Living Open

Roshni (they/them) is a self-worth coach and tarot reader for South-Asian women, LGBTQ+ folks, and people who identify as the black sheep of their family.  In this episode, Eryn and Roshni talk about: Roshni’s journey with healing, self-worth, and religious trauma  How struggling with self-worth is connected to religious trauma Connecting back to their family’s spiritual & folk practices and rituals before Christianity Learning how to engage with spiritual and religious practices in different ways than we did in dogmatic religion Witchcraft as something that connects us to personal power Playing the role of “black sheep” in your family in the context of queerness & religion specifically Complicated family relationships & setting boundaries Letting go of the inner critic Not waiting to feel free Healing around self-worth & shame Making patterns in our healing work Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/roshni-patel  Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Check out the Religious Trauma workb

Mona Eshaiker, LMFT (she, her) is a licensed therapist and mental health consultant. She specializes in burnout recovery and prevention on the individual and systemic levels. She is passionate about work-life balance and psychological safety for historically underrepresented folks. In this episode, Eryn and Mona talk about: Mona’s journey with burnout and mental health How rest makes space to figure out what you actually want The power of pause What’s happening with burnout emotionally, physically, and spiritually What to do when you know you need to rest but you’re required to keep producing! Rewriting stories around rest, “laziness,” and productivity Centering community care without burning out Becoming a stranger to yourself when you repress your feelings Losing touch with your yeses and no’s when you burn out Honoring and feeling your feelings Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/mona-eshaiker  Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Check out the Religious Trauma workbook and Religious Trauma medita

This episode is a soft collective tarot reading to sink into for the winter solstice + winter season ahead, plus some reflections on grief and wintertime. In the reading we talk surrender, expanding into the full spectrum of our wholeness, being with pain + more. Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/winter-solstice-medicine  Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Join us for the Virtual Solstice Breathwork for Grief gathering on Wednesday, Dec 22nd (recording included for all who register).  Get the Religious Trauma Meditation Album, on special launch price until December 23rd.

Luna Dietrich (she/they) is also known as the P*ssy Witch! They help feminist witches and exhausted activists disrupt pleasure oppression and root into fierce self love…all while fighting for more. In this episode, Eryn and Luna talk about: How Luna has changed and evolved over the past couple of years and over pandemic time Not getting addicted to heightened, unsustainable energy Figuring out what’s sustainable and enough for you Expanding capacity in a more titrated way Learning to base everything in pleasure and safety Creating a deep well of safety and resource How changing relationship with money has changed their relationship with safety Understanding how we really want to feel and how to bring that into our everyday Fluid relationships with money & healing relationships with money Working with the archetype of money Separating anger at systems of oppression from anger at money Building somatic capacity for abundance and pleasure Finding safety even when things aren’t totally harmonious Taking sham

Christi Johnson's (she/her) art combines cosmic visions and botanical beauties, a hypnotic dance of symbols stitched slowly and methodically into fabric. In this episode, Eryn and Christi talk about: Christi’s journey with magic & creativity & art Why she loves working with textiles Femininity & working with textiles Magic, ritual and symbolism as part of the embroidery process What it looks like to make embroidery with ritual and magic Creating more spaciousness to receive inspiration and ideas Dreams inspiring embroidery! Leaning into the slowness & seasonality of the embroidery process Crafting talismans from textiles Not forcing creative work & untangling productivity addiction Cultivating creative skills How to get started with embroidery if you’re new to it Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/christi-johnson  Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Get the Religious Trauma Meditation Album, on special launch price until December 23rd — a collection of 17 meditations intended t

Marika Heinrichs (she/her) is a cis queer femme of (Soviet) German, British, and Irish ancestry who believes that reconnecting with the wisdom of our bodies is vital to ending systems of domination and supremacy. She has practiced as a somatic therapist and educator within social movement spaces for over a decade, trained in the lineages of generative somatics (gs), Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST), Focusing, and NeuroAffective Touch and is currently a PhD candidate at the California Institute of Integral Studies.  In this episode, Eryn and Marika talk about: Marika’s journey with healing & somatics coming from a community organizing background Trauma, justice and somatics as inherently in relationship Accessing states of liberation, imagination and possibility through the body What happens when we drop into connection and spaciousness Trauma responses to systems of oppression and domination Finding spaces where there is the opportunity to access some safety so we can soften and connect Safety as s

In this episode, Eryn shares a meditation for grief from their upcoming Religious Trauma Support Meditation Album, coming out on December 1st. Blog for this episode: https://www.living-open.com/blog/grief-meditation  Join her email list to get first access to the album when it comes out. Register for Virtual Solstice Breathwork for Grief, a gathering of breathwork, journaling, sharing & ritual intended to support anyone who is working with grief during this time. 

Nadia Payan (she/they) is an educator, speaker, artist, third culture human and Montessorian whose life is filled with reverence towards creativity as a pathway to healing and power. Nadia explores and cross pollinates her own creative expression with her experiences as an early childhood educator, a spiritual practitioner and artist. In this episode, Eryn and Nadia talk about: Cycles of death and rebirth Being held through the decay Asking for support The interconnectedness of all things Moving through life more slowly & in more spacious ways What Nadia has learned about life and creativity from working with and spending time with children Seeing the world in different ways Being in devotion to creativity The power of creativity Being indoctrinated into thinking creativity isn’t part of us and it’s something that we gain versus be Embracing creativity as reclaiming power from capitalism and other systems of domination Expanding what creativity means Witnessing art-making Blog for this episode: www.livi

Rasia (she/her) is a Priestess in the tradition of Palo Kimbisa, an ancient practice that has its roots in the Congo Basin. Rasia has been a practitioner for 20 years. In addition to this, she utilizes quantum healing, crystal energetics, tarot, astrology, and her Clair abilities in her practice. Rasia provides services to her clients as a Certified Intuitive Life Coach, Spiritual mentor and holds a Masters degree in mental health counseling. In this episode, Rasia and Eryn talk about: Rasia’s journey with healing and spirituality Being initiated by her dad into Palo Kimbisa and becoming a priestess in this path Pushing away her spiritual gifts Plant medicine as a support for trauma healing and connecting to yourself Ethics of plant medicine & deciding what plant medicine is right for you The plant medicine Rasia recommends for folks who are just beginning their plant medicine journey Choosing a practitioner to support your plant medicine journey Integration processes after plant medicine or any spiritua

Chaune Schafer (she/her) is a queer non-denominational follower of Christ, which is a product of being a part of several denominations, heavy deconstruction, continued therapy, much study, and constant reconstruction. In this episode, Eryn and Chaune talk about: Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/chaune-schafer  Chaune’s journey with religion & healing Repressing sexuality in christianity Finding wholeness Doubt in religion Not reaching for black and white answers What it would mean to live like Jesus today Finding authentic community Moving towards what is life-giving Setting boundaries with non-affirming family Grappling with accountability for folks who caused harm around queerness within religion Who we are at our core Worthiness & moving at our own timelines Trusting ourselves Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Get a copy of the Religious Trauma Workbook. Register for Breathwork for Ex-Religious and Deconstructing Folks. Book a peer support session with Chaune over on Shrimpteeth for

What a pleasure to have these two wonderful humans back on the podcast, together, as returning guests! Davis Carr (she/her) is a consulting astrologer and tarot reader. Erin Alise Borzak (she/her) is an illustrator and witch. Together, they created the Hollow Valley Tarot.  In this episode, Eryn, Davis, and Erin talk about: Their transformations and Fool’s leaps through COVID The Fool card What we would tell ourselves before a big Fool’s leap! Shifting from “shoulds” to authentic goals and desires Being in creative partnership Encountering monsters on your path The process of creating the Hollow Valley Tarot together Elements and numerology in the Hollow Valley Tarot Associating the minor arcana cards with the decans of the zodiac The role of pictorial sigils in the tarot deck Davis’ 5 line theory for the major arcana 5s as gateways  The tarot as a living art that we all get to evolve the meaning of  Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Get a copy of the Religious Trauma Workbook. Register for Breathwork for Ex-

Shohreh Davoodi (she/her) is a self-trust coach, writer, and the host of the Conjuring Up Courage podcast. She's dedicated to helping people move through self-doubt and shame so they can live their lives with intention and step into their motherf*cking magic.  In this episode, Eryn and Shohreh talk about: Shohreh’s journey over the pandemic including grieving and navigating huge transitions and changes Feeling fear and finding the courage to do the thing anyway The three pillars of self-trust Stepping into courage practices & the risk assessment of courage practices A reframe around “what if I’m wrong?” How exploring our own values and needs help us make tough choices Shohreh’s process of exploring her own values and needs The magic of the family black sheep Coming out & dealing with unsupportive family Not betraying yourself for the benefit of anyone else and anyone else’s values The bisexual to lesbian pipeline Finally seeing in color for the first time Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/b

Shrimp Teeth is a queer, kinky, polyam platform that encourages folks to reclaim and explore their sexuality and relationships. In this episode, Sam (she/they) and Eryn talk about: Their journey with queerness, poly, & kink Navigating fluidity and changing identities Different relationship structures and shifting between them Attachment & alternative relationship structures Communication in poly relationships Working through “shoulds” and frustration with yourself for not fitting into the shoulds Shifting identities and how we feel about labels! Getting into kink & healing through kink Dad things! How they orient towards pleasure in their life Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/shrimpteeth Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Get a copy of the Religious Trauma Workbook. Register for Breathwork for Ex-Religious and Deconstructing Folks. Connect with Sam on Patreon and her website. Mentioned in this episode: The Bonding Project quiz Polysecure by Jessica Fern Shrimp Teeth's boundaries wor

Mary Adelle (she/her) is a creative facilitator, sexuality coach, sensual writer, and hot queer witch. She supports ex-catholic and ex-religious femmes as they reclaim their bodies, sexualities, pleasure, and witchery through creative facilitation and anti-oppressive coaching. Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/mary-adelle In this episode, we talk about: Mary’s journey with Catholicism and witchery How Mary’s family relationships have shifted through deconstruction Reclaiming Jesus Reclaiming Catholic mysticism & writing spells in her poems Taking back power from religious institutions Transmuting the seven deadly sins including lust and gluttony Claiming queerness and not feeling queer enough Expressing queerness through creativity Why Mary feels compelled to write Being honest in our journaling Pleasure and sensuality as part of the creative process Attuning to pleasure Mary reads the “Nadia and her vibrator” section from her sensual novella Nadia Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Get a cop

Welcome to Libra season! In this episode, your host Eryn does a collective Libra season tarot reading for us to feel into how this energy wants to move through us. We talk pleasure, truth, reciprocal relationship + more. Plus, she talks about being a self-employed witch! Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/libra-season-medicine-2021 Check out the free class: Attract Your Ideal Customers Without Doing All The Things. Listen to my interview with business witch Sarah M Chappell: Building a Business that Works for You, Your Values & Your Needs. Register for Erotic Poetry Writing Class. Libra season, baby!

Phuong-Thao (she/her) is a Somatic Practitioner, ReBloom Coach and Trauma Educator supporting QTBIWOC & 1st and 2nd generation immigrants in navigating life transitions and moving from a place of survival to thriving & living life on their own terms from a place of deep self trust and connection to their bodies, voices, and aliveness so they can live an uncaged life. In this episode, Eryn and Phung-Tao discuss: Phuong-Thao’s healing journey Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn trauma responses Shame over our body’s trauma responses What fills the gap when we don’t understand our lizard brain responses Seeking safety after trauma Telling the truth as an act of love Phuong-Thao’s deconstruction journey Her journey with self-trust after Catholicism How Catholicism reinforced that she should disconnect from herself and not trust herself Feeling like too much & feeling like you’re bad The pedestal of “goodness” Shame from church Moving towards sexual liberation and including yourself in the pleasure equati

The Living Open podcast is back with a solo episode! In this episode, your host Eryn shares about her healing journey this year & talks about reclamation rituals, healing around compulsory heterosexuality, coming out, shifting identity & more. Apply for HOLY, a 7-week reclamation circle & support group for ex-religious folks who want to create ex-religious community and heal from the impacts of dogmatic religion together (starts Sept 15th).  Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Download a free meditation for ex-religious folks.

Stevie Leigh (they/she) is a somatic practitioner, a writer, mystic, and a caretaker in many forms. In service to body autonomy and literacy, they help people find their way back to themselves.  In this episode, Eryn and Stevie talk about: Stevie’s healing journey and how they came into somatic work Critical inner voices and parts of ourselves Slowing down & trauma Integrating head and body for trauma healing You are fine just how you are! Growing around our trauma, not getting rid of it What is somatics? Working with somatics and spirituality for trauma healing Stevie’s journey with queerness What is the self? What are our selves? Accessing more expansiveness and curiosity and imagination Hangups around wellness world meets capitalism The trauma of capitalism The empress archetype & pleasure Growing our awareness of pleasure Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/stevie-leigh Connect with Eryn on Instagram. Register for pleasure magic: a tender embodied journey into deeper pleasure. Connec

Welcome to Leo season! In this episode, your host Eryn talks about the energy of Leo season & does a collective tarot reading for us to feel into how this energy wants to move through us. We talk authenticity, bravery, telling the truth about ourselves + more. Register for the Erotic Poetry Writing class. Download a free meditation for ex-religious folks and a free breathwork meditation. Connect with Eryn on Instagram.  Check out the Religious Trauma workbook. My IG live with Sarah Chappell.

Sarah (she/her) of Shadow Femme is a practitioner who blends together shadow work, astrology, and human design to help people own their full, authentic selves. She's a biracial queer femme who specifically loves working with cycle breakers and people who are navigating liminal identities.  In this episode, Sarah and Eryn talk about: Sarah’s journey with shadow work and how she’s gotten to this moment in her life What is shadow work? Her journey with queerness & sexuality & gender & shadow work I share about my journey with queerness too & what that has to do with shadow work and cutting off parts of self Seeking cis male approval and validation How she blends shadow work, astrology and human design to work with them all The process of integrating shadow parts / rejected parts The purpose of our different parts Imposter syndrome when it comes to mystical and intuitive practices I also read a poem about coming out! Blog for this episode: www.living-open.com/blog/sarah-shadow-femme  Register fo