Today I’m singing the genuine praises of one of our Soulsisters, Rachel W. Cole. Rachel specializes in getting you to that place where you finally feel well-fed — food-wise, career-wise, relationship-wise. Doesn’t that sound, well, wise?
Want to learn more about becoming well-fed? Click here for a guest post with Rachel on the Soulsister’s website.
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Are you naturally inclined to make unusual choices?
Maybe you’ve had surprise decisions thrust upon you?
Perhaps you want to do something unexpected, but don’t know how?
Me, I am known for my unexpected choices. Here are just a handful I’ve made over the years:
I am a full-fledged believer in the power of unusual choices. So whether you make them all the time, encountered them unexpectedly, or just want to learn how to bravely buck the status quo–I am in your corner!
I want to help you understand the importance of making those choices.
I want you to see how you are skilled enough and powerful enough to determine your own unique way in this world.
And I want you to be inspired by the stories of others, so you can see new ways of living, even when–especially when–it means you have to do something outside of the norm.
That’s why I’ve invited Jenna McGuiggan to help us tell stories of unusual choices at Soulsisters ’13. Who is Jenna? Why is storytelling the way to go? And what might you learn from telling your tale? Watch this 5 minute video to learn a bit more about the power of storytelling…
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Nearly a decade after leaving my former tribe, I’m finally gathering my new tribe together under one roof. Words alone can’t really express how thrilled and touched I am to be teaching with this collection of coaches and artists–or how enthusiastic I am about meeting y.o.u. You’ll just have to watch me glow with happiness in this short video:
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It’s not a stellar picture, but it was a stellar moment.
I spent a little time in the eastern side of the state this week, where it’s less like a rain forest and more like a desert. Much to my pleasure, my morning walks could be done in tank tops and required a sun hat. As I walked through the small town streets, working up a sweat, I came across this lowly lawn sprinkler. My first impulse was to jump through it.
My second impulse was to not.
My gremlins got chatty:
That’s not strictly speaking, necessary.
I’ll look silly.
I’ll get wet.
What if I have to walk all the way home is soggy sweats?
It’s not my front lawn…
Then the Muse whispered to me, “Practice Whimsy.”
So through the sprinkler I ran!
As I walked the rest of the loop back to my room, I thought about the lessons I learned from the one silly moment:
The Muse is waiting for you to reconnect with joy today. Whimsy awaits.
(Click to tweet the good word.)
What might Whimsy teach you? Join us in the Flock for Whimsy practice all through the month of May and find out. (Join any time. I’ll send you the lessons.)
Love and Sprinklers,
Rachelle
*your magpie girl
***
You might also like:
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I’m teaching a new kind of soulcare in Flock this month — Whimsy Practice! Here’s a quick message from me to you about the power of Whimsy and how we are going tap into it like a strengthening tonic this month!
Lots of Warmth,
Rachelle
*your magpie girl
Click here to join us in the Flock!
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Years ago I was the arts minister at church in Seattle. I worked with a team of creatives, among them musician Israel Button. One afternoon, we were in a little huddle with a handful of friends, trying to find a way of expressing our faith that made sense to our Gen X and Millennial sensibilities. Sitting around the table at a slightly gritty café Israel said to me,
“You know, people intuit truth through art.”
It was an “ah-ha” moment…the yellow light of the coffee house, the mismatched mugs, and Iz in his quiet way speaking truth directly to my soul.
A few months later my dear friend, photographer Tonya Hyde, made me a beautiful collage. In the middle, clipped from a magazine was the phrase, “You have to use art to preach.”
I was undone. All the normal tools of my pastoral trade lost their effectiveness. The sermons and the prayer meetings and the Bible studies no longer had function. What was once foundational no longer had any sway over the way I lived and a breathed and had my being.
Art would help me access truth.
Beauty would connect me to The Divine.
I had to use art to preach.
A decade later, this still rings true to me. The tragedy and beauty of art, the transcendence and the humanity–nothing is more likely to help me make contact with The Holy. Because when it comes to art-well-done, the message and the medium are the same:
“Truth. Beauty. Freedom. And above all things, Love.” #artchurch
Since those fateful conversations around coffee and collage, I have actively sought art out – in cathedrals and galleries, in museums and music halls, on the boards and the walls. Sometimes I write about the kismet connection between truth and art. Sometimes I just kneel in museums. But always, I’m grateful for the way an artists steps into her vulnerability, opens a door, and takes us somewhere True.
What about you, my Magpie?
Are you able to find a new place to call holy?
Can you allow yourself to worship however your impulse directs you?
Will you let a different kind of sermon guide you?
I think you are.
I know you can.
I hope you will.
(Amen? Amen.)
***
You can find all of Rachelle’s art-based sermons in the Church of Art. Just click here. (Thanks, you.)
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I’m on a video roll lately, whipping up posts for you in half the time it takes to type ‘em. I’m finding that video is better for communicating instructions and 1-2-3 advice, while writing is better for really sinking into the soul, you know? I also like video for blessings, but that’s another story.
Today’s video is from my show Relig-ish on the Sogo Media channel. In it I answer a viewer’s question:
What do I do if I’m undergoing a big spiritual shift and I work for a church/parachurch institution?
Been there. Done that. And here’s what I’ve learned…
What about you, my Magpie? Are you going through a spiritual shift? What questions are on your mind? Ask me! I’m happy to help. (Don’t want to ask in the comments, click on the contact button at the top of the page and send me an email!)
See you next week!
-Rachelle
*your magpie girl
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This is just about the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.
(That is all.)
Don’t forget to hop on the mailing list for first dibs and more info. Click here!
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I’ve started answering viewer/reader questions in my little ‘ole show, Relig-ish, on the Sogo Media channel. I really love doing a “Dear Abby” type format because it allows me to make sure I’m scratching where it itches when it comes to what’s on your mind.
This week I answer a Facebook friend’s question:
“Why don’t you talk more about the Bible?”
Here’s why I don’t focus on scripture much in my work, along with one way you might re-engage if you want to build a new realtionship with an old text.
Got a question for me about post-church living, or anything in the realm of soulcare? Ask me! I’m happy to help.
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It’s not so heavy you need a therapist or anything. And you really don’t want to book an appointment with your priest. You have some nice gal-pals, but everyone is so busy, it’s hard to even book a coffee date!
Who can you turn to on a regular basis so you can vent a little, celebrate a little, and maybe get a timely bit of advice?
Introducing Correspondence Coaching from Magpie Girl — an email-based support system for the growing edges of your life.
Like passing a note in class to your best friend –Correspondence Coaching gives your inner thoughts a safe place to land. Sealed up in confidentiality, your stories are warmly received, carefully heard, and thoughtfully responded to as we exchange “letters” each week via email.
With this handy service, you get the listening skills, noticing superpowers, and occasional advice of an experienced soulcoach, without the $100+ an hour price. Correspondence Coaching makes sure you have someone to talk to any time you’re having “one of those days” – and gives you someone to share-the-joy with during those pom-pom waving moments! (It’s nice to know someone’s in your corner.)
Listen friends, what I want to tell you is this:
When someone is there to tell you true things in the midst of the muddle,
When someone is there to help you shovel out the ick,
When someone is there to shine light on your good bits,
When you have access to consistent, kindly care…
Then your mind settles, your heart loosens up, and your confidence gets fully charged.
(Finally!)
Correspondence Coaching is a way to get consistent support, every single week. Just write an email when the thought crosses your mind. Then let it rest, knowing that help is on the way on your next coaching day.
With regular correspondence you will:
I started offering Correspondence Coaching because I know what it is like to need ongoing support (and how hard it is to remember to call and make the damn appointment!) Plus, individual coaching, while valuable, can be prohibitively expensive on an hourly basis. And there are times when you don’t need the intensity of a weekly coaching session, but you do need to touch-base with someone who knows you on a whenever-you-can-fit-it-in basis. One of my favorite sayings is, “You only preach the sermons you need to hear.” And in this case, I only offer the services I need to have!
I’m a spiritual director and life coach with more than a decade of experience helping people make sense of their ever-changing lives. I’m bad at scheduling appointments, but I love to write, so I’ve shifted the bulk of my coaching practice to a correspondence model. (Who doesn’t like getting something personal in their inbox?) I believe a listening ear is powerful, and that everyone needs a hand to hold–because from first jobs and big break-ups, to motherhood, midlife, and beyond–we never stop growing. It’s a lot of ups and downs, and I want to celebrate that wonderful rollercoaster-life with you.
You get to write to me as often as you want — whenever a new idea explodes in your brain, or you notice a pattern that you want to fix, or when you finally have two minutes in a row to type without sticky toddler fingers on your keyboard.
I read your notes as they come in, let them stew awhile, and then set aside a special day of the week just for y.o.u.
On your coaching day, I sit down and write you a juicy email, pointing out themes, asking good questions, and acting as a sounding board for your complex, beautiful life.
And because sometimes you need to hear a friendly voice, each month you also get an “Urgency Phone Call” — a 20 minute mini-session you can use when you’re having one of those days, or when you want to talk out something we’ve been corresponding about. Just call me, and I’ll chat right then, or set up a time later that day to call you back.
Why go it alone, when you could have a hand to hold? Sign up now and you’ll get your introductory coaching note. Then, in just a week’s time, personal support from a coach who cares for your creative soul will be landing right in your inbox! I’m ready, are you?
(For less than the cost of just two coaching calls, you get coaching support every single week! I can only correspond with 8 folks at a time, so please call dibs on yours by clicking the subscribe button now! )
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Making a change? Rebuilding your beliefs? Phew! You really are on an amazing journey. I'd be happy to travel with you awhile. Click here to learn more about my mini and full-size coaching packages. (It's like I always say, "There's nowhere to go, but together.")
Want to work with me in a small group setting? Join us at Flock, my online relig-ish community. One value, one practice, one month at a time, for one soulful year. Start any time. Click here for a video.
Leaving your old tribe? Ready to build a new soulful community? Soulretreats walks you through the goodbye/hello process. Click here for a slideshow.
