The Ode To Joy Podcast: Recent Episodes
Elena
Elena Box discusses the pursuit of joy and the tools we take to get us there. Expert guests in their field share their favorite ways: whether it be laughter yoga, healing herbs, psychedelic exploration, silent meditation, or a good ol' bottle of wine.
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A conversation unlike any other unfolds as Elena Box invites her alter-ego Tabitha Crain—a former NPR correspondent with a BA in performance art and global economics—to interview her about resilience. The result is a profound, often humorous exploration of how we build strength through life's initiations.
The dialogue begins with Elena's earliest memory of resilience: a childhood playground moment that taught her about her inner magic and power. Through Tabitha's theatrical questioning, Elena shares the extraordinary experience of her father's passing, including a transcendent moment when golden light filled her room after his death—a sign that "he had made it and was sending a message to let me know all is well."
At the heart of this episode lies Elena's philosophy of holding "the sacred in one hand and the silly in the other," as she explains how levity serves as a lifeline during our darkest moments. This approach has shaped her work as a death doula and now informs her newest initiation: motherhood.
With remarkable candor, Elena discusses the gap between her expectations and reality as a new mother, despite her extensive preparation. "Our culture still doesn't know what proper support looks like," she reveals, detailing her mission to rebuild the village through women's circles like "The Mother's Well" at her ritual studio. Drawing inspiration from wisdom keepers like Jane Hardwick Collings and Sister Morningstar, Elena advocates for reclaiming meaningful rites of passage around birth, death, and transformation.
Throughout this intimate conversation, Elena and Tabitha weave together spirituality, humor, and practical wisdom about building resilience. Whether you're navigating grief, embracing a new chapter, or simply seeking connection in an increasingly isolated world, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on finding strength through community and self-trust.
Listen, reflect, and perhaps discover your own unique path to resilience. As Tabitha reminds us: "The more you trust yourself and your path and your gnosis, the more the world becomes whole."
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
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What happens when the veil between worlds grows thin? Both birth and death represent profound thresholds where we're asked to surrender while somehow maintaining our power. After returning from maternity leave, host Elena Box welcomes her birth doula Alexandra Monahan for a raw, intimate conversation about resilience during life's most challenging transitions.
Alexandra shares her journey of walking her mother through end-of-life care after a long battle with cancer and addiction. This profound experience directly influenced her approach to supporting birthing families, especially in creating sacred space during transformative moments. The conversation reveals why Elena specifically sought a doula who understood death transitions to guide her through birth—recognizing the spiritual connection between these universal human experiences.
Then Elena opens up about her own dramatic birth experience—a placental abruption that forced her to abandon her carefully crafted home birth plans. With continuous bleeding, medical interventions, and moment-by-moment life-or-death decisions, Elena faced her greatest fear while still maintaining agency in her care. Through their shared recollections, we witness how resilience manifests not in controlling circumstances but in how we respond when plans crumble.
The most powerful revelation? Surrender does not mean giving up bodily autonomy. Even in the most challenging circumstances where options seem limited, we always retain the choice of how to meet the moment. Both women emphasize that difficult experiences don't diminish the beauty of life's transitions but highlight our capacity to find strength in unexpected places. Their wisdom extends far beyond birth and death, offering profound insights for navigating any of life's challenges with grace, presence, and what Elena calls being "badass about it."
Ready to build your resilience for life's transformative moments? Listen now and discover how to hold sacred space even when everything goes differently than planned. Then follow Alexandra @moonandSundoula to learn about her upcoming village-building workshops.
Listen to my birth playlist: PORTAL
Shout out to Gaia Midwives for their impeccable care!
SuperFeast
Family-owned seller of Di Tao Medicinal Mushrooms and Tonic herbs.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
What happens when childhood dreams and a love for glittery My Little Pony watches collide with the world of professional music? This week on the Ode to Joy podcast, Sammi Garett, my dear friend and an exceptionally talented musician, joins us for a heartwarming and hilarious chat. From our shared memories in Port Washington to her captivating journey from a high school drummer to a celebrated performer, we recollect the joyful and funny moments that have shaped her path. Sammi also reveals a surprising hobby—archery—that adds another layer to her creative and multifaceted life.
Sammi shares her love for percussion, the thrill of her first lead role in a middle school musical, and the undeniable energy exchange with audiences that has fueled her career. Our conversation covers the serendipitous moments that led her to join the funk band Turquaz, and the resilience required to thrive as an artist amidst the inevitable challenges and criticisms. Sammi’s heartfelt insights into maintaining a positive mental attitude and staying true to oneself are both inspiring and relatable, especially for anyone navigating the pressures of performing and social anxiety.
Wrapping up this episode, we celebrate the joy of music touring and express our gratitude to our listeners. Sammi gives us a sneak peek into her exciting upcoming projects with her band Cool Cool Cool, including new music releases and tour dates. Don’t miss the chance to follow her journey on social media and catch her live for an unforgettable experience. Tune in for a delightful ride filled with laughter, music, and a touch of nostalgia.
Follow Sammi:
IG @sammigaretthttps://sammigarett.com/
Join Cool Cool Cool on Tour https://wearecoolcoolcool.com/tour
Follow Elena:@elenabox
Support the Show.
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Have you ever witnessed the transformative magic of movement, or felt the intricate connection between your creative spirit and the ancient practice of yoga? Sondra Loring, our esteemed guest, embodies this synergy as a queer witch, interdisciplinary artist, and the Director of Sadhana Center for Yoga and Meditation. Her life's work weaves a stunning narrative that connects the fluidity of dance with the grounding practice of meditation, offering a revitalizing perspective on trauma-informed yoga through her impactful program, Moving Potential.
This episode is an intimate exploration of the threads that bind yoga, creativity, and the joys of living a mindful life. Sondra's candid recollections—from her early days as a ballet dancer to a beacon of hope for those dealing with the repercussions of incarceration and addiction—paint a vivid picture of a journey rich with learning and humility. Her stories serve as a guide, revealing how we too can integrate movement and meditation into our daily rituals, fostering spaces where sorrow is met with gratitude and personal growth is achieved through the mentorship of brilliant minds from diverse disciplines.
As we bid adieu to Sondra, we find ourselves wrapped in the warmth of community and self-care, embracing the simple pleasures of vibrant attire, morning candle rituals, and the comfort of our shared human experiences. It's a heartfelt reminder of the resilience found in the fabric of our collective narratives and the beauty that arises when we honor our individuality within the tapestry of life. Stay with us as we continue to bring forward voices that resonate with the soul's longing for connection, creativity, and, of course, a dash of joy.
Get in touch with Sondra:
Visit Sadhana Center for Yoga and Meditation
Moving Potential
Follow on IG: @sadhanacenter
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Have you ever felt the stirrings of an untapped creativity, a wild muse whispering secrets of transformation and connection? Brittney Bliss, Asheville's own somatic intimacy coach and wilderness witch, joins us to weave tales of awakening this inner magic. From the whispers of childhood to the roar of an authentic life, Brittney's insights into nurturing the magic within offer a roadmap for those ready to embark on a journey of profound self-discovery.
As we wander through the forest of our psyche, Brittney illuminates the synergy between somatic intimacy coaching and wilderness, and how these elements can harmonize to foster growth and healing. By tapping into the wellspring of sexual energy as a creative force, we discuss strategies to integrate our desires and passions, from the playful inner child to the fiery rebellion within. Each chapter of our conversation is a step deeper into understanding how embracing our multifaceted selves leads to true enrichment of our lives and relationships.
Ending on a practical note, we take to heart the art of self-expression and facing our inner critic. Brittney offers a glimpse into the safe spaces she creates for individuals to bloom, sharing her wisdom on balancing the thrill of intense exploration with the grounding need for safety. Her story is a call to those ready to dance with their muse, a summons to align with joy, creativity, and the deep connections that await in Brittney's world of transformational coaching and international retreats. Join us for an episode that's more than just talk—it's an invitation to live a life enchanted.
Work with Brittney:
https://brittneybliss.com/Instant download to a free sex magic practice + FREE access to Brittney's upcoming event on Jan 11th (New Moon / New Year Sex Magic Ritual)
Follow Brittney:
@brittney.bliss
Follow Elena:
@elenabox
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Have you ever wondered if the stars could be your guide through life's tumultuous journey? Evolutionary astrologer Ben Kibby joins us to shed light on how combining astrology with aromatherapy and shamanic practices can illuminate the path to personal mythology and joy. Our conversation veers into the unexpected as we draw parallels between celestial movements and the peculiar technical difficulties, as if Mars itself had a quirky sense of humor about our recording schedule!
From the wrestling mat to the enlightening tenets of Buddhism, Ben's story of identity transformation reveals the powerful shifts that can occur when we step outside societal norms. Ben and I engage in a heartfelt discussion about those moments in life that force us to confront who we are and who we want to become. As we converse about the liberating journey from an athlete in a world of toxic masculinity to someone more attuned to their spiritual awakening, it becomes clear that our greatest defeats may set the stage for our most profound growth.
We wrap up our session pondering soul contracts, the comfort found in the cosmos during times of grief, and how astrology can act as a navigational tool at life's myriad crossroads. Whether you're new to astrology or seeking deeper understanding of your own birth chart, this episode promises to offer a fresh perspective on the cosmic dance between fate and free will. So, join us for an exploration of the skies and the self, and let's discover together how the heavens might reflect our most human experiences.
Work with Ben:
https://www.the-alchemical-soul.com/
Follow Ben:
@the_alchemical_soul
Resources:
https://www.astro.com/horoscope
“You Were Born For This” by Chani Nicholas
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Ever felt like an inner critic is stifling your creativity? Want to unlock your inner genius and find joy in the process? Tag along with us as we welcome visionary artist, Jake Kobrin, whose insights on the Ode to Joy Podcast are going to turn your world around. Discover how a unique kambo ceremony in Bali helped Jake purge emotional toxins and faced his grief head-on, reinforcing the power of release and healing in our journey to joy.
In this riveting conversation, we'll also delve into the idea of the muse's role in sparking creativity, and how discipline and surrendering intertwine in artistry. Uncover the secrets of how children effortlessly tap into their innate genius, a journey that might just reignite your own creative spirit. As we wrap up, allow Jake's touching account of his teenage years and his struggle with his inner critic to inspire you. Learn strategies to overcome your internal barriers and let your creativity flow. This episode will be a treat for anyone yearning to embrace joy, nurture their muse, and unleash their artistic side. Don't miss out!
Follow Jake:
@_.kobrin._Learn with Jake: https://jakekobrinartcourses.thinkific.com/Visit Jake's website: jakekobrin.com
Follow Elena:
@elenabox
Visit Elena's website: elenabox.com
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Do you ever feel disconnected, 'othered', or not quite fitting into the societal norms? We've all been there. In fact, our guest today, the incredible Chelsea Camin, a past life witch, once felt the same. She took us on an incredible journey of spiritual awakening, self-discovery, and authenticity, inspiring us with her courage to break free from an oppressive education system and the societal norms that held her back from realizing her true potential.
Chelsea deftly guided us to explore the depths of our inner genius and the witch wound, navigating the complex world of imposter syndrome. She shed light on the significance of honing our unique gifts, embracing authenticity, and finding the right community. With her valuable insights into overcoming fears and fostering self-acceptance, Chelsea helped us better understand the power we all hold within ourselves and how we can utilize it to transform our lives.
Lastly, we delved into the intriguing world of past life work and its integration into daily life, with Chelsea sharing her transformative experiences with candle magic. We also discussed practical ways to protect our spiritual wellbeing in the online space and the importance of setting boundaries. Wrapping up our journey, Chelsea reflected on the intricacies of being a healer and the desire to be 'normal.' In an episode filled with wisdom and inspiration, Chelsea's story is a brilliant reminder of the joy that comes from embracing our true selves. Don't miss out on this empowering conversation!
Connect with Chelsea:
https://www.thepastlifewitch.com/
Follow on IG @thepastlifewitch
Follow Elena @elenabox
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
What if you could reach across the threshold of the physical world and connect with the spirit realm? That's the intriguing journey we embark on in our latest conversation with Claudia Kubata, the Death Faerie herself, where we explore the fascinating realms of spirituality, mediumship, and communication with spirits. We tackle the uncomfortable, yet essential aspects of our roles as death doulas and shed light on the hope, love, and excitement we find in this unique interaction with the deceased.
In the episode, Claudia takes us through her personal journey of embracing mediumship, the encounters she's had with spirits, and the process of validating the authenticity of these experiences. Delving into the often misunderstood concept of modern-day witchcraft, we debunk the stigma associated with it and stress the importance of authenticity in this realm. Furthermore, we traverse the intriguing subject of spirits attaching themselves to humans and discuss ways to set protective boundaries.
Our chat doesn't stop there. We share insights on how to open oneself up to spirit communication, discussing various psychic senses and how they manifest in interactions with spirits, encouraging listeners to explore spirit communication in their own unique ways. Claudia also gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming workbook, loaded with spirit play activities, to tap into psychic abilities with a sense of wonder and fun. Join us on this spiritually uplifting journey and discover how you can connect with the other side.
About Claudia:
Meet Claudia, known as The Death Faerie, your guide to the Other Side. Claudia has been a Psychic Medium all her life, forging connections with Spirits since as far back as she can remember. Her journey into understanding and harnessing this gift began in the early 2000s when she delved into energy work and honed her Psychic abilities.
What sets Claudia apart is her ability to Trance Channel and her training as an Evidential Medium. When she connects with the Spirit realm, she becomes a conduit for their energy, creating sessions that often feel like a healing embrace.
Her mission? To assist others in connecting with Spirit, nurturing and fortifying their own Psychic capabilities. Claudia is not only a seasoned Psychic Medium but also a trained Death Doula affiliated with Going with Grace, proudly contributing to the Death Positive Movement.
Embracing the inevitability of mortality, Claudia encourages everyone to live their best lives while planning for a peaceful transition. After all, as she says, "Eventually, we will all die. So let's live our best life and plan for a good death."
Connect with Claudia:Book a session: www.thedeathfaerie.com
Follow her on Instagram @thedeathfaerie
Elena's free e-book -- Elements of an Ancestor Altar
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Do you ever stop to consider the powerful energy that flows from your body and its intricate cycles? Today, we invite you to join us on a transformative journey of discovery with Naema Pierce, a pelvic specialist and women's sex coach. This enlightening conversation will have you contemplating your connection to your body, your femininity, and your innate creativity like never before.
Naema's life-altering experiences in the heart of Peru sparked a spiritual awakening, reconnecting her to the earth and igniting her mission to assist others in honoring their menstrual cycles and reclaiming their sexuality. Let's shatter the shackles of a patriarchal society together, and embrace the freedoms found in recognizing and celebrating our cycles. From discussing the potency of the menstrual cycle to exploring sacred femininity through bodywork, Naema's insights foster a profound understanding of womanhood and our bodies.
We delve into the eye-opening topics of intimacy, pelvic health, and the transformative power of self-pleasure practices. Naema shares her personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with our bodies and our sexuality, and the liberation that can unravel from opening the floodgates of grief. Encouraging us to confidently reclaim our sexuality, and utilize our unique stories for healing and connection, Naema introduces us to the exhilarating world of self-connection through sexuality. It's time to unearth our inner muse and celebrate the vibrant energy within us.
Connect with Naema:
FREE Pussy Love Liberation Practice: https://bit.ly/Free-Pussy-Love-Practice
FREE Art of Sexual Surrender Practice: https://marvelous-experimenter-9517.ck.page/4aa0e46b1c
Website: https://www.naemapierce.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCywaANEFlCtTdE2QwWnC1FA
IG: https://www.instagram.com/naemapierce/
About Naema:
Naema is a pelvic specialist and women’s sex coach - helping women & pussy owners overcome pain, shame and disconnection in their pussy & sexuality so they can experience epic sex, erotic confidence and a thriving relationship to their pussy and selves.
She helps women unlock this through her VAPPA™ method - an integrative approach to sexual liberation and hands on pelvic care.
She is a powerful coach, working online with clients globally as well as in person in her thriving bodywork practice in Asheville, NC where she offers somatic pelvic healing sessions to women & pussy owners who are ready to get to the root of their disconnect and discover deep sexual liberation & healing.
Naema is a total science nerd, esoterically deep, ridiculously playful, and is wildly passionate about helping you to live your most liberated and pleasurable life possible.
Support the show
Buy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Have you ever wondered about the profound impact a simple smile can have on someone's life? Join us on a fascinating journey with Australian author, podcast host, and human rights lawyer, Ezzie Spencer. We start with understanding how she's crafted her existence around her purpose, which has now become her "normal". Ezzie's life has been a rollercoaster of experiences, from her roots in Australia to her life in New York and Los Angeles, and she has a plethora of insights to share.
A pivotal moment in Ezzie's life was her spiritual awakening in 2011. Our conversation delves into the internal struggle she experienced while trying to make sense of her new reality and the path that led to her work with the moon. We also discuss the significance of mentors and teachers in life, and how they can help us navigate our way towards a sense of inner peace. Ezzie shares her journey from working within established systems to focusing on the individual, aided by the moon cycle.
Ezzie doesn't shy away from discussing the more personal aspects of her journey, including her experiences with self-love and self-worth. She shares the invaluable lessons she learned from a teacher about compassion and forgiveness, which she believes are essential for cultivating self-love. She also talks about an unconscious vow she made to stay single and how she used meditation to uncover and overcome this blockage in her life. Ezzie highlights the importance of self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and gratitude in managing tough emotions, which are steps towards cultivating a stronger sense of self-love. This episode promises to leave you with profound insights about life, purpose, and the power of self-love.
Work with Ezzie:
https://www.ezziespencer.com/
IG @ezziespencer
Re.love Podcast
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
In this powerful episode, host Elena Box invites Reproductive Wellness Coach, Amanda Star Kingsley, to share her inspiring journey of finding her muse in helping women heal after abortion. Amanda, a Certified Feminist Life Coach and Doula, sheds light on her personal experience and the emotional complexities surrounding life after abortion.
As the host of the Speaking Light Into Abortion podcast and author of the transformative book 'What I Wish: 100 love notes to help you survive, come alive, and thrive after abortion,' Amanda's mission is to facilitate a wider conversation about the unspoken aspects of this journey.
Join Elena and Amanda as they dive deep into the importance of embracing all emotions after abortion and empowering women to live the life they choose. This episode will leave you feeling empowered and remind you that healing and honoring your decisions is a beautiful part of your unique story.
Work with Amanda:
IG @ amandastarkingsley
https://www.amandastarkingsley.com/
Phone Wall Paper for Empowered Living
Amanda Kingsley is a Certified Feminist Life Coach and Doula. She is the host of the Speaking Light Into Abortion podcast. And the Author of ‘What I Wish: 100 love notes to help you survive, come alive, and thrive after abortion.’ After her own unanticipated abortion as a mother of three, she recognized the need for a wider conversation around the complex emotional landscape of life after abortion. She reminds her audience that it’s okay to feel all the feelings after abortion, and that we can honor our decisions by living the life we made our choice for. You can learn more and connect with her at www.amandastarkingsley.com
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
In this captivating episode, we delve into the transformative world of love embodiment coaching, international retreat hosting, and vibe curation with the incredible Lexy Davis. Join us as Lexy shares her fascinating journey and reveals the profound impact that travel has had on her internal muse. Through thought-provoking insights and personal anecdotes, Lexy guides us on a mesmerizing exploration of how embracing different cultures, immersing in new landscapes, and connecting with diverse souls have nourished her creative spirit. Discover the power of wanderlust as Lexy unveils the secrets of how travel ignites her passion, fuels her inspiration, and allows her to curate the most vibrant vibes imaginable. Get ready to embark on an extraordinary voyage and unlock the hidden treasures that await when we embrace the world as our muse.
Follow Lexy on IG @alivetoenjoy
Lexy's list of Embodied Women:
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@connie_chapman
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@iamvictoriawashington
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@Shaneymarie_enchantress
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@Simaya.Priya
-@ thepleasureplus
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@rosie.rees
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@sensualsomatic
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@theportiabrown
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@che.che.luna
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@the vaginablog
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@kama.lab
-@humblewildwellness
-@the.meg.o
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
In this captivating episode, our host, Elena Box, a remarkable Shamanic Death Doula and Comedienne, shares an intimate conversation with her ex-girlfriend, Gina Bloemers, about her transformative journey of nourishing her inner muse. Together, they delve into the depths of abandonment, grief, and heartbreak, exploring how these seemingly dark experiences have played a profound role in shaping her creative spirit.
As Elena opens up about her personal encounters with abandonment, grief, and heartbreak, listeners are invited into a world of vulnerability and resilience. With poignant anecdotes and raw honesty, she reveals how these challenging moments acted as catalysts for her creative growth, rather than roadblocks.
Drawing upon her shamanic practices and comedic talents, our host intricately weaves together the threads of her story, highlighting the ways in which she transformed her pain into a source of inspiration. Through the power of laughter and ritual, she found solace and healing, allowing her inner muse to emerge from the depths of despair.
Guided by her ex-girlfriend's insightful questions, Elena offers practical advice and meaningful reflections on embracing the creative potential within even the most heart-wrenching experiences. Listeners will discover how to navigate their own journeys of abandonment, grief, and heartbreak, understanding that these profound emotions can serve as fuel for artistic expression and personal growth.
Tackling the complexities of the human experience with wit and wisdom, this episode will leave listeners inspired and empowered to embrace their own transformative journeys. Join us as we delve into the depths of the soul, exploring how nourishing the inner muse can arise from the most unexpected places.
FOLLOW Gina on IG: @shapeshift_
FOLLOW Elena on IG: @elenabox
Song by Regina Spektor "On the Radio"
Lyrics : You laugh until you cry, you cry until you laugh
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Ceremonial Pregnancy Release offers an ancient remembrance for how women can move through one of the most powerful Initiation Processes we may experience in our lifetimes. How can we support ourselves and other women to release pregnancy in a sacred, centered, and intentional way?
Natasha Pachalove is a Puerto Rico based Energy Worker, Feminine Wellness Mentor, and Ritual Dancer who supports people coming home to their soul and purpose. She is a full-spectrum doula who has led Red Tent retreats for seven years.
In this episode Elena and Natasha discuss:
- The Feminine Wisdom Cycle
- Healing through ceremonial abortion
- Choosing the "most loving decision"
- Initiation into Motherhood
- Comminicating with our Spirit Babies
- Using Shamanic Journeying to negotiate with the souls of our unborn children
- Herbal Abortion
- The process of Medical Abortion
- Finding a practitioner you resonate with
- Placing the power back in your hands
- Honoring the Postpartum Period post pregnancy release
- Preparing a sacred space to "Birth death in"
- Calling in your ancestors to support the process
- Allowing the body to heal for a 9-month period
- Creating death-iversaries to honor your unborn child
- Cermonially burying their remains
Work with Natasha:
Follow on IG @natashapachalove
Online ceremony Honoring Our Unborn Children February 19th 2-4pm EST
Connect deeper via https://www.thesacredremembrance.com/
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Nevine Michaan joins The Ode to Joy Podcast to talk about Yoga's place in processing grief and tuning our bodily instrument to come into greater Joy.
Nevine and Elena discuss the following:
- the recipe for JOY
- Organizing sensations
- Joy in the midst of a hard winter
- "Ananda" and how to measure up
- Asana as Origami
- Wu wei -- an effortless effort
- The Magic Square -- as a menu
- Mediating Polarity by placing yourself in the middle of the Trinity
- The Breath of the Seasons
- Siddhis - great magical powers
- Learning how to play well with the mind and body
- Playing with Ritual to process grief
About Nevine:
"Born in Egypt in 1954, Nevine moved to New York at the age of three. In her early 20’s, while studying history and comparative religion at Vassar College, she discovered meditation. She understood that there is a function, a formality and a fit to the universe and that yoga is a tool, a technique – a practice with repetition which gives us the opportunity to participate in life with intelligence and joy.
Nevine started a daily practice in NYC with renowned yoga instructor Allan Bateman in the 1970s and became fully immersed in what would become her life’s work. She began teaching Yoga in 1980, and founded the Katonah Yoga Center in Katonah, New York in 1986."
Learn with Nevine
Katonah Yoga
The Magic Square
Katonah Yoga Calendar
Find a local Kotonah Teacher
Follow on IG @katonahyogacenter
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
What happens when two death doulas get chatting? Pure magic! Adriana Michelle, a.k.a The Death Alchemist, is a death doula, Transition & Rebirth Doula, and Storyteller. Elena and Adriana discuss how to create Power Places to move through grief. Adriana was born in San Diego, raised in Mexico, and is currently living in New Orleans where she offers grief walking, transition readings, and monthly online grief meetings.
Elena and Adriana discuss:
- grief walking
- permission to sit with grief
- processing death at a young age
- memories as power places
- speaking to our dead
- finding power places while traveling
- Opening yourself up to signs from spirit
- Power places in the spirit world
- returning to your ancestral homeland
Adriana's top Grief film picks:
- My Girl
- Now and Then
- Bridge to Terabithia
- Marley & Me
- Coco
- I Will Follow
- The Changeling
- Como Agua Para Chocolate
- Ghost
- The Fountain
- What Dreams May Come
- Elizabethtown
- The Descendants
- The Bucket List
- The Sixth Sense
- Beaches
Note from Adriana on creating a Power Place:
"Something as simple as lighting a candle, putting on music, and getting into the shower or bath is SOOOO powerful (lots of downloads come through for me in there) I find it very healing to write out some intentions or just free write/journal. Mirror work. Setting up an altar is the obvious choice because it is something that is easily accessible and can be set up in a closet (hidden away for privacy if you need to). ALSO JUST CRY. Whatever emotion you are feeling, let that lead you. Life is a ceremony. Everything is a ritual. Sit with it. Digest it."
Work with Adriana:
Follow on IG @thedeathalchemist
https://www.amoryalquimia.com/
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
David Rotherham joins us from Australia, to share the story of his son Angus who tragically passed while swimming during his morning movement practice at Flat Rock.
David and Elena discuss:
- studying master plant teachers
- the story of his son, Angus', passing in the pacific ocean
- his son's energy visiting him after passing
- sitting with his son while preparing to gift his organs
- his son introducing him to master plant teachers
- David's grief journey since his son's passing 3.5 years ago
- celebrating his life with a group of over 600
- saying goodbye to Angus in the ICU with medicine drums
- creating a ceremony around profound loss
- Angus finding the place of resounding peace in the universe
- receiving messages through a psychic from his son
David and Elena met while studying with the master plant teacher, Ayahuasca, with the Shipibo tribe in Peru in 2015.
Work with David: https://shamanicwisdom.com.au/
Tribute to Angus Anguri EarthkeeperSupport the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Olivia Falcon joins us from Greenpoint, Brooklyn to talk about how we can navigate the use of Vices during a grieving process.
Olivia is a yoga teacher and works closely with Katonah Yoga founder, Nevine Michaan.
We discuss how we can balance nourishing ourselves, and partake in our comforting Vices while healing from heartbreak and grief.
If you are struggling with substance abuse, this episode may not be for you, see notes below for resources to find support. Reminder -- I am not a mental health professional and am merely sharing my personal experience.
Topics we cover:
- Breakups as a catalyst for grief
- Sensuousness and indulgence
- Softening the edges of grief
- Creating Ritual around enjoying your Vices
- Marijuana as a master plant teacher
- Creating structure around indulging
- "Everything in moderation, including moderation"
- Vices as a tool to dive more deeply into emotion
- Daily tools to stay in balance while grieving
Follow Olivia on IG at @oliviamfalcon
Support Hotline Resources:
https://addictionresource.com/addiction-and-rehab-hotlines/
- Drug and alcohol abuse helpline 1-888-506-0699
- The National Mental Health Association’s number 1-800-969-6642 is available during business hours for questions about mental health issues.
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
This 10-minute meditation begins with a full body relaxation scan and then ends with a powerful forgiveness mantra.
Use the mantra daily for extra OOMPH. Repeat as many times as years you've been on this earth morning and night. Repeat every day for the same amount of years as you've been on your earth walk.
This mantra affirmation was taught to me by Balinese Healer, Agus Sihman on the summer solstice the year my father died and helped me hugely during my time of grief. Enjoy, babe <3
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Tom Fox joins us from NYC where he is currently a Chaplain with the Huntington's Disease Unit
Tom had a spiritual awakening after following the 12-step program, leading to a life of service.
After a 30-year finance career on Wall Street, Tom began working in a hospice where he gained insight into how to hold space for a dying person.
Coming from a turbulent upbringing with an alcoholic father, he navigated years of anger and resentment to one day be led through an unconventional gravesite posthumous forgiveness ritual. His story is not to be missed!
In this episode we discuss:
- Posthumous Forgiveness at the Grave
- Forgiving the unforgivable
- Self-care through times of turbulence
- The twelve steps
- Poetry as a therapeutic medium
- Flow states to process profound experiences
- The Liminal Space as a portal for forgiveness without words
- Walking with people where they're at
- Tom reads aloud one of his Poems
Get in touch with Tom via e-mail at Nortonfox55@gmail.com
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Spark your inner Creative Fire by stoking the sacral chakra through breath and ignited intention.
"Wherever you go, there you are."
Who would you be if you remembered you have all the inner tools you need at all times? What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? Bolster your inner reserves to stand firm, tall, and resolute in your mission as you continue your earth walk, dear one.
I love you, fellow light traveler.
Elena Box xo
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
As spiritual beings, what essential tools do we need to travel with when life's uncharted territory presents itself to us? When we find ourselves in new places, either physically or emotionally, we need to remain grounded and centered. How can we orient ourselves in the storm's calm eye?
Eva Giorgi joins us from Upstate New York today to share the tools she's honed while living in the great outdoors. She created her own traveler's mythology with herbs, essential oils, maps, and the ritual of a hot cup of coffee on a brisk morning.
Elena and Eva discuss:
- Living bare bones in National Forests
- Developing your personal tools over time
- Creating separate spaces/rooms in nature
- Digesting new experiences
- Buffers to utilize experiences
- Acquainting yourself with the land you're on
- Maps as a tool to center your experience
- Astrology, Alamanac, Tarot Cards, Katonah Yoga (Magic Square) as Maps
- Eva's top herbal allies for travel
- Self-other-self, the fractal of self-discovery
- Tarot Cards, Essential Oils, Herbs, Maps, Food, Coffee, Chocolate, Incense, Candles, Sage, Palo Santo -- Traveling Shaman Toolkit
Eva Giorgi @evatwine
Offers Tarot readings online and teaches Katonah Yoga at Viale Yoga in Bedford Hills, NY
Evatwine.com
Join The Spiral women's circle led by Morgan Rose @morganrose.rituals
Support the showBuy your copy of Elena's book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Follow on IG @elenabox
Are you feeling overwhelmed, panicky, or groundless? This 10-minute guided meditation will tap you into the earth beneath you, and invite you to taste the richness of life when feeling imbalanced. Inspired by Taoist Master Mantak Chia, the meditation concludes with a practice of building life force energy. A real treat! Enjoy, babe.
*This new series on the Ode to Joy Podcast takes the episode topic from the prior week as a guide for a meditation delivered straight to you. Blessings --
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Integrative & Functional Dietitian Abby K. Cannon joins us from New York today to share her top tips on what to eat/what not to eat when going through acute stress. Whether you're mourning the loss of a loved one, are newly post-partum, or swimming in a challenging life change, this episode is for you.
Do you struggle with appetite, overindulge in comfort food, or can't decide what to eat? Think you're going crazy because your digestion is out of whack? Chances are it is simply your body's natural reaction to stress. Abby shares her tools to get you back on track when times are tough.
Elena and Abby discuss:
- Abby's top tips for snacks to keep on hand to stay grounded
- Do comfort foods actually bring comfort?
- Creating a Grief-Care Food Checklist for friends and family (great for Postpartum too!)
- Digestive problems during Acute Stress
- The Gut as a Second Brain
- Eating the rainbow
- Supplement Fatigue
- Pharmaceuticals and their place on our health journies
Abby is taking on new clients!
Work with her and get in touch via IG @abbysfoodcourt
www.abbysfoodcourt.com
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How can we honor deep mourning and loss by creating our own Rites & Rituals? Elena shares her version of a death rites ritual and tips for helping a soul cross over using Shamanic Journeying.
Topics discussed:
- Creating a sacred space
- Thresholds of witnessing the liminal space of loss
- Death rites ritual & closing off the chakras/energy centers
- Honoring the energy centers of your loved one
- Anointing the body of your passed loved one
- How to create a ritual around loss (miscarriages, loss of homes, jobs, etc)
- Connecting with the souls of your passed loved ones with Shamanic Journeying
- Helping a soul cross over through Journeying
Resources:
Shamanic Journeying Music
Sandra Ingerman Shamanic Journeying Album
Buy Elena's Book "Grieve Outside the Box"
Support the show
Where does the intersection of Eastern & Western Medicine stand? How can we discern which alternative medicines are appropriate for us? What is health sovereignty? Los Angeles-based Acupuncturist Anna Corson joins us today. She is a Co-Founder of The Neijing Medicine Clinic, a Somatic Health Investigator, and a Cosmic Shepherd for people going through a Dark Night of the Soul.
Topics we discuss:
- the story of the tissue of your life
- Dis-ease as a master teacher
- how can we use Alternative Medicines to process deep-life shifts
- Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Herbs, Integrative Medicine
- Dis-ease at a tissue-based level
- what is health sovereignty?
- how can we relax and come home to ourselves
- the collapsing modern medicine structure
- the Spiritual trap of trying to find the "Cheat-code" to avoid suffering
- Pain in Pleasure & Pleasure in Pain
- navigating a Dark Night of the Soul
- Celebration as a part of grief
- finding your personal path toward healing
- permission to discover your medicine
About Anna:
Anna Corson, LAc, MTCM, Dipl. Ac. & C.M.
Anna is an avid lover of nature and spends her time exploring the natural landscapes of the West Coast. A seeker of the Sacred in all areas of life, she enjoys deep connections and engages in a variety of spiritual practices. Anna is passionate about helping patients transform, heal, and step into their sovereignty.
Resources:
Follow Anna on IG @annacorson.neijingmedicine
Book a session with Anna at theneijingmedicineclinic.com
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When grieving, how do we dial into the Spirit World to connect with a passed loved one? Ilona shares her top tips for gaining direct access to the messages our loved ones on the other side have to offer us. She shares stories from the time after her father passed that brought clarity around how we can open ourselves up to receiving messages.
Topics we discuss:
- what types of questions can we ask? (insider tip: don't ask your dead Dad about your love life)
- Portals of Communication (mediums, etc)
- Relying on your Well Ancestors to provide insight, validation, guidance
- Symbolic communication
- Reiki animal channeling
- Astrology as the psychology of our ancestors
- Archetypes/Astrological charts to comfort grievers to find your center
- Beginner's tools for Connecting to Spirit
- Intuition as a byproduct of getting comfortable being in your "meat suit" with stillness
Ilona Pamplona is an Astrology Informed Life Coach, Oracle Card Reader, and Word Nerd.
Follow Ilona on IG @ilonapamplona
Resources:
Sacred Contracts, Caroline Myss
Color Mage Oracle
Divine Feminine Oracle, Meggan Watterson
The Starseed Oracle, Rebecca Campbell
The Amenti Oracle, Jennifer Sodini
Elena's Book "Grieve Outside the Box"
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Jan Lucier, Shamanic Practioner, joins us this week to discuss what it means to straddle the physical world and the spirit world. We dissect the meaning of the word "Shaman", and how we as people in the modern world can employ the tools of shamanic practices to heal ourselves, our communities, and the world. We chat about how we can support a passing loved one both before and after death to ensure their soul successfully exits their physical body.
Topics we discuss:
- Origins of the word "Shaman"
- Traditional Healing and its resurgence in today's world
- The path of Direct Revelation
- Moving from Religion to Spirituality
- Percussion as a tool to expand consciousness and "Cross-over"
- Psychopomp work (crossing souls over the rainbow bridge post-death)
- Shamanic Journeying 101
- Holding space for dying loved ones
- Journeying/prayer/meditation as Preparation for dying
- How to tune into your Truth Chord (Intuitive YES)
- Devotion, Nature, Study - from the Celtic Medicine Wheel
Resources:The Tibetan Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Jan's Website: healthwellnessprogramming.com
Jan's facebook - Windhorse Holistic Strategies
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Morgan Rose Simeone joins us again to chat about how we can tune into the rhythms of nature to more easily navigate the contrast that life offers us. She shares how she is navigating spending time with her elder father as he lives through his last chapter of life. Morgan discusses the struggles, the memory-making moments, how she creates boundaries, and how she stays present and honest with herself while honoring her commitment.
A must-listen for anyone embarking on the path of being fully present for their loved one's passing.
Affirmation: "I ground into the earth. I pause and breathe. I am here to receive the present moment. I surrender to the Now"
Morgan and Elena discuss:
- Seasonal tips to ground into the body and become fully present
- Eckhart Tolle's wisdom on the IS-NESS of our present reality
- "The Power of Now"
- Being vulnerable while being social and staying centered
- Creating an energetic protection field
- Surface level talks vs. deep and real conversations
- Being okay when the contrast of life breaks your heart
- The Sacred Pause --
- Committing to being present for her father during his later years
- Reincarnation & esoteric discussion topics for those closer to death
- Navigating guilt around being present for their loved one's preparation for death
- Creating a living memory tool kit of objects that clue you back into your loved ones
- Creating a memory web of life's mythology
Resources:
"The Power of Now" Book by Eckhart Tolle
The Sacred Pause -- Jack Kornfield
Morgan Rose Simeone:
The Spiral Membership
Instagram @morganrose.rituals
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Sound Alchemist and Life & Embodiment Coach, Gabriel Logan Braun, joins us today to share his personal journey using Music as Medicine to move through grief, and support those in recovery to move through trauma. He is a multi-instrumentalist loop artist who creates Sonic Womb experiences in Los Angeles.
Topics we discuss:
- Music is life, Grief is life
- Gabriel's first experiences using music to process life experiences
- Rites of Passage & Initiation and Life as a Ceremony
- Supporting his father's passing with music
- Humming as a gateway to release the voice while mindfully breathing
- Letting the vibrations have an effect on your nervous system
- Using the voice to heal the self
- In-tone-ation finding the Tone within
- Honoring your unique voice
- The body as a percussion instrument
- A daily music practice to move through emotion
- The sound of AUM (Om) as the sound of the energy of the Universe
- Vocal Alchemy Sessions with Gabriel
Resources:
Work with Gabriel -- Vocal Alchemy Sessions
Live stream recordings on Youtube
Los Angeles Sonic Womb Events
Listen to Gabriel on Spotify
Porangui retreats & Workshops
Elena's Book "Grieve Outside the Box"
About Gabriel:
From his angelic tones to soulful beat boxing, Gabriel’s heartfelt and earthy sound comes through his music. As a multi-instrumentalist, he uses loop pedals, his voice, wind instruments, crystal bowls, percussion, harmonium and guitar to create experiences for people to celebrate the human spirit. He is devoted to sharing his music through solo performances, sound baths and a variety of collaborations with other soulful musicians.
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Why do we as a death-phobic culture offer the words "Let me know if you need anything" to those experiencing grief, loss, or huge life shifts? What exactly does "Anything" entail? In this SOLO episode, Elena breaks down the concept of learning how to ask for what you need as a grieving person, and how to genuinely offer help to those in mourning.
Topics covered include:
- why do people offer condolences in this way?
- how do we discern those who are genuine
- delegating our needs to those we trust
- what types of things can we ask for help with?
- being OKAY with receiving a "No" or rejection
- vulnerability in speaking your needs to someone you love
- worthiness around deserving support & receiving
- how ancestrally, a tribal culture leads to a more supportive community around grief
- being under-resourced as a society leads to lacking the ability to offer support
Resources:"Grieve Outside the Box" book -- order on Amazon
Support the show
What does it mean to befriend your anger? How can you alchemically transmute, release, and tend to it? Kat is a Poet, a Priestess, and a general witchy sister who guides us through ways to interpret and move through intense anger & rage.
We discuss:
- alchemically transmuting anger & rage
- the pain of suppressing our intuitive power
- channeling our trauma through poetry
- Inanna the "Mesopotamian goddess associated with love, beauty, sex, war, justice, and political power"
- Going through the 7 veils, restoring relationship with the interior
- Self-Mastery as inspired by Toltec Wisdom
- Great rage becoming a great passion to restore humanity
- Adopting the mind of Victory, Play, and Fun
- The inner space of the divine beloved
- the Masculine center of women's interior
- Ceasing the fight against the world by tending to your wounds
- Healing ancestral trauma & lineage healing
- Casting spells & the danger of dark magic when processing rage
- The Four Agreements
About Kat Grasso:
IG @theredroomcollective
IG @kat.grasso
https://bookme.name/theredroomlive
Resources:
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Nina Palmieri
Mastery of Love
Voice of Knowledge
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Future Chaplain and weaver of words, Andi Scarbrough joins us to chat about using mixed media to journal the loss of a loved one. How can we use the somatic experience of Journaling to build a field guide of grief as if we were Wildlife Documentarians? Exploring taboo subjects like the loss of a child and suicide, Andi shares how she has used dance, poetry, and vocalizing to process the alchemical fires of deep loss. A must listen.
We discuss:
- "Wildlife documentarian" style of Journaling your grief journey
- Weather tracking your emotional atmosphere
- Neutral observer of the experience
- Time-stamping your grief
- Field notes road map inside and outside yourself towards your heart
- Engaging your senses to come into presence (essential oils, tea, candles, etc)
- Repetitive thoughts as a guide to enter journaling
- Free form writing, create a sacred space and "let it rip" then burn it
- Haiku as a way to keep the artist pipes from freezing
- "Being in the horror of it is just as fleeting as the beauty of it"
- Sharing Taboo moments publicly and how "trigger warnings" may not always serve
- Keeping memorabilia in a footlocker to remember
- Becoming a living scrapbook as a legacy of loving
- Shamanic Journeying to process the suicides of Andi's Father and Grandfather
- "A death is as traumatic as it needs to be in order to trigger the changes needed within everyone around"
- Suicide as the taboo amongst taboos
- Destigmatizing mental health support
Andi shares potent practices, prompts, and tools for listeners to engage with in their own journaling grief work.
About Andi:
Holistic Hairdresser, Reiki Master, Breathwork Facilitator, studying towards Chaplaincy.
Follow Andi on IG @crown_works
crownworks.net
Ceremonial ritual services
In-person gatherings and breathwork coming soon
Buy Elena's Book: "Grieve Outside the Box"
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Igniting the flame of Initiation when going through profound change. Cody Lovina, ER & Hospice Nurse, Birth Doula & Death Doula, is currently a Portal Priestess studying Tantra in Asheville, NC. We chat about moving through the initiation of heartbreak, allowing intuition to guide your healing process, and supporting loved ones through their passing.
We discuss:
- moving through fear to leave the life you've known
- praying for purpose when change comes knocking
- Heartbreak as a major Grief teacher
- Menstruation as a gateway to clarified listening from womb space
- Integrating Sex Medicine, unclogging intuition
- Allowing Joy to be experienced during profound change
- Giving a proper container for the ceremony of Death
- Tantric surrendering to the portals of birth, sex, grief, and death
- Tools for relaxing your nervous system when supporting a passing loved one
- Having a cup of tea with the parts of ourselves that have been killed off
- Asking for help in meeting yourself
About Cody Lovina Hubbard:
Follow her on IG @love.weaver
1-on1 Sessions in person loveweaver.me
Personal affirmation & mantra songs
"I am Lovina, known to some as Cody or Coco. Joy is my super power. I have made Joy my baseline by allowing myself to access and integrate all emotions. I am designed to hold space for transformation. I have worked as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department and also as a Hospice Nurse. In these spaces I learned to hold loving, supportive, powerful presence in the face of extreme trauma and emotion. "
Resources:
- Spikenard Initiation Oil
- Rose, Cacao, Blue lotus & aphrodisiac herbs
- Essential Oil Wizardry
- Paul Selig - The Book of Truth
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Elena met Jeanie during her Griefcation™ in Bali, two months after her father passed in 2016. Jeanie was instrumental in teaching Elena the mythology of the Hero's Journey as taught by Joseph Campbell. How can we use the framework of the Hero's Journey to see ourselves within our own mythology? Can we use these stories to provide comfort and perspective as we embark on a grief journey, profound change, and life initiations?
We discuss:
- a synopsis of the Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell) The Hero with A Thousand Faces
- the mythology that spans cultures
- the threshold between the known world into the UNKNOWN world
- receiving the magical tools, knowledge, and blessings on your journey (you're not alone)
- the quest for the ultimate goal
- bringing the knowledge back to the world as a changed person
- going through multiple versions of the Hero's Journey in life
- The Fool's Journey
- Jeanie's near-death experience as her call to adventure
- giving birth as a clarifying moment for Jeanie responding to her purpose
- acknowledging help for anxiety and mental health support during challenging times
- Jeanie's tools to aid a hero's journey: gratitude, yoga, community
- feminine power/shakti/ creative power and reclamation of birthing what we're being called to birth -- following our calling, as a duty to ourselves.
About Jeanie Schuerman:Follow her on IG @thejeaniebean
Visit her website at jeanieschuerman.com
Jeanie is passionate about sustainable development, art, nerding out and adventuring with her baby girl. She is certified as a registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 200) and a continuing education provider (YACEP, aka teacher of yoga teachers) with Yoga Alliance. She is the creator of Samadhi yoga. She has traveled to 27 countries and lived in six. She has spent her entire adult life teaching in one capacity or another, including teaching high school, teaching languages, teaching scuba, and teaching maternal/child health. She is currently deepening her relationship to life and holistic health as a graduate nursing student on her way to becoming a certified nurse-midwife (CNM).
Resources:
The Hero with A Thousand Faces book by Joseph Campbell
Cacao Ceremonies and Music by @elahandausierra -- @ausierra.go.forth @elahscott
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Tahnee Taylor joins us from Australia to chat about taking time away to process grief. She carries a tapestry of wisdom with an intersection of Daoist and Yogic practices. Currently pregnant with her second child, she shares how pregnancy, birth, grief, and death go hand-in-hand.
We discuss:
- how Tahnee and Elena met in Peru in 2015
- why Elena chose Australia for her Griefcation™ after her father passed
- Tahnee shares her personal experience of loss
- bringing in the confronting rituals of death
- birth practice as a preparation for dying awake
- taking the first 40 days after birth & death to process/transition
- healing generational trauma 7 generations forward and backward
- practical tools, and techniques to support the organs and their meridians
- the body as an integrated being and all organs are affected by grief
- receiving healing touch & being looked after by a therapeutic presence
About Tahnee Taylor:
Tahnee is a Yin Yoga teacher, chi nei tsang practitioner and herbalist who is devoted to learning and listening to the language of the body. She offers online classes, teacher trainings and more.
Visit her website at tahneetaylor.com
Follow her on IG @tahneeyoga
Resources:The SuperFeast PodcastSuperFeast - Di Dao Medicinal Mushrooms and Tonic Herbs
Mantak Chia, Chi Nei Tsang, and Microcosmic Orbit Practice
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
We discuss tools for grievers to navigate friendships as well as helpful tips for friends of grievers who are unsure how to support their bereaved loved ones.
Elena and Cassandra discuss:
- why relationships are difficult when grieving
- learning to ask for what you need
- when your "ride or dies" don't show up
- being surprised by the friends that do stick around
- give people the opportunity to show up
- practicing communicating what you want
- finding forgiveness for those who let you down
- fear around proximity to death
- what to say, what not to say
- Language of love as a way of support
- name something specific you can offer
- Listening instead of "fixing"
About Cassandra Geisel:
Light in Death is an education platform founded by Cassandra Geisel, a native Canadian currently living in London. She is a former funeral home manager, working in suicide prevention, and currently studying to become a therapist with a focus on bereavement.
Follow @lightindeath
Visit lightindeath.com
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Hana Rakshani is a Somatic Movement Artist who facilitates Contact Improvisation workshops in Ashville, North Carolina. Elena and Hana discuss how emotional release can come through tuning deeply into our organs and voices by way of curiously noticing. Hana shares her top tools for navigating tracking emotion in the body and how to release it somatically. A juicy conversation indeed!
We discuss:
- How do we notice emotion within the body somatically
- Witnessing sensation with body scan & body scan
- Interoception: sensing the internal state of the body
- Tuning into our organs where emotions are held
- Yoga practice as a way into practicing somatics
- Embodied self-meeting in Play
- Holding intention within the body, meeting awareness
- Body-Mind Centering - Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
- Single cellular organisms - how they are divinely intelligent and inform movement
- Starfish consciousness
- Tuning into the pelvic floor to open the voice & face
- Navigating releasing the voice
- Using visualization to come into the voice
- Resonant movement patterns to begin vocalization
- Entering a trance like state to come into sound
- Hana's recommendations for moments of emotional overwhelm
- Exhaling to the tune of a HUM
- Tapping - Emotional Freedom Technique
- Jiggling/bouncing/shaking to wake up the proprioceptive system
Resources:
- Body-Mind Centering - Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
- Continuum Movement
- The Authentic Movement Method - The Witnesses Attention
- Somatic Experiencing
- Hana's Upcoming Workshop on February 26th: Body In-Formation - Facebook events
- May Dance Festival with Hana
- Follow Hana on IG @somalibertad
- Follow Hana on Facebook facebook.com/hana.rakhshani
- Buy Elena's book on Pre-sale til 2/8 "Grieve Outside the Box"
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Inviting death into your life is a natural part of being a human. In this episode, Lauren and Elena discuss their personal experiences with ego death, death as a spiritual practice, and how it informs holding space for a dying loved one and our daily lives.
We discuss:
- The seasonal nature of life and inviting in a Seasonal Practice
- The Way of the Trees -- see yourself as a seed using earth's pressure to become
- The Chrysalis and the Butterfly -- needing to be squeezed to transform
- Permission to feel uncomfortable
- Using a Visual Compass to grow (North, South, East, West)
- Bring death into waking life through ecotherapy
- Resisting decomposition as a call to merge with the void
- Getting out of productivity space coming into purposeful space
- Create a ritual around your spiritual practice
- We are electrical beings carrying around wattage - we are literal light beings!
- Ego death as a death teacher by way of Plant Medicine
- Letting go of who you think you are
- The "Brutiful" experience of holding space for a dying loved one
- Liminal space & the void during hospice
- What does it mean to have a "masterful death"
About Lauren Pacione
Lauren is an Ecotherapist and medicine woman who shares wisdom in poetic word and practical, purpose-filled stories of seasonal (sometimes spicy) healing with nature. She weaves from a wide lens of experience through fashion and women’s fitness, numinous psychology, leadership in integrative healthcare, shamanic studies and apprenticeship to the divine.Lauren recently wrote Way of the Trees: a field guide to finding your true nature, a collection of ecotherapy prompts and poetry inspired by the natural world. Lauren is available for continuing education for practitioners and speaking engagements within the world of therapeutic plant medicine integration and consultation in earth-based businesses.
wayofthetrees.com
IG: @laurenpacione.etc
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Author Nora Zelevansky shares her thoughts on what to wear to the funeral. She brings in her expertise from a background in fashion and lifestyle writing to share her top tips for grief fashion, what to gift your bereaved friend, and how we can embrace everyday mourning wear in the turbulent times we live in. In our discussion, we weave in comedic excerpts from her book "Competitive Grieving".
We discuss:
- Nora's top literary picks for coping with loss
- Excerpts from her book
- Finding the perfect funeral dress
- Sending Cozy Socks to your bereaved friend
- Creating comfort around mourning
- Nora's fave funeral dress solution: The Jumpsuit
- Using funerary dress as a way to honor your passed loved one
- Casual everyday grief wear for our current times
- Day-time pajamas = our national mourning wear?
About Nora:
As a freelance writer, she covers all things lifestyle: travel, fashion, wellness/beauty and emergent cultural trends.
Nora's novels are delayed coming-of-age stories. Inspired by the universal struggle to let go of the past and reimagine oneself again and again, the books — infused with honesty, humor and a bit of romance — follow characters who resist change as they navigate periods of grudging transition: college graduation, the approach to 30, grief and acceptance.
She lives in Brooklyn, NYC with her husband, two kids and enormous cat, Waldo.
Follow Nora on IG @norazelevansky
Visit her website norazelevansky.com
Resources:
Nora's Book "Competitive Grieving"
Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking "
Michelle Zauner's "Crying in H Mart: A Memoir"
Scent by the Now Santal Tobacco Room Spray
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Technically almost a Rabbi Dave Yedid, who will be ordained in May of 2022 joins us this week on the topic: Beware of the Vultures. We discuss how to maintain boundaries when processing loss to prevent burnout from having others use your pain to work through their own. Sound familiar? Have a listen.
“Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.”
― Prentis Hemphill
We discuss:
- Setting loving boundaries while grieving
- Why do people always bring up their dead dogs when speaking to new grievers (lol!)
- The pros and potential cons of Jewish mourning rituals
- Choreography to death before and after
- Sitting shiva, the mourner's kaddish
- Cultural starvation around grief
- When the griever is tasked with supporting other mourners
- Giving mourners permission to feel what they're feeling
- Releasing the expectation to "perform strength" while grieving
- Dave's oral Torah from the book of Job, the Psalms, and more on suffering, grief, and praise
- Dave's magical grief knapsack: Community, Lavender Essential Oil, Pen & Paper
About Dave Yedid:
He is a Rabbinical Intern at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah and studies at The Jewish Theological Seminary.
Watch Dave's Senior Sermon at the Jewish Theological Seminary
Watch Dave's Sermon on Mushrooms and Grief at CBST
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
The first episode of our "Grieve Outside the Box" Book Podcast series brings a conversation with Yoga Educator, Author, and Conduit, Gail Grossman. She shares how her yoga practice informed her experience in supporting her mother's passing from lung cancer.
In this episode we discuss:
- What is Anticipatory Grief?
- Being a caregiver for an ill loved one
- Denial during hospice
- Savasana aka Corpse Pose as a practice for death
- The womb of a yoga studio to process grief
- Adjusting your yoga practice to nurture yourself
- Gail's top Restorative Yoga Poses to process grief
- Her top tools: Lavender Essential Oil, Louise Hay Affirmation cards, Amethyst
About Gail:
Gail Grossman founded Om Sweet Om Yoga in Port Washington in 2004. In 2018 she was fortunate to have found new caretakers for the community, and Gail remains a teacher and trainer there. Gail has been sharing the gift of yoga since 2000. Her students describe her as a very nurturing teacher who can quietly touch every muscle in their physical and emotional body, which leaves them feeling relaxed, grounded and happy.
Sign up for her Free Summit Gathering "Cool People I've Met Along the Way" - Jan 12-14th
Sign up for her online Restorative Training
Buy her Book "Restorative Yoga For Life"
Resources:
Louise Hay's book "You Can Heal Your Life"
Power Thought Affirmation Cards by Louise Hay
About the "Grieve Outside the Box" Book Podcast series: Each week we cover the topics discussed chapter by chapter in Elena's A-Z guide for Embracing the Death Doula Within. Pre-sales for the book begin January 8th at elenabox.com
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
This nearly unpublished SOLO episode is a window into Elena's inner hypochondriac yogi monologue. She shares how the state of the world has propelled her into a loop of anxiety. You too? One minute she's at peace like a monk meditating in a mountain cave, the next a small twinge of pain sends her hurtling towards doomsday thinking. In a world where our news cycle is constantly convincing us we may be dying (even if you're not sick!) how can we stay relatively sane and in sync with our own health sovereignty?
Instead, could this pervading fear of death be an invitation for deeper soul excavation? What are we actually afraid of?
In lieu of optimistic New Years' resolutions, perhaps this is a time to make offerings at the altar of the dark mother. A time to seek solitude, introspection, and allowing past selves to die. A dreamtime-come-death-ritual. -- or maybe for you, it is sparkly dresses, champagne, and that midnight kiss! Ain't no shame!
This episode includes a 5 minute sound journey meditation at the end for you to tap into Elena's particular blend of soulful revelry.
Enjoy and may the odds be ever in your favor -- lol wtf. Love you <3
Show notes:
Edited by Elena's Virgo Sun
Written by Elena's Cancer Moon
Produced by Elena's Leo Rising
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Luke is a reiki healer, breathwork & yoga teacher, and organizer of Earth School at Maha Rose North. We chat about his book "Venus Juice: When I tried to live in LA"
Elena describes the feeling of reading Luke's book as a combination of Clueless, Lana del Rey, Børns, and @gabyherstik. A delightful journey about his time working at a juice shop in LA after moving there from Woodstock, NY.
Topics we discuss:
- Luke's writing process and bringing a telenovela/POP vibe to his book
- Finding your place in the world as a Spiritual Artist
- Working in service as a Creative & making writing a Practice
- Cultivating a discipline of BLISSIPLINE
- Sense Writing -- using the 5 senses to inform writing
- Alchemically transforming sadness
- Truth. Knowledge. Bliss -- the Lifeforce
- Being okay with not knowing
- Luke's top tools to get into his flow
- His current Muse: Salt, Acid, Fat, Heat
- Learning earth based self-sufficient practices
- Balancing social media with the "real world"
Resources:Follow Luke on IG: @lukesimon_mystic
Visit his website lukesimonmystic.com
Sign up for Earth School at Maha Rose North
Buy Luke's Book "VENUS JUICE"
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Jan shares how she came to Shamanism after living in a Christian Cult for 15 years.
We discuss:
- Jan's journey leaving the Cult after 15 years of abuse and soul loss
- How spirituality, therapy, and shamanism helped her through a mental health crisis
- Beginning her training with an Inuit Shaman who lived alone in the woods of Canada
- Her studies of world religions that inform her practices
- How to tune into your ancestral heritage to find your path
- The top tools she brings with her anywhere she goes to do her work
- Jan's daily practices and rituals to stay connected to the divine
- How Joy informs her work in Shamanism and its importance
About Jan Lucier of South Hadley, Massachusetts
Jan recently retired after working as a Registered Nurse for 30 years. In 2005 she became a Holistic Nurse and over her career has worked in a variety of settings: medical-surgical, detox, methadone clinics, psychiatry, case management, home care, pediatrics, community health, and as a nurse educator.
Jan is also a Certified Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner (CCAP), graduate of Health Rhythms therapeutic drumming programs, graduate of the Capacitar program, Reiki & Karuna Reiki Master Teacher, Mindfulness Meditation Instructor, Cherokee Bodywork Practitioner, & Integrative Medicine guest speaker and educator.
In 2016, Jan completed a 2-year Shamanic Teacher Training with Sandra Ingerman in Scotland. She is trained to teach classes and perform individual healing sessions in Death & Dying, Core Shamanism/Journeying, Medicine for the Earth, Extraction, Soul Retrieval, & Power Animal Retrieval. Jan also performs transformative Cowry Shell readings.
Jan is focusing on integrating shamanic healing practices with mental health conditions, facilitating day-long grief rituals, women's groups, drum circles, ceremonies, rituals, 1:1 healing sessions, and training shamanic apprentices at this time.
Work with Jan in South Hadley, Massachusetts (accessible by Amtrak!)
Windhorse Holistic Strategies -- https://healthwellnessprogramming.com/
ResourcesFind a Shamanic Teacher - Sandra Ingerman's Student Directory
Sandra Ingerman's Book "Soul Retrieval"
Shamanic Gear (drum building kits, rattles, etc) Tribal Spirit Music
Journeying Drumming Soundtracks by Sandra Ingerman
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
A two-hour episode, are you for real? Absolutely. Rachel Oliver is the original thunder from the land down under, hailing from Perth, and currently living in the States. She joins us from Paris in this episode where we chat about living a life out loud, orgasms, protecting your energy as a powerful woman, being the token naked friend, burial rituals, and more. She is one of the absolute funniest people I know (real or imaginary) and you'll be peeing in your pantalones along with us as you listen.
What are the fine things in life and how do we give ourselves permission to laugh the loudest and be the brightest boldest versions of ourselves?
Follow Rachel on IG at @rachelannoliver
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Musical Theater performer Kimberly Abrams joins the pod this week sharing her top tools for navigating tough times, how she found joy in permaculture farming when Broadway went dark in 2020, and her plans for an integrated acting studio of the future.
As a VIP member of the Dead Dad's Club, Kim shares how theater saved her life as a way to process the complex emotions that she felt ill-equipped to handle after his sudden passing.
We chat about the passing of a legend, Stephen Sondheim, and the film "Tick, Tick...Boom!"
Follow Kim on IG @kimabrams
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Sammy discusses coming out as a Gay man after being raised in a Pentecostal church by pastor parents, finding Joy through becoming a dancer, connecting to his path of sharing Joy as a fitness professional, and healing after the sudden passing of his father. He is the embodiment of resilience. Elena brought him on the show because, after all that he has been through, he manages to show up oozing with Joy in his work and life. A true master!
Follow Sammy:
@hashtagsammyt
Take a cycling class with Sammy:
https://ondemand.gritcycle.com/instructors/sammy
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
The Postmodern Oracle joins us on today's episode. Ilona Pamplona shares the clarity she received on connecting to spirit when a work abuse situation brought her into a dark night of the soul. We talk spooky signs from spirit (and our dead Dads) that remind us we are on track. Ilona shares how she stays in alignment and connects to joy -- plus her top tools she'd take with her on a deserted island to keep her mojo in the flow.
As a multi-lingual multi-faceted coach, she draws wisdom from astrology, oracle decks, color, human design, language, and more. This fascinating episode is full of value -- treat yourself!
Subscribe to Ilona's newsletter for tips and prompts to tap into the most aligned you.
Follow her on IG at @ilonapamplona
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
How do we soften our grip on versions of past selves? How do we allow our personal practice to shift, ebb, and flow as we ourselves change? Is it possible to invite kindness into strict practices? How about paving a way that feels nourishing to a self that craves to be held? Jai Chand, an artist, poet, musician, and teacher of movement is shifting from Kundalini into an aligned and channeled teaching presence. Jai, formerly known as Kat, soon to be known perhaps as someone new, shares her thoughts on making a life that holds a self that sees a new way. A way into becoming a person who can hold space for others and tend them in the same way she tends the earth of her farm on Kauai. With dedication, reverence, ease, and a large dose of joy.
Connect with Jai on IG @j_.eye._
Jai Chand on Spotify -- Album: Journey Home
Jai Chand + Grayson on Spotify -- Album: The Space Between
Buy Jai's Poetry Book: Through Time and Space
For aspirational psychonauts:
DoubleBlind Magazine
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Elena discusses the birthing of this podcast and her intention to cultivate conversations around moving through difficulty to embrace Joy. She speaks of the challenges she faced surrounding the passing of her father and what it means to move out of a long phase of hermit life and embrace this new 'coming out' by sharing herself openly. What does it mean to give yourself permission to share your gifts?
References:
Elena's Shamanic Practitioner Teacher, Jan Lucier: Windhorse Holistic Strategies
Death Doula Training by Sacred Crossings with Olivia Bareham @sacred_crossings
Book: Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Going with Grace Death Doula Trainer, Alua Arthur @going_with_grace
Dispelling Wetiko by Paul Levy -- new book publishing on Dec. 14 Wetiko: Healing the Mind-Virus That Plagues Our World
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
Opera Star Jordan Weatherston Pitts and host, Elena Box, discuss what it means to find joy in daily life. How to navigate back to joy after dwelling in the depths of despair. What Opera is most joyful? What coffee is most joyful?
Follow Jordan on Social Media at
@jordanwpitts
@tenorjordanpitts
@petty_yende_official
Or find him at jordanwpitts.com
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)
We consider what it means to connect to ancestry and whether we can choose our own Traditions when our lineages have run dry. How Mama Gaia can influence and guide our natural rhythms. We discuss what rituals, practices, and tools can bring one into a seasonal connection. Poetry, laughter, and reverence abide.
Morgan Rose is a poetic Seasonal Teacher specializing in yoga. Access her live yoga practices, teacher trainings, and more at morganroseyoga.com
Host, Elena Box, a shamanic death doula, and our guest Morgan Rose will be co-teaching a special Halloween Griefcation™ Rituals for the Season via ZOOM. Enroll via this link.
Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/elenabox)