5 SELF CARE ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.

Please note this blog post was written days before the London incident on 3rd June 2017 and I believe these activities are needed more than ever.

London, I still love you. 

As I navigate my diary this month (in between my various business ventures, planning a vacation and just trying to refurbish my kitchen on a budget), I have decided to list the five things that are going to ignite my spirit and self- nourish my soul. Most of these activities are on London so if you are visiting London pay close attention because you can find some very cost effective activities that you can undertake here.

Mental healthdates.

The best way to build self -worth is to take yourself on a mental health or self-care date.  You don't have to fly solo on all of these activities but just once try attending an event on your own.  This will encourage your confidence and enable you to discover some new concepts and hobbies you may not have thought of before.

A woman with an interior life is much more magnetic and interesting because she is able to draw on support from within and requires less external interaction.  So I have curated 5 activities that may give you a sense of spirit. M x

1.  FILM Unbound Vision of the Black Feminine. - BFI SOUTHBANK

Following on from the BFI’s landmark BLACK STAR season last year, UNBOUND: VISIONS OF THE BLACK FEMININE, is a Sight & Sound Deep Focus season, showcasing films created by, and about, black women. This season will include the BFI re-release of Julie Dash’s seminal Daughters of the Dust (1991), which has been lovingly restored for its 25th anniversary. With the freedom to reflect their own lives, black women filmmakers pioneered their way to an extraordinary cinematic legacy.

If you have not watched a film solo then I suggest you treat yourself to a solo date, and this film festival will give you an opportunity to do so.  Alternatively choose a movie here and bring a good 'non-draining' friend who will help you maintain that good vibe and discussion after you have indulged in these thought-provoking films. 

2.  Somerset House Perfume - A Sensory Journey Through Contemporary Scent 21 June - 17 Sept 2017

Multi-sensory exhibition featuring ten extraordinary perfumes and their pioneering creators, who have radically changed our perceptions of fragrance over the last 20 years.

#perfumepioneers

3.The Old Hamman & Spa -https://www.oldhammam.co.uk/ North London

The Old Hammam & Spa offers a variety of packages and treatments to suit each individual's needs. Whether you are looking for a gift or simply indulging yourself,

Enjoy a Turkish treat North of the River at this traditional Hammam. This is a cost effective way of experiencing this authentic spa treatment without leaving the country.

4. Sensational Butterflies - Natural History Museum http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/sensational-butterflies.html

"The exhibition includes a kaleidoscope of colourful species ethically sourced from Central and South America, Africa and Asia"

Follow the trail through a tropical habitat of flowers, vines and foliage. As butterflies fly overhead, you'll pass chomping caterpillars, glistening chrysalises and busy feeding stations.

5. Womb Wisdom - A SOLSTICE WORKSHOP

My own Solstice workshop June 24th June - This month join us to meditate and paint at my studio here in London.  This workshop covers Womb wisdom and the purpose of goal setting. CLICK HERE for more.

Let me know if there are any other events or self-care activities you plan to do.

If you have an event you would like me to include for July's 5 of the best please let me know.

ENJOY LONDON

MARILYN

Self Care for Therapists

I remember my first encounter with Burnout I was working as a Beauty and Holistic Therapist at Bliss Clinic in Portobello Road in early 2001; After four years practicing I had to give up bodywork for a long time due to a lack of self-care. I had a good number of regular clients but I could no longer physically work at the level I was used too. I believe my need for external validation of making others feel better was the driving force of allowing my own resources to become dry.

Eventually I moved into Coaching and Training others to become Therapists which again led me to Burnout.  So in 2012 I retired from over-giving and I changed my way of working.

During this time my mentor/therapist would remind me that I have been a classic rescuer so over giving is in my nature.

Over giving is often in the nature of Healers, Artists, Therapists and can be linked to the Karpman Drama triangle ‘PVR’ triangle, where one becomes the Rescuer and gives tirelessly and eventually collapses with exhaustion or become either a victim or persecutor (see video).

“Work is Love made Visible” – Kahlil Gibran

We love our work but there needs to be some exchange because as a Creative Healer our work is our life, but we need to be able to tap into other sources so we can work better.

I like to use the percentage model with my clients; How much percentage does your work take? for example if it is 50% what are the percentages for other areas in your life? for a Healer therapist I believe rest should be very high on your list unless you have a specific project.  This model comes from a more complex model used by the Aztec healers explained by the now departed Healer Elena Avila in her book Women who Glows in the Dark. The Author explains the Aztec model for Healers in more detail.
It is really important for you to have a plan or an ethos for living as a pioneer because anything less would be detrimental to your growth.

Six ways to bring balance and self-care into your life.
1 Community (Partner /Friends/ Family)
2 Rest and Relaxation
3 Exercise
4 Going out in nature
5 Mediation, Prayer, Gratitude, Creativity
6 Healthy Food

If you would like to know more or have some support on self-care, please sign up for our newsletter and join our free course the Creative healing coaching course.

Just Enough Demon

Angels and Devils by mjfontaine: Postcard and Print

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

— Maya Angelou

What is your 'Just enough or DoubtDemon?

Happy New Year (Moon) As I reflect on the New Moon I just wanted to talk about the manifestation process and the things that stop us from reaching our goals.  Most of our obstacles come from the mind, which are the thoughts that say " you can't do it " or "you haven't got the energy to do it “This negative self-talks takes us of our axis and we forget above our 'marker' which is our 'measure' in the SMART target system.  An example of my marker would be that I am in the process of creating a twelve-week online programme for women,  however this morning I had a huge crises of confidence as to whether I could do this due to the time I needed to create my art vs the time I had to dedicate to do this programme(you want transparency right?) but my positive wise guide inside me reminded me that I just completed my first SOLO exhibition and believe me if I could do that then anybody could.

I doubted myself I would be able to do this

“Some of us were not schooled in success so we spend our adult lives coping with our small successes and blocking out the big ones”

— mjfontaine

A week before my show I came face to face with the Doubt Demon who is really strong when I have a major change in my life.  So I told myself you can do this and then I realised that was also stopping me going to the next level in my life, at times because of my Demon andI am unable to cope with the mass volume of interest not because I am incapable,  but because of my doubts, the demon comes alive.

So in the past my mind would only manifest just enough, clients, sales, etc for me to get by to support my fears or accommodate my limiting beliefs.

So with this realisation I realize that I don't need to listen to the doubt demon.   Sothe question that I want to ask you is for this New Moon is how are you accommodating the 'Just enough of or Doubt Demon.

Please leave your comments below what area of your life is affected.

Marilyn x

Catching up with Life and Summer Solstice

 

It has been a while and I keep wanting to write here back again, but I was called away doing several projects that called to my immediate attention (but back to that later)

However convenient Social media can be there is always a high risk of distraction, over stimulation and procrastination.

So I have have given myself a challenge.

From the 24th June until my birthday which is the 24th of JulyI will blog every week, (with a minimum once a week) to feed my writing muse.

Ok…..Deep breath.

So back to projects well there is Wombstories, 30/30 wellness, and our Monthly workshops
Please click the links, support, share and pass onto your network.

I hope you had a Happy Solstice!

Marilyn x

p.s. Please subscribe to our wellness channel Wellness Fontaine