What do you have planned for Valentines Day? Maybe you are defaulting to a dinner out or picking up some last-minute roses, or doing nothing at all if you’d rather avoid it. I know for some people it can too commercial, or a painful time, but it’s also an opportunity to build deeper, sacred sexy loving with your partner or with yourself. How can you have a deeper and sexier Valentines Day?

One man I know told me he is planning three special events over the day for his beloved: time in the morning connecting with eye-gazing and words of appreciation, a magical evening picnic in nature, and a lush-scented bath time when kids are asleep… these are things he knows she longs for.

I love this idea of building up anticipation from morning until late in the evening, the whole day is then opened up and more deeply felt. And sexier. As many people are working and have children, breaking it up is a great way to fit Valentines Day around family life.

If you are single, it’s perfect to honour your own generous heart and love energy. Treating a friend and sharing deeply, doing something very nourishing for yourself, or spreading love wherever you go! A single man I know sends Valentines Day messages to all his single women friends. He appreciates their beauty and their loving hearts, making them feel special on this day of love.

Valentines Day is a chance to lift us beyond the mundane, the sameness of everyday and experience the magic. It can be daunting or scary to take the initiative but it’s worth it!

It’s not about how much money we spend or the show we make.

If you are single or solo you could get together with a friend(s) and the feminine essence will enjoy romance in a fun way. Dress up because you can and celebrate love. Think about where you would like to be next Valentines Day and share it with another. Don’t give in to disappointment or discouragement as this stifles your love and freedom. Inspire and appreciate others.

If you are a couple what will bring you closer together? For real, not a Disney version. Being attuned to your beloved is essential.

Do you need a new adventure or more remembering when you met and the music you shared and special things you feel for each other?  Especially if you are not in a good place, think about what will create love anyway.

What is sexier? Romantic love will touch their heart. Sacred sexy love is touching the divine. Creating a sacred space can take just a few simple touches. Meditating or dancing together before slowly making love will honour your relationship and the pleasure of being together. Or a wild night out with you two as the absolute focus is sexy. Romance is a great beginning to flow into sexual intimacy, not as an expectation but as natural opening.

What shows you’ve been listening, paying attention? If they love foot massage you can include that, if they adore blue cheese get that, or fulfilling a sexual fantasy. Why not go for it? Perfection is not required – it’s your intention that counts.

Take a moment to reflect on why you would put in the effort on Valentines Day? Is it because love matters to you, sexiness matters to you, and sacred relationship matters to you?

Now let’s get creative and see what we each can do.

Don’t wait to Love,

Cynthia

The post A Deeper and Sexier Valentines Day appeared first on Living Love | Relationship Workshops & Coaching for Intimacy, Connection & Growth.

Everyday miracles for couples means that by infusing our day to day lives with love and a spark of attraction, things may still be tense, stressful or downright tough, but the flame that you are nurturing between you is real and even magical. When we first fall in love with the ‘other’ there is often a period of grace where we feel this flame naturally as a magnetic attraction, but sustaining it through the years requires learning and cultivating the art of loving. And we don’t get a lot of help for how to do that.

I often hear women say “He just wants sex and I want the emotional connection first.” Without realising that for him the emotional connection comes through sex. Both want the same thing but have different pathways to get there. No way is right or better, when they work together is the best.

The current social trend of neutrality between the sexes supports a necessary push for greater equality, but it can deny our deeper desires for feminine and masculine interplay. Imagine a culture of recognition and encouragement of both the feminine and masculine, synergistically combining our different powers to create an expansion of life and love.

However, it’s common for couples to struggle with these differences, either by resisting this interplay or by settling into a more “friend” state of being, such as being housemates or co-parenting, instead of embracing their deeper sacred polarity. Misunderstandings, past hurts, broken expectations can play a part in diminishing the flame. Here are some tips for Everyday Miracles for couples to help reorient your relationship.

Understanding and Embracing Polarity

1. Appreciate Your Differences: Understand that the essence of masculine and feminine brings a vital dynamic to your relationship known as magnetic polarity. These differences can fuel passion and enhance love when embraced positively. We are not the same. You don’t want him to be like a girlfriend or her to be like a mate, not really.
2. Support Each Other’s Needs: Recognize and support each other’s unique needs and desires. For instance, when a feminine partner supports the masculine’s need for freedom and purpose, it enriches his ability to provide and protect. Conversely, a masculine partner should support the feminine’s need for emotional expression and creativity. These are not exclusive and can change at different times in our lives, but usually we have more of one essence than the other.

Cultivating Time and Space

3. Make Time for Individual Growth: In our busy lives, it’s crucial for each partner to have time to nourish their own essence. Encourage and support each other to engage in activities that resonate with their nature—whether it’s time alone or with same sex groups. Or pursuing a passion. We don’t have to share everything as then we have nothing fresh to bring to the relationship. We need the treasures of our unique selves to give to the other.
4. Prioritize Your Relationship Wellness: Regularly commit to activities that nurture your relationship in deeper connection and intimacy, such as couple’s therapy or counselling. Making time to be alone together is necessary, even if it feels scary.  This commitment can strengthen communication, and prevent misunderstandings that limit the love that flows between you. Date nights should be scheduled in and aimed to have fun, not for discussing issues or family matters. Be adventurous together.

Enhancing Connection and Intimacy

5. Communicate Openly: We are communicating all the time, in verbal and non-verbal ways. And some of that is less than masterful. Find out how to listen and speak and give from your heart, even when you down feel like it. This helps in expressing love and resolving conflicts. Seek to understand rather than blame and you will be surprised at what can open up between you. Vulnerable “confession” is sexy.
6. Engage in Sexual and Spiritual Exploration: Celebrate your union by engaging in activities that deepen your sexual and spiritual connections. This could include sexual play, tantra, meditation, or simply exploring new experiences together. The masculine tends to connect through sexual closeness and the feminine tends to connect through emotional closeness, so both are needed.
7. Honor and Appreciate Each Other: Regularly take time to express appreciation for each other. Celebrate both the feminine and masculine qualities in your partner, recognising the unique contributions they bring to your relationship. Spend a few minutes a day telling each other what you appreciated about each other in the last 24 hours is a good way to start. If we think it but don’t say it, it doesn’t count.

Regular Practices for a Healthy Relationship

8. Set Aside Quality Time: Life can get hectic, and relationships may be put on the back burner. Make a deliberate effort to set aside quality time to just be together, away from the routines of daily life. This will infuse the everyday with your unique love.
9. Practice Connection Rituals: Engage in rituals that foster connection, such as date nights (or days), holidays away, doing breathing exercises together, or simply holding space for each other to share thoughts and feelings without judgment. Find out what works and do more of it.
10. Seek Professional Guidance When Needed: Don’t hesitate to seek help through therapy or coaching to address and resolve underlying issues. This is a proactive way to maintain a healthy relationship dynamic.

By integrating these practices, couples can experience everyday miracles and keep their attraction, intimacy & love flourishing. And enhancing both their personal growth and their growth as a couple.

with love,

Cynthia

The post Everyday Miracles for Couples appeared first on Living Love | Relationship Workshops & Coaching for Intimacy, Connection & Growth.

This blog is an invitation to both singles and couples to unlock deeper Intimacy and Connection in your life and relationships. Intimacy cannot be forced; it requires letting go of fear and resistance and becoming more open and receptive. Every step in that direction is a good one and like interest in the bank it compounds! As you read these Intimacy Keys choose one or two that you want to explore first.

Vulnerability

Intimacy and closeness require vulnerability, which means inviting people we trust to see into us, and wanting to see into them. Being willing to be seen for who we truly are, including our private self, our secrets, and weaknesses, allows for real connection, love and intimacy.

This might seem too scary or exposing. Many people have painful past experiences or traumas that lead them to avoid being vulnerable at all costs, or avoid being vulnerable in some areas. E.g. “It’s ok to share about my anxiety, but not about my past”. This control is to create a sense of psychological safety. We can all fear rejection, or feeling not good enough or too much. Social norms, especially for the masculine, often reinforces the idea that vulnerability is weakness. And it should be avoided or he’ll be labelled as “sissy” or “unreliable.” For the feminine she can be labelled” too emotional”, “too sensitive”. However, in intimate relationships, vulnerability is a sign of strength. It takes courage to open ourselves up to another, especially if we have been hurt in the past or criticised.

While our fears may not disappear overnight, it is our protections that stop the flow of love and passion. We don’t need to be perfect, but rather just willing to share ourselves more authentically with others. And to not be judgemental when they are vulnerable with you. Once you have a space for this vulnerability in yourself and in your relationships , it’s so delightful to be seen and to see each other, that it is hard to go back to anything less.

This key applies to all of our close relationships.

To do: Reflect on your areas of vulnerability. What are you fearful to show to others? Who could you reveal that too?  Do that as soon as possible. Start small, be aware, and make it a habit to reveal rather than hold back.

Creativity

Creativity is another important key to intimacy. Creativity in relationships involves going beyond problem-solving and the day-to-day routines to include adventure, celebration, playfulness, spark and joy. Imagine finding new and exciting ways to spend time together, such as trying out new hobbies, exploring unknown places, or creating art or music together.

For lovers, infusing creativity into sexual experiences is exciting and necessary, whether that is with new ways of expressing love, sharing fantasies, bringing toys into your sexual play or exploring sacred sexuality.

This requires you both to be open-minded and willing to learn new ways of experiencing pleasure and intimacy together. It involves letting go of preconceived ideas of what sex should be. In sacred sexuality, partners focus on the present moment and tune into their bodies and their senses. They use breathing techniques, heartfulness, and presence to deepen their sacred connection, pleasure and love.

Creativity in relationships can also happen in your communication. For example, instead of having routine conversations about work or daily tasks, break it up with more meaningful conversations that involve sharing your dreams, fears, and desires.

To Do: Have a conversation with your beloved, or a friend, where you focus on playful creativity rather than issues or problems. Read love poems to each other at night, share a sexy fantasy, create a sensual boudoir to encourage love-making. Put the phones away! Or if it’s a friend take them somewhere new that will spark both your creativity. Expand and explore.

Respect and Trust

When it comes to the Intimacy Keys, we also need respect and trust. Establishing clear boundaries and respecting them is crucial for building trust in a relationship. It helps us feel safe and secure and allows us to then explore our desires and deeper openings in a healthy and consensual way. Respect leads to trust and trust leads to letting the other person in. Not much can happen if the trust isn’t there.

Respect means being attuned to our own vulnerabilities and limitations and communicating them clearly to others. If we don’t do this we can end up with heaps of resentment. It also means being open to listening to our partner’s needs and boundaries and being willing to adjust our approach if necessary. This applies to all our relationships, and when dating and starting new relationships.

Breaking trust with a partner damages intimacy and it can take a lot of time to rebuild the trust. It can be done though, and with right actions that match the words. Coming into deeper integrity creates more intimacy, as we can relax into trusting the other. We can play more, be more adventurous, take more risks. For example, using and respecting safe words and nonverbal cues during sexual play can help partners communicate their comfort levels and open at their own pace. Finding the balance between risk and safety can be a fun and rewarding experience. It requires us to be open-minded, flexible, and willing to step outside of our comfort zones.

Ultimately, the safety risk ratio will be different for each individual and each situation. The aim is to create a safe and supportive environment of respect and trust so we can explore new and exciting experiences in our relationships.

To do:  Do you need stronger boundaries to create more respect and trust, or do you need to let go more? What is the balance of safety and risk in your relationships? Talk about it with someone close to you.

Embodiment

If you really want to get close to someone, you need be in tune with your own body. This means being aware of your breath sometimes, how you’re feeling physically, and how grounded and open your body is. When we are living more in our bodies, we can sensitively respond to another.  If we can’t feel ourselves in our own bodies, how can we feel another? This is why embodiment is an essential part of the Intimacy Keys.

For some people, embodiment can be challenging, especially if they are used to relying heavily on their mental or intellectual abilities. Without embodiment, we can become disconnected from our own bodies, living in a mental construct and our interactions with other people may become more superficial and unfulfilling.

Practices such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, tai chi, etc really support us to get grounded. Physical fitness too. Being in nature, anything where your attention is in your body. If you get can get massage from someone whoo is themselves ground dint heir body that can also help you to do the same. Many people go to sleep during massages or lie there thinking. Imagine instead following the touch with your awareness, receiving it directly into your skin and your body. If feelings arise let them be experienced and flow.

Love making and sexual intimacy is much more fulfilling when we are embodied, when we don’t reach for a quick release type of sexual encounter, rather we can enjoy being present and in contact with another person’s body. Much natural bodily wisdom emerges that can’t be known until it comes out.

To do: In this moment become aware of your body, how you are sitting or standing, what posture are you in, how relaxed is your body. Take a full breath and relax down into your lower body, your hips, thighs, legs, feet. Take a few breaths letting your energy drop down….enjoy being in you. Repeat often.

Self-care

Self-care is a simple key to intimacy, yet often neglected. To connect with others fully, we must first care for ourselves. This means basic hygiene practices, like showering and grooming, to feel confident in our own skin, and appealing to your partner. But it also means prioritizing exercise, nutrition, and sleep to maintain our physical well-being and have the energy to invest in our relationships.

Beyond basic hygiene, self-care also means taking care of our bodies through exercise, nutrition, and adequate sleep. Then we naturally have more energy and vitality to bring to our intimate relationships.

Emotional self-care is just as important. It involves taking the time to understand our own emotions, needs, and desires. It also means having our own values, interests, and passions that we pursue independently.

For example, if you enjoy dancing, you may make time for regular dance classes as a way of practicing self-care. Or if you value spirituality, you may set aside time for meditation, or nature hikes. When we take care of our emotional needs in this way, we are more likely to feel fulfilled and content in our intimate relationships. More self-care = less blame of others.

Feminine essence people often sacrifice self care for the needs of others and end up getting burnt out and losing their self identity. Masculine essence people often think self- care takes too much time, just do the minimum to get back on the mission. Both are short-term strategies that don’t go the distance.

To do: Decide where you can improve on your self-care and start. One hour a week on a new hobby or passion puts you in the zone immediately. Or book a therapist to explore yourself. what have you been putting off and why?

We and Me

When two people come together in a relationship, there’s a natural process of merging that happens. This union into “We” can be a beautiful ecstatic thing, but it can also lead to losing sight of our “Me”.

In every relationship it’s about continually finding a balance between merging with the other and maintaining our own sense of self. It’s important to hold onto our own interests, values, and boundaries, even as we merge into the togetherness of a relationship.  It also means respecting our partners’ individuality and allowing them the space to pursue their own interests and passions.

Over time, too much We in a relationship can get dull and the passion can die which may lead to resentment and frustration. If you have more Me time then you look outwards and have some treasures of yourself to keep bringing back to the relationship, which renews it. You are then a merging of two individuals who choose to share and be close and have a spark between you.

And too much Me time is acting as if you are single while being in a relationship. Commitment to the We is essential for intimacy. If you are in a relationship you need to devote time and energy for it to flourish. You may have different ideas about the balance of We and Me and this can take some navigating to find the optimal balance. Often the feminine defaults to wanting more We time and the masculine is the opposite. Inner fears and unresolved past issues can put it out of balance too.

To do: Overall do you tend to be more We or Me in your relationships? Do you give up your sense of self too easily or do you resist merging? What can you do today to shift the balance? Take some time alone to do something just you enjoy or drop one of your solo activities and do something together?

Masculine and Feminine Polarity 

The Art of Intimacy involves understanding the essence of masculine and feminine energies and the powerful polarity that can arise between them. By recognizing and appreciating our differences, we can open the door to a sacred intimacy with our partners.

The masculine essence is characterized by qualities such as strength, direction, structure, assertiveness, and a focus on achieving goals, attaining spiritual depth. The feminine essence, on the other hand, is characterized by qualities such as love, nurturing, flow, feeling, and a focus on connection.

When these two essences come together in an intimate relationship, they can create a powerful energy and dynamic that fuels the relationship. By embracing and valuing each other’s unique essence, we can ignite the polarity that exists between us and deepen our connection.

Whatever your gender as a couple, we need polarity between masculine and feminine energies to create that spark and magnetic attraction. Some people choose to activate this in lovemaking and have a different balance in other areas of their life. Others prefer to infuse their life with this polarity. It does take some skill to change and dance this interplay, and it’s very rewarding to do so.

To do: If you are wanting your partner or people in your life to show more masculine or feminine energy, then vacate some of it yourself to give them the space to do so. In the gap, the other person naturally moves to fill it.

…….

These Intimacy Keys are a beginning to a deeper, more fulfilled and intimate life. Whether you are single of partnered they will help you be more connected to yourself and to others. It really is a life-long journey – new possibilities and challenges show up as we mature and our life circumstances change.

These and more are explored and developed in my work with couples and singles, both in the Direct Path to Love & Intimacy sessions and the Attraction Intimacy & Love Workshops.

Love

Cynthia

The post The Intimacy Keys: Unlocking the Art of Deep Connection appeared first on Living Love | Relationship Workshops & Coaching for Intimacy, Connection & Growth.

Have you ever wondered what makes the feminine or masculine happy in a relationship? What is food for love? Do you ever feel like your relationship is going stale or lacking appreciation? Are you longing to give and receive love in a way that opens you to more love?

There are basic nutrients for love in a relationship such as authenticity, love, connection, care, trust and respect, attraction and enjoyment of each other. And then there are the gourmet delicacies that increase the love and the polarity of masculine and feminine essence.

What is food for love for the feminine essence is different to the masculine essence. Of course, it’s an individual thing too, but there are preferences that often apply. Here are some ways you can feed and nourish your beloveds, whether you are in a relationship or single. If you are single, you can gift a friend of the opposite sex.

“making the extra effort will open her like a flower”

What is the FEMININE ESSENCE food for love? There are lighter or darker offerings on the spectrum, depending on the person and what energy she may want to liberate. As her primary need is for love, the way to nourish and delight her is through loving her. Men often say, ‘Of course I love her, I’m committed and look what I do for her every day’. And yet making the extra effort will open her like a flower, her radiant smile and bodily openness will reward you. Women, you can appreciate his intentions and efforts even if he doesn’t get it exactly right.

The feminine generally loves tender kisses, love-notes either given or left for her to find, verbal appreciation of her beauty, small and frequent gifts of jewellery, perfume or other romantic things (could be an object from nature that doesn’t have to cost a lot) and occasionally large gifts.

Make your gifts romantic rather than practical, or include a romantic gift. What enhances her radiance? While she will love you giving her car seat covers, a new laptop or a pushbike, she will be more delighted as a woman by a romantic gift like jewellery, that tells her she is your special woman.

“beauty for its own sake”

If you are not sure what she likes, take her shopping, or ask her closest woman friend to help you. Flowers are lovely on special occasions, but an unexpected, lush bouquet on the table when she comes home will delight her with its burst of beauty. For the feminine it’s not about being utilitarian but about beauty for its own sake.

Perhaps you have the inspiration to write a poem or a song about her. She will love it even if you are not so skilled. Or have a special night out together, where she can see how much planning you have put into it for her to enjoy.

Anything that shows her that you really see her, that you notice what she likes and that you pay attention.

“more edgy offerings can also open her”

For the feminine, obviously, it’s not just romantic things that delight or surprise her, but more edgy offerings can also open her. Going a little (or a lot) darker, you can gift her with sexy lingerie, but only if she will enjoy wearing it. Or surprise her with a sex toy to start an erotic adventure, if it’s for her pleasure. And naturally you will enjoy it too, but that’s not the goal.

A man doing a striptease, showing his masculine power with his heart wide open, will energise her, and is a lot of fun to watch. If she completely trusts you, you could blindfold her and drive her to a secret location where you have prepared an erotic encounter to ravish her.

Those with darker sexual essence will enjoy more kinky activities. For the feminine essence the act of deep surrender with a trustable masculine energy is extremely erotic.

Food for love for the feminine essence is also when you fix something for her. The broken clasp on her favourite necklace, the bike tyre puncture that she hasn’t gotten around to dealing with, whatever brings wholeness and ease to her life. And if she is very stressed, you can take a job off her and do it simply and easily. Unburdening the feminine releases her fragrant love-light.

“honour his masculinity, whichever way he chooses to take it”

What is the MASCULINE ESSENCE food for love? Most men have primary needs for love, freedom, and being on purpose in his life. One way to gift him is through trusting him, and freeing him. Honour his masculinity, whichever way he chooses to take it. Trusting his mission will gift him deeply. If you don’t trust him, tell him directly why not and leave him to sort it out.

Challenging him in a way that calls him to his higher self, where he is learning about himself, is also a gift to the masculine. Showing him your loving power and wisdom in this way is food for him.

A man loves to be listened to – let him share what troubles him. Let him reveal his vulnerabilities without judgment. Being accepted and loved whether he is successful or not is food for the masculine.

Most men love to be honoured and appreciated. If you notice and acknowledge when he does things that you like, even practical jobs that he contributes, it will remind him how valuable he is to you.

Make it easy for him to be alone sometimes, or with his male friends, without feeling guilty he’s not with you.

For the masculine, he may like to receive gifts, but often he feels burdened by things and clutter. Gift him an experience, like a concert by his favourite band, or a sporting event he will be into, or an extreme sport like skydiving (unless he has a fear of heights). He will feel seen if you remember something he mentioned in passing. Making him something yourself shows your devotion to him, that you will put a lot of time and effort into making.

“unexpected, sexy surprises takes him out of the ordinary”

Unexpected, sexy surprises take him out of the ordinary, into freedom and feeling wow! This can be done with light or edgier energy. You could dance for him, healing him with your sexy angelic light, or you could do a seductive ‘striptease’ enlivening him with your darker sensuality. Dressing up in different ways will also captivate him with your ever-changing moods.

Occasionally invite him to step out of the socially defined role of man, focused on achieving and doing, and into a passive, receptive state. This could be through delighting his senses, a loving massage or an erotic play where he is sexually surrendered. Taking him into nature and making love to him outdoors would be very cool for some men.

These offerings that nourish love and polarity will not only ignite and delight your partner but you will also have fun giving them.

I hope you explore this food for love, and sexy snack ideas, and that you are inspired to gift to your beloveds.

I’d love to hear how you already do this, or what happens when you do. Please share in the comments below.

Appreciating you with love and trust,

Cynthia

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Last night on a teleseminar for the Living Love Training we explored the relationship between intention, inspiration and fear, to access the deeper layers of creativity, passion, gifting and purpose. To go beyond fear.

In preparation the participants had chosen a brief offering of their inspiration to share on the call – a song, a poem, comedy, crazy wisdom……. and to know their deepest fear. I was inspired by their ability to feel through the layers of fear and resistance to the core of being. Being a creative source and inspiration to oneself and others. I want to share with you some of the teaching and wisdom from this call.

“inspiration is our individual muse”

Intention is the big picture, what really matters to us, what is the forward momentum of our lives in a higher self sense. Inspiration is our individual muse, our passion, what  turns us on and makes the way we give our gifts unique. Fear is our barrier to moving forward with our intentions, our passions, our evolution, our growth and the growth of others.

If we have come to the point where we have a higher self intention and can feel it beyond our own self focus, it brings the force and flow we need to move forward. Connecting to this intention gives us the impetus to go beyond fear, using all our tools to help the process. Tools of breathing, knowing, opening, grounding. Movement is key – we grow or we die. Fear is a barrier to growth but also our enrichment, it adds humanity, humility, care and compassion to our evolution. To deeply embrace fear in oneself and others is so tender a movement, so empowering, that we can only bow down in recognition of the grace this unleashes.

We are the source of creativity and to recognize this is powerful. As Robert Fritz puts it, ‘being the predominant creative force in our own lives’. (His book ‘The Path of Least Resistance’ is one of my favorites)

“we need both masculine and feminine energies”

To create and live our higher self intentions in an embodied, authentic and passionate way we need both masculine and feminine energies – the doing and acting of the masculine and the creativity, grace and receiving of the feminine. We may also need to learn how to hold or flow more energy in our bodies, to have control of the monkey mind and its random thoughts. And the masculine and feminine essence will have big differences in the way they manifest their intentions, their longings and inspirations, and handle or embrace their fears.

I am fascinated by the role in creative history of the artist and their muse.
Traditionally the artist (masculine) has an intention through their art, and themodel/nature/muse (feminine) fascinates and stimulates the artist to create. Similarly, we are each inspired by different forms, modalities, music, nature, muses.

This gives us the juice for our higher self intentions to create. Trust your muse. In my case I love relating between men and women, gathering shells on the beach, drawing in the sand, watching quirky TV series, learning about inner and outer life…….

Keep feeling and naming what really matters to you. Look deeper, feel more, trust more, ground more. Don’t be serious but be deadly serious. Play more and work harder. The appearance of effortless creating and inspiration is generally a process of practice and mastery over time.

Their may not yet be any evidence for one’s intention or inspiration – it is yet to be made real. It may be a dream, a whisper, an inkling. Inspiration is not ‘a should’… its what turns you on. It’s not about self improvement, but about the deep and individual realization of one ‘s part to play in the evolution of love and consciousness.

The power of a group of people holding ‘inspired certainty’ for each other is palpable. Through others, we may see ourselves more clearly.

Questions for Inquiry with self, with another or in a small group:

What has inspired or touched you today? A success, a poem, a person, inspirational writing, your children’s smile, a cloud formation……

What inspires/touches you about this/these?

What inspires/touches you in your life? What are you inspired/longing to create in life? What really matters to you? What are you passionate about?

What is your deepest fear? Rejection, being seen, failure, exhaustion……

What is the long-term cost for you of not living your higher self intention, of not trusting your inspiration, passion or yearning?

Taking risks, playing safe… both are good in balance – which one do you tend to favour? Which one do you tend to ignore?

 A Practice:

Give your gift extravagantly today in service to your higher self intention, your longing to give and move forward in life, your heart goals. This can be a big or small offering – just take the next step and see what happens….and I’d love to hear about your results in the comments below…….

with love

Cynthia

The post Inspiration and Intention, beyond fear. appeared first on Living Love | Relationship Workshops & Coaching for Intimacy, Connection & Growth.

Creativity is natural – we are constantly creating something – a meal, a job, a project, an evening out. Creativity is not just about art or music, its about our desire to bring things into existence. Its about feeling that wonderful sense of purpose, potential, focus, synchronicity and flow.

Creativity is a strength, and innovative minds are highly sought after in business and the arts.

Creative activity is also an antidote to some mental illness as it stimulates the frontal cortex of the brain, which is what helps counteract depression and anxiety. So if you are feeling blue or worried try doing something creative you enjoy, even doodling, writing in a journal or knitting will bring results.

As children we are curious and open, and its ok not to ‘know’,  ok to discover and explore the world around us. As we grow up its easy to lose that ability and grow cautious, self-doubting and even feel discouraged and disappointed. Our creative ability suffers and we begin to feel powerless or blocked or just losing our ‘mojo’.

To live a fully creative life we need to be courageous. It is a risk to offer our unique gifts in the world – projects or businesses can flop, we can make others jealous, family may be unsupportive, our finances uncertain. But most of all we need the courage to look at how we are holding ourselves back and not blame others or the circumstances.

We all know that feeling of being turned-on, tuned in and very alive. Doing what we love and receiving recognition and rewards. If only we could always feel that way! In reality life is constantly in creation and so are we. We create  jobs and relationships and art and sport, the list is endless….. Some things are easy to create and others we personally have difficulty manifesting. Why? Is it factors of upbringing, timing and ability? These are factors but even more important is our conditioning and beliefs that prevent us having and creating our heart goals. We may be great initiators and then have a pattern of self sabotage or critiquing our ideas before they can get a chance to grow, or self-doubt stops us getting off the starting block.

One thing I have observed over years, especially when I was making films, is that the creative pathways are as unique as there are people. One writer will work all day in office hours (usually men), while another will dream and muse and write in a café (usually women). There are masculine and feminine aspects to creativity and creating and each of us need to use different combinations of both these energies. The masculine moves outwards to create in a dynamic way while the feminine receives and magnetises the creation. Moving between these two essences at different stages of creating is helpful. Our culture emphasises the masculine dynamic methods and is ignoring the feminine receptive, intuitive, magical aspects of creating.

Creativity is like opening a window so the breeze can come in, or a bird. Creativity happens more easily when the mind is open and free of self-criticism. First we have to open the window, then allow what inspiration comes in. Discernment comes later in the creative process.

Want to get in touch with your creativity even further? Enjoy my free download: 10 ways to expand your creative potential.

love

Cynthia

The post Expand your Creative Potential appeared first on Living Love | Relationship Workshops & Coaching for Intimacy, Connection & Growth.

I daily juggle the art of living my feminine essence amidst this fast-paced life of responsibilities, plans, schedules and to-do lists. In this challenge, I am not alone. Living Love from the Feminine Heart is a lifelong transformation.

Mainstream culture will have us ‘soldier on’ and ignore our feelings. This doesn’t work. Recent statistics show that women are twice as likely as men to struggle with depression. I feel that a large factor behind this is that we do not value a woman’s ability to feel and not just think. Rationality is wonderful but it will not produce children, devotional love, creativity and intuitive knowing.

Life is creative and when we do what we love, and align our lives with our feminine heart vision, we have enormous energy and power. A river of creativity and feminine essence leads into creating and living a passionate life.

As women we do need to use our masculine energy to decide on goals and act on them, but we also need time to sit and muse, to dream, to dance, create and enjoy. This feeds the essence of woman, which can truly delight the world. And when we do this, the universe conspires to assist our dreams without us pushing and struggling. Effort is needed to create but this can be highly enjoyable.

The feminine in all of us – women and men – embraces the fullness of life and is loving, flowing, chaotic, alive, creative, devotional, earthy and inspiring. Can you feel or imagine the pleasure of tapping into your unique feminine essence and making magic happen in your life?

In my workshops for women, and in my own life, I see that we are deeply nurtured and enlivened by expressing our creativity. Whether it is writing a book, or choosing the right words for a birthday card. And we are especially happy when we are creating something that serves others – be it delicious meals for loved ones, or heading up an international philanthropic organizationn.

Our culture still predominantly rewards the masculine – the accolades and the big money are not given to nurturing child-care workers, who may not find a cure for cancer, but they make a child’s day a happy one. The feminist movement made substantial gains for women, and there are still barriers to equality to be overcome. But there is an ®evolution taking place, the loving, radiant, feminine essence of women needs to be honoured and cultivated.  It is vital that we embody and express our feminine qualities of caring, untamed wildness, healing, intuition, connectedness and creativity. Many women are exhausted and sick from pushing themselves to achieve, work and live as men do. The feminine body may not be made to plan, direct, challenge and lead. It doesn’t mean we can’t do those things really well, but if we do it exclusively we can become imbalanced or unhappy and miss the gifts and joys of being a woman.

Its time to stand up (or lie down, on that velvet couch), and fully be the woman we long to be – to honor our creativity, love and inspiring craziness, to live our lives from our feminine essence. This means firstly being receptive to our heart’s longings, feeling for what we want beyond survival or ego gratification, and then allowing it to be magnetized to us, to manifest in our lives. To create involves both doing and receiving.

But how do we discover our heart longings amidst our busy schedules, full workloads, caring for young children or aging parents? The most direct way is by allowing ourselves to truly feel, to inhabit the feeling realm of life, from which we can know what is deeply right for us, even if it makes no sense, is negated by the circumstances of your life and looks impossible.

Finding that trust in your heart may mean questioning the conditioned ideas we have taken on from our family and culture. Whose goals and values are we living out? Do they serve me and others right now? What is the real passion moving through me intuitively that attracts me, excites me and gives me the energy to overcome obstacles?

In my Living Love for Women workshops women connect to the depth of love in their heart and its expression through the body and in life. I help each woman move through any blocks and protections in the way of her uniquely passionate life dream. We create a culture of recognition and encouragement of the Feminine that is rare in our ‘neutral’ culture. In the company of openhearted women you are both accepted, nourished and inspired. I am always amazed at how perceptive and brilliant women are at supporting each other in being all they can be in life – and having fun in the process! A circle of women also can speed up the manifestation of a dream. The combined power of feminine life energy creates a synergy, a magical expansion.

The gifts of women are so alive and so ready to flow into the world, yet many of us are still hiding in the pain of unworthiness or fear of ‘not being good enough’, or of being ‘too much’. When we can see our beautiful selves reflected in the hearts of other women our light shines more brightly, false modesty drops away, and we are able to be fully magnificent.

As we come closer to our heart’s true longing to Live Love in service to our relationships, work and creativity we also start feeling more. As our layers of protection drop away we feel the bliss of expansion into Love’s true capacity.  And this opening often means feeling more of our past pains and hurts that have been buried. Whether we are new to this exploration or have done many years of growth work, it’s unavoidable that these buried feelings will gradually surface as you open as Love. They need to be felt and accepted, and will resolve as you move forward in attraction to what you Love and live the Love you already are.

Many women are confused about how to balance the demands of career and finances with their Feminine energy. When we use our masculine gifts in service to our feminine heart then a right alignment takes place. We trust our intuition, we care, we ask for support when we need it and let it in. We reach out for emotional connection when we feel alone. We align to Love beyond our changing moods, and re-align when we get lost.  We know ourselves as the ocean, deeper than the surface waves of our stress and emotions. We know ourselves as the Divine Feminine, as the source of life, a potent magical force. We don’t need to be perfect either, or not make mistakes, because life isn’t like that!

The Feminine is love and light. The shine of the world. One way many women are engaged in this light is through the art of adornment. More or less, we play with make-up, fashion, hair styling, body decoration. The art of adornment has become a commercial commodity and subject to manipulation but it has its roots in feminine spirituality, an enhancement of our love light. Changing the outer can help or even begin an inner transformation. You may wish to experiment with this by going to your wardrobe and finding that special something you just never wear, and wear it today, for ten minutes or ten hours. How do you feel in it?  Do you feel just a little more possibility of fulfilling your heart’s creative destiny? Of living passionately as the Feminine essence you already are?

Light also casts a shadow and as we evolve and open we are integrating our shadow aspects into light.  We do at times feel depressed, discouraged, jealous, protective, bitchy, selfish, revengeful and this needs to be recognized and accepted, and integrated into the  higher self and its gifts of love. Awareness, compassion, appreciation, humour all help us relax around our contractions and fears. When we bring these painful  feelings to ourselves and to others with humility and awareness they open doors of the heart long rusted closed. Accepting our ‘darker’ shadowy feminine aspects will release a lot of energy we can use for good.

How are you Living Love in your life right now? Many women have achieved great success in the  world with careers and wealth but feel that’s something is missing, they are often exhausted and wondering what its all for. Others have devoted themselves to relationships, children, or spiritual paths and are feeling frustrated that they haven’t found their full expression in the world, they know they somehow aren’t fulfilling their potential.  Look into your heart, and see what you have given up on, and why. When you have the answer, then see if you would like to re-choose it for your life. It may be a lost dream from childhood that holds the key to your unique creative path. It may be an expansion of an already amazing life, or simply enrolling in that dance class you are attracted to, choosing to forgive your ex, putting flowers in your hair, changing the world through your art. Think big and delight in the moment.

This emergence of the New Feminine in touch with her full self-expression, not afraid to love,  giving from fullness, surrendering, receiving and honoring the Masculine, is the way of the future. Its very personal and also cultural.  She is awakening and has many gifts to give. She can co-create a world that is excited about Living Love.

with love

Cynthia

The post Living Love from the Feminine Heart appeared first on Living Love | Relationship Workshops & Coaching for Intimacy, Connection & Growth.