It was an absolute honour to present about our book, Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning Facilitating and Sharing, which my husband Dan and I coauthored, & which was published by @girlgodbooks as part of the Transformative Education Track & Embodiment & Transpersonal in Education session of the Creative Bridges 2024 : Embodied Consciousness, Psyche & Soul in Research & Practice Conference on Thursday last week in the truly magnificent Examination School of Oxford University @oxford_uni

To be part of this fantastic event, in the magical city of Oxford, within Oxford University, centre of pioneering ideas, as part of a line-up of speakers, thinkers & practitioners leading & bridging the energy of exploration & spiritual renewal of our times & for the good of future generations was humbling & inspiring.

I learned so much. It's going to take a while to integrate but I'll share as I do.

Thank you : for the opportunity & the whole event

@aleftrust #aleftrust @eurotas.world #eurotas @britishpsychologicalsociety

#educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing

Latest @girlgodbooks anthology is OUT NOW!

Wounded Feminine : Grieving with Goddess
 
superbly coedited by @cladorartandwords Trista and Pat

"Wounded Feminine is a magnificent chorus, which wades in the mind/heart/soul of the reader churning the long-lasting waves inwardly. Animating the legacy of the collective grief and strife for love and connection with the whole, many voices of the anthology reshape the consciousness of what was lost and transform the subconsciousness into the power of the Cosmic Mother. This anthology is the seeds of deep thoughts, the indispensable steps for matriversal soteriology."

-Helen Hye-Sook Hwang, the author of Reader: Toward Magoist Cetaceanism (Mago Books, 2023)

Available from @girlgodbooks website or online stores
 
 

1. Me and the Inquisitor. An Abridged Version. As my Body Remembers it.
   
   One of two featured submissions I have in the powerful latest @girlgodbooks anthology Wounded Feminine : Grieving with Goddess superbly coedited by @cladorartandwords Trista and Pat
   
   Available from @girlgodbooks website or online stores
   
   In this piece of writing I outline the inherent misogynistic nature & 'witch-hunt' energies of my (failed!) experience of the Anglican Priesthood Ordination Discernment Process.

 

1. Breaking the Spell and Lifting the Curse - What was I looking for from the Christian Religion and Anglican Church?
   
   
   
   "I was searching for a devotional and authentic community committed to spiritual growth and healthy relating. As a Priest I hoped to facilitate this.
   
   The construction - the breaking down ...
   
   THEY DON'T WANT THAT. THEY DON'T VALUE THAT.
   
   ... I see it clearly.
   
   I was both repeating and trying to resolve, trying to repair, through the Church, my family of origin trauma patterning"
   
   
   
   Second of two featured submissions I have in the powerful latest @girlgodbooks anthology Wounded Feminine : Grieving with Goddess superbly coedited by @cladorartandwords Trista and Pat 
   
   Available from @girlgodbooks website or online stores

​Deconstruct : 'to break something down into its separate parts in order to understand its meaning, especially when this is different from how it was previously understood' (Cambridge Dictionary)

It's not usual August energy. 2024 hasn't been a year of the 'same old'. We are a choice point #evolve or

This is the POINT of wellness & spiritual practices, of education - to support us to deconstruct (individually, collectively, institutionally) - to go #inandthrough - and rebuild a humane, humanitarian, humanity.

I was raised in a working class northern mining village (near Sunderland where the recent race riots & far right violence have taken place). My grandfathers were miners. I was surrounded by poverty, hostile, racist language and attitudes, domestic violence, abuse and misogyny.

And I was fortunate to escape that cycle through education, reconnecting to my body and soul and through the ongoing deconstruction of (and divesting from) the internalised constructs of racism, ableism, classism, misogyny, colonialism etc etc.

I'm not an expert. This work is not done. And it's messy & painful.

And, I continue to do it because I value humanity, feel a moral obligation to repair/heal on behalf of past generations and evolve for the sake of future generations. And I recognise interconnectedness - and therefore the futility of doing anything other than this.

Divest : to get rid of (Cambridge Dictionary)

This is what we are being called to do during these times. Deconstruct & divest from external & internalised, conscious & unconscious constructs, attitudes, thought forms, language, behaviour and repetitions of racism.

Spiritual and wellbeing practice of the week : BE ACTIVELY ANTI-RACIST.

​This week has highlighted (again) the urgent need for all of us to move from non-racist to anti-racist.

This is a process and one which is much needed in family, educational, academic, healthcare, therapy, wellbeing, religious & spiritual spaces.

I speak only to what I have direct experience of - it is of course needed everywhere.

Brilliant model by Andrew M. Ibrahim MD, MSc which I'm reflecting on today as I assess where I am (& the circles I mix in are) on the journey & where to go next to learn, grow & evolve.

Resensitise : to make someone sensitive to (= aware of or affected by) something again (Cambridge Dictionary)

The systems, structures & institutions in patriarchal & colonial societies are designed to desensitise us - make us insensitive, unaware of our common humanity, unaffected by the suffering of others.

For me the purpose of 'healing' and of spiritual & wellbeing practices are to provide tools to develop the capacity to FEEL more & communities where we become aware of our interconnectedness, our common humanity, & are affected & moved by the suffering of others.

The purpose is for us to be fully resourced & feel so deeply, with such compassion & empathy, that we are mobilised to take action for collective change & justice.

Rehumanise : to make human again, to make it suitable for humans again (no dictionary definition needed)

We finish our time in education dehumanised, dissociated & disembodied, after hours sat at desks, separated from nature & creativity, being fed a colonial curriculum.

We enter into a dehumanising society, working in dehumanising institutions, operating in dehumanising structures.

Being fed dehumanising & colonial narratives this time by the media.

May those of us who are providing pathways away from this - creatives, artists, writers, poets, activists, advocates, holistic & nature based therapists, wellbeing practitioners, social justice communities - focus on REHUMANISING.

REHUMANISING not only individuals, collectives, communities but essentially organisational, institutional and structural policy, procedure, & practice.

Let's make society & its institutions humane, humanitarian & hospitable for humans - at a mind, body & soul level.

​BYSTANDERS

"In recent years, I have begun to contemplate the idea of a fourth and final stage of recovery, and that is justice. If trauma is truly a social problem, and indeed it is, then recovery cannot be simply a private, individual matter. The wounds of trauma are not merely those caused by the perpetrators of violence and exploitation; the actions of the bystanders - all those who are complicit in or who prefer not to know about the abuse or who blame the victims - often cause ever deeper wounds"

Truth and Repair ~ Judith Herman

Sometimes a book puts into words your #fleshyknowing & resonates deeply with your lived experience & validates you so profoundly that your life is forever changed by it.

Reading this book, this weekend, has had that impact.

Thank you for writing this book Judith Herman #trailblazer #truthteller #justiceseeker

COMPLICITY

"Acknowledgement on a massive scale means recognition not only of the crimes committed by individual perpetrators but also of the complicity of all the people who enabled them.

... they wanted the church to stipulate 'that the abuse was not the fault of the victims, and that the shame belongs only to those who did the abuse and those who covered it up.'"

Truth and Repair ~ Judith Herman

A transferable & relevant extract which validates my #fleshyknowing that the institutions in society we go to for our moral compass, justification & solace are in fact a-moral in their complicity in abuse (of all kinds), victim blaming & dehumanisation.

Whilst survivors may creatively find comfort in the spiritual realm - directly in relation with the Divine - ultimately trauma can't be resolved & healed without a HUMAN community which is not complicit, does not deny or stay silent to abuse & actively seeks justice.

A humane, humanitarian, human community forging a humane, humanitarian humanity.

I've found that some of the most victim blaming, retraumatising & dehumanising spaces are 'moral' 'theological' 'religious' 'spiritual' 'wellbeing' & 'therapeutic' spaces.

VISIONING JUSTICE

The radical (or root cause addressing) survivors vision of justice needs "truth and repair -acknowledgement, vindication, apology, and amends - from their moral communities"

"Because many people in their communities enabled the abuse they endured, they seek community amends in the form of institutional & cultural change"

Truth and Repair ~ Judith Herman

I've had a #fleshyknowing of this for a while. I now have research & evidence based text to say I'm not alone in this vision.

No more victim blaming. No more bystander apathy & silence. No more collusion.

In our homes, families & friendship groups, schools, churches, wellbeing retreats, spiritual communities, universities, mental health services, court rooms (& all the other spaces we inhabit)

Actively educate - deconstruct, divest, resensitise & rehumanise - evolve & embody JUSTICE.

Words for these times.
 
I’ll leave it there for now.
 
Kay x

Embodied Education is a vision for an educational paradigm based on wellbeing, co-regulation and creativity, which advocates for body-first, relational and embodiment approaches in organisations and communities.

The aim of this book is to support a shift in culture, towards an embodied, holistic model of teaching and learning , by raising awareness, sparking curiosity and suggesting alternatives and solutions.

Embodied Education champions the creation of organisations and spaces which are trauma-informed and neurodivergent, sensory and nervous system friendly - spaces which celebrate and encourage individuality, divergence and innovation, alongside exploration, discovery and imagination.

This is a way of teaching and learning in which intuition, in addition to metacognition and critical thinking, are all go-to points of reference and gut instinct, the knowing located within the body, is honoured.

Who is this manual for?
This manual is for:
· Anyone who holds space, one-on-one or in a group setting.
· Anywhere space holding, facilitation, education or learning takes place.
· Anywhere information is exchanged.

This includes (but isn't limited to) the following venues and arenas: schools, universities, youth work, teaching, home-schooling, unschooling, health and social care services, wellness, women's circles, men's groups, self-development, night classes, befriending services, charities, social justice, parenting, holistic health and therapeutic settings, religion and spiritual spaces.

The information and approaches in this book can be used by an individual, a group or a whole organisation.

"This is the most inspiring and exciting book I have ever read on education and facilitation.
The Aldreds are proposing a much needed revolution in education; one that is body first, relational and heart-led. Their focus on embodiment, wellbeing, co-regulation and creativity is exactly what is needed for our complex world today.

The synergy of neurotypical and neurodivergent perspectives provides a radical pedagogy and facilitation approach suitable for all kinds of learners.

Everyone will benefit from their embodied approach, especially the invaluable information on trauma, stress and regulating the nervous system.

The extensive expertise and experience of Kay and Dan, as educators, shines through, as does their passion, wisdom and massive spirit of service.

This is a groundbreaking book, with a powerful vision and curriculum, in direct contrast to the outdated and energy draining curriculum most school children have to endure on a daily basis. I will personally send a copy to the UK Secretary of State for Education to influence education policy in my own country.

I urge every teacher, parent and facilitator to read this book to enable the much needed change, both within and outside the formal education system.

It will also inspire those who are home schooling and facilitating within a wide range of contexts. This is the book I have been waiting for to refresh and further inform my own teaching and coaching. I first completed my teacher training in 1980 and I have read and experimented extensively within education and pedagogy ever since.

I place this book on a par with the best educational books ever written. Especially ones that challenge the status quo and offer a radical, workable, wise and significant alternative. An extraordinary contribution to the world of learning."
​-Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, Former secondary school teacher, college lecturer and college Principal. Previous CEO of the Centre of Excellence in Leadership. Author and tutor of Goddess Luminary Leadership Wheel, and Presence Activism (to be published in 2024).

"This courageous book is a primer for these times. I want every educator, and every student, to have access to these resources. Having just created MA and PhD curricula, I have taken the concepts of somatic, embodied education expressed in this book to heart.
This book is a fundamental orientation towards any pedagogy or wisdom transmission. This is a time when we need mentors to be strong, real and present and to win the respect of their students who crave guidance and who cannot be deceived. We need the real thing, and this book has it."
-Stephanie Mines, PhD, Author of The Secret of Resilience. Developer of Regenerative Health for A Climate Changing World, Fellow of the Planetary Health Lab of the University of Edinburgh

"Kay's work on understanding regulation has been hugely influential in my work, and I'm excited to see Kay and Dan translate this learning for education settings.
Embodied Education provides an accessible overview to important theory, and practical exercises to support this learning to be applied.
Understanding the nervous system and supporting regulation is the 'missing piece' for many neurodivergent people, whose dysregulation is misunderstood and met with behavioural interventions.
I'm delighted to be able to recommend this book to educators, as it provides insight and alternative approaches that will support connection, safety, and improved outcomes that can be transformative for both practitioners and the young people they support."
-Jill Corbyn, Founder and Director of Neurodiverse Connection and the lead author on the co-produced 'It's Not Rocket Science' report into inpatient sensory environments and LGA paper 'Supporting autistic flourishing at home and beyond: considering and meeting the sensory needs of autistic people in housing'.

"Reading from the lens of peace and conflict resolution, Embodied Education is such a deep and considered manual that would be invaluable for trainers working in either post conflict communities, or with refugee communities who have experienced the unimaginable. By placing the body and trauma informed methodologies at the heart of the learning practice - this manual offers many keys to unlock learning for people who are keen to rebuild and learn but need safe space and an embodied practice to do so. The artwork is incredible too!"
-Dr Sarah Alldred, PhD in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (2003),. Currently the Head of International Partnership, The Co-operative College, Manchester.

Somatic Shamanism is a practice undertaken in a grounded, non-bypassing, and safe way. Shamanism is the life path of one who knows. The Tree of Life is the entryway of connection and travel whilst journeying. In the case of Somatic Shamanism the entry point is the body. Somatic means of the flesh and so this shamanic process cultivates your own 'fleshy knowing'.
​
Shamanism is the oldest spiritual practice known to humankind. Every culture had its own shamans - medicine women and men - and so we are all able to access our own shamanic lineage - our fleshy knowing and innate ancestral wisdom. Somatic Shamanism connects you to your body and invites you to experience it as a portal to the intelligence of your forebears. Your blood, your organs and your bones - all aspects of your embodiment - contain insight and perception.

This workbook offers you an overview of shamanism and the concept of the Tree of Life. It contains a structure and a set of exercises that take you in and through the body to activate and engage your shamanic self and knowing.

"Embark on a powerful journey of self-discovery – or indeed rediscovery – between your body "your fleshy knowing", your relationship with the natural world, and your ancestral heritage as you become the Tree of Life! Through beautiful rituals and practices illustrated with inspiring artwork alongside wonderful insights, Kay Louise Aldred gently guides you every step of the way on your path to exploring Somatic Shamanism. Her wealth of knowledge, vibrant personality, and unique spiritual vision shine throughout – and allow you to easily explore your oneness with the earth and to re-energise or re-awaken this deep interconnectedness. This powerful offering published by Girl God Books is a must-read for anyone who wishes to tap into their inner shamanic relationship between body and spirit."
-Barbara O'Meara, Visual Artist, Writer and Celtic Shamanic Practitioner

"Where our minds are vexed by modernity, with even our wilder hopes limited by reason and logic, our creaturely bodies house and animate our strangest imaginations. We live all possibilities out loud through our bodies. We speak through our skin. We wield the intelligence of the flesh, our "fleshy knowings" as Kay Louise Aldred describes them. Move through this workbook like a prayer; it's a beautiful and timely achievement."
-Danielle Dulsky, Founder of The Hag School, Author of The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman and Bones & Honey: A Heathen Prayer Book

Check out the Online Course here.

Making Love with the Divine: Sacred, Ecstatic and Erotic Experiences

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.

Written and Edited by Kay Louise Aldred.
​
"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.

​