I recently returned from the Pacific Northwest HSP Gathering, organized by the lovely and talented Jacquelyn Strickland. Approximately 30 sensitive souls gathered together to share and connect around our sensitivity. We had some wonderful discussions and presentations.
Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person, gave a talk about the inner child in all of us and answered questions about being highly sensitive. She gave us an exercise to help us both better understand our childhood experiences in light of our sensitivity and a tool to help us evaluate how we were “parenting” ourselves now. It was a deep exercise that was difficult for some people, but which gave powerful perspective as well.
Jacquelyn taught us an original journaling method that she finds particularly helpful for HSPs. It incoporates looking at any issue through our thoughts, feelings, needs, assumptions, and intuitions as a means of better understanding it. She also gave us clever tools to come up with journaling topics, like making a list numbered 1 to 31 of people we know, topics, and issues, and then writing about the one corresponding to the current date.
Katherine Wismer, a coach and corporate trainer, taught us about “Conversation Cafe,” a remarkably simple but profound method of communicating about any topic. It incorporates Native American “talking stick” principles, and takes conversations progressively deeper. I participated in deeply moving conversations about HSPs in relationship and HSPs and music using this format. It was truly inspiring.
I also led a session, called “Discover Your Essential Self,” an experiential and intuitive workshop designed to access the deepest parts of ourselves. It’s the group process version of the first session in my Embrace Your Essential Self program. Many people received powerful messages about themselves and their lives that I trust will inspire them for years to come.
All in all, it was a truly wonderful and enjoyable experience of connecting with other sensitive souls. Many were “newbies” to the trait, others were old hands. Regardless, we learned, grew, and shared.
Upcoming gatherings are tentatively planned for 2006 as follows:
April 6 to 10, Minehead, Somerset, United Kingdom
June 14 to 18, San Rafael, California, US
Oct TBA, East Coast
More later…>
