Phoenix writes:
As this is being written much of Australia is under lockdown. A few weeks ago I gathered people’s responses to my question of ‘What are ways you are getting through such times?’
Many people responded and the results may be very helpful. Here is a quick synthesis of their responses, we hope these helpful ideas, hints and encouragement help…as well as knowing that you are not alone in this.
Maga, the Queen phase in the women's cycle. A time, conventionally known as menopause, that is suppressed, judged, medicated and dismissed by a patriarchal society. This is what I have traveled these last few years and am at the peak of the transition, I think lol. Recently I journeyed with a group of beautiful brave soulful women into our sacred feminine. The Baba Yaga story is one of terribly terrific tasks that the dance of freedom from the wild woman calls for. To do that we need to let go of the “perfect mother” fantasy, face our fears and raise our sticks of fire to light the way ahead of us. The darkness often makes me tremble in fear and want to run and hide. And so...
Mike writes: Trigger warning! I’m going to be reflecting on the issues around sexual trauma in the workplace and in schools that have been in the news over the last few weeks. As I write, the topic of women’s safety and the prevalence of rape and sexual harassment in workplaces and places of education has been very much in the news and in the field of consciousness, with the #march4justice marches happening in cities and towns around the country. As a man, I’m embarrassed to say that until a few years ago I didn’t realise just how unsafe many women feel in many situations. I simply took it for granted that the relative safety that I feel as a man going about daily life is what everybody...
WHO IS TO BLAME? Who’s fault is it? This is not something we ask when things are going well. But when the proverbial shit hits the fan it’s often the first question that comes up. And right now, when so many people are struggling with what feels like a lifetime’s worth of shit hitting a fan of global proportions, it’s a question and a sentiment that is showing up everywhere. It’s a question that comes up whenever people are hurting and angry and looking for somewhere to direct that anger. Current popular targets of blame include various political leaders, certain wealthy individuals and corporations, the Deep State, the Illuminati, various ethnic groups or genders or even nations. The reasons are understandable, and some people undoubtedly carry more...
In one of our online groups (and sometimes in our longer workshops) there has been an interest in working with dreams, so we have been delving into dream work. In depth psychology dreams are a bridge into the unconscious. So they can be very useful for many reasons including awareness, direction, healing and transformation. Also for shadow work as our shadows reside in the unconscious. It is far better to make conscious the shadows then play them out unconsciously. In Process work dreams are also unfinished experiences wanting to be completed. Understanding the dreams helps us understand what has not been completed as well as what we are repressing. Once we make an aspect of the unconscious conscious then we can work with it, see how it affects...
Loneliness is very up for a lot of people at the moment, or in fact for much of their lives. 1. Realize that loneliness is a feeling, not a fact. When you are feeling lonely, it is because something has triggered a memory of that feeling, not because you are in fact, isolated and alone. The brain is designed to pay attention to pain and danger, and that includes painful scary feelings; therefore loneliness gets our attention. But then the brain tries to make sense of the feeling. Why am I feeling this way? Is it because nobody loves me? Because I am a loser? Because they are all mean? Theories about why you are feeling lonely can become confused with facts. Then it becomes a bigger...
A guest blog by Theo Kitchener Depression for those suffering from it can be many different experiences, however it may also be that the body is trying to heal. It's what happened to me when I was incomprehensibly upset about something. It's the incomprehensibility that makes it depressive. I could barely feel the actual emotions because they were just so big. What to do? We can get stuck in it, or we can process the emotions. Doing so requires understanding, tools, and trust in the process. For most people, particularly those who have been in the depths of despair before, myself previously included, depression is really scary. It seems like there's nothing useful or healing about it. It's to be avoided like the plague if at...
In teaching the masterclasses I have been asked about energy and how it is used in groups. This is a bit tricky to define as energy as I experience it is hard to define, label, put into words or give any formulas around. Energy healing is usually an activation of the body's subtle energy systems. I find it especially useful when there is a block to growth or healing or the person is very much in their heads and finding it hard to come into their body. By inviting the energy - I usually use my hands near their body (or even on their body) though I also at times 'mirror' the energies of the person on my own body or from a distance. This can be useful...
Anger is often the emotion that people are most concerned about, closely followed by shame. We consider both are valuable emotions - they are signalling something to us. If we try and push them away, not feel them, deny them, judge and block them, then they only come out sideways … unconsciously in ways that may hurt, be destructive or not be what we mean. It's valuable to distinguish between emotions and thoughts. The anger is a signal that something is wrong and needs to change. Anger itself doesn't blame or judge. Anger is just anger, it is a natural human energy seeking to be expressed, heard and released. What if you could express anger and shame in ways that are healthy, empowering, responsible and real? But if a person's...
Pain needs your bravery It needs your courage It needs your presence. Pain needs you to show up. It’s been waiting a long time For you to realizeThere is more pain in denying pain Than in risking feeling it. Understanding it’s message Understanding you can move through it. Understanding your fears had built it up into a monster. Some pain is however monster-sized Some pain may feel to big to handle Some pain is daunting. Some pain needs support from others to feel. And when we do We gasp in wonder and awe At how we made it through And wonder at what it taught us. Before it lessens and retreats In the face of experience and seeing it for what it really is and...