Developing Your Eldership Niche
A TWO DAY "IN-PERSON" COMMUNITY UK RETREAT with ZENA ME
Are you ready to step more deeply into Eldership?
Do you want to find your unique niche?
Would you like to come together in a safe, caring community to share and learn with others who share your own Vision?
This is a rare opprotunity for a small group of people in our Elder's Community to come together in person with me to spend over two days looking at your own Eldership Journey and exploring in more depth your unique Eldership Niche...
Why an Inperson Retreat?
As we approach midlife we often struggle with our sense of identity and as we face older age, our diminishing sense of agency.This is because, particulalry in our Western world, growing older is linked to a belief that we no longer having anything to 'contribute' to (our increasingly consumer) Society.This can then make us (wrongly) believe that as we get older we lack power and agency.Our previous identities have been enshrined in ‘labels’ which are often associated with the roles we've held in the systems we've belonged to such as CEO, Director, Manager, Consultant, Coach,Therapist etcWe've even been constrained by the roles we've inhabited in our families such as wife, husband, mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother and as we enter midlife this can also include 'carer'...But when we step into becoming an Elder, it involves walking a different path.Eldership isn't about how old you are.Eldership is a (missing) 'function' in our (Western) Society and to fully embody this role you will need to deeply understand how you will serve the community(s) that you'll 'Elder', whether that's organisations, social groups or your own family.Like all Life Stages, Eldership involves a 'Rite of Passage'.This isn't about attending a learning programme or a series of workshops... or even a Retreat...It's about learning the path of Eldership through being in Community.It's about committing to the 'Call' and saying "Yes" to the Soul journey.To step onto the path of Eldership you will need to explore what your unique eldership niche is.That is:
- Who are the people YOU (want to) work with?
- Who and what do you want to be a GUIDE for? And
- What are you a unique AUTHORITY on?This isn’t solely based on your past work experience or your professional expertise, but the ‘patterns’ and ‘wounds’ that you intrinsically embody and inhabit through your own life’s experience and that of your Ancestral System.And that's why I've created this special Retreat...To create a Sacred Space for those who'd like to meet in person other beautiful members of the Elder's Community and to build a safe container to explore more deeply your own path to Eldership.
A Special In-Person Retreat
Join us in the beautiful Lancashire hills, in the Northwest of England for a fascinating and exciting exploration retreat.This is a lovely (and rare) opportunity to join with me and a small group from our Elders' community who wish to meet in person to learn and explore more deeply the path to their own Eldership.We will gather around 5.30pm on Friday 6th September and spend over two days and two evenings when we will depart around 5.30pm on the Sunday 8th September.
The Two Day In-Person Retreat
In this two day in-person retreat you will have:1. Explored in depth your own unique niche though the lens of the Systemic Eldership Niche Model2. Identified the parts of the model you need to focus more deeply on3. Illuminated the hidden loyalties, patterns and sacred contracts that are currently inhibiting your ability to Elder4. Constellated elements of the model to explore the hidden resources and gifts that lie waiting to be re-membered in your system5. Developed a plan to implement the next part of your unique Eldership Journey.
The Structure Of The Retreat
The structure of the day will include:- The (ongoing) building a strong container to create a feeling of love, safety, community and curiosity,- Gentle morning yoga to take you more embodied into the day- Teaching on elements of the model and what underpins it (centred around what's relevant to the group),- Small group exercises using creative processes to explore each part of the model- Whole group constellations with each personto explore more deeply your eldership niche- Time out to reflect either alone or with each other around the insights and the learnings- Rituals and ceremonies to create a more deeper and lasting learning experience.
"Zena is a courageous leader and this is the ‘Gold’ for me.She journeyed with me to bring me to a greater understanding about my Eldership Niche and how I impact social systems.Since working with Zena I’m starting to attract the right people to work with, both professionally and personally".
- Rosie McGuigan, Counsellor and Coach
Your Eldership Niche
"Your deepest wounds are the doorway to your truest niche" - Tad Hargrave
Using the Eldership Nichining Model, which encapsulates twenty five years of my research into the field of Life Stages and Eldership, you will get the opportunity to dive more deeply into your own relationship with the Journey To Eldership.The Niching Model was inspired by Tad Hargrave's work on Niching, Julia Cameron's Artist Way and incorporates the teachings of Bert Hellinger, John Whittington, Harrison Snow, Sarah Peyton, Haether Plett, Gillian Kelly and Jan Jacob Stam.I've been actively using and testing this model working with people in both a personal and professional capacity.A Brief Explanation of the Model:Birth / Location / Land / Time / Culture -
This is an area we rarely explore in much depth, but it's the founding roots to who we are and what our unique niche is. It includes where you were born, when were you born (your generation), where you were raised, your culture and what's your relationship to the land. It also includes exploring the story of the land and the (often hidden) collective trauma that it holds.Ancestors & History -
This includes mapping and exploring the story of your ancestry, where were they from, what happened to them? As Elders we see the Ancestors as a potential ‘resource’ who we have inside of our being. We commune with them and seek their wisdom from their life and their stories.Systemic Wounds & Patterns -
We all have wounds, some of them are ours from old traumas we've been through. Some are what we carry through our ancestral lines. Some are hidden too. In eldership it's essential that we know our traumas and wounds and we can identify (and transform) the patterns (and archetypes) that are unconsciously holding us in our 'survivor' self.Gifts & Talents -
What unique talents and gifts do we bring? These could be inherited or be part of our original soul's code. They may even have emerged through the healing of old wounds and trauma. We often have to filter these gifts from the skills and knowledge we have gained, so they can become more visible and recognised. Sometimes we need the courage and confidence to allow those hidden gifts we have to be (safely) seen.Vibe & Essence -
What makes you, "You"? What's your own 'X' factor? Like with your gifts and talents, we often find we've adapted ourselves to feel safe in the many systems we've belonged to. This involves the process of exploring parts of ourselves that we hide or don't feel confident to express openly, for fear of being rejected. These inhibit our ability to express our true essence and soul presence and makes it hard for our 'ideal people' to find us.Leading Principles -
What's your 'Credo'? What is it you stand for? What are the beliefs and values that guide your life and your work and who you are. This process involves not only defining these principles but by also ordering them. What comes first? This order changes the essence of your Eldership and helps you to communicate with much greater clarity so that your ideal clients (people) and community understand the boundaries.Point of View (Your Philosophy)-
We often shy away from being upfront and clear about the 'message' we bring. Having a strong and clear point of view enables others to quickly feel if they are a good 'fit' with you. This isn't about being dogmatic and opinionated, but gently being clear about what you think and what you believe. This will change of course, it isn't fixed. But it brings a depth of integrity to your eldership and differentiates you from others.Structure & Systems -
Energy needs structure. We need to build systems and structure to our work as Elders in order to organise, manage and potentially delegate to others so we can expand our work as Elders. To be an Elder we need to be able to sustain our work. To do this needs for us to put in place robust strictures and systems.Ideal Clients & Community -
We need to be clear and upfront about 'who' we can and can't work with. To have the greatest impact with our work as Elders, we need to understand that we can't be an Elder to everyone and anyone. Part of the journey to finding our niche is to deeply understand 'who' we are a fit for (and who not). We often get stuck here like Cinderella trying to make our foot fit into a shoe that wasn't made for us! This takes time and trial and error before we start to see where our work is being 'called' for. It also involves a filtering process which takes time and patience.
"Zena was exceptional at holding space"...which enabled me to explore my own story , uncovering patterns and entanglements that I had previously been blind to.
I was able to clarify my purpose, my niche and a much clearer point of view, integrating my authentic self into my way of being.
It's Zena’s perfect balance of support, challenge, education, coaching and wise insights that are empowering and game changing"
- Chief People Officer
Your Investment
Spaces are limited so if you're interested please book soon...Timings:
Arrival: 5.30pm Friday 6th September 2024
Departure: 5.30pm Sunday 8th September 2024All prices include:
- The Two Day Retreat
- Your Accommodation
- All Meals and refreshments
Accommodation:
Shared Cottage - (Two sharing)
Early Bird Booking (Before 7th August): £870
Late Booking: £970
Details: https://rossendaleholidaycottages.co.uk/holiday-cottagesPrivate Lodge -
Early Bird Booking (Before 7th August): £1,100
Late Booking: £1,200
Details: https://rossendaleholidaycottages.co.uk/lodgesAll accommodation has their own private kitchen and bathrooms.Payment Plan:Deposit (to secure your place): £100
Final Payment: No later than Friday 23rd August 2024
"I received a gift of attending a workshop on the theme of Eldership run by the amazing Zena Me.I actually planned to be on the beach that day. But as I am used to listening to my body’s wisdom I had a clear call to go to this event.I thought I’d only stay till lunch time to see what it was about and then go to the beach. Then I stayed till the afternoon tea break and then till the end.And it was absolutely worth it.Somehow the theme turned out to be very close to what I work with - becoming a good ancestor - but also it was for me personally.We talked about Eldership as a role in the society, not necessarily defined by age but more by wisdom and facilitation of wisdom. The functions of Eldership included ancestral healing, rights of passage and building communities, which resonated for me strongly.Eldership included everything about ourselves from our background and collective history to our gifts and wounds and niche of expertise. Which is exactly what a living future ancestor is too.There were so many wonderful lessons and inspirations to mull over that it will take me some time to pull it all together but I already feel it shifting the way I see my work and the containers I create.Maybe its time (for me) to create a community of future ancestors?"- Aleksandra Shymina, asconstellations.co.uk
"Zena’s ability to deeply listen to the field's wisdom and bring her wealth of understanding, experience, intuition and insights is absolutely fantastic to witness.I’ve been able to address very deep trauma and professional issues, sometimes within the same session".- Laila-Elizabeth Risdon, Founding Partner, Chief Exec