform equals at the unified state of consciousness, um, where there is just a sort of essence energy. [00:40:14] So all the burbling happens on the top of the water, all happens up here and the underneath. All of this, all of these waves and this in this big body of thoughts and this big body of mind, there is this state that at the bottom of the ocean, you know, the only ocean bed, where there is a silence within all of us. [00:40:34] And that's a place where we come to them and really master the mind the mind is, does not master us. Our thoughts are not us. [00:40:43] me: Yeah. [00:40:43] Estelle: Our thoughts are part of our construct. And that's why when we are clear in limiting beliefs about who we are, Um, mastering those that the mind is, is really powerful because we're not defined anymore bright. [00:40:57] You know, if we were told that we, [00:41:00] you know, we weren't Mason, we weren't, we weren't intelligent. If we weren't pristine, if we weren't accepted enough, we weren't nice. We weren't not, we just. Those are thoughts. We're actually more than that. Also an energy was always more than that. And it's more than more than that. [00:41:14] We, you know, when we drop into the lifetime, we forget who, what, what the soul energy is. And then the journey back to self. You know, as a, as the earth itself as the equipment. So is to remember the highest self and to come back into relationship with that essence energy and the essence energy is that silence and it's enough. [00:41:35] It's always enough. So TM. yeah. [00:41:38] it's a, it's a really great practice. It's a fab. Fabulous. Um, I think guided visualization meditations are wonderful. I think, you. [00:41:48] know, for really drawing in different guides, different angels, like, you know, I think that is a really wonderful way to sort of access meditation. [00:41:56] I always say there isn't a right and there isn't a wrong, you know, [00:42:00] medicine is something we can drop into when we, when we're mowing the lawn. [00:42:05] me: Mm. Yeah. Well, let's, let's joking meditation running meditation. Isn't that all sorts walking meditation. [00:42:12] Estelle: Okay. Meditation is the one thing that's really wonderful is just to give yourself a little bit of time out of time. To, to do a meditation. There's something about that just as a way of being in the world, like just to be kind of to self, just like, do you know what I'm going to find the time to do this 10 minutes and spend this 10 minutes with myself just lying down here and breathing well, I'm going to, and I'm, you know, and I'm gonna repeat this mantra or I'm going to listen to this guided meditation. [00:42:39] I'm just gonna listen to my breath. Well, I'm going to take 10 minutes to just walk around the garden and just, you know, there's a walking meditation. [00:42:48] is, you know, where you just take one step at a time, brings you into meditative space where the thoughts are not controlling the moment. [00:43:00] [00:43:00] me: Stale you are a very gifted, natural healer. You just have to look at the press on your website to see the very well-respected publications raving about you. And, uh, the one that jumped out for me was utterly transformative from goop, um, but many, many other people and you clearly, um, have such a beautiful offering if our listeners want to. [00:43:22] Access you or learn more about you? What can you do? How can they get involved? [00:43:28] Estelle: Yeah, so they can, um, they can find me on my web, on my website. I still being in.com. And you can inquire about retreats or one-to-one ones, or, you know, I've got online course. I'm going to be, um, announcing I'm announcing now. Yeah. Yeah, I'm doing that. And that's going to start, you know, mid-September when I do retreats quite a few notes, obviously I've been, we hadn't played the lockdowns, but, um, I'm going back into doing the cheese I'm doing to September, October. [00:43:58] Um, and I do [00:44:00] meditations online every month. So someone who can come to a moon meditation they're really inexpensive, um, and really lovely, Lovely. community. So yeah. [00:44:09] me: I fancy those retreats. Tell, tell me about that. [00:44:12] Estelle: The retreats are really intense morale. [00:44:16] me: Well, I've got them all divided. So I might as well jump in with both feet. [00:44:21] Estelle: It's something called a laboratory and the laboratory is an immersion ferry. It's a full immersion weekend. Um, it's a, it's a three night, four day. We, you know, there's, there's yoga, it's very restorative. It's really that's nourish and restore. Um, but the it's very deep healing. Yeah. [00:44:40] It's an angelic shamanic work, so we kind of work shamanically sort of in nature, but we w we also work I in on those retreats as sort of I'm channeling energy, um, as I do in my one-to-one, but it's, so it's. [00:44:56] A lot happens, you know? Cause everyone turns up it's [00:45:00] wonderful. Um, and very powerful and I'm very humbled by them. Um, but it's great people do the, you know, the shifts happen that the, sort of the proof of the pudding's what was in the meeting. So now when people come in and they clear those layers of stuff, you know, you will carry so much. [00:45:22] Sometimes we forget that we're carrying so much and just that heave ho when you have that heat home moment and it can be about, just know that just taking a step into something different is for the lifetime is, is a real gift. [00:45:39] me: Sounds amazing. I think they're fully booked by the looks of your website when I had a look, but I'm sure, but people can listen to this obviously at any time. So I'm sure lots of dates will be released in the future and [00:45:51] Estelle: yeah, [00:45:51] me: they sound fascinating, Sally. You've been absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for coming on to talk to us today. [00:45:58] I do have a couple of quick [00:46:00] fashion questions just to change that, change the tune. If you're up for the challenge. Great. Say funny, everyone's loving the fashion questions. It's brilliant fun. Um, so what does fashion mean to you? [00:46:14] Estelle: Fashion for me is about an expression of your in, uh, how, uh, you see and self-belief and fashion is is this creative, this amazing way of, of being in the world. And when I was younger, I used to wear all vintage. I used to wear like really amazing. Um, I used to go to the trail, all the markets and like pause time to market the time child trout, and wear like incredible sort of Victorian boots with my sort of 1940s, no crates machine coat, you know, there's a, there's such a power in fashion. [00:46:58] me: Yes. [00:46:59] Estelle: When you [00:47:00] allow it to sort of, you know, exp you allow it to speak for you in some way today. I'm, you know, I love wearing a dress. I do love wearing a sort of an honest template. I used to go to her sales and she used to do those incredible sales. Um, and you could just get these amazing bargains. [00:47:21] me: Yeah. Fantastic. [00:47:22] Estelle: And I used to love a novel kind of a, sort of a long. [00:47:27] Something to do to dance on [00:47:29] me: Goddess God Yesware [00:47:31] Estelle: very gorgeous. with a great pair of, um, you know, espadrilles but long, but big ones wedges, [00:47:36] me: gorgeous. Gorgeous. That's the best answer yet. Thank you very much. So what is your most memorable fashion purchase to date? Good or bad? [00:47:47] Estelle: I would say my most memorable good is, would be easy. Is it not as 10 play, um, wonderful sort of Demian, you know, black [00:48:00] dress with these wonderful gold desks on it. And it sort of, isn't a princess dress. It's sort of slightly medieval, but very good. I say. And you know, it's addressed that you can dance barefoot in a beat for two, or you can call them heels and please, [00:48:15] me: Perfect. You know, it'd be, that is really calling me at the moment I haven't been. Can you believe? And, and I know I meant to go there. [00:48:23] Estelle: Long [00:48:24] me: Yeah. [00:48:26] Estelle: island. It's called school Caroline. [00:48:29] me: Score. Oh, they, oh, we were just saying earlier, um, it may not be kept in, so I'll just repeat this for our listeners that my, uh, talking astrology for a moment. My south node is in tourists and my north node is in Scorpio, which means I'm journeying throughout my life already from tourists to the Scorpio energy, despite being a Pisces, just to make it all the more complicated. [00:48:48] Uh, but yes, that's so funny. It keeps, I mean, I've always loved a good boogie and, uh, you know, a bit of a dance. Um, but it's just, I can't get it out of my head at the most. [00:48:59] Estelle: Kristen [00:49:00] stole over there. [00:49:01] me: Yes thing is it's really massive. It's really heavy. [00:49:07] Estelle: Pack a few more dresses instead. [00:49:09] me: I'll just take a little special papoose and have him around my neck or something who knows. Okay. Would you, or could you describe your personal style for us in three words? [00:49:21] Estelle: Um, yes, I'm going to do that. I would say it is, um, been teach sort of a Hemion and glamorous. [00:49:36] me: gorgeous. A great combination. And who is your style icon? [00:49:43] Estelle: All icons. I mean, you know, like this is a difficult one to answer, but when I was growing up, I used to love a lot of the sort of, um, I love the kind of clean lines of sort of, you know, folk from the fifties. [00:50:00] Um, and so I sort of loved that kind of Audrey Hepburn, another bit of a Friday pump with a sort of similar. Um, you know, really that kind of simplicity, what was it? Who would you happen to look? But I also love, you know, so I kind of, and also who's the other person that Isabella Rossellini, I locked the way that she has a white shirt and she just wears white shot, always. Um, but I'm also like, you know, in makings and all the time. [00:50:27] So it's that kind of all do happen. Yeah. Um, the, you know, the yoga girl. [00:50:37] me: That's a great, yeah. It's a whole new look. No Estella, thank you so much for taking the time to join me today. It's been a real pleasure. I've really loved our time together. [00:50:48] I would love to do it again soon and perhaps carry on our conversation. Cause it's been fascinating. [00:50:53] Estelle: Thank you so much for having me. I'd absolutely love to do that. Definitely. We just crossed. [00:50:59] me: All [00:51:00] right. Take care. [00:51:03] Thank you so much for listening. I do hope you enjoyed the show. There's plenty more where that came from. So do click follow and subscribe so you can catch future episodes. If you'd like to get it in touch, you can contact me on social media on Instagram and Facebook. You'll find me under Miranda holder LDN. [00:51:21] Twitter is Miranda holder L N. Feel free to leave me a little comment or review. It would be so appreciated. Thank you so much again, can't wait to see you next time.

Ruby Hammer Podcast Transcript

Ruby Hammer Welcome to the fashion weekly podcast. So if we're starting that journey, we go to the crystal shopping.And when you arrive home and it's about trusting your power, and I am clearing these crystals of all unwanted energy negativity and I'm programming this rose court for universal love. And that's a powerful thing, because again, it's, it's very empowering to believe that you can co-create and we can co-create. That's how we manifest. I'm your host Miranda holder and I'm a TV and celebrity style expert at Miranda holder London. I'm lucky enough to style the stars. Create fashion shoots for glossy magazines and can regularly be found sharing my passion for dressing well as a style expert on TV and radio. I can honestly say that fashion has saved my life. As I came into the business in my late thirties, following a life-changing car accident that nearly left me wheelchair bound and paralyzed. I promised myself that if I recovered, I would realize my lifelong dream and years [00:01:00] later, after a long gruelling recovery, I'm doing what I love. . I'm now dedicated to trying to help others through their own challenging times. This podcast will hopefully bring a little light into your day. As I chat to stylish friends from the world of show business and beyond who share what fashion means to them, as well as inspirational insights and feel good advice on topics, which fascinate me. [00:01:23] And I just know that you'll love as well. All of which are intended to help you look and feel your best. [00:01:29] If you feel others fit from this podcast, then please do give it a share on social media. As this will allow me to reach more people and help me get my message across on Instagram and Facebook, you can find me at Miranda holder L D N. Twitter is Miranda holder hour, and all you can reach me on my website, which is www.mirandaholder.london. [00:01:53] a little review would be wonderful and helped me so much. And finally, don't forget to subscribe. So you never miss an [00:02:00] episode. This is the fashion weekly podcast with Miranda holder. [00:02:04] by popular request. Here is an episode all about crystals. I chat to the beautiful soul that is Estelle Bingham, psychic author, and critically acclaimed holistic healer, who lifts the lid on everything to do with crystals and lots of. [00:02:21] Estelle shares her insights on how crystals work, the properties of different stones and how to work with the different shapes. We talk about how to choose a crystal and what to do with your first crystal. When you get it home, including cleansing programming and different uses around the house. We also discuss how to work with angels meditation and what it's like being a fourth generation psychic if ever you've been drawn to crystals, but have never really known what to do with them. [00:02:49] This is a lovely lesson. [00:02:51] I hope you enjoy the episode. [00:02:52] me: So Estelle, thank you so much for joining me today on fashion weekly podcast. How are you? [00:02:59] Estelle: I'm well, and [00:03:00] I'm very happy to be here. So thank you for having me Miranda. [00:03:02] me: Ah, no, my pleasure. So I get asked so much on social media, about crystals. I love crystals myself. I've always been into them, but I know there are lots of people that have come to them quite recently, and don't really know where to start. They're attracted to them. They're fascinated by them, but really have no. [00:03:24] Idea about which ones to buy or how they should use them. So if someone is drawn to them and they have absolutely no knowledge whatsoever, where would you recommend? They start? [00:03:35] Estelle: Well, I feel there's been a lot of Halabaloo around crystals, like you say, and it's it sort of, isn't a buzzword, isn't it? It's sort of like shakras crystals, yoga frequently. Um, and I've, I've got a wonderful relationship with crystals and I use them in my work and what I always say to people to not over. [00:03:56] Mythologized something or not overcomplicate something, you know, it's [00:04:00] all about sort of taking that out of that story and just really trusting your instinct. So when it comes to crystals, one of the first ways I say to just tune in is to just try it. And, and that's actually what the relationship with crystal is all about. [00:04:15] It's actually just about the kind of an inner journey, a sort of healing journey and a journey with energy. Really. So it's about trusting what you are drawn to. And often it's just about the color. Okay. So I always say that the crystal in the beginning, when you're starting out with crystals, they choose you. [00:04:32] So if you go into a crystal shop and you go, go on a really like the blue of that crystal, or I like the shape of that crystal, or I like the way when I pick that up, how it sits In my hand and that's enough and that's a really wonderful way to begin is just to actually just allow yourself to kind of feel into it, to feel into the colors, if it didn't fit into the shapes and the sizes, and you will always end up with the right crystal. [00:04:56] me: So how do they actually work? [00:04:59] Estelle: [00:05:00] So crystals are. An interesting phenomenon. If you don't really know about energy, it's a weird one to get your head around. But I always say it's like, when we go into, if you go into the, garden and you've got a favorite part of the garden, or you go for lovely walk along the beach, and there's a part of the beach that you like, where you just like the C diff. [00:05:22] Space is whole different energy and it's the same with crystals. They come out of the earth and they hold different energy. So, , we can go to that cliff and it can, and the wind can be blowing through our hair. And , we feel like we're getting a little bit of a kind of a care out. Could just be really good to kind of clear the mind. [00:05:39] We breathe in that oxygen and, oh, it feels like a really big relief. We get a little bit of clarity and our thoughts can start to change. All we're just really relaxing and we feel really held, we're maybe sitting under a tree and it feels really gentle and soft and the energy feels nurturing. [00:05:56] And so it's the same with crystals as crystals come out of the earth, [00:06:00] but they come out of the earth with different energies. [00:06:04] me: Yeah. [00:06:05] Estelle: And so the, the big kind of cosmic story is of course that they've been charged with different energies and we tune into those energies. But it depends where you are. [00:06:14] Again, , it's like anything, we can meet ourselves in nature and we can meet ourselves with crystals, wherever we are. Really, we don't have to have big belief systems, when we've had . These lockdowns and everyone was started to, , walk in nature. We, we started to meditate and we'll do a little bit of yoga online because there wasn't really much else to do, you know, to really just deal with the anxiety and the fear and a lot of the stuff that started to come up through lockdown. [00:06:38] Lot of that. Energy you were left with when we couldn't fill all lives anymore. But it's, it's sort of like, we don't have to have a lot of understanding it, just showing up to it really. So you show up to that, walk in the country and you feel better after it, then that's great. [00:06:53] You've kind of connected with nature and it doesn't have to be a really big cosmic thing. [00:06:56] me: Beautiful. So they come in a range of gorgeous [00:07:00] colors as you've touched upon. Is there a difference between those different types of crystals in the colors, what they can do for you? [00:07:07] Estelle: Yeah. I mean, I always say to people, if you? [00:07:10] want to just start with one or two or three crystals often, people come to see me and they've always got a little tumble stone, rose, quartz, tumble stone. That picked one apple. If someone's given them one for their birthday and there's a tumbled stone in the bra. [00:07:25] Tom will stay in the pocket. And often it's a rose quartz and rose courts, that love their lovely pink, crystal, if you don't know what they look like, most people do, but they are great for laugh, you know, and I just feel like sort of basic crystals are rose courts, a sort of an amethyst the clear quartz crystals and maybe a black obsidian. [00:07:44] Those crystals also. Where do you work with or different Shaq quiz? The colors often do work with the chakra system. So rose is the kind of pink of the heart and can really heal all aspects to love. So really grow that [00:08:00] self-love, you know, we open us to more love in relationship and also. [00:08:05] With the earth and our interconnectedness, the amethyst is that purple of the crown. So it's the purple in the shotgun crew system is the crown. So it really helps us with our clear thoughts, you know, really clearing the thoughts and Yeah. [00:08:23] Also with a kind of connection to the metaphysical as a connection to the divine tourmaline is a wonderful, crystal and black obsidian. [00:08:31] They are really big protective crystals. And I always say to people that have a little bit of maybe, you know, a lot of images. People who type is incredibly sensitive. We'll get a little bit of social anxiety or, I feel a little bit shy or, just kind of pick up on energy. Obsidian is for you, get yourself a little bit of black tourmaline or black obsidian. And that is a really protective crystal black absorbs, so it absorbs that negativity and I'm [00:09:00] really basic crystal just to feel into, and then the coolest is the clear crystal and that's okay. The, the coolest crystals are, they amplify all the crystals around them and they are a master healer. [00:09:14] So if, if you only got one crystal just getting a plain quartz would be fine. [00:09:19] me: And there are so many different shapes. Aren't Mack, there's carvings. There's your points, your clusters. How do you choose, what do the different shapes do? [00:09:28] Estelle: Shapes hold different types of energy. Um, but if you're starting out and you're sort of starting out with tumble stones, you know, and a couple of little pieces, you know, to get a nice courts of just a sort of single quartz point or a couple of rows courts, point like a small one and a couple of tumbled stones. Perfect. [00:09:48] me: Okay. [00:09:49] I've gone to the shop. I've chosen some cuts, some tumble stones. I've got my starter kit that you recommended, which is an amethyst arose courts, uh, courts, and then a black corn, either an obsidian or a [00:10:00] tourmaline. Um, and what do I do? I get them home. What's this cleansing, malarkey all about. [00:10:06] Estelle: The canes is really important. And again, I would say that, um, just remember what it feels like when you go into a space and you kind of, you don't mean like, Versus going into a space where you do, and that's your intuition, that's your instinct, this isn't the head and the back of your arm. [00:10:25] It's that trust again? Isn't it like, oh, I really want to live here or no, this doesn't really feel right. And that instinct that trust, that intuition, trusting that intuition is trusting the space that you're in. So that's your sacred space. And we clear our space. We clear what we quit. We clear the spaces that we live. also we clear ourselves and we clear the, the, the crystals that we work with. And so it's a little bit of a sort of thing. Keeping everything clear with other people's energy. And just so you are [00:11:00] actually in a very safe space, crystals come with the energy wherever they come from. So you always want to cleanse them. [00:11:08] And there are three ways to kind of crystals. Actually four. So one of the ways is with a smarter state, which got a lot of people have heard about seeing those smart or Palo Santo when you like Smogen Palo Santo though. Cause I was talking to a client of mine this week and you know, it's really important to be quite intentional with your smarter state you're in, in the sense it could be some frankincense and Yeah. [00:11:32] And so is that I'm clearing these crystals. All of them wanted energy, putting them with love and light. Um, sound is really dirt. You know, you can play some maybes for music or if you've got times or whatever, you know, if anyone's got bowls, but whatever, but the, the easiest and the seat, the easiest, most simple, uh, sunlight and Moonlight, so full moon. In a bowl of salted water, put all those crystals out on the full moon to bathe in the full moon for full child [00:12:00] or in the sunshine. They love the sunshine. So you're filling them with, with life energy. It's it's, it's this energy of the moon of the energy of this. [00:12:09] me: Lovely. And what about programming? [00:12:12] Estelle: I'm programming. So that comes back to this, this part where I was talking about the intention, right? The really setting the intention so basic again. And I feel that this is a really important thing to remember about crystals is that these things on the outside are really just reminders of the power that we have on the inside. And, and it's, and are ways to really heal our relationship with self so that we come into a place of true self love, like self-belief and where we really listened to ourselves. So the crystals are great and the moon is great, but ultimately you have, you have all of them. And so when we get a crystal from, and this is what, so if we're starting that journey, we go to the crystal shopping. [00:12:55] We don't really have all the knowledge about crystals, but we go in and we rose. Cool. [00:13:00] It's really speaks to us. We're taking that home. We're taking that home. We're taking that home. And when you arrive home and it's about trusting your power, and I am clearing these crystals of all unwanted energy negativity and I'm programming this rose court for universal love. I'm programming. This rose calls to open my heart. I'm working in co-creation with this rose quartz for more self-love and, and that's a powerful thing, because again, it's, it's very empowering to believe that you can co-create and we can co-create. That's how we manifest. We co-create, we can co-create our reality, but we have to be engaged in that. [00:13:37] It doesn't just fall on our heads. [00:13:39] me: okay. So I'm holding the crystal. I'm going to program it. Do I hold it in a particular hand? [00:13:47] Estelle: Yeah, good question. Um, I think it's just that again, the, these, most of these, there's a sort of sacredness, isn't that right? Who you are and what you choose to do. So, you know, [00:14:00] I would say, get out into, into the garden and programming crystals, but you don't need to, you can sit on a balcony, you can sit in your front room, quiet and really not the sacred space and lights and candles and make it where you get your new crystals and get them in salty water. [00:14:11] Make that like a ritual create that lovely ritual of the day. Like there's this part of me taking care of myself. This is part of me making the statement to the universe. I am bringing him all up. I am love. And so. It can hold any of the hand? [00:14:26] Different energies are all on different sides of our bodies. [00:14:28] And the left-hand side is the feminine, not the right-hand side is the masculine, but it's also. One. So it doesn't really matter where you hold it, but just to really hold, hold that. And, and I would always say to hold one crystal in one hand and the hall in the other. So placing the heart on the other hand and just close the eyes and really tuning in and just taking a few moments to reaching in. [00:14:52] But understanding as you set that time, You all connecting that crystal into a sort of universal energy. [00:15:00] And that doesn't mean matter what you believe system is. It's just light and love really that you can read back because you know, or nature bringing, you know, just, uh, an energy that is bigger than you. [00:15:11] And that's what the quaint you, you tune the crystal into, and then you you're programming. [00:15:16] me: For me, I years ago, I used to always wait for some sort of lightning bolt to hit me, you know, when I was holding my crystal your through it. Okay. Bring on the energy. But more recently, and I spoke, um, on a previous podcast about the sort of spiritual awakening that I've really had over the last year or so I've always been, um, Master for years and very drawn to crystals, but this last 18 months or so, it's all sort of suddenly gone crazy for me in a very exciting way, but it's also sometimes quite terrifying as well on your whole reality changes. [00:15:47] But what I've learned works for me with the programming and with the working with crystals is when you set your intentions, it's about sort of closing your eyes and really just visualizing it. And. Imagine [00:16:00] that seeing the question in your mind's eye sort of lighting up or changing or radiating the right energy or, or whatever it is. [00:16:05] And I find that really effective. [00:16:08] Estelle: Yeah. [00:16:09] It's so, so that's our, I suppose when we're talking about Friday, you know, that's, that's the kind of idea mind, so, you know, really. There is no time and there is no space and it is it's what, when you, what you envisage in the mind that in that create the creative mind. That's what I mean about charting. [00:16:26] This wisdom is what we can co-create. So that's a perfect way to tune into the soul of the crystal because crystals will also, you can meditate with your crystals. And spend it, you know, have a loving, real meditation with your crystals. And again, it doesn't have, like you say, you have to be Yeah. [00:16:40] Lightning bolt, but you may have, uh, you may just meditate with that rose court on a full moon, on a new moon or just on a Monday. And then you're, if you was to show a pen for you. And again, it's a sort of, the language of the crystals is that you're opening yourself up to something. That is other than what it is that we just sort of see in this, [00:17:00] in this three D Nancy. [00:17:02] So, um, but you also open yourself up to a wisdom it's like your own soul wisdom, but in, in, in, in relationship with the crystals, [00:17:10] me: Yes. And I find that different crystals speak to me at different times. And I guess that's right. Someone once said to me that sometimes they. Come into your life for a specific purpose. And then you may fall out of love with them, or be less drawn to them because they've done their job then. And it might be moving on to another one. [00:17:28] Um, I want to ask you about multivite because I've recently got some of that and there was my daughter who's 13, literally burst into tears and the crystal shops, mommy, mommy, I only ever taught people, have books motivate and they've died or, you know, their lives are changed. It's all been disastrous, but it's known to be a really transformational state and yeah. [00:17:48] Estelle: I mean molded my Grimaldi. [00:17:50] me: Yes. [00:17:51] Estelle: But the green device is the most powerful, um, crystals, you know, normal, or it's basically one of my [00:18:00] palpable crystals. And it's a crystal that calls you in, you know, it sort of pulls you in a certain time. [00:18:07] me: Yes. [00:18:08] Estelle: Um, and Yeah. [00:18:10] it's, it's about holding the power of multi-part art really, because it's, it has, you know, if we're thinking about, um, there can be sort of downloads with crystals or information the crystals have for you, like you say different parts of your journey when you grow with crystals and you start to develop a communication sort of language and, and these. [00:18:33] You know, motivates like a Mo is quite a master crystal. So it's, and it's very, very powerful. And you know, again, it's like sometimes you may be drawn to a crystal, um, and he might just wanna have it in your atmosphere, but you might not necessarily want to use it. So you might have a crystal, you could have that moldable on the shelf for two years and then you'll kind of go, oh, actually now's the time. [00:18:54] But it's like, it's almost like it needed to be in your orbit. It needs to be in your, or for that [00:19:00] time. And, and, or, you know, sitting on the mantle piece, it's actually it's clearing and refining the aura and sort of preparing you without directly preparing you [00:19:10] me: Yes, yes. Yes. [00:19:12] Estelle: But molded like jewelry is yeah. [00:19:14] Like, you know, it's sort of quite, it's very hard. tech types, like a don't take tight. So it's got a lot of, sort of, um, or a lot of power and it's holding the it's about holding the power of, and that's why you'll do this. We're saying people don't, you know, because it just might be that the motorbike wants to be in that person's all a bit, but maybe they weren't quite ready to sort of hold the energy. [00:19:40] Not that your crystals, it, that that's not, they're not going to kill you. It's it's, it's, it's subtle, you know, sometimes like you say, um, you know, I really liked that nuts, not paced, and I'm really drawn to that lap and I've got to wear that Lopez last you lay, um, [00:20:00] as you lie, um, Netflix. Because maybe that's something you will not speaking about, but, and the throat Chuck really needs clearing and cleansing. [00:20:08] And that's what, since addiction times it's been used that we beautiful blue lap is a bit for real powerful. It's a real Royal stone really for power, but for the sort of speaking your truth and actually. There's other times when that's just not where you're, where you're at. So like you say, sometimes crystals break on people and I always say, when they break them, then it's put them back into the us. [00:20:30] So you can do, I will put them back into the earth and a full moon. You just offer them back. Um, yeah. So, Yeah. [00:20:38] motive. Beautiful, amazing and powerful. Very beautiful. [00:20:42] me: Well, it is it, things are happening. It's definitely taking me down a slightly different track. And it's interesting. I, um, yes, I'm ready for it. And I sort it when I bought it, I thought, no. Okay, come on. We're ready for this. And I've been wearing the necklace and it's. [00:20:58] Estelle: a lot of communication with multiple, right. [00:21:00] A lot of sort of communication with guides and there's a lot of stuff that happens around mobile. Um, but like I said, so aren't so like a port for light. Um, there's another one of my favorite crystals of all time. Probably it's. [00:21:13] it's looks like sort of, um, little jewels it's white, but that is a really angelic it's all about the angels port flight. [00:21:22] Um, Like sailor style is, which is pale blue gobies will. And they're quite easy. Crystals. They're quite easy crystals for that type of communication. Like just to bring, bring your angels in or, you know, to just create that space in your home, in your bedroom. Very easy. Multivite is a little bit more Sparky. [00:21:43] If that makes [00:21:44] me: Yes, it total sense. So if I, if I wanted or, or listener wanted to connect with some angels at, through a crystal, how would they go about doing it? [00:21:55] Estelle: The angels love crystals, you know, [00:22:00] angelic energy, um, loves the energy of, of that sort of, you know, the, the sacredness that comes from. Having crystals that you look after and that you love. So angels love gardens. You know, they love flowers. They love spaces that are attended by us in loving ways. [00:22:22] Ultimately, you know, angels are, they, they exist in a dimension of free will. So, and it's that they know we exist in a dimension of free will angels exist in a dimension of service. So they, they come to, it was whatever, however, we, we show up. But when we have environment, the all have angel have, have angelic crystals or candles or. [00:22:47] Flowers and bits and pieces. They love that, you know, cause you can really call them in. And I would say do an angelic meditation. Um, you like candle, you call in the age of the day and [00:23:00] you call it? [00:23:01] an angel, an Archangel that you just have a relationship. You know, often, or that you, you have a feeling for people say to me, oh, I can't call them the angels because they've got too much to do. [00:23:11] Who am I to call in Archangel Gabriel, who am I to call in? You know, maths Chon. Like they, they I'm too. I'm not enough. And the fact is is that we, apart from anything else that the angelic consciousness isn't singular it's, it's, it's infinite. So it has an infinity infinite energy to it. So Archangel Gabriel. [00:23:33] You know, how many thousands upon thousands of people at once. So calling an angel is what they want to do. They want to be of service to you. They're so excited when you call them in. It's like it's made their day. So I just think that's your call. I just be like thinking that is what the data is, because that is what the deal is. [00:23:54] So when you get a little bit of Salazar, When you sit with that set of stuff, you like kind can do a nice and be nice and long nights. And off I [00:24:00] call you in all kinds of Gabriel into, into my meditation. I pray, but, and also Eastern by my side, by my left on my right, you've heard me before me, above me, below me, they were over the moon and just allowing, you know, we, we show up to that place. [00:24:17] Um, and if you show up to that place, sort of every day does daily, even for five minutes, you will feel the angelic vibration. In your, in your experience? Because they respond [00:24:31] me: So what are the different ways the angels can help? [00:24:35] Estelle: well, the angels are, as you know, they are, um, either family members who've passed over into the light who, who come back as sort of, you know, angelic part of our, our family in the light or angelic family in the night. So often people feel, I know my mother's. I feel that all the time, you know, or someone comes to see me [00:25:00] and a grandparent shows up and it's the grandparents that talk to them because no one else did or, you know, an ex what goes on like that. [00:25:09] And that those, those souls come back in the light to be in all ancestral line. The ancestral line. So we, we, we, we, we know those and that's part of our spiritual family and those souls sort of know us and kind of want to make sure that we, we kind of, they'll not just, we'll make Sure. [00:25:29] that we kind of, when the work-life balance is great, that kind of be like one. Okay. [00:25:35] So, um, you know, by the red dress, not the green one or, you know, whatever it is and sort of. Just the gentle, not just if you let them in. Sometimes it's nice to know that they're there because we feel protected and we don't feel alone. And then the angelic in terms of the angelic realms and then having a guardian angel and then the big angels that come in, they help us with our lives and, and, and [00:26:00] being in our lives and healing our lives and transforming our lives. [00:26:03] They help us stay safe. They help us make the work choices every day because we're in the dimension of free where we can make a choice. That's good for us. It's not good for us, you know, or sometimes we got to know what choices to make. They can really help with that guidance. They can really, you know, thoughts we'll drop in, you'll see signs, there'll be synchronicity. [00:26:24] And the more you call them in the more the synchronicity happens, the more you call them in the more we were in the slipstream, more you're in an angelic slipstream and they. Desperate to accompany now, desperate to accompany us on the, in this very short time that we have on the planet and they are there for us. [00:26:48] And so, um, Yeah. [00:26:50] every aspect of all human existence, you know, there, there is no angel that's too great. They don't work like that. We weren't like that. That's our [00:27:00] human ego that says, oh, you know, I can't ask this angel to help me pass this exam, or I can't help this angel to help me pass my driving test or, you know, I'm S I'm grieving my divorce and, you know, well wing in some angelic assistance. [00:27:17] me: Yes. So you know so much about this, partly because you are a fourth generation psychic, correct me if I'm wrong. Um, which is fascinating. When did you first learn that you had this ability. [00:27:35] Estelle: Um, well, yeah, so for me, I, I, I get asked this question quite often and my mother's psychic, my mother's very psychic. Um, but she's a little bit of a negative psychic. She's a psychic that you don't really want to have. It [00:27:51] me: Oh, why? Why? [00:27:53] Estelle: will tell you, you know, a dog's going to die or. Yeah. [00:27:58] really. So, [00:28:00] um, but, but her grandmother was so I keep too, and it's actually, so I keep the female line on my mother's side, but also my father's side, um, as well. [00:28:10] And so it's sort of, because my mother is psychic and that's a lot, that's the kind of, we, I grew up when I S I was, um, I learned how to meditate and then teach transgender meditation when I was seven years old. So it was sort of, I grew up in a world where it was sort of accepted, but I. Feel and see, um, energy from a radio the age. [00:28:34] So from a really early age, I could just feel that energy. I could, I could feel sense energy in spaces and around people. And, [00:28:43] me: that feel like? [00:28:45] Estelle: um, well, I think there are certain inclinations where we're born as empath. And then also what happens is the lifetime. And so our early childhood can also make us hypervigilant, so impact. [00:28:58] So often born into [00:29:00] a family environments where they all, they have to become hypervigilant. So it can, it's like a double whammy. Um, but being, being an EMP, being an empath or feeling energy psychically, um, it's, it's sort of a little bit more than three dimensions. [00:29:19] me: Right. [00:29:20] Estelle: It's like things have a vibration and you can do with migration. [00:29:25] So it's like having, there's a call and you it's like the core isn't switched on, but it is switched on so you can hear how it sounds. [00:29:32] me: I see. Oh, fascinating. [00:29:35] Estelle: Um, and then when I was quite young, I, so I still see feeding the angels at around eight years old. And I sort of had felt I had visitations from the angels and like write about them. I wrote a lot of, I wrote a lot about angelic energy. Um, and then they left for bits and then they came back in my early twenties. [00:30:00] [00:30:01] me: So you'd, I'm just write this down. You pause because you see that I'm furiously making notes here as you're talking. So I don't forget what were the visitation? [00:30:11] Estelle: So the visitations were fixed. It was an energy that would come in and it would come in sort of, not every evening, but some evenings. And it's about, and I really understood this, this idea of creating space. So I sort of create space. For goal to create a sort of divine space for something sacred that I was just aware to. [00:30:39] I sort of, that was something that I do. Part of the reason I would do that was to get away from some of the stuff that was happening at the time in my childhood, around me. So I go to my room and I create the space. Angelic energy when it comes in is really pat. It's really real. It's very palpable. It's actually much more so [00:31:00] when I do my meditations, I do formerly meditations and people come and they feel people who are kind of agnostic, um, feel we call them the angels and in their houses, you on zoom, they feel this, the energy move into the room and it is quite powerful. [00:31:16] me: Hm. [00:31:17] Estelle: Which is quite amazing. So yeah. So the, so the angels would cut, they'd come in and I'd write, and I do a sort of a type of, um, downloading [00:31:26] me: Yes. [00:31:27] Estelle: the download [00:31:28] me: Information from them. Fascinating. So I had a vision of sort of, uh, an angel, uh, uh, angel Gabriel sort of character and long golden white robe sitting at the, at the edge of your bed. It was nothing like that. Then it was more of a sensing. [00:31:45] Estelle: Yes. it was, it was, it wasn't a Archangel Gabriel. It was, it was, it was a strong sense. Yeah. [00:31:51] me: Yeah. Beautiful. So talking again about crystals and we bought them with Claire, then we've programmed [00:32:00] them, um, where they're in our bra and our pockets. What other uses are there for them around the home? For example, can we place them in special places to do jobs for us? [00:32:11] Estelle: Well, I just think, you know, at the moment, so many people are having these lists, this sleep, anxiety, sleep story, Andre, um, and. [00:32:20] me: Okay. [00:32:21] Estelle: Bedrooms are a great place for crystals, but make sure that you clear those crystals by the bedside team, because crystals absorb a lot of the energy, the frantic energy that we are discharging in our sleep now in our. Um, and I'll sleep time. We discharge a lot of the panic and fear and thoughts and doubt. And even when we don't remember our dreams, you know, but that's, what's happening in that time. And so, um, and amethyst, for example, which is brilliant for sleep brilliant for alignment, brilliant clearing. Panic and anxiety. [00:32:56] All of that stuff is a lovely one to have by, by the bed. I mean, I [00:33:00] think rose quartz is a lovely ones, have photographs, you know, um, apophyllite is, is a great angelic. If you want to sort of have really sort of light and lovely, a sort of sense of light and lucky dreams and all your clearing, your bedroom. [00:33:13] From old past traumatic relationships or boyfriends or girlfriends that you want to just, you, it's not, you come to an end of a relationship there, but you've been going for two years and they've gone and you want to just re group in that room. You want to take, we sort of ownership back. That's a fabulous one to do from also having proposed calls in the bedroom for set that sort of generating that self-love meaning. [00:33:37] So we can. Some really positive, um, self image, you know, like some good, some good positive self-talk happening. Yeah. Well, a great way to program the unconscious is in is when you're sleeping. Right? So, and the unconscious thoughts are the, uh, where we make our conscious thoughts. So, um, a great [00:34:00] way to do that is while you're sleeping. [00:34:01] So you've got that love, you guys caught a little, a little tumbles stone onto the pillow. Also, you can have, um, crystals, their computers to clear EMF. You can have, um, crystals around your, if you want to get more creative, you know, you can have different crystals to help with creativity, which trying to write, we trying to focus, um, different crystals in different places really work around home. [00:34:27] me: Yes. Yes. I have got with me today. I always have my Tangerine courts with me for work, which is great for creativity. Yeah. As well. [00:34:34] Estelle: Yeah, that's lovely. [00:34:36] me: it's a really lovely one. Yes. And then for EMF, I think that's really key, especially. Yeah. More people are spending time, probably at computers than ever before now doing their zoom calls and things. [00:34:46] I know there are a few different crystals for this. Do you have a particular favorite for absorbing that? [00:34:52] Estelle: I would wait. He recommends one guy shouldn't go is a great one to have close to your computer, [00:35:00] or even next to the wifi box, you know, really, um, powerful for sort of absorbing the EMS from mobile phones, although devices. But I definitely say when you're sleeping, make sure it's. I mean, people do know that, but do try and get the phone out of the room anyway. [00:35:17] Um, but in terms of the rest of the house, Yeah. [00:35:20] Sean got is great. [00:35:21] me: Tell me about crystal skulls. Cause I've had a real affinity for these for the last year. Do you have many options? [00:35:29] Estelle: I don't actually have any crystals goals Miranda, but people who get drawn to crystals goals are sort of drawn specifically. For a reason. So they, there's a sort of medicine in those schools. There's a message in those schools. And this is something, um, about the, what the skulls, the energy that the schools are aligned to. [00:35:49] That's kind of for you, [00:35:51] [00:35:51] me: Well, I've got a, um, a beautiful smoky quartz crystal skull on my desk downstairs, and it chose me. I [00:36:00] didn't choose it. I was walking around the crystal shop and I sort of, I sort of said, okay, under my breath, Spirit guides angels. If there's one in one crystal for me here, just let me know. And I'm sort of wandering around thinking, oh, okay. [00:36:12] I have no idea is there's far too much choice here. And then literally the music. Cause I gazed upon this crystal skull, the music sort of suddenly did a D. Different noise, which I totally tuned into my heart. Kind of, I had an emotional moment. My heart kind of felt like it burst open. And I gave some to the eyes of this crystal skull and I felt all of a sudden, quite emotional. [00:36:37] And I just knew instantly that I had to have it. So that's the story of my very first crystal skull who was downstairs. [00:36:44] Estelle: So there's crystal skull, I feel was chosen you. Um, and there were 13 that were found at some point, the team's goals. [00:36:52] me: Okay. [00:36:53] Estelle: And they were believed to be left by aliens. It's a source of potentially, uh, yeah, like a bit of an [00:37:00] interdimensional communication happening there. [00:37:02] me: Fantastic. Oh, interesting. Well, we had Tim wild on the podcast a couple of weeks ago and, um, we were talking a little bit, we touched upon. Extra terrestrial life and life and other well, the universe, the multiverse, the plier is serious, et cetera. Um, the fact that there's so much more out there potentially than, than just us. [00:37:24] Um, so that would all fit in beautifully with that. [00:37:27] Estelle: Yes, absolutely. [00:37:28] me: I wanted to ask you you about transcendental meditation. So I meditate and I've only recently again, properly learnt how to do it. [00:37:37] It's just sort of really come naturally over the last year or so. I used to sort of force myself into it and, but my mind would just switch off all the time, but I've found that visualizing. And sort of almost going places with it has really helped me stay focused and in the moment, and I love it now, whereas before it would always be something that I felt that I had to do. [00:37:57] Um, but what is this [00:38:00] transcendental meditation? [00:38:02] Estelle: So transcendental meditation was a meditation from back in the sixties. Um, been handed down what to various yogis in India to very certain or Indian scientists. Um, and I ended up with someone called Maharishi Mahesh, Yogi, who was the, uh, guru of her time. He taught the Beatles chatter, never meditation, but I know meditation? [00:38:27] in the seventies. [00:38:28] me: Yeah. [00:38:28] Estelle: Um, when I was seven and it's, it's all it is, is it's a, it's a, it's a mantra based meditation. So it just sort of Sanskrit word mantra based meditation, but you can do any religion, any there, isn't a sort of, it's not based in a religion. Um, but it's wonderful as a way to bring your mind into this, into this state where the B two waves shift to alpha waves. [00:38:56] So you will. I interviewed a guy called Bob [00:39:00] Roth on my podcast. And he he's been teaching to try and learn meditation for years. Since the, since the sixties, he's taught Oprah Winfrey how to meditate and all of her production staff and you know, all of these kind of speak stars and celebrities and athletes in America. [00:39:18] And he talks about how it's scientifically proven that when you meditate, you only need to meditate 10 minutes a day. Some people say 10 minutes a day, twice. A day, but I just say stop for 10 minutes a day. Um, and what happens is you, you know, it's, it's not about stilling the mind cause there's different types of meditation. [00:39:38] There's meditation about, you know, where we mindfulness meditation or where we still the mind or the TM is about allowing the mind to do it's burbling and it's bubbling. And then when you keep coming back to the practice, What does happen is eventually you come back to the practice and we S we drop into a state that exists within [00:40:00] all of us, which is, is, uh, it's the, it's a state of, um, uniform equals at the unified state of consciousness, um, where there is just a sort of essence energy. [00:40:14] So all the burbling happens on the top of the water, all happens up here and the underneath. All of this, all of these waves and this in this big body of thoughts and this big body of mind, there is this state that at the bottom of the ocean, you know, the only ocean bed, where there is a silence within all of us. [00:40:34] And that's a place where we come to them and really master the mind the mind is, does not master us. Our thoughts are not us. [00:40:43] me: Yeah. [00:40:43] Estelle: Our thoughts are part of our construct. And that's why when we are clear in limiting beliefs about who we are, Um, mastering those that the mind is, is really powerful because we're not defined anymore bright. [00:40:57] You know, if we were told that we, [00:41:00] you know, we weren't Mason, we weren't, we weren't intelligent. If we weren't pristine, if we weren't accepted enough, we weren't nice. We weren't not, we just. Those are thoughts. We're actually more than that. Also an energy was always more than that. And it's more than more than that. [00:41:14] We, you know, when we drop into the lifetime, we forget who, what, what the soul energy is. And then the journey back to self. You know, as a, as the earth itself as the equipment. So is to remember the highest self and to come back into relationship with that essence energy and the essence energy is that silence and it's enough. [00:41:35] It's always enough. So TM. yeah. [00:41:38] it's a, it's a really great practice. It's a fab. Fabulous. Um, I think guided visualization meditations are wonderful. I think, you. [00:41:48] know, for really drawing in different guides, different angels, like, you know, I think that is a really wonderful way to sort of access meditation. [00:41:56] I always say there isn't a right and there isn't a wrong, you know, [00:42:00] medicine is something we can drop into when we, when we're mowing the lawn. [00:42:05] me: Mm. Yeah. Well, let's, let's joking meditation running meditation. Isn't that all sorts walking meditation. [00:42:12] Estelle: Okay. Meditation is the one thing that's really wonderful is just to give yourself a little bit of time out of time. To, to do a meditation. There's something about that just as a way of being in the world, like just to be kind of to self, just like, do you know what I'm going to find the time to do this 10 minutes and spend this 10 minutes with myself just lying down here and breathing well, I'm going to, and I'm, you know, and I'm gonna repeat this mantra or I'm going to listen to this guided meditation. [00:42:39] I'm just gonna listen to my breath. Well, I'm going to take 10 minutes to just walk around the garden and just, you know, there's a walking meditation. [00:42:48] is, you know, where you just take one step at a time, brings you into meditative space where the thoughts are not controlling the moment. [00:43:00] [00:43:00] me: Stale you are a very gifted, natural healer. You just have to look at the press on your website to see the very well-respected publications raving about you. And, uh, the one that jumped out for me was utterly transformative from goop, um, but many, many other people and you clearly, um, have such a beautiful offering if our listeners want to. [00:43:22] Access you or learn more about you? What can you do? How can they get involved? [00:43:28] Estelle: Yeah, so they can, um, they can find me on my web, on my website. I still being in.com. And you can inquire about retreats or one-to-one ones, or, you know, I've got online course. I'm going to be, um, announcing I'm announcing now. Yeah. Yeah, I'm doing that. And that's going to start, you know, mid-September when I do retreats quite a few notes, obviously I've been, we hadn't played the lockdowns, but, um, I'm going back into doing the cheese I'm doing to September, October. [00:43:58] Um, and I do [00:44:00] meditations online every month. So someone who can come to a moon meditation they're really inexpensive, um, and really lovely, Lovely. community. So yeah. [00:44:09] me: I fancy those retreats. Tell, tell me about that. [00:44:12] Estelle: The retreats are really intense morale. [00:44:16] me: Well, I've got them all divided. So I might as well jump in with both feet. [00:44:21] Estelle: It's something called a laboratory and the laboratory is an immersion ferry. It's a full immersion weekend. Um, it's a, it's a three night, four day. We, you know, there's, there's yoga, it's very restorative. It's really that's nourish and restore. Um, but the it's very deep healing. Yeah. [00:44:40] It's an angelic shamanic work, so we kind of work shamanically sort of in nature, but we w we also work I in on those retreats as sort of I'm channeling energy, um, as I do in my one-to-one, but it's, so it's. [00:44:56] A lot happens, you know? Cause everyone turns up it's [00:45:00] wonderful. Um, and very powerful and I'm very humbled by them. Um, but it's great people do the, you know, the shifts happen that the, sort of the proof of the pudding's what was in the meeting. So now when people come in and they clear those layers of stuff, you know, you will carry so much. [00:45:22] Sometimes we forget that we're carrying so much and just that heave ho when you have that heat home moment and it can be about, just know that just taking a step into something different is for the lifetime is, is a real gift. [00:45:39] me: Sounds amazing. I think they're fully booked by the looks of your website when I had a look, but I'm sure, but people can listen to this obviously at any time. So I'm sure lots of dates will be released in the future and [00:45:51] Estelle: yeah, [00:45:51] me: they sound fascinating, Sally. You've been absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for coming on to talk to us today. [00:45:58] I do have a couple of quick [00:46:00] fashion questions just to change that, change the tune. If you're up for the challenge. Great. Say funny, everyone's loving the fashion questions. It's brilliant fun. Um, so what does fashion mean to you? [00:46:14] Estelle: Fashion for me is about an expression of your in, uh, how, uh, you see and self-belief and fashion is is this creative, this amazing way of, of being in the world. And when I was younger, I used to wear all vintage. I used to wear like really amazing. Um, I used to go to the trail, all the markets and like pause time to market the time child trout, and wear like incredible sort of Victorian boots with my sort of 1940s, no crates machine coat, you know, there's a, there's such a power in fashion. [00:46:58] me: Yes. [00:46:59] Estelle: When you [00:47:00] allow it to sort of, you know, exp you allow it to speak for you in some way today. I'm, you know, I love wearing a dress. I do love wearing a sort of an honest template. I used to go to her sales and she used to do those incredible sales. Um, and you could just get these amazing bargains. [00:47:21] me: Yeah. Fantastic. [00:47:22] Estelle: And I used to love a novel kind of a, sort of a long. [00:47:27] Something to do to dance on [00:47:29] me: Goddess God Yesware [00:47:31] Estelle: very gorgeous. with a great pair of, um, you know, espadrilles but long, but big ones wedges, [00:47:36] me: gorgeous. Gorgeous. That's the best answer yet. Thank you very much. So what is your most memorable fashion purchase to date? Good or bad? [00:47:47] Estelle: I would say my most memorable good is, would be easy. Is it not as 10 play, um, wonderful sort of Demian, you know, black [00:48:00] dress with these wonderful gold desks on it. And it sort of, isn't a princess dress. It's sort of slightly medieval, but very good. I say. And you know, it's addressed that you can dance barefoot in a beat for two, or you can call them heels and please, [00:48:15] me: Perfect. You know, it'd be, that is really calling me at the moment I haven't been. Can you believe? And, and I know I meant to go there. [00:48:23] Estelle: Long [00:48:24] me: Yeah. [00:48:26] Estelle: island. It's called school Caroline. [00:48:29] me: Score. Oh, they, oh, we were just saying earlier, um, it may not be kept in, so I'll just repeat this for our listeners that my, uh, talking astrology for a moment. My south node is in tourists and my north node is in Scorpio, which means I'm journeying throughout my life already from tourists to the Scorpio energy, despite being a Pisces, just to make it all the more complicated. [00:48:48] Uh, but yes, that's so funny. It keeps, I mean, I've always loved a good boogie and, uh, you know, a bit of a dance. Um, but it's just, I can't get it out of my head at the most. [00:48:59] Estelle: Kristen [00:49:00] stole over there. [00:49:01] me: Yes thing is it's really massive. It's really heavy. [00:49:07] Estelle: Pack a few more dresses instead. [00:49:09] me: I'll just take a little special papoose and have him around my neck or something who knows. Okay. Would you, or could you describe your personal style for us in three words? [00:49:21] Estelle: Um, yes, I'm going to do that. I would say it is, um, been teach sort of a Hemion and glamorous. [00:49:36] me: gorgeous. A great combination. And who is your style icon? [00:49:43] Estelle: All icons. I mean, you know, like this is a difficult one to answer, but when I was growing up, I used to love a lot of the sort of, um, I love the kind of clean lines of sort of, you know, folk from the fifties. [00:50:00] Um, and so I sort of loved that kind of Audrey Hepburn, another bit of a Friday pump with a sort of similar. Um, you know, really that kind of simplicity, what was it? Who would you happen to look? But I also love, you know, so I kind of, and also who's the other person that Isabella Rossellini, I locked the way that she has a white shirt and she just wears white shot, always. Um, but I'm also like, you know, in makings and all the time. [00:50:27] So it's that kind of all do happen. Yeah. Um, the, you know, the yoga girl. [00:50:37] me: That's a great, yeah. It's a whole new look. No Estella, thank you so much for taking the time to join me today. It's been a real pleasure. I've really loved our time together. [00:50:48] I would love to do it again soon and perhaps carry on our conversation. Cause it's been fascinating. [00:50:53] Estelle: Thank you so much for having me. I'd absolutely love to do that. Definitely. We just crossed. [00:50:59] me: All [00:51:00] right. Take care. [00:51:03] Thank you so much for listening. I do hope you enjoyed the show. There's plenty more where that came from. So do click follow and subscribe so you can catch future episodes. If you'd like to get it in touch, you can contact me on social media on Instagram and Facebook. You'll find me under Miranda holder LDN. [00:51:21] Twitter is Miranda holder L N. Feel free to leave me a little comment or review. It would be so appreciated. Thank you so much again, can't wait to see you next time.