In this deeply reflective conversation, Lisa is joined by astrologer and intuitive consultant Michelle Wollaston to explore how astrology, personal energy cycles, and human design can offer profound insight into our emotional wellbeing, life purpose, and major life transitions.

Michelle explains how a natal chart acts as a blueprint for understanding your unique energetic makeup, with planetary rulers and astrological houses influencing how you experience life. Together, they discuss the impact of astrological transits, moon phases, and significant milestones such as Saturn returns and Chiron returns, particularly during midlife, when many women are called into deeper reflection, healing, and self-awareness.

The conversation also explores emotional patterns linked to moon phases and zodiac signs, including how Scorpio moon energy can intensify emotions, intuition, and exhaustion—especially for water signs. Michelle shares practical guidance on setting boundaries, reducing external noise, and learning to listen to intuition rather than fear or societal expectations.

Moving beyond astrology alone, Michelle introduces human design and explains how understanding your personal design type, such as generator or projector, can transform how you approach work, relationships, and decision-making. She also shares how she creates personalised "Soul Maps" for clients using birth data, natal charts, and progressed moons to help navigate life purpose, karmic lessons, and current challenges.

The episode widens into an important discussion on women’s empowerment, power imbalances, and the silencing of survivor voices across industries. Lisa and Michelle speak candidly about systemic abuse, the role of fear and complicity, and the importance of education, self-worth, and awareness for future generations. Michelle also shares her work amplifying survivor voices through media and publishing platforms.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune inward, and reconnect with your personal rhythm, honouring both the cosmic cycles and the inner wisdom guiding your path.

SOCIALS:

www.michellewollaston.com

Facebook: @michelle.wollaston.7

Instagram: @michellewollaston

LinkedIn: michelle-wollaston

In this episode, continuing on from Episode 9, Lisa Aston Michael explores what healing looks like after family scapegoating, emotional harm, or ongoing hostility within the family system.

When harm comes from within the family, it can deeply impact self-trust, emotional safety, and nervous system regulation. Many people find themselves questioning their reality, carrying guilt for setting boundaries, or feeling isolated in an experience that is rarely spoken about.

This episode is a gentle, trauma-informed guide for anyone who has experienced family scapegoating, emotional abuse, or chronic conflict, including those navigating complex step-family or blended family dynamics.

We discuss:

• How to protect yourself when family harm is ongoing

• Why boundaries are an act of self-respect, not punishment

• When distance or estrangement may be necessary for healing

• The impact of chronic family stress on the nervous system

• Simple nervous system grounding and regulation practices

• How to separate your identity from family projections

• Reclaiming your sense of self, meaning, and belonging

• The role of chosen family in emotional healing

This episode is not about blame or confrontation.
It is about self-protection, clarity, nervous system repair, and reclaiming your inner authority.

You are invited to listen at your own pace, pause when needed, and return when it feels right.

🎧 Content note: This episode discusses emotional harm within families. Please prioritise your wellbeing while listening.

If you are experiencing family scapegoating, gaslighting, or other forms of emotional abuse, there are several confidential outlets that can provide support and resources. If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services.

• 1800RESPECT (Australia): A 24-hour national sexual assault, family, and domestic violence counselling line.
• Lifeline (Australia): Provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services for anyone experiencing emotional distress or a personal crisis.
• Kids Helpline (Australia): A free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 years.

Content Warning:

Before we begin, a gentle content note for this episode.

This episode discusses emotional abuse, scapegoating, and psychological harm within families. While there is no graphic content, some listeners may find the themes activating. Please listen at your own pace and prioritise your emotional wellbeing.

If you have experienced family scapegoating, emotional abuse, or toxic family relationships, this episode offers validation, understanding, and a grounded path toward healing.

What happens when emotional abuse and scapegoating don’t come from strangers—but from within your own family?

In this deeply personal and trauma-informed podcast episode, Lisa Aston Michael explores the experience of being targeted, scapegoated, and emotionally harmed by a family member. She examines how intra-family hate mirrors the same psychological patterns found in collective hate crimes, operating quietly through projection, dehumanisation, and exclusion.

This episode offers compassionate insight into family emotional abuse, family scapegoating, and toxic family dynamics, with particular attention to blended and step-family systems.

Topics explored include:

• Intra-family hate and emotional abuse
• Family scapegoating and projection psychology
• Narcissistic and toxic family dynamics
• Emotional harm within step-families and blended families
• The Electra complex as an emotional rivalry framework (non-diagnostic)
• The nervous system impact of chronic family stress and betrayal
• Why family-based emotional abuse is so identity-shaking
• Healthy boundaries with family members
• Alternatives to forced forgiveness and reconciliation
• Healing from family trauma and reclaiming personal identity

This episode is not about blame or diagnosis. It is about naming harm, restoring clarity, and supporting healing for those experiencing family-based emotional abuse.

Next week in Episode 10, continuing on from this episode, Lisa covers "Healing from Family Scapegoating".

** If you are experiencing family scapegoating, gaslighting, or other forms of emotional abuse, are are two confidential outlets within Australia that can provide support and resources:

1800RESPECT (Australia): A 24-hour national sexual assault, family, and domestic violence counselling line.

Lifeline (Australia): Provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services for anyone experiencing emotional distress or a personal crisis.

Kids Helpline (Australia): A free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 years.