Flourish

A funny and not so funny thing happened our first Spring on the farm. That was the Spring before last.  

As you know, we are creating a faulty and real paradise here at Arapito Farm on The North Island of New Zealand. 6 Hectares of barren land is currently being transformed. So much work...and today, so much rain! This project, and the related paradise making, fits seamlessly with the philosophies and the kinds of interests that have been lifelong for me, as both a coach and creative woman. 

Backwards is Forwards

As a small child, the sensory realm was my realm of respite from an otherwise difficult world. My life was fuelled by early trauma intermingled with an incredibly beautiful exposure and introduction to the arts, the classics, philosophy, science and nature. So much good in my background. So much bad.

Back then too, the experience of pungent scents and perfumed flowers, of high brill chromacy and the act of creating, were the saving graces that led me into another day.

There was magic to be had - out in the garden, in nature; the jewel drips of the wisteria by the tap, the chrysalis, a praying mantis on an oleander leaf, the heralding trumpet of the morning glory flower tangling its way around the old garage, the heady perfume of the frangipani tree as we careened around the corner of the house and up the side driveway playing chasings.

There was magic to be had too, when, every morning, I opened my drawer before leaving for school, to smell the wonderful lavender pouch my Granny from Guildford had given me for my birthday. It was a pretty lavender filled heart - embroidered and very feminine and it felt like it held all the love in the world inside it - just for me. When people were too scary, love became "things."

Which brings me to lavender here on Arapito Farm. And the delights of it!

The Lavender Seedlings

Both Brett and I are aware that all creation is in some form re-creation and destruction, and that the farm we are making is both a move forward and a simultaneous return to halcyon moments that were our anchors in otherwise trialling times. Creation in this sense therefore exists outside of (or perhaps beyond) the usual conceptions of space-time. It also involves disaster and mess and chaos - and the farm here? Well, it improves incrementally and is often simultaneously in a state of transitional chaos and mess!

Such is the way of creating and change. How gorgeous!!

And that brings me to the story of the lavender seedlings - all 500 of them (like the 1000 hydrangeas.)

Spring before last, we planted them either side of the race we look out onto from our back verandah doors. The race cuts through several paddocks - now beautifully post-and-railed. It is the little stock road that allows for movement of sheep and cattle from organic pasture to the yards, for veterinary attention, for issues and for sale to other lifestyle block owners who will enjoy their beauty etc. 

We planted the lavender in perfect sandy loam soil along this race. It is a long race by susburban standards. Not big by big farm standards. But big enough to mean a lot of work.

Long straight rows. Of lavender. Beautiful in the breeze, and in the dusk of a summer evening.

We selected the variety - a tall and wispy type that would rustle and move elegantly in the breeze and lean fast in the the Southern Winds. 

Woo-Hoo we thought, this fast-draining, volcanic soil will be just perfect for our beautiful lavender bushes. 

I imagined them well established the following season, bursting forth in violet and purple sprays against the green. It would look SPECTACULAR! Just fabulous!

We tended to them and kept an eye on them. They were settling in well and all looked good. 

Very good.

Couldn't have gone better....

Until one morning we woke to find every single one topped over, ripped out or simply gone from the planting sites we'd carefully mapped out for them. 

Gone. Finito Destroyed.

Unbeknownst to us, the sheep had tipped the latch on one of the paddock gates in the night, and had set about eating and ripping up my beautiful lavender seedlings in a matter of hours. What had taken hours to plant, was chaotically destroyed in the blink of an eye. One day there, and the next, completely gone. 

Rolling With Thunder

I was less than impressed.

In fact I was livid at the time, and was well aware my reaction far outstripped the issue at hand. I wanted to get rid of the sheep, send them to the slaughterhouse NOW, banish them forever and then forever more and I railed and swore when i walked past them, as any good lavender loving woman would do. 

I took me days to calm down. 

And it took me days to fully absorb the import and brilliance of what had transpired. 

What had happened? 

I HAD ALLOWED MYSELF TO FULLY ROLL WITH THE THUNDER.

What do I exactly mean by that?

Why is it important, as a woman over 40+, to learn ways to roll with the thunder?

What does it mean? What does it mean if you don't know how to? What are the ramifications of that?

You may have an inkling of what I mean or you may be in the dark.

Learning HOW to fully roll with the thunder will allow you to FLOURISH. 

Yes. Ask me about it. 

Find Out More

If you do want to find out more...if you are inquisitive about exploring new ways of living your one true life as a woman or man over 40+ (over 45 and over 55 and 65 too), of learning about rolling with the thunder and FLOURISHING, then book in for a Discovery Call with me. 

We can talk about How to really roll with the thunder and a whole lot more and you might even want to ask me a few questions about your path forward, about creating, about learning how to make change and how to unravel some of the stuff that's STILL holding you back. 

You can also test the waters in our free fortnightly zooms (Thursdays in NZ and Australia and Wednesdays in Canada and UK)

The zooms are for all women to really see what's on offer from Camilla Slater in a private and safe Zoom setting:  Register for our Free Fortnightly Zoom Discussions where you get a gorgeous taste of what's on offer

And here is that Discovery Session link again....A private and free 30 min discovery conversation might be the best way to go. Real, clear and very helpful: Book in for a Free Discovery Call here

Already decided and know you are ready and willing to commit and take action? Book in For Your Elite Super 5 Coaching Package here

Ok, that's a wrap. 

Take care and much love always,

from Camilla x