SoulFire Sisters S2-Ep9: Joy as a Spiritual Practice: Why Fun Is Not Frivolous with Dr. Mary Newstrom and Dawn Morningstar

SoulFire Sisters S2-Ep9: Joy as a Spiritual Practice: Why Fun Is Not Frivolous with Dr. Mary Newstrom and Dawn Morningstar

From NEW WORLD WOMEN: Voices of Wisdom by New World Women

June 2, 2026 · 21 min · Season 5 · Episode 21

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of joy as a spiritual practice and its role in women's empowerment.

This is your permission slip. Consider it signed, sealed, and delivered. In this luminous, laughter-filled episode of SoulFire Sisters, Dr. Mary Newstrom and Dawn Morningstar make the case — explicitly, joyfully, and without apology — that joy is not a reward you earn after the suffering is done. Joy is not a break from spiritual practice. Joy is spiritual practice. And the sooner we stop treating delight as something frivolous, the sooner we remember what we were actually made for. Drawing from shamanic wisdom, Dawn's 21 days of silent study with enlightened monks in India (who turned out to be hilariously funny), Dr. Sue Morter's teaching that a beautiful life comes down to being loving, joyful, and playful, and the healing science of laughter — this episode is part permission slip, part love letter, and part gentle revolution. They get a little righteous about it too, because they should: the conditioning that keeps women from joy is not accidental. A woman full of her own joy is not available to manage everyone else's discomfort. Which means reclaiming joy isn't just good for you — it's a radical act. Mary reminds us that our spirit guides have a sense of humor. Dawn reminds…

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