Dreaming the Ancestors

In this episode, Michaela from Rooted Feminine Wellness talks about women’s bodies, women’s health, and matriarchal healing. Together, we dive into some of the stories and beliefs that have been passed down through the lineage about our bodies, and explore what it means to break free from legacies of female deprivation. To live in a way that truly honors and nourishes our bodies is revolutionary, and heals generations of patriarchal oppression and colonial wounding. Michaela talks about this in an Irish context, and encourages women to re-write the story of starvation and unwellness, to one where we are deeply nourished, fed, and sustained. If you’ve been struggling with burnout, chronic illness, or general feelings of fatigue and unwellness, this episode is for you. May this conversation empower you to prioritize feminine wellness and come home to your body.

In this episode, we dive into the topic of Welsh spirituality and cultural appropriation. For anyone interested in honoring their Welsh or English heritage in heartfelt and respectful ways, this episode is for you as we talk about the importance of distinguishing these two distinct cultures. There’s currently a lot of interest in the “Celtic” traditions, which often leads people to the Welsh traditions; a culture full of myth, tradition, and spiritual teachings that bring forth a meaningful sense of ancestral connection in the modern world. However, there’s often a lack of understanding about “Celtic” spirituality that leads to cultural appropriation and misrepresentation. Gwilym offers a grounded and meaningful explanation of these topics, while uplifting Welsh spirituality in a modern context. We also talk about history, language, myth, and the importance of transforming ourselves through the wisdom of these ancestral teachings.

There’s a lot of interest at the moment in connecting with our ancient past, and reviving the “Old Ways” of our earth-honoring ancestors. And while there’s so much we can learn from the past, it can be all too easy to romanticize or misinterpret our ancestral history.  In this episode Sam weaves together archeology, animism and academia to demystify Britain’s ancient peoples, offering grounded insights into our native spirituality free from romantic projections. She shares beautiful wisdom about the nine elements that were honored in different Indo-European cultures, likely including the Pretanī people of ancient Britain. She also gives clear examples of how our ancestors honored these nine elements, and offers an overview of the Pretanī people as a whole; more commonly, and incorrectly, known as the “Celts”.  If you’re someone who enjoys learning about archaeology and history from an academic perspective, along with a good dash of spirituality and mysticism, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Niall is deeply vulnerable in sharing about his own mental health journey and his discovery of what it means to be a man. He discusses the significance of the Mother Wound for men, and men’s deep longing to be initiated by the feminine. He also expresses the need for strong men who are committed to their inner healing, and becoming the men that the world needs. Niall recognizes the disconnection between men and “feminine” principles, such as compassion and emotion. This is something that’s been programmed and bullied into men, locking down decades of fear, pain, and hurt. Many men don’t know where or how to begin healing these wounds; wounds that have a profound ripple effect into their relationship with women. We have a really potent conversion about healing the divide between men and women, looking at heterosexual relationships in particular.

In this episode, Charlotte weaves together the story of alchemy and her journey to revive the folk medicine of her lineage. Her ancestors were apothecarists for many generations before being persecuted for their knowledge; a tradition that Charlotte has lovingly reclaimed. Although her lifelong interest in making medicines brought her to many different cultures around the world, it was in returning to the British Isles and rooting into her own heritage that she found her deepest calling. She passionately describes connecting to the consciousness of plants as a gateway to the ancestors, and how making medicines is an ancient alchemical process with a long history in the lands we now call England, and especially in Glastonbury. She also discusses how she came to tend wells and waterways in the city of London, and reminds us that everyone can work with the sacred waters, even in urban environments.