SEA CHANGE FOR THE SOUL

Stressed? Tired and overworked?  Perhaps it’s time for a ‘Sea Change’ for the Soul?
 
“Be the change you want to see in the world” said Mahatma Gandhi.
 
There’s climate-change, sea-change, tree-change and even me-change. But can there be such a thing as soul change? Founders of a new course at Earth Institute in Australia seem to think so.
 
Human beings have long believed that through changing their careers, location or home environment that their lives will improve or it will bring more happiness. Throughout history in fact man has ever been on the conquest to live a better life and has traveled wide and far in search of better lands.

Little wonder then that in 2006 more than 150,000 Australians reportedly made the switch to live on the coast or country and that over two million Australians have scaled back or downshifted over the past ten years. Authors of ‘Affluenza ­ when too much is never enough’ (Allen &
 Unwin, 2005), Dr. Clive Hamilton and Richard Denniss found there’s a rising trend in ‘downshifters’ who can be described as people who make a conscious decision to accept lower income and lower consumption in order to pursue other life goals. In the same way that a sea-change promises endless days of ease living by the coast, a tree-change conjures up images of an uncomplicated and slower paced lifestyle in the bush.
 
However according to Paul Perfrement, Founder of Earth Institute, the Australian center for transformation, education and consciousness, there is an emerging thought whereby one doesn’t have to go anywhere to improve their life.

“It’s just not always practical to pack up your bags and move to the seaside,” he says. “When people plan for a sea change their plans often fail to include the recognition that they are actually packing themselves off too! A sea change for the soul is more than simply making changes in your external world. A true sea change can only come about for those ready to relate with a new attitude to life. A soul change transforms our inner life so we’re freed to be alive and whole wherever we are.”

Perhaps we can take a leaf from Thomas Moore, a distinguished scholar, theologian and author who says that there are ways in which all of us can deepen our everyday experience wherever we are, right now. He is reported to have said, “The soul is our universe, vast, mysterious and powerful and yet no aspect of our psyche is more neglected than our soul.” His work shows that through connecting with our soul we are able to transform our lives at any given moment. According to Moore, early philosophers and alchemists knew this truth and thus did not seek quick fix solutions for challenges along the way. Instead, they engaged their soul to nourish their lives.
 
“There are so many people searching to understand themselves and their world,” says Paul. “This is why we have created a unique series of courses if the Sea Change for the Soul, re-enchanting your life from the inside out.”

.In 2008, Earth Institute launches ‘Sea Change for the Soul’
 
“We don’t tell people what to do, we assist them in finding the answer that is right for them,² says Paul. “It’s about providing a safe place for that exploration.”
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Paul Perfrement is Director of the Earth Institute - a college, consultancy and centre for life and work fulfilment and care of the future. Located in Sydney, we provide education and development opportunities to address the current challenges facing individuals, organisations and the global community. We offer a series of professional studies, individual consultations, life programs and corporate and coaching services in these and other exciting areas:  Shamanic and Energetic Healing;  Contemporary Astrology;  Corporate Services;  Psychodrama;  Shamanic Journey;  Eco Meditation and  lots more.