Phoebe Maroulis

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Invite to the loony bin

April 14, 2021 by Phoebe Maroulis in Creativity, healing, mental health, Wellbeing

My family and I are immensely privileged to be custodians of a stunning piece of the Australian landscape, and a studio, on the Macquarie River, just west of Dubbo, which the AirBnB platform has allowed us to share with over 230 guests over the last 4 years. That brings me great joy.

A couple of years ago I found myself in a really uncomfortable mental space and having tried, what I thought at the time, was everything, with no improvement, my last ditch effort was to admit myself to a psych hospital. The three week stay was the turning point I needed, but it didn't need to be that extreme, it was just that it was the only option left available to me, or so I thought.

The element I needed most from the experience was the excuse to totally dropout of society for that period, to turn off my phone, to sleep without guilt, to be fed without cooking, to have the responsibilities of being a mum, an employee, a wife, a sister, a committee member, a daughter and even a friend, removed for a bit.

One day during my stay I took myself up to the local cinema (a huge feat given my aversion to human contact at the time), bought a gargantuan box of popcorn and watched the soapiest film I could find. I came back to the hospital and cried and journaled and cried some more, it was intensely cathartic and not something I was able to do in my "normal" day to day because demands on my time would always kick in which meant that I wasn't able to let myself unravel.

On other days I would spend as much time as possible in the art room, just creating for the sake of spending the moment with a brush in my hand. I really enjoyed the banter of the others in the room, laughing about how we were deemed the loonies and yet here we were able to indulge in what has become in our upside down culture, the rare luxury of creative, healing, connecting time. We mused on the fact that actually we might be the sane ones!

So what's the connection to these two seemingly incongruous points? I would like to make our studio space available as a "loony bin" for anyone who just needs to tap out for a bit. My lived experience of mental wellbeing is that it's the circuit breakers, no matter how big or small, that make the most impact. An opportunity to break the cycle, to catch your breath, to see with fresh eyes and most importantly to let yourself receive the gift of nature and the human spirit.

If you, or someone you know, needs time out (and not in the naughty corner!) get in touch, we'll hatch a plan, I can do loony mates rates!

For more info follow this link Riverside studio or email me.

April 14, 2021 /Phoebe Maroulis
mental health, wellbeing, creativity
Creativity, healing, mental health, Wellbeing
1 Comment
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Anchor to the tide

April 12, 2021 by Phoebe Maroulis in empowerment, journey, Lasting Love, Relationships

My husband, Sam, is currently on an epic adventure, travelling with my brother in-law James, from Adelaide to Darwin on pushbikes (I might be biased but I think their Instagram page is well worth following @mexican_fisherman).

So it’s giving me plenty of time to muse, on relationship, adventure, risk & reward, support, connection, commitment (you know how I like a good muse!).

Todays musing bi-product is this

The tide pulls his ship in and out, in and out

She holds fast to the anchor

A mermaid on the sea, waiting

For the pirate to find his gold.

April 12, 2021 /Phoebe Maroulis
relationships, support, wellbeing
empowerment, journey, Lasting Love, Relationships
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Revenge of the gut

June 02, 2015 by Phoebe Maroulis in healing, Love, Essence, self esteem

Getting back in shape ASAP.

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June 02, 2015 /Phoebe Maroulis
diet, wellbeing, fitness, exercise
healing, Love, Essence, self esteem
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Get well soon

May 15, 2015 by Phoebe Maroulis in Choice, mental health, resilience, self awareness, healing

Whilst sick, received a friendly advice to "lean in to the healing, take your time to heal deeply."

So for the past few days I have chosen differently.  It is a challenge when there are still kids to care for, a business to run and life to live but I have been conscious in my choices, actively leaning in and asking myself what I need to heal.  I have been journalling, resting, sitting in the sun quietly and trying to be mindful of what my body, mind and soul are calling for in each moment and I know that because of this extra time and attention this week I will be "well" more often into the future. When someone is unwell now I will encourage them to lean into the healing, to get well deeper and to stay well longer.

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May 15, 2015 /Phoebe Maroulis
wellbeing, empowerment, resilience, recuperate, wellness, mindfulness, healing
Choice, mental health, resilience, self awareness, healing
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So You Think You Can Dance

May 08, 2014 by Phoebe Maroulis in Communication, Creativity, Self expression

Dance is a powerful form of non-verbal communication.  It is a means of expression of the soul.

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May 08, 2014 /Phoebe Maroulis
being heard, being, challenge, change the world, communication, community engagement, Confidence, contribution, creativity, dance, entelechy, essence, expression, Mourad Merzouki, movement, self expression, voice, whole person, wholeness, wellbeing
Communication, Creativity, Self expression
2 Comments

Release your Entelechy through conscious choice

February 28, 2014 by Phoebe Maroulis in Change, Entelechy, self awareness, Wellbeing

n this moment you have the opportunity to choose.  Just because you have chosen differently in the past does not mean you have to continue to choose that way in the present.

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February 28, 2014 /Phoebe Maroulis
entelechy, self awareness, conscious choices, wellbeing, wellness, Deepak Chopra
Change, Entelechy, self awareness, Wellbeing
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