In this powerful episode, I sit down with Whitney Walker, a licensed marriage and family therapist, recovery coach, spiritual guide, and host of the Women Waken podcast. Whitney shares her incredibly raw and vulnerable journey, from a childhood marked by an absent father and an emotionally immature mother to struggling with debilitating low self-esteem, addiction, and eating disorders in her 20s.

She opens up about hitting rock bottom, a moment where she realized "time's run out" on the chaos and just wanted peace, and how that catalyzed her profound transformation. We explore the concept of addiction as a symptom of not feeling safe or "enough" and the societal conditioning that breeds fear and competition instead of connection.

Our conversation delves deep into the power of the Divine Feminine, contrasting it with the "force" of masculine energy, and how embracing flow, intuition, and collective care can heal both individuals and society. Whitney passionately discusses the need for women to trust their inner wisdom, stand their ground with clarity (like the Queen of Swords in Tarot), and create new systems based on love rather than fear.

You'll also hear about:

• (04:03) Whitney's "brutal yet beautiful" 20s, marked by addiction and insecurity, and finding peace and power turning 40.
• (09:44) Addiction as a search for soothing in a world where we don't feel safe or believe we are our own source of healing.
• (14:38) Growing up with an emotionally absent father and the impact of conditional love on a child's sense of worth.
• (17:39) The simplicity of the solution for humanity: knowing we are safe and loved.
• (27:57) How we "play by the rules of the game that we choose to play" and the power of disengaging from dysfunctional systems.
• (36:01) The "Queen of Swords" energy: deliberate action, clarity, and setting boundaries without malice.
• (40:30) Being wary of gurus who claim their way is the only way, and trusting your own intuition.
• (47:19) Whitney's beautiful definition of "Rewrite the Mother Code": recognizing that we all have the ability to mother—to love, nurture, and see others—regardless of whether we have children.

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Learn more about Whitney Walker:

• Learn more on Whitney's Website
• Follow Whitney on Instagram (DM her to connect!)
• Listen to the Women Waken Podcast

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• Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”