Moonwise

Latest Episodes:

WARRIOR: Natalie Zacharias on Staying Calm in Chaos (Ep. 53) Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

“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:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

(Encore) JOY: Woman Stands Shining on Remembering Our Sacred Role as Women (Ep. 52) Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

“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

GROW: Susan Lipshutz on the Magic of Mentorship (Ep. 51) Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

"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 of Everyday Medicine Woman, offering workshops, meditation courses and retreats around the world.

Links:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

SOUL: Sarah Dickey on Conscious Conception and Reparenting Ourselves (Ep. 50) Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

"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:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

SUBSCRIBE: APPLE PODCASTS / SPOTIFY

BONUS CONTENT: PATREON

EMPATHY: Anna King on Parenting as a Highly Sensitive Person (Ep. 49) Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

"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:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

CARE: Nicolle L. Gonzales on Making Birth Sacred Again (Ep. 47) Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

"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:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

—> Enjoy the show? Get access to bonus content, seasonal herb guides, meditations and more by joining our community on Patreon: patreon.com/moonwise Thank you for your support!

HONOR: Rachael Jean on Pregnancy and Birth as Sacred Initiation (Ep.46) Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

"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:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

SURRENDER: Anne Murphy on Navigating the Sacred Wilderness of Grief (Ep. 44) Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

"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:

—> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

—> Join us on Patreon and get access to bonus content, seasonal herb guides, meditations and more.

INTUITION: Queen Afua on Listening to the Voice Within (Ep. 43) Mar 27, 2021

Show notes

"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:

Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show!

Follow Moonwise on Instagram: @moonwise.co

PRESENCE: Heather McKittrick on Healing with Flowers (Ep. 42) Feb 27, 2021

Show notes

“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:

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!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected