Welcome to Zen Gal and the City, I hope to inspire you to find moments of zen between dodging pigeons and pondering why the city's only quiet at 3 a.m. Let's embrace the chaos with a wink and a nudge, awakening not just ourselves but the very streets we tread upon. Together, we'll sift through the city noise to uncover soulful insights, laugh at life's absurdities, and maybe even figure out how to do walking meditation without knocking over a houseplant.
If you are wondering about women’s contribution to Zen and enlightenment, you are also in the right place. I completed my second PhD dissertation on Feminine Enlightenment and found that in patriarchy, women’s experiences and path are a bit different.
Sign up to join the journey—paid subscribers get weekly mentor posts… Food, Culture, City life, Awakening.
Who We Are
When you're navigating a crowded sidewalk, dodging a rogue skateboarder and a Chihuahua in a tutu, all while pondering the women’s place in the Zen of life… that's us in a nutshell—striving for soulful awakening amidst the urban circus. I hold two doctoral degrees (one ABD), a yoga teaching credential, Harvard and Stanford certificates, have 5 books published at Random House, and I enjoy finding unique research to share. (see list of my certifications at end)
In this space, I’m a slightly feminist, moderately caffeinated researcher (zen mystic) who believes that personal growth doesn't require a retreat to a mountaintop monastery. It can happen right here, between the subway stop and your favorite taco truck.
And because sometimes a journey needs a good map, I'll sprinkle in some academic research. We'll delve into studies that unravel the quirks of the human mind, possibly explaining why we insist on pressing elevator buttons that are already lit. See our Privacy Policy with Disclaimer here. See our Terms here.
What We Offer
Zen Gal Reflections: Practical advice for when you're awake at 3 a.m., scrolling through life choices and cat videos. Deep dives into the murky waters of enlightenment, without the pretentious floaties. And Feminine Zen, because women’s experiences in patriarchy are different, even though gender should be something to try to move beyond, and female Zen and enlightenment masters have been forgotten.
Zen Gal City: Let's reimagine city life together. Fewer potholes would be nice, but we're aiming higher—creating cities that nourish the soul, not just the stock market. We'll help you find balance—or at least a comfortable sitting position.
Zen Gal Foodie: Because nothing says "self-discovery" like burning a souffle. Join us for culinary adventures that nourish both the body and the part of your soul that craves cheesecake. These are humorous memoir entries, with recipes.
We're here to hit pause, make you laugh, and maybe prompt an existential crisis or two (the good kind). Inspired by the witty ramblings of minds greater than ours, we blend humor with a dash of introspection.
Join Us
If you've ever tried to find zen in a meditation class only to get distracted by someone else's grunting, you're in good company. Subscribe, pull up a chair—or a meditation cushion—and let's navigate this chaos together.
Subscriber Goodies:
Free subscribers to Zen Gal and the City usually hear from me once a week, more or less. I plan on offering an occasional paid mentoring post to the free tier.
Paid Subscribers to Zen Gal and the city usually hear from me once a week or more. I do weekly posts within - Zen Gal Reflections, Zen Gal City, Zen Gal Foodie, on rotation or thereabouts.
Weekly Paid Tier. For those who want to dive deeper, paid subscribers receive weekly posts as well as the other sections which are mostly paid. Consider it your personal guide to navigating life's absurdities with a bit more grace—or at least with fewer incidents involving revolving doors. Together, we'll explore the cityscape of consciousness, armed with wit, wisdom, and the occasional well-timed jolt.
The paid Zen Gal and the City is just $7/month. That’s $7 month with weekly posts included, most other posts are paid as well.
Dr. Victoria Schmidt has spent a lifetime uncovering what her spiritual gifts are all about and how she can share her knowledge with other women. With two doctoral degrees and decades studying with masters in numerous fields, she has many answers to give.
A Disruptive, Empathic, Trailblazer and multi published author from NY, Victoria is an expert is in Feminine Nirvana™ which she developed during her PhD work to more fully understand her own mystical experiences, she wants to guide women in doing the same.
In her work Victoria intersects Feminism, Consciousness, Spiritual Neuroscience, Somatics, and Coaching, for Enlightenment and Blissful Living.
See her full bio HERE
Important Note:
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Disclaimer.
While our Privacy Policy with Disclaimer is here. And our Terms are here. The disclaimer is copied below for your easy reference.
The information on this website Victoria Schmidt's ZenGalAndTheCity.com is for general informational purposes only. ZenGalAndTheCity.com makes no representation or warranty, express or implied. Your use of the site is solely at your own risk. This site may contain links to third party content, which we do not warrant, endorse, or assume liability for. We allow the use of AI assisted writing but not more than assisted. We use a plagiarism checker on all articles. We allow pen names for contributors.
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The information provided on Zen Gal And The City Substack, is for general informational purposes only. All content, including text, recipes, tips, and advice, is provided in good faith. However, Zen Gal And The City makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the site.
Professional Advice
The content on Zen Gal And The City is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, nutritional, legal, or otherwise. Always seek the advice of qualified professionals with any questions you may have regarding a particular matter. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Nutritional Information
While we may provide nutritional information for recipes found on Zen Gal And The City, these figures are estimates and should not be construed as a guarantee. Various factors, including product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed, can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Therefore, any nutritional information presented should be considered as a general guideline only.
Allergens
Readers should be aware that recipes may contain common allergens such as nuts, dairy, gluten, etc. It is the reader's responsibility to ensure that the ingredients used in any recipes on Zen Gal And The City are suitable for their dietary needs. If you have food allergies, you should carefully read the ingredient labels of any products you use to make the recipes featured on this site.
External Links
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Personal Responsibility
By using Zen Gal And The City, you acknowledge and accept that following any information or recommendations provided on this site is at your own risk. Zen Gal And The City will not be liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of the site. You are encouraged to make your own inquiries to determine if the information or products are appropriate for your intended use.
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Don't just exist in the city. Be awake in it. Or at least try not to trip over it.
