Willing change into existence

First of all, I wish you a happy New Year!!
May it be filled with joy, health and wonders!

The beginning of the new year is often accompanied by resolutions and good intentions.
Changing our habits is not so easy though.
Then again, if we are longing for change in our life, we need to take action.
As the good old saying informs us:

My relationship with meditation has been ever changing.
When I first discovered it, as part of my shiatsu training 17 years ago, I was deeply taken by it. Often, I would meditate an hour a day and there surely was lots of miraculous change in my life. It was the year in which I decided, or was called to reduce my focus on what I then saw as my career in the institutional defense of human rights, towards a slower, more yin approach to life, enriched by the healing arts. It was the biggest and best, as well as hardest decision I ever made. I could not have made such a choice without coming from a place of deep listening; a choice I have never regretted.
I saw and still see meditation as a space I create, in order to be in a richer dialogue with myself, my intuition and the source, life. I think meditation creates that- room for deeper listening, for insights, because here, for short instances, our mind gets out of the way and we can listen to our heart and the unity that resides within it. The mind is so good at creating a fear- fog that intervenes with the loving guidance which inhabits each one of us.

I have, however, also witnessed myself countless times finding busy excuses that have kept me from sitting in stillness for a short while, even just 15min. I find it amazing, having witnessed the benefits of meditation first hand in my life.

I have therefore devised a small 15min morning routine for myself, that I’d like to share with you. It is an ideal way of stepping into the new day and year with vitality and presence. It gives you strength and energy and an added advantage of it is that on difficult days you can look back on your morning thinking “well at least I did that (for myself:)”.

Here is the three-step routine:

1. Drink a big glass of water with half a lemon squeezed into it first thing in the morning. It detoxes the liver and alkalizes the blood, as well as your intestines. It helps fend off colds and strengthens your immune system.
2. Do (min) 5mins of gentle exercise. It can be a tiny walk. It can be gentle yoga (eg. 5-10 sun salutations- if unknown to you, there are countless youtubes on this). This gets the blood circulating and with that increases oxygen flow throughout your body, so it strengthens your ki/prana.
3. Meditate, speak your gratitude and listen for 10 mins. This practice is an anchor, to yourself and your connection with your intuition, as well as the source/Buddha nature (whichever speaks to you).

You could try the morning routine as a 21-day challenge and then see if you are called to continue. Creating a small opening, by dedicating this time to yourself in which you move and listen will make a difference.

Regarding meaningful change, especially if you would like to be supported in this, I would like to invite you to my EFT weekend 1^st– 3^rd March 19. (If you want to discover EFT before that, there are introductory workshops between now and then- see link).

In this weekend, we’ll go over the foundations of EFT and then plunge into deeper waters, regarding your health, emotions, as well as goal setting.

You might be in a situation in which you want to start over some aspect of your life- via a new career, maybe by developing your practice as a complementary health practitioner, or perhaps you are looking for more peace and serenity after a time of stress, anxiety and burnout or illness. Whichever it is, you are welcomed with your search and questions and we’ll try to address them together.

Part of the course will be an introduction to the Five Element theory that constitutes the basis of Traditional Chinese medicine. We will then study emotional patterns based on the work of Tom Monte. Here you can discover how these patterns stand in your way and learn how you can address them.

The aim of this weekend is that you feel strengthened, inspired and filled with an array of tools and insights that can support you to take your next big step into the direction you want to shift your life to.

I sincerely hope to see you there, it is a unique weekend, filled with the healing magic of listening, understanding, being seen and heard.

In support of your dreams and aspirations for the new year, I share here of my favourite quotes, the source of which is contested.

With love, Irene