Tuesday, 28 November 2023

December 2023 - Choices

 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

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