<script data-pm-proxy="intercept"></script><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Sacred Embodiment w/Chonteau]]></title><description><![CDATA[I write to remember the ways of the ancient mother These posts are part poetry, part prayer, part practice. You are welcome to join me]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2Nwh!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa3de59b8-fbc5-4313-8a72-7e06525cfa11_1059x1059.png</url><title>Sacred Embodiment w/Chonteau</title><link>https://chonteau.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:18:50 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="/__u/chonteau.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Chonteau McElvin]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[chonteau@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[chonteau@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[chonteau@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[chonteau@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Live In Awareness Not Outcomes ]]></title><description><![CDATA[a paradigm shift]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/live-in-awareness-not-outcomes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/live-in-awareness-not-outcomes</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:17:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My motto this year has been&#8221; live in aliveness, not outcomes&#8221;. </p><p>When this year began, I had no idea how the simple phrase was going to shift how I show up in life. </p><p>For most of my adult life, I have lived in outcomes.  I have relaxed my expectations bit&#8212;I am not as intense as I used to be;  however, outcomes still remained my primary measure for completing something successfully and feeling good enough. </p><p>But a new way being started to emerge and outcomes no longer wanted to be the driving force to worthiness. </p><p>I started to lean into asking myself what was alive. I wanted to follow the heartbeat.</p><p>This year has been about &#8220;do what feels alive&#8221;, regardless of what the outcome might be. If it&#8217;s alive in me,  be here, if it&#8217;s not, leave it.  </p><p>Fast forward to present day: while on my walk recently, the idea of creating greeting cards with my own paintings came to mind. This is not new,  I have wanted to create greeting cards since my early 20&#8217;s. It has always felt like one of the 1000&#8217;s of ideas I have started but never finished.  </p><p>As I dreamt of designing these cards, I became more and more excited. I dreamt further and further out&#8212;imagining what print company I would use, who I would gift them too and how I would use them. </p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg" width="4284" height="5712" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:5712,&quot;width&quot;:4284,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2wZj!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78272719-adea-403e-9dca-0543ef93b1bf_4284x5712.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>What became clear as I imagined; it didn&#8217;t matter if I actually produced them or not. I was following the heartbeat. I let myself become fully immersed, WITHOUT, needing the outcome. </p><p>I was amazed that my body did not pull me into action. Nothing else needed to happen.  For once in my life I didn&#8217;t feel like I had 100&#8217;s of unfinished ideas.  I didn&#8217;t feel the shame of unrealized dreams. I felt the joy of following what was alive, and I could feel this truth in my body. </p><p>Talk about freedom. It was a gorgeous moment. The motto I adopted at the beginning of this year was fully inside me and I am living it without force. </p><p>Fast forward~creating the cards showed up again. It felt alive  to bring them to life; so I did. </p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg" width="4284" height="5712" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:5712,&quot;width&quot;:4284,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VZf-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa733d2bd-6cc9-4d93-9b7c-4207e58f3ec8_5712x4284.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>What feels amazing, is to live in the pulse of creation; to have no destination and to be with what emerges. </p><p>I feel softer, less needier and more open to what is ready to be. </p><p>Much love ~ chonteau </p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Moving At The Speed Of Human ]]></title><description><![CDATA[I am not sure where I heard this phrase first , &#8220;moving at the pace of human&#8221; but I was thinking of it today, and thought I would pass it along.]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/moving-at-the-speed-of-human</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/moving-at-the-speed-of-human</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:42:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, 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src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg" width="4284" height="5712" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:5712,&quot;width&quot;:4284,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZK7B!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F621a5911-3fca-4054-9f55-1df45c46c559_5712x4284.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I am not sure where I heard this phrase first ,  &#8220;moving at the pace of human&#8221;  but I was thinking of it today, and thought I would pass it along. </p><p>Sometimes the pace of my human asks for different speeds. I have learned not to judge my varying speeds. I simply meet myself where I am. </p><p>Summer has been hot, fast and intense AND I can feel the energy shifting in the air. </p><p>There&#8217;s a warm breeze at night, here in Florida, that wasn&#8217;t there before. The wheel of time is turning , winds of change are picking up. </p><p>Our bodies are the barometers that inform.  It is during this late summer, early autumn transitory phase, I feel a bit more tired, a bit more sluggish, a bit more quiet. </p><p>Summers high sustained energy begins to fade and welcoming a slower pace feels natural. </p><p>For those that follow me through Soul Care U, this summer SCU expanded, not through offerings but through welcoming her next phase of being.  She expanded her understanding of herself and welcomed new adventures. (More info coming) </p><p>For now this rose from the land I steward tells a story &#8212;an early morning communion with the rising sun, the dirt and the slow stroll through bush to smell every flower that called me. </p><p>with love~chonteau </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[I Bow To Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[surrendering to the crone~ part 3]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/i-bow-to-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/i-bow-to-me</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:32:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwTN!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd83f71-b825-4bb6-b561-fcaea5d2efec_2316x3088.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Beautiful Beginnings Sacred Empowerment Community</p><p></p><p>Truly, music can creep into the crevices of my soul, helping me gain access to what is ready to be felt.</p><p></p><p>This morning, it was Donny Hathaway&#8217;s <em>A Song for You</em> that activated a deep gratitude for not only my life, but for me.</p><p></p><p>The level of self and soul love that I have for myself feels so expanded. I could never have felt this at 20 or 30 or 40.</p><p></p><p>I am deeply understanding the importance of beginning this love affair with myself in my earlier years and being with myself as this relationship has unfolded into the most beautiful relationship I&#8217;ve ever been a part of.</p><p></p><p>Just like any relationship that I have committed myself to, I decided I wasn&#8217;t leaving when things got hard. I wouldn&#8217;t hide, and if I did, I&#8217;d welcome myself back.</p><p></p><p>But truly, nothing can describe the depth I feel from my relationship with myself.</p><p></p><p>And when I say myself, I literally mean every part and aspect of myself. Every strange, quirky, badass, beautiful, careless, jealous, mean, gorgeous part of me.</p><p></p><p>Of course, I have been with her for the last 56 years, but it was in young adulthood that I really turned toward myself and consciously devoted myself to me.</p><p></p><p>Thirty-six years of relating to this body, to this soul, to this mind, to this heart is making for an epic transition into eldership.</p><p></p><p>And this song, <em>A Song for You</em>, has its deepest meaning it has ever had.</p><p></p><p>This morning, I bow to me.</p><p></p><p>Understanding that when I bow to me, I bow to all in all, and each in each. When I bow to me, I bow to the One that We Be.</p><p></p><p>Enjoy the link to Donny Hathaway&#8217;s <em>A Song for You</em>.</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/5spAjqC772iC2KzDvEkmSr?si=j60YSNw_QYW_orxIJVv1_A">a song for you</a></p><p>Thank you for being part of this community.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwTN!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd83f71-b825-4bb6-b561-fcaea5d2efec_2316x3088.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwTN!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd83f71-b825-4bb6-b561-fcaea5d2efec_2316x3088.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwTN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd83f71-b825-4bb6-b561-fcaea5d2efec_2316x3088.jpeg" width="2316" height="3088" 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd83f71-b825-4bb6-b561-fcaea5d2efec_2316x3088.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 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isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sweet-scent</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:08:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tALy!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2cbb0e5-a3fa-4fe0-b443-542588ee23f8_5712x4284.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This season last year I was in the thick of the bramble bush. Yea her fruit is sweet but her thorns draw blood. </p><p>Wading in the thick of thorns feeling like I was being torn to shreds each time I moved is not a sweet time, no matter how juicy the fruit was going to be once I reached them. </p><p>There was one plant ancestor whose sweet scent held me as I was being remolded from the shreds. </p><p>datura, purple spirit flower</p><p>She has returned to my garden this summer and I weep feeling her sweet scent caressing my body~remembering how she held me in some of my deepest medicine.  She held the veil between life and death holding the portal open while I travelled deep into layers that would have remained unattainable without her. </p><p>Her dark power is  not known by many and come to her without reverence and she will keep you suspended in the shadow lands, with no map home.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tALy!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2cbb0e5-a3fa-4fe0-b443-542588ee23f8_5712x4284.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tALy!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2cbb0e5-a3fa-4fe0-b443-542588ee23f8_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tALy!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2cbb0e5-a3fa-4fe0-b443-542588ee23f8_5712x4284.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tALy!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2cbb0e5-a3fa-4fe0-b443-542588ee23f8_5712x4284.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tALy!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2cbb0e5-a3fa-4fe0-b443-542588ee23f8_5712x4284.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>A plant ancestor  of turtle island, in the southwestern regions, she has a lineage assisting in sacred rituals. </p><p>This morning I was coming home from my walk and this bloomed enveloped me. Her sweet scent captured and drew me to sit. I was immediately transported to one year ago sitting in this same garden feeling broken. </p><p>Over the past couple moons I have felt like I am operating in a new nervous system, one that does not feel jagged or frail but one that has been reassembled This is the medicine of datura~her ability to hold the door open in our breakdown and then weave us back together with new threads. </p><p>In gratitude and love </p><p>thank you </p><p>chonteau </p><p>Come to a Juneteenth Plant Experience on June 19th 5 pm at Spiral Circle Books and More 750 N Thornton Ave Orlando, Fl </p><p><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1990507282866?aff=oddtdtcreator">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1990507282866?aff=oddtdtcreator</a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Permission To Soften]]></title><description><![CDATA[the liberation movement begins within our hearts]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/permission-to-soften</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/permission-to-soften</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 14:34:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/198003113/0454c14b6f44262daa10c8ba621469c5.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thank you for listening to this episode of Sacred Embodiment Podcast w/Chonteau. I have been resting a bit. I appreciate you finding me once again. I am feeling resourced and rejuvenated. </p><p>Enjoy! </p><p>Much Love ~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wealth In My Body Feels Like]]></title><description><![CDATA[deliciousness]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/wealth-in-my-body-feels-like</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/wealth-in-my-body-feels-like</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:40:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!26Jr!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png" width="900" height="428" 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffda788df-2c4e-4a1d-b656-02caa25538db_900x428.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I have been playing in pleasure lately. What does luxury actually mean; how does lavish translate in my body?</p><p>Me and luxury have not gotten along. I always equated it with snobbery, ungratefulness, spoiled and bratty.</p><p>That&#8217;s my adolescent definition; it comes  from painful experiences with the &#8220;rich&#8221; kids.</p><p>I realized I never allowed myself to understand luxury from a perspective that wasn&#8217;t shameful.</p><p>Fast forward to my early 50&#8217;s; I started exploring feeling good without shame.</p><p>Jump to my mid fifties~ permission to not only feel good, but now my definition of &#8220;a luxurious life&#8221; has taken a new shape; one that suits me.</p><p>I was in the garden this morning loving on the amaryllis blooms~ touching, smelling, and tasting her. In that moment I was reminded, &#8220;this is YOUR luxurious life.&#8221;</p><p>The smell of flowers, enjoyable textures under my fingertips; exploring flavors, and listening to at least four different bird songs.</p><p>This symphony of senses is what pleasure and luxury is to me; it always has been.</p><p>A part of me remembers when this was not enough, and the push for more had me grinding for years.</p><p>That part of me is resting now. She&#8217;s quieter.</p><p>Wealth as a new language. </p><p>These days I surrender to delicious words, fabrics on my skin, rain drops that make the leaves dance, and </p><p>flowers&#8230;</p><p>big, bold, fragrant, soft, bushy flowers.</p><p>Lots of Love ~chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Food Is Ritual]]></title><description><![CDATA[Patience under oppression is a particular form of power that is envied by those who have never experienced it and have no access.]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/food-is-ritual</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/food-is-ritual</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:15:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/192556169/5577b29335a0df532ccceeab591ccaaf.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Patience  under oppression is a particular form of power that is envied by those who have never experienced it and have no access. </p><p>This type of power is like embers that form after a raging fire. The heat from these embers burn long and when they seem like they have cooled, when they look like they are dead&#8230; </p><p>the breath of Spirit blows in and they catch fire again  &#128293; </p><p>You don&#8217;t underestimate the power that grows under oppression~you respect it</p><p>This power lives in my bones </p><p>Connecting deep to my ancestry as this  clabbered  milk muffin (buttermilk muffin) rose from my dna a few days ago. </p><p>Each day eating this ancestral quick bread, I  feel the breath of spirit on my embers. </p><p>The genius of the enslaved  Afrikans  who had worked with fermentation for thousands of years in their homeland, as a method of food preservation and living food ecology way before the health and wellness trends,  goes unmentioned.  By the nature of this eraser tells the story of their contribution. </p><p>Might I add they feared not their relationship to fire and added heat as a sacred part of the alchemical process. </p><p>The culinary history that my taste buds are leading me on continues to unravel the deepest ancestral healing of my life thus far.  </p><p>Food is ritual </p><p>Ritual is an uncommon power that we must return too.</p><p>For now, the food trail is the master teacher, along with my body&#8230;leading me down rows of farm lands, regional plants, landscapes and buried emotions that have been dormant in my body. </p><p>I am surrendering to my body&#8217;s eruptions and her overflow. </p><p>Some healings do not come through understanding, they come through the mouth, the hands and the gut that knows before the mind does.</p><p>I trust this note finds you well. Walking your own journey of truth in love. </p><p>~ chonteau </p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Walking In Relationship]]></title><description><![CDATA[land stewardship, plant medicine & remembering where I began]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/walking-in-relationship</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/walking-in-relationship</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:32:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6UJ1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F749f475a-4262-463b-a65b-214bb944fc11_1545x826.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F749f475a-4262-463b-a65b-214bb944fc11_1545x826.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6UJ1!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F749f475a-4262-463b-a65b-214bb944fc11_1545x826.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6UJ1!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F749f475a-4262-463b-a65b-214bb944fc11_1545x826.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6UJ1!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F749f475a-4262-463b-a65b-214bb944fc11_1545x826.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>My plant medicinal journey began many moons ago. I grew up in Central Florida in the early &#8217;70s; it was a time when orange groves lined new neighborhoods and empty lots were our playgrounds. We ran barefoot through the streets, and everybody had a swing set in the backyard.</p><p>Before cell phones and HBO, the great outdoors was all the entertainment we needed. I climbed trees, made mud pies, ate peppergrass, sweet and sour sorrel, and three-leaf clovers.</p><p>Weekends away at state parks and beaches; camping was our mainstay. These early beginnings set the tone for a life devoted to nature. Nature was not a scary place, but a playground and a source of comfort as I entered my teen years.</p><p>The clouds in the sky were TV, bird songs were my radio, and trees held majestic wisdom. I learned I was not above nature, and it was my responsibility to be kind and to do no harm.</p><p>Fast forward;  I entered into &#8220;herbal&#8221; studies and it was a very different world then what I came from. In my world, plant medicine was the same as land stewardship. I could not have one without the other. Just because I couldn&#8217;t make a tincture out of  birth feathers  did not mean the blue jay did not have medicine for me.  I understood the cloud formations I loved as a child was Spirit speaking to me through symbols. The land and all of its structures and  inhabitants is medicine  we seek. </p><p>Many of the &#8220;herbal&#8221; programs I grazed, focused on only one type of knowledge: plants were here to be taken from; understand the constituents, know what the problem was in the body, and find the plant remedies to heal it.</p><p>This was not my relationship.</p><p>I began to hear a word floating around; it was still quiet in the mainstream &#8220;herbal&#8221; communities, but it was gaining traction in other spaces: <em>decolonization.</em></p><p>The understanding that Western herbalism not only left out ancient Indigenous wisdom and technologies, but that there was a deliberate erasure and minimization by Western herbal pioneers was  starting to be talked about in smaller circles. </p><p>Without going too deep down this rabbit hole, I don&#8217;t want to get lost in the disconnection, I&#8217;d rather share what has surfaced, so let me offer this as a tool to reconnect:</p><p>I created a field notes page to support those who want to welcome a more S.A.C.R.E.D. way of relating to the land and plants as the medicine they be. This sacred way is more in line with Indigenous ways of being with nature as participant, steward, and relative.</p><p>I invite you to enjoy this PDF download, which you can print yourself, place in a protective sleeve, or laminate for taking with you when you are out on the land.</p><p>One side offers the acronym S.A.C.R.E.D. &#8216;s meaning, in a medicine wheel format. Each letter acts as a touchstone, helping you re-anchor within Indigenous wisdom, reminding you that this knowing is always accessible to those who listen to the land and yourself. </p><p>The other side contains simple field notes, reminders, and tidbits from my life&#8217;s journey with the land as my mother, brother, sister, and elder.</p><p>The full field notes page is shared below for those who wish to walk a little deeper with this work. Its a full color creative PNG. If you are a paid subscriber, this is my gift to you and I appreciate your support over the last year.  <em> I bow to you&#8230;ngiyabonga</em></p><p>And if you&#8217;re here in the free space, thank you for walking alongside this work in your own way.</p><p>~chonteau</p><p></p>
      <p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[surrendering to the crone part -2]]></title><description><![CDATA[This morning was one of those mornings when I could feel the empress clutching for control.]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/surrendering-to-the-crone-part-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/surrendering-to-the-crone-part-2</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:15:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nRR7!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6adfdf65-978b-46ae-a051-7543dc9e8d33_1024x1024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>This morning was one of those mornings when I could feel the empress clutching for control. She wanted to ensure the structure was sound. </p><p>I felt the mother desperately wanting to maintain stability by always being 5 steps ahead and knowing the plan.  She wanted to ensure safety by needing to know and preparing for any eventuality that has the potential to disturb the norm. </p><p>I feel my maiden. Fuck it all. We don&#8217;t need caution or plans; just do the damn thing and create excitement. That&#8217;s how we thrive she says. </p><p>I want my crone to come in and stabilized it all but we are not there yet. </p><p>I am in my baby crone years, a time of recalibration and rewiring through inhabitation and capacity. </p><p>My empress wants to grow the queendom, slowing down means shrinking, and shrinking means invisibility and loss of control. </p><p>It&#8217;s the messy beginnings of a new era that can&#8217;t be controlled by maiden, mother or empress. </p><p>Only through surrendering to the crone will we stabilize. Only through increasing our capacity to hold our younger selves with undying compassion will we cross this threshold. </p><p>so&#8230;</p><p>Mornings like this will happen~when I wake in shear panic and do nothing but go for a walk and feel, massage my face with sweet oil through the tears, and prepare my morning tea while I settle on the back porch chair. </p><p>We come to an arc,  when our nervous system converts to one we don&#8217;t recognize </p><p>and it actually holds us.</p><p>The desires to let the maiden run wild or the mother to create the plan is fully present.</p><p>but what actually happens is&#8230;</p><p>rest, holding and being </p><p>And it&#8217;s uncomfortable, squirmy and unfamiliar. </p><p>And I stay right here</p><p>thank you </p><p>Wirh love ~chonteau </p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[When The Empress Decentralizes]]></title><description><![CDATA[surrendering to the crone~ part one]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/when-the-empress-decentralizes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/when-the-empress-decentralizes</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:04:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qv95!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3760194-d0c9-47b5-bf81-91d08be38406_500x667.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="native-audio-embed" data-component-name="AudioPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;label&quot;:null,&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;638e66d7-c34b-436a-ae98-a64cee9fb70e&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:328.77713,&quot;downloadable&quot;:false,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p><em>Listen to my oration.</em></p><p>Today as I walk, my legs are wobbly. My hips feel unstable. My knee; four months into healing from a tendon sprain, aches on and off. My body feels like it does not understand how to walk. It&#8217;s uneven. I feel decentralized with each step as my bones feel like jello. </p><p>Do you know the difference between the Empress and the Crone?</p><p>the Empress adjusts to create structure<br>she finds the best way to stabilize<br>she will not be defeated</p><p>the Crone understands that seasons of destabilization are required to re-orient<br>she does not adjust to stabilize<br>she drinks more water to to stay moist and flexible</p><p>Her aching legs, extra weight and wobblings are not defeat. They are information.</p><p>The Crone grieves that her legs and body work differently now.<br>She knows this season will lead to the next ~even without knowing what that next will bring.</p><p>The way of the Ancient Mother requires moisture. She understands her inhabitants need flexibility, pliability, permeability.</p><p>Moisture is tears. Sweat. Vulva secretions. Mucus.<br>It is walking in the rain. Drinking sacred elixirs. Wading in the ocean.</p><p>This is the moisture that allows the juicy Crone to move through her metamorphoses.</p><p>My body is not a metaphor.<br>It is the literal decentralizing of the Empress and the surrendering the Crone centralizing.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qv95!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3760194-d0c9-47b5-bf81-91d08be38406_500x667.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qv95!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3760194-d0c9-47b5-bf81-91d08be38406_500x667.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qv95!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3760194-d0c9-47b5-bf81-91d08be38406_500x667.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qv95!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3760194-d0c9-47b5-bf81-91d08be38406_500x667.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qv95!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3760194-d0c9-47b5-bf81-91d08be38406_500x667.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>And yes ~ I feel the rage, sadness, withdrawal, bargaining, acceptance.<br>This is the grief of decentralizing the Empress.</p><p>Her power centers:<br>Knowing.<br>Creating ease.<br>Informing.<br>Expanding.<br>Providing safety and protection to her queendom.</p><p>When the Crone becomes central, her power shifts:</p><p>Her power is walking while <em>not</em> knowing.<br>Orienting to new rhythms.<br>Standing in full understanding without the entire picture being revealed.</p><p>She is guided by her entire feminine body ~ its the tuning fork she thought was outside of herself.</p><p>For the Maiden, Mother and the Empress, instability is misalignment, that requires adjustment.</p><p>The Crone understands instability is initiation.<br>No adjustment required.</p><p>And here&#8217;s the thing&#8230;</p><p>You do not wake up at 50&#8217;s or 60&#8217;s, stop bleeding, and claim Cronehood.</p><p>That&#8217;s not how it works.</p><p><em>Peri-moonapause</em> signals the transition has begun.<br>The early years of <em>moon-apause</em> deepen that transition into inhabiting a body and life you have only theorized.</p><p>The journey to full Cronehood does not last months.<br>It does not last a few years.</p><p>Babeee&#8230;</p><p>You are on an odyssey of grand proportions, where multiple deaths await you.</p><p>You will meet every skeleton you shoved in the closet.</p><p>And yes, with each death will comes spring.</p><p>You will be weary.<br>scared<br>overwhelmed<br>And overjoyed.</p><p>You will be required to slow to a pace you have never traveled before.</p><p>That is where the Empress meets her match.<br>That is where the queendom crumbles.</p><p>The choice becomes:</p><p>Remain the Empress and rebuild bigger and better than ever.</p><p>Or surrender to the Crone and sit in the rubble until you are guided down a path you cannot yet see.</p><p><em>to be continued&#8230;</em></p><p>with love~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Moving Through The Protective-Vigilant Cycle]]></title><description><![CDATA[what is ready to be reconciled in this water year]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/moving-through-the-protective-vigilant</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/moving-through-the-protective-vigilant</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:42:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/184816496/3ab026691484fe399ba0ab3b5f1c34f8.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Its been a while since I read one of my essays.  To read along with my voice read the transcripts or read here:</em>  Enjoy </p><p><strong>Last night while I slept my body remained on watch.</strong></p><p>Waking up this morning I was extremely tired. That happens sometimes~I have a strong sense of responsibility and caretaking, so when there is a possible threat around something that I&#8217;m responsible for, my system becomes activated and I become vigilant&#8230; yes even while I&#8217;m sleeping.</p><p>The thing is, our modern culture does not have a way for us to discharge, we don&#8217;t have a way to complete the protective-vigilance cycle.</p><p>What did our indigenous ancestors do? What do the indigenous do now?</p><p>Our modern culture perpetuates isolation, which is the opposite of our indigenous roots. Sitting by the communal fire chanting, communal dancing, listening to the sacred instruments, sacred touch from one another, is often time all that was needed to complete this cycle.</p><p>There&#8217;s nothing wrong with the protective-vigilant cycle. It&#8217;s a natural occurrence; we see it in animals all the time and we don&#8217;t judge them, in fact it fascinates us.</p><p>For me the discharge phase of this cycle happens when there is safe resolve and I can stand down.</p><p>Within indigenous technologies,  discharge happens in community. Long processing session, that rehash and relive the events was not always necessary. </p><p>Why? </p><p>Because we lived in community.  Connection is key.</p><p>This morning chef (my boo) and I sat by the fire: him drinking his coffee, me drinking this ginger-orange tea.</p><p>I never shared about my night or what I was holding. We had conversations about other things. We cultivated a space that was real~through our connection, not just to each other, but to the fire and to the land, to the ancestor&#8230; I was able to stand down.</p><p>And that protective&#8211;vigilance cycle, completed itself.</p><p>Why this feels important.</p><p>So many of us have <em>never</em> reached the safe resolution and stand down phase. We&#8217;ve actually never completed the protective-vigilance cycle.</p><p>I&#8217;ll speak for myself, I find myself reflecting on the years of holding and bracing in order to protect;  whether it&#8217;s been protecting myself, my family or something that I felt I was responsible for, I have remained in vigilance. </p><p> This water year, so says the Dagara cosmology, we will have an opportunity to meet the waters edge. Water will be informing us of where she is ready to no longer be damned.</p><p>All the places we are still holding on to control, she will begin to seep her medicine through those cracks and loosen the wall.  This protective vigilance cycle, though it is not wrong, water does seek to bring reconciliation around it.</p><p>I&#8217;m holding space this month for those who want support listening to the waters of their bodies and fields.</p><p>Water asks, what is your current relationship to the sacred waters right now? How is her medicine of reconciliation showing up for you?</p><p>These are questions that do not have a concrete answer, because water is fluid and she does not seek definitiveness.</p><p>She requires space, slowness and the ability to deeply listen to how she is moving.</p><p>If you are feeling the call of water&#8217;s messages for your life and want to sit with me in virtual sacred  ritual, we will listen together in a 30 min session. </p><p>Message me. my office number is 863-272-9125 or message me on IG. ChonteauMcElvinor read here: </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Surrendering To Water's Flow]]></title><description><![CDATA[2026 is a water year]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/surrendering-to-waters-flow</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/surrendering-to-waters-flow</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:35:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png" width="375" height="500" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:500,&quot;width&quot;:375,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:257302,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://chonteau.substack.com/i/183956385?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RHLH!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe755ab68-3989-4950-bd80-1dd311bd3bbb_375x500.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>In the lineage that I follow,<a href="https://www.soulcareu.com/dagara-cosmology"> the Dagara,</a> 2026, is a water year.</strong></p><p>Each turn of the yearly season gives us a new element to work with. Dropping into a new element does not mean the other elements are not present. It means water&#8217;s medicine: their energies, their nuances and her currents, asks more of us.</p><p>Whether we are surfing and cruising on the surface, deep sea diving, riding the river rapids, floating on the calm lake, bobbing up and down, swimming with ease and flow, flailing while drowning or sinking to the bottom without fuss, we will not be able to escape what water seeks to reconcile in our lives; wants to clear up, wash new, cool down and heal. This is what 2026 has in store.</p><p>Water offers a particular lens; a different perspective than last year earth energy.</p><p>This is not a mandate for how things should be.</p><p>Each year&#8217;s elemental wisdom is a sacred offering.</p><p>The medicine flows regardless of whether we choose to dance with her or not.</p><p>Water in her many forms are already flowing, my bodily water ways, particularly lymphatic fluids are asking for attention.</p><p>This deep interior water is the water that spoke to me this morning.</p><p>As I glided my hands along my body, these waters have been active; flushing what is no longer needed through my system, helping to dissolve and dismantle loosened patterns.</p><p>I could feel the flush my body has surrendered to over the last several days. I feel her letting go, releasing the grip of stagnancy.</p><p>There have been subtle &#8220;we&#8217;re done&#8221; and &#8220;let it go&#8221; in my fluid releases.</p><p>This too is water speaking. It&#8217;s a language we don&#8217;t  understand~it&#8217;s often missed.</p><p>But, in a water year, the bodily waters become louder, not because they are yelling but because the frequency becomes more attuned.</p><p>When the lymphatics ask us to deepen our relationship with them, we are being asked to let go from the cellular level. Ancestral patterning is being shown to us and our bodies ecosystem is creating clearer channels for deep releasing.</p><p>Daily water ceremonies, such as drinking lymphatic plant spirit infusions, and intentional gentle practices with your lymphatic channels during these times will serve you well.</p><p>And so...</p><p>this morning with the rising sun, I met my ancestors and the sacred lymphatic waters; sipping plant medicine infusions from the garden and warmed oiled hands...</p><p>my hands met my body&#8217;s watery currents and we danced in flow.</p><p>Yep, this is a water year. Ready or not let the reconciliation begin.</p><p>~chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rage Is A Stage, Not A Failure]]></title><description><![CDATA[the deeper medicine of prayer bead seeds]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/rage-is-a-stage-not-a-failure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/rage-is-a-stage-not-a-failure</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:51:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png" width="600" height="800" 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!h84-!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c833b54-84d5-4c0a-87e0-052cd1c80c63_600x800.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I passed the seed pod plant a couple of weeks ago. I remembered that this plant and its seeds were used as protective amulets. Often called prayer bead plants or lucky bean.</p><p>Often worn almost like an evil eye, the seeds themselves look like an eye~the black dot surrounded by red.</p><p>Whenever I see red seeds, it&#8217;s like a stop sign. Like a red stoplight. There&#8217;s always cause for pause, to approach reverently and with respect. It doesn&#8217;t always signal &#8220;do not touch,&#8221; but it does signal,  <em>wait a minute.</em></p><p>I shared this picture with a friend of mine. she said, &#8220;Wow, look at those fireworks.&#8221; When I think of fireworks, I think of celebration and joy, but there was something deeper this plant was supporting me with that I did not yet know.</p><p>Every day on my walk I pass this plant. I notice it. I see it. I&#8217;ve been tracking those seed pods for two and half weeks. I would say something like, &#8220;There&#8217;s that seed pod, that plant is workin me,&#8221; but I didn&#8217;t know what.</p><p>The past week has been very agitating. I received some news that was bothersome and I&#8217;ve been trying to be with it in a calm way. I facilitated a beautiful retreat yesterday, which left my system wide open. You would think after such an amazing, spirit-filled retreat space that I co-held with my deep sisters that I would feel on clouds afterward.</p><p>But no.</p><p>I cried and screamed and raged almost the entire way home. I was so angry. I spewed out everything I was angry about. The multiple pieces of news I had been receiving were just the trigger for unlocking some deep-seated rage that had not yet been expressed.</p><p>My dreamtime last night was full of explosives~dynamite, things being pulverized with bullets. In my dream I was an explosives specialist, and it felt like for the entire night I was blowing shit up.</p><p>We had a really deep rain last night too, and so while on my walk I saw those seed pods again, but this time they  were incredibly vibrant. The wet pods really exposed the seeds as they pushed themselves out, exploding from the pods. The seeds looked as if they didn&#8217;t fit anymore, and the pod had to pop open to make room for their release.</p><p>I thought about how much these pods represent me. I realized that this plant has been working me the entire time. I wasn&#8217;t able to see the deeper meaning yet because I wasn&#8217;t there yet.</p><p>These pods are not wrong for exploding open. The seeds are mature. They have reached a stage where they cannot be, and should not be, held anymore by the pod. At the same time, the pod is meant to hold the seeds, but it&#8217;s not meant to hold them forever.</p><p>There is nothing wrong with decompressing. There is nothing wrong with an explosive release that naturally occurs after something has been held long enough and has completed its natural cycle.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/cad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:426,&quot;width&quot;:500,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:413188,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://chonteau.substack.com/i/183493139?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mT_g!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcad1bc70-e536-4a8c-9b8c-cb47ec4e6950_500x426.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Like me, I am built to hold, and I hold space expertly. It&#8217;s who I be. But when I forget that I am meant to complete the cycle, I shame my anger and contain the explosiveness that is part of my natural beingness. This only creates more compression.</p><p>So I called a sister-friend and let myself decompress. I cursed. I raged. I called people names. I complained. I judged. And she held me.</p><p>I painted the seed pod plant today, as  I stay with myself through the decompression, this elder is holding me. I can feel the deeper medicine that has been working me the whole time. </p><p>Thank you.<br>I receive.</p><p>with love ~chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Happy New Year???]]></title><description><![CDATA[not really]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/happy-new-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/happy-new-year</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 23:53:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CUpx!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24b0496e-9250-4969-a41a-5ee256ac3cfa_1024x734.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>It&#8217;s an interesting phenomenon, this New Year thing.<br>The celebrations, the traditions, the daze we as a culture are under when it comes to the &#8220;holiday&#8221; season. My dad would say, &#8220;When the herd is going that way, I go in the other direction.&#8221; Pretty much, that was his life&#8217;s philosophy and well,  I am my father&#8217;s daughter.</p><p>Hate to break it to you buuuuuuut&#8230; <em>nothing new starts in the dead of winter</em>. We still have at least two new moons before entering early spring. </p><p>Calm down, nobody&#8217;s saying you can&#8217;t celebrate the Gregorian New Year; there&#8217;s no need to be so binary. I am proposing leaning in closer to our original timekeeper, our planetary cycles.</p><p>Consider what plugging into man-made timekeeping only, and I stress only, has given us. Folks may not know that most, if not all, of our &#8220;significant dates&#8221; were created. For what, you might ask? Dissonance. At least that&#8217;s how I see it.</p><p>Any system that pulls me away from nature must have been created to sow seeds of continuous confusion. </p><p>Do I love bucking the system? Well yes, actually, but not through resistance; <strong>with flow. </strong>I have learned I don&#8217;t have to be radically against something to flow with <em>something else</em>.  Did you notice I didn&#8217;t say,<strong> &#8220;something better.&#8221;</strong></p><p>While I hold value and can feel the wisdom in the turning of numbers, 2025 to 2026,  the cosmology of numerals is a profound science. It is <strong>one </strong>thread of the sacred web. I choose to remember other strands and flow in those directions as well, letting my body reveal the full truth of my present moment.</p><p>So happy 2026 deep winter soul-tending, sitting with your soon-to-be-planted spring seeds and choosing to start newness at the pace that calls you. whew!!</p><p>Truly&#8230;may whatever you are leaning into be exactly what has called you and not what the herd pushed you toward. </p><p>loving ~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Spirit of Sacred Exchanges ]]></title><description><![CDATA[my tea will never be a simple transaction]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/the-spirit-of-sacred-exchanges</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/the-spirit-of-sacred-exchanges</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 17:46:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png" width="1000" height="1158" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1158,&quot;width&quot;:1000,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2008471,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://chonteau.substack.com/i/182635898?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7f84f5ed-0294-40c1-8bf8-4ce898233abd_1000x2000.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_424, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_848, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FmYm!, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/chonteau.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd1a7e61-774f-4ad8-9ff1-214fd2ade1cf_1000x1158.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I love drinking hot herbal infusions on any given day. Its an experience that trigger memories with my father and grandmother. From grandma making sassafras tea for me, to my dad making his infusions he would let steep for hours ~herbal tea has a rich history in my life. </p><p>It seems only natural that I would be called to the herbal arts. I have been blending herbs for over half of my life and I am still learning from the plants~ their flavors, textures, medicines and energies. A joy that keeps giving . </p><p>The last time I created a tea membership it held both my excitement to create and the dream of scaling. After seeing so many tea memberships online that were flourishing, surely I could create the same.   </p><p>I created a tea membership that was gorgeous&#8230; and it was exhausting.   It never reached the scale I was striving for and after about a year I shut it down.  </p><p>I have learned a lot about my system this year. I have learned the type of economy that I thrive in, and it has nothing to do with transactions. I thrive in a relational economies. I require connection and not just with people, I need to feel the relationship between me and the land, the ancestors and the environment.  If there is no authentic connections within the web of what I am offering, I feel depleted and scarce.  </p><p>Next year, 2026, a tea &#8220;membership&#8221; emerges and I use membership loosely because it is nothing like a membership you would imagine. </p><p>why? </p><p>We are  rooting in connection and community. We are asking for participation which is a key element of nourishment. Our focus is  not one-sided:  me making a blend, sending it out, someone receives it. That simple transitional formula has left my system. </p><p>The tea companion is a sacred exchange with people whom I have a relationship with. They know me, or they know me through someone who knows me deeply.  This is an opportunity for everyone involved, who may or may not know each other, to feel a connection with the whole. </p><p>what do I receive?</p><p>I get to remain in the web that holds me~ from growing, harvesting, drying, blending and allowing my medicine to flow freely.  My system is not meant for scaling and creating more products to enter into transactional model. </p><p>I am here to stay connected to life&#8217;s web and all that she holds. I am here to stay in motion that is fluid and that, requires continuity of  relationship. </p><p>~chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sacred Embodiment Podcast w/Chonteau #18]]></title><description><![CDATA[rise and root seven day body connectivity series ~ day 7]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-podcast-wchonteau-2be</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-podcast-wchonteau-2be</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:07:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/180216141/90842465646f25fbfad3746147a29dac.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to our last day of our 7 day body connectivity living body prayer practice. If you followed us each morning, you were invited to tap into the your body&#8217;s web. You might even got a glimpse of the wider web that holds us steady. </p><p>I know I did. </p><p>Today we put is all together and spend time integrating. Have fun. Let it open you all the way. </p><p>I appreciate you, and thank US for showing up together in community, </p><p>If these practices rocked your world and you want to go deeper reach out. chonteau.com is the easiest pathway.</p><p>Ngyibonga~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sacred Embodiment Podcast w/Chonteau # 17]]></title><description><![CDATA[rise and root 7 day series ~body connectivity day 6]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-podcast-wchonteau-372</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-podcast-wchonteau-372</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2025 12:07:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/180215900/e5c6010990a443c489fbe587b698233d.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome in as we move into eve of our last day, day 6 This practice has been so supportive in helping me slow down even more. Sometimes I think I can&#8217;t slow down any more than I am, and then I do. </p><p>When this happens I find myself even more grateful. This 7 day practice has been one of those times I would love to hear how this has been flowing through you. </p><p>Enjoy this latest body connectivity living body prayer and have a magical day. </p><p>Much love~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sacred Embodiment Podcast w/Chonteau #16]]></title><description><![CDATA[rise and root seven day body connectivity~ day 5]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-podcast-wchonteau-5a5</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-podcast-wchonteau-5a5</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:08:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/180146675/b2b28330a8d33920ccf75a054a86d6a7.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome back for day number 5. We continue meeting the morning with a gently body opening and awareness. Lets listen in and feel what our bodies wisdom has for us this morning. </p><p>Take it slow, feel your heartbeat and drop in. </p><p>Always in love~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sacred Embodiment w/Chonteau #15]]></title><description><![CDATA[rise and root seven day body connectivity series~ day four]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-wchonteau-15</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-wchonteau-15</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:08:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/180146448/14ede6ab6b82700f8825a5a1ff3f3fbc.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome in to day number four. Yesterday recording did not release and it is as it should be. </p><p>Listen in for day number 4 as we continue our journey rise and root journey </p><p>Much love ~ Chonteau </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sacred Embodiment w/Chonteau #14]]></title><description><![CDATA[day 3 rise and root 7 day podcast series ~ body connectivity]]></description><link>https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-wchonteau-14</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://chonteau.substack.com/p/sacred-embodiment-wchonteau-14</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chonteau]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:08:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/179861557/fec38320969a347715125a56d14748c9.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello there and welcome to day number 3. We continue our journey with leaning into our bodies first. Before the day calls us into a trance, let&#8217;s check in with what is true and right for us. </p><p>To do this we ask our body&#8217;s wisdom to guide us. </p><p>Thank you for connecting in with me and for joining our virtual community. I am here with you. </p><p>with love ~ chonteau</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>