[0:00] Thanks for tuning in and welcome back. We're going to take a little nice turn here in a different change of events because this episode has been inspired by some beautiful, beautiful conversations that I have been having with some awesome and beautiful souls and guests here on my podcast. And it was a gentle reminder, like I love talking to guests. I love hearing people's stories. I'm a huge, huge advocate for everyone's story. I always say to all my clients and any of the workshops I hold, I always say, never underestimate the value of your story. Everyone has a story, including you. I know you're listening here, you have a story. The whole thing is that so many of us don't embrace our story. And I think sometimes because we don't, we underestimate a couple of things. The first thing is we underestimate how much we've actually done, how much we've accomplished and how much success we've had.
[1:07] And then the second thing that we really kind of not see or acknowledge is how much power and strength we really do have. And so it's just through these conversations, it's kind of inspired me to go, wow, like I haven't shared this for a while and I have to now recall and I have to confess I've gone through a quick skim over the episodes that have accrued here on the podcast over the last year and a bit and I'm like I am not even really sure how much of my own story or journey I share with you again so I fall a little bit into that bracket because I have written my story it's actually in a book.
[1:54] So, Searching Spirit is my book and it sums up exactly. That's why I love that title because I was this young boy who loved spirituality.
[2:07] It didn't have that one name when I was first finding it. And it's one of the most common questions I get when I'm actually doing my live stage work. And that will be the case of like, well, how old were you when this started. And for me, it was very different. It was the case of, you know, I'm 13, 14. And I kind of like went looking for it. I had this real like deep, innate knowing that there was something more, something more than this world, something more than what was in front of me.
[2:38] And that just kind of pushed me to start looking. So, you know, it was a big thing. And then it's just over time too, when people either rephrase the question, ask it in different ways, it kind of does stimulate different responses for me when I'm talking with people.
[2:54] And I remember also going, yeah, I've definitely known there was something more than this world because I was like, I remember one lady, and I think it was down south, Central Coast, New South Wales. And I was like, oh, that's an interesting way to look at the question. And it just prompted me. I'm like, wow, you've brought up a memory that I have not thought about for a long time. And it wasn't even mentioned in my book. That's how kind of like deep and buried it was. Not super important and but you start piecing things together and I remember I'm like well you wouldn't believe it because I have this very vivid memory and it's almost like I couldn't totally remember doing it and so I went to promise school in Brisbane and it was the old-fashioned schools even though I'm not that old but you know the school was old it's no longer exists that how old it was it's been sold off but it was on like it was a high-rise kind of like had the undercover you know the canteen was underneath the tuck shop as we call it it was underneath but i remember it was in year two so i was like seven years old and i have this really clear memory of one particular lunchtime going down into the space just underneath our classroom so we had a under under the stairs and under the classroom, we had a play breakout area right there.
[4:12] And I remember it was really quiet. I think everybody went to the Oval to play. And so I was there just kind of –, Being in my own world, that is probably the best description. I was literally probably in my own world.
[4:27] And I remember laying down on the old mission brown bench and it was the old wooden slats that were bolted down. And I remember laying down on that and I remember telling myself, well not telling myself, I was thinking to myself and pondering to myself that I was like, I wonder what it's like to die. And that was my thought. That was my thinking at the time at the age of seven. So, I laid down on this chair, on this bench, and I remember holding my breath, consciously holding my breath. You know, it's a good old seven-year-old word because, you know, everybody knows that to die, you don't breathe. You stop breathing. So, I remember like literally holding my breath and doing the whole, and then, okay, that didn't work. Try again.
[5:17] And then kind of let me breathe. Now, of course, I didn't, but I remember my teacher, Mrs. Williamson, she came up and she's like, Peter, what are you doing? And I'm like, ah, just wondering what it's like to die. I'll just say it so flippantly. She's like, well, okay, well, if you need any help, you know, coming back, let me know. I think that was something like her response. But it's just these little things and little memories, and you can kind of piece things together where it's kind of at. But where this is leading is it brings up these memories and we have these stories and I'll look at the journey that I was on. But the biggest thing was is when I was first discovering this part of myself, it was obviously naturally exciting. It was new.
[6:03] It was also wonderful for me because I was so genuinely interested. This is a real passion for me and I was always like, what could I learn about this now? I remember, obviously, crystals start to become a part of that. Tarot starts to become a part of that. You take on almost whatever comes into your world or comes in front of you and if it's related to that and connects that, it was like, yep. Give it to me. I want to learn something about it. I want to connect with this, with whatever else. And so it was just a real process of kind of discovering, learning, and connecting with it. Now, been known to me, I was channeling.
[6:50] And I didn't have a mentor at the time. I didn't have like anyone around me who could guide me with this world and this work and so it was self-discovery searching spirit i was i was literally searching and i was searching not just for like what else is out there it was like but a searching for understanding and i think the biggest part too was searching for where does this part of me fit with me? And where does this part of me, not just fit in with me, but when it fits in with me, then how does that fit into the rest of my world? And what I mean by that was like, how am I supposed to share this interest, share this passion with, you know, others around me because, you know, it was still very much on the down low. So, we're talking like 1996, 1997. So, you know, for those who are around at that particular point in time or aware of it, it was the new age. That's the new age period. That's why it's called the new age. It's now called more spirituality. So, it's amazing how these titles and names kind of shift. I really don't look at any of the beautiful things that I've looked at over the years as new age anymore. I really don't. We are in that age now because we're far more accepting of it in mainstream.
[8:18] So it's a lot easier. So it's just called, you know, it's obviously spirituality.
[8:23] And so kind of going through that, but it's like, well, how does this fit with me? And then of course, if it fits with me, how does it fit into the world around me? How is this going to be happening? And the biggest thing was, it was like, well, are people going to understand what I like? Are people going to know what I'm talking about? Are people going to understand what I'm connecting with or how I'm connecting? There was a lot of questions. There was like a million-one questions. The hardest part about this was that I was, number one, a teenager.
[9:01] Number two, a male teenager. And three, spirituality. Like, that is not a good combination when you're in high school, I can tell you that right now. And the one big blessing for me, having my awakening at that point, was that I knew, I literally knew, like, hey, don't just go shouting this to the rooftops. Don't go spruiking this everywhere around school at high school because all i'd be doing is painting a target on my back and i'd be in from far more ridicule than it needs to be and i'll be like you know so i was at least astute enough and mature enough to go don't do that so but i was fortunate enough like after a couple of years i'm also probably you know one one year to 18 months i did start to talk to a couple of close friends of mine i told two or three and there are of like far very very good friends of mine they're still my best mates very accepting of it and kind of connected with it so but what this led to me to understand and this is something that i've been seeing like i said and it's been prompted in the inspiration is that i've come to realize.
[10:17] It was such a pivotal part of my journey now the awakening is one part but what i'm really talking about here, what is absolutely pivotal is you need to claim that part of your identity.
[10:36] It was wonderful because I think, you know, once high school finished, so we're looking at 718, so we're now looking four or five years into it, I could really be far more selective of who I was going to tell. My family is a little bit more accepting of it by then, or never like not accepting of it. But it was more the case of like, okay, Pete's definitely into this thing because I think they're hoping it was going to be a phase. But he's into this thing. That's cool. Do what you need to do. So it was in that it was like so it's still being able to be a little bit more open about it but of course it was still a case of like i kept it very much reserved but i think it was very much at 17 18 i was like you know what this is such an integral part of me i can't not use connect.
[11:32] Live without this part of myself and so it was like wow but you know i had these inklings and i had these notions but again it was like well i don't know really what to do with this just yet but i just then started to also within myself come to realize that i really do need to accept this part of myself but I think I already had and it was a big thing and that's when it kind of flipped the script a little bit and of course this was so subtle for me like it's not like you know it's not the case where I can see it with people and I can help them through I didn't have that I did have a mentor a little bit at the time but there was just a beautiful safe space just to explore a lot of the spiritual stuff and because you know it was just the space of like but it's a big part of me and it's almost like I want to really let the world know that, But, hey, look, I'm into this. I'm into the spirits. I'm into the crystals. I'm into the tarot cards. I'm into the reading. And the other thing, too, is like, oh, hey, I'll read your cards. I'll read your palm. I'll connect with you. And it was just so much fun. It was just exciting, and it's like such a great part. And I wanted to share that. I think it was all it was about because I'm like.
[13:01] You know, hey, everyone, like, look at this. This is awesome. And this world, this extra world, extra sensory place and all these things, like you don't know what you're missing. I don't know how many people thought I might have been on drugs when I was trying to say things like that.
[13:19] I've definitely received a few looks over the years. And I think as an adult and being a professional spiritual person or spiritualist in terms of like, you know, doing mediumship connections and reading people, helping people, coaching people, helping people to awaken and understand their own abilities. Like I've seen a lot of different reactions over the years and it's like, but I think when you're first starting out, they shock you because you're like, you're not, don't know how to respond. And especially as a teenager, even more so. But it was like there was definitely a knowing that i'm like cool this is definitely something i love this is not going away this is something that i do enjoy i love i'm passionate about and i'm like cool now i need to try and find again how this is going to fit in and it's one of those things because obviously as the years roll on you know 13 14 is still quite young coming to teenage years in my case you know you're starting to get a little bit more mature but But it's not like massively mature, different between 18 and like being 35 or something like that as an example.
[14:23] But where it really took a turn, and this is where I was a bit more inspired to share this story, there was a very big turning point in my journey.
[14:36] And what I mean by a turning point, I look at this and go, I made a choice at one point in my life. It was huge. I completely underestimated.
[14:46] The this particular situation so anyway this situation really came about a little bit unexpectedly for those who have read my book you'll be well aware of what i'm talking about but there was a lot of circumstances around the time of being me being 19 and 20 family was kind of getting a little bit fragmented just purely by jobs my parents moving overseas like that it was more economic and career not emotional breakdowns of fragmentation so and then as like i end up going to the air force because i have a my other hobby is an interest is aircraft and airplanes so i'm a geek when it comes to that uh it's like so i did the air force but the air force didn't work out i that was my first big failure in life it really really was that was a failure that hurt and hit me. But in all honesty, it still was not like a primary choice or a primary path for me. I always wanted to be a teacher. I was in uni. I was doing a double degree. But then because of situations around that, I was like, cool, I'll just jump into the force. I'll do this. And it was interesting too, because I remember the Air Force at the time was very much wanting me to continue my education and do the Australian Defence Force Academy, which is the Defence Force University.
[16:10] I was astute enough to know what that life was like and I said, no way. So, I avoided that one, thankfully, because that'd be extra torture for me personally. So, I'm glad I avoided that one. But lo and behold, the teaching aspect was very, very strong. It's always been a part of me. And so, when that failed, I got my certification in teaching second language or teaching users second language. I did all of that. And long story short, I ended up in Japan. So, very, very quickly, in a very short space of time, that was far more down my path. And I ended up in Fukushima, which everybody now knows for the wrong reason, unfortunately, in Fukushima, in a place called Koryama, which is about 30 kilometers away from where that power plant happens and still is melting down so that was home and i got there just before i turned 21 and it was very quickly so what happened here was i started meeting new people and all of a sudden like it was great everybody seemed to be open we're all everybody is there to kind of experience life and most most of us were young we're all like in our 20s and maybe hit in our 30s. So it was a real great vibe. And of course, when you're expats, you know, we stick together because that's what you kind of do.
[17:36] But then I remember having this one particular thought, and this is this life-changing moment.
[17:45] An integral one. And I remember coming home one night from the bar, from the pub. I was very aptly named God's Bar, where every drink was the equivalent of $3. So, every drink. You wanted a glass of Coca-Cola. That's $3. You wanted a tequila shot. That's $3. As my beautiful father i remember him walking in there for this time he's like oh how much is the johnny walker black because he's a scotch drinker and they're like oh that's 300 yen he's like oh how much is the you know this one over here the glen morgan whatever it's like oh 300 yen and he's like hmm that's interesting let me just see what happens here and he pointed to the top shelf, and he's pointing at the johnny walker blue and he's like how much is that one and the bartenders as we knew them very well, Ken Hoshi, it was like, that's 300 yen. He's like, I'll have the bottle.
[18:47] But anyway, so I digress there with that one. But I do remember that was a very, very fun memory. I remember he lit up like a Christmas tree going, I can get Johnny Walker Blue for three bucks for a drink. He was a very happy man that night. We were all happy. We had snow fights at 3 a.m. in the morning on the way home. So that's another fun memory. So anyway, but anyway, so again, I digress, but lots of fun memories in Japan. But including this one, there's a lot of fun there and then there was these other moments where it's about growth and it's about this understanding. But before even that, it was very early on in the stages of my stay and meeting people and I remember I was at my apartment and I was like, this real moment is.
[19:28] And I was just, I was clearly by myself and I look at that moment and I know for a fact it wasn't just me. I felt like it was a little bit of a gathering and I would say that my guides were very strong around me at that time. However, I was not super consciously aware of them, but I'm aware now to be able to look back and go, the way that I have stillness in these moments. And what I mean by stillness is like I can be doing almost anything normally like and all of a sudden just the world slows right down and it's as if nothing else matters and I've got this very clear thought and my brain is empty. It's not thinking about anything else and it's like listen to this thought.
[20:26] And in that moment, I was having one of those moments, everything slowed down, it stopped, and I remember the thought super, super clearly. And it was like, what do you want to do here?
[20:40] And I was like, of course, first comes context. Like, what do you want to do here? Like, hey, I'm teaching. No, it was a deeper one. It's like, what do you want to do here? What do you, it's almost like asking, like, what do you want to do about who you are or how you wish to present to people? How do you wish to fit in here? Now, it's interesting because I never really see me as having a problem fitting in. As most people know, I like to talk or I connect with people. Fitting in has never been an issue and I can get along with most people. But this was now about, but hang on, how do you want to be in this world? So, all of a sudden, that deeper question and it was kind of really now coming to the forefront. but in a different way. And it wasn't really me. It was as if I'd been prompted to look at this. And then very clearly, there was this choice, this very significant choice. And that choice came back and it was like a culmination of my learning and awakening in my teenage years. And that choice was, well, you're here now. And it's almost like saying to me, Pete, you have a blank canvas.
[21:57] No one here knows you. Like, I don't have any family. I don't have any friends. Literally blank canvas. There is no history. There is nothing here that I was or needed to be afraid of losing. It was as if I had this beautiful opportunity where, like, the normal worries or stresses or fears existed. This was brand new with no history nothing like that and that is such a rare moment in life like you know most times you only get that as like usually number one when you're born and number two when you're moving somewhere and somewhere very significant or far away but then again a lot of us do end up moving and we move for different reasons or we can be moving closer to different parts of family, there are reasons. But to have a unique and genuine blank canvas, that was rare. And I was thankful enough and astute enough to recognize how rare this opportunity really was. So, he's in that moment of recognizing, well, I do have a choice. And that choice was I can really show up and tell people and make them aware, hey, I'm interested in these things.
[23:24] And if you're going to connect with me and if you want to be a part of my world
[23:30] and vice versa, you're going to have to dig some of this stuff that I'm putting down. You're going to have to really kind of be okay with some serious woo-woo stuff here.
[23:42] So, that was one decision. Then the other decision is, or I keep going, I can be the Pete that I have been pretty much all of my teenage life, and I can continue to hide that part of myself or be somewhat you know, restrictive or, you know, a little bit shy and reserved about showing that, being selective about who I would share this with. And it was absolutely instantaneous how I made that decision. As soon as I saw the choices, I was like, I want to be me.
[24:27] And that is the phrase, I genuinely wanted to be me. I wanted to be me this way. I wanted to be open about this. I didn't want to hide this. I didn't want to feel like I was going to be judged or, you know, have people with lots of opinions and, you know, casting all of their thoughts and projecting all their crap onto me. I didn't want that. And I was like, they can do that. But this was different because I was like, no, this is truly a part of me.
[24:58] This spiritual connection, this love and passion of energy, anything connected to the energetics and the spiritual realm and connecting with that way and understanding faith. It was so, like, a big part of me. And when that decision came through, that is seriously, I kid you not, my life changed. It changed huge. Like, hey, moving to Japan, doing all of that, there was lots of builds up, a lot of build ups there, but that was pivotal. And the reason why I'm sharing this with you is because if I look back at that moment, And if I didn't say yes to that moment, I have absolutely no idea who I would be. I have an inkling and that inkling would be I would be that former version of myself, that teenage version of myself going, cool, I will do everything to, you know, do enough. But I'm not going to be out in the open and kind of like going, you know, saying this, I'm going to do enough to play it safe so I can make everyone else happy except me.
[26:16] And so, that's why I'm super grateful for the Japanian. And I do connect that too. And I literally do call that like the coming out of the spiritual closet. And it was. And I remember so many significant moments. Like, there were a few when, like, I remember I was, like, as soon as I had made that decision, marched back down to God's bar because, okay, let's face it, you know, we're young and you can deal with hangovers a lot quicker. And so, we're almost down there, like, three or four nights a week. But the whole point was I remember going down there and I was so high on life because I'm, like, this is me. And I was so happy because it was, like, this is me. And I started, like, yeah, look, you know, oh, by the way, are you interested in this? All of a sudden, conversations started to happen. I was so much more open. I had some people and a few of them were like, oh, wow, cool, that's interesting, and thought nothing of it. But then all of a sudden, because I'm speaking up, there's a few people go, oh, my God, I've always had an interest in that. I had no idea you'd be interested in that. Like, oh, I don't know who is and who isn't. It's almost like a secret club, you know, or a secret society. It's like, you know, we should have a secret handshake or something to let us know that you're- connected or spirituals, almost like the Freemasons or something, or the Illuminati.
[27:34] But it was interesting, so you kind of do that. But then I also recall there were moments where I would say it and I'd be in a group and I'd be talking about it and I'd bring it up and there were a couple of people. They were like, they just like gave me the look and said, okay, and they just very, not so subtly at times, left the conversation. You know what the best part was? I loved it because I didn't have to hide.
[27:59] And I love it because it wasn't about me making a choice. It was about them making the choice about whether they were happy to listen to this and whatever else. And the beautiful part was anybody who was not interested or connected with what I did, most of them just very calmly and just removed themselves from my world. And it was bliss because I was building a world that was reflected and resembled who I am on the inside and it started reflecting back on me and that became such a beautiful and nourishing environment for me. That has set me up for success in my life and it was from that moment. And then all of a sudden I found people who were like inquisitive about what I could do and what could happen, I have one or four mates and I remember talking to him, he didn't believe in this and all of a sudden, you know, I just started talking to him about things in his life and about relationships and the patterns in his life and he says, how do you know this? Like you've just literally labelled like the last four relationships I had and you've picked up on exactly why they broke up and I said, well, there's a pattern here and it was from that and he goes, I don't really believe in this but I believe you and I've never forgotten that conversation.
[29:18] But it's beautiful because these things happen and it's like I could just be me and I didn't have to hide it. And that's what I mean. It was such a pivotal moment in about claiming something. That part of me claiming my identity and becoming whole and becoming one with myself and allowing that to be in this world. And it's me stepping out and saying, hey, I am a part of this world. And I was shining my light so others could see it. And realistically, the rest is history. It has allowed me to be more confident. It has allowed me to connect with people. It allowed me to start reading and doing sessions professionally for people. And, you know, but that was after a couple more years. But without that pivotal moment of saying, I choose me, I choose myself and all of me, and I want to show all of me in this world, makes a huge, huge difference. So, the reason why I share this story with you is because I know if you're right here in this moment listening to this part of this particular episode...
[30:38] You know exactly what I'm talking about because you have something that you are not claiming.
[30:48] You are leaving a part of yourself off the table. You are withholding a beautiful part of yourself from this world.
[31:01] And if it is a part of you and you know it is and you're choosing not to show it, that's okay. But I encourage you to go imagine how much more you could be helping the world, the people around you. How much more can you set an example by really showing that part of yourself? Think about how much better and brighter your life can be if you don't have to hide, if you don't have to be careful of what you're saying. Think about how much time energy and brain power is being sacrificed just by you by tipping towing around everyone else so that way you don't rock the boat and so that way you won't get judged or you won't get hurt or whatever else think about it really reflect on that and now just quickly visualize yourself thinking how would your life look like if you really claimed that part of yourself and you can go out there and it doesn't matter who you're hopping in the elevator with or who you run into at you know the supermarket or whatever else and you can just be yourself and they know this about you whatever else there is nothing wrong with these this is all natural stuff but for some reason which we've shunned it over the years and we know where it comes from but that's right now it's about you and it's about this part of you and if you have the.
[32:31] This beautiful part of yourself that you're hiding, please don't. I really would encourage you to claim that part of yourself and you will be genuinely surprised about how many people will actually come around to support you.
[32:47] And here's the final thing about that. Is anyone that you do know that doesn't come out or doesn't come and to support you with you and understanding who you are, then you've seriously got to ask yourself, are they someone you really want in your life? Because if they cannot respect you enough and about who you really are, then what kind of relationship do you really have? And I know these are some serious questions, but I can tell you right now, claiming this part of yourself is so important. And it doesn't mean, I mean, like, you know, you're going to run down a street waving a flag or a placard going, hey, you know, I'm a spiritualist or whatever. Whatever part of you. This doesn't even just relate to spirituality. It's like there's just a part of you where you might be going, I really want to show this. I've been hiding this for too long or whatever else. Whatever it may be. But it doesn't mean you have to go and shout it. But it's just like, but just start claiming it. Start to be confident in just bringing it up in conversations.
[33:51] Don't die away from it. Step into it, claim it, and be you. Be the authentic self. And honestly, when you do, watch the world around you start to fold and mold to who you really are. It is magic. And I seriously want that for you. And I hope by sharing this story with you, it can help you in some shape or form. And again, if you got this far, thanks so much for tuning in. And if you have anything to share, please feel free. Damn socials, even here if you're on Spotify, you can chat and comment there. Love to hear from you. But again, be yourself, guys. Start to shine. Till next time.
