OF THE EARTH with Mariana Rittenhouse Mariana Rittenhouse

Today I have my good friend Kendra Cunov on the podcast and I’m excited for you to hear the interview because I think it is a great one! I always love my conversations with Kendra as she’s a deep lover of the Earth and we hold similar values, so it’s fun to dig in and go a little deeper each time.
Kendra is a coach & facilitator that has been doing amazing work in the fields of relationship & intimacy for a long time now…seriously, she’s a legend…ask anyone who knows her. I’m so grateful to be her friend & can to walk alongside her in life.
In this episode we talk about so many things…yet I think the red thread that connects them all together is seeing yourself as a co-partner with life and learning how to move through the world in that way,
We believe that as Humans we’re being asked to stop trying to be everything to everyone, and rather allow our limitations & constraints to drive our sense of purpose and belonging in life.
We’re not all powerful…but we’re here for a reason and we can finally align with that something clicks that opens us up to a world beyond our imagination.
We talk about this concept through many lenses, such as:
* Land stewardship & the magic of destiny
* What abundance means to us and how to find security in the world
* The benefits of limitation & containment
* Getting our basic needs as Humans met
* How to live in a way that’s in relationship to life
* Finding what’s meant for you
I’m so excited to grateful to get to share a conversation with Kendra with you all…she’s truly a legend & I think you’ll get a lot out of this conversation. As always, leave any comments & reflections here on Substack. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Oh, and on a separate note, friendly reminder that there are still a few spots left in my Tea & Nature retreat in Colombia this February, join us here.
About Kendra & where to find her:
Kendra Cunov has been studying, facilitating, and (most importantly) practicing Authentic Relating, Embodiment Practices & Deep Intimacy Work for over fifteen years. She works with organizations & leaders, as well as men, women & couples, who know that embodied presence, truth, connection & integrity are our truest access points to success – in business & in love.
Follow her on Instagram
Check out her website
Work with her


How to support OF THE EARTH
This podcast is an offering from my heart as a way to continue creating the world I want to live in–one that is honoring of Nature, connected in community & functions on reciprocity. If you feel called to support this work & vision, here’s how:
* Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify!
* Share this podcast with your community
* Follow & connect with me on Instagram
Thank you for being & for being here! Until next time, my friends!




Get full access to OF THE EARTH at marianarittenhouse.substack.com/subscribe

If you’re in my community you might have heard that my plans for this year involved working for a couple of months and then taking a sabbatical for a year starting in April/May. I planned to wrap things up work-wise in a good way, leave everyone well trained and ready for a year of running Ponderosa Tea House alone, and run a last in-person event, my retreat in Colombia…then, I was off!
Until today, I haven’t shared about what I planned to be doing. Mostly because I find that when we share too much about our plans, they don’t tend to happen. It’s actually been proven that humans get as much (or more) of an ego boost & social capital from SAYING they did something, or sharing it on social media, that we’ve become less likely to actually walk our talk 😱
This year that I had planned was too special for that, so I kept things close & became devotional AF to the task at hand.
I was going to participate in a program in which people live outside, on the Earth, with community for a year.
You learn to make your own fires, you build your shelters using only what the Earth provides, you learn primitive fishing & cooking, you connect, gather & share stories & do dream work…
The moment I found out about the program I was in…and I mean literally the moment I found out. I was on the phone with them for an interview within days and was already planning how I would make it happen.
Taking a year off when you’re off-grid is no joke and I gave myself 18 months to prepare.
Say, do you know either of these sayings:
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Well, things went awry & God laughed…
This is what I spent my last few months feeling & crying about. Yet, things did work out, just very differently.
On today’s podcast I share with you the story behind-the-scenes of my sabbatical that didn’t happen…and gear you up for what’s next!
Moving forward I will have an option for you to monetarily support this podcast. Members will receive stories of this amazing next step I’ll be taking in life…still learning to live outside, but in a very different way.
Right now, I’m doing the first part of it, as I’m out in Scandinavia & the Arctic Circle on my first journey to wild living. I’m sooo excited & have so many other emotions as well. I’m excited to gather an intimate group of Humans to journey alongside me in the digital space & that I can share openly and honestly about my experience with.
In the Members-Only space you can expect things like today’s episode (behind-the-scenes stories about my experience), as well as videos, photos, journal entries, poems, etc. Everything will be from my vulnerable heart to yours.
This is a great way to connect in 2024 as I’ll be pretty private. I’m off of social media & will be teaching infrequently.
The first post will go live either in a few days, or in the first week of February when I’m back. Can’t wait to see who joins in on the fun!
Thank you in advance to all those who sign up!! It will help support me as I work less this year and take this sacred time to live closer to the Earth…and bring back the wisdom I receive 🥰

How to support OF THE EARTH
This podcast is an offering from my heart as a way to continue creating the world I want to live in–one that is honoring of Nature, connected in community & functions on reciprocity. If you feel called to support this work & vision, here’s how:
* Subscribe to get tons of members-only content and follow me on my journeys this year
* Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify!
* Share this podcast with your community
* Follow & connect with me on Instagram
Thank you for being & for being here! Until next time, my friends!




Get full access to OF THE EARTH at marianarittenhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Hello loves!! Welcome to 2024! I am so happy to be in this new year–it feels abundant, expansive and full of adventure. But today, I want to let you in on a little secret:
I worked my butt off for it!!
2023 was a year with so many painful patterns, overdue clearings & deep inner work…it honestly kind of rocked me!
On the outside it looked like nothing but expansion: new Tea house, new Tea company, new boyfriend…
But on the inside, bringing all of these dreams & desires back into my life brought up a lot of fear & distrust. In order to really claim what I wanted, I needed to learn new ways of being that reflect the balanced, grounded & light-filled life I’ve created since the last time I was in any of these dynamics.
You may or may not remember, but I’ve kept a pretty low profile since my life collapsed almost six years ago. The things that hurt me – work, love, community – were seriously put on the back burner as I got back on my feet.
But here’s the thing…Avoidance isn’t healing.”Not being ready to go there” isn’t healing.Being OK without these things…also not healing.
When I was finally courageous enough to invite these levels of intimacy back into my life, I feel like I picked up right where I left off in terms of my healing journey…and while I was humbled by life, I found that I was also supported by all that I feared.
And because of that, I finally got out of the way and let myself H E A L.
In today’s episode I share vulnerably about this process in three areas of my life–reopening my Tea House, stepping back into relationship & launching de la Tierra Teas.
I’m excited to hear how this resonates with you. Feel free to leave a comment below.
As a thank you for listening, I am offering 15% off your first or next purchase at de la Tierra! Use code OFTHEEARTH and enjoy!!


How to support OF THE EARTH
This podcast is an offering from my heart as a way to continue creating the world I want to live in–one that is honoring of Nature, connected in community & functions on reciprocity. If you feel called to support this work & vision, here’s how:
* Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify!
* Share this podcast with your community
* Follow & connect with me on Instagram
Thank you for being & for being here! Until next time, my friends!




Get full access to OF THE EARTH at marianarittenhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Today I’m talking to a dear friend & sister, Allison Strickland. We first got to know each other many years ago when we were in a shamanic apprenticeship together to support our personal healing journeys. So much life has happened since then as I’ve settled into my work teaching the ways of the Earth through Tea, and Allison has created a thriving practice of helping people know themselves & connect to Spirit through her healing Meditation Paintings.

In this episode we talk about what it means to be a healer who cannot quite explain their work–if you’re one of those people whose work is shrouded in the mystery, you’ll probably find a lot of empathy & understanding in this conversation.
It can be difficult in this age of marketing, knowledge-hunger & unending definitions to hold true to work or a way in the world that doesn’t neatly fit into a category or box, but what we’ve both found in our work & lives is that when we don’t welcome in the mystery we miss out on so much.
We’re not talking about the unknown, we’re talking about the unknowable.
I love these conversations with Allison, especially because we’re two biracial kids who have a lifetime I’ve trying to understand where we belong in this world…it’s easy for us to drop into discourse about things that just don’t quite make sense to our minds!
Other topics we cover today:
* What does it mean to be an oracle or have oracular work?
* Are all Humans artists? What does it mean to be creative?
* How can we open ourselves up to Spirit or something greater than us in order to live our purpose in the world?
I’m so excited to share that Allison is joining me this year on my Ceremony of Life retreat this February in Colombia…she’s going to lead us in a spiritual painting journey to help us embody this transcendent creative within. We end the episode sharing about this experience and all that we’re hoping to experience on this nourishing weeklong adventure.
There are still a few spots left in this intimate retreat, join us here.

Where to find Allison:
Allison does amazing oracular sessions called The Opening. I highly recommend them if you’re feeling the call! You can book a session here.
For everything else, here’s her website & Instagram.
And of course, you can spend time in person with both of us in Colombia!! Feb 17-23rd. Reach out with questions or to join us.


How to support OF THE EARTH
This podcast is an offering from my heart as a way to continue creating the world I want to live in–one that is honoring of Nature, connected in community & functions on reciprocity. If you feel called to support this work & vision, here’s how:
* Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify!
* Share this podcast with your community
* Follow & connect with me on Instagram
Thank you for being & for being here! Until next time, my friends!




Get full access to OF THE EARTH at marianarittenhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Today I’m talking to one of my students, Jess Cummings, about her journey with Tea. It is one of the most humbling transformations I’ve witnessed in my years of helping people find their true selves through the practice of Tea.
Two years ago Jess was excited to finally begin her journey with Tea. She was setting up the perfect, beautiful space before the first class of Start Your Own Tea Practice when her phone rang…a phone call that would change her life.
She listened to the voice on the other end share the news–at the young age of 48, her father had just died.
I am so grateful Jess decided to reach out to me to let me know what was happening…and I’m not going to lie, I was heartbroken for her and also nervous for her.
It’s a sad truth, but sometimes Tea comes into our lives for a reason that we don’t know yet…to support us in some unbearable circumstance that has yet to happen…I knew that there was a wise part of her that had opted into this support in advance, but I wasn’t sure if she was going to take it.
And I wouldn’t blame her! She had every reason to not show up…
But she did. She showed up again, and again, and again…
And over the last two years I have watched this woman completely change her life. She took the pain and grief of losing her father and honored his memory best she knew how–by living a beautifully rich & aligned life.
It wasn’t an easy journey and I’m so inspired by the strength Jess has shown not just to herself & her family, but to our Tea community. I’m excited for you to hear her message today.
I hope you enjoy! Leave comments below and if you are ready to Start Your Own Tea Practice, sign up here. There are limited spots & enrollment closes September 3rd.
Where to find Jess: You can follow or reach out to Jess on Instagram…her account is private, but she’s here to chat if you feel called! Don’t be shy, she’s got one of the biggest hearts you’ll ever meet.


How to support OF THE EARTH
This podcast is an offering from my heart as a way to continue creating the world I want to live in–one that is honoring of Nature, connected in community & functions on reciprocity. If you feel called to support this work & vision, here’s how:
* Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify!
* Share this podcast with your community
* Follow & connect with me on Instagram
Thank you for being & for being here! Until next time, my friends!




Get full access to OF THE EARTH at marianarittenhouse.substack.com/subscribe

I’m not going to lie, this podcast wasn’t an easy one for me to record! There was something blocking me from sharing my story…so instead, I got on Instagram and asked people to submit questions about my Tea journey so I could be interviewed and it would help things flow better.
I realized quite soon why sharing my story felt edgy right now…it’s because, believe it or not, my Tea journey hasn’t been the easiest one. Yes, I could say I found Tea, fell in love, and it changed my life forever…
But…the truth is, I didn’t just fall in love with Tea, I also fell in love with the person who introduced this specific Tea ritual to me…and that, as it turns out, was an abusive relationship that I would spend years recovering from (of course, with the help of Tea).
And so…yes, it’s not something I love to dwell on and have only shared in more intimate spaces…and even then, it’s usually a much watered down version (spoiler alert: I do NOT get into any drama in this episode…I have healed from my past and I am happy to leave it there!)
When I think back on it, my journey of Tea has been one of standing firmly in my truth, standing up for myself, letting people have their freedom even if it hurts me, and moving forward in a good way. It has been such a humbling journey and one that really made me not throw the baby away with the bath water…
In today’s episode I answer all your questions and talk about how I had to find a way to choose Tea, without abandoning myself…and that’s exactly what I did!
The questions I cover are:
* What was your relationship like with Tea before you started your Tea practice?
* What about your first tea ceremony felt different from tea you knew before?
* When you started your tea practice was it daily or did you falter?
* When did Tea become Cha Dao for you? What made you start a daily practice?
* What idd the beginning of your Tea journey look like?
* What was the moment you knew Tea was it? Or maybe it wasn’t one but several moments?
* How has Tea changed your perspective of yourself? What is your message through Tea?
* How did tea teach you to let go of perfectionism and just be?
* When was the moment you knew that tea was your life’s work?
* What its he birth story of Start Your Own Tea Practice?
* Why do you think it was tea as opposed to meditation, mindfulness, etc?
* Was there always a tea community in Boulder or did you built it yourself?
* What keeps you grounded during your tea sits when your mind is busy busy?
Some photos of my Tea journey!!
As mentioned in the podcast, here’s the photo of my space when I came home from India and had the WTF, rock-bottom moment of “How did I lose everything in my life and how do I get it to stop?!!” You might recognize my this as where my current Tea space is!! I’ve gone through so much here…and now it’s a healing space for others as well.
Here’s me traveling 100 flights a year for work while maintaining a Tea practice (with all the wrong things, no idea what I was doing, but SO MUCH SWEETNESS!
Me with Tea plants for the first time as an adult
Thanks to all those who submitted questions!! It helped so much. I hope you enjoy it & thanks in advance for treating my story with compassion and kindness.


How to support OF THE EARTH
This podcast is an offering from my heart as a way to continue creating the world I want to live in–one that is honoring of Nature, connected in community & functions on reciprocity. If you feel called to support this work & vision, here’s how:
* Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify!
* Share this podcast with your community
* Follow & connect with me on Instagram
Thank you for being & for being here! Until next time, my friends!




Get full access to OF THE EARTH at marianarittenhouse.substack.com/subscribe