Tonight was the 'first official' moonthly conference call. I learned a lot from this call:
1. The value of being in community while doing growth work.
2. That it helps me (and others) stick to my/our intentions when I/we have an excuse/reason to plan and prepare. The moon doesn't necessarily give me a reminder call to let me know she shifting into a new phase (although she probably does and I'm just not paying attention).
3. How rich the lessons are from Jamie Sams' Thirteen Clan Mothers. This call was a good reason to check back in with what Jamie Sam shared as her understanding. Each time I re-read a chapter I receive so much and hear new information, or hear her writings in a new way which support exactly what I need to hear for what I am working with in my life.
4. How potent the energy of the moon rhythms really are when I tune in to them.
5. How supported I feel by the Circle of 'Self program/process. Hearing myself talk on our call tonight reminded me to practice what I teach. I'm going back to work with the 6 C's. worksheet. If I am going to have a healthy and balanced relationship with my financial self I need a very consistent commitment and more clarity about my money beliefs. I have a community of women who are also committed to work on their financial issues. I feel very blessed by this, it gives me a solid chance for success. The sixth C is creativity. For the waning moon, I will be working focusing on clarity and opening to being with my money relationship in ways different than I have ever been before. A creative opportunity for sure.
The next moonthly conference call will be February's New Moon-Sundy, February 10th at 9 PM Central Time. Our call will be approximately 1/2 hour. I'll share some wisdom from 'Wisdom Keeper', February's Clan Mother, talk a bit about working with the new moon and open the floor for caller's visions and goals for the new cycle. Join us: drop me an email at drfaivre@circleofself.com and I get you signed up.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Stepping Into the River of Now: Icy, Fast, Rocky, and Slippery
I haven't posted recently, but that doesn't doesn't mean I have been slacking off or avoiding my commitment for this moon cycle. I do feel like I've stepped into a fast-flowing river for which I am ill-prepared to navigate. That said, I'm actually relieved to be exploring my Financial Element/Financial Life.
| When I wrote an introduction about the Financial Element for the Circle of Self Program I commented on the underlying issue surrounding 'money troubles': an, often deep, undercurrent of imbalance in the lives of those of us who struggle with our financial lives. Inevitably this personal imbalance creeps into one's relationships with others, with our work lives, our social lives, as well as how we feel about ourselves. I felt so overwhelmed when I started to journal about my life with money, I resisted reading the worksheets for the Financial Element from the Circle of Self Website. I did continue reading Brent Kessel's book, It's Not About the Money, which I had started reading during the Christmas holidays. The book gave me courage to (continuing my metaphor of with the river) go from putting my toe in the water, to stepping fullyinto the river. When money is abundant, it is amazing how long it is possible to put off dealing with 'THE TRUTH'. I am discovering that 'THE TRUTH' is really more like a lot of little truths. Thankfully, little truths have solutions which can be remedied in little, carefully chosen steps. As this is the one Element I have never truthfully faced-I am treating myself as a rookie and working quite straightfowardly with the Circle of Self tools. I completed a Safe Place Visualization and am creating Wisdom Council specific for my Financial Element. I'm in the process of completing my 6C's worksheet. (Find the forms on the Circle of Self Website) I've also enlisted some professional support. Finally, a small group of other co-strugglers have agreed to gather several times a month and forge this river together. My posts in the coming days and weeks will detail how I am using the Circle of Self Process and integrating other tools I find along the way as I grow, mature and balance my Financial Self. I know I will not drown, though I am allowing for a few slips and a dunking or two. This process feels like a well-constructed life vest. | ||
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Financial Element: Finding humor in facing the truth.
This morning, my husband gave me an article to read from the Wall Street Journal on healthy sleep positions. But, as I picked up the paper, my attention was drawn to the Salt and Pepper cartoon on the back page. (a definite Divinely directed diversion) If I was more computer savvy, I would be able to paste it on this blog page, but I don't know how to do that, so, I'll describe it instead:
A client is conversing with his financial planner. The client says, "I DO have a diversified retirement plan: 30% hope, 30% wishes and 40% prayers."
This so clearly exemplifies the state of my Financial Self. I ask myself if 'hope, wishes and prayers' are acceptable substitutes for my personal responsibility to take care of myself? Honestly, NO they are not. As I write this and let these thoughts sink in, I feel humiliation and shame and incompetence.
When I sit and read the chapters in Brent Kessel's book I have to force myself to pay attention. The book is great, but I'm in agony, fearing what I might find out next. I'm amazed at my resistance to really delve into this Element of Self. One of the areas Kessel focuses on is getting to the Core Story of one's relationship and beliefs about money. I read that in money matters, as in many other areas in our life, our early experiences profoundly effect our ongoing adult behavior. I have always used these 'stories' from my childhood to explain and rationalize my behavior with money. I didn't think about them as being the drivers of my financial well being. Fortunately, Kessel's book is kind and gentle, yet forceful as he gives no excuses for not moving forward. Indeed, I am aware my ability to live my life and do my work depends on it.
I'm glad for a little humor in this very serious endeavor. The fact Randy Glasbergen created this particular cartoon comforts me in knowing I am not alone in using 'hope, wishes and prayers' as a plan. I can laugh-just a little.
A client is conversing with his financial planner. The client says, "I DO have a diversified retirement plan: 30% hope, 30% wishes and 40% prayers."
This so clearly exemplifies the state of my Financial Self. I ask myself if 'hope, wishes and prayers' are acceptable substitutes for my personal responsibility to take care of myself? Honestly, NO they are not. As I write this and let these thoughts sink in, I feel humiliation and shame and incompetence.
When I sit and read the chapters in Brent Kessel's book I have to force myself to pay attention. The book is great, but I'm in agony, fearing what I might find out next. I'm amazed at my resistance to really delve into this Element of Self. One of the areas Kessel focuses on is getting to the Core Story of one's relationship and beliefs about money. I read that in money matters, as in many other areas in our life, our early experiences profoundly effect our ongoing adult behavior. I have always used these 'stories' from my childhood to explain and rationalize my behavior with money. I didn't think about them as being the drivers of my financial well being. Fortunately, Kessel's book is kind and gentle, yet forceful as he gives no excuses for not moving forward. Indeed, I am aware my ability to live my life and do my work depends on it.
I'm glad for a little humor in this very serious endeavor. The fact Randy Glasbergen created this particular cartoon comforts me in knowing I am not alone in using 'hope, wishes and prayers' as a plan. I can laugh-just a little.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
January Moon has begun...showing me my weak places
AAHHH! The January moon. I do love new beginnings; the gift of beginning again-and again. So much hope-so much potential and possibility! In Jamie Sams' 13 Clan Mothers, the First Clan Mother calls us to live in balance with ourselves and all of life. She offers us lessons for learning the truth about ourselves. Sometimes these are not easy lessons. I spent my last 13 month cycle (2012) exploring my gifts and feeling frustrated I could not embrace them fully in my life. From that frustration came a willingness to explore the core issues underlying my difficulties. From my willingness came the gift and courage to make the decision to stop drinking alcohol. I made this commitment at the beginning the Spring Cycle. WOW, how my life has changed since then.
This change, along with daily reflection followed by action, has helped me embrace the gifts necessary for living my life purpose (and for living a purpose-full life). As the months of commitment to clearer thinking and purposeful living accumulated, I began to notice other areas where I was not living to my potential, and not living in full integrity. Other areas where short term relief prevented me from living my gifts. I focused a lot of my attention on my Creative Aspect this past year: my re-vamped website launched, I submitted a writer's grant, began a certification program for veteran counseling, added my voice to social action, expanded my philanthropy through my Circle of Self website. Still I felt out of balance in my Creative Self and I noticed how this imbalance effect all my other Aspects.
The empowerment and Divine support I felt from my commitment to live a life of sobriety, gave me the courage to face another of my life long struggles (an Element of Self I have not worked with since I began the Circle of Self process in the fall of 2009): My Financial Element of My Creative Aspect of My Self. So, I started my commitment to embrace my Financial element during the last moon cycle. During December's waning moon, I actively explored options for working with this Element. I felt my impatience and desire to 'fix' it. From the work I have done in my Personal Aspect around health, integrity, prayer and sobriety, I was able to garner the patience to wait for clarity about working with my Financial Element. This patience is a HUGE gift! And I do experience it as a gift from the Divine, as patience has not been one of my readily available attributes.
I can't say for how many moon cycles my Financial Element will be my primary focus. I sense it will extend through the remainder of the winter season and probably the three moon cycles of the spring season. I am patient and open about timing as well. I'll share my experiences on the blog during as I move through my process. Perhaps some readers will find support, inspiration and relief from my journey. One of my first gifts: Brent Kessel. Check out his work.
Two other weaknesses the first clan mother has helped me uncover: 1) inattention to details (leads me to errors which require extra time, sometimes eating crow, and inconvenience for myself and others, and sometimes costs me financially.) For example, I just noticed an error in the January moonthly calendar I sent out, so I will be resending it after I correct it tomorrow.
and 2) I have a tendency to be out of sync with my own internal rhythm. Not only does this effect my ability to be in sync with my outer life, but if costs me a great deal of energy. More on that later.
This change, along with daily reflection followed by action, has helped me embrace the gifts necessary for living my life purpose (and for living a purpose-full life). As the months of commitment to clearer thinking and purposeful living accumulated, I began to notice other areas where I was not living to my potential, and not living in full integrity. Other areas where short term relief prevented me from living my gifts. I focused a lot of my attention on my Creative Aspect this past year: my re-vamped website launched, I submitted a writer's grant, began a certification program for veteran counseling, added my voice to social action, expanded my philanthropy through my Circle of Self website. Still I felt out of balance in my Creative Self and I noticed how this imbalance effect all my other Aspects.
The empowerment and Divine support I felt from my commitment to live a life of sobriety, gave me the courage to face another of my life long struggles (an Element of Self I have not worked with since I began the Circle of Self process in the fall of 2009): My Financial Element of My Creative Aspect of My Self. So, I started my commitment to embrace my Financial element during the last moon cycle. During December's waning moon, I actively explored options for working with this Element. I felt my impatience and desire to 'fix' it. From the work I have done in my Personal Aspect around health, integrity, prayer and sobriety, I was able to garner the patience to wait for clarity about working with my Financial Element. This patience is a HUGE gift! And I do experience it as a gift from the Divine, as patience has not been one of my readily available attributes.
I can't say for how many moon cycles my Financial Element will be my primary focus. I sense it will extend through the remainder of the winter season and probably the three moon cycles of the spring season. I am patient and open about timing as well. I'll share my experiences on the blog during as I move through my process. Perhaps some readers will find support, inspiration and relief from my journey. One of my first gifts: Brent Kessel. Check out his work.
Two other weaknesses the first clan mother has helped me uncover: 1) inattention to details (leads me to errors which require extra time, sometimes eating crow, and inconvenience for myself and others, and sometimes costs me financially.) For example, I just noticed an error in the January moonthly calendar I sent out, so I will be resending it after I correct it tomorrow.
and 2) I have a tendency to be out of sync with my own internal rhythm. Not only does this effect my ability to be in sync with my outer life, but if costs me a great deal of energy. More on that later.
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