Illness as a Rite of Passage with Lara Veleda Vesta

ep. #31  
This conversation and episode is truly one of Mallika's favorite of all time. Lara Veleda Vesta is an author and illistrator, exploring  dís-ability, rites of passage, ancestral mythology, folklore and the sacred creative.  She lives with Myalgic Encephalomeylitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a disease caused by viruses and inflammation with an infectious trigger.  Prior to her illness, Lara was a university professor teaching classes in English and writing and a PhD student in Philosophy and Religion. 
Lara's deep work and knowledge of integrating difficult initiatory experiences, expanded by her use of ritual, research and linguistics, help her blend a beautiful weaving of return to old ways, old knowing and the deep peace that is available to us all. 


Explored in this episode:  

• Why narrative is so important to healing 
• Stages of initiation and rite of passage 
• Finding the joy available in healing 
• Reorienting our job/to-dos to come from spirit and ancestors 
• Sacred life is available to any one of us 
• Collective rite of passage this past year 
• Redefining our values and letting things go 
• How do we know when we are on a "return" 
• Ritualizing every aspect of the passage 
• Grief is part of the return and integration of the passage 
• Silence is integral for sacred work 
• The potency of being together in a ceremonial frame 
• Illness and disability were hallmarks of initiation in historic stories 
• The opportunity and communication that comes through as symptoms of illness 
• How to stay out of resistance to pain and other difficult symptoms 
• The power and potential of the millions of people who are ill or living with disability 
• What is your super power?
• 
  

Quotes from Lara:
"We need each other's stories so we can know what's survivable."

"What I have found useful is ritualizing every aspect of the process."



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