Belonging: Conversations about rites of passage, meaningful community, and seasonal living

In this episode, I reflect on the significance of my roadside honor system farm stand on a personal, communal and environmental level. This small physical, and seasonal, structure is a prayer for community, an altar to trust, and a quiet form of resistance to disconnection and urgency. Join me in this musing on how meaning isn’t created from scale, but from depth.Tune in to hear more from me on:The embodiment of rightsizing and experiencing more tactile, IRL livingWhere my love for farmstands originatesReclaiming a sense of enoughness and building resilienceThe farmstand as an altar for people to feel nourished and connectedReconnecting with the earth and local communityThe joy of simple, sacred interactionsThe farmstand as a place of reciprocity and regenerationResources + LinksEpisode #133 with Stevie Storck on Rightsizing Life and the Sharing TableEpisode #136 with Carmen Spagnola on Satisfiability as a Collapse SkillMy Substack piece on ‘The Community Economics of a Roadside Farmstand’My book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[0:00] Introduction to my Farm Stand Journey [4:26] The Origin Story of my Love for Farm Stands [9:30] Rightsizing: The Intention behind my Own Farm Stand [13:52] The Embodiment of Satisfiability [20:10] The Farm Stand as a Sacred and Regenerative Tool of Exchange [27:15] Community Identity and Neighbourliness [30:25] The Farm Stand as a Place of Reciprocity

Today I am joined by my dear friend Erin Claire Jones, one of the world’s leading experts on Human Design and founder of Human Design Blueprint. Through her coaching content and digital products, Erin has empowered hundreds of thousands of people to overcome their biggest obstacles and find their flow in life, love and work. And she now has a gorgeous book out: How Do You choose? A Human Design Guide to What’s Best for You at Work, in Love and in Life.Personally, I love Human Design as a tool to understanding myself and the people around me. In this episode, Erin and I dive deep into my own blueprint as well as my family’s to illustrate how knowing one’s Human Design can empower your relationship with yourself, as well as with your partner, children and anyone else you are close to and/or care about.Tune in to hear more from us on:My family’s Human Design charts and what they meanUnderstanding the gifts and challenges of each of our designs (including my 4 year old’s)Being seen and recognized for your soul’s unique blueprintThe Types and Authorities in Human DesignHow your blueprint can define your relationships and ways to navigate thatResources + LinksOrder Erin’s book How Do You Choose? A Human Design Guide to What’s Best for You at Work, in Love and in LifeLook up your own design on Human Design Blueprint and use code ‘BELONGING’ for a 10% discount on your guideStudy Human Design with Erin: humandesignblueprint.comFind Erin on Instagram @erinclairejones and @humandesignblueprintListen to my first podcast episode with Erin, #105: Human Design for Parents and PartnersMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[0:00] Introduction and Celebrating the Book Launch: Making Human Design Practical [13:12] Understanding People’s Human Design [16:46] Finding Recognition in Relationships [20:17] Navigating Family Dynamics and Parenting through the Lens of Human Design [33:32] A Partnership between Two Sacral Authorities and Making Gut Decisions [41:32] Observing People as a Human Design Expert [45:53] Growing Up in a Family with Projectors and Manifestors [48:58] The Main Types and Authorities within Human Design

In today’s episode, I am joined by Julia Plevan Olianksy. Julia is the author of The Healing Magic of Forest Bathing and founder of The Forest Bathing Club. She guides nature-based healing experiences and runs Organism Thinking, a consultancy bringing ecological intelligence to brands. She recently launched placebased.org to support bioregional initiatives. Our paths first crossed in a women’s circle in 2019 and recently intertwined again through the algorithm of Substack. Julia writes the Substack The Earth Has a Mother about mothering through climate change and her essay on bioregioning nudged me to invite her on the podcast for this wonderful conversation.We talk about the practice of reorienting one’s life personally, culturally, economically, and politically around the natural characteristics of a specific bioregion, meaning rooting deeply in place and aligning with the rhythms, ecosystems and stories of the land you inhabit.Tune in to hear more from us on:Finding belonging to a place through understanding its bioregion and ecosystemLiving more locally and regenerativelyThe cultural significance of soil in shaping community and identityObserving, witness and partaking in the natural cycles around youThe homogenisation of culture because of the internetThe impact of technology on personal connectionsTransitioning from a tech career to a more localised, nature-connected lifestyleEmbracing the healing power of nature and community engagement in a tech-driven worldWriting as a creative process and outsourcing it to AIResources + LinksJulia’s Substack The Earth Has A Mother and her essay Becoming BioregionalJulia’s Book The Healing Magic of Forest BathingFind Julia online through The Forest Bathing Club and her bioregioning initiative Place Based ProjectsMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[0:00] Introduction to Julia Plevin Oliansky[10:19] The Meaning of Bioregioning[15:57] How to Become More Bioregional[20:20] Finding Identity in a Tech Driven World[29:21] The Cultural Significance of Soil[38:22] Human Connection and the Role of AI[51:57] Signs of Spring and Witnessing Natural Cycles

In today’s solo episode, I answer listener questions. We dive into themes of joy and challenges in seasonal living, the intricacies of rural homesteading and navigating community dynamics. I share my personal experiences of farming, motherhood, navigating eco-anxiety, land stewardship and the impact of climate change.Tune in to hear more from me on:Making a joy list and how this can help during tough seasonsWhat’s been challenging on the farm this WinterHow community dynamics play a crucial role in homesteadingWhat to consider and ask yourself before buying a farm or move to a rural areaNavigating eco-anxiety and the current political climate as a parent and as a human beingHow to stay connected to oneself and the land in these times of ego-collapseResources + LinksJulia Plevin Oliansky’s Substack ‘Can we make bioregioning work?’Pro Publica climate change mapsMy Substack, Root Shock: Micro Farmoir TalesMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[0:00] Introduction[2:46] What is currently bringing you great joy?[15:56] What is currently bringing you challenge?[21:20] What are the hardest parts about rural/homestead living? Are you happy with the decision?[28:26] What’s been the most surprising thing about your transition to farm life?[29:50] What questions to ask myself about buying land?[37:28] How are you managing eco-anxiety as a parent these days?

In today’s episode, I am joined by Carmen Spagnola - a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef turned trauma recovery practitioner, clinical hypnotherapist, and kitchen witch. She first appeared on the Belonging podcast two years ago for the release of her first book. Now, she’s back to celebrate her second book coming out: ‘Spells for the Apocalypse: Practical Magic for Turbulent Times’, which offers practical tools for navigating turbulent times and emphasizes the importance of community and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges. As a chef, author, and facilitator, Carmen holds space for renewal amidst turmoil. Her work is an invitation to re-enchantment, soul nourishment, and a deeper and more animistic relationship to the natural world.In our conversation, we reflect on the significant life changes we both have experienced in this past two years. We re-explore the concept of collapse and its emotional and psychological impacts on individuals and communities. We discuss the importance of surrendering to change, cultivating satisfaction in the present and the art of navigating grief and beauty in life’s challenges.Tune in to hear more from us on:How dealing with collapse and trauma recovery is both an individual and a communal journeyPractical tools for navigating collapse, change and crisesThe challenges of communal living and regenerative farmingHow poignance blends pain and beauty together, and enriches our livesDystopian narratives and media and what they can teach us about our current societal structuresReimagining our relationship with plastics and sustainabilityGardening as a reflection of empire and reciprocityViewing aging as a beautiful process instead of a lossResources + LinksCarmen Spagnola’s new book ‘ Spells for the Apocalypse: Practical Magic for Turbulent Times’Episode #107 of the Belonging podcast with Carmen, ‘Feeding & Healing Ourselves Amidst Collapse’Carmen’s first book ‘The Spirited Kitchen: Recipes & Rituals for the Wheel of the Year’Carmen’s podcast The Numinous Podcast, and her platform The Numinous NetworkMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[00:00] Introduction: Life Changes and New Beginnings [20:29] Understanding Collapse and Its Impacts [24:36] Navigating the Apocalypse: Tools and Practices [37:48] Surrendering to Change: Cultivating Resilience[40:25] Acknowledging Poignance: Between Pain and Beauty [42:44] Dystopian Narratives: Reflections on Society and Collapse [48:22] Reimagining the Future: Plastics and Sustainability [50:06] Regenerative Farming in the Eye of Collapse and Gardening as a Reflection of Empire

Becca Rich, a trauma-sensitive holistic coach with a background in engineering, dives deep into the meaning of time. She shares insights on the cyclical nature of our lives and how it intersects with digital planning. Listeners learn about time anxiety, especially for parents, and the importance of recognizing daily accomplishments. Becca advocates for a holistic approach to scheduling that respects our natural rhythms. Highlighting self-compassion, she encourages embracing flexible time management to enhance emotional well-being and promote meaningful living.

In today’s episode, I am joined by Jessie Harrold, a coach, doula and author of ‘Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage’. A couple of years ago, I followed Jessie’s course by the same name and it held me deeply in the depths of my postpartum identity shift. This conversation dives deep in the process of matrescence, the part community plays in this and how, as mothers, we can learn to become recipients of care in ways we don’t always see portrayed online.Tune in to hear more from us on:The concept of Mothershift and how to navigate this identity shift postpartumCommunity as the mother power and how motherhood is shifting people away from hyper individualismWhat it means for us to be reproductively hyperburdened as humansMenopause and the grandmother hypothesisPostpartum depression and experiencing maternal rageExperiencing a nourishment barrier in receiving care and support and the myth of being perfectly resourcedPerforming vulnerability on social mediaThe impact of having a baby on relationships and how heteronormativity plays a role in thisResources + LinksEpisode 78 of the Belonging podcast with Jessie Harold on Non-Linear ReciprocityJessie’s book ‘Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage’Jessie’s podcast Becoming, season 6 episode 7, with Mara Glatzel and myself on MothershiftMara Glatzel’s book ‘Needy: How to Advocate for Your Needs and Claim Your Sovereignty’Episode 101 of the Belonging podcast on Delayed Postpartum Depression + RageEpisode 127 of the Beloning podcast with Amelia Hruby on Social Media for the Anxiously AttachedMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[0:00] The Mothershift and Matrescence[16:14] Navigating Postpartum Emotions: Rage and Acceptance[19:10] Social Media's Role in Motherhood Narratives[20:11] Cultural Expectations and the Reality of Motherhood[30:37] The Importance of Community in Motherhood[44:42] Navigating Under-Resourced Care & The Nourishment Barrier[50:10] The Impact of Parenthood on Relationships

In today’s episode, I am joined by Stevie Storck, founder of the Cross Quarter Club, a creative seasonal living community focused on gardening and nature connection. When Stevie and I first connected through my circle facilitation training Circle Craft, she introduced me to the concept of the Sharing Table, a tradition that encourages community members to share resources and foster connections. We both share our experiences with this meaningful way of community building and also explore what it means to right-size creative ambitions to fit personal responsibilities.Tune in to hear more from us on:The origins of the Cross Quarter Club and the Sharing TableWeaving ancestral traditions into modern communitiesHow the Sharing Table reflects a larger movement towards community careHow creating community involves being the kind of community you want to seeHow embracing the reality of caregiving can inform and enrich creative workThe challenges we, as millennials, face when it comes to cultivating communityHow right-sizing creative work is crucial for sustainability and fulfillmentHow simplicity and being limited in time and resources can enhance creative endeavoursStevie is an alumni of Circle Craft, my circle facilitation training, which as of now is available on demand. If you want to bring your vision of circling and facilitation to life and would like me to walk alongside you in that process, visit my website to learn more and join Circle Craft today.Resources + LinksLearn more about Circle Craft, my circle facilitation training that is now self-study!Stevie’s Sharing Table blog postBecca’s video on her sharing table experimentFind Stevie’s work on Instagram @steviestorck and her websiteMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[00:00] Introduction to Cross Quarter Club and Community Building[12:50] The Sharing Table: Origins, Intentions and Experiences[26:58] Reviving Ancestral Traditions in Modern Communities[34:17] Evolving Plans for Cross Quarter Club[41:13] Navigating Burnout and Creative Ambitions[43:58] Right-Sizing Creative Work and Responsibilities

Immersing myself deeply in the season of Summer here on the East coast has meant that I went on a little hiatus when it comes to sharing about my journey with moving my whole family across the country, purchasing land, learning farming, building community, and everything else. So, for this episode, I asked my friend Sarah Wildeman, who’s been a beloved guest on the podcast before, to interview me about what has been present in my life in this season. I’m on the cusp of the anniversary of our move from the West coast to our farm in the Hudson Valley and my relationship with this land and the community around me is ever evolving, changing, sometimes challenging and very much deepening.Tune in to hear more from us on:The importance of choosing to be present and slowing down in order to fully connect with the land and communityThe challenges and tensions that arise when building community in a new placeThe process of letting go of old identities and finding a new sense of purpose and worthThe ongoing journey of grappling with challenges and staying true to oneselfReconnecting with the land requires trust in intuition and working with the energy of the seasonsSupporting each other through transitions and embracing different roles in a relationship is essentialEmbodying generosity and celebrating differences in partnership allows for flourishingResources + LinksEpisode 118 with Sarah Wildeman: “Community Living Wherever You Are”Episode 121 with Hillarie Maddox: “WTF did I just do? A Conversation on Rewilding with Hillarie Maddox”Find Sarah’s work on Instagram @sarahwildeman and @our__common, and her websiteMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps[0:00] Introduction[3:51] Longing for the East Coast and Connection to the Land[10:40] Building Community and Navigating Tensions[16:29] Slowing Down in Work and Choosing a Different Way of Life[20:29] Letting Go and Finding New Purpose[27:30] The Ongoing Journey of Grappling and Growth[32:22] Living Life Through the Lens of the Farm[34:04] Reconnecting with the Land and Trusting Intuition[37:27] Supporting Each Other Through Transitions and Embracing Different Roles in Partnership[42:47] Feeling Satiated and Accepting What Is[48:48] Embodying Generosity and Celebrating Differences in Partnership

In today’s episode, I am joined by Lara Vesta, author of ‘The Year of the Dark Goddess’ and ‘The Moon Divas Guidebook’ (among other titles). In this conversation, we explore navigating difficult rites of passage, learning its culture through myths, fairytales and other symbolism and calling in our webs of support - whether they be human, spiritual, animal, plant or otherwise.Lara offers us tools and insights how we can empower and transform ourselves through the processes of grief and fear, drawing from ancestral traditions and the wisdom of the Dark Goddess.Tune in to hear more from us on:Learning the culture of rites of passage and the role of the dark goddessHonoring the shifts in our lives and identity with a new status or nameGrowing our internal knowing and webs of supportExperiencing disorientation in a culture that can’t meet youCreating seasonal awareness and honouring the pacing of the ceremonial yearLara’s non-negotiable integration practicesThe time it may take to integrate a rite of passageLearning to create ceremony and ritual for integrating and honoring a rite of passageResources + LinksLara Vesta’s book The Year of the Dark Goddess: A Journey of Ritual, Renewal & RebirthFind Lara’s work on her website laravesta.coMy book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the SelfConnect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelliTimestamps [0:00] Introduction [5:46] Navigating Rites of Passage [8:11] Learning How to Cope with Challenges through Myths and Fairytales [11:38] Developing our Internal Knowing and Webs of Support [13:16] Becoming Sovereign in your own Process [15:58] The Transformative Power of a Daily Ritual and Recording it [19:32] Introducing the Dark Goddess and her Many Forms [23:23] Our Culture’s Separation from Death and Discomfort with Grief [27:26] Seasonal Awareness, Ritual and Self Care for Rites of Passage [32:48] The Time it Takes to Integrate a Rite of Passage [36:09] The Garden as a Mirror for Life and Navigating its Hardships [35:37] The Purpose of Challenges