 January Newsletter
The first weekend of January 2025 ~ to use a friend’s words : The Tree of Life put on a white cloak NAKED SIMPLICITY Happy New Year - 2025! Don’t worry if a ‘new start’ doesn’t feel aligned for you in January - we have plenty of other options throughout the year to ‘begin again’. Perhaps the growing season New Year which doesn’t really start until Ostara - Spring Equinox, in March feels better for you or perhaps the learning season New Year feels correlated to the start of the new academic year in September, is your time for new beginnings. Or perhaps intuitively your body, your nervous system, YOUR FLESHY KNOWING prefers another time of year. Beyond mind this knowing is rooted in your embodiment spirituality. And this is the main message and theme I’ll be working with this year - OUR FLESHY KNOWING : BEYOND MIND The Divine Nervous System My latest Aberdeen University Practical Theology Hub blog - The Divine Nervous System - published on January set the scene and theme for 2025 perfectly. Categorised as body theology & feminism you can read two extracts below blog in full by clicking here Making Love with the Divine There is a whole chapter on ‘The Divine Nervous System’ in my book Making Love with the Divine: Sacred, Ecstatic and Erotic Experiences’ - which was considered so taboo when published but Girl God Books in Feb 2023! No its not a sex manual! I am hopeful that 2 years later we’re ready for it! More about the book : Making Love with the Divine The body – particularly the body of woman – remains firmly in the grip of the Patriarchy. Controlled, blamed, and ensnared in the narrative of The Fall, the fleshy encounter is deemed unholy and entirely separate from divinity. Making Love with the Divine starts the process of unravelling and undoing this insidious and false programming, showcasing and story-telling the sacred, erotic, and ecstatic experiences of today’s ‘ordinary’ women, narrating and reflecting upon their accounts of day-to-day communion and union with the Divine. Inspired by their sharing, practises are offered in each section of the book for the reader to begin to forge their own unique and direct pathway of lovemaking with the Divine. This book sanctifies the human mammal – our animal journey of ‘in and through’ and is an antidote to the poisonous lie that the Divine is ‘out and up’ and accessible only through religious or spiritual instruction. Making Love with the Divine bridges the schism of sacred and mundane and reinstates the extra-ordinary nature of everyday living and existence. "Making Love with the Divine invites us to explore our experiences of the erotic current that animates our bodies and our lives. A current whose natural flow and vitality is often stifled, distorted and shamed within patriarchal culture. This book seeks to open up the conversation by asking us how we experience our own sexuality and eroticism, and how this flow of aliveness can be a portal to feeling the divinity inside of us, and beyond us. Based on her research and clear devotion to this path, Kay Louise Aldred has created a supportive year-long workbook that provides a practical framework for anyone who feels a call towards liberating their body and deepening relationship with their sacred erotic aliveness." -Carly Mountain, Sex and Relationship Therapist and author of Descent & Rising. Making love with the Divine and The Divine Nervous system, evidence EMBODIMENT SPIRITUALITY is part of BEING HUMAN THIS IS OUR FLESHY KNOWING : BEYOND MIND And to link it to my work last year, our education system needs to teach us about this and how to access these parts of of ourselves. EMBODIED EDUCATION, the paradigm I advocate for, blends metacognition, intuition and intuition, to support this. More about the book : Embodied Education This year I intend to start to sew together all the above ideas and creations & weave them into all of my future work, training and interactions in whatever sphere or forum: OUR FLESHY KNOWING : BEYOND MIND EMBODIED EDUCATION & EMBODIMENT SPIRITUALITY
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 Happy New Year 🎊 Here are extracts from my latest @uniofaberdeen Practical Theology Hub blog - The Divine Nervous System - published today & setting the scene for 2025 perfectly. Categorised as body theology & feminism 👌 Full blog https://practicaltheologyhub.com/?p=1576 - please share. #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #divinenervoussystem #spiritualneedsarehumanneeds    Words of wisdom from others which my body experienced as truth in 2024 👇
You can’t do what you want till you know what you’re doing ~ Feldenkrais Between the stimulus and response, there is a space. And in that space lies our freedom and power to choose our responses. In our response lies our growth and our freedom ~ Frankl For the master’s tool will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change ~ Lorde Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them ~ Shakur #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality  It was a Tower moment for me personally (if you're not familiar with Tarot check out the meaning of that card). The whole of The Church of England (& I'd argue Theology) currently faces a collective Tower moment - as the institution (& discipline) hits crisis & unravels as it is held accountable & (finally) critically appraised.
Extract from the second of two featured submissions I have in the powerful @girlgodbooks anthology Wounded Feminine : Grieving with Goddess superbly coedited by @cladorartandwords Trista Hendren and Pat Daly Available from @girlgodbooks website or online stores #educateevolveembody #embodimentspirituality #fleshyknowing #inandthrough #tangibledivinity #embodiededucation  In conclusion, safeguarding neurodivergent individuals is a collective responsibility and one that cannot be ignored in any sphere or organisation in society because abusers and predators are everywhere.
In the past, it has been easier to blame the victims for not protecting themselves, being too kind, having poor boundaries, or wearing the wrong clothing. Instead, we should focus on the perpetrators and those who enable them, including individual bystanders and whole institutions. We need to come to terms with the extent and prevalence of abuse perpetration in all spheres of society, including among our moral, spiritual, and religious leadership and organisations. Religious and spiritual communities, therefore, need robust safeguarding procedures for this demographic who may have never fulfilled their meaning, purpose, connection and belonging needs due to trauma, prior abuse, and victimisation. ... as neurodivergent individuals make up a high percentage of attendees ... I continue to argue that both religious and mainstream wellness and ‘new age’ spiritual settings need an external regulatory body with oversight and assessment of these venues." Conclusion to the Invited Commentary 'Safeguarding Neurodivergent Individuals from Spiritual Abuse' I wrote for The Canadian Journal for Theology Mental Health & Disability 4 no. 2, Fall 2024 (ISSN 2563-9374) @madandcrip Link to full commentary in comments. It's free to access. Please share. #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #spiritualneedsarehumanneeds #safeguarding #neurodivergent  Out now! The Canadian Journal for Theology Mental Health & Disability 4 no. 2, Fall 2024 (ISSN 2563-9374) 👇 https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjtmhd/issue/view/2877 Delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute an invited commentary to this fantastic @madandcrip online journal. All featured submissions are a valuable read. My submission 'Safeguarding Neurodivergent Individuals from Spiritual Abuse' builds on the resource I produced for the Neurodiverse Connection inaugural Grooming and Coercive Control Summit in 2023 & my lived, academic & professional experience. Link above and below - it's free access. #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #spiritualneedsarehumanneeds    Dear all, It has only been one calendar month since my last newsletter, yet the world has undergone a significant transformation. A new era is dawning globally, and the landscape is still being shaped. Have you experienced a series of swift completions during this time? In this final newsletter of 2024, I will share my completions, and then I will sign off for a while as I embark on a significant career change and new full-time job position—something I have consciously pursued this year so that I continue this work creatively and as service and humanity-focused activism. Sending you all capacity and courage for 2025. Kay x  Completion 1: In a display cabinet in the @pittriversmuseum in Oxford in the UK. The tag reads N. America Plains Indian Medicine Man Pouch. The visceral reaction I had to this was multilayered : shock then horror then fear then disgust then anger then shame then sorrow. I ignorantly believed that the handcrafted & personal sacred objects of indigenous people would be globally respected for what they are : sacred. How naive. In understanding the symbolic power & significance of a medicine bag I can't imagine this was consensually given to a British museum. A deeper wake up call to #educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #humane #humanitarian #humanity #decolonialise #decolonize  COMPLETION 2 : Extract 1 The problem ... "I used to think it (change) was possible, but age, and lived personal, professional and academic experience suggests otherwise, and that the Bible, theology, and the Church endorse and perpetuate victim blaming, misogyny and abuse. I see no major progress being made in over four decades and no willingness to engage with research and survivor’s lived experience. For me this is a ‘closed system’ and culture and that’s enough evidence there is no intent to evolve, take ownership and responsibility, say sorry to victims, accept wrongdoing, and make reparation. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results (a saying attributed to Einstein). Insanity in the context of the Church of England is looking to an inherently abusive and misogynistic system and institution to protect, safeguard and validate its victims and value women. It’s time to move on. I did this by separating meeting my spiritual needs from religion." Extract 2: The solution ... "I believe it’s time for theologians to open a discussion and consider the purpose and impact of the Church of England @thechurchofengland I also advocate for a collective, interdisciplinary effort to rethink how we meet spiritual needs in society. I support the idea of normalising spirituality, improving its accessibility in day-to-day life, and acknowledging that spiritual needs are universal. It’s natural for us to seek meaning, purpose, connection, and belonging. I aim to help individuals, organisations, and institutions reimagine how we can meet spiritual needs in ways that are trauma-informed, neuro-inclusive, and beyond religious dogma and capitalism. My commitment lies in embedding non-patriarchal, non-abusive, and non-coercive approaches and resources to support spiritual well-being in educational, health, and community settings, as well as in new structures of moral and spiritual leadership in society." Read the full blog 'Reflections on Theology, Victim Blaming, Misogyny and the Church of England' I wrote for Aberdeen University's The Practical Theology Hub below. #educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #theology #victimblaming #misogyny #bible #christianity #feminism #vawg @thechurchofengland #churchofengland  Completion 3: 2024 has been the year of sharing Embodied Education more widely : online at lots of events, including today at the Supporting Children and Young People Impacted by Trauma (from Domestic Abuse) webinar hosted by Dr Ruth Smith, High Sheriff of North Yorkshire and in person in North Yorkshire, Oxford & Glastonbury When we wrote this book (which was published in 2023 - link in comments) it felt like a vision no one would be willing to embrace because the changes it proposed for learning & sharing spaces constituted a complete paradigm shift from mind, top-down to body, bottom up approaches. Just over a year later, humanity finds itself in a collective dark night of the soul & as a result some are now actively willing to reflect & consider what before was thought of worthless & taboo : the value of divergence & diversity embodiment & feeling relating & presence creativity & evolution Don't give up now. #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #inandthrough  Completion 4: Joy : was the theme of last night's evening facilitation of current Neurodiverse Connection Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training cohort. Joy : a vulnerable emotion which we need to build capacity to experience through connection to our heart fire - which is lit from within & flames up & out of us & to the well of our being - which also flows up & out from us, through authentic expression & meaning-making. Joy is a state of soul-full-ness & therefore requires soul-work : trauma resolution, nervous system regulation & soul retrieval. It occurs to me, each time I deliver this session, how joy-less & soul-less the institutions in society are which we go to for support with meaning-making & soul-care : religion & mental health care. We need alternative systems & institutions for meaning-making & soul-care. We need change. Don't give up now. #educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #spiritualneeds #meaningmaking #soulcare #joy #heartfire #wellofourbeing  Completion 5: May this Invited Commentary - 'Safeguarding Neurodivergent Individuals from Spiritual Abuse' - which I wrote for the The Canadian Journal for Theology Mental Health & Disability 4 no. 2, Fall 2024 (ISSN 2563-9374) catalyse supportive change. And be part of the solution. It's a deeply personal ending & completion for me: #theology #anglicanchurch #neurodivergence #spiritualindustry #wellnessindustry #safeguarding * * * #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #spiritualneedsarehumanneeds  Completion 6:
Ep 26. The Edge of Everyday with Sandra Bargman - going live here 2.12.2024 There Is Not A Normal Human: Embodied Spirituality + Neurodiversity with Kay Louise Aldred Interested? Here are the show notes ... What is Embodied Spirituality? What is Somatic Shamanism? What is Neurodiversity? Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with author, teacher, and embodiment and spirituality-orientated theologian Kay Louise Aldred for a compelling + educational conversation about spiritual needs, safe spaces, understanding the nervous system, embodied ways of knowing, and neurodiversity. If you, like me, are new to the term neurodiversity, and its relationship to spirituality, this is the conversation for YOU! Kay is a multi-passionate educator, prolific author, and leader committed to questioning and challenging the absence of the body and earth in education, mental health and religion/spirituality. In this powerful conversation, we touch on:
All this and SO much more...  May this Invited Commentary - 'Safeguarding Neurodivergent Individuals from Spiritual Abuse' - which I wrote for the The Canadian Journal for Theology Mental Health & Disability 4 no. 2, Fall 2024 (ISSN 2563-9374) catalyse supportive change.
And be part of the solution. It's a deeply personal ending & completion for me: #theology #anglicanchurch #neurodivergence #spiritualindustry #wellnessindustry #safeguarding * * * #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #spiritualneedsarehumanneeds  Joy : was the theme of last night's evening facilitation of current Neurodiverse Connection Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training cohort (interested ? link in bio).
Joy : a vulnerable emotion which we need to build capacity to experience through connection to our heart fire - which is lit from within & flames up & out of us & to the well of our being - which also flows up & out from us, through authentic expression & meaning-making. Joy is a state of soul-full-ness & therefore requires soul-work : trauma resolution, nervous system regulation & soul retrieval. It occurs to me, each time I deliver this session, how joy-less & soul-less the institutions in society are which we go to for support with meaning-making & soul-care : religion & mental health care. We need alternative systems & institutions for meaning-making & soul-care. We need change. Don't give up now. #educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #spiritualneeds #meaningmaking #soulcare #joy #heartfire #wellofourbeing  2024 has been the year of sharing Embodied Education more widely :
💻 online at lots of events, including today at the Supporting Children and Young People Impacted by Trauma (from Domestic Abuse) webinar hosted by Dr Ruth Smith, High Sheriff of North Yorkshire and 👩🏫 in person in North Yorkshire, Oxford & Glastonbury When we wrote this book (which was published in 2023 - link below) it felt like a vision no one would be willing to embrace because the changes it proposed for learning & sharing spaces constituted a complete paradigm shift from mind, top-down to body, bottom up approaches. Just over a year later, humanity finds itself in a collective dark night of the soul & as a result some are now actively willing to reflect & consider what before was thought of worthless & taboo : the value of divergence & diversity embodiment & feeling relating & presence creativity & evolution Don't give up now. #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #inandthrough to edit. |
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