Moonwise

"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.