Hope

Hello, my friends Over the last couple of years a few people have talked to me about 'hope'. Hope is present centred...and future oriented. To some has become equated with magical thinking. They become angry or frustrated at the thought of passively waiting for a hoped for outcome and have little respect for those that live in that way. Others equate it to faith in a higher power who is engineering their lives and working all things for good. These opinions have caused me to stop and think about the meaning for myself. I was in a group once where the person leading asked us to distil what we felt the purpose of our life was into one or two words. I came up with the words, "Hope-bringer". This was years ago and today those words still resonate with me. My desire is to convey to people that they can connect with their essence, their potential, their beauty, their creativity and the flame of life within. They can begin to live mindfully in the present moment and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Is hope still relevant? I believe so!! I hope for you. Sandy

Connecting the dots

Hello there I wonder who will stumble onto this blog today. Right now I am unsure what will emerge as I write. I am going to let whatever emerges to emerge and trust that, for this moment, it is just right. I don't know about you, but my brain keeps wanting to 'connect the dots', to make conclusions, to arrive somewhere, rather than being content to be on a now moment by now moment, journey of discovery. As I wonder about that, I notice that if I pull myself gently back to the present, I can be aware of the task of writing this blog. It can be approached as a fixed point goal (Skeates, 2009) or an emergent process. If I allow it to be emergent, my stress in doing it, disappears. What is becoming clear to me as I write? That I want to simply be here with you, where ever you are in the world. So that you know you are not alone. You are connected to me across the miles and I care what is happening to you. Also that whatever I have learned in my 56 years of living, I want to make available to you. That is my emergent insight. I have discovered the reason for this blog. Connecting the dots is not always possible on a cognitive level because we have only our thoughts and memories to draw upon. Real insight, in contrast, happens when we connect with the deeper truth, found in our hearts. Bless you on your own journey of discovery. Peace and love, Sandy

Why Wonderful Women Were on Waiheke!!!

What a wonderful weekend we have just had. 7 women together in a lovely house on Waiheke Island for a Creative Retreat. It was a rich, wonderful experiential, beautiful time of connecting as a group and processing as individuals, in a safe and respectful environment. We painted, talked, walked, ate together and even danced a little Flamenco on Saturday evening! We laughed, we cried. We learned to play the spoons. We found our voices. we learned that mindfullly eating a strawberry was a deeply moving and wonderful experience. We wove strands of our lives together, the shadow...and the light, into a beautiful carpet where we were connected to each other. We learned how to disengage from the perpetual narrative and be present to the now. I will never forget it. Why don't you join us next time. Let the flame burn brightly in your soul. Peace and love, Sandy

Let me introduce myself

Hello My name is Sandy Fabrin. I work as a therapist in Auckland, New Zealand. I have an interest in helping people, by using creativity to gain healing insights and to promote well-being. In my work as a therapist, I have noticed that so many people are ruled by fear. The restrictions and limitations that were originally imposed by family and society have become self-imposed. You, also, may feel that you have been attempting to break free of similar limitations. What could you be like if you gave full expression to who you are; if rather than being afraid of what others thought you began to give express your authentic self? Actually you are the only person on earth who can do that. It would be such a shame if the world never got to meet the real you...the full expression of you. I wish you well on your journey. Start small. Begin today. Express more of yourself in your words. Use your appearance. Use your work. Use your music. Deliberately shine. Peace to you. Sandy.

Under Spanish skies, last November

Creative expression and healing

Hi there I am preparing for a weekend creative retreat on Waiheke Island close to the city of Auckland, New Zealand, where I live and work. I am expecting 6 or seven women to attend. It is exciting to know that what happens there will unfold in a way that is beyond my control, even though I will be facilitating. Each woman's creative process will be unique and the insights of each person will be theirs. I love it that each choice that they make creatively is their chosen expression and in that way unique and precious. It feels like an amazing privilege to have the opportunity to help people to deepen their connection with the now moment and to teach a non-judgmental acceptance of 'what is'. Tonight I attended a meeting of about 250 creative people and one of my daughters was a guest speaker. She spoke about the creative process and how every line that she draws as an illustrator, is a continuation of the same line she has been drawing forever. As we give creative expression to ourselves, whether by art, cooking, decorating, writing etc we are giving to the world. We are speaking and expressing our unique message that every single person on earth has. We give voice to what we are about. An expression of our essence. Our DNA. Together we form a choir that resounds around the earth. Healing comes as we give expression to who we are and peace comes as we accept without judgment the expressions of others. Join me in this amazing journey, if you will. Peace and love Sandy

The unfolding now moment

Hello to all who may have found this blog. I warmly welcome you. It is dusk at this moment in Auckland, New Zealand. The street lights have come on and the leaves of the trees have become silouetted against a pearl grey sky. I wish to make the most of this moment as it won't come my way again. I am amazed at the richness and the wonder of the actual now moment when I remember to actually be in it in a connected way. Often I am in my head, (as I heard on a podcast today, in a virtual reality) instead of the 'experiential now' with all of the beauty and sensory experience that it has to offer. It still takes intentional attention for me to remain in the moment but I wish to make it my way of being in the world. I am devouring the sights and the smells, the tastes, the sounds and the feeling of this moment as I would in a foreign city that I was visiting. Curious and open and engaged. I don't want to miss a thing. Join me on my travels if you will. Peace Sandy