#4 Jo Rockendorfer on nature based healing practices, art as a tool for self inquiry, our menstrual cycles and their gifts, healing with Ayahuasca and the power of myth

Letting go of control and returning to our natural rhythms, our essence. In this episode, I speak with Jo Rockendorfer, a Transpersonal Art Therapist, healer, wise woman and keeper of myth and magic.

The conversation is a beautiful exploration of how healing occurs when we slow down and reconnect to the earth, it’s cycles and medicine- and ultimately back to ourselves.

We explore themes of nature based healing, including the medicine wheel and plant medicines (Ayahuasca),  art as a tool for self inquiry and healing, embracing and working with our menstrual cycles and how we can use myths and stories as maps for our lives.

It is a truly beautiful experience talking with Jo and hearing her deep wisdom. 

This conversation offers a lot of practical advice for healing and connecting with one's true self.

I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed being a part of it.

As always if you have any feedback please get in touch via my instagram.

You can find Jo Rockendorfer at:

W:https://www.cantadora.com.au/ 

You can find Leora at:

 IG: A healing guide pod

Resources:

Books:

• Women Who Run with Wolves- Clarissa Pinkola Estes
• SoulCollage- Seena B Frost
• Under the Quandong Tree - Minmia 
• Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Secret Language of your Body - Inna Segal
• Ancestral Medicine- Daniel Foor

Medicine Wheel resources:

• Compass of the Heart Embodying Medicine Wheel Teachings - Loren Cruden 
• Sandra Ingerman - shift network for her courses and she has many books on earth based practises including Medicine Wheel
• The Medicine wheel discussed in this episode comes from the School of Complementary Medicine, taught by Dr Rafael Locke

People:

• Jo’s Shamanic teacher Puma - Fredy Quispe Singona- Shiftnetwork and https://www.noqankani.com/about 
• Gabrielle Roth, founder of 5 Rhythms Dance
• Dr Margaret Rainbird: Labyrinth creator
• Jane Hardwick Collins - The school of Shamanic Womancraft  for more women’s work in particular the wisdom of the menstrual cycle

Topics:

00:00 Introduction to Jo

01:28 Acknowledging the Ancestors of the land

02:33 Healing the land

06:09 Nature based practices and the Medicine Wheel

10:40 Art as a Tool for Healing

17:29 Understanding and connecting with our Menstrual Cycle

23:30 The Influence of Moon Phases

25:31 Connecting with plant medicines: Ayahuasca

28:39 The 'purge' 

31:53 Advice on working with Ayahuasca 

39:26 The Power of Myths and Archetypes

43:41 Closing Thoughts and Resources