Radically Embodying Goddess in the World

Weekend Workshop

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May 2024 10am - 5pm


Cost for two full days: £150


Join Dr Lynne Sedgmore and Kay Aldred to understand and practice what it means to be a fully embodied sacred woman, priestess and leader, in the world today – with all its challenges and complexity.


Explore how this can be done effectively and sustainably, with integrity, living from our authentic wholeness, power and neurodiversity.


When we can fully embody our life purpose, authenticity, spiritual practices, and devotion to Goddess, we can truly express, and accept, all the different parts of ourselves. We can then engage profoundly and effectively with community, social justice and ecological activism, as well as within our daily lives.  


The workshop will include: 
Insights, practices, neurosensory exercises, and specific tools to support self-regulation, mindful embodiment, and managing reactivity.
Understanding trauma-informed and nervous-system education
Avoiding spiritual bypass 
Understanding neurotypes, neurodiversity and neurodivergence
Exploring our relationship with power and self-compassion
Being fully present and skilful in our relationships and work
Releasing our spirit, energy and life force


Avalon Room, First Floor, The Glastonbury Experience Courtyard, 2-4 High Street, Glastonbury BA6 9DU



​Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning, Facilitating and Sharing

Monday 27th May 2023 10am - 4pm
£50


Join Kay and Dan Aldred to learn about their book Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning, Facilitating and Sharing, and vision for a new educational paradigm based on wellbeing, co-regulation, and creativity, which advocates for body-first, relational and embodiment approaches in organisations and communities.
Explore practical strategies for the creation of organisations and spaces which are trauma-informed and neurodivergent, sensory, and nervous system friendly, and which celebrate and encourage individuality, divergence, and innovation, alongside exploration, discovery, and imagination.


Suitable anyone connected to schools, universities, youth work, teaching, home-schooling, unschooling, health and social care services, charities, social justice, parenting, holistic health and therapeutic settings, religious, and spiritual spaces.


The workshop will cover the following topics:
The nervous system, trauma, and stress
Body first approaches
Neurodiversity
The concept of safety
The design and infrastructure of buildings
Embodied models of safe, accountable, and responsible space holding, teaching and leadership
Methods of facilitation and pedagogy


There will be some copies of Kay and Dan’s Embodied Education available to purchase on the day.


Avalon Room, First Floor, The Glastonbury Experience Courtyard, 2-4 High Street, Glastonbury BA6 9DU

This is the first of two January Newsletters and in this one I’m sharing my latest Neurodiverse Connection (NdC) blog A Holistic, Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach works better than a New Year Resolution and details of the NdC Train the Trainer Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Programme which is next running 30th Jan - 26th March and for which there are limited places left.


In the second newsletter I’ll be sharing about two events I’m co-facilitating in Glastonbury in May this year.  Delighted!  More soon.


Hope to this is supportive - please share widely and I look forward to connecting with you again soon.


Good wishes, Kay



​Latest Neurodiverse Connection blog out now Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training: better than a New Year’s resolution!

"We believe a holistic and wellbeing focused approach is often a more effective and sustainable way of eliciting change and offering support.

Why this approach works better than a resolution at improving wellbeing:

01 Education Focus

02 Empowerment Through Self-Understanding and Acceptance

03 Addressing the Nervous System

04 Focus on Regulation

05 Integration of Mind-Body-Spirit Connection

06 Cultivating Sustainable ‘Habits’ and Resources

07 Personalised Wellbeing Strategies

08 Community Support, Connection and Belonging"

Read full blog here

"Neurodiverse Connection’s Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training is a holistic, well-being focused training programme is open to neurodivergent individuals, their families and friends, as well as professionals including hospital teams, community teams, educators, third sector groups.

NdWA training comprises eight online sessions, & is running next from 30 January—26 March 2024."

Final spaces left. More details below.  Click here to book.

Please share with anyone interested.

NEXT RUNNING 30 JAN — 26 MAR 2024

This ‘train the trainer’ programme is a holistic neurodivergent wellbeing curriculum designed to provide practical skills to parents and professionals who are supporting neurodivergent young people.


The NDWA course has been specifically designed so that attendees are empowered to become ‘trainers’ themselves, by sharing their learning with others. 


Facilitated by Kay Louise Aldred

​Who is this for?This versatile and adaptable training can be delivered to hospital teams, community teams, educators, third sector groups.We aim to work with teams to support their young people, but we can also work directly with young people. If you have access needs that you’d like to discuss, we’d welcome a conversation about how we can support this.


How is it delivered?An online programme delivered via Zoom in 8 x 90-minute sessions over two months.Sessions will include a mixture of presentations, practical demonstrations, and discussion. You will receive training materials including a workbook to accompany the session content. Sessions will be recorded and shared with attendees.


Cost to attend
£200 place-of-work-funded attendees
£50 for self-funded attendeesBursary places are also available upon request
Digital course materials are included with entry fee, printed course materials are available at an extra cost.


Entry requirementsThis course is open to neurodivergent individuals and their families and friends as well as professionals.Attendees must be 18 years old or older.

Kay Louise Aldred introduces the benefits of Neurodiverse Connection’s Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training. This holistic, well-being focused training programme is open to neurodivergent individuals, their families and friends, as well as professionals including hospital teams, community teams, educators, third sector groups. NdWA training comprises eight online sessions, running from 30 January—26 March 2024. New year’s resolutions – especially ones focused on giving things up or avoiding things – aren’t universally successful.

For neurodivergent individuals with a profile of demand avoidance this may be, especially the case. And, for all neurotypes, the sudden shock to the nervous system of the removal of resources used to regulate and soothe our nervous system – even those deemed ‘unhealthy’ - can be highly dysregulating and can cause shock.  

Resolutions can be too much, too soon, too quickly – something our nervous system can process as traumatic. 

So, what’s the alternative? Setting intentions, visioning, and embarking on a ‘journey’ with a ‘destination’ can be more gentle method and easier for the nervous system to process, as can adopting an overall new and holistic ‘approach’ to change. Research has shown that ‘approach-oriented goals were significantly more successful than those with avoidance-oriented goals (58.9% vs. 47.1%)’ 1. 

Most new year’s resolutions focus around improving aspects of wellbeing. Neurodiverse Connection’s Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training is one such holistic approach which supports transition and growth, through self-understanding and acceptance and education and practical skills.  It is an ‘experience to share’ training for parents and professionals who work with neurodivergent people.  We believe a holistic and wellbeing focused approach is often a more effective and sustainable way of eliciting change and offering support.  

Why this approach works better than a resolution at improving wellbeing:  

01 Education Focus Education provides individuals with a deep understanding of the factors influencing their wellbeing. When people are informed about the importance of an integrated approach to health, they are more likely to make lasting lifestyle changes rather than pursuing short-term resolutions.  

02 Empowerment Through Self-Understanding and Acceptance Education for self-understanding empowers individuals to make informed choices about their health. Understanding and accepting the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing allows people to make choices that align with their overall wellness needs, contributing to a more holistic and sustainable approach. 

03 Addressing the Nervous System Holistic education focuses on identifying and addressing the root of wellbeing – nervous system regulation. This approach leads to more comprehensive and effective solutions, ensuring that individuals are not just addressing surface-level concerns but working towards overall nervous system regulation – essential for baseline health and wellbeing.  

04 Focus on Regulation The education in wellbeing provided includes tools and strategies for regulating the nervous system. This is crucial in navigating life's inevitable ongoing challenges and setbacks. Instead of relying on the short-lived motivation that often accompanies New Year resolutions, individuals equipped with self-soothing strategies and resources to support the stress which accompanies ongoing sensory and social processing differences too. 

05 Integration of Mind-Body-Spirit ConnectionThis integrated approach emphasises the mind-body-spirit connection, recognising that nervous system, mental and emotional health significantly impact physical and mental wellbeing and vice versa. It promotes the importance of creativity. This integrated approach promotes a more balanced lifestyle and view of wellbeing, contributing to overall better health. 

06 Cultivating Sustainable ‘Habits’ and ResourcesSustainable habits and resources are more likely to be established through education and an integrated approach. New Year’s resolutions often focus on singular goals, whereas holistic education encourages the development of a range of habits and resources to meet needs that collectively contribute to wellbeing, making them more sustainable overall. 

07 Personalised Wellbeing StrategiesEducation based on self-understanding and acceptance allows individuals to understand their unique needs and preferences. This personalised self-understanding enables the development of tailored and bespoke wellbeing strategies that align with an individual's lifestyle, making it more likely that they will adhere to and benefit from these strategies over time. 

08 Community Support, Connection and BelongingHolistic education in a group setting often fosters a sense of community, connection and belonging. This support network can be instrumental in helping individuals stay accountable and committed to their wellbeing goals. New Year resolutions, on the other hand, are often pursued individually and may lack the support system necessary for success. 


This is a repost of a blog originally posted here: https://ndconnection.co.uk/blog/neurodivergent-wellbeing-training?rq=aldred

Original post date 9th January 2024. 

​The Rainbow Diamond Centre Module – Your Body as Goddess
Recorded Live Thursday January 5th 2023

During this recorded event, you’ll journey into your Diamond Centre – Your Body as Goddess. This 1.5-hour workshop will offer trauma-informed somatic and energy medicine practises that support you to activate your embodied Sacred Womanhood, alongside wellness education to support the cyclical nature of your body. To complete you will do a short Somatic Shamanism journey to soul retrieve the inner Goddess. 

This workshop is based on Kay's book, Mentorship with Goddess: Growing Sacred Womanhood. You need to purchase a copy of the workbook in advance and bring it to the session.

Crone is calling – can you hear Her? Crone is insisting on visibility – can you see Her? Crone is offering each and every single one of us an invitation to the individual and collective initiation of Wisdom Keeper, Visionary and Mentor – can you feel Her?
Crone Goddess is insisting that every woman give sound to her voice, embody her power and play their part in extricating her from the patriarchal shadow and bind.
The Crone Initiation  is an anthology of women's experiences of perimenopause and menopause, and the part Goddess plays in this journey. Crone's presence in the breakdowns and breakthroughs, the disintegration and rebuilding, is expressed through words and art. Meaning is reclaimed and the power of the Elder restored.
Praise for The Crone Initiation

"The many voices sharing from their different experiences of the menopause journey together become a much-needed tapestry of wisdom where we again are reminded that there is not any one right way. This allows me as the reader to find my very own thread in the cyclic dance that is the Great Goddess, and recognize the value and sacredness of my own initiation journey. I am grateful that this book exists in the world!" 
-Chameli Gad Ardagh, Founder AwakeningWomen.com


"It is time for all of us women to embrace our inner Crone of wisdom and strength as our cycles end. This Anthology is surely the compass to guide us in doing so!" 
-Mare Cromwell, Author of The Great Mother Bible

"Menopause is a time of great change in a woman's life. It can plunge you into the depths of experience -- physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Without a guide, mentor or sisterhood, it can be a rough, isolating and confusing journey. The Crone Initiation brings to light real-life stories from a cross-section of women, ages 40s-70s, who have navigated this passage. Through story, poetry and art, these women provide mentorship, comfort and guidance for this sacred initiation. Through inner wisdom and lived experience, these women bring back the honor and reverence for this return to our most essential self, sovereign and powerful. You will leave this book feeling renewed and with a new perspective and reverence for yourself and this next chapter of your life."
-Tabby Biddle, Bestselling Author of Find Your Voice: A Woman's Call to Action


"Shrouded in invisibility no more, the Crone's voice is heard loud and clear here: brave, outraged, truthful, fierce. Calling from the depths or from the rooftops, this choir of unique voices sings but one powerful song, that of the Wise One who will be silent no more. A trailblazing song for our present and future crones."
-DeAnna L'am, Author of Becoming Peers - Mentoring Girls Into womanhood and A Diva's Guide To Getting Your Period


"A feast of women's wisdom that brings into sharp and gentle focus the way we encounter crone energy in our lives and bodies. Informative, emotional, creative and enticing - this book offers a tender and fierce portal into the primordial nature of the crone."
-Carly Mountain, Author of Descent & Rising: Women's Stories & the Embodiment of the Inanna Myth