Gender
Empath or Trauma Response?
Are you an empath or trauma responses being expressed from childhood? In recent years there are a number of people that have identified themselves as empaths that express an attitude of superiority to those who are not empaths. They think they are "special". I find this troubling on multiple levels. An empath is not something that you train or study to become, it is typically a response to childhood trauma and heightened sense of vigilance.
Is experiencing a challenging childhood a reason to feel superior to others?
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Stop Trying To Fix Me – I Am Not Broken
I am not broken. As often is the case when we try to "fix" somebody, we inadvertently tell them we think they are broken. Why would something need to be "fixed" if it is not broken? This poem by Jeff Foster is a beautiful Illustration of a person who has the strength and courage to say, "I am not broken!". I am not lost cat with a broken leg, a muffler or a hot water heater. I am a human being that deserves respect, care, affection and attention. I am not broken. It is not your job to fix me, nor is it wanted or helpful. Love me instead....
Being Better Singles Group!
Come join the circle!
What are we doing?
Being Better Singles Group is a group of single people discussing their honest feelings on dating, relationships, drugs, love, sex, money, and work. We’ll pick a topic, trade stories, have a moderated discussion, and maybe scream, cry, or yell (if needed). We’ll dive in deep and not let fear keep us from expressing who we really are. We’ll explore what makes us amazing and far from amazing, where we need to grow in relationships, what gets in the way of of growing, how to trust ourselves and others and what obstacles get in the way of trust. We’ll find what environments support our safety, and how to set boundaries in those that don’t. Most importantly, we’ll just practice being our authentic selves....Reflections on Compassion
"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity." Pema Chödrön
"Compassion, however, is a renewable resource. When you are able to feel empathy but then extend a hand to alleviate someone’s pain, you are less likely to burn out. Research indicates that compassion and empathy use different regions of the brain and that compassion can combat ...
Boundaries Help Us Connect + Exquisite Consent
I have just returned from two weeks at the annual Dance New England Dance Camp. I have been a participant for eleven years and an organizer for the last four. We created an ad hoc Consent and Boundaries Team to support even more safety and connection within our community. We created an amazing flyer on exquisite boundaries (below), we offered an evening dinner table for conversations around consent, a powerful and entertaining forum on consent and boundaries including Playback Theater, and we purchased 300 wristbands with the saying, "Boundaries Help Us Connect". It was an intense and rewarding experience creating these programs that were received enthusiastically!...
The Healing Apprenticeship Costa Rica 2023!
The Healing Apprenticeship is an amazing week-long Intensive at the beautiful Goddess Garden Retreat Center, Cahuita, Costa Rica, January 28 - February 4, 2023.
Is it time for you to break through the obstacles that prevent you from sustainably being yourself in all the beautiful and not-so-beautiful ways!
Have you had enough of the same obstacles showing up again and again, no matter how long you are in Therapy, practicing Meditation, Yoga or other Spiritual practices? ...
This Sculpture Shows The Inner Child In Us – Love
We all have a little boy or little girl inside us, or both. Many people refer to this part of ourselves as the Inner Child.
The term Inner Child gets used a lot these days, but what is the Inner Child? I like the description below.
"The inner child lives in all of us; it is who we were before life happened to us. When the negative experiences of life happen in childhood, our inner child becomes fragmented. We disconnect from that vital aspect of ourselves and shove that part of our psyche down into the dark.
As we grow up, the inner child is still very ...
