An Invitation To REFLECT & CONNECT

I hope that your day has started with ease and that you are making the most of the warmer weather.

I’ve been fortunate to start my day with a swim in the ocean and being witness to whales breaching not too far away. I truly am grateful for the gift of mother nature.

I’m recently back from guiding a wonderful group of beings on retreat.
We immersed ourselves in nature which inspired the creative process and the conversations. There was much reflection, and learning. We created, meditated, moved gently, connected, practiced self-compassion and being fully present in the moment.

We chatted about the meaning of being AUTHENTIC – a term that is often bandied about. I’ll share some interpretations here which may interest you.

The existential philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) said that authenticity is choosing the nature of one’s existence and identity.

The elemental root of authenticity is the Greek word “autos” or self – closely related to author and authority.

Dr. Gabor Maté shares that “to be authentic is to be true to a sense of self arising from ones own unique true essence – being attuned with your way of being, your emotions, physical sensations. It means being plugged into your own GPS/intuition and to navigate life from it.”

I resonate with all of the above and have always been particularly drawn to Dr Gabor Maté’s interpretation as it is Ontologically aligned. He speaks to this and other aspects of healing in his new book, The Myth Of Normal (see more info below). If there’s one book you read this year, let it be this one.

So how do we “be authentic – plug into our inner GPS/intuition”? My assessment is that we can do this only under quiet, inviting and trustworthy conditions and it’s up to us to decide what these conditions are. For me it is connecting with mother nature, practicing self-compassion, coaching and creating. The practice of self-compassion has been life-changing for me.

What conditions help you become attuned with your way of being and connect with your intuition?

I invite you to connect with me for a conversation about this – or anything else that you’re curious about. And – perhaps I can entice you to join myself and Teresa Rubé for #theselfcompassionbreak at Stanford Valley Guest Farm in November? This lovely venue is the perfect space in which to reflect on what matters most for you as this year draws to a close.

PS. This retreat is also an opportunity for teams to assess their learnings from this past year.

RETREAT

#theselfcompassionbreak | 18-20 November 2022| Stanford Valley Guest Farm

“A joyful life is made up of simple joyful moments gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude and inspiration.”

Are you open to new possibilities and new learning? This is an opportunity for individuals, teams, groups of friends and partners to end the year in a space that invites reflection, creativity, compassion and appreciation.

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RECOMMENDED READING

I cannot recommend this book enough! It is grounded with science research and many case studies.

For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how the toxicity of today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance.

Gabor Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing.

Read more

CREATIVE GUIDING WORKSHOP

#artforthesoul| 29 October 2022| Hermanus

We will use the Mandala as a form of meditation and practicing loving kindness. A Mandala is a symbol of the universe in its ideal from and its creation signifies the transforming of a universe of suffering into one of joy.

This is an invitation to honour your connectedness and wholeness with Karen as she guides intuitive art-making, meditation, reflection and shares self-compassion practices that will invite more ease.

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POEM OF THE WEEK

Working Together

We shape our self
to fit this world

and by the world
are shaped again.

The visible
and the invisible

working together
in common cause,

to produce
the miraculous.

I am thinking of the way
the intangible air

traveled at speed
round a shaped wing

easily
holds our weight.

So may we, in this life
trust

to those elements
we have yet to see

or imagine,
and look for the true

shape of our own self,
by forming it well

to the great
intangibles about us.

~ David Whyte

With love and many blessings,

Yours in inspiration,
Karen