For the 77th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon chats with actress, activist and meditator, Daphne Zuniga.
Daphne Zuniga is beloved by generations of moviegoers for her performances in such classic films as Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs, as Princess Vespa, and The Sure Thing, in which she starred opposite John Cusack, and in television, she became familiar to millions of viewers for her role as Jo Beth Reynolds on Melrose Place. Daphne is a long-time meditator, who first came to the practice about 15 years ago. In this episode, she and Sharon speak about the intersection of meditation and creativity, the role that story plays in identity, as well as Daphne’s personal story related to the path of meditation and how the practice has impacted her life.
Show Notes
A Foundation of Practice (Opening) – Daphne shares how she was introduced to meditation and the moment of surrender that led her to develop a regular practice. We hear how reading Sharon’s book Lovingkindness changed Daphne’s perspective on a fundamental level and opened her to a deeper inner world.
“I realized that what that cracking open was, it was that there was a deeper place for me to go with myself that had nothing to do with what I had achieved or become. I hadn’t realized that I was identifying so much of my self-worth with what I was doing in the outer world.” – Daphne Zuniga
Sitting with It (15:00) Sharon and Daphne talk about the difficult emotions and personal truths that are uncovered during meditation. Daphne shares the powerful experiences during her first meditation retreat which revealed aspects of herself that needed tending to.
“At some point in meditation, sooner or later, usually more difficult material comes up. There is a reason we have spent a lot of time avoiding it, but that doesn’t mean that we are not strong enough to be with it, we actually are. The more we cultivate a balanced awareness, the more we can open to everything.” – Sharon Salzberg
Opening the Door to Creativity (28:05) – We hear about the qualities of balance and fearlessness that Daphne cultivated through meditation which opened her to new levels of creativity. She and Sharon talk about the liberation that comes when we stop making judgments and welcome what arises.
Melanie Moser shares a conversation with Tami Lynn Kent around tapping into our innate creativity and healing trauma on Ep. 22 of the Shakti Hour Podcast
Moving Towards Balance (35:45) – Sharon and Daphne talk about the evolution of gender roles and how they relate to spiritual practice. They discuss the widespread consequences that can arise from an imbalance in masculine and feminine energies.
Reconnecting to the Natural World (49:00) – Daphne speaks about her work in environmental preservation. She and Sharon discuss the importance of connecting and maintaining balance with the natural world.
