ChoicePoints July 2006
This issue released: July 10, 2006
"As we step into and claim the undeniable truth of who we are, our world changes - and yet, all we've done is show up for our own life."
Louise LeBrun
We also invite you to read the ChoicePoints Archives for items you may have missed.
Spotlight On — You're Invited to a Book Signing!
On Thursday, August 24th, you're invited to come and meet Louise LeBrun, Founder of the WEL-Systems Institute and the Creator and Project Leader for the Sekhmet Rising Book Project; and many of the Contributing Authors to this collaborative expression of the power of women to transform their lives!
Hosted by the WEL-Systems Institute, be sure to arrive early enough to spend time in conversation with some of the incredible women who are living expressions of what's possible for us all. Linger over coffee, tea and good conversation; get your questions answered and curiosity explored! Make time for yourself to consider some of the things that the 'Sekhmet Rising' book is intended to remind you about : that your life matters and that you can design it in a way that feeds your soul. Take a moment to consider the thoughts of Sheila Winter Wallace. Read her review at www.WEL-Systems.com/SekhmetRising/Reviews.
The Sekhmet Rising book is intended to be a gift, from one woman to another, to invite more powerful, more compelling and more provocative conversations. Bring someone with you that you care about! If there are women in your life - mother, sister, daughter, friend, colleague - that you want to engage with more powerfully; or if you want to invite them to engage their own lives more powerfully, be sure to bring them along. There's always room for more!
Men are welcome! We're discovering that the Sekhmet Rising book offers insight into how women move effectively through their world. The commitment of the Contributing Authors to their own evolution, and their courage in decloaking, offers a window into the process of moving from silence and secrecy to an expansive life worth living. And who among us couldn't do with some of that?
Here are some of the things that people are saying about this potent read:
"I started reading "Sekhmet Rising" ..and when I finished I felt the urge to write my experience down as well. This is what filled the pages after your chapter:"
"Your amazing! I am now ready to go big and to claim my life back! No matter where we are, I will always love you forever."
"I just finished reading your chapter in Sekhmet Rising - and I wanted to tell you that I absolutely loved it! I loved it! You write so beautifully, and your story is so so wonderful - especially the last few pages.......I wanted to let you know I cried through most of it...... "
"I have been reading your book all weekend and I have to tell you how much it "speaks" to me. I can relate to every woman so far..ESP..Karina the Italian woman! Scary..I may have to enroll in one of your sessions really soon! Thanks so much for...the gift of the insights and wisdom of these women."
"My soon to be daughter-in-law asked me for a book this week. She is new in my life and...I had made up a story that she might not resonate with the book due to her academic background. As soon as she heard about it, she drove for an hour to get her copy. Even before reading the book she began to share her feelings of insecurity and her desire to change that in her life. She is 23 years old. I know this book will change her life.
A woman...who has been estranged from me (for many years) came for dinner at our restaurant with her grandchildren. This is the first time that she has been here (more than 5 years) other than one brief visit which was full of tension. As soon as I saw her I knew I needed to give her the book. When I handed her the book she started to cry. She is 80 years old.
Neither of these women have read the book yet but they knew that something profound was between the covers."
Sekhmet Rising: The Restlessness of Women's Genius will be available for purchase at this event, at the special price of $20 plus taxes. If you already have a copy, be sure to bring it along with you to have it autographed by the co-authors who will be present.
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2006
Location: WEL-Systems Institute, 260 Hearst Way, Suite 210,
Kanata.
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Light refreshments will be provided. Contributing Authors will be introduced at 4:45 and invited to share some of their experience with you.
Please note: Pre-registration for this event is required by August 21st. To register, please send an email to BookSigning@WEL-Systems.com with the names of those attending; or register by voice message at 613-254-7218 and include names of those attending.
Today's Thought
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. "
Henry Ward Beecher
Coming Attractions!
We are pleased to offer you the following seminars, workshops and
programs. Each one designed to provide thought-provoking and life altering
experiences for your on-going personal and professional development.
WEL-Systems
Experiences: August to November
Creativity for Living
a weekend journey into your creative potential |
September 15 -
17 |
Creativity for Life
evoking creativity and clarity from within. |
September 30 -
October 1
|
Huna Retreat
reconnecting to your Higher Self |
October 20 - 22
Oceanstone, NS |
Resourcefulness in Action
WEL-Systems Coaching Practicum. |
October 28 - November 3 |
Igniting the Self
WEL-Systems Facilitator Certification. |
October 30 - November 3 |
Igniting the Self
WEL-Systems Facilitator Certification. |
November 13 - 17
Oceanstone, NS |
The listing above only shows the first scheduled date for Ottawa Ontario. For
more details and the complete program schedule, see
www.WEL-Systems.com/schedule.htm
Quick Updates
Huna Retreat - Oceanstone, N.S. - October 20 - 22, 2006
It's that time of year again! We are beginning to prepare for another incredible journey into the core of who we are. The dates are set and we're now taking registrations for the three-day Huna Retreat at Oceanstone.
For those of you who are new to this experience, you don't want to miss
it. Time for yourself and, more importantly, time to rediscover much more
of who you are. You can be sure that you'll leave this journey having awakened
to a new way of considering your world. For those of you who already know
what awaits you, come prepared to discover more... invite more... and become
more!
To hear 2 MP3 audio clips from last years retreat, select 
a
brief overview (approx. 2.5 minutes) and an
exploration of Fire energy (approx. 1.5 minutes)
Register now to reserve your place by contacting Louse at Louise@WEL-Systems.com
Stay tuned for our soon-to-be-released CD set on an overview of the 2005
Huna Retreat!
Book
Signings for Sekhmet Rising
If you're looking for a Book Signing in your area, be sure to check the Sekhmet
Rising Events page at: www.wel-systems.com/SekhmetRising/events.htm to
locate the one nearest you.
Catalytic Conversations - 3 More New CDs Now Available!
The list of compelling conversations continues to grow!
We’re adding three more original and cutting-edge conversations to this expanding collection. Educational, informative and provocative in content and intention, these insightful explorations go far beyond the field of practice and give you a window into who each of these powerful women is.
Join Louise in conversation with Eva Marsh on Recovering from MS; Anita Allen on Physiotherapy and Alternative Healing, and Susan Bremner on Evoking Potential.
To order your copy, visit our Product's Page.
It’s a Happening World - Interviews on the Web
This month’s new interview available on It’s a Happening World is with Carole MacInnis, Innkeeper at Oceanstone Inn near Peggy’s Cove, N.S. Carole and I talk about the joys and challenges of operating a Family Business. Be sure to let anyone you know who is involved in a family enterprise about this great conversation that explores a situation many live and few get to talk openly about.
Getting Creative
As many of you know, I’ve been focusing on art as a process of personal discovery for some time now. More and more those who participate in my various workshops are struck by how easy it is to make great strides in seeing their lives as metaphors using art as the medium for discovery. This fall I have scheduled a number of programs in my Creativity series, depending on your level of experience and interests:
Sept 15-17, 2006 – A weekend of art and WEL-Systems for those with little or no background in either. We spend a Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning exploring The CODE Model™ and painting up a storm of messages that our bodies have for us about life and our capacity for creativity.
Visit www.wel-systems.com/programs/Creativity.htm for more information or contact Gwen@WEL-Systems.com.
Creativity for Life -- Sept 30-Oct 1, 2006 – A full weekend exploration of The CODE Model™ for those who have completed at least one certification experience with the Institute. Take the exploration deeper and stay immersed in the inner landscape of your creative Self for much longer than you ever thought possible.
Visit www.WEL-Systems.com/poster/CreativityLife_2006.htm for more information or contact Gwen@WEL-Systems.com.
Woman and Power CDs Profiled on Washington, DC Radio
Angelique Shofar,
Host of 'Africa Meets Africa' recently introduced her audience
to the 'Women and Power' CD experience! Broadcasting
from Washington, DC, on the topic of 'Empowering Women of African Descent',
Angelique chose to preceed her interviews with an excerpt from the Women
and Power series by Louise LeBrun,
on the topic of Emotions: Messengers from Inner Space.
Angelique chose to interview Dominique
Dennery, WEL-Systems Catalyst, CODE Model Coach™ and contributing
author to Sekhmet Rising: The Restless of Women's Genius. Dominque
shared her discoveries from and the impact of a WEL-Systems perspective on
her way of moving through the world. To listen to the interview. select Dominique's
Interview (approx. 10 minutes)
Begin your own journey of exploration with the Women
and Power CD set, by sending an email to Products@WEL-Systems.com
Thought Waves
Deadheading for the Future
I was in my garden yesterday morning on a hot, heavy, muggy day quite happily deadheading roses when the miracle of the moment struck me! In whacking off the spent flowers I was not only encouraging growth and future blooms and creating a time for reflection and enjoyment for myself, but the very obvious metaphor between gardening and human growth and evolution was undeniable. Perhaps most importantly, though, there was something distinctly different in my experience of maintaining my garden this time around.
For many of you intrepid gardeners you’ll likely wonder what all the fuss is about. Deadheading, weeding, pruning and such assorted duties are an essential element of the gardening process. And you’re absolutely right, they are, and I’ve been doing them for the 30+ years that I’ve been gardening as an adult. But here’s what was absolutely different for me: in the past I’ve always engaged those activities out of a sense of duty and obligation. Sort of like ‘you’ve had the good times of creating this delightful space, Gwen, now you must pay the price to keep it maintained’. Of course, like anything else done out of duty and obligation it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable aspect of gardening for me. My gardening maintenance was usually spotty, and got worse and worse as the season unfolded. I was typically filled with resentment at the time and energy required to keep my garden beds looking good. Even though I knew that the effort invested would pay great rewards, even though I knew that I had created these garden beds because I loved the process, I was never able to shake off the resentment. …that is, until yesterday’s moment of discovery.
I realize now that in this ‘resentment’ which I felt as tightness in my back and shoulders accompanied by lots of self-talk about how hard-done-by I was, how hot it was, what a useless activity this was, etc., etc. I had never really noticed that the only reason I was in the garden doing all of these things was that I loved gardening and would have a very difficult time living without it!
Until yesterday morning I hadn’t made the connection between my early years as a garden slave and the discontinuity of my own experience of the physical process of garden maintenance. I grew up in a gardening family. We were 10 kids and so the vegetable plot was extensive to say the least. We owned 12 acres of land and very large plots of it were turned over to growing potatoes, corn and the usual stuff of summer eating (to say nothing of canning, preserving and pickling). On top of the family vegetable acreage, my Dad had developed this little business growing gladiolas for sale.
We averaged about 10,000 bulbs (corms, actually, for real enthusiasts) each summer. Work started in late April when we’d all troop down into the basement and begin the process of sorting through bulbs, removing any that were diseased or shriveled up. The ‘peanuts’ or cormlets had to be gently broken off and set aside to be planted in a special nursery section of the garden so that they would grow into flower-producing bulbs. The papery outer skin had to be removed and then they were sorted by size. Thankfully my father wasn’t sufficiently fastidious to try to sort by color.
Once the bulbs were all cleaned and sort and piled into buckets we then had to tackle the garden. We had a small plough and one of my brothers would till the soil with us girls following along behind with our hoes, creating long straight hills for the glads. I don’t recall it mattering much how old you were, you were expected to work, although your production goals were set lower, depending on your age. I don’t remember a time when this wasn’t an expectation so I would guess that we were each put to work in the garden by the time we were 4 years old. The May 24th weekend was devoted to the back-breaking job of planting: getting the holes just deep enough, putting in just enough fertilizer, placing the bulb in so that it was straight, with the eye pointed upward and then covering it with just the right amount of friable soil and making certain that everything was planted in nice, straight rows. No dips, doodles or arcs allowed in John B’s gardens!
We then kept up a keen watch each day, both before heading out to school and upon our return watching for the green tips to sprout. We also then had to turn out attention to getting the vegetable garden planted with the same kind of rigor to our planting technique.
Finally school was out and the real fun began. An hour every morning, rain or shine, weeding and hoeing, staking and trellising. You could be certain that there was always someone around to tell on you if you took too many pauses or were slow in attending to the rows of growing plant life. …now another lecture, dressing down or paddling with whatever the latest implement of torture my mother was using that day was something we were all keen to avoid! So we learned how to keep our heads down and beaver away, keeping our thoughts to ourselves until we were relieved of our daily duty.
I can only imagine the stories I told myself about how awful life was as I toiled in those hated rows of greenery! And I’m sure that the mental habit of feeling hard done by when maintaining my garden that has been with me all my adult life got its genesis on those long, hot summer mornings.
Come August the blossoms would begin and then each day we’d be out for additional time cutting the long stalks at just the right angle, creating bundles of 6 complementary colors, tying them up with butcher’s string and placing them in 5-gallon pails of water stored in an old shed out of the sun’s hot rays. In the evening the car would be loaded with the buckets and off everyone would go to the ritzier neighborhoods in nearby Ottawa where the flowers were sold door-to-door. It was a coming-of-age event in our family when you were deemed old enough to pile into the old Austin with everyone else and go door-to-door offering “lovely, fresh picked flowers for only 50 cents per bunch”. I think I was 12 when I was first allowed to go selling. In those pre-seat belt days it was easy to cram 6-8 sweaty kids into that tiny car so that there were lots of little sales people hitting the streets.
All of the money we made from this little business went into a big jar that was emptied at the end of August when the Ottawa Ex came to town and we got to spend whatever we’d made on rides, candy apples, games and cotton candy. The more money we made, the more rides we were able to go on. It was a huge motivator to sell, sell, sell I now realize!
Finally, on the Labor Day weekend, we reversed the May process. All the plants were pulled up and left to lie in the field for a week or two until the green stalks withered and the bulbs ripened. Then before a killing frost occurred, they had to be picked up, the stalks broken off, most of the soil shaken off and the bulbs taken downstairs into the cold, dark basement and spread out on large mesh shelves so that the drying process could be complete and the bulbs went into their long winter rest before the cycle began again the next April.
It is amazing to me that so much personal history which I haven’t really thought much about for over 40 years has come rushing back as a result of that momentary realization in my garden. Once again I am reminded of how much our growing up years stays with us, like the background music of our lives, shaping and molding how we experience things large and small with us barely aware that there is any music at all.
When I have these moments of insight and clarity I have learned that they are moments in which my life changes and begins to proceed down a different pathway. And I get curious about what precipitates these moments. For me, I’m sure that there is a connection between the publication of my latest story in the collaborative “Sekhmet Rising: The Restlessness of Women’s Genius” book that arrived from the printer last week. In that book I let the world know for the first time just how much anger and rage flowed through me for decades and what life has become like for me now that I have metabolized that rage and it no longer haunts me and owns me in the most inappropriate moments.
I believe that the process of going public with what for me was a response that I really didn’t want anyone to know about has opened up other pathways of discovery for me. And gently, without any fanfare, I notice that I am different in other areas of my life that I didn’t even know were connected. Such are the mysteries of life!
Besides wondering what other habit of mine that irritates and annoys me will be the next thing to fall away, I am left wondering what now becomes possible for me in this apparently small victory? I am curious to discover how many other places in my life I’ll begin to notice that life is different because a deep resentment has disappeared. And at a more prosaic level I wonder how much more marvelous my garden will begin to look with all the additional attention it is likely to get!
I am also left with a deep sense of awareness that the metaphor of deadheading is an important one for me to notice. The process involves cutting away not only the spent blossoms, but ensuring that all the associated seed pods and sometimes their shoots are removed so as to stimulate new growth and the creation of new blooms. It makes me aware that my life is like that …many things from the past which I am over and done with need to be cropped away so that future possibility and potential can begin to flow and I can continue to become ever more than I have been in the past. As a metaphor, spent blossoms and seed pods are like old beliefs that have outlived their usefulness. They aren’t going to go away on their own and require that we remain awake to their presence and invest ourselves in a little self-deadheading! Just like our roses, tulips, peonies and marigolds thrive when we make that small, on-going investment in their care and nurturing, so our spirits and lives are invigorated and renewed when we invest in letting go of things from the past that no longer serve and support us. I wonder what future I have already begun to create for myself.
Gwen McCauley: educator, coach, artist, author, facilitator and ‘employee to entrepreneur’ veteran brings wit, wisdom and worldly experience to Self discovery as her clients explore expanded creativity, career and life transitions, and leadership. Co-founder of the WEL-Systems® Institute, Gwen is a CODE Model Coach™ and Quantum TLC™ Facilitator. She has a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Human Systems Intervention.
Gwen published “The Alchemy of Energy –Exploring
The CODE Model™” in 2004. “Splish
Splash -- Painting for Personal Discovery” a primer
for budding artists is due fall 2006. Gwen’s numerous workshops
and articles are available at www.wel-systems.com.
