Welcome to your Monday moment of pause...

For the parents/grandparents of school age children, welcome back to the new term.  Only 5 weeks until the next break at Easter!

This week my youngest Luca is starting at football training.  If you've met him you know what a little sport dude he is.  He's been wanting to play more football for a long time.  I reluctantly asked around as football is one of my least favourite things.  When I hear kids boasting about how good they are or that they're just going to earn millions when they're older as a football player my heart groans.  My dislike of football culture brings up the worst in me so I'm reluctant to engage.  So I've had to put that aside and focus on my kid who is lovely, talented and not like that at all!  I've really been feeling the truth of this saying recently ''Children who challenge us the most are our greatest teachers''.

Gentle soul healing through connecting with your inner wisdom

I may not like football but I did go with Luca last week to see Cheltenham Town ladies play.  I was motivated by free tickets and supporting women more than the activity itself.  I did quite enjoy it as it had none of the swearing, aggression and ego you might find at a mens match. 

What I like much more than being pitch side is connecting with other women in circle, with a cosy blanket and a nice cup of tea!  The regular practice of connecting online and holding space for one another on our healing journeys can be life changing.  My dear friend Rachael is hosting a 10 week circle soon and you can read more about what it will look and feel like and how it can help by clicking the link here.

Rachael's Rising Connected 10 week circle offer

The Path of Feminine Wisdom is a gentle but deep personal inquiry to discover why and how you have been holding yourself back and begin to awaken a deeper experience of your authentic feminine wisdom and power.  The path will help you to understand and navigate your inner journey of healing and transformation.  Recognise ways you relate to yourself and your life that no longer serve you.  Explore 'The circle of 8 agreements' as a powerful foundation and guide to awaken your feminine leadership. Be nourished in a community of like-minded women, coaches and therapists.  Allow your authentic wisdom and voice to be honoured and shared.

If you'd like to contact Rachael you can message her via Instagram @rachael_learningtoberesourced or reply to this email and I can give you her phone number

Happy doodling

I try not to spend too much time on my phone but I do love Instragram for inspiration.  Since starting this newsletter I've been emailing myself creative doodles vowing to spend some time making some.  They don't just look lovely, it's really relaxing just scribbling and colouring in.  This week I spent some time at the kitchen table with Luca and we chose this beautifully simple exercise.  Taking your black pen just let your pen draw some loops and shapes (with your eyes closed if you wish!).  Then colour them in however you like.  Simple.  At the end go over the lines with a thicker black pen and round off the edges of your shapes (this is called 'pebbling' apparently and is the cherry on the cake for a lovely finish).  You can add other adornments to your colouring or leave it as is.  I'm hooked now and have a little postcard size sketch book and coloured pens at the ready on my desk for any time I need 10 minutes down time.  Let me know if you try it or have some favourite doodles of your own. 

The energy of change and getting stuff done

Last Tuesday, February 17th, was a new moon with a solar eclipse.  During a solar eclipse, the Moon moves exactly between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking out the light. In the darkness of a new moon old patterns lose their power and new possibilities emerge as the days move forward.  I like to draw cards from my animal spirit deck at this time in the month to see what intuitive wisdom needs confirming.  I was really happy to see Frog spirit come up for ''personal power'' as I've been on a mission this week to clear the clutter.  

The 17th Feburary also marked the start of the new Lunar year in the Chinese calendar.  Until mid February we were still in the year of the Snake, the energy of which we have now symbolically shed/transformed.  2026 hereafter is the year of the Horse which brings momentum, ambition and potentially a pace that can feel relentless.  If you’re feeling grounded, you may finally feel you can take action on things you’ve been thinking about for a while.  If you’re not feeling grounded, you may burn out trying to keep up a pace your nervous system can’t sustain.  As my friend Michelle beautifully explains in her recent newsletter

''If the last season has felt like letting go, clearing out, or sitting in uncertainty, this next phase can feel more like movement and direction. Not rushed, but more alive. It's useful to pause and ask yourself what wants to move now? What feels ready? What feels alive?''

This week's heart smile can't be captured on camera.  The boys and I have been having evening raves, in the lounge in the dark, with little star lights projected on the ceiling.  Euan is DJ and sets up the drum and bass tracks.  Luca is refreshment guy half way through!  And we all just dance around and let go of the day.  We've decided we're going to have 'Friday Raves' from now on.  It's the most wonderful way to move your body and laugh until your sides hurt. It's such a beautiful reminder of all the time I spent with the boys when they were younger cranking up the tunes and throwing ourselves around.  Here's a lovely throwback video for you from March 2018 in lieu of this weeks picture.

Wishing you a wonderful week

with love, Nic x