22. Madison Nees: Dancing in The Underworld

What happens when we allow ourselves to learn to dance with the deep, gritty, dirty parts of ourselves? What does it mean to claim that we are artists of our own lives? How do we work with the sensations of our bodies to honor the full range of our humanity? In this deeply electric conversation, my guest is Madison Nees. I met Madison when Madison gave a rich, powerful talk about cultivating a relationship of inquiry and curiosity with the body - and I instantly knew I wanted to work with Madison. Our conversation is centered around Madison's practice and upcoming offering, Katabasis. We discussed what it means to be an artist, the connection between creation and destruction, how somatics are innate to us as human beings, and how diving into our inner underworld can help us find our own leadership. We also spoke about what ancestors meant to Madison and how Madison's ancestral practice has been shifting. Madison's reflections are poignant and deeply rooted in both Madison's personal and professional practices. The spaces Madison holds reflect a sincere commitment to the non-expert model. They inspire participants to explore their own autonomy and interconnection. I'm honored to share this space and this conversation with Madison. Here’s Madison’s bio:Madison Nees is a human, counselor, artist, and guide. My practice focuses on the intersection of ecology, ritual and somatics. I have worked in the addiction and trauma treatment industry since 2015. My own journey includes healing from substance use, anorexia nervosa, loss of culture and self. When I began my journey, I did not understand that the pull to somatics was a call of my ancestors. I was being pulled to heal all the things my mother could not and ultimately lost her life avoiding. I was being pulled to feel the things my Grandmother had no language for.My body knew the language however, and it spoke in illness, pains, aches and rage. It also spoke the language of held grief and aloneness. During this process, I discovered gifts hidden beneath these repressed emotions. These gifts were the sensations. The gifts were the rivers of grief leading me home to myself. They were also the intuition and creativity of my lineage. I always tried to “do” something with the emotions but my healing progressed the more I simply sat with them. Instead of trying to push them away, I wondered what would happen if I let them grow. They grew into my practice today.You can sign up for Madison's newsletter on Madison's website, and follow Madison's work on Instagram @ritual_body.  Check out Madison's exciting new six-month journey, Katabasis, which will begin on Sep 18, 2022. You can set up a call with Madison if you're curious here. Madison will also be hosting a group ritual on Thursday, Aug 18, 2022 called Pleasure is Holy. Join me and Britten LaRue in a year-long astrological learning container, Astrology as Praxis! Our curriculum explores various portals to approaching and integrating astrology into our lives - as a practice for unlocking creativity, questioning consensus reality, and remembering our participation in the cosmic body. We begin our journey on Sep 10, 2022, and registration will open on Aug 26-28, 2022.Sign up for my newsletter to read my essays and be the first to hear about new offerings here.If you've enjoyed and benefited from the podcast, I invite you to apply for private mentorship and coaching with me. This is an intensive container, designed to support you in refining your self-leadership skills, moving through important life thresholds with grace, and expanding your capacity for creative expansions.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonathankoeofficial.substack.com/subscribe