Supervision Stories: Supervision At The Fireside
I love cave time.
It's my term for those seasons - in my life, in my cycle, in my day - when I need to retreat. When I need to edge to the back of the cave, to where it's cool, dark, quiet and safe.
The cave is my bed. The cave is a switched off phone. The cave is instant noodles. The cave is forest walks. The cave is showering in the dark.
I don't give myself a hard time for needing cave time because it feels natural and ancestral to do this.
As someone who views life and therapy as deeply seasonal, I trust that when I allow myself to go to the back of the cave, and honour that need, I will then be renewed and want to emerge. To be drawn back to the mouth of the cave - to be drawn back towards light and noise and conversation and singing and cooking and hands to hold and work to do.
I know community is waiting for me when I emerge. I know people will tend the fire as I rest. And I know that when I emerge I will be welcomed into connection.
And I love fire time! I love the companionship and the togetherness and the warmth when we all come together at the mouths of our caves. I love telling stories and hearing stories. I love looking around at my village of friends, family, colleagues, connections. I love being younger than some and older then others. I love taking the lead, and being lead.
This is how I view the togetherness of the communities we build - sitting by the fireside.
And at their most beautiful and their most pure, I understand my sessions are part of that image. Finding a quiet, uninterrupted place and providing counsel. Listening. Connecting. Seeing it in this way reminds of a favourite line from Ta'Nehisi Coates about activism:
I am not alone, I am in a tradition.
Within our fat community, all gathering around the fireside, I've grown up. I've been a young one - immature and learning, skipping around the fringes. I've developed myself in this community - listening, learning, walking in the footsteps of others. Being awed by the aunties, speaking with passion and authority, inspired by how they have their shit together.
And now I'm older, I've been around for quite a while. I feel comfortable and confident taking up space by the fire. More people are familiar with me, and I feel valued. I'm growing into an elder position -getting braver and bolder, confident in my experience, with gifts and resources I can share with those around me.
And so it's supervision in this way. Not tedious tick-boxing supervision, going through the motions and operating under the threat of punishment if we don't follow all the rules. No, I can't work in that way.
Soul nourishing, intuitive conversations. Part of a wider community. Eldering. Sharing a tradition. Supervision at the fireside.
Supervision is going live to my waitlist on 29th August and slots are limited. If you are interested in securing a space, do join the waiting list now to be the first to be contacted. My wider mailing list will be given access on 5th September so make sure you're the first to know!
Wishing you safety and joy
Vicky