Jennifer Whitkaer (00:02.709)
Welcome everyone and thank you for joining us today on this very special episode. Just so you know that today, the day that we're recording this episode is Earth Day, which makes this conversation even more potent and sacred. And today we're not just going to be having a typical podcast conversation.

we're actually gonna take you on a journey, a journey that many of us have already begun in our own way, from disconnection to reconnection, from forgetting to remembering, from living on the surface of things to returning to the sacred heartbeat beneath it all.

So many of you women who are listening are in the process of awakening and you're realizing that something essential has been missing, not just in the world, but also within yourself. And you're feeling this ache of separation from your bodies, from your soul's voice, from your purpose and from the earth. And you're being called back.

You're being called back to your alignment with nature, to your feminine wisdom, and to a deeper relationship with the divine. And that's why I couldn't imagine a more perfect guide for this conversation than introducing you to John Philip Newell, who is an internationally renowned Celtic teacher and author of numerous books, including Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul.

A book that I have to say feels like a holy invitation to come home to yourself. And we have Cami Twilling, the Director of Earth and Soul, which is a Celtic initiative of study, spiritual practice, and compassionate action inspired by the teachings of John Philip Knoll.

Jennifer Whitkaer (02:04.597)
John Philip Newell, I know that you have written many, many books, but I have to say that we're going to be speaking very specifically to Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul. And I am an avid reader. I read so many books and yours is one of the few books I have read. I think it's four times now. So I just want to add that to our listeners. This is definitely a book worth reading.

John Philip Newell (02:22.126)
I'm

Jennifer Whitkaer (02:29.301)
And today in our conversation, we're going to be following the path that sacred earth, sacred soul so beautifully illuminates. We're going to begin by exploring why we're feeling disconnected. Then we're going to move into the journey of remembering and sacred reconnection. We're going to listen for the divine heartbeat that pulses through nature.

We're gonna reflect on the sacred thresholds that we're being called across. And we're gonna end with how to embody this awakening in our own lives and in our leadership. And we'll be guided by Cami through a very special spiritual practice at the end.

So John Philip and Cami, I'm so honored to have you here. Let's begin at the beginning. I want to start with the question that I ask each of my guests to each of you. What practice keeps you rooted as you rise?

John Philip Newell (03:24.974)
Thank you Jennifer and thanks for the welcome. It's very good to be with you.

I love this question in part because it suggests rising to the new day as well, as well as rising from the realm of sleep and the sort of remembering that can happen in the dreams of the night. But my practice, and it's a practice that as soon as I wake, I think, yeah.

I get to meditate for half an hour. And that's a really important moment in my day. And I think early on in my meditative practice, I might have occasionally thought, I'm too busy. I'm so important and I've got so many important things to do. I'll maybe have to skip my meditation. And I learned very early on that...

that is extremely counterproductive. And that what silent meditation does for me is root me again in my center. It allows me to open to my essence and to be reminded that that's where my true energy comes from. That's where any creativity that will affect my

my work in terms of my teaching and writing come from. So my practice, and now that I'm in Finthorn, and we have a sort of pine forest immediately behind the house and a balcony leading, a little balcony leading out from the bedroom, my practice is to either sit out on the balcony, wrapped warmly in a blanket,

John Philip Newell (05:28.398)
or to sit slightly inside the bedroom but with the doors open, almost like an archway onto an actual world. And my practice is to use a very simple mantra that the rhythm of which is helped by my breathing in and my breathing out. And the mantra that I'm very focused on at the moment is

open to the light of your soul, open to the light of your soul. And that's been very important. you know, as you've already indicated, and as the title of my book that we're going to be touching on indicates that sacred soul, sacred earth, or sacred earth, sacred soul. So I have been finding it more recently helpful to move simply

not just from open to the light of your soul, to at some stage in my meditation moving the mantra into open to the light in all life, and to be reminded that my soul and the soul of earth come from the same wellspring, and that moving from one...

Mantra, repetition and the other. I've been finding it very helpful. And then that meditation time ends with a sort of moving into prayer of compassion for places of suffering in the world. And I find that important as well, because being renewed in one's soul, being renewed in the soul of earth is never, I think,

simply for me, it's to strengthen me in the way of love and strengthen me in the way of compassionate interrelationship with all things. So that's a very simple practice and I'm absolutely committed to it. I know that if I neglect it, my day goes downhill pretty quickly.

Jennifer Whitkaer (07:49.989)
I can so relate. I definitely can feel it when I do not do my morning practice as well. And I so appreciate the detail that you gave to us because so many women who are listening are experimenting with different practices. And so I think it's important to hear what other people are doing to find the one that works well for you. So thank you for sharing that. Kimmy, what is your practice that keeps you rooted as you rise?

Cami Twilling (08:15.886)
Well, every morning I do have a meditation practice and just that time of stillness, but I'm going to share something different that I've just started doing in the past few months that's been very grounding. And, you know, it's so easy when we wake up in the morning to pick up our phone and look at, know, who knows what, if there's messages or whatever, but I've decided in the morning when I got up, I go right out my back door.

and have this beautiful ash tree in the backyard. And so I go barefoot if it's warm enough or in wool socks if it's not. And I stand out in the middle of my backyard and I hug this beautiful ash tree and look to the east and allow the sunlight to come into my eyes and just stand there with utter gratitude, feeling myself being grounded into earth.

And then looking up this enormous tall tree and just saying thank you and seeing how, I mean, I love, you know, rooted women rising. I mean, it's so beautiful. just think of this tree, you know, it's so deeply rooted and strong and held by earth, but then it's also rising and reaching out and, you know, providing life for birds and squirrels and

and a shade in the summertime. And it's just been a beautiful way to start my day of, you no matter if it's snowing outside, if it's sunny outside, if it's, no matter what the weather, just taking time to be outside, to feel myself, you know, grounding down into earth, but then also, you know, rising up, looking up into this tree and looking into the sun.

and just feeling such gratitude for this earth that holds us and gives us all that we need. And in standing there, sometimes it's very quiet and sometimes, you know, different things arise within me that I want to pay attention to for the day. But I think it is it's one of those things, too, that I notice a big difference on the days I don't go outside.

Cami Twilling (10:44.844)
You know, if I skip a day, it's so interesting how that does shift the whole day. You know, and sometimes I think at noon, if I haven't gone out, I'm like, I need to go out and do this. You know, it's never too late. I don't think we've ever missed a moment of meditation or grounding into Earth. It's important to if we notice I haven't done that.

then we can go out and do that in the moment of awareness and bring ourselves back into that place of being centered. But that's a practice I've really enjoyed over these past few months. And I'm looking forward to the summertime, know, the light coming so much earlier and just beginning the day that way, just with Earth.

Jennifer Whitkaer (11:36.871)
It's so beautiful. And when you said hugging the tree, I just felt myself there in the morning. I like to go out and have my breakfast and I put my feet in the grass and ground as well. And I'm amazed every morning I do. I look forward to this moment because like you said, there are some mornings where the birds are really active. There are sometimes it's really quiet. There are mornings that it's raining. There's sometimes it's windy. Everything is changing. And it just allows me to be reminded that if I am in a season that

feels stuck or dark that it too shall pass because nature is that reminder that everything is changing. So thank you for both sharing that. I love both of your practices. It really resonates with me. So I want to share a quote that is in your book.

Cami Twilling (12:13.666)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Jennifer Whitkaer (12:27.143)
We are in the midst of a great reawakening to the sacredness of the earth and the human soul." And I think that's such a beautiful quote.

timely for obviously Earth Day and for this conversation. And either of you feel free to answer this question, but I'm curious to know because you both have such a devotion to your mission and this purpose, this devotional path to the divine and to nature. And what was your inspiration to follow this devotional path?

John Philip Newell (13:06.126)
I was reared in the Western world, of course, trained theologically in Edinburgh, which had a real sort of superiority attitude about itself, being a sort of strong, heady place of theology. so, you my theological education taught me nothing.

about meditative practice. It taught me nothing about inner listening. And when I was still a relatively young man, I was given the opportunity by a gentleman named Harry Underhill, who was the nephew of the great English mystic, Evelyn Underhill.

I was given the opportunity to go to India and to spend a month with Bede Griffiths, was a great Benedictine monk who spent most of his life in India, although he was from England originally. And his most seminal work was called The Marriage of East and West. And particularly speaking to the need for the Western world and Western Christianity to

ground itself again in the wisdom of Eastern spiritual practices and meditation. And that was a real awakening moment for me in India to learn some very simple but ancient meditative practices and to realize that my own Western Christian inheritance

had neglected this dimension of my being and had neglected the practice of inner listening and stillness and silence. So that was a turning point in my life. And I was already aware of and being attracted to Celtic wisdom around sacredness of Earth.

John Philip Newell (15:32.846)
And so gradually what began to happen for me was this discovery of Eastern wisdom about meditative practice, and then sort of bringing that not only into my own inner life, but allowing some of those practices to allow me to listen to the inner life of Earth and the inner life of the natural world.

So that has led to this focus on sacredness of earth, sacredness of soul. But the turning point for me was definitely some time with Bede Griffiths in the East.

Jennifer Whitkaer (16:19.933)
And just for the listeners as well, because I know we're going to be referencing a lot around traditional Christianity, Celtic Christianity and Celtic wisdom. Can you briefly just share the differentiation or how you define each so people understand when we're sharing those terms, what that means for you?

John Philip Newell (16:40.642)
Yes, so much of our Western Christian tradition as we know it was given sort of definition and shape in the fourth century when Christianity got into bed with empire. Christianity moved almost overnight in the fourth century from being a persecuted minority, powerless.

to becoming a religion of privilege and prestige and power. And that didn't come just at the generosity of empire. Empire expected something in return. And the exchange in a sense was empire fashioning a religion that would bless what empire wanted to do.

bless its wars, would bless its domination of earth. And I I happen to be speaking about the Roman Empire in the fourth century. But I'm not just speaking about the Roman Empire, I'm speaking about the British Empire, I'm speaking about the American Empire, speaking about any nation that sets itself up in a place of special privilege or domination of the rest of the world, and pretends that

it can be welled by just simply looking after itself or by exploiting other nations or by neglecting the well-being of other nations. So Christianity has again and again since the fourth century have been wheeled in as sort of religious sanctioning of that way of seeing and really creating a very

Cami Twilling (18:15.662)
Thank

John Philip Newell (18:36.142)
sort of domesticated divine in the sense that the divine is there to especially look after our nation, especially look after our species and especially look after our, you know, the people of our religion. So very sort of diminished sense of the divine rather than seeing the divine in unbounded terms and in terms of seeing the divine.

in terms of the wellbeing of all. So I think that that's what I refer to when I use the term Western Christianity that is grounded in those fourth century formulations of belief and in that very complicated relationship with empire or with the nation state. So Celtic Christianity,

has an ancient lineage and in sacred earth, sacred soul, I trace that lineage right back to the second century. And whereas the Mediterranean Christian tradition becomes imperial Christianity in the fourth century and following, the Celtic tradition resists that serving of empire.

and to begin with is way out on the sort of Celtic fringe of vampires. So it doesn't, to begin with, know the sort of heavy hand of vampire. But nearly all of the great Celtic prophetic figures that I draw from in Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul end up either being excommunicated,

by the church, silenced by the church, deposed from ministry. So this has been a sort of resistance type of spirituality. And whereas imperial Christianity has tended to be a sort of city-based religion, what the Celtic tradition is, is very much an earth-based and nature-based tradition.

John Philip Newell (20:56.366)
And with that is, I think, the inseparable celebration of the feminine as well as the celebration of Earth. And those themes of sort of sacredness of the soul rather than the doctrine of original sin, which was articulated again in the fourth century when Christianity becomes imperial religion and is a convenient doctrine in a sense to empire.

because it assumes that what is deepest in every human being is ignorance rather than wisdom, and sees what is deepest as opposed to the divine rather than being of the divine. So the Celtic tradition increasingly became an inconvenience to that alliance between religion and power. so that's what I'm...

sort of pointing to the these are sort of religious spiritual streams with deep roots. But I think that the fourth century was a real pivotal point in terms of shaping Western Christianity as most of us know it today. And understanding the Celtic tradition as quite diametrically opposed to a lot of the creedal doctrinal formulations of

of Western Christianity.

Jennifer Whitkaer (22:28.369)
Yes, from a personal standpoint, I so relate to

The Celtic wisdom, I was raised in the Christian tradition. I actually have family members dating back to the 1500s that were priests and spiritual guides in London and all over Western Europe.

You know, I went through this period of deconstruction and reconstruction and the reconstruction was really, I would say, more of a remembering. It was a returning to a truth that lived within me. And I think the truth that the way to articulate that so well is by sharing one of your quotes. says,

What is deepest in us is of God. Every child, every woman, every man, and every life form is in essence divine. And that's what you just spoke to is that everything around us is sacred. But in the tradition that I was raised in, that many of us were raised in, we're taught just the opposite, that actually women in particular were...

the ones to create that original sin. And so I think now in this age,

Jennifer Whitkaer (23:51.525)
where women are waking up to the truth of, wait, maybe I am not riddled in inadequacy and sin. Perhaps I am the embodiment of the divine and the sacred. And that's, again, why I so deeply resonate with the Celtic tradition is because it supports that belief and that truth. And so many of us have forgotten this. We've been raised in a world that values certainty over mystery with

external validation of our inner wisdom. And so from a young age we learn to reach outward to prove, to please, to perform, and then suddenly we forget who we are and we lose touch with our sacredness. What is the cost of us forgetting our divinity?

John Philip Newell (24:43.118)
Well, I think your use of the word remembering is really important. And in the Celtic world, it was said that we have forgotten who we are. It was said we suffer from soul forgetfulness. And Christ is seen, is spoken of by some of the early Celtic teachers as our memory. And so we have forgotten who

and Christ is seen as awakening us to our true essence. In so much Western Christian thought, the Christ mystery has been pointed to almost as an exception to humanity rather than a disclosure of what is deepest within all of us. So when that...

the sort of call to return to the divine is heard within us. Certainly in the Celtic world, it's not about invoking foreign divine energy. It's not about invoking a limitedly transcendent divine energy. It's about waking up or remembering that this is our essence.

And I think that's a very liberating experience because part of that remembering our essence as divine means we're not looking to become something other than ourselves. We're being invited to become truly ourselves. And we're not being invited to become something other than natural or more than natural, that we're being invited to become truly, truly natural.

And it has enormous implications, doesn't it, in terms of how we view ourselves, how we view one another, how we view the essence of every life form. But to realize that our essence is of God, that we're made of God, not simply by God, is to invite us to wake up to the wisdom.

John Philip Newell (27:13.666)
that is deep within us and it's pure gift of God. It's not something of our own creating or achieving. It's waking up to that wisdom that is deep within us. And similarly, it's about waking up to the creativity that is deep within us and to the holy faculty of imagination that leads us into what we've never...

known before. And so I think that all these positive ways of returning to the divine essence, it has the sort of flip side. I think if we continue to live in a state of forgetfulness, then we will often see wisdom as something outside of us, rather than the core of our being.

or we'll think that creativity is something that we somehow need to achieve rather than letting that divine essence come forth in creative ways.

Jennifer Whitkaer (28:26.601)
Yes, and we talked earlier about how we tap into that, how we remember through our practices.

And I've noticed a pattern in so many of the women that I work with and I myself have felt it too, is that we'll have this moment of clarity after a walk in the woods or we'll feel deeply connected after or during a ritual or a meditation. We remember who we are. We feel that connection to something greater. And then life pulls us back. The emails, the dishes, the deadlines, the fast pace. It's like we all of a sudden slip back into autopilot of forgetfulness before we even realize.

that we're in that state. And we know that these practices can be really powerful, but staying connected to the remembrance every day feels really challenging. So can you share a little bit of why you think we keep falling asleep and how we stay in relationship with ourselves, with the earth, with the divine, especially in the midst of a very fast-paced daily life?

John Philip Newell (29:28.994)
Yeah, I mean, I think that there's tremendous pressure on us in our religious systems, our cultural systems, our university educational systems. I think there's a lot of pressure to continue these systems as they've been put in place. And they are highly convenient systems for

for those in power. so I think there's a lot of sort of pressure on us to conform to that system that's been governed by hierarchy, whether that be the sort of hierarchy of religious truth and authority, or whether that be the sort of hierarchy of power or...

the sort of even hierarchy in so many of our educational systems and a real neglect of inner listening, of knowing inner creativity. So I think it's in part easier to live in a state of forgetfulness if that continues to serve the status quo because then we're not

living the challenge of redeeming or transforming those systems. And I think that the way of living especially to be made of God is to be made of love. And my goodness, that's pretty demanding. So if we would prefer not to know the cost of love, then...

than live with serving ego or live with serving the ego of our nation rather than the well-being of the world or live with serving the ego of the human species and not the other species and so on. So I think that certainly in the Celtic world, Jesus is honored and reverence as the one who shows us the way of love and the liberation of that way.

John Philip Newell (31:53.336)
but also the costliness of that way. And here we are in the week coming out of remembering suffering, remembering crucifixion. the Jesus story is a challenging story because it shows us repeatedly that

that being true to the way of mercy, being true to the way of forgiveness, being true to the way of compassion is a costly way. So there's a type of convenience to living in forgetfulness, even though that also robs us of the sort of infinite depths that are within us waiting to come forth in new and creative ways.

Jennifer Whitkaer (32:50.419)
And you speak about the structures and the systems that are set up. Do you feel like it's almost intentional of this linear, very rigid formulas for us to move within in order for us to survive? And I'm doing air quotes of thriving. When our natural systems are...

and you know if you just even look at the earth is very cyclical and so we are coming from this and operating in this very rigid linear system and society when our truth calls us into something more cyclical and I wonder if living into a more cyclical framework would help us stay more rooted in our remembrance.

John Philip Newell (33:46.274)
Yes, absolutely. paying attention to what Earth knows, paying attention to the rhythms of Earth, is for me guidance for paying attention to the rhythm of the soul and the seasons of the soul.

I mean, the two are so inseparably connected that absolutely that to be sort of grounded in nature's wisdom and the spirituality of the universe, the spirituality of Earth, is to enter a realm of repeatedly being

grounded in that intersection between spirit and matter.

Jennifer Whitkaer (34:46.933)
There's an intimacy that's required to do this. So isn't there?

John Philip Newell (34:54.818)
Yeah, and I think we've been speaking about individual practices of paying attention within and following our individual disciplines or patterns of meditation. But deep in the Celtic world, there's this very beautiful dimension that is...

referred to as the importance of having an Anamkara, having a lover of the soul. That can be an individual, but it can also, in a sense, be a collective. can be being in a context where you show one another what is arising in the soul.

not because the Anumkara, not because the lover of my soul knows more of what is within me than I do, but because my Anumkara loves me and I'm set free to explore what is rising. So I think it's not just an individual practice, it's very much a collective, it's a relational way of growing.

And in that too, even it absolutely reflects the interrelatedness of the natural world and that the part will not be well if the whole is not well, that we will be well only to the extent that we're serving and conscious of and compassionate about one another's well-being as well as one's own.

Jennifer Whitkaer (36:40.795)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, so what I'm hearing and what about I've experienced and I know with the women that I work with as well the real shift happens is when our Is when we really root ourselves in that soulful connection with ourselves with each other with the earth What has your sacred union with the divine and with nature helped you remember about yourself?

John Philip Newell (37:06.712)
Come here, you should go ahead. I've been speaking too much.

Cami Twilling (37:09.782)
No, no, I think, I think something you said a minute ago, Jennifer, about when you go for a walk, you know, whether it's just just out just outside in your neighborhood or through the forest or there's something that shifts in us. And, you know, then we get back to the daily, you know, the dishes, the emails, the phone calls, all of these things. But I think something so important is we remember that

connection that we had when we were out walking. We remember that. And, you know, every day I go out for a walk at this lake by my house. And so often I see people, you know, with their headphones in and, you know, we're listening to music or a podcast or something, you know, it's almost this multitasking while we're out walking. And so I have the practice of, you know, not putting anything into my ears. I just walk and

you know, thoughts arise, things come. But it also have more of, think, of an awareness of the changing of the seasons, of the feel of the air on my skin, of the warmth of the sun on my face. All these these ways that we maybe they're still happening, but we're maybe not paying attention if we're, you know, talking on the phone or listening to something in our ears as we walk. And just these

these really simple ways of bringing us back into relationship with Earth. And, you know, there's a practice we use in our retreats for one of our spiritual practices of sacred listening. And it's a way of being in relationship with one another in as we listen, you know, placing our hand on our heart is a way of saying, I am here and I am listening. You know, we live in this society that demands

so much of our attention and it's about like, look at this, look at me, you need this, you need that. And we do it in our relationships too, where someone's speaking and often instead of listening, we're busy formulating our thought or our advice or our, whatever we have to say in response instead of simply holding space for someone and.

Cami Twilling (39:36.212)
in giving them our full presence. And I think we can offer that to ourselves as well of that deep listening within listening to Earth, listening to our own heart, our gut, what it is that's within us. And I think having that awareness that even in the midst of doing the dishes, I think it's the Buddhist tradition that says when you're doing the dishes, just do the dishes.

So we can bring this practice into the ordinary parts of our lives where we do have to respond to emails, we do have to do the dishes. But how do I practice that presence in the midst of each thing that I'm doing? How do we touch each present moment in a way that brings us back into our true self?

because we're pulled in so many directions. I think it's not that we have to go out into the forest, which is important and lovely to do, but we also have to practice finding that space. That space is within us, you know, it's not just outside of us. And how do we find that space in our everyday lives?

Jennifer Whitkaer (40:58.173)
Isn't that interesting though? It's like we resist it, but that's what we're so deeply yearning for is that deeper connection, that soulful connection. And I think even, I mean, I think we all even as a species, but even more specifically women, I feel like we are just craving this intimate connection with each other, with the earth. And we've been fragmented and disconnected from that. And just by slowing down and being

present to listen to the other person or be present to hear the birds around you. Or I like to say even when I'm sitting in front of somebody just realizing that I am speaking to the divine there, the embodiment of the divine is sitting right in front of me. How incredible and miraculous is that and being fully immersed in that miracle.

And again, we're just, think craving this and yet we're so rushing from everything, one thing to the next and multitasking, like you said, when that is actually just like creating the vicious cycle that we really desperately want to get out of anyways.

Cami Twilling (42:11.65)
Mm-hmm.

John Philip Newell (42:12.024)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Jennifer Whitkaer (42:15.231)
Yeah.

John Philip Newell (42:16.332)
I think the remembering thing for me has been very liberating in relation to my work as a writer and a teacher. Because I think one of the things that remembering has released in me is a knowing, and this relates very much, Jennifer, to what you were just saying about

when we're with another person and when we're looking into the light that comes from their eyes, this is light that began at the Great Flaring Forth. And this is light from the divine and it's still sort of shining from within the other. But for me, it's been really important to

to know that any wisdom or any truth that I can simply articulate and give expression to is already in the heart of my listener, is already in the heart of my reader. And that's been very liberating for me to know that my role is not in any sense to think that I'm dispensing wisdom that isn't already there in the heart of the other.

that I'm being given the opportunity to be part of a liberation of the wisdom that's already in my listener. that, you know, our model of we have truth, you don't let us generously share it with you, it carries a lot of weight of responsibility.

that I think is a false way of being. so how about we see ourselves as liberators of one another and know that any sort of beauty of creativity, any wisdom of creativity that flows through us is flowing in order to release that flow within one another.

Jennifer Whitkaer (44:43.065)
You share that in one of the first few pages of your book, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul. And I remember so vividly reading that and underlining it underlining it and underlining it. It's in the midst of...

John Philip Newell (44:52.994)
Ha

Jennifer Whitkaer (44:55.495)
myself going through my spiritual direction practice and I was carrying the heavy weight of that responsibility of I need to know everything. I need to be this wise sage and be able to come and share this information with my clients. And when I read that, it was a turning point for me of no, I don't have to have all the answers. I'm not supposed to know all the answers. In fact, I'm doing a disservice to my clients if I'm coming into our sessions with that when it is simply

a mirroring and speaking of what is on my heart and trusting that the divine is speaking through me and that it is awakening.

divine that's within them as well. And so it's a mutual, it's a reciprocal relationship and partnership versus a me distilling my wisdom upon somebody else. And I just wanted to underscore that too, because it actually, that was really a big turning point for me in my career. And I know so many people who are listening are either consultants or coaches or spiritual directors and they're

carrying that heaviness and that weight. And so I just wanted to pause there and just have people just sit with that for a moment that that is not your responsibility. That you are doing a disservice when you come with that concept in your mind.

John Philip Newell (46:14.36)
Yeah, absolutely. And that's not to downplay or diminish the real work that's involved in creativity and the various charisms that were given. But I think it comes from a deeply liberating place so that we're prepared to do the work in a new way and not...

not feeling that we're having to somehow generate this creativity or this wisdom or this compassion. It's doing the work of getting the ego out of the way to truly allow a deep flowing of...

Jennifer Whitkaer (47:02.069)
I want to shift gears a little bit and highlight one of the most powerful moments in your book is your reflection on Brigitte and the Celtic belief that all things are birthed from the dark.

And I think that that image is extraordinarily comforting, especially in a world that glorifies the light, the bloom, the arrival, and especially it's comforting because so many of us feel like we are living in darker times right now.

How can we lean into her spirit during our own times of darkness? And what does she teach us about that gestation period, the mystery and the unseen beginnings of new growth?

John Philip Newell (47:50.572)
Yeah. Yeah, I think we're finding in someone like Bridget.

a sort of celebration of the dark fecundity of Earth and that that sort of fecundity of soil from which, you know, I'm sitting here gazing out at some amazing blossoming happening in the trees and bushes. This comes out of the dark, sort of moist fecundity of Earth.

And I think one of the very sort of beautiful things that Bridget conveys to us and the many myths and legends about Bridget that hold great truth for us is that this fecundity of Earth that we look to with real expectation, know, this can be a fairly sort of barren place in the winter, the north of Scotland and...

But here we are expecting and sort of expecting with great celebration that the spring earth is going to throw up new life again. I think the realization that in the darkness and fecundity of the human soul, there's new life waiting to come forth from within us just as it comes forth from the spring.

Cami Twilling (49:25.006)
Hmm

John Philip Newell (49:28.064)
spring earth. So I think that's a really important piece and it's remembering always the connection between the human soul and the soul or the essence of earth is remembering the connection between nature and grace so that the sort of energies of grace are given once again not to

to make us something other than natural. They're not given to make us something other than ourselves. They're given to really release this bursting forth of new beginnings. Always, the soul is forever wanting to throw forth new beginnings, just as Earth is. And that's...

That again is a liberating path, is a path that allows us to experience the letting go to these deep energies of new beginning, even in times of course not knowing exactly what's going to come out of the fecundity of soul.

but a type of faithfulness to the true depths of the soul is the stance that we're being invited into individually, but also collectively. So in this time of enormous challenge, when it seems that the holders of power are opposed to sacredness of earth, opposed to sacredness of the feminine, opposed to...

to the sacredness of the lives of those who are powerless. Those sort of destructive powers may be getting the headlines, but I think something much deeper within the human soul is trying to come forth. although this is a very challenging moment in time, I think that

John Philip Newell (51:55.438)
that it's a time that is inviting us to realize that something much deeper than those destructive forces that are pushing down against Earth and the feminine and the powerless, that there are these mighty energies of resurrection or new beginnings.

Jennifer Whitkaer (52:17.589)
And what role does the sacred feminine play in this threshold moment that we're collectively living through?

John Philip Newell (52:27.042)
I think that the sacred feminine within us, and I want to put it in those terms, because I see that to be made of the divine is to be made of that marriage or union of both the sacred feminine and the sacred masculine. So when I speak about sacred feminine energies, I'm speaking of energies that I believe are deep in me as well as in you.

and deep within men as well as women and deep within us collectively as well as individually. But I think that the sacred feminine in us holds great energy for... it holds great birthing energies. And I think that one of the features of the sacred feminine that we see in someone like Bridget in

in the Celtic world is that the feminine depths of our being, I think, are much more open to the holy interrelatedness of all things. And my goodness, do we ever need to sort of reaccess that gift of the divine feminine within us?

Jennifer Whitkaer (53:56.277)
So many people who have been featured in your book have been misunderstood or exiled for their devotion to the sacredness of the earth. Why do you think that this is such a common fate for those who choose this path? And I really wanted to ask this because for so many women, the fear of rejection really runs deep, especially when it comes to reclaiming their voice and their power.

So I would love to know, like, why do you think that this is a common path? And how do we find the courage to walk it anyways, even if it means being rejected?

John Philip Newell (54:37.184)
I think so many of the sort of power structures of our religion, of our sort of political structures, of our culture have been sort of manifestations of shadow, shadow masculine energies that have sort of arrayed themselves against earth and against the feminine. So,

These great prophetic figures that I draw from in the Celtic world precisely because they are seeing our deepest spiritual energies as related sacredness of earth and the sacredness of the feminine. They are aligning themselves precisely with the energies and expressions that the shadow masculine is frightened by.

or is trying to dominate and push down. And I think that the shadow masculine within us, within our nations, within our religions, within our cultures, tends to rear its head, especially at times of transition. Because something new is trying to be born, not...

society as we've always known it or power structures as we've known it or religion and some sort of ossified or fixed state. So those birthing energies of the divine feminine in us are forever trying to give birth to something new. And so in times of transition such as we're in now, I think that the shadow masculine is especially frightened.

We saw something similar in the 19th century in the wake of evolutionary thought, for instance, when humanity was being invited to wake up to a realization that life doesn't sort of exist in fixed permanent categories, that everything is unfolding, everything is being invited to become and to unfold.

John Philip Newell (57:03.614)
And so in the wake of evolutionary thought, that's when religious fundamentalism reared its head. And in the Roman Catholic tradition, it was expressed in a form of papal infallibility in more hard edged extreme terms than it had ever been expressed. And in the Protestant world, the fundamentalist within us,

expressed itself in biblical literalism in, again, terms that were more extreme than anything had previously been expressed. So I think, again, we're in this time of transition in which a new way of being, a new way of interrelating, a new way of relationship with Earth.

is trying to be born. And I see that as the deep spirit of this moment in time. And the shadow masculine within our nations, within our religious traditions is frightened stiff and is lashing out in unprecedented ways and really dangerous ways. And to say that the deep spirit of this moment in time is diametrically opposed to what

we see in the Trump administration, for instance, is not to downplay the challenge, but it's to say that the deep spirit of this moment in time is for us and it's for Earth and it's for the sacredness of every human being. So let's serve again, we can serve that wellspring rather than think that we have to somehow sort of create it.

But these are profoundly challenging times, but I think that there are times that invite a deep celebration and hope that we're being invited into a new beginning and not being driven back into fixed and unjust systems and systems that denigrate Earth.

Jennifer Whitkaer (59:25.373)
I couldn't agree more. I totally believe that the divine order in the midst of all of this chaos is birthing that hope and that excitement for what is to come. And I think that in itself can inspire the courage to move through this, to move through that fear of rejection.

So as we think about the beginning of our conversation where we talked about this disconnection and forgetfulness, and then we moved through the remembering and the embodiment of the divine feminine into the place of standing at this threshold.

The final step as we move through this journey, although this is a cyclical, so it continues over and over again, is moving into action. And you say that it's not enough to see compassionately or even feel compassionately. Compassion needs to be embodied. So what does embodied compassion look like in our daily lives? And how can we root ourselves in this spiritual awakening in a very tangible, actionable way, especially as we honor Earth Day? And I know, Kimmy, you'll probably give us a practical step in

just a moment here, but I would love to just close with some thoughts from you, Don Philip, on how we can move from compassion into action.

John Philip Newell (01:00:45.966)
I think that the feeling compassion and thinking, feeling with compassion and thinking compassionately are important components. But I think unless we allow that thinking compassionately and feeling compassionately to flow into action, then I think it

we run the risk of that sort of compassion being dammed up or stopped or stuck within us. And I think that each one of us is being invited to discern how that flow of compassion needs to come to expression. I mean, I think that we can speak and write.

in ways that embody compassion. I think some of us are called on to the big stage, as it were, to very visibly and publicly live compassion in relation to Earth, or live compassion in relation to the refugee crisis, or live compassionate in relation to the big...

some of the big sort of hunger and famine issues of today. And then I think some are called to be living and expressing on a much quieter stage, as it were, a place that may not be recognized by many people, may not be applauded by great numbers. But the importance of even in how...

even in how we look at one another, even in how we listen to one another and speak to our neighbor or the person we encounter in work or in the shop. These are important acts of compassion. And often it's these little more hidden, quiet, humble actions of compassion that can play a

John Philip Newell (01:03:07.114)
sort of an accumulative role in bringing real change. And, you know, I think, for instance, of the situation in Ireland, you know, in the British context, we often remember the Good Friday Accord, you know, they received international attention, was when the big guys of political power, you know, agreed on certain...

certain actions which were important and which helped the Irish move into a more reconciled and peace-filled experience for the nation. But it was prepared by years of Roman Catholic mothers and Protestant mothers deciding that they would take their children to a shared daycare and having cups of tea together.

And that sort of much quieter but essential compassionate work and embodiment. So I think we just need to keep paying attention to what is my particular role in this work of redemption. And I I use the word redemption, because it's often been a misunderstood word, I want to remember what

Martin Buber, the great Jewish teacher said that redemption is about the restoration of betweenness. It's about coming back into true relationship with Earth. It's about coming back into true relationship with one another. So these important ways of embodying compassion, whether it's in quiet or humble.

spheres or whether it's in much more public and noticeable realms are I think both indispensable in the work of truly restoring betweenness again.

Jennifer Whitkaer (01:05:17.109)
So beautiful. And I see this as this sacred union of both the feminine and masculine energy that you said does live within all of us. When we not just feel compassionately or think compassionately, when we move it into action, that is that sacred union right there. And Cami, you're going to guide us into a spiritual practice to help us embody this sacred union within us.

grounding us and guiding us into our next steps. Will you lead us in a short practice?

Cami Twilling (01:05:49.066)
Sure. So I think something really important to say as we move into practice is that that word is something we need to pay attention to. It's a practice. It's not a if I do this one time, then, you know, I've got it figured out. But it's something that we're being invited into in lots of different ways and as something that we practice every day. And also, as we enter into to this

being really kind and gentle with ourselves, just as we would if we were teaching a young child something, they were learning something for the first time. It's easy to think, well, I should be able to do this at such a simple practice. But sometimes the most simple things can really be the ones that challenge us the most as well. So I would say, let us all offer one another and ourselves, especially

kindness and compassion and gentleness as we enter this practice. So I invite you just to place your hand on your heart. Maybe for you, it's your gut. It's wherever it is when you drop out of your thinking mind down into your body. So your heart or your gut, wherever it is for you that feels a grounding space, a place to listen from. And just notice your breath for a moment.

Cami Twilling (01:07:28.61)
and then speak these words within yourself.

Speak your name.

And simply say, I am here and I am listening, paying attention to what is arising within you. What is stirring within you in this moment from what you've been hearing. What's been coming up for you. And I'll just give us a few moments of silence to speaking your name and saying, I am here and I am listening.

moving from your head down into your heart or gut, and simply paying attention to what is arising in you. I'm here and I'm listening.

Cami Twilling (01:09:35.495)
Bringing yourself back into awareness of this present moment.

Cami Twilling (01:09:51.862)
knowing that this is a practice that you can turn to at any moment, at any place, and also taking this practice out into nature, finding, you know, whether it's sitting with a plant in your home, leaning against a tree, but using this practice also as a practice of listening to earth.

So going and sitting like the tree I was speaking about that I hug each morning, maybe spending some time sitting by that tree, leaning against it, saying, I am here and I'm listening again, moving from our head, from me telling the tree about, know, you're so rooted and you're so grounded and I could learn this from you. Instead saying to the tree, I am here and I'm listening and holding that space for earth to speak to us.

We definitely need to listen deeply to Earth at this moment in time. know, today is Earth Day, but it's not every day, Earth Day. We need to listen deeply to Earth. So I would invite you to use this practice again as a practice, something that you come to again and again as a way of listening to that deep wisdom that is within your own being, the deep wisdom

that is an earth. And when we think about that juxtaposition between our thinking minds, you know, up in our heads and then down in our heart or our gut of that deep listening space within, and we think about what's in between those, it's our throat, it's our voice. And that is where that compassion action, that speaking up and speaking out can come forth a way of grounding through

both the gift of our wisdom, our thinking minds, and also that inner knowing, that inner listening, and how we speak and act and live in the world. So I hope this is a practice that you will carry with you, knowing it's something you can do anywhere, in any moment.

Jennifer Whitkaer (01:12:06.065)
So beautiful, Gemi. Thank you so much.

Thank you and thank you, John Philip, for guiding us back to what is sacred within ourselves, within the earth, and within each other. May we find the courage to remember and to listen and to embody this awakening today and in all the days to come. I'll share in our show notes how to connect with both of our incredible guests and to learn more about their retreats and to also get

John Philip Knowles' most recent book, The Great Search. Thank you both again for being here. Such a beautiful conversation.

Cami Twilling (01:12:47.896)
Thanks Jennifer.

John Philip Newell (01:12:48.122)
Thank you, Jennifer. Many blessings to you.

Jennifer Whitkaer (01:12:49.481)
Thank you. Thank you.

Welcome to the Rooted Women Rise Podcast with host Jennifer Whitaker, feminine business mentor, divine Feminine Guide, and former executive who scaled multimillion dollar organizations and now supports women in doing the same. This is for the woman who's ready to break free from hustle culture, reclaim her feminine power, and scale her business with simplicity and ease.

Here we blend strategic growth with ancient wisdom and nature-based practices to support the rise of a wildly successful business rooted in your feminine energy and divinity. Every month we'll explore topics like feminine energetics, seasonal cycles and rituals, and aligned business growth, transforming them into simple, actionable steps so you can expand your abundance, nurture your soul, and embody your most magnetic self.

Are you ready to rise into her, the sacred, wise and prosperous woman you came here to be? Let's [00:01:00] get started. Welcome to the podcast. I am so happy to be here with you today. This is gonna be a really fun episode, one that I have been meditating on all week. Spring is. Finally here where I live in Tennessee, the red buds are blooming.

The cherry blossoms are alive with bees, and the evenings are so warm. Just warm enough that I've been able to eat my dinner outside on my patio, but just a few weeks ago, it snowed. It is so wild how quickly things can change, and as I was walking in nature this week, I started to reflect on the lessons that Spring has to offer us in business and in abundance [00:02:00] because one moment.

Everything looks like it's frozen, like it's still, or even lifeless or dead, and then suddenly out of nowhere it seems life bursts into full bloom. I. And it had me reflecting on how similar this is to our businesses and our abundance, because sometimes it can look like nothing is working. Your launch wasn't as successful as you had hoped.

You spend an hour on Instagram preparing your post, writing out your caption, and then you only get two likes. Or you are not attracting as many clients as you like, and then all of a sudden, just like spring, it all shifts. All of a sudden you've got [00:03:00] dream clients dropping into your dms that feel like they just came out of nowhere, or your latest post goes viral or all of a sudden your program is fully sold out.

And I wanted to share a story of a sudden winter to spring transformation that I had years ago, and it started where I was in one of the lowest seasons of my life, and then all of a sudden I manifested everything on my vision board following what felt like a forever winter season. For those of you who are new here and haven't heard this part of my journey, first of all, welcome.

I'm so happy you're here, and the story that I wanna share, in summary, I'm gonna go into depth in just a moment. In [00:04:00] summary, what happened is that I went from barely covering my rent to becoming the youngest executive in my field. Working with Dr. Jane Goodall, being featured in the New York Times and on NPR all within three short years.

And it all started with some construction paper, a big dream, and my vision board. On today's episode, I'm gonna walk you through the five powerful shifts I made to manifest everything I desired and ultimately create my most abundant year. At that time, I've created other abundant years, many of them since.

But I wanna underscore that this wasn't luck. It was intentional alignment. And in this episode, I'm gonna walk you [00:05:00] through those five shifts that I made that changed everything. If you're in a season of planting and not quite seeing the full bloom yet, this episode is your reminder that it is all unfolding.

It's all unfolding right now and everything is about to change. So let's dive in. Let me take you back to 2010. I was living in Chicago and was slowly putting the pieces of my life back together After leaving an emotionally abusive relationship, I had been spending a lot of time following that relationship, really anchoring and rooting into self worth practices.

Really owning and embodying my divine worth, my confidence, and I had [00:06:00] also applied and been accepted to a master's program and I. At this time, I was almost at the end of that program, just to give you context. So I was closing another chapter and I was ready to start a new one, and I was crystal clear on what that vision looked like.

I. And so I decided that I wanted to create a vision board that embodied and represented this vision that I had for my next chapter. So as I got my pictures and my poster board and construction paper, I scattered it all over my little apartment room floor, and I created a vision board that included a map of the southeastern US because I wanted to live closer to my [00:07:00] family.

I included pictures of apes because I wanted to work at a primate sanctuary. I pasted on words assistant director because that was the title that I wanted for my next position, and I pasted a fake check written out to me for my dream salary. Then in the center of this poster board, I had the date, April 15th, 2011, written on a piece of construction paper because that was my desired deadline for securing my dream job.

April 15th came and went, and I still remain focused on my dream. I still remain rooted. I. In the vision on [00:08:00] April 15th, three days after my desired deadline, I discovered that a chimpanzee sanctuary in Louisiana was looking for an assistant director, and I immediately applied that day. They responded, and they told me that they were actually about to offer that position to someone else.

And when they saw my resume, they decided to wait to make that offer and they asked me to fly to the sanctuary. I flew there that week. I met the team and I was offered the position. A few days later, I. Wild, right. Everything on my vision board came true. The location, the title, the job, the salary, and the date, just shy of a few days, and since then I have used the same process to continuously [00:09:00] create my most abundant life.

So what did I do between the vision board and the manifestation? Well, that is what I wanna share with you today. I did five key things. Number one, as the date approached, I spent every day in nature. I felt into my expansive and future self in nature. I allowed the stillness and the quiet to bring forth past experiences and beliefs that needed to be released.

I heard so clearly my intuitive wisdom and that guided my next steps, and on the days that I couldn't get outside, I listened to. Sounds of nature, bird sounds, um, rain [00:10:00] and thunder. I listen to nature sounds on CDs. Yes, I am dating myself, but it worked. It worked because when we are aligned with nature. We enter into theta states where our brainwaves actually put us into these states where they're similar to that in meditation and hypnosis.

And so we are more open to receive intuitive downloads. We are more open to be creative. We're more in tune with our divinity and our magnetism. And so when you think about manifesting your deepest desires and connecting with nature, I don't want you to think about this like a checklist. I. This is so much [00:11:00] more.

It's about becoming intimate with yourself, intimate with nature. I like to say that if you don't figuratively or literally have dirt underneath your fingernails, you are not deeply connecting to the power of nature. So get outside. Allow yourself to remember who you are and be led to your next step through the wisdom of nature and by aligning yourself with the rhythms of nature.

Number two, I tapped into my future self every single day. I knew exactly what she felt like. I knew exactly who she was. I knew the decisions that she made. I knew how she dressed, how she talked, how she thought, how she shopped. I knew her. So every single day as I [00:12:00] tapped into her energy and I felt into her, it was very much a feeling tone of leaning into how she felt.

Every time I did that, I closed the gap between her and who I was. In that moment. When it came time to making decisions, I would ask myself the simple question, what would you have me do? You was my future self. So spend some time really connecting with your future self. Who is she? What does she feel like?

How would she move forward through her days? And when you start doing this every single day, I guarantee you, you will close the gap between where you stand right now and where you want to be. Number three, I made peace with my past, my present, and my future. When it came to my past, there were [00:13:00] people that I needed to forgive.

I needed to forgive myself for past decisions, and I needed to ask for forgiveness from bridges that I burned, and so I. Had those difficult conversations. I wrote forgiveness letters and I did a really deep forgiveness process that I now lead my clients through. It's a three stage forgiveness process because most of the time when we go through a forgiveness process, we do it on a very surface level.

We say, okay, I forgive you for doing X, Y, or z. At the core, at the root, there really isn't an embodied forgiveness. We're doing it because we know that it's good for us, it's healthy for us. It's a way for us [00:14:00] to move from the past and into a healthier future. But when you really unpack it, you know that deep down, you haven't truly forgiven the person or yourself for the experience, for the decisions that were made.

And so my three part forgiveness process really gets to the root and creates soul level transformation. I had a private client that I led through this process and I. I received a text from her just a few days after the process and she said, oh my gosh, I wrote 19 pages of forgiveness and now I feel so light, I feel so free.

I had no idea that I was carrying this much weight, this much resistance over decades of my life. And just a few days after that [00:15:00] process, she attracted a investor for her business. And up to that point it had been crickets. And so I definitely see this direct correlation between deep soul level forgiveness of others and yourself, and making peace with the past.

But I don't stop there. I also make peace with the present. I accept that this is where I am and it is good. I'm supposed to be here, and if where I'm at feels a little uncomfortable and I wanna be somewhere else, I explore that. I get curious around that, and that allows me to re release any resistance that I have in my present.

So making peace with your present is also really, really important to do, and then I make peace with the future. [00:16:00] Sometimes the future can feel so far away and it can feel like, oh my gosh, I feel frustrated and resentful that the future is taking so long to get here. And so I make peace with the future as well.

So making peace with your past, your present, and your future will dissolve that resistance. This is shadow work. This is that deep inner work that has to happen before you manifest your deepest desires. Number four, I listened to and followed my intuition. There was a moment right before I manifested everything on my vision board, where I had realized, wow, I haven't been applying to jobs lately.

And up to that point, I had been applying to jobs [00:17:00] continuously, and then I realized one day. It's been like three or four weeks since I've applied for anything, and my intuition said, you need to get online right now. I remember so vividly that I was actually in the middle of something. I was busy, but the thought came to me.

You need to get online right now and look for a job at a primate sanctuary. So I got onto a job board. In that moment, even though it wasn't convenient, I got onto the job board and I saw this listing, the listing that for the job that I ended up getting, and I immediately applied. So I didn't delay. I followed through right in that moment.

The next day when I went back to look at that job description, it had been taken down and later on I talked to the hr, um, [00:18:00] director and they told me, yeah, the day that I went on was the last day that it was listed. The posting expired that day. So my intuition guided me at the perfect time for me to reach out.

And then I did my part by following through without delay, without questioning, without getting caught in the busyness of my day. And I followed through, which allowed me to manifest everything on my vision board. So if you get an intuitive nudge, listen to it. Don't question it, follow through immediately because you never know where it is going to lead you.

Number five, I became an authority in my field. I called every single well-known primatologist that I could find around the world, and [00:19:00] I asked them how they got into their field. I asked them for advice and guidance and mentorship. I started my own. Primate education program for kids. I spoke at conferences.

I volunteered at the top organizations in town. I read every book. I looked for gaps in my field and I filled them. I. This is the strategic action that comes from intuition as well. So yes, I have mentioned and shared a lot of energetic shifts that you can make, but it has to be coupled with action and not the hustley type of do it all.

Hustle around the clock, doing all these things. What I listed and shared with you, I did over a long period of time. It wasn't all at once, but follow what lights you up, follow [00:20:00] those intuitive nudges and take those steps. So those are the five shifts that I made to manifest everything on my vision board.

One thing I wanna highlight here is this. This is how I manifested. It's not that the steps were magical, it's that I am magical. I tapped into my magic every day because the magic wasn't in the steps that I took. The magic was in the alignment with my essence, with my truth, with my path, and what I teach inside My six month mastermind.

Your most abundant year isn't a rigid step-by-step formula for success. It's where we weave in yes, business strategy, but we weave in your feminine energy. I teach you how to align with your magic, [00:21:00] your formula, your unique way of thriving. There's a word I love in tele. It's the sacred life force within every living thing, and it's what transforms an acorn into the oak tree, the bulb into the flower, and even you, you, into a thriving entrepreneur.

In other words, you are literally wired for success and abundance. So if your business isn't where you want it to be. If it feels like it's not working or it hasn't happened, I wanna invite you to reframe that because a gap doesn't mean that it's not coming. Spring reminds us that a gap means that it's on its way.

So instead of saying it hasn't happened, [00:22:00] say it hasn't happened yet. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Embody that certainty because it's the certainty that will activate your magic. And if you're feeling called to join your most abundant year mastermind, I. Let's hop on a possibility call. I'd love to learn more about you and your business and how I can support you in creating your most abundant year.

I'm gonna drop the link in the show notes, but until next time, I wish you the most beautiful start to your spring, and that you awaken to the certainty that your most abundant year is on its way.

All right, I'm so excited to join these two amazingly talented, gifted women, Valentina Bain and Susan Alfonso Singer, who are the co-founders of Gals Off the Grid, which is this beautiful community in Nashville and soon to be a global community. And we are going to talk about all things around

building community with women, building authentic connections, and where nature plays a role in all of this. But before we dive into this juicy conversation, I want to kick it off with a question that I ask all of my guests, and that's, what is your spiritual practice that allows you to be rooted as you rise? And Valentina, why don't you go first?

Susan (00:36.839)
Thank you.

Susan (00:41.933)
Thank you.

Valentina Bain (01:00.153)
what a good question to kick it off with. Thank you so much for having me here and having us here. And I'm just so excited about this conversation. Something that I put off for, I cannot tell you how many years, and that often seems to be how it goes, right? We put off, sometimes we resist what we need most, has been, if you've ever heard of The Artist's Way,

Julia Cameron, yes. So it's been writing, but it's free writing. So every morning I start my day with just tuning in with myself, how I'm doing, how I'm feeling. And I just allow myself to just whatever needs to come out on the paper. then I've added to that practice because now I'm bringing in movement and I do a frequency scan and tapping usually. So it's become this really

Jennifer Whitaker (01:30.511)
you

Valentina Bain (01:59.501)
just a sacred time for me before I go wake up all the kids and the hustle bustle begins. So it's just, it's really grounded me before anything else. It has to happen first. It's been a really beautiful way to connect with myself more deeply and understand the rules that are happening in my brain that I didn't even know existed, like right there on the paper. So it's been so powerful.

Jennifer Whitaker (02:25.36)
I love that. And yes, The Artist's Way is such an incredible book and I refer to it all the time and do my morning pages as well. So love that that's your practice. Yeah. How about you, Susan? What's your spiritual practice that allows you to be rooted as you rise?

Valentina Bain (02:33.558)
amazing.

Susan (02:41.26)
Yeah, so first of all, thank you for having us and my mind has gone a few different directions because of the current season that I'm in with a very young child. The goal of course is to wake up and have an hour and a half to myself, but sometimes that doesn't happen. But when it does, it is the most beautiful, important time of my day.

Even if it's not an hour and a half, because I love to make my coffee and then I go outside and grounding myself with nature and watching the sunrise and just putting my face up into the sun is by far the most important moment. Because I'm even meditating with her and I'm just being open and free to connect with what...

the universe source is providing me with that day. So I love to do that. And as well as just when I don't have time, it's like 90 seconds to just sit and ground myself with stillness and just quiet. And the most important thing I realized is how do I want to feel today? So when I actually

instead of like jumping out of bed and like, okay, let's start the day. It's like, well, wait a second. Well, how do I want my day to be? So I have the power to choose that. So when I can actually sit down for if it's only 90 seconds and like, this is how I want to feel today, it's a completely different day. The intention is right there. And then I end up feeling that way. It's a proven fact. It happens all the time when I actually just give myself those 90 seconds.

Jennifer Whitaker (04:24.164)
Yeah, because this is all about building intentionality, right, and creating our lives very intentionally because we're not just here to build businesses, make money. We're not here to hustle ourselves into the ground, but we're here as women to be deeply rooted in something sacred and really to build something and create something that's transformative, not just for

Susan (04:39.039)
Okay.

Jennifer Whitaker (04:48.07)
people, but for our planet from that very intentional space. So I love that that's how you start your day as well. So thank you for sharing both of you.

Valentina Bain (04:55.585)
And Susan, could, thank you. Susan, I was just gonna say, don't you find that when you start your day that way, then throughout the day, if you need, always have the space that you've already created to come back to. Like, I'll find myself coming back to. And by the way, I love writing in the sun in the summer, but it's a little bit chilly here right now, I guess.

Susan (05:09.725)
Right.

Jennifer Whitaker (05:18.924)
Yeah, yeah. So we're recording this. is December here in North America. So yeah, entering the winter season. But yes, I love that we, all three of us very much are drawn to doing our practices outside and connecting with Mother Nature as well. And before we dive into Gals Off the Grid and this beautiful community that you're building in Nashville, and like I said, soon globally,

Susan (05:28.645)
Mm-hmm.

Jennifer Whitaker (05:48.208)
I'd love for you both to tell me about your journeys individually that led you to where you are today. And I know through knowing a little bit about each of you and hearing your stories, that each of you really like listened to your inner wisdom. You honored your roots, you honored your body, you really tuned into that. And each of you have a really special journey that led you to different work prior to launching Gals Off The Grid.

So can you walk me through those journeys and maybe Susan, you could start off.

Susan (06:19.385)
Sure, yes, I would love to. And I would love to say as much as I am rooted into who I am today, it took me over 40 years to get here. And I would just like to say about

A year ago is when I really felt that I am owning who my soul's purpose why I'm actually driven here. But that being said, my background is in the entertainment industry as well as the wellness industry. So it's really cool because as much as I had a passion for the entertainment industry, I was working in reality TV a lot and I was also teaching yoga on the side. Both of those was actually I feel

my soul, my heart was keeping me on my path. Even though I'm like, I can't believe I wasted so many years doing this, or I made a mistake picking this job over that. It was actually leading me to where I am today. So I was working in reality TV where people are actually who they are and you're using your voice, which guided me towards a huge dream of mine to...

use my voice in docu-series and podcasts and things like that, which I'm currently doing now, as well as the wellness industry, which I was always drawn to, which has guided me to where I am in my yoga business, as well as where Gaze Off the Grid is. So it's always interesting how you can look back now as I'm in my 40s and I do believe wiser where, wow, this has really created the path that I'm on where I need to be.

And a year ago, really feel, I think it happened during one of the massive eclipses where the veil was just lifted and I was able to see so much more clearer. So my path right now, and also the fact that for years I was trying to get pregnant. So I went on a very intense fertility journey, which I know so many women, you know, I always say you're part of a community that you don't really wanna be a part of, but that was a big.

Susan (08:25.736)
awakening of my feminine energy. I took my personal journey and turned it into creating fertility yoga as well as a podcast around fertility. And then moving here to Franklin, Tennessee, knowing that this land where we are is the is an extension of of my own spirituality and where my daughter actually really wanted to be born because I was trying to have her in Miami. And the minute we closed on our house here, it's like

I found out I was pregnant, I'm like, she wanted to be a country girl. So, and my journey with my daughter and the feminine energy and where I am with my new podcast and where I am with yoga and gals off the grid, it just all came together and is an extension of me being the pillar of it all. So it was a beautiful journey and here I am today being able to share it with such.

empowerment and confidence of knowing that this is where I'm supposed to be.

Jennifer Whitaker (09:26.918)
Thank you for sharing that. And there was something that really stood out to me. If you don't mind going into a little bit more deeply before we get to Valentina, what was the moment and the awakening that happened with the eclipse?

Susan (09:40.998)
You know, I did, I've been doing my own healing. I wouldn't say I'm someone who dives so deep and I'm going to India and I'm going here and I have this teacher guiding me and it's really just me. And I feel that what has helped me awaken that is my connection to Mother Earth is like the grounding connection of knowing that she like

being outside, I always envision myself and even when I teach yoga and when I'm sitting in meditation, her roots are just coming out and holding me. And the eclipse, think it was like, it was in August, it was like two years ago, it was two eclipses in one. It just really affected me. I don't know if it had something to do with my Vedic astrology chart, but it really opened me up to accepting what is. And I don't know if,

there was a big awakening. just remember looking out my kitchen window and knowing and being more clear and just knowing that's all I can say.

Jennifer Whitaker (10:51.878)
Wow, wow. Yeah.

Susan (10:54.121)
and one more thing, definitely the support of my girlfriends, the support. So important for me, so important.

Jennifer Whitaker (10:59.932)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah, and we're going to unpack that a little bit more about the importance of women having connections in a little bit. But I definitely relate to that as something that lacked in my own life and has really transformed my own personal life and my professional life is by prioritizing those connections. So thank you, Susan. Valentina, how about you? What was your journey?

Valentina Bain (11:31.321)
there's always like where to begin, right? So by the way, Susan, I got chills when you said that Mother Earth roots just reach up and like hold you. It's just, it chills, just, just, I love it. And it's so true. It really comes through the work that you do. So I think in a nutshell, I really struggled with transitioning into being a human.

Susan (11:31.806)
You

Valentina Bain (12:01.573)
it was, my body did not respond well, coming onto earth. I couldn't process the formulas. They couldn't find one that worked. had excruciating, you know, stomach pain that led to malnourishment that led to, learning major learning disabilities and going to special schools and feeling like I didn't understand things. And that led to hormones.

Susan (12:08.829)
you

Valentina Bain (12:30.431)
issues, thyroid, like Hashimoto's, like all of these things before I was 18. So it was this journey of more and more and more of things that were wrong with me. And I kept feeling like I didn't belong. I didn't belong in the city I grew up in. felt I didn't know like, where are my people? And where is my place? And why am I so different from everyone? So it's just that feeling.

Susan (12:38.62)
you

Valentina Bain (12:56.889)
Like I remember just this constant feeling of homesick and my body was really responding to that. Like it was just not doing well. And I think it was, I know it was when I was 17, 18, I found my place. First of all, my first time I ever went to Europe, I like landed on that land and it was like click. was like, I know this place. This is where I belong. Right. But also I moved.

Susan (13:08.764)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (13:26.861)
down to the city, I was living outside of Atlanta and I started learning about the body and health and wellness at 17, 18. I started going to this gym and I began working at the gym and learning and watching people's bodies transform and watching these trainers teach these people how to change their lives. And it was the beginning of me really taking charge of my body and ownership of like how I could help the situation.

Susan (13:39.195)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (13:56.729)
And at the same time, I got attuned to Reiki. So that year was like a whoosh of like, yes, like I moved to Europe that summer. I learned about my body. I started just taking my health into my own hands and my whole world opened up. And from then on, I often say I went down a rabbit hole that I just literally never came out of because I have been collecting modalities and helping people. I actually became a labor doula at 18 because I just had such a passion for

Susan (14:09.146)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (14:27.095)
the way that women's bodies bring life and the way that women like shape the future through how they bring life and how they raise the future generations. So there was just this click for me of me being a part of that and also my participation in that and my main goal became turning my pain into my purpose and empowering other women in every way that I could to learn about their bodies.

Susan (14:38.522)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (14:54.617)
and how to reclaim what we know on a deeper level about ourselves and how to find our tribe and belonging. But all that to say, it was not an easy journey. mean, none of our journeys are like rainbows and butterflies. Some moments feel that way, right? But there's been a lot of ups and downs. And just when I feel like I figured my health stuff out, my kids were born, and it's like the generational...

Susan (15:10.645)
you

Valentina Bain (15:23.307)
like autoimmune stuff hit them and then I was trying to figure that out and deal with their symptoms. And we've come so far now they're teenagers, but all through that time, I never felt like I had, like I had a couple of people that knew me and understood me, but I never felt like I belonged in a community. And it was, well, I don't want to go into like how gals off the grid was formed because that may be another question that you have, but it was, it's so different now.

Susan (15:34.712)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (15:52.899)
for me because of the community that we've built. But that's why, like, I literally felt my whole life that I craved what we have now. So it's been a long path to that.

Jennifer Whitaker (16:01.532)
Mm.

Jennifer Whitaker (16:06.63)
Thank you for sharing that. And you know what really strikes me is some of the similarities in both of your stories is really around the ebbs and flows of life and really just trusting that in the ebbs that you're being guided to something deeper and more aligned. And through the alignment was the emergence of your purpose and community and belonging and a deeper understanding of

Susan (16:32.502)
Okay.

Jennifer Whitaker (16:34.33)
yourself in connection to the earth and the divine feminine and all of that. And I think that's so good to remind women who might be listening, who are going through the more ebbs of their lives, that there is a purpose in this as difficult as this chapter or season may feel, that it is guiding us all to a deeper understanding and commitment to our purpose. So thank you.

Valentina Bain (17:02.615)
Yeah, I wouldn't change a thing. And I know most people feel that way. Yeah, for sure. It's like, it really gets you ready for your own, your purpose in your life. Each unfolding is just so, now looking back, it's just so beautiful. But in the moment, does not feel like it.

Jennifer Whitaker (17:05.103)
Yeah.

Susan (17:07.137)
No

Jennifer Whitaker (17:21.919)
Yeah. And I think that's the key too of really looking back. In those moments that you're in those ebbs, those difficult chapters and seasons, it's like looking back and seeing evidence of how things turned out when you had no idea how they were going to. Because when I look back on my life too, I see a lot of from bullying to being in an emotionally abusive relationship, all of these things that were really difficult seasons of my life.

I feel like we're preparing me to be a mentor to women to help guide them into deeper self-worth and confidence and be like these incredible leaders in their businesses. But it took some of those lessons to prepare me for this. And so I hear very similar sentiments in your stories as well. So thank you. So now can you take me through, so you've led me through this journey, both of you individually.

Susan (18:05.429)
Okay.

Jennifer Whitaker (18:21.54)
take me through how the two of you came together and how the vision of Gals Off The Grid was birthed.

Valentina Bain (18:34.073)
Do you me to do that Susan? Cause I was right there at that part of my story. So I was like, wait, we're going to wait for this question. And here we are. Perfect. So organically arrived. So yeah, Susan and I were brought together and I had been working on manifesting not only friendships, I believe in patterns a lot. And I had a pattern set up in my life when I was in eighth grade, my very best friend. And as I said, I

Susan (18:36.739)
Sure. Yes. Go ahead. ahead.

Jennifer Whitaker (18:42.0)
Yeah.

Valentina Bain (19:02.261)
I had a hard time connecting and feeling understood. My very best friend left. And I felt like ever since then, every time I got close and connected with someone, they just suddenly moved away. And I'm like, I gotta like really heal, you know, the abandonment, the thing there. I don't think I was fully ready until we created Gals Off The Grid. However, I had been setting such a strong intention, like I'm ready to have roots.

Susan (19:10.515)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (19:30.731)
in a community. I'm ready to, not in a way that sacrifices who I am, where I'm just allowed to be parts of who I am, but where in a group of women where I can exist fully and I can grow uninhibitably because that's a problem too, right? And a lot of times in groups, we feel like if we grow that it's just going to get awkward and we've got to like talk them into growing with us. But in a community where growth is celebrated and

Susan (19:35.795)
you

Valentina Bain (19:57.909)
like, people are excited because they want to grow as well. And so, oddly enough, or funny enough, Susan and I were brought together to facilitate a retreat. We were brought together by a mutual contact and she said, let's create a retreat. we like, I knew the first time I met Susan, was like, my gosh, we started talking about our dreams, like on our way out to the parking lot after meeting.

Susan (20:03.582)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (20:25.857)
And my heart just lit up and I was like, I already love her and I already feel like there's something so beautiful here. And I just kept blossoming and it was this friendship that I had just never experienced before. Just like a soul sisterhood at a level of like, not only who, who I am supporting who I am, but also who I know I'm going to become. It was just nourished that as well. And so we kept talking about how we, we both wanted that.

Susan (20:26.489)
You

Susan (20:44.561)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (20:54.923)
and how we both were craving that. And we decided that if we created that together that we should create that for everyone else. Like we should just put it out there. Maybe we could start attracting together more women like us to create this. we have, I mean, it has been incredible. I have more women friends like that I'm deeply connected to that I could talk to anything about than I ever have in my entire life. It has been such a beautiful.

manifestation and evolution. that's what this community, like the foundation, like the heart and intention of this community is like for community and connection. I'll let you speak to that too, Susan, because I know you have your own spin on it as well.

Susan (21:30.64)
Yeah, and that's so beautiful and I felt the same exact way it was it's such it you know, it's amazing how energetically you're brought together and I had a very similar intention when I moved here it was very important for me to find a group of like-minded women and to because I find when I moved here I'm like this is my home I traveled

Valentina Bain (21:39.971)
Thanks.

Susan (21:58.979)
lived in many areas and I friends all over the world, but I'm raising my daughter here. We have a home that we love here. We're planted here. We're rooted here. And I, so it was so important for me to have friends here that were like me, where I can talk, where we can connect with mother nature and talk openly about spirituality and learn biohacking to learn from each other. So when we were offered this opportunity to come together and then Valentina and I came together, we

We did, we blossomed this and we sat with it for a while to really understand, what do we want out of this? Because if we want this, then we know other people are going to want it. And with our backgrounds, we were really drawn to the indigenous wisdom that we seem to have lost throughout these generations, whether it's the indigenous wisdom of Indians who were first brought to this land and learning from them and their modalities of healing.

It's just, it's so fascinating. And then we realized that everything that we do is indigenous as well. Yoga is indigenous. know, all of, you know, Valentina's somatic healing modalities are indigenous. So we were able to create a, a community where we're learning, we're taking the indigenous wisdom and bringing it into our modern life. And also how we say gals off the grid, we want to be able to throw our phone away and just be connected, be together.

exactly who you are. It's very important that women know that they can show up who they are. And honestly, sometimes you don't really know who that person is. And that's where through our events and our workshops and everything that we do, we help find that in you. And then you're around a beautiful group of women that accept you for that person. So it's really, it's been so beautiful. We have really honed in on it this past year and it's just growing from there.

It's really great.

Jennifer Whitaker (23:57.584)
Love that. And I want to talk a little bit more about the central theme that you were saying runs through in the heart that runs through your business, which is very similar to mine. And that is around building those authentic connections with women because like you said, women are really craving this. You are craving this. I too have had to make my own intentional shift in my personal life and in my business because for years I was like…

Susan (24:16.332)
Okay.

Jennifer Whitaker (24:22.94)
prioritizing work over relationships. And Valentina, very similar to your story, I felt like as soon as I would have a new best friend, something would shift where they went into a different season of life or they moved away. And so I never felt like I had those roots of belonging and friendships that I was really craving. And so I had to be very intentional about.

making those connections and now is actually one of my four pillars to creating a thriving feminine business because it's absolutely essential if you want to thrive, I think as a woman or even as a female entrepreneur. So my question for you would be how are you building your community? Because you've clearly have a gift for attracting women into these beautiful experiences while maintaining

I'll use your language, Susan, that cozy vibe. So tell me a little bit about your process of building a community, because I imagine that there's both an art and a science to doing that.

Susan (25:33.003)
Do you me to start? I'll start. Okay, so I would, you know, I would say it's really the human connection.

Valentina Bain (25:35.993)
Sure.

Susan (25:43.1)
It's just that. I feel that the two of us, we've been told this time and time again, you know, just we're coming because of you guys. And I feel energetically what we're holding, we're holding space. Like I said before, we're holding space for you to show up as yourself. Valentina and I have our own experiences, our personal experiences and the experiences of, you know, our...

background and our education to be able to bring you in to what we Yeah to be able to bring you in for example for who you are so I feel like Some of it is definitely just word of mouth through a friend of a friend and then a lot of it had been like coming to my barn yoga classes and then through that Valentina and I have created a community of that and then it's

just friends of friends. And we do things online for sure and do the email marketing and all that. But I would say the cozy vibe has to be that one-on-one connection.

Valentina Bain (26:51.321)
Yeah, I would add to that that I think it starts with intention and our intention got so strong around our vision for not only what we can create for ourselves, but for all the other women out there who are like us looking for what we were craving and also for the end of like to become a bridge between indigenous tribes and you know,

organizations profiting these, like raising funding and awareness for these ancient tribes. it's like, it's almost filling a gap between this generational gap. We're not living with multi-generations and the family most of the time. So it is, it comes down to women creating that community. We can fill that gap for each other if we do it strategically. So I think.

There and within each of us, can step in and be like, Susan knows more about things than I do. I know more about certain things than she might. And the same with for every other woman in our community. And so the women that keep coming are meant to be there, we believe. And they feel a pull. We actually recently had a circle, a full moon circle ceremony. And it was a beautiful evening in the barn on Susan's land in Leapers Fork.

And people didn't want to leave. They wanted to stay. They're like, can we just have a slumber party here, like outside, like camp out? It was just so cozy and so connected and so magical. And we were all doing work on ourselves through meditation and sound healing and intuitive readings and movement. And so it was beautiful, but...

What we did is we were, as we've been around the circle and talked about our intentions, we also, several people without even being prompted shared the ironic, you know, ironic way that they found us. And they were all like, it's almost, you know, that story when you meet a soulmate or like your spouse or whatever, and you tell people like this magical way you met. It's like that. It's like people, when they meet us and we meet them, it's like,

Jennifer Whitaker (29:01.564)
Thank you.

Valentina Bain (29:16.835)
course I met you, of course I found you, of course this happened and I've been waiting on this and I've been wanting this. And so I think it starts with intention and alignment, like where we go, who we connect with, who we partner with, like our partnerships, like this one here. mean, you and I, Jennifer, perfect example. Like we were standing next to each other in a lunch line at a group in Nashville. And just the fact that we figured out in two seconds

Jennifer Whitaker (29:19.1)
Yeah.

Valentina Bain (29:46.349)
that both of us needed to connect, you know? So it's just, I think just being open to that. Yeah.

Susan (29:48.356)
And not to interrupt, and not to interrupt, but we set an intention maybe a week ago of talking, of wanting to connect with someone with your background. So it was out the, what? yeah, maybe a year ago, yeah. but, so it's like, it's their like energy and when it's like a real intention, you're strong about this.

Jennifer Whitaker (29:48.816)
Right.

Valentina Bain (30:04.0)
A year ago, maybe a year ago, you said a week ago.

A year ago. Yeah.

Susan (30:16.886)
It's you're always co-creating and that's what we feel when people are drawn to us. It's like I needed this. They really set it out for themselves to find us as well. Go on.

Valentina Bain (30:30.797)
And there's so much power in that last year we had an event and people were just talking about it. Actually this week at our event, we had a holiday event. Someone was just saying, I was just telling these ladies what I manifested. And it was like a private jet, like clients, clients, you know, it was like, wow, like people send us text messages now around the breakthroughs and around the things they're able to manifest. And that's not the goal, but through like,

Jennifer Whitaker (30:30.82)
Yes.

Susan (30:42.347)
Okay.

Susan (30:49.602)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (30:56.707)
connection and through community and through other women holding that space for you. It is really powerful and that's what we're missing. That's like an ancient way that is missing in today's society, I believe.

Susan (30:58.114)
Okay.

Jennifer Whitaker (31:11.17)
I wholeheartedly agree and I want to get to that in just a minute, but I absolutely agree that intention and setting an intention is essential for us to really align energetically with the vision. And you spoke to something too, that vision. We need to have that clarity of vision too. And I'm so grateful that you shared the story of how you and I met Valentina because I, on my end…

had set my intention and I spent very intentional time envisioning into the women that I wanted to connect with and work with and collaborate with. So both of us individually were dreaming, envisioning and manifesting each other. And yeah, inevitably we are going to be brought together. And it's like, of course, of course I met you. We didn't know when we would meet or how we would meet, but

It is inevitable when you set that intention and you have that clear vision.

Valentina Bain (32:12.099)
Yes, and that's such a powerful way to live your life. I've learned that that's the only way really that I want to live my life because I don't need to control it. There's such a purpose that can come through and it's so much more powerful when the universe is orchestrating those divine meetings and you're flowing with it. It is like, who knows what kind of magic can happen for us all.

Jennifer Whitaker (32:18.769)
Yeah.

Jennifer Whitaker (32:33.614)
I know. And it's such a feminine way to live life. And I think it can be terrifying because we're taught not to trust the unknown, but we can really lean into that and again, have a group of women that you're communing with and building relationships with who are doing the same thing. I think it boosts our courage and confidence to trust the unknown.

Susan (32:50.559)
Yes. Yeah, that's so true.

Valentina Bain (32:56.048)
yes.

Jennifer Whitaker (32:59.43)
So I'm curious too, you talked about all of these women that are joining your community and the breakthroughs that they're having. And I love the image of the night in the barn. I wish I was there because I really want to have a plumber party with you two. You are like my new BFFs. So we'll have to put a pin in that and do that sometime.

Susan (33:12.809)
Thank you.

Yeah.

Valentina Bain (33:26.457)
Yes, please.

Jennifer Whitaker (33:26.468)
Something has to happen and be present for women to really feel safe to make those authentic connections because Valentina, you talked about people coming and going in your life and I too have had that. I imagine, Susan, you probably have similar stories as well. There's so much, I want to say, trauma and disappointment that have happened.

I believe it's through the sister wound and the witch wound and a lot of other patriarchal woundings that have separated us and prevented us from really making those authentic connections. I believe we're working through that. But what do you think has to be present for women to really feel safe to make those authentic connections knowing that we've all had those woundings and we're coming with those woundings?

Susan (34:18.44)
No, go ahead.

Valentina Bain (34:19.321)
I think full acceptance, I can let you answer this, Susan. Full acceptance is what I would say. We had a conversation around this. We grew up in different religious backgrounds, political backgrounds, and I think in today's climate in the world, there's this assumption almost that if you don't check all these boxes as likeness, that you can't hang out, that you can't offer.

you know, that you're not alike, so you shouldn't be friends, you know, and I think it's honestly opposite from the truth, but you have to have, you have to honor the differences and accept the gifts and the differences and the, the lessons that you could, could learn from each other. And if you come at it from like a gentle, loving, beautiful way, it doesn't matter if you don't see eye to eye. And I think,

naturally you'll either come together and spend more time together and want to be together or things won't work out, you know, to be together. So I think that's a part of it as well. I think I got a little off there, but you go ahead, Susan, and answer in your way too.

Susan (35:28.09)
Yeah, I was gonna say that I think there's a shift happening now in this time, the past, I don't know, maybe 10 years about how women are taking back their power and they're just their eyes are opening. I don't know if it's because of the age that I'm in now and where I am in my life, but I feel like so many of my friends who live all over

are having the same experience. They're realizing that they don't want to take a back seat to their relationships, to their careers, to what's happening in society, in the world. And there's this fire that I think is collectively happening inside of many of us women that are like, I need to step up. I need to step up. Whether it's for, know, whatever's happening in the world today, religious, political, all that.

but also like within myself, like something's not right. I only lived this life once and something's off and I wanna figure that out. And I think with those two, I think a lot, those women are the ones that are actually like stepping into the barn, stepping into our community. They're realizing, and maybe it's just a little flicker. Yeah, they're, yeah, something's.

Valentina Bain (36:50.893)
The trailblazers. The trailblazers have break in those generational patterns. Yeah.

Susan (36:51.894)
Exactly. That's what it is. They're breaking the ancestral patterns and they're just realizing like, like I'm done and I want, I want to live like this life of who I'm supposed to live. And I know I have trauma and it could be minute. It could be big, but they're willing to break that now. And we're, we're here to help guide them on that.

Jennifer Whitaker (36:52.924)
you

Jennifer Whitaker (37:20.396)
wholeheartedly agree. I definitely believe that we are entering a new paradigm. What is consoling to me is, as I have moved through my own spiritual journey, is really understanding that I believe that I came here for this time. As uncomfortable as it can be to be a trailblazer because we don't have a map, it is also, I feel like, equally liberating that

We're here to change the world. Like we knew that we were going to come here. We knew we wouldn't have a map. And now it's our job to find our tribe, our community, so that we can trailblaze together. And that's exactly what you're creating. And it's so inspiring and beautiful to watch.

Susan (37:55.57)
Mm-hmm. And it's not like this feminine feminist movement, like...

We hate men. It's not that at all. We need men, like women, like, yes, together. But it's just, yes, it's like this, like, it's like when we talk to you, Jennifer, what did you say about that the goddess, yeah, and the goddess of opening up the first bank, that's where we, yes, that's where we need to get back to.

Valentina Bain (38:19.383)
as an honoring. Yeah.

Valentina Bain (38:27.395)
the masculine and the feminine. and the goddess with the bank, the priestess.

Jennifer Whitaker (38:32.792)
right. The history. Yeah. And for our listeners here, just what I was referring to and sharing with them last week was that in the early days, women were revered and the original banks were led and managed by priestesses who controlled the money. And the banks worshipped

the goddess Juno Moneta. And we don't remember this. We weren't told this. And so there's a lot of part of our healing, I would say, is the remembrance of who we were and that we literally are wired for abundance and wealth. so coming together in community, I think, awakens that remembrance too.

Susan (39:18.687)
Yes, I got the chills when you said that.

Jennifer Whitaker (39:25.116)
What role do you think nature also plays in forming these deeper connections with women and also like what role do you think nature plays in awakening the remembrance as well?

Valentina Bain (39:26.649)
So beautiful.

Susan (39:38.742)
Okay, I'll just share this beautiful story. So we have land in

Jennifer Whitaker (39:42.864)
I would say Valentina, do you want to go with that one?

Valentina Bain (39:45.145)
I was just gonna say Susan, you go, feel like I've been answering all of them. But also this is Susan's like favorite topic because she's always talking about, you know, the mother and how earth heals us. And that's one of her and also Susan, you should share about your land. Like it's just so powerful. Okay, I'll let you share.

Jennifer Whitaker (39:47.42)
I'm Susan Garret!

Susan (40:06.338)
outside of Nashville and that's where I have my barn yoga classes. That's where Valentina and I have a lot of our gals off the grid events from our full moon circles to forest bathing. So we had a forest bathing event and I was explaining we had a historian come to our land to let us know that the Chickasaw Indians were the ancestors of this land and they were the ones that lived on it hundreds of years ago. And as I was explaining to everyone,

one of my bracelets, my beads, just broke off. throughout the, and then I took the beads and as we went for our forest bathing walk, I threw them in the creek and then did a little prayer. And one of the women in our community is a medium. She's very intuitive and she gets downloads and she was feeling the energy of the feminine Indians that were once on the land and letting me know that

They are so happy that we're here on the land and that I am like a conduit for them and for what's going on and for me to keep doing what I'm doing. And the issue just went on and on. was so beautiful. And with that story, I'm like, I don't really know what that meant, but okay, I'm feeling it. I'm kind of feeling it too, because prior to that, Valentin and I had an ancestral workshop. So we feel like...

they knew we were there and we were bringing up this beautiful, loving energy of the feminine because we were told that there was a lot of masculine energy on the land for generations and the fact that we were bringing this feminine energy, this community. And then I needed everyone, like at one point, finally everyone left and I was being called, like drawn back to go back down to where the creek was on land. And I went down there and I just,

started crying for like an hour. I have no idea why. And I felt this beautiful Indian woman on my shoulder holding me and I could not stop crying. It was so profound and I didn't want to leave but I had to get home and I drove home crying. And then I came home and just being back into this world, I couldn't deal with the light. I went outside, it wasn't working. I grabbed my daughter. I went back to my land because it's only about 20 minute drive.

Susan (42:27.927)
And I sat there with her and had her play in the creek where the beads were and just, it was just so, I can't tell you how, it's like the energy, it doesn't go away. We're not, when we pass, we are not going away. Our soul, our force is within the ground and Mother Earth, I always say, holds it for us. She holds our tears, she holds it all, she wants us.

She wants us to heal and be the most amazing human we know we can possibly be, and she's here to hold that, and so are these ancestors. And mind you, I am not someone who is digging in the dirt, knowing every plant and finding herbs and doing crazy medicinal as much as I want to. Like, I'm not this crazy witchy girl in the land. Like, I am your just next door neighbor.

who is just so drawn to, and I thought I was connected to the Pacific Ocean because I lived out in California for many years and I just loved those waves. But when I came here and felt the land and the ground and the trees, I'm like, wow, she's vibrating in me. So sorry to go on this crazy story. Thank you.

Jennifer Whitaker (43:50.84)
my gosh, I got chills. No, that was so beautiful.

Valentina Bain (43:55.737)
I love it so much. it reminds me too, Susan, that like how, like for so many years, I loved nature. I spent all my time in childhood out in nature, but I also loved makeup and fashion. And like I was modeling, you know, it's like, I didn't think that I could exist in both worlds, but we can. We can have the luxury, we can have beauty, we can have all of the things that our hearts desire and we can still.

Susan (44:07.524)
Mm hmm.

Susan (44:17.104)
And the thing is, and the makeup now and the and stuff for your face, it's coming from other earths.

Valentina Bain (44:25.023)
go and like, as you always say, a squat and like we can start fires and we can sleep outside if we want. Like we're, we can be as wildly free as you talk about on your podcast or as like put together and like on a yacht, wherever we want to be, whatever our hearts yearn for is, is okay.

Susan (44:45.306)
She wants you to feel beautiful.

Jennifer Whitaker (44:49.926)
Right, yes.

Valentina Bain (44:49.933)
That's true. And there's tribal like essence of that. Like that was actually a, I'm trying to think of the word. What's the word I'm looking for guys? It was a ritual. Makeup originally was a ritual. So if you, can turn anything into a spiritual ritual if you do it mindfully and you're clear on why you're using it, you know.

Susan (44:58.884)
Yes.

Susan (45:03.663)
Jennifer Whitaker (45:16.662)
Yeah, there are so many paths that I want to go down with you on this topic. I feel like we need to have a whole other conversation on this as well. It's so incredibly impactful and powerful. I'm also curious, even going back to your story, Susan, how do you think now that you

Susan (45:31.214)
Thank you.

Jennifer Whitaker (45:44.476)
have been touched so beautifully by this native and indigenous energy and change by Mother Earth and you too, Valentina. How can you take this forward? How might this deeper connection with women and nature impact the world for the better?

Susan (46:00.386)
Hmm. That's such a great question. And I go back to just what it is that we created with Gals Off The Grid is and how we come together and we create these retreats and we create this connection to be on the land and to know you're not doing it alone. You're not alone. Like your journey is part of your soul's path here with Earth. Like you like you said, like we were brought here for a reason.

right now in this lifetime. so for us to be able to tap into the energy of the indigenous cultures and to bring in, to be open to it, that's the thing, to be open. Like once I was able to understand that it's, don't have to do it alone. It's more times than not where I'm just walking and I get the idea that I need for my business or for whatever. It's that.

knowing that it's that connection, like she's there for you, connecting, co-creating. And that's what we, that's what Gals Off The Grid is. We're helping you co-create the life that you want through the healing of Mother Nature and women.

Jennifer Whitaker (47:20.24)
Mm-hmm. Beautiful. So well said. Valentina, you have

Valentina Bain (47:25.079)
And our vision, yeah, I was going to add to it. Our vision is to not just go to the land and leapers, but to go to land all over the world together and to learn from those tribes, those ways and those sacred lands and collect those pieces of ourselves, parts of ourselves and to expand ourselves together through adventure and experiencing different modalities and.

Susan (47:36.428)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (47:53.773)
just the sisterhood connection and space that we can pause our lives and come together and celebrate one another and create together and hold that. And what kind of impact we might be able to have together as well to help the world be a more healed version of itself, not just ourselves, but how that trickles out to in a bigger way than we can even imagine.

Susan (48:13.138)
you

Jennifer Whitaker (48:23.014)
That's such a beautiful vision for gals off the grid. And my last question before we wrap up would be, what do you think the future holds for women and community and nature, even beyond gals off the grid, but just collectively as a whole on this planet? Susan, do you want to take that?

Susan (48:37.388)
Sure, it's such a big question and I mean all I can, the way I can answer it is just what I hope for myself is that if we stay in alignment with our heart and who we are, if we stay in alignment with Mother Earth and what she is asking of us because she shows us every day what she needs,

If we have the support that we need, if we have the love that we need, I feel that we're, and if we keep, if we know that no matter what the feminine is the power in the most divine way possible, not coming from ego, but knowing that we can conquer anything and we're just gonna keep going.

I feel like it's in a way because everything that's happening in the world has already happened before, hundreds of years ago, thousands of years ago. So in a way it's just a big circle and like where's our, where's our, you know, where are we moving in that circle? If that made any sense.

Valentina Bain (49:49.881)
Beautiful. Yes, totally. Yeah, so I often remind people, because I do work with the emotional release work, like the emotions that are held in the body, that sometimes when things are coming up to be released, it can feel like it gets worse before it gets better. But that awareness is key, right? It's like the awareness really gives us the opportunity to release and start to heal.

Jennifer Whitaker (49:50.52)
Yeah, yeah.

Jennifer Whitaker (49:54.748)
balance.

Susan (50:15.104)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (50:17.739)
And so although these times might feel, and I've mentioned this quite a lot this year, because everybody's had a lot of different feelings about the changes happening in the world. And it may look like things are getting worse. And on some levels, of course, that could be validated, that belief. But, you know, what if there is a line, I envision this, there's like a line of souls that wish that they could be incarnated at this very time. And we're the ones that get to be here. They get to usher in this new energy.

Susan (50:32.999)
But.

Valentina Bain (50:47.299)
through every cell of our bodies, of our beings. And we're collectively ushering in this new energy and experiencing this wave of transformation. And I do think women hold that key because we are the bridge between all the past generations and all those before us. mean, cellularly speaking, like we lived in our mother's wombs, you know, and their mother's wombs. Like we are deeply connected to other generations, both directions.

Susan (51:02.471)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (51:16.737)
So I think we just have to lean into our instincts in a deeper way because that's what's been stripped away. And that's why I love the work that you do so much, Jennifer and Susan as well, because I think we know more than we think we know. And I think all we have to do is come together and that we'll remember who we are meant to be. And we can do that as well together. And it can be more powerful and more.

Susan (51:32.582)
Mm-hmm.

Valentina Bain (51:44.929)
enjoyable and more magical than we imagine. That's the space that I like to hold for it.

Jennifer Whitaker (51:54.64)
Well, is there anything that you want to add before we wrap up our time together? I could talk to you both for hours and hours. I'm just in awe of each of you, such gifted, powerful, incredibly rooted women. And it's just, I'm so grateful that the universe brought us together in this magical way. Is there anything else you want to add before we close?

Susan (52:07.868)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (52:20.793)
I just want to add an invitation to anybody listening that feels a call to join us that they're welcome, you know, to come to our table, so to speak. We're, growing more and more online events and we will be having more and more international and national events in the future. And so if you feel a call to be a part, we, have space for you and no matter where you live and no matter where your path has led you, you can come and check it out and check us out and.

Susan (52:37.797)
Okay.

Valentina Bain (52:50.221)
Join us.

Jennifer Whitaker (52:52.412)
I'll be adding to the show notes links for you all to check out all of the events and to learn more about both Tina and Susan. Susan has an upcoming podcast that she's launching called Wild Neighbor, so we'll drop the link to that as well. But again, it's such an honor and a privilege to connect with both of you just in this podcast, but just

Susan (52:53.637)
Okay.

Jennifer Whitaker (53:16.354)
Again, as things unfold and evolve, I'm sure we'll have many more projects that will be unfolding over the months and years to come. But I imagine that everybody else who has been listening today is just in awe of your wisdom and insight that you shared with us. And we'll have to do this again.

Susan (53:30.256)
Yes, thank you so much. Thank you for having us.

Jennifer Whitaker (53:40.72)
Thank you both.

Valentina Bain (53:40.953)
Thank you, Jennifer. So grateful to know you, be in your realm.

Jennifer Whitaker (53:45.702)
You too.

 Welcome to the Rooted Woman Rise podcast with Jennifer Whittaker, CEO of Wealthy Like a Woman, Divine Feminine Guide, and Business Mentor for Soulful Female Entrepreneurs. This is for the woman who's ready to break free from hustle culture, reclaim her feminine power, and scale her business with simplicity and ease.

Here, we blend practical business strategies with divine feminine wisdom and nature based practices to help you create a multiple six figure business rooted in your feminine energy, ancient wisdom, and true essence.  Are you ready to reclaim her, the sacred, wise, wild, and wealthy woman within you? Let's get started. 

Hello everyone. It feels so good to be back in the booth. The booth is really just my office recording a new podcast episode. I have been away for a little while. There's been so much behind the scenes that's been happening. And if you've been in my world for a while, you've likely noticed that some things have shifted a bit.

But  my messaging, my offers, my podcast name, which is now RootedWomenRise,  yes, so much has been happening and it was all  birthed from this profound spiritual awakening that I had in October of 2024. And as I'm recording this episode right now, it's January, 2025, just to give you context.  And I want to share today what led up to this spiritual awakening, what happened in this spiritual awakening and how it has transformed my business. 

Because I am hearing from a lot of women in the entrepreneurial space, including my clients that many of us have been going through or are going through a death rebirth cycle in their business. And that's exactly what happened to me in fall of 2024. Before  I share what happened, I want to. provide a little context and a little bit of a timeline of what led up to this moment, particularly for people who are new in my world and don't know my story. 

So prior to launching my business, I had spent over 20 years as a philanthropy executive where I served organizations around the world, working with the world's wealthiest individuals, scaling businesses to well over 30 million.  I raised collectively over 200 million over the course of my career. And over time, as much as I loved the work that I did, I began to feel burned out.

The constant churn of trying to raise money and more money and more money just let me, left me feeling depleted and exhausted.  And I really started craving a new path  and that led me to spiritual coaching.  I decided to pursue a path that was more spiritual in nature and  studied the divine feminine for three years and was certified as a spiritual director, which is somewhat similar to a spiritual therapist and was certified as a life coach.

And I felt really called and drawn to weave the divine feminine and my background and money together and create a business empowering women around that. While I was studying to become a spiritual director, my own spiritual director and I were talking about my passion and love of nature.  I had a long history of working with animals within the organizations that I served.

I was the vice president of the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. I worked for several years with Jane Goodall and I say all of this just so that you can understand  the depth and breadth of my love and passion for the natural world and animals. And so when I decided to pursue a more spiritual path, I remember talking with my own spiritual director and saying, I have to find a way to weave my coaching and nature and animals together.

And I just don't know how to do that.  And she guided me to Celtic spirituality.  And over the past few years, I've been quietly honoring in my life, Celtic spirituality, but I wasn't sharing it in my work.  I say all that for you to have some context as I share what happened next.  So as I left my spiritual direction program and my life coaching program and stepped into the world of entrepreneurship.

As a spiritual coach, the natural step was for me to teach women around the divine feminine and money.  And I thought that by teaching more broadly about the divine feminine, that it would satiate my desire to weave nature into my work. I thought that it touched just enough on my passion. Of the natural world, but quite honestly, I still wasn't really talking about nature.

I wasn't talking about animals. I was talking about the divine feminine. I was talking about spirituality. I was talking about women's empowerment and money and getting money into the hands of soul centered woman. And all of that was great,  but it left me craving something more.  And in October of 2024, I heard clearly that Wealthy like a woman, teaching money concepts wasn't it. 

My soul was so bored. I wasn't embodying the fullness of me.  And I knew that I was being called to weave nature and animals into my work.  But I had no idea how to do this. And quite frankly, I was actually scared to pursue this path. I was so afraid that it wasn't marketable. And then I had this beautiful podcast episode with Vanessa Petronelli.

And if you haven't listened to that previous podcast, I'll share the link in my show notes, but she does this beautiful soul journey work with horses.  And she talks about her work. On my podcast episode and she invited me to come to Nashville and work with her and meet the horses. And I knew like that was a full body yes for me because it came at the perfect time as I was craving and longing to weave more nature and animals and my true passions into my work.

And so I took a quick trip from Memphis to Nashville and I met with Vanessa.  And the first 10, 15 minutes of me being there, the horses didn't want to have anything to do with me. My energy was scattered. I felt like I was all over the place and she slowly guided me into this beautiful meditation and grounded me in the moment.

And as I brought my presence. To that moment,  I felt the women in my lineage standing next to me.  My mom who had recently passed away, my grandmother, my great aunt, my great grandmother, I felt them standing right beside me and they said to me, we've got you.  You're not going to fail. We are with you every step of the way.

We are opening doors for you. We are doing this together.  And as I stood there, grounded with my feet in the ground, with my eyes closed, being guided through this meditation, feeling the women in my lineage surrounding me,  all of a sudden Buddy the horse comes right up to me.  Nose to my nose,  face to my face.

And he nuzzles my face  and I felt him say, you are me. I am you,  and everything shifted in that moment. I knew in that moment that my calling was to weave animals and nature into my work, and I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I had no choice. I had to do this. I knew that I would die figuratively and literally if I did not live out my truth.

And so that began. The death rebirth cycle in my business. Quite honestly, stepping into this new space was terrifying.  I had to let some things die.  I had to let go of clients who no longer aligned with my new path.  I had to let go of programs and offers that gave me financial security.  I had to let go of a version of myself that I had outgrown,  and I had to let go of what I perceived was safe so that I could create my own path.

I had this carefully mapped out path. I knew what each step was that I had to take, and I had to let go of that safety and security and that knowingness. And I had to birth a new level of trust in myself and the divine. I had to birth the courage to create my own map because what I was about to trailblaze did not have a map.

I had to create my own. And I also had to birth this. Utter belief in my unique magic, that the culmination of my experience, my lineage, my passions, my education, my lessons from failures and successes, my unique way of doing things, my methodology that nobody else was doing was exactly what would make me successful and would fulfill my soul.

And today sitting here sharing this with you, I am thankfully on the other side of the death rebirth cycle. That's why I'm just now doing this solo cast episode on this experience. I've been wanting to share this with you for a while, but I knew that I wanted to wait so that I could give you the full picture.

of what transpired and how this has impacted my business. What's transpired over these months have been hard. I've had to let go and release some things that were really painful, but I wouldn't have it any other way. What's birthed has been so beautiful and I'm going to be really real with you because that's who I am.

Some nights I cry to my journal feeling like the death would never end.  I thought that I'd lose my entire community and all of my clients.  But as soon as I feared that and grieved that  I would meet someone new. A new woman would be divinely placed in my path. And she would feel so aligned. I began to be invited to teach workshops and speak on  podcasts.

I began meeting women and receiving messages on Instagram and online saying, Jennifer, oh my gosh, this is exactly what I have been praying for. I was calling in exactly you and here you are, I didn't even think that you existed and now here you are. And that was all the confirmation and validation that I needed to know that I was on the right path.

So even in those moments when I was grieving the loss, I was also provided for with evidence that I was exactly where I should be. And by the end of 2024, my coaching income tripled,  but that's not the amazing part. It's that I did it in full alignment with who I am.  This is because authenticity equals magnetism.

And the more you embody your true nature, The more you reclaim the parts of yourself that you've pushed down or hidden, the more wildly magnetic you'll become. What happened in my business doesn't make any logical sense other than what shifted is that I began to embody more of my true essence and my true nature.

I see this death rebirth process happening in so many businesses right now, especially for women.  What worked once Is no longer working. What felt aligned at one time is no longer feeling aligned. And I think this is because we all want something so much deeper. We're evolving in such a fast pace that our businesses are shifting dramatically and quickly.

And our clients want to feel something. We want to feel something. Your clients want your truth to awaken a truth within them.  Your soul wants more than just strategies. Your soul wants you to remember that ancient wisdom that lives within you from the lifetimes that you've lived as royalty, priests, healers, warriors.

You're aching to bring this to the surface, to express and embody this in your business.  Death and rebirth.  is inevitable in our businesses.  We are always growing. And so our businesses must evolve with us.  And nobody is talking about this, how this is actually so normal. And nobody's talking about how to navigate this.

That's why I knew I had to create a podcast episode on this topic and share my story.  So, I want to share a little bit with you of how to navigate the death rebirth cycle that you are likely going through right now.  And it begins with a few signs.  It begins with feeling uninspired with your programs, perhaps some misaligned clients, perhaps you're feeling stuck or inauthentic in your business, or perhaps you're doing things you think you should do versus what you really truly want. 

And as I said, I think that we're always going through some sort of death rebirth cycle within our businesses, but some are subtle and some are more extreme like mine.  The three different variations of death rebirth cycles are one, the flicker.  The flicker is when perhaps you're ready to raise your prices.

Or the type of client that you've been serving needs to change and you're desiring a different type of client to serve.  The second is the flame.  This is when perhaps you want to end a successful program or an offer and create an entirely new one. The third is the burn it down phase. This is when you can no longer do what you were doing. 

That's exactly what happened to me. It's time for a total revamp of your business. It's time to do what you really truly want to do. No more holding back. It's time to weave your unique magic and skills together.  Just like I have been doing with business strategy, which has been 20 years of a skillset that I love to do, but it's now blended with my nature based spirituality. 

All of it, all phases, all stages are beautiful and perfect and so magical  within you right now, there's a part of you that wants to be revealed,  but you're afraid to let her out. And I get that. I get that fear so much. Believe me, I do.  So I want to share five things that really helped me face my fear, which allowed me to walk straight into the death portal and allow myself to come out as an entirely rebirthed woman. 

The first thing was I had to have a spiritual practice so that I could go inward to pause and reflect.  I needed to honor and give gratitude for the parts of myself that I had outgrown.  I had to trust my divinity to create more,  and I had to trust my ancestors and the divine to help me create more.  And what helped me here is that I looked for evidence from the past to prove that I was held, to prove that I had everything within me to create more. 

The second thing is I had a release ceremony. This really helped me have a ritual around letting go of the old business elements. It allowed me to grieve and let go of those pieces that no longer served my clients, no longer served me. And it created the space for new energy and opportunities to come. 

The third thing was that I had to have radical honesty with myself. I had to get really clear on my truth. What is so true? What do I have to share? What messages are coming out? What do I have to teach?  I got to the point that my desire was so strong that there was no turning back.  The fourth thing was getting support around this. 

I had to talk about this with other close female entrepreneurs.  We had to normalize it because we were all going through it, but for some reason, we weren't sharing about it.  And having this group of close female entrepreneurs to speak honestly and candidly about the grief was so cathartic. So healing for my soul.

Another form of support, which is so impactful is having the right mentor. A business coach isn't there just to help you make more money and to give you the steps to build a business. The right business coach is there to also walk alongside you through the death portal,  find the right mentor, get the support that you need.

You're not supposed to move through this alone.  The next thing I did was take focused action.  I chose one strategic step at a time to slowly begin to realign my newly rebirthed self with my business.  I first focused on changing my mastermind. I then changed another offer.  I then changed the title to my podcast.

I then change my messaging  by breaking it down into little steps. It became less overwhelming because the last thing you need is an overwhelming business to get in the way of your emotional healing as you move through. The death and rebirth cycle.  And finally, don't resist the death. Don't resist the rebirth.

Lean into it. This is the natural cycle of this beautiful, magical, abundant world that we live in.  So, that's been the journey over the past few months. Like I said, a lot has been happening behind the scenes, and so much more is to come. But for now, I'm going to head outside and take a walk, but I can't wait to see you on the next episode.