The Wild and Wise
A series of conversations dedicated to the process of creating wellness, within ourselves and in our communities, in this time of deep transformation. We explore processes, practices, and ideas that resource our personal healing and illuminate the interplay between personal and collective liberation. Ashley and Mallika dive deep into these topics, together and with powerful healers, thinkers and change-makers, giving you a variety of ways to deepen your own connection to yourself and those around you. Ashley is Somatic Movement Therapist and ceremonialist dedicated to tending children, body, land, and spirit. Mallika is a licensed marriage and family therapist committed to creating containers that weave together spiritual and relational healing. In this show, you will learn pathways to healing so that you can awaken the wild and wise parts of yourself and grow your capacity to live a connected, sovereign, and creative life, in right relationship with all beings. Hit subscribe and get ready to come alive in ways you’ve always wanted.
The Wild and Wise
Illness as a Rite of Passage with Lara Veleda Vesta
ep. #31
This conversation and episode is truly one of Mallika's favorite of all time. Lara Veleda Vesta is an author and illistrator, exploring dís-ability, rites of passage, ancestral mythology, folklore and the sacred creative. She lives with Myalgic Encephalomeylitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a disease caused by viruses and inflammation with an infectious trigger. Prior to her illness, Lara was a university professor teaching classes in English and writing and a PhD student in Philosophy and Religion.
Lara's deep work and knowledge of integrating difficult initiatory experiences, expanded by her use of ritual, research and linguistics, help her blend a beautiful weaving of return to old ways, old knowing and the deep peace that is available to us all.
Explored in this episode:
- Why narrative is so important to healing
- Stages of initiation and rite of passage
- Finding the joy available in healing
- Reorienting our job/to-dos to come from spirit and ancestors
- Sacred life is available to any one of us
- Collective rite of passage this past year
- Redefining our values and letting things go
- How do we know when we are on a "return"
- Ritualizing every aspect of the passage
- Grief is part of the return and integration of the passage
- Silence is integral for sacred work
- The potency of being together in a ceremonial frame
- Illness and disability were hallmarks of initiation in historic stories
- The opportunity and communication that comes through as symptoms of illness
- How to stay out of resistance to pain and other difficult symptoms
- The power and potential of the millions of people who are ill or living with disability
- What is your super power?
Quotes from Lara:
"We need each other's stories so we can know what's survivable."
"What I have found useful is ritualizing every aspect of the process."
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