In this episode I chat to ceremonialist and spiritual coach, Mara Branscombe. You might be familiar with Mara from her yoga teacher offerings, but she’s also known for her ritual work which is what we talk about from her beautiful new book - Ritual as Remedy: Embodied Practices for Soul Care. What I enjoyed about her book is how Mara invites us to explore our inner mystic through esoteric self-care practices. One of my personal favourite practices is working with the elements, so I wanted Mara to share why the elements are important to acknowledge inwardly and out. We also discuss how and why people are affected by the wind, and how we can use wind as an ally for inspiration. Mara shares the difference between a ritual, a habit and a superstition, like when someone wears a good luck charm. You don’t have to be into dancing in the moonlight, or bathing in it for that matter to love this book, all you need is an open heart. I hope you love Mara as much as I do! HIGHLIGHTS:  - Mara talks about her background as an adventurer, Waldorf Education school teacher and dancer - all these combined experiences shine through in her new book. Mara also expands on the varied traditions she has experienced that allowed her to create a unique manual of practices. - We talk about spiritual longing, what it is and what longing feels like, and what it means to ritualize healthy habits, and how do we do this? - We discuss becoming the witness. A practice that is not as easy as it sounds. ABOUT MARA: Mara Branscombe is a mother, writer, yogi, artist, teacher, mindfulness leader, ceremonialist and spiritual coach. She is the author of “Ritual As Remedy: Embodied Practices For Soul Care.”  Mara is passionate about weaving the art of mindfulness, self-care, creativity, mind–body practices, and earth-based rituals into her life and work, and she has been leading community ceremony since 2000. website: https://marabranscombe.com