Hi there, I hope you’re feeling fine and well, now we’re moving into winter. Remember that plants and all growing things use the winter months to dig in and get strong before the coming spring. That’s certainly how I feel right now with so many new and exciting plans for next year, I almost don’t know what to tell you about first.
I have just got back from the first BLOOM Women’s Creative Leadership Retreat in my home in Deia, Mallorca, where ten women plus guest speakers and our divine chef Amanda, experienced a magical and empowering week.
The members of the group, aged from 33 to 71, and coming from the US, Finland, Holland, Canada, Australia, Zimbabwe and the UK, proved yet again that women of all ages and from all backgrounds can connect deeply with love and friendship when given the opportunity.
Let them speak for themselves –
"Surrounded by olive trees, the mountains and the sea, I was ripe for transformation and a reconnection within. The retreat re-energised me and the work allowed me to reflect in ways my busy day-to-day life has not permitted", Kimberly Wilson, author of Hip Tranquil Chick and founder of Tranquil Space Yoga & TranquiliT Boutique and Clothing Line, Washington, DC. Listen to Kimberly's podcast interview with me recorded at the BLOOM retreat.
Creative visioning at the Bloom Retreat in Deia, Mallorca
Read more quotes from BLOOM participants on my website www.lynnefranks.com
The BLOOM Women’s Creative Leadership Retreat has proved such a success – and I know that several of you are already planning to come to the next one – that I am delighted to announced the dates for next year's retreats, again in beautiful Deia, Mallorca.
The spring BLOOM Women's Creative Leadership Retreat from Wednesday, 18th April to Wednesday 24th April 2007.
Our summer BLOOM Women's Creative Leadership Retreat is to be held from Wednesday 20th to Wednesday 27th June. There will be a special emphasis on mothers and daughters giving them the opportunity to grow and learn to live life to its full potential, alongside each other.
The autumn BLOOM Women's Creative Leadership Retreat will be in October, at the same time again as Samoan, the Celtic New Year, from Wednesday 31st October to 7th November.
Women Empowering Women
There is also fantastic news about our accredited SEED Associates Training, which so many of you have asked me about in the past. It is scheduled to take place at my home in Deia, Mallorca, from Wednesday, 16th to Wednesday 23rd May, when participants will be taught how to become an accredited SEED coach, create your own SEED circles, and become a SEED entrepreneur in your own right, helping other women achieve their dreams.
The SEED Associates will be working with the brand new SEED Women Into Enterprise complete learning kit, consisting of six modules and an interactive CDrom, including case histories from SEED entrepreneurs. This unique programme, developed with our partners, CTAD/Tribal Education, teaches women from all backgrounds all aspects of how to start their own business, as well as empower their lives.
I will be presenting a SEED Experience Day for all potential SEED Associates on Sunday, 25th March in Oxford. It is an opportunity for personal and professional transformation for all the attendees, and is a pre-requisite for SEED Associates. There will be further opportunities to come to a SEED Experience Day later in the year, in September and November.
Please go to our website www.seednetwork.com for all details on the retreats, workshops and our SEED Associate programme.
Lynne Franks with Patricia Tully, Brona O'Boyle, and Lorna McDowell at the SEED Experience workshop, Burren Holistic Centre in County Clare, Ireland
SEED Women’s Circles
Our very active SEED Women’s Circle in Ipswich was featured in their local paper, describing some of the many activities created by the circle. Click here to read the feature in Ipswich's Evening Star on the event.
We are getting enquiries about starting SEED Circles from many of you so get all the information you need at www.seednetwork.com
Other News
It has been an extremely busy time in my world over the last few weeks. I attended the Women of the Year Awards in London and presented at the Enterprising Britain Award to the creative women from West Kilbride Craft and Design Town in Scotland.
I spoke at an enterprise conference in Belfast; I defined success from a women’s perspective at the annual Network Ireland women’s business network at Galway, and held a SEED Experience workshop at the stunning Burren Holistic Centre run by Bridin Twist, where I will hopefully be teaching a weekend programme next year. The Burren region in County Clare is known to be a healing place and is home to many sacred sites and holy wells, including St Bridget’s Well.
Women de-cluttering their handbags at the SEED Experience workshop at the Burren Holistic Centre, Ireland
I spoke to the enterprising women of Worcester on Women’s Enterprise Day on 15th November before joining a celebration hosted by the Prowess Network at the House of Commons with the The Rt. Hon Margaret Hodge MBE MP who is the Minister responsible for business and enterprise. I also recently lectured on the modern face of retailing at Bedford University, which gave me an opportunity to see how fashion is now more than ever being led by the very inexpensive retailers that now abound on the British high street.
I’ve also been quite busy with TV, appearing on the panel of the popular Sunday morning BBC1 show Heaven and Earth; will be appearing shortly on BBC2 Grumpy Guides series and am delighted to announce that I will be appearing in the next series of Grumpy Old Women in 2007, one of my favourite TV shows.
The Future Speaks Ruthlessly Through Her is a new documentary by Lee Chalmers, Renata Keller & Ben Mallaby, featuring interviews with nine women, including me, on the future of women in the world. It was premiered at the Enlightenment Next Centre in London in late November before being shown across Europe and the US. It stimulated tremendous enthusiasm from the sell-out audience, and hopefully is going to be available to women’s circles so many other women can continue the conversation. For more information visit www.visionarydialogues.com
A Global Perspective
Like most of you I am sure, I am constantly aware that we have so much to do to create a new kind of future for this world of ours. We cannot ignore the fact that our environment is being destroyed by our global consumption, although we are learning how we can make a positive difference through responsible changes in our individual lifestyles.
And what can we do about influencing the opinions of those who believe that power is about killing and maiming innocent women, men and children? Surely we mothers can influence our sons and daughters on how we can live alongside our neighbours, celebrating our differences as well as appreciating our similarities.
It has never been more essential for women to take on their roles as community and national leaders, bringing their natural abilities of relationship building and connection to the discussion tables.
And first we have to become aware of our own patterns, our own conditioning and our own fears. By becoming conscious of our limiting self-beliefs, we can move through them, especially when we support each other. It’s time to find the silence to listen to our inner wisdom, so that we can move into the leadership roles that our society needs from us right now.
We need to connect back with Mother Earth, enjoy ritual and like the women on the BLOOM Retreat, celebrate every day as our birthday!
Enjoy the start to a great winter and I look forward to joining you all in creating a new kind of future in 2007.
