#009: This week's guest is Kirsten Zinchuk Haley, who lives near Princeton, NJ and is a mom of three children, two daughters (13 and 11) and one son (7). In this episode, Kirsten talks through all three of her birth stories, one cesarean after her breech baby was undetected by her doctor, a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and finally, a wildly free unmedicated birth using the hypnobirthing technique. Kirsten shares her perspective about the heartbreaking joy of motherhood, the particular love of a son for his mother, what she loves about spending time with her children, and how she cultivates presence in both motherhood and business. Kirsten talks about her work in the healing/arts, why she included a salt cave to be part of her business, and how the spiritual nature of her work inspires her mothering toward curiosity, laughter, and pleasure. She also explains how storytelling can be used to empower and heal by sharing her journey from studying Anthropology, to Brand Marketing, to Women’s Circles and a variety of other healing modalities. Finally, Kirsten confesses to fully indulging in the pleasure (and peace) of spending a week away from her family. Kirsten Zinchuk Haley is the owner and founder of sault + spirit. She seeks to provide a space for expansion and healing for all. Believing everything we need to live our most joyful, purposeful lives resides in the stories we tell, the profound wisdom of our bodies and learning to hold this whole dance of life with a looser grip and a more joyful heart. In a world and a body that are constantly evolving and becoming, nothing is beyond our power to transform and transmute. Kirsten has a graduate degree in Ethnography and Anthropology from the University of Chicago and studied Creative Writing and Philosophy at Emory University. She has been investigating and crafting stories for brands, groups, and individuals for over 20 years, transforming what is possible for all. Her lifetime love of the mystical tradition of tarot and extensive graduate work in media theory has informed her work on visual narrative as a powerful tool for trauma resolution and healing. She is a reiki master, attuned to reading the akasha, a master of eriksonian hypnosis and has been studying the art of embodiment and open-hearted intimacy for the past few years. Currently, she is studying more somatic modalities with a keen interest in the stories the body is telling through our movements, habits, and gestures. The stories we tell… linguistically, socially, psychologically, culturally, visually, physically, relationally …that is the heart of it all. For the links and show notes for this episode, head to: http://beingmompodcast.com/podcast/episode-009