June 2017: Rest

Welcome to the Dare to Blossom Newsletter

In this Issue:
Reflections: Rest
Events: workshops in London and Cornwall
Video testimonial: Nicci Bonfanti

Reflections: Rest

I began writing this for you sitting in my garden on the first really warm day we have had here this summer, very late for Cornwall. So hot in fact that I was sitting in the shade in a delightful spot on our terrace, surrounded by birdsong and flowers with bees buzzing gently and busily.

The subject of 'rest' comes up so often for me, is that true for you as well? So many of us seem to feel tired all the time - and for good reason, we cram so much into our lives: jobs, businesses, families, children's activities, sports, hobbies, social media - the list goes on.

How interesting (I wrote, as I sat out in my garden last week) - how interesting, having chosen this title, this subject for my reflections this month - now I am lost for words to offer you. Maybe my brain needs to rest as much as my body? To disconnect, to have some time to be unfocused, to meander, to just be.

During the hot weather I took the chance to walk in my favourite spots on the cliffs, and, now that at last it is warm and dry enough - to sit there. To just be - to listen to the sounds: the waves breaking on the rocks below, and - further in the distance, on the beach. The various seabirds calling as they wheel and swoop - kittiwakes, fulmars, herring gulls, black-backed gulls, plus the jackdaws and pigeons that also nest on the steep cliff with layers forming a high-rise accommodation of ledges. The wind has been very strong too so that has been a noticeable sound - and a feeling too, the force of the moving air blowing through my hair and against my body.



The cliffs are covered in wild flowers: pink thrift, yellow vetch, white bladder campion, and their perfume mingles with that of the grasses and the smell of sea below. Ever so often the waves crash up into a crevice in the rocks in the distance in the photo above, with a big 'whoomph' noise that can be heard for miles - and felt through the earth when you are closer.

And then, I come home, back to my garden and find a different sort of rest. Wandering around observing which plants are in flower - some we have put there, others are wild and arrive of their own accord such as this dog rose.



Today, I read this quote:
“Have you considered that it might just be your downtime, your lounging-in-bed-too long time, your walkabout time, watching the rain time and your sad + lonely times that are exactly what will make possible your highest achievements and greatest joys? What if they were the necessary moments of rest and contextualization that greatness demanded? Would they still make you feel guilty or might you allow yourself to enjoy them?” - Mike Dooley, Life on Earth

For you, for your journal or meditation practice:
- if any phrase or word resonates with you from this piece, choose to flow write or meditate on those words
- what emerges for you?
- what gifts can you find within?
- do you wish to paint, draw, collage - express this visually in some way?

Events: workshops in London and Cornwall



Cornwall
Those of you who are regular readers will know that the series of Unfurl your Power Within workshops is running at the Blue Lotus Healing Centre in Scorrier near Redruth. The next event is on Saturday 8 July, when we will be unfurling the petal for 'Passion: opening to the sun''. Full details are on the website here, and there are two more to follow this year, in September and November, completing the unfurling of the Power Flower.



London
A new date to offer you - this time a full day workshop at my dear friend Anna's house in NW London. This has not been publicised as yet (and hence I have not set up a booking link on the website so far) - because places are limited to six or possibly seven. We have already sold two places so if you are in travelling distance of London in August and this is calling to you, here are the details, contact me direct if you are interested in booking.

Date: Saturday 12 August
Time: 10am to 4.30pm. Please arrive from 9.30am for tea, and a prompt start at 10am.
Venue: 77 Elton Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 0PP
Catering: A variety of hot drinks and nibbles provided, but bring anything specific you need to enable you to be comfortable (such as a specific tea or type of milk). Lunch will be 'bring and share' - 'breaking bread' together is an integral part of the day. Please let me know it you have special dietary requirements.
Price: £65 per person

Here are Anna's words of invitation:

"I am delighted to invite you a workshop I will be hosting, at my home, for my dear friend and soul sister, Mary Lunnen. Mary and I (who happen to share the same birthday!) met during my Cornwall years and have remained in close contact, since my return to London, supporting one another in our personal journeys. I've had the privilege of working with Mary both at workshops, and personal coaching sessions, on a number of occasions, and have always been deeply touched at where her deceptively simple, yet profound. work has taken me.

Please consider joining us for a glorious day of exploration and the chance to hang out with some wonderful people!!"

This will be a day of journeying together, using the Dare to Blossom Rediscovery cards, to take us on a magic carpet ride, a creative guided visualisation to rediscover our inner wisdom and unleash the power within each of us. A power - not to control others - a power to shine from within. To find our inner purpose, passion, and peace - and through these to decide how to progress next in our lives. These words are combined in the Dare to Blossom Power Flower - a process that developed through my inner work, with the support of my own life coaches.

Combining these tools and techniques provides a structure and a container for our day together. and provides the freedom to share as much, or as little, as you wish. To journal and flow-write; to explore the prompts provided by the cards and the unfurling process. All in a safe, non-judgemental, supportive environment, where each of us is heard and witnessed.

Video testimonial

Nicci Bonfanti, of Trusted Sales Dynamics, recently experienced a Power Flower coaching session with me. I was delighted when she posted an unsolicited and unexpected testimonial in her Facebook group, and doubly so when she agreed to an interview to share her experience more widely. Here is a link to the video on Youtube.  (I tried to 'embed' it in a window here for you but the techincalities of that have defeated me so far, if anyone reading this is a whizz with Mailchimp and can help do let me know.) I have since been working with Nicci on her 'Sell like a woman' programme, and I can highly recommend her approach, it helps me to get past my resistance to selling in general which is mainly caused by the old way of hard selling that many of us have experienced. In Nicci's words "Selling with soul rather than selling your soul."

As always, please feel free to comment below with your thoughts and comments. 

If you would like to own a set of Dare to Blossom Rediscovery cards to explore their power for yourself please visit the dedicated page.

Thank you dear friends for visiting with me again this month and sharing my musings.

Until next time,

with love,
Mary