Dear friends,
I recently hosted a weekend retreat for women just outside of London. It was the first time I have facilitated anything in person for two and a half years, and it was the first time the women participating had been in person like this, too.
When I was driving to the retreat centre it felt kind of surreal; as I pulled up into the driveway to this beautiful space where I have gone for over sixteen years, I felt my body softening. It felt like a homecoming of sorts.
The weekend was magical. There was harmony, ease, and flow. You could feel and see everyone was hungry for connection.
There was laughter, tears, reflection, sharing, meditation, yoga, reiki, nature, dancing, quiet time, deep transformation, and delicious food to nourish our souls.
It truly felt as though the Universe was guiding us every step of the way.
When I look back on my life there are many memorable moments, and when I reflect on them today, they still touch my heart. This moment was another experience to add to the list.
It reminded me of what Brene Brown says about the difference between belonging and fitting in:
“Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn't require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.”
Sometimes we think we're the only ones who have challenges or feel a certain way.
So, what do we do?
We put on a front so we can fit in, which creates a sense of separation.
We learned this behaviour at a young age. We now have an opportunity to understand where this conditioning came from and hold it with compassion. Our willingness to be present and curious awakens our soul and reconnects us to our true nature.
What I witnessed were these incredible women being who they are, sharing their stories, their challenges, their wisdom, and their dreams. Some shared they were surprised at how comfortable they felt amongst complete strangers. They felt a sense of belonging. They felt safe.
As the weekend progressed, the women began to realize how much they had in common, and how their authenticity was the doorway to more a meaningful connection with themselves and each other.
It’s interesting how it is not the length of time that can determine the level of intimacy we have with someone. We may know a person our whole lives and not really know them.
We explored what being vulnerable meant to us.
Sometimes it can be scary, to step into the unknown. There are no guarantees so quite often we try to avoid it. And in our society, being vulnerable can often be associated with being weak. We explored the opposite – that it is a strength.
The ego is the one who is afraid. Quite often there’s a younger part of us that learned or experienced that it’s not safe or ok to feel. With this in mind, we held these parts with tenderness and compassion creating an opening to greater light, love, and truth.
Together, we were awakening our souls. We dove to the depth of the ocean, shining light on the unconscious.
There was no focus on fixing anything.
Instead, we explored the power of being here right now in our bodies with compassion. Sharing our truth, developing more awareness, engaging our senses and experiencing life within us and around us.
We invited all parts of ourselves into the space. They were being held with compassion.
I witnessed such deep transformation. I am transformed.
I am humbled to have been in the presence of this incredible group of women, and I am grateful for True Nature and the grace that was bestowed upon us.
Our souls long for meaningful connection, to ourselves and others and this weekend reminded me of the power of gathering together and sharing who we are in a safe and sacred space.
If your soul is longing for something more, please check out my retreat ‘Return to Love’ in October. There are still a couple of spots open.
I look forward to connecting with you.
Much love,
Diane