Happy Halloween

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HAPPY FULL, BLUE MOON HALLOWEEN!

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Time for stews, marigolds, thieves oil (recipe below), communing with ancestors of blood or creative lineage, dark chocolate and whatever connects you to this special time of year.

Our bodies are getting the message to slow down and to connect with what replenishes and grounds us as we head towards the earth shadow time and "holiday season." Our culture may give us the message to speed up, make obligatory plans, spend money, eat food that doesn't make us feel good....but a deeper voice whispers in the cool air and rustling, golden leaves.

Song for Autumn by Mary Oliver

Don’t you imagine the leaves dream now
how comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of the air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the trees, especially those with
mossy hollows, are beginning to look for

the birds that will come—six, a dozen—to sleep
inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
stiffens and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
its long blue shadows. The wind wags
its many tails. And in the evening
the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

This Sturgill Simpson album is medicine.

Image Lisa Hobbs

THIEVES OIL

This is a favorite fall recipe that is also very timely given our more frequent cleaning, wiping and disinfecting this year. As we go towards colder weather, boosting our immune system with rest and good food is so important and this thieves oil can add another layer pf protection and support.

The Historic Folklore of This Famous Remedy

According to folklore thieves oil dates back to the year 1413 during the time of the Bubonic Plague. 

During this time four thieves were captured and charged for stealing from the sick and dying.  The thieves never contracted the plague, despite the close contact with victims of the bubonic plague.

The men were eventually captured and the judge was so intrigued by how these men had stayed immune to this terrible disease, he told them if they shared their secret he would spare them their punishment.

The Thieves told the judge their secret: they were perfume & spice merchants unemployed due to the plague. They had prepared an essential oil recipe that when applied to their hands, ears, temples, feet & a mask over their mouths, kept them safe from infection.

Since then this concoction became known as "thieves oil." has been used to sanitize, relieve inflammation and diffused to clear phlegm and airborne pathogens. 

This versatile blend has become popular due to its now well-known anti-bacterial, anti-fungal & anti-viral properties.

I like to use it to clean surfaces and in my diffuser. 

TO MAKE THIEVES OIL: 

Blend essential oils of: 

LEMON
EUCALYPTUS
CINAMON
CLOVE
ROSEMARY

Mix the essential oils together and shake well. I add drops to almond oil for rubbing on my hands and feet and add to water for diffusing or cleaning surfaces. 

Enjoy!

Image Cover of Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Here's what women are saying about Embracing the Shadow Women's group...

"I loved the feeling of community and sisterhood! I realized I am not alone on my journey, not alone in my struggles. I am really excited about Group Work now, and its potential. I also greatly appreciated having tangible exercises, books and resources to work on! Hannah did great at creating a safe container where magic can happen.Hannah was great at including everybody in the group, and giving us all chances to share.
~ Embracing the Shadow Participant

"This was my first experience in a women's group. I felt a strong sense of support and a safe space to explore aspects of myself that I sometimes view as shameful or "bad'. I have felt better this month than I have in a long time and I attribute a majority of that to my participation in this group. I'm taking away some positive habits such as writing down my dreams and pulling a tarot card. I've also developed friendships rooted in exploration of self and mutual respect"
~ Embracing the Shadow Participant

"The group gave me a container to focus and wonder. It was helpful to hear others talk about their experience and to notice what felt similar and different.
The prompt to pull a card or image each day brought me into deeper connection with my new deck, and it was really fun. I loved having the FB group to share images and thoughts - more opportunities to see synchronicities between us. I loved the focus and holding of the group. Thank you! I liked the opportunity to share something creative for the closing ritual. I get excited about bringing songs into more of my spaces. Loving sharing that part of me more."
~ Embracing the Shadow Participant

Sound good?

Learn More Here

I understand that it's always a little scary going into the unknown and into the mists....but the women of Avalon can inspire us to rely on our intuition and bravery to make the crossing. If you feel the call, please join us! Start the journey by clicking the link below.

Apply Here


PS: Here's some of the details...

• Embracing the Shadow focuses on a monthly theme where we explore specific tools and practices to advance our growth. We combine traditional psychology and western mysticism (the tarot, Jungian psychology and more) for potent insight and transformation.

• Embracing the Shadow focusses on fostering Carl Jung called Individuation which means conscious awareness of wholeness and the connection with the Self.

• Embracing the Shadow currently costs $175/ month which is less than one therapy session!

• You can participate in Embracing the Shadow from anywhere in the world.

Embracing the Shadow includes:

• Self Study: A PDF outlining that months focus that includes resource materials, suggested practices and optional reading

• Community: Participation in a lively forum

• Connection: Two live zoom meetings: One for diving into that months readings and practices and one for deeper group process. We meet 2 Wednesdays a month at 6 pm.

• Bonus: The occasional additional meeting in nature when possible

PPS: If you are a past client and have seen me for either individual or couples therapy I would love to reconnect with you through Embracing the Shadow.

APPLY TO EMBRACING THE SHADOW WOMENS GROUP

VISTIT THE NEW EMBRACING THE SHADOW PAGE

Connecting With Ancestors

Image Hannah Green MFT

Happy New Moon

Me connecting with land ancestors at White Horse Hill, UK . Read more about connecting with the ancestors below.

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HAPPY OCTOBER! HERE IS A GIFT FOR ALL MY SUBSCRIBERS:

I truly appreciate being connected to you. Sharing these emails and the things I am excited about is a bright spot in my business. I recently made this FREE GUIDE TO CONNECTING WITH THTE UNCONSCIOUS as a gift for new subscribers and I want you to have it too.

Creating a dialog between the conscious and unconscious minds is my passion. Contained in this guide are simple tools to nurture the bridge between the two. This bridge is a key to more choice, freedom, meaning and magic in our lives. Enjoy!

GET THE FREE GUIDE

The ancient Celts tell us that October is the best time to connect with our ancestors.

There are 4 kinds of Ancestors...

• Ancestors from your genetic line - family, blood relations

• Ancestors of ‘tribe’ and culture - nationality, lifestyle, food, beliefs

• Ancestors of place - who lived here before us?

• Ancestors of spiritual and intellectual lineage - perhaps my favorite. Who inspires us and who's ideas, struggles and insights have paved the way for us to become who we are?

Why care about ancestry? It can give us a sense of belonging in a strange world.

Ancient celts believed this month to be another liminal time where the veil between the worlds is thin. Connecting with, thanking and honoring our roots and ancestors is especially potent.

Perhaps as we face the challenging and transformational year of 2020 getting some guidance, perspective and feeling "a part of" is especially important. Perhaps with the state of affairs we are needing to plunge our roots more deeply into the earth to find the nourishment we need.

Here are the 2 main ways I like to work with ancestors:

Journaling: Using active imagination we can dialogue with these special people, asking for their guidance and perspective. This is most easily done using the technique of free writing.

1. Get 2 different pens, one for you and one for your ancestor

2. Perhaps have their picture or something that reminds you of them nearby

3. Ask questions with one pen and answer with the other using the free writing technique of continually moving the pen and writing whatever comes up without judgement.

Alter work: placing pictures or things that remind you of special people on an alter or special place in your home.

Do you have favorite ways?

Image Upsplash

The Portal to Avalon

Image Hannah Green MFT

Happy Full Moon

This is me in Glastonbury England... Avalon in 2018!

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Hi there,

You have come so far and done so much healing work.

You have discovered medicine and become a vessel for that medicine. You have shed painful patterns, developed keen insight and held yourself in your own loving embrace.

You have reparented yourself and been on a magical journey of discovery and transformation. You share your medicine in increasingly healthy relationships and perhaps even in a professional capacity now as an artist, healing practitioner or conduit for social change.

You shine.

Yet sometimes you feel a call to something more...a call to go deeper... and you wonder how to find the missing piece.

You still worry sometimes that you are too much or not enough...

In relationships...you sometimes return to dry wells when the thirst for connection swells in your belly.

Sometimes you still feel alone, overwhelmed and like it is all up to you...

All women on a true healing journey experience these challenges. They are in fact the invitation to go deeper...but how?

Have you heard of the mythical, magical isle of Avalon that lies beyond the mists? I bet you have.

Image Mists of Avalon

Avalon is known as the isle of women and is an ancient, sacred place where women support one another in cultivating wisdom, healing and deep connection to the Mystery.

The women of Avalon create a rich and protected environment that fosters their true power and nourishes their gifts. This place has a well with pure, thirst quenching water.

You might be thinking, I want to go there but how on earth could we reach this sacred place in 2020 with all the troubles we face? Is it even possible?

It is! Listen to this recent Embracing the Shadow participant...

"I created a connection with a group of radiant women, received tools to work through different types of stoppages, a true connection to nature and myself."
~ Nicole Embracing the Shadow Participant

Image Mists of Avalon

In order reach Avalon we must cross the mists, and enter the portal...

When you join Embracing the Shadow Women's Group we cross the mists and enter the Avalon portal together. Avalon embodies and represents a deep sense of connection with ourselves, each other and the Mystery...

The first step is taking a leap of faith and joining a women's group despite our doubts, old beliefs and old hurts, perhaps from wounded relationships with other women in the past.

Together we can go further than we can alone...together we connect with our deep intuition, heal old wounds still blocking us, integrate our shadow and step into our power.

In Embracing the Shadow This happens through:

• Guidance and structure including specific practices and readings presented to you each month

• Exploring a blend of of western psychology and western mysticism

• A blend of practical and embodied, creative tools for growth, expansion and healing

• Group process - where you can risk and experience being seen in your wholeness

• Owning your light and your dark and practicing radical self-love through group and personal process

• Connecting with ancient tools like the Tarot in order to develop intuition and connect with the unconscious

• Fostering personal creativity and expression

• Focussing on a monthly theme and connecting to nature's cycles to stay focussed and grounded

• Witnessing others and their strengths and challenges and finally realizing on a deepest level that you are not alone, broken or behind schedule

"I thought therapy was about "fixing" your broken pieces. Shadow Work is about embracing all the parts of you, and releasing shame around them. Becoming your whole self. Playing with your Shadow Parts, and seeing how you can use them to your power."
~Anna


Here's some of my story...

My healing has been deeply facilitated and influenced by groups.

At a hugely pivotal point in my life I found myself in inpatient treatment for addiction at 23 years old. I was at a crisis point where I needed a radical shift in consciousness. I needed to plunge into the mists and begin to heal the rift between my conscious and unconscious mind, and that long process began by connecting deeply with others in group process. These connections skyrocketed me into the world of recovery, spirituality and into the power of groups. From that point on groups would be an integral part of my personal and professional development forever.

Nearly 20 years later, I am a therapist, spiritual practitioner, long time student of psychology and spirituality and woman in recovery. My passion is crossing the mists to Avalon by creating a dialog between the conscious and unconscious mind to foster healing. For me, crossing the mists and arriving in Avalon represents the magic, synchronicity, freedom and love that flows from connecting with my whole Self, with others and the Mystery.

Here's what other women are saying about Embracing the Shadow...

"I loved the feeling of community and sisterhood! I realized I am not alone on my journey, not alone in my struggles. I am really excited about Group Work now, and its potential. I also greatly appreciated having tangible exercises, books and resources to work on! Hannah did great at creating a safe container where magic can happen.Hannah was great at including everybody in the group, and giving us all chances to share.
~ Anna

"This was my first experience in a women's group. I felt a strong sense of support and a safe space to explore aspects of myself that I sometimes view as shameful or "bad'. I have felt better this month than I have in a long time and I attribute a majority of that to my participation in this group. I'm taking away some positive habits such as writing down my dreams and pulling a tarot card. I've also developed friendships rooted in exploration of self and mutual respect"
~ Makenna

"The group gave me a container to focus and wonder. It was helpful to hear others talk about their experience and to notice what felt similar and different.
The prompt to pull a card or image each day brought me into deeper connection with my new deck, and it was really fun. I loved having the FB group to share images and thoughts - more opportunities to see synchronicities between us. I loved the focus and holding of the group. Thank you! I liked the opportunity to share something creative for the closing ritual. I get excited about bringing songs into more of my spaces. Loving sharing that part of me more."
~ Jeremi

Sound good?

Learn More Here

I understand that it's always a little scary going into the unknown and into the mists....but the women of Avalon can inspire us to rely on our intuition and bravery to make the crossing. If you feel the call, please join us! Start the journey by clicking the link below.

Apply Here

Image Hannah Green MFT Carnac Alignments France

PS: Here's some of the details...

• Embracing the Shadow focuses on a monthly theme where we explore specific tools and practices to advance our growth.

• Embracing the Shadow focusses on fostering Carl Jung called Individuation which means conscious awareness of wholeness and the connection with the Self.

• Embracing the Shadow also focusses on practical topics like sex, money and communication.

• Embracing the Shadow currently costs $175/ month which is less than one therapy session!

• You can participate in Embracing the Shadow from anywhere in the world.

Embracing the Shadow includes:

• A PDF outlining that months focus and resource materials

• Participation in a lively forum

• Two live zoom meetings: One for diving into that months readings and practices and one for deeper group process. We meet 2 Wednesdays a month at 6 pm.

• The occasional meeting in nature when possible

PPS: If you are a past client and have seen me for either individual or couples therapy I would love to reconnect with you through Embracing the Shadow!

APPLY TO EMBRACING THE SHADOW WOMENS GROUP

VISTIT THE NEW EMBRACING THE SHADOW PAGE

A Letter to You...

Image Becca Tapert

Happy New Moon

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Dear One,

You've done so much work. You've broken family patterns, wandered into the wild to find healing and returned with powerful medicine. You take this medicine into each of your relationships and into your work in the world.

Perhaps the idea of connecting with like minded women intrigues, excites and even scares you.

You wonder, what would it be like to be with other women and reveal my light and my darkness?

You want to bring magic into love and work. You are a creatrix! You long to feel alive and to express your gifts.

Part of you wants to evolve quietly, on you own or in individual therapy...

Another part of you knows community is the cauldron where magic is made.

Growing with and in front of others is worth the reward.

You are a living, breathing, beautiful paradox and you need a community that can hold that.

You want to share deeply what scares you...and also what makes you feel alive!

You want to be in community that holds space for depth of feeling..and also for insight and creative expression.

You want to talk about spirituality...and also about real life stuff - like sex and money.

You want resources tools and structure that help you to tangibly reach your goals.

Embracing the Shadow is an evolving, inspired and heart felt creation and this is it's goal: To meet your deep need to connect and inspire.

Embracing the Shadow is an invitation to let go of shame, embody our gifts and stand in our vulnerability in the company of fellow women.

Embracing the Shadow is part salon, mystery school, alchemical community and women's group.

Salon: a salon is a gathering of people held by an inspiring host. During the gathering they amuse one another and increase their knowledge through conversation. More on the rich feminist history of salon's later.

Mystery School: A group of initiates dedicated to deepening their understanding of the mystery teachings. The mystery teachings are the perspectives, techniques and practices that lead us to what Jung called the Unconscious mind and facilitate awakening, insight and healing.

Alchemical Community: A group of people dedicated to honoring wholeness and reducing shame. A group that encourages participants to express their whole selves and to take relational and creative risks to increase their access to spiritual awakening, wealth, self-love, joy and love.

Women's Group: A place where depth of feeling is welcomed and held. A place where the cycles of women's lives can be shared and and held with reverence and celebration.

Apply below and be the first to know when registration opens later this fall. Feel free to share this email with a friend.

Embracing the Shadow is evolving into...

A monthly program focussed on specific topics like...

Synchronicity

Money
Enchantment
Sex
Boundaries
and much more....

Each month we will be deep diving into a topic and exploring resources, practices and specific tools to guide your way.

We will be doing all this in community - meeting virtually twice a month and through a private forum.

Every month you will receive a PDF containing practices and resources tailored to that month's topic.

More details to come!

Let me know you are interested and join the list by applying below.

APPLY TO EMBRACING THE SHADOW WOMENS GROUP

Listen to Molly Sarle's, Kareoke Angel

Image Cristian Newman

Are You Psychic?

Happy Full Moon

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ARE YOU PSYCHIC?

Little rant: The idea of being psychic, like so many esoteric concepts has been ruined by mainstream culture. Aptitudes associated with the receptive (or feminine)...have been subject to a smear campaign which seeks to either trivialize and mock or demonize and fear. This has been going on for a few thousand years. For a clear historical exploration on what I am talking about see, Starhawk's book The Spiral Dance.

If we liberate ourselves from the idea that "being psychic" is what we were told it was - some kind of sensational phenomenon at best woo-woo or at worst demonic...

We might see that Yes, We are all as psychic as we want to be.

Psyche: the Greek word for soul or spirit and butterfly.

The very goal of therapy and inner work as I see it is to connect one's own inner guidance. Most important is developing the skill of being receptive to the unconscious. We want to yolk the conscious mind with the unconscious mind. This is Yoga.

Yoga: Word in Eastern spirituality meaning to yolk or join.

This joining makes us our own inner guide and keeps us developing the ability to be receptive to our own soul. Making this link is my definition of psychic.

When we have this kind of receptivity we become sensitive to how the inner world and the outer world are connected. Jung called the synchronicity.

Synchronicity: the meaningful coincidence of two events, one inner or psychic and one outer or physical.

Talk therapy is often the very important beginning to this process of marrying the inner and the outer worlds. We begin to bring our inner world out by sharing it deeply with another person. In depth therapy sometimes we have to spend a few years just talking. Imagine no one has ever really listened to us. We might need to spend a long time practicing sharing our inner world and trusting that another person will hear us and be receptive.

When we've learned to dialogue with another person we can better learn to dialogue with ourselves. As with all developmental abilities we experience them in relationship and then we internalize them and make them our own.

From there we can move on to other techniques. Art therapy, sand tray, the tarot and active imagination might at this point become potent tools for the process.

When we do a sand tray we are connecting the conscious mind with the unconscious mind...

We place the items in the tray and then through dialoging with what we see, deep truths we were holding inside but were as yet unconscious emerge into consciousness. Clients are so often blown away by how poignant and symbolic the items they choose are when they start to talk through what they have placed in the tray. The unconscious and the conscious mind are talking. We are doing yoga. We are connecting the polarities of inner and outer, conscious and unconscious, ego and soul.

This kind of exchange and sensitivity is "psychic" by my definition. It has to do with psyche and it is all about joining two halves like the wings of the butterfly. Also like the butterfly this process of joining the polarities transforms us just like the caterpillar transforms in the chrysalis.

The items in the sand tray reflect elements of the collective unconscious that we all relate to. I believe that tapping into the collective unconscious or inherited ancestral memory is also being "psychic." We call these images or items archetypes. An archetype is a form that is recognizable across time and culture. For instance a dragon, a pot of gold, a bridge, a well...We all have associations with these items that speak to us symbolically.

Collective Unconscious: Jung's word for ancestral memory or the deep part of the Unconscious mind that is inherited and contains information shared by all humankind across time and culture.

One of Jung's famous quotes reads, "we must make the unconscious conscious or it will rule our lives and we will call it fate." The dialogue between the conscious and the unconscious mind creates wisdom and helps us see clearly, another nice definition of psychic in my book.

I am interested in having an inner guide that points me towards finding meaning, connection, aliveness, wisdom and gratitude. I think when I am at my best as a therapist I am holding space for others to connect to this inner guide and am acting as ferrywoman to the inner depths. Making this connection myself and also supporting others in making this connection is my passion.

PS.

Heart felt and tender blessings to all our trees, animals and people affected by the fires and smoke.

By all accounts the astrological weather is stormy as we navigate these big conjunctions involving Mars and Saturn. I wish us all the resource and willingness to pause, connect within and relax before reacting or making rash moves.

I felt extra cooped up this last week and have been reminded again that caring for my body, mind and spirit is enough to focus on right now. Over and over again I get to let go of the idea that somehow there's a way to beat the game and be sitting on a distant island right now - the urge to escape is natural and it helps me to realize almost everyone is experiencing this to some degree.

Everywhere I go I will be invited to do the inner work and that's just the deal. We are in this together.

This Smith's album is also helping...

Listen to the Smith's Strangeways, Here We Come