Sophrology is a therapeutic, structured mind-body training method that promotes balance, performance and overall well-being. Combining Eastern and Western disciplines to calm the mind and rid the body of tensions, it provides a ‘tool box’ of practical exercises, breathing techniques and gentle guided visualisations that can be used when and wherever needed.

Join the Zoom meeting and learn more about this subject and experience it for yourself in a short taster session with Liz Murphy, Executive director of the The Sophrology Academy and Deborah Monje-Jelfs practitioner in the Canterbury area.

All you will need is a chair!

Tickets are £5. In order to join please buy a ticket using the link below. Once you've bought your ticket, you will be sent the Zoom link the day before the meeting

Contact Cora Kemball-Cook for further details corakc@hotmail.com

Join ConsciousCafe Canterbury this March for a discussion on 'Finding Your Path in Life'. Do we all have a particular path to follow? If so, how does one find it?

Many books have been written on this topic and host Cora would like to share some of Stephen Cope’s book “The Great Work of your life” and also the book by Dan Millman “The Life you were born to live - A guide to finding your purpose".

Whether you feel you have found your purpose or are still looking for it this evening will be relevant to you.

Everyone welcome.

Venue: Bradbury House, Merton Lane North, Canterbury, CT4 7DZ (ample parking)

Do you think of yourself as a creative person?

Many of us view creativity as a special kind of skill, talent or gift bestowed upon the artists of our world - people who are somehow unusually ‘gifted’, ‘different’ or highly imaginative. And yet, creativity is an innate force within all of us. It’s also been suggested that we live in a creative universe, one with its own unique intelligence, and that if we tap into this cosmic intelligence, we can be co-creators of our lives and destiny.

• Is creativity a force within us or is it a force outside ourselves?
• How can we use our creative gifts to enhance our lives?
• What might block your creativity?

Venue: Quaker (Friends) Meeting House, 1 Highfield Avenue, Newbury, RG14 5DS 

Doors open at 6:40pm, event starts at 7:00pm

Cost: £7 - £10

ConsciousCafe Singapore hosted a joyous and meaningful discussion recently on the topic of "The Good Life". We love how international our group is, with people hailing from all over the world - it gives us all such an opportunity to learn new things from different viewpoints. This meet-up in particular was a great example of both Western and Eastern perspectives enriching the conversation.

There were so many different aspects to discuss within our theme. Preparedness and acceptance of life's uncertainties was a big one, and one we have delved into before here at ConsciousCafe Singapore. It certainly hits home with a lot of people, how unpredictable and often hard life can be - how to we deal with things beyond our control, and the emotions that come along with that?

But on a more positive note, the list of attributes that make "The Good Life" grew with each turn of the conversation. Love & relationships, health & happiness, curiosity & purpose, a sprinkle of humour & a pint of beer - so many examples, and a whole host of differing priorities. It was such a mindful moment, to be able to sit and talk about what we are grateful for in life, and how many wondrous things can build us all a good life.

And now we want to pass the question on. What do you think makes "The Good Life", and what are you grateful for in yours?

HK

ConsciousCafe Singapore Leader

A good conscious conversation can be life changing but what is a good conversation? Is it the topic explored? Is it being listened to or is it feeling that you have permission to express your own truth? Sometimes a good conversation can make you consider something you hadn’t considered before or it allows some new understanding to come in. I believe that by practising the art of good conscious conversation we can improve our relationships, our well being and happiness. Maggie Smith, retired counsellor from University of Kent and Cora Kemball-Cook (MSc in Human Communications) will facilitate the evening. Come along and tell us what you think. Join the conversation!

Venue: Geoffrey Chaucer Room, Anne Robertson Centre, 55 London Road, Canterbury CT2 8HQ

Join us for a discussion on how to understand ourselves and other people. Marina Barrett is an Inner Freedom Mastery Mentor, specialising in Spiritual Psychology, Energy Alignment and Healing of the Subconscious Mind. She will lead a discussion about the essence of opposing life perspectives, presenting The Archetypal Coping Mechanism Circle, which we tend to adopt in order to navigate our way through relationships with self and others. Understanding these principles helps us identify our current strategies which may run unconsciously and this will enable us to understand ourselves better and make better life decisions.

Booking recommended as places limited.

Venue: Geoffrey Chaucer Room, Anne Robertson Centre, 55 London Road, Canterbury CT2 8HQ.

Cost: £7.00 if paid in advance (book below) or £10 on the door.

Refreshments provided.

ConsciousCafe founder Judy Piatkis with Singapore group leader Hanna Krasnodebska, earlier this year.

Conscious Café Singapore met recently for another interesting discussion, this time on the theme of Compassion, with special speaker Anita Kapoor who introduced the topic and led the discussion.

Compassion is at the root of human contacts and relationships, but is it really evident in the way we are currently interacting with each other, or with nature? What are our personal experiences of compassion? Is compassion a clearly defined state of being or does it have a spectrum? Is compassion a dominant modus operandi currently? What can we do to bring back the compassion into our interactions and stop being a cutthroat?

Compassion is a virtue of our humanness. It is wired into our biology via the vagus nerve that transmits information to and from lungs, heart and organs of digestion and additionally serves the parasympathetic nervous system that is calming in opposition to the fight-flight response. It is our “nerve of compassion” that promotes altruism, gratitude according to Professor Porges’ Polyvagal Theory. There is also the “love hormone” oxytocin that is responsible for the social bonding.

The dominating concept of “survival of the fittest” that originated from Darwin’s evolutionary theory have been influencing societies and cultures for the past 150 years.  There is a need in the contemporary chaotic, fragmented, competition-dominated world to shift into a kind and compassionate co-existence. Participants shared their experiences of how the education system ingrains and reinforces competitiveness, how workplaces value and reward it, and how at the level of individual interactions this can be a dominant characteristic. In the presence and pressure of constant comparison we either strive to fit in or isolate ourselves into our own personal world - a private reality, we get depressed, feel anxious. If we do not get that top prize we are no longer “unfortunate” - that term has at least a smudge of compassion. No, we become "losers".

That disconnection has been spreading. The rise of individualism, the emancipation of the individual in modernity from many societal structures has been, on one hand, a positive development, but on the other it's increasingly producing its own antithesis – tribalism, conformism. Yet so many of us are craving a true community to belong to.

Our group discussed the aspects of compassion as a spectrum of engagement. Often a compassion is mistaken with pity, the feeling of sharing the suffering of another human being, while compassion is the feeling of empathy and a desire to help, to alleviate the suffering. It is very powerful to hear a personal story and participants were generously sharing.

We touched on the importance of the self-compassion: that special kindness towards oneself that is interlinked with forgiveness towards our own errors, mistakes and failures. Various examples from personal practices on how to cultivate it were shared: looking after oneself, seeking physical comfort, letting go of perfectionism, practising mindfulness, being aware of emotions and shame arising, allowing oneself to seek help.

We concluded that there is rising awareness of the importance of cultivating compassion in children as well as in adults, and that we all as individuals can contribute by being aware of our daily interactions and response choices. Compassion in action.

 

This blog post is written by Hanna Krasnodebska, leader of ConsciousCafe Singapore. Follow the Singapore group page to keep up to date with upcoming meetings!

In April we had our biggest event ever in the two-year history of Conscious Cafe Skipton. It could have been the speaker, Nick Haines of the Five Institute joining us from Nottingham that was the big draw, or it could gave been Nick’s subject of “How to Feel Good About Yourself”. Either way, nearly 40 people joined us for a brilliant evening. We have three videos of the event to share with you, along with a full transcript and summary available to download.

 

The basics of Chinese philosophy, how the 12-year cycles work, and the key dates that will impact us

This first video tackles the premise that the more you know about yourself, the more likely you are to feel good about yourself. We look at the cycle of twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac and, according to Chinese philosophy, how each year affects us, particularly what has happened in the last 12 and what the next 12 years will be like for us, individually and globally.

 

 

Looking at the Five Energies, what they say about us, and what we might be here to do in the world at this time

In this second video, Nick Haines explained the Vitality Test and how it helps you to understand more about how, according to Chinese philosophy, the five energies are balanced or emphasised within you. Each of those five energies presents a KEY PRIMARY QUESTION that will likely endure in your life. Knowing this, and knowing the questions that drive us, is very helpful for relationships and understanding what drives others. When you know your Primary Question it’s easier to understand the gift, and challenges, that it gives you. Take the Vitality Test to find out which of the five energies dominates your life and the enduring question that guides you.

 

 

How family dialogue makes an impact on us in childhood and why it is virtually impossible to emerge out of it into adulthood with robust self-esteem

The 3rd video is where Nick Haines hypothesises why it is virtually impossible to come out of childhood with robust self esteem. Neuroscience now indicates that questions have more power over us than statements. Statements with power and force, like scolding ones that are negative in childhood, have greater impact and staying power than ones spoken with gentler, loving tenderness. Your unconscious mind is programmed to answer questions. You best serve yourself by asking Conscious Questions. Conscious questions that leverage our imagination and command the unconscious mind to respond can be constructed with a “WHY?’” or a “HOW?”. These will generate more positive, creative responses and will help us feel good about ourselves. Being kind to ourselves is key, and questions about good self care will make us more sustainable and of course happy.

 

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This post was written by ConsciousCafe Skipton host Gina Lazenby.

We meet once a month to enjoy mind-expanding conversations in a safe space with like-minded people. Come to ConsciousCafe to meet others and explore the journey of life using walking the labyrinth as a metaphor of life’s journey.

We will look at the value of walking as a tool for meditation and reflection. The labyrinth was used in the past as a substitute for pilgrimage.

Victoria Fields and Maggie Smith will act as facilitators for the event.

Victoria Fields is a poet and writer who has written about her own experience of pilgrimage walking the Camino in her book “Baggage”. Maggie Smith is a counsellor who was involved with the development of the labyrinth at the University of Kent and undertook labyrinth facilitator training at Chartres Cathedral.

This event is part of the Canterbury Pilgrim Festival and is a free event.

To book, contact Cora Kemball-Cook   

Email:  corakc@hotmail.com or 07711 830275

Hanna Krasnodebska with some of the members of the recently launched Conscious Cafe Singapore group

On Tuesday 26^th February 2019, Conscious Cafe's Singapore Group met at the cosy Reading Room to discuss the theme of “Love and Loving practices”, fitting with February’s holiday sentiments.

Hanna Krasnodebska, the group’s leader, started with the notion that love is an energy, and the highest frequency which connects us with the deepest part of ourselves; how love influences human biology, creating an internal environment for nourishment, connection and well-being.

The group discussed aspects of love in the context of forgiveness and gratitude, the giving and receiving. We talked about unconditional love, parental love as experienced from both familiar perspectives, that of a child in a family, and that of a mother who created and raised a family. One of our participants offered an insight: "a woman who experiences a rhythm of cycles has unique path marked with milestones of puberty, potential motherhood, life creating and nurturing family, menopause and becoming of a wise woman, a guiding elder.”

We explored self-love and how we find it challenging to accept ourselves as we are; how the family, community and wider environment influences us in our “quest for love and its expression”. 

The gathering comprised of women and we observed that it would be very interesting and complementing to have a male perspective.

Since it's humble beginnings, Conscious Cafe Geneva's meetings have taken place at the MLC Café-Littéraire, a charming coffee-cum-bookshop in the heart of Carouge, run by the lovely Francis. Due to ongoing renovations, the café is set to close for while, which set group leader Debbie King the task of finding a new space.

"I thought it would be REALLY difficult," says Debbie. "So I set aside a day to go hunting for one in Geneva, thinking it would be the first of several expeditions. And guess what - I found three! Not a single person refused me. At the venue I liked the most, the patron simply opened his arms and said 'of course! Walk this way and look at this little room beside the bar which you can have all to yourselves FREE, whenever you want.' AMAZING."

Debbie left town feeling on top of the world, with the most powerful thought: the universe truly provides for a well-intentioned deed.

ConsciousCafe Canterbury held a wonderful, deep and honest conversation on the topic of uncertainty at The Conservatory, which is the perfect place with an intimate feel. Perfect to hold a thoughtful and mindful discussion.

Our conversation ranged far and wide from talking to the moon, and finding solace from the moon and nature. We realised that we need to accept uncertainty as part of life. We felt that religion may help some people deal with uncertainty by giving them something they could trust in and a feeling of something greater than themselves. One participant, Vicky, said it is best to “go with the flow and accept that we are just a little wave on the ocean”.

Each of our group looked back to a time many years ago when they faced uncertainty and dealt with it and looked at what they had learnt. Richard remembered that at a difficult time of uncertainty in his career, keeping a dialogue with everyone really helped him. Another participant said that she had learnt that uncertainty “bears a gift”, and “we can learn to thrive on uncertainty. Feel it, allow it and surrender. See what your gut feels”.

Everyone is different in their reactions to uncertainty. For some, it may trigger fear and stop them progressing whilst others feel the fear and uncertainty but don’t let it hold them back. What are your experiences with uncertainty?

This post is written by Cora Kemball-Cook, leader of ConsciousCafe Canterbury. Follow the Canterbury group page to keep up to date with upcoming meetings!

An Evening with Christa Mackinnon

The Power of Altered States of Consciousness

Expanding our consciousness is key to evolution; humans possess the capacity to expand their perception through altering their mental states, accessing deeper and wider realities. Artists create their best paintings or music in altered states, writers access them to create fiction and poetry, spiritual masters receive their teachings and even scientists utilise these powers.

Christa Mackinnon is joining ConsciousCafe for an interactive talk on these alternative mental states. You will discover:

* how they naturally occur,

* how we can create them intentionally

* how you can use them to tap into your vast creative potential and connect to wider fields.

Christa is a psychologist, family counsellor, hypnotherapist, shamanic teacher and best-selling author. Working internationally as a psychologist, trainer and university lecturer, she specialised in complex trauma, which formed the basis for her expertise in the functioning of the human mind. Her fascination with the capacities of the human mind and consciousness led her to explore spiritual teachings, living in Ashrams in Asia and apprenticing to Shamans in the Americas. Christa now combines her knowledge of the contemporary psychological with ancient shamanic teachings, a subject she speaks, writes, trains and lectures widely about. Christa is the author of  ‘Shamanism: Awaken and Develop the Shamanic Force Within’ (Hay House) and the ground breaking book ‘Shamanism and Spirituality in Therapeutic Practice’ (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). She is also the founder of ‘Bridging the Worlds’ and the co-founder of Women Weaving Change’.

Date: Monday 25 February

Time: 18:30 GMT

Location: Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT (1 minute from Baker Street station)

Networking

Following our successful November event, we are enhancing this event with a networking opportunity in a café nearby.  We will meet at 4.30 pm and you will have the chance for a networking conversation with ConsciousCafe people. We will also go out together after Christa’s event for a drink or a snack so that we can continue the conversation afterwards. Please email judy@consciouscafe.org if you would like to come to the early networking event and we will let you know where we are meeting.

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Cancellation Policy Full refund minus 10% up to 7 days beforehand (Monday 18th Feb) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

Listening is one of your most important life skills. You become a good listener when you take the time to truly hear and understand what people are saying to you. 

When you do that, your relationship with everyone improves instantly. Being a good listener enables you to deepen the connection you have with everyone in your life - family, friends, work colleagues or strangers in the street.

All of us are capable of listening but very few of us do it well enough.  Yet deep listening is the essential ingredient for building trust, developing better relationships and improving communications in all of our relationships. 

 

 

During this interactive session, you will

• experience the difference between hearing and listening
• learn how to listen at a very deep level
• discover what it feels like when you are truly heard
• and much much more. 

About Colin

Colin is ‘The Listener’, a listening skills specialist with a passion for changing the way the world listens.  His listening presence enables individuals to feel heard, to think smarter, and to transform their business and personal relationships by learning how to listen more effectively.

Colin has an innate ability to deeply listen, hold space and develop trust with people. He works privately with individuals, enabling them to express their feelings more easily, address their personal concerns, and to articulate their creative ideas.

He works with business teams, facilitating the development of listening and thinking skills to improve business relationships, be more creative and increase the level of trust.

 

NEW VENUE

To enhance the event, we are also offering the opportunity to meet nearby at 4:30 pm for a networking conversation.  After the event, we will go to a nearby cafe to continue connecting.

We would like to thank our generous host, Konditor & Cook who have offered us their fabulous cafe which is situated at the bottom of the Gherkin building.  You will be able to purchase their delicious patisserie (including vegan and gluten-free items), hot and cold drinks and prosecco.

Please book early as places are limited.

Please email judy@consciouscafe.org if you would like to come to the networking session at 4:30pm.

 

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 7 days beforehand (November 6th) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

ConsciousCafe invites you to an evening with Jane Bailey Bain where you will be able to explore the power of stories in an interactive experience.

You are constantly working on your own life story.  In our time together we will look at how you construct this – using archetypal figures, universal themes and classic storylines. You will have an opportunity to reflect on the stories that influenced you and we will discuss how you can consciously craft your future life. You will discover:

• how your early life experiences link to later ones
• what is really important to you
• how your life is influenced by stories
• how to use the power of narrative to create the life you want to live.

 

The stories you heard as a child have a profound influence on your life. Jane will be talking about how you still relate to those tales today and about the importance of storytelling in creating what you want to achieve.

Your life has a thread. It tells you where you have been and what you have done. It shows how one incident led to another and explains why things turned out the way they have.

But your life also has a deeper pattern. This one links the people, places and events that matter to you. It shows themes and motifs in your experience. It relates your actions to your inner values.

Jane’s event for ConsciousCafe in Geneva was a sell-out and we look forward to welcoming her in London.

Jane Bailey Bain is an author and creative coach, now based in London. She trained as a social systems advisor and worked for many years on development projects in Asia and Africa. During this time she became interested in stories and how people use them in everyday life. Jane now runs workshops on how to create your own life story and has written three books, Life Works, Story Works and Soul Works.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 7 days beforehand (10^th September) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

Living in this day and age I’m finding myself increasingly interested in ways of becoming more self aware and of experiencing life in greater technicolour. In Conscious Cafe I have found a community with similar interests and get to reap the benefits of learning and growing with likeminded people from all walks of life. It’s quite insightful to learn how the qualities of a mindful approach can play out in publishing, luxury hotels, supermarkets, branding, coaching…The list is endless.

John Danias

May we thank John for permission to share his recent article, posted on LinkedIn here.

Over the last 7 years, through ups, down, fears and joys, through the rollercoaster called "Life", I’ve been really drawn to mindfulness.

"Mindfulness", "meditation", "self-awareness": these are relatively unusual terms and consequently can have different meanings and associations for each person.

For me mindfulness simply means intentionally bringing some curiosity to the experience in hand.  This can be a work meeting, family banter, a boxing fight or a walk in the park. By attending more clearly to what is happening, bringing some awareness to the thoughts, emotions and body sensations playing out moment by moment, it is possible to gain a better understanding of how this "John Danias" experiences life and consequently take wiser actions.

 So, it’s about improving my confidence at work, interaction with my kid, reflexes when sparring, in fact anything that I am working on.

At work

During meetings I notice the acute desire to get my point across generates some anxiety and clouds the mind.  And I have no doubt that my nervousness, however subtle, gets communicated to some degree.  Using some specific observation-based techniques I can notice the process playing about (‘metacognition’ in scientific terms): mild tension on my shoulders just by the neck, slight straining in the eyes, shallow breathing and a charged internal dialogue questioning if it’s the right time to interject.  Recognising these signs, I initiate a subtle breathing exercise whilst continuing to attend to the meeting.  And gradually the possibility opens up for the tension to dissipate, the meeting being experienced with greater clarity, the point being put across with greater refinement and when not speaking, to just sit back and watch the show.

Clear, assertive communication, free from overthinking and second-guessing, is something I need to cultivate.  The science of neuroplasticity adheres to the ability of training the mind through repetition. Consequently, every skilful communication, irrespective of the context, can improve my communication at work.  Then why not practice at the grocer’s too? Why not with my family?

With family

I’m going back home feeling a bit down. When I tell my wife how I feel my instinctive reaction will be to highlight that it’s not a problem and reassure her. This time I will try an experiment. I will put aside my overthinking and will simply state it clearly and with presence. I will not quantify the ‘low’, and I will not add the habitual “but it will be okay”. Let’s see.

“I’m feeling low”.

The response is amazing: acceptance and support.  So nice to feel supported, so reassuring.  We’ve empowered each other through vulnerability – I will remember this lesson.

Why am I writing this article?

There is an incredible wealth of interesting techniques to cultivate a more mindful state.  Whilst I have explored a multitude, I have only touched the surface. They are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can be tailored to our aims, lifestyle and personalities.  Surgically precise meditation exercises can improve our faculty of attention and response. A technique called 'Wim Hof Method*' can enable us to voluntarily activate the autonomic nervous system.

Each one of us will embrace 'mind training**' at some point.  Now, in a year, in ten? I wonder...

I love talking about mindfulness. I love communicating what I’m learning from this practice and exchanging ideas. Every communication is my nourishment.  When you’re interested, when you’re ready, please get in touch.  Let’s help each other to grow.

* Link to scientific article here.

** Mind is defined as ‘the faculty of consciousness and thought’.

ConsciousCafe invites you to an evening with Dina Glouberman at Central London social club,The Lib-rary in St Martin's Lane, WC2. 

Dina has just published her new book, Into the Woods and Out Again: A Memoir of Love Madness and Transformation and she will be sharing her wisdom with you in an interactive session.

She will compare her experiences of a mental health breakdown with her experience of a spiritual breakthrough and will explore the question: how can you tell the difference between madness and miracles? She will also talk about and demonstrate the use of imagery to reach the 'genius imagination', our deep level of wisdom, and yet stay well grounded at the same time. There will be an opportunity to do an imaginative exercise to bring new insights into your life and a Q and A session.

Dr Dina Glouberman is one of the best-known and most respected pioneers in the UK human potential movement. We look forward to experiencing what is going to be a very special evening with her.

The price of your ticket includes a complimentary drink.

Dr Dina Glouberman is well known as a psychotherapist and author of several books including the bestseller, The Joy of Burnout. She is the creator of ImageWork Therapy and co-founder of the world-famous Skyros Holidays. Find out more on her website www.dinaglouberman.com 

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 7 days beforehand (7th June) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

A discussion facilitated by Caroline Shola Arewa

We are living in extraordinary times. We are constantly pulled in different directions, balancing the daily requirements of our private lives with those of our demanding work-places. We long to switch off but find it hard to detach from our increasingly complex 21^st century busy schedules.

It is both exciting and thrilling to live during these times. But the fast pace of change can also generate fear, anxiety and stress not just for us but for the people we love. 

Caroline Shola Arewa is a Psychologist and Wellness Expert. She will facilitate an interactive discussion during which we will have the opportunity to explore our increasing need to take better care of ourselves.  We will share some of the forms self-care can take and we will learn from one another’s experiences.  We will leave with new techniques and tools for reducing stress and instantly raising our energy.

After the discussion we will go to a nearby café and continue talking and networking over a drink or snack (everyone pays for themselves).

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 7 days beforehand (9th May) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

Mikkel Juel Iversen runs Under One Sky, an organisation which raises awareness of what life on the streets is really like and supports the homeless with life support packages and simple offers of help which may enable them to leave the streets and live independently.

Mikkel will facilitate an interactive discussion which will expand our understanding of what it means to be homeless in our wealthy and materialistic society and we will have the opportunity to explore this most basic of human needs and emotions for ourselves.

After the discussion we will go to a nearby cafe and continue talking and networking over a drink or snack (everyone pays for themselves).

Danish-born London based Mikkel Juel Iversen has one foot in social consciousness and change and one foot in the film world.  In 2012 he set up the collective Under One Sky to support the homeless and bring attention to the issue of homelessness. The ethos of Under One Sky is to offer genuine personal connection with those living on the streets.  Since its inception Under One Sky has supported 2,500 homeless people and the collective has grown to 400 volunteers.

A small percentage of the cost of your ticket tonight will be donated to Mikkel's organisation Under One Sky

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% (admin costs) up to midnight on Sunday 22 April after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

An evening about Sensation - in the body.

Isabel Losada would like to talk to you about sex.  In an informative, funny, sometimes shocking, sometimes vulnerable entertainment - Isabel will dispel many myths.  She will tell us about a year where she decided to learn everything that she could about how to make sex into better sex in the contest of a long term and monogamous relationship.  An evening for both men and women - whether you have been married for 40 years or are happily single - brush off your inhibitions and be prepared for honestly and laughter.  Bring questions  - everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask.   

No clothes will be removed during this evening’s talk. 

A better sex life?  As The Guardian said of ’Sensation’ -  ‘What better investment could there be in a relationship?'

This event will be held at the Library Club in Central London and is also open to some of their members. 

Book early to reserve your place.

ISABEL LOSADA

Isabel Losada has most recently discussed her new book ‘Sensation: Adventures in Sex, Love and Laughter’ on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’ and at the Hay International book festival.  More information about Isabel and her other books can be found at www.isabellosada.com

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 7 days beforehand (5th March) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

In our fast-moving technological Age we are all bombarded with so much input that many of us regularly feel stressed and out of control as we try to process it all. What do we need to do in order to manage information overload effectively and enjoy a better quality of life?

In this thoughtful discussion we will be sharing our joint wisdom as we explore the topic together. Discover

• How to live more consciously and with greater awareness
• How to quiet your mind and centre yourself in the midst of chaos
• How to achieve more balance in your life
• Techniques that others are using to overcome overload

Please note that we are experimenting with a new format for this event.  We have reduced the price for the discussion which will now be from 6.30 to 8.30 and that will allow more time to go out together afterwards and continue the conversation in a café nearby.

We look forward to seeing you at this first ConsciousCafe event of 2018. Book your ticket now!

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 72 hours beforehand (7th January) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

For nearly forty years Tamara has taken great pleasure in facilitating workshops and retreats, addressing a wide range of topics including: Symptoms,  Conflict Clarification, Council of All Beings, Co-Counselling Training, Group Dynamics, Dream Groups, Well-Being, Body, Relationships, Despair and Empowerment, Food, Money, Inner Child, Fear and Freedom, Creativity, Parenting, Aging and Illness, including some new and exciting themes coming up.  Participants on Tamara’s events often experience a deeper sense of connection, purpose, and peace, as well as coming out lighter and more connected in relationship to self, other, and the world.  Times of intensive work relieved with periods for solitude and silence. A supportive, challenging, and transformative process!

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 72 hours beforehand (14th October) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

Led by Sarah Alexander

Labour MP Jo Cox left us with a pertinent message: “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than the things that divide us.” But at this time of polarisation, fragmentation and division in society, this message seems a far cry from reality.
 
In our personal journey from emotional intelligence to spiritual intelligence, we come to the realisation that we share the same core essence. We recognise that we all have different bodies and personalities with a host of varied beliefs. And yet it is this commonality within that ultimately unites us.
 
In our discussion, we will be considering how we live this practically day-to-day and bring this shared unity into every aspect of our life experience.

After the discussion ends, join us for coffee, wine,snacks and great networking at a nearby cafe. Everyone pays for themselves.
 
……………………………..
 

Sarah Alexander

Sarah Alexander offers coaching and training for coaches, consultants and business professionals based on the principles set out in her book Spiritual Intelligence in Leadership. Sarah combines this mental tool kit with the latest neuroscience and practical strategies for success. She acts as a GPS for her clients: ensuring they remain on track to their chosen destination.
 
Sarah Alexander has had 16 years’ experience as a coach and trainer. Over that time, she has worked with entrepreneurs, sports professionals and performers on the international stage and leaders in multinational organisations in the UK, Europe and the Far East.
 
Sarah has written many articles for magazines and national newspapers including The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Huffington Post. She has also spoken regularly on the radio. In The Daily Express she has been described as “the elegant, calm and collected guru of all things inner gleaming”. Sarah is the author of Spiritual Intelligence in Leadership and Spiritual Intelligence in Business.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 72 hours beforehand (16th September) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

Our 6th Birthday Party was a great success - scroll down to see some photos.

Our 6th Birthday Party will focus on the theme of Living and Working with Uncertainty.

Join us with our guest speaker, Jude Jennison, for an evening of fun, laughter and thought-provoking ideas and a discussion on the topic of Living and Working with Uncertainty

Living and Working with Uncertainty

The rapid advancement of technology has fuelled fast-paced change in business, creating a high performance culture that requires leaders to be resilient, agile and results-focused. The increased level of uncertainty and an ever-expanding workload create stress, overwhelm, fear and polarization, leading to disconnection. The world never stops and when people get caught in the same trap, they risk burning out.
 
We will discuss the challenges we face in the workplace and how we can create business results through the natural human characteristics of communication, connection, compassion and community.

Jude Jennison is a thought leader, international speaker, Horse Assisted Educator and author of the book Leadership Beyond Measure. She is co-founder of The Leadership Whisperers, a company inspiring people within some of the world’s leading organisations to create more human connection in a high-performance culture. She works with executive boards and senior leadership teams to develop embodied leadership skills to lead through uncertainty. Jude partners with horses who provide non-judgmental feedback, enabling clients to identify their leadership behaviours and transform themselves into courageous and hugely influential, non-verbal communicators.

Ticket price includes wine or soft drinks and food

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 72 hours beforehand (30th June) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

Join us for an enjoyable ‘Walk and Talk’ with ConsciousCafe across Hampstead Heath to visit Kenwood House

Hampstead Heath is a wild untamed 800 acres of natural wilderness in North London. We invite you to ‘walk and talk’ across the heath and enjoy its wild beauty. We will stop at Kenwood House, a famous stately home with spectacular grounds, for a cup of tea. Many famous films have had scenes filmed at Kenwood including Notting Hill and Belle. We will return to our starting point via a different route.

2.00pm: Meet at Hampstead tube (Northern line). We will walk to Kenwood which will take about an hour. We will stop for tea and there will be time for a quick visit to the house for anyone who wants to. We will then make our way back to Hampstead via the famous Whitestone Pond which some guidebooks say is the highest point in London.

Important note. The terrain is uneven and hilly in parts. You will need strong trainers or walking shoes and a bottle of water.

In the event of heavy rainfall anyone who wants to can meet at Hampstead tube at 2.30 and we will enjoy coffee and a discussion in one of Hampstead’s many attractive cafes.

This event is free, but please book to confirm you are coming so we know whether to wait for you.  

Be the Change You want to See in the World:  Changing the World or Changing Ourselves

A Discussion to be facilitated by Caroline Shola Arewa

We live on a beautiful planet. But as populations have grown and in our thirst for material growth, we have created many serious problems which urgently need resolution.  

The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.

We but mirror the world.  All the tendencies present in the world are to be found in the world of our body.  If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.

Gandhi

How should each of us live in order to feel we are making a difference?  What do we need to do? These and many other interesting ideas will all be part of the evening's discussion.

Come and join this discussion as we explore the challenge of change.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 72 hours beforehand (7th May) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

To be facilitated by Caroline Shola Arewa  

What does the word ‘truth’ mean to you? 

Can different people experience the same event with the same truth and if not, why not?
 
How can we verify historical truth?
 
How do we all manipulate the truth at different times and in different ways?  Why does it matter?
 
We will be considering these questions and many more.  Join us for a discussion of this topic which has never been more important than now.

Caroline Shola Arewa

Wellness Coach, humanistic psychologist and author Caroline Shola Arewa, has inspired people worldwide for thirty years with her pioneering and awarding winning work. She is the founder of Energy 4 Life Wellness Coaching  www.energy4lifecoach.com Where she Trains Wellness Coaches and offers people the opportunity to “get your Energy back and your Life on track’ using high energy and conscious living techniques.   

The price of the event includes a complimentary soft drink or coffee and light refreshments

After the discussion at 9.30 you are welcome to join us at nearby Carluccio in the Marriott Hotel Swiss Cottage, 5 mins walk away from the venue, to continue the conversation (everyone pays for themselves). Please email to let us know if you would like us to book a place for you on  info@consciouscafe.org 

To find out how to receive our Supporter Discount to this and all our events and what it means to be a ConsciousCafe Supporter, click here.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund minus 10% up to 72 hours beforehand (2nd April) after which we apologise, but cannot offer any refund due to room hire and administration costs.

IGNITE YOUR SPARK

How to Inspire with Integrity

To be facilitated by Deborah Henley

Here is a unique opportunity to take part in a short interactive workshop for conscious leaders, facilitators, coaches, and everyone who wants to inspire others and make a difference in the world.

Leadership Inspiration is as much an art and a skill as it is a conscious practice. As leaders, the practice involves knowing ourselves and how we influence and impact others. 

HOW AUTHENTIC ARE YOU?

• What does it mean to be authentic?
• How does the modern-day workplace disconnect us from knowing our authentic self?
• How can we live authentically in a world where we often need to conform in order to belong?

We'll be discussing these questions and other aspects of authenticity.  Come and join in the discussion.

On behalf of ConsciousCafe Judy facilitated a discussion group on the topic of Beyond Mindfulness at Editorial Intelligence’s NNN Festival in London in June.  Here is the story of how Judy became interested in mindfulness:

I have been re-visiting my ideas about mindfulness in the last few days in preparation for an event which I am facilitating.

 I first came across the term ‘mindfulness’ many years ago when I was sent an early copy of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book, Wherever You go, There You Are, with a view to my being the UK publisher for it.  Jon Kabat-Zinn had taken ideas from ancient Buddhist practices and explored how to make them accessible to the mainstream.  He believed that Western society had lost touch with the universal human qualities of paying attention and living with awareness.

This was 1994 and the thinking behind the book was all completely new to us at Piatkus. We had published books on meditation but this was so much more.

In the introduction the author explains that ‘wherever you go, there you are.  Whatever you are thinking right now, that’s what’s on your mind.’  It looks at first like a simple observation but in fact it requires much practice and self-awareness to observe your thoughts in this way. The important question we must each ask ourselves is how best to respond to any given situation in which we find ourselves and the answer to that question lies in responding with your full awareness to whatever is going on for you right there in that moment.

Whatever has happened has already happened. The future is unknown.  When we can truly learn to live in the present, to ‘be in touch with where we already are’, then we are in a situation where we have the most to gain for we can understand more of ‘the truth’ of what we are really experiencing and ideally respond with wisdom and heartfelt understanding.

I took the book to the editorial meeting and we were all keen to go ahead. But the ideas were so new at the time, that we thought we would need to change the title of the book or we would have difficulty in selling it into the bookshops (this was long before the days of amazon).   Accordingly we retitled it Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life.  We printed an initial edition of 3000 copies. The Daily Mail wrote a piece about it which resonated so profoundly that the book sold out within a week.  It nevertheless took many years before it was taken up by psychotherapists as a tool to help their patients and subsequently the concept of mindfulness found its way into the NHS and after that became mainstream.

Now mindfulness has become an industry.   People know that practising mindfulness is good for them but they are not sure why.  It takes time to become mindful of who we are as individuals, how we respond to different situations in the way that we do, whether we are truly living our lives the way we want to, whether we are living from our hearts.

Mindfulness has been an extraordinary gift to the world. and the gifts it offers are available to each and every one one of us every day of our lives – as long as we are aware when we are truly ‘there’.

For those interested you can click here to purchase or review Jon Kabat - Zinn's book: Wherever You Go, There You Are.

ConsciousCafe invites you to our special one day conference

ConsciousCafe is offering you one special and unique day to come from your heart and join together to help raise the vibration of love. To view the full programme, click here.

'Love is the strongest force the world possesses'

Gandhi

We are living through a massive period of awakening. This extraordinary transformation is generating huge challenges and amazing opportunities for everyone across the planet. ConsciousCafe believes it is time for each one of us to be pioneers. To work together to raise the vibration of love in ourselves so that we can share it in our world.  In our own small way, each of us is able to contribute to increasing peace, love and harmony on the planet.

How you will help to raise the vibration of love: (click here for the full programme)

• Listen to our dynamic speaker, Elif Shafak, Global TED speaker and Turkey’s foremost female novelist, who will share from the heart her thoughts on love and life
• Our panel of business experts, Oonagh Harpur, Francis Briers and Norman PIckavance, led by Judith Clegg - founder of LiveKind - will lead us in a Q and A session, as we share ideas about how we can raise the vibration of love in the workplace
• A choice of 3 short break-out groups. led by Francis Briers, Louis Parsons and Dina Glouberman, will give each of us the opportunity to be centred and present and explore how to cultivate a loving state through art, movement or relationships
• World Cafe, led by Caroline Pakel - creative facilitator, consultant and coach - will enable us to raise our group energy, enjoy collective, conscious conversations and explore thought-provoking questions about Love
• Our closing celebration of music and song with Tom Fortes Mayer and Virginia Thorn, will bring us altogether, as one group, in a joyful, uplifting experience
• Our co-comperes, Nick Williams and our own, Judy Piatkus, will be there throughout the day, introducing everyone and sharing their insights and any feedback they receive from you.

To view the programme in detail, click here

Introducing our inspirational experts and facilitators. 

Click on each photo for their biography or click here to read about them all.

Click on each photo to read more about each individual or

visit our Experts page to read about them all.

ConsciousCafe offers you the opportunity to spend one special day, with like-minded individuals, opening your heart and making our world a better place.

Details 

Registration and networking from 9am for 9.45 start. Close at 5.15

Your ticket includes refreshments and a light vegetarian lunch.

For further information or to specify dietary requirements please contact info@consciouscafe.org 

Limited number of concessions available.  Please contact judy@consciouscafe.org

Click here to book

To find out how to become a ConsciousCafe Supporter and receive our discounted rate at this event and all our other events click here

 Cancellation policy

Cancellation up to 20 November will receive a full refund less 10% admin costs or a full credit towards future ConsciousCafe events.  We regret we cannot offer a refund after that date but we will offer a credit of £50 towards future ConsciousCafe events from 21- 24 November.  From 25 – 27 November we regret we cannot offer a credit or a refund.

AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP FACILITATED by CLAUDIA ROTH

 For many years we have all been used to working in a certain way. But now the fast-changing world in which we live combined with a myriad of new technology is changing all that.

New rules for the way to work best are constantly being created and it is only the limitations of our mind-set that prevent us from moving as fast and as effectively as we would like.

Technology combined with rising consciousness offers modern different ways of thinking and being. One of the most important skills is to learn to create by having a sense of who we are in the world and what we want to achieve.  With clear focus and the ability to ‘allow’ for things to happen, we attract situations and circumstances which are more aligned to our purpose and who we are. 

Claudia Roth will share her experience of moving from a state of constantly ‘doing’ (a sign of success in the corporate world) to a new place of ‘allowing’ in the process, transforming her life professionally and personally to a new level of inner connectedness. During the evening you will learn, discuss and explore how to unlearn some of the habits you are so familiar with i.e. your success patterns and discover how to start creating a more smooth-flowing lifestyle in alignment with your purpose. You will gain awareness of how to become much more effective in allowing life to flow the way you want it to. Be warned … it is a journey of unlearning!

Claudia Roth Biography

An experienced, global senior corporate executive and former Vice President Europe, Middle East & Africa of The Leading Hotels of the World (the world’s largest hospitality organisation, representing over 375 of the finest hotels, resorts and spas such as The Ritz London, the Sandy Lane in Barbados … the best of the best), her sweet spot is using her mastery of business and awareness to inspire others to see the business world differently. Claudia enjoys a strong track record in managing and leading multi-cultural organizations and teams through growth and change.

Described as “a pioneer in luxury and consciousness” and a global citizen, she helps decision makers reach beyond their own boundaries and limitations to create a new paradigm of success. She believes in reconnecting employees to the business, to the brand and customers – by opening the door to greater awareness, expanding beyond perceived limitations, and exploring the possibilities and depths of success.

Smart companies have woken up to the fact that change has to come from within – and that nothing less than genuine awareness, personal integrity and emotional engagement will do in such a fast changing and transparent environment. She is the founder and Managing Director of Soul Luxury, an innovative client-experience company that unites the worlds of business and awareness.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel up to 72 hours before the event we can either refund your money, less 10% admin costs, or you can have a full credit for a future ConsciousCafe event to be used within two years.

Secrets to Becoming a Published Author

A ConsciousCafe workshop for prospective published authors

Are you an author? Would you like to become a published author? Should you offer your book to a traditional publisher or should you become a self-publisher? How do you promote and market your work?  What do you need to know about publishing and publicity?

All these and many other questions will be answered in our publishing workshop which will include:

• How to find the right publisher for your work
• How to build your marketing platform
• How to present your work to a publisher
• How to self-publish successfully
• How to promote your book
• And much, much more

Our speakers have a huge amount of knowledge and experience and they will be sharing the secrets behind their publishing success with you.

Free download of The Book You Were Born to Write by Nick Williams for every participant who attends the workshop

Nick Williams is an internationally renowned speaker, mentor and best-selling author of thirteen books including The Work We Were Born To Do. Four books have been with major publishers and nine have been a combination of self-publishing and working with small publishers. His books have been translated into seven languages. 

He has been invited to work with such diverse household names such as IKEA, BT, BBC, Merrill Lynch, The Met Police, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and a number of NHS trusts, as well as leadership organisations like The Institute of Leadership. He is regularly invited to speak at national and international conferences, and has been involved in around 2,000 media features.

He has spent over 20 years as a coach, adviser, friend, mentor, spiritual advisor and encourager to leaders and emergent leaders in the areas of business, the media and entertainment, the law, personal and spiritual growth, academia and retail. 

www.iamnickwilliams.com

Chantal Cooke is an award winning journalist and broadcaster – turned PR guru.

Chantal worked as a journalist / presenter for over 25 years, reporting from all over the world including Bosnia and Northern Ireland and has written many travel articles.

In 2002 she set up the UK’s first ethical radio station; PASSION for the PLANET and attracted an audience of over 100k. In 2010 Chantal founded a boutique PR agency specialising in small businesses (Panpathic) and authors (The Book Booster). Chantal’s focus is helping authors attract the attention of journalists and new readers.

Chantal is author of “The Authority Guide to Marketing Your Business Book” and “PR Demystified – how to get free publicity by giving journalists what they really need”

Chantal is an experienced presenter and regularly delivers training at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council.

Twitter: @ChantalCooke / @TheBookBooster

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantalcooke

Judy Piatkus, entrepreneur and publishing expert,  founded Piatkus Books from her bedroom and grew it to become one of the most successful independent UK publishing companies.  She has published every kind of general non-fiction including biography, memoir, history, food and drink (including 14 titles by Mary Berry) and humour.  Piatkus Books was especially credited for being a pioneer in the areas of business, self-help, personal development and mind, body and spirit. Judy is also an expert in publishing commercial fiction and brought many novels by internationally renowned authors to the UK.  Judy successfully sold the company to Little Brown who continue to publish under the Piatkus imprint. She continues to be a publishing consultant. 

Cancellation policy

If you cancel up to 72 hours before the event we can either refund your money, less 10% admin costs, or you can have a full credit for a future ConsciousCafe event to be used within two years.

To be Human is to be Musical

… or more accurately, to be human is to BE music – the steady rhythm of our hearts, the melody of the rise and fall of our breath, the counterpoint of our many interactions…

Come and join us at ConsciousCafe Oundle and let Eleanor Gibson help you connect with the music inside.

Life Music

Lifemusic connects us to the life within us, to each other and to the flow of time. We have no choice but to be in the moment. Making, receiving and responding to sounds, embraced and supported by the flow of the music.

Lifemusic has four guiding principles:

• Everyone is musical
• Every sound is important
• There are no wrong notes
• Making music is an act of trust

No musical experience or training is needed. We use ‘instant access’ instruments that are easy and intuitive to play – or you can bring your own instrument along. Simple musical ideas act as a starting point for improvisation and the music has a life of its own.

In the words of one practitioner:

‘Just one of the many things I love about Lifemusic is its spontaneity, unpredictability, kaleidoscope of surprises, the way it moves me (emotionally and physically), thrills me and provides the brushes and paintpots which create pictures 'in and out of my imagination'.’

Eleanor Gibson

Eleanor has been facilitating music sessions with children and with adults in a variety of settings for nearly 30 years. Her approach is fundamentally person centred and always seeks to encourage and support each person’s ‘inner music’. She qualified as a Lifemusic practitioner in December 2014 and was delighted to find a method which validates and supports her approach and which makes music making accessible to absolutely everybody.

Find out more about Lifemusic here: http://lifemusicmethod.blogspot.co.uk/p/welcome-to-lifemusic.html

Last Saturday 19 of us met with three facilitators for our ConsciousCafe Street Wisdom experience.

Street Wisdom is the brainchild of David Pearl who believes that many of the answers to questions and problems that challenge us in our lives can be found in the streets around us, if we would only take the time to look.

We divided into three groups and each of us went to a different part of Camden Market. It was still fairly quiet, early in the morning and easy to absorb all the amazing sights and sounds as the many stallholders set out their wares and the food vendors prepared their meals. Each facilitator sent their group members on four ten-minute short walks with a specific issue to observe and think about during that time. These exercises put us in an altered state in that we all became very relaxed. Then we were left with time to wander round the market and observe what answers to our questions would come up for us.

After 50 minutes or so we all met in a nearby bar and again, in our groups, shared our experiences.

The answer to my own question had come very fast and kept being reinforced as I wandered round the market. One woman had a question regarding her relationship and she spotted a sign that made it very clear that the decision she wanted to make was the right one. Another participant was clarifying ideas about where to live and the Street Wisdom Experience opened her mind to new possibilities. Everyone in all the groups had gained from the wisdom of the streets.

Many years ago I read Living Magically by Gill Edwards, her first book, which introduced me to the concept of metaphysics and how helpful signs are all around us if we allow ourselves to be sufficiently aware to take the time to see. Street Wisdom also works in the same way reminding us that our knowingness operates on so many different levels. I like the idea that I could repeat my Street Wisdom experience any time I want to when I have another important question that needs an answer.

ConsciousCafe will be happy to offer another Street Wisdom experience in due course if anyone was unable to take part in this one. Just let us know at judy@consciouscafe.co.org and when we have enough people we will set it up.

Meanwhile, to find out more here is David Pearl, who founded Street Wisdom and was one of our facilitators, talking about it in a TED speech

JP

May 2016

An experiential evening to be facilitated by Kenny Mammarella D’Cruz

Emotional mastery is the key to leading a happy and successful life.

But how do you achieve emotional mastery? How do you learn to accept yourself, warts and all, understand what triggers different aspects of your behaviour and know what leads to certain outcomes which may not be the ones you want? How do you get to appreciate all the different parts of you?

In this interactive workshop, leading coach and behavioural expert Kenny Mammerella D’Cruz will help you get to know the different parts of your personality so that you can understand yourself better and know how to control the parts of you which may be leading you away from the future you really want.

Kenny will also focus on your Inner Critic. This is the part of you that often gives both you and other people who you come into contact with a hard time. Kenny will show you a simple exercise that will offer you great insights into your behaviour so that you can let go of habits you don’t want or need and focus on achieving your dreams and desires.

If you want an experiential workshop that offers you unexpected insights and the opportunity to discuss, explore and value your inner self, then this is the space for you.

Kenny Mammerella D’Cruz is a personal development consultant, a leading UK coach and a top facilitator of experiential groups, for both men and women. His varied career has taken him all over the world and his work has been featured in many media outlets including Newsweek magazine who called him ‘Man Whisperer’ and on Channel 4.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel up to 72 hours before the event we can either refund your money, less 10% admin costs, or you can have a full credit for a future ConsciousCafe event to be used within two years.

Mark Ballabon presented unique and thought-provoking ideas  at our ConsciousCafe event this week, Discover Your True Relationship with Yourself.

Mark has immersed himself in all aspects of self-development over many years and approaches life from the vantage point of a mystic. He left us all with 7 tips for leading a more conscious life. Here they are, as understood by myself:
(more…)

Learn how to access the urban environment and find fresh answers to personal or work-related questions with Street Wisdom: a powerful, three-hour guided experience that uses the streets as an invisible university. This inspirational tool has been adopted by corporations, coaches and social groups across the globe - with profound results.

*This special event is held by ConsciousCafe and Streetwisdom and will be led by the inventor of Street Wisdom, David Pearl. A £5 donation will be collected on the day from attendees and will go towards the work of Street Wisdom and Conscious Cafe.*

What is it? At the centre of Street Wisdom lies the idea that every moment is extraordinary and every street is full of inspiration - that there’s no such thing as an ordinary street, just ordinary thinking. Few of us give ourselves time or permission to really focus on the world around us but the urban landscape is full of signs and signals that we normally ignore, rich stimulus that can help us learn something new.

Street Wisdom takes place in three parts. First, our street guides help you tune up your senses so you can pick up far richer information from the environment that you would normally. Then you’re off on a journey by yourself – your street quest – where you ask a question and see what answers present themselves. You don’t have to go far but it’s amazing what you can learn. In the final 60 minute session everyone gathers together to share what happened and, more often than not, their wonder at how magical an ordinary street can become when you’re really aware of those hidden messages, chance meetings and unexpected discoveries.

In just three hours of walking and wandering, participants have resolved problems that have dogged them for years, found new business ideas, changed careers, discovered new directions, and learned how to deal differently with life and love. 

Invented by creative maestro David Pearl in 2013 and developed with the help of business beatnik and fellow author Chris Baréz-Brown, Street Wisdom is an experimental idea that has rapidly grown into a global movement. Our mission is to make every street in every city a free source of inspiration for everyone, every single day.

Who is it for? It is relevant for anyone struggling with the day-to-day personal stuff, tackling a challenge in the workplace, figuring out what's next, or seeking a creative breakthrough. Once experienced, it can be easily replicated on a personal basis, or taken into the workplace and used to inspire teams and colleagues.

What do you bring? An open mind, good walking shoes and clothes for all weather. A question you'd like answered: not too big ('What is the meaning of life?'), not too small ('What shall I have for lunch?') but somewhere in the middle - a burning issue to which you'd like fresh answers.

Please watch this short film about Street Wisdom and reserve your place so we can keep you updated – if you are unable to come at the last minute, please contact us so we may give someone else the chance to take part.

Find out more at: www.streetwisdom.org

ConsciousCafe introduces Leadership with Horses, an opportunity to experience the value of embodied learning with horses.

 Why Horses?

 Research shows that in the presence of horses, we align the head, heart and gut. We become more authentic and gain more clarity. Horses mirror your non-verbal communication so you quickly identify the impact of your leadership, have chance to recalibrate in the moment and find new ways of working. Leadership with Horses harnesses this profound way of learning to create fast results that are repeatable back in work and life situations.

Personal Leadership

Experience how horses mirror your non-verbal communication and provide feedback on your strengths and areas to improve your leadership

3 positions of leadership

Learn a simple leadership model and work with the horses to identify how you lead naturally and where you can expand your range

Team dynamics

Discover how teams work effectively together, what causes them to be derailed and how to apply it to your own team. The learning is equally applicable to family and life situations as well as work

What you can expect

• 10-12 people will have the unique opportunity to work hands on with the horses
• A combination of personal leadership and teamwork in action
• An interactive evening where the audience also engage by providing feedback and learn through observation

The Leadership Whisperers help senior leaders develop embodied leadership skills that have a profound impact on teams. Through live events and workshops, we partner with horses who provide non-judgmental feedback, enabling clients to identify their leadership impact and transform themselves into courageous and hugely influential, non-verbal communicators.

We combine Jude’s 16 years senior leadership and business experience with Emma’s 16 years HR experience to map the learning back to practical work and life situations.

Book now to take advantage of our Earlybird price of £25.00, or £20.00 if you are a ConsciousCafe Supporter.

Click here to buy Jude's new book, Leadership Beyond Measure.

“Your relationships with others are all determined by the one you have developed with yourself. But what is the true state of that relationship? How accurate is your view of yourself?

For example, what relationship have you consciously developed between your spirit and your soul, your mind and your brain, your feelings and your body? And what impression does this make on others?”

Teacher, speaker and acclaimed author Mark Ballabon returns to ConsciousCafe with this powerful interactive event 'Discover your true relationship with yourself'. As always, he will offer us original insights and dynamic exercises to inspire a higher level of wisdom and freedom in this most important of our relationships… which influences every aspect of how we live our lives.

PRICE

£15.00  All bookings made online before 14/4/16
£20.00  On the door
£12.00  ConsciousCafe Supporters for all bookings made online before 14/4/16

Book Now on Eventbrite

An interactive event to be facilitated by Andrew Isaac Thornton & Eudora Ralph Pascall of Heart in Business Limited  

Andrew Isaac Thornton and Eudora Ralph Pascall are the Founders of Heart in Business Limited, an organisation that inspires and supports companies to focus on people and the planet, trusting that profit will follow.  They will facilitate an interactive event where we will have the opportunity to hear about the ideas behind Heart in Business.  We will then explore how we might introduce these new ways of thinking into our own world of work, in order to achieve much greater success and all-round rewards for everyone involved.

Event includes food and drink.

Book now on Eventbrite