Letting the Light In. Yolanda Brooks

Ideas please!

💪🏼One of the challenges I’ve set myself this year is to do 50 things year.

🤪In two weeks I’m having a go at Aerial Yoga with Jane and Zoe - can’t wait!

💰 ❌ So I need another 49 good ideas - preferably affordable ones so skydiving’s a no-no, sorry this!

🛼 I STILL want to learn to rollerskate (it’s only been on my bucket list for 12 years 🙄), so any hints, tips or free lessons would be very much appreciated!

💭 What have you done that’s different, adventurous, unusual or maybe just not something you think I’d do.

How often do you take a leap of faith to try something you’ve never done before?

What is it that stops you doing something out of your comfort zone - even when you know it’s likely to be wonderful, life-changing, or just a new experience to tick off your list of adventures to try?

I’m betting it’s fear of the unknown. Familiarity keeps us safe - so we might believe: if I don’t try, I won’t get hurt, so I’ll stay here.

But what are we missing out on when we don’t take that leap?

How often do you take a leap of faith to try something you’ve never done before? What is it that stops you doing something out of your comfort zone - even when you know it’s likely to be wonderful, life-changing, or just a new experience to tick off your list of adventures to try? I’m betting it’s fear of the unknown. Familiarity keeps us safe - so we might believe: if I don’t try, I won’t get hurt, so I’ll stay here. But what are we missing out on when we don’t take that leap? #leapoffaith #dosomethingwild #dosomethingnew #doingsomethingdifferent #taketheleapmotivation #soulconnecting #womenscirclesuk #womenscirclesonline #sistercircleretreat #lettingthelightin #changeyourstorychangeyourlife #rewritingmystory #rethinkingmylife #jumpthecliff #womensretreatonline #womensretreatonly #someonetotalkto #beingheard #myvoilemychoice #myvoicematters #womensworkshops

Happy New Year to you, wonderful women!

I wonder if, like me, you have dreams to make 2024 a ‘more’ year? More calm, more connected, or maybe more adventurous, more lively?

Sister Circles

I certainly found the collective wisdom I gained, from all the wonderful women with whom I’ve had the joy to connect with this year, so helpful in working through challenges and understanding myself that little bit better.

But mostly, knowing we aren’t alone in these things is a comfort; no matter how we may forget this in our busy lives, remembering we can come together for support is a blessing.

Things are developing here, with new offerings and beginnings in March, so I’ll tell you more about them soon.

But for now, here are the dates for 2024. There may be an odd change, but I’ll always let you know well in advance if I can.

February 7th August 7th
March 6th September 4th
April 3rd October 2nd
May 1st November 6th
June 5th December 3rd
July 3rd and January 8th 2025

I’ll be posting and advertising the circle this year. So there will be more warm-hearted, connection-seeking women joining us.

We’re used to being a small gathering, but my experience of a larger one is just as intimate as we get to know each other. However, the group will always remain no more than 12 of us, allowing a comfortable shared space for our stories and also for our silence.

I will be inviting booking (at a very affordable exchange) to ensure that women who feel the value of the space are able to take a place with us. I will send details when they’re ready.

Thank you so much for being part of last years journey with me.

I hope you have some beautiful plans for January, to keep a light burning through the darkness.

It is my dearest wish to see you next month, but in the meantime, keep those fairy lights twinkling.

If you need an open ear and loving heart before we see eachother again, you know where I am.

💌
Yolanda

Really, REALLY, looking deeply at my difficulties this time last year started with writing. Not journaling; that’s still something I don’t really do.

I began to let things out on the paper, and unexpectedly they came out as poetry, something I’d not written since I was 11!

Which was my first real experience of doing things differently gets you different results.

I did 50 webinars, seminars, courses, workshops. I was hooked on understanding myself.

And then it all changed. I’m now a certified somatic trauma coach, certified NLP coach and women’s circle facilitator. I write poetry and I’m writing a (couple of) books!

It’s like a light went on after a few months!
My focus is on relationship and communication - and that’s starts with ourselves.

So now I hold writing containers for women to connect with themselves deeply through guided meditations, and then let the words flow, initiated by very specific prompts, and uninterrupted by the inner critic.

I’m launching very special containers for women’s wellness and for writers in March.

Now, whilst not everyone has the time or energy I had in that few months to do what I did, there are many many ways in which you can find your true self buried in all that was given to you by others.

You CAN find your way, and you CAN hear your calling (it calls you, not the other way ‘round).

Don’t give up trying to find your own way through!

This is my second year doing this, and it’s what got me started in the most amazing year, 365 days ago.

I’ve learned, re-trained, experienced and jumped head-long into letting things out, letting things in, and tapping into myself with words I thought were long buried.

And along the way, developed a method of teaching others, in a gentle, mindful and supporting way.

Today, I completed the warm-up, and already there have been tears while I write pages and pages, all about my gloves.

I might share them later x

Start when you can, it’s free til June!

Head over to for her free for some quality alone time with your writing!

This is a wonderful way to start writing now, and in a peaceful and connected way. It’s my second year, and it’s already got my juices flowing: a little something for my novel, and a little something cathartic for my memoirs maybe. Start when you can, it’s free til June! Head over to @bethkempton for her free #winterwritingsanctuary for some quality alone time with your writing! #cathartic #imaginations #writingsanctuary #giveyourselftime #headspace #wordsasmedicine #therapeuticwriting #writingistherapeutic #writingforpeace #writingformentalhealth #writewithme #bethkempton #getstartednow #writenow #sanctuaryretreats

☀️ 5 Winter Solstice rituals you can do this weekend to welcome back the sun in the new year

Today, or this weekend. Here’s How… 💌One: Write one note to your past, and specifically one thing you’d like to let go of. Write another to your future, an aspiration, something you want for this new year. And then burn them with intention. 🔥 Two: make an open fire. However small your space, find time to sit with a blanket and warm drink, and find stillness while watching the flames. See what comes to you. Sun: Honour the sun : watch tonight’s sunset if you can, or tomorrow’s sunrise on the first day of the new year. Celebrate its return. 🕯️ Four : Light a candle, or have twinkling lights around you. For your own small light in the darkness. 🍃 Five : Bring nature inside. Go for a walk, gather leaves and create a wreath or display. 💌 tell me what you’ve been able to do this weekend to mark the turning of the new year. #shortestday #longestnight #lovenote #releasethepast #dreamyourlife

Night Sky.
Our views of the sky are limited by the trees around us, but the winter night sky gives us some wonderfully deep blue artwork!

No filters.

Wild Writing Circles for Women’s Wellbeing start in February!

Follow for announcements, or drop me your email to get on the mail list 💌

🌟A 2-hour workshop Online ~ mid-February (date tbc).
🌟 A 3-hour workshop in Milford on Sea ~ Saturday March 2nd.

🌟 a 5- or 9-week container Online (tbc)
🌟 a 5- or 9-week container Milford-on-Sea from March 9th.

You have stories inside that want to find their way into the world ~ they’re important to you, and you know that someone out there needs them too.

And you’d like a little help…

Wether you’re a poet, memoirist, novel-writer, essayist, or write for yourself, this is for you.

Join a small group of new writers, just like you, who are also finding their way.

Starts Monday February 5th.
Follow on IG
https://www.instagram.com/woman_writes_wild?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Notebook, A4 pad, computer?

How do you write?

I’m still pen and paper- I really love the feeling of it, and can never really get comfy writing on a computer. Although I know I’ll have to at some point.

How do you write?

Hey, new writer friend!
Have you started writing your stories yet? That collection of poetry?
Have you written some words but know you don’t want to do it alone?

Me too! I write memoir-style poetry, and I’ve just started writing a book. Actually, two.

Is that crazy?

❓Tell me, are you are story-writer or a poet? Do you write fiction or memoire? What’s next for you?

Our Writers Circle for story-tellers & poets starts in February ~ it’s going to be awesome!

⭕️ This is me, preparing for our September Wild Writing Circle.

🌟There are always twinkling lights ; every retreat should have twinkling lights.

Circles, Workshops and 8-week courses are planned for next year, here on the South Hampshire coastline, and online.

Follow to hear more!

How is your Today going?
How do you feel today?
What thoughts are running, on perpetual loop, through your mind today?

Connect with your body, and the feelings running through it.
Connect with your mind, and the thoughts running through it.

So how are you today? Really?

Anna at Dusk, Milford on Sea

This, for me, is how last night felt.
We all arrived frazzled or overwhelmed by the day-to-day, and spoke to our worries and fears, and how difficult it is to leave the past in the past. We live in a world of external demands and overstimulation. Access to so much information is a blessing yet brings such overwhelm with it.

The knowing (there’s no use in worrying) vs. the feeling (I’m worried) often are at odds, the anxious mind won’t always leave space for the calm heart. Self-awareness can be a long and exhausting road.

But we also spoke about the many ways in which we can take a pause and give space to those things. Separate memory and emotion from truth and the now.

Empty our pockets a little 💛

To the beautiful souls who joined me last night; you lifted my heart 💛

What’s this look about, eh?

He knows he’s one of the loves of my life, he knows I want pictures of him throughout the stages of his life.

He hates it when I take photos.

Why? Attention, maybe a sense of forced self-awareness that makes him uncomfortable, invasion of privacy? Maybe.

He’s asserting his independence from me. As he should.

Does it hurt when he complains?
Well, yes. But I accept that hurt knowing that he understands the idea of his self-agency and sovereignty, even if in small part at present.

So why do I do it?
Because sometimes I still can’t quite believe I raised him, that I’m a mother, that he’s 21.

Because one day he’ll understand that alongside independence comes awareness of others’ hearts.

Because one day, my memory will fail, he won’t be around, and photos will be my connection to him.

Maybe one day he’ll possibly be glad I did.

Because one day, he might just understand the saying “Loving a child is to feel your heart walking around outside your body”.

And I get so much joy from looking at all the Jacob’s I’ve met, as he’s grown, changed, become more himself.

One day he’ll understand, and I can wait…💛

What a lovely idea (adopted!)

I will choose my person on December 1st.
I'm choosing one lady that places a ❤️ on this post to receive something special from me!
Maybe coffee, a gift card, lunch, candles, or something random.
The only condition is that you offer the same by posting this on your own page.
*I will check to see if you reposted*
We all need a little love and kindness right now 🥰❤
Build up women!💕✌🏼
( Gardener Photography)

I’m a believer in study, certification and evidence - no winging it for me.

Doing it right can take time, energy and effort - especially when there’s admin involved! But if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well - Getting the Legals Right with The Orchard - Legal Foundations

A great week of information and insights, complimentary from a big heart 💛

Bringing earth & fire to the sea & sky.

I can never resist an interesting piece of driftwood, my collection extends to a very large branch that will grace the Sisterhut Summer House when we open for 📕 writing and 🧘🏻 meditation workshops.

I’m thinking some creative workshops too - jewellery, art, anything to open our hearts and minds to expression of inner self.

The hut was filled with the gorgeous scent of Peony, one of my absolute loves: candle from . Divine 🙏🏼

Stunning night sky scene. No filter 💙