Recovery and the Holidays

Image Eric Muhr

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Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all of you a safe, happy holiday.

I recently had a great time talking with Annie Schuessler on the Rebel Therapist Podcast. Her podcast has been a source of inspiration to me over the years. I talk about the Embracing the Shadow Women's group, my morning practices and staying away from burn out by channeling creativity. Hope you enjoy!

Listen to Me on the Rebel Therapist Podcast

Art: A little fairy indulging by Omar Rayyan

I feel the pull to consume more around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Plus, who on earth has done enough spiritual practice to stay present and grounded during a family dinner ~ let alone through an entire holiday season? The old coping mechanisms can come down the chimney during the holidays as well...

During my first sober Christmases I often thoroughly enjoyed walking around with a bottle full of Christmas colored M&M's and taking liberal swigs of sugary goodness. I would fill a glass coca~cola bottle with these little chocolate pearls and loved feeling their silkiness fall into my mouth as I tilted the bottle back. After all, I wasn't drinking alcohol and I was so grateful for that.⁠
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I thought of myself as Buddy the Elf, on a happy diet of sugar and celebration. Those were good years in early sobriety. They were necessary years. I wouldn't change them. ⁠
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It seems however, that years of therapy, recovery, magic and building awareness through a plethora of mind expanding modalities has slowed (not eradicated) my unconscious consumption.
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I had a hungry little girl inside me...that had never had enough....enough love, enough attention...so I fed her well. Really well.

And I still do...but it is more conscious now. ⁠I am able to taste sweetness in many things, including a more conscious relationship with food.⁠ Feeding her "well" has new meaning.
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I don't have to get stomach aches from celebrations with the precious little girl inside me.⁠
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I sincerely hope my reflections don't come off as discouraging or shaming of anyones enjoyment or reveling this season. I once bought 20 Tartine eclairs to share with my graduate class! Enjoyment and celebration with food was and still is a core value.

I am writing this though for all those who are bringing consciousness into their relationship with imbibing and consuming, wether that consciousness resulted from a happy and miraculous insight, through hitting a painful bottom or through painstakingly being willing to pause and feel a moment of seemingly perilous discomfort...only to find out....a craving passes. ⁠

I am writing this for those who commit to pausing before reaching for an old coping mechanism and ask: Is there anything really wrong with this moment? When we pause and ask the question, sometimes we find out:

This moment is enough. I have enough. I am enough.
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Rewiring the pleasure center of my brain to enjoy the dopamine available from a nutritious meal, a calm connection, a fresh morning walk is a gift I am so grateful for.

I no longer drink spirits but I drink in Spirit as often as I can. I find spirit in this moment, the moment I almost missed in my endless quest for enough.

Perhaps this anomalous 2020 holiday season will give me a unique opportunity to pause and experience this moment and appreciate the abundance within it.

I do not regret the years of imbibing large amounts of intoxicants and sugars. The associated dopamine rushes were the training wheels for the grounded ecstatic experience of recovery...and provided the necessary relief at the time. ⁠
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I am so grateful for another sober Thanksgiving and am looking forward to a more conscious enjoyment of bountiful, beautiful food. ⁠
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Enjoy! Love to all.

I've Got This Song On Repeat

Scorpio and the Art of Transformation

Image Andreas Selter

Happy New Moon

How are you holding up?

This month I am focussing on the art of letting go in order to be reborn.

I am wishing you the best and hope that despite the heaviness of this year your heart is finding some hope and lightness. Loss and change has been a major theme for all of us one way or another this year.

I have watched so many people make brave choices in the face of uncertainty, handle loss with grace and express their deep feelings with courage and vulnerability. I have watched changes quickly catalyze in the wake of the pandemic and seen people let go and allow these changes. As a result I've seen many of these changes bring them deeper into alignment with their values and needs. Priorities have changed.

I have seen people get married, get divorced, lose their business, start a business, deepen their relationships and spiritual practices and transform their lives in ways they thought they would do...someday...but the time was now. I am in awe of the transformation that has occurred: both internal and external.

With all change comes loss and letting go.

November is a month of transformation. We see the leaves falling to the ground and the earth letting death release the deadwood so that once again Spring can bring new life.

Scorpio, the Art Nouveau Astrology Oracle Deck

November corresponds with the Scorpio archetype ~ the archetype of the death rebirth cycle. Scorpio corresponds with the Death card in the Tarot major arcana. (see image below). These archetypes remind us that death is part of rebirth and that the two seeming opposites are in fact one phenomenon. This beautiful poem by Sri Aurobindo the Indian sage captures this truth:

Life, death, - death, life; the words have led for ages Our thought and consciousness and firmly seemed Two opposites; but now long hidden pages Are opened, liberating truths undreamed. Life only is, or death is life disguised, - Life a short death until by life we are surprised. ~ Sri Aurobindo

I am embracing November as a time to consciously let go in order to transform.

These are some questions I am asking myself:

• Is there anything that feels like “deadwood” and am I ready to let that go?

• What are my boundaries?

• How am I letting go and reducing stress by utilizing my boundaries?

• What is dying and what is being reborn as a result?

• What am I realizing it is time to let go of and how do I feel about letting it go?

• What old ideas about myself am I ready to let go of ?

Janine Roth's book below is a beautiful story of letting go. She describes the gut wrenching experience of loosing 30 years life savings and the ensuing painful but enlightening process that followed. She models in a very real way how to dig deep and find the willingness to step into loss as a portal for transformation and reminds us we don't have to wait for big losses, we can start embracing the fact of impermanence and change now.

This time of year calls us to slow down and let go...wishing you the very best this November as you navigate your own changes, transformations, deaths and rebirths.

Love to all.

Favorite book this month: Lost and Found: One woman's story of losing her money and finding her life b

Death Card Radiant Rider Waite Tarot Deck

Happy Halloween

Image freestocks

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