Ging and Kat sit down to record this podcast episode a mere 16 hours into Kat's move. They jump in and talk about emotional processing. How do you drop in to process rather than skim the surface? In a perfect world, we would take time off time to do it. Are we functioning in emergency respond mode all the time by not allowing space? The Gems talk about dropping in through Womb Breaths (one of the tools they have from Magdalena Curtis :: Radical Embodiment).

Kat mentions that her move is a proactive step rather than a reactionary one, so this may put her in a different emotional state. She also didn't allow time for a dramatic, climatic goodbye as she was leaving her space, so there was a lot of "what's next" energy. This is a rare energetic for Kat... she often lingers and wants more time as she's saying goodbye. Ginger is a quick ender and truly moving on. Kat is learning that quick goodbyes can be refreshing — there's less attachment to them.

This episode proves that in reality, both Gems need help in the quick goodbye arena because they really struggle with ending the episode via the longest most awkward goodbye. Ha! Gotta love life's ironies!

Kathy surprises Ginger right off the bat! Once the giggles subside, the convo delves into the different ways people declare their independence. How do you cut ties to past lives so you can be fully free to move on to new ways of being? What's the underlying motivation to why we do something?

Ginger asks Kathy about her jewelry biz history and the great crash of 2008, and the two of them discuss how to step out of the box of labels beyond being "bellydancer" and "wire jewelry artist." They also discuss literal name changes, whether through marriage or other acquisition. Are names empowering? Do they create solidarity?

This juicy topic turns towards the area of having an opinion. Ginger reveals her judgy nature and shares how having a strong opinion actually garners respect. If everyone's soft and lovey, they aren't growing. Growth happens through discomfort and vulnerability. 

There are lots of amazing resources in this episode! Here are the links below:

Oscar Perez, Spiritual Alchemy for Men

SOFA Chicago

Standing at the Edge, blog post by Kathy Frey

KonMari Method

Herb & Dorothy movie

Darkside Zodiac book (new title: Blame Your Planet)

Fat Chance Bellydance

World of Dance Hip Hop Competition

Danielle Vincent: Outlaw Soaps; Coffee and a Class

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

The Gems are each going through lifestyle shifts that are fairly drastic for women in their 40s. Today they have cherished guest Carrie Smith, a woman who feels like the queen of interesting living situations. In her 20s she traveled around the country working seasonal jobs and then landed in the Grass Valley area of California. After settling and living in a small studio apartment, she realized while she was mostly happy, there was also a piece of her that felt a little dead inside.

She listened to that piece and started a new adventure of living in tents, which taught her a lot about herself. The Gems have been working with Carrie and are talking to her before she takes her next leap -- returning to a traveling gypsy lifestyle. This time with her male counterpart. Ginger and Carrie talk about being in relationships with men older than them (12 and 18 year differences) and how to hold a secure space when you are each on very different inner journeys.

This episode touches on fear, fighting programming and how to let your guard down after being a warrior for so long.

Update: This podcast was recorded in November 2016. Carrie is on the road and doing well! The above photo is from her current travels in December 2016.

A few resources are mentioned in this episode, here are the links below:

Witch Skewl with Birch of Sacred Grove

California College of Ayurveda

Leigh Lazarus

Rori Raye, Have the Relationship You Want

Kim Anami

What do you think about crazy living situations? Have you tried them? How did you feel? Did it open something up inside you? We'd love to hear from you about this conversation.

In this episode, the Gems get outraged about gender neutrality. Polarity and tension make the world go round! They add juice to our lives. Why is there a push to make things and people neutral? Why not push for acceptance instead? Allow people to be who they are rather than sculpting them into some sort of program, whether based on gender or the lack thereof.

Not only does neutral not move forward but it also strips away sexuality and sensuality. Ginger experienced The Great Sterilization of Bellydance, and she certainly doesn't want to see that happen to society as a whole.

Here are links to some of the resources we mention:

Factual Feminist YouTube channel

ReWild Yourself podcast

Kim Anami

Ginger and Kathy have a new relationship resource in their psyche: Kim Anami. They share some of her basic tenets, which circulate around libido being a magnetic life force that affects creative and financial flow. How do we cultivate this juicy space in the midst of busy lives, whether solo or in a relationship? The Geminis discuss making this a normal part of life and a priority. This space keeps us from shutting down -- which also triggers conversation about openness. How physical opening causes emotional opening and spiritual growth.

Conversation turns to Kathy's downsizing move and how the energetic is about "letting go" rather than the energy of her divorce which was "what am I holding on to." Ginger is a new fan of "let it die" so that things can be reborn. These theories sound easy, but they trigger desire for soothing so patterns are being identified (like eating scones or wishing for relationship). Kathy confesses that she's filling out online dating profiles because she does want some deeper connection and isn't finding it in her flirtations. As things loop back around to sex, Ginger outs Kathy on her sleep number! The Gems quote Guru Dave and end with his wisdom to "follow the more." They are plotting having him on the podcast -- give us your vote!

The Gems do a full rundown of their recent relationship studies and reference other resources -- here are those links:

Kim Anami, The Well F*cked Woman

ReWild Yourself podcast with Daniel Vitalis

Toastmasters

Yoni Eggs (Keggels)

Rori Raye, Have the Relationship You Want

The Queen's Code by Alison Armstrong

David Deida (and Tantra)

The Tao of Love and Sex by Jolan Chang

The KonMari Method, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

5 Love Languages

Grass Valley Thursday Night Market

The Geminis had their big holiday unveiling at their store, Cult of Gemini, last night, so they have a bit of an emotional hangover from working 14-hour powerhouse days while the election happened. They touch base to do some processing about how to heal through love while also casting light into those shadowy areas of racism, sexism, classism and other isms.

The Gems talk about healing and holding space but don't throw around a million references like they usually do, so there aren't many links to share for this episode. Ginger does mention this article: On "Woke" White People Advertising their Shock that Racism just won a Presidency

As always, we'd love to hear your comments below to keep the conversation going.

Ginger and Kathy continue discussing downsizing and the emotions that come up when letting go of stuff in regards to purging versus processing. Ginger's downsize is triggering a major change in her relationship dynamic, while Kathy's is getting her closer to some larger lifestyle dreams if she can let go of being so fiercely independent. These topics connect to community living and prove that the kindergarten idea of sharing may be a good life skill afterall.

The Gems discuss letting go of old identities and taking steps towards their new 100% (if that's even possible for a Gemini). Can they fully cut ties to old ways of being to allow for more fully stepping into who they are now?

For you gossip mongers out there, Ginger does a full rundown of the soap-opera laden triangulation that will be happening in the Gemini private lives.

As they are witches, the Gems tie everything together with the seasons. Autumn really is a great time for purging and letting go. Make those decisions about who you no longer want to be, then hibernate over winter and re-emerge sometime next spring.

The Gems mention a few resources; the links are below:

Downton Abbey

Local Milk retreats

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Makers spaces

Amanda Ashley, artist

The Curious Forge

Are you in this type of transition? Please share with us and keep the conversation going.

As they simplify their personal lives by letting go of physical things (often called "belongings"), the Geminis take turns stepping into the unknown. Ginger and Kathy talk about how things are a tether to a certain life or former aspect of yourself and how it feels to release those things — less stuff is freeing, but emotions do rise up. They discuss being alone vs. loneliness as Ginger experiments with being by herself more and Kathy prepares herself for more communal living. Why are the Geminis doing this, and why now? Listen in to find out.

The Geminis mention several references, so the handy links are below:

Join the Cult of Gemini mailing list for a weekly newsletter that includes other aspects of our journey, a tarot pull for guidance, and information about upcoming events.

The Wild Kuan Yin Oracle Deck by Alana Fairchild

The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You by Dorothy Bryant (Ginger is reading this book right now)

Astrological Squares — the Geminis learned about them from this Leo King video from September

Ginger mentions Caroline Myss and her concept that people want to control the rate at which their lives change, which is another aspect of fear

The Geminis, Ginger and Kathy, talk about all the different facets of trust. Kathy is exploring trust in her life through partner dance, but the real challenges come in with trusting herself while not being so fiercely independent. The Gems talk about trusting the Universe and explore ideas around co-habitation and co-created community. Through this dialog, compassion comes up for men being in the traditional role of "the asker" while the Gems bemoan the lost art of dating and being asked out.... which leads to an existential tangent about love and cultivation of emotions. Pole dancing becomes a trust exercise, the Geminis admit that they both enjoy running away and sometimes shutting down, and Ginger's going to hook Kathy up with a shank.

Somehow all of these things fit into the conversation this week:

CoMotion Magic fusion dance with Nancy Shanteau and Derek Briones

S Factor pole dancing

TwinStar Podcast Episode 008 discussion with Oscar Perez around loyalty, fealty and trust

Denay Joy Woodman

Blues Fusion Recess dance retreats

What do you get when three Geminis record a podcast together? Longest episode ever. We thought about breaking this one up, but the conversation flows so beautifully that we left it whole. Ginger and Kathy welcome Oscar Pérez, PhD and incredible coach, healer and trainer (and also a Gemini, which means he's even more multi-faceted).

Oscar helps people develop the skill of grieving and also helps them foster deep connection with the natural world. The Geminis talk with him about his skills and then they all delve into discussing relationships since those tend to be our biggest teachers. Oscar dives into the notion of ancestral healing and its importance on a larger scale even for those not having children. And three air signs come to accept that we can't solve problems in the body, soul and psyche by using the brain alone — we must reconnect with our bodies.

There are many juicy references in this episode, including:

Oscar Pérez : : Inlak'ech Coaching New website coming soon. Facebook.

Tantra and circular breathing

Caroline Myss

Deepak Chopra

EFT Tapping

Martîn Prechtel

Alice Walker is the poet referred to who wrote "Tears left unshed turn to poison in the ducts"

Danielle Laporte : : Truthbombs

Center of Movement, Grass Valley, CA : : where Oscar will be teaching martial arts beginning October 3, 2016

Inspiring quotes from Rumi

We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy--And the World's Getting Worse by James Hillman

"The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master." -Robin Sharma

Eckhart Tolle

Magdalena Curtis : : Radical Embodiment