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?

If you're a women in transition this retreat camp is for you!!

"Feel the quickening, there's no turning back. Let now be the time to birth the amazing woman you are at this exquisite time in your life."

Are you in a major life transition?

Are you wondering what your next steps are?

Do you need some help manifesting your dreams?

Are you ready to embrace your authentic self and live your dreams?

What if you had the opportunity to be with other women on the same path, supporting one another in obtaining clarity of vision, movement into manifestation, rejuvenation of spirit and connection to your authentic self?? Would you want to be there?

Now is the time! Join us for a very special ARTrageous Camp, just outside of Seattle, WA in the seasonal transition time of autumn. This 4 day intensive, women's only camp is designed to help you connect with your passion, define your purpose and live the life you have always wanted to create. If not now, then when??

ARTrageous "Women In Transition" Camp

Get your WiT's about you!!

Sept 20-23rd, 2007

Ronald, WA

Life transitions are defined in many ways. Sometimes it is about career, sometimes it's our relationships. Sometimes it's the unsuspecting twists of fate that set us on the journey of transition and transformation. Often transition, especially when we don't expect it, can be unsettling and challenging. ARTrageous Camps strives to provide a safe and supportive container that allows you to really explore what is asking to be called forth from the depths of your creative genius and authentic self. Using the platform of creativity we explore movement, improv, music, word, ceremony and various other experiential modalities to deepen our connection to the muse within that knows the answers to our biggest questions. In a play shop environment, where "you can't get it wrong", you are encouraged to offer your wildest dreams and obtain skills and resources to turn your dreams into reality. Personalized coaching and feedback grounds the experience for you on your unique path.

This 4 day intensive takes place in a natural retreat setting, allowing time for integration and relaxation, while we contemplate the question : "How do your gifts and bliss intersect with the world's need??" Do you know what your bliss is? Do you know what your gifts are? Come to this very special camp and discover for yourself the pathway to gentle transitions and great awakenings. Learn to live your life as Art and connect with your deepest passion.

"What do you choose to do with your one precious life? "

Register today. Camp is limited to 7 participants! Will you be one?

Early bird special ends Sat July 21st.

http://www.artrageouscamp.com/camps_seattle.htm