Tag Archives: #yyj

Cultivating core 2026 life area connection’s from the inside out

by Renee Lindstrom, founder, Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning

The nine life area goals identified in the poster above were painted as a creative personal connection to intentions in each area and framed last night as the calendar is about to shift into 2026. This poster is hung facing the door to my office/creative space as a visual reminder as I move about and sit at my desk. This interactive poster is placed prominently with the intention of manifesting life through creative expression in living and learning. It is a visual focus of intention for creative living in 2026 that expresses from a thoughtful core connection. It is my ‘Shining North Star’ guiding my 2026 experience. A Shining North Star that contains what is alive and meaningful in the present moment of reflection. Each year is a stepping stone on an elusive journey, and this poster identifies the present location of this North Star on this pathway. It creates groundedness in the spontaneity of living an interactive and innovative lifestyle.

Shining Star

by local #yyj artist from my children’s school in ’01/’02

In the center of the Shining Star, in the above drawing, one can imagine the burst of creation. Creation that creates form. This activity, shown in the poster above, demonstrates intentional action for creating an interactive board that connects to what is meaningful at a core level. It is the elusive structure that contains the form for bursts of spontaneous action in alignment with core intention.

The board replaces outside influences and realigns my decision-making focus to make independent choices in alignment with what is meaningful, rather than seeking outside advice and opinions. It has proven to be a strong support that eliminates the unnecessary projections of others that do not have the same inner patterns for processing information. Each of us has an inner pattern for processing information that is unique. No one can duplicate another person’s inner filter or processing patterns or tell someone what to do effectively, based on the separation between inner programming. Programming that I identify as social and cultural conditioning.

In simple terms, this means that the poster above reflects a lifestyle model where consideration was given to determine important next steps. These stepping stones guide the coming year at a core level and become the source for checking in for reassurance and guidance that outside actions are in balance with inner values. My yearly considerations go back to 2013 or thereabouts. Each year became a stepping stone on a journey that unlocked a natural and organic model of elevating conscious awareness. It is one of the pillars that has become an educational pattern for expanding beyond the constraints of learned social and cultural behavioural conditioning. How? It has replaced outside authorities with an inner one.

What does outside authority versus an inner one mean?

  • Outside

An outside authority is exactly how it is written. In this context, it means looking to others (false guru’s) for guidance on what is right and what is wrong based upon their opinions, belief systems and limited living experiences. Anyone with a closed mindset that looks outside themselves at status (what others have) and self-image (how things appear) has limitations in clarity and life experience. It’s all contained within a closed circuit and small-mindedness. If they have a title, it is even harder to discriminate, as the Indoctrination creates a false belief system of superiority.

Google writes: Indoctrination is teaching someone a specific set of beliefs or ideas, often political, religious, or ideological, in a way that discourages questioning or critical thinking, making them accept it as truth without examination, like brainwashing, but can also be a less harsh form of cultural teaching. It’s about instilling a doctrine or viewpoint repeatedly until it’s accepted uncritically, differing from general education which encourages independent thought. 

  • Inside

An inner authority means checking in mindfully or thoughtfully to tap into what is meaningful in the present moment. This suggests a structure for learning core values, and trusting them in a sea of outside opinions, perspectives and beliefs. It suggests owning one’s own power, instead of being in the habit of giving it away. This is an action of leadership that can be challenging. It means letting go of blame and shame to justify the action one is taking, or has taken.

An example of blaming others for personal actions. As a kid, I blamed a sibling for taking an action to shoplift. I was 7 years old. I told my dad …….made me do it. Only,………wasn’t there!

Not only is considering intentions for the coming year important for cultivating awareness of personal needs, its accountability training. It can be an elusive pattern with a spontaneous outcome. It shifts the blame and shame learned thinking behaviours into a focus on self-value and accomplishments.

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Have you taken your #yyj Nature Break today?

To cut through resistance with a student, I suggested we transition our session to one of my local favorite hangouts, “Finnerty Gardens,” at the University of Victoria.

Strolling through a combination of forest and tames beds and lawns, I noticed the difference between being restful and at peace in this type of Ā environment and one that is nervous with a racing mind. Ā After investigating the landscape for a time we sat on a benchĀ to integrate and continue our session. Ā Long periods of comfortable silence encouraged Ā a deeper opening and sharing. Ā Simple and transitional!

Nature, our healing partners!


Book a private sessionĀ & learn how to be the best you can be! Ā Ā 

Self-Esteem, Confidence, Trusting Self


Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Ā Authored Ā Achieving your Goals Ā 31 Day Program, Sleep Sweet Sleep, Kid’s Peace Bus Calendar of Values Ā Educational Program & InTouch with Your Values Self-Actualization Program.FeldenkraisĀ® Practitioner since 2007, Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement Ā since 2000, Labyrinths of Victoria since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Grassroots Calendar Founder, Vice-Chair of World Children’s Summit on Peace & Nature in 2015

 

 

Do you live in your own culture of love & respect?

Recently I have begun sharing how my spring and summer is spent planting, gathering of flowers, leave & roots to make wonderful remedies. The purpose comes from hearing my clients express their concern, guilt, resentment and dependency upon pharma care products a13466358_10207722029426878_7619154285081841108_ns my hope is to model a different pattern and experience. I believe that pharma care lacks love of any living thing and is teaching us not to value ourselves. Therefore my hope of intention is to bring back love and care that is the bases for a healing outcome. When I work with nature in such a personal way I love it and would like to say feel the love back. This is the foundation I would like for healing and support. To take something that I feel appreciation for empowered by being a partner in the process of making it equals loving oneself!


Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
FeldenkraisĀ® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement Ā since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

Discovering Gumweed along West Coast of Victoria

I loved seeing gumweed 2016-06-14 14.00.03growing along the rocky banks of Victoria’s beaches during a walk. Ā The first thing you notice is the sticky resin on your hands when picking just one flower head. You know it must have some interesting qualities! Researching this flower for more information and to confirm its name, Ā Grindelia squarrosa, I had to smile when finding a well-respected international herbalist’s description of gumweed that included he found them along the rocky outcrops of Victoria’s beaches here on Vancouver Island! I imagine that you have seen them on your walks! 2016-06-14 16.58.38 Cough Syrup Discovering that they are great with honey in a cough syrup mixture and organic, I decided to infuse a batch.Ā  Buying a bottle of cough syrup costs $12.00 and up.Ā  I decided to buy a large jug of honey on sale for $12.00 and make my own! Ā The mason jar I am using would equal four purchased bottles of cough syrup or more.

Imagine reaching for your cough syrup and knowing exactly where the healing ingredients was picked and processed. Ā That the few fingerprints on them are mostly your own!

Within a short time of adding the flowers to the honey, it became a rich, dark colour and thickened.

Natural Remedies with Gumweed

Tincture

I also decided to create a tincture using vodka that is great for colds, sore throats, and coughs!2016-06-14 17.18.32

Natural Remedies with Gumweed


In Plants of the Rocky Mountains by Ryan Drum, gum from the pounded flower heads was applied to poison ivy inflammations and taken internally to relieve coughing and congestion. ā€œExtracts from the dried flower heads and leaves have sedative, antispasmodic and expectorant qualities…[and] are used in modern medications for treating asthma and bronchitis,ā€ the book explains.


Books by Renee Lindstrom

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Visit Renee Lindstrom’s pages @reneelindstrom

Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
FeldenkraisĀ® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement Ā since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

IN THE COMMUNITY: Peace Themed Events in Victoria during celebrations of #Peace Day

For one week in September, Greater Victoria Celebrates the United Nations International Day of Peace. Ā It begins with a community calendar of events where by groups can share their peace themed events in the days leading up to it and just after it! Ā This includes events sponsored and/orĀ hosted by Renee of Inside Awareness. Ā We are pleased that this year, 2015, revolved around the Labyrinth.

Beginning Saturday, September 13 – #yyj Peace Week was kicked off with the Ā 2nd Annual Puppets for Peace Parade. Ā An event created by local Tim Gosley. Ā During the month of August Tim had a display in the Bay Centre and held various workshops in our community. Ā  Tim had invited yyjpeace.com to hang the Ambassador of Peace Exhibit at the Little Fernwood Art Gallery in the weeks leading up to the parade. Ā We now say good-bye to this Peace Pal International Exhibit of children’s art from 86 different countries!

On Wednesday, September 16th two Greater Victoria Community’s proclaimed this Labyrinth Friendship Day. Ā In Victoria this was the 3rd year to do so and in Central Saanich it was their first! Ā  It began Wednesday afternoon in Central Saanich at Woodwynn Farms Peace Garden with Dr. Saul Arbess, Founder of the Canadian Peace Initiative reading Mayor Ryan Windsors Proclamation. Ā It continued with a personal quiet walk at Cadboro Bay United Churches beautiful hardwood floor labyrinth Ā and finally to an evening celebration in dedication of Ā Irving Park Labyrinth that was Ā hosted by the Church of Truth, Community of Conscious Living.

On Sunday, September 20thĀ for our first year we held a challenge to build a Community Giving Labyrinth! Ā This challenge was to build a labyrinth with a donation of Ā 1,000 food cans! Ā Permission was granted and we partnered with the Mustard Seed! Ā We donated 510 pounds of food to the Mustards’ Seed 100,000 pound and 100,000 dollar challenge that runs until the end of October. Ā It is their 2nd annual pie off challenge!

BeFunky Collage Centennial Square

On Monday, September 21st the day was dedicated to children! Ā Beginning with a Labyrinth Ā Peace Walk at the Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch to start our local World Peace Day celebrations! Ā This continued with an evening celebration of International Day of Peace hosted by the World Children’s Summit on Peace and Nature!Ā  Ā The World’s Children Summit celebrated Ā Brentwood Bay Elementary’s spring participation in a one day event featuring four workshops. They were on Nature and Photography, Storytelling, Music and Contemplation! Ā The evening also celebrated local Victoria peace elder, ‘Louise Taylor!’ Ā Louise has been an inspiration and has continuously put effort into creating peace wherever her steps have lead her. Ā She has brought back world connections into the Greater Victoria Region. Ā She is the steward of a space dear to many, the CorUnum Centre.

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Kathleen Arneson, Founder of World Children’s Summit on Peace & Nature

2010-12-31 23.00.00-47

Acting Mayor Councillor Geoff Young,

This evening Wednesday, September 23rd, will find us celebrating International Peace Dances and the fall equinox at Irving Park Labyrinth. Ā Betsy Nuse and Louise Taylor will lead us in dance Ā followed by a personal labyrinth walk in community.

BeFunky Collage dnce

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Renee Lindstrom-Organizer of Peace Week Calendar of Peace Co-creator,Ā  Functional Director of Peace Day at Woodwynn Farm Event, Peach Pal Exhibit, Labyrinth Walks and the naming of Irving Park Labyrinth. Workshop Leader at World Children’s Peace and Nature Summit.

Collage of Body & Ā Mindfullness Awareness Connections in the Community for May, ’15:

BeFunky Collage May

#peaceĀ focus @ earth festival, stroll of 6 local labyrinths on World Labyrinth Day – We walk as one focus and Hands Across the Sands/Lands!

Ceremonial Labyrinth for Commitments of the Heart

Pictures showing one walking pattern designed for Heart Commitments by Jerry Eztkorn, Labyrinth Designer. Ā Standing with Renee Lindstrom on Willows Beach in Victoria after drawing design to birth this new artistic creation for a celebration request to start 2014!

Read more on creating your own committment ceremony……

Why?

Imagine starting your own family tradition. Ā On each anniversary walk independently into a labyrinth letting go of all attachments to adversarial thinking. Connect to the deeper quality underneath your mind chatter to what binds you both into a meaningful connection. Ā 

Let it become an annual reminder for letting go of your thoughts and images of what’s not working in your relationship for connecting to the meaning and values you made in your original entwining agreement. Ā Together walk the path out refreshed in a renewed purpose of connecting to each other, your shared values and inner beauty.