Connecting With Ancestors

Image Hannah Green MFT

Happy New Moon

Me connecting with land ancestors at White Horse Hill, UK . Read more about connecting with the ancestors below.

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HAPPY OCTOBER! HERE IS A GIFT FOR ALL MY SUBSCRIBERS:

I truly appreciate being connected to you. Sharing these emails and the things I am excited about is a bright spot in my business. I recently made this FREE GUIDE TO CONNECTING WITH THTE UNCONSCIOUS as a gift for new subscribers and I want you to have it too.

Creating a dialog between the conscious and unconscious minds is my passion. Contained in this guide are simple tools to nurture the bridge between the two. This bridge is a key to more choice, freedom, meaning and magic in our lives. Enjoy!

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The ancient Celts tell us that October is the best time to connect with our ancestors.

There are 4 kinds of Ancestors...

• Ancestors from your genetic line - family, blood relations

• Ancestors of ‘tribe’ and culture - nationality, lifestyle, food, beliefs

• Ancestors of place - who lived here before us?

• Ancestors of spiritual and intellectual lineage - perhaps my favorite. Who inspires us and who's ideas, struggles and insights have paved the way for us to become who we are?

Why care about ancestry? It can give us a sense of belonging in a strange world.

Ancient celts believed this month to be another liminal time where the veil between the worlds is thin. Connecting with, thanking and honoring our roots and ancestors is especially potent.

Perhaps as we face the challenging and transformational year of 2020 getting some guidance, perspective and feeling "a part of" is especially important. Perhaps with the state of affairs we are needing to plunge our roots more deeply into the earth to find the nourishment we need.

Here are the 2 main ways I like to work with ancestors:

Journaling: Using active imagination we can dialogue with these special people, asking for their guidance and perspective. This is most easily done using the technique of free writing.

1. Get 2 different pens, one for you and one for your ancestor

2. Perhaps have their picture or something that reminds you of them nearby

3. Ask questions with one pen and answer with the other using the free writing technique of continually moving the pen and writing whatever comes up without judgement.

Alter work: placing pictures or things that remind you of special people on an alter or special place in your home.

Do you have favorite ways?

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The Portal to Avalon

Image Hannah Green MFT

Happy Full Moon

This is me in Glastonbury England... Avalon in 2018!

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Hi there,

You have come so far and done so much healing work.

You have discovered medicine and become a vessel for that medicine. You have shed painful patterns, developed keen insight and held yourself in your own loving embrace.

You have reparented yourself and been on a magical journey of discovery and transformation. You share your medicine in increasingly healthy relationships and perhaps even in a professional capacity now as an artist, healing practitioner or conduit for social change.

You shine.

Yet sometimes you feel a call to something more...a call to go deeper... and you wonder how to find the missing piece.

You still worry sometimes that you are too much or not enough...

In relationships...you sometimes return to dry wells when the thirst for connection swells in your belly.

Sometimes you still feel alone, overwhelmed and like it is all up to you...

All women on a true healing journey experience these challenges. They are in fact the invitation to go deeper...but how?

Have you heard of the mythical, magical isle of Avalon that lies beyond the mists? I bet you have.

Image Mists of Avalon

Avalon is known as the isle of women and is an ancient, sacred place where women support one another in cultivating wisdom, healing and deep connection to the Mystery.

The women of Avalon create a rich and protected environment that fosters their true power and nourishes their gifts. This place has a well with pure, thirst quenching water.

You might be thinking, I want to go there but how on earth could we reach this sacred place in 2020 with all the troubles we face? Is it even possible?

It is! Listen to this recent Embracing the Shadow participant...

"I created a connection with a group of radiant women, received tools to work through different types of stoppages, a true connection to nature and myself."
~ Nicole Embracing the Shadow Participant

Image Mists of Avalon

In order reach Avalon we must cross the mists, and enter the portal...

When you join Embracing the Shadow Women's Group we cross the mists and enter the Avalon portal together. Avalon embodies and represents a deep sense of connection with ourselves, each other and the Mystery...

The first step is taking a leap of faith and joining a women's group despite our doubts, old beliefs and old hurts, perhaps from wounded relationships with other women in the past.

Together we can go further than we can alone...together we connect with our deep intuition, heal old wounds still blocking us, integrate our shadow and step into our power.

In Embracing the Shadow This happens through:

• Guidance and structure including specific practices and readings presented to you each month

• Exploring a blend of of western psychology and western mysticism

• A blend of practical and embodied, creative tools for growth, expansion and healing

• Group process - where you can risk and experience being seen in your wholeness

• Owning your light and your dark and practicing radical self-love through group and personal process

• Connecting with ancient tools like the Tarot in order to develop intuition and connect with the unconscious

• Fostering personal creativity and expression

• Focussing on a monthly theme and connecting to nature's cycles to stay focussed and grounded

• Witnessing others and their strengths and challenges and finally realizing on a deepest level that you are not alone, broken or behind schedule

"I thought therapy was about "fixing" your broken pieces. Shadow Work is about embracing all the parts of you, and releasing shame around them. Becoming your whole self. Playing with your Shadow Parts, and seeing how you can use them to your power."
~Anna


Here's some of my story...

My healing has been deeply facilitated and influenced by groups.

At a hugely pivotal point in my life I found myself in inpatient treatment for addiction at 23 years old. I was at a crisis point where I needed a radical shift in consciousness. I needed to plunge into the mists and begin to heal the rift between my conscious and unconscious mind, and that long process began by connecting deeply with others in group process. These connections skyrocketed me into the world of recovery, spirituality and into the power of groups. From that point on groups would be an integral part of my personal and professional development forever.

Nearly 20 years later, I am a therapist, spiritual practitioner, long time student of psychology and spirituality and woman in recovery. My passion is crossing the mists to Avalon by creating a dialog between the conscious and unconscious mind to foster healing. For me, crossing the mists and arriving in Avalon represents the magic, synchronicity, freedom and love that flows from connecting with my whole Self, with others and the Mystery.

Here's what other women are saying about Embracing the Shadow...

"I loved the feeling of community and sisterhood! I realized I am not alone on my journey, not alone in my struggles. I am really excited about Group Work now, and its potential. I also greatly appreciated having tangible exercises, books and resources to work on! Hannah did great at creating a safe container where magic can happen.Hannah was great at including everybody in the group, and giving us all chances to share.
~ Anna

"This was my first experience in a women's group. I felt a strong sense of support and a safe space to explore aspects of myself that I sometimes view as shameful or "bad'. I have felt better this month than I have in a long time and I attribute a majority of that to my participation in this group. I'm taking away some positive habits such as writing down my dreams and pulling a tarot card. I've also developed friendships rooted in exploration of self and mutual respect"
~ Makenna

"The group gave me a container to focus and wonder. It was helpful to hear others talk about their experience and to notice what felt similar and different.
The prompt to pull a card or image each day brought me into deeper connection with my new deck, and it was really fun. I loved having the FB group to share images and thoughts - more opportunities to see synchronicities between us. I loved the focus and holding of the group. Thank you! I liked the opportunity to share something creative for the closing ritual. I get excited about bringing songs into more of my spaces. Loving sharing that part of me more."
~ Jeremi

Sound good?

Learn More Here

I understand that it's always a little scary going into the unknown and into the mists....but the women of Avalon can inspire us to rely on our intuition and bravery to make the crossing. If you feel the call, please join us! Start the journey by clicking the link below.

Apply Here

Image Hannah Green MFT Carnac Alignments France

PS: Here's some of the details...

• Embracing the Shadow focuses on a monthly theme where we explore specific tools and practices to advance our growth.

• Embracing the Shadow focusses on fostering Carl Jung called Individuation which means conscious awareness of wholeness and the connection with the Self.

• Embracing the Shadow also focusses on practical topics like sex, money and communication.

• Embracing the Shadow currently costs $175/ month which is less than one therapy session!

• You can participate in Embracing the Shadow from anywhere in the world.

Embracing the Shadow includes:

• A PDF outlining that months focus and resource materials

• Participation in a lively forum

• Two live zoom meetings: One for diving into that months readings and practices and one for deeper group process. We meet 2 Wednesdays a month at 6 pm.

• The occasional meeting in nature when possible

PPS: If you are a past client and have seen me for either individual or couples therapy I would love to reconnect with you through Embracing the Shadow!

APPLY TO EMBRACING THE SHADOW WOMENS GROUP

VISTIT THE NEW EMBRACING THE SHADOW PAGE

A Letter to You...

Image Becca Tapert

Happy New Moon

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Dear One,

You've done so much work. You've broken family patterns, wandered into the wild to find healing and returned with powerful medicine. You take this medicine into each of your relationships and into your work in the world.

Perhaps the idea of connecting with like minded women intrigues, excites and even scares you.

You wonder, what would it be like to be with other women and reveal my light and my darkness?

You want to bring magic into love and work. You are a creatrix! You long to feel alive and to express your gifts.

Part of you wants to evolve quietly, on you own or in individual therapy...

Another part of you knows community is the cauldron where magic is made.

Growing with and in front of others is worth the reward.

You are a living, breathing, beautiful paradox and you need a community that can hold that.

You want to share deeply what scares you...and also what makes you feel alive!

You want to be in community that holds space for depth of feeling..and also for insight and creative expression.

You want to talk about spirituality...and also about real life stuff - like sex and money.

You want resources tools and structure that help you to tangibly reach your goals.

Embracing the Shadow is an evolving, inspired and heart felt creation and this is it's goal: To meet your deep need to connect and inspire.

Embracing the Shadow is an invitation to let go of shame, embody our gifts and stand in our vulnerability in the company of fellow women.

Embracing the Shadow is part salon, mystery school, alchemical community and women's group.

Salon: a salon is a gathering of people held by an inspiring host. During the gathering they amuse one another and increase their knowledge through conversation. More on the rich feminist history of salon's later.

Mystery School: A group of initiates dedicated to deepening their understanding of the mystery teachings. The mystery teachings are the perspectives, techniques and practices that lead us to what Jung called the Unconscious mind and facilitate awakening, insight and healing.

Alchemical Community: A group of people dedicated to honoring wholeness and reducing shame. A group that encourages participants to express their whole selves and to take relational and creative risks to increase their access to spiritual awakening, wealth, self-love, joy and love.

Women's Group: A place where depth of feeling is welcomed and held. A place where the cycles of women's lives can be shared and and held with reverence and celebration.

Apply below and be the first to know when registration opens later this fall. Feel free to share this email with a friend.

Embracing the Shadow is evolving into...

A monthly program focussed on specific topics like...

Synchronicity

Money
Enchantment
Sex
Boundaries
and much more....

Each month we will be deep diving into a topic and exploring resources, practices and specific tools to guide your way.

We will be doing all this in community - meeting virtually twice a month and through a private forum.

Every month you will receive a PDF containing practices and resources tailored to that month's topic.

More details to come!

Let me know you are interested and join the list by applying below.

APPLY TO EMBRACING THE SHADOW WOMENS GROUP

Listen to Molly Sarle's, Kareoke Angel

Image Cristian Newman

Are You Psychic?

Happy Full Moon

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ARE YOU PSYCHIC?

Little rant: The idea of being psychic, like so many esoteric concepts has been ruined by mainstream culture. Aptitudes associated with the receptive (or feminine)...have been subject to a smear campaign which seeks to either trivialize and mock or demonize and fear. This has been going on for a few thousand years. For a clear historical exploration on what I am talking about see, Starhawk's book The Spiral Dance.

If we liberate ourselves from the idea that "being psychic" is what we were told it was - some kind of sensational phenomenon at best woo-woo or at worst demonic...

We might see that Yes, We are all as psychic as we want to be.

Psyche: the Greek word for soul or spirit and butterfly.

The very goal of therapy and inner work as I see it is to connect one's own inner guidance. Most important is developing the skill of being receptive to the unconscious. We want to yolk the conscious mind with the unconscious mind. This is Yoga.

Yoga: Word in Eastern spirituality meaning to yolk or join.

This joining makes us our own inner guide and keeps us developing the ability to be receptive to our own soul. Making this link is my definition of psychic.

When we have this kind of receptivity we become sensitive to how the inner world and the outer world are connected. Jung called the synchronicity.

Synchronicity: the meaningful coincidence of two events, one inner or psychic and one outer or physical.

Talk therapy is often the very important beginning to this process of marrying the inner and the outer worlds. We begin to bring our inner world out by sharing it deeply with another person. In depth therapy sometimes we have to spend a few years just talking. Imagine no one has ever really listened to us. We might need to spend a long time practicing sharing our inner world and trusting that another person will hear us and be receptive.

When we've learned to dialogue with another person we can better learn to dialogue with ourselves. As with all developmental abilities we experience them in relationship and then we internalize them and make them our own.

From there we can move on to other techniques. Art therapy, sand tray, the tarot and active imagination might at this point become potent tools for the process.

When we do a sand tray we are connecting the conscious mind with the unconscious mind...

We place the items in the tray and then through dialoging with what we see, deep truths we were holding inside but were as yet unconscious emerge into consciousness. Clients are so often blown away by how poignant and symbolic the items they choose are when they start to talk through what they have placed in the tray. The unconscious and the conscious mind are talking. We are doing yoga. We are connecting the polarities of inner and outer, conscious and unconscious, ego and soul.

This kind of exchange and sensitivity is "psychic" by my definition. It has to do with psyche and it is all about joining two halves like the wings of the butterfly. Also like the butterfly this process of joining the polarities transforms us just like the caterpillar transforms in the chrysalis.

The items in the sand tray reflect elements of the collective unconscious that we all relate to. I believe that tapping into the collective unconscious or inherited ancestral memory is also being "psychic." We call these images or items archetypes. An archetype is a form that is recognizable across time and culture. For instance a dragon, a pot of gold, a bridge, a well...We all have associations with these items that speak to us symbolically.

Collective Unconscious: Jung's word for ancestral memory or the deep part of the Unconscious mind that is inherited and contains information shared by all humankind across time and culture.

One of Jung's famous quotes reads, "we must make the unconscious conscious or it will rule our lives and we will call it fate." The dialogue between the conscious and the unconscious mind creates wisdom and helps us see clearly, another nice definition of psychic in my book.

I am interested in having an inner guide that points me towards finding meaning, connection, aliveness, wisdom and gratitude. I think when I am at my best as a therapist I am holding space for others to connect to this inner guide and am acting as ferrywoman to the inner depths. Making this connection myself and also supporting others in making this connection is my passion.

PS.

Heart felt and tender blessings to all our trees, animals and people affected by the fires and smoke.

By all accounts the astrological weather is stormy as we navigate these big conjunctions involving Mars and Saturn. I wish us all the resource and willingness to pause, connect within and relax before reacting or making rash moves.

I felt extra cooped up this last week and have been reminded again that caring for my body, mind and spirit is enough to focus on right now. Over and over again I get to let go of the idea that somehow there's a way to beat the game and be sitting on a distant island right now - the urge to escape is natural and it helps me to realize almost everyone is experiencing this to some degree.

Everywhere I go I will be invited to do the inner work and that's just the deal. We are in this together.

This Smith's album is also helping...

Listen to the Smith's Strangeways, Here We Come

Anima and Animus

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Happy New Moon

The concept of the anima and the animus is one of Jung‘s most fascinating and controversial topics. As Jung was creating his map of the psyche/soul he had many profound personal experiences. Jung's theories are grounded in his personal experience and in active imagination. Active imagination which is the process of self reflection through art making, guided meditation, journaling, personal reflection etc.

Through active imagination Jung connected with a part of his psych he identified as the eternal feminine. This eternal feminine actually initially "showed up" as one of his female clients in his mind eye.

Jung struggled his whole life feeling he had to be taken seriously by the scientists of the time and trying to survive in a world of materialism and sexism. In contacting this inner other he was able to delve deeply into the question of whether his model of psychology was science or art. The masculine part of himself answered science and his feminine inner counterpart answered decidedly art. Through dialogue with these parts of himself he was able to reconcile these opposites and come to a deep understanding that of course his psychology and in my opinion all good psychology is both.

Through a rich process of dialoguing with this inner feminine essence Jung was able to include more of himself in his psychological model and in his work with clients.

From his personal experience he posited that we each have an inner other. The concept of anima and animus was seen as highly gendered due to the cultural lens of the time. If we release our own limited gendered beliefs we can see the essence of his teaching as potent and applicable today.

If we we are to experience our self as whole beings we must acknowledge the polarities that exist within us. We have within us both masculine and feminine, scientist and artist, conscious and unconscious. Jung suggested that this inner other actually serves as our guide to an experience of the Self/Wholeness.

2 of Cups Morgan Greer Deck

Murray Stein in his wonderful book Jung’s Map Of The Soul defines the two terms:

ANIMA - the archetypal images eternal feminine in a man’s unconscious that forms a link between ego consciousness and the collective unconsciousness and potentially open the way to the Self.

ANIMUS - the archetypal images of the eternal masculine in a woman’s unconscious the forms a link between ego consciousness and the collective unconscious and potentially open the way to the Self.

Jung described the inner anima and animus as quite distinct beings. These distinct entities within the psyche he called archetypes.

Murray Stein defines archetype as an innate potential pattern of imagination thoughts or behaviors that can be found among human beings in all times and places.

It’s a controversial idea but basically Jung suggested that through the archetypes, culture reflects psyche and not the other way around. I like this as a psychotherapist because it means that if we want things to change we have to do the inner work. It suggests that inner work is also revolutionary. If we do the work within our own psyche to reconcile the opposites and accept and experience our Self as whole beings perhaps we then create a culture that invites others to do this and is more holistic and less fragmented; therefor more inclusive and life affirming to more people.

The anima and animus shed light on the concept of the soulmate which is popular in our culture. Especially during the half first half of life we often long for love and search for a complementary mate to complete us. This reflects our deep inner need to know our own Self fully and engage with our own inner anima or animus.

The Lovers Card Rider Waite:

We are so often attracted to partners that are well developed where we are less developed. This process of projecting our deep an intuitive longing to know ourselves out onto another is ancient. I think life is a rich and messy process of projecting aspects of our self out and then taking those projections back and metabolizing this process over and over again. I think that romantic love facilitates great inner awakening and wholeness when it can go beyond the infatuation stage. Mature love can be the springboard to experiencing what many Jungians call “alchemical marriage.” Alchemical marriage has to do with the marriage within: the union of opposites and the reconciliation of paradox within us that creates an experience of wholeness and of the Self. This is what Jung called individuation and is generally accepted as the “goal” of psychotherapy.

If we continually project this need to know ourselves and experience our own wholeness out we will continually look for a partner to complete us. At the far end of the spectrum this looks like sex or love addiction. Just like the alcoholic seeks to quench his spiritual thirst with spirits, the love addict seeks to experience wholeness by connecting with the beloved ~ becomes intensely focused on the other and misses the opportunity to connect with the self.

Active imagination, art making, poetry, the tarot and psychotherapy ~ these are ways we can enter into a dialogue with our inner anima or animus. For anyone interested in Jung’s personal experiences and how they informed his work you can read his autobiography Memories Dreams and Reflections or most wonderfully you can look at his Red Book which is a beautiful journey in image through Jung’s inner world.

From the Red Book

Better yet begin to connect with your own inner anima or animus through active imagination. Robert Johnson’s book Inner Work is a wonderful guide for safely and effectively exploring active imagination.

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"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Carl Jung