The Creative Underworld

In this episode, Melissa and Elora talk through what happens when you find yourself in a transitory space? For Melissa, creativity is a journey. You'll hear about her process of creation, and the gateway she discovered in 2020 by making art out of images she saw in her dreams. There's also a snippet from one of her poems that turned out to be prophetic in more ways than one. Other talking points:  The significance of the term release for book launches How Elora's writing of Every Shattered Thing was a necessary excavation How there is nourishment found in the cave  The truth of creativity being how our body moves through things Allowing creativity to lead you Melissa's Links: Wash Your Face with Holy Water (her book) Her website Elora's Links: Essence the Workshop Instagram TikTok

In this episode, Elora walks through lessons she has learned over the past decade, weaving in and out of time like a spiral, landing on truth and a challenge for those who listen. She speaks on The Crumbling, on devastating moments of truth, and the way our body can lead us into our knowing.  Books mentioned:  The Writings of Florence Scovel Shinn Wildpeace by Yehuda Amichai Find Elora elsewhere:  WebsiteInstagramTikTok

In this episode, Elora and Meghan talk about what it looks like to reintegrate after immersing ourselves into the slipstream of creativity within the underworld. They cover the spookiness of Samhain season, and how spring is the real horror show with the grittiness of birth and new life. They also consider: what happens if you resurface too soon? And how do you integrate with all of the treasures you gained while in the Underworld?  And why is it so difficult to acclimate ourselves to reality after being away in our cave? Books mentioned:  Great Expectations Where to find Meghan:  InstagramWayne Arts Center Also of note: Story Bones by Elora Ramirez 

In this episode, Emily and Elora talk about the dissonance of choosing an Underworld journey vs finding yourself in the midst of one. Emily touches on the myth of Innana and the knowing required for her descent — as well as the continued choice to move forward despite what was required of her. They also talk about how after seasons in the Underworld, there is an opportunity to become a guide for others.  Questions we ponder: What if we could hold a mirror to our intuition? What would we see? Is there ever a situation where you're not choosing the Underworld? What if our drop into the Underworld after a leap into the unknown is actually the shortcut?  What does matriarchal leadership look like with this lens?  Books mentioned:  On Writing, Stephen KingHeroines Journey, Maureen Murdoch Also of note: Melinda Cadwallader's research and studies on matriarchal leadership.  Where to find Emily:  Instagram

The Underworld is often seen as a place of death and fear, but what if we weren't afraid? What if we recognized it as an opportunity to lean into life and the fertile soil of what's calling to us creatively? In this episode, Elora speaks with Kai de Lune, a dear friend and mystic, who speaks the language of the stars. They talk about dreams and what those can tell us, the difference between the underground and underworld, the fertile landscape of the Underworld, and what myths can teach us about what really lies below (and within) our psyche and creativity.  Mentioned in this episode:  Dreams and the Underworld, James Hillman Egyptian Book of the Dead, John Romer Where you can find Kai:  Instagram + Website  

The moments we retreat into our caves or descend into the Underworld is when we receive the most potent messages because we are willing to listen. Here, our intuition strengthens. Here, our voice spreads her wings and returns to her deepest truth.  And when we resurface, we are not the same. Like a chrysalis breaking open, we blink our eyes against the sun and breathe new life without even trying because this cycle — this need of death and rebirth and regeneration — is in our veins.   In this episode, Elora shares what she learned in her most recent descent. 

Journey to the Creative Underworld: Unearthing Truth and Reclamation - In this podcast episode, Elora Ramirez invites listeners to explore the depths of the creative underworld, a land of alchemic awareness and liminal spaces. It is a journey of finding and building something new, of reclaiming lost hopes and dreams. Learn how to uncover the bones of your creativity, breathe new life into your story, and discover your true name within the ashes of what was. Welcome to this transformative exploration of the cave of remembrance.