This episode is an interview with Kate West, the co-founder of Nest & Bowl and Song Carriers ATX.

Kate is mama to four growing humans, a song carrier and weaver of words. She’s facilitated hundreds of women’s circles and knows the magic initiated when women gather with intention. She studied holistic health and nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2005 and has been supporting women and families to recover wellness and balance in their lives for the past 18 years. She’s a birth doula, minister, and ceremonialist, offering safe space for her community to remember wholeness through direct communion with the sacredness of life. Kate is an Ayurvedic postpartum caregiver and chef, a homegrown herbalist and regenerative gardener, finding herself most at home when immersed in the natural world with her family and community. She facilitates ceremonies and song circles in the Austin area.

In this episode we dive into the transformational transition from maiden to mother, how we can rewild ourselves and connect deeper with nature and the unseen world around us to help us live life in a more soulful way. We also talk about the power of story-telling and song as medicine, and we share our common dream of a world where we are re-villaging our lives and co-creating inclusive communities that support the health, vitality and growth of everyone.

Links

Kate's personal Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/innerhum

Kate's company Nest & Bowl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nestandbowl

Nest & Bowl's website: www.nestandbowl.com

The Well of the Mother song circles: https://nestbowl.as.me/song-circles

Song Carriers ATX: https://mailchi.mp/045b5ed80f36/songcarriersatx

Praising Earth (Madi Sato’s work / Song Carriers): www.praisingearth.org

Noirin ni Riain (Irish grandmother song carrier): www.noirin.love

Wildfamily movie: https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/wild-family-a-film-about-parenting-2015

Voices of the Grandmothers film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdTvkrWX2Ig

Books: Sharon Blackie “If Women Rose Rooted” and Bill Plotkin “Soulcraft”

Tune in to listen to this rich conversation I had earlier this year with my dear friend, fellow Yogi and mama, Dr. Erica Matluck.

She is a modern medicine woman and the creator of Seven Senses, a holistic framework for healing and transformation. Erica is trained as a Naturopathic doctor, family nurse practitioner, Reiki Master and multidisciplinary yoga instructor. Combining over a decade of experience working in conventional and alternative medicine, she brings a truly holistic lens to wellbeing, addressing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health. Ancient wisdom and Eastern philosophy thread through all of Erica’s work, which has been featured in Harpers Bazaar, Mindbodygreen, Well and Good, Vogue and Women’s Health.

She is one of the humans I feel deeply inspired by who walks their talk and brings so much depth and beauty to this world.

Erica’s Instagram, @experiencesevensenses, is an aesthetically and poetically rich online space full of musings on the intersection of health and spirituality, worthy of binge scrolling!

In this conversion we discuss many things like the Maiden to Mother journey informed by the Chakras energy system and discovering what true devotion really means through the initiation to motherhood. We also touch on subjects like navigating this 3D world as multidimensional beings while weaving body+mind+heart+soul in the experience. We also touch on the full spectrum of holistic health, what it truly means to heal yourself and integrate all parts of you as you prepare for motherhood. Lastly, we also talk about what it looks like to be the stewards of the next generation as parents while also continuing to serve our Dharma in the world.

Erica and her partner Paul lead some amazing retreats all around the world. Their next retreat will be in Ibiza in June 2023. To explore more of Erica’s work, her upcoming retreats and courses, and to connect with her directly, you can check out her website and Instagram:

www.ExperienceSevenSenses.com

@ExperienceSevenSenses

I am back on the podcast after a little hiatus, and on this episode I share about what I've been up to during my time away from the mic. Tune in to listen to a rather personal and heartfelt share about many things, including our weaning ceremony, my mamamoon journey, and my new and exciting offerings for the collective.

Links mentioned on the show:

Podcast episode 6 "Regulating our nervous system": https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matriarch-rising/episodes/6--Self-care-series-Regulating-our-nervous-system-e1ud20p

Podcast episode 2 "My birthing story": https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matriarch-rising/episodes/2--Journey-from-Maiden-to-Mother-My-birthing-story-e1sos3d

Mothers circles in Austin TX: https://www.nestandbowl.com/shop-1/rooted-mothers-circles

Upcoming MotherBird retreat: https://www.nestandbowl.com/shop-1/retreats

Matriarch Rising on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matriarchrisingpodcast

This episode of the Matriarch Rising podcast is part of the self-care series, where I explore and share various concepts and practices I utilize that contribute to my overall wellbeing. Today I talk about regulating the nervous system. I briefly explain how the nervous system works, regulation and co-regulation, and how we can do that with our children. I also share some tangible practices I do myself that help me regulate my own nervous system. I hope you find it helpful whether you are a parent or not. We all have a nervous system and need to know how to regulate it.

This episode is all about homebirth! Tune in to listen how I came to the decision to birth at home, and what I did to prepare. I also share some more general things to consider if you are pregnant and planning your birth, wherever that may be. I hope you find this episode helpful for your own planning. Please consider sharing it with someone who could find value in it, especially any pregnant people in your life who are interested in the topic.

I would love to hear back from you, have you had a homebirth or do you plan on one? You can let me know on Instagram @MatriarchRisingPodcast, or you can email me at MatriarchRisingPodcast@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you about any of the episodes or simply to say hi. You can also subscribe to the podcast for free to catch future episodes. Lastly, if you feel like showing some love, you can rate or review the podcast so other people can find it as well.

Wherever you choose to birth, I hope that your choice is filled with confidence, peace of mind, and full support from those around you. Thank you for listening!

Tune in to today's episode on the Matriarch Rising podcast to enjoy a guided meditation that was designed to help you connect with your heart and breath.

I hope you find this meditation useful. If you enjoy it please share it with someone you care for. You can also help more listeners discover the podcast by rating and leaving a review on whatever platform you listen to podcasts. Your support is deeply appreciated.

Creative Commons meditation music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com

Join me on this episode for a brief reflection on 2022, while I get raw and real about parenthood, self-care, relationships and navigating life as a first time mother of a young toddler. Let's welcome in with intention what is in the highest alignment with heart and soul for 2023. Wishing you all a meaningful and beautiful new year!

On this episode of the Matriarch Rising podcast I share my full birthing story of my baby Skye. I consider this to be a positive home birth story and encourage especially anyone who is pregnant, or hoping to become pregnant soon, to listen and feel inspired and hopeful for their upcoming birth. If you enjoy this episode, please take a brief moment to subscribe, rate/review and share it with others who would enjoy it, too. Your support means the world.