September 2025 - Aspiration

 

Welcome to the Dare to Blossom Newsletter A big thank you Reflections: Aspiration Coming up soon: Autumn Programme 'True Essence' A choice of five Dare to Blossom card decks now available Monthly Dare to Blossom Zoom circles   A big thank you I would like to open this month's newsletter with a big thank you to everyone who read the 'special bulletin' I sent out recently. As I said there, I had planned to send that to tell you about the taster circles for the True Essence programme, but the dramatic events in my life that happened in a very short space of time made me reflect on true essence in a very direct and personal way. Thank you to everyone who responded with personal emails, your thoughts and good wishes are very much appreciated. And, if it passed you by - that is fine too, it has been holiday time and we all see emails arriving into our in-boxes that with the best of intentions we never get around to reading. Reflections: Aspiration My first response on seeing Aspiration is to take a deep breath in..... and breathe out with a sigh of letting go. The colour as I see the card on my desk is a very deep, dark purple - although it appears blue to me here in this photo. 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 is your response to the words together? How do all the colours connect?  What else is there? The dictionary definition of 'Aspiration' (which I included in the Companion Guide to the (Original) Dare to Blossom Rediscovery Cards) is two-fold: 1. the hope or ambition of achieving something. 2. The action of pronouncing a sound with an exhalation of breath. The origin of the word is simply from the Latin for 'to breathe' - aspirare. For some reason, today, for this month's word, I was inspired to go back to the information above in my reflections, and it has brought me to more reflections on both those meanings. I do have hopes of achieving 'something' - and I am determined to go ahead with the new True Essence programme itself as people are already signed up and I know there will be many insights there for all of us, including me. So many other hopes have had to be slowed down - such as writing pieces for the each of the fifty Wisdom of Wild Cornwall No 2 cards on my Substack, and eventually compiling all 100 into a new companion guide covering both the Wisdom of Wild Cornwall decks. And a new and very different memoir - which originally I thought might be part of that guide but I have a feeling now may want to be a separate volume. And, yes, most of all I am drawn to the meaning of the breath, reminding me that in my very stressed state over a long period of time (probably nearly a month by the time you read this) - it is more important than ever to breathe deeply and give my body the benefit of as much oxygen as possible. One of the symptoms of the heart problem my husband experienced on 3rd of August was that his heart rate dropped so low that his blood oxygen level also dropped to dangerous levels and after the paramedics who arrived so quickly saved his life, he was put on oxygen for a while in hospital. What is your response to all the words together? How do the colours connect? I am struck by how Aspiration is almost opposite Presence, and in the photo they appear very similar in colour. And I love the soft gentle colours of my two words of the year in the centre, Ease and Rest. I would love to hear your reflections if you feel like sharing them by replying to this email.   New Programme 'True Essence' 'True Essence', is about to open, we begin on Sunday 7th September when I will share the first week's prompts in the private Facebook group (or if you prefer you can receive them by email) I am delighted to say that there are already people signed up and there are still places available if you would like to join us - take a look at the full details on the website here There is one more taster circle, on Tuesday 2nd September at 2.30 pm UK time, where you can experience the flow of the weekly Zoom gatherings and ask questions. As that is very soon, here is the Zoom link in case you would like to join us.   The fee is £224, with a discount for participants in previous programmes, and I offer some concessionary rate places for those for whom finding the full fee is not possible but who would love to join us. As always, simply contact me and we can devise a plan that will work for you, and for me. A choice of five Dare to Blossom card decks now available It is a delight to hear about how the new Wisdom of Wild Cornwall No 2 deck is being received around the world - and also to receive orders for the other decks too - and sometimes for all five together. Each deck is £16, I can offer a saving by combining postage in one package, and also a small discount depending on how many you purchase. As always, simply contact me to ask. Monthly Dare to Blossom Zoom circles These will continue on Mondays at 7.30 pm, and Saturdays at 11.00 am (UK times) once a month at least until October, when I may discontinue the evening one. The next dates are Saturday 6th September and Monday 29th September.  Thank you for joining me here this month, any thoughts, feedback, or questions are always welcome.   Mary