This Is Women

Ep.11 - Practicing Ethical Spirituality : Addressing Cultural Appropriation and Colonization in Spiritual Community Retreats with Lizzy Torres Dockstader

Let’s talk about the spiritual lifestyle aesthetic often portrayed on social media and main stream culture. The portrayal paints the picture of a perfect life : living in harmony with nature in an eco lodge in the rain forest. Spending your days practicing yoga, meditation, eating fresh fruit picked right from the tree... Cliff jumping into the pristine waters of a sacred lake… The reality of this instagramable “spiritual” lifestyle is that it is not a true reflection of how the local indigenous people of this land and ancestry live their daily lives at all… and so we get into unpacking the issue behind this in today's episode. Today Lizzy Torres Dockstader is on the podcast to share her mothers story of having to leave her home town in Guatemala and flee for her safety to America when she was just 16 years old. Lizzy enlightens us on the stark contrast of how privileged and tone deaf these sort of “woke spiritual” communities can be because they portray a privileged lifestyle selling the instagramamable spiritual aesthetic, when in reality this way of living in unrealistic and unattainable for most Guatemalan people living there. Lizzy shares with us the corruption of the MS 13 Gang occupation in Guatemala and how that effects the local people and their business’s. She talks about the racial hierarchy and how the local people view these developments of foreigners coming in to buy up land. And we get into talking about the problem of modern day colonization in countries like Guatemala. I understand this a complex  and controversial topic with many different aspects to consider, and we’re obviously not covering everything there is to say in a 90 minute podcast episode, but Lizzy and I share about our personal connection to this sort of topic and what we are talking about today is centred around spiritual elitism, and exploring the darker underbelly of spirituality and our own experiences of cultivating a more ethical spiritual practice. We also talk about : * Modern day colonization of 3rd world countries and how this effects the local people living there * The racial hierarchy complex * Laws in Guatemala do not protect Indigenous people and their land * The complexity of supporting local people in these communities * Pay walls in spiritual communities * Cultural appropriation vs appreciation * The problem with buying land on a sacred place * How to sustainably, and respectfully create a spiritual community * Giving back to the indigenous communities * Exploring ethical tourism * Ideas on how to respectfully engage in these indigenous medicine practices/ceremonies Connect with Lizzy @lizzy_lunas [https://www.instagram.com/lizzy_lunas/] Follow Lizzy’s art accounts @casalunaarte [https://www.instagram.com/casalunaarte/] and subscribe to her youtube channel for more art content! Watch : Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/show/hamiltons-pharmacopeia [https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/show/hamiltons-pharmacopeia] Resources for practicing ethical spirituality : https://www.embodyinclusivity.com [https://www.embodyinclusivity.com/] https://snehasacred.com/ [https://snehasacred.com/] Follow @thisiswomenpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thisiswomenpodcast/] for more updates about the pod! Ps. I will be treeplanting for the summer and will be taking a break from uploading for a few months! Sending you so much love and see you soon xx

Ep. 10 - Turning Your Art into a Business with Tatiana Cardona of Female Alchemy

Female Alchemy is the perfect name for what ceramics artist Tatiana Cardona's art represents: an embodiment of the magical process of creation held by female creators. Tatiana's pottery is known for the iconic luscious lips that she sculpts to create beautiful, yet functional ceramic art pieces that enliven and up-level any space in which they are on display. The lips are an ode to the 60’s and 70’s feminist movement where women would wear bright red lipstick as a symbol of protest and empowerment. Today Tatiana is on the podcast to talk about how she turned her love for ceramic art into her successful business known as Female Alchemy, her mission as a female artist, and to share her advice on trusting your vision and committing to your artistic practice. We talk about : * Pursuing art as a career * How Tatiana transitioned into being a full time ceramics artist * The origins of Female Alchemy * The symbolism behind Tatiana’s iconic signature luscious ceramic lips * Paying homage to the female artists that came before us * Expanding her business to a bigger studio * Manifesting your vision as an artist * Tatiana’s process of creating her iconic ceramic vases * Tatiana’s latest collection – Out of This World * Social media comparison * The importance of committing to your art practice * Advice for starting from scratch and pursuing what you love * Utilizing social media to market her business * Female Alchemy’s jewellery line Connect with Tatiana: @female.alchemy [https://www.instagram.com/female.alchemy/] www.femalealchemy.com [https://www.femalealchemy.com] Tik tok :@female.alchemy [https://www.tiktok.com/@female.alchemy?lang=en] Follow @thisiswomenpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thisiswomenpodcast/] for more updates about the pod.

Ep. 9 - Embracing the Magic in Between and Embodied Presence through Life's Changing Seasons with Aria Z Young

Aria Z Young is a radiant healer, yoga and meditation teacher and divine channel for light language transmissions, and just an overall absolute beam of light and love. Aria embodies many different healing modalities to assist you in reconnecting with your soul’s authentic essence and expression. Today Aria is on the podcast to share her many gems of insight and divine channelled wisdom. In conversation Maddy speaks with Aria about finding “the magic in between” when we are going through times of uncomfortable transitions in our lives, the two discuss the aesthetic of spirituality on social media vs what being spiritual actually looks like IRL. Aria shares how she connects with Source by cultivating her relationship with Mama Gaia, the healing magic of Yin Yoga and meditation, and how she embodies her true self through sharing the messages of divine guidance she receives through light language transmissions. We talk about: * Embodied presence through the changing seasons of our life * The importance of the magic in between * How main stream spirituality is portrayed on social media * How Aria connects with Mama Gaia for Her guidance * Connect with nature as a divine healing modality * Connecting with the energy of the moon and honouring our own internal cycles * The power of practicing yin yoga and meditation * The simplicity of spirituality * Embodied manifestation * Light Language expression Connect with Aria @ariazyoung [https://www.instagram.com/ariazyoung/] Aria's YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFoDpUo1kyWUZbmzcxE2U_Q] Visit Area's website to book a Healing Light Journey session, 50% off until the end of April :https://www.ariazyoung.com/ [https://www.ariazyoung.com/] Read : The Great Mother Bible Or I'd Rather Be Gardening by Mare Cromwell [https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-great-mother-bible-or-id-rather-be-gardening_mare-cromwell/9708371/item/28709774/?gclid=CjwKCAjwpKCDBhBPEiwAFgBzj3etYTtYpJahJdK-JsQZjhAbOPLn8GtB4iPeH-_8kcUwJ57LV5NEyhoC63YQAvD_BwE#idiq=28709774&edition=9121189] Follow @thisiswomenpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thisiswomenpodcast/] for more updates about the pod

Ep. 8 - Vulnerability In Leadership and Creating Safer Communities Within Tree Planting Camps with Meg Webster and Dominique Di Libero

Meg Webster and Dominique Di Libero are veteran tree planters who have had many a summer’s experience tree planting up in BC Canada. However, it doesn’t take a well-seasoned vet to see the incidences of sexual assault and harassment that is, sadly, a prevalent issue within the tree planting industry… Well aware of this issue, Meg and Dom began having conversations about how they could go about creating change within the sexual harassment policies and procedures in the industry and started to have solution focused conversations about how they could make camp life a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone. Meg and Dom expanded these conversations outside of their personal zoom calls, and began hosting meetings with the Womxn In Silviculture Facebook group community to hear what many other planters had to say about this issue. They eventually gathered this collective information together to speak at the 2021 Western Forestry Contractors Association Conference (WFCA) this past February! Today Meg and Dom are on the podcast to talk about what they discussed in their presentation on solutions for creating safer community within the tree planting industry and to share their ideas on how to create actionable change within the Tree Planting industry when it comes to harm reduction, camp party culture, and creating policy that not only includes insuring the physical safety of planters, but for the mental wellbeing of workers as well. We talk about: * Creating positive change in camp culture * Approaching issues from a solution viewpoint rather than story telling * Policy change to help facilitate truly incorporating this work into the fabric of camp life * Addressing drinking culture in camp * The importance of pre season education and training leaders in camp * Creating community accountability * The importance of vulnerability in leadership * Policy change as a learning process not a destination * How to create harm reduction in camp Resources : Master Resource List compiled by Meg and Dom:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qz-WiSk9q6NpAp44jtSVITF8gad_TQnwm8SKIcWDxnU/edit [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qz-WiSk9q6NpAp44jtSVITF8gad_TQnwm8SKIcWDxnU/edit] Join the Womxn In Silviculture [https://www.facebook.com/groups/172706926654848] Facebook Group To join the Sexual Harassement/Assault & Mental Health Policy Meetings [https://www.facebook.com/groups/364039164711122] Facebook group Meg's email : meg.webster10@gmail.com [meg.webster10@gmail.com] Follow @thisiswomenpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thisiswomenpodcast/] for more updates about the pod!

Ep. 7 - Yoni Steaming for Cultivating a Healthy and Balanced Womb Connection with Megan Lendman of Soulstice Steam

Megan and Dan have been together in relationship for over 10 years now. Megan and Dan’s enduring relationship rooted in love, faith, respect, patience, creativity and this sacred union of the masculine and feminine energies is all that they have poured into this conscious brand that is Soulstice Steam. They have combined their skills of artistic expression, entrepreneurship, carpentry and the ritual of ceremony to create wooded stools, made from beautiful sturdy pine or cedar, that act as sauna's to be used for yoni steaming. Soulstice Steam offers you support and guidance throughout your yoni steaming experience in order for you to leverage this ancient healing modality to cleanse and connect deeper to your womb. Their services include herbal mixes for yoni steaming, womb reiki sessions, and guided yoni steaming offerings. I met Megan a year ago in Guatemala when we crossed path in the powerful vortex that is lake Atilan, and Megan has been such a powerful and graceful expander in my life for all things holistic health and self love…. Like yoni steaming. We talk about: * The language around menstrual terminology and what these words actually mean * The benefits and profound healing properties of yoni steaming * What a balanced womb connection truly looks like * Healing vs the process of healing … the difference between striving to be 100% healed vs. living in a way that is moving the eb and flow of life * The spitual aspect of yoni steaming to connect deeper to our womb wisdom * The different herbs to use for yoni steaming and their healing properties * How to know if yoni steaming is the healing modality that is right for you * Megan's photography business Goddess Unveiled * Seeing your true light * Vulnerability being the first step to uncovering your true self Resources: Connect with Megan @meganlendmanphoto [https://www.instagram.com/meganlendmanphoto/] on insta soulsticesteam.com [https://www.soulsticesteam.com/] @soulsticesteam [https://www.instagram.com/soulsticesteam/] For more updates about the pod follow @thisiswomenpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thisiswomenpodcast/] on instagram