Greetings!

June was a busy month—and I hear for those in New England—a rainy month! I was traveling for much of June and had a chance to experience different climates (read “warmer!”)

Since I’ve been back, I have been delighted by the outpouring of interest in my Coaching Program that I just sent an email out on. Within 24 hours, I had about that many requests for applications. I stopped counting at 50 requests.

In response to this amazing deluge, I’m creating a tiered program so that people can participate at whatever level they feel called to. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll keep you informed. It won’t be geographically limited!

I’m enjoying talking to people about the opportunity of working together. If you’re interested, there is still room! Follow your inner burst of excitement and resonance. I’d love to talk to you too if this feels like the right next step for you!

The Safely Embodied Online Community is moving along at a good pace. If you’re interested in learning more, just reply to this email and I’ll make sure you’re one of the first to hear about the details.

In the meantime, this ezine has:

• an article on befriending hopelessness
• the Practice section is on ways to get some space from the overwhelm when we’re in it
• a brief highlight of the Garrison Institute Conference that I presented at in June
• some recommendations of other peoples’ work that you might find supportive.

Nurture your heart—and your life,

Deirdre

Befriending Hopelessness

Last night I sat with members of a group I lead. We all listened intently to the pain one member was holding. She was afraid to talk about it, calling it a “broken record.” She felt lost in the hopelessness, feeling strongly that it couldn’t change - ever.

I’m sure many of us know this place inside ourselves. Some of us may have been able to shift the feeling, or have cycled through that state, and emerged into some more balance. When we’re in the midst of it, though, it is brutal and feels inescapable.

Those of you who know the Internal Family Systems Model (IFS) developed by Richard Schwartz, PhD would describe this hopelessness as a part of Elizabeth (obviously not her real name) that has been exiled. Exiled pain is something that she hadn’t been able to experience at some point and it’s now intruding into the present moment.

It feels real when these moments happen, doesn’t it? For most of us in these situations Elizabeth felt overwhelmed by the pain, pulled into it, unable to get out of it. In the IFS language, Elizabeth wasn’t able to “unblend” from it to find her own Self, that energy which we all have comprising our natural state of goodness, kindness, care, compassion, and clarity.

In this situation with Elizabeth, the group held that larger energy for and with her as they listened, feeling with her and caring for the hopelessness. The message was twofold and very clear: You are more than this hopelessness, and this hopelessness is really pushing itself into awareness so that you - we - can listen to it and hear its pain, and so that we can support its release.

The beautiful part of being in any community or group of people is that as the group listened to Elizabeth and held both her emotions and the story contained in the hopelessness, she was able to connect more with this pain without getting lost in it. The hopelessness part was felt and heard and was able to relax a bit.

There’s obviously more for Elizabeth to befriend in the hopelessness. Knowing her, I trust she will reclaim that inner territory and release it.

There’s so much power in befriending our suffering and in being connected to others who are not only on the same path but also committed to the possibility of a life full and rich and satisfying. Healing trauma is all about moving through the suffering, following the often unknown and unclear path to freedom.

I have seen, over and over again, that people who befriend their hopelessness, or any of their pain, have a greater foundation for healing. I hope your process becomes easier as you hold your pain with greater compassion and love.

Update from the Garrison Institute Conference on Meditation and Psychotherapy

Deborah Rozelle, PhD has been a long time friend and colleague. She’s a gifted therapist, a generous being and very long term student of meditation. One of the hats she’s been wearing is as a Senior Fellow at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY and under that hat she conceived and created an incredible conference for a small group of people on the topic of Meditation or Contemplative Practices and Psychotherapy.

In conjunction with David Rome and the thoughtful people at Garrison, Deborah invited a wide spectrum of people who are working in this particular area to explore what is being done “out there.” In presentation and presentation we were treated to the vast array of people thinking deeply and carefully about how contemplative practices can support the healing of trauma. There were some interesting conflicts (which gave me lots of room to reflect!) but the overall result was a joining of minds and hearts in this quest. Deborah et al deserve a mighty congratulations for creating an innovative format to explore this important topic.

Deborah had hoped for the spawning of new ideas. Being with so many of the people she brought together brought forward my idea for a new book—an Anthology of Hope with chapters from many people, including some of those who were at the conference with us. Thank you, Deborah!

Workshops and Talks

[Although I’m not involved in these first two workshops I wanted to you know about them]

Yoga Retreat for Mental Health
August 5-9, 2009
Soami Yoga Retreat Center, Austria
Led by Dana Moore and Heather Mason

Enjoy a unique opportunity to practice yoga and mindfulness to improve your mood and wellbeing.

Leaping Upon the Mountains: A Men’s Recovery Weekend
August 21-23, 2009
Bangor, Pennsylvania, USA
Led by Mike Lew & Thom Harrigan

19th annual weekend workshop for non-offending adult male survivors of sexual child abuse and other sexual trauma. Their goal is to offer a recovery experience in a safe, powerful environment of shared healing. The weekend will include exercises, anger work, other emotional expression, group discussion, shared creativity, relaxation and even fun in a safe, nurturing environment. More information

This one I am doing!!

Beyond Therapy: Live the Life You Want To Live!
(2 Day Workshop) / November 13-14, 2009 / Dublin, Ireland
Contact Pauline Beegan

There are some people who have finished the course of therapy they are in. They need different tools. Once a person’s internal foundation is built they want to engage with the world in a different way. They want more!

This workshop explores how to reach for “more.”

Our time together will be about creating a field of possibility to investigate how our old patterns and beliefs continue to operate even though we’re more solid inside. The opportunity is to stretch beyond that and ultimately to feel limitless inside, to no longer be bound by those old patterns.

We’ll be looking at how a painful history is the exact right cauldron in which to birth who you are really meant to be in this world.

Living in alignment with your own unique life purpose propels you into the life you truly want to live.

If you want to experience the joy, satisfaction, incredible self confidence and internal strength that comes from dissolving these blocks that have kept you stuck, then by all means I’d love to have you join me on this incredible workshop!

I can’t imagine anything more fun and invigorating than helping you exploring ways to step beyond your comfort zone and have the life that you want.

• Imagine really deeply knowing that there’s no way to live life wrong
• That you can be free from the fears and limitations that hold you back.

That’s what we’ll be doing in this weekend workshop, laying the groundwork for that possibility! I hope you come along! It’ll be fun to share this with you and have you open to yourself in the greatest of possible ways.

Safely Embodied Online Community—Be the first to learn more!!

If you’re interested in more information about our Safely Embodied Online Community which will include 24/7 access to people who are on a simliar healing journey just reply to this email, and we’ll send you more information as soon as it’s available. You’ll be the first to know!

You may notice the new logo! Ruth LaGue did a marvelous rendition of Becoming Safely Embodied. Many thanks to her for her support.

As always, I value your thoughts, comments and connection. Many of you have taken the time to write and let me know your thoughts. Coming out of isolation is a critical part of the healing process. I thought we might want to make it easier for you. Visit my blog where you can post to your hearts content!

With love and kindness,

Deirdre