Who is Our Authentic Self and How Do We Find Her?

ANNOUNCING:
A New Year Retreat for Women

seeking to live more fully

with their most authentic selves

Embracing Our Fullest Selves

The Quest for Women’s Empowerment

Jan 25th-27th, 2008

The Incarnation Center

Ivoryton, CT

The journey of seeking the authentic self is a courageous one. Being authentic requires honesty, transparency, confidence and certainty, as well as a commitment to stepping outside of the box. When we learn to live from the center of our authentic selves we are able to be clearer and more effective in our communication, leadership and personal relationships.

Utilizing visualization, mediation and other high powered creative processes you will map a journey back to your truest, happiest, most authentic self by identifying blocks and old messages that keep you stuck. With these new understandings you can become empowered to make new choices that support the merging of your bliss with your life’s work.

Relax Retreat Recharge Go Within Dance Play Create Integrate

$235 early Bird registration (till Jan 5th)

$275 Late registration

(Includes program, materials, all meals and lodging)

Why wait? Register TODAY!

When was the last time you did something for YOU???

contact: gaiagirlmargie@yahoo.com

520-432-5936

Facilitated by Coach Margie Scott

of “Living Your Bliss” Life Coaching and Retreats

http://gaiagirlmargie.zaadz.com/

http://www.artrageouscamp.com/

Beginning in January 2008, self-care retreats get even better!

A wise gathering of women, the intimacy of a small group, the commitment to come together from far and wide into a sacred retreat circle ... this and more is a Self-Care Coaching Circle in the making.

Beginning in January 2008 the ripple of Self-Care Coaching Circles out into the world will begin.


What is a Self-Care Coaching Circle?

I can begin answering that by asking a few other questions ...
How many women do you know who feel overwhelmed, out of breath in their lives, or a bit foggy?
What about ... unclear about big decisions, a bit banged up by lots of changes in their lives, discontent?
Do you ever hear the words -
I'll take better care of myself when ... My family comes first ... I should eat better, exercise more, play more ...

These are tell-tail signs that self-care may be lacking. And yet how to make practicing fabulous self-care a priority when so many things get in the way, including our stories about why we can't?

One answer: come together with a small group of amazing women in a group coaching environment for a three month journey of fun and self-discovery. Together we'll explore what gets in our way of taking great care of ourselves, the price we pay when we don't, and we'll craft individual self-care recipes that support us in making lasting and joyful changes.

The format Options:
Virtual retreat circles or Face-to-face gatherings 2 times per month for three months, lasting 1 1/2 hours each / beginning January 8th, 2008.
Ongoing support between our gatherings
Opportunities to work with Buddies to dive deeper
To learn more go to: www.womansfieldguide.com

A coaching retreat -
magic, possibilities, shining brightly, diving deeply, breathing in and out and in and out to the depths of our toes and the tippy-top of our heads, stretch, play, self-discovery ... authenticity

coming in all shapes and sizes
indoors / outdoors
stillness and silence / dance and song

A coaching retreat -
prepared to be surprised, prepare to be inspired
prepare to be you!

- Corrie Woods
Learn more about upcoming retreats at www.womansfieldguide.com

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?

VICTORIA FITTSMILGRIM LEADS RETREAT FOR MOMS

MOTHERS SHARING POWERFUL TIME

GROWING AND NURTURING THEMSELVES

IN THE CANYONS OF SW COLORADO

WITH

RETREAT COACH VICTORIA FITTSMILGRIM

MAY 6, 2007

One thing about being a Retreat Coach Leader - it keeps you on your toes, always needing to stay present and be with what is actually going on... as I learned again last weekend, as I prepared to lead my annual FOR MOMS ONLY RETREAT, a one day event to honor, celebrate and deepen our relationship with ourselves as Mothers. I'd been dreaming my vision of this day for months! I had a wonderful site in temperate McElmo Canyon, home to many Anasazi ruins (the ancient Pueblo people who lived in SW Colorado about 800 years ago), and endless red rock canyons to explore. I had planned a day of activities that blended action and reflection, giving the group time to bond and share their Mother Wisdom and take time to listen to their own inner world. I had prepared a delicious lunch for all of us to share, as we sat in the SUN, in a wonderful grassy meadow, just outside a very unusual 'cave-house'. But as I checked the weather on Friday morning, I saw to my horror that the forecast didn't just call for rain - IT CALLED FOR SNOW, ALL WEEKEND, with temp's around 35 degrees!! (See photo above, with fresh snow on Sleeping Ute Mountain in the background). I was devastated! My vision definately did not include snow on May 6th! But living as I do in the Rockies, I have to remember that anything is possible. I spent the next 24 hours working on creating a new Vision - one that could embrace Snow if need be, along with any other thing that Spirit might throw at me! After all - If Spirit can throw it, I can dance with it!


The snow whipped in and out of Durango, where I live, all Friday and Saturday. Late on Saturday I headed west, the 60 miles out to McElmo. The weather was definately sketchy but I was committed. It was amazing to see how much snow had already fallen (see photo to left, around Mesa Verde Natl Park). Anyway, once I got to the home of my friend Joyce, who hosted this retreat, things started looking up.

Sunday morning all the women arrived and after spending a few
hours in Circle connecting and sharing about our children and our lives
and having a wonderful lunch with fresh berry pies for dessert, we headed out for some sacred time on the land. Everywhere smelled so fresh! The high clouds kept us cool but no precipitation! One of our discoveries was an incredible petroglyph - a huge spiral carved in the ancient rock. We paused to discuss how our lives moved in and out on a spiral path, sometimes deepening, sometimes not - and the role having children played in all of that.

From the sandy wash we moved higher on the trail, topping out at a wonderful view above the whole canyon. We talked about what's possible when we get 'above' our life and can view it from the perspective of the eagle. How much more spacious things feel! How much more possibility there is!

After helping one another down some slickrock, we regrouped at the special cave-house. This cave has a wonderful overhang that protects it from the weather. And the family who owns this land, has built an outer wall, with windows and a door to create a little retreat house! We sat outside, on the 'patio' and I talked about Jean Shinoda Bolen's book "Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World" and how as mothers we are so connected to the compassion and love necessary to direct the world in a more accepting and peaceful direction. But according to the Tibetan Shambhala Prophecy, that isn't enough - we need to blend our fiery love with the cooling insight that we are all connected and interdependent. Both are required to move us forward - on an inner level and in the physical world we call Earth. After sharing about this, I brought out large sticks and some yarn to make Beauty Prayer Arrows. By wrapping the yarn around the sticks, offering our prayers and intentions for the world, we created powerful ritual objects that hold our desire for change.



We completed our day in a ceremonial circle, in gratitude for so much richness in our lives. Each woman was honored for who she is as a Mother, as well as her powerful presence in the world.

Here's one retreatants comments:

"Many smiles on my face remembering Sunday. You are a magician with what you do. Loved to see the contemplation on faces while you spoke of crossroads and becoming the essence of ourselves." - Joyce K, Cortez, CO

You can find out more about my nourishing weekend retreats of self-discovery: Spa for the Soul Sep 28-30 and Living from Your Soul Oct 26-28 by visiting my web site www.truelifecoach.net If I can support you in living your True Life, via one on one coaching or women's retreats, please let me know. You can email me at victoria@truelifecoach.net.