Wildflowers’ Movement
Mindful Peer Support, Self-awareness, and Radical Wellness
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WILDFLOWERS’ MOVEMENT is a collaboration of giving and receiving mindful peer support, self-awareness, and radical wellness.Philosophy: Eco-Consciousness
Being eco-conscious of our own body, mind, and spirit is at the heart of being eco-conscious of our environment… And being eco-conscious of our environment is being eco-conscious of our body, mind, and spirit… for they are ONE in the same…
All are welcome. We believe a true community that embraces diversity is the solution.
The Wildflowers’ Movement is a collaborative space that utilizes the process of giving and receiving mindful support to practice self-awareness, cultivate radical wellness, and celebrate diversity.In vast meadows thriving with life, flowers bloom as a natural consequence of the environment. While perhaps of the same species, each blossom retains its own nature, and opens its colors to the sky as though in offering to the great cycle of existence.In the Wildflowers’ Movement, it is our philosophy that as individuals, we resemble the meadow flower. Though we are distinct as people we are not separate, that though our expressions of life fluctuate we can still become a part of the lustrous whole by recognizing our interconnectedness and inner beauty through self-awareness and community building.The Wildflowers’ Movement accepts and welcomes people with diverse histories and backgrounds, especially those who have experienced health issues firsthand. It is our contention that experience should not be formulated as a pathology of symptoms, but rather as a wide array of wealth and knowledge to be gleaned from our first hand encounters with life that have informed us in unique ways. It is through sharing our insights and understandings that we come to strengthen our community amid potentially alienating environments and circumstances, that we positively build on the self in the manner of spiritual alchemists who turn the lead of experience into the gold of realization and awareness.You are welcome to the group for whichever reason you feel you should be. No matter how alienated you are by the world around you, no matter how out of step or disconnected you might feel, you are not alone. We believe that true community which embraces diversity is the solution.
Self-acceptance is the key to recognizing who we truly are.Self-awareness is having a clear perception of our personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions. Self-awareness allows us to understand other people, how they perceive us, our attitude and our responses to them in the moment.Self-consciousness, including super-consciousness, is the mental activity through which we feel a sense of being or existing as a unique and total individual. This notion comes out of reflexive philosophy and its derivatives that hold that the human faculty of consciousness, apparent to itself and having itself as its object, marks the primacy of consciousness in the definition of the human psyche. This sense of identity, this initial subjective stance, is established gradually, being linked with the general development of the human mind in its relationship to itself and the outside world.Self-awareness and self-consciousness, and super-consciousness are to be cultivated daily in order to maintain our self-acceptance.
Wildflowers’ Movement
next meeting:
TUESDAY January 14th, 2025
12pm to 1pm Pacific Time
Now on Eventbrite!
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.-Martin Luther King
True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.-Helen Keller
The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything. Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.-Albert Einstein
Wildflowers’ Movement
About
Wildflowers’ Movement is the soulchild of Denise Maratos, who also describes "radical wellness", as in cultivating wellness from the roots up. She began the group in 2010, with a few loyal attendees who understood the importance of peer support. She has been the support group facilitator for many diverse groups of people. She had been working in the healthcare field before experiencing her own extraordinary experiences over 25 years ago. After being diagnosed with an array of psychiatric “disorders”, she survived the entanglement of the psychiatric system, and embarked upon a journey of healing and self-discovery. She identifies as a psychiatric survivor. She does not identify with any psychiatric label given to her. She identifies as a Wildflower.
Denise Maratos, Founder & Leader of Wildflowers’ Movement
Denise is a depth psychologist, coach, and consultant in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, CA where she practices psychotherapy, coaching and consulting sessions. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and has conducted research on extraordinary experiences, otherwise known as numinous experiences, often called “psychosis”, “schizophrenia”, “schizo-affective”, “dissociative”, etc. by the biomedical model. She is an Educator with a Ed.M. from Harvard University, and hopes her research informs the public about the identity issues brought forth from diagnosing people with subjective labels. She is on the executive committee of ISPS-US and she has been a speaker for several mental health advocacy conferences. If you wish to get in touch with her, please email her at: info@WildflowersMovement.com. You may also view her website at Depth Emergence and see her profile at Psychology Today, Denise Maratos.
Sandra Cheng, Co-Leader & Website designer
of Wildflowers’ Movement
Sandra Cheng is a primary support group facilitator who was working at Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Services with National Alliance of Mental Illness when she met Denise, who at the time was one of the trainers for UCLA Mindful Self-directed Recovery. Her lived experience with schizo-affective disorder as rediagnosed in 2002 and schizophrenia disorganized type (2000) after two psychiatric hospitalizations gives her invaluable insight to the work. She is also an artist who graduated with an MFA from USC School of Cinematic Arts in the animation department in 2005. "PedantPhilia", an award-winning short film was based on real life circumstances related to symptoms of her first psychotic break. She designs and maintains the websites for the Wildflowers’ Movement and other organizations. If you wish to get in touch with Sandra, please email her at
Wildflowers’ Movement@gmail.com
"I spent years and years trying to find a word or term to define myself with an occupation, profession, or job title until one day I looked at the way a flower grew, it had no notion it was a flower, all it needed to know was that it could keep growing towards the light. Grow towards the Light"
-Unknown
Peer . Support & Mentoring
Mindful Peer Support is a collaboration of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful. Mindful Peer Support is one of three guiding principles that Wildflowers’ Movement provides for its group members.Peer mentoring or coaching is a service offered by an experienced peer to a peer that needs support and coaching through a difficult period, day or moment.Mindful Peer Support is not based on psychiatric models and diagnostic criteria. It is about understanding an other’s situation emphatically through shared experiences and perspectives. When people find affiliation with others they feel are ”like” them, they feel a connection. This connection, or affiliation, is a deep, holistic understanding based on mutual experience where people are able to “be” with each other without the constraints of traditional (therapist/client) relationships.
Peer to peer support is offered through the group as a whole. If you are interested in individual peer mentoring services, we do have peer mentors & coaches who are experienced and available to offer their services. The rates are negotiated between you and your peer mentor. For information, please email Peer Mentor.
Be sure to include your email, phone number, day and time preferences and your needs, so that we are able to recommend the appropriate peer mentor to you.
The Los Angeles Times (12/18/96) reported that an eight year study showed that peer-support alcoholism treatment was as effective as professional treatment. Many peers say it is even more effective than professional treatment.
There is hard evidence which establishes a link between participation in peer support groups and improvement in symptoms of physical and mental issues. Dr. Louis J. Medvene, UCLA
A study reported in Behavior Therapy (1985) compared a professional weight loss program with peer support groups and found those in the peer support groups lost equal amounts of weight for a fraction of the cost.
Wildflowers’ Movement
MEMBERSHIP
If you are interested in becoming involved with our movement, you may join us online selected Tuesdays 9am – 10am Pacific. Please check our Home page or Contacts Page for our next date!To be informed about other gatherings and meeting times please write to us at: [email protected] or
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Wildflowers’ Movement
Resources
New Events
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This calendar includes all Wildflowers' Movement events as well as upcoming events from around the world. Please click on each event for details.
Creative Expressions: Photography
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Reference: Tables
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Gatherings
Want a text reminders for our groups?
Our next Wildflowers’ Movement meeting is January 14th, 2025
from 12pm to 1pm Pacific or 3pm to 4pm Eastern.You will receive three reminder emails for each date if you have signed up for our newsletters. Each newsletter may have up to four related mental health resources. You may opt out at any time.
You may check our new EventBrite page to purchase tickets to register for the Zoom link to attend our meetings as they become available.
Click here or paste this URL into your browser:
https://WildflowersMovement2024.eventbrite.com
Wildflowers’ Movement meetings usually start with check ins, introductions, & group guidelines. At the heart of group, we may either have discussion after reading a health related article, or we may choose a creative activity. We end with affirmations and goals.
Can't meet at our regular times?
Here’s a link to our survey about scheduling meetings.
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If you are interested in becoming more involved with our movement,
please contact us to share resources, collaborate, or receive a link to our next zoom meeting.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Contact Us
If you are interested in becoming more involved with our movement, please contact us to share resources, collaborate, or receive a link to our next zoom meeting.
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Please join us online
for Wildflowers’ Movement on Zoom
Tuesday January 14th, 2025 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)Wildflowers' Movement is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Topic: Wildflowers Movt GroupJoin Zoom MeetingMeeting ID: 815 4382 6365
Passcode: groups
Helpful notes on Zoom for more control over your interactions (Using Hot Keys:)
| Action for Zoom | PC Win | iMac | Phone In |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAISE HAND (Y) | ALT + Y | Option + Y | (star) * 9 |
| LOWER HAND | ALT + Y | Option + Y | (star) * 9 |
| MUTE (A) | ALT + A | ⌘ + Shift + A | (star) * 6 |
| UNMUTE | ALT + A | ⌘ + Shift + A | (star) * 6 |
| SHOW VIDEO (V) | ALT + V | ⌘ + Shift + V | Zoom |
| HIDE VIDEO | ALT + V | ⌘ + Shift + V | |
| SHOW LAST CHAT (U) | CTRL + U | ⌘ + Shift + U | |
| HIDE CHAT (W/H) | CTRL + W | ⌘ + Shift + H | Zoom |
Affirmations
Random Affirmation, Includes Weiss's "Healing the Mind and Spirit" card quotes
Every Cell in my body vibrates with energy and health
Loving myself heals my life. I nourish my mind, body and soul
My body heals quickly and easily
I prosper wherever I turn and I know that I deserve prosperity
The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful
I know that I deserve Love and accept it now
I give out Love and it is returned to me multiplied
I rejoice in the Love I encounter everyday
I have a wonderful partner and we are both happy and at peace
I attract only healthy relationships
I choose to exercise regularly such as every 2-3 days
When I believe in myself, so do others
I choose to make positive healthy choices for myself
Deep at the centre of my being there is an infinite well of love.
I now allow Deep Love to flow to the surface.
Deep Love fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied.
The more love I use and give, the more I have to give, the supply is endless.
The use of love makes me feel good as an expression of my inner joy.
Yes, I love myself, therefore I take loving care of my body.
I lovingly feed my body with nourishing food and beverages.
I lovingly groom my body and dress it and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy.
I fill the rooms with the vibration of love so that all who enter, myself included, will feel this love and be nourished by it.
I love myself, therefore I provide for myself a comfortable home, one that fills all my needs and is a pleasure to be in.
I love myself, therefore I work at a job that I truly enjoy doing, one that uses all my talents and abilities, working with and for people that I love and love me, and earning a good income.
I love myself, therefore, I behave in a loving way to all people for I know that that which I give out returns to me multiplied.
I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am.
I love myself, therefore I love totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright, and joyous and secure, for I am a beloved child of the universe
I love myself, therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences and I am free.
Wildflowers’ Movement NEWSLETTER
Mailchimp Archives
(02-22-2023 to 06-27-2023) link
Social Post From In Between Meetings June 24th, 2023 RESOURCES NEWSLETTERSocial Post - FacebookPublished Mon, June 26th 3:14 AM_______[Re-sent] In Between Meetings June 24th, 2023 RESOURCES NEWSLETTERRegular · Wildflowers’ MovementgroupUnsaved segmentSent Tue, June 27th 2:46 AM to 128 recipients by you_______Social Post From Wildflowers’ Movement Friday Meeting Second Reminder- (June 9th, 2023)Social Post - Instagram and FacebookPublished Tue, June 6th 8:59 AM_______EventBrite for FRIDAY's Meeting at Noon (May 19th)Regular · Wildflowers’ Movement groupSent Mon, May 15th 5:43 PM to 157 recipients by you
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Wildflowers’ Movement Friday Meeting- (May 19th, 2023)Regular · Wildflowers’ Movement groupSent Wed, May 10th 4:41 PM to 159 recipients by you_______Wildflowers’ Movement 2nd Friday Meeting in April 2023 (2)Regular · Wildflowers’ Movement support groupSent Fri, April 14th 12:11 AM to 164 recipients by you
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Wildflowers’ Movement NEWSLETTER
MailerLite Archives
Embrace Your Inner Strength
Join Wildflowers’ MovementMeeting on September 22nd, 2023!
The Wildflowers’ Movement: Friday, October 13th Noon Virtual GatheringJoin the Wildflowers’ Movement:
Cultivate Wellness Together
Embrace Mindfulness and Empowerment:
Wildflowers’ Movement Newsletter - November 2023
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Privacy Policy(Last updated: June 08, 2022)
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