Issue #36: wobbly. witchy. wisdom.
Season 7 of the podcast launches next week!
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As the new year begins, there’s a collective sense of reevaluation—of what’s working, what’s not, and where to go from here. The start of the year naturally brings a focus on goals and resolutions, but for many, there’s a growing desire to shift away from relentless achievement and towards something more meaningful. Conversations over coffee or wine increasingly center on the weight of expectations and the quiet realization that the paths once believed to lead to fulfillment often feel restrictive.
At the same time, new studies on alcohol’s impact on women’s health are sparking reflection on the habits used to unwind. As these conversations unfold, the question emerges—are the comforts relied on for relief actually keeping things in place?
Season 7 begins with the reminder that it’s okay to question, to feel wobbly, and to embrace the wisdom that comes with letting go of old narratives. This year is about loving yourself as you are, speaking your truth, and stepping into something new—something a little witchy, a little wild, and entirely authentic. Speaking of authenticity, this conversation was eye-opening and motivation to say no when things are not in alignment.
This week’s Five Senses Friday is from one of our podcast guests next week! Kristina is an intuitive healer who specializes in spiritual strategy with 1:1 soul-healing sessions to illuminate your path forward. Her purpose is guiding people see their own inner light through the Tarot, energy healing, astrology, guided meditation and more. Her intention in each individual session is to give specific guidance on life’s questions and uncover meaningful solutions for your life, helping to uncover your unique soul gifts and purpose. Find out more at illuminationoracle.com or on IG @theilluminationoracle where she posts weekly energy updates, offers free card pulls for followers and more, or head to her Patreon to join her intuitive community of self-healers.
TASTE: Little Saints. A woman-owned business that creates zero sugar, non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits fueled by mushrooms is something I can fully support! If you're seeking an alcohol alternative for Dry January, or just want to try a new type of mocktail that actually tastes delicious AND is good for you -- this fits the bill. I love their St. Ember "spirit"-- it's made with Lion's Mane and Damiana which gives you a super chill vibe and is super refreshing on ice or mixed with seltzer, lime and bitters. Yum.
SEE: The Emotion Code. If there's one book I recommend to all my clients for self-healing, it's The Emotion Code. Written by Dr. Bradley Nelson, this book is an introduction to energy healing. It shows how emotionally charged events from one's past can translate into trapped emotions -- aka: emotional energy that literally inhabits your body. The Emotion Code helps you to identify not only what you are feeling (which can sometimes be hard to identify), but how to release this energy with intention. It is simple method to follow, and the book itself is packed with inspiring stories that have produced profound results. It's also one of those books that when you read it you may think, "this can't possibly work" but it DOES. It was one of the first books that helped me tremendously on my own self-healing journey years ago and I still go back to it for its incredible wisdom. If you're curious about energy medicine or releasing stress, anxiety and limiting beliefs -- this is a great place to start! It is a book that will encourage you to remember just how powerful you are, and that you are worthy of a life of true happiness and peace.
SMELL: Calm Sage + Lavender Candle. I love filling my home and studio to the brim with candlelight, especially in winter. There is something so primal and ancient about candlelight and fire that just feels warming when the weather is anything but. However. I have been known to get wax everywhere (oops) so when a candle comes contained in a beautiful little jar -- bonus! No mess! If you're seeking a moment of instant calm, with a light, clean scent -- this candle delivers in spades. I received it originally as a gift from friend and with its soothing fragrance of lavender and sage it fills my home with light and peace. Plus, my dog's name is Sage -- so that makes me love it even more!
HEAR: Oracle Sisters. When the song "Asc. Scorpio" came out, I immediately fell in love with a band that sings about ASTROLOGY (yessss) in perfect harmony. I'm a sucker for harmonic melodies. I also had to go look up the lyrics to their songs because they're mysterious and deep but that's the kind of energy that keeps me guessing and I love it. Whenever I listen to Oracle Sisters, it makes me feel like I'm sitting outside in the sun on a summer day -- you can truly feel that they recorded this album on a remote island, as they blend "the ancient with the unexpected". The melodies are catchy, the lyrics are a bit funky and the energy is calm -- it's a fun listen.
However, if you're seeking healing music that truly aligns your frequency and is perfect for meditation, relaxation or even drifting off to sleep -- binaural beats and solfeggio frequencies will be the answer! 528hz frequency is a favorite of mine, you can find this on YouTube or Spotify. The 528 hz frequency relates to the note MI on the scale and derives from the phrase “MI – ra gestorum”. This is Latin for “miracle”, and it is the same frequency that nature emits all on its own. Stunningly, this is a frequency used by genetic biochemists to repair DNA, it is an ancient Solfeggio frequency and is even used in the feel-good song, "Imagine", by John Lennon.
TOUCH: Faux Fur Ombre Throw. I've had this throw for years and it honestly and remarkably STILL looks brand new. Real talk: before I had a dog I used to cuddle with this throw and pretend it was a dog -- that's not weird, is it? It's THAT comforting. Just imagine a warm, fluffy hug that goes on forever and this throw is exactly that. SUPER soft, warm and inviting to cuddle up in on a chilly winter day with a cup of tea and a good book. Plus, it looks beautiful on your couch or bed.
Season 7 of the INTERWOVXN podcast arrives next week! Listen to a preview of Episode 1!
Season 7 of the podcast launches with an amazing group of women led by Ashley Jordan, diving into her new book Unhappy Achiever: Rejecting the Good Girl Image and Reclaiming the Joy of Inner Fulfillment. This episode explores the myths of perfection, giving yourself permission, the pursuit of inner happiness, and the idea that true balance often feels anything but steady.
Stay tuned Wednesday, January 15th for the full episode and to learn more about our guests!
We are grateful to share support this season with
Are you seeking more meaning and joy in your life, but feel weighed down by anxiety, depression, grief, or unresolved trauma? You do not have to take this journey alone. The skilled, compassionate therapists at CLARA Healing Institute deeply understand the complexities of women’s mental health across the entire lifespan and use a collaborative, multi-faceted, and holistic approach to address mental, physical, and spiritual health. To learn more and schedule a free consultation, visit www.clarahealinginstitute.com or call 414.573.6891. Mention Interwovxn for 10% discount on your initial assessment session.
ashley + kristina on PRINCESSES + WITCHES
ASHLEY: Excerpt from Unhappy Achiever: Rejecting the Good Girl Image and Reclaiming the Joy of Inner Fulfillment.
The closer I come to midlife, the more I sense a restlessness within me and the women in my circle. More and more, the casual conversations between us over a cup of coffee or glass of wine center on one uncomfortable theme: our collective confinement.
We’ve checked off most of the boxes on our laundry lists of lifetime achievements, at least according to the lives of princesses depicted in the Disney movies we grew up with. We made ourselves “attractive” and married “good” men. We made ourselves “smart” by buying expensive degrees. We made ourselves “independent” by building careers. And we put parts of ourselves on the back burner while we bore children.
We thought if we solved life’s equation right, one day we’d skip through a meadow with bluebirds singing. Instead, when we arrive at the place where the meadow was promised to be, we realize it’s nothing but a picturesque prison. It has all the elements of an epic tale, but it’s a meaningless myth. Still, there we are, adorned in all the trappings of proper princesses, wondering if being witches would have been a lot more fun.
Fortunately, it’s never too late to put aside our false tiaras and get witchy.
I’m not referring to the trope of the mean, evil, warty woman with a pointy black hat and broom, the one intended to scare us into passive submission with frightening tales of what will happen to us if we aren’t good. Here, I’m calling for a reclamation and reincarnation of the witchy women who were historically castigated, shamed, and murdered merely for being themselves.
I’m talking about women who believed their femininity was as divine as masculinity. Who understood love as the one real source of human power; and who identified feminine values of empathy, compassion, sensitivity, and tenderness as sacred and healing.
They were magical in their courage to transcend the rules that devalued feminine existence through radical connection to and reliance on inner authority and authenticity. They were bearers of truth—not “golden rules” but potent inner wisdom.
Being witchy is about being our best, brazen, badass selves. It is about prioritizing important aspects of who we are without apology, even when doing so undermines our society’s princess ideals and people condemn us.
It doesn’t matter what we do, as long as our doing reflects our truth. This is the set of keys to release us from the suffocating confinement of a princess’s tower. This is the door to eternal liberation that social, cultural, and political forces seeking to sustain the status quo of feminine existence would rather stay locked. But once we’ve acquired the keys and amassed the courage to reenter the room where our essence resides, the only question that remains is:
Are we brave enough to be witches?
If, like me, your answer is an emphatic “yes,” then here are some practical ways to unleash your inner witch from Kristina of Illumination Oracle.
KRISTINA: People are put off by the word, "witch". While this term has a wide range of definitions (some are nicer than others!), the one I prefer comes from Old English – where "witch” means, "wise woman". If you want to explore a few practices that help enhance your inner wisdom, then here we go!
SIMPLE RITUALS
You want a little more magic in your life? You have the power to add it in! Little everyday rituals are the perfect addition. They add connection and peace in a busy world.
Think of a ritual like blowing out a candle on a birthday cake and making a wish. You can bless your morning coffee or tea with an intention -- I call in protection and courage while I'm stirring my coffee clockwise.
Or maybe it's an intention that your morning shower washes you clean of any energy that isn't yours. Or it's a little prayer of gratitude when you've been driving in your car and reach your final destination. Whatever it is, this ritual and intention connects you to the Divine.
Ritual has been studied to calm the nervous system profoundly, providing self-confidence – there is nothing that's too weird! Les Miles (former college football coach) - would take a blade of grass on the field and eat it before every game.
Ok, maybe don't eat the grass, but you get my meaning! Adding little rituals to your life is the perfect way to bring a little dash of witchiness to your day.
SPEND TIME IN STILLNESS
Meditation has been the number one practice that has taught me to connect with the small, still, inner voice that constantly guides me. But meditation does NOT have to be boring!
I recommend trying guided meditation, but also a walk in nature without headphones, or a few minutes paying close attention to your breath is all that it takes.
It is when we break away from the constant pressure of daily life – of doing, of scrolling, of responding – and just BE for a few minutes, that we can find peace.
Candle gazing is another beautiful, meditative practice. You can simply light a candle and stare at the flame for a few minutes to bring you into a calm, peaceful state. Looking at fire calls back the most ancient part of us – our ancestors used fire for survival, to keep them warm and to cook food, so gazing at a simple little flame ignites that inner fire within us as well.
Stillness brings deeper reflection – and is a powerful way to enhance your inner knowing.
PURSUE WHAT YOU LOVE
Find the activities that light up your soul and go after them, my friends!
This is where the true "magic” happens - when you are lit up from within by doing what you love – be that writing a book, making sourdough bread, going rock-climbing, crocheting, taking a kickboxing class or whatever brings you joy.
If you don't have one currently – this is your month to try something NEW.
Look for classes in your community – you may be surprised how much you enjoy trying something different. Whatever you do that reflects your most badass self and brings you joy – that's the magic!
Thank you for being YOU.
in the news… alcohol + its affect on our health
So we know that we shared some alcohol alternatives last month, but this week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for new warning labels on alcohol so it felt like it was worth sharing a few more resources. For many, alcohol is so tied to how we relax, celebrate, and connect with others. But for women, it hits on a deeper level—alcohol can throw off hormone balance, potentially leading to irregular cycles and worsening perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes and sleep issues. It can affect fertility for both women and men by disrupting ovulation and lowering sperm quality. And when it comes to cancer, even moderate drinking can raise estrogen levels, increasing the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer. It’s not about cutting out every glass of wine, but maybe this is a good moment to reflect on how alcohol fits into our lives—and how we can prioritize our health while still finding ways to enjoy the things (and people) we love. Want to learn more?
What Alcohol Does to Your Body: Harvard’s Dr. Sarah Wakeman With the Medical Facts You Need to Know
‘Sober Curious’? How to Embrace Mindful Drinking.
99 Sober Activities To Enjoy Instead Of Drinking.
4 Tips for Crafting the Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktails.
And we leave you with…
join us at CREATIVE MORNINGS MILWAUKEE next friday!
THEME 147: JOURNEY
CK Ledesma | The Journey Within
Jan 17, 2025 • 8:30 AM - 10:00AM CST • Villa Acro
We are thrilled to share that INTERWOVXN has been invited to give a 30-second pitch ahead of the keynote speaker at this month’s Milwaukee Creative Mornings event! Attending these events throughout 2024 has been a highlight for us, offering inspiration and a deep sense of connection within the creative community. Tickets are free, but limited! We look forward to seeing you there!
Have a GREAT weekend!
