Rio Cosmico

Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman
Rio Cosmico

Welcome to the Rio Cosmico Podcast, (Formerly Starseed Survival Guide) a monthly podcast about healing. Rio Cosmico is hosted by Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman, founder of Río Cósmico Homestead, Seasonal Ceremonial Microvillage, Library of Earth Magic and home of the Medicine Mandala Green Witch Initiation Journey. Río Cósmico is located in the Cuyamaca region of Southern California, where we support unconventional wisdom keepers in finding multidimensional health, pleasure, purpose, creative fulfillment and liberation on the path of service to Mother Earth. Yaya has been a student, practitioner, and educator of the visual, performing, and healing arts for 22 years and her speaking, writing, online, and in person educational programs currently reach thousands of people daily all over the world. Visit Our Website: www.riocosmico.org Follow Yaya on Instagram: @activeculturefamily

Episodes

  1. 07/25/2024

    The Winding Path of the Self Taught Intuitive Herbalist with Veladya Chapman

    In this episode, we are joined by Veladya Chapman, Goddess guide, herbalist, homesteader, womb wisdom keeper, and so much more. I smiled and laughed a lot during this conversation and in the editing process and hope you will too in the listening. In this episode we explore: • Veladya’s multicultural heritage • What Goddesses inform Veladya’s path and work, including how Kali comes to guide women who work with other women, and Oshun’s connection to our deep emotions • Her childhood making herbal perfumes and potions to sell instead of lemonade, and the path of the intuitive self taught herbalist • Overcoming bullying and racial dynamics in the south, the pain and energetic expense that bullying and judgement can cause us, and the efforts to move forward anyway • How playing the role of Annie as a black young woman served as an early opportunity to own that being different is fabulous • How the witch, medicine woman, coroner and outcast are roles that young witches in musical theater are often cast in • Working as an actress on broadway, getting that out of the way, and feeling like there was something more than the electric feeling of being in front of an audience • Holistic nutrition school being a transformative time and space to make big changes in her way of life. • The ever changing landscape of our close herbal allies • The magic of pao d’arco and the magical way it came into her life for gut health and candida overgrowth • How tarot archetypes show up in an herbalist’s world • What’s growing in her garden and the path land stewardship veladyaorganica meg flora wellness tenesse • Transitioning from a vegan diet back to meat eating, and needing to come out to the vegan community that she helped grow • Recognizing faerie wisdom channelled by other modern guides • Veladya’s motherhood journey and it’s unexpected challenges, like being asked to become a mother before ready, a year of mourning maidenhood and letting go of the belief that things will come easily • What she turn’s to in times of creative or mothering burnout …and more! ▼LINKS▼: Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you would like to learn more about Veladya’s work please visit: https://www.veladyaorganica.com View Veladya’s popular Youtube “Why I’m not Vegan Anymore”: https://youtu.be/N-nXzXGCDf4?feature=shared Listen to host Yaya’s own journey from being vegan to eating meat again in Episode 1 of our old podcast Earthside Survival Guide: https://youtu.be/H45CmVJs14I?feature=shared Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Featured Music: “Mycelium” by Dean Jones & Jacky Davis (Included with the permission of the artists) Podcast art custom created for us by Geens Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about our school Escuela del Río Cósmico here: https://www.riocosmico.org Listen to the bonus conversation with Veladya and support the show in producing new episodes by joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/riocosmico If you would like to donate, or donate again, to our BIPOC Scholarship fund, we are currently accepting donations to provide financial assistance for the 2024 cohort of our folk medicine apprenticeship here: https://www.riocosmico.org/pages/donate

    1h 6m

  2. 04/15/2024

    Music is Everywhere, and We are All the Hummingbirds of These Times w/ Artist, Therapist, and Educator Claudia Cuentas

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Yaya Erin Rivera & Río Cósmico Homestead. In this short and sweet episode we are joined once again by Peruvian born, bilingual and bicultural artist, licensed marriage and family therapist, researcher and educator, Claudia Cuentas. Claudia is currently in private practice in Portland Oregon, and specializes in the intersectionality of art, trauma recovery, cultural identity, indigenous knowledge and the decolonization of healing. In this episode we share a personal update on where we are at on our own healing journey as it relates to what we share through the podcast and the school. We go on to continue the conversation from episode 9 about navigating the way layers of family, history, and culture show up in our bodies and relationships as patterns to be healed, and how it is that this healing actually takes place. Be sure to listen all the way to the end where you can hear more of the original healing songs we discuss in this episode. Together we also explore: • The multiverse within and it’s many layers • Music’s ability to transmute and transform energies in the body, changing the very composition of the matter that we are working with • Viewing the body as made up of channels of water, and how music can open channels and unblock life force energy so we can flow, feel our feelings, find release, and allow ourselves to come back into balance. • How music is actually everywhere • Advice and encouragement for those who desire to write their own original songs • The story/ inspiration behind 2 of Claudia’s favorite songs from her album Alma. The first is titled simply "Aguita", and is a medicine song for the waters. the second song is called Canta Colibri, and is about finding our voice and being fiercely joyful and fully present again after trauma. ▼LINKS▼: If you would like to learn more about Claudia’s work please visit: https://www.claudiacuentas.com and @claudiacuentasoficial on Instagagram. Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Featured Music: Aguita & Canta Colibri by Claudia Cuentas from her album Alma. Podcast art custom created for us by Geens Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about Medicine Mandala, our year long Folk Medicine Apprenticeship click here: https://www.riocosmico.org Learn More about our commitments to our learning community by visiting https://www.riocosmico.org/pages/diversity-equity-at-rio-cosmico Support the show in producing new episodes by becoming a member of our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/riocosmico Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you!

    32 min

  3. 09/20/2023

    Solidarity is Our Second Nature with Peruvian Born Artist, Therapist & Educator Claudia Cuentas

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Yaya Erin Rivera & Río Cósmico Homestead. In this episode we are joined by Peruvian born, bilingual and bicultural artist, licensed marriage and family therapist, researcher and educator, Claudia Cuentas. Claudia is currently in private practice in Portland Oregon, and specializes in the intersectionality of art, trauma recovery, cultural identity, indigenous knowledge and the decolonization of healing. In this episode we explore: • The mixture of food, music, and political activity Claudia was raised with • Learning about life, commitment to family, and indigenous movements for social justice in her grandmothers kitchen • Aymara and Quechua values around reciprocity and solidarity, how life gives life exponentially • Coming to the united states at 18 without expectation of staying • Navigating family pressures and expectations of us while believing in the visions for our lives that art can show us • Being shaped by working every imaginable job and the vulnerability of being in a country undocumented and needing to find a way to to help family and pay for studies, learn english and pursue a career • When things began to come together and integrate into a vision supported by the ancestors • The western paradigm of specialization and how it disconnects us from our wholeness, and the faith required that the ancestors are supporting us every step of the way • What it’s like to receive a healing session from Claudia • How our activism or creative projects may feel fulfilling, but often it is our family that is there for us when times get tough or at the end of our lives • Approaching things through the political lens versus through the lens of what is healing • Healing as following the golden thread of curiosity and wanting to learn more • Finding teachers from her own lineage and regions to learn how to do healing work in community and with women • the necessity for us of forgiving our fathers, in order to be the versions of ourselves we most want to be and how when we go through the process we prevent those fractals from recreating themselves in our lives now and being passed to future generations • a somatic therapists working definition of PTSD • some mechanics of intergenerational trauma and how it can show up, and the non linear nature of the healing process • studying psychology while simultaneously working deeply with indigenous teachers and the way that enables her to filter everything through the lens of the indigenous perspectives • trauma as shock to the body, events that take us beyond our capacity. • nervous system re-organisation and accepting how reality affects our energy • understanding and decoding what it is in our bodies, where it comes from, and how we can transform & recycle that energy… and more. ▼LINKS▼: Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you would like to learn more about Claudia’s work please visit: https://www.claudiacuentas.com Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Featured Music: Tobaquito by Claudia Cuentas from the album Alma. Podcast art custom created for us by Geens Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about our school Escuela del Río Cósmico here: https://www.riocosmico.org Support the show in producing new episodes by joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/riocosmico If you would like to donate, or donate again, to our BIPOC Scholarship fund, we are currently accepting donations to provide financial assistance for the 2024 cohort of our folk medicine apprenticeship here: https://www.riocosmico.org/pages/donate

    55 min

  4. 01/27/2023

    The Genius of Reflexive People Pleasing, Trauma as Goddess, and Other Strangely Liberating Truths with Somatic Therapist Luis Mojica

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. In this episode, host Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman is joined once again by somatic therapist, life coach, whole food nutritional counselor, father, and musician Luis Mojica for part 2 of a 2 part conversation. In this episode we explore: • Luis’s personal definition of trauma, informed by his own healing journey and his experiences as a professional Somatic Therapist • How trauma is not tied to the event • Somatic Therapy as indigenous wisdom that invites us to reorient ourselves back to the land • Familiarizing ourselves with the language of being “over-coupled” to help us navigate our reactivity to situations • The promise versus the real potential of the Somatic Therapy modality • The relationship between traumatic experiences and Goddess Kali • What is happening in the body when we become triggered • Understanding the fawn response and the survival genius of reflexive people pleasing • Possible intergenerational sources of our triggers • Positive and traumatic over-coupleings, or associations, and how they show up in our responses to life • When intergenerational trauma looks like past life memories or overreacting • How time and the seasons can help us process through complex traumas • The importance of allowing our natural rhythms of constriction and expansion to play their part in the processing of traumatic experiences • The difference between desire and capacity and how this may relate to our explorations of values driven polyamory Links: Access episode bonus content & learn all the benefits of becoming a member of our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily Learn more about Luis’ Somatic Therapy work, visit: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com Featured Music: Mountains by Luis Mojica Podcast Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Podcast art by Geens Archenti Flores for Rio Cosmico: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about Río Cósmico: https://www.riocosmico.org

    48 min

  5. 11/30/2022

    The Endless Trail of Cosmos Unfurling: Exploring Surgery, Songwriting & The Tools of Somatic Therapy with Luis Mojica

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. In this episode, host Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman is joined by somatic therapist, life coach, whole food nutritional counselor, father, and musician Luis Mojica. In this episode we explore: • Being born with an intersex expression and the road to acceptance of both the body we are born into and the culture(s) we are born into • The lawlessness of our own inner mythological landscape • Experiencing the self as an endless trail of cosmos unfurling • The healing power of sound, songwriting & surgery • People we meet who evoke our deepest authenticity that we just can’t hide from • A witches story of reclaiming the land that is the body • Tantric wisdom goddess Matangi and recognizing her Shakti across cultures • Somatic Therapy as a tool for a more soulful, unapologetic embodiment • Exploring the racial tensions that can arise in intersectional communities through the lens of Somatic Therapy • Goddess in her form as the forest floor, and more. This episode culminates in an extended, multidisciplinary transmission of Goddess Diana energy. Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell The Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss Goddesses in Every Woman by Jean Shinoda Bolen Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you would like to access the bonus conversation with Luis on how to tell the difference between the voice of our intuition and the voice of our triggers, along with hundreds of other recipes, discounts, patrons only merchandise, workshops, rituals, and more, you can head over to our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon and explore all the benefits of membership today. Links: Access episode bonus content & learn all the benefits of becoming a member of our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily Learn more about Luis’ Somatic Therapy work, visit: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com Featured Music: Diana by by Luis Mojica Podcast Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Podcast art by Geens Archenti Flores for Rio Cosmico: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about Río Cósmico: https://www.riocosmico.org

    1h 23m

  6. 10/17/2022

    From Fiery Roots to Clouds Under Water & Sliding to the Side to Find Our Path with Jaguar Womban

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. On today’s episode, host Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman is joined by multidimensional healing artist, intuitive herbalist, ancestral channel, poet and teacher Jaguar Woman. Her work shares ways to connect with Mother Earth using plant medicine and ceremony. Today’s episode is part two of a 2 part conversation where we dive deeper into a profound near death experience which initiated Jaguar into her current healing gifts. Topics covered in today’s conversation: The relationship between the absolute and the relative. How art and creativity can play into our healing journeys and nurture our souls. The distinctions between writing and channeling. Jaguar reads her own poem and one of her favorite poems, further illuminating and articulating the ways our energy is refined as we heal and grow into our full medicinal potency Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you’d like to experience Jaguar’s healing gifts first hand, you can learn how to access discounted sessions with her, along with hundred of other recipes, discounts, patrons only merchandise, workshops and rituals over in our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily Links: Learn more about Jaguar Womban: https://www.wombnation.org Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Featured Music- Anaha Ya (Here I Am) By Chella Torres for Umalali: The Garifuna Women’s Project: https://garifunacollective.bandcamp.com/album/umalali-the-garifuna-womens-project Podcast by art by Geens Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about the Río Cósmico: https://www.riocosmico.org Learn the benefits of joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/riocosmico

    44 min

  7. 10/17/2022

    Rebooted by Death with Jaguar Woman

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. On today’s episode, host Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman is joined by multidimensional healing artist, intuitive herbalist, ancestral channel, poet and teacher Jaguar Woman. Her work shares ways to connect with Mother Earth using plant medicine and ceremony. Topics covered in today’s conversation: Growing up as a ministers daughter and the process by which these early experiences has integrated into her path asa medicine woman. How Coco (Coronavirus) affected our adaptability and evolution. The ways that Mother Earth maintains balance and the role of purging on the healing path The timeless and non linear nature of prayer space. Jaguar’s story of the traumatic near death experience that initiated her into her current healing gifts, and what it was like to experience her own consciousness beyond the limitations of form. Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you’d like to experience Jaguar’s healing gifts first hand, you can learn how to access discounted sessions with her, along with hundred of other recipes, discounts, patrons only merchandise, workshops and rituals over in our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily Links: Featured Music- Nibari (My Grandchild) by Sofia Blanco with Umalali: The Garifuna Women’s Project: https://garifunacollective.bandcamp.com/album/umalali-the-garifuna-womens-project Learn more about Jaguar Womban: https://www.wombnation.org Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Podcast by art by Geens Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about the Río Cósmico: https://www.riocosmico.org Learn the benefits of joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily

    56 min

  8. 08/10/2022

    Decolonizing Our Creative Process, Seeking Refuge and Creating Home with Zena Carlota Pearl

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. On today’s episode, seed keeper and story teller Zena Carlota Pearl returns for part 2 of a 2 part conversation. Zena is a practicing expressive arts therapist and associate marriage and family therapist working with individuals, couples and groups to uncover and navigate archetypal stories and familial patterns in relationships. Together we explore: • How Zena’s work of creating today focuses on story. • The work of dreaming ourselves outside of white supremacy, colonialism, and capitalism. • The importance of every creative having the choice in their work of whether to create as performance, or as ceremony or ritual. • How Zena honors the cyclical nature of the creative process. • What Zena has learned about home through her therapeutic work with refugees. • The way Zena has found a sense of home and acceptance through her voice and through her music. Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you’d like to hear Zena speak to some of the themes and lessons of her personal journey through the collective initiation of 2020, you can find a bonus episode with Zena in our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon. Learn about the benefits of membership through the link below. Links: Learn more about Zena Carlota Pearl here: https://www.zenacarlota.com Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Podcast cover art by Geenss Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about the Río Cósmico Homestead here: https://www.riocosmico.org Learn about the benefits of membership to our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily

    43 min

  9. 08/02/2022

    Elements of Culture as Vessels for Memory Zena Carlota Pearl

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. On today’s episode, we are joined by seed keeper and story teller Zena Carlota Pearl for part 1 or our 2 part conversation. Zena is a practicing expressive arts therapist and associate marriage and family therapist working with individuals, couples and groups to uncover and navigate archetypal stories and familial patterns in relationships. Together we explore: • Zena’s upbringing, ancestral roots and the challenges she faced early in life which served to help shape who she is today. • Zena’s discovery of the kora. • Vessels for ancestral memory and language. • Navigating taboos during creation. • The Russian fairytale story of Vasilisa. • The things we create and carry with us, give us strength and will be passed on to the generations to come. Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you’d like to hear me reading Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés version of the Russian folktale Vasilisa discussed in this episode, you can find a bonus episode/ bedtime story in your feed in our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon. Learn about the benefits of membership through the link below. Links: Learn more about Zena Carlota Pearl here: https://www.zenacarlota.com Follow Zena on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenacarlota/ Intro music by Luis Mojica: http://www.luismojica.com Podcast cover art by Geenss Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about the Río Cósmico Homestead here: https://www.riocosmico.org Learn about the benefits of membership to our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily

    33 min

  10. 06/07/2022

    Honoring Our Roots Part 2 with Grandmother Irka Mateo

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. Today Dominican Taino folk healer, researcher, singer, songwriter, and community builder Akutu (grandmother) Irka Mateo returns for part two of a two part conversation. Together we explore: • The geography and timeframe of major migrations from the Orinoco River, populating Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba. • Bringing ceramics back into the hands of women. • Exploring the distinction between reclaiming, respectful cultural exchange, and cultural appropriation. • The sounds and rhythms of the Taino people which inspire Irka’s music. •Popular words we all know which actually belong to the Taino people, and more. Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you’d like to hear us talk about the concept of hierarchy as it shows up in ancestor worship traditions, be sure to join our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon, where you can find a special bonus mini-episode with Irka. Links: Follow Irka on Instagram as @sacredtainohealing Visit her website www.sacredtainohealing.com to find her ceremonies and healing sessions. Intro music by Luis Mojica: www.luismojica.com Podcast cover art commissioned by Rio Cosmico from Geenss Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about Río Cósmico Homestead: www.riocosmico.org Connect with likeminded listeners through our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily

    41 min

  11. 06/07/2022

    Honoring Our Roots Part 1 with Grandmother Irka Mateo

    Welcome to Río Cósmico, a podcast about healing brought to you by Río Cósmico Homestead. For season two of the podcast, we are exploring the relationship between creativity and resilience. Today we are joined by Dominican Taino folk healer, researcher, singer, songwriter, and community builder Akutu (grandmother) Irka Mateo. Together we explore: • Irka Mateo’s family roots and her connection to the animist traditions and local cultural heroes of Quisqueya (Dominican Republic), and some challenges these traditions have endured to remain intact and support her in guiding and nurturing the community today. • The beginning of young Irka Mateo becoming aware of her own indigenous healing culture. • A transmission and call to action from Taino ancestor, demi-god and spirit guide Anacoana • How indigenous Taino culture began to transform once the colonizers arrived on their land, and how despite this, their spirituality and culture continues to be transmitted from generation to generation. • Language distinctions for different kinds of women studying healing arts. • The importance of connecting with our ancestors and honoring the good old ways, while being present to the realities and unique challenges of our times. • The necessity for many of our ancestors to separate themselves from our cultural and spiritual identities just to survive, and how we can reclaim ourselves and recover our wholeness on the other side. Thank you for listening, it is a pleasure getting well with you! If you are enjoying this exploration of history and culture, stay tuned for part two where we’ll be going deeper into Irka’s wisdom and experience. Links: Follow Irka on Instagram as @sacredtainohealing Visit her website at www.sacredtainohealing.com to find her ceremonies and healing sessions. Intro music by Luis Mojica: www.luismojica.com The podcast cover art is an original painting commissioned by Rio Cosmico from artist Geenss Archenti Flores: https://www.instagram.com/geenssarchenti/?hl=en Learn more about Río Cósmico Homestead at www.riocosmico.org Listen to bonus content, connect with likeminded listeners and more through our Library of Earth Magic on Patreon: www.patreon.com/activeculturefamily

    56 min
  • 11 Episodes

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Rio Cosmico Podcast, (Formerly Starseed Survival Guide) a monthly podcast about healing. Rio Cosmico is hosted by Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman, founder of Río Cósmico Homestead, Seasonal Ceremonial Microvillage, Library of Earth Magic and home of the Medicine Mandala Green Witch Initiation Journey. Río Cósmico is located in the Cuyamaca region of Southern California, where we support unconventional wisdom keepers in finding multidimensional health, pleasure, purpose, creative fulfillment and liberation on the path of service to Mother Earth. Yaya has been a student, practitioner, and educator of the visual, performing, and healing arts for 22 years and her speaking, writing, online, and in person educational programs currently reach thousands of people daily all over the world. Visit Our Website: www.riocosmico.org Follow Yaya on Instagram: @activeculturefamily

Information

  • Creator
    Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rio Cosmico Yaya Erin Rivera Merriman

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada