Honoring Indigenous Wisdom with Vivien Vilela

05/30/19 • 80 min

This week's episode features a conversation with Brazilian healer, philanthropist and activist Vivien Vilela, who is also the co-founder of the annual Aniwa Gathering of indigenous elders (June 5—9 2019). Having confronted her own demons with a deep immersion into ancient shamanic practices, Vivien shares how this led to her dedicating her life to her spiritual studies, and to the preservation of indigenous culture and wisdom.

We have so much to learn from these cultures, whose people have been subjected to unforgivable exploitation in the name of Western capitalist gains—and while we have so much to learn from them, it is vital that we engage respectfully with their teachings and traditions. Vivien shares her views on this, as well as offering a profoundly hopeful vision for a world in which indigenous Earth magic is embraced as a balm for environmental dis-ease.

In this episode Vivien and Ruby also discuss:

-How we can merge ancient wisdom with modern technology to benefit everyone

-Vivien's experiences + learnings from a 28-day shamanic vision quest

-Why our fear of nature is at the root of the harm being done to the natural world

-Why indigenous elders are the personification and the voice of nature

-Tools, rituals, and practices for helping to heal the Earth we can implement in our lives every day

The 2019 Aniwa Gathering takes place June 5—9 AT Camp Timber Trails, MA. Reserve your spot to sit and learn from 40 indigenous elders from all over the world HERE—and use the code NOWAGE15 for 15% off your ticket

In this episode Vivien and Ruby also discuss:

-How we can merge ancient wisdom with modern technology to benefit everyone

-Vivien's experiences + learnings from a 28-day shamanic vision quest

-Why our fear of nature is at the root of the harm being done to the natural world

-Why indigenous elders are the personification and the voice of nature

-Tools, rituals, and practices for helping to heal the Earth we can implement in our lives every day

Previous Episode

Gemini Season 2019 Astrocast with Bess Matassa + Sandy Sitron

Numinous resident astrologers Bess and Sandy are back, with a deep dive into the astrological transits for Gemini Season 2019. Themes discussed in this episode cover:

-Cultivating a beginner's mind and being satisfied with knowing what you know, without needing to grasp beyond that in an attempt to have all the answers.

-Letting what wants to reveal itself do so in its own time. Being available to synchronicity and learning to cultivate faith that you cannot "miss" anything that is truly meant for you.

The Gemini New Moon period
-What kind of witch are you?! Being open to your personal flavor of magic, working as a channel to let what wants to come through you come through you. What can you shift and transmute—what kind of alchemist are you?

Sagittarius Full Moon period
-What is this quest that you're on? Working with your past without having to purge or "fix" it. Understanding the relationship between where you've been and where you're heading. Consciously integrating your stories and letting all your feelings inform your future choices.

Key dates for your diary:

5/21 - Sun and Mercury move into Gemini

6/3 - Gemini New Moon

6/4 - Mercury moves into Cancer

6/17 - Sagittarius Full Moon

6/21 - Neptune moves retrograde

Next Episode

Burnout, Mental Health, and Social Change with Samantha Moyo

In May 2019 (perfectly timed for Gemini season!) "burnout" was officially recognized as a syndrome by the World Health Organization—and in this episode Ruby talks to entrepreneur and activist Samantha Moyo about the high risk of burnout among social entrepreneurs.

When a passion project comes with an added layer of social responsibility, taking any time out can feel like it's not an option. As well as the "buck-stops-with-me" mentality and personal attachment that comes with running your own business, time off can lead to feelings of guilt and a sense of "letting others down"—leading to burnout, or even breakdown.

In this VERY IMPORTANT EPISODE, Ruby and Samantha also discuss:

-Samantha's own breakdown after exiting her last company—and how she recovered

-The inner and outer instability that comes with "being the change"

-Why slowing down and doing less is modeling a necessary societal shift

-Samatha's work with leading climate change initiative, Extinction Rebellion

-Self-care tips for social entrepreneurs and activists

Discover more about Samantha HERE, follow her on Instagram, and learn about the work she does with social entrepreneurs at Tamuka.co