This month our community member, Marieke Meischke, will facilitate a conversation intended to catalyze self-discovery, emotional self-awareness and empowerment. As always, we come together with the intention to cultivate self-awareness and inner wisdom, and to explore the nuances and vulnerability of our human experience in community.
“I was first hesitating to join the Red Tent since I haven’t been feeling comfortable being a woman and being among groups of women. But it came to me at the right time in my life and now, also due to Jennifer’s wonderful guidance, I enjoy it immensely. Surrendering in a safe situation with the kindness and protection of other women; it is relaxing and healing for me, especially since I recently divorced after a very unexpected and complex turn in my marriage.”
“I read the book Embracing Your Inner Critic; Turning Self Criticism into a Creative Asset during a short trip to Tel Aviv in which I forgot my phone at home. It gave me the focus (no distraction) to get into it very deeply, and I realized how powerful this topic is, and how powerful it can be in transforming our suffering - embracing the obstacles we face again and again. I use what I learned also with my music students and they are really interested in it. They write about it with great inspiration. It is so recognizable for everyone, at every age.”
Marieke realized that she had been sabotaging many dreams and desires in her life, ending up frustrated, and making the ‘wrong’ decisions when it came to important choices, like connecting to a life partner. “I chose relationships that undermined me rather than supported me.”
On the evening of the dark moon in February, Marieke will share about her journey with Voice Dialogue, and how she began a conversation with her inner critic – creating an ally instead of an enemy. She will facilitate an experience in our circle to demonstrate how, with this method, Voice Dialogue, we can support ourselves to become more independent and free.
‘On the journey of self-discovery, let’s stop looking for what is wrong with us. Let us discover, instead, who we are and how we work! Let us separate from our judgments as we explore the amazing system of selves within us, and learn to live our lives with ever-increasing honesty, choice, and freedom.’
- Hal and Sidra Stone, authors of Embracing Your Inner Critic; Turning Criticism Into A Creative Asset
You are cordially invited to join us in our meditations, conversations, and self-care rituals in the Red Tent. Our community is warm, welcoming and diverse; we love to dance, sing, and laugh together; and our conversations are always inspiring and deeply touching. ❤️
Meet Marieke:
She turned 56 years vibrant, gorgeous and wise on Valentines day!
She was raised with a lot of music (classical, jazz, pop), and this has always been the guideline and lifeline for her. Inspired by Joni Mitchell, she became a lyricist, although she has been writing journals, letters and poetry since she learned to write. Communicating on paper felt more safe than talking with people. She does freelance work as a festival organizer and as a coach/teacher at a music conservatory. With her students she explores the art of the spoken word, lyrics, and coping with life as a creative person.
Marieke has also been caretaking for 12 years. She recently wrote a novel based on a true story with an ALS patient she works with since 5 years. Together they are currently doing readings about the topic of surviving the world of medicine and caretaking when being chronically or lethally ill.
Though all of this is challenging and quite fulfilling for Marieke, it can also be quite stressful, especially running the festivals. Yoga and meditation keep her in balance; running or walking in the woods keep her strong and connected to nature.
Co-leading with Marieke will be another pillar of our community, Katy Hart. Originally from Iran, she has lived almost 20 years in Holland.
“As women, although we have our differences, we also share many similar experiences, like our menstrual cycle. In this fast modern world we have all been pushed to favor our masculine aspects, and that has caused a lot of stress for many of us. I was drawn to study and explore feminine energy and have done so in depth for the last two years, and I am now living more consciously in my femininity. I have experienced many transformations and a whole new life taking shape around me. Through this I discovered the precious Red Tent! I needed a circle of women around me to find out more about me – amazingly, something shifts within me every single time we gather in our sacred Red Tent and share our ❤s while feeling safe, thanks to lovely Jennifer. I have stepped up to take the lead while she is not in Holland and to be part of a team of co-leaders among our lovely sisters to keep the lights of our Red Tent on. We all love it. I am so grateful to Jennifer and you, ladies, for your trust and faith in me and that gives me more courage to step into the unknown and host the Red Tent for the first time together with lovely Marieke ... I am excited about it and so thankful for the support of Jennifer who has dedicated her heart to the Red Tent. Love, Katy”
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