L E T T E R from Jac – Finding My Courage September 20, 2019September 20, 2019 Tomorrow marks the day that I go away for 11 days on a self-led silent meditation Retreat. We are going to pause all Letters, and our social media at this time and I’ll explain why. There is a monastery here in England that allows teachers of certain lineages that meet certain criteria to take themselves… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – The Cost Of Fear September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 The other day I had a full-blown panic attack. It’s been many, many years since I have had one. This one was strange and strangled me slowly rather than hitting me instantly like they used to. Once I started to entertain a fear about living in London and our decision to move here, all the other… Read More +
L E T T E R – Zen Wednesday; The Teachings of Compassion September 18, 2019September 18, 2019 On Wednesday now I am going to puddle about with Zen teachings, replacing our Tao Tuesday for awhile. There are so many beautiful aspects of Zen Buddhism that I would love to share with you, and I think the Letters provide a nice starting point to dive in. In truth though, Zen can get confusing… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Giving Up All That’s Not Ours September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 This week whilst we appear to be crushing on the words of David Whyte, let me share one of my favourite David Whyte poems; “You must learn one thing:the world was made to be free in Give up all the other worldsexcept the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweetconfinement… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Letting It Go Downstream September 16, 2019September 16, 2019 When I saw writer, poet and speaker David Whyte awhile back for a beautiful program, he described the art of letting go as posing the question, and I’m paraphrasing him, these are from my messy notes, ‘Can we give away everything that is already on its way out, can we give it up, and let… Read More +
L E T T E R – ACCEPTANCE Intention Setting For The Week Ahead September 15, 2019September 15, 2019 This week journal prompts for acceptance are: Where am I resisting acceptance in myself? Where am I resisting acceptance in others? What part of my life am I deeply resentful and unaccepting of? Is it a piece of my past? Or something occurring now? What would life look like if I accepted it fully, on… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Stay In The Long Game September 14, 2019September 14, 2019 Thousands of years back there was a tall, verdant tree at a royal court in a faraway land. The tree was heavy with ripe, lush fruits, however, they were hard to pick as the tree was very tall. One day a well-travelled man came to this royal court. The king asked this traveller, “This tree’s branches are… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Prioritizing Our Lives September 12, 2019September 12, 2019 Money is important and valuable and enables us to do all sorts of wonderful things. But when we place money ahead of the things that money can’t buy, we are in greater strife than any financial difficulty will bring us. Written with love, Jac x
L E T T E R from Jac – Which Wolf Will You Feed September 11, 2019September 10, 2019 An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued,… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday September 10, 2019September 10, 2019 It’s such a beautiful saying isn’t it, the ‘watercourse of nature‘. The subtlety of a breeze, the artful pace of the seasons, the flow of the clouds. Are we really paying attention? There are times in my life where I feel like a tiny paper boat, drifting down a river, being smashed on occasion on… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Thinking To The Left September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 I came across this story awhile back and loved it. An elderly Italian man lived alone. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was difficult to work because the ground was hard and his only son, Vincent, who had helped him in past years, was in prison. The man wrote a letter… Read More +
L E T T E R – PAUSE Intention Setting For The Week Ahead September 8, 2019September 8, 2019 This week let’s set an intention to take some time to be present, to take pause. The energy in London and across Europe is slightly panicked with Summer having completed and work and school back in full swing. In speaking with our students and friends in the USA the same energy is there. And in… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – True Self September 7, 2019September 6, 2019 One of the key issues I see when mentoring thought leaders is that there is usually a deep underlying system that involves striving to be like someone else. Erasing parts of themselves they don’t see align to a ‘vision’ of what they think success looks like. An idea of what they should be and then… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Navigating Life With Our Ego September 5, 2019September 4, 2019 The ego is essentially with us forever, loud, persistent and trying to dominate. We all know the general sense of our ego, being the thing that tries to keep us small, not evolving, and navigating away from our higher selves. The challenge is it’s like a chameleon, shimmering in different outfits to distract us constantly.… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – How Much Do You Really Want It? September 4, 2019September 4, 2019 A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him.“Master, I wish to become your disciple,” said the man.“Why?” replied the hermit.The young man thought for a moment.“Because I want to find God.”The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Don’t Believe Everything You Think September 3, 2019September 3, 2019 Assumptions are a dangerous thing to entertain because they are always based on our own personal world view only. And you know who else thinks exactly like us? No one, that’s who. There are as many world views as there are people on the face of the earth, so in the billions. Every little experience, every… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Let Go Of The Intellect September 2, 2019August 30, 2019 When we have spent so much time honing our intellect, and when education systems and workplaces continue to revere it as THE thing, it makes it hard to stop identifying with our intellect. I’ve found when it comes to self-development and spirituality, it seems to prevail even more as the most important thing. And it’s… Read More +
L E T T E R – CLEAR COMMUNICATION Intention Setting For The Week Ahead September 1, 2019August 30, 2019 Let’s get ultra clear on the week ahead and set ourselves up with intention on crystal clear communication. Some journaling prompts; Where in my life do I acknowledge I am really clear? Where in life am I quite muddled or communicate in riddles? What do I think might prevent me from being clear? Is it… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – To Shun, Or… August 31, 2019August 31, 2019 I love the writings of Seth Godin, who generally cuts right to the core of it. And I loved the message he has here in a newsletter he sent out a few days ago, but something about it didn’t fit. He said: “Shun the people who have transgressed against cultural norms.And shun the people who… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Start Immediately August 29, 2019August 29, 2019 What’s holding us back most of the time is our overwhelming list of things to do. Mine can feel crippling. I work with so many students and businesses around the world in multiple time zones, with a daughter and family and run my own business. Like so many people. No one is ‘busier’ than anyone… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – What Does It Matter August 28, 2019August 27, 2019 Being the Virgo bossy pants that I am, being right was always an agenda I carried. ‘I told you so’ was a phrase I couldn’t wait to slip from my lips. I was addicted to being ‘in the right’. So boring. Over almost a decade now, I have thankfully learnt a lot from Arran. I… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Welcoming Mistakes August 27, 2019August 26, 2019 It’s a terrible thing when we are afraid to fail. When we become subconscious, and fearful, and worried about the shame of making a mistake. When in truth, we all realise that’s how we learn, how we evolve and how we are creative. Sir Ken Robinson says in the midst of his brilliant Ted Talk, “What these… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Staying Hydrated For Optimal Brain and Body Vibes August 26, 2019August 23, 2019 When we are thirsty, it’s hard to concentrate, sleep well and we overeat. Not ideal right? Part of the High Vibe Challenge is drinking 1.5-2 litres of water daily. It’s imperative to our physical and emotional health we drink enough quality water. Try to seek out filtered water, instead of plain tap water where you… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – We Are Not Our Thoughts August 24, 2019August 23, 2019 Something marvelous happens when people learn to meditate with us; they get a glimpse into the fact that their thinking mind is rattling away all the time, and that it’s separate to them. They sometimes, for the very first time in their whole lives, have the insight that they are in fact not their thoughts. We… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Nourishing Mushroom Broth With Brown Rice August 23, 2019August 22, 2019 There are days when I crave something soothing, nourishing and grounding. This is one of these dishes. It’s the perfect Autumn or Spring dish when the seasons are changing and there’s a gentle chill in the air. I always prepare more rice than I need so I can make this dish, Olive Oil Crispy Fried… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Willingness August 22, 2019August 22, 2019 We have so many ideas about ourselves and so many roles we play, sometimes we forget who we truly are underneath it all. I love teaching little kids meditation, as they haven’t been told as deeply yet, what they can and can’t be according to everyone else’s limited ideas. They truly believe still they can be… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – An Appointment With Nature August 21, 2019August 21, 2019 There truly is nothing more delicious than time in nature. I have been craving nature so much whilst in London, and although there are trees and parks everywhere, it’s certainly not Palm Beach Sydney, where we moved from. So I have to make little ‘Nature Appointments’ as I sometimes notice days roll on by without… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – The Secret Wish August 20, 2019August 20, 2019 We all wish there was a silver bullet, that will miraculously transform us. Preferably one without much time invested from us also. We want to understand to the letter exactly what that person is doing. Or how that thing is working out for this person, so we can follow along too. But there is no… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Shifting Your Mindset and Don’t Fall Prey to Spiritual Bypassing! August 19, 2019August 18, 2019 Today I want to focus on MINDSET, as at times, I swear it is everything. Our brains are affirmation tools, they affirm and confirm what the mind tells it. So if we have a negative slant, poverty mentality, are being dishonest with ourselves or in general just having a bitch and a whinge, the brain… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Move Thy Arse August 18, 2019August 17, 2019 Over the High Vibe Challenge, in order to raise your vibration, we are going to focus on getting your endorphins rocking! So 5 times a week, even if one session is walking the dogs for half an hour – we are all moving our bodies. Sometimes we just need a lift from our daily exercise or… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Journaling and Intention Setting August 17, 2019August 16, 2019 Throughout the High Vibe Challenge, every day there is a new Intention we embody, as well as a Gratitude Exercise. This allows the mind to become crystal clear on what we want to bring into our lives and experience. As we went over on Thursday, mindset is everything. So directing your mind to the positive… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Eat The Rainbow August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 Erin Lovell Verinder is not only one of my dearest friends, but she has also personally nursed Arran, Marley and I through many a health challenge. I love her as she weaves together her no-nonsense approach, her deeply spiritual personal path, with decades of clinical experience as a naturopath, herbalist, and nutritionist to deliver for me,… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Today Is The Day August 15, 2019August 14, 2019 Today is the day that our High Vibrational Challenge begins!!! Over the next two weeks, I am going to be focussing within the Letters on how to raise our vibration, through clarity and awareness. So whether you are a part of the High Vibe Challenge or not, I hope you get some juicy goodness and… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Don’t Know Mind August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 One of my favourite Buddhist concepts is Don’t Know Mind. It’s about not allowing the mind to constantly jump to conclusions. These conclusions when we break it down, are based on old ideas anyway, as the mind only knows old information not new. And personally, I am so tired of hearing that rock-solid ‘science’ has… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – A New Present Born August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 It’s a simply wonderful concept, and it’s true, so why aren’t we living like it? Why are we waiting for Monday or the first day of the month? Or a new year, to begin to live our higher grade lives? It’s something I have been asking myself lately, having had a bit of an epiphany in… Read More +
L E T T E R – HIGH VIBRATION Intention Setting For The Week Ahead August 11, 2019August 10, 2019 Our High Vibrational Challenge begins on Thursday and spans two weeks, and you’re invited to join us! This special Challenge will see us collectively raise our vibrations through deepening our mediation practice, rest, staying hydrated and eating high-grade food, exercise and practices and daily intentions to be at our best, pausing things like sugar, alcohol,… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – When Did We Forget How To Rest? August 8, 2019August 6, 2019 I sometimes look at my dogs, sleeping away in the sun and think; nice for some. It can be nice for all of us in truth but we have to own it. When did we forget to rest? When did we begin to think that we were invincible, disconnected from nature, our own nature and… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Mind To God August 7, 2019August 6, 2019 I am this week studying a miniature Indian Mughal painting course, that is fascinating and incredible. The tutors have been flown out from India and have been miniature painters for over 35 years each. Whenever someone is struggling within the course, the main teacher smiles sweetly and says, ‘Yes all is good, just connect to… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday August 6, 2019August 6, 2019 The Tao Te Ching states: “Simplicity, patience, compassion.These three are your greatest treasures.Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.Patient with both friends and enemies,you accord with the way things are.Compassionate toward yourself,you reconcile all beings in the world.” I chose it for today’s Tao Tuesday as the line is about… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Memory, The Veil To Truth August 5, 2019August 5, 2019 Our memories fail us all the time. Layer in that we miss things all the time also. We have deep attention biases that filter in and out information constantly. Have you heard of the Invisible Gorilla experiment? It was done as part of a Harvard University experiment to provide that when our attention is focused in… Read More +
L E T T E R – LOVE Intention Setting For The Week Ahead August 4, 2019August 4, 2019 This week let’s place our intention on Love. Some points to Journal on: When I consider love, is there an abundance or is it measured? What parts of me am I excluding from love? A part of my body? A part of my mind? Why? What people in my life am I restricting love towards?… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Regret August 1, 2019August 1, 2019 Bronnie Ware was an Australian nurse who worked with the dying, continually asked them their regrets as they passed on, which she recorded. The top 5 are; I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. I wish I hadn’t worked so much. I… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Begin. Immediately. July 31, 2019July 30, 2019 I spent two years diddling around on being consistent with writing before committing to a daily writing practice. I kept myself small by repeating to myself that if I wrote every day and emailed it out, people would be pissed off, there were too many emails. Or that I didn’t have the skill, and hadn’t… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday July 30, 2019July 30, 2019 ‘The wind traverses the vast sky,clouds emerge from the mountains;Feelings of enlightenment and things of the worldare of no concern at all.’ From Zen Master Keizan Jõkin;1268-1325. (From ‘Transmission of the Light’ Chapter. 22) What would having no concerns at all look like? Feel like? Not being gripped by the concerns of your mind? This… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Our Primal Rhythms July 29, 2019July 29, 2019 In nearly all ancient lineages of wisdom, being aligned with natural rhythms is the key. Harmony is created from being in touch with natural, the elements, the seasons and living in accordance with this. A few obvious but incredibly beneficial ways in which we can get in touch with nature and it’s intended rhythms: Spend… Read More +
L E T T E R – SURRENDER Intention Setting For The Week Ahead July 28, 2019July 29, 2019 This week let’s place our intention on Surrender. Some points to Journal on: When I see the words ‘divine’ and ‘universe’ what do they mean to me personally? You get to create whatever you want from this. When I see the word surrender, what do I think it is, and what do I consider it… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – The Mostest Goodest July 25, 2019July 29, 2019 Marley when she was little used to say some days after kindergarten that she was really proud as she was the ‘mostest goodest’ at school. The kids were all praised for being ‘good’ which was kind, compassionate, helping each other out or the teacher, trying their best, and sharing. Their concept of being good was… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Remembering What We Forget July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 I mean we all know this right? I love beautiful things, there’s no doubt. I also recognise that experiences shape me over things. But then I forget. So quickly I forget. So I have a little game I play. There’s something I want; so I ask how much life do I have to exchange, doing… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 This is Chapter 23 from the Tao Te Ching as translated by Stephen Mitchell. I would like to bring our attention to a few key parts, which for me are something I come back to frequently. How can we come back to our naturalness? By being present to exactly what is. When we are just… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – All Hail The Fail July 22, 2019July 22, 2019 I’m not quite sure what happens in life that mistakes become a bad thing. When we are little, mistakes are adorable. We still talk about how our daughter, for years when little, called bikini’s ‘zucchini’s’ and proudly announce she was putting her zucchini on for a swim (courgette’s for those of you that are thinking… Read More +
L E T T E R – PEACE Intention Setting For The Week Ahead July 21, 2019July 21, 2019 This week let’s place our intention on peace. Some points to Journal on: Where in my life am I naturally finding peace? Where am I experiencing turbulence? Where can I find pockets of peace within this turbulence and my thinking about it? Would some time in nature enhance my peace and how can I make… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Reclaiming Our Wildness July 18, 2019July 16, 2019 You can take this however you like. I just want you to reclaim your wildness. I’ve experimented with lots of interpretations of being wild. When I was a little kid, it meant nature reserves, cliffs, empty beaches, windswept sand dunes. I returned to this in the last few years, reclaiming that wild part of me.… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Collaboration July 17, 2019July 17, 2019 If you were Inspiration, imagine how boring it would be if everyone sat around waiting for you, groaning and inactive. Waiting, thirsting for you, but not contributing at all. Blaming you for not arriving and eliminating their ‘creativity block’. If I were Inspiration I would leave these ones on the kerb, and head straight for… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday July 16, 2019July 15, 2019 Art by Jia Youfa; China, 1942 In Taoism, aligning oneself with ones true nature, which is all of nature, is key. Our mind and ego, are in a way separate to this naturalness, and so we must learn to cultivate space from them. Our anxieties and our thoughts are not real, but we give them… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Act According To Your Uniqueness July 15, 2019July 15, 2019 You. There’s only one. In all of the time, forever in the whole universe, only one you. The Population Reference Bureau puts the number of people on earth that have EVER lived, at 108 billion people. Out of that number, there has only ever been one you. So how do we truly step up into that… Read More +
L E T T E R – TRUTH Intention Setting For The Week Ahead July 14, 2019July 14, 2019 Something I am addressing at the moment is Truth. Join me!! Things to look into this week: Where are we kidding ourselves? Hiding the whole truth from ourselves? Where are we being dishonest with others, even if the intention is ‘good’? Where do we see lying as harmless? Do we truly think this is true?… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – No More Life Procrastination July 11, 2019July 12, 2019 I’ll do it once the kids are older. I’ll do it once I have kids.I’ll do it when I have more money.I’ll do it when I am not as busy. I’ll do that once the house is tidied.I’ll do it tomorrow.I’ll do it once I have the confidence.I’ll do it once I find a job I like.… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Fighting The Alligators July 10, 2019July 10, 2019 I recently had a friend say to me really casually, no harm intended, ‘you know some people like your honest approach, and some don’t, they want a Guru or someone who has their shit together. I’ve had lots of people mention it’. It knocked me hard. Not for heaven’s sake as I EVER wish to… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday July 9, 2019July 9, 2019 Some of my favourite lines from 27 of the Tao Te Ching, and some things to ponder. ‘A good traveller has no plans and is not intent on arriving’. How can we truly set about to walk the path and not fixate on the future end? ‘A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever he… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Toofman July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 Toofy our 14-year-old rescue dog was terribly neglected, so skinny and anxious when we got him. He obviously was rarely fed, and malnourished, so badly that most of his teeth had rotted out, and the remaining had to be removed. Honey, our 12-year-old rescue, never skipped a meal and was treated like a princess on… Read More +
L E T T E R – TRUTH Intention Setting For The Week Ahead July 7, 2019July 7, 2019 This is going to be a gritty one! Once we realise how many lies we tell ourselves, let alone others, it’s like a Pandora’s box! First of all, if we were all utterly grounded in reality and not living through our views, opinions, prejudices and biases, we would always be grounded in truth. But the… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Losing Our Rhythms July 4, 2019July 3, 2019 Moving houses, let alone cities, or countries does certainly provide its challenges. The same goes for relationships, jobs, friends. Changing anything discombobulates us. We get jarred, shaken. On one hand, we go into it knowing change is evolution, that shifts can only bring good. Then a little of what we might brand ‘bad’ happens, or… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Letting Go Of The Rope July 3, 2019July 2, 2019 Since coming to London, there has been so much joy and discovery and excitement. And fear and terror and doubt. I want to dedicate the next few Letters to dealing with our shadows, as mine has resurfaced from the depths in the last two months and I have had to pull out every technique, bit… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Meditation; The Mystery and Sometimes The Misery Part 3 July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 When it comes to a meditation practice, I liken it often to anything else in your life, if you want the results to be a priority, you have the make the THING the priority. Like getting fit, you have to exercise. Eating wonderful food means sourcing wonderful produce. Having a dynamic, alive brain, means giving… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday July 2, 2019July 1, 2019 I recently read this passage from the Tao Te Ching, in respond to a wonderful student’s question, at a recent Integrated Meditation course. It reflects why we meditate in the first place. With only activity, only thinking, only doing, there is no space. We must cultivate inner space. We must recognise that the universe’s energy… Read More +
L E T T E R – CURIOSITY Intention Setting For The Week Ahead June 30, 2019June 30, 2019 This week let’s all invite in curiosity. Letting conclusions linger. Allowing space for things to breath and take form. Intentionally setting our beliefs aside to engage with what might be over what’s been programmed. Things to explore: How can we take the everyday and stay open enough to be present to something new? Every morning… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Simplicity June 27, 2019June 28, 2019 We only recently received our shipment of things that we packed in early February to London. Since then we lived on a few suitcases worth of things, like Goldilocks’ bears, we had our three bowls and plates and spoons in London for months. We didn’t have a huge amount of things in all honesty so… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Let’s Get Serious June 26, 2019July 1, 2019 Apologies in advance as this is a pretty long Letter as I have sooo much to comment on this, and have been invited to write on it by a friend. The mirage of success that people create on social media, combined with inauthentic storytelling, our own egos, and self-limiting beliefs and all our triggers around… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday June 25, 2019June 25, 2019 I adore this passage, as in today’s world where action, go-getting and forcing are highly applauded, we can forget the gentle things. The soft things. In Taoism, things that are referenced are breath and air, water and vapour, and how we can relate, create space for experiences like these, referring to nature for inspiration. Too… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Meditation; The Mystery and the Sometimes The Misery Part 2 June 24, 2019June 24, 2019 I wrote last Monday about some ways in which to reframe and approach your meditation practice, whatever the lineage and technique you practice… We invest a lot of time, with heavy doses of reality, working through students with their personal practice. There is no cookie cutter way of doing a practice. Into our Integrated Meditation courses. We spend… Read More +
L E T T E R – KINDNESS Intention Setting For The Week Ahead June 23, 2019June 21, 2019 Are you enjoying the Weekly Intention Setting? Is it helpful or inspiring new ways of thinking and being? I recommend journaling and documenting what you discover throughout the week too. This weeks Intention Setting is Kindness. Things to explore: How do you define kindness, truly to you, not just some adopted belief? What blocks your… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – The Well Of Water Within June 20, 2019June 19, 2019 Buddhist nun Pema Chodron speaks beautiful about the fact that we all have a well of fresh spring water within each of us, and we just need to tap into it, to allow love and compassion to flow through us. In the beginning, only little drips come out, but eventually a stream. That this inner… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Always Going For Truth And Honesty June 19, 2019June 18, 2019 I really enjoyed Jill Soloway’s book She Wants It, and so highly recommend it. In particular, her honesty was so refreshing. Where she had fallen down, where she had been misaligned, where her ego had hindered her. Also her joys and delights in the creative process, family life, being a working woman. She artfully and… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Tao Tuesday June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 This translation is by Stephen Mitchell of Chapter 44 of the Tao Te Ching, that we can really saturate in. It’s timeless, even though being penned so long ago, around 2500 years back. To dive into it I recommend actually journaling each question and deciphering the truth to each for yourself. “Fame or integrity, which… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Meditation; The Mystery and the Sometimes The Misery Part 1 June 17, 2019June 14, 2019 Yes, I agree with this quote and inspiring words like bliss and divinity and beauty are often used in conjunction with meditation. The problem with it is that then we can feel like meditation and life should be this never-ending explosion of bliss and happiness, and at the least, our meditation practice should reflect this.… Read More +
L E T T E R – GENEROSITY Intention Setting For The Week Ahead June 16, 2019June 18, 2019 What a lovely intention to set for the week ahead! Generosity. I would like us all to look at in two directions. Generosity to ourselves and generosity to others. Things to look into this week: Where am I being frugal and stingy towards myself? This doesn’t mean financial, but perhaps with self-care, my rituals, my… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Nothing Is Lacking June 13, 2019June 11, 2019 One of the big issues I have with spirituality and self-development is the constant seeking to better oneself when it comes from a place of lack. Self-knowledge and development should come from a place of fullness, love, and compassion. It’s simply dialing up all the goodness that we have already at play. It’s allowing our… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Internal and External Rhythms June 12, 2019June 10, 2019 Something I discussed at the London Integrated Meditation Meeting last week, which seemed to really strike a chord, was internal and external rhythms. When taken into deeper consideration, it’s very powerful. Each of us has a natural internal rhythm that we work best to when we align to it. And our internal rhythm is frequently… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Taoist Tuesday June 11, 2019June 10, 2019 There are so many ways to unpack this. The essence of it is to align with nature. When we align with the natural rhythms of every situation, and the larger situation at hand it gives us the grace to allow things to run their natural course. We release control. We recognise that although we might… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Energy Is The Key To Creativity June 10, 2019June 11, 2019 When we are exhausted, we are cranky and we are definitely uncreative. A good flow of physical energy keeps us attuned to the creative flow. I know it for myself, that my best ideas and cognitions, writing and strategies always come to me when I am meditating steadily, or on vacation, when I am already… Read More +
L E T T E R – SLOWING DOWN Intention Setting For The Week Ahead June 9, 2019June 7, 2019 Intention Setting for the week is about slowing down. Exploring what this might mean to you. Things to look into this week: How can I create more space in my days and weeks? Where am I deliberately pushing myself and what can I do to reduce this? What would my life look like at a more… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Thriving Through Modern Living Part 4 – Evenings June 6, 2019June 5, 2019 To read the previous letters, see PART 1, PART 2, and PART 3. Okay, this is the finale in this chunky little series on staying grounded and present in a modern, chaotic environment! Evening rituals are so wonderful to close off the day with. And if you are having any kind insomnia/sleep issues this is… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Thriving Through Modern Living Part 3 – Creating Space June 5, 2019June 4, 2019 Click HERE for Part 1 and HERE for Part 2. Rushing for me is a guarantee for being in a rancid mood. You will know if I feel rushed, as you can see it written all over me. I am usually early for things, I rarely oversleep an alarm, I like promptness and clarity and… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Thriving Through Modern Living Part 2 – Mornings June 4, 2019June 5, 2019 Click HERE to read Part 1. Richard Whately said, ‘Lose an hour in the morning and you will spend all day looking for it‘. I couldn’t agree more. Mornings for me are sacred. And to thrive in days that generally are filled with a heck of a lot more than was ever deemed possible a… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Thriving Through Modern Living 1 – Meditation June 3, 2019May 31, 2019 I have always struggled with the energy of a city like New York. On one hand, I absolutely love it, and on the other, it eats me alive by the end of my stay there. So moving from calm, placid, nature abundant, spacious Palm Beach, to London, was initially a concern. Even though I find… Read More +
L E T T E R – INTEGRITY Intention Setting For The Week Ahead June 2, 2019May 31, 2019 Integrity was once beautifully described to me as doing the right thing even if no one was looking. I feel very strongly that in the digital age this concept is even more important for us, as so many hide behind the curtain of anonymity. Bullying, shaming, and hate can be used, without accountability. Getting even… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Doing Good May 30, 2019May 29, 2019 Is it really as easy as doing good to be happy? I believe it is. I feel that too often we make life all too complicated. With so many ambitions, so much guilt, we are riddled with overthinking and paranoia that as we are, we are simply not enough. We are also stuck smack bang… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – The Impossible May 29, 2019May 28, 2019 Putting ourselves in the shoes of others is essentially impossible. Most of our programmed in ideas and beliefs were ground into us before we turned 7 years old. Every day trauma and joy are experienced. Sometimes in tiny doses, sometimes huge. How our parents raised or didn’t raise us, our teachers, our friends, our colleagues… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Taoist Tuesday May 28, 2019May 27, 2019 Taoism is a beautiful philosophy I have been studying now for decades, and it still eludes me, catches my curiosity and pulls at my heart. The essence of it for me is that there is only one thing. This one permeating thing is an essential life energy that we are made of, and can be… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Independent Practice May 27, 2019May 24, 2019 Imagine any teachings that teach you independence. That don’t ask anything of you after learning. That allows you to be empowered and personal in your approach. That advocates your individual practice and supports you on your path, whatever that looks like for you. This quote underpins what we teach at The Broad Place called Integrated… Read More +
L E T T E R – FORGIVENESS Intention Setting For The Week Ahead May 26, 2019May 23, 2019 This week let’s collectively set our sights on forgiveness. I recommend always journaling your way through these Intentions to allow your subconscious and conscious to meet on a plane where action can then be taken. Be free in your writing, no one will see it but you… Things to look into this week; To begin… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Our Own Heart Is Our Temple May 23, 2019May 22, 2019 I am confident I have used this quote before, as I love it. I find it every now and again in a book, or scribbled in my notepad and am lit up every time. The simplicity of a temple being our own hearts, that we carry with us always, and very rarely REALLY tune into.… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Put Down Your Books May 22, 2019May 21, 2019 At The Broad Place, we advocate study and reading all the time. However, if the study is not taken into action it’s useless. I absolutely adore reading, absorbing, studying. I dedicate a moment of every day to this. It’s a process that’s very live though, and I discard as much of what I read through… Read More +
L E T T E R – from Jac; The Unfolding May 21, 2019May 20, 2019 There is a story about a young man in Japan who wanted to be the greatest martial artist of the land. He thought that to reach this goal, he must study with the best instructor, who lived many miles away. One day he left home to go study with this great Zen teacher. After traveling… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Meditate First May 20, 2019May 16, 2019 It’s so tempting to prioritise other things over our meditation practices. Let’s face it, our ego’s do NOT want us meditating. Connecting with our souls, calming our minds and rinsing our bodies of stress, tension and fatigue is not really in the ego’s interest. Checking emails over and over, gluing our selves to our phones,… Read More +
L E T T E R – AUTHENTICITY Intention Setting For The Week Ahead May 19, 2019May 16, 2019 This week, we will place our awareness and our attention on Authenticity. Ooooh this is such a juicy one. I really recommend spending some time journaling around this piece and keep it front of mind all week. Things to look into this week; How do define authenticity and me at my most authentic?Where do I… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – The Daily Miracle May 16, 2019May 15, 2019 It’s a choice, to live as if each day is the miracle it is. The stress of moving across the world has the benefits of finally arriving. Then there is new stress to encounter. Being in a new city, as a little family, without our normal family and social framework, homeschooling for 4 months (don’t… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – Trusting The Universe May 15, 2019May 14, 2019 I have something I remind myself of constantly; there are no accidents and there are no coincidences. Everything is happening just as it should be, as an opportunity. And to be honest, I am saying this a lot to myself currently whilst our shipping container continues to be delayed even further and we are camping… Read More +
L E T T E R from Jac – True Bravery May 14, 2019May 13, 2019 I was chatting with a special friend of ours who is in his late teens, as he is trying to decide what to do with ‘his life’. This is the big time when it’s deemed apparently that kids should be deciding what to do with their lives, as if one decision now should serve them forever.… Read More +
