Kitchen Table Alchemy: Living in Full Color

Grounding meditation learns from Tree how to ground and establish boundaries around our personal space

In the wake of the November full moon, known as Baba Yaga's Feastday, we discuss the necessity of Good Counsel in navigating turbulent times and what it looks like when it comes.

A decades’ long musing about the beginnings of patriarchy is given new musings after reading the chapter on Hags vs Heroes in Max Daschau’s book. What role did hero epics play in the wiping out women’s power needed to establish the patriarchy? www.mywytchyways.com

A call to Memphis cuts the Ohio portion of the journey short, but I am able to make it to my 2 biggest priorities, the Serpent Mound in Ohio, which is known as aligning with the solstice sunset, but further research has shown to also track the full 18 year lunar cycle, as well as be a pregnancy calculator. After that, I head to the very powerful National Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati. www.mywytchyways.com

More #vanlife chronicles of a creeper on the campground and trying to find another spot close to dark near Lake Erie on a weekend with a jazz festival happening, and what happens when I do finally find a place to land. www.mywytchyways.com

A #vanlifesucks day gets worse when I walk into the Seneca Falls Visitor Center as a way to take my mind off of all the technical difficulties I’d had all day. Early history of the Seneca Falls area makes a bad day worse as I learn about early interaction with the native residents, and the patterns of disrespect for people and land paving way for industry that inevitably collapses that is repeated all over the country www.mywytchyways.com

Patriarchy has long called women crazy as a means to silence them and get them to doubt their own intuitive wisdom. Fear of being seen as --or even actually going--crazy inhibits many women from connecting with their ancestors. www.mywytchyways.com

Hartford County’s progressive history, including providing refuge for the Mendi people from the Amistad as they awaited trial, has its own gaps and has certainly shifted in the present. How does a place that was so forward thinking move into such conservatism? www.mywytchyways.com

A visit to Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum outside of Plymouth, MA brings shocking interactions with the impeccably trained actors in the English Settlement and forces me to stretch my heart open wider to hold on to their humanity in the face of the impact of the Plimoth settlement. www.mywytchyways.com

Rich conversation with decolonialist and teacher Sara Jolena of Sequoia Samanvaya about moving into a space of ReMembering our place within nature and the line of those that came before and those that will come after and what is required of us Here and Now to work through our history and move forward. Sara Jolena had great insights into the self-care necessary to do a reclaimation trip like mine. www.mywytchyways.com

The stories of the struggles of reclamation and the joys of reconnecting with traditional tribal ways shared at Healing Turtle Island lead me to reflect on my own shamanic process of reconnecting with the Forgotten Dead of European tribes first hit by Viking raids, then further impacted by Roman colonization. www.mywytchyways.com

Healing Turtle Island, a 21-year cycle of rituals dreamed into reality by Sherri Mitchell, focused in 2019 on Healing from Colonialism. The first day of ritual centered on colonialism’s impact on gender roles and how they relate with one another. www.mywytchyways.com

Visiting the Friends Ancient Burial Grounds in Pennsylvania and attending the Chester Quaker meeting outside Philadelphia lead to a discussion on inclusion and the feeling of being an outsider- which seems like such a universal human emotion, but upon further reflection, is more likely the result of the colonialization that cut us off from our bodies, our ancestral practices, and the world around us. www.mywytchyways.com

From the Quaker Ancient Burial Ground in London Grove Township, Pennsylvania, I’m processing the anger left still grinding from my visit through Virginia and an ancestor that owned slaves as well as the Jamestown Settlement and the summer of the first shipment of slaves as well as the Tobacco Brides coming into the colony. I reflect on the damage that sources toxic masculinity and wonder if there’s a difference between those that are traumatized and then become conquerors and those that have always been on top and defend their position. www.mywytchyways.com

Recorded in Franklin County, North Carolina at the ordination site of my oldest known ancestor on my Father’s Fathers line, I wrestle with the welcoming I feel from the land and the anger I feel about the exploitive and abusive energy I feel on the line. The worn gravestones made me realize that "written in stone" does not mean something's permanent. Stone wears down. The second segment delves into this and I recall a conversation I had with the stones at Burney Falls, CA.

Recorded at the Redcliffe Plantation in South Carolina, where many of the slaves reportedly stayed on as freedmen and sharecroppers until the 1970s. Their decision to stay on is usually seen as evidence of how much the plantation system met their needs and worked for them, but I believe it was more likely the result of terrorism like the lynchings that happened with such frequency in the South. I also speak about my experience at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. www.mywytchyways.com/podcast/staying_on_the_plantation Works referenced in this episode: Beloved book by Toni Morrison and film starring Oprah Winfrey

Recorded in Mobile, AL at the Old Plateau Cemetery near Africatown in the north side of the Mobile Bay. Survivors of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to come to America, are buried there. I also visited the St. Michael’s Churchyard on the Faunsdale Plantation in Faunsdale, Alabama. www.mywytchyways.com

Recorded in the Redwoods National Park spring of 2019 during a #vanlife trial run. While meditating in the ancient forest, a family cluster of redwoods invite me to tap in. Second segment is a visualization to tap into our own root systems and experience the support that is there.

Recorded in Austin, TX at the beginning of my Ancestral Borderlands Truth & Reconciliation Tour, this episode traces some of the yarns woven into the present moment as an introduction to the podcast www.mywytchyways.com www.patreon.com/wytchyways

With guest Kaden Sheffield, we discuss the spiritual practices couched in traditional women's work, the feminine side of spirituality and religion, and the way text vs image impacts how we see the world.

Jacqueline and guest Jaena Moynihan meet on the New Moon opening Eclipsepacolypse 2018 to talk about shifting patterns, making their way through the dark, and realizing that what we thought as shameful weaknesses are actually the place with the greatest potential for connection.

It seems simple that a man shouldn’t make sexual advances without a woman’s consent, yet we live in a culture that often sends men the opposite message. In the midst of the MeToo and Time’s Up movements, we examine what we can do to make the world a safer place for all people when it comes to sex.

With the spiritual realm being particularly close to us this time of year, we explore how we can honor our ancestors in the present. We also discuss Spiritual Bypassing - a shadow way of using spiritual concepts to avoid facing hard realities. We end with practical advice on how to know what you have a responsibility to change and what to trust to spirit.

“Anger wants a place to land,” so how do we work with that without hurting ourselves or others? In this episode, Jacqueline and Sara both woke up angry, and talk about working through anger in a productive way.

Growth - personally, professionally, and culturally - requires facing difficult emotions and having tough conversations. On the other side is truth, peace, and upleveling your life. Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Amy Schumer video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzlvDV3mpZw Tina Fey video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVvpXZxXWZU Louis CK video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxTXHFcgK-c

The recent White Supremacist rally in Virginia has sparked a national conversation about how to push back the tidal wave of hatred that has been washing over the country of late. How do we work to transform the hatred we see around us without becoming monsters ourselves? Discussion on honoring Yes & No Don Ruiz Jr’s book The Five Attachments Netflix documentaries: The Mask You Live In and Erasing Hate

We dive into an article about the bardo, the void between death and rebirth, that is a part of the natural cycle of change that we experience repeatedly throughout life, and discuss what can come out of that place of letting go in order to experience rebirth. Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: The Four Essential Points of Letting Go in the Bardo https://www.lionsroar.com/four-points-for-letting-go-bardo/ Pema Chodron Katie Haverly

We often assume that big change comes from large organizations and charismatic leaders, but in this episode we discuss how powerful change most often starts with small communities comprised of individuals leading themselves - and how you can be one of them, no matter how big or small your aspirations. Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Why We Need New Ways of Thinking https://www.mindful.org/why-we-need-new-ways-of-thinking/ Anne With An E http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5421602/ Meetup.com https://www.meetup.com/ Marketing for Hippies http://marketingforhippies.com/?s=playing+small+is+bullshit

Guest Randa Hamwi uses the oldest Arabic lexicon and a concordance of the Qur’an to come to some really profound understandings of what it means to be Human. In a time of closing things down and drawing sides, Ms. Hamwi’s work opens up, expands and connects. Her upcoming book focuses on what she calls “The IQRA Challenge,” which gives a process to move through information and use it to serve Creation.

How can you harness your energy on Inauguration Day towards something good, even when you're not feeling good about where the new leadership is taking us? We discuss ways to usher in a new age of powerful intentions and actions in your life regardless - or perhaps because of - what's going on externally. Plus, some simple tips on how to interpret your dreams!

How can you harness your energy on Inauguration Day towards something good, even when you're not feeling good about where the new leadership is taking us? We discuss ways to usher in a new age of powerful intentions and actions in your life regardless - or perhaps because of - what's going on externally. Plus, some simple tips on how to interpret your dreams!

What do you do when you're uncertain about what goals you want to set for the new year? Especially during tumultuous times, a new approach on how to envision a new year may be necessary.

We take a deep look at the nature of reality, our perceptions of what is real, what’s really going on under the surface, and how our understanding of quantum physics must change the way we think about brain science and what is real. Then we explore the topic of how evolution in the 21st century and beyond may be about psychological evolution rather than physical evolution, and how we as individuals can embrace this change without getting bowled over by it.

Telling the story of the First Woman leading the Dine' people to the 3rd World leads to a discussion on agency versus punishment and how we face the changes we see before us since the election.

Special guest Kathleen Gramzay's recent trip to Greece leads to a discussion on multi-dimensional experiences, emotional release and transformation, and how we can use that to flip the script on the bullies on the playgrounds of our lives.

Recorded on Dia de los Muertos, artist and writer Paige Sullivan guest hosts a conversation about releasing ancestor angst and its relationship to creative process.

Join us for a community sharing ritual to break the silence and shame required to maintain rape culture's prevalence in our society. This episode is a template to hold a sharing circle in your own community to provide space for women to share their sexual assault stories in empathetic community while supportive men provide silent witness.

What’s blocking you from creating your art or simply living a more tranquil and fulfilling life? We discuss strategies for clearing out the physical, mental, and emotional clutter that is keeping your life small.

Women are the water bearers, and healing our relationship with our bodies and our monthly cycles deepens our intuition and creativity. Here are the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Dakota Access Pipeline The Red Tent by Anita Diamant Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

What does time urgency and reverse discrimination have to do with white supremacy? And how is the ego driving the ship? Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Master of None TV show is available on Netflix

We explore the healthy and toxic aspects of the masculine and feminine principles through the Gender Medicine Wheel and discuss the nature of the Divine Masculine. Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: The Gender Medicine Wheel was developed by Jose Luis & Lena Stevens at Power Path Shamanism

16 - Talking Rider to Rider http://www.mediafire.com/download/g484j4eqqxkfddf/KitchenTableAlchemy016.mp3 We talk with guest Carolina Krawarik-Graham on how to have difficult conversations around race and equality, as well as how to confront the unconscious biases hiding in our own minds. Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory (Wikipedia has a pretty good overview) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstede%27s_cultural_dimensions_theory White Supremacy Culture – Tema Okun (two similar versions) http://www.cwsworkshop.org/PARC_site_B/dr-culture.html and http://dismantlingracism.org/Dismantling_Racism/liNKs_files/whitesupcul09.pdf The White Ladder - Tema Okun http://www.cwsworkshop.org/pdfs/CARC/White_Identity/4_Life_Long_Journey.PDF Tema Okun The Emperor Has No Clothes What is White Supremacy? by Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez The Culture of White Supremacy by Sharon Martinas A few quick tips for countering oppression ~ Don't make and/or Challenge your assumptions. Eric Law talks about how ~ Ask Questions - Demonstrate “Holy Curiosity” ~ Be mindful of your (white, male, economic, relational, educated, accredited, clergy, professional, hetero, cis, "been around for forever", etc.) privilege in any given interaction and/or space and think about how to best equalize the power dynamic. ~ Consider that everyone has more identities (and history) than you're aware of. No one is just a race + gender expression + orientation. Our identities are infinite. ~ Welcome discomfort. There's so much more opportunity there. ~ Be mindful of how much space you claim, and what that might mean for others. ~ Don't touch people (or things) without explicit consent. Not everyone responds to touch the same way, not all "friendly" touch is appropriate. ~ Be mindful of your language and that there may be someone within earshot to whom it may be exclusionary/hurtful. ~ Try to Listen more than you speak. ~ When you speak, speak (only) for yourself (unless requested to speak for a group). ~ Don't make a member of a marginalized group responsible for your education about issues of marginalization and oppression. Seek out those allied people and groups (like ARE) dedicated to helping with that. ~ Be aware that your intent will not always = the impact of your words & actions. ~ Try not to take things personally. ~ Be open to learning. ~ Exercise humility. ~ Remember that not everyone has the same information! Share respectfully if you have the opportunity.

We welcome our first musician guest Kristin Center as we discuss how to handle those predatory types in our lives who seek to tear down the weak, the sacred, and the beautiful. Plus, Jacqueline fills us in on her summer Stonehenge sabbatical. Tune in for lots of laughs and a bit of powerful music!

Is happily ever after really possible or just a pipe dream? Or is it our either/or mentality that’s getting in the way? Can we have a big impact in the world? Tune in to discover strategies to “have it all” without burning out or selling out. Authors and resources we discussed in this episode: Brene Brown’s BIG (Boundaries, Integrity, Generosity) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecb6ExBaW80

Leaving behind survival mode and stepping into trust can be difficult when life has given us plenty of reasons not to trust. Mother’s Day is a time for celebration for some, and for others it is a reminder of what we’ve lost or never had.

You wouldn’t think that the topics of creativity and homelessness would go together, and neither did we, until we sat down and talked about them back-to-back. We discuss how creativity is an essential human need, and why most people don’t get enough of it. Then we address the sticky issue of how to handle that uncomfortable moment when you pull up next to that homeless person at a stoplight.

Dealing with death is not easy, but we all have to do it at some point, so we talk about what we most need to know to help others - or ourselves - through the darkness. Then we follow up on our conversation about the drama triangle and talk about how to get out whenever we get caught up in it. Thanks to Cyd West for being our first podcast guest! Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Deeply Into the Bone: Re-Inventing Rites of Passage by Ronald L. Grimes The Power of TED by David Emerald Toward a More Equal World Warren Salinger

Flipping the drama triangle and exploring The Five Attachments – Let’s step into our next stage of evolution as individuals in order to create the future we want (not the one we think we’re stuck with). Here are links to the authors and resources we mentioned in this episode: Drama triangle https://www.karpmandramatriangle.com/ Empathy Deficit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7755013 Pink Floyd "In the Flesh" mashup with Trump rallies https://www.facebook.com/IRBF.org.uk/videos/1543516199276321/ BBC 5 Steps to Fascism (full documentary!!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeBisBQblFM The Five Levels of Attachment: Toltec Wisdom for the Modern World http://www.dailyom.com/library/000/003/000003072.html Blue eyes/Brown eyes experiment http://www.janeelliott.com/

In this episode, we take on the elephant in the room - Donald Trump. How is he reflecting what we’re all doing, as individuals and as a culture? How is our desire for control and certainty enslaving us? And what can each of us do about it?

In this episode, we discuss how to be powerful without being a jerk, and how having more lighthearted fun can lead to a seriously happier life experience.

ln this episode, we discuss the difference between the Martyr and Trickster view of the world and how the lense we see through affects how we relate to the world. We touch on the importance of backing up our beliefs with action in order for them to be fully realized. Last but not least, we dive into the American Election Fairy Tale - what it is, how it’s no longer serving us, and what’s on the horizon. Please share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions in our Facebook group - next time we’ll address the questions and concerns that you in our community have about this important topic.