Moonwise

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