Body like the mountain,
heart like the ocean,
mind like the sky.
- Dogen
Those of you who have worked with me over the years know that I anchor my practice around the three centers of intelligence. Learning to inhabit and embody these centers is an ever growing capacity and inner resource that I cultivate daily. Each center holds within it physical, energetic and emotional gifts and acts as a doorway to greater depth, insight and self knowing.
I have been delighted to discover the cross cultural acknowledgment of the three centers. Known in the Daoist tradition as the Dantiens, within the psycho-spiritual map of the Enneagram they are known as the centers of intelligence, and in my own Celtic lineage they are referred to as the three cauldrons.
I am excited to teach about these centers in greater depth through a 4 week experiential course. Through theory, practice, and creative exploration calling on symbol, image and metaphor participants will forge their own unique relationship with their three centers. Opening to ways of knowing and being in the world that support our creative and relational capacities.
Included in the price of the course is one hour long mentorship session with me to support your integration of the teachings.
Week 1
The power of three.
Thursday May 19
7-8:30pm
An introduction to the three centers giving context and perspective along with the overlapping physical, energetic and emotional teachings within each center. Mapping the connections between the nervous system, subtle body and emotional body to bring more depth of understanding during our course.
Week 2
Body like the mountain: the belly center
Thursday May 26
7-8:30pm
Exploring themes, images and metaphors related to this center.
The element of earth, boundaries, somatic intelligence, the sacred NO and full belly YES. Instinctual energy, sexual and creative energy and our relationship to the belly/ lower body.
Discussion, journaling and meditative practice in each session.
Week 3
Heart like the ocean: the heart center
Thursday June 2
7-8:30pm
Exploring themes, images and metaphors related to this center.
The element of water. Grief, love, identity and image and relational intelligence.
How can we be with the immensity of the human experience, how do we nourish the heart? Discussion, journaling and meditative practice in each session.
Week 4
Mind like the sky: the head center
Thursday June 9
7-8:30pm
Exploring themes, images and metaphors related to this center.
Mind training, clairvoyance, claircognizance, direct knowing. How to hold complexity, nuance, and multiplicity. Discussion, journaling and meditative practice in each session.
Requirements
This will be a very small and intimate group of 4-6 people maximum. The classes will be 90 minutes in length and will be held over zoom. You will have access to the course for 1 month after the course completes. Due to the intimate nature of the group I'm asking for live attendance to the calls and cameras on. Of course, life happens and we sometimes must unexpectedly shift but I ask that you come with the intention and commitment to attend all 4 sessions live.Only folks who have previously worked with me in some capacity are able to register and I also ask that you are fairly resourced with support. This course is not appropriate if you are currently in crisis and in immense overwhelm. Participants must feel capable of doing inner reflection and practice. I also ask that participants commit to 10 minutes of practice daily while in the course and participate in the creative ritual homework which is an additional 20-30 minutes per week.This course is not a substitute for therapy and so I would like you to have a support system in place beyond this group.
Please email me at info@carlyforest.com if you're interested in joining. Please do not send an e-transfer until you've received acceptance into the course from me. Thank you!
Investment
Sliding scale $450-$520.
Please inquire with me if you need payment plan options.
Refunds will be possible until May 5th, minus a $20 administrative fee. Refunds after May 5th only if someone is able to fill your spot and with a $20 administration fee. Due to the intimate nature of the group, refunds will not be possible once the course has begun.
"What is it that we've readily considered the location of our intelligence? This might seem like a silly question, because it's easy to recall the definition we've been taught since grade school; but let's revisit this. Instead of defining intelligence as something located solely in our brains, in that grey matter that thinks, sitting on top of our heads, let's consider this definition:
A masterful controller of a nervous system; a network of neurons that captures and processes information(as some kind of meaningful data), and one that intricately interacts with energy.
With this working definition, our consideration expands. While we know well of the processing center that's located in our heads, our mental capacities, two other such processing networks- networks of neurons- have been found to exist and are located in the body. One of these networks is in and around the heart. And the other of these neuronal networks is located in the intestines."
-David Daniels MD