FOR MOMS ONLY RETREAT BY TRUE LIFE COACH VICTORIA FITTSMILGRIM

HEY MOTHERS! HOW ARE YOU NOURISHING YOURSELF? WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR MOTHERS DAY TO CELEBRATE YOU?!

This past weekend I was honored to lead an amazing group of Moms in a self-care retreat in Southwest Colorado. Held in a beautiful home of a friend, we gathered on Saturday morning in a sacred circle to share about our children and about ourselves.

The day was a mixture of time together, listening and being heard, and time on the special land we have here in the southwest corner of the state - ancient land that holds a unique history of native people. It was a warm day and we hiked through fresh new sagebrush up a trail to a slick rock cliff where we took time alone to consider our lives as women and mothers.

One thing that stood out to me was how many Moms can get isolated and believe that their struggles are only their own. Being with others, in a safe circle, opens the door to sharing that may not otherwise take place. One hears another talk about perceived guilt around not doing enough (as if that were true!) and the woman eye's next to her widen as she recognizes herself and her own troubled thoughts. And then the support flows into this opening and the realization that giving is always there and the learning comes around receiving.

I hope that as Mother's Day approaches, you will see yourself and the love you give mirrored in those you give it to. Take time this Sunday to honor and celebrate how good you are at the world's most challenging and necessary job - raising our children.

And what about your own Self-Care? What will you commit to for the nurturing of yourself? Forget selfish!! When you take care of you, then you have the energy needed to care for others. And you are teaching them the value of themselves. Without self-worth, life is struggle. When we can honor everyone - and not leave ourselves out - we are modeling a sustainable way of life.

Here are the Moms with their newly planted flowers of self-care! Are they gorgeous or what?!!

My next retreat is called Quest for Your Authentic Leader and will be July 13-18 in the mountains of New Mexico. Oh Yes - You are All Leaders! So what is your vision of Leadership and how do you express and embody it? If you're being called on retreat, give me a call (970)259-9040 or email me victoria@truelifecoach.net and let's make it happen for you!

More info available at www.truelifecoach.net

VICTORIA FITTSMILGRIM LEADS LIVING FROM YOUR SOUL RETREAT!

Descending into the Kiva…
What can happen on a Soul Journey into the Dark…


The Living from your Soul Retreat (new name for 2008: Journey with Your Soul) was originally designed as an exploration of ways to engage with your Soul’s voice – using non-linear practices that steer you away from your usual mind chatter and support you connecting with a deeper place inside yourself. We live in a culture that is on hyper speed and I believe that if we don’t slow down and take the time to connect with the depths inside us, we will lose what makes us unique, sacred beings. We’ll also miss out on our True Life. Listening to my own inner voice, I knew that I was seeking a place to hold this retreat that would offer a special environment for making this connection.

Enter Kelly Place. This special inn, located in McElmo Canyon holds many special treats…. Bordering the Canyon of the Ancients and gazing towards Sleeping Ute Mountain, in this temperate valley there are over 100 acres of hiking trails to explore the 25 on-site Anasazi ruins. While this 1000-year-old Native American culture has disappeared, their architecture remains and we can engage our imaginations in discovering the past. We can also engage in bringing to light our own hidden depths in the present.

I gathered this past weekend with 7 women in these special surroundings. We laughed, cried and shared the meaningful stories of our lives. We danced from our hearts to inspirational music and created Soul Collage cards, letting our Soul’s speak to us through visual imagery. But for me, the most powerful experience was our Journey into the traditional Kiva (underground ceremonial chamber in the earth) to hear the Voice of our own Beloved. Climbing down the wooden ladder, into the dark center of the earth can be a daunting experience. We are usually taught to deny or ignore the hidden corners of our life, yet we actually grow smaller living from this fear-driven place. It is this descent, this Journey into the Underworld, that offers us a chance to meet the dark mystery of our life and use it to find the wholeness we seek. As written in this poem of the goddess Inanna’s journey to the underworld by Starhawk, there are sacrifices to be made… vulnerability to expose:

The Descent of Inanna, by Starhawk
The Second Gate

The Second Gate is Fear
When you go down far enough
It arises
Wearing a helmet, armor
Wearing an enemy face
Carrying weapons
It blocks the gate

Fear says
Go back
And you hear what it threatens you with
If you go on

Fear says
Turn around
And you hear what it offers you
If you obey

Fear says
Something you alone can hear
And you know what it is.

Choose

To go on
You must take off your clothes
Lay down the cloak that keeps out the
Cold
And the shield that turns the spear
And the armor that turns the arrow’s
Point
Take off your breastplate and helmet
Fear doesn’t go away
But you walk toward fear
Naked
And the gate opens

Past the Second Gate you dance
Fearless in the open
Your skin one living organThat embraces air

Our bodies sat in the dark kiva, while to the sound of the shamanic drums, our Soul’s took individual journeys accompanied by animal allies visualized earlier that day. My role was a sacred charge, to be still and hold the intention of each woman – to find more self-trust, to be healed, to learn their legacy – as they each experienced what was getting in the way. They opened themselves up risking all the things their egos threatened them with losing. And in that magical cave of Mother Earth, they found their resilience and expanded power. We gathered that evening and ritually shared each of our Journeys, deepening the meaning… singing over our bones. The stories and poems that I heard brought me an overflowing sense of joy. I was surrounded by living Goddesses, as they made themselves the heroines of their Lives.

Here's an excerpt from one woman's story of her time in the Kiva:

"As the days grow cool and shorter, bear begins to run, and I follow him. He runs and runs and runs to the steady beat of the drum. At times he carries me on his back. We cross rocks and rivers, fields and forests. We do not stop, until at long last we reach a cave, the darkness. I am hesitant to enter, I have much fear, but bear assures me it is necessary for survival and he will be with me. It is time to enter the deeper depths of my soul, to crack open the hard layers, to unveil the truths inside. This is the only way, in order to emerge whole and true."

After sharing, each woman committed to an act that would bring alive her Soul’s longings in her life. She committed to stay in the conversation with her Beloved. And I knew that the Journey wasn’t over – there would be more insights as they continued to reflect on our weekend and all the Soulful practices we took part in together.

Are you living your life as the Goddess/God that you are? Are you in conversation with your Beloved? As we enter the more quiet, darker time of the year, perfect for this kind of inner work, how can I support you to step into your life this way? What additional joy and meaning could you find if you took the risk? If you are interested in 1:1 coaching, a bi-monthly women’s group or nourishing retreats, please contact me to find out more.

TRUE LIFE Coach Victoria

Visit my web site at http://www.truelifecoach.net/ The new Retreat schedule for 2008 will be posted online by November 20, 2007.

Or contact me at victoria@truelifecoach.net

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR TRUE LIFE?

Retreating with Woman in Recovery

Recently, on a hot day in the Arizona desert, a group of woman headed to the San Pedro River for a day of retreat and to reflect on the idea of Empowered Relationships. These were not just any woman, or an odd mixture of woman attracted to a topic and signing up for a retreat in their free time. This very special group was a strong and courageous bunch, committed to a new life of healing and recovery. Residents of The Renaissance House in Bisbee, AZ they share the common bond of lives gone wrong, finding rock bottom, and working together to rise back up into their power and brilliance. Their ages and backgrounds are varied, but it was obvious they cared about one another and that a sisterhood was forming as they took the steps to turn their lives around.

We started our day next to this tree-a gorgeous and graceful Cottonwood who became a symbol for Empowered Relationships-a strong base, grounded, reaching up into new realms, healthy, alive and growing.

The San Pedro River is a rich riparian eco-system and she is a perfect respite on a hot desert day to retreat, reflect and spend some time going inward. I love taking retreatants there, especially those who wouldn't normally go there on there own. Of course this brings up all sorts of interesting aspects-there was one gal who couldn't sit still during a self noticing time due to the flies and ants-and it is an excellent opportunity to take a step beyond one's comfort level, to discover the message there and to learn more deeply about one's self.

A true retreat coaches dream is when her participants take full advantage of the opportunity before them and dance in the spontaneity and joy of the moment. After a long discussion about the difference between empowered and dis-empowered relationships, including some group coaching for one of the women who wanted to learn how to say no better, we took a walk to the rivers edge. Before we left each of the women picked out an affirmation card, and we walked in silence as they contemplated how the affirmation spoke to them based on our discussions of the day. Finally, the group dropped into a calmer place, and when we arrived at the river one of them sat down, took her shoes off and dipped her toes in the muddy, monsoon water. Another, and then another joined her. Soon, most of the women were sitting at the river's edge. I thought how this was such a metaphor for where they are in their lives right now, on the edge, ready to jump into the muddy waters of a life completely unknown and new to them. Before I knew it a splashing game began and soon 5 women were soaked to the bone, laughing outrageously (actually giggling like a bunch of little girls!), totally being present with play, release, fun and the moment as it presented itself to them. Eventually they settled down, while those less adventurous watched from the sides, and completely immersed in the water they proceeded to recite, very loudly, the Serenity Prayer. This touched my soul, as I have recited that same prayer many times in the arms of Mother Nature during my own healing and recovery process.

The opportunity to work with a population of women determined to change the course of their lives in the midst of learning all over again how to be empowered, healthy and strong is truly a blessing. It is my passion to support others on this journey, to be a guide as they discover their authentic selves, as they re-learn the call of their soul, as they bring forth their shiny spirits that have been hiding far to long and blossom into new beings. I hope the women of the Renaissance House got as much out of the day as I did!

(To learn more about the Renaissance House, a non-profit dedicated to the recovery of homeless and drug dependent women, visit http://renaissance-house.org/)

ARTrageous Camps Michigan Muse-In

Looking for a playful way to connect with your creative spirit in the peak of spring??

Join us for the

ARTrageous Camp Michigan Muse-In

June 8-10th

Mystical Resources

Farmington, MI

(near Ann Arbor)

This playful, lighthearted, and co-created event will support you in:

-exploring and connecting with your intuitive voice

-breaking through barriers around creativity

-honing leadership skills

-replenishing your creative spirit

ARTrageous Camps:

Where the people are the palette and your life is the canvas!
http://www.artrageouscamps.com/

ARTrageous Camp is a magical adventure where you can expand your creative abilities, find your true calling and have a great time doing it. They are designed for adults, to support the process of discovering where your bliss intersects with the world's need. They provide resources, personalized coaching, avenues to healing, support in taking the next step, and the learning of new skills. In a "you can't get it wrong" environment, where you are always at choice and we seek together the "yes, and....." of it all, you can dance on the edge of your brilliance as you explore how to live your beautiful life as Art. Come join us!

ARTrageous Camps were co-founded by Coach Margie Scott, Amberllyn Peabody, and Judith Dolmatch. The original camp was birthed on the Big Island of Hawaii 3 years ago, where an annual camp is held sometime between Jan and March. Camps on the mainland have taken place in Colorado, Oregon, Louisanna, and we are looking forward to going international in 2008 with camps slated to happen in Chile and Canada. The Michigan Muse-In will be our 11th camp in total. We are currently developing a fall 07 program in the Pacific Northwest specifically for entrepreneurs, workshop/retreat facilitator wanna-be's, and members of organizations or groups seeking a more collaborative, co-creative approach. Keep checking the website for more details.

If you are interested in bringing ARTrageous to your community, or special group we offer a hosting incentive program. Check out the website, if what you see inspires you, join us for one of our upcoming camps or contact Coach Margie for information on hosting a camp.