Passion Is A Project

4/25/24

I've got passion burning in my bones! I have so much that I want to share and so many ideas that I want to explore. But… I can’t do it alone. I, like the rest of us, need community to bring the concepts into reality. I have two current support groups that I feel must happen ASAP…like NOW.

One is the “Wounds To Wisdom Workshop” and Support Group. In this group, I want to tackle the BIG “No Way” topic of suicide, why we don’t talk about, how not talking about it is killing people, and provide tools via our network of practitioners that will be co-host the workshop as well as the community members that have come out of the wood work to share how they’ve managed.

I’m laying out the syllabus for a Practitioners Sharing Circle where we’ll plan out the “Wounds To Wisdom Workshop” and ongoing support. I really want this to happen in the next 30 days.

The other support group is for those that have been drug through court proceedings to get one more chance to see their kid(s), one more weekend, one more summer. The pressure and stress is so real. The shame, the blame, and all that unfair court game. We have narcissistic sociopathic leaders in place that are supporting the acts of abusive partners and parents because these are the new norms being established.

I went through it for eight years. I was/am a sober parent with all the love and support for my children. But according to my ex… I was everything I’ve never been. And, unfortunately, I know a handful of other amazing people going through the same process.

I looked for support while I was in the thick of it and didn’t find anything. That’s why it’s really important to me to provide a space for those that are suffering through these proceedings. I felt isolated and ashamed. I want you to know that whatever you feel I can hold space for it. I can hold space for rage, sorrow, grief, joy, desperation, hope…all of it. I want to be a rock for you to come to.

Other passions that are unfolding:

I just became an Ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church. I made this choice for a number of reasons. I can now hold a safe and sacred space for a broader range of topics and activities including ceremonies. I can also put together a 501(c)3 and establish the healing and learning center that I’ve been dreaming of for 20 years. Having written more that 21 million in USDA grants alone, I feel confident in my ability to accomplish this. I do, however, have time restraints and could use help getting the initial paperwork and research out of the way. I hope that this message has found you at the right time and in the right space. I’d love to meet you, hear your heart on these matters, and be a thread in the fabric of the reality we choose to create as dream weavers.

Be well.

With love and gratitude,

April Bartlett

Round One…Game On

4/8/2024

Yesterday was my first ever game night. I’ve never been one to sit around and play games. I did it with my young ones to teach them the basics of working together and following set rules. It was fun because they’re sooOooo cute! As an adult I haven’t had the same level of motivation. However, my kids are grown and LOVE games. They give me a hard time about not being able to play games since I can hardly sit still long enough to watch a movie or play a hand of cards. The truth is that I have always told myself that I have too much to do to play games. I tell myself that I’m busy in the real world creating the reality that I want. Then, I realized that I am simply working away all my relationships and fun time. I’ve been missing out on silly expressions that bring people closer through acts of joy.

When Ramon reached out about having this giant table for the HUB, I was so excited to host special events where a good sized group could all share a table. Upon meeting him he expressed is original intent for the table was to host D&D and the like, but never had the space to do so.

I thought… Why not…Let’s host at The HUB and see how it goes. Before setting a start date, I began calling my friends and family to get the skinny on the subject.

Me: Umm… Hey… so… I’m opening the space up for a gaming night.

My Daughter: Ah.. wait… what?

Me: Yeah! This man gifted The HUB a large table that he always wanted to host D & D or other role play games at. So… I told him that we could host at my place.

My Daughter: This is great… BABE! My mom’s gonna host a game night!!! So… when did you get into gaming?!

Me: Well… I don’t have a start date…

My Daughter: Laughing hysterically… Are you calling because you have no idea what you’re getting into?

Me: TOTALLY… (laughing)… I was hoping that you and your man could give me a 101 Gaming Class.

My Daughter: Oh this is rich! Babe, will you help me explain gaming to my mom?

She puts me on speaker and the class began.

Her Man: (he’s so incredibly kind) Oh sure! Whatcha need to know?

My Daughter and I: EVERYTHING (laughs proceeding)…

They kindly gave me the basic verbiage, time spans that games take, and structure of role-play games.

I also gained some deeper insight on character building which was the real hook for me to be a host. As it was explained to me, people who have social anxieties can create characters that are either shy to give themselves time to open up, or confident characters in order to practice being confident.

The fact that people can use these games to work out suppressed emotions and thoughts, or practice a character trait, is something I can get behind. I also learned that boundaries and rules are set as a group to ensure that all people are respected and protected from being triggered by certain words or actions. Of course, even when everyone is doing their best, someone could potentially be triggered. Emotional memory can be very strange and touchy at times. I’m certified in a form of trauma therapy and happy to hold space and help navigate the situation if it arises.

For me, it was big to hear these aspects as I want this place to feel like a safe place for everyone to enjoy. I want this to be a place of healing and connection. I want this to be a place where we can all come together and have deep heartfelt conversations and enrich our lives with a sense of belonging. I want this to be a place where we kick back in the hammock and on the couch with a cup of tea and giggle at the irony of life. And… I must say… between the Friday night Social Hours and now the Game Nights… I’m starting to see it all coming to fruition.

Healing the Inner Child Meditaion

Healing the Inner Child:

Welcome to this guided meditation for healing the inner child. Find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down, and allow yourself to fully relax. Close your eyes gently and take a few deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. With each breath, feel yourself becoming more and more present in this moment.

Now, imagine yourself in a peaceful place, surrounded by nature. It might be a lush forest, a serene beach, or a tranquil garden—whatever feels most comforting to you. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and the gentle breeze brushing against your face.

As you take in the beauty of this place, imagine a younger version of yourself standing before you. This is your inner child, the part of you that holds all the memories, emotions, and experiences from your childhood. Take a moment to greet your inner child with love and compassion.

Now, imagine a soft, golden light surrounding both you and your inner child. This light is filled with unconditional love and healing energy. With each breath, feel this light penetrating every cell of your body, soothing away any pain or hurt stored within.

Visualize your inner child stepping forward, reaching out to you with open arms. Embrace them tightly, letting them know that you are here to protect and nurture them. Feel the connection between your present self and your inner child growing stronger with each passing moment.

Now, take a journey together through your past, revisiting moments of pain or trauma that have caused your inner child to suffer. As you relive these experiences, remind your inner child that they are safe now, that the past cannot hurt them anymore. Hold them close and shower them with love and reassurance.

With each step you take, feel the weight of these old wounds lifting from your shoulders, dissolving into the light. Allow yourself to forgive those who may have hurt you in the past, including yourself. Release any feelings of guilt, shame, or unworthiness that have been holding you back.

As you continue to embrace and heal your inner child, affirm to yourself:

"I am worthy of love and happiness.

I am whole and complete just as I am.

I release all that no longer serves me,

And I embrace my inner child with unconditional love."

Take a few moments to bask in this feeling of wholeness and healing. Feel the love and light filling every corner of your being, restoring you to a state of inner peace and harmony.

When you are ready, slowly begin to bring your awareness back to the present moment. Wiggle your fingers and toes, gently open your eyes, and take one final deep breath.

Know that you can return to this meditation whenever you need to reconnect with your inner child and continue the journey of healing and self-discovery. You are strong, you are resilient, and you are worthy of all the love and happiness the universe has to offer.

Poetry Night

March, Friday 29th, 2024 from 7pm-9pm will be our first Poetry Night at The HUB.

If you’re subscribed to the Newsletter, you know that Venus finds herself nestled in the innovative realm of Aquarius, alongside Neptune and Saturn, all converging in the 5th House. This alignment sets the stage for a journey of romance, creativity, and self-expression, bringing us into the depths of our creative centers.

Neptune in Aquarius, helps us embrace the uninhibited, intuitive energy, allowing your creativity to flow freely as you embark on this journey of self-discovery and expression. All the right star juju for some poetry reading! I’ve not read my poetry aloud in a long time. I’m even a bit nervous! So, I do hope that we have a great turn out and lots of sharing and supporting to keep all of us hopeful romantics inspired.

Kicking Off With Community

For about 15 years I’ve dreamt of having a space to build community, do Yoga, host workshops, and other classes. When I found this spot, that dream was reawakened within me. I knew it was the right time, and the right place to jump in head first. Each week I find myself amazed by the people I met and the generosity of the community. I can’t wait to get all the permits and permissions from the “authorities” to offer everything I truly have in mind. Of course, that all takes money and time that I don’t have at the moment. I’m believing for it to all come together perfectly.

AstroYoga started because one of my long time students is studying to be a professional astrologer and would come to my Sunday Port Ludlow classes full of excitement about what she just learned. I’ve always been fascinated by astrology and astronomy. In fact, one of my daughters had severe food sensitivities that seemed to change with the moon phases. I then started putting it together that the planetary shifts were impacted certain organs causing disruptions in her already sensitive body.

From there, I learned more about Ayurveda and Yoga which go hand-in-hand with astrology. One day when my student came in excited to share, my class was responding with enthusiasm about the information she brings, I asked if anyone would be interested to see how the planets might be affecting our bodies in these transits. There was a resounding “Yes!” I then began to develop classes that would support our mind, body, spirits, throughout the transitions. And, here we are today with our AstroYoga Studio based in Port Townsend!

If you’re not an astrology fan, it’s okay. Because the sessions aren’t about the astrology. Classes are about the mind, body, and soul being nourished on a deep level. I encourage you to join a class and see how you feel afterwards. Or a few classes since each session is unique and there are other teachers rising up to guide you into your blissful state of being.

Now… The HUB!

I might be more excited about the HUB than the Yoga. Hehe… Don’t get me wrong, I love my Yoga practice. I’m super excited to share what I’ve gained in the 16 years of practicing twice a day. I can’t even begin to tell you all the ways Yoga has kept me grounded, healthy, and developing. With that said, The HUB is bring the most incredible people out of the wood works. And… I don’t know about you, but since COVID, it’s been really hard to get people together for more than a music event. I love music! Let’s have Music Nights! Dinner Parties! Moon Gatherings! Women’s Circles! Men’s Circles! Crafting Events! Let’s gather, learn, and grow together!

Watch for updates on events and classes here, through the Newsletter, & Instagram.

Be well. And, come see me soon!

Remember, Social Hours are Friday’s from 7-9pm.

With Love and Appreciation,

April Bartlett

Namaste

Game Nights

Starting April 7th we’re hosting Game Nights every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month from 5-7pm!

Game night has been inspired by a fellow community member Ramon who gifted a large table to The Hub. He always wanted to host D & D or other role play games at the table. I had already posted that this was a great place to bring a board game, deck of cards or other games to play during our Friday Social Hours. Therefore, I extended the offer to Ramon who is now our host for a game called Pathfinder the 2E. He’s putting together some ready made characters so that people can jump right in without any experience.

I’ve never been a game person myself. I can hardly sit still for a movie let alone a game. However, I’m happy to learn something new or just hold space for those who love this sort of thing. It really does sound so fun! I’ve already leveled up my gaming knowledge in the last couple weeks while organizing this aspect of The HUB’s new activities.

Whether you’re role play pro, novice, board gamer, or card gamer, I hope you’ll bring it to the HUB from 5pm-8pm every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month.

We have several places to get cozy for your game night experience.

Feel free to bring snacks.

Filtered water & Hot Tea will be available on site.

Please treat the space gently and clean up after yourselves as much as possible as we’re running this operation on kindness & your donations are always appreciated to keep us up and running.

With much love & gratitude,

April Bartlett