Anne Heck

Summer's Bounty

Though the days are becoming shorter and the morning air hints of autumn, summertime calls my name. This season, painted with bright colors on generous canvases, is still enticing me with its allure of abundance and growth, of joy and lightheartedness.

I’m paying attention to teachings I’ve received from my garden: how to grow wild and unencumbered by rules and boundaries, how to overflow and out-glow expectations, how to bow to the sun and glisten in the rain, how to wait patiently for the perfect time to blossom and listen carefully for the call to harvest.

I’ve just completed the painting of my daughter’s bedroom, which is yellow and blue and filled with the essence of picnics and merriment.  At the same time, I’m deeply engaged in learning this beautiful feminine way of creating transformation (see Dancing the Feminine), and bursts of inspiration are ushering in my women’s circles.  The season is still enchanting me to grow myself and to blossom into my fullness.

No doubt, I sense the waning of summer.  I hear a faint call to lean into those gentle winds of change that coax me inward.

I'm preparing my garden soil with a cover crop of red clover and buckwheat, knowing that this nourishing act will offer support for the coming season. I pack away pesto and blueberries in my freezer ~ reminders of a summer lived fully. 

And I offer gratitude to this season of the south, for its bounteous gifts, its vibrant color, its invitation to expand, to reach, perhaps to challenge, and for all its energies that bless me in ways I cannot know.

Dancing the Feminine

I'm feeling the call of the feminine in a loud way.  Just two weeks ago, with a strong intuitive nudge, I registered for a 7-week teleclass entitled Feminine Power: The Essential Course for the Awakening Woman.  The class, led by Katherine Woodward Thomas and Claire Zammit is a global teleclass with over 1500 woman participating from 53 countries. 

Perhaps you've been in situations where you have this strong knowing you're in the perfect and right place.  As I've exchanged introductions with my sister circle of women in the teleclass, I've been moved to hear stories of strong,  determined women from varied backgrounds choosing with conviction to make a difference in themselves with intent to also make a difference in the world. They're hungry to learn to do this in a divinely feminine way.  Many of them are stepping boldly into this place, taking risks and setting strong intentions to play life full out, to dance to their own drumbeat with no apologies.  I'm inspired, uplifted and humbled to be in their presence.

As I step into this new place, I sense myself letting go of my old masculine ways of operating in the world and opening to the mystery, magic and strength of the feminine sourcing my life. The same day I registered for this teleclass, I also registered to attend the Southeast Women's Herbal Conference  that will take place in October.  Here I intend to learn from some powerful healers and connect more deeply to Mother Earth in the gentle presence of a circle of women. 

There's liberation and clarity in this place of the feminine and I hold immense gratitude for the opportunity to join with women in community to do our collective work in the world. I made two other large commitments that day which I have yet to announce ~ just to add a touch of mystery and curiosity ~ stay tuned!

Embracing All

Summertime adventures have gifted me with fullness of being.  I’ve harvested beautiful greens from my garden, I’ve biked the parkway almost daily and have had the opportunity to sail and swim and play with the children.

At the same time, challenges have arisen.  In the past, I’ve cringed and powered my way through whatever felt uncomfortable.  What I’m learning is to truly embrace these pieces, to sit with my emotion about them and to be compassionate with myself as I navigate what’s before me.

Tending to my emotion is as essential as weeding my garden and lubricating my bicycle.  Bringing  emotions into a place of balance requires acceptance rather than my old pattern of resistance.  My openness to the emotion often paves the way for profound realizations and new experiences of life's fullness. As I dance slowly and carefully with what's in my midst, I’m often pleasantly surprised by the way that light magically infuses situations so that I gain the clarity I desire. 

Last evening as I was sitting with some emotion, one of my unfinished faceless dolls called to me.  I promptly picked her up and heard her ask to be completed, so I began to work.  She needed only a face and some hair; however, faces have been my biggest creative challenge. A doll’s face holds its essence, speaks its name, offers gifts to those it greets. 

I sat for some time asking what this doll wanted to express; its body was very expressive already – did it really need a face?  The answer came quickly “yes.”  I realized that without a mouth this doll was already speaking to me.  A clear message was expressing – “embrace it all.”  “Yes,” I thought.  “Embrace it all.  This is what I’m learning.”  And then the face emerged with ease.  I gave a warm welcome to this new being and I heard her name ~ Joy.  She’ll be gifted to my daughter whose middle name is Joy.

Journey to the Heart – A Facilitated Women’s Circle

Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our own strength to do our work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. A place where we can be free.  ~ Starhawk

  The Asheville-based Women’s Circle Journey to the Heart invites women who feel called to come sit with us. Circle meets weekly and offers a space for you to share deeply within the safety and with support of a reflective Circle of intentional women.

Give yourself the gift of sitting in sacred space with others who support you on your Authentic path.  The benefits of sitting in  Circle include greater clarity and self-awareness, more balance in your spiritual and physical life and ultimately more centeredness in your heart space.

Inner growth and awareness happen when we create the right environment for it: time, safe space, and loving guidance. I come to this circle after walking my own healing path of 20 years and sitting in spiritual circles for 10 years.  I'm a certified Science of Mind Practitioner, a Healing Touch Practitioner, and an ordained Interfaith Minister. I bring to you my deeply felt understanding of the relationship between the spiritual and the physical. You can learn more about me here.

Journey to the Heart is for you if you wish to:

• increase your clarity and self-awareness and receive guidance towards your own knowing.
• experience greater balance in your spiritual and physical life.
• have a supportive community witness your Authentic Self, allowing you to step more fully into your own power.
• do deep, personal work with the support and safety of a reflective circle of intentional women.

The benefits of Journey to the Heart are:

• learning to listen to your inner guidance.
• gathering tools and abilities to care for your deeper needs.
• nourishment of your inner life.
• increasingly trusting yourself.
• having a space to share deeply.
• encouragement of your Authentic Self.

I ask for your commitment to be fully present for yourself and others when you come into community; the amount of attention and intention that you devote to Circle will determine what you gain from it.

Circle is intimate and space is limited.  We will begin our next 12 week session in September 2012.  Session cost is $285.  There will be options of daytime and evening circles; please inform me of which times your schedule allows.  If you're interested, please reserve your space now by contacting me.

In gratitude ~ Anne