Jessica Buckley
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It was lovely to see our energy coalesce as a group tonight, I’m thrilled to be part of it!
My name is Jess. Summer camp was my first experience of refuge. The outdoors invited me to explore the backcountry and it’s where I feel most at peace. So much of my joy comes from being with others on the trail, following the meandering river and the ancient water grooved rock. Motherhood has been a rite of passage and has also temporarily distanced me from the ease of going deep into the woods. It’s challenged me to pick up new survival skills and allowed me to peer into deep moon lit pools of wisdom. I am being called to serve as a guide and to live a “nature paced” life. I truly appreciate being a part of this community with you all and diving deeper into the most important work we can do in this world.
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Currently, I am my only client. As I practice and experience this work, I have flashes of insight as to how I will present offerings and work with others. Here I am putting forth a rough outline of how I plan to present opportunities to prospective clients based on the cycle of seasons and inspired by the cardinal directions.
Below are four packages, each is composed of three, 90 minute sessions, 1 per month over the course of 3 months. Prior to each session I would allocate 45 minutes to prepare myself to receive my client by tapping into Source to clear my energy field to still my waters so that my client may see their reflection in a crystal clear pool. I would also ask for invitations directed to my client to flow through me. After each session, I’d allocate 45 minutes to assimilate our session by making notes, plan to follow up as requested and clear my energy field. In between sessions I’d invite clients to be in touch by snail mail to share their stories, inquiries and curiosities.
SET – Self Exploration Sessions: Suggested to start in the Fall (Sep, Oct, Nov)
REST – Embodied Understanding Session: Suggested to follow the SET Package in Winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb)
RISE – Inspired Birth / Life Sessions: Suggested to follow the REST Package in Spring months (Mar, April, May)
SHINE – Energized Work Sessions: Suggested to follow the RISE Package in Summer months (Jun, Jul, Aug)The vision for a motivated client is to be able to progress through the four offerings within one year’s time and be able to fly from the nest of guided sessions to fully embody their soul work.
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It felt very natural to integrate the 7 breaths and the concept of reprogramming into guiding my practice client on her Wander. After I provided instruction on how to do a Wander, she was drawing a blank on setting an intention, that’s where the 7 breaths meditation helped. It was a good way to help her conjure her own intention. I have a tendency to insert myself in other people’s experiences, so my mantra was “this isn’t about me”. At first I hesitated sharing my Wander experience, but found that it was helpful for her to have a tangible reference, much like how Mandy shared her story with us. We had a phone call after her Wander. Her voice was vibrant and energized. She had much to share and only one question came to my mind; How will you integrate this feeling into your daily life? Before I could ask the question, she answered it herself. She felt called to make a sign and hang it by her bed so that she would see it every morning when she woke up. I was astonished, she made the connection to reprogramming through her own experience. There was one moment where I overstepped and I could tell immediately. I made a suggestion about how she could further integrate her experience and it didn’t speak to her at all, I could tell by the lack of luster in her voice. I am curious to learn more about the role of a guide / coach in sharing affirmations with their client and distinguishing between invitations and making suggestions. It seems like an invitation has the essence of self-exploration where as a suggestion directs a client to a dead end. I did my 7 breaths mediation after the debrief with my client and found that my sense of adventure had returned just by witnessing someone else’s experience. This showed me that my yearning to do this work is undeniable.
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I am notorious for getting hung up on the advice trap that @StacyLPV mentioned. It happened a couple of times last week until I opened up our homework and was reminded about deep listening. The most recent full moon and lunar eclipse energy felt really intense and totally aligned with some dark shadows arising for me. I had to remind myself, like Stacey, of the ebb and flow, the light / dark continuum and that just as much good can come from working with my shadows. This time I worked with them in the form of yelling my perspective and truth at my partner – not a great way to find harmony with another person. The following night I committed to deep listening. My partner shared more with me in an hour than he’s shared with me in a month. He’d say something, there would be silence, he’d say more, silence, he brought up a problem and contemplated it out loud, no solution, he shared his feelings. I listened, there was space, enough space for me to also hear wisdom – wisdom in the form of a gentle question which helped him reflect and to go deeper. It didn’t come from a place of my perspective or agenda. He didn’t have an answer and he didn’t have to. I gave him space to marinate in his own wisdom.
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@sophieturner, thank you for this:
“knowing the full effectiveness of our practice is not known until we are in a saturation where we are triggered or challenged and have the awareness to choose a different direction or behaviour in response.”
I reminded myself of these words today as the toddler was melting down, the babe was crying and I was hungry trying to put lunch on the table. It helped me to keep perspective and to access the inner peace I can achieve so easily in practice.@sara.brells, I also have been trying to practice discerning thoughts from inner knowing / wisdom. Sometimes I’m transported to a time and place through an image from my memory so I tap into my feeling in that place. Other times a I hear a word or a phrase, rather than think it. I can tell the difference because of the way it pops into my mind rather than a sense of connecting the dots with words. Often a phrase will be humorous or just click. I inhale and exhale through as many surrender breaths as it takes to listen. As I do, I alternate between asking or clarifying the question and then I say to myself “wait for it to arise”. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed your post.
@AnnaNielson, thanks for sharing such an insightful reflection! I find that my most challenging work exists in discomfort so I try my best to befriend it 🙂
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I’ll admit, I initially forgot to acknowledge that nature would be collaborating with me while I was on a wander. By the time I completed my wander, I was dunking myself in a cold stream in gratitude for nature’s companionship.
The Blue Jay showed me the way beyond the threshold. I already knew the answer to my inquiry before crossing, but I wasn’t able to make a decision with all the layers of complexity. I looked to the hemlock with lifeless limbs running from the forest floor until the top of the canopy. No, I thought, I don’t want to spend my life force climbing the traditional career ladder to only have a view from the top without regard for the barren understory. I meandered to a clearing where I was enticed to sit among a vibrant moss village growing out of the ashes of a burn pile. While I appreciate the vitality of youth, I am no longer in a carefree opportunistic phase of life. I spoke the answer to my question out loud, and asked for confirmation. With no clear response I continued. I had more to see, more to learn. I recognized and listened to my intuition which lead me into the dense pine understory, I was surrounded by saplings sitting under their elders. I am in the thick of it. I know which direction to go, I don’t know where it will take me, but I just have to commit and trust.
My mind can provide good reasons for why I should I return to work full time and why I should return part time. I let go of the concerns about health care eligible, ability to pay for childcare, and the uncertainty about COVID. I am trusting that everything will work out if I follow through with what my heart knows.
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Immediately following our last class I did the 7 Breaths Meditation and was blown away by it’s simplicity and potency. That meditation led to a daily sit spot meditation ritual during my kids’ nap time – a previously unthinkable way for me to get what I need to recharge.
One day while meditating someone was repeatedly shooting a shotgun in the valley. It felt distracting at first but then I realized it held the message that I was waiting to hear and so I asked the Sacred Questions. I noticed the sound of gun fire. Not because someone was hunting, but because someone was doing target practice. By asking follow up questions I learned that before I can pull the trigger I have to take aim. Instantly I knew what the lesson was referring to.
The 7 Breaths is such a great way to nourish my soul. It creates the space I need to align myself with my heart. With my head and my hands being so occupied throughout the day, the Follow Through step keeps me focused. I also have the peace of mind knowing that I am attending to what is most important. In just two weeks’ time, this practice has already been life changing.
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Hello all,
I truly appreciate each post. I’d like to highlight some phrases or words that struck me and provide a brief response:Wayne: Early morning ritual – sounds so nourishing, it’s an inspiring practice! Feeling stuck – seems like this awareness is fueling your drive to get un-stuck!
Doc: Finding your family – ah yess, it’s so good especially if you’ve feel like you’ve been estranged for a long time! I also look forward to sharing the thunder and lightning with my kids.
Jane: Banana bike, leap of faith and bungee bows – oh my! What a wonderful journey! I also appreciate your perspective on your fears.
Stacy: Practice is personal and connected, a sweet paradox – mmm, so good! Also, WOAH to your Cedar forest dream magic! So incredibly cool!Robin calls, so I must go. See you all soon!
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What is Nature Connection?
Nature Connection is the deep, unshakable knowing that each of us individually are whole because we are intrinsically connected to the Whole. There are at least two ways to remember this knowledge. We can go within or outside to find it, either way takes us to the same place. The paths to this knowing are connected, in my mind, by a loop so that no matter where you start, you can recognize the multiple ways to tap in. Within can be through meditation, self-reflection, devotion and so on. Taking the path outside has a number of avenues. It can be through externalizing our inner challenges on our surroundings leading us to hit rock bottom which, ultimately, can be a catalyze for connection. Going outside can also take the form of working with nature to learn how to overcome our fears and our challenges. I’ve experienced both avenues and have since started to practice going within with more regularity.
Why is it important to you?
Nature Connection empowers us to own and be accountable to our personal power. Whether or not we know it, I believe we create the reality we experience. When we recognize our connection to the Whole we can harness our power to assist us with aligning our life with our purpose. If we can recognize that our challenges are opportunities for growing into our power it can allow us to move beyond our suffering. Nature Connection allows us to discern between what we can control and trust in what we can’t control. Often times what we can’t control is the vessel for our life lessons and growth.
What are the real challenges that you face in maintaining your connection?
The never ending to-do list – Time with two free hands is limited with two kiddos, so I tend to tackle my to-do list to feel productive, but it never ends, so I need to be intentional about balancing time and space for practices that feed me. On good days I have a Nature Connected attitude and integrate practices into my daily routine – this is usually preceded by spending time outdoors.
The Victim and “I can do it all on my own” mentality – When these arise for me I tend to be at my worst; I disempower myself and I am disrespectful in my relationships.
Excuses – sleep deprivation, stress from work and being over extended, my body physically hurting
Placing limitations on myself – I don’t have enough time, I’m not in the mood, I can’t connect when I’m also taking care of my kids (duh, what a great time to connect and lead by example)