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        <title>Art and Alchemy</title>
        <link>https://redcircle.com/shows/artandalchemy</link>
        <language>en-GB</language>
        <copyright>All rights reserved.</copyright>
        <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
        <itunes:summary>This is Art and Alchemy , a podcast about how inner worlds take shape and change form.</itunes:summary>
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        <description><![CDATA[<p>This is <em>Art and Alchemy</em>, a podcast about how inner worlds take shape and change form.</p>]]></description>
        
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        <podcast:locked>no</podcast:locked>
        <itunes:owner>
            <itunes:name>Ruqayyah</itunes:name>
            <itunes:email>ruqayyachadi@gmail.com</itunes:email>
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                <itunes:title>9: Reframing wasted time, energy, and potential</itunes:title>
                <title>9: Reframing wasted time, energy, and potential</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>Today&#39;s episode is a little all over the place but still, a much-needed riff on our illusory losses: opportunity, potential, daylight, a nice outfit, you name it, we hate when it passes or seems to have gone to waste.</p><p>We <em>will </em>be revisiting this later. I promise. For now, accept this as a soft, loving kick to keep at it when it feels like no progress is happening. </p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;Today&amp;#39;s episode is a little all over the place but still, a much-needed riff on our illusory losses: opportunity, potential, daylight, a nice outfit, you name it, we hate when it passes or seems to have gone to waste.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We &lt;em&gt;will &lt;/em&gt;be revisiting this later. I promise. For now, accept this as a soft, loving kick to keep at it when it feels like no progress is happening. &lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:41:30 &#43;0000</pubDate>
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                <itunes:title>8: Perfection is a moving target</itunes:title>
                <title>8: Perfection is a moving target</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, we reflect on the ever-changing, elusive idea of &#34;perfection&#34;.</p><p>I talk about perfection as being about perception and preferences, things that change as we do—as we discover new ways to do things and start evolving!</p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we reflect on the ever-changing, elusive idea of &amp;#34;perfection&amp;#34;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I talk about perfection as being about perception and preferences, things that change as we do—as we discover new ways to do things and start evolving!&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:38:29 &#43;0000</pubDate>
                <itunes:duration>1386</itunes:duration>
                
                
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                <itunes:title>7: Bend Your Excuses</itunes:title>
                <title>7: Bend Your Excuses</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>If you can make and defend excuses for going against what you want, you can make excuses for going in the direction you want. The excuses are bendable.</p><p>This episode is a push for you to use the force of narrative in a way that dignifies your desires and helps you achieve what you say you want. Let&#39;s cut off meanings that defend the opposite.</p><p>Thank you for coming along!  </p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;If you can make and defend excuses for going against what you want, you can make excuses for going in the direction you want. The excuses are bendable.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode is a push for you to use the force of narrative in a way that dignifies your desires and helps you achieve what you say you want. Let&amp;#39;s cut off meanings that defend the opposite.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thank you for coming along!  &lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:45:15 &#43;0000</pubDate>
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                <itunes:title>6: Releasing the need to possess people</itunes:title>
                <title>6: Releasing the need to possess people</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, we&#39;re looking at patterns of anger, jealousy and the insecurities that have us resorting to uncharitable conclusions about those we love. </p><p>We&#39;re noticing where grief and missing a person turns bitter.</p><p>We&#39;ll peer into the habit of measuring, scorekeeping, or we might even say the &#34;relational maths&#34; that we think will give us power, where forgiveness/release and generous interpretations (or even a period of space or silence!) is the greater alternative.</p><p>There&#39;s much more for you when you listen; thank you for being here.</p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we&amp;#39;re looking at patterns of anger, jealousy and the insecurities that have us resorting to uncharitable conclusions about those we love. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We&amp;#39;re noticing where grief and missing a person turns bitter.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We&amp;#39;ll peer into the habit of measuring, scorekeeping, or we might even say the &amp;#34;relational maths&amp;#34; that we think will give us power, where forgiveness/release and generous interpretations (or even a period of space or silence!) is the greater alternative.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There&amp;#39;s much more for you when you listen; thank you for being here.&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:59:16 &#43;0000</pubDate>
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                <itunes:title>5: Self-trust and participation</itunes:title>
                <title>5: Self-trust and participation</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>Happy 2026! We <em>continue...</em></p><p><strong>This week</strong> is for:</p><p><span>– </span>releasing ideas you’ve shelved because you thought you lost permission when something similar appeared in the community market—or because you’re afraid of being seen as an imitator </p><p><span>– </span>doing your ideas the highest justice by posting them immediately</p><p>(this, too, is a form of perfection...let us call it <em>pristine-ness</em>)</p><p><span>– </span>enjoying participating in community, and learning to appreciate kinship</p><p>(all it really means is that there are people who understand—who already get you)</p><p><span>– </span><em>posting</em><span> </span><em>regardless</em><span>.</span></p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;Happy 2026! We &lt;em&gt;continue...&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This week&lt;/strong&gt; is for:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;– &lt;/span&gt;releasing ideas you’ve shelved because you thought you lost permission when something similar appeared in the community market—or because you’re afraid of being seen as an imitator &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;– &lt;/span&gt;doing your ideas the highest justice by posting them immediately&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(this, too, is a form of perfection...let us call it &lt;em&gt;pristine-ness&lt;/em&gt;)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;– &lt;/span&gt;enjoying participating in community, and learning to appreciate kinship&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(all it really means is that there are people who understand—who already get you)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;– &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;posting&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;regardless&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:58:49 &#43;0000</pubDate>
                <itunes:duration>1516</itunes:duration>
                
                
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                <itunes:title>4: Refuse to be confused</itunes:title>
                <title>4: Refuse to be confused</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>This episode is to help you laugh off the confusion you use to sabotage yourself: turning someone else&#39;s &#34;I don&#39;t do it anymore&#34; or their &#34;I&#39;ve outgrown that&#34; into an excuse to not explore that terrain, to cancel your travel. </p><p>This is your gentle reminder to go. You have clarity and clearance from me!</p><p>This is a little bit of courage for when it&#39;s become uncool to have the goals you have. </p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;This episode is to help you laugh off the confusion you use to sabotage yourself: turning someone else&amp;#39;s &amp;#34;I don&amp;#39;t do it anymore&amp;#34; or their &amp;#34;I&amp;#39;ve outgrown that&amp;#34; into an excuse to not explore that terrain, to cancel your travel. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is your gentle reminder to go. You have clarity and clearance from me!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a little bit of courage for when it&amp;#39;s become uncool to have the goals you have. &lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:04:05 &#43;0000</pubDate>
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                <itunes:title>3: On stagnating after growing up &#39;talented&#39;</itunes:title>
                <title>3: On stagnating after growing up &#39;talented&#39;</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>Talent can carry you far, but not forever.</p><p>This episode is a reflection on early praise, stagnation, and the uncomfortable moment when you realise you want more than &#39;potential&#39;—and talent can no longer save you from this dire need for devotion.</p><p>I sit with what happens when what always came easily to you is no longer challenged—when validation replaces growth, and our art becomes something of a retrospective brag rather than something we&#39;re engaging in, <strong>now</strong>.</p><p>In this episode, we see:</p><p>– the quiet cost of being “naturally gifted”</p><p>– why talent needs friction to stay alive</p><p>– how stagnation often begins as comfort</p><p>For anyone sensing that it’s time to move beyond aptitude and into earnest, regular practice, I hope you&#39;ll do it with me!</p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;Talent can carry you far, but not forever.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode is a reflection on early praise, stagnation, and the uncomfortable moment when you realise you want more than &amp;#39;potential&amp;#39;—and talent can no longer save you from this dire need for devotion.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I sit with what happens when what always came easily to you is no longer challenged—when validation replaces growth, and our art becomes something of a retrospective brag rather than something we&amp;#39;re engaging in, &lt;strong&gt;now&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we see:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;– the quiet cost of being “naturally gifted”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;– why talent needs friction to stay alive&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;– how stagnation often begins as comfort&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For anyone sensing that it’s time to move beyond aptitude and into earnest, regular practice, I hope you&amp;#39;ll do it with me!&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:55:03 &#43;0000</pubDate>
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                <itunes:title>2: When connections run their course</itunes:title>
                <title>2: When connections run their course</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p>This episode is about the way the ego puts up a fight and refuses to let a connection come to its natural end.</p><p>Let us peep into the thought: &#34;But they can&#39;t do without <strong>me; </strong>but they need <strong>me</strong>.&#34;</p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;This episode is about the way the ego puts up a fight and refuses to let a connection come to its natural end.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Let us peep into the thought: &amp;#34;But they can&amp;#39;t do without &lt;strong&gt;me; &lt;/strong&gt;but they need &lt;strong&gt;me&lt;/strong&gt;.&amp;#34;&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <itunes:title>1: A gentle, easy start is the change you need</itunes:title>
                <title>1: A gentle, easy start is the change you need</title>

                
                
                <itunes:author>Ruqayyah</itunes:author>
                
                <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>Welcome to Art and Alchemy.</strong></p><p>In this first episode, I begin where the work actually begins—not with my story, but with the way creative energy is so often misdirected into shame, self-scolding, and quiet despair over “wasted” time and unrealised potential. </p><p>This is a reflection on learning to love repetition; on why art asks for frequent, imperfect attempts rather than grand, delayed ones that may never come; and on the particular kind of boredom that<span> you can only fill with something of your own creation. Not another show/series, your own artwork!</span></p><p>When trust in yourself feels lost, choose your art.</p><p>When nothing feels ready or sorted, that&#39;s often the time to begin.</p><p>This podcast is a humble, evolving practice exploring what we contain and what we choose to channel.</p><p>Thank you for listening! </p>]]></description>
                <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Welcome to Art and Alchemy.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this first episode, I begin where the work actually begins—not with my story, but with the way creative energy is so often misdirected into shame, self-scolding, and quiet despair over “wasted” time and unrealised potential. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a reflection on learning to love repetition; on why art asks for frequent, imperfect attempts rather than grand, delayed ones that may never come; and on the particular kind of boredom that&lt;span&gt; you can only fill with something of your own creation. Not another show/series, your own artwork!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When trust in yourself feels lost, choose your art.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When nothing feels ready or sorted, that&amp;#39;s often the time to begin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This podcast is a humble, evolving practice exploring what we contain and what we choose to channel.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thank you for listening! &lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
                
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                <pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:47:50 &#43;0000</pubDate>
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