Ep112: Strength is looking in the mirror: seeking truth and liberation in a strength card year

In this moment of so much global pain and fear, how do we re-locate our bearings and connection to ourselves and each other? How do we combat the onslaught of disembodiment and interpersonal violence that capitalism uses against us? Where do we go from here?

In this first solo episode of season 8, Tavi shares some contemplations, insights and practices for deeper self-reflection and grounding down into our own power and unique gifts in the post-election haze--and winding down of this Strength card year.

Also mentioned: homophobia and racism in ohio v.s. oregon, living through the US’s cartoonish Pluto Return, and some very concrete reality checks and advice for yt folks who want to show up in more tangible ways.

Herbal Medicine for Self-Care 101 Live Virtual Workshop DATE CORRECTION: Dec. 1st at 4pm PST

Purchase sliding scale tickets here: https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop/workshops-and-classes

rise up! good witch:

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a queer, disabled Black herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going into the future~ ⁠⁠www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx⁠⁠

Follow us on IG: @_riseupgoodwitch444

@manateemedicinals

Learn more about me, and check out my handcrafted herbal medicine at my apothecary:

⁠⁠https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop⁠⁠

Like this episode? I am always accepting tips to keep my magic flowin' via Cashapp or venmo: @TaviTime

Episode Credits:

Music clips in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Editing: Tavi Waits

Ep111: what we owe each other, and the perceived paradox of the wounded healer

This solo episode is a sermon, a love letter, a call to action to resist psychic death for anyone who may be feeling isolated, hopeless, numb or despairing under the heavy weight of our current world. What (or who) determines which of us are worthy of care in this life? How can we move from a framework of toxic guilt, shame and individualism, to one of collective care and reciprocity? As Tavi shares, sometimes our darkest moments can open us up to the divine, universal experience of receiving and giving help. 

“The work is plentiful…It is not your duty to finish the work [of healing the world], but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” (Rabbi Tarfon, "Pirkei Avot" 2:15-16) 

Virtual Sick and Disabled Craft and Zine Fair July 21st-27th:

https://www.sadfair.com/

Rad Pride Abolition Market (Portland, OR) on June 29th location TBA: https://www.instagram.com/abolitionmarket/

Thank you to our sponsor, Simply Sol farms: https://www.simplysolfarmstore.com/

Get 10% off all products when you enter code “riseup10” at checkout–yes, they ship! :) 

Operation Olive Branch: Pick a Palestinian family (or several) to support! EVERY donation helps!! Please share this with your socials.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtMLLOzuc6GpkFySyVtKQOY2j-Vvg0UsChMCFst_WLA/edit#gid=1653697245

Episode Credits:

All longer music clips in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Audio technician: Sasha Ell 

Additional Editing: Tavi Waits

rise up! good witch:

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a queer, disabled brown herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going into the future~⁠www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx⁠

Follow us on IG: @_riseupgoodwitch444

@manateemedicinals

Learn more about me, and check out my handcrafted herbal medicine at my apothecary:

⁠https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop

What lessons can we learn about Fatphobia from the planet Jupiter while she moves through the sign of Taurus? Delightful Taurus Erica Joy of Cosmic Healing, is here to talk about how rest, community, stability, care, protection and comfort are more than self-care buzzwords, especially when viewed through the lens of Fat Liberation. 

With a background in social work, Erica works in collaboration with their sibling kay darling via Cosmic Healing: a community-focused healing justice practice committed to facilitating holistic understanding and liberation through a therapeutic astrological lens. They are leading a 4-session Fat Liberation workshop series starting THIS week–for fat and non-fat folks alike! (non-fat folks, please sign up! You need this in your life :) )This group is not just about de-conditioning internalized fatphobia, ableism or racism, but also about actively building communities of care in intentional ways that nurture embodied connection.

In this episode, we also unpack fatphobia and how it intersects with racism and ableism, as well as how it contributes to medical bias for patients in a world designed for thin bodies.

Links:

Sign up for the fat jupiter group (non-fat folks especially encouraged to apply via email through 4/20!) https://cosmichealing.addpotion.com/community-offerings

Follow Erica on IG: @itsericafullajoy 

https://linktr.ee/cosmichealingfam

A Home For Our Dreams: Help support Ori Art Gallery’s revitalization campaign!! (donate $75 or more to receive a free 1-on-1 consultation with Tavi!)

https://chuffed.org/project/yygjtfxdahr8eod

Ori’s Website: https://oriartgallery.org/about-ori

Books mentioned in this ep: 

Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia by Sabrina Strings

Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto by Clarkisha Kent Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by ⁠Da’Shaun Harrison⁠

Thank you to our sponsor, Simply Sol farms: https://www.simplysolfarmstore.com/

Get 10% off all products when you enter code “riseup10” at checkout–yes, they ship! :) 

Episode Credits:

All music in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Audio technician: Sasha Ell 

Additional Editing: Tavi Waits

rise up! good witch:

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a queer, disabled brown herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going into the future~⁠www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx⁠

Follow us on IG: @_riseupgoodwitch444   @manateemedicinals

Learn more about me, and check out my handcrafted herbal medicine at my apothecary: ⁠https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop⁠

Cara Kovacs is an empowerment coach creating a culture change within the business realm. With magical witchy foundations, an intersectional feminist approach, and a values-aligned methodology, we talk all about how cara came to find her voice and locate her own ethics and practices in a coaching industry that has a bit of a reputation for being predatory or exploitative towards clients.

We also dig into the distinctions between why someone might want to work with a coach v.s. a therapist, our own experiences with shifting needs in therapy, how embodiment is crucial to any work that seeks to change how we exist in this world (including business, therapy and more), and how Cara’s witchy family roots have helped to shape and inform her spiritual path while infusing her client work with magical undertones.

You can follow her on Instagram @carakovacscoaching & learn more about her work at carakovacs.com

Cara’s upcoming Ethical Business Incubator (Late April 2024): https://carakovacs.mykajabi.com/Ethical-Sales-Incubator

Thank you to our sponsor, Simply Sol farms: https://www.simplysolfarmstore.com/

Get 10% off all products when you enter code “riseup10” at checkout–yes, they ship! :) 

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a disabled brown herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project moving forward & expanding!~www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Follow us on IG: @_riseupgoodwitch444 @manateemedicinals

Learn more about me, and check out my handcrafted herbal medicine at my apothecary:

⁠https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop⁠

Episode Credits:

All music in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Audio engineering: Sasha Ell  Additional Editing: Tavi Waits

you're in for a treat! Gata (she/they) is a Queer Afro Caribeña Angry Feminista, and c0vid cautious baddie with a maskie. She created the Bureaucratic baddie series of online workshops: how to file your taxes, how to sue your landlord, and how to sue pretty much any person, government agency, or corporation in the state of CA. 

Gata and Tavi talk about the "still-coviding" life, intersections of race, ableism, imperialism and cultural disposability in our current reality, her work on the upcoming virtual Pandemic Solidarity For the Long Future event for BIPOC, and how collective liberation can only be brought about via dedicated community care. Gata also shares about their experience shifting from a merch-based small biz (remember "men are trash" and "femme labor is not free"?) to her current work teaching community education workshops in California and beyond.

In one of the biggest surges ever, 2,000 people are dying from Covid in the US per week right now! Wear a mask, y'all!

Learn more about and register for the PS4LF conference (free to attend!) March 8-10th, 2024: Pandemicsolidarity.org

Gata’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bbaddie

Gata’s IG : https://www.instagram.com/gata_the_baddie/

Gata’s Linktree (free covid resources & more!): https://linktr.ee/gata_the_baddie
DIY box fan filters – Corsi-Rosenthal box: https://cleanaircrew.org/box-fan-filters/

Schedule a peer support consultation with Tavi! Use code "riseup15" for $15 off any appointment when booking.

https://www.manateemedicinals.com/services

Music in this episode by Given Davis of Blooming Fire Healing--thank you Given!

Audio Engineering by Sasha Ell, editing by Tavi Waits

The Universe is speaking. Are you listening? Do you know how to? 

This first episode of 2024 invites you on an international conversational journey to slow down, tune in and get grounded, with sisters and co-authors, Nyasha Williams and Grace Banda. These creators have blessed us with Elemental Alchemist: a bright, bold, and de-colonial oracle deck and guided journal set that seeks to guide us lovingly along our paths towards connection with the 5 elements (including Spirit), our Earth, each other, our ancestors, and ultimately our own bodies, minds and spirits. We get into: 

-exactly how we can use these powerful tools for greater connection 

-the often messy journey of reconnecting with our ancestral roots and practices that were stripped, severed and obscured from us in so many ways as colonized and historically oppressed people

-How African Traditional Religious practices have simultaneously been co-opted and exploited by hollywood and appropriation, yet have also morphed, masked, or changed over time by being woven into different Black cultural "quirks" or "superstitions" in the US

-The roles that elders and ancestral veneration can play in our growth and spiritual sense of self

-Some of the work that yt people can do to navigate their own ancestral work around historical legacies of harm/shame/guilt/oppression

Elemental Alchemist Oracle Deck and Guidebook:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Elemental-Alchemist-Oracle-Deck-and-Guidebook/Nyasha-Williams/9781524880132 Elemental Alchemist Guided Journal: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Elemental-Alchemist-Guided-Journal/Nyasha-Williams/9781524880149

Nyasha’s website–writing to change the narrative: https://www.nyashawilliams.online/

Grace's Website-- https://www.authorgcbanda.com/ Donate & share to support Nyasha’s BIPOC-centered publishing press startup, Fire and Honey Press : “A digital publishing honeycomb creating toward collective liberation.” https://www.nyashawilliams.online/fireandhoneypress Learn more about illustrator Kimishka in this interview: https://www.nyashawilliams.online/post/illustrator-interview-meet-kimishka-naidoo-black-tarot-elemental-alchemist -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a disabled Black herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Always accepting tips via

Cashapp: $TaviTime

If you’re not able to join right now, that’s okay! There’s lots of ways to support me and this show. 

For my current apothecary offerings including tinctures, bath salts, herbal body care and pain management tools, check out my webshop at: https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop

Credits:

All music in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Audio editors: Sasha Ell & Tavi Waits

Kelli Frances Corrado (She/Her) is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teaching artist and occasional visual artist, “a quilt of memories and mysticism.” In this special musical episode of ru!gw, we delve into Kelli’s unique approach to music-making and field recording, the relationships between music, creativity and physical and emotional space, how kelli weaves various self-care practices and rituals into her life and artmaking practices, our shared deep musico-aesthetic love of Bjork, and how kelli’s life trajectory was changed forever by a spectral spiritual connection with her late Bohemian Czech grandmother. Listen through to the very end of this episode for a special sonic treat from Kelli’s most recent album ;)🌝

Happy Halloween and Free Pal3stine!!!

Opening song “What Direction is Heaven on Earth” and closing song “Revenge of the Shepherdess” from Kelli’s 2021 album, Tuff Feathers

Audio engineering on this episode by: Sasha Ell

Links from this episode:

Kelli’s Bandcamp

Kellifrancescorrado.com

Sign up for Under the Fig Tree free newsletter

Learn more about Kelli’s unique music classes and lessons in creativity–get a discounted holiday special rate through 1/10/2024!

Female Pressure network (a publicly accessible source of information, a means of communication and a tool to disclose the existence and the work of women*, non-binary, transgender and gender fluid people in this seemingly cis-male dominated field.)

Take easy actions TODAY to demand a ceasefire against Gaza & support Palestinians against genocide!! 

via: Jewish Voice for Peace

US campaign for Palestinian rights

5 ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza

“Seventy+ Years of Suffocation”

Consumer Boycott of these products: BDS get involved

Tavi's herbal medicine apothecary shop: www.manateemedicinals.com/shop

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month!) to support a disabled Jewish BIPOC herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going: www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Tavi and our guest--drag artist, actor, and healing witch rexy lafemme--speak about rexy's personal practices, dive deep into the "Upside Down" systemic toxicity of modern Theatre and Film industries, what the SAG and WAG strikes signify astrologically, old and outdated practices of tokenism, transphobia and exceptionalism towards trans and other marginalized people in the entertainment industry, the spiritual experience of acting, and how we will need to collectively work together to break down old oppressive systems and build something new, weaving hope through devastating times.

Links to follow rexy's work and support them financially while they care for sick family:

Rexy’s website

Instagram

Venmo: @rexylafemme 

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Brunem Warshaw & Ayelet Haschachar's Class "From the Shtetl to the Kettle", mentioned in the intro

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Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a disabled brown herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going through its new chapter!~

www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Always accepting tips via

Cashapp: $TaviTime, venmo: @TaviTime

If you’re not able to join right now, that’s okay! There’s lots of ways to support me and this show. 

For my current apothecary offerings including tinctures, bath salts, herbal body care and pain management tools, check out my webshop!

Credits:

All music in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Audio engineering: Sasha Ell & Tavi Waits

Ep 104: death, decomposition, rebirth: a saturn return scarytale

In this first solo storytelling episode, Tavi shares an exhilarating, inspirational tale about tree medicine, growing up out of your twenties, finding your way on new paths, and learning how to listen to and trust your own intuition through it all. If you're currently navigating major tectonic losses, changes, or transformations--like Death or Tower card moments--this episode might be for you.
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Join our Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a disabled brown herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going into the future~ www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Always accepting tips via Cashapp or venmo: $TaviTime

Follow us on Instagram

Learn more about me, and check out my unique handcrafted herbal medicine at the apothecary:

https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop

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All music in this episode is from Given’s album, “The Way Be Lit”!!

Follow Given and support all his amazing work!

Connect or book a reading/Intuitive and tarot work:

www.bloomingfirehealing.com

IG @ Bloomingfirepdx

ep 103 with Chaney Williams

In this episode, we go in-depth about systemic cultural and Medical Industrial Complex biases against midwives, doulas and holistic birthwork in general, health disparities for Black birthing parents, parallels between Western medical perspectives on midwifery and massage therapy fields, and advice for interested families on how to search for and choose a midwife or doula.

We also discuss the core issue of burnout amongst midwives and doulas–before, during and after their training–as well as some insidious systemic barriers to adequate training in this field, medical-cultural transphobia and bias, and specific ways that change can be implemented to create support and care for these important and necessary pillars of our healthcare system.

Bio: Chaney Williams (she/they) is a queer, biracial, intersectional feminist, and full spectrum doula who has an MFA in Creative Writing: Poetry. She lives in Kentucky and has been a southerner since birth. Chaney strongly believes in the power that writing holds in healing processes and that engaging with art of all forms is cathartic. For Chaney, their writing is confessional in nature because she writes what they know and what haunts them because it is the way she makes sense of the world she exists in. It is how she finds belonging in the universe and connects to their ancestors, future descendants, and the collective. They believe that all birthing people deserve autonomy and access to reproductive care/support, that caring for community is an act of liberation, and that it “is our duty to fight for our freedom”-Assata Shakur.

------------------------------------------------------------------ Links from this episode:

Chaney aka The Intersectional Doula on IG

Chaney’s Salty magazine piece

Louisville doula project

(BADT) Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings–a Black-owned, queer-run training organization 

Sabia Wade–Author of “Birthing Liberation: How Reproductive Justice Can Set Us Free”

Doula Match–search engine to help connect families with the right doula

Black Birth Justice

Episode Credits:

All longer music clips in this episode by Given Davis from their album, “The Way Be Lit”

Given’s Writing & Creative work: IG @givendaviswrites

Audio technician: Sasha Ell

Backend patreon & digital assistant support: veev 

rise up! good witch:

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a queer, disabled brown herbalist and keep the rise up! good witch project going into the future~www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Follow us on IG: @_riseupgoodwitch444

@manateemedicinals

Learn more about me, and check out my handcrafted herbal medicine at my apothecary:

https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop

Always accepting tips to keep my magic flowin' via

Cashapp or venmo: @TaviTime

Happy Spring! In our March episode of rise up! good witch, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Brunem Warshaw of Well Deep Remedies to chat about polyvagal herbalism, systemic barriers to formal herbal medicine training, disability justice work, connecting with ancestral practices in culturally appropriate ways, and how to keep our herbal practices accessible for ourselves and our communities. Brunem also shares some valuable resources (for anyone around the world!) to get involved in protecting trans healthcare and supporting rural queer organizers--links found below!

Brunem Warshaw (they/them) is a clinical herbalist, medicine-maker, and educator currently based in Tennessee, who weaves scientific and intuitive approaches together to support people in healing themselves with the assistance of plant medicines. Their clinical herbalism practice Well Deep Remedies focuses on providing support with trauma recovery, addiction, sexual health, and complex chronic illness. Brunem is passionate about developing a peoples’ science of the autonomic nervous system, including the integration of polyvagal theory with herbs to cultivate emotional resilience.

Brunem's Links: 

Website: www.welldeepremedies.com (see Resources page to read paper "Polyvagal Herbalism")

Book a 30-min Mini Consult: tinyurl.com/WDRMiniConsult

Mailing list: tinyurl.com/WDRnewsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welldeepremedies/

Order medicines: https://www.narrowbridgecandles.org/collections/well-deep-remedies

Interested in becoming an herbal client who works with Brunem ongoingly? Start with a free 15-min call (tinyurl.com/DiscoveryCallWDR) or send an email to [email protected]. 

BONUS FOR PATREON PATRONS: All tier patrons will receive a discount code for 25% off an intake consultation with Brunem! 

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Mutual Aid and donation efforts for trans health care in the South:

Mutual Aid Babes – ongoing fundraiser for bail funds, queer and trans rural organizing, support for trans folks losing healthcare access, and safe abortion access

Southerners on New Ground –Queer abolitionist and liberation organizing group with regional chapters

National Center for Transgender Equality

Read more about the Tennessee drag and gender-affirming care bans on the Human Rights Campaign site:

Trans in the South: a resource and services guide

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Sign up to virtually attend Tavi's upcoming FREE class at PSU (4/19/23), "Building a Self-Care Toolbox with Herbal Allies for Survivors"

Join the Patreon (for as low as $2/month) to support a disabled brown herbalist, get extra perks and ongoing self-care education, and keep the rise up! good witch project going through the new paradigm~www.patreon/com/riseupgoodwitchremixx

Always accepting tips via Cashapp: $TaviTime or venmo @TaviTime

Learn more about me, and check out my handcrafted herbal medicine at my apothecary:

https://www.manateemedicinals.com/shop

All music in this episode by Given Davis! Audio editing support by Sasha Ell.