Mara is a regular contributor to Spirituality and Health Magazine, Wanderlust, and gaia.com

Mara Recently Featured In …

Feature Article in Kindred Spirit “Evolving the Feminine Consciousness: Archetypal Wisdom for Love, Leadership and Transformation”

“Over the years, through meditation, breath work, yoga, rituals and mind-body coaching techniques, I have had the honour of empowering women to heal from past traumas, transform unhealthy habits, and ultimately liberate minds from limiting core beliefs. Through this healing process, I discovered archetypal themes rooted deep in the feminine spirit that presented both the shadow and the light within.

In awe of the calling to support women on their healing journey, I began to track and study the patterns within seven female archetypes: Maiden, Mother, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Mystic, and Queen. Rich in learning, abundant in content and material to work with, the narratives inside each of these archetypes will not only empower joy and peace, but also ignite one’s intuitive capacity to live one’s best life.”

Feature Article in Kindred Spirit “In Conversation with Mara Branscombe”

“Supporting others to live their best life and to be in service to their gifts and dreams has always been a guiding source of inspiration for me. I come from a long line of teachers, and naturally I love to guide others in ceremony, intuitive counsel and mind-body healing techniques. I have always had a love of writing and inspiring readers with tools and techniques to embody the best version of themselves…

“The inspiration for my first book, Ritual as Remedy, rushed through me like a lightening bolt. I saw myself holding my book and I received a message : “Write for the collective and support others in their healing journey.” I had no choice but to write that material!”…”

 Ritual as Remedy with Mara Branscombe

“Living in a constant state of distraction and noise diminishes your intuitive intelligence. Practice being in silence. Soul-care is the path towards building the sanctuary of love, presence, and leadership within.”

Join me for an episode with Mara Branscombe, a woman who embodies the benefits of ritual as remedy and soul care, she shares her wisdom for bringing the sacred into our every day lives

 The Ally Maz Show : Daily Ritual and Connecting to Self with Mara Branscombe

“This week Ally is sitting down with Mara Branscombe,a yoga and meditation teacher, writer, mother, artist, ceremonialist, and spirit coach, who finds great joy in leading others along the path of self-transformation.

Mara is a wealth of knowledge as she shares her passion of weaving the art of mindfulness, self-care, mind-body practices, and earth-based rituals into her offerings.

Ally and Mara are diving into the daily rituals and practices that connect her with nature and herself.

Mara also shares her initiation into ceremonial practices and the various traditions she has explored.

She highlights the power of witnessing and listening circles in healing and creating a sense of belonging.

Mara encourages women to clean up their mental chatter and liberate themselves from negative narratives.

We hope this episode helps you connect to your own rituals that light you up and help to connect you with the divine within.”

Finding Refuge Podcast : Coming Back to Oneself with Mara Branscombe

“Yoga, meditation, mysticism, and ritual have been at the heart of Mara’s journey. Her trainings in the Incan Shaman lineage, Yogic studies, Pagan tradition, and Buddhist wisdom teachings have greatly inspired her life’s work of earth-based, ceremonial, intentional, and heart-centered living and loving.

In this special episode, we discuss:

• Nature
• Honoring the darkness
• Grief
• Writing
• Embodiment
• Turning towards shadow
• Witnessing
• Support teams
• Dreamwork
• The Sage”

Review : Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen in Facing North by Sara R. Diamond

“…I flipped first to the chapter “Sage Spirit” and found insightful material. Branscombe presents this archetype as not just about noble wisdom that might effortlessly arrive with age. She writes that “to connect with the inner Sage requires a deep listening within, along with conscious, present-moment awareness. We must be willing to understand how the inner critic may be ruling our lives.” This is the shadow side of the Sage archetype. If the Sage is worried about what others think, she “remains disconnected from her truth.” The Sage flows with change but not if she’s “caught in over-doing, over-judging, and under-acknowledging personal efforts.”

What to do about it? Branscombe offers a good practice: each morning, attend to your “personal frequency” and how it’s feeling in your body. Of course, this advice can be given with any of the archetypes. Branscombe’s point with this one is that “your inner Sage holds a frequency that his higher than the inner critic and steadier than the frantic multi-tasking martyr.” Wisdom comes with a practice of naming your “emotional debris.” It’s one of the journal prompts to reveal the Sage’s shadow: “What emotional debris is currently draining your energy?” …

Life, Death & The Space Between: Divine Feminine with Mara Branscombe!

“Are you curious about the divine feminine and its influence on our lives? Today we’re speaking with Mara Branscombe, a mother, writer, yogi, artist, teacher, mindfulness leader, author, ceremonialist, and spiritual coach. 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.

Listen in to hear Mara illuminate the power of the divine feminine, guide you through sacred female archetypes, and share methods to enhance your mindfulness and soul care practices.”

Outside the Studio: Embark on a Journey of Power, Creativity, and True Love with Mara Branscombe!

“Get ready for an epic encore as Outside the Studio welcomes back beloved Mara Branscombe! Mara Branscombe is the radiant mind behind “Ritual as Remedy,” who’s now unleashed her second book, “Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen: Access Your Power and Creativity through Sacred Female Archetypes,” via Inner Traditions.

Mara invites us to explore the mesmerizing world of feminine archetypes—each a unique powerhouse. The Maiden’s infectious zest, the Mother’s boundless abundance, the Sage’s healing vibes, the Huntress’s warrior spirit, the Lover’s profound intimacy, the Mystic’s intuitive magic, and the Queen’s inner power and wisdom. 🌸✨ These archetypes are your toolkit for recognizing, healing, and living your best life!”

This Juicy Life: On Intentional and Intuitive Living

“What if living an intentional life is the key ingredient to living a juicy life? What if you could learn how to do that every day and it didn’t take a huge investment of your time?

Today we are joined by Mara Branscombe who offers some rich and compelling wisdom to feel into.”

From the Heart: Listen to the Wisdom of the Archetypes

“In this episode, Dawn welcomes Mara Branscombe to the podcast. Together they hold a beautiful conversation where they discuss feminine archetypes and why they matter. Mara also provides a beautiful reading from her book, which is a real blessing to listen to.”

11:11 Talk Radio with Simran: Sacred Feminine Archetypes with Mara Branscombe

“Journey through the archetypal wisdom of the divine feminine to reclaim your authentic self and to follow your soul’s longing. Embodiment teacher Mara Branscombe takes an intriguing look at the seven feminine archetypes that prevail in the modern psyche—Maiden, Mother, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Mystic, and Queen—and traces their continuing influence throughout different stages of our life, sometimes dormant, sometimes prominent. As she explores each archetype’s beneficial qualities, its connections to the physical-emotional-mental body, and its shadow aspects, Mara highlights the positive impact these models can have if we embrace them and live them consciously..”

Real Simple: Mara’s book (and a quote)  “Ritual as Remedy” cited in an article on The Power of Small Rituals

“The easiest way to begin a regular ritual is to make it part of your current routine. Consider something you are doing already : Eating your daily apple can become a ritual…Smell its crisp aroma. What does it taste like on your tongue? Use the act as a tangible way to practice gratitude. Silently thank the farmer. Think of it as a gift from nature started as a tiny seed.”

Rebel Spirit Radio: An interview with Mara Branscombe

In this episode, author Mara Branscombe returns to the podcast to discuss her latest book, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen. Mara discusses several archetypes of the divine feminine, the importance of working with the shadow, the necessity of meeting our fire, how love is artistry in motion, and finding solace in the universal web.

Sacred feminine archetypes: An interview with Mara Branscombe

Join us as we feature Mara Branscombe, embodiment teacher and author of the groundbreaking book “Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen: Access Your Power and Creativity through Sacred Female Archetypes.”

An exploration of seven potent feminine archetypes—Maiden, Mother, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Mystic, and Queen. Mara will guide you through the depth of each archetype, unveiling their illuminating qualities, deep connections to your mind-body-soul, and their hidden shadows. Unleash your potential for fulfillment and joy as Mara shares creative practices, guided visualizations, mind-body rituals, and soulful poetry. This transformative experience will help you embrace and embody these archetypes, unveiling a world of self-discovery and empowerment.

Sacred feminine archetypes: An interview with Mara Branscombe

When a person embodies the power and love of the sacred feminine archetypes, everyone on this planet benefits. An Interview with Mara Branscombe about her new book: “Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen”.

The Mindful Minute Podcast with Meryl Arnett : Sacred Female Archetypes: A Conversation with Mara Branscombe

“Are you a Sage? A Huntress? A Lover? A Queen?The answer is yes to all of the above, and author Mara Branscombe joins us in today’s episode to explain why with her new book: Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen…”

The Conscious Diva Podcast with Tatyanna Wright : The Seven Female Archetypes with Mara Branscombe

“Are you a Sage? A Huntress? A Lover? A Queen?The answer is yes to all of the above, and author Mara Branscombe joins us in today’s episode to explain why with her new book: Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen…”

“Activate Intuition & Mind-Body Healing through Sacred Female Archetypes”
by Mara Branscombe in Just Breath 

“Over the years, through meditation, breathwork, yoga, rituals and mind-body coaching techniques – I have had the honour of empowering women to heal from past trauma’s, transform unhealthy habits, and ultimately liberate minds from limiting core beliefs. Through this healing process, I discovered sacred female archetypes rooted deep in the feminine spirit that presented both the shadow and the light within.

In awe of the calling to support women on their healing journey, I began to track and study the patterns within these 7 female archetypes – Maiden, Mother, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Mystic, and Queen. Rich in learning, abundant in content and material to work with, the narratives inside each of these archetypes will not only empower joy and peace – but more so ignite one’s intuitive capacity to live one’s best life.“

Are you a Mystic? Explore the Realm of the Mystic Archetype
by Mara Branscombe in Spirituality & Health

“The Mystic engages in soulful practices to build her steady, yet always evolving inner spirit house. Weaving ways to initiate contemplative, internal practices, and rituals through her day is her craft. To discover and listen to the current inner impulses is the loom. This becomes the Mystic’s daily superpower. The practice of discerning an authentic impulse versus a fear-based pattern is ongoing work. To understand how the narrative of the past limits, clouds, and feeds an illusioned life is essential. To be curious and non-attached to the outcome of an idea or vision is one of the greatest tools with which the Mystic builds her inner sanctuary. Through such devotion and dedication to self-inquiry, a deeper field of consciousness and high vibrational frequency grows. This magnetic energy inspires others to do the same. To show up as the best version of self is to consistently return to the Mystic’s code of presence and truth, which naturally enlivens the essence of wonder in every step on the journey.”

Adapted from the new book Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen by Mara Branscombe, published by Inner Traditions.

Bless Me 
by Mara Branscombe in Spirituality & Health

Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your lower abdomen. Focus on soft, fluid, and nourishing breaths. When you feel calm, read this blessing at least three times to yourself. Author Mara Branscombe suggests you return to this blessing as needed—or write your own blessing as if your inner elder is writing it for you and to you.

“I am the Sage within. I trust that my current process is the teaching I am meant to receive at this time. I honor my body as my timeless temple. I welcome my inner critic as a messenger to clear my mind of lack, confusion, and unworthiness. I let go of all things I cannot control at this time. Vulnerability and attentive listening are my way to walk hand in hand with my intuition. Like the holy rivers feeding the mother ocean, I stay fluid inside the great mystery of life. I call upon my guides and the forces within the natural world for support. I am not alone. My hands and heart are warmed by the wisdom carriers that came before me, and those who will come next. I cast my compassionate energy freely across the universe. I am attuning to my soul frequency in this moment. I welcome my inner elder home—trustworthy, wise, and expansive.”

Adapted from the new book Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen by Mara Branscombe, published by Inner Traditions.

5 Daily Rituals to Honor Your Inner Elder 
by Mara Branscombe in Spirituality & Health

“Do you believe the story that aging will be challenging, filled with loss and disappointment? If so, it may be time to change your story.

What if you reframed your mindset around aging to authentically speak, feel, think, and visualize the years to come as the best years of your life? What if you truly integrated the mindset that no time is lost, and that your relationship to your future self is overflowing with emotional freedom, deep love for your body, a clear mind, and a deepening of gratitude and spiritual integration?

What if you no longer bought into the consumerist culture of anti-aging everything, but rather tended to your true needs while evolving your intuitive, spirited, and joyful relationship with yourself and others?

Instead of trying to fix, hide, or erase our aging journey, what if we shifted our perspective and held our maturation adventure as a time to gather the wisdom tools and resources required to evolve into the best version of who we are becoming?”

Mara Interviewed in Finding Harmony Podcast!

We had the sense today that we were speaking with a soul who has a transcendent sense of confidence in herself. Not in any way an arrogant sense of entitlement, nor in a narcissistic way.

But, someone who has the confidence that comes with not fearing death. Death being that slow cool release from a lifetime of bubbling growth, in the way that water must fall off a mountainside. The water has to fall eventually. So why not bathe yourself in it?

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.”

New Book by Mara Branscombe Spotlighted in Publisher’s Weekly!

Spiritual growth is an evergreen topic for publishers…(and 2023 is no exception). Several books focus on empowerment through emotional health, healing and wellness practices…such as “Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen : Access Your Power and Creativity Through the Sacred Feminine Archetypes” by Mara Branscombe. This book explores the seven feminine archetypes that appear in modern psyche, and it is for “all readers to ignite potent transformation within.”

Recent Article by Mara on Spirituality & Health : How to Discern Intuition from Anxiety

Intuition feels calm, mindful, and not overly emotional. Accurate intuition doesn’t come with an emotional reaction, nor does it provoke more fear or doubt in one’s life. Rather, it will feel curious, sometimes surprising, and reassuring. Your true intuition will feel good.

Anxiety screams, rattles, repeats, sweats, and spins inside the mind. It comes with a racing heart and a deregulated nervous system. Fear and anxiety cloud the intuitive process. What is often read as an “intuitive message” is actually a “stress flash.

Recent Article by Mara on Wanderlust : Winter Solstice: Honoring the Return of Light

As the hectic holiday season arrives, you may want to consider taking a moment to honor the winter solstice this year for a peace-infused, spiritual reset to rekindle the light within. 

On December 21, winter Solstice occurs as the sun travels the shortest path through the sky giving us the longest, darkest night of the year. Solstice happens twice a year, (winter and summer) and marks the exact moment that one of the Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt.

Celtic and Pagan in origin, winter Solstice, also known as “Yule” or “mid-winter” has been celebrated for centuries as a rebirth of the sun. It was revered as a catalyst of great resilience to endure the dark, cold days before the sun’s radiance returned once again. The promise of Spring’s life force, fertility and abundance brought faith and hope inside the winter’s barren, dark times.

Recent Article by Mara on Winter Solstice : A Celebration of Light and Renewal

In Latin solstice is made into two words “sol” meaning the sun, and “sistere” meaning “to stand still.”

For a cosmic moment in time, the sun stands still, and the Earth pauses in gracious acknowledgement. This is quite a potent metaphor to embrace and a true antidote to our fast paced, consumerist, and productivity driven culture.

Recent Article by Mara in Spirituality & Health :
How to Strengthen Your Intuition Through The Lunar Cycle

Use these simple but powerful methods to attune yourself to the moon’s phases to develop stronger intuition. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all deeply connected to the moon’s 29.5-day cycle …

Aligning with the moon’s waxing and waning fluctuations can support us in strengthening our intuition and becoming more emotionally intelligent.

Mara Branscombe in Outside the Studio: Rituals as Remedies and How to Start Your Own Practice 

What do you do in the 30-60 minutes before falling asleep? Do you drift away peacefully or is there restlessness entwined with anxiety? Mara and Tessa chat about what a ritual is, what different energies mean, and what it looks like exploring them.

Mara Branscombe in Kindred Spirit Magazine

“Throughout history, the power of ritual has been integral to both ancient and modern civilizations. From high holy days to vision quests, tea ceremonies, moon gatherings, honouring the seasonal Wheel of the Year and birth and death rituals, humanity has embraced spiritual awakening and the deepening of self and community through ritual.”  

Mara Branscombe interviewed for The Art of Living Well Podcast with Stephanie & Marnie 

On today’s episode of the show we welcome Mara Branscombe who 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 guides us through a brief and wonderful grounding ritual that you can do as part of your morning routine to jump start your day. 

Mara Branscombe interviewed in Business of Teaching Yoga Podcast with Cora Geroux

I’m always doing rituals. Before my morning practice. Before I see clients, teach a class or record an interview. Bigger events get bigger rituals. And to be honest, I’ve never given it much thought, except for the fact that it’s something I like to do, and so I do it. However, when today’s guest, Mara Branscombe, reached out to me to talk about her new book, Ritual As Remedy, I was intrigued.

Articles for Spirituality & Health

Podcast Interview with Rabbi Rami + Mara (Ritual as Remedy)

In this episode, Mara and Rabbi Rami discuss divine timing, modern mysticism, and taking care of the energy body.

“My work as a spiritual coach is to hold and embrace people in an emotional sense as they…connect back to a deeper place within themselves, so that one can spark intuition; so that one can see through the eyes of wonder.”

+ Read Rabbi Rami’s musings on this conversation and the meaning of the word “mystic” here.

A Ritual-Full Life

A ritual is anything that is done with intention. It can be formulaic or intuitive, elaborate or simple, personal or shared. Whether it’s ritualizing your morning coffee or gathering in community to honor the solstice, a unique frequency comes alive, instilling whispers of the sacred within us. Throughout history, ritual has been at the heart of humanity. The desire to engage in ritual is primal and instinctual. When we answer the call to connect with something beyond the mundane, we generate access to infinite space.

Remedying a Community Through Ritual

Mara Branscombe is an adventurous spirit. She has sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, trekked across the Himalayas, studied yoga in India, planted trees in Canada’s north, lived off the grid in a remote cabin in the woods, worked as a Waldorf (Steiner School) teacher, and found a passion for dance and choreography along the way. Her training in the Incan shaman lineage and the pagan tradition have greatly inspired her life’s work of earth-based, ceremonial, intentional, and heart-centered living and loving.

Her new book Ritual as Remedy: Embodied Practices for Soul Care is reviewed in the May/June 2022 issue of Spirituality & Health.

How to Embrace Divine Timing

Divine timing is sensing what your intuition is saying and reading the environment you are in to generate a clear path and plan. With practice, divine timing will guide you on your life’s journey. Clues on how to serve your evolving self arrive in people, nature, dreams, aha! moments, words, synchronicities—intuitive glimmers.

Unfortunately, many people have been conditioned to be out of touch with a sense of divine timing. 

Creating Personal Sanctuary

The concept of sanctuary is integral to human nature—gathering in safe spaces, building spiritual havens, and discovering who we are beyond our mundane daily life.

A sanctuary is steeped in intention, reverence, and peace. It is often a physical place of refuge where the imprints of truce exist.

Articles for Wanderlust

Four Rituals to Honor Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice is the precise planetary moment when the earth’s tilt reaches its zenith, bringing us the longest and lightest sun-powered experience of the year. 

As the spring seeds have made their way through the belly of mother earth, Solstice ushers in the next cycle of the ecosphere’s journey from darkness to light.

The earth’s most dynamic time of expansion, growth, and abundance becomes palpable: our senses come alive with the scents, sounds, and the sun’s glow touches us from within.

The Power of Ritual: Soul Care as Nectar for the Times

When we activate intentional rituals, we track sacred life passages, and honour the depths in which the ordinary and sacred realms co-exist. 

Throughout history, the power of ritual has been integral to both ancient and modern civilizations. From high holidays to vision quests, tea ceremonies, moon gatherings, honoring the wheel of the year, and birth and death rituals—humanity has experienced the deepening of self, community, and spiritual awakening through the power of ritual. 

Honoring Spring Equinox: New Beginnings, Balance & Creativity 

The vernal Spring Equinox is a potent time to get intentional about the seeds and dreams you want to plant in your life while shedding winter’s layers of being that no longer serve your highest self.

Align with the earth’s rhythm this Spring Equinox and welcome in renewal, new beginnings, and awaken the higher vibrational field within – your authentic nature is ready for a reset. When we sync up with the earth, sun and moon’s cycle, we naturally cultivate emotional balance, spiritual recalibration, physical awakening, and mental clarity.

Your Guide To Aligning With The Moon: Create Your Own Full Moon Ritual

Since the beginning of time, humans have been gathering under the light of the moon to share stories and songs, to attune to the rhythms of mother nature, and to bring forth the power of the divine feminine.

There is something wildly sacred that happens when we intentionally gather during the full or new moon cycles. As the moon is the ruler of the waters and water governs our emotions, we can physically get attuned to the waters inside our bodies and consciously create a container for our emotions to be harnessed in a healing way.

Activate a Daily Meditation Practice for Self-Love

Activating a daily meditation practice may be the greatest gift you can give to yourself.

Creating space in your day for stillness, welcoming in a calm breath, and being a witness to the present moment can shift your energy from chaos into calm, from overwhelm into clarity, and from fear into grounded joy. When we begin to meditate daily, even for just 5 minutes, we have an opportunity to reprogram pathways of stress in our minds and bodies, some of which we did not even know existed.

Articles for Halfmoon Yoga

The Power of Ritual (Guest Article by Mara Branscombe

“Mara is a long-standing friend of Halfmoon, and is passionate about weaving the art of mindfulness, self-care, creativity, mind-body practices, and earth-based rituals into her life and work, leading community ceremony since 2000.

How do you define rituals?

Throughout history, the power of ritual has been at the heart of both ancient and modern civilizations…

“Rituals become navigation points inside the compass of our life’s journey – reflecting to us what is most meaningful and reminding us of how we are always evolving.”

Crystal Healing

Historically, cultures all over the world have used crystals as a source of healing, clearing energy, and transforming both physical and spiritual states. Recently, there has been a resurgence of crystal healing and a growing movement of people discovering how crystals can positively enhance wellness in body, mind, and spirit.

Even though you cannot necessarily see or even feel it, the cells inside your body and the energy of crystals contain their own unique vibrations and energy. Imagine how a magnet works, it repels and attracts energy, and this is also how it is thought that healing crystals work. 

For a limited time, use code MARA20 for 20% off all yoga + meditation products on Halfmoon’s website!

Forest Bathing

Originating in Japan in the 1980’s “Shinrin Yoku” otherwise known as forest bathing literally translates as “taking in the forest atmosphere.” The scientific research done on forest bathing is quite amazing — tree’s (especially coniferous ones) release an organic compound called “phytoncide”. This compound supports our natural killer cells that allow our immune system to fight diseases such as cancer, ward off illnesses and keep our immune system strong.

The concept is quite simple: spend meditative time in nature by walking, sitting, or lying down for at least 1-4 hours. By slowing down, and allowing the forest’s atmosphere to penetrate your whole being, the nervous system will calm and trigger a relaxation and healing response within. This is very different than a trail run, a hike, or any physical activity that gets the heart rate up. Forest Bathing is a deep release of any agenda or exercise, and requires a letting go of external energy output to receive the benefits of Mother Earth’s finest energy.  

For a limited time, use code MARA20 for 20% off all yoga + meditation products on Halfmoon’s website!

Drishti for the Holidays

For some of us, the holiday season may be overwhelming as our focus gets pulled in many directions. With never ending to-do lists, the pressure to spend more money, and the overconsumption of most things, the result may be feelings of imbalance, interrupted sleep patterns and being energetically drained. What if we could intentionally direct our attention to improve our energy and focus on what is important? Finding a focus or a “Drishti” can do just that.

For a limited time, use code MARA2018 for 20% off all yoga + meditation products on Halfmoon’s website!

Mama Yoga — How To Have Your Own Yoga Practice With Your Kids

The demands of motherhood are real. Some moments are blissful and profound, others are messy and exhausting. I often think, “how did my mother do this?” Then, I am reminded of her steady, calm, and loving presence and that I too can hold that space. Parenting teaches us about the power of letting go and directing our attention to the present moment. From the demands of daily schedules, to the emotional outbursts from our children, to the organization it takes to care for our families, our personal self care can be overwhelming and the last item on our to-do list.

A Full Moon Ritual: Women Who Gather Under the Light of the Moon

Since the beginning of time, women have been gathering under the light of the moon to share stories and songs. There is something wildly sacred that happens when women attune to the rhythms of mother nature, and bring forward the power of the divine feminine.

Articles for Saje

Cultivate True Self Care

We’ve all wrapped up a busy time of year—the holiday season—and now everybody’s talking about resolutions. Getting fit, cleaning out your closet, and starting a new routine are often where we choose to put our focus. But what about setting a resolution to increase our inner peace and opportunity for growth?

Six Ways to Find Stillness

Mara Branscombe has the kind of radiance that glows from the inside out. Recently, we connected with her about how true self-care starts with getting quiet, reflecting on our innermost desires, and allowing ourselves time to rest. Read Mara’s thoughts on cultivating the life of your dreams, starting with finding stillness.

Articles for Gaia

Your Mind on Pain: Healing Your Pain Through Mindfulness

Living in a state of constant physical pain due to illness or injury can be devastating and intolerable. The constant suffering becomes all-consuming and can bring forth the feeling of absolute despair and attachment to feeling this way forever. Lost in a sea of pain killers, constantly searching for help, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and the feeling of disconnection to self and others can become reality.

Toxic Thoughts Are Holding You Back From Your Mind-Body Connection

How often do you have negative thoughts? Have you ever wondered to what degree your life experiences affect how you think, perceive, feel, react, and respond? Do you notice that your behavior or your defense mechanisms become triggered by certain issues time and time again?

Shamanic Ritual: The Heart of Transformation

Historically, Shamanic ritual lives inside the heart of Indigenous cultures. Rituals, ranging from simple to complex, are a way to step out of the mundane of everyday life, to connect to spiritual life, and to lift the veil between the visible and the invisible realms. Ancient shamanic rituals have been practiced since the beginning of time. At their core, they aim to restore wholeness to individuals and communities, where a genuine reciprocity is formed between humanity, spirit and nature.

How to Hold a Four Directions Ceremony

Throughout history Native American, Peruvian, Mexican, Siberian, Celtic and Nordic people, to name a few, have practiced honoring the four directions as part of their culture’s connection to well-being, nature and spiritual harmony. 

Smudging Ceremony: An Invitation

A smudging ceremony is the ritual of burning plant resins and herbs in a shell or a clay bowl while intentions and prayers are called forth. For centuries, Native American and Indigenous cultures have practiced smudging rituals to clear away negative energy, to invite in peace and harmony for individuals or environments.

As Featured On…

Inspirations for Better Living (June / July 2022)

Daily Self Care Rituals : The Motherhood Remedy

Excerpt : “Your letting go is your strength, your self care is your grace.

Choose one thing daily that is just for you to enjoy – put it on the top of your list.

Sipping a cup of tea quietly, taking a bath, getting to an exercise / yoga class, being creative, connecting with friends, or spending time in nature. Find the self care rituals that light you up and bring you lasting joy. The more positively you generate into your life, the more love and joy you and your family will feel.”

Path 11 TV Podcast

Episode 399 : Embodied Practices for Soul Care with Mara Branscombe

Episode 35 of The Empowered Curiosity Podcast

One of the pillars of our conversations in this community is Embodiment Medicine.  I wanted to have an entire episode about what this actually means. 

When I thought about who I wanted to have on as a guest for this topic, there was only one name that came to mind: Mara Branscombe. Mara is a mother, writer, yogi, dancer, mindfulness leader, ceremonialist and spirit coach. She has an amazing ability to guide others along the path of self-transformation. She is grounded. She is in tune with the cycles. She is the walking embodiment of doing this work of alchemizing emotions from the emotional plane into the physical to extract the lessons we are all here to learn.

8 Amazing Gifts for Wellness Lovers in B.C

For aspiring meditators and those into personal growth, the gift of a wellness program with a truly great teacher is a unique and personal gesture. We’ve done Mara Branscombe’s The Art of Ritual program and loved it. Other options: 30 Days of Soul Work for anyone who’s wanting to make space for their personal growth journey or Navigate Meditation, for aspiring meditators. 

Empowered Curiosity Podcast with Kat Lee: Spiritual Rituals to Anchor into Intuition with Intuitive Guide

How do we listen to Intuition as a creative force? Confusion and Fear have an uncanny way of pulling us away from our own Inner Knowing, drawing us into our past wounds or pushing us forward into a scary and unknown future. In this podcast, Mara Branscombe and Kat Lee discuss Intention, practicing Rituals, Energetics, the Metal Element in relation to the cultural shifts that are happening right now with the coronavirus outbreak and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Daily Hive: 7 Pacific Northwest wellness retreats that go beyond yoga

Since ancient times, summer solstice has been celebrated as a sacred turning point in the year. It honours the earth’s most dynamic time of expansion, growth and abundance. This diverse yoga retreat is an invitation to immerse yourself in four days of discovering the art of breath, the healing of yoga, the transformative powers of shamanic practices, and the mindful awareness of meditation. This retreat is led by yoga teacher and shamanic practitioner Mara Branscombe at the sublime Hollyhock retreat centre on BC’s Cortes Island.

The Health Hub Podcast: Cultivating Self Care

In this episode we speak with Mara Bransccombe who has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 20 years about the practice of cultivating self-care. Mara hosts international yoga retreats, offers mentorship programs and spiritual counselling, fuses yoga and corporate leadership to executive teams, teaches professional athletes and artists, and teaches classes/workshops in Vancouver.

Guest Blog Posts

Head Plus Heart: How to Use the Power of Ritual to Reach Your Full Potential

I’ve come to believe in the power of divine timing: that there are no mistakes in life and that we all have an innate ability to self heal and self guide. In my life, this has happened via the use of intentional daily self care Rituals. Rituals are like mirrors that we can gaze into to reflect back to us our life’s journey. 

Head Plus Heart: How to Create a Moon Ritual

Moon rituals are a beautiful way to align the energy of your life with the energy in nature. Here, we’ve reached out to one of our fav ritualists, Mara Branscombe to show you how to harness moon energies for your own empowerment AND create your own meaningful moon rituals at home. 

Evelyn’s Farm

A short dance filmed co-produced and co-created by Mara Branscombe, Katy Harris McLeod and Brian Johnson.