They say never to move house with a baby. Well we have, twice in fact within a month. Well if you’re going to do something you might as well go the whole hog and 2012 is definately a year for going the whole hog!

Now happily ensconsed in Rose Cottage in the heart of the Chilterns the impact of ones’ immediate environment strikes me once again.

Opening my curtains to this view over hills and farmland and knowing that I can step out of our door and onto a bridleway lifts my spirits and gives me a sense of possibility that reminds me my heart is truly at home in the country.

Are you living and working in an environment that inspires you, gives you hope and feeds your soul? If not we’ve got a few spare packing boxes

From time to time each of us may be blighted by worries, unresolved thoughts that seem to linger in the recesses of the mind, making themselves more known in the quiet times when the activities of the day aren’t enough to occupy us.

At this time of year there is a remedy at hand that can help to bring a little calm and settle a hectic mind.

You’ve probably seen it in abundance, especially if you live in and around West London as many of our streets are  lined with it. I am of course referring to the horse chestnut trees which at this time of year are showing off their shining candles of flowers for any who pass by.

It is from the horse chestnut tree that Edward Bach brings us the white chestnut flower remedy, a powerful aid to peace and calm.

The white chestnut remedy can aid anyone caught in a cycle of circling, unwanted thoughts that seem to invade the mind. We may find these thoughts interrupt sleep, pull us off track in our daily lives and are a constant form of unrelenting anxiety turned inwards.

We can see the nature of the confusion, anxiety and twisted thinking in the gesture of the plant. From a little way off the flowers appear indistinct from each other, confused in themselves, the edges of the flowers ragged, the stamens curled and circling with wanton abandon. There is lots going on with this plant although no formality, order or set pattern. Even the bark is less than smooth showing an unsettled force beneath the surface.

With the Bach remedies white often symbolises peace and if we look at a horse chestnut tree in full bloom from a distance, we can clearly see the pillars of white candles as a beacon of light and peace, showing us the way to inner tranquility.

So if you are troubled with a barrage of unrelenting worries that prevent you from experiencing the inner stillness and tranquility that you desire, a few drops of white chestnut essence in water may help. If you don’t have any of the remedy to hand, just simply spending time with this magnificent tree can work wonders – that’s right folks it’s tree hugging time – enjoy!

Family Cairns have all ventured out on a 15 mile walk today, in my advanced state of pregnancy I declined and so have our rambling and quiet country pad to myself for the day.

There would have been a time when enforced solitude would have me searching high and low for any distraction going, particularly as someone with extrovert tendencies, but these days the prospect is blissful.

Perhaps it comes from a deeper sense of personal peace, I’m much happier in my own skin than I used to be. It got me thinking about the journey to this more peaceful place and what is it that enables me to be so much more comfortable here.

I live in the present moment far more than I ever used to. That’s not to say I don’t have goals and dreams for the future and I do spend time there, but the future of fear or worry gets a far more fleeting glance than it might have done previously, before my senses (or a gentle nudge from my husband) gets me back to where I belong..in the here and now.

I also let myself off the hook for past mistakes far quicker. Take the learning and move on was my mantra for some time when personal challenges and change seemed to bombard me with what I now frame as “opportunities for personal growth” aka bloody hard times!

I live consciously and deliberately through each of my senses, smelling, hearing, tasting and embracing the world moment by moment. Seeing it in all its glorious technicolour detail as a living breathing work of art. Being anchored in my body and in sensory experience, much like a young child is, keeps one firmly in the present moment. It means that we notice so much more of the world around us. When we notice with genuine curiosity and interest we can appreciate just what a gift the present is.

I am also far more accepting of myself, my perceived limitations, my sometimes controversial beliefs and my alternative (to some) view of life. I can genuinely appreciate that I am doing the best that I can whatever the circumstances. Even if my best changes from moment to moment, from day to day – depending on how resourceful or healthy I feel at any given moment. This is a huge liberator from the gloomy cloud of feeling never quite good enough that would darken my earlier days.

I know what I stand for and what’s really important to me and then I give myself the freedom to make those things the priority in my life. The sense of personal congruence that comes from this is incomparable to the divided conflicted self that might occasionally rear her head.

So if being in your own skin isn’t as easy a place as you’d like it to be perhaps there’s a few nuggets there of use.

The end of March saw me back in the stunning setting of the vale of Evesham leading another Retreat and what a magical and joy filled weekend it was.

Spring had most definitely sprung and the carpet of happy daffodils around our home for the weekend was a truly welcome sight.

By the time our guests arrived on Friday evening there was a stunning sunset to greet them and we sipped our tea on the balcony and started to slow down the pace of life…not hard to do here I can tell you.

The primary focus of our weekend was awakening our hearts to reconnect with our authentic selves and the joy of life and what a lovely group of guests we had that made the process so easy.

To explore our true selves and what inspired us we used the ever popular medium of vision boarding in our intuitive art session.  I was in awe and delighted with the beautiful and authentic pieces that the retreatants were able to create in the workshop. Im only sorry I didn’t take photos of them all.

We enjoyed meditations and energy medicine sessions and the weather stayed kind to us all weekend so we were able to make use of the fabulous balcony. A great spot for our movement meditation on Sunday morning.

So much of the learning and insight on these weekends is gained through the incidental conversations between guests that always end up being far more significant that you might first expect. This group in particular shared a lovely bond and it was a real honour to witness such openness and sharing of stories.

Breakfast provided the setting for many a lively discussion and talk of recent theatre trips amongst other things had us hooting with laughter! (Girls if you’re reading this you’ll know what I mean and I shall say no more…)

To really get the most from a retreat it’s important to strike just the right balance between stimulation for the mind, relaxation and healing for the body,  and space for stillness and contemplation.

Our group threw themselves with gusto into all the activities and were so supportive of each other it was a real privilege to be part of it. Our workshops focused on exploring our deeper values, accessing different aspects of our body wisdom and utilising 3 states of consciousness which prompted some great light-bulb moments.

I was very pleased to be able to offer 121 sessions for each guest and after Mike had reshuffled the furniture (I pleaded pregnancy and couldn’t possibly lift the table :)) the breakfast room became the perfect setting for the massage, Reiki, Bach Flowers and coaching consultations. Those not being pampered with their feet up could enjoy time to themselves with a cuppa and cake or for the more adventurous a brisk hike over the hills was in order.

A significant part of our retreat experience that is worth a mention in it’s own right is the food. Food made with love and care and the right nutritional balance is a healing modality in itself and we were all feeling the benefits.  I’ll be blogging separately about the delights that our fabulous cook  Kate provided for us. Her passion and skill rekindled not only taste buds but inspired many of our guests to start cooking more for themselves. She’s even promised to let me have some recipies to share so watch this space for a healthy lemon cake to die for and baked feta, a favourite recipe from Kate’s beloved Crete.

So more to come about the retreat soon but for now I’ll send a big thank you to all the talented and inspirational women who came along this time round and of course to Kate and Mike without whom none of this wonderful work would have been possible. I’ll leave you with a few words from some of the guests and a feeling of growing excitement knowing I’ll be back at the Guildhouse with another group in November.

“Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend. What a real treat – you really made us all feel so special and cared for. Such a wonderful nurturing environment and such wonderful people. I really feel blessed to have been a part of it.”

“A huge thank you also for making the weekend such a lovely experience, from start to finish.  You truly are a special person with so many gifts that you share so generously.  Thank you also to Kate and Mike: an army marches on its stomach and all that ”

I wouldn’t normally post holiday pics on the blog, but the scenery where we are in the Cotswolds this week is so stunning, i’m doing so under the guise of inspiration

And inspired we certainly have been. Both Mike and I have resepctive writing projects on the go and there really is nothing like expansive views, the flowers of spring and clear bright mornings to get the wordweaving juices flowing.

The place where we are staying has a south facing garden on 40 acres and we are visited daily by the cows, sheep and horse.

A Cairns holiday is never a sedentry affair…

Pa has us hiking the hills at a brisk pace but the views are worth the climb.

The fields are full of wild flowers – I feel a little Julie Andrews I must say. If it weren’t for a rather large baby bump i’d no doubt be running through the fields in full song…honest!

Of course all writers need quality sustenance and my mother in law has a knack like no other of finding tea shops at just the right time on our family hikes.

Cake does taste better after a route march across the gloucestershire hills.

Even the shop fronts in the chocolate-box Cotswold villages spark imagination.

At the end of a tranquil but equally productive day, we fall asleep to the densest silence imaginable. Its a real blessing to be away from the ambient light of the big smoke and to see the stars for a change. Dawn chorus is the only alarm clock one needs here and what a blissful awakening it is!

I’ve long used vision boards in my work, not only to help manifest personal goals but to help clients achieve clarity over their values, aspirations and life direction. More recently I’ve been inspired by the fabulous mood boards created by Fi Humberstone and her team at Flourish to explore different aspects of my business. (See how Fiona uses mood-boards in her work with colour psychology on the Flourish blog)

As you may already know, we are going through an exciting time of change in the Cairns household. This week marks the start of my maternity leave and a couple of weeks in the Cotswold’s with our extended family, is such a blissful way to start the transition to motherhood.

With any life change there undoubtedly comes a shift in identity and an integration of new aspects of self, priorities shift and perspectives change. For me the simple, creative and visual way of marking this transition with a vision board has been a really joyful thing to do. I thought you might like to see the results.

 I’m a mad fan of notebooks and Mike often has to steer me forcefully away from stationery shops lest I add to my collection. They feature on the vision board as this is a time for reflection, for writing projects to come to fruition and for journaling. I’ve started a book to our daughter which I hope won’t be too cringe worthy when she comes to read it later in life.

Openness is so important for me in family life. I am lucky enough to have a husband that totally accepts me, with all my quirks and failings and gives me the freedom to be open with my feelings, my hopes, my dreams and fears. If I can maintain this way of being with our daughter I hope it will sow good seeds for the years to come when open and honest lines of communication will be vital…mums of teenagers I know you can sympathise

 You’ll notice the tea tray…it’s not because I’m hoping that Mike will be bringing me breakfast in bed while I lounge and nurse my little one (although if you’re reading this darling, you’ll get no complaints ) It’s to remind me of the aspect of service that runs through my life.

Finding joyful ways to serve lies at the heart of Amovita and I’m looking forward to continuing this with my family at the heart of it. The Eat Pray Love is a reminder, not of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, although it is a wonderful read, but to keep myself topped up so that I can give from a place of willing service and not resentment.

Food for the mind body and soul are so important. Connection to something deeper than just ourselves and an openness of heart bring a profound and magical quality to our service that for me is so important.

The daffodils at the bottom are an ode to my own dear mum (she loved them!). She passed away two years ago and it hasn’t escaped me that the anniversary of her passing is when our little one is due – nature and life are full of these perfect cycles.

and the best mum bit…well we live in hope…

A personality guaranteed to light up any networking event is the lovely Helen Astrid.

Helen is an international opera singer who has just helped raise £80,000 for comic relief with her velvet operatic tones in a sensational evening at London’s prestigious ‘Cafe de Paris’. Helen was joined by award-winning conductor, Charlie Hazlewood, Harry the Piano and Alexander Arsmstrong. A star-studded audience filled the legendary venue for this annual worthiest of causes.

Helen made her debut at English National Opera in a rare opera by Delius and further engagements followed including Garsington Opera, Batignano Festival and several appearances with the Chelsea Opera Group at the Southbank. She also appeared in Andrew-Lloyd Webber’s hit musical ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and sang in Strauss’s ‘Die Aygyptische Helene’ for which she received outstanding reviews worldwide.

One of the things that makes Helen a natural netwalker is her passion for sharing her love of singing. She teaches from her home in the quiet oasis of Strawberry Hill, Middlesex.

Helen says ” Singing has the power to uplift the soul, and as your spirit soars your health benefits too, whether you warble in the shower or sing along to mass chanting at football matches.”

As well as offering individual tuition Helen also runs workshops. Her next one on Saturday 14th May is entitled  ’Classical Singing for Female Voices’  and will be at the beautifully renovated Pope’s Grotto Hotel on Cross Deep, TW1 4RB.

She is also author of  ’Singing Tips at your Finger Tips’. Interspersed with facts and quotes from famous people such as Pavarotti and Madonna, this book will unleash and transform your voice to its greatest potential, giving you a tip for every day of the year. As a recognised expert in her field, Helen regularly appears on TV and radio, most recently on BBC1 News and BBC Sunday Live.

If you’re up for some in-depth coaching on your arias and would like to gain some confidence performing in front of others, then do please contact Helen. More details are on her website www.thehelenastridsingingacademy.com

A final note from Helen ”I know that singing keeps me fit but I also adore walking; especially without having to carry a handbag or shopping! Roll on the next Netwalking event!”

It’s not uncommon, many of us have this often unacknowledged expectation that once we have been imbibed with that magical get-up-and-go that it should be with us ad-infinitum.

The realisation that it’s got-up-and-gone can often leave you feeling worse than before. Particularly if you have a creative project or important goal which you were relying on this energy and drive to bring to fruition.

It’s at times like these when it can be useful to remember that tapping into the flow of inspiration is a daily practice, not a one hit wonder. Whilst wonderful adventures in self development can bring us the necessary paradigm shifts to take us to new levels of thinking and being, what it comes down to in the end is making a daily choice.

When we take ownership of our own state of flow and creativity, the pursuit of inspiration can become a joyful obsession.

There are so many things that inspire me. I love photography, both the act of capturing a moment and appreciating other’s perspective on the world. A photograph as art gives a unique window into the spirit of another person, both the subject – it it’s a well taken portrait, and the photographer.

If I want to enjoy a truly unique view and be inspired to develop my own photography I’ll stop by to admire the work of my friend Stephen. He has a real passion for his art that I think really brings it to life and has the ability to notice those things that most of us would simply walk on by.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/cotterell

My own photography is a decidedly more humble offering. For me it’s less about the end result and more about the fact that, with a camera in hand, I open up even more completely to the wonders of the world around me.

Photography brings me fully and profoundly into an appreciation of the present moment and from that moment inspiration flows unhindered.

When I want to be inspired in my business I will regularly dip in and out of blogs – how ever did we cope with out them?

In particular I can always rely on finding a treasure trove of creative stimulation on Fiona Humberstones Flourishing blog. In fact her recent post on what inspires her, helped spark the writing of this post (thanks Fi).

So what is inspiring you today? and if you don’t know get out there and find it…you wont be disappointed!

Thanks to the technical know-how of Stu at Flourish, i’m now able to share with you the pod cast from last months Brooklands radio interview.

The lovely Sam New-Fielding and I spoke about Authenticity, do let me know what you think. Would you like to hear more, or should I be sticking to the printed word?

Access the Authentic Living Podcast here

When it’s a gorgeous crisp and sunny day like this though it’s hard not to feel good, to be caught up in the wave of possibility, new growth and excitement that arrives with the coming of Spring.

At any time we can take a moment to review and assess how we are, to see how we measure up against our potential, our expectations, our goals and dreams. Monday’s in particular give us a great opportunity for a fresh start and to raise the bar, particularly if it is the beginning of a new working week for you.

Rather than this week being one that just blends into all the others, how could you go about making it something extra special?

Remind yourself of where you are headed in the long term. Elevating yourself from the detail of the to do list periodically and getting a clear view of the bigger picture is essential to keep us on track. What are you doing all this for? Where are you headed? What’s important to you about getting there? Reminding you about the benefits of your end goal – particularly if it’s a long way off, will help no end with the daily motivation needed to get there.

Think Bigger. If you were to pull out all the stops (whatever that means for you) what would be possible for you to achieve this week? What would need to change to facilitate it?

Liberate yourself from the should do’s. If you’re going to refocus on the really important stuff, something will probably have to go. What’s on the to-do list that can be deleted, delegated or delayed in order to make way for the bigger, more exciting, more challenging stuff?

Set a focused intention. Ask yourself how do I want to be today and this week. What are the qualities that I can call forth to make what I want to achieve more possible?

Through the eyes of a child. I love watching kids at play, they have a unique gift of finding the fun in everything, they have boundless curiosity and a wonderful sense of adventure.  Shifting your mindset to one of finding the fun, joy and creativity in each activity can elevate even the most challenging tasks to ones that feed your motivation and raise your energy. How can you make each moment more enjoyable?

Don’t wait to make life all that it can be – Carpe-Diem! Make a change! Get out there and enjoy the Spring.