Soul Loom

There are seasons in life where nothing looks wrong from the outside.You’re still capable. Still functioning. Still holding everything together.But internally, something has shifted.In this episode of Soul Loom, I’m joined by Dr. Julie Merriman — PhD, licensed professional counsellor, author, and speaker — whose work focuses on high-achieving professional women over 50 experiencing burnout, nervous system depletion, emotional numbness, and loss of desire.We explore:• What happens when your nervous system operates in survival mode for decades• Why burnout isn’t mindset failure — but physiology• The link between menopause, oestrogen loss, and tolerance shifts• Emotional numbness, resentment, and “floating head competence”• Somatic practices to reconnect with your body• Why pleasure and desire go offline in chronic stress• The power of the pause — a micro-rebellion for women who always say yesDr. Merriman is the author of In the Pursuit of Soul Joy: A 12-Week Guide to Overcoming Burnout and Compassion Fatigue and the forthcoming Are We Gonna Have Sex or What?, a nervous-system-informed guide to desire and intimacy after 50.This is a conversation about capacity, identity, menopause, embodiment, and what it means to come back online — not as who you were, but as who you are now.If you’ve been functioning on the outside but quietly disconnected on the inside, this episode will resonate.Dr. Julie MerrimanPodcastsCompassion Fatigue CureSexy After 5067 Days to Change a Habit - Phillippa Lally

In this episode of Soul Loom, Michelle Wollaston speaks with David Trotter — founder of Awakened Magazine and curator of the Awakened Hearts anthology series — about what happens when the structure that shaped your identity no longer fits.After spending a decade in full-time Christian ministry, David experienced burnout, spiritual deconstruction, and a profound shift in belief. What followed was not rebellion, but inquiry. Not collapse, but expansion.Together, they explore:• Leaving organised religion and redefining faith• Spiritual awakening after evangelical Christianity• Deconstruction, doubt, and the courage to question• New age spirituality vs structured religion• Mediumship, channelling, breathwork and altered states• The tension between certainty and freedom• Why storytelling is essential for healing and transformation• How to recognise when your life phase is changingThis is a conversation about spiritual transition, identity shifts, and what it means to move from inherited belief into embodied truth.If you are questioning your faith, navigating religious deconstruction, exploring spirituality beyond dogma, or sensing that your old story no longer fits — this episode offers perspective, grounding, and permission.Michelle is a Life Directionist who helps people recognise their life phase and timing so they can move with clarity instead of uncertainty.Connect with David Trotter and explore Awakened Magazine in the links below.If this conversation resonates, follow Soul Loom and share it with someone who may be quietly questioning their own next chapter.Awakened MagazineDavid's Book and other informationLove Wins by Rob Bell

In this episode of Soul Loom, Michelle Wollaston speaks with award-winning Australian spiritual teacher Linda Willow Roberts about the real work of Theta Healing, energetic clearing, and belief-level transformation.What actually happens in a Theta Healing session?How do subconscious blocks form?And can shifting a core belief truly change your external reality?With over 35 years in the spiritual space, Linda explains how Theta Healing works at the root level — accessing the subconscious mind, clearing inherited patterns, releasing karmic imprints, and restoring energetic alignment through unconditional love.Together, they explore:• What “clearing at the core” really means• How subconscious beliefs shape relationships, money and health• The difference between manifestation trends and genuine energetic work• Why triggers are clues — not problems• How to begin shifting your vibration todayIf you’re curious about energy healing, subconscious reprogramming, belief clearing, or the science and spirituality behind transformation, this conversation offers grounded insight without hype.Connect with Linda Willow Roberts:The Manifestation Flowchart CourseLinda's book Seven Eighths of Me

What if the patterns, fears, and emotions you’re carrying didn’t begin in this lifetime?Michelle Wollaston speaks with Kylie King — hypnotherapist, author, publisher, and founder of the Australian Ladies in Business Initiative (ALIBI) — about the fascinating world of past-life regression and how exploring our soul’s history can reveal what’s ready to heal.Book a session with KylieKylie King WebsiteKylie King CoursesKylie's facebook Australian Women in Business Initiative ALIBI

What if your soul chose the energy you carry before you were even born?In this episode of Soul Loom, Michelle explores The Soul Map — a living blueprint woven through astrology, Human Design, the Gene Keys, and the Moon.Discover how these ancient and modern systems reveal the unique patterns that shape your purpose, timing, and emotional rhythm.It’s not prediction — it’s remembrance. The moment you recognise your design, life begins to feel like it’s finally moving in harmony with you.Learn more or explore your own Soul Map at www.michellewollaston.com

What really happens in the sky during midlife — and how does it shape the changes we feel on Earth?In this Soul Loom conversation, Michelle Wollaston and evolutionary astrologer Georgina Sierra explore the Pluto square, Neptune square, Uranus opposition, and Chiron return — the major transits that guide us from nurturer to matriarch.Learn how understanding your midlife astrology can turn confusion into clarity, resistance into flow, and reveal why this stage of life is a sacred initiation rather than a crisis.Georgina Sierra AstrologySydney Astrology Schoolmichelle wollaston

In this powerful episode of Soul Loom, Michelle Wollaston is joined by Jane Hardwicke Collings — grandmother, former midwife, teacher, and founder of the School of Shamanic Womancraft. Together they explore menopause not as a medical problem, but as a sacred rite of passage — a physiological and spiritual awakening that calls women back to themselves.Jane explains how progesterone acts as a natural sedative through our fertile years, and what happens when that hormonal veil lifts. As the “sedation” fades, many women begin to see life with new clarity — no longer able to ignore what drains or diminishes them.They discuss:✨ The spiritual and physiological architecture of menopause✨ Why symptoms are sacred signals, not flaws✨ How the “Dark Goddess” rises in midlife to demand change✨ The importance of cycles — lunar, life, and soul✨ And how to step into your Sagescence — the wise woman phase of power and purposeIf you’re moving through perimenopause, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the deeper meaning of change, this episode is a compass for coming home to your body and your wisdom.🔗 Resources & Links:Jane Hardwicke Collings —School of Shamanic Womancraft — Spinning Wheels App ⁠10 Moons - The Inner Journey of Pregnancy The Wisdom of Menopause - Dr. Chrisian Northrup (audible) or available online/instore Follow Michelle Wollaston —

Ever feel like you've lost yourself in the chaos of caregiving, expectations, and midlife reinvention? In this soul-stirring episode, Victoria sits down with Michelle Wollaston—a spiritual mentor, coach, and woman who knows what it means to disappear into roles… and fight her way back to truth.Michelle shares her deeply personal story of what it looked like to quietly unravel while trying to hold everything together, and how she rebuilt her life with clarity, confidence, and compassion. If you’ve ever felt like midlife was breaking you, Michelle’s here to remind you: you’re not broken—you’re remembering.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:✨ The hidden chaos of midlife identity loss✨ How Michelle broke the cycle of self-abandonment✨ The spiritual practices that helped her rebuild confidence✨ Why discomfort is a sign you’re evolving, not failing✨ A powerful reminder that it’s never too late to come home to yourselfConnect with Michelle:🔗 Website: 📥 Free Resource: 📞 Book a Call: 

Bonus Episode: From Silence to Strength — Women, Grief, and Reclaiming PowerThis special bonus episode features my conversation with Christy Collard, Grief Counsellor and founder of The Grief Ocean.Christy created " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Grief Ocean to explore the diverse landscapes of grief, interviewing a wide range of guests to navigate the turbulent waters of loss through their individual narratives. From men’s grief to the hidden realms of silence, Christy’s work creates a compassionate space where stories of pain and resilience can be held with depth and care.In this dialogue, recorded for " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Grief Ocean Season 4, we explore how grief silences women — and how reclaiming voice and power can transform the way we move through loss. I share my own journey of grief, the years I disappeared inside silence, and the ways strength returned as I began to honour my voice.✨ Originally aired on " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Grief Ocean, this episode is shared here as a complementary conversation for Soul Loom listeners — a reminder that grief is not just an ending, but an initiation into remembering who we are.

Many people think astrology is about vague horoscopes or mystical predictions. But your natal chart is actually a practical map — an energetic architecture you were born with. In this episode of Soul Loom, Michelle Wollaston explores what your natal chart really shows: your Sun (core essence), Moon (emotional landscape), Rising sign (outer lens), personal planets, outer planets, nodes, and asteroids. We’ll trace how leaders, priestesses, and even financial markets have used astrology across history, and why your chart isn’t a cage — it’s a compass. Book a Sacred Rememberance Session and recieve your Soul Map reportwww.michellewollaston.com

What is a spiritual awakening — and why does it so often happen in midlife? Spiritual awakening isn’t about lightning bolts or magical powers. It’s the process of becoming conscious of who you are beneath roles and conditioning. Michelle unpacks the signs of awakening, why it often begins in discomfort, and how midlife cycles stir the call to remember yourself.Come Home to the Woman WithinWebsite

Is it Discomfort or a Sign? Understanding Your Inner Guidance SystemIn this soulful and insightful episode, I’m joined by Michelle Wollaston — writer, spiritual advocate, and host of The Soul Loom Podcast. Michelle brings a deep and compassionate approach to helping women who’ve spent years over-functioning in roles, relationships, or workplaces that left them feeling invisible. Through her unique blend of grounded coaching and soul-level wisdom, she guides women back to their intuition, voice, and vitality — without spiritual bypassing or burnout.We dive into the concept of the Comfort Meter — Michelle’s way of helping people understand that discomfort is often your intuition trying to speak. Whether it shows up as a subtle whisper or a loud wake-up call, these feelings are often signs from your body, soul, or the universe that something isn’t aligned. We explore how fear, especially the fear of change, can cloud our clarity and how taking small empowered steps can help you move from anxiety into trust. Michelle shares practical tools for tuning in, including reflection prompts, boundary-setting, and learning to recognize patterns that keep repeating until we finally listen.This conversation is all about learning to trust your inner signals — not just in the big, obvious moments, but in the small, quiet nudges too. Michelle reminds us that everything we need is already within us — and that imperfect action, intuitive awareness, and self-compassion are powerful tools for transformation.The book Michelle mentioned:"Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype"by Clarissa Pinkola Estes"Anything that is meant to happen for you, will happen for you seamlessly. And if they don't happen perfectly and there are bumps in the road, what is the bump for? There is usually always a pattern to the bumps." - Michelle WollastonSacred Rememberance Session with Michelle normally A$247 – enter code at checkout STEPHUP $47 discount  Free guides for woman who feel like they’ve lost themselves in the life they built https://www.michellewollaston.com/stephup-come-home-to-the-woman-within Grab a copy of Michelle’s book Embrace Spirituality and Enhance Your Human Experience 

The dark night of the soul is not depression — it’s a passage. Michelle explains this centuries-old idea, why it often arrives in midlife, and how what feels like emptiness can actually be the stripping away that makes space for truth.www.michellewollaston.comCome Home to the Woman WithinSt. John of the Cross Poems

Every awakening journey needs a foundation. In this episode, Michelle outlines four simple but powerful practices — grounding, cleansing, protection, and gratitude — that support you through the turbulence of midlife and the call to remember yourself. Plus, I’ve created a free 7-day program with short daily meditations to help you integrate these practices step by step. By the end of the week, you’ll have your own set of spiritual anchors you can return to anytime. Embrace Spirituality and Enhance Your Human ExperienceWebsite

Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good exercise — it’s medicine for the nervous system, the heart, and the spirit. Michelle shares why gratitude is more than a practice, and how it helps us anchor presence and heal the invisible wounds of midlife.Website

This episode is a little different. I was recently interviewed by David Trotter for the Awakened Podcast, part of my journey as an Executive Contributor for Awakened Magazine and an upcoming author in the second Awakened Hearts book, due out at the end of 2025.We covered a lot in this conversation — what it really means to awaken (and how it often looks nothing like the love-and-light version we’re sold), the importance of living in spiritual integrity, and how to stay visible and rooted as a soul-led woman in a world that often misunderstands you.If you've ever wrestled with your truth, felt unseen in your work, or questioned whether your voice really matters — this one’s for you.Let it land where it needs to.www.michellewollaston.comAwakened MagazineCome Home to the Woman Within Resource

So many women in midlife quietly whisper the same thing: “I feel like I’m disappearing.” In this episode, Michelle explores the loss of self that creeps in through roles, expectations, and overgiving — and how awakening begins with noticing the quiet unraveling.Curious about your current energetic position book a Sacred Shift Session with meCome Home to the Woman WithinMy Website

Welcome to Soul Loom: A Space to Remember YourselfThis is where Soul Loom begins. Michelle Wollaston shares why she created this space, the principles behind it, and the threads she’ll be weaving in every episode — presence, permission, and personal power. A short, powerful introduction to what’s ahead.Free Resource: ⁠Come Home to the Woman Within⁠Grab a copy of my book: ⁠Embrace Spirituality and Enhance Your Human Experience⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Facebook⁠

What makes someone a “life coach” — a certificate, or lived wisdom? In this episode, Michelle Wollaston unpacks why the title never quite fit, and how her background in education, spiritual practice, and human design shaped a different path. If you’ve ever questioned your role or your worth, this conversation will help you see the deeper story.Free Resource: Come Home to the Woman WithinGrab a copy of my book: Embrace Spirituality and Enhance Your Human ExperienceWebsite: www.michellewollaston.comContact: michelle@michellewollaston.comInstagramFacebook

What happens when leadership stops being about pushing harder and starts coming from within?In this episode of Soul Loom, Michelle speaks with leadership mentor and speaker Jess Garay, whose work sits at the intersection of authorship, sovereignty, and capacity — supporting visionary women to return to their own rhythm and lead from within.With nearly two decades as a Registered Nurse working in cancer care and long-term care, Jess spent years in environments where life and death sat side by side. Those experiences shaped the way she now understands leadership, responsibility, and the importance of staying connected to your own inner compass.Today Jess blends Human Design, nervous system awareness, and practical leadership mentoring to help women reclaim authorship over their voice, vision, and capacity so they can lead with clarity and trust in their own timing.In this conversation we explore:• How Jess’s nursing career shaped her understanding of leadership and responsibility• What it means to lead from within instead of pushing through• The role of Human Design in decision making and leadership alignment• Why understanding your energetic rhythm changes the way you work and lead• How trusting your inner knowing can shift both your business and your lifeIf you’ve ever felt like the way you’re expected to lead doesn’t quite fit who you are, this conversation offers a different perspective — one rooted in rhythm, resonance, and self-trust.Websitehttps://jessgaray.comFree Business Clarity Blueprinthttps://jessgaray.comHuman Design Maphttps://jessgaray.comResonance Rising Podcast(Search Resonance Rising on your favourite podcast platform)Follow the podcast so new conversations land in your feed.If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need to hear it.Until next time, keep weaving your own threads of becoming.Connect with Jess GarayListen to Soul Loom