Sunflowers, Divine Timing and Zero F's Given with Anita Kopacz

This episode is lovingly dedicated to Ginalda Tavares Manuel (Leeds/Cape Verde/Angola) - poet, artist, writer, language graduate, and radiant sunflower soul, who passed away in 2024. Her light continues to shine upon all who knew her.

Land Acknowledgement:Recorded between New York State and London. We acknowledge the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Lenape peoples as the original stewards of the lands now known as New York State, and the colonial histories of both the USA and the UK.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death, near-death experiences, and references to sexual trauma and healing.

About this Episode: In this episode of The JOY Hour, I sit down with Anita Kopacz - author, spiritual psychologist, certified Tantra coach, and founder of Zero F's Given - to explore divine timing, the medicine of the sun, and why joy is our birthright.

Timestamps:00:01 - Welcome and intro00:37 - Anita's bio and Zero F's Given02:03 - Where Anita is joining from and her recent joy02:47 - The Orishas: Oshun, Yemaya, and Oya06:47 - Spiritual technology and the revolution of love12:04 - What Anita is journeying right now as a human14:25 - Motherhood and reclaiming creative space17:13 - Sunflower energy and the medicine of the sun19:37 - Did you always know? Anita's journey with her gifts22:22 - Hearing voices and discovering channeling26:37 - Creating in expansive space27:26 - Divine timing and joy as our birthright28:45 - Ella's name revelation: complete29:32 - Pixie Coleman-Smith and the World card30:26 - Where to connect with Anita

In This Conversation We Explore:

• The Orishas: Yemaya, Oya, and Oshun and their medicine for our times
• Anita's near-death experience at birth and her lifelong relationship with death
• The moment she discovered her gift for channeling and reading
• Why the sun doesn't choose who it shines upon - sunflower medicine
• Motherhood, the empty nest, and reclaiming creative space
• The revolution of love happening in small groups around the world
• Why we are already complete - we don't need fixing
• Her mother's affirmation: "Everything that comes out of you is God"

About Anita:Anita Kopacz is the author of the Simon & Schuster fiction novels Shallow Waters, The Wind on Her Tongue, and the forthcoming A Taste of Honey (2027) - the Daughter of Three Waters trilogy released on Charlemagne tha God's Black Privilege Publishing imprint. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Heart & Soul Magazine, an award-winning writer, a spiritual psychologist, and a certified Tantra coach. Anita created the nonprofit Zero F's Given to help victimized and disenfranchised populations heal from sexual trauma, find their voice, and reclaim their power. Through leading retreats with the Goddess Wisdom Council, working with private clients, and storytelling, Anita awakens divine simplicity, pleasure, and joy.

Resources Mentioned:

• Shallow Waters by Anita Kopacz
• The Wind on Her Tongue by Anita Kopacz
• A Taste of Honey by Anita Kopacz (coming 2027)
• Goddess Wisdom Council monthly calls
• Pixie Coleman-Smith and the Rider-Waite tarot deck
• Ginalda Tavares Manuel memorial page: ginalda-tavaresmanuel.muchloved.com

Connect with Anita:Instagram: @anitakopaczBooks: Available at independent Black bookstores and everywhere books are soldGoddess Wisdom Council: goddesswisdomcouncil.com - monthly calls on the last Sunday of each month, 3pm ESTMerch: Link in Instagram bio

Connect with Ella Mesma:Website: mayagandaia.comFree Gift: Grab a free practice from Journal to JOY at mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift victimised

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M

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded between London and Austria. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and Austria, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these cities. We also honour the Indigenous peoples of Guatemala and Mesoamerica, whose sacred relationship with cacao is central to this conversation.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Content Warning: This episode references parental depression, suicide, and mental health medication.

Maria's dad took his life when she was 16. Her mum fell into a decade-long depression. And Maria made it her mission to bring healing... first to herself, then to her mum, then to the world. This is a conversation about following intuition even when it terrifies you, the magic of cacao, and how Maria met her husband in India after seeing the exact place in a meditation a year before she got there.

🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS:Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift

IN THIS EPISODE:From corporate life to cacao ceremonies, sound healing and coachingThe first cacao ceremony that changed everything... and the vision of GuatemalaLearning from shamans and finding her own way with the medicineSinging through fear: overcoming a throat chakra blockageHelping her mum heal from 10 years of deep depressionThe meditation vision that led to India, to Varkala, to her future husbandTrusting intuition even when you have no plan BAsking her boss for remote work... and getting a yesFinding joy in the little things: presence, nature, breath

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Introduction01:26 – What does Maria's life look like now?03:43 – The first cacao ceremony and the vision of Guatemala07:41 – Singing through fear: the throat chakra journey10:26 – The ceremony where she made 20 mistakes12:26 – Life between Austria, Egypt and India13:11 – The meditation vision of a cliff in Kerala14:58 – Meeting her future husband at a yoga resort17:14 – From rational thinker to visionary20:42 – Her mum's 10-year depression23:19 – "I'm her daughter. I have the power."23:42 – Drinking cacao together: the moment her mum cried26:38 – What role does joy play in your life?28:30 – The bridge: authenticity and vulnerability31:49 – From full-time to 15 hours and travelling the world36:52 – How to live a life of joy

ABOUT THE GUEST:Maria describes herself as a joyful being, deeply connected to nature, channelling her wisdom to bring healing to others. At 16, both her parents fell into depression. Her dad took his life and her mum remained in deep depression for years. Knowing she carried a strong energy, Maria made it her mission to bring healing... first to herself, then to her mum, then to the world. After years of personal growth and travelling, she helped her mum fully recover after 10 years. Today her mum is the healthiest she has ever been and medication-free. Maria now offers 1:1 intuition coaching, in-person cacao ceremonies and sound healing in Austria and wherever she travels.

RESOURCES & MENTIONS:William Whitecloud: Natural Success and intuition trainingsArush: intuition coaching (Maria's first coach)Lake Atitlan, Guatemala: birthplace of modern cacao ceremoniesVarkala, Kerala, IndiaCeremonial cacao as heart-opening medicine

CONNECT:Ella MesmaWebsite: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.mayagandaia.comBook: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/

MariaInstagram: @maria.earthrituals

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS:Music: LamRockEverything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️

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