Reader, after yesterday's email, I received a couple of responses in my inbox asking about the Discord community.
- How important is it that I be present in the community?
- What if I don't want to download or be on Discord at all?
- Will I get what I need from the Sanctuary if the community aspect isn't for me?
- I've had some not-so-great experiences in online communities, how is this space protected?
These are incredibly thoughtful questions that there isn't space for on an invitation page, so I'm going to do that here.
Personally, I'm hesitant to download new apps, especially since I already have so many ways to communicate and connect with people. So when I tell you that I took the Discord/community aspect of the Sanctuary seriously, you'd probably still underestimate the number of hours I've mulled this over.
Sam (my right-hand-person for my business and the Sanctuary) and I have spent hours, together and on our own, sifting through options to create a space for the folks who are running to this space to huddle around the fire with the community, and those who would rather walk their mythosomatic journey with me, the seasonal guide, and their own lantern.
There are TWO digital spaces, and there is overlap between them.
Discord: This is the active community space where I will post prompts, be available to respond to you, and you can be in your own constellation spaces sharing with one another, or writing and sharing your mythosomatic stories for witnessing.
In addition to community space, there's an announcements channel for updates and a channel for events which will have the links for upcoming calls.
ThriveCart Learn: This is the cave that holds all of the resources and call replays for the Sanctuary, and is a general orientation space. You'll be directed here from Discord to make sure you get the call replays, for additional materials I provide, and to grab links for discounted sessions if you need them.
There is overlap between the two spaces. A lot of the information you need is shared in both places for those of you who don't want the community aspect. You can come directly to the ThriveCart Learn space and get what you need.
I'll send weekly emails on Sunday.
Think of these emails as a "what happened last week, and where are we headed" orientation. They will include any prompts or practices offered in the Discord space the previous week, links to recordings if we had a call the previous week, highlighting Discord conversations that seemed particularly potent, and then looking ahead to what's coming. You'll receive links and times for this week's call (if there is one) and themes that may come up to work with.
This is your Mythosomatic Digest. If you don't want to be in the Discord space, it's got your back. It'll also keep us oriented and moving in the same direction.
I fully trust that you'll receive what you need.
Not everyone learns the same way, and not everyone needs the same support. You may also find that over time in the Sanctuary, your needs ebb and flow and transform. What you didn't want or need at the beginning may become incredibly important to you six to eight months in. Or you may back away from what was important and find something else within the space that's offered.
I designed the Sanctuary with this in mind.
I don't believe there is possibly a way you can "miss out" by following your body, your wants, needs, and desires.
Some people may join this space and only ever engage with the replays and prompts on their own with their journal. They may need the structure and what's offered, but their experience may be more of the hermit archetype.
Others will join and be incredibly active in the community and ask for witnessing for their shares because their body craves visibility and taking up space, and it's a space that feels safe to do so.
You have two people to turn to in the Sanctuary: myself and Sam.
Sam will actually be participating in the calls with this first constellation group as the Mythosomatic Sanctuary begins its inaugural season. You'll get to know them, they won't just be a faceless support person.
There are two modules in ThriveCart that delineate what support I can offer and when, and what support Sam can offer and when. Jokingly: how best to utilize our energy. When you join, I encourage you to read these so you know how to access the support you need or who to come to on your mythosomatic travels. If at any point you feel like you're not receiving what you hoped for or need, reach out to us.
Safety in the community is important, and so is relationship.
The Discord server won't open until January 5th, and before you can start participating, there are Community Standards and Discord Guidelines. The first helps to shape the environment of our community space, the second is for specifics about posting, boundaries, etc.
The Community Standards are a living document, and a way to communicate clear intentions for our digital community space, while also providing you with guidance to make this a respectful place of support and embodied exploration.
Think of our community as a brave space more than a safe space, as it’s not possible to guarantee safety. However, we will make every effort and take the steps necessary to cultivate a shared environment that centers empathy, consent, self-safety, and somatic sovereignty.
While it gets more specific, the Community Standards cover the following topics:
- Centering our humanity
- Caring for each other in our differences
- Respecting our nervous systems, and
- Honoring your truth, and being responsible for your trauma
I pulled an example of the ethos of this space from the "Respecting our Nervous Systems" category. It reads, "You’re not expected to be 'the healer' or 'the holder' in this space. Join into conversations that feel good, but don’t feel required to be there for each and every person or share. This is a reciprocal space, you get to practice showing up for each other within your given capacity. You are allowed, and even invited, to be asymmetrically involved in this community. No one is keeping score."
Additionally, we have outlined how we'll handle ruptures in the Community Standards, and there is an anonymous feedback form if you ever don't feel comfortable coming forward about something.
Your Mythosomatic journey is what you make it.
In short (after a very long email!), everything in the Mythosomatic Sanctuary is an invitation.
Pick and choose what you need for your journey and what feels good at the time.
Leave what doesn't.
Trust that you'll receive what you need, and I'm here to support you.
Standing at the gates,
Ash
P.S. The coupon code is already applied when you click the button above!
P.P.S. This early-bird 20% off period is for those who are ready to trust-fall into this work. You may have noticed I haven't talked at all about what the actual journey will be like, the Realms of Bone and Organ that we descend into first as Marrowkeepers, or the Ancient Storyteller guide. Other than to name them. This is coming later this week and throughout December until the gates close on Dec. 22nd.
P.P.P.S. If you want the personal support of individual check-ins with me and 1:1 work between the group calls, you're ready for your Descent.