Moonwise: Recent Episodes
Dorothee Sophie Royal
Moonwise podcast is a space to celebrate seasons, cycles and rites of passage. Join host Dorothée Sophie Royal for interviews about feminine wisdom, nature connection, motherhood, health and creativity. Our guests are wisdom carriers, artists, mothers and leaders who are nourishing life in big and subtle ways. Follow us on Instagram @moonwise.co and get show notes at moonwise.co.
In this episode of Moonwise, we talk with Sydney Blum about her experience of working with intuition and psychic gifts. We talk about the importance of energetic boundaries, intention setting and consent. She shares her own story of developing a code of ethics as a psychic medium as well as advice for people who want to engage more with their intuition in daily life.
We also talk about:
- Balancing intuition and intellect
- “Invisible” childhood friends
- Practical intention setting for busy parents
- Bringing magic into daily life
- Expanding our understanding of what’s possible
Sydney Blum is a nonprofit systems change leader who has embraced her calling as an intuitive guide, intergenerational clairvoyant, and intuition development mentor. Sydney has helped hundreds of people around the world through her intuitive readings, spiritual mediumship, and intuition development mentorship.
She holds a BA in Sociology at the University of Chicago and an MSc in Ecological Economics at University of Edinburgh. Sydney blends a lifetime of psychic-sensory attunement with 15 years of formal non-profit leadership experience, designing and scaling holistic community programs and innovative affordable housing solutions.
Sydney is the host of The Intuitively Aligned Podcast with Sydney Blum and The Intuitively Aligned Newsletter on Substack. Sydney and her husband, two children and their elder boxer dog live in Toronto, Canada which the traditional territories of many First Peoples, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.
Links:
- Website: sydneyblum.com
Substack: substack.com/@sydneyblum
Instagram: instagram.com/sydneyrebecc
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sydneyblum - Sydney is gifting the Moonwise community 15% OFF of her Deep Dive Intuitive Readings between now and the end of 2023. To access this gift please email Sydney directly at sydneyblum@gmail.com subject line "MOONWISE PROMO" for booking link and payment details.
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In this episode of Moonwise, Ama Boakye joins us from Ghana to share an urgent message from the trees. We talk about the possibility of collaborating with nature and the ancestors to create more wellbeing in our world. We discuss the difference between following your heart versus following the voice of intuition that leads to true growth. We also dive into Ama’s unique story, from being raised in Belgium to traveling the world and awakening to a spiritual way of being.
We also talk about:
- The effects of artificial light on our health
- The role of grandmother and grandfather trees
- How to open communication with the ancestors
- Listening to nature
- Trust and taking the unknown path
Ama Boakye is a joyful woman who loves the wonders of life and the teachings of nature. She was born and raised in Belgium and has lived in different countries in South America. Ama is based in Ghana now and she is creating a multifunctional community center within nature, where the local and global community can come together in unity, heal, create and learn. She especially wants it to become a safe space for the local youth.
Ama supports people in different ways in their personal and spiritual growth. In these changing times, her passion is to support people who have an idea, dream or project that they want to bring in the world but are still holding off for one reason or the other. Ama is an aura reader, intuitive coach, inner child healing and breathwork facilitator, group ritual facilitator, and she does cowry shell sessions for individuals, couples and groups.
Ama likes learning from her ancestors in the spirit realm and tuning in with nature spirits. She loves to witness transformation in people, especially when people start to live more in their strength and talents and closer to their spirit. She also likes to write and listen to peoples’ life stories.
Links:
- AmaBoakye.com
- Under the Baobab Tree (Podcast)
- @amaboakye (Instagram)
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@sungyata (Instagram)
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Donate to Sungyata Community Center
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In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Megan DeBoer about financial wellness and how we can reimagine our relationship with wealth and money. We talk about why money is often linked with self worth and intergenerational trauma and why women in particular struggle with empowerment around wealth. She shares her unique approach of guiding folks into a healthy emotional relationship with money through curiosity, compassion and intention.
We also talk about:
- How money can be tied to core wounds
- Avoidance/obsessive patterns with money
- Historical context of women, power and money
- Internal vs. external signifiers of wealth
- Learning to be ok with earning and receiving
- Infusing financial choices with reverence
Megan deBoer, founder of Tended Wealth, is a wealth doula in every sense of the term. She defines wealth as a multifaceted state of abundance in relationships, health, community, environment, and—of course—finances. Megan is a skillful tender of the relationship between inner shifts and outer results, using money as an entry point into full-spectrum wealth and reinfusing the word with its etymology of well-being. Through her background as a literal birth doula and a certified Financial Recovery Counselor, Megan is equipped to transform her clients’ finances from states of potential into breathable, harmonious financial realities. While she currently specializes in empowering self-employed individuals to radically increase their earnings, her voice also plays a vital role in the greater movement of our cultural narrative around money. Megan knows that money is only one energy and currency in our world—albeit a powerful one—and undertakes the joyful work of untangling dialogues of scarcity and fear in order to reweave them into new narratives of possibility, integration, and evolution.
Links:
- THRIVE: Get 15% off Megan’s online course to invite financial wellbeing and emotional peace with code MOONWISE23 (this is an affiliate link, we are honored to create mutual support for businesses we believe in)
- @tendedwealth (Instagram)
- An Offering (Substack)
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"We spend so much time in the human mind worrying about what we don't want. We're so good at that. But what are you here for? What kind of life do you want to create?" - Krishna Avalon
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Krishna Avalon about healing subconscious beliefs. She shares her experience of why she added Psych-K work to her healing practice after years of doing acupuncture. We talk about tools for moving on from old stories, learning to ask the right questions about what you really want and how subconscious beliefs can impact our health, happiness, finances and relationships.
We also talk about:
- How neuroplasticity works
- Understanding which programs you are running
- The hidden frequency we share with the world
- Why the stories, music and media you consume matters
Krishna is a licensed acupuncturist, certified holistic health coach, psych-k facilitator, pranayama breathwork guide, and somatic practitioner who has guided over 26k patients and clients to their health and wellness goals for the last 20 yrs. She currently specializes in subconscious transformation and the nervous system.
Links:
- krishnaavalon.com
- @krishnaavalon
- linkedin.com/in/krishnaavalon
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"Mistakes are portals to freedom." - Erin Chalfant
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Erin Chalfant about navigating the borderlands of our lives by working with the elements. She shares her insights about the Celtic wheel of the year, how to fail gracefully and connect more deeply with inner knowing.
We also talk about:
- Overcoming perfectionism
- Grace and surrender
- Navigating the mists of inbetween times
- Learning to ask for help
- How the elements weave into our modern life
- Initiation in the Avalonian tradition
- Connecting with intuition and our internal compass
- Embracing the wild unknown and surprising ourselves
Erin Chalfant, MA, MFA is an Author, Educator, and is pursuing a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology. She is rooted in Indigenous Earth-Based Wisdom Practices, Hatha Yoga, Hakomi (Mindfulness-based Somatic Psychotherapy), Buddhist Meditation.
She has worked with women in re-storying their relationships with their bodies through an understanding of nature, been trained in Zen Hospice Care, and also works with at-risk youth and teens in mind-body techniques for recovering after trauma.
She is currently accepting clients of all ages and backgrounds who are navigating big life transitions and wanting to find purpose and fullness in their pursuits. She is adept in integration work for plant medicine experiences and also creates powerful ceremonial and sacred spaces for deep work. Check out The Crossroads Mentoring Series for more details on current offerings.
She completed her first book, The Other Side of the River: Stories of Women, Water and the World, under the pen name of Eila Kundrie Carrico in 2015 (Womancraft Publishing), and continues to work on forthcoming projects focused on Wilderness and Rites of Passage and engaged activism for the mutual thriving of people and the planet.
Erin is offering a discounted first one-hour session of $90 for Moonwise listeners (reg. $144)
Links:
- Dawnofthewild.com
- @erinkundrie
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"Birth is a transformational event, it's a rite of passage, it's an initiation. It is an event that is meant to change you. And it's meant to bring you to the very edge."
In this episode of Moonwise, host Dorothee Sophie Royal shares her thoughts about the transformative portal of birth and the keys that made her second postpartum a joyful experience.
She touches on:
- Learning to care for our bodies as a part of Mother Earth
- Connecting with the goddess in birth
- A bit of her own birth story in the water
- Envisioning your most empowered birth
- Plans, gear and herbs that helped in postpartum
Dorothee Sophie Royal is a writer and media producer, focusing on feminine wisdom, nature connection and motherhood. She is the founder of Moonwise.co which produces a weekly magazine and monthly podcast. She is the author of Rooted, a pregnancy journal honoring the inward path to motherhood. She lives in Portland, Oregon with husband, son and daughter.
Links:
- Moonwise Magazine
- Rooted Pregnancy Journal
- Wild Feminine by Tami Lynn Kent
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“When a woman decides she has had enough of living by anyone else’s rules but her own, she usually decides to change her life.” - Jessie Harrold
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with coach, women’s mentor and doula Jessie Harrold about supporting women through radical life transformations. We discuss her approach to rites of passage as identity shift and why she feels we’re collectively being called toward transformation. We talk about reconnection with our authenticity and reclaiming parts of ourselves that were framed as “too much.” Jessie shares her 4-element model of radical transformation and why a framework for navigating these shifts is so helpful.
We also talk about:
- The lack of research in Western culture about rites of passage
- Why the shift to motherhood is so profound for many women
- How capitalism conditions us to believe mother is a demotion
- The importance of rewilding and connecting to the earth
- Core competencies we gain through a rite of passage
- Mothering as a counter-cultural act
Jessie Harrold is a coach, women's mentor and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over a decade. Jessie works one-on-one with women and mothers, facilitates mentorship programs, women’s circles and rituals, and hosts retreats and wilderness quests. Jessie is also the author of "Project Body Love: my quest to love my body and the surprising truth I found instead,” as well as the forthcoming title, “Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage.” Jessie’s work has been featured in Spirituality & Health, Green Parent, Expectful and Explore Magazine. She is also the host of The Becoming Podcast. Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada where she mothers her two children, writes, and tends to her land.
Links:
- JessieHarrold.com
- Instagram: @jessie.es.harrold
- Four Elements of Radical Transformation Quiz
- Chrysalis
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In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with herbalist and holistic wellness facilitator Tamu Mosley about the spiritual significance of perimenopause. We discuss her experience of hosting a women’s womb circle for those going through this transition and some of the common symptoms and themes that have come up. We talk about reframing the menopause process as a potent opportunity to step into our power and how she embraced her own grey hair. Tamu shares her personal insights and tips for self care in perimenopause, including herbal allies and practices that have been supportive on the journey.
We also talk about:
- Mourning the end of the child bearing years
- Honoring your last moon blood
- Stepping back from habits of care-taking
- The importance of sharing our stories in community
- Unapologetically sharing our gifts with the world
Tamu Mosley is an Oakland born mama of 3, a teacher, a wholistic wellness facilitator, a kitchen alchemist, a home herbalist & herbal maker, and a budding flower essence practitioner. Tamu is founder and CEO of Wholistic Shine (established in 2014) and Uchū Botanical (established in 2018). She is deeply nourished by a consistent self care practice cultivated over the past 27 years that includes preparing healthy plant based meals, natural skin care & herbal remedies in her ‘kitchen healing laboratory’, seasonal wholistic detoxes, yoga, connecting with nature and working with flower essences.
Tamu is passionate about a wholistic approach to eating and living by bringing more mindfulness and intention to daily choices along with cultivating wellness practices that support mind, body and spirit. She is honored and humbled to support others on their wellness journey by inspiring, educating and empowering them through her Wholistic Shine and Uchū Botanical offerings.
SPECIAL OFFER:
Mention moonwise and receive $5 off purchase of Uchū Botanical WISDOM BODY Pink Magnolia/Rose Quartz Essence (email wholisticshine@gmail.com to purchase)
Links:
- IG @wholistic_shine and @uchubotanical
- Wholisticshine.com
- Women's Wisdom from the Heart of Africa by Sobonfu Somé
- Menopausal Years: The Wise Woman Way by Susun Weed
- 13 Moons: Harnessing Every Day Magic in Practical Ways - Monique Ruffin
- Wild Omen Oils
- Woman of Wisdom Formula from Desert Essence
- WISDOM BODY Pink Magnolia/ Rose Quartz Essence from Uchu Botanical
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In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with diviner Gregory Meredith about the magic of runes. We discuss runes as living beings and why a good question can spark healing and transformation. He shares his story of reconnecting with ancestral knowledge and how the runes came to him. He shares insights about fatherhood, magic and respecting the role of the feminine and our nonhuman kin.
We also talk about:
- Prioritizing experiential knowledge
- Reframing the rune origin story of Odin
- Ancestral terror and persecution of divinatory arts
- Dismantling human and white supremacy in European lineages
- The birth of a new story for humanity
Links:
- Rune Journey with Gregory
- Handmade Rune Sets
—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
—> Get access to bonus content, seasonal herb guides, meditations and more by joining our community on Patreon: patreon.com/moonwise
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with author, doula and spiritual mentor Kelly Van Zandt about the transformative power of the postpartum time. She shares her insights about new motherhood as a unique opportunity for growth and how this often looks and feels like an unraveling of the self.
“You are allowed to take down your facade to make space for your full potential.” - Kelly Van Zandt
We talk about:
- Meeting ourselves with compassion
- The complexity of feeling loss, grief and joy at the same
- The big shift from the external to the internal world
- The true length of the postpartum process
- The leadership skills and wisdom gleaned from motherhood
Links:
- PowerfulPostpartum.com
- Get 15% off a digital copy of Powerful Postpartum with code: MOON15
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“The warrior of light, the warrior for love, they’re not the ones who have the swords out battling people. They’re the ones who stand rooted for what’s right and true. That’s what the warrior feels like for me. It’s standing in integrity, standing for truth, standing for life, standing for love and being a mountain, really...unshakeable.”
— Natalie Zacharias
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with healing practitioner Natalie Zacharias about embracing our inner warrior and staying calm in chaos. She shares her experience with energetic discernment, healthy boundaries and stepping into personal sovereignty especially in confusing and troubled times.
We also talk about:
- Overcoming childhood programming
- Working with collective grief
- The difference between intuition and fear
- Our true creative potential as humans
- Continuing to choose life on our path
Links:
- TendingYourSpirit.com
- Sacred Discernment Training and Ceremonial Gathering
—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
“Your joy matters, it's the greatest strength you have.” - Woman Stands Shining
In this episode of Moonwise, I speak with Diné grandmother, activist, artist, and ceremonial leader Woman Stands Shining about joy as strength and remembering our role as women in the sacred hoop of life.
Woman Stands Shining is a voice for global peace, and her paintings are created as tools for individual, earth, and global healing. She has presented at numerous conferences, events, and indigenous gatherings around the world. She lives in Taos, New Mexico, and hopes all peoples of the earth "can learn from Indigenous experience and re-member themselves and their own birth-right relationship with Mother Earth." Woman Stands Shining draws upon the deep Indigenous sciences of thriving life to reframe inquiries about sustainability and balance, and she is devoted to supporting the next generations, the “Women’s Nation” and the “Men’s Nation” in being functional members of the “Hoop of Life" and upholding the honor of being human.
In our conversation, she talks about women's role as visionaries for the community and her powerful experience in the moon lodge. She reminds us that in this time of great transition as a species, we need to listen to the women because they are built to give and receive instructions from Mother Earth about how to be on the planet now. She says, "we need the feminine language again." She urges women to express themselves, "the way you think is needed, your language that's not linear is needed, your emotional content is needed."
She also affirms that the role of woman as spiritual conduit transcends cultural differences. She says, "I've put women of every race in moon lodge and the same thing happens to them every single time."
We also talk about:
- Joy as a compass for life
- A woman's body as a spirit gateway
- Navigating the dark night of the soul
- The non-linear nature of the feminine language
- How the European witch hunts are connected to the suppression of indigenous peoples
- Being a translator of indigenous culture to the modern world
Links:
- Woman Stands Shining website
"Love is present in all spaces where things grow." - Susan Lipshutz
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with sacred feminine activist Susan Lipshutz, LCSW about the magic of mentorship. Susan shares her experience with finding mentors in her life and we talk about our own relationship over more than ten years of working together. We discuss vulnerability and alchemy in mentorship relationships and the importance of healthy boundaries and reciprocity. Susan also offers advice for those seeking mentorship in their lives.
We also talk about:
- The difference between a mentor and a teacher
- The importance of intergenerational friendships
- Being seen by another before you fully see yourself
- Seeking a mentor vs. a mentor finding you
- Intimacy and respectful exchange
- Listening to your intuition
- Getting out of your comfort zone
Susan Lipshutz, LCSW is a sacred feminine activist with more than 30 years of experience teaching and practicing integrative psychotherapy. Devoted to building strong communities that reawaken and integrate the divine feminine into daily life, Susan combines the ancient wisdom of our grandmothers with her own powerful teachings attuned to the complexities of modern life. She’s the founder ofEveryday Medicine Woman, offering workshops, meditation courses and retreats around the world.
Links:
- Everyday Medicine Woman
- Rooted pregnancy journal
—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
"How we welcome babies has the impact of changing the entire world." - Sarah Dickey
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with soul doula and childbirth educator Sarah Dickey about holding space for transformation. We talk about how our birth story influences the way we meet life and how we can hold ourselves in difficult moments. Sarah shares her insights about conscious conception, somatic memory and reparenting ourselves.
We also talk about:
- Working with preconception energy and intentions
- Dreaming and collaborating with spirit
- Heart-centered hypnosis
- Calm Birth meditation practice
Sarah Dickey is a transpersonal coach, heart-centered hypnotist, published author, and APPPAH childbirth educator with a particular focus on prenatal and perinatal psychology.
Links:
- Sarah Dickey
- Rooted pregnancy journal
—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
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"Highly sensitive people need a little bit more time to adjust to changes and new experiences because we are processing so much information at any given time." - Anna King
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with clinical social worker and perinatal mental health specialist Anna King about parenting as a highly sensitive person. We talk about the characteristics of this evolutionary trait and some of the gifts and challenges that it presents.
Anna shares tips for dealing with overstimulation and how to support HSPs so that they can thrive in parenthood. She also shares her unique insights about why HSPs are at a higher risk for postpartum depression and anxiety and some of systemic and cultural barriers for understanding this trait within communities of color.
We also talk about:
- HSPs and altered states of consciousness
- Inequity in maternal mental health
- The myth of the “strong black woman”
- Expanding our concept about what it means to be a parent
Anna King, LCSW, PMH-C, (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker and certified perinatal mental health specialist who uses an integrative, trauma-informed approach in her work grounded in reproductive and transformative justice.
Anna serves as Clinical Training Specialist at Maternal Mental Health NOW, where she curates training events and curriculum and facilitates live and pre-recorded training to educate providers on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Prior to joining the MMH-NOW team, she served as a full-time social worker in the emergency department and eventually found her home when she transitioned to serving a birth center and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Throughout her experiences, Anna has realized the significant barriers to care for birthing people, especially for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), and queer, trans, and gender diverse individuals and families. Her work centers on the embodied liberation of marginalized groups in reproductive spaces.
She is also currently a part-time psychotherapist with ARC Counseling and Wellness and a third-year Ph.D. student in the Integral and Transpersonal Psychology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Her research interests include spiritual activism, the highly sensitive person (HSP) trait, birth and postpartum tradition, and the transition to parenthood as a rite of passage.
Links:
- Maternal Mental Health NOW
- ARC Counseling and Wellness
- The Highly Sensitive Parent
- Rooted pregnancy journal
—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
“Our creative power [as mothers] is often downplayed because it is so overwhelming, mysterious and it can be so intimidating. We are the beings that stand at the gates of life and death and bring a soul through into our 3D world. If that’s not a powerful role, I don’t know what is.” - Dorothee Sophie Royal
In this episode of Moonwise, host Dorothee Sophie Royal talks about honoring the inward path to motherhood. She speaks about her new pregnancy journal called Rooted and what inspired her to create it. She shares her own experience with pregnancy, including difficulties in the transition from maiden to mother. She talks about her experience of creative power and what motherhood has taught her about boundaries, people pleasing and productivity.
We also talk about:
- Facing shadows during pregnancy
- Cultivating intimacy and self compassion
- The power of intergenerational relationships
- Calling in support in a time of isolation
- Lessons taught by morning sickness
- The myth of self care
- Gratitude for people who are not parents
Dorothee Sophie Royal is a writer and media producer, focusing on feminine wisdom, nature connection and motherhood. She is the founder of Moonwise.co and host of the monthly Moonwise podcast. Her new publication Rooted is a pregnancy journal honoring the inward path to motherhood. Dorothee lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and son.
Links:
-
Rooted pregnancy journal
-
Moonwise Patreon
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"I think a lot of our problems with our health, when it comes to women, is how we're valued or not valued in our communities."
— Nicolle L. Gonzalez
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Diné nurse and midwife Nicolle L. Gonzales about her mission to make birth sacred again. We talk about birth equity, trauma and weaving traditional practices with medical care. Nicolle shares her experience of growing up with ceremony, birthing her own children, the challenges of leadership and carving her own path to promote reproductive wellness and community care.
We also talk about:
- Systemic racism and inequity in maternal care
- Engaging a community in preparing for birth
- The benefits of culturally appropriate care
- The challenges of work/life balance as a midwife
- Speaking up and self worth as a woman
- The importance of sharing women’s joy
Nicolle L. Gonzales is the Founder of Changing Woman Initiative whose non-profit mission is to “renew cultural birth knowledge to empower and reclaim indigenous sovereignty of women’s medicine and life way teachings to promote reproductive wellness, healing through holistic approaches.”
She received her Bachelor’s of Nursing and her Masters of Nurse-Midwifery at the University of New Mexico. She is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives and is certified with the American Midwifery Certification Board. She has over 12 years’ experience as a nurse and has worked as a Nurse-Midwife doing full-scope midwifery for the last 10 years.
Links:
- Changing Woman Initiative
- Rooted pregnancy journal
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"Women are the original creators of life. We’re the ones who are able to turn spirit into matter with our bodies.” - Rachael Jean
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with midwife and educator Rachael Jean about honoring pregnancy and birth as a sacred rite of passage. We talk about the wild feminine, parenting as a path of mastery and the missing piece of self care for moms. Ashley shares her experience of working with the five elements to support new mothers with creativity, empowerment and healing.
We also talk about:
- The shadow work of motherhood
- Shame, grief and death
- Ancestral healing
- Embracing the mystery
Rachael is the creatrix of the Elemental Birth Rites course journey and has been nurturing and caring for the seeds of this project for several years. Having come to midwifery with a background in Alternative Healing through her study of massage therapy, sound healing, herbal medicine, and many other modalities, she always felt a deep call to fuse these passions.
She witnessed many homebirth scenarios where women were left traumatized or let down by how their birth stories transpired. She felt a powerful need to honor the holistic experience of birth by addressing issues beyond the physical reality that had shown to play out and contribute to challenging births. She created a synthesis based on her personal study of ancestral healing, transpersonal psychology, and earth based spirituality that became the basis of the Elemental Birth Rites course journey.
Links:
- Elemental Birth Rites
- Rooted pregnancy journal
—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
"We are all artists. We are the artist of our life. Each life is a masterpiece." - Ashley River Brant
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with multidimensional artist, author and feminine wisdom teacher Ashley River Brant about bringing creative dreams to life. We talk about trust, creative courage and weaving ritual into daily routine. Ashley shares her practices and experience of creating structure for wild creativity to flourish.
We also talk about:
- The process of birthing a book
- Shadow work as fuel for creation
- Overcoming the fear of being seen
- Balancing ease and effort, action and receptivity
- Rest and sacred timing
Ashley River Brant is a multidimensional artist, author, Earth-Spirit medium, and teacher of feminine wisdom. Her creative work is a visual dedication to a path of liberation, pleasure, nurturance, and beauty. Through her art and teachings, her intention is to pave a path home to the sacred, assisting us all in returning to our creative nature, and remembering the innate wisdom, magic, and love that lives within ourselves, each other, and all around.
Her first book, “Tending to the Sacred: Rituals to Connect with Earth, Spirit, and Self” (Sounds True) releases on June 8th, 2021.
Links:
- AshleyRiverBrant.love
- Tending to the Sacred
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"We as a culture are not necessarily skilled in the deathing and dying process, nor are we aptly prepared for it." - Anne Murphy
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with ceremonialist and death educator Anne Murphy about navigating the sacred wilderness of grief. We talk about aging and eldership, moving through loss and creating ceremonies that deepen community wellness.
We also talk about:
- The importance of initiation rites
- Honoring our elders
- Ancestral healing
- Why death is invisible in our culture
- Death as a wake up call to life
Anne Murphy is a ceremonialist, death educator, home vigil guide and community organizer in the death movement. She brings strength, beauty and balance to support people with a heart-centered approach to death care.
Links:
- Athousandhands.com
- Grief is Learned
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—> Join us on Patreon and get access to bonus content, seasonal herb guides, meditations and more.
"Impeccable listening is the roadmap of paying close attention.” — Queen Afua
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Queen Afua about intuition and healing through impeccable listening. We talk about listening to the voice of your womb and learning to trust spirit. Queen Afua shares her tips for longevity, immune boosting practices and how to turn your home into a wellness retreat.
We also talk about:
- Trusting spirit
- Healing with plants
- Turning your home into a retreat center
- The meaning of the Ankh
- The rise of the feminine
Queen Afua is a Master Holistic Healer and Herbalist, Polarity Practitioner, and lay midwife. She is the author of seven best-selling wellness books, including the popular book SACRED WOMAN which comes out this month in a 20th Anniversary Edition. Queen Afua is the Mother of Womb Wellness Movement and is founder of Womb Yoga Dance. Among her many celebrity clients are Erykah Badu, Vanessa Williams, Stevie Wonder, Lauren London, India Arie, and Common.
Links:
- QueenAfua.com
- Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit
Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!
Follow Moonwise on Instagram: @moonwise.co
“Flowers are a reminder of what you can do to be kind to yourself and what you can do to be more present.” - Heather McKittrick
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Heather McKittrick about healing with flowers. We talk about going beyond traditional talk therapy with nature connection, presence and creativity. We discuss the magic of flowers and why they show up during major life transitions. Heather shares her tips for bringing more joy into our lives and leads a beautiful 7-minute guided floral meditation.
We also talk about:
- Plant allies
- The power of setting intentions
- Healing anxiety, depression and PTSD
Heather McKittrick, LPC, CADC-I, LMHC, SUDP is a licensed mental health therapist and certified substance use disorder counselor since 2017. She is the founder and creator of Floral Healing Therapy, which combines floral arranging with talk therapy. Clients arrange flowers in counseling to heal from depression, anxiety, stress and trauma.
Links:
- Floral Healing Therapy
- 25 Coping Skills for Anxiety
Enjoy the show? Get access to bonus content, seasonal herb guides, meditations and more by joining our community on Patreon: www.patreon.com/moonwise. Thank you for your support!
“Every single person’s voice is a blueprint...our voices are each unique.”
— SOPHIE COOPER
In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Sophie Cooper about finding your sacred sound. We talk about the voice as a bridge and how singing can be a healing practice. We discuss reverence for tending to a song and the way sound connects to the unseen. Sophie also shares her tips for beginners and those wishing to activate their own voice.
We also talk about:
- Vulnerability
- Ancestral songs
- Humming for stress relief
- Sounding without judgement
- The connection of songs and seeds
Sophie Cooper is a song carrier, songwriter, artist, mother and life-long student of personal healing and collective transformation. As a voice coach, she brings together more than a decade of dedication to a ceremonial path, the tools gathered from numerous sound and voice teachers and over 10 years of somatic experience as a Qigong practitioner.
Sophie founded Voice Alchemy in 2016 to support embodied healing and vocal empowerment through voice lessons, singing workshops and group singing circles. You can listen to Sophie's original album of music ‘Rewilding’ on Bandcamp, iTunes, & Spotify.
She says, “I want to express my gratitude to all the indigenous teachers, elders and communities I have had the incredible honor to spend time with and learn from. I have received such help in my personal healing from these relationships. It feels important to me to acknowledge the dedication of indigenous peoples to keep the ancient ways alive even with the ongoing violence and imposition of European Colonialism. As a descendent of European settlers and immigrants on Turtle Island, it is my hope to be a good ally and do my humble part to participate in the healing and repair that is being called for at this time. May my voice be used in service of this intention.”
Links:
- voicealchemy.com
- rewilding.bandcamp.com
- Sophie Cooper on Spotify
"How are you dancing through your day?” - Heather Fraelick
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Heather Fraelick about embodiment and the art of dancing through life.
Heather Fraelick began her professional life as a dancer. Throughout her career, she experienced several dance related injuries that left her unable to perform. As a result, she decided to learn about healing and attend massage therapy school. The experience changed her life, and she chose to dedicate her career to the service of helping others heal.
Now with over 15 years of massage therapy experience and over two decades of professional dance and movement education experience, she brings forth an intuitive blend of bodywork modalities to tailor each session to meet her clients' individual needs. Many of Heather's clients are world renowned dancers, musicians, actors and circus performers. She also works with a number of physicians, nurses, and office workers; many who are experiencing chronic pain and injuries. Her latest venture is completing her 200 hour yoga teacher training and is enjoying sharing her love of yoga with others in group workshops and private sessions.
We talk about reconnecting with the childlike joy of movement. We discuss the connection between emotions and physical symptoms and how a healing crisis can be a wake up call. Heather speaks about her journey from professional dancer to licensed bodyworker and yoga teacher. She shares some simple practices you can do at home to transition out of a ‘fight or flight’ response and into ‘rest and digest’ mode. She says, “when you’re connected with yourself, I don’t think anything can really stop you.”
We also talk about:
Working with the body as a friend and ally
Unlocking memories in the body
Dealing with pain and loneliness
The power of touch and positive self talk
Finding creative ways to move during quarantine
"We’re invited to broaden our perspective, we have an opportunity to make an evolutionary shift.” - Michelle Coleman
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Michelle Coleman about connecting with Spirit and the Ancestors.
An ordained Earth-Based Interfaith Minister, Spiritual Advisor, Aborisha and Intuitive Reader, Michelle Coleman is a natural born healer, leader and nurturer tasked with helping the world remember how to live in healing love. Guided by her own spiritual connections, Michelle believes we'll never feel enough in this world without being in relationship with Spirit.
We talk about broadening our perspective through the Akashic records, decolonizing spirituality and love as a guiding star. We discuss humanity’s power of free will and how we can open to our infinite possibilities as a collective. Michelle also shares her tips for nurturing a relationship with the ancestors and engaging with spirit in everyday life.
We also talk about:
The power of choice
Releasing ancestral pain
Praying with the elements
Engaging with our personal legacy
"There’s no one way to communicate with nature, it’s all right, it’s all supreme.” - Joanna Ameya Cohen
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Joanne Ameya Cohen about working with the healing power of flower essences.
Joanne Ameya Cohen is the Founder of the Woman Rising Mystery School. She is dedicated to supporting womxn remember and reclaim their embodied essence, guided by the Earth, Sun, Venus, and Moon. Through Ameya’s extensive training in the Mystical Arts of Shamanic Studies, Flower Essences, Moon Wisdom, and her Priestess Path, she expertly guides women to activate their Soul coding and awaken the grace of the Great Mystery that resides within. Ameya lives in Southern California with her partner and son.
“We do have an innate connection with the natural world,” says Ameya. We talk about connecting with the spirit of plants, opening our five senses and bringing our full presence to nature. We also discuss awakening to the priestess path, motherhood in the time of a pandemic and the transformative power of asking great questions. She explains, “when we ask great questions, that’s when our reality starts to change.“
We also talk about:
Learning to trust ourselves
Attuning to a plant or tree
Sitting in reciprocity with nature
"Don’t underestimate the power of an herbal tea.” - Erin Lovell Verinder
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with herbalist and healer Erin Lovell Verinder about plant medicine for our current time. We talk about the power of local weeds, the art of foraging and wildcrafting in a respectful way.
“This is plant medicine’s time to shine,” says Erin. We discuss nature connection and herbs known to support lungs and the immune system. She explains, “plants are earth’s wisdom keepers.” We also talk about the importance of rest and Erin’s experience with treating the epidemic of burnout. She says, “Plants are our past. Plants are our future. We are diminished if we can’t celebrate plants, properly understand their powers and harness their energy to heal ourselves.”
We also talk about:
Medicine sovereignty
Plants as ancestors
Weaving herbs into daily life
The wisdom of our bodies
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with homemaking mentor Alice Engelstad about the practical and spiritual art of tending your nest. We dive into strategies for building inner stability, creating harmony in the home and having the courage to go deep into our belief systems so that we can heal and change.
“Our home is really a womb,” says Alice. We talk about decluttering as a doorway to increased creativity and how objects and spaces hold energy. She asks, “do our homes hold our stuff or do our homes hold our family members?” We discuss the role of rhythm in family life and how to create meaningful pauses in our day. We talk about the importance of self-compassion and being gentle with our own self talk. Alice emphasizes humor, levity and flexibility in the process of creating your own sanctuary.
We also talk about:
Organizing as a practice of inner connection
Objects as an avatar of some aspect of ourselves
Perfectionism vs. self compassion
Approaching daily tasks with care and reverence
The nest as a container for growth
"Loneliness is a teacher in this time of the ways we’ve gotten away from each other, the ways we’ve gotten away from belonging, the ways we’ve gotten away from ourselves.” - Becca Piastrelli
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with writer and coach Becca Piastrelli about healing loneliness through connection.
Becca Piastrelli is a writer, coach, and host of the Belonging podcast. She holds space for womxn to explore ancestral wisdom, connect with the earth, and find meaningful and inclusive sisterhood. In the age of loneliness, Becca shows us how to feel like we truly belong - to each other, to the earth, to a lineage, and to ourselves.
“This is not working. There are symptoms showing us this is not working…So maybe the pain now is so severe that we can say, alright what’s on the other side of this? So we can vision something different,” says Becca. We dive into her insights about the history of loneliness, as well her experience reconnecting with ancestors, celebrating the seasons and learning to ask for help. She talks about making space for ritual and how to start recreating the village. We also discuss pregnancy and parenting amid a global pandemic.
We also talk about:
Whiteness and Connecting with European Ancestors
The Story of Sacrifice in Motherhood
Creating Meaning as a Collective
"Each and every one of us is meant to be here. None of us is a mistake.” - Lyla June Johnston
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with indigenous scholar and community organizer Lyla June Johnston about leadership, service and humanity’s reciprocal role with nature.
Lyla June is an Indigenous environmental scientist, doctoral student, educator, community organizer and musician of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages from Taos, NM. Her dynamic, multi-genre performance and speech style has invigorated and inspired audiences across the globe towards personal, collective and ecological healing. Her messages focus on the climate crisis, Indigenous rights, supporting youth, inter-cultural healing, historical trauma and traditional land stewardship practices.
“It’s really not that humans are supposed to disappear and the land will be healthy. The land actually needs our touch, it needs our presence,” says Lyla. We discuss how numerous traditional cultures have worked with the land as an integral part of the food web. She talks about human beings as a keystone species and how indigenous science can inform our path forward. We also dive into her insights about leadership in uncertain times and her recent experience running for office. She explains, “sovereignty is no just being able to feed yourself, but being able to lead yourself.”
We also talk about:
Indigenous Science
Food Sovereignty
Peak Oil
Biodiversity
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with healer and coach Natalie Zacharias about boundaries, intuition and protecting our energetic bodies in turbulent times.
Natalie started her healing journey at a young age when she was introduced to different energy practitioners and spiritual healers. She was 12 years old when she was first introduced to energetic healing through Reiki practitioners and Curanderos from Mexico. Natalie graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology in 2008 and after spending 6 years working in the corporate world, she decided to pursue a Master’s in Psychology. She was specifically looking for the ways in which Psychology and Spirituality intersect and integrate. This led her to pursue her Master’s at the California Institute of Integral Studies where she completed her degree in Integral Counseling Psychology in 2017. Natalie is a certified Emotion Code practitioner who is passionate about healing, helping people reconnect with their true essence, learning and giving gratitude for the gift of life.
“In choosing sovereignty, I can play a role in changing what’s happening around me,” says Natalie. We discuss how to stay grounded in chaotic spaces (like staying centered at the grocery stores these days!) We talk about daily cleansing practices and tools for raising your frequency. We talk about triggers and having compassion for ourselves as we explore our wounds and shadows. We touch on leaning into support from elements, nature spirits and ancestors.
We also talk about:
Releasing shame around being a spiritual person
How to release stuck energy
Entities and conflict
Connecting with the Earth wherever you are
How to make a cleansing herbal bath
Learn about listening to the bees with author and natural beekeeper Jacqueline Freeman. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with author Jacqueline Freeman about listening to the wisdom of bees. We talk about reverence and how she came to learn about natural beekeeping from the hive itself.
Jacqueline Freeman is a biodynamic farmer and natural beekeeper who wrote the popular book Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World. She and her husband Joseph moved onto their biodynamic farm in southwest Washington in 2001 and she got her first hives soon after. Jacqueline attended conventional bee school and immediately knew there must be a different way to care for bees that is more respectful, more compassionate, more like the way feral bees live. A few years later she began teaching this bee-centric approach in her classes.
We discuss how the bees sense of unity has influenced Jacqueline’s own human relationships, including her marriage and approach to housework. We talk about bee songs, the magic of pollination, birth as a ritual and how bees approach the death process.
We also talk about: A bee’s understanding of unity Bee mating rituals Listening to intuition Sacrifice and service
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Rebekah Erev about loving yourself as an act of liberation. We talk about presence, finding the sacred in the mundane and working with unseen realms.
Rebekah Erev is an ordained kohenet (Hebrew priestess), feminist, queer, artist, intuitive, healer, lover, creativity coach and teacher. She lives on the Salish Sea in Olympia, WA., the original village of the Steh-chass people. In her work, she collaborates with unseen and seen beings to make art and ritual with the intention to recover and liberate the earth. She offers intuitive readings and workshops to help people manifest their most true expressions, listening to the wisdom of their bodies. She also makes objects like her beautiful Moon Angels card deck.
We talk about self exploration, commitment, and love. We discuss the importance of getting to know yourself in a culture that teaches us to reach externally for happiness and validation. We explore the concept of self partnership and Rebekah’s experience of creating a marriage ritual for herself. We also touch on queer identity, belonging and Rebekah’s path as a Hebrew priestess
We also talk about:
Imaginary friends
Reclaiming self care culture
Exploring our birth stories
Following through with our commitments
This moon cycle, it’s time to shift our consciousness and learn something new. We have the opportunity to re-visit our New Year’s intentions and clear our minds with self compassion.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan shares insights about Aquarius and the first warming of the spring at Imbolc. She encourages us to check in with ourselves and befriend ourselves as we receive a potent flow of star energy into our fields. We can ask ourselves, “what feels right in the moment?”
Susan reminds us to think about how to open our mind and step into great leaps of innovation. It’s a great time to learn something new or perfect something you’re already learning. She says, “what does it feel like when your mind feels free? ” She invites us to be aware of our breath and keep our feet on the ground.
Susan offers writing prompts, stones and ritual recommendations for working with the energy of the month. Tune in to hear about how we can break free from limited thinking and remember that anything is possible.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Dr. Kate Sydney and Mandy Asklock, LMT about self care for healthy breasts. They share important information about the anatomy of breasts, the lymphatic system and simple ways to care for this vital part of our bodies. Dr. Kate Sydney explains, “we don’t address things until they become a disease…We’re either not thinking about our breasts at all or we have breast cancer, and nothing in between. It’s important to address these blank spots in our education.”
We talk about overcoming shame and cultural messaging around the breasts. We discuss how to pick bras for health and comfort and some recommendations for women-led bra companies. We cover how to do a self breast massage and what oils are easy to use for that. We also touch on some nutrition tips for healthy breasts and how to pick out safe deodorants.
We also talk about:
How the breasts are connected to the heart
The benefits of Poke Root Oil
Why Vitamin C is important for healthy breasts
Deodorants that work without harmful chemicals
A lunar forecast for December 21, 2019 - January 24, 2020 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for Winter Solstice and the New Year.
“Be mindful of your inner world.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle, it’s time to bridge into a new decade with Winter Solstice and a New Moon Solar Eclipse on December 25th. We have the opportunity to reset our bones and seed our dreams for 2020.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan shares insights about Capricorn as we enter winter eclipse season and the new year. She encourages us to take time for self care, to breathe and feel the seasonal shifts. She says it’s a time for magic, color and working with fire and light. We can ask ourselves, “what do we give to the night?” Susan reminds us to examine our past year and our past decade. She says, “is there an element of our persona that we’ve outgrown that is eclipsing our light, that is eclipsing our growth?” She invites us to release toxic aspects of our lives that we’ve outgrown. She says, “to be personally accountable and self-accepting will be the payoff.”
Susan offers writing prompts and recommendations for stones and flower essences to work with the energy of the month. She also shares a beautiful guided meditation (around minute 42:50) to take us into our inner vision. Tune in to hear about how we can step into the new decade with renewed clarity and strength.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Dorothée Sophie Royal shares resources for bringing intention and earth-honoring ritual into the holiday season.
The show is divided into three short chapters. She shares a holiday planning guide, thoughts on reclaiming the Christmas tree as spiritual practice and the ancient and little-heard story of Mother Christmas. She says, “I hope that this discussion is useful for examining inherited traditions and habits as well as helping us all remember that we have the choice to create more meaningful seasonal rituals for ourselves.
This moon cycle, it’s time to dream and get inspired. We have the opportunity to clear old resentments and embody our truth.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan shares insights about Sagittarius as we enter the last month of the decade. She encourages us to elevate our wisdom and think expansively. She says it’s time to own the truth about our history and take responsibility for it. At the same time, she reminds us that we don’t need to box ourselves in with our mind. Susan reminds us to pay attention to our dreams, patterns and write down what we’re experiencing. She invites us to challenge our old definitions and to see our lives as an adventure story. What is the next chapter that you want to write?
Susan offers writing prompts and recommendations for stones, flower essences and a ritual to work with the energy of the month. Tune in to hear about how we can cleanse our thought field and see the bigger picture of our life.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with producer and author Joy Donnell about the power of storytelling. Joy shares her unique perspective on creativity, intention-setting and finding the authentic voice within. As Joy says,"it’s an important time for people who work with words.” We talk about how the spoken word can be an experience of relationship and true reciprocity. We talk about how the spoken word can be an experience of relationship and true reciprocity. We discuss privilege, betrayal and whose story is getting funded in the media today. She explains, "The stories that we know are the stories that got funded…Who ended up on buildings and who ended up buried? Who got pushed to the margins and who got magnified?" As Joy says, “its an important time for people who work with words.”
We also talk about:
Positive self talk
Affirmations & intention-setting
The need for new stories about the feminine
Representation in media
Her new book, “Beyond Brand”
This moon cycle, it’s time to move into depth and darkness as we enter Scorpio season. We have the opportunity to break spells and agreements that don’t serve us anymore. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about merging with the dark inside and outside of ourselves. She reminds us that, “it is time to stay awake without fear.”
She encourages us to be patient and forgiving with the stormy emotional waters that may arise. She says, “there’s a descent into more depth, that’s where the power lies.” She asks, “how can I merge with my power with love, with grace and with my inner values?” As the veils thin, it’s a time to honor our ancestors and work with the elements in a deliberate way. Susan cautions us, “go slow in the discovery of the magic.” And she encourages us to work with boundaries and trust as we commit to new habits.
Susan offers ritual suggestions and recommendations for herbs to support the energies of the month. Tune in to hear about how we can go beneath the surface for emotional healing, shake up old systems and work with our raw creative power.
Here are some important dates:
October 28, 2019 New Moon in Scorpio
October 31, 2019 Halloween/Samhain/Mercury Retrograde
November 2, 2019 Day of the Dead
November 12, 2019 Full Moon in Taurus
Learn about nourishing new mothers with author and postpartum healer Sophie Ward Koren. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with author and postpartum healer Sophie Ward Koren of Milk + Seed about nourishing the soul of new mothers through food, beauty and ceremony. Sophie Ward Koren is a former model, self-published author, initiated shamanic practitioner and Certified Health Coach (IINHC). She is committed to connecting mothers with Mother Earth through healing comfort foods, sustainable life practices and meaningful motherhood ceremonies, especially those informed by her study of Andean cosmology. She lives in the Ojai valley with her family and gratefully spends each day in the kitchen listening to Oprah, playing with fire, being with women and nourishing dozens of families.
Sophie shares her story of starving to fit the mold of the modeling industry and how she used writing to bring herself back into authenticity. We discuss worthiness, overcoming the cult of perfection and learning to take up space as a woman. We talk about postpartum depression and the importance of feeding new mothers with nutrient rich foods and gentle care. Sophie describes foods rich in color, texture and joy that she calls “modernized medicinal comfort foods.” She says, “if you don’t take care of the mother, then she will be weakened for the rest of her life.”
We also talk about:
Healing from anorexia
Writing as a soul-feeding ritual
Creating Mother Blessing Ceremonies
Rebuilding the village for new mothers
Sophie’s medicinal kitchen apprenticeship
A lunar forecast for September 28 - October 27, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. “Fall in love with your purpose.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle is a time for getting inside our hearts so we can focus our activism from a place of balance. We have the opportunity to embrace clear boundaries, examine our desires and harvest inner wisdom.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about the dance of relationship as we move toward the waning cycle of the year. She reminds us, “the shell of the old is the seed of the new.”
She encourages us to slow down and think about what gifts we want to share with the collective. She says, “presence is action, our presence is as powerful as what we have to do.” As the winds shift and leaves fall from the trees, it’s a good time to make friends with loss and grief. Susan cautions us, “now you can start to build but don’t rebuild what you’ve just destroyed.”
Susan offers writing prompts, recommendations for stones, flower essences and rituals to support the energies of the month. Tune in to hear about how we can center in love and move harmoniously in the autumn season.
Here are some important dates:
September 28, 2019 New Moon in Libra
October 3, 2019 Pluto Stations Direct
October 13, 2019 Full Moon in Aries
October 27, 2019 New Moon Scorpio
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with fungi farmer and herbalist Rae Hart of Ground Culture about trust, deep listening and working with the magic of mushrooms.
Rae Hart is a fungi farmer, registered nurse, herbalist, artist and beetender who is dedicated to community health and regenerative agriculture. She is the founder of Ground Culture, a women-owned, community-supported mushroom farm on Sauvie Island in Portland, Oregon. Rae also serves as the apothecary manager, herbal clinician and mentor at the People’s Health Clinic of Portland, a free integrative health resource for those living at the crossroads of economic injustice and other systemic oppressions.
Rae shares her story of leaving a career in nursing to grow medicine on the land. We discuss connection with plant allies, working with intuition and the wisdom of darkness. We also talk about the unique transition time we find ourselves in on the planet and the ways in which fungi reveal solutions.
We also talk about:
Rest as activism
Dealing with jealousy as we uncover our gifts
Relearning how to grow things
Reciprocal relationships
Breaking down barriers with delight
A lunar forecast for August 30 - September 28, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle is a time for rooting into our daily life as we enter Virgo season. We have the opportunity to detox our habits and cleanse stuck areas so we can be of greater service. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about examining our daily work and health habits and finding the sacred within the mundane. She reminds us, “our body is our temple, our body is our home.”
She encourages us to take stock of what has blossomed over the summer and digest what we’ve learned. It’s a good time to apply common sense to systems in our life and work. It’s also a good time to pay attention to our relationships and make sure our responsibilities feel balanced.
Susan offers recommendations for stones, flower essences and practices to aid in working with healthy boundaries, protection and healing. Tune in to hear about how we can tune into our intuition and engage with practical magic.
Learn about the urgent stand for Mauna Kea with Native Hawaiian water protector Pua Case. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Native Hawaiian and Wimea resident Pua Case who is currently on Mauna Kea with her family and community working to protect their sacred mountain from desecration.
Since July 17th 2019, thousands of protectors have gathered at the base of the mountain to peacefully block the road leading to the proposed construction site. In this episode, Pua shares her urgent update about the threat to Mauna Kea. We talk about standing for the sacred, the spirit of place, the importance of traditional ceremonies and building a nation. Pua also shares some specific ways that you can help support the movement.
Pua Case is a former elementary school teacher and lifelong water protector who was raised on the slopes of Mauna Kea. Along with her community, she has been working to protect the mountain from a 10-year, $1.3 billion 30 meter telescope project has been proposed on the Northern Plateau of Mauna Kea, where there are already 13 telescopes.
Pua says, “the Mauna has brought us together…make no mistake that we are building a nation here.” She explains, “this mountain is not just the most sacred for Hawai'i but all of the Pacific…and the mountain says to us that from me is a connection to mountains around the world and we hold this vibration of the earth together.”
We also talk about:
Why the TMT telescope project does not meet legal criteria for construction
The discipline and commitment of Kapu Aloha
The top three ways to support the #protectmaunakea movement
Music in this episode is from Hawane Rios’s new album “Kū Kia‘i Mauna – Together We Rise” which was released on the four year anniversary of the powerful frontline stand to protect Mauna Kea. Her music is available to purchase on iTunes or via her website hawanerios.com.
A lunar forecast for July 31 - August 20, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle is a time for growing authentic confidence as we enter Leo season. We have the opportunity to alchemize our past experiences and turn them into gold. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about working with sun energy and tapping into love as our powersource. She reminds us that it’s a sweet season to feel joy and be fully present.
She encourages us to turn to breath practices to access more life force energy and embrace enthusiasm, positivity and expansion. At the same time, she encourages us to ask,” What did I learn about boundaries these past few months?”
Susan offers a flower essence, writing prompts and crystal ally for this sun-powered month. Tune in to hear about how we can access natural confidence and move from the heart.
Learn about art as a path of healing with multi-dimensional artist, activist and educator Naima Penniman. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with multi-dimensional artist, activist, healer and educator Naima Penniman of Climbing Poetree about art as a path of survival, evolution and healing. We discuss overcoming shyness to find a voice and purpose, honoring ancestors and the courage to challenge dominant stories in our society. We also talk about the difference between calling in vs. calling out in movement culture. And Naima shares her thoughts on where creative passion and activism intersects for the greater good.
We also talk about:
Being raised in an activist home
Creativity as a place to metabolize grief
Connecting with our inherent gifts
How communities can increase empathy
A lunar forecast for July 2 - July 31, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle is a time for nurturing our inner life as we enter Cancer season. We have the opportunity to interrupt old emotional patterns and mature our self care. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about soulful growth as we gain insight into where we hide emotionally and suppress our feelings. She reminds us that we can use the power of the solar eclipse and the energies of this month for self mastery.
She encourages us to ask,” when do I feel the most safe, free and at peace?” Start today from the perspective of your most wise self and have the courage to be emotionally honest. It’s a great month to embrace vulnerability and look at your home and professional life as we all reset. It’s also a fruitful time to explore how family lives inside you and where your inner child may need reparenting.
Susan offers a flower essence, writing prompts and other tips for this active month. Tune in to hear about how we can fish the depths of our tender unconscious and flow in tumultuous waters.
Learn about awakening your senses to nature and building your sanctuary with healer and teacher Shayne Case. “To be bored with plants is one of the most beautiful places to be.” - Shayne Case
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with healer, teacher, writer and medicine maker Shayne Case about awakening the senses for nature connection and building your sanctuary in an increasingly tense world. Born from the forest's edge in southwestern Germany and hand fed by the prairie ghosts of her Lakota ancestry, Shayne Case derives her inspiration from these two disparate landscapes. The world of the unseen is her mother tongue and she uses this to bridge communication between the people who come to see her for healing and their spiritual guides. Shayne is a mother, healer, teacher, writer, medicine maker, and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Each of these roles she holds with sacred intention and equal passion.
We discuss her work with the plant people in creating flower essences, unlearning institutional knowledge and developing an intuitive relationship with the natural world. Shayne also shares her favorite self-mothering practices and ways to cultivate beauty in daily life.
We also talk about:
Working with plant and stone people
Finding your unique medicine bundle
The wisdom of weather
Creating feasts for the senses
Using the medicine of call-out culture
The importance of play
A lunar forecast for May 4 - June 3, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month.
What have you always wanted to build? - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle is a time for innovation and persistence as we rebuild in earthy Taurus. We have the opportunity to evolve and do things we didn’t know were possible. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about finding a fresh approach to a fixed situation. She reminds us that we have the right and need to keep changing as we uplevel and rebuild our lives.
She encourages us to ask,” what have I always wanted to build?” It will take patience and ingenuity to bring forth something new. Learn to see every barrier as an opportunity, “what do we preserve, let go of or rebuild?” It’s a great month to get physically healthy and remember that your body is a landscape. Examine everything you are constructing and be sure to look at any myths that say you’re not enough.
Susan offers some practices to support during this month including a ritual for the Full Moon in Scorpio on May 18th. Tune in to hear about this month of embodiment and innovation.
Learn about the act of naming yourself with artist, small business coach and magic maker Yarrow Magdalena. “It’s ok to be weird, it’s ok to not be for everyone.” - Yarrow Magdalena
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with artist, small business coach and magic maker Yarrow Magdalena about the power of ritual and the act of naming yourself to honor a new phase in life. We discuss reclaiming weirdness, using creative writing as a self care tool and her joy in undertaking “introvert adventures”. Yarrow also shares her perspective on working with the tarot and how she works to maintain authenticity in social media and the online business space.
We also talk about:
Finding the right questions
Connecting with heritage plants
Self care tools for introverts
Small business tips
A lunar forecast for April 5 - May 4, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. "We are Earth and we flower too.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's a time for new beginnings as we move into a dance of fire and earth with Aries. We have the opportunity to be more strategic in the way we use our power and embody our vision.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about purposeful inquiry that helps us launch new projects with courageous action. She reminds us to be thoughtful about our light and dark aspects and be aware of how our self impacts our relationships.
She says, “when we hit the breaking point, that’s when change can happen.” It’s a time to birth ourselves from an old form. This process of self discovery reignites our life this month. She reminds us to ground to the beat of our core and “honor the movement that you want to express.”
Susan offers some practices to support during this month as well as a series of questions for deeper inquiry. Tune in to hear about this action-oriented month filled with the life-force energy of spring.
Learn about self love and coming home to our bodies with womb specialist Jeevan Singh. “Your body is your birthright. It’s time to come home to it.” - Jeevan Singh
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with healer and womb specialist Jeevan Singh about self love, coming home to our bodies and how to work with our nervous systems for greater health. Jeevan Singh is a healer and womb specialist with a practice infused with both beauty and science. She holds a Doctorate of Science in classical Chinese medicine and is finishing a mindfulness-based Masters of Science in Integrative Mental Health at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Jeevan means “life force” and it is her mission to help her clients rediscover, reconnect with and reclaim the magic, power and life force of their bodies.
We talk about the science behind our fight and flight responses and some historical context for women’s disembodiment. We discuss the importance of working with the gifts of our animal bodies and how we can build trust with ourselves after trauma and pain. At the end of our conversation, Jeevan shares her favorite embodiment tools and leads a beautiful mindfulness exercise for personal and collective healing.
We also talk about:
Sacred menstruation
Pleasure as a healing portal
Cultivating trust with ourselves
Mindfulness practices for embodiment
A lunar forecast for March 6 - April 5, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle it's time to dive into the healing waters of Pisces. We have the opportunity to engage in deep spiritual learning and find new inspiration and flow. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about breaking old patterns as we heal mind, body and spirit. If we can surrender and trust that we will learn from the initiation, we can open up something that got buried in the depths.
She says, “if we can let go of fear, it will be interesting.” She urges us to get in touch with our motivations and illusions as we explore the subconscious and vibrational part of our being. It’s a wonderful time to do healing work around addictions and overwhelm. Examine where you fall on the wheel of the victim/martyr cycle and step into a new philosophical paradigm.
She recommends working with dreams and offers suggestions for water rituals and crystals to support us through the month. Tune in to hear about this cleansing and clearing month that will help us align with our inner guide for Spring.
Learn about redefining success with artist Vyana Novus-Magee. “What does rest mean to me? “ - Vyana Novus-Magee
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with artist Vyana Novus-Magee on redefining success. We talk about rest, vulnerability and learning to live daily life on our own terms. Vyana Novus-Magee (she/they) is a queer mother and artist based in Ojai, California. Her content and creations pull from her experience living with Complex-PTSD, and the journey she has taken to reclaim pleasure and purpose in her life. Her approach to life and work is focused on getting to the core essence of what each individual needs & wants, then building systems to support that unique expression of life. Their Redefining Success Journal is a tool that brings the feeling of accomplishment to everyone, flipping the story of success from a static cultural projection to a fluid personal experience. It focuses on guiding people to understand what their current capacity is, and how to scope goals to meet that space.
We discuss postpartum motherhood, living with PTSD and accessing grace and compassion for ourselves.
We also talk about: Simple practices rooted in pleasure and joy / Finding time for creativity / Embracing curiosity in stuck areas of your life / Scoping daily accomplishments
A lunar forecast for February 4 - March 6, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle it's time to expand our thinking. We have the opportunity to open up our vision of the future and explore a new sense of identity. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about embracing curiosity as we modify and upgrade our consciousness. We have the chance to create new networks for collaboration and innovation and infuse our goals with new ideas of what’s possible.
She asks, “How do you view your self identity?" She urges us to observe our thinking and review our January intentions with a sense of positive anarchy. She reminds us to tend daily to our inner flame and be aware of the waters you’re taking into your body. She recommends a New Moon/Imbolc ritual for activating your wellness and inspiration for spring. We also talk about some herbs and crystals that can be helpful guides this month.
Tune in to hear to hear about this rebellious and innovative month that urges us to dream a new self into being.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with entrepreneur Eileen Rosete about running a sacred feminine business. We talk about her path from working with trauma survivors to creating an lifestyle brand that has become a movement to honor women. We discuss divine timing, motherhood and how we can all work to write the feminine back into our collective story.
We also talk about:
Following the spark of inspiration
How men can support the feminine
Why the process is an important as the outcome
Trauma-sensitive healing work
A lunar forecast for January 5 - February 4, 2019 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month and a look at the vibration for the year 2019.
The doing is not only the achievement on the outer level, it’s the inner level.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to release what’s not working so we can start to build. We have the opportunity to align with our inner values and create the container and structure we need for true liberation.
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about showing up with discipline and dedication while also embracing the happiness and creativity present in vibration of 2019, which is a 3 year. We have the chance to mobilize from a place of self love and bring joy to our work. She says, it’s a time to “get serious about what we care about” and observe and even plan for your obstacles.
She asks, “What is it time for? What is it time to let go of?” She reminds us that “there’s an inner elder in all of us” that can be called on to move toward our soul’s purpose. She urges us to pay attention to what is dragging our energy and confront our fear of failure. She emphasizes that mastery is largely achieved by “showing up every single day.”
Tune in to hear the additional questions and writing prompts that Susan shares to assist you in setting your goals and intentions for this coming year.
Learn about about the power of vulnerability and remembering the voices of the ancestors with Kontomble Voice Diviner Liv Mokai Wheeler.
“The connection with spirit and the people, it’s never stopped.” - Liv Mokai Wheeler
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Kontomble Voice Diviner Liv Mokai Wheeler about the power of vulnerability and hearing the voices of the ancestors.
Liv Mokai Wheeler is an international ritual facilitator and voice of the “little people.” She trained and apprenticed for 8 years with Malidoma Some and has gone through several initiations that have enabled her to speak in the tongue of the Kontomble. She tours the world facilitating ritual reminding people of their true nature, which is deeper than our modern selves would have us believe. She recently published her book “With the Love of the Ancients” available on Amazon.
We talk about waking up to the call of the ancestors and how women can rise to truly support each other. Liv reminds us,”all of us come from some tribe or some village.” She says, “we need to retrace our steps in order to walk forward with clarity of purpose.” We also talk about jealousy, envy and shame along the path to our callings. Liv explains, “people are really aching to remember why we’re here in the first place.”
We also talk about: Longing for true sisterhood Coming out as a spiritual person Hearing the voice of the ancients Waking up to our calling
A lunar forecast for December 7 - January 5, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month.
“A lot moves deep within what appears to be still.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time for pragmatic optimism as we enter the darkness of winter. We have the opportunity to return to our inner knowing and cultivate the light within. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about this uplifting time when we turn our gaze skyward. She reminds us to look beyond the everyday and gain inspiration from the bigger picture. We have the chance to examine the patterns that we don’t want to take into the new year. She says, “start by telling yourself the truth.” She advises us to look at the night sky as much as possible and work with inner and outer light.
Susan also recommends some beautiful Winter Solstice rituals and practices for honoring our connection to the stars and our faith in mystery.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to pierce illusions, own our inner light and enter the new year with joy.
Learn about radical self care and making wellness accessible to communities of color with Mariam Mouna of I See You Wellness.
“Radical self care is dropping the ball and choosing you, constantly at all times, not matter what. That is radical.” - Mariam Mouna
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with reiki healer and wellness entrepreneur Mariam Mouna about making wellness accessible to communities of color.
Mariam (or Mar for short) is a native of Marrakech, Morocco living and loving in Brooklyn, New York. She is the founder and creative director of I See You Wellness—a wellness and lifestyle brand that exists to empower communities of color through accessible wellness and radical self care.
We talk about her journey from corporate America to creating a brand of soul care products infused with magic. We discuss why homogenous portrayals of wellness is harmful for us all and how we can begin to free ourselves from internal messages that hold us back.
Mariam shares her own favorite self care practices as well as her perspective on the power of affirmations. She reminds us that words are spells. She says, “when were mindful of what we say, then we can cast spells that we actually want.”
Be sure to stay tuned to the end of the episode when Mariam guides us in a beautiful meditation. If you’d like to skip ahead to experience that, it will be around minute 45 of this episode.
We also talk about: Following pleasure to your calling / Words as spells / Separating self care from capitalism / Changing the way we talk to ourselves / Redefining meditation
A lunar forecast for November 7 - December 6, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month.
“What lies beneath the surface?” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to trust ourselves as we dive deep into the waters of Scorpio. It’s a time of transformation in which we can free ourselves from old wounds, connect with our underlying motives and move into a new sense of self worth. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about witnessing ourselves as we feel into the dark. She says, “we know it’s time for change and we know it’s time to live differently but try not to go into action too quickly.” She reminds us that something has changed forever but we’re not sure what, so we need to take our time. She advises us all to stay humble and trust that we will understand these shifts later.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to listen deeply, unwind from old patterns and know ourselves in a new way.
Learn about creating space to feed your authentic magic with women’s empowerment coach Sarah Jenks. “Sometimes who we are feels so big and so overwhelming but we have to choose it, we have to choose us.” - Sarah Jenks
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with life coach, emotional eating expert and sacred space holder Sarah Jenks about creating space to feed your authentic magic. Sarah Jenks is a life coach, emotional eating expert and sacred space holder. She is mother to 3 children and proprietress of Hawthorn Farm, a 23 acre farm and retreat center in Medfield, Massachusetts. She has created a number of online programs that help women remember their wild, authentic and sacred selves, including Live More Weigh Less and Whole Woman.
We talk about finding freedom from emotional eating, treating our bodies as sacred temples and creating a life that is aligned with who we really are. Sarah says, “the real issue is women are just so exhausted pretending to be someone that they’re not.”
She reminds us that “we’ve been living our whole lives thinking that we’re just normal, magic-less bodies and it’s all being revealed to us if we’re willing to see it, how magical we are.”
We also talk about: Nourishing our sacred hunger Coming out as magical beings Letting go of the need to perform and please Releasing the idea of “sameness as safety” Embracing diversity in motherhood styles Working with the four elements Giving ourselves permission to rest
A lunar forecast for October 8 - November 7 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month with a special emphasis on Venus Retrograde. “We have to move how love compels…the love that is the depth of our being.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to look at what is in and out of balance and examine the integrity of our relationships. Venus, the goddess of love compels us to take an inventory of what we’ve learned and use that information to reclaim our power. In this episode of #moonwise podcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about the Venus Retrograde cycle and how we can use it to gain inspiration and become our own muse. It’s a time to ask, “where have we over-accommodated for others?” Our relationships are a mirror of what’s in and out of balance within ourselves.
Susan explains that this Venus Retrograde provides an opportunity to grieve and cleanse our relationship with intimacy, money, worth, body image and goals. She says, “we need to find ourselves again.” Tune in to hear about this month’s opportunities to connect with our divine feminine essence and engage in a fearless inquiry about power and the passion in our hearts.
Learn about world changing sex and reawakening feminine pleasure with author and 'vaginapractor' Kimberly Ann Johnson. “Get out of the therapy office and get into your bedroom and get really honest and real moment by moment about what’s going on.” - Kimberly Ann Johnson
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, author and ‘vaginapractor’ Kimberly Ann Johnson talks about about the intention and purpose of sex and how we can move beyond physical sex into embodied spiritual sex. Kimberly Ann Johnson is the founder of the holistic women's health collective MagaMama. She serves as a birth doula, a certified sexological bodyworker and somatic experiencing practitioner. After her own birth injury and difficult post-partum period, she studied women’s pelvic health and developed a private practice that has helped hundreds of women around the world to heal from trauma around sex and birth.
We talk about the role that shame and guilt play in our cultural programming around sexuality and how we can begin to free ourselves from those harmful messages. Kimberly encourages everyone to slow down during sex. She says that slow sex is radical sex because it allows us to access our transformative potential. She explains, “slowing down is where new possibilities live.”
She reminds us that “arousal energy is activation energy. So we have to build our capacity to hold energy.” Instead of focusing on a specific goal around sexual experiences, she urges us to ask, “what am I exploring? What parts of myself do I get to know better through erotic energy?”
We also talk about: Alchemical sexual power Authentic communication during sex Self-generated feminine energy Toxic masculinity in men and women Infertility and low libido The #metoo movement Exploratory sex as preparation for childbirth
A lunar forecast for September 9 - October 8, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle it's time to look at what we've grown over the summer and step forward into our calling. Virgo, the practical mystic, will help us during this moon cycle to do some deep cleaning inside and out. Take time to examine your everyday routines, health and self care. In this episode of #moonwise podcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about getting in sync with our inner and outer selves as we review who we've become and how we spend our daily lives. She says that we need to ask ourselves, "when do I get trapped in my own cage?" and then realize that the keys are right there for us to gain release. She emphasizes the healing aspect of Virgo as it aids us in clearing our systems. She asks, "what is it inside you that is valuable to harvest?"
Susan explains that this moon cycle is a time to take ownership, recommit and don't be afraid of your passions. She recommends getting grounded, walking barefoot and feeling the earth as much as possible. Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to heal the body, step into service and own your life.
Learn about post-partum depression as an underworld initiation with MoonWise podcast host Dorothée Sophie Royal. "Human beings need time and space to grieve, grow, and blossom." - Dorothée Sophie Royal
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, Dorothée Sophie Royal speaks about grief and her own personal experience with post-partum depression as an underworld initiation. Dorothée Sophie Royal is a writer, producer, medicine maker, and mother. She is the founder of MoonTentCo, a space of self care for women of power. She is passionate about reclaiming and reconnecting with the heart of the feminine. She is the host of the monthly #moonwisepodcast and was recently selected as one of fifty women for #50WomenCan Change the World in Media and Entertainment.
In this episode, she shares her healing path through post-partum depression and anxiety. She talks about the shadow side of new motherhood and the tips and resources she found during her recovery. She says, "I now believe that sometimes depression shows up as the soul's way of working through grief and transition at its own pace. I ultimately view it as a blessing and something I am grateful for. Because what I met in that underworld reshaped me completely. I uncovered in the dark my primal will to survive, the strength beneath my weakness, the dark mother of grief who turns our tears into rain."
A lunar forecast for August 11 - September 9, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. “A fire has been started, how are you going to keep it alive?” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to make a deep sacred heart commitment to yourself and what you really care about. We need to remember that power requires personal responsibility so walk carefully with intention as you plant seeds for the future. In this episode of #moonwise podcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about tending the sacred flame in our heart as we reach the completion of a powerful three eclipse cycle. She says, “we have to tend the sacred fire of our heart or it will go out. If we let it go without any discernment or containment, it will burn up everything. So how do we walk with that? How do we balance that?”
She explains that it's a time to create an oath to our personal value systems and plant seeds for the future. She says, "leave room for mystery always, always, always. Leave room for the sign and symbols to speak to us.” Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to tap into our inner fire, align with our truth and walk with pride.
A special blood moon eclipse/one year anniversary special featuring a meditation practice and lunar insights from Susan Lipshutz. The longest eclipse of the century happens on July 27th and it also marks the one year anniversary of the MoonWise podcast! In this episode, we check in with Susan Lipshutz about this powerful eclipse season of self healing. She takes us on a guided meditation and ritual for release that can be practiced in the two weeks surrounding the full blood moon eclipse.
As we surrender to the mystery of the shadow, we have the opportunity to reset thoughts and behaviors and also reconnect with meaningful friendships and community. Susan urges us not to isolate and to "remember that you're not alone, your council of elders are with you." She reminds us to collaborate with the moon, "never forget that we are lunar beings as women."
“Your joy matters, it's the greatest strength you have.” - Woman Stands Shining
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with Diné grandmother, activist, artist, and ceremonial leader Woman Stands Shining about joy as strength and remembering our role as women in the sacred hoop of life. Woman Stands Shining is a voice for global peace, and her paintings are created as tools for individual, earth, and global healing. She has presented at numerous conferences, events, and indigenous gatherings around the world. She lives in Taos, New Mexico, and hopes all peoples of the earth "can learn from Indigenous experience and re-member themselves and their own birth-right relationship with Mother Earth." Woman Stands Shining draws upon the deep Indigenous sciences of thriving life to reframe inquiries about sustainability and balance, and she is devoted to supporting the next generations, the “Women’s Nation” and the “Men’s Nation” in being functional members of the “Hoop of Life" and upholding the honor of being human.
In our conversation, she talks about women's role as visionaries for the community and her powerful experience in the moon lodge. She reminds us that in this time of great transition as a species, we need to listen to the women because they are built to give and receive instructions from Mother Earth about how to be on the planet now. She says, "we need the feminine language again." She urges women to express themselves, "the way you think is needed, your language that's not linear is needed, your emotional content is needed."
She also affirms that the role of woman as spiritual conduit transcends cultural differences. She says, "I've put women of every race in moonlodge and the same thing happens to them every single time."
We also talk about: Joy as a compass for life, Navigating the dark night of the soul, A woman's body as a spirit gateway, The non-linear nature of the feminine language, How the European witch hunts are connected to the suppression of indigenous peoples, Being a translator of indigenous culture to the modern world
A lunar forecast for June 13 - July 12, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. “Keep a cool head and a warm heart.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to keep a clear mind and embrace the questions. We need to stay open and level-headed as we work to bridge the mind and the heart. In this episode of #moonwise podcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about how to bridge the mind and heart and stay curious in our interactions with others. We will have access to new levels of communication and be able to put words to felt experience. She reminds us to notice the difference between resistance and curiosity. "What are we saying no to?" How can we allow for vulnerability and be comfortable with not knowing all the answers? She also reminds us that in this period of embodied communication, we need to ask, "is something getting lost in translation?" She shares tips on how to steady our thoughts and recommends a lovely flower essence to work with this month.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to slow down and ask questions as we examine our thoughts and motivations and upgrade our perceptions about life.
Learn about herbs, alchemy and elemental eating with food educators Summer Ashley and Sarah Kate of The Kosmic Kitchen. “Our deepest act of love as humans is to nourish each other.” - Sarah Kate
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with herbal food educators Summer Ashley and Sarah Kate of The Kosmic Kitchen about herbs, alchemy and food as medicine.
The Kosmic Kitchen was born out of a friendship. Sarah and Summer met when sewing the seeds for a community garden. It was there that they discovered herbalism, and the plants’ incredible capacity to heal. Their goal is to make kitchen herbalism accessible to all, so that everyone can have a connection to the plants.
In our conversation, Summer and Sarah talk about their own healing journeys from chronic illness to health by trusting their intuition and the healing power of plants. They remind us how sacred each meal can be and why making your food beautiful is part of the medicine. They share tips on spiking everyday foods with herbs and why a daily practice of healthy meals can do more than any pill or potion.
“We have Mother Earth to provide us with these plants that are their own beings and they have their own stories and things that they want to share with us. And if we really listen to that and can be part of that experience, it can be such a rich experience and also a deeper healing,” says Sarah Kate.
We also talk about:
How plants can bring people into our lives The power of adaptogenic herbs Fun recipes for herb-infused summer drinks The benefits of chia seeds Finding joy in good preparation and cooking Trusting our intuition for health
A lunar forecast for May 15 - June 13, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month.
“Stability and change is an inside job.” - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to work with change, let go of fear and grow your dreams. We've outgrown something and as we experience shifts this month, it's best to tune into the Earth and our inner landscape for stability. In this episode of #moonwise podcast, Susan Lipshutz talks about how to become changemakers for ourselves and the collective. It's a time of reinvention when we can release fear and manifest what we really care about. She says, “the story is going to change, there’s a new Earth story in play.” She reminds us not to get too attached to the physical world but to embrace a sense of inner security. She asks, "What have we gotten attached to? What would I feel lost without?" She reminds us to "look for the hidden gems within." She shares tips on how to connect with nature as well as flower essences and stones to work with during the month.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to reinvent our inner and outer landscapes and build our dreams.
Learn how to reclaim your time and attention and create balance with your phone use with herbalist and folk healer Sophia Rose.
"The moment that your phone starts to detract from lived experience is the moment to make a different choice." - Sophia Rose
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with herbalist and folk healer Sophia Rose about technological hygiene and her thoughts on connection in the digital age.
Sophia Rose is a woman who listens closely to the singing of the Earth’s Spirit and shares the beauty of all that she hears in her work with plants and people. She’s the force behind La Abeja Herbs and Garden Party, a revolutionary take on online herbal education.
In our conversation, we get real about our collective addiction to smartphones and discuss the urgent need for more balance in our use of technology. She offers practical tips for reclaiming our time and attention as well as strategies for decolonizing our minds. She reminds us that, "Our awareness and internal space is sacred and must remain sovereign." She says that our use of these technologies "needs to feel optional. It needs to feel like something that is bringing you joy and adding to your experience rather than taking you out of it." Afterall, "communication should be happening at the speed of life and not the other way around."
We also talk about: How our brains are shaped by technology / Tips for reducing smart phone use / Managing subconscious messages from social media / How to cultivate more spaciousness in daily life / The importance of net neutrality
A lunar forecast for April 15 - May 15, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. "I can't stay where I was before. I can't live how I lived before." - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to invest in yourself and engage with power. An inner fire is lighting the way for the magic and alchemy of growth.
In this episode, Susan talks about how to move through obstacles fueled by the desire to do things differently. She says, "How are you engaging or running away from your power?" She reminds us that "growth is a miracle. We don't know which seeds are really going to come up. We don't know when we're dreaming something and calling it in, how is it really going to come forward?" She shares tips on how to create a vision bowl for spring as well as practices for connecting with the earth. She also recommends three flower essences to work with during the month.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to restructure our roots so a new archetype of empowerment can grow.
Learn about the healing power of sound and how to find your sacred voice with musician Alexa Sunshine Rose. In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with musician Alexa Sunshine Rose about her creative process, the healing power of sound and how to find your sacred voice.
After witnessing the transformative power of music in a healing ceremony, Alexa asked for music to come through her, to assist in the healing of the earth and all beings. She began to receive songs the next day. Since then she has recorded three albums and various side projects and tours the U.S. frequently. Her sound has been described as a mixture of west coast folk and kirtan and evokes a state of prayer and blessing no matter how you define it.
In our conversation, we talk about the co-creative process of receiving songs and how we all can tune into the healing song that we need. She addresses the realities of being a mother and an artist and why music is even more powerful when shared. Alexa reminds us that "music is of mutual benefit to the giver and the receiver." She also shares advice for someone who wants to be a song carrier. She says, " find what moves you and get inside it."
We also talk about:
The healing power of sound vibrations / Why we should all pay attention to the music we consume / Singing for survival / Songs of devotion for the elements / Her upcoming West Coast tour
A lunar forecast for March 17 - April 15, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. "We all have something that breaks us open...and as we search for the pieces, all along the way we find out who we are. - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle it's time to clean up and let go. Life is stirring under the soil and dead leaves and branches must be cleared to make way for new growth. As we each approach spring, think about what needs to die so that something can live.
In this episode, Susan talks about how to spring clean your psyche and master healing through action. She says, "think about the seeds you want to plant" and she reminds us that in our quest for mastery, we should ask ourselves, "do you want to be a master of pain or a master of love?" She shares tips on how to do a spring grief ritual and recommends four flower essences to work with this season. She also talks about why some people may feel irritated or angry in the spring and how best to prep for Mercury Retrograde.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities for release and inner cleansing in preparation for a fertile and fruitful spring.
Learn how to feed your creativity through a unique approach to yoga for women with renowned teacher and author Uma Dinmore-Tuli.
"I don't want anything to do with that cosmic spell that says this is how women should be, because it's just rubbish, it's just not true." - Uma Dinmore-Tuli
In this episode of #moonwisepodcast, we speak with renowned teacher and author Uma Dinmore-Tuli about her unique approach to yoga designed especially for women's bodies and life experiences from youth to old age.
Uma met yoga in 1969, at the age of four, and fell in love. But after many years of studying and teaching traditional methods, she found herself frustrated with a system that was primarily designed by men and for men. She began to explore practices that could better support women's bodies, hearts and minds at all ages. She now teaches women's yoga around the world and has authored four books on the topic, including the massive Yoni Shakti.
In our conversation, we talk about Uma's definition of a womb and why it's such an important space for creativity. She reminds us, "our bodies are the earth" and "the womb space is connected to water and earth, that's why it's so creative." We discuss the unique historical moment we're in as women and how the resurgence of ancient feminine wisdom has been facilitated through social media. We talk about surrender as the ultimate act of courage and our hopes for future generations of girls.
We also talk about: Working with life force energy at any age / Why traditional yoga may be depleting for women / How to avoid yoga injuries in the post-natal period / The connection of womb and climate awareness / Living shame free for our daughters
A lunar forecast for February 15 - March 17, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. "Wake up from the spells, have a sense of self-determination, be uniquely you." - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle, we find ourselves on the threshold of change with an opportunity to elevate our consciousness with a solar eclipse and an Aquarius new moon. How are your beliefs and thoughts supporting or hindering you at this time? What thoughts are you feeding? Susan talks about clearing mental illusion and shares tips for relieving the anxiety or pressure that we may be feeling at this time. She says, "everything is broken about our world and we've got to be radical in our thoughts about how we create new realities." She reminds us, "now that we know it's broken, it's awesome because we're liberated by what's possible." At the end of the episode, Susan also shares a simple crystal exercise you can do to access higher possibilities.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to break the mold, step into your choice and rewrite your agreements.
"I think it's really important when we're talking about being a whole person that we're talking about the relationships that we're forming. Who are we connected to?" - Sally F. St John
In this episode, we speak with holistic health counselor and researcher Sally F. St. John about nutrition for hormonal health and her unique philosophy of healing, developed over years of coaching women back to wholeness.
When Sally uses the word whole, she's describing a blend of "mind, body, spirit and community" that all work together for true health. She believes that getting back to our emotions and spirit being is the first step for bringing the body back to balance, followed by lifestyle and dietary changes. We talk about the importance of gut health, which foods to eat during the four phases of your monthly cycle and key things to know about probiotics and prebiotics. We also talk about: Historical trauma and patriarchy's influence on women's health / Why it's ok not to be on a 28 day monthly cycle / The role of compassion in healing / Reframing our relationship to healthy fats / Why community is key for holistic wellbeing
A lunar forecast for January 16 - February 15, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. "It's ok to feel stuck because that's the first step in moving yourself out." - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle, we enter eclipse season with a Capricorn new moon. If you're feeling a bit stuck or unmotivated after setting New Year intentions, never fear! Susan Lipshutz talks about how to tap into our resources and start moving in the direction we desire. Susan tells the powerful mythic story of the sea-goat to help us understand the multidimensional aspects of time as well as our culture's complicated relationship with patriarchy. She reminds us that we're at the beginning of a three year cycle so we can take our time. She also shares some great practices for breaking old emotional patterns and releasing old stories with compassion.
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to get aligned with the earth, awaken to our destiny and remember who we are.
Learn how to align with lunar cycles with April McMurtry, founder of The Moon Is My Calendar. "We're calling out to nature and she's calling back to us and the cosmos...we're seeing ourselves as part of that rather than only tracking time to this superimposed, man-made system." - April McMurtry
In this episode, we speak with artist and educator April McMurtry about tracking time by the moon and her practical tools for aligning with lunar cycles. April is the founder of The Moon is My Calendar and creatress of the New Moon Calendar Journal.
"The lights need to go out sometimes, there is vitality in darkness," says April who talks embracing the ebb and flow of life and making the moon an ally and example in our lives. We talk about how anyone can develop a lunar practice and how we can all shift our current paradigm around time for a more balanced way of being.
We also talk about: Bringing moon wisdom into our relationships / Turning creative visions into successful projects / Bridging masculine and feminine energies in business / What the moon has to do with your period / Cosmic timing and the wisdom of winter
A lunar forecast for December 18, 2017 - January 16, 2018 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. This moon cycle, we are on a voyage of growth as we travel into the new year. Susan Lipshutz says it's an opportunity to review, "what were the lessons of the last 2 1/2 years?" It's a time to learn from the past and be inspired by our new belief systems. We are guided to live from our truth and remember that "you have the divine feminine in you."
Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to gain new wisdom, step into hope and live in gratitude as we build from what we've learned this coming year.
Learn about womb wisdom and how to access the magic of menstruation with herbalist Kami McBride. We talk about how we can embrace our embodied wisdom, tune into our intuition and awaken the portal of creativity that opens to us each month. We also talk about: How to heal PMS naturally / Embracing our sensitivity and intuition / Creating a space of rest and ritual during your period / Creating a rites of passage for young women / How to start a women's wisdom circle
A lunar forecast for November 18 - December 18, 2017 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. "Fall in love with the truth of what you need to tell yourself because in it is what you value." - Susan Lipshutz
This moon cycle, Susan reminds us to stay persistent as we all undergo an upgrade in consciousness. She says, "if you fee like you're really pushing a rock up the mountain or working on a project or stepping past something that's been really hard for you, I want you to really stay with it and understand that the work is valuable and that what you're doing has merit and keep moving with it." She recommends using a rattle to clear pain and trauma that is coming up on personal and collective levels. She says, "in the ashes of the fire, there are always the strongest embers and the embers activate the rebirth...we have to stick together and believe. It is a really profound moment in our story as a world."
Learn how to bring mindfulness into sexuality and manifest your desires with intimacy expert Dr. Elsbeth Meuth. Elsbeth has assisted thousands of women to create lasting intimacy and fulfillment in their lives and relationships. She is the best-selling author of Sexual Enlightenment and the co-founder of TantraNova Institute in Chicago. We talk about her experiences with life-changing Tantric practices and she shares a simple self love practice that you can do at home to cultivate more awareness and receptivity in your life. She reminds us to be curious with ourselves and be open to discovery, "it's not just receiving a partner, it's receiving myself." We also talk about: Elsbeth's personal story of attracting the love and partner she desired in mid-life / How to connect with and amplify your creative life-force energy / A science-based explanation of how human bodies are wired / Transmuting sexual energy into creative pursuits / Elsbeth has generously offered our community a free download of her Awaken to Your Feminine Essence DVD. Just click the link to dive deeper into these teachings: http://bit.ly/feminineessencedownload
A lunar forecast for October 19 - November 4, 2017 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to examine your partnerships, discover hidden motivations and reveal deep desires. She says, "don't be afraid to say this is what I want in life." As we enter the fall season, Susan recommends the practice of recording your dreams in a journal to develop a relationship with your inner life.
Learn about the magic of flower alchemy and how to bloom into your full potential with Lotus Wei founder Katie Hess. Katie travels worldwide to seek out flowers that reduce stress, improve sleep, and accelerate personal growth. Her work has been featured by Oprah Magazine, the New York Times and Martha Stewart and she is the author of a new book FlowerEvolution. We also talk about: - How to find allies in nature - The power of forest-bathing - Simple ways to communicate with plants - Daily mindfulness practices for reducing stress - Addressing the root causes of physical imbalances
A lunar forecast for September 20 - October 19th, 2017 by Susan Lipshutz featuring tips and practices for working with the energies of the month. Tune in to hear about this month's opportunities to embrace your inner goddess, commit to a daily practice of self-healing, find restoration and honor your gifts.
Learn about the radical shift from mind to heart and how to stay focused on compassion in troubled times with spiritual and social justice leader Brenda Salgado. But first, we'll check in with Susan Lipshutz of Everyday Medicine Woman for an enlightening lunar forecast with tips for working with the powerful eclipse and beyond. Brenda Salgado is a spiritual and social justice leader and the author of a new book, "Real World Mindfulness for Beginners." Trained by Purepecha, Xochimilco and Toltec elders in traditional medicine, Brenda draws on the healing powers of the natural world to guide her work. We speak with her about the radical shift from mind to heart and how to stay focused on compassion in times of turmoil. We also talk about: - The power of heart-centered leadership - The indigenous prophesy of the eagle and the condor - What Standing Rock can teach us about the future - Balancing the masculine and feminine energies on the planet - How men can step into sacred warriorship - The importance of rites of passage for young people - A simple ritual to help initiate girls into womanhood - An opportunity to move from ownership to stewardship of land
In our very first podcast episode, we get the chance to speak with sacred feminine activist Susan Lipshutz of Everyday Medicine Woman about the power of the moon and how women can navigate living as cyclical beings in a linear world. We also talk about: What the new and full moon means energetically; How creativity is connected to our cycles; How to create a ritual bath to support cleansing; The magic of our womb space ; The mystery of the dark moon; Learning how to co-create our lives and The role of intuition, compassion and inclusiveness in feminine leadership.
MoonWise is published on the new moon with an astrological forecast and an interview about natural approaches to self care, women's health and creativity. Our guests are wisdom keepers, artists, mothers and leaders who are ushering in a new era of feminine wisdom in their own lives and in the world. Join us as we tune into nature's rhythms and celebrate your own cycle!