From Survival Mode to Soul Alignment – Meditation, Healing & Creative Flow with Daria Gatska (Part 1)

Transcript

Melanie Wilson (00:00)

I'm really wondering what inspired you to start talking on podcasts about meditation?

Daria (00:09)

Well, I guess the main thing that inspired me was my personal journey because You know when I look right now on people who are in survival mode, I guess I've been there once and I was always like wondering how it is to be like like to live life of your dream, but not just like a dream but actually to have this is a reality and it's cool to have dreams, but it's also cool to create that reality that looks like your dream. And funny enough, like now I'm more active on threads, and I ask people, what would you do if you wouldn't be on survival mode? And I was kind of, well, maybe even shocked by the answers because a lot of them said, I don't know, because I never been on the other side. Let's say like I have haven't ever been not in the survival mode. So I don't even know how it feels. And I guess that was in the past, partially for me as well. Like I couldn't understand how it feels until I started meditation, until I started this healing process. And then actually something opened up, and like I, yeah, I just discovered a new world where it's possible, you know, to experience joy, to heal parts of yourself that were all the time judgmental or hesitant. And well, yeah, I've been as a photographer for more than 16 years, and it was like a big part of my life. And then I always struggled because I was like, yeah, I had this imposter syndrome, and I was always thinking that someone has to find me because yeah, you know, if everyone says I'm talented, so why wouldn't they hire me like to do all this project? But I didn't realize that I always like was hiding and I was still like very judging myself and my skills. And I was afraid like to show up, to be visible, to talk about my art.

And then again, with the meditation and with this healing process, I realised that it was simply about confidence. Like if you talk about your skills, your it's not being, it's not necessarily like being arrogant, yeah? It's necessarily like your ego talking about this. It's simply about being confident, and especially if you understand what's your purpose, then you are even more confident to talk about this.

And what happened when I started this healing journey and meditation journey is that actually, it was a beautiful process. I wouldn't say that everything started to unfold straight away. It took some weeks, it took some months, but then, literally, my depression, it just went away. Like if before I couldn't even get up from bed, you know, and I had epressive thoughts and then suddenly I started to have like to feel the purpose in life to meaning in life and Yeah, I think like lots of things change it was like 360 like turn And then I just realized how powerful it was and Of course, I continued my journey, but I kind of realized that this is so beautiful that I should bring it to others

Melanie Wilson (03:38)

Yes.

Daria (03:57)

It was basically the message coming to me during the ceremony of Transcendental Meditation. Meditation is like a medicine, like medication, and that I should just bring it to others. And then after some time, I started also teaching, guiding, and now...

Melanie Wilson (03:58)

Thank

you

We

Daria (04:24)

I felt like I would like to talk about this more and bring it on the next level.

Melanie Wilson (04:30)

Did you say you follow transcendental meditation?

Daria (04:32)

Yeah, I started practising Transcendental Meditation. It was kind of quite an interesting journey to get there because I have heard about this from David Lynch so many times. I have read in the book, and then I was like just curious. So, where do I get this mantra? How do I get there? And then I moved at that time to Portugal and I saw again I was like on YouTube and saw this video where David Lynch explains how transcendental meditation works and I was like my god this is so beautiful I just need my mantra where do I get it and then finally I saw like a window popped up and it says like find your teachers I was like wow like there is like it's just like a sign for me so I contacted straight away and they said that actually in the town where I live there are teachers and I could choose because some would speak English others not and then I found my teachers and like I went probably on the second day I just like went straight away they had like introduction you know they told me everything how it works and then maybe it was like third or fourth day it was a ceremony and it was like a beautiful.

For me, it was like a beautiful experience, this ceremony. And when I came to the ceremony, I felt like, okay, it's gonna be like a life-changing event for me, you I just felt it.

Melanie Wilson (06:00)

Thank you.

That's amazing. And this got my attention because I heard that a bunch of celebrities also follow Transcendental Meditation. It has some high-profile advocates. Have you heard about that?

Daria (06:31)

Yes, yes, definitely.

Well, actually, Ray Deleu is one of them, the businessman, right? And if I'm not mistaken, Cameron Dias and some other celebrities practice. I might be wrong if they practice exactly a transcendent meditation, but as far as I remember, these names.

Yeah, I know that it's great and I know that they have they mentioned also that it was quite life-changing for them because it kind of opens up some creative flow. That's what I also noticed, like from the very beginning. Somehow, you sit in this meditation, and then ideas just like start flowing, you know, and, yeah, at that time, I was still in photography, so it started to show up in my photography, like these creative ideas, I started to have like these projects. But then, interesting enough, my meditation scripts started to come in the meditation, in the transcendental meditation, you know?

Melanie Wilson (07:36)

You found that you had more creative flow after meditating.

Daria (07:51)

Yeah, there were like different experiences. So sometimes I remember my childhood, very interesting moments that I would usually not even remember. But then suddenly it felt like I was back in that beautiful moment, maybe somewhere walking in the forest or something like that. And then, yeah.

And then later, I started to experience these creative moments more and more. But yeah, you need to be quite consistent, you know, it needs to be like your routine because usually it's like meditating in the morning and afternoon. Sometimes when I can't fall asleep, maybe the day was very like exciting and all that. So I just like repeat silently this mantra and it also makes me to fall asleep like straight away

Melanie Wilson (08:51)

That's so good. You fall asleep that quickly.

Daria (08:55)

Yeah, it's amazing.

Melanie Wilson (08:57)

How long do you recite your mantra? How long do you keep that going during one meditation session?

Daria (09:04)

Well, usually they say you need to repeat it for 20 minutes, and sometimes, you know, I don't watch like I don't look at my watch. Just practice and see how long it goes. Yeah, there are times that I start and then my mind can be chattering, and then it takes a couple of minutes to adjust, and then it's quiet, and then you just see it.

Melanie Wilson (09:05)

I'm sure it is.

Daria (09:34)

So honestly, I don't even know if sometimes I do it for longer or for shorter time. I don't set an alarm because I don't just don't like an alarm sound. But yeah, what feels natural basically.

Melanie Wilson (09:49)

You go with the amount of time that you need. I really appreciate that. There's a flexibility, and I can share with you that today I tried a yoga practice alone, and I realised I was looking at the clock too much in hindsight. I just sort of pardon me. I should have set a timer. I'll edit that part. See, we can edit. If I'd set a timer, but with what you're doing, you're just doing the amount of time that feels right for you, isn't any expectation to do five minutes or 20 minutes, or I mean, you have the standard of 20 minutes, but it's very much what feels right on the day.

Daria (10:29)

Exactly. Yeah, because for example, as I say, when I want to fall asleep, and I simply repeat it, maybe just for one, two minutes and then I just like, whoop, went away. Yeah. So. Well, knows? Yeah, but I honestly, I simply don't like alarms. Even in the morning, I try like if there are no meetings, I just don't set alarms because I think

Melanie Wilson (10:40)

Instantly.

You must have been tired.

Daria (10:59)

I rather keep my, you know, natural rhythm. If I want to sleep a little longer, then I just, yeah, allow myself to stay in the bed for a bit longer. So, and I guess in the meditation it's the same. Like I used to look at my watch, but I think it's even more destructive just to look at your watch or to have that alarm. And sometimes you just feel that, okay, this amount of time was already enough for me.

And honestly, there are times that the ideas just like coming through and I'm like, okay, I just need to write down it right now. Or I need to write it to record because sometimes there are ideas that I want to speak, you know, to create this speaking videos and some messages like come literally. So I believe I just channel the message, and then I record it. Yeah.

Melanie Wilson (11:58)

Ideas come to you. I'm curious, how has transcendental meditation helped you with overcoming obstacles in your personal life?

Daria (11:59)

Hmm.

Look, it's quiet, it's a good question, it's a great question, but it's difficult for me to answer if it was exactly a transcendental meditation, meditation, sorry, or it was a mix because I was, let's say, experimenting with other meditations as well, right? So I sometimes mix them. I would say I could do a Transcendental Meditation, then I would do one hour of Chakra Meditation. And maybe that was even more powerful that I started combining them. And that's actually another message that I had during the ceremony that I shouldn't just practice one type of meditation, I should like discover them. Because there are tons of different kinds of meditations, and I was really curious about that, and I also got certified in mindfulness meditation. So for myself, I started also practising this chakra meditation together with transcendental meditation, and that's when I also noticed that, for example, my hormones balanced naturally and because I had this struggle for a long, long time, and they were prescribing me different hormonal treatment, all that. It never worked out.

Melanie Wilson (13:36)

How is that impacting

You, without going into anything you don't want to say, wondering where you're getting headaches, where you're feeling extra stressed? Were there things like that impacting you emotionally and mentally?

Daria (13:49)

Before you mean or yes, yeah, they definitely did. I mean, I didn't have like normal cycles, and that kind of disturbed me a lot, and also a lot of pain, so I've been using a lot of painkillers, and I just gave up

Melanie Wilson (13:51)

with the hormones.

Really?

Daria (14:14)

Honestly, like at some point I just like give up with that, and that's why I find it like I call it miracle because I didn't even set this intention. It just happened naturally, like at some point I noticed that I started to have a regular cycle, and it's now ready for a couple of years like that. ⁓ Yeah

Melanie Wilson (14:32)

Seriously, so are you saying you were even on painkillers? It was that? No? Did I miss here? Yes, so you were even on painkillers, and you didn't have the regularity, and then you were meditating, and things improved?

Daria (14:36)

a lot.

Yes, it happened. I would say I didn't like measure, but I would say after eight, nine months, that's what happened. Yes. And like right now I, I do sometimes have pains, especially if let's say I didn't like sleep well, you know, something so, but it's nothing to compare what it was before. Like, and yeah, I feel like I'm relieved from that experience, from that pain.

Melanie Wilson (14:59)

Wow.

Daria (15:19)

And it's a rare case that I would take any medicine at all right now. And yeah, it just feels like, you know, I can listen to my body better. Like I can literally sit, let's say in the morning and before meditation, after meditation, I just ask myself, okay, how am I feeling right now? Is there some tension? Where is it? And I literally can heal myself. And that's what we all have. We have...

Like we have this ability to heal ourselves, you know, we just, we think maybe people are simply not aware of this or maybe scared what they find there, but actually this process is beautiful. When you start discovering it, okay. At first, maybe you need to get this trash out, you know, from your mind, from your body, but then it's like, it's like a purification basis, and then you find that you can communicate with your body, you can heal your body, you can sense if there is any emotion stored and yeah. So meditation definitely helped me with that, and be it mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation or chakra meditation. think like yeah, well okay a lot. I experienced for me it's a miracle, but again, I sort of think or I sort of feel that it was also thanks to energy centers healing because I started to kind of dig deeper into that and I started to learn more about each chakra and which emotions it stores and how it's connected, let's say with other safety or this or that like inner child healing and yeah, by practicing that.

Melanie Wilson (16:58)

Thank

Daria (17:15)

I basically healed myself on different levels, and it felt like easier to act from the place of love and joy, and I don't know, for me every day I feel like in a way I'm like a child discovering the world again and again. Every day I'm seeing something, and I'm like, wow, this is so beautiful. So I'm able to do that because I'm not anymore in this survival mode.

Melanie Wilson (17:21)

Thank

It sounds like relieving the stress and finding a way to maybe process memories or at least make peace with memories. It was, it was helping you physically.

Daria (18:01)

Definitely. Yeah, because everything was in a mental level. It definitely will affect to a physical level. And I've been just to make it clear, I've been the person, or actually, from the very childhood, I've been to the hospitals a lot. Like I always had something. And as I said, I just like maybe give up or maybe I just decided for myself, okay, I take care of myself right now. I don't put responsibility on someone or something. I, you know, I don't want to be any more a victim of these circumstances. I just want to heal myself, and I want to build that beautiful reality, which I believe is possible, you know, because also believing, I think it's a big part that it's possible. Yes, it takes time. Of course, it doesn't happen like this over the night, like, you know, just a magic trick, no, but with some consistency, with daily practice and at some point, you go deeper. Like actually, it was also quite a natural flow that I started with meditations, and then I went to theta healing, and it's, it also happened like.

I don't know how to say, would I say accidentally? I don't know. Or was it meant to be? Because I met like...

Melanie Wilson (19:27)

What are you saying? It might have been fate.

Daria (19:29)

Yeah, like I have no idea, but I mean, I guess it was meant to be like to find this method of healing, because I literally simply came to one event and then I met the person and on her profile I saw that she said like I'm a healer and I had no idea what's this, but I sort of knew that it's just talking to me, you know.

And I asked her like, okay, what's this and how can I learn or how can I become a Theta Healer? And then she just directed me to the teachers, to the instructors. And that was like a new step, you know, in my life. I felt like it was a profound experience. And in Theta Healing, also, at least that's how our instructor taught us, we also go into like chakra healing and because

Melanie Wilson (20:31)

What's the difference?

What does the chakra experience involve for you?

Daria (20:38)

So, if you understand, like, which like each energy centres and what they like what they connect us with, let's say root chakra. Well, basically, the word has already from the Sanskrit it means root and connection, I think, if I'm not mistaken, and it connects us basically to the Mother Earth and to the world and even to our ancestors. So one way you understand this connection that it's much deeper, and you start healing on that level, like healing the chakra, then you feel less fear, and you feel the support. You literally understand that there is something or someone, some energy supporting you, and you sort of build it inside of you, this support. And for me, that was so powerful because a lot of people live literally there, just there. They can't even elevate their emotions and go up to let's say heart chakraand they just stuck in this root chakra, but this is like the base, and when you heal this basement base, or basement is the correct word, base wow okay, thank you yeah

Melanie Wilson (22:08)

Basement is under a house base. So it's basically the base will be the end of the spine. And my understanding is that the chakras go along the spine, and getting beyond any sort of magical things that might be theories about it. can say that when you're standing up tall, sitting up tall, and your whole spine is aligned, you're upright with confidence. And you also mentioned having faith in the earth below you and your surroundings, and having faith in basically something greater than yourself, because the top of the chakra line pretty much refers to the universal, let's word this carefully, it's referring to the supreme, the supreme spiritual source, God, whatever you may call it. So any belief system might have a different name for it, but it's essentially to quote 12 steps that I'm not a part of. It's having faith in something greater than yourself. Is that aligning with your understanding of chakras a bit?

Daria (23:36)

Yes, and also I guess we need to, whatever you know, believe it is, but we need to understand it's also about this energy flow, and I think what's also happening while you're healing these chakras, that and actually people tell me like my students, and I can sense it as well, like energy starts flowing, you can literally feel the movement in your body. Sometimes people say I felt it maybe in my legs, or maybe like in the throat or even here. So it of course depends on which level they are and what they're healing right now. Right. So maybe in the heart. So this energy starts simply flowing, circulating. And basically, when we practice it, we help also with our minds. So clear that space and to start this energy to circulate, you know. So it can be done through the movement, through the breathing and also through visualisation simply. And yes, like when you start aligning these chakras, then you definitely are connecting with these energies from above and below.

And you understand that you're, well, in a way you're like a little human here, but at the same time you are everything because you are connected with all this energy. just become one, you know? So I think this is, yeah, amazing.

Melanie Wilson (24:56)

That's amazing.

So the chakras remind you that you're a part of the greater universe. And again, for those who are going to call out the woo-woo, we are all breathing in the same air. Let's face it. The same air is circulating for all of us in some way. There is a connection with everybody. And when you feel connected to something and to everything, then you can feel less isolated. You can feel more confident, and you can know that there is a strength beyond yourself to face what you are facing.

Daria (25:46)

Yeah, and also if you think about this, honestly, we feel these energies, even if we think we, not everyone has disabilities, but we do. Like, let's say you enter into the room and you might already sense to whom you want to be connected, to whom not, because maybe someone just, like, sense this, as we say, like negative or positive vibes. It's, yeah, after all, it's not woohoo. It's like real thing. And we know, we sense it, you know, on some level, this energy, and I can sometimes even see also the difference when I have been like very aligned and like meditating, and I just go for a walk, and then suddenly people like turn to me, smile to me like it's just simple, simple as well.

Melanie Wilson (26:33)

Can I tell you,

I visited a place today, I won't say where it was, and I just had a gut feeling. I just knew this is not where I should be, but I felt like I had to test it. I had to go there. And I know that sometimes our intuition tells us something before we have all of the information, because you just know, but also...

Daria (26:56)

Yeah.

Melanie Wilson (26:58)

There was information confirming, okay, here are some reasons why I should listen to my gut on this. But do you have that as well? Sometimes you can go into a space and you know, this is either aware I should be or not.

Daria (27:12)

Well, I actually tell you the real story. That was maybe a year ago, and I was working with them. I did like dog sitting for my friend, and I was working with the dog, and there was like a path with some construction going on on the pathway, and I felt like strongly I should avoid it, and basically what it meant to walk the road.

So, okay, I looked at there are no cars and I can simply pass it. The moment we passed it, the wall started falling. Like literally, like huge pieces started falling. Like they did some, I don't know, as a construction or whatever they did. And it actually was open for pedestrians, imagine. But I don't know how that happened, but yeah, literally the wall started simply like falling. Like, I don't know.

Melanie Wilson (27:50)

The wall was falling!

Daria (28:07)

like above and from the side. So I literally avoided that just because I listened to my intuition, you know? And I know this feeling that sometimes we have this feeling, but we are like still stubborn, you know, like, ah, I felt that, but I still do this. And then we often regret, like, oh, why did I do this? Oh, why did I do this? And...

Melanie Wilson (28:28)

My goodness, it is so true.

Daria (28:32)

Yes, so when you start training your intuition, okay, of course it also opens up to you strongly when you meditate because then it means that you aligned and you again listen to your inner voice or to your higher self and then basically the training is simply to follow this instance, let's say, yeah, that God feeling, that intuition and then it simply proves you, yes, like you...

If you feel that, okay, call this person right now, then just call. If it says like, I don't know, send this email or yeah, whatever. Sometimes I have the, like it just comes to me. Okay. I need to contact this person. That may be something going on. And then it just, apparently, I contacted just in the right time, and you know, maybe just say a word, whatever, and then the person says like, okay, it just made my day or whatever they are going through right now.

Melanie Wilson (29:37)

It's amazing when that happens, and I've even seen some people reaching out to me out of the blue, and I think this timing is spot on, and it sounds like you have that instinct to reach out to people at the right time when they need it.

Daria (29:52)

Yeah, exactly. That's beautiful.

Melanie Wilson (29:54)

I'm so curious. I wanted to know more about your background because the audience will be so curious. The photography, how did you get into photography?

Daria (30:05)

Well, first of all, maybe I should mention that I come originally from Ukraine and I started my photography path there. I guess it started because I saw my brother photographing, although it was a hobby for him. My uncle was photographing, so I had quite an artistic background, like my grandfather was a painter.

Yeah, I guess I simply got influenced by that. And although I went to study languages and literature, I had this interest into art and photography. So I simply took a camera and would take pictures of either my friends or landscapes. And yeah, it started from there. But then I was at first I was self-taught, but then later I had this idea that I would like actually to go somewhere abroad and study abroad. And finally, many years after that first education, I decided to go to Finland and study photography there. And yeah.

So it was also quite an interesting experience because it was a completely different country with different culture for me. But yeah, I guess I was just very excited. Although at the same time, I had to face some, well, difficult, you know, situations like challenges in my

Melanie Wilson (31:39)

so you basically got into photography because family did photography, and so I'm just curious, let's just near the end. It's been nearly an hour. I'm curious. What sorts do you still do photography now, or do you just focus on meditation?

Daria (31:57)

Well, actually, I found some deeper meaning in photography and except photography, I love doing filming. Well, just a days ago, I've been. Yes, yes. And just a couple of days ago, I've been to the forest like hiking and I took my camera. was like, OK, I should because I feel like I'm doing less. So I decided, OK, I'm going to start photographing and filming more and there was like a beautiful, beautiful part of the forest, like from a fairy tale, honestly and then I simply was filming that and in a way I felt that that was also my meditation you know I like could see every detail of that moss or some mushroom growing or a fern, whatever and just filming that process was very meditative for me. And then also I use this material later. If I want to talk about something on my ⁓ meditation page about meditation, presence, energy, whatever, I simply use this material. And I think that also, while I'm filming that in this meditative state, I sort of already bring the message just through this footage, right?

And yes, do also sometimes clients work because I noticed that somehow I started to connect with completely different people like who are also into mindfulness and meditation. We are a lot of artists as well, contact me, you know, so it's somehow connected, and I'm happy to. Yeah. I don't know how should I wrap it up?

Melanie Wilson (33:47)

So you're seeing a connection between art and spirituality.

Daria (33:53)

Yes, I think it's a very strong connection.

Melanie Wilson (33:58)

Very strong. Now I'm wondering what do you think everybody else should do? Do you think everybody should do something creative, start meditating, find someone to help them to meditate? What do you think is the first step for everybody else?

Daria (34:14)

Well, I don't know if I should, if I should use the word should, because I always tell that listen to yourself, what you actually really want to do right now. And from there, you will get answers if you want to do art, or if you want to start this healing journey, or you want to build healthy relationships, whatever.

Melanie Wilson (34:14)

No. I don't know.

Daria (34:44)

Although, by the way, if you, when we talked earlier about, you know, this root chakra and building a foundation. So I think when you build this foundation, you will notice that actually everything aligns, like everything in your life, relationships and like career, like purpose, whatever, everything will align. And so, yeah, if I would say what to start with, I definitely would recommend meditation.

For me, was a big difference also when I found the guys, the teachers, not simply doing it by myself. Yes, I do it now by myself, but at the very beginning, I found it very helpful when there was someone also helping me to understand better how to release those emotions, why they appear, you know. Now, when having this understanding, it's easier to do it on your own, all four. Even the healer needs sometimes a healer because there are blind spots, you know. And I find it normal. I find it actually very helpful. So yeah, definitely a meditation and whatever it can be, like focusing on your breath or if you can start with transcendental meditation or any other guided meditation, can be mindfulness meditation.

Again, the person just feels what's right for them because some people find it helpful simply start dancing, and for them, it's their kind of meditation. Great. If you feel that it's right for you to do that. Like for me, when I was like going through that time of depression, I couldn't, you know, move a lot or like I didn't feel like...

Melanie Wilson (36:26)

Thank

Daria (36:41)

I would maybe force myself to walk, not like dancing or anything. So for me, meditation was helpful because through this visualisation, I let my energy flow and heal myself from the inside. And then I felt that my body started actually to want to move and dance. And sometimes I would allow myself, just like, okay.

Melanie Wilson (36:45)

Thank you.

Thank

Daria (37:07)

I hear this music, and maybe I start intuitively, you know, just move. Again, there is no right or wrong movement or what you have specifically to do. You just feel that. So maybe the great thing to start with is simply to start feeling, know, start feeling yourself, what you want, what you feel like doing today. Yeah, how your body feels. Yeah.

Melanie Wilson (37:21)

Thank

start feeling.

Daria (37:37)

Ha ha