Reflections: Choices
A Pause to Breathe -
emails start next week
Gift ideas
Dare to Blossom Monthly
Circles on Zoom - the last this year and programme for 2024
One to One Coaching
First 2024 Compass Rose
Programme: "Coming Home to Yourself"
Reflections:
Choices
Ha! This last card in my wheel, revolving around my word of the year, drawn in
January, caused me to laugh as my first response today. Somehow, I expect (or
maybe hope?) that the end of any year will be a tidy round up, a completion of
my plans. Yes, there is some of that for me to reflect upon. And, an
array of new possibilities, of choices appearing.
If you would like to
join me in reflection, ask yourself the questions here and write in your
journal. Or, if you prefer, read on and come back later.
- What is your first response? To the word? To the colour?
- What else is there?
- And, what else?
- What does Choices add to Presence? How do the colours add to
each other? What do all the words this year bring for you?
What else is there?
So, for me, after my
first response, I feel drawn ahead, beginning again, seeing the reminder to
Focus. This was January's card, the very first, and yet, feels so relevant to
where I am just now.
And, what else?
Just now I feel I
cannot make any choices, in fact I cannot see clearly at all. I remind myself
that simply being present in that centre point, in Peace in the Compass Rose,
may be simply an opportunity to rest. To choose to rest, choose to make that my
choice rather than to act.
What does Choices add
to Presence? How do the colours add to each other? What do all the words
bring for you?
Being present,
sitting with Presence, feels like a support for those Choices I may be faced
with next. I am smiling again as I was about to write : "...those Choices
I may be presented with next." Presented, Presence. As for the colours,
due to the way the camera can change the colours in a photo, I went back to my
combined deck of 100 cards and drew out these two, Presence and Choices. And
yes, they are the same shade of deep blue. How interesting.
Sitting back to reflect on the thirteen cards, the whole wheel of the year, for
me there is a feeling of flow, of both symmetry and synchronicity, in the way
the cards have appeared throughout these months. I am not sure I can put into
words, yet it is there.
I
would love to know if you have enjoyed this approach as we have travelled
through 2023 together - please do reply to this email and let me know. Shall I
repeat it again in 2024? Or look somewhere new for inspiration for my
reflections to share with you here?
A
Pause to Breathe
As I mentioned in the extra email this month, this is a simple offering via
email starting in December: Offering you ‘A Pause to Breathe’ – two emails each
week for five weeks over Christmas and New Year, with gentle thoughts to allow
you to take a moment in the midst of all the busy times. Now is the time to
sign up to receive the emails starting next week, visit the Workshops and Events tab
on the website. The emails will be short and simple, with suggestions to 'pause
to breathe' (rather than long and full of news as these newsletters are) - and
of course you can dip into you mail box and read them whenever you wish, as
they arrive, or several at once later in the five weeks.
Gift
ideas
I have recently hosted a sale of encaustic art on Facebook, and I realise I
have not shared it here with you - my apologies for that. The usual price for
each original painting is £48, and they have been offered during November at
£20 each plus postage and packing to where you are in the world. For you I will
extend the sale a little longer.
They do make beautiful gifts, although I think I can only promise a quick
delivery to those of you in the UK at this stage in the year.
Here are a selection of those still available, just email and let me know if
you are interested. Each painting is mounted ready for framing. Mount size is 6
inches by 8 inches
In addition, my books (signed copies from me,
or available online wherever you like to buy) and the Dare to Blossom
Rediscovery Cards (only available from me)
are gifts that people tell me they enjoy all year round.
Dare to Blossom Monthly
Circles on Zoom - last this year and programme for 2024
The last regular monthly Circle of 2023 is on Saturday 9th December at 11.00 am
UK time (and before then there are two taster circles on Wednesdays 29th
November and 13th December at the same time). You are very welcome to join me,
simply reply to this email, or contact me via the website
to ask for the Zoom link.
The provisional dates for 2024 are on the website
if you are someone who likes to plan ahead.
First 2024 Compass Rose
Programme: "Coming Home to Yourself"
My gratitude
to those who were interested in this programme when I planned it for the end of
2023. It has turned out to be best to postpone to late January for various
reasons.
Reflecting on how that time has often felt in the past, I remember the numerous
articles, in print and online, about New Year resolutions, getting fit, losing
weight, creating a 'new you'. In fact I remember offering a workshop, many
moons ago now with the title 'New Year, New You', and it makes me shudder
now. Why? Surely there is nothing wrong with resolving to do all those
things, to focus on a fresh start?
No, not at all, and yet, after many many years of reading about and taking part
in 'personal development', and 'self-improvement', now I notice how bad many of
those things made me feel. One aspect for me is the timing, January is a time
when I feel like resting, if not hibernating, of snuggling up, keeping warm,
withdrawing from the world until the green shoots of spring begin to arrive. By
the end of January and into February, the hours of daylight here in the
northern hemisphere are beginning to lengthen, green shoots of snowdrops may be
emerging. For me this feels like a fresh new start to the year.
There will be two Zoom taster circles before Christmas, Wednesdays 29th
November and 13th December at 11.00 am UK time, and two in January. And, to put
your mind at rest, there is never any pressure to sign up for any of my paid
offerings, simply an invitation for you to take up if you wish. If you would
prefer to ask your questions one to one, again simply reply to this or contact me to ask and/or arrange a time for a Zoom chat.
As I wrote last month, you may be familiar with this painting, one I created
years ago at a workshop. If you have been on a Zoom call with me you will have
seen it hanging on the wall behind me here in my home in Cornwall.
I chose it for this programme as it is a reminder for me that in coming home to
myself, I have truly never left, my light has always been here, shining within
to guide me, even when I sometimes lose the connection.
The programme
will run from the week beginning Monday 24th through to Friday 1st March,
full details and the booking link will be on the website very soon.
One to One Coaching
For many people, the deeper connection of one to one sessions is perfect for
them once in a while, either for a short block of six, or an on-going
arrangement as and when required. People often make big breakthroughs in one or
two sessions, and then return for a 'booster' whenever is right for them.
Either way, I would love to have a Zoom chat with you if you would like to
explore the option of one to one coaching with me. There is no pressure, simply
an opportunity to find out what would be useful for you, and if my approach
would be good for you.
You can read testimonials here on my website.
I send wishes for health
and happiness for you and all you love.
Thank you for joining me here this month, any thoughts, feedback, or questions
are always welcome.
Mary
