Raising Orion

I had the immense pleasure of reconnecting with an old friend from my advertising days in NYC, Patch McCormick, who has since transformed into an integrative therapist!

In this episode, Patch shares his story and we also dig into topics like how society shapes masculinity, the art of vulnerability in relationships, attachment styles…including some excellent advice from him for those who might be a bit avoidant. 

We also explore inner child work, Parts Work, and Internal Family Systems, and the power of genuine connection – all the stuff that'll make you think twice.

If any of this resonates with you, you won’t want to miss this episode! Patch specializes in working with male-identifying adults navigating questions and challenges such as understanding and communicating emotions, finding purpose, relationship issues, career counseling, recovering from trauma and abuse, codependence, substance use, anger management and more. In addition to 1:1 sessions, he also sees couples, and families. Patch also runs both in-person (California) and virtual men’s groups. Learn more about Patch and his work at www.talktopatch.com 

Follow Patch on Instagram at ⁠@talktopatch⁠

Mentioned in this episode:

Robin Grille Inner Child Journeys: How Our Children Grow Us Up
https://www.robingrille.com/inner-child-journeys/

https://securelycoupledtherapy.com/patrickmccormickasw

On this episode, we are blessed with the presence of Stephanie Heartfield of Spirited Hearts, a multi-service community established in 2015 to support parents, children & educators.Steph is an Early Childhood Educator, a certified Level 2 Aware Parenting Instructor, Parenting Support Counsellor, Play Therapist (in training) and home educating parent (following a natural learning approach). I was so curious to learn more about her family daycare, which is trauma-informed and based on natural learning and therapeutic play. Steph shares her journey and I learned so much about what supporting children’s feelings can look like in a daycare setting, and what the world would look like if educators were supported, too. I was so inspired having this chat with Steph, and I am absolutely sure you will be, too!

Steph also offers 1:1 support for parents and educators, and online courses. For more information and to connect with Steph, please visit: https://spiritedhearts.net/

You can also connect with Steph on Instagram here and tune in to her Spirited Hearts podcast here.

This is an end of summer update for you Dear Human! I emerge at the end of the season with new skin, albeit with some scars. Three months ago I got massive angry rashes all over my body that caused an incredible amount of discomfort, despite ALL the things to try and help it. After three kinesiology sessions, being more kind to my liver (think Medical Medium's Liver Rescue Mornings and detox), and homeopathic remedies, my body was able to heal and only now am I finally able to enjoy the summer warmth.

What became clear to me after the kinesiology sessions was that my puzzling condition was caused by repressed grief and rage that was expressing itself through my skin. I am in awe of the wisdom of our bodies! I share my healing journey with the intention that those who have an inkling that their physical condition may have to do with stuck or repressed emotions, or are seeking a holistic approach to healing, this episode is for you.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, it's simply my experience and what worked for me.

Mentioned in this episode:

Queenie from Emote HK

Get ready to meet Rebecca Sheikh in this episode! She’s a Level 2 Aware Parenting Educator, Regional Coordinator for the U.K. and Sub-Saharan Africa, mother, and amazing human. Rebecca has been an immense support to me and my family and I am honoured to have her on this episode to share her story. We talk about her passion for Aware Parenting, how it’s benefitted her family, PANS/PANDA and her current journey with home education. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this conversation for parents, especially those parenting for a new paradigm. I have nothing but appreciation for Rebecca’s support, her knowledge and her compassionate, and caring heart. I am deeply grateful to have her presence in my life and I hope you will enjoy this conversation, too. 

Mentioned in this episode.

Rebecca is the founder of Flourishing Childhood. Founded on Aware Parenting principles, Rebecca offers expert guidance in raising children with an attachment aware and trauma informed lens. Learn more about Rebecca and how to work with her here: www.flourishingchildhood.com

Her upcoming course in September with The International Attachment Network: https://www.ian-attachment.org.uk/

More information on PANS/PANDA: https://www.panspandasuk.org/

More on Aware Parenting and the work of founder Aletha Solter, Ph. D.: http://www.awareparenting.com/

Robin Grille’s Inner Child Journey work: https://www.robingrille.com/inner-child-journeys/

Robin Grille’s Seven Rites of Passage Course: https://prenatal-and-perinatal-healing-online-learning.teachable.com/p/seven-rites-of-passage

Wealth is an integral part to well-being and examining our relationship to money can often provide so many insights to where we are holding ourselves back, have unhealed trauma or unresolved emotions. I am so honoured to welcome financial therapist, wealth coach and author Barbara Huson. I'm legitimately a Barbara Huson fan girl and was chuffed she agreed to be a guest! I've read all of her books and worked with her 1:1 and I am still reaping the benefits of my coaching sessions with her.

Barbara shares her story, what she has learned on her journey, and why problems with money are never about money. There are so many gems in this episode: From the secret sauce to financial success to three easy things that you can start doing right now to improve your relationship with money. If you're looking to improve your relationship with money, this episode is for you!

Learn more about Barbara at www.barbara-huson.com.

On this episode, we have one of my nearest and dearest as a guest: Momoko Nakamura is a cultural conservationist and storyteller currently living in Kyoto, Japan, and sharing the Japanese art of regenerative living with the world. She is often found roving the Japanese countryside in search of wisdoms that live within the organic fabric of people like grandmas, ceramists, farmers, and geologists. Momoko's work stems from the strong belief that these idiosyncratic secrets hold key hints as to how all of us may better approach our relationship with the natural world, each of our inner worlds, and our collective world.

If you're curious about how regenerative living can make the world a more beautiful place, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Learn more about Momoko and her work at www.momokonakamura.com.

Also, she has a podcast! Check out Roots to Fruit here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Kintsugi at POJ Studio, www.pojstudio.com

Coco Alexandra (cocoalexandra.com) is an entrepreneur, mother, soul coach, PR maven, and one of my nearest and dearest friends! Coco is a force of nature: She is one of the most fiercely creative, passionate and loving humans that I have the honour of knowing. For the human design aficionados out there, she's a Manifesting Generator 4/6 and is indeed living true to her design! On this episode Coco shares how she manages all the different hats that she wears, how boundaries help her immensely with managing her time and energy, and how she weaves in spirituality with her businesses.

Learn more about Coco and her offerings at here or follow her on Instagram at @iamcocoalexandra.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Soul-Aligned Business: 25 Practical Strategies from the Experts

Voltage X, Hong Kong based integrated communications agency

Simone Grace Seol

One thing that can be very helpful for highly sensitive children is allowing them time to observe, and creating a safe space for them to do so. This gives them the time and space to honour their nervous system and process what is happening around them, but I've found that this isn't always easy to do...especially in social settings and we get FOMO on behalf of our child! This weekend I was chuffed when Ori told me "my tummy doesn't feel ready" to try something new and showed me a glimpse of what it can look like when children honour their nervous system and are supported in doing so.

Mentioned in this episode:

Elaine Aron & her work on high sensitivity

Our child(ren) may behave in ways that we will find triggering and difficult to cope with. And sometimes, we may lose our cool. It happens. As much as we don’t want to yell at our kids, we are human. (And deeply feeling ones at that!)

I share how my child tracking mud into the house combined with stressful situations of the day led to me raising my voice at him, feeling awful about it, and the repair that happened after. 

However, as an adult, I think the key to when we are feeling triggered is to: 1) Do our best not to blow up in the moment (when a breathing technique like cyclical sighing can be helpful), and 2) to re-visit and process our big feelings when we have the willingness, time, space or support to do so. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Hello Inner Light

Do you sometimes find your child's tears or tantrums overly dramatic and uncalled for? What if I offered another perspective: That tears and tantrums are an innate and rather brilliant healing mechanism for children to release accumulated stress and tension? From an Aware Parenting point of view, your child's expression of big feelings while being lovingly listened to can not only support them in releasing stress, but can help them heal from hurts and trauma, too.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tears and Tantrums: What to Do When Babies & Children Cry by Aletha Solter, Ph. D.

Home educating and natural learning has been something that I've been considering as my son approaches school age, and it's also something that I've been apprehensive about exploring...so I decided to learn more about it and was thrilled when parenting coach and mentor Joss Goulden accepted my invitation to be on the podcast! Joss homeschooled her 2 children, aged 19 and 17. She is an Aware Parenting Instructor, and has been supporting families with homeschooling and natural learning for many years. 

In this episode, Joss shares her journey with home education, both the joys and the challenges. I not only learned so much by speaking with Joss, but was deeply inspired by our conversation. If you're considering home educating and natural learning, or simply would like to learn more about it, this episode is for you!

Joss Goulden is a parenting coach and mentor supporting families to create more connection, awareness and joy in parenting. She has been practicing Aware Parenting for 17 years. Joss' current offerings include 1:1 sessions, courses, communities and is currently the host of two podcasts (The Aware Parenting and Natural Learning Podcast and The Aware Parenting Stories Podcast). For more information on Joss, please visit www.awareparenting.com.au or follow her on Instagram at @awareparentingwithjoss.

Show notes:

The Aware Parenting and Natural Learning Podcast

The Aware Parenting Stories Podcast

Aware Parenting Principles of Learning by Aletha Solter, Ph. D.

The Aware Parenting and Natural Learning Community With Joss & Marion

Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté MD

Free to Learn by Peter Gray

Books written by John Holt

The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom by Mary Griffith

A short update on Aware Parenting, and my child's sleep now that he is 3 years old. I recorded this mainly because I was so excited after Ori had a big cry (with me present and listening) and what a difference it made in him being relaxed, cooperative, connected and sleeping well.

Aware Parenting is a trauma-informed philosophy of parenting focused on secure attachment, discipline without punishments and rewards, and supporting babies and children from healing from stress and trauma. For more information on Aware Parenting, please visit www.awareparenting.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

"Cooperative & Connected: Helping children flourish without punishments or rewards" by Aletha Solter, Ph. D.

Disclaimer: This is probably my favourite episode so far!

I'm so excited to welcome Christina Paul! She's not only an incredibly talented unicorn of a brand therapist, coach and website designer, she’s also an amazing mama to two lovely kiddos…and she is also my bestie and soul sister. Christina is the founder of Zeoni Creations where she helps coaches and therapists feel fully expressed online.

We used to meet up a few mornings per week to co-work together at our local cafe when we were both living in Hong Kong (we have both since moved). During those co-working sessions, we always met not bringing our projects with us, but what was going on in our home lives, too…amidst consulting each other when we needed an opinion on design, copy or business. These sessions were always filled copious amounts of delicious oat milk lattes, laughter and empathy.

In this episode, we chat about what's been lighting us up as of late: Embodying the wild feminine, motherhood and the work of Tami Lynn Kent, getting off the hamster wheel to follow your curiosity, what it’s like living in a slower, cyclical, intuitive and body-led way…and the biggest things we’ve been un-shaming.

(Recorded back in December cozy in our jammies, with Ori popping in a few times to see Auntie “Queena” whom he loves dearly and was so excited to see.)

Learn more about Christina’s work over at Zeoni Creations and check out her recently launched 6-week Brand Therapy program and learn how to create a visual brand that’s a beautiful expression of your soul.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tami Lynn Kent
Holistic women’s healthcare visionary, as well as mother and writer, author of Wild Feminine, Wild Creative and Mothering From Your Center (I’ve read all of them and highly recommend them ALL) 

David Bedrick, Unshamed Training

Simone Grace Seol, Marketing Coach

In this episode, I share my story with Aware Parenting: How I came across it, my 'aha' moment with it and why I decided to become an Aware Parenting Instructor.

I had struggled with finding a trauma-informed approach to sleep until I came across the philosophy of Aware Parenting, developed by Aletha Solter, Ph. D. Her work has profoundly impacted my life, and it continues to do so! My hope is that this will inspire parents to approach sleep with the mindset that sleep doesn’t need to be learned, our children have the innate ability to relax—we just need to understand and create the conditions for them to do so.

I deeply believe that this philosophy can not only support parents in feeling more empowered, but contributes to creating a more beautiful world, too.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Aware Parenting Podcast
Episode 5: Aware Parenting & Sleep

Level 2 Aware Parenting Instructors mentioned:
Marion Rose, Ph. D.
Lael Stone
Rebecca Sheikh, Flourishing Childhood 

The Aware Parenting Website 

Download my (free) Guide to Peaceful Sleep here

I offer Aware Parenting consultations and coaching support. For more information, please visit www.raisingorion.com.

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Welcome to the very first episode of the Raising Orion podcast! 

I'm your host Lia, and I'm a kinesiologist, well-being coach and Aware Parenting instructor.

In this episode, I share what kinesiology is, how it changed my life, and changed my worldview. 

My intention behind sharing my journey is to give you some context on how I came to be the me that I am today.

Also mentioned in this episode:

To learn more about kinesiology, head on over to Your Body Knows The Way: Kinesiology Explained.

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Hi and welcome to Raising Orion: A podcast dedicated to parenting and well-being for a more peaceful planet.

I believe a more beautiful world is possible and that it starts by exploring what it truly means to be well.

What helps us flourish? What do we need to thrive?

I’m so excited for the conversations we’ll be having and the journey we are on.

The first episode of Raising Orion drops May 4, 2022.

Thank you for being here!

Much love,
Lia