A Force for Good
Jul-Aug 2023
On Purpose Woman
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On Purpose Woman Magazine is published bi-monthly online. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Neither the publishing team or the advertisers accept responsibility for errors. Publication and distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing for any reason. To reproduce articles, always credit On Purpose Woman Magazine with the link to the issue. Also, credit the author and leave their bio and contact info intact.
On Purpose Woman Publisher/Editor Ginny Robertson Creative Director Anne Pamfilis Contributing Writers Andrea Hylen Bessie Estonactoc Beth Shekinah Terrence Dora Vilk-Shapiro Kandi Leigh Karen Tasto Laura Di Franco Lulu Trevena Shelly O’Connell Sofia Wren NItchie Tamara Robinson Cover Artist Dawn Shuler
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Inside On Purpose Woman...
6 Letter from the Publisher Ginny Robertson 10 Sizzling Self-Care: Embracing Pleasure, Intimacy and Body Confidence This Summer Tamara Robinson 18 Writing and Publishing as a Path to Healing Laura Di Franco 30 Shamanic Practices for Healing Part I - Connecting with Sacred Space Beth Shekinah Terrence 38 Jul-Aug OPWGC Gatherings – Speakers & Topics 42 How to Flirt: Tips for Successful Flirting Shelly O’Connell 50 Events and Resources 52 Up in the Clouds Dr. Dora Vilk-Shapiro 60 Conscious Self-Evolution: Activate Your Life Purpose Andrea Hylen 70 All My Life Lulu Trevena 74 On Purpose Woman Global Community Member Directory 86 Cover Artist Dawn Shuler 100 Embarking on a Soulful Journey: Nurturing Your Spiritual through the Chakras Bessie Estonactoc 106 Spotlight Members May-June 108 Real Women. Real Purpose Talk Show Schedule 114 Overcome Instant Gratification to Tell Better Stories Sofia Wren Nitchie 122 You Have to Believe in Love to See Love Kandi Leigh 130 Soul-Care for Stressful Times Karen Tasto
Thank You to Our Advertisers Andrea Hylen * BANC * Beth Shekinah Terrence * Brave Healer Productions * Coach Claudette * Divas at the Beach * Earthsave Baltimore * Energy Medicine Solutions Retreat* Heart’s Voice Movement * Her Future Foundation * Julia Mattis Re/Max Advantage * KarmaFest * Last Wishes * Laurie Morin * Legal Shield * Light of Truth Center * Lilia Shoshanna Rae * Manifesting Clients Academy * Maryland Women’s Heritage Center * Mary Perry * Me Myself & Money * Mended Digital * Nourishing Journey * Olivia Jones Mary Kay * Rupert Winston * Sacred Ground Walk * Selling Your Confidence * Send Out Cards * So Social Visionary * Storyweaving * Tamara Robinson * Temple in the Woods * Veronica Grey * Your Inspired Choices * Your Writing Mentor
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How's your On-Purpose year going? We're halfway through 2023. Do you feel great about where you are with your mind, body, spirit, and/or business? Can you use some support in those areas from some wise women? On Purpose Woman Magazine exists to support you in Living On Purpose in a holistic way which means "all of you." Your mind, body, spirit, and business, if you have one. This issue, our pages are again filled with articles and resources that educate and inspire so that you can be the best version of your On Purpose Self. Thank you to our talented writers for sharing your wisdom and life experiences and doing it with love and compassion. We appreciate your contributions. And thank you to our cover artist for sharing your creativity, passion, and path with us. Our advertisers are why you receive this for free. Please look through these pages for support or to enhance your personal or professional life. The ads are linked, so click on each one for more info. As you move through these next two months, remember to: Be Well, Love Big, Spread Joy, Shine Your Light, make a Difference, Be Gentle With Yourself, and LIVE ON PURPOSE!
Get involved with the On Purpose Woman Global Community Read and share this magazine. Write for us, advertise with us, or be our cover artist. Attend one of our 9 online gatherings or in-person meetings in Columbia, MD, Richmond VA, and Tallahassee, FL. Join the On Purpose Woman Global Community and benefit from the amazing features we offer our members. Only $19/month or $195/year. Click here for more information. Be interviewed on our Real Women. Real Purpose. Talk Show live on Facebook and on our On Purpose Woman Global Community YouTube channel. Watch our interviews there too! Click Here to join the On Purpose Woman Global Community on Facebook.
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From the Publisher Ginny Robertson
Summer is a season of warmth, adventure, and connection. It's a time to celebrate life, embrace joy, and bask in the beauty of the world around us. Summer is the perfect opportunity to incorporate self-care practices that nurture your body, enhance intimacy, and boost your confidence. Following this sizzling self-care routine designed exclusively for women can ignite your summer and make the most of this vibrant time. Embrace your body's beauty, strength, and uniqueness. Adorn yourself with items that make you feel fabulous and express your individuality. Take the time to appreciate your body by practicing positive affirmations and self-love rituals. By embracing your body as it is, you empower yourself to enjoy all the summer adventures with unwavering self-assurance. Nurturing your sensual well-being is essential during the summer months. Summer ignites our senses, and it's important to nourish them. Engage in activities that awaken your senses and bring you pleasure. Indulge in fragrant baths with essential oils that tantalize your sense of smell. Explore new flavors and textures with summer-inspired foods that delight your taste buds. Surround yourself with beautiful sights and sounds in nature, allowing them to awaken your sense of sight and sound. By connecting with your senses and prioritizing pleasure in all aspects of your life, you create a rich and fulfilling summer experience. Summer is a season of intimacy and connection. It's the perfect time to prioritize pleasure in your relationships. Plan romantic getaways and intimate picnics, or take long walks on the beach with your partner. Communicate your desires and explore new avenues of pleasure together. Embrace the freedom and playfulness that summer brings to reignite the passion and deepen the bond with your loved one. Furthermore, being single doesn't mean you can't enjoy pleasure and intimacy. Use this summer as an opportunity to prioritize self-exploration and embrace the joy of solo pleasure. Take the time to discover what brings you pleasure and indulge in self-care practices that ignte your senses. Explore your own body through self-touch, self-massage, or by trying out new sensual experiences. By nurturing your pleasure and embracing self-intimacy, you cultivate a deep connection with yourself, build confidence, and create a solid foundation for future intimate relationships. Remember, pleasure starts from within, and your self-love and self-discovery are invaluable gifts to yourself. Embracing the outdoors is another crucial aspect of summer self-care. The sunshine and fresh air beckon us to spend more time outside. Take advantage of this by engaging in activities that promote self-care and body confidence. Go for a swim, bask in the sun, or try outdoor yoga or meditation. Embrace the natural elements and let them nourish your body and spirit. Protect your skin with sunscreen and stay hydrated while enjoying the outdoors. Summer provides an excellent opportunity to explore movement practices that make you feel alive and in tune with your body. Find activities that resonate with you and bring you joy. Whether it's dancing, hiking, or trying out water sports, movement improves your physical well-being and boosts your confidence and body image. Embrace the pleasure of movement and let it become a form of self-expression this summer. While summer can be exhilarating, setting boundaries and prioritizing rest is essential. Remember to listen to your body and allow yourself to take breaks when needed. Practice self-care rituals such as reading a book, taking naps in the shade, or indulging in a quiet moment of reflection. By honoring your body's need for rest, you'll be able to fully embrace and enjoy summer activities without burning out. Summer is a time to celebrate pleasure, intimacy, and body confidence. By incorporating these self-care and self-love practices into your routine, you'll fully embrace the season and cultivate a deep connection with yourself and your loved ones. Remember to prioritize pleasure, nurture your sensual well-being, and embrace summer's freedom. Sizzle with self-care this summer and let it ignite your body, mind, and soul with joy, confidence, pleasure, and intimacy.
Sizzling Self-Care Embracing Pleasure, Intimacy, and Body Confidence This Summer by Tamara Robinson
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Tamara Robinson, Intimacy & Body Confidence Coach I help women over 40 feel more confident in the bedroom so they can enjoy better sex and more intimacy & pleasure.
In the psychology world, there’s a term called narrative therapy that describes the very real healing effects of writing your story. There are different stages to the healing process when it comes to writing and sharing brave words. Are you ready to take your healing to another level? In her book Joy is My Justice, Tanmeet Sethi, MD, says, “Studies show that when you write, not about the logistical or mundane parts of your day, but instead about the emotionally troubling life events, big magic can happen. Magic like less depression, stronger immune systems, and even changes in chronic diseases.” I’ve built my life and career around the idea that writing is a healing journey. We’ve known what Dr. Sethi is talking about for a while. She goes on to talk about the therapeutic effects of writing: “One of the most prolific researchers of this effect, social psychologist James W. Pennebaker, speculated that especially when you write about a long-suppressed secret, the physiological changes may be even more profound.” This is exciting to me. I’ve witnessed this over and over again with our authors. Writing and sharing your story is a profound portal of transformation, and in our world, it includes publishing your words for the world to read. Eeek! Scary, right? That kind of fear is purpose-driven fear. It’s that fear that comes with a tinge of excitement, the kind you know is aligned with your life’s mission and purpose. That kind of fear is the kind to follow like a compass. Everything good happens inside of that discomfort zone. I have identified five levels of therapeutic expression when it comes to brave words and healing: 1. Write in your journal (for your eyes only) 2. Speak the words out loud to yourself 3. Publish your words (social posts, email newsletters, blogs, and books) for the world to read 4. Speak your words out loud for others (a friend, a small group) 5. Speak your words out loud into a microphone Writing is a Healing Process Writing is therapeutic, as Dr. Sethi points out. Google the term ‘Narrative Therapy’ and read more about it. When you move your thoughts out of your mind and onto the page, it’s an awareness process. You become a witness to your thoughts and have a chance to reflect on those thoughts and beliefs. You might notice how they make you feel. Feeling is healing. And, if you’re worried about whether someone will find your journal and read your words, then burn the pages afterward. It’s more about the process than keeping those words to read for later. Journaling can help you process, feel, release, and heal. Speaking is the Next Level of Healing When you speak those journaled words out loud to yourself, putting the vibration of your voice to the words, there’s another level of healing. You become a witness to the energy of the thought at another level. This practice can be profound and bring up deep-seated emotions for release. You might also try reading them to yourself in the mirror. Writing for Others When you decide you want to share your brave words for others to read, you may have a desire to help, educate, or entertain. Most of my authors are business owners and want to share their messages, work, and offerings with a bigger audience. What happens sometimes is that the message gets dulled when you’re trying to explain or teach instead of allowing readers to get to know, love, and trust you by sharing a more vulnerable story. When I first started writing about my divorce, I had to find the right way to share my truth without hurting my family. I was able to prioritize my healing process by sharing those stories and also assist others by helping them not feel alone. They had similar stories, and I was giving them permission to be themselves and to feel perfect with all their imperfections. When you begin sharing and publishing your words, the purpose-driven fear can amp up and give you a whole other level of impostor syndrome and self-doubt. Your awareness practice will help you. So will reminding yourself of your mission to help others. Feel the fear and write anyway. It’s the next level of healing and transformation. Speaking Even Though You’re Shaking Whether it’s to one other person, a small group, or at a microphone for a larger group, speaking to others is another level of the journey and will challenge you by bringing up all of those fears again. I remember being at my first open mic event and pulling my crumpled piece of paper out of my jeans pocket, getting ready to share a poem at the microphone. My hand was shaking so hard I was sure the person in the back of the room could see it. But I read anyway. And at the end, the room graced me with ample applause. I did it, I thought. And right then, I knew I wanted to do it again and that I would practice feeling those nerves and doing it anyway. Your words change the world when you’re brave enough to share them. There’s always a way to share your story that you will be proud of and that will help you heal. It’s time to be brave. For help sharing (or publishing) your story, please reach out! Part of my mission is to help you share your brave words and leave your legacy in the world. Laura Di Franco, CEO of Brave Healer Productions, specializes in publishing and business strategy for holistic health and wellness professionals. She has a 30-year background in holistic physical therapy, 14 years training in the martial arts, and has published over 40 Amazon bestselling books, including 9 of her own. She's a spoken-word poet, lover of dark chocolate, and has a contagious passion for helping you share brave words to build your business. Join Laura's Your High Vibe Business Facebook group here
Writing and Publishing as a Path to Healing by Laura Di Franco
Photo Credit: Melissa Demple Photography
www.BraveHealer.com
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Shamanic Practices for Healing & Transformation Series Part I – Connecting with Sacred Space by Beth Shekinah Terrence
"Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again." - Joseph Campbell Finding peace and balance in our incredibly chaotic and ever-changing world is challenging, often feeling impossible! Disconnection is the greatest disease of our times, and the medicine we need is connection. At the core of shamanic wisdom traditions, this insight can help our modern lives in many ways. Shamanism, an ancient form of spiritual healing rooted in indigenous wisdom traditions, is a way of life that holds everything interconnected through the web of life. Modern-day shamanism carries this understanding forward, offering practices that support deep healing and transformation. It's a powerful gateway to the medicine of connection, something we so desperately need. In this series, I'll be sharing a variety of Shamanic Practices for Healing & Transformation, starting with Connecting with Sacred Space. Cross-culturally, indigenous traditions view connecting with sacred space as an essential part of daily life, not as something held only for special occasions or ceremonies. As we intentionally enter into sacred space, we change energetically. We align with the web of life, remembering our true nature. Our hearts open wide as we step more fully into the present moment. We become more deeply engaged in the experience of life. Sacred stems from the Latinsacer, meaning to make holy. It refers to something set apart from the ordinary. As we step out of the busyness of daily life, we enter into the space of connection. It is in this space that we open our hearts wide. Whatever our background or beliefs, finding ways to cultivate and connect with sacred space opens a doorway for connection, compassion, and awakening. Although sacred space can refer to a physical place where we search for meaning and purpose, it goes far beyond location. Sacred space is an energetic container we can cultivate within ourselves anytime and anywhere. It's the state where presence, awareness, and divine inspiration meet. It's where we drop into our connection with that wonderful web of life we are a part of. As we connect with sacred space inwardly and outwardly, we align with our essence and the greater whole. We actively create our personal container for intention, healing, and transformation. In many spiritual traditions, it is held that our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. When we connect deeply, we learn to navigate outer to inner and inner to outer interchangeably, ultimately knowing that energetically they are the one. This is shamanic wisdom coming to life. In essence, our sacred space threads all realms. How to connect with Sacred Space: Calling In Connection and Spirit. In many cultures and wisdom traditions, calling in connection, support, and guidance is an essential spiritual practice. This often involves working with directions and elements of nature. It can be a ritual to start the day or to open ceremony space. Association and meanings vary based on culture and personal connections. Calling on spiritual guides – angels, ancestors, power animals, etc. - can be a part of this. You may wish to create invocations as I have in Prayer For A New Day Remember, it's all about connection! Ceremony and Ritual. Ceremony and ritual are potent ways to cultivate sacred space and can follow your beliefs or spiritual practices. It can be as simple as setting an intention or lighting a candle. Or it can be a planned gathering with community, such as a medicine wheel or fire ceremony. You may feel called to align with the lunar or seasonal cycles. Find what resonates and let it come alive in your daily life. Explore ways for Finding Connection Through Ceremony & Ritual. Meditation Practices. Moving into the present moment through stillness or movement is a simple and profound way to enter sacred space. Exploring various meditation practices to know ourselves better and find ways to connect more deeply. Movement practices such as yoga or tai chi are forms of active meditation. Each time we practice, we foster our ability to access sacred space. Remember, even just one mindful breath can be a way to connect within. Spending Time in Nature. The natural world is the original sacred space. Consciously connecting with nature shifts our energy, often instantly. Go for a walk in the woods, hug a tree, smell the flowers, or lie on the earth. Bring natural elements into your home - rocks, plants, shells, etc. Connecting to nature through meditation, visualization, or shamanic journeywork is a powerful way to practice. Take a few moments now and imagine yourself in a favorite nature place – perhaps a beach, mountain, or garden. Feel the energy of that place; breathe it in. Nature is a powerful gateway to the sacred space within you! Connecting with Sacred Space Shifts Our Energy and Consciousness. It opens access to our innate healing capacities and transformational potential. Our inner strength grows. We learn to navigate life, relationships and work more fluidly from our sacred space. Practicing is like going to the gym to build muscles of connection that support carrying the fullness of who we are, with all of our gifts and talents, into the world. This is an essential foundation for resilience and well-being in our modern times. I invite you to explore Connecting with Sacred Space. Just a few minutes a day can create a powerful practice. Try a different way of connecting each day for a time or choose one specific practice that resonates and work with it repetitively for 21 days. I offer these questions as an anchor for your explorations: ·How does it feel to shift into sacred space? ·What practices help you to connect deeply? ·Ask your inner wisdom to speak in sacred space. Listen… ·How can you invoke sacred space in your life and work? ·Any other insights? Happy Connecting! Beth Shekinah Terrence, MS, is a Shaman and Holistic Transformation Facilitator. Her mission is to guide individuals, communities, and organizations to deepen connection, cultivate compassion, and embody wholeness.
Come explore at bethshekinah.com
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How to Flirt: Tips for Successful Flirting Part 3 in a Series on Flirting by Shelly O'Connell Flirting is successful when you allow yourself to play. Play is defined as an activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation. That's it; no other agenda or accomplishment is needed. People play for the fun of it. Flirting is one way to play. When you think of flirting as a form of play, it removes the pressure of expectations and the barriers to trying it. It frees you to playfully engage with another person. If you're wondering how to flirt this way or need a flirting refresher course, here are a few tips: Reframe flirting as play and have fun! Know your boundaries before you flirt. Be aware of them while flirting. Revisit what's important to you. Set your intention for the flirt. Is it to keep it light and playful? Do you want to be suggestive and add heat to the flirt? This is all about what you want. Flirting is something that you do for yourself because it's fun! It brings you enjoyment, vitality, and openness. Use your eyes to flirt. They are the number one way to connect with other people. Eyes convey your interest. You can send signals with your eyes that let the other person know what you're thinking. The eyes express delight, happiness, interest, and more. They emphasize your smile. Pay attention to cues that are being sent to you. Women often miss the cues. Practice noticing people, looking them in the eyes, and becoming aware of cues that someone is sending as they try to flirt with you or attempt to get your attention. Let yourself experience how you feel when flirting. This helps you get in touch with what flirting gives you, which is, in most cases, delightful! Many things make flirting great. You'll know you've been successful when you feel wonderfully animated and fully engaged with the one you're flirting with, when you're present in the moment, when you're laughing and smiling, and when your radiance is shining. The only way to experience this is to get out there and flirt! Shelly O'Connell is an expert flirt, a flirting coach for women, and the author of Finding Your Flirt If you want additional tips to make flirting successful, visit Shelly O'Connell – Flirting Coach for Women Read the blog posts while you are there, and if you are feeling curious, have a conversation with me about flirting by scheduling a free consultation on the website. In the next issue of On Purpose Woman Magazine, I'll talk about Flirting, Fun, and Confidence.
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Let me introduce you to Sötnosen and her best friend (The Holy) Spirit. Just like Jesus she uses metaphors to share the love and wisdom from God. I believe that the heart of an unconditionally loved child can heal our wounded souls and our broken world. That’s why I'm sharing her as a series of illustrations in On Purpose Woman Magazine. My name is Marie Ek Lipanovska and I am a Swedish author, illustrator, artist and the ”mother” of Sötnosen.
www.marieeklipanovska.se|www.sotnosen.se|
"And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses. Oh, won't you stay, we'll put on the day and we'll talk in present tenses." -Joni Mitchell
Up in the Clouds by Dr. Dora Vilk-Shapiro Up in the clouds, safe in my seat, the hum of the airplane surrounds me like a mother shushing her child to sleep, and a gentle rock lulls me into calmness. Golden rays of sunbeam highlight various cloud shapes amongst the shades of blue. Sky and sea join in an imperceivable separation at these high altitudes. Among the fluffy puffs, it seems incomprehensible what happens down below. How has the love, joy, and peace above been lost on so many governments and souls below? On the surface, a mother's tears, a dad's woes, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and unnecessary stress. Crime robs the peace. Those who refuse to work and instead help themselves to that which others have earned damaging and vandalizing in their disregard. Caring naught for what they do, only greed for what they take. Respect the property of others. Earn what you possess. Take good care of yourself and your stuff. Drivers rage. They fail to signal, disregard laws and lights, and drive under the influence of various mind and body-altering substances wreaking havoc on the innocence of others. Their selfish entitlement destroys lives, limbs, and sanity; material possessions like cars end up as a tangled heap of scrap metal, and painful devastation awaits families who suffer the echoes and remnants of those tragic accidents. Destruction affects the many by the careless decision of the few. So preventable. Yield, signal, make that U-turn if you missed your street, drive alert, and be kind. Slow down. Chill. Relax. Arrive alive. Governments dish out rules in the name of freedom that rob the people's rights. Unjust laws that make no sense for humanity only line the pockets of the privileged and support the wishes of the entitled few. Hypocritical ideas. You have the right not to wear a mask, yet you can't decide what to do with your body. Taxes are not on those that can best afford them but on those in the struggle for which the loopholes are never an option. The rich get richer, and the poor are left behind, worrying about where to turn next. Be fair, be kind. Vote for what is best for humanity and the common good. Leave your selfish greed behind. Concentrate on abundance, not lack. Take care of each other and Mother Earth. Equal rights are just words on a yellowed constitution and infrequently followed. Color, race, gender, gay, straight, religion… the humans on the surface find more ways to hate and have long forgotten we all bleed red and have the same desires of wanting to feel safe, loved, valued, respected, and live with our own happiness. Think love. Be love. Give and receive love and gratitude. People are less safe. In their homes, domestic violence. In schools, houses of worship, malls, movies, nightclubs, and public gathering places, hatred, guns, knives, and explosives kill. Mental illness goes undiagnosed and untreated, and we look the other way, ignoring telltale warnings. Bullying persists. The innocent die, are maimed, or otherwise scarred. See something, tell. Help the less fortunate. Seek therapy for yourself as needed. War kills on a grander scale. Hate on steroids. Destroying innocent lives, caught in their homes just going about their business while governments led by maniacal leaders pillage and kill. Greed is all they know, control, and whim. Life is meaningless, and power is supreme. The most evil got away, and the innocents lost. Vote. Peaceful protest. Write your legislatures. Speak up. Voice injustices. Up in the clouds, it's crisp and clear, and the engagement is pure. Peace and beauty and hope. May we choose to believe that just above us is that perfect sky. Full of the sun and moon and stars and love everlasting. How will you choose to be on the ground? We can only pray. Honopono teaches I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. May we all find the peace that we feel when up in the clouds. Dr. Dora Vilk -Shapiro is a retired Family and Cosmetic Dentist and educator. Currently an author, she penned The Chatham Series, adult books, under the name Doris Vilk. Love Arrested, Love Attempted, and Love Avenged. She also co-authored a children's book. Rupert Winston's Gotcha Day, with Nicole T. Shapiro. All books are indie-published and available on Amazon.
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Meet the new Creative Director of the On Purpose Woman Magazine, Anne Pamfilis. Anne's creativity, attention to detail, organization skills, and tech knowledge make her the logical choice to step into this position. And a big plus is that she's a joy to work with! Anne has been my uber-talented Virtual Assistant for the past three years and the reason you're kept so well-informed about what's happening with the On Purpose Woman Global Community and Magazine. She's also responsible for our consistent, highly visible social presence. Thank you, Anne. You've done a magnificent job with this, your first issue. Ginny
Thank you, Kathryn Yarborough, for all you've given to the On Purpose Woman Magazine. For 4-1/2 years as the Creative Director, you've used your imagination and skills to showcase our articles, ads, and the entire magazine. I consistently receive compliments about the beautiful pages you've created. As you move on to spend more time growing your business, please know that I'm grateful for your commitment and your friendship. Ginny
Conscious Self-Evolution Activate Your Life Purpose by Andrea Hylen Code 6: Choose ideas which activate more of your life purpose, creativity, joy, and lovingness of others. ~Barbara Marx Hubbard, “52 Codes for Conscious Self-Evolution.” Have you ever had a crazy idea? You know, the kind of idea that other people think is crazy even though there is something about this idea that makes perfect sense to you. That's how I felt when I had a flash of an idea to go to 45 Jonas Brothers concerts with my teenage daughter during the summer of 2009. Going to JB concerts in 2007 and 2008 started as a way to help my 14-year-old daughter reconnect with life after her father's death. She met a community of teenagers online and heard about a free concert at the pier. Two years after he died, the first concert we attended was in Philadelphia. We drove from Baltimore to Philly the night before so we could grab an early breakfast in the hotel lobby, go to the outdoor venue with folding chairs and snacks, and sit in line with other devoted Jonas Brothers fans all day. This evolved to a concert at a theme park, a concert in North Carolina on the way home from a trip to Florida for Thanksgiving, and a concert in a small indoor venue in Reading, Pennsylvania. Fifteen concerts during the summer of 2008 finished the year. Music and travel had helped us open our hearts to a new life, and we were moving forward. In last month's issue, I highlighted "Code 3: Notice flashes of freedom and keep bringing your attention to them," from Barbara Marx Hubbard's Book: “52 Codes for Conscious Self-Evolution.” A flash can be an idea, an epiphany, or an evolutionary impulse to change or claim something. In 2009, I was selling my house in Maryland and downsizing from eleven rooms to a 10 x 10 storage unit. When the house sold, we planned to pack up a car and head to California. Not sure if it would be a final destination, we both agreed that we needed a fresh start. California is where we would begin. This flash of an idea made sense. 1. I would have no mortgage for the summer. 2. Hannah was homeschooled and could finish her studies on the road or take her GED. 3. The words in the Jonas Brothers' music were about going for your dream and turning your dreams into reality. Most of their music had been created with their father and uncle in the basement of their home. We were ready to dream and manifest a new life. 4. We both had built connections and community on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 5. I was blogging and studying to be a coach. We could go anywhere with a computer, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a phone. "How do you know if an idea you hold is true or not?" Some of the words Barbara Marx Hubbard used at this step are: 1. Trust your intuitive knowing. 2. Choose the thoughts you think. 3. The Universe is responsive to requests. 4. Metaphysical beliefs are becoming evolutionary choices in real-time. I had a buyer for my house. Concert tickets would be going on sale soon. We mapped out the concert dates and locations throughout the United States and Canada. I had even found a few bookstores where I could meet up with authors from a book I had midwifed in 2008 called, "Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman's Guide to Life." Everything was coming together until the buyer lost her job of twenty-two years. The housing market and the job market were in crisis. Was this a sign that we weren't meant to go? Here are a few tips at this stage of Conscious Self-evolution: 1. Plant seeds by asking questions and waiting for answers to come. 2. Tune in, listen, and trust the process. Stay grounded. Commit to a daily practice that cultivates listening to your inner voice, like meditation, walking in nature, journal writing, and chanting. Ideas may pop in while you are cooking, washing dishes, taking a shower, or in your dreams. 3. Connect with a trusted person or group who knows and believes in you and your intuition. 4. Does this crazy idea feel like the next step in your evolution, even if you don't know the outcome? 5. Set Boundaries. Don't explain your crazy idea to anyone, especially naysayers. (If you feel you must, then create a short answer. "We need a fresh start, and this is giving us time to figure out where we want to live." If they persist, say, "That's all I know right now.”) Do not debate it or waste your precious life force energy on other people's fears or limited thinking. I bought a few concert tickets for Hannah, where we had friends in Arizona and New York. She was sixteen years old now, and I knew she could fly by herself and enjoy a few concerts with friends, even if we couldn't go to all 45 concerts. Asking questions and listening, I knew something about this flash of an idea connected to breaking free. I had lost a brother, son, and husband, and the trifecta of learning about how to grieve spread over my lifetime. Now it was time to consciously evolve my Evolutionary Woman self. I had no idea what that meant or what it would look like. I could feel it in my heart and bones, and that was enough to move forward. A summer of 45 concerts began by committing to the first three concerts in Dallas, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Denver, Colorado. And so, the adventure began. Andrea Hylen: Ancestral Lineage Healing Practitioner. Author of Heal My Voice: An Evolutionary Woman's Journey. Creator of The Incubator: Online Co-working Space for Cultural Creatives. Developmental writing coach.
#3 in a Series of 10
www.andreahylen.com
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All my life, I have been apologizing, in one way or another for being: too sensitive too deep too enquiring and at other times too aloof removed stand-offish Many of these contradict each other. Often, as a result, I will tend to take up less space and become invisible, creating protection and nurturing my tender heart within, while longing and yearning for deeper understanding and connection as my inner child screams see me, hear me, allow ME TO BE ME, love me as I am. Which in turn evokes my warrioress of protection; she is fiery. In the past, hearing or experiencing these words from others - not always spoken directly, often inferred - has caused me to mold and adapt myself to others' needs. People-pleaser pattern. Ugh. So, who is the real me? I am all of it: sensitive harsh deep airy fairy rigid flexible engaging aloof and unabashedly so. My voice has become my Muse. My writing is the path. I align my heart and soul, keeping both my inner child and wise woman close. I will listen to others but not take on their projections. I will check myself to see if any of what is shared resonates with me, and I will remain curious. I will grow and evolve as is in alignment with my heart and soul. I will honour my truth, my experiences, and my feelings. I will speak up for myself. I will repair and restore communication when needed. I will own my shadow. I will honour my light. May I release the trauma bonds of trying to meet others' needs, and any patterns of betraying myself. I hold the sacredness of who I am in my essence. I deserve others to do the same. And So It Is. What am I working on... ME. Who am I becoming... MORE OF ME. Why... because the world needs us to be more of ourselves, and shed all the notations, lies, limiting beliefs, projections, and baggage we have been carrying, for far too long. I CELEBRATE YOU! PS: When we become all of ourselves in a healed, conscious way, may we call back the projections that we also placed on others and release them to the highest. And So It Is. Lulu Trevena is the founder of Live Life with Wonder. She’s an award-winning Author, Artist, Soulful Living Coach, and Quantum Healing Practitioner who’s passionate about shifting the societal narrative about women and age. Her transformational programs: Healing the Feminine Soul and Wholehearted Unabashed Journaling, will help you live with the confidence to do anything at any stage of life.
All My Life by Lulu Trevena
lulu@livelifewithwonder.com
lulu.trevena@gmail.com
www.LiveLifeWithWonder.com
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On Purpose Woman Global Community Member Directory
Amanda (AJ) Schwarz. Mended Digital. Mason, OH. Website Design and Digital Marketing. Feel confident about putting yourself & your business online. www.mendeddigital.com aschwarz@mendeddigital.com Andrea Hylen. Santa Monica, CA. Ancestral Lineage Healing. Mental Health Fitness. Somatic-Intuitive and Developmental Writing Coach. Zoom and Online. https://AndreaHylen.com Bessie Estonactoc. Bessie Estonactoc, LLC. Nipomo, CA. Helping Professional Spiritual Women in Mid-life to authentically 'EMBRACE THEIR WOO.' www.BessieEstonactoc.com Beth Shekinah Terrence. Annapolis, MD. Integrative Shamanic Healing and Restorative Practices for Individuals, Communities and Organizations. https://bethterrence.com beth@bethterrence.com 443-223-0848 Beverly Hamilton CHT, Reiki Master. Soul-utions Hypnosis. Baltimore, MD and virtually. Empowering women struggling with infertility to conceive their baby and have a gentle peaceful childbirth. www.SoulutionsHypnosis.com HypnoAromaBev@gmail.com 410-663-5089 Carol Burbank. Storyweaving Coaching. Fort Washington, MD. Compassionate, professional writing mentoring and services: coaching, manuscript evaluation, editing, publisher/agent proposals, research, ghost writing. cburbank@storyweaving.com Cheri Martin. So Social Visionary LLC. Satellite Beach, FL. Social Media Strategist, and LinkedIn Coach, Trainer, Speaker www.SoSocialVisionary.com Cheryl Hickman. Hickman Enterprises. Clinton, MD. Recommend/Educate Blockchain platforms for Retirement, Supplemental and Legacy Income. YourExclusives@gmail.com 301-536-6265 (please leave a message) Cherryll Sevy. Living Forward After Fifty. Los Gatos, CA. Writer/Speaker, inspiring and guiding women to a full life. www.cherryllsevy.com Cindy Freland. Cindy Freland, Author. Bowie, MD. Children learn about the Chesapeake Bay by reading my books. www.cbaykidsbooks.com cindyrenefreland@gmail.com 240-882-5429 Claudette W. Gadsden. Coach Claudette & Associates. Caret, VA. We guide women to more clear concise conversations. Let's Talk! www.CoachClaudette.com Claudette W. Gadsden. Temple in the Woods. Caret, VA. Bed & Breakfast off the beaten path. A place to nourish your soul. www.TempleintheWoods.com. Dawn Shuler. Soulful Business Coach. Gore, VA. I work with women business owners to play bigger by focusing on systems. www.SmartBusinessFromYourSoul.com Dr. Dora Vilk-Shapiro. Romance Mystery Author of Love Arrested, Love Attempted, and Love Avenged. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL. www.DorisVilk.com 954-675-3500 Doria Musaga. BEMER Distributor. Columbia, MD. BEMER therapy improves blood flow to increase energy. Decreases, pain chronic fatigue, aids recovery from injury. http://bmruniversity.com/whatisbemer www.nursedoria.bemergroup.com 667-786-1032 Elizabeth Papp-Stinson. Transpersonal Life Coach. Saint Lucie, FL. Mind, Body & Spirit connection to create balance and peace. amethistlady59@hotmail.com 585-313-6668 Ellen Koronet. LNK Creative. Frederick Co. MD. Lead Magnet Strategies: creative bubble mapping, quizzes, and assessments. EllenKoronet@LNKcreative.com 240-315-3371 Free chat: bit.ly/LNK-talk Emily Shull. Me Myself and Money. The Netherlands. I help women understand and heal their relationship with money. https://memyselfandmoney.com Gail Dixon.The Heart’s Voice Movement. Tallahassee, FL. We guide people to discover and express their life’s purpose and passion. www.heartsvoicemovement.com Gerise Pappas. Phoenix, MD. Transformational Life Coach & Enneagram Facilitator working with growth-oriented individuals ready to replace fear-based habits with inspired action. Phoenix, MD www.GerisePappas.com Gina Hogan Edwards. Creativity Coach, Author, Editor. Writing Retreats, Women Writing for CHANGE. 850-766-6029. www.ginahoganedwards.com/Links Ginny Robertson.On Purpose Woman Global Community. Lutherville, MD. 11 Free Zoom gatherings each month. In-person meeting in Richmond, VA. https://www.OPWGC.com Ginny Robertson.On Purpose Woman Magazine. Lutherville, MD. Go to the website to read the current and back issues, for advertising rates, and info on writing for the magazine or being our cover artist. https://www.OPWGC/magazine Gloria Darling. Tallahassee, FL. Replay Fitness Feel Good Again. Primarily, non-financial retirement coaching for recently retired professional women. https://replayfitnessfga.com info@replayfitnessfga.com 850-345-0319 Helena Richardson. HRichnetworks, LLC.Chesterfield, VA. We offer Web Design, Digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Analytics, Technical Support with a focus on Network Security. www.hrichnetworks.com Janet Roessler. Creativity Consultant. Inner Voices Outer Vision. Ft. Pierce, FL. Art, Marketing, Rituals, Events, & other journeys. I help you do what you do, better. https://innervoicesoutervision.com/ Jean Wright. Speaker, Author of Selling Your Confidence. Frederick, MD. I coach women in sales and entrepreneurs who want to sell confidently. www.sellingyourconfidence.com jeanw9440@gmail.com Jennifer Palmer. Nourishing Journey Café & Wellness Center. Columbia, MD. Healing Bodies ~ Opening Minds ~ Uniting Hearts. Columbia MD. 410-992-3001 www.nourishing-journey.com Julia Mattis. The Julia Mattis Sales Team at Re/Max Advantage Realty. Columbia, MD. Realtor specializing in working with Sellers and Buyers in Maryland! www.JuliaMattis.net juliamattis@hotmail. 1-410-303-7010 Julie Goetzinger. New Market, MD. Julie Goetzinger LLC. Helping ambitious professionals to find their higher purpose. Offers life purpose readings, retreats, her book, “Free to Fly: Manifest the Life of Your Dreams.” https://www.juliegoetzinger.com julie@juliegoetzinge.com 301-284-0789 Karen DaGrava. Stepping Stones To Perfect Health. Baltimore, MD. Lose weight and end yo-yo dieting effortlessly through self-love. karendagravamd@yahoo.com Facebook Group: Karen Tasto. Open Heart Healing, LLC. Derwood, MD. Life Coaching & Women’s Circles for Reclaiming & Connecting to Your WHOLE Self. www.karentasto.com/ 301-646-4385 Kathryn Yarborough. Manifesting Clients Academy. Lake Mary, FL. Training to attract clients and grow a business you love. www.manifestingclientsacademy.com Kenya Halliburton. Course to CashFlow. Huntsville, AL. As an Online Course Choreographer, I help women entrepreneurs build life-friendly and profitable online businesses using courses. www.KenyaHalliburton.com KimBoo York, M.L.I.S. The Task Mistress. Tallahassee, FL. Productivity Solutions for Women Solopreneurs. www.task-mistress.com Kim Eley. KWE Publishing. Prince George, VA. Bringing magic to authors to transform their idea into their amazing published book. www.kwepub.com Kyle Brooks, LMT. Heartfelt Shiatsu. Columbia, MD. Craniosacral Therapy, Shiatsu, Massage & more 443-514-4399 Kyle@HeartfeltShiatsu.com www.HeartfeltShiatsu.com Latisha Boyd-Potts, MSW,AMHFA,YMHFA. Ijamsville, MD. Grouplady Lifeskills Consulting, LLC. Life-tool Workshops, Safe Space groups, Motivational Speaking that strengthens mental & emotional wellness. www.groupladylifeskills.com lbp.grouplady@gmail.com 240-481-6516 Laura Di Franco, MPT. Brave Healer Productions. Bethesda, MD. Have fun with your fear and share your healing message with the world. www.BraveHealer.com 703-915-3653 Laurie Morin. Wilmington, NC. Retreats to help women design adventurous lives and legacies. Author of Shero's Journey. https://www.LaurieMorin.com Lilia Shoshanna Rae. Author of The Art of Listening to Angels, Reiki Master. Severna Park, MD me@lilia.com www.LiliaShoshannaRae.com Liz Goll Lerner, CAT, LCPAT, LPC ATR-BC. Your Inspired Choices, LLC. New York City & Washington DC. Personal Coaching, Psychotherapy, Divorce Well and Thrive® Coaching, Enlightened Communication™ courses +retreats for luminous living. www.yourinspiredchoices.com Lori Pieper, Journey To Inner Joy, LLC. Total well-being coaching-live your life with clarity, joy, passion! https://JourneyToInnerJoy.com Lori@JourneyToInnerJoy.com 513-332-7928 Mae Caime RN ,CINN Healthy Lifestyle Expert. aMAEzing Midlife and beyond.Mount Sinai, NY. Supporting, coaching woman to add zest, sizzle and sass to thrive versus survive. www.Amaezingmidlife.com Facebook amaezingmidlife Maria Guadalupe Lopez. Apapacho. Rosedale, MD. Have a Mexican experience first-hand at Fiesta Mexicana and Apapacho. Restaurant/Specialty Mexican Shop. www.fiestamexicanamd.com https://www.facebook.com/pamperingyoursoul 443 961-4964 Maria Petrucci, DC. Columbia, MD. Craniosacral Therapy, Chiropractic, and Mind-Body Tools to alleviate pain and stress. www.mariapetruccidc.com mpetrucci.dc@hotmail.com 240-394-2037 Mary E. Knippel. Your Writing Mentor. Half Moon Bay, CA. Mentors authors - Written In Her Own Words Co-Author & Book Elite Women’s Writing Retreat. https://yourwritingmentor.com MentorMary@yourwritingmentor.com Mary Perry. Wings Unfurled. Sparrows Point, MD. I offer Intuitive Angel Readings and Healing Sessions. https://www.Wings-Unfurled.com Mary Scott. BusinessRiff. St. Louis, MO. Solve problems, connect resources, providing business concierge/consulting services. https://businessriff.com businessriff@gmail.com 917-628-6322 Mary Jane Charles. Last Wishes 'n Support. Wilson, NC. I provide a user-friendly process with detailed instructions, so that your last wishes come true. www.lastwishsnsupport.com mj@lastwishesnsupport.com 503-317-8854 Mia Zachary. Elemental Abundance. Charlottesville, VA. Energy Balancing; Intuitive Counseling; Holistic Coaching. http://MentalDancing.com Olivia A. Jones, Independent Beauty Consultant. Mary Kay Cosmetics. Tallahassee, FL My business offers opportunities to be your own boss, to earn the use of a company car, to experience facial products that help you look and feel your best. www.marykay.com/oajones Pam McFarland. Dragonfly Creative, LLC. Silver Spring, MD. Using writing as a tool in for growth and personal expression; workshops, coaching, memoir-writing. www.pammcfarland.com pammcfarland.01@gmail.com Dr. Pamela Hamilton-Stubbs, BSN, M.D, CNS. Dr. Hamilton-Stubbs Sleep and Total Wellness Institute, LLC. Richmond, VA. Double board-certified sleep physician and certified nutrition specialist offering Sleep and Wellness Coaching and online classes. http://www.drhamiltonstubbs.com Risa Lynch. Risa Lynch LLC. Charlottesville, VA. ASEA Redox distributor. Redox helps improve healing, energy, chronic issues, anxiety, sleep and much more. https://risalynch.myasealive.com risa@risalynch. 757-619-1286 Ruthanne Warnick. Capture the Journey. Hillsboro, OR. Helps families capture and share memories and family stories to connect the generations. www.CapturetheJourney.com Sahffi Lynne. Music is Medicine. Ellicott City, MD. Musician and Vocal Coach connecting hearts around the world. www.sahffi.com Shelly O’Connell. Coaching by Shelly Martinez, CA. Flirting Coach for Women & Author of Finding Your Flirt. https://www.facebook.com/coachingbyshelly https://shellyoconnell.com Shelly Roman. Sacred Ground Walk, LLC. Sterling, VA. Author, Speaker, Trainer, Co-Walker™. Helping women return to the LIGHT, heal body and brain. www.sacredgroundwalk.com Dr. Sree Meleth. Freeing Ourselves. Atlanta, GA. I help clients cultivate contentment by dropping self-judgement, lovingly integrating their shadow & flowing with life. https://www.instagram.com/freedomwithsree/ Sylvia Henderson. MindTeam Solutions, Inc. Olney, MD. Leadership and professional development. Meeting and retreat ideation and facilitation. https://MindTeamSolutions.com Tamara Robinson. Love Heals Coaching, LLC. Author and Passion & Pleasure Coach. Hanover, MD. Heal and connect with your desires, reclaim your pleasure and have more confidence www.passionpleasurecoach.com Tammy Workman-Lopez. Sparks Hope Anxiety Relief & Wellness. Orlando, FL. Successfully relieve anxiety & negative thinking and have the personal & professional life you desire. www.SparksHope.Life.com Toni Gitles. Heart of Caregiving. Lake Mary, FL. Caregiver consultant and educator, families, businesses, medical professionals, universities, conferences. Keynote speaker and author. https://www.HeartOfCaregiving.com Toni@HOCToni.com 407-304-6534 Veronica Grey. National Campaign for Financial Literacy. Baltimore, MD. Free financial educational presentation and workshops. Text Veronica 443-929-1140. Veronica Grey. VG Total Care. Baltimore, MD. We focus on Financial Literacy through workshops and life coaching. vgtotalcare@gmail.com https://h9mwidat.pages.infusionsoft.net/ Vicki Ibaugh. Know You To Grow You. Orlando, FL. Personalized business coaching for women solopreneurs. www.KnowYouToGrowYou.com Vicki@KnowYouToGrowYou.com 407-342-4434
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SOUTH MOUNTAIN CRAFTS
THE SHULER GROUP
Cover Artist Dawn Shuler I remember drawing bunnies and unicorns as a little girl. Then, for some reason, I just stopped, probably because of a traumatic childhood where survival and escape took the form of voraciously reading, not creating art. Once I became an adult, I turned my creative urges to quilting and needlework, taking great pleasure in colors and patterns and using my hands to create physical things. Fast forward a decade or so, and I felt the need to move from needle, thread, and cloth to something more intangible – watching colors and patterns emerge from pens, pencils, and paint. I have delved into sketching, coloring, doodling, tangling, wood burning, and painting. With hundreds of completed projects and seemingly thousands of potential projects in my brain, I spend most of my weekends and some weekday evenings bringing ideas out of my head, heart, and soul and into the world. IT’S ABOUT THE JOURNEY During the day, I’m an organizational consultant and trainer at The Shuler Group. While I’ve been successful and love the work I do with organizations, and even with all my accomplishments and achievements, there was a point when I felt something was missing. In 2021, after having spent almost every weekend for 1-1/2 years painting, I had an epiphany. I’d been fascinated with both art and spiritual exploration (separately and together) but treated them like hobbies. My soul cried out for more. Hence, the movement, Art As Spirituality, was born. There is something more beyond our day-to-day physical life that begs us to explore. Art As Spirituality is a manifestation of my need and desire to find a way to access that which is higher and bigger than ourselves. ABOUT SOUTH MOUNTAIN CRAFTS My husband Mark and I love the mountains. We previously lived in beautiful Myersville, Maryland, atop South Mountain. If you know your American Civil War history, then you know South Mountain. We now live in rural Virginia, atop Great North Mountain. North or South…. it’s a mountain! We produce a variety of things, not just paintings (traditional “art”), but wood crafts, carvings, and functional art (vases, trays, and the like), hence the “crafts” piece. I’m the designer, colorist, and artist behind our crafts. Mark is the guy who makes it all happen by carving and sanding wood, creating the structure to make art happen, and providing an endless supply of structures and materials. Can you say, “Blow torch”?
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Embarking on a Soulful Journey Nurturing Your Spiritual Through the Chakras by Bessie Estonactoc "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin The Root Chakra Let's face it, amid the modern-day demands and distractions, life can become overwhelming. The presence of social media, the internet, and the rapid pace of fulfilling our daily obligations of work, business, family, and personal and other responsibilities can easily lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. It can be challenging to make the time to nurture our physical life, let alone our spiritual growth. I embarked on my soulful journey wondering about the meaning of life and how I fit into this life as a human being having a spiritual experience. I wanted to understand who I am, how I tick, and how to balance my mind, body, and spirit to live life fully as a woman and a businesswoman. Raised as a Catholic and of Filipino heritage, there were narratives about how I was supposed to think, live, and believe. Many of those narratives were fear-based. As a former Catholic, the fear of going to a purported hell was huge! I also carried unconscious beliefs about myself that stemmed from my childhood and genuinely didn't serve me. I was an introvert, not wanting to make any waves at home by talking back for fear of being reprimanded or spanked. As a result, I found it difficult to ground into speaking my truth even as a young adult. What was your experience like growing up? "To work through fear is to learn to relax and feel the subtle energies of the body, to have pleasure and expand our attention to a wider vista. To combat fear is to strengthen the first chakra. To live with fear is to weaken it." - Anodea Judith In this issue, I'm sharing about the root chakra (the first chakra of seven chakras in the physical body), how I find it relates to our spiritual life, and how it intersects with our personal and business life. The exploration of chakras originated from the ancient Sanskrit traditions of India. Chakras are energetic vortexes (subtle energies) emanating from the central nerve ganglia along the spinal column. These chakras align with glands in the endocrine system and regulate vital bodily functions, including respiration, digestion, and reproduction. The chakras have a physiological connection and correspond to psychological facets of our life. Imagine the chakras as analogous to floppy disks that store programming information about how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. The root chakra is located at the base of your spine and resonates to the color red. It governs your physical health and your basic survival needs. People with a strong first chakra are very good at managing their physical needs and are rooted in their lives. They are grateful for the roof over their head, they have good health, and they manage their financial needs and, most importantly, their fear. Early on, my root chakra was imbalanced because I lived in fear from my old stories. During my transformative process, I examined the aspects of myself that supported my growth and those that hindered it. I realized that I needed to embrace the spiritual part of who I was and my shadow parts. Hypnotherapy was a modality that helped me transform my old narratives and expand my soul growth, and now helps my clients do the same. It's essential to look at strategies that allow us to navigate our spiritual journey with greater intention, which can help us embrace and live our best spiritual life AND be grounded in all aspects of our personal and business life. So how can we embark on this path? Here's how I make conscious decisions, ground myself and nurture my spiritual growth: Self-Reflection. Take time for quiet self-reflection and introspection. Understand your values, beliefs, and what brings meaning to your life. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and consider how they align with your spiritual goals. Mindfulness and Meditation. Practice mindfulness and meditation to cultivate awareness and presence in the present moment. These practices can help you connect with your inner self, reduce stress, and enhance your spiritual well-being. Connect with Nature. Spend time in nature and appreciate its beauty. Nature can be a source of inspiration, peace, and awe, fostering a deeper connection with the universe and your spiritual self. Cultivate Compassion and Gratitude. Practice compassion towards yourself and others. Show kindness, empathy, and understanding. Develop a gratitude practice by regularly expressing appreciation for your life's blessings and positive aspects. Nourish Your Body and Mind. Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Engage in activities that promote health, such as exercise, healthy eating, and adequate rest. Create a balanced lifestyle that supports your spiritual growth. Spirituality is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not resonate with another. Explore and experiment with different practices, be consistent, and trust your intuition to guide you toward what nourishes your spirit. Most importantly, learn to approach yourself with compassion, gentleness, kindness, and love when old stories arise, and return to the present moment to embrace your new story. When you do this, you'll initiate shifts that bring you back to a place of love, courage, and unwavering belief in yourself, creating the narrative of who you truly are deep within your soul, life, and business. Bessie Estonactoc, MA, is a Spiritual Coach and Hypnotherapist dedicated to empowering Professional Spiritual Business Women in nurturing their spiritual and personal development. She uses hypnotherapy to guide these women through the transformative journey of exploring their unconscious present and past lives.
www.bessieestonactoc.com
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Overcome Instant Gratification to Tell Better Stories By Sofia Wren Nitchie Ever since middle school, I've had a love for speed. I used to walk as quickly as possible through the halls to get to my next class. I couldn't wait to read my book, and advance towards a satisfying conclusion. When I started my business 10 years ago, I was just the same--I wanted fast results. I wanted to go viral, so I did my best to produce content quickly online, generating something new as often as possible to get attention and customers. These days I'm taking life a little bit slower. I've learned that good things take time. And as a writer I've learned that my best work only comes when I release the need for instant gratification: stories with the power to move people, myself included. Although it can have it’s advantages, when I’m focused on posting fast content onto social media, for example, I get caught in a cycle of seeking dopamine. Frequently I have to remind myself to embrace something else: To embrace space. To embrace patience. To prioritize my own inner process to churn and discover a deeper way to tell my stories. I do this because I’ve found something enduring comes out of these things; not just better stories, but the power that writing has to heal emotional wounds and trauma from the past. Writing is an artform. Art can take something that was originally garbage and uplift it into something deeply inspirational. It can take a complex complicated storyline and condense it all into a single image. And studies show writing four times for 20 minutes can reduce trauma around a story. But all that takes more time than jotting off a quick tweet or facebook post. Last year I wanted to create a video to record some of the insights, thoughts and feelings I was having around my dad's first death anniversary. It was something I thought about for a long time, and I mulled around what I was going to say. Once I jumped into the project, it took about 20-30 hours to edit the video clips, music, and record the voiceover. As a result, I ended up publishing the video almost two months after the anniversary had passed and gone. But I don’t see that as a mistake. Not only was my video storytelling very, very well received, but, better yet, it was also healing for me. Somewhere in sorting through all the video clips, and putting them together into a story I empowered myself to face a new level of grief. It was hard during the process but at the end I felt a greater sense of peace. I’m excited to do another video. In the past year, I’ve drafted many versions of what I might say next about my life after loss, but I haven’t finished it yet. It has not felt quite ripe, it needs a little more time for the lasting ideas to come together. This process of respecting the timing for stories is something I’ve learned to listen to. I resist pressure to finish my story just for the sake of keeping to a publishing schedule. Some stories need more time and space than that. What if writing or telling your story took 10 times longer than you thought? Would it still be worth it? I hope you say yes. What instant gratification prevents you from seeing is that some stories take time to tell. And some stories need you to try to tell them multiple times. That's what it takes to truly nail it. Whether you use writing to tell your story or you use voice or video, giving the process time can help you find a deeper and richer meaning for your thoughts, feelings and experiences. You may need time to determine how you want to tell the story: where you want to place the emphasis, where you want to begin, what details you want to include, and what the lesson or the moral of the story is at the end. Perhaps you are still going through a journey and you know you will want to share about it, but you haven’t reached the happy ending yet. I've been there. It took me eight years to write and publish my book Freedom Year. Keep writing, retelling and reworking your story! Allow yourself to have private writing time that you don't share with the world quite yet. Or if you already shared it with others but it felt unsatisfying, try and try again. Sometimes you need to start from a blank page again, and other times you need to reread what you have. It totally depends, but, all the same, keep going. The writing, editing and pondering process is rewarding for not just your final story, but also your personal growth. Have patience and let your story unfold. To help you see the bigger picture, try writing a mindmap of the slowburn projects in your life: Name the achievements, themes, projects, and other things that have been bubbling over the long term and can’t be achieved in a single afternoon. One by one, write down each name on a piece of paper. Then put a circle around it. Connect any of your circles that relate to each other by drawing arrows across the page. Now take a look at what you have cooking. These things will take longer to ripen, but be all the sweeter for the wait. You are growing and healing as you write and think about how to tell your story. Although many platforms like social media reward you for posting frequently, much of that work is here today and gone tomorrow. But when you take time, you can find something more enduring: a better story and a personal transformation, too. Write for your book or business and put your damn calling out into the world. Coaching, courses & writing groups from your Mermaid fairy godmother, Sofia Wren Nitchie.
Sofia Wren Coaching
You Have to Believe in Love to See Love by Kandi Leigh My partner and I were on a break. No, not like Ross and Rachel from Friends. We were about six months into our breakup and starting to reconnect as friends. During Memorial Weekend 2020, I was on a road trip with our mutual friend, and I was lamenting to her that I felt like I couldn't be myself because "He doesn't cuss." I felt like I had to censor myself around him. "Kandi, what are you talking about?" she asked. "He cusses. You don't hear it?" Until that moment, I could have sworn I hadn't heard him cuss. As she drove, she helped me remember a few times that he had used some explicit words. So, I let myself dig into my beliefs, and I realized that I held a belief that men don't cuss. First, I grew up with a Southern Baptist father. I never heard him use profanities. Then I married a man who was vocal about his belief that people who cuss never really say anything of value. On the other hand, I loved the stress relief of letting out an f-bomb. Over time, I used adult language less and less and happily sprinkled colorful words back into my life post-divorce. On the way back from our road trip, I realized that because I believed that men don't cuss, I could not hear it when my guy did. My brain was filtering my experiences based on my beliefs. Our beliefs are that powerful. Of course, I also had to laugh because I know many guys who use adult language. I realized that feeling free to cuss in relationships was just a symptom. I was healing the belief that I could safely be myself in a loving relationship. As a relationship coach, I repeatedly see how powerful our deeply held beliefs are in attracting our partners and shaping our relationships. People who believe love doesn't last may be stuck in a revolving door of short-term relationships or extending their stay in unhealthy ones. People who believe love means never fighting may find themselves in an explosive relationship to help them release their need to never fight. Or they may end up in relationships with someone so passive and agreeable that there's no passion. Suddenly, they crave a fight. People who grew up like me, believing that once you're married, you can't get divorced, may overlook every problem that arises because you don't want to acknowledge the deal breakers that are showing up. The good news is that if we allow ourselves to become aware of our beliefs surrounding relationships, we can balance and shift them. Step one is creating awareness of our beliefs. You can start by getting a journal and writing about your parents. Did they fight? Did you hate their fighting and then promise to never fight with your spouse? Or did they never share a cross word in front of you? If so, have you been able to learn healthy ways of navigating issues when they arise with your partner? Or do you just swallow your anger? Was there any infidelity? Did you take on the belief that partners are never faithful? You may find that some of your deeply held beliefs contradict each other. That's ok. Once you've discovered your beliefs, the next step is to look at examples where these beliefs aren't true. Do you know couples who can navigate conflict in healthy ways? Do you know couples who have remained faithful through their relationship? Do you know couples who exemplify that love lasts? Even if you don't know people personally, you can often come up with examples through celebrities (Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are one of my current favorite celebrity couples.) Next, reflect on relationships in your life that also contradict your beliefs. Do you have a best friend you get annoyed with, but you're always able to talk through your disagreements? Do you have a sibling who you know you'll always love? Finally, look at what your relationship with yourself reflects back to you. Do you have a healthy relationship with yourself or do you cut yourself down and berate yourself all day? Do you keep your commitments to yourself? Next, reflect on the qualities you want in a relationship. Again, reflect on couples you know who exemplify these characteristics. Then, reflect on your relationships with friends and family who resemble these characteristics. Finally, reflect on how you have these qualities in relationship to yourself. This was the process I used right before I met my guy in 2019. We met, and he matched everything I had written I wanted in a partner and a relationship. But we were also still healing past wounding. Eventually, we had the needed space to heal. I got home from that road trip and asked my guy to meet me for a drink. While reflecting, I realized I missed him and recognized that he was my best friend. During our time apart, he had also been reflecting and shifting his beliefs surrounding distrust of women. Soon after, we were officially a couple again. Moving forward, I caught him cussing often, especially when he was in the kitchen. At this point, I was finely attuned to his colorful words (like when you buy a car and suddenly see it everywhere). I couldn't help but be entertained by every f-bomb floating into the living room. This is the fourth of six articles in "Relationship Soup: A Recipe for Better Relationships." See Kandi's first three articles in our On Purpose Woman Magazine archives: Kandi Leigh is a love and relationship coach and reiki master teacher who helps individuals and couples heal relationship beliefs, develop self-love, and create heart-centered relationships. Visit her website at
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www.kandileigh.com
Soul-Care for Stressful Times by Karen Tasto This past spring, I was going through a really stressful period. My elderly mom with dementia fell and broke her hip, then one-week post-surgery, fell again. I navigated her care with siblings who don't get along while preparing for two big back-to-back trips. On top of that, I was in the middle of my house turned upside down for interior painting. It was a lot at once. Life felt super challenging. What do I do when life feels especially hard, when juggling multiple stressful things simultaneously? Do I let my self-care slide, like in my old days of people-pleasing, self-doubt, worry, and going it alone? Absolutely not. In fact, it's times like these when I up the ante on my self-care and, even more importantly, my soul-care. I read soul-care in someone's workshop description, and it resonated and stuck. I'm using this phrase more and more now in place of self-care, especially in my work with women. That I can return over and over to my grounded, centered self while holding my ground and my boundaries is a testament to all the deep soul-care I've been doing along the way. Am I perfect in this? Absolutely not! Especially in a crisis, I slip back into old ways, if only momentarily. I beat myself up. I wish I responded differently. And then, I dust myself off and dive into my most cherished soul-care practices. I find the self-compassion. I hear my guidance. I uncover the gem. One thing that's different these days is that I'm not afraid to reach out for support or even collapse into others, to lean into the lap of sisterhood. This is just one example of soul-care. Self-care and soul-care are quite different. Self-care, which includes the physical/outer things you generally do to care for your body and health, is so important. It's eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and rest, staying hydrated, engaging in social activities, staying up-to-date with doctors' appointments, and taking preventative measures like screening tests and supplements. It's all the things mainstream culture promotes for good health. Soul-care, on the other hand, is about your inner/non-physical life. It's tending to your emotional and spiritual needs and desires, which culture is just starting to grasp. Soul-care is… Reaching out to trusted others for support and accountability, and in celebration Tending to your inner children with love and care Connecting to yourself at heart and soul level Allowing expression for all your emotions - from grief and rage to joy and awe Creatively expressing yourself in ways that nourish your soul Growing into compassion for your self – all parts - even the undesirable and unattractive ones Growing in consciousness/awareness Connecting to your higher powers and the highest aspect of your self Tuning in to your soul's callings and wisdom Opening to receive the blessings all around Engaging with your surroundings in wonder and awe Balancing the being with the doing, the feminine aspects of you with the masculine …and so much more. Soul-care can mean different things to different people. There's no one tried and true formula. It doesn't really get the scientific backing that self-care gets. I hope it gains traction for the sake of all the souls navigating this world. I invite you to reflect on these questions… What does soul-care mean to you? In what ways are you already practicing soul-care? What tools/practices do you tend to use that feel like soul-care? Where in your life could you use some extra soul-care? What support do you need around this? If this resonates and you could use some support with your own soul-care, I'd be happy to have a conversation with you. Schedule a 30-minute complimentary call OR e-mail me and we'll find a time that works. I'd be so deeply honored to hold space for you. Karen Tasto has been holding sacred space for women to journey towards their whole selves for almost 20 years. Beginning as a yoga & meditation teacher and currently as a certified life coach and women's circle facilitator, she is dedicated to supporting women in their quest to feel more alive, connected, and whole. Learn more about her at Check out this video of my talk on Soul-Care at an On Purpose Woman Global Community Zoom meeting.
www.karentasto.com
karen@karentasto.com
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