Burning Down to Begin Again ft. Samara Cristhina

Episode 2 | Death, Decay & Becoming: Plant Medicine & Embodying the Work What happens when we know what needs to change but still struggle to move forward? In the second episode of our four-part series, Lynsey Ayala Rinaldi and Ada V. Rojas explore the difference between intellectualizing healing and actually embodying the work. We discuss plant medicines as supportive allies, the wisdom of fungi and decomposition, the role of ritual and microdosing and the myths that keep us stuck in old patterns. Together, we reflect on what it means to surrender, honor our endings and create the conditions for meaningful transformation. Explore Fertile Soil Alchemy This series is an invitation into Fertile Soil Alchemy, our three-month guided plant medicine and integration journey beginning January 7, 2027. Enrollment is now open! Early Bird tuition is $997 through November 30, with flexible payment plans available. Learn more & enroll: https://remembrance.school.yabisi.co/fertile-soil-enrollment Explore Yabisi: https://www.yabisi.co Follow our journey: Lynsey / Yabisi  Ada V. Rojas / Cozy Bruja

Fertile Soil Alchemy: A Four-Part Special Series with Ada V. Rojas  What happens when the versions of ourselves we've known begin to fall away? And what does it mean to honor an ending before rushing toward another beginning? In this special four-part series, Lynsey Ayala Rinaldi and Ada V. Rojas sit for intimate conversations exploring the cycles of death, decay and becoming. Together, they reflect on their personal journeys, the medicine of endings, ancestral remembrance and the ways our relationships with plants, spirit and community can support us through profound transformation. These conversations also inspired their newest collaborative offering, Fertile Soil Alchemy, a three-month guided journey weaving sacred earth medicines, shamanic journeying, somatic practices, ritual and community. Early bird enrollment is now open through November 30, 2026. Explore the program and reserve your place: https://remembrance.school.yabisi.co/fertile-soil-enrollment Learn more about Lynsey and Yabisi: https://www.yabisi.co Learn more about Ada V Rojas & Cozy Bruja: https://allthingsada.com

What if the body is our first ancestral archive? In this episode of The Woo, Lynsey explores Cancer season through the waters—moving between astrology, Yemayá, psychosomatics and the ancestral stories that continue to live within our bodies. We talk about Cancer and the Fourth House as territories of home, memory, lineage and belonging; Yemayá as the great mother of the waters; and what her teachings on nourishment, compassion and mothering can reveal about our own healing. Lynsey also shares a patakí of Yemayá and reflects on a question that sits at the heart of this episode: What if the parts of us that are struggling don't need more punishment—but more safety, nourishment, and time? From there, we move into the body. The womb. The breasts. The belly. The chest. The nervous system. The waters. We explore psychosomatics, inherited grief and resilience, the body as a living archive of lineage and why ancestral healing can sometimes feel so deeply physical. We also return to the ocean—especially for those of us throughout the African and Caribbean diaspora—and consider the waters as a keeper of memory, grief, survival and remembrance. This episode is an invitation to listen differently. To the body. To the waters. To the ancestors. And to the parts of you that may simply be asking to be witnessed. Grab your tea, go for a walk, sit beside the water, and come meet me at the crossroads of spirit and soil.   IN THIS EPISODE: Cancer season, the Moon & the Fourth House Yemayá and the medicine of mothering What is a patakí? Psychosomatics & the body as ancestral archive Inherited grief, resilience & epigenetics The lineage living in the body The Atlantic Ocean, diaspora & remembrance Simple practices for tending the ancestors Journal prompts for Cancer season CONTINUE THE JOURNEY 🌊 Read Lynsey's Cancer Season & Yemayá essays on Substack 🌿 Explore Botánica Yabisi  🏡 Enter the House of Remembrance Membership 📚 Learn more about the School of Remembrance 💌 Join the Yabisi newsletter for teachings, workshops & gatherings

In Episode 2 of The Woo, Lynsey explores the medicine of Gemini season through the lens of astrology, Orisha cosmology, psychosomatics and ancestral remembrance. Together we journey through the wisdom of the Ibeji (the sacred twins), the role of communication and community in preserving ancestral traditions and how Gemini expresses itself through the body—particularly the lungs, breath, nervous system and our capacity for connection. Lynsey also reflects on the one-year anniversary of Yabisi's rebirth, the transformative fire ceremony that marked the closing of BreadxButta and the ways that death, rebirth, joy, and remembrance are woven together on the spiritual path. Resources & Links:  🌿 Explore our offerings & Botanica  📚 Learn more about the School of Remembrance ✨ Join our free community activation, Landscapes of Remembrance: The Body as Archive & Ancestral Terrain 📝 Read Lynsey's essays and reflections

After a year-long pause, The Woo returns—deeper, softer, more rooted, and more honest than ever before. In this trailer for Season 2, Lynsey Ayala Rinaldi shares a glimpse into the evolution behind the scenes: closing chapters, crossing thresholds, relocating from the Bronx to Brazil, and returning to the work with a renewed relationship to spirit, soil, and self. This season of The Woo explores the intersections of: plant medicine spirituality Diasporic traditions Orisha cosmology psychosomatics & embodied healing ancestral remembrance ritual, land, and transformation Through personal storytelling, teachings, and conversations with community, elders, and practitioners, Lynsey invites listeners into a deeper exploration of what it means to live in relationship—with the body, the plants, the ancestors, and the unseen. This is a season about: burning things down, tending fertile soil, and remembering who we are beneath the noise. 🌿 Welcome back to The Woo—where spirit and soil intersect. Explore + Connect 🌿 Yabisi Botanica + Offerings Yabisi 🌿 School of Remembrance School of Remembrance 🌿 Essays + Writings Substack 🌿 Instagram @Yabisi_Centr0

After a year-long pause, The Woo returns with a grounded reintroduction and a real-time catch-up on the journey that's unfolded in between. In this opening episode of Season 2, Lynsey Ayala Rinaldi shares what it's looked like to move through deep personal and professional transitions—closing a decade-long business, shifting relationships, and relocating from the Bronx to Brazil—all while continuing to steward her work with plant medicine and ancestral practice. This conversation centers on the intersection of mental health and mushrooms, and how microdosing—when approached with intention, education, and care—can become a bridge between spiritual healing and clinical understanding. Lynsey explores: Cultural perspectives on mental health within Caribbean and diasporic communities The role of spiritual practitioners, herbalists, and community care How psilocybin works in the body (gut-brain connection + serotonin) Microdosing as a tool for pattern interruption, emotional support, and integration Why herbal allies matter when working with plant medicines This episode also introduces the Yabisi Microdose Collection—formulations that pair mushrooms with herbs to support specific emotional and spiritual currents like grief, focus, heart healing, and transition.   ✨ New Offering Announcement Explore the microdose blends and receive 10% off all products for the month of May using code: THE WOO   Important Note on Safety If you are currently taking medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, mood stabilizers, or other nervous system–affecting prescriptions), please consult a professional and research potential contraindications before working with plant medicines. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://psychedelicinteraction.com https://tripsit.me (combination chart) https://www.drugsand.me   Explore + Connect 🌿 Website / Botanica: https://www.yabisi.co 🌿 School of Remembrance (applications + offerings): https://www.yabisi.co 🌿 Substack (essays, teachings, deeper reflections): https://substack.com/@lynseyayalarinaldi 🌿 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynseyayalarinaldi   About The Woo The Woo is where spirit and soil intersect. Hosted by Lynsey Ayala Rinaldi, this podcast explores plant medicine, spirituality, and diasporic traditions through the lens of lived experience, ancestral practice, and embodied healing.

What happens when your art, healing, and heritage converge into a calling? This week, Lynsey is joined by Samara Cristhina, a consultant and long-time friend, as she shares her journey, from an art installation in Bushwick to the creation of BreadxButta. She reflects on her years working on a cannabis farm, launching BreadxButta just before the pandemic, and the emotional terrain of building a spiritually aligned business. Through cycles of burnout, transformation, and spiritual re-centering, Lynsey opens up about grief, growth, and the decision to close a chapter and birth a new one: Yabisi. This episode is a raw and reflective exploration of letting go, trusting your path, and honoring the wisdom of your ancestors every step of the way. https://www.breadxbutta.com/ Follow us on Instagram @breadxbutta  Join the NEWSLETTER to stay up to date on all things, The Woo, and Yabisi!   

How can ancestral medicine and psychedelics transform the way we care for our wombs and our communities? This week, Lynsey sits down with Mikaela de la Myco, curandera, educator, and founder of Mushwomb.love, to explore the deep connection between plant medicine, motherhood, and modern womb care. They discuss the shift from recreational psychedelic use to intentional, community-rooted practices and the healing that comes with reconnecting to ancestral wisdom. Together, they unpack powerful personal stories of transformation, from breaking free of hormonal birth control to challenging societal stigma around plant medicine and psychedelics. This episode is a call to destigmatize healing tools and create culturally competent spaces for people to thrive. https://www.breadxbutta.com/ Follow us on Instagram @breadxbutta  &  @mamadelamyco Join the NEWSLETTER to stay up to date on all things, The Woo, and Yabisi!  Plantcestor of the Week: Canna Flower Essence  

How does motherhood transform our sense of self and community? In this week's episode, Lynsey sits down with Jocelyn, aka TheCurlyVegan, for a heartfelt conversation about navigating parenthood during the pandemic. They explore the importance of community support and the ongoing journey of remothering ourselves. Plus, they share insights into the healing power of nature, urban gardening, and plants' spiritual and medicinal wisdom. Tune in for an enriching dialogue on resilience, healing, and the multifaceted journey of motherhood. https://www.breadxbutta.com/ www.thecurlyvegan.com/ Follow us on Instagram @breadxbutta  & @thecurly_vegan Join the NEWSLETTER to stay up to date on all things, BreadxButta, The Woo, and Yabisi!  Plantcestor of the Week: Sunshine Capsules  

How can plant medicine and shared intentions deepen our relationships and personal growth? This week, Lynsey and her guest, Charlotte, explore the dynamics of adult friendships, parenting, and marriage, including contemplating changing last names. They discuss the transformative power of ceremonies and the role of plant medicine in fostering spiritual growth and authenticity. Tune in for an engaging conversation that blends humor, insight, and spiritual exploration. https://www.breadxbutta.com/ Follow us on Instagram @breadxbutta  & @liberation.training Join the NEWSLETTER to stay up to date on all things, BreadxButta, The Woo, and Yabisi!  Plantcestor of the week: Lotus Flower Essence