Mindful Gail October 2025 Newsletter
- gailcalthrop
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
‘Meditation practice isn’t about trying to become something better.
It is about befriending who we are already.’
Pema Chodron
October is the month of Mental Health awareness and in a world where things continue to feel so uncertain, fearful and unsure, it is to be expected our sense of survival, fight, flight and freeze, will be on full alert. And yet, when that carries on happening, the loop of connecting only to survive does not help us feel better or reduce the worry. It only continues to stoke it, when we ruminate and catastrophise, blocking and walling off any moments or opportunities of self replenishment and self soothing which allow clarity and insight. Practising Mindfulness, as daily mindful awareness and activities, and/or as regular meditation practices, can help us find balance, allow steadying into the next moments with mindful awareness. In this way, we treat ourselves with self compassion and self kindness, resourcing our well being and being in this life with more meaning. If your cup of wellness is depleted, it is hard to be open to all that supports us. It is an act of resilience to support yourself. Remember the instruction on the aeroplane; put on your own mask first so you can then help others to put on theirs.
The mind is like water.
When it is turbulent, it is difficult to see.
When it is calm, everything becomes clear.
Plasad Mahes
Phone free time:
I have recently experienced the feelings of overwhelm when I suddenly became phoneless. I arrived at work and after searching my bag, realised my phone was not there. Feelings of confusion, tightening of my belly and chest, were flooding in. Part of myself was interested in watching the unfolding emotions of anxiety and worry, the automatic thought of, ‘well, you will have to go home and get it, through the traffic!’ I took several deep breaths and invited myself to soften into where my teeth and jaw were locking, to soften into my shoulders and feel the ground under my feet, letting the weight of my body rest into my feet, into the ground. This was so helpful in soothing tensions and my flying thoughts, so fast I couldn’t even hear them, just feel the anxiety they created on my body. I began to settle, and as this happened, my mind began to feel clearer and logic crept in, pointing out that should I be wanted urgently, everyone who is important in my life, knows where I work, would be able to get hold of me if needed, and it could be interesting to see how this phoneless day would feel.
Well, it felt amazing. Not straight away; I gradually realised I felt lighter, as if an invisible string to me was untethered and the relentless pressure to check in with this bossy piece of tech was wonderfully not there! The feeling of ‘safety’ that it apparently provides was suddenly and obviously seen to be bogus, for my circumstances. It was often a distraction and a mindless activity. I truly enjoyed getting used to this feeling of quiet freedom from its habitual use and of the opportunity to mindfully keep checking in to how I was feeling and to self-soothe if needed, and let other joys in.
Have I continued to not have my phone around? Not for a whole day but I do now take regular lengths of time away from it. It is such a good opportunity to notice where the anxiety arises in my body, let go and enjoy the moment, however fleeting.
Mindful Events Coming up:
Monthly half an hour
FREE On-Line Mindful Drop In.
The first one will be Wednesday 12th November at 7:30pm-8:00pm.
A space to gently become present with unfolding experience, to rest and relax, and find nourishment from being still and present, free from distractions and the hubbub of the day to day.
Mindful Evening sessions:
Mindfulness Mini Retreat Evenings, spaces filling up fast! The next one is Friday 24th October, 6:30-8:30pm, in the lovely location of Hampton Bishop, in the Acqua Dolce studios, for just £20. Enjoy mindful practices and approaches that support and boost your wellbeing and nourish all aspects of mind, body and spirit. The following one is 21st November.
Monthly On-Line Mindful Drop In
A blissful Mindfulness Retreat Day
2nd November 2025
An opportunity to sink into silence, soak up the spaciousness of being present, and connect with Nature, in the beautiful venue of Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury. Follow the link to book your place on this restorative and nourishing experience.
NEW event next year - SAVE THE DATE!
I am so excited to announce a Weekend Retreat at Hellens Manor, just the most fabulous place to have the experience of deep immersion for self-nourishment and healing.
27th February to 1st March 2026
(more information coming soon with an early bird discount)
🎁 Give the Gift of Presence This Christmas 🎄
This holiday season, swap the stress for serenity. Treat your loved ones to the gift of mindfulness with a Christmas Mindfulness Gift Voucher , a thoughtful way to say “I care about your wellbeing.”
Perfect for:
Friends in need of a little peace
Family members who deserve a mindful moment
Anyone ready to start the new year with clarity and calm
In a world that feels so fractured and out of sorts, the following poem resonates so strongly with me. I hope it will do the same for you.
Hope
by Emily Dickenson
‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Wishing you all a colourful October month
With warmest wishes,
Gail
YOU TUBE
I have now added some new videos, please check them out!
I also recorded a few meditation videos during Covid and put them onto a YouTube channel. Their content can be helpful now as it was then, so have a look if you would like to follow guided practices. Follow the link HERE!
What I Offer...
Get in touch
Mindfulness crept into my life about 12 years ago after I completed a Mindfulness Based Reduction for Stress Course [MBSR], offered by my workplace, a Hospice. The teachings touched a need in me to want to experience life in a calmer and more enjoyable way; to find ways to be present helpfully to the way my life was unfolding rather than engage in battling with the automatic behaviours with repeating conflicting thoughts and emotions, with all the attendant emotional and physical fallouts.
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