Newsletter

Coaching

Increasing, my coaching clients (personal and business) are choosing to take some time in nature. The felt realisation that nature offers us new perspectives is a frequent occurrence and feelings of internal satisfaction increase. Its been a great Summer for this work, and we've been "lucky" and not had rain during sessions, but remember one of the lessons of nature is that we can't control everything, and fighting against "what is" makes us feel worse not better!  Developing the resilience and mindset to be in charge of ourselves, on the otherhand, creates a robust and flexible way of being throughout our life.

Autumn is a fine time to be outdoors, and the Ashdown Forest where I often work is, I think at its best in the Autumn. It looks like it might be a great year for fungi, which adds wonder to the rich experience of walking in the golden and rust hues of the iron-rich heathland.

For clients beyond Sussex: home  or office visits and outdoor sessions near your home or office are possible. Privately paying customers can work in rooms near Hampstead Heath, or for less private work, a quiet corner of a hotel lounge, for example, the Charing Cross Hotel, London. just ask! 

Not For Profit

I am spending much of August /September getting started on a Not for Profit organisation, the Wild Heart Foundation, working with previously disadvantaged South Africans and conservation. I hope to have this registered by late Autumn, with the website up and running. Watch out for the statement of purpose! My aim is to build a small strong organisation to train up local people in KwaZuluNatal to train others and develop their confidence, training and leadership capacity, facilitating the integration of the work into traditional culture in whatever way that works locally. I aim to work across generations (and with a wealth of experience working with alsorts of children I am well placed to do this) and cultures, facilitating depth understanding and relating. Ultimately the aim is for the  Wild Heart Foundation to be run by locals for locals in KwaZuluNatal.

There will be a business model, based on taking my work and the work of a core of colleagues into businesses in South Africa, building capacity, deepening and improving relationships and communications, and developing management and leadership skills.I hope to raise money through businesses  to put into the Wild Heart Foundation. 

Any of you with an interest who would like to help or, better, join in in any way PLEASE get in touch!!  I am seeking to build a core group to further the work and spread the word, and I welcome enquires from the UK and SA. Help in donations of money, time and services are all welcome, and last but not least,  help in practising my Zulu!.

Profit from the Wild Heart personal development programmes with their heart in the iMfolosi wilderness, KZN, will go towards the work of the Wild Heart Foundation, and I will use the programmes to raise awareness of the work of the charity. PLEASE see the latest version, going out in November 2009, or ask me for details. PLACES ON THE NOVEMBER PROGRAMME AVAILABLE AT COST IN RETURN FOR HELP TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE WORK. Click here: Southern Africa:Luxury holidays and raw wilderness experiences

Bespoke corporate versions, incredibly inspirational, available on request, 10% of profit will got to the Wild Heart Foundation.Please ask for testimonials from previous corporate participants of nature based corparte programmes. The work in the wild reaches places other courses just don't get to, and provides powerful and susatinable learning for all, especially top talent!

A Day in the iMfolosi Wilderness, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa

Waking with the earth, I stir deliciously slowly. The still cool air reverberates with promise. I feel gentle excitement. Lapping and plopping, the river carries the message that regular visitors are refreshing themselves in its it soft shallow water: five years of drought have left scars. I feel the coarse grass in my hands as I half turn on my sleeping mat and push my fingers hard onto the burned reddish earth and drink in the pungency of the bush.

Quiet and slow I rise- ngivuka in the language of those this land was once home to. I feel serene, a serenity born of being in this moment wild-heart, part of nature, seeking to thrive and respond, not control and exploit.

Tuning in to human murmurs I mosey over to the fire at the centre of our intimate group. Peacefully we stoke the flames with sweet camphor and other wood, take our early morning teas and coffees, making contact with each other and the bush.

 A rhythmic thudding startles us still as rock. A lone impala runs for her life down the narrow trail towards the river, a wild dog at her heels, bright lit in the rising sun. A snap-shot image lingers, her muscles taut, her upright posture straining for life, head neck and eyes stiff with fear. The dog vibrant with colour and life, easy with the pace.

 As sudden as our shocked stillness, we four turn and dash through scrub to the rocks overlooking the river, oblivious to thorns. Transfixed, one with the rock, we assimilate only slowly the breaking of flesh, the simultaneous taking and relinquishing of life. Each of us trance like in our own thoughts.

Ambivalent about missing the instant of capture, I experience inner tussle. Wanting to face the truth, the killing, the death, and yet feeling softness and sorrow for a life taken violently and after sustained fear. Simultaneously feeling grateful that the wild dog has nourishment for his day, and revelling in his wildness, his freedom to be. The same freedom that allowed the death of the impala. I absorb the contradictions and feel eternally grateful for this wilderness for offering up her lessons so richly.

 Like gentle water drops in the moment they form a puddle, the realisation seems to form in us at one time: the others! They will want to be a part of this. We gather the seven of us and quieten; yet the trance has gone and we are every-day again.

 A movement in the bush to the right fast shows us its maker- a lone hyena homes in on the kill and in seconds the wild dog has been run off, the hyena takes her fill. Hardly have I begun to marvel at her strength, the beauty of her spots and her coat in excellent condition ( I am an admirer of hyena, and have a soft-spot for this intelligent hunter and scavenger) than I am aware of whispers and tension at my side. Mandla, our leader, and the three fit young lads of our group sprint down the scrubby hillside guided by the wisdom and instinctual intelligence born of a lifetime in the bush (this is something I wouldn’t normally recommend!)  and chase off the lone hyena to become scavengers in their turn. Cutting just enough flesh for our dinner, the four return, maybe following in the footsteps of our ancestors who surely scavenged as well as hunted. The hyena, lurking nearby, slopped back to reclaim her spoils.

The warm flesh and bloody hands are salutary, and as we stash the meat safely for the day we are thoughtful.

Walking quietly, we move through the day, the bush communing with us through heat, smells and experience, the little sequence playing in our minds and hearts.

According to the rhythm of the day, at dusk, the fire warming the cooling air, we come together to prepare our meal. Mandla knows well how to season the impala flesh: old meat needs tenderising.

I don’t want to take a share but I do. I eat meat and I feel a need to be prepared to kill for my supper. This is as near as I have got so far. Full of conflicting emotion and  ethical questions, I eat. The meat is tough and strong. I don’t like it, but out of respect for the inpala I eat it all.

 COPYRIGHT Paulina Slater 2009 Experience 2007

Wellbeing Walks

For organisations with staff living in East Sussex or West Kent: Something you may like to direct your wellbeing department to:

Being in nature enables us to be more in touch with our wild, authentic self. In this uncertain, materialistic and faced paced world, being in nature helps us to slow down and re-connect with ourselves, with others and with the earth. If we listen long enough we begin to access a deeper wisdom that helps us to steer ourselves and our families or teams through the wilderness of modern life. We re-establish our sense of spiritual wellbeing, of value and purpose.

The “walks” will be short walks of about a couple of hours, usually set in the beautiful Wealden countryside of East Sussex and West Kent. We will walk at a leisurely pace stopping often to give our senses a chance to take in aspects of nature. One-one as we walk, or as a group, facilitated time will be available to reflect on and deepen our experience and explore the implication for our lives. Please ask!

The ground is rough and can be wet, so appropriate footwear and clothing is needed. Please note you will be responsible for your own safety.

We can follow up over tea and coffee in nearby pubs or cafes.

Walks are held once a month, the next dates are:Saturday 5th September, Ashdown Forest, meeting at the Goat car park on Priory Road, about 2-2.5 miles from Forest Row in one direction and a mile and a half from Sharpethorne in the other direction. Please leave me a message to let you know you are coming with your contact details in case of alteration; I will  check in with you just before the walk.

Sunday 11th October TBA, probably Nutley

Cost, £5 per walk. Meeting at 2.30pm. Please contact Paulina for details

"Being in nature helped me to gain a different perspective and to calm down under pressure”

"I feel nature had a huge impact as it made me focus on things that are really important and vital and loose petty concerns from the picture. It also reminded me of strength that I have as a (physical) being, that I can always use to my advantage.”