Xochitl Ashe (02:13)

Welcome everyone. I'm so happy to invite you to another episode of Future Proof Earth. And we're here with a beautiful, beautiful being friend, teacher of mine as well. And I've been wanting you on the podcast for a really long time. And I'm so happy that all of our schedules got coordinated and here we are together. And...

Marysia (02:37)

I'm so happy to be here too.

Xochitl Ashe (02:43)

I wanna introduce you, I wanna introduce you to the folks that don't know you in my community. And I'm also very, very happy that the folks that do know you get to listen to this podcast. Because I think that you have so much to contribute to what is happening during these times and how we can thrive during these times. So.

Marysia Miranowska is an herbalist, teacher, author, earth activist, gardener, and Green Witch rooted in the wise woman tradition of healing. Her work and devotional practices are centered around the mission of supporting a deepening of the love and regenerative relationship between earth and people for the mutual healing of both human and plant communities.

Marysia is the director of the School of Sacred Wild and runs a yearly online apprenticeship teaching herbal medicine, regenerative farming practices, earth magic, holistic healing, and plant spirit communication. A multicultural and multilingual devotee of Mother Earth, Marysia has grown up internationally and traveled extensively, learning different ways of tending to the earth and sharing regenerative grass

roots earth medicine. As an activist, she draws on her background of community organizing. She keeps her feet rooted by design and tending medicinal and sacred gardens using permaculture and biodynamic practices. She consults herbal companies and farms, formulates natural remedies, writes and speaks and teaches internationally. She has authored the book, The Witch's Herbal Apothecary.

rituals and recipes for a year of earth magic and sacred medicine making. Anne is the formulator and co-founder of Ritual Beauty, an organic regenerative anti-aging skincare line. You can follow Marysia on Instagram and also sign up for her 10-month long apprenticeship by visiting the School of Sacred Wild website and of course,

We're gonna put all the links so you can connect with her after hearing her. And I just wanna say, I'm so happy to be here with you.

Hmm. Yeah. And I'm so loving that behind you is my favorite tree, which is the called the California Pepper tree. But we know it's Peruvian. Thank you. Yes. So I wanted to bring you on to the podcast because we we just saw each other at our friend's birthday and.

Marysia (05:33)

Yes, but we know it's Peruvian.

Xochitl Ashe (05:51)

we were starting to have conversations of this time that we're living in, like what's happening? How are we going to move forward and show up? And I've always loved your, I'm gonna call it earth-based activism. I've always loved being a student of yours. You know, like how important

it is for us to know plants at this time. You know, I teach about mushrooms and plants, but what I think was really important that I learned from you was like how these plants can really support us emotionally in times of big, big change. And...

Yeah, so have you been? Also congratulations on the new baby.

Yeah, which is also like why I wanted to have you on the podcast because I think it's such an important conversation bringing new life to this earth that is in this moment. Like how as a mother are you present to the moment and what is possible?

Marysia (07:21)

Mmm. Oof! Girl! That's a good question. So much there. Yes. Yes, yes. Well... Yeah.

Xochitl Ashe (07:24)

Hahaha!

Marysia (07:34)

there's a lot to share about, yeah, that beautiful question of how can we be present in the moment and how can we meet what is happening, what is occurring, right? How can we stay grounded and rooted enough to take good care of ourselves and our loved ones and to stay connected to the grounding pace and like geological time of the earth and not get spun out.

And how do we stay in the heart, right? How do we stay in the heart so we can be really predominantly embodying and vibrating from a place of heart centered relationship, whether it's with a new baby or our partners or our community or our friends or our students or our teachers or our strangers and neighbors, which I think is the most important actually.

Yeah, and I love that you mentioned that one of the things that you got out of journeying with me and the apprenticeship was, was this deepening of relationship, like realizing that the earth and the plants can support us emotionally, right, and that there's so much emotional healing. I love that you mentioned that because I think it speaks to this

place where we can really turn our attention in these difficult times. And the reason that the plants can really offer profound emotional healing and emotional support and also like emotional endurance and tenacity is because they are these multifaceted beings. And you know, it's like the bumper sticker, plants are people too. But

They are. They are beings, spiritual beings, physical beings that have been on the planet longer than we have. They've adapted and experienced immense geological challenges and stressors. And so they've adapted their bodies and their physicality in order to be able to endure and thrive amidst really difficult conditions.

And that kind of from just like a physiological and physical and medicinal perspective points us to a whole body of plant medicine that some people like to call the adaptogens. Other plants are the nourishing herbs. These are plants that give us...

vitality, energy, groundedness, they support our immune system, they rebuild our frazzled nervous systems, they support balanced hormones, they do everything. they do it and like physically, they share that kind of intelligence that they've gathered through all the changes that they've had to adapt to.

And then energetically, they ground us and root us and allow our bodies to just come back to the earth and our roots and our kind of listening sense to be able to plug into the mycelial network, to the energetic body, the hum of the earth.

And I think that is so important, so important because some of the chaos that is happening is coming from people who have really spun out and they are so spun out and in their heads and focused on money and greed and even like going to Mars. That's such an energetic.

illustration of where their attention is. It's out of the body. It's out of the human community, the earth community, the plant community. It's out of this planet, right? It's this perpetual colonialism, this perpetual hunger to conquer more, to have more, to grab more, to dominate more.

Xochitl Ashe (11:35)

Yeah.

Marysia (11:46)

And man, these guys, really need some earth medicine and some earth healing. But in the meantime, us who are influenced by their orbit, we can really do ourselves and each other and humanity a service by grounding on behalf of all.

and it's from that place of groundedness and deep relationship to the earth that we can make better decisions and we can guide ourselves and one another and support each other and take turns, know, being the ones who are feeding and being fed. That is how we can really...

get through this because we have a long journey ahead. You know, I was thinking about this and your question about like, how do you bring a child into the earth at this time? Something I've thought about. And there's this, you know, like we are humans and as humans, are animals. And so there's a part of us that is animal and and and that wants to make life whether it's through creating a baby, you know, when we're in love.

respond in that way and and like we can and we choose to say yes or whether it's you know tending a garden or or creating life and tending life like this is our most human instinct and gift but looking ahead like I think about my my daughters I have two daughters Flora who's 12 and Lucia who was just born who is two and a half months

And you know, like, gosh, she's going to be 70. Like just before it's like what? 2300, right? Like what? Or 2000? Yeah. Wait, I'm doing the math funny. I'm so sleep deprived. It's 2024. 2100 She will be about 75. So she'll still be, you know, like an older adult. What will the earth be like then?

And so, you know, with climate change and all of the changes that we're going through, the earth that we inherited, our generation, like what our parents hoped for us, what kind of they promised in their own naivete, right? Like things will be okay. My parents, you know, we came from Poland, really affected by the wars there. I remember, I remember being little and my parents being like,

People have learned from their mistakes. Now we have democracy. Like fascism is over. No one will do that again. You are not gonna experience war in your lifetime. And I was like, you know, I remember this, like I can remember where we were, where I was standing. I was six. I was like, yeah, yeah. Amazing, humans have learned, yeah. And, and, and,

Xochitl Ashe (14:38)

Hmm.

⁓

Mm.

Marysia (15:01)

And you know, I think a lot of us in our generation were going through the grief of realizing like, wait, that beautiful hope of our parents, like it's not true. That was what a lot of people thought and hoped. And so we have, yes, yeah, yeah. And then to think ahead for my child, it's like, I know that we have a long road ahead.

Xochitl Ashe (15:13)

Yeah.

It's like healing from the heartbreak, right?

Marysia (15:30)

and things are going to be tough. Like that's just the reality. We are under pressure as a planet, as a human species, the plant species, animals. So the more awake we can be, the more honest, while staying rooted, grounded, connected in relationship to each other and to the plants and the earth.

That's what's going to help us make good decisions and really create beauty.

Xochitl Ashe (16:06)

You know, we usually start with a prayer, but it was I was so excited to get right into it. So I love your prayers. And I want to invite you if it feels good, which I know you love you love praying. We've prayed together. Can you do a short and sweet, powerful prayer to just open the sacred space? I really feel like these conversations.

are so needed at this time. And, you know, the intention of this podcast is that it be a resource and medicine to to keep us all in the vision of this earth that we can create this this beautiful vision of a new earth that I feel like I feel it in my bones. Right. Like it's it's possible. And I decided to have these conversations because I want to keep that possibility. I want to

I want to talk every week with people so that that possibility is alive. So if you could just, you know, just open this space up with prayer, your beautiful prayers that I've missed.

Marysia (17:18)

Thank you, sister. would love to. And I will just pray and cast a circle and ground us by invoking the seven directions. We begin by facing the east, the place of the rising sun of new beginnings. We call in these energies of renewal of the budding spring.

of the flight of birds, of the hum of bees. We ask for this energy of innocence, perspective to be with us so we can dream beautiful visions for a beautiful world ahead.

And we turn to the South, the place of fire. We call in the flame in our bellies, the place of power within us. We call in our capacity to transform ourselves and the world around us. Our digestion, our ability to digest information and take what helps us grow and compost and release the rest.

And we call in and ask for the spirits of the South to help us create magic, to help us be alchemists of these times, to fuel our courage.

We face the West, the place of the waters, the womb from which we all crawled out of the ocean mama. The rivers, the thunder clouds, the rain. We give gratitude for the blessing of water that gives us life. And we pray for all rivers to run free, for all water to be revered, for rain to quench the thirst of the lands we call home.

And we ask for the waters within us to awaken our intuition so we can feel and dream and birth beauty and wholeness for generations to come.

And we face the north, the home of the earth, calling in the trees, the evergreens, our elders, calling in the stones, the bones, the mushrooms, the soil, calling in the wild weeds, the plants that give us food and medicine. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, beloved earth.

for feeding us, giving us shelter and clothes. Thank you, Mother, for caring for us. We pray for your wellbeing, for all humans to awaken in their love and protection of you. And we ask you to be with us and to ground this conversation in your truth, in your dreams, in your love.

We reach up to the heavens and call in our guardian angels, calling in the great mystery, the spiraling galaxies, the wonder and awe of this universe. And we ask for this space to be attuned to the vibration of unconditional love, divine guidance.

And we feel our connection to below, turning our attention and our heart to our ancestors, to the mycelial network, the fungi, the bones, the stones, the soil, those who came before us, honoring that we are here thanks to those who walked the lands before us, honoring the Tongva and the Chumash people.

upon which we both live and gather honoring our ancestors and asking for their blessing for we are the ones that are here now and so we ask for them to guide us in wisdom and to bless us so we can be bridges for those that came before and for that which is yet unborn.

And lastly, we bring our hands to our heart. Breathing and feeling our heartbeat, this drum at the center of our medicine wheel. We call forth our heart, asking for our hearts to be connected during this conversation.

to connect with all who listen beyond the laws of time and space, and to allow our hearts to guide this moment and all moments for the greatest love possible to bloom forth for all living beings on earth. And together we cast our circle.

Our circle is cast. We are in between worlds. And all that happens in between worlds affects all worlds. And so it is.

Xochitl Ashe (22:42)

So it is. Thank you for that. I love the part that you said, what is yet unborn. I haven't had that concept in my mind. And I love it. What can we pray for that is yet unborn? To pray for something that hasn't been born yet.

to come at this time when we need it the most.

So I wanna talk about, there's so many conversations we can have because I think you are so masterful in terms of talking about plants. But what I think that would be really, really interesting is talking about this time and like how do we...

support ourselves. You you mentioned before we press record, like I want to talk about joy and resilience. How we bring that into this time. And so how do you bring that into this time?

Marysia (24:09)

Yeah, well, I've been really feeling how focusing on like the lower three chakras is a really good simplified way of helping us orient to how we can stay grounded and nourished and connected to community and the earth.

Stay present in our feelings, allowing our feelings to continue to move so there isn't stagnancy and inviting in pleasure into the body. And to fuel our courage and experience joy, even when things are tough and things look really dark, you know, how can we stay?

awake and alive, emboldened, and how can we be the light really, you know? And so I think that focusing on these three chakras can be a good compass for folks and it can kind of simplify it and I'm happy to kind of elaborate, but I certainly have been.

continuously kind of bringing myself back down to the physical. The three lower chakras are connected to the element of earth, water, and fire. And the four chakras with the heart being the fourth.

are the four elements that make up the earth. And then the upper chakras are more ethereal and that's where we can get into the thoughts and sound and they're very beautiful, very, very mystical and divine. And...

if we spend too much time in the upper chakras or focus exclusively on opening up the upper chakras, we can get ungrounded. And we can see that even in the best intentioned spiritual communities that are constantly bringing the energy, constantly opening up the third eye. And it can be really quite ungrounding. And I think in these times,

actually grounding and focusing on those lower chakras is what's going to give us endurance, stamina. It's going to keep us connected to community, which I think is hugely important for our wellbeing and the wellbeing of the earth. And so yeah, I think that's a good place to start actually is that like broadening of relationship. I think it's so important that we fight isolation.

Xochitl Ashe (26:32)

Mm-hmm.

Marysia (26:48)

And that means that we have to really be mindful to not withdraw. And when we're feeling lonely, to reach out. And then I think the invitation is for us to expand even more, expand our circles and our communities.

Xochitl Ashe (26:48)

Mm.

Marysia (27:08)

And I think this is really important because fascism, is kind of what right now we're facing, we're facing a very real threat of fascism. It's in the United States, it's in other countries. And fascism only thrives when people feel fear of others.

When people feel that they are better, different, and when they create story that isn't true about other populations, typically minority populations. And fascism only can thrive when there's fear.

And so it's this like, have to be alchemists in these times because it's very easy to fall into fear. You you start looking at the news and what's happening and, and, and it's, it's scary. It's very concerning. And so this is where like a vast nervous system, a vast root, a very healthy sacral chakra and solar plexus can allow us to not look away, not bypass.

not try to hide, but to look at what's happening, be with what's happening and be able to respond instead of react. And so, you know, when we're seeing, like ICE and the attacks on here in Los Angeles, we have a huge amount of, folks from Latin America.

who are being targeted. European immigrants aren't getting stopped on the street. So it's actually not even like a fight for illegal immigration. It's a racist agenda. And so in those moments, by broadening our

connections and community by creating more relationship by checking in on each other by reaching out and those of us who are not affected we can be the folks who are

sending resource and support and protection to those who are affected. And what's important to know is that we are all affected and we're all going to be affected at different moments. And I think that that's something that we can really take for these times as well is like this concept of taking turns. There's gonna be a moment where I feel resourced and energized and capable. And then there's gonna be a moment where I feel depleted and tired and burnt out and I need help and support from my community.

And so creating and feeding community is so important so that we can take care of each other and we can take turns and we can say to each other, all right, like I'm gonna spearhead this movement or this initiative. And then to say a month later, cool, now I need to tap out and like just kind of draw my energy in and take care of my family a little more. And actually I could use a little support and a meal train or like.

you know, a friend to talk to or whatever it might be. So community, community, community. That is the number one thing we need to focus on. And community is connected to the root chakra and a healthy root.

Xochitl Ashe (30:36)

Hmm.

Marysia (30:39)

is connected to a vast network of community and that's human community and that's plant community. So what I've been doing to support my root chakra is I am I am drinking my herbs. You know I'm drinking my herbs. I am drinking my nourishing herbs. I am drinking my nettles pretty much every day and I am you know focusing on whole medicine. I am eating potatoes and sweet potatoes

Xochitl Ashe (30:53)

Yes.

Marysia (31:09)

and grounding foods and healthy fats and I am taking care of my physical body as best as I can I am I am taking in nutrition and that's something that like

when we get spun out in our head, you we can forget to eat or we just start drinking coffee. That just makes the whole situation worse. And so coming back to the body, remembering that we are made of the earth. We are just humans and we need our vitamins and our minerals really in order to think well. And when we're not nourished, we start to spin out.

And we can make really bad decisions when we're ungrounded. I'm really, I'm drinking metals every day. Right now you see me drinking Shessandra, one of my favorite adaptogens that gives me energy and clarity, feeds my heart.

taking these adaptogens, the mushrooms, you know, that's, that's one of the ways and eating, eating with my family, eating with community, ⁓ something so simple that we can overlook, we can think it's trite or, you know, unimportant, but it's actually foundational. It's, it's actually what can keep us, nourished and thriving. Yeah. So that's a little bit about what I'm doing with the root chakra.

Xochitl Ashe (32:35)

Yeah, thank you so much. As you were sharing about, you know, the importance of community, I've been really present to that. But sometimes I come upon folks that, you when I speak about community, they're like, well, I don't even know, like, I don't even know where to start. I think that a lot of people, if they weren't good at making friends before COVID,

they became worse after COVID. And the other day I was hanging out with my partner and I was like, I don't know, you know, like it's so interesting how people, we were at this party and it was a new, you know, a new space for us. And I was like making new friends and I was noticing how like some people just were like keeping to themselves. And I was like, wow, that's so interesting.

like such an opportunity to connect. And he mentioned that he had read that social anxiety is like super high right now. Like people just have forgotten to make friendships. And one of the things that I loved about, because I studied with you and it was live.

So we really got to be in circle and it was so joyful to be with other folks that loved plants and were communicating with them as well. But one thing I really admire about you Marysia is that you have been really good about bringing community together. What would you say to someone?

You know, because I often hear this is like, well, I don't even know, like, how do I start building community? I don't have any friends, you know, because that's a huge problem. And I feel like we can talk all day about, the importance of community. But we also need to talk about, like, well, how do you build community if you don't have it or how do you make friends if you don't have that many or you don't have any because you've been in so much isolation?

Marysia (34:56)

Yeah. ⁓ thanks.

Xochitl Ashe (34:57)

⁓ and you're so good at that. What's your secret?

Marysia (35:02)

Well, I think a really good tip actually would be to go on like meetup. There's like a right meetup.org is it is it I don't know if it's dot org or dot com maybe it's dot com. But it's this really cool website that exists all over the country and maybe even all over the world. And people there are different meetups that people organize around different interests and they're all free. It's like a very grassroots initiative. And so you can go on and be like, you know, I love

still life painting, or I want to play chess, or like I want to sit and talk about politics with people, whatever is your cup of tea, or like I love kayaking, you can join a group and they're just people that you don't not paying anyone. There's no hierarchy. There's no teacher leader. You're just getting together with folks who are interested and excited about the same things. And I think that's such a good place to start is going to something like that and you have some

There's

something in common, like a shared interest, but there's also difference. And that's what's so important about community is we need diversity in our community. And so, you know, the earth teaches us that, like the gardens that thrive, the ecosystems that thrive have a lot of diversity. And one of the pathologies of our time that creates fascism and is so dangerous is that we begin to only hang out with people that are like us.

And so that's actually something that we just have to like make an effort and kind of like push ourselves a little bit, you know? I think as healers, there's this interesting tension and these two different polarities of energy when we are supporting someone. One is this very like motherly energy of like anything is allowed.

I have that so strongly. have like this very feminine side that's just like...

Come to my bosom, be exactly as you are, whatever you feel is legit. And that's real, that's true for me. And if we're only in that energy, we become very weak and kind of flaccid. And we need this other side as well that's like, all right, little bird, now just jump out of the nest.

You know, it's gonna feel a little scary. You're gonna experience a little discomfort. I think in the healing realms, we've become like so into making sure everyone's comfortable. But the reality is...

Xochitl Ashe (37:30)

Hahaha

Marysia (37:45)

Life is not always comfortable. And for us to be able to create what we want to create and experience what we want to create experience and just live a whole life, we have to kind of become more comfortable with being uncomfortable.

And so, you know, I think for folks who want to experience more community and connection, yeah, there are going to be moments where you feel uncomfortable or where social anxiety comes up. And so that's a great opportunity to call in some tools. You know, if you notice that you're going out and you're like, okay, my heart's starting to beat faster or my breath is quickening and what, what tools can help you grounded and be in your body?

You know, maybe it's like for me, I love like massaging my feet with oils to ground myself and to come into the body and to relax my nervous system.

drinking plants like kava kava. Oof! That is a great herb for social anxiety, for public speaking, for connecting from the heart, for just totally down regulating the nervous system. So you can drink really safe teas, even like a cup of chamomile tea. You know, don't go drink a cup of coffee and then go out to a social situation. You know, down regulate your nervous system and use your breath and affirmations and talk to

Xochitl Ashe (39:04)

Hahaha

Marysia (39:11)

yourself with love and be like, Hey, we're doing this to expand, you know, the growth edge is beyond the comfort zone. So in order for us to grow ourselves or our network or community, we have to move out of our comfort zone.

Xochitl Ashe (40:17)

Yeah, think it's, I mean, you know, the other day I was really aware of, like even in the healing community, it's been so polarizing, right? Like since COVID, it's like, I'm like, how did you, what happened? Like you turned Christian, like in the midst of COVID or, you know, like, right? Like.

Marysia (40:29)

Yes.

It's very polarized. Yeah, people are either

vax or anti-vax. They're either this or this. And suddenly it's like, where can we all just, like, we all have to be able to continue to have conversations, even if we don't agree, especially if we don't agree. We need to be able to have conversations with each other. And you know, you made this great point, so true, that COVID really shifted.

Xochitl Ashe (40:45)

Yeah.

Marysia (41:07)

our capacity for social engagement and I felt that too. you know, a part of me is a hermit for sure. You know, I love being at home in my garden. I love my alone time. And there's something that I think can help us to understand what's happening. It's very helpful if we become aware that social media...

It satisfies our need for connection, but it is a false satisfaction. It's trickster energy.

Xochitl Ashe (41:40)

Yes.

Marysia (41:42)

And so we will stay at home, not interact with any people, but we'll be on our phone and on Instagram. And that's where we're getting that need met for seeing what is happening out there, for seeing other people, for hearing different stories. And we're getting this dopamine hit. We're experiencing what we would experience through actual organic village life, human relationship. But...

It's causing more loneliness, more isolation, and more polarity. And the algorithm is created for us to fall into smaller and smaller and smaller groups of ideology. And there's a great documentary called, gosh, you know what I'm talking about, the one about social media?

Xochitl Ashe (42:34)

yeah, the one I yeah, we both recommended you recommended origins and did you watch it join or die? you got to watch that one. I'll put it in the link, everybody.

Marysia (42:41)

I haven't yet. I will, know with a baby it's like impossible for

me to watch a movie with a baby right now but I'm very excited to see that. Oh, Social Dilemma is the documentary about, about, and I really recommend everyone see it because we're all on social media so it's really healthy to understand how it works. You know, people who created social media aren't on social media. People who created the iPhone do not give the iPhone to their children.

And the problem with social media is that the algorithm gives you material for you to respond to based on how it sees you responding. So you made this point, so you're like, what happened to my friend that suddenly became like Christian or something, right? And I have nothing wrong with Christians. My family's Christian. But let's say like someone who became like,

fascist because that's happened. And so it's, it's what happens is that something that they respond to they liked or the algorithm sees that they looked at it longer. And then suddenly all of this other media is being fed to them. And then suddenly they think that that's actually all that's happening. And so we are living in this vacuum. It's so dangerous where whatever kind of chaotic thought or suspicion we might have is then being

back to us and we're eating. It's like we're eating our own vomit honestly when we're at our worst thoughts and fears and suspicions and they're just being affirmed to us and so then suddenly people are like my god it's true the immigrants are taking all the jobs or whatever falsehood because they are having that shown to them and they're not getting objective

Xochitl Ashe (44:09)

Thank

Yeah.

Marysia (44:29)

media, they're not getting different diverse thoughts and opinions or people. So that's kind of why it's good to know that. Again, it's good for us to to like be with the difficult truths, because then we can make better decisions for ourselves and each other. And so to understand like, we all have a need for connection and for witnessing people and for humor, like my Instagram is full of funny videos, like

Those

are my favorite. I need that. I like it. That's what brings me back to it, right? But how can we meet those needs in a way that is creating more wholeness and health and honesty and community?

And can we be compassionate with ourselves and allow ourselves to be on social media and be like, okay, sometimes I do just need to totally veg out, be alone in my home and scroll and that's okay. But how am I balancing that with the energy of the mother bird that's like, all right, baby, time to spread those wings and do something that's a little uncomfortable so that you can grow and so that you can...

better yourself and the world.

Xochitl Ashe (45:52)

I love these conversations with you because they really give me hope. know, when when people because what happens that I've noticed is when people get attacked, right? When a specific so we're talking about ICE you know, I'm a double immigrant. So I was born in Peru, immigrated to Mexico and then immigrated to the US and.

I've always that's, you we all choose different causes that we devote ourselves to. And I've always been very much an environmentalist and also for immigrant rights and animal rights. These are my like three top things that I'm constantly investing my energy into. And what I've seen is. Once we like what our cause is or who we are.

becomes attacked, it's, almost like now we go blind to like, hold on. Like, I have a choice. Like, I don't have to hate, you know, who's attacking, right? Like, I'm still at choice. still in my conscious self. And what I find is that

when we're attacked, the first thing that, you know, and it's happened to me too, right? The first thing that we go to is like polarization, you know? Now it's you know, those white people, ta-da, you know, like we start like separating and like that's not working either. Like.

Like I totally, like I am an advocate for decolonization, but also I'm not an advocate for like separation because it's all about divide and conquer, right? So how do you see, like how do we solve this very, what I feel is like very much intentional, you know, of the powers that are.

wanting to run the show right now on earth, like to keep us divided, like how do we come into life? How do we show up without like polarizing ourselves? know, like because we are devoted to certain causes. I mean, I'm definitely, if somebody hurts an animal, you know, I'm just like, ⁓ like, you know, my claws come out.

But I'm really like being with, like how do I, and of course, you I have a lot of practices, but I think that this needs to be a conversation of like, okay, the now moment. Like how do we not become what we hate? you know, or I don't even like that word hate. Like how do we not become what causes, how do we not,

Marysia (48:58)

Yes.

Xochitl Ashe (49:09)

harm ourselves by becoming what harms us. That's really it.

Marysia (49:12)

Hmm.

Whew. I mean, that is such a beautiful, beautiful, important inquiry. You know, wow. And, and like some of my teachers and, and, and like my heroes in that are people that I never got to meet, you know, but like,

Martin Luther King, Gandhi, right? We have these examples of people who were incredible, incredible leaders of nonviolence and just like spiritual beings. I feel like this question of how do we not...

perpetuate the polarization. How do we not make enemy, right? How do we not make enemies of people who are attacking us or who are doing things that we see as like incredibly harmful and awful? I think again, it's by being in actual physical space with people and in places where we might not typically go.

And we have to diversify where we go. We have to diversify our human communities. When you, you know, one of the things I loved about the experience that I got to share with you.

with the school and with the apprenticeship to the plants, like you said, we would sit in a circle. And I've always been really committed to making sure that Earth medicine is accessible to all people. And so in the same circle would be like a person who had millions of dollars. And then someone who, you know, was on scholarship and had like a

background as a gangbanger or something like there were there was so much diversity, socioeconomic diversity, especially. And it's through that experience that suddenly the person who like maybe usually just hung out with her other millionaire friends, but then became like so connected and tight and in love.

with her sister who lives in, you know, let's just call it the ghetto for lack of a, you know, just to make it simple and continue the story. It's like, those are the relationships and the moments that heal culture. And so we actually have to create spaces where there's diversity of people coming together.

As a teacher, as a healer, I do that by being really committed to making sure that there's diversity of incomes, that my work is accessible to all people. And then, you know, we do this deeply kind of vulnerable, healing, beautiful work of opening our hearts to each other and the earth. And so then you can't help but fall in love with other people and people that are different than you.

So I think about that, think about, you know, and I think about like other heroes that I've and people that I've admired. Like I remember once reading about a man. This was like during the time where it was down south and the Ku Klux Klan was, you know, alive and well. And this black man committed himself to becoming friends with

Xochitl Ashe (52:42)

Yeah.

Marysia (52:44)

a guy who was in the Ku Klux Klan, and I think it was just that one relationship that he focused on. And he became friends. through time, this guy who was in the Ku Klux Klan saw his way, saw his error. And so we don't have to change everybody. We don't have to open everyone's hearts.

But I think that's the spiritual work is, is us being in relationship to people that are different and, to coming back to our shared humanity and really embodying that by staying in shared humanity and not going into reactivity or hate. You know, I did not vote for Trump. I am totally.

Xochitl Ashe (53:33)

you

Marysia (53:39)

happy to be vocal about that. feel like a lot of people don't talk about that openly because for fear of like not being able to connect with their friends. I have friends who voted for Trump. There's a lot of people that I really love and people even that I admire who voted for Trump and I am totally committed to maintaining a relationship and to inviting us back into relationship.

so that we can have conversations and know that the most important thing is our friendship, is the fact that we both love our families, that we both want what's best. know, people who sometimes are doing things that you're like, my gosh, how could you do that? They actually believe that what they're doing is the right thing. remembering that and...

Xochitl Ashe (54:31)

Yeah.

Marysia (54:36)

and not turning them into a stereotype, not turning them into an enemy or an ideology, but like staying in that shared humanity. But I think it's the work of our times. I really do because a lot of people, yeah, are sadly...

you know, kind of quickly saying, well, if you don't agree with me, then you drank the Kool-Aid and, and you're ignorant. You know, I tried to engage someone on social media. This was like when Trump was being elected and, it hadn't gotten elected yet and, they were promoting him and

And they were a fan of Kennedy, and I was actually a fan of Kennedy too. And so when Kennedy endorsed Trump, I was like, man, that really sucks. Like, I cannot follow that. And now I'm kind of wondering what, like, I really used to think like, wow, Kennedy is this awesome lawyer who has the balls and the courage to fight corporations for the environment. And so that really, you know, for me, I saw that as really noble.

and I appreciated him for that.

And then some folks, you know, when he decided to endorse Trump, they were like, okay, now we're going to vote for Trump. So I wanted to have a conversation with these folks, right? went, hey, you know, I said they were all about the make America healthy again, right? And I was like, hey, let's talk about this. Like, let's let's explore this together. Tell me how you feel that America will be more healthy.

I understand that you believe that people shouldn't have to get vaccinated. I agree that it should be a choice.

How does that one thing make America more healthy while also the administration is taking away and supporting the states in not protecting all women when they're getting their abortions, right? Or there are women who have miscarriages who go to the hospital now. And because of the federal government being like, this is a state issue, there are women dying, right?

Xochitl Ashe (56:41)

Yeah.

Marysia (56:50)

There are so many things that are happening. There are immigrant children who are being separated from their families. How can like like How can we become more healthy when that is happening? That's not health Health isn't just having your raw milk and being able to unvaccinate your child Health is all of our health health is making sure that human rights are being protected

So I wanted to engage and this person wrote back saying, you're not a critical thinker.

And you're not paying attention to what's happening. You're not accruing.

I got really offended, which is just my little, you know, my human self. But, but that stung me. And it also surprised me because I was like, well, hold on a second. Like what I'm trying to do is actually engage us in critical thinking together. And so there are so many things that are happening like that. Where, where, and so again, like it takes all of us, it takes our biggest heart and our most grounded self to be able to keep showing up for

Xochitl Ashe (57:30)

Hehehehehe

Marysia (57:58)

conversations when there's so much trickster energy so much bypassing and we have to be compassionate with ourselves and give ourselves a break and and like and know that we're only human and that we can't always be having these conversations right there are moments where we have to just unplug and focus on our family or our garden or drink our tea and Meditate those moments are as important in our activism

Xochitl Ashe (58:26)

Thank you so much. There's so much I can keep on talking about that, but I think that you did such a good job at, you know, like putting it all together. I think that a lot of people aren't even having these conversations, right? And these conversations are so important, especially now because

If we don't have them, history just keeps repeating itself over and over and over again. I do have a question, which is, if you were to, because I love your medicine making, if you were to make an elixir for the new earth, meaning like something that would support us during this time, right?

to not become polarized, to have resilience, to have agility, to show up envisioning what is possible versus what is not. What would that elixir, what beautiful plants and herbs and fungi would you put in it?

Marysia (59:44)

I would make an elixir that's like a kava blissful elixir. It would be predominantly kava because kava just gets us in our body and is an aphrodisiac and grounds us and down regulates the nervous system and slows us down. And there would be some rose in there to open our heart and keep us soft and open hearted.

Xochitl Ashe (1:00:09)

Hmm.

Marysia (1:00:13)

there would be some reishi mushroom to bring in the wisdom of the ancients and the wisdom of the earth and our capacity to compost and make medicine of death. And

I think that's what, and cacao, cacao would be in there. Cacao would be in there to fuel our hearts and give us a little bit more chutzpah and energy because we do need a little activation. We need a little activation and courage and joy. We need joy and pleasure.

Xochitl Ashe (1:00:37)

Yes.

Marysia (1:00:54)

So that would be my elixir. It's actually very similar to it. Like if someone actually wants to make this in my book, The Witch's Herbal Apothecary, I created a few different recipes with kava kava. And there's one that's called ecstatic. I think it's called like the ecstatic union lovers elixir or something. It's like a super sexy aphrodisiac blend. And I'm pretty sure it has all of those plants except for the reishi. But that would be if you want to actually make something then then

Xochitl Ashe (1:01:12)

Ooh.

Marysia (1:01:23)

there's recipes in there that are very much, and you know, coconut milk goes really well with those plants. So it would be like an elixir that's just delicious to drink.

Xochitl Ashe (1:01:35)

Mm, yes,

I miss that. miss I miss sitting in circle and and drinking all the different plants with with other folk. We got to bring that back.

Marysia (1:01:49)

Yeah, well, I do retreats. you know, I teach at Esalen. I know you do too. So there's in person opportunities to study with me there. I'm going to be at Omega Institute in July this summer as well. And then honestly, I'm surprised at how well the online slash hybrid apprenticeship has accomplished community building.

Xochitl Ashe (1:01:54)

Mm-hmm.

Marysia (1:02:16)

It started from a need when went, know, when COVID happened, but I've kept it because actually like our reach and our community just becomes more vast and it becomes global. And I'm able to even give more scholarships because it's online. So the friendships that have emerged from the apprenticeship.

even though that's online, are so deep and beautiful. And we have mentors all over the world. So there's also in-person mentor circles and medicine making. And then after, if people choose to do the two-year version, there's a graduation retreat and we're all together in the redwoods. And then the ceremonies, the drinking of the teas, which we did together, that's the part that we do. We have one a month and we do it at home.

But that ends up being really beautiful too, you know, to have your teas at home, to be connected on Zoom with people all over the world, to be inviting in these plant spirits, receiving guidance and messages, journaling, and then sharing with each other and hearing from such diverse people how the plants connect to you. So I've been kind of blown away how well it's translated to this kind of online in-person hybrid format. So.

Xochitl Ashe (1:03:38)

Yeah, I mean,

I love it because I've sent a lot of my clients to you due to that. Now it's online, you know, because they're not they don't live in L.A. And and I'm like, you need to join School of Sacred Wild. So some some folks have have gone to your school through their working with me. I'm always happy to send them. So I wish we could.

Just keep on going because there's so much more we can cover and talk about. But I always like just asking this one question. If you could just take a moment, Marysia, and close your eyes, maybe put your hands on your heart. Take a breath. And this last question is, is there one thing that has really helped you? A piece of wisdom from

your lineage or the plants, the fungi, the flowers, a piece of medicine, a piece of wisdom that you know that when you share, it will be so important and potent to those who listen. What would that be? And a piece of wisdom that will be helpful for us as we, I'm calling this a transition into the new world.

As we are walking in this initiation portal towards all the beauty that can be created by human potential and animal potential and earth and plant potential, when we all can come together to create it, what would that be?

Marysia (1:05:28)

I would share that the greatest wisdom comes from our direct relationship and lived experience with the living earth.

And I would really, if I could only recommend one thing, it would be for people to go outside, to walk barefoot, to create a daily practice of connecting to the earth, listening to birds, letting the sun touch them on their skin, physically touching the earth, going into wild places whenever you can.

hiking, camping, swimming in wild rivers. This is the stuff of life that feeds us and nourishes us and brings us into deeper connection with ourselves and all that is holy. And it is, I deeply, deeply, deeply believe what will help us.

Stay wise, stay wise and resourced and heart centered and keep the wellbeing of our entire planet at the center of all that we birth and create and protect.

Xochitl Ashe (1:06:59)

Thank you so much Marysia. I love all that you have shared and so much wisdom. I'm so happy that I got to be on this podcast with you and record your beauty.

Marysia (1:07:15)

Me too.

Thank you so much. Thank you, sister for having me for welcoming me into your space and your community. Thank you for the beautiful questions and the beautiful way you guided this conversation. My heart feels really nourished. I'm grateful.

Xochitl Ashe (1:07:31)

Yay, thank you. Thank you everyone for listening.

Episode Transcript