The "shadow" represents parts of ourselves that we are not fully aware of or prefer not to acknowledge consciously. These often include desires, fears, emotions, and traits that we may find difficult to acknowledge or accept about ourselves.
In times of crisis and conflict, it's easy to focus on our differences instead of what we have in common. Clinging to fixed ideas about ourselves and others can lead to fear and anger.
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Are you experiencing increases in anxiety, grief, fluctuations of energy?
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Conflict in relationships, lack of joy, fear of the future? Physical unease and symptoms?
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Do you find yourself overreacting in a way that catches you by surprise and which you later regret? Or are you feeling so overwhelmed that you often withdraw and feel isolated?
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Are you longing for more meaning, hope and connection in your life?
You are not alone!
World crises reveal humanity’s ‘shadow’ side, offering a chance for transformation.
Trying to avoid or control what scares us, or blaming others, doesn’t work well and doesn’t create peace.
The tragic and painful events in the world can be perceived as an encounter with the ‘shadow’ aspects of humanity exploding into consciousness in an unavoidable way, giving us an unprecedented opportunity for transformation.
How do we usefully confront the ‘shadow’ in ourselves and the world?
It starts by learning to recognise our own reactivity wherever it turns up. In our bodies as physical discomfort such as tightness in the chest, pain in the stomach or in a chronic symptom. Or as emotional turmoil. We bring our attention to what is going on in our internal world. Then it is possible to communicate clearly.
Through practicing this each time, we gain more freedom to choose how to respond instead of knee-jerk reactions and projecting our unresolved wounds onto the "other".
By engaging with the shadow, we can learn to embrace and harness the power of our unconscious, leading to personal transformation and healing. In the process of embracing our fears and "flaws" we can find the gift hidden in them.
What to Expect?
Inviting curiosity, compassion, and humour, this workshop aims to:
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Examine stress responses that may no longer serve you
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Increase your freedom of choice in directing attention
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Improve your ability to tolerate uncertainty and hold opposing ideas
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Recognise our shared humanity through personal experiences
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Connect with your heart and find a way through personal and collective pain
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Increase hope in times of trouble
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Move beyond polarising attitudes that isolate us
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Create more space for more joy
How will we do this?
Both Arielle and Zelda have wide-ranging training and experience with different approaches and methods. The programme in the workshop will draw upon these, creating a blend which aims to adapt to the process arising in the group and to individual needs.
Among techniques and approaches which may be used are:
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Dream work. Our dreams provide access to that which has not yet reached consciousness. Working with our dreams enables us to track our shadow. This will often turn up as something enigmatic, or even scary. Then we can start to integrate it into our lives and embrace ourselves more fully and reclaim our power instead of being frightened of it.
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Body work. Our body is the perfect guide. The information in our body is of vital importance in our wholeness. With gentle exercises we will invite increased somatic awareness and creative expression.
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Yoga and Mindfulness-Based breath work, Meditation and Guided imagery
What appears as a crisis is an unprecedented opportunity for transformation.
Join us on this day in bringing your unique presence and your gifts to the world
Workshop facilitators
Zelda Hall MA. MSc. was born in N. Ireland. She graduated in Mental and Moral Science from Trinity College Dublin. She has a Masters in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology. Zelda studied Process Oriented Psychology with Arnold Mindell and colleagues for ten years and was chair of Process Oriented Psychology NL. She has been faculty of Alef Trust, teaching the module Transpersonal Therapy and Counselling. Zelda trained in Body Oriented Therapy in the Netherlands and with Bessel van der Kolk. She also has extensive training in other modalities such as breathwork, energy reading and healing.
For more than forty years she has had a therapy practice in Amsterdam and works online with people from all over the world. She has given workshops and lectures in Europe, New Zealand and the USA. Her work has featured in a documentary Chasing the Present.
She has published articles in Paradigm Explorer(of the Scientific and Medical Network) and Transpersonal Ecosophy Vol 1.
For more information see www.zeldahall.com
Arielle Warner, PhD in Transpersonal Psychology and MA in Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal psychology (Sofia University), Palo Alto, California. MSc in Medical Science from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Studied the impact of a yoga-based stress reduction intervention called the Art of Living on the quality of life and spiritual well-being of women with breast cancer. Psychotherapist in private practice, group facilitator and lecturer specializing in trauma informed mind-body-spirit approaches in mental and physical health, grief and loss. Adjunct Faculty at Haifa University in the MA program in Integrative psychotherapy.
Practical information
Date : Saturday14th September
Time : 10 am till 6 pm
Place : Colet House, 151 Talgarth Rd. London W14,9DA
Cost : Early bird: (payment received before) 15th July £90. After 15th July £110.
Enquiries and reservations email: goldinshadows@gmail.com
or call our wonderful organiser Marylouise on 44(0)7740369806
A payment request will be set on completion of the booking form.
Your place is reserved upon completion of payment.
As we want to ensure that there is enough time, space and attention for each participant, the number of places is limited to 18.
Coffee and tea included
Lunch: we will provide soup and you are invited to bring something to share.
Please bring: Notebook and pen.
Wear comfortable clothing in which you can move easily.