In Her Image Podcast

In this weeks' episode, Kate interviews Natalie Nazer Cosby, Kira Woodfield Leeper, and Jess Burdette about an event they are putting on in April 2023 centering the Divine Feminine in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. From the group's page: "Our mission is to facilitate finding the common threads of feminine divinity throughout time and culture through sharing traditions, art, conversation, and community. We aim to empower everyone to explore their own divinity through an inclusive exploration of The Feminine Divine." Natalie, Kira, and Jess share details of the event, their why, and the scope of various religions and traditions that will be represented through artwork, poetry, dance, and lectures. 

We look forward to this celebration, and invite all to participate whether through physical attendance, submitting poetry to be read at the event, or donating/volunteering. 

Reserve your free tickets to the event here:  https://tinyurl.com/bdfpwawz

Class descriptions and presenter bios: https://www.nataliejeanneart.com/bios

Event schedule: https://tinyurl.com/bd955ry2

General info, including art and poetry submission details: https://www.nataliejeanneart.com/dfwdivinefeminineevent

Marlisa Wootton is a poet and songwriter who felt inspired to compile her favorite works concerning Heavenly Mother and publish a book!  Kate and Marlisa go through some of the contents of the book, hear the songs and the poems and the stories behind them.  Some are new hymns or poems, and some are re-writes of popular LDS songs with more inclusion for our Mother God.  This will be a wonderful addition to your worship library!

Friends and co-editors McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding join the podcast today to introduce their new ebook “In the Image of our Heavenly Parents: A Couple’s Guide to Creating a More Divine Marriage”. The purpose of the book is to create "more vibrant, thriving, equal partnerships", as Bethany puts it. They share the 12 principles included in the guide book that couples can work on throughout the year to model their marriages more closely on our Heavenly Parents’. They discuss why they saw a need for such a workbook and how they envision it being used in marriages. They share how the principles in the book have blessed their own marriages, and how they hope these principles will change not only the couples who put them into practice, but also the world at large. 

The book is available here: https://dstreetpress.myshopify.com/products/a-couples-guide-to-creating-a-more-divine-marriage 

Several respected therapists contributed to the guide book: Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, Dr. Julie Hanks, Dr. Ty Mansfield, Geoff Steurer, LMFT & Jody Steurer. It is illustrated by artist and graphic designer Ben Crowder.

Have you ever noticed the mental gymnastics it takes to constantly translate the written sacred texts to female pronouns? We have, and we're happy to share a resource that will bless your study of the New Testament and finally give that mental gymnast a break. In this episode, Jess and Kate introduce The Divine Feminine Version of the New Testament and why it's such a valuable resource. We read from its prologue, discuss the gender-expansive term "Godde", and share a few passages from this new-to-us version. We hope you'll enjoy the conversation on female representation in the scriptures, and especially the emphasis on seeing our Heavenly Mother there. 

https://godde.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/dfv-final-2nd-ed.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Feminine-Version-Testament-Second/dp/1545080852/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+divine+feminine+version+of+the+new+testament&qid=1673731684&sprefix=divine+feminine+version%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1

Email us at [email protected]

Find us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/inherimagepodcast/

RSVP to the Divine Feminine interfaith event in Dallas/Fort Worth at https://www.nataliejeanneart.com/dfwdivinefeminineevent

Have a wonderful Holiday season!

In response to some messages from listeners and friends concerning staying "positive and hopeful" rather than angry, Kate invites Jill Freestone for a discussion on emotions, particularly anger and how we can make sense of it.  Jill is a certified life coach whose focus is on helping teens and adults handle anxiety and big emotions. Jill has an incredible heart and capacity for compassion and curiosity--and she says part of that has come from healing her relationship with anger.

And lastly, please forgive the audio quality-- some parts are a bit choppy because I had a little technical difficulty during recording. 

Artist and art show curator Natalie Smith joins Jess for this episode to talk about her experience envisioning, painting, and writing about the Feminine Divine. Her recent art show titled "In Her Image"in Colorado featured various pieces by herself and other artists on symbols of Heavenly Mother. Natalie shares her story of loss, study, and inspiration and a poignant dream she had which led to the creation of her piece "Mother of All Living." She recites a poem she wrote in conjunction with this piece. Natalie's bravery and authenticity is inspiring!

See Natalie's art and writings at www.instagram.com/natalieillustrates and at www.natalieillustrates.com

Mechelle Wingle is the owner and founder of the Wholeness Network--a wellness streaming platform and podcast.  She is a life coach focused on transforming lives through education and healing.   She reached out to share insights from the book Mother Hunger By Kelly McDaniel.  Kate and Mechelle dive into the definition of trauma and what the side effects of trauma are that we may not recognize.  Then as they discuss the wounding that happens in earthly situations where a mother is absent or emotionally unavailable, followed by how that feeling may translate for those growing up without connection to their Mother God.

https://www.thewholenessnetwork.com/library-landing-page

Jolyn Laney joins Jess to discuss the difference in form, function, and permanence in the two different types of priesthood: hierarchical and familial/patriarchal. Of the hierarchical priesthood and its roles, President M. Russell Ballard taught, “Although the church plays a pivotal role in proclaiming, announcing, and administering the necessary ordinances of salvation and exaltation, all of that, as important as it is, is really just the scaffolding being used in an infinite and eternal construction project to build, support and strengthen the family. And just as scaffolding is eventually taken down and put away to reveal the final completed building, so too will the mortal, administrative functions of the church eventually fade as the eternal family comes into view. In that context, it’s important to remember that our church assignments are only temporary, and that at some point we will all be released either by our leaders or by death. But we will never be released from our eternal callings within the family.” -M. Russell Ballard

Moses 6:7 proclaims, "Now this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also." Referring to this verse of scripture, Jolyn shares on her Instagram: "this Priesthood that is spoken of here, is the patriarchal order of the Priesthood. Entered into through marriage and held equally by woman and man. This Priesthood is what creates worlds by exalted women and men. This Priesthood is used by Kings and Queens, Priests and Priestesses. This Priesthood is what will be used and held in the eternities. This Priesthood is what we have now. Holding it. Accessing it. Using it. This is what will endure. This is the power used to govern, teach, exalt families. I just love pondering this patriarchal, familial priesthood and the possibilities when we step into our powers and privileges." 

Jolyn can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.familial.priesthood/ and https://www.instagram.com/jolyn.laneyphoto/

In a world (and a church) where things tend to change very slowly, it can be hard to maintain a new way of being; a new way of seeing. It can start to feel hopeless when you feel you are the only one who sees things the way you do, and you are continually met with indifference, or worse, when you try to share your newfound truth. When it is easy to focus on the hard, to focus on what we don't want, it is nonetheless imperative to turn our focus back to our desires, and envision the world and the results we do want. What does a bright, beautiful, equitable future look like? What does unity entail? What can we co-create by focusing our thoughts and actions, our power on the good we want to see unfold? Jess and Kate discuss the cyclical nature of their experiences, and how they are turning their focus to hope and to what they might do to assist in the collective rise as the divine feminine, the Mother of Heaven and Earth, dawns on our collective awareness.