Original Belonging

Episode 6: Divine Assignment

In episode six, I delve into the deep presence I felt of a female lineage I never knew. I longed to uncover their lost stories. I recall moving to New York in my 20s, where I worked in publishing and retraced my ancestors' steps. After falling in love, I left NYC to join my husband, whose training and career prompted moves around the country. The importance of creativity dulled as I focused on work, linear thinking, and fitting in. Eventually, I encountered a graduate program in Jungian-oriented Depth Psychology, which exposed my long-forgotten, soul yearnings.  By sharing my stories of vulnerability and also beginning to pen FBI Girl, I felt vitality return. I was reconciling with my own feeling heart, writing my own myth. Many people today yearn to embrace their unique wisdom. What we do with that yearning becomes a gift, an anchor into our original belonging. We don't need to look to external sources for meaning as we tap into that inner “Divine Child” archetypal energy. Accessing this inner wisdom leads to liberation. New paths open up as we challenge old silences and begin to create a new life narrative.  Being with my parents as they transitioned revealed hidden stories from their first 14 years of life and inspired this podcast series! I invite listeners to consider the childhood events that shaped their lives as sources of healing and also as gifts for life transformation. This treasure trove of embodied remembrance is a reflection of our mythic uniqueness, a reminder of why we are here, and what is ours to offer the world during these times of transition. Honoring Mary Ann Hogan Conlon Mother, Activist, Writer, Advocate/Intellectual  Disabilities Movement, Thinker & Educator Topics Covered: (03:52) The reckoning of our divine assignment (11:18) Sixth-grade poem about divine nature  (16:04) Love’s tidal wave (23:48) “Maybe I felt too much.” (27:36) Creative momentum returns  (34:43) Mythmaking to anchor purpose  (39:51) Purpose beyond achievement  (44:07) Vital aliveness of your first 14 years   (50:49) Thank you, Joe and Mary Conlon (54:45) Liberated by the Divine Child archetype Stay Connected: * mauraconlon.com [https://mauraconlon.com/podcast/]  * @orginalbeloning on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/originalbelonging/]  * Maura Conlon on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/maura.conlon.7]  Credit: * Podcast series production by Media Midwife Ahri Golden [https://www.ahrigolden.com/] * Podcast series launch by The Wave Podcasting [https://www.thewavepodcasting.com/] About: In this series, I explore how the significant influences and archetypal events experienced in our first 14 years of life set the stage for what is most meaningful throughout our adult years. In times of transition, a voice wonders: who am I at the soul level, at my essence? Our earliest resonant moments of awe–what lit us up–offer direct access into the root system of our original belonging.

Episode 5: One With The Ocean

In episode five, I introduce my connection with the sea, a reverence passed down from my female lineage. I’m then joined in conversation with Dr. Easkey Britton, a surfer, artist, filmmaker, and marine social scientist who lives in County Donegal, Ireland. She shares stories about her original belonging and her passion for connecting human vitality with the health of our blue planet. I loved the ocean early on, living only four miles away. The expanse of the sea connects me to the divine, the feminine, to primal energy. I tell the story of my mother’s love for the ocean in the Rockaways, in New York, where she once was a bathing beauty. I share my tale of empowerment as the sea becomes my place of refuge, accessible by bike. Coming of age in the LA suburbs, I sensed my FBI agent father’s fear escalate as he watched an emboldened free spirit take hold of me. When I began to write at age 14, I felt the primal energy of motion, like flowing water, awaken in me as a reassurance. The ocean became a mirror to my soul.  After sharing my story, I welcome Dr. Easkey Britton who explores her through-threads of elemental healing, the spiritual intelligence of water, and restoring a sense of belonging. We discuss Easkey’s family connection to the sea in Ireland, her coming-of-age years as a champion surfer, her blue heritage, and her ongoing work in ocean therapy. Easkey’s creativity has a deep connection with the ocean. Her work in art, marine science, and social ecology focuses on the health of water as a mirror of the health of society. Water is wise; it is the ultimate life source as it moves through all our bodies. The planet’s health depends on it. If we care for the ocean with reverence, we begin to restore that which has been lost.   Topics Covered: (04:21) My life is a love story for the sea (08:51) The ocean as wisdom’s metaphor  (24:41) Easkey Britton joins me in conversation (36:59) Oceanic belonging  (43:08) Irish mythology’s connection to land and language (49:14) From surfer to artist to marine scientist  (57:49) Role of ocean therapy in the healing journey (1:04:03) Ecologies of care Resources Mentioned: * Pauline Bewick [https://paulinebewick.ie/] * Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes [https://bookshop.org/p/books/women-who-run-with-the-wolves-myths-and-stories-of-the-wild-woman-archetype-clarissa-pinkola-estes/7304538] * Manchán Magan [https://www.manchan.com/] * Robin Wall Kimmerer [https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/] * The Red School [https://www.redschool.net/] Dr. Easkey Britton * Dr. Easkey Britton | website [https://easkeybritton.com/] * Dr. Easkey Britton | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/easkeysurf/] * Finisterre | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finisterre/] * Ebb and Flow | book [https://easkeybritton.com/ebb-flow/] * Saltwater in the Blood | book [https://easkeybritton.com/saltwater-in-the-blood/] * 50 Things to Do by the Sea | book [https://easkeybritton.com/50-things-to-do-by-the-sea/] * Surfboard portrait credit: Will Cornelius  Stay Connected: * mauraconlon.com [https://mauraconlon.com/podcast/]  * @orginalbeloning on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/originalbelonging/]  * Maura Conlon on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/maura.conlon.7]  Credit: * Podcast series production by Media Midwife Ahri Golden [https://www.ahrigolden.com/] * Podcast series launch by The Wave Podcasting [https://www.thewavepodcasting.com/] About: In this series, I explore how the significant influences and archetypal events experienced in our first 14 years of life set the stage for what is most meaningful throughout our adult years. In times of transition, a voice wonders: who am I at the soul level, at my essence? Our earliest resonant moments of awe–what lit us up–offer direct access into the root system of our original belonging.

Episode 4: Primal Creativity

In episode four, I reflect on my coming-of-age encounters with that powerful force field of creative energy. As a teen in the 1970s, sewing ushered in an enchanted sense of feminine sovereignty. I’m delighted then to share in conversation with award-winning author and story alchemist, Kristin Kaye, about the sacred avenues of creativity and immersive exploration in nature. Our first experience with creativity influences how we dream ourselves into the world, which for me began with a love of sports and feeling a sense of play. I recall when my mother gave me “the talk” about menstruation and other activities associated with “young womanhood.” I funneled my desire for independent thinking into sewing, which became an unexpected ticket to liberation, evocative of the era’s feminist movement and the power to design one’s own life.   When I began to work more “serious” career jobs, moving around the country, I lost my early connection to that creative spark. I became an “adult.” Creativity and play felt devalued. During a big life transition decades later, I signed up for a life-changing course, re-igniting the spark around the sovereign expression I had lost.  In my conversation with award-winning author and meditation teacher, Kristin Kaye, we pick up the thread regarding creative play and discovery. Her childhood memories of playing by a creek in her suburban Maryland informed an early sense of freedom and wonder. This combined with memories of a step-grandfather’s nature-immersed, playful poetry and storytelling gifts, inspired her later work in theater and also as an author exploring the ancient secrets of trees and our deepest longings for connection.  Moving to the Pacific Northwest, Kristin shares her grief as a witness to clear-cut forests. This awareness leads to actions of caring stewardship, including organizing community dinners situated in nature and later climbs and sleeps atop a redwood tree for days. We speak about the courage required to belong to the world as a creatively-expressed person and the power of choice to honor nature, wisdom and ancestry. Topics Covered: (03:46) Becoming a woman (13:43) Feminism in the sewing room (19:40) Rediscovering feminine energy through drawing (26:05) Play is pure creativity  (32:21) Kristin Kaye joins me in conversation (33:25) Freedom to play and the wonder of nature (41:44) Storytelling runs in the family (46:19) A woman’s connection to her voice (58:02) Bringing Tree Dreams to life (1:04:12) Lessons from a redwood tree Kristin Kaye * Kristin Kaye | website [https://www.kristinkaye.com/] * Kristin Kaye | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/heykristinkaye/] * Story Alchemy | website [https://storyalchemy.kristinkaye.com/] Stay Connected: * mauraconlon.com [https://mauraconlon.com/podcast/]  * @orginalbeloning on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/originalbelonging/]  * Maura Conlon on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/maura.conlon.7]  Credit: * Podcast series production by Media Midwife Ahri Golden [https://www.ahrigolden.com/] * Podcast series launch by The Wave Podcasting [https://www.thewavepodcasting.com/] About: In this series, I explore how the significant influences and archetypal events experienced in our first 14 years of life set the stage for what is most meaningful throughout our adult years. In times of transition, a voice wonders: who am I at the soul level, at my essence? Our earliest resonant moments of awe–what lit us up–offer direct access into the root system of our original belonging.

Episode 3: Disability + Grace

In episode three, I share my story of learning the meaning of love as I grew up alongside my brother Joe Jr., who was born with Down syndrome in the 1960s, and how our relationship has evolved over the years. I am joined in conversation with Molly Nocon, CEO of Noah Homes, a groundbreaking residential community in San Diego that provides exceptional care and choices for adults with developmental disabilities, the home where my brother Joe resides today. In the 1960s, a movement swept the nation challenging the stigma around so-called “mental retardation.” For decades, parents were guided to place their children with special needs in institutions–but no more! I discuss how my mother found her voice in advocating for those born with intellectual disabilities as did my otherwise stoic father, a special agent for the FBI. Joe Jr. held the magic key to open peoples’ hearts. He exemplified an unfettered sense of joy. Witnessing his love, yet knowing he was deemed “the other,” I felt compelled to share Joe’s story. My brother, who loved to sing but could not speak, taught me that we communicate in many ways. He inspired my coming-of-age memoir FBI Girl, a love story about family that felt like a part of my personal, divine contract.   In this episode, I also speak with Molly Nocon, CEO of Noah Homes in San Diego, California. Molly is also a sister to a brother born with Down syndrome. She shares stories of her early years and family dynamics and how these through-threads inspire her work today. Noah Homes, set on a beautiful, peaceful campus, exemplifies leadership and caring. It is also groundbreaking in its visionary role around memory care, as many adults living with Down syndrome are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in their later years. Molly speaks to the importance of family and community support and advocacy at the governmental level to maintain the commitment to caring for an exceptional population. With continued heart-centered advocacy, this episode is an inspiration to how we all can contribute to a more loving future for all citizens.  Topics Covered: (03:38) Growing up with Joe, my brilliant teacher (10:17) Removing the shame around special needs  (17:45) Embracing my divine contract  (27:19) Caring like we’re all connected (31:18) Molly Nocon joins me in conversation (40:13) Advocacy challenges and combatting “institution” stigmas  (50:49) Going from no knowledge to special needs expert (58:45) Teaching an ethics of care and involvement Resources Mentioned * Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution | documentary [https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496] Molly Nocon * Noah Homes | website [https://www.noahhomes.org/] * Noah Homes | Instagram [https://@thefolksofnoahhomes] Stay Connected: * mauraconlon.com [https://mauraconlon.com/podcast/]  * @orginalbeloning on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/originalbelonging/]  * Maura Conlon on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/maura.conlon.7]  Credit: * Podcast series production by Media Midwife Ahri Golden [https://www.ahrigolden.com/] * Podcast series launch by The Wave Podcasting [https://www.thewavepodcasting.com/] About: In this series, I explore how the significant influences and archetypal events experienced in our first 14 years of life set the stage for what is most meaningful throughout our adult years. In times of transition, a voice wonders: who am I at the soul level, at my essence? Our earliest resonant moments of awe–what lit us up–offer direct access into the root system of our original belonging.

Episode 2: Pulse of Unleashed Stories

In episode two, I explore my sense of place and of home, searching for lost stories of my ancestors, and uncovering secrets that contributed to the shaping of my sense of identity. After sharing my story, I am honored to be in conversation with social impact leader and global women's silence breaker, Jensine Larsen, Founder of World Pulse, as we explore the power of unleashed stories. Growing up in southern California with an Irish name, I was inspired to know more about my family roots but confused by the lack of stories handed down. Surrounded by Disneyland and Hollywood as cultural icons, I intuited instead a hidden reality that fueled my quest to uncover my true ground of being. My grandmother, born in Ireland and who emigrated to New York, only offered silence when I asked about her homeland. This whetted my curiosity! Visiting my ancestral homeland in my late teenage years, I lit up as I heard my Irish relatives proclaim: “Welcome Home!” From the green landscape to the storytelling culture, I felt a sense of belonging. I share excerpts from my journal written on that fateful trip as my early love for writing poetry continues to blossom. I discovered that the way I see the world is Irish, rooted in nature’s beauty and spirituality, connected to a deep, ancient, soulful essence. After sharing my story, I welcome Jensine Larsen who shares through-threads from her childhood shaped by the blissful, natural world and an imaginative sense of play. She details the journey of finding her voice, eventually becoming an international journalist and founder of World Pulse, a digital platform connecting women’s voices worldwide. Once a shy, misunderstood girl with a unique name, she depicts how she learned to challenge the status quo after experiencing loss and witnessing inequalities. As a young journalist in the Amazon, Jensine shares the discovery of her calling to be a conduit for other women’s stories, where formerly unheard voices can be witnessed, leading to connection, empowerment, and new leadership frameworks around gender and media.  Topics Covered: (03:39) Exile in LA among a silent family history  (12:30) Honoring ancestry through searching out stories  (16:18) Visiting Ireland and feeling at home  (23:59) Journal excerpts from that fateful first trip (27:39) Jensine Larsen joins me in conversation  (40:10) Listening so other womens’ voices can be heard (49:34) Vision for World Pulse and global change Jensine Larsen * Jensine Larsen | website [https://www.jensinelarsen.com/] * Jensine Larsen | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jensinelarsen/] * World Pulse | website [https://www.worldpulse.org/] * World Pulse | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/worldpulse/] Stay Connected: * mauraconlon.com [https://mauraconlon.com/podcast]  * @orginalbeloning on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/originalbelonging/]  * Maura Conlon on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/maura.conlon.7]  Credit: * Podcast series production by Media Midwife Ahri Golden [https://www.ahrigolden.com/] * Podcast series launch by The Wave Podcasting [https://www.thewavepodcasting.com/] About: In this series, I explore how the significant influences and archetypal events experienced in our first 14 years of life set the stage for what is most meaningful throughout our adult years. In times of transition, a voice wonders: who am I at the soul level, at my essence? Our earliest resonant moments of awe–what lit us up–offer direct access into the root system of our original belonging.