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What does it mean to raise children while carrying the weight of despair, and to find healing in unexpected places? In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Betti Rooted Lionheart, a mother, shamanic healer, and facilitator of “The Work That Reconnects.”

Betti opens up about her early conviction never to have children, her experiences with traumatic birth and a lifelong fistula injury, and the path that led her to shamanic practice, despair work, and a new sense of belonging.

With raw honesty, she shares how she’s modeled healing and resilience for her teenage sons, how she navigates abandonment wounds, and why she believes every parent deserves permission to feel all their emotions.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Despair can start early. From childhood, Betti carried deep grief for the planet and humanity, which shaped her view of motherhood.
2. Birth trauma has lasting effects. A severe tear during home birth left Betti with a lifelong fistula injury and marked a personal rock bottom.
3. Community dreams are hard to sustain. Her efforts to build intentional community often clashed with isolation and burnout.
4. Healing begins with reclaiming voice. Through shamanic soul retrieval, Betti began to step into her power and speak her truth.
5. Parenting and healing intertwine. She has modeled openness, spiritual connection, and resilience for her teenage sons, inviting them into the journey.
6. All emotions are valid. From rage to despair to joy, Betti believes in expressing emotions fully, even inviting her kids to witness her rage practice.

🎧 Soundbites

1. “I grew up in despair about what humans were doing to the earth — and thought I’d never have children.”
2. “A traumatic birth injury left me with a fistula that doctors still don’t have answers for — ten years later.”
3. “Shamanic practice gave me back my voice — and with it, my power.”
4. “Every emotion is valid. Rage, despair, joy — all of it belongs.”
5. “I want my kids to see that doing what feeds me doesn’t mean I’m abandoning them.”
6. “What if, instead of stopping our kids’ tantrums, we sat down and tantrumed with them?”

To learn more about Betti, visit her website.

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

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Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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