What severs women from their wild, instinctual selves? Or maybe the better question is: when did we become disconnected in the first place?
In this episode, we explore the concept of “Wild Severance” — the gradual disconnection many women experience from their intuition, instincts, bodies, power, and truth. Inspired by the work of Clarissa Pinkola Estés, we unpack the systems, experiences, and conditioning that teach women to override themselves in order to belong, perform, and stay safe.
We talk about the subtle and overt ways women are taught to disconnect from their natural essence — and what it means to begin rewilding ourselves back into wholeness.
In This Episode We Discuss:
- How patriarchal systems condition women to perform rather than trust themselves
- Kate’s early experience interviewing for a law job and being told not to wear her wedding ring
- Betsy’s story of religious conditioning that taught her the body was sinful and untrustworthy
- The lasting impact of Victoria’s Secret and cultural messaging around women’s bodies
- Why systems of control benefit when women are disconnected from community, intuition, and each other
- The tension many women felt around taking their husband’s last name — and ignoring the instinct that questioned it
- How trauma disconnects women from instinct and intuition
- Dr. Estés’ insight that wounded women can become more vulnerable to promises of safety, ease, and approval
- Betsy’s story of early trauma and how it severed her connection to herself
- The danger of teaching girls to always “be nice”
- Why compliance and people-pleasing often require women to override their intuition
- The truth that a mother wolf would never teach her cubs to ignore danger signals
- Teaching daughters to trust themselves instead of abandoning themselves for approval
- Dr. Estés’ question: “Why do women keep bending and folding themselves into shapes that aren’t theirs?”
- The fear many women have of their own power
- Betsy’s retreat experience of standing fully in her power — and how terrifying that felt
- Why fear itself isn’t the problem unless it stops us from using our gifts in the world
- Spring and summer as natural seasons for rewilding and reconnection
Key Takeaway
Rewilding begins with awareness.
The first step is acknowledging where you have been severed from yourself — your body, intuition, instincts, voice, desires, or power.
From there, healing becomes a return. Not becoming someone new, but remembering who you were before the disconnection.
Books & References Mentioned
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Coming Soon an online course for Rewilding will begin in July!
Kate Moreland Coaching (https://www.
Dr Yoga Momma (https://dryogamomma.com/)
Heartland Yoga (https://heartlandyoga.com/)
Want to do coaching work with Kate or mind-body psychotherapy with Betsy?
Kate Moreland Coaching (https://www.
Dr Yoga Momma (https://dryogamomma.com/)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download