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In this episode, we are having a very honest mid-year check-in, reflecting on where we are, what has shifted for us, and where our individual paths are taking us next. For Becky, there’s been a growing pull towards the feminine, philosophy, mythology, storytelling and the deeper stories that shape how we understand ourselves and the world. Astrology is still very much at the heart of things, but she is bringing all of these threads together in a way that feels more distinctly my own. Laura is experiencing her own version of this. With her North Node also in the 1st house, she’s being increasingly drawn towards her own work around the nervous system, embodiment and supporting people to understand and work with their own physiology. And when we look at our own astrology, it makes perfect sense. We both have the North Node in the 1st house, of becoming self-defined. That doesn’t mean collaboration isn’t important, it absolutely is. In fact, North Node has been a beautiful expression of that for both of us. But also recognising that our work is evolving beyond what we originally set out to talk about with yoga and astrology. So rather than North Node disappearing, we’re allowing it to evolve. Going forwards, Laura will be taking the podcast on and recording monthly episodes. Becky will still be popping up from time to time as a guest. So this episode feels less like a moment to acknowledge what has been, honour what we’ve created together, and allow each of us to follow the path that is unfolding in front of us and thank our listeners. If you’ve been listening to North Node from the beginning, thank you. Thank you for every listen, every share, every message and every conversation you’ve had with us along the way. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

As we head into our summer break, Laura and Becky reflect on everything we've explored throughout this season and share the simple reminders they'll be taking into their own summer. Having a summer you don't need to recover from isn't about creating the perfect six weeks. It's about creating enough space, joy and capacity to actually enjoy the moments that matter. From protecting your own wellbeing before burnout, making time to recharge, and planning things that genuinely light you up, to becoming your child's safe place, repairing when things go wrong, finding the courage to ask for support, and noticing the magic in everyday life—this is a gentle conversation about slowing down, choosing connection over perfection, and remembering what really matters. Whether you're navigating the school holidays, feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, or simply looking for a calmer, more intentional summer, we hope this episode leaves you feeling lighter, more hopeful and inspired to care for yourself as much as you care for everyone else. Thank you for being part of our North Node community this season. We hope these conversations have helped you understand yourself a little more deeply, become a little kinder to yourself, and reminded you that healing is always possible. Have a wonderful summer—we'll see you next season.  Please leave us a review on your preferred podcast platform if you haven't already!  With love, Becky & Laura xx Summer Holiday Calendar Template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uJfRzugCz7KkQL2rVaBKC3l1igY9dnG8cT0Hua-ZgDM/edit?usp=sharing Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

What if one of the greatest gifts you could give yourself—and the people you love—was simply feeling understood? In this solo episode, Laura explores why validation isn't weakness, it's a biological need. Through the lens of nervous system science, she explains how validation helps us feel safe, why invalidation often leads to shame and self-doubt, and how learning to validate our own experience can transform the way we heal. Laura also explores the powerful idea that two things can both be true. Your parents may have done the best they could with the tools they had, and their parenting may still have had a lasting impact on your nervous system. Acknowledging that impact isn't about blame—it's about validating your experience, grieving what was missing, and allowing your nervous system to move forward. In this episode, you'll learn:  Why validation is a biological need  How self-validation supports nervous system healing  The difference between intent and impact  Why there can be harm without intent  How grief, validation and compassion help us move from survival into healing If you've ever struggled to trust your own feelings, or found yourself stuck between compassion for others and compassion for yourself, this episode is for you. Healing begins when we stop questioning our experience... and start validating it. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

What if the divine was never far away, just waiting for you to notice? In this episode, we talk about how to read signs and synchronicities in daily life, and what it actually means to build a real relationship with your guides and higher self. We break down prayer, meditation and yoga as sacred technologies. And not seeing prayer or connection as a begging request sent into the void, but as a way of tuning yourself into alignment. From there we dig into one of the most confusing questions in spirituality: when a thought arrives, is it truly yours, or is it received from somewhere else? That leads us into the akashic field, including the , surprisingly common experience of choosing your baby's name seemingly out of nowhere. We also talk through some animal signs and what they really mean — butterflies, robins, owls snakes, and feathers. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

This is the biggest astrological window of 2026, and it's all landing in one month. In this episode, Becky breaks down every major transit shaping July 2026: Mercury retrograde in Cancer, Jupiter's fresh arrival in Leo, a rare Mars-Uranus conjunction not seen in Gemini since 1947, and the formation of a genuinely rare pattern called a Barbault's Basket. This is a rare configuration named after French astrologer André Barbault, who used patterns like this to track major turning points across the 20th century. Becky walks through what this basket actually is, what history tells us about times like this. In this episode: Mercury retrograde in Cancer (June 29 – July 23) and its emotional, family-rooted themesJupiter's entry into Leo — the first time since 2014/15 — and what it means for visibility, creativity, and boldnessThe Mars-Uranus conjunction on July 4th, and why this exact combination hasn't happened since 1947What a Barbault's Basket actually is, and why astrologers have been anticipating this month for yearsAndré Barbault's Cyclic Index — the historical track record behind his 2020 pandemic predictionThe exact peak dates of the basket (July 18–21) and what's activatingA planet-by-planet breakdown: Jupiter in Leo, Pluto in Aquarius, Uranus in Gemini, Neptune in AriesWhat this means for you A preview of the lunar nodes shifting into Aquarius/Leo on July 26–27Mentioned in this episode: André Barbault, French astrologer and originator of the Cyclic IndexHistorical index troughs: 1914, 1939, early 1980s, 1988–91, 2020 Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

What if every healing path is leading us to the same place? In this heartfelt conversation, Laura and Becky reflect on the surprising common ground they've discovered through two very different journeys. Following Becky's recent pilgrimage through the South of France, walking in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene and exploring the wisdom of astrology, and Laura's deep immersion into trauma therapy, neuroscience and the nervous system, they realised they had both arrived at the same understanding: Healing isn't about fixing ourselves. It's about remembering ourselves. Together they explore how yoga, astrology, trauma therapy, spirituality all offer different languages for the same journey—from separation back to connection, from survival back to wholeness, and from the conditioned self back to our true nature. Whether your path into healing is through yoga, astrology, psychology, spirituality or life's own challenges, this episode is an invitation to stop searching for something outside yourself and begin the journey home. Because perhaps healing isn't about becoming more. Perhaps it's about remembering that beneath every wound, every role and every survival strategy, you have always been whole. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

In this solo episode, Laura shares the biggest insight from her most recent qualification in trauma therapy, and why it feels like the missing piece of a puzzle she has been exploring for over a decade through yoga, psychology and personal development. While practices such as yoga, meditation, breathwork and mindset work can be incredibly effective at helping us regulate and soothe ourselves, Laura asks a deeper question: are we actually healing, or have we simply become very good at coping? Exploring the nervous system, trauma, neuroplasticity and emotional capacity, Laura explains how unresolved stress can become trapped in the body, keeping us stuck in cycles of anxiety, burnout, reactivity and overwhelm. Through the concept of "open loops," she shares why true healing requires more than understanding our patterns intellectually—it requires safely feeling and completing the emotions we were once taught to suppress. This is a hopeful conversation about moving beyond survival mode, expanding our capacity for life, and finding greater joy, resilience and freedom through nervous system healing. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

In this episode we reflect on what it actually feels like to use your voice online. The fear that comes before you post something real. What happens when you're met with hostility instead of dialogue. And what that hostility usually says about the person delivering it,rather than the person receiving it. But this isn't really about trolls. It's about the bigger question underneath: are we creating, or are we consuming?  This episode is about speaking anyway, even when it's uncomfortable. On choosing creation over consumption not perfectly, but intentionally. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

In this episode, we’re exploring the truth about marriage beyond the fantasy. From soulmates and twin flames to trad wives, feminism, love languages and astrology, we’re unpacking the stories we’ve inherited about love and asking whether they still serve us. We talk about what remains when the chemistry settles and the instant attraction wears off. Is lasting love about fate and compatibility, or is marriage ultimately a daily choice? We also explore the historical origins of marriage  from property, patriarchy and survival to modern love stories and ask whether we are consciously redefining relationships or unconsciously repeating inherited roles. In this episode, we explore: ✨ Where did marriage come from? A brief history of patriarchy ✨ What real marriage looks like after the honeymoon phase ✨ Why chemistry and compatibility are not the same thing ✨ The difference between soulmates and twin flames ✨ Is ‘twin flame’ culture healing — or keeping people stuck? ✨ Love languages: useful relationship tool or overrated myth? ✨ The rise of trad wives and the tension between devotion and dependence ✨ Why choice matters in feminism and marriage ✨ Financial dependence, power and relationship dynamics ✨ The patriarchal origins of marriage and how relationships have evolved ✨ Bridesmaids, best men and the hidden symbolism of wedding traditions ✨ What your birth chart says about relationships, commitment and intimacy This is an honest, nuanced conversation about love, commitment, freedom, partnership, spirituality and what it actually takes to build a relationship that lasts. Whether you’re married, single, questioning traditional roles, healing from heartbreak, or simply curious about modern relationships  this episode invites you to reflect on relationships and love. Questions we explore: Can marriage be feminist?Are soulmates and twin flames actually different?Do love languages really matter?Is the trad-wife movement empowering?What did marriage originally exist for?What does astrology reveal about the type of relationship we need?Is love destiny — or a daily choice?Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast  Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

Can you tell if someone is a good or bad person from their birth chart? Why are women conditioned to be ‘good’? And what happens when we reject parts of ourselves like anger, desire and ambition? In this deep and thought-provoking episode of North Node: The Yoga & Astrology Podcast, we explore the idea of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ people through the lenses of shadow work, astrology, yoga philosophy and women’s conditioning. Why are women praised for being nice, selfless and agreeable, yet judged for anger, sensuality, boundaries or desire? From Eve and religious conditioning to modern expectations of femininity, we unpack the pressure many women feel to be the ‘good girl’. But we also go deeper into the uncomfortable truth: Are any of us entirely good or entirely bad? We explore shadow work and the parts of ourselves we suppress — rage, jealousy, fear, desire, control — and how unconscious shadow can shape relationships, spirituality, politics and even collective division. We also ask one of astrology’s most controversial questions: Can someone’s birth chart reveal whether they are a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ person? Including a nuanced conversation around the birth chart of Adolf Hitler, free will, fate, and why astrology reveals potential, patterns and shadow,  not moral destiny. In this episode, we explore: ✨ The conditioning of the ‘good woman’ and ‘good girl syndrome’ ✨ Why women suppress anger, ambition and desire ✨ Shadow work and why we are all capable of light and darkness ✨ Spiritual ego and the danger of toxic positivity ✨ Political polarisation and collective shadow ✨ Can astrology reveal someone’s morality? ✨ What yoga philosophy teaches about ego, duality and consciousness ✨ Why understanding behaviour is not the same as excusing harm This episode is for anyone curious about astrology, shadow work, women’s healing, psychology, spirituality and human nature. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

Have you ever felt like life was trying to tell you something? A chance meeting. A repeated message. A place you can’t stop thinking about. A door closing unexpectedly… only for another one to open. In this episode we explore the idea of “following the breadcrumbs” — the subtle signs, synchronicities, feelings, patterns and nudges that seem to guide us toward our dharma, purpose, and most aligned life. We talk about how to recognise when you’re truly on path, why intuition often whispers before it shouts, and how modern life can disconnect us from our inner knowing. From a yoga, psychology and astrology perspective, we explore what it actually means to live in conversation with life itself. We also dive into the deeper questions:   Who — or what — are our “guides”?   Are signs really external… or are they awakenings within ourselves?   How do synchronicities work?   And how can we become more open to receiving guidance, clarity and direction? This episode is for anyone standing at a crossroads, craving deeper meaning, or learning to trust themselves — and life — a little more deeply. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

Have you ever caught yourself trying to force gratitude… Telling yourself you should feel grateful, that you shouldn’t want more, that other people have it worse… And somehow ending up feeling worse, not better? In this episode, Laura explores what she calls “whipping yourself with the gratitude stick” — the subtle way gratitude can turn into self-criticism, suppression, and even shame. Yes, gratitude is powerful.  It can rewire the brain, shift perspective, and increase wellbeing. But when it’s used to silence your instincts, your ambition, or your desire for something more aligned… it stops being healing. It becomes limiting. Blending psychology, neuroscience, yoga philosophy and astrology, this episode explores:  Why gratitude works (and when it doesn’t)  Hedonic adaptation and the brain’s negativity bias  The difference between shame and self-compassion  Why contentment and ambition can coexist  Santosha, tapas and the pull of your North Node Because you can be deeply grateful for your life… …and still feel called toward more. And that doesn’t make you ungrateful. It makes you alive. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

In this episode  we explore the psychology and spirituality of masking. From people pleasing and identity performance to spiritual ego and autism masking. Why do we hide parts of ourselves? At what point does protection become performance? And how do we begin returning to who we really are beneath conditioning, coping mechanisms, and the need to be accepted? In this conversation, we explore: people pleasing and the fear of rejectionthe emotional exhaustion of constantly performingspiritual ego and the ‘healed’ identitythe difference between authentic healing and performative spiritualityautism masking and nervous system protectionyoga philosophy and the layers of selfastrology, identity, and conditioningauthenticity, safety, and self-expressionthe courage it takes to be truly seenThis episode is an invitation to gently explore the masks you may have learned to wear with compassion. Mentioned in this episode Yoga philosophy & the koshasSpiritual ego & identity performanceAstrology as a tool for self-awareness and integrationJoin Us In Person Our very first North Node Activation Day takes place on 27th June in Worcester. A day of yoga, astrology, embodiment, connection, and soul-led activation designed to help you reconnect with your authentic self beyond conditioning and performance. Early Bird pricing is available until 15th May. Read more and book your place here: https://north-node.co.uk/activation Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

Do you actually like yourself… or have you just been taught to constantly fix yourself? In this episode, we explore self-worth, body image, and the deeper layers of self-acceptance that go far beyond surface-level self-love. Because for so many women, the issue isn’t a lack of confidence, it’s a lifetime of subtle conditioning that has taught us to mistrust our bodies, suppress our appetite, and believe we are always one step away from being ‘better’. Through the lens of Eve, we look at how shame around desire and the body was formed, and how that still shows up today in body image struggles, fear of ageing, and the pressure to constantly improve ourselves. We also explore how astrology and yoga can help you reconnect to yourself — rebuilding self-trust, understanding your desires, and learning how to feel at home in your own body again. Because if you are disconnected from your appetite… how can you have an appetite for life? This episode is for you if you’re tired of trying to fix yourself and ready to actually feel at home in who you are. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com

We’re told to “feel our feelings”… but no one ever really shows us how. So instead, we think about them. Analyse them. Justify them. Or push them away entirely. In this episode, we explore what it actually means to feel — not in the mind, but in the body. Because emotions aren’t problems to solve. They’re physical experiences moving through your nervous system. Sensations. Energy. Waves. And when those waves are interrupted — through distraction, suppression, or overthinking — they don’t disappear. They stay in the body. Looping. Building. Waiting to be felt. We talk about why you might feel stuck, overwhelmed, or strangely numb… even when everything looks “fine” on the outside. And how what looks like control can sometimes be disconnection. This is your invitation to slow down, tune in, and dare to feel. To let the wave rise, move, and pass. Because on the other side of feeling… is freedom. Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you? You can check out our respective websites and social media here: Becky: www.instagram.com/therosealmanac www.therosealmanac.com Laura: www.soulsanctuarystudios.com www.lauraclaytonwellness.com