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8/1/2019 0 Comments

The Great Healer

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"Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake," said the poet Wallace Stevens. Or in my case, a month of my year spent walking, talking, sitting, swimming, reading, praying, practicing yoga, gathering and connecting with my family in this protected harbor of Lake Ontario. I consider it the center of the calendar year and, in many ways, the center of my evolving self. 

For just a few weeks, it feels so wonderful to let go and leave behind everything of my normal day-to-day life and allow myself be restored and renewed by the natural world. It's one of the things I miss most when I'm in the throes of a busy school year and living in suburbia, spending much of my days parenting and working indoors. I have to take my nature time in small doses--a morning run through our every growing city, appreciating the few patches of green that still exist, visiting the local lakes that typify this "gem in the hills" and bask in my own partially visible backyard sunsets that offer unexpected beauty. Some days it's just about taking the time to look up at the sky mid-day as I get my mail and take a deep breath to recalibrate before I'm back inside. 

The month of July has become the time of the year where my kids and I can enjoy being barefoot and bathing suited most of the day with no schedule to maintain and no pressure to be "on" in any strenuous way. However I have come to recognize the greatest opportunity is in gaining a deeper intimacy with the natural world. The first day we arrived at the lake, my daughter and I went for a walk and found two caterpillars that we transferred to our little butterfly sanctuary. My daughter named one "Faith" and I named the other "Destiny." We proceeded to spend the following couple of weeks witnessing the incredible transformation. We felt building excitement at each stage from caterpillar to chrysalis to first sight of wings. I was visibly more excited than my kids when the day finally arrived to watch Faith and Destiny take their final freedom flights.
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Our time this year coincided with the solar and lunar eclipses. These powerful gateway periods invite us to become aware of endings and new beginnings in our lives. The energy tends to set the tone for the next six months. For the full moon eclipse I felt the call to use the lunar energy for ritual. I invited my mom, dad, brother and kids to participate. I suggested that we each meditate on a word or a few words that we want to focus on expanding in our lives now. What do we want to experience or express more fully in the coming months? I prayed and collected rocks from the lake and we each wrote our words on the rocks. We went to the edge of the lake together and tossed our intentions into the water. My kids spent the rest of our vacation attempting to dive for them like lost treasure. The only rock they found was Hope.
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This year marked our fifth summer on the lake. I reflected on how much has changed in my life over that course of time. I've gone from married and mostly stay at home mom to divorced and feeling devastated and lost to being an empowered unpartnered woman, working hard to build my career, a single but peacefully co-parenting mama dedicated to being present for my kids. I have changed dramatically in the last five years as my own personal transformation has taken place. But the lake and its container of beauty and rest along with my amazing family have been a constant that I'm deeply grateful to have. That combination of nature and nurture have been the great healers for me. Every year my kids and I celebrate all that we have successfully navigated in the year that passed by doing a "family jump" off the dock together. It's a symbol not only of what we have lived through, but what we are living for: to continue to grow and learn together and to trust that when we leap the lake will always be there to receive us. 
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    Jenny Clarke

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What My Clients Are Saying:



"I know that “life changing” is a bit over used but it best describes how I feel about what Jenny Clarke offers with "The Courage to Create" course. She uses the metaphor of the labyrinth. A twisted turning path with hidden chambers that takes you to the center and then back out again with new insights. I took the private version of this program. The weekly lessons took me to the core of who I am. Along the way looking into some long closed chambers where we cleared out a few ghosts and discovered some buried gems. At the end of the course I emerged forever changed with a new understanding and appreciation of who I am. You can not get lost in a labyrinth as long as you keep moving forward. The journey begins when you take the first step. I highly recommend that you take the first step and sign up for the Courage to Create!" ~L.H.

My experience with the circle was amazing. I have been told that circles have power. And I am now a believer. I felt like my intentions of gaining insight and tools for my life and the lives of those I am blessed to work with were fulfilled. It confirmed so much of what I have learned over the last few years. I felt validated. The way the materials were presented was so well thought out and simple to follow. I gained so much support from the souls inside the circle and I gave a ton of support to them. That was also my personal intention for class. My experience was life changing. Jenny has changed my life for the better MANY times through her work and healing. Thank you Jenny Clarke ~Kevin S.

The series was an experience like none other! What was covered and how was truly impressive. Our group of participants were amazing – a small intimate, non-judgmental group. As a domestic violence survivor, I have participated extensively in many avenues of self-awareness and growth; individual cognitive therapy sessions for years, specialized group therapy sessions, read many books, am part of online groups and researched endlessly many self-growth and psychological disorders and topics online. I’ve done a lot of this work on different levels but this series really encompassed everything I have worked on and more in one workshop in 6 weeks. It put it all together (plus more) in an easy streamlined way. I was able to start to understand that I am my own life expert and I realized that I was seeking external advice or validation instead of listening to my own inner compass. I liked having a partner and the group circle. We did some hard inner work and I think sharing with others cultivated acceptance and moving forward. The group created a non-judgmental space that welcomed this. The struggles shape us into who we are. I was presented with the opportunity to give and receive support. It was interesting to hear others perspectives of me. I realized I do not see what they see in me (strength, courage, openness etc.) and that has stuck with me. Because of this, I realized I need to be easier on myself. I can’t wait for the next circle! 
~Anonymous/The Art of Fulfillment participant 


"Jenny’s coaching was full of gentle reinforcement that inspired me and provided loving guidance  to help me create a connection to my heart by taking small steps toward my desires. I get so much from her feedback emails after each session. The practical skills and wisdom (both personally and professionally) are exactly what I needed during this time of flux. Jenny really helped me stay focused on the details of the moment without getting confused or losing sight of the big picture." ~K.E.


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