The Soul Garden: conversations for Midlife Living

Do you find yourself sometimes wishing that you could connect into something bigger, into nature to help you feel grounded or to help you through the tough stuff? In this episode of the Soul Garden we are going to look at plant essences, which are beautiful, beautiful bridge builders between us and the natural world. I hope you enjoy this episode with me, Georgina Langdale and the Soul Garden.
Plant essences invite us to observe the natural world more deeply and for us to become really cognizant of our resonances with the natural world. The resonances that can bring us back into balance that can support us through the tough stuff of life.  In doing this, we start really tapping into an ancient way of being with the natural world. We start to see ourselves reflected in nature around us, and we start to find our natural allies. And this is absolutely beautiful nature therapy. This is medicine for the soul.
For further training and information on plant essences look in the Training and Coaching sections on my website: archeus.nz
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
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Setting up your own business can be incredibly exciting, rewarding and stimulating – but it can also be hard!
I learned two things (possibly the hard way!) in pursuing my dream of creating Archeus and the Centre for Nature Connection. One was: you are going to learn more about courage than you ever realized you needed to know; and the other thing is you should never be afraid to reach out and ask for help or guidance.
In this week’s episode I talked to business coach, Tony Walker, about the role a business coach can play in helping you as you build your dream.
You can find out more about Tony at Tony Walker Coaching
Tony's radio programme is on Radio Kidnappers
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
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This week’s guest is Joanna Huriwai. Joanna is many things including: mother, friend, nurse, sister, midwife, rabble rouser and druid. In this episode Joanna and I explore things that bring meaning and comfort to our lives, especially in the face of a life-limiting illness.
I first met Joanna and her family when I was asked to spend time with them talking about end of life care. This meeting coincided with the druid Grove of the Summer Stars gathering for the Samhuinn festival which marks summer’s end. Our discussion explores family, relationships, love and the people and things that are important in our life. We talk about how our society has got so scared of death, yet it is a natural part of life. We talk about Tikanga Maori and contemporary care.
The Druid philosophy is inextricably linked with Nature and this connection to the natural world radiates through this discussion. If you are interested in finding out more about Druidry check out www.druidry.org 
If you are at the bedside of someone who is nearing the end of life you may find some ideas in this blog helpful. 
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
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How can we help our much loved pets as their end draws near? The bond between our animals can be so, so strong and so when the time comes that they are dying we want to be able to do all we can to support them through their last days, hours or moments of life.
Caring for our beloved pets at the end of their life is as important, as necessary, as heartbreaking and as beautiful as caring for the humans we love. We can also feel the same sense of helplessness and a deep desire to do everything we can to help them feel loved, feel comforted and feel seen, right to the very end.
A large part of my work is helping people navigate life - and the end of life. But it is not just our human loved one's that we grieve for. It is our animals too. People have asked me how they can help their animals when they reach the end of their life.
I decided to create this guided meditation to help draw people even closer to the creatures they love. It is a way of working with energy and is a balm for human and animal alike. It may help you focus the ‘lovebeam’ on your pet as you support it in its last days.
This guided meditation is lovely to do with the animal with you, but you can also do it across distance. Energy is wonderful like that, it flows where you need it to go. The meditation starts at around 4 minutes in, but I encourage you to listen to the whole recording the first time through.
Georgina xx
 
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina

In this episode of the The Soul Garden, Georgina Langdale is joined by Dr. Tess Moeke-Maxwell to discuss work being done to support Māori whānau (families) to provide care to adults and kaumātua (older people) at end of life.In our discussion Tess talks about identity, dislocation from traditional customs and how we have to prepare our whanau and our health professionals for getting things right so we can all care better for family and individuals at the end of life.We discuss the Pei Herenga study, its genesis and the inspiring website www.teipoaronui.co.nz that is a stunning outcome of the work done by so many.Te Ipu Aronui celebrates  traditional methods of nurturing and caring, and the leadership that unites and strengthens whānau. The website also celebrates the inspiring ways that whānau adapt their tikanga (customs) to respond to their cultural preferences and needs.My gratitude and thanks to Tess for this discussion.Georgina LangdaleTo explore further visitTe Ipu Aronui - https://www.teipuaronui.co.nz/
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina

‘Conscious dying’ is a term that is starting to weave its way into the zeitgeist but what does it actually mean? Like hospice staff and palliative care providers, increasingly I’m also being asked that question.In this podcast we take a look at what conscious dying means and how the emergence of conscious dying as a term in the end-of-life care space creates an opportunity for a shift in communication style for health professionals and patients. 
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina

Being at the bedside as someone we love is dying is painful, and heartbreaking, and profound. So to be honest, when it gets to this moment, we need all the help we can get, yet so many people are so afraid to talk about this stuff. Here are some lessons I've learned about being at the bedside with people who are dying.If you would like to find out more about  training I offer that brings nature, compassion and soul to care at the end of life, check out my website:archeus.nzAnd if you'd like to hear more of my conversation with Thomas Moore, check out the podcast interview with him in the previous episode.
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina

In this episode of the Soul Garden I am joined by Thomas Moore, bestselling author, psychotherapist, former monk, and musician. Known for his international bestseller Care of the Soul, I first discovered the magic that is Thomas through his book The Planets Within, about the 15th century philosopher and ‘physician of the Soul’,  Marsilio Ficino.
In this interview we look at soul therapy through the lens of End of Life care. 
We contemplate the healing power of nature
The art of conversation
The beauty of music
And the inspiration of Ficino and the ancients.
Thomas Moore’s new book Soul Therapy – is published by Harper One and available in all good bookshops, online and as an audio CD version.
You can find his Soul Psychology course at thomasmooresoul.com
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina

In this episode of the Soul Garden, Georgina Langdale is joined by third generation funeral director, Terry Longley in a warm, thoughtful and informative discussion on what happens after someone dies. Statistics say that most people will only have direct experience of having to manage the funeral of 2.3 people in a lifetime. That doesn't give us much practice at knowing what to do!So in this interview Georgina and Terry explore the deathcare landscape in New Zealand and a range of topics including:
The role of the funeral director
The importance of visitation
How to care for a body at home
Embalming 
Deaths referred to the Coroner
and what do do if someone dies at home
Many thanks to Terry Longley for taking part in this episode. You can find him at http://www.tlas.co.nz/
You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina

Rob McGowan, or Pa Ropata as he is also known, is one of this country’s national living treasures. He has loved plants ever since he was old enough to grab one in his tiny fist. His fascination grew when he was given responsibility for looking after the fernery at the Greenmeadows seminary in Hawke’s Bay while training to be a Marist priest, and later, when he returned to his hometown of Whanganui and learned about the medicinal uses of plants from local kaumatua, Maori elders.
Since retiring from the priesthood over 25 years ago, Pa has devoted his life to ensuring that matauranga Maori (traditional Maori knowledge) is being woven into conservation management, thus ensuring not only the preservation of indigenous trees used for rongoa Maori, or traditional Maori medicine, but also the culture that surrounds it. 
Tiwaiwaka is a collection of principles and a shared vision that he believes will empower us to create a long term future for us and especially for the generations that follow us.Rob joined me in the apothecary today and shared some of that vision.These are gentle words of wisdom from a beautiful man.You can find out more and subscribe to Rob's newsletter at www.tiwaiwaka.nzYou can find our about the ways I can help you work with the medicine of the land at archeus.nz
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You can find my offerings at archeus.nz
Instagram: @ArcheusNaturalLivingFacebook @ArcheusNaturalLivingYoutube @ArcheusGeorgina