93. Madison Nees: The Art of Radical Aliveness

What is Radical Aliveness? How can we explore the principles of Radical Aliveness in the laboratory space of our lives? How might being in a group process help us with exploring our deep feelings?

Being in conversation with my friend and teacher Madison Nees is always a profound experience for me. I'm excited for you to listen in and to explore this alive, glowing, curious space we co-created. 

My first conversation with Madison for Healing The Spirit (Ep. 22 Dancing in The Underworld) was recorded about a year ago, right before the first run of her offering, Katabasis: A Journey to Aliveness.

This time, Madison and I met at the crossroads. I’m currently at the end of a yearlong journey with my offering, Astrology as Praxis, and Madison is about to re-enter the field of Katabasis for its second cohort.

The principles of Radical Aliveness guided our conversation. The principles are: 

• Cultivating a Non-Shaming Heart and Attitude
• Knowing I Don’t Know
• Welcoming Multiple Perspectives
• Being Willing to be Changed
• Saying YES to Everything

If you're curious about Madison's work, this event coming up on Sunday is great place to start: An Introduction to Radical Aliveness.

Here's Madison's bio:

Madison Nees is a human, counselor, artist, and guide. My practice focuses on the intersection of ecology, ritual and somatics. I have worked in the addiction and trauma treatment industry since 2015. My own journey includes healing from substance use, anorexia nervosa, loss of culture and self. When I began my journey, I did not understand that the pull to somatics was a call of my ancestors. I was being pulled to heal all the things my mother could not and ultimately lost her life avoiding. I was being pulled to feel the things my Grandmother had no language for.

My body knew the language however, and it spoke in illness, pains, aches and rage. It also spoke the language of held grief and aloneness. During this process, I discovered gifts hidden beneath these repressed emotions. These gifts were the sensations. The gifts were the rivers of grief leading me home to myself. They were also the intuition and creativity of my lineage. I always tried to “do” something with the emotions but my healing progressed the more I simply sat with them. Instead of trying to push them away, I wondered what would happen if I let them grow. They grew into my practice today.

You can sign up for Madison's newsletter on Madison's website, and follow Madison's work on Instagram @ritual_body.  Check out Madison's exciting new six-month journey, Katabasis, which will begin on Sep 17, 2023. You can set up a call with Madison if you're curious here. Madison will also be hosting An Introduction to Radical Aliveness on Sunday, Aug 27, 2023. 

If you've enjoyed and benefited from the podcast, I invite you to apply for private mentorship and coaching with me. This is an intensive container, designed to support you in refining your self-leadership skills, moving through important life thresholds with grace, and expanding your capacity for creative expansions.

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This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.