Butterfly is a mystery school, a cocoon that becomes a melting pot for our longing, joy, grief and humaness. Together we create a space for uncensored exploration, truth telling and physical and emotional nourishment. Through dance, poetry, voice, yoga nidra, creative enquiry and breathwork we dive into our beingness and follow the unique curriculum of our souls unfolding.

Next year, 2021 will mark 7 years since the Butterfly work was seeded here in Sheffield and now it’s form is changing shape again. Over lockdown it has become clear to me that the Inanna – Erishkegal work is the work of now. So from 2021 the Heroine’s Journey will now form the main body of the work. Therefore from next year Butterfly will be a 6 month initiation journey followed by a 9 month Heroine’s Journey.

The Initiation Journey takes place over 6 months at Sharrow Performing Arts Space, Sheffield. Each month we adventure into a different portal of our humanness beginning with womb wisdom then undressing the voice, breathwork, the wheel of consent, sexuality and pleasure and the naked heart. The course invites us to the places within that have been calling out to us but that we never dared visit until now…

DATES

Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th February 10-5pm and 10-5pm

Saturday 20th March 10-5pm

Saturday 17th and 18th April 10-6pm and 10-5pm

Saturday 22nd May 10-5pm

Saturday 12th June 10-5pm

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th July 10-6pm and 10-5pm

Previous Butterflies have said,

“The Butterfly course is one of the best things I have ever done. It has been challenging in a way that I needed it to be and I have learnt so much about myself and the power of female groups.” ~ Rachael

“It is difficult to explain how much I have benefited from Carly’s work. She creates such a safe space to allow me to be open with my vulnerabilities. Signing up to the butterfly course was one of the best decisions I have made.” ~ Suzie

“There is a real magic in what Carly creates. I’m not sure it’s something you’ll be able to understand from my words alone; the beauty of Carly’s work can only really be understood by being felt. Carly creates and holds beautiful, nurturing spaces for you to explore whatever it is that arises within you, an opportunity for personal growth and exploration. Carly delights in the exploration of our humanness and there is no emotion that is not welcome. That, in itself, is a rare gift. She is a generous, wise and humble teacher.” ~ Kiran 

To apply please send an email to info@carlymountain.com with approx 300 words on what is calling you to the course. After this you will be invited to a free half hour zoom call so we can chat about the course and check that it’s right for you.

Costs: in order to make the course as affordable as possible I offer a sliding scale payment according to what you can afford of between £795 – £950. Earlybird price of £725 if paid in full by December 1st 2020. The circle will be limited to maximum 12 women so apply early to avoid disappointment. I require £100 non-refundable deposit will hold your place.

This work is one of the greatest joys in my life, witnessing time and again women flourish, change and explore new ground is such a privilege. We work to heal the rift between sexuality and spirituality, envisioning new possibilities of what an earth based sense of the sacred is and what that means within our wider lives and culture. Covid-19 has renewed my awareness of how the nuance of human interaction is essential for our spirit and soul lives. I am so looking forward to holding in person gatherings again.

Carly 

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The thrash of the tiger
Is held so quietly within
the stillness of her striped form.
Soft muscularity,
Terrifying black, gold beauty.

Would my hand dare caress
Her silken curves,
Her pulsating chest,
The vicious magnificence of her passion,
Deadly and divine
With no transgression
Sensuous jugular enclosure
a powerful embrace,
Enters the darkness in rapture
Overpowered by grace.

Meditative feline
Stalk the deepest depths of being
Heart roars, erect claws,
Mortal flesh trembling.
Golden mirror of my soul
I know you could consume me whole
Untamed beast flying wild
She honours her nature
Like an innocent child.

What is the mirror that you hold
Hidden in your black and gold
Devoted to your enticing grace
Your ferociousness holds no distaste
You hold the power of the passion
Unashamed and unrationed.

If I am you and you are me
We are the perfect symphony.

~ Carly Mountain

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That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;

Hold nothing back,
learn to find ease in risk;

Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,

For your soul senses the world that awaits you”

– For A New Beginning by John O’Donohue

The Butterfly Course is an invitation to soul dive into the mystery and joy of sacred feminine practice.  Using mudra, yoga, poetry, movement and creative enquiry this course creates time and space for you to move, feel and breathe your way into a deeper intimacy with your body, soul and natural abundance. It is an opportunity to deepen your listening to the language of your body and soul, share space with other women who wish to do the same and uncover whatever it is within you that wishes to unfold.

The backbone of the work is the sacred Butterfly Mudra practice. In Year 1 we will learn the short form. The full mudra sequence can take 3 years or more to learn so this first year is an introduction to the practice. You will be invited to do a 10 minute daily self practice at home in between sessions which other women have found invaluable, often in ways they never expected.

In addition to the mudra work, we will also explore other sister practices to bring greater freedom and awareness to the layers of our being-ness. Since every woman is unique so you will each naturally gravitate to different aspects of the practice. For those who already practice regularly at home, this course can offer ways for you to enhance or deepen your practice and those new to self practice can uncover a personal routine that is perfect for you and one that can evolve with your life.

Many women find that one of the most enjoyable things about the course is having other women to journey with, providing a sense of support and community which can be invaluable.

The course will start and finish with two 2 day non residential intensives in Sheffield. Though the intensives are non residential, if possible, I invite you to clear your weekend and dive deeply into the work and some time for you. If anyone is travelling from outside of Sheffield, I can help you arrange accommodation that is very low cost or possibly free of charge.

This year I am excited to announce that I will be assisted by Cordelia Gray, an Integrative Arts psychotherapist (UKCP reg since 2006) with many years experience working creatively with different people and issues. Cordelia has also completed 3 years of the Butterfly work with me and is now going onto her 4^th year. I am thrilled that she will be joining us.

Dates 2017:

Opening retreat Feb 11^th-12^th 10-5pm and 10-4pm

March 19^th 10-5pm

April 30^th 10-5pm

May 21^st 10-5pm

June 11th 10-5pm

Final retreat 8th -9th July 10-5pm and 10-4pm

Places limited (maximum 12 women) so book early to avoid disappointment. I have really tried to keep costs down to make this course a possibility for all. At the moment, I envisage being able to offer a sliding scale fee so that you pay whatever you can afford. The minimum payment being £385 – £495. And if you pay in full by December 1^st an early bird rate of £375. These figures are based around a smaller group, if it works out that a few people pay the higher rate or we have a large group then I hope to be able to offer a further reduction on cost. I don’t wish for money to be a prohibitive factor so please contact me if you need to discuss a further reduction.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to me directly please feel free to email me info@carlymountain.com and we can arrange a time. I so look forward to sharing this transformational practice with you.

With Love, Carly

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To which I instinctively replied, “But the most beautiful things in life cannot be made by humans…they all come from nature. Natural things are the most beautiful of all”.

What we show speaks as loudly as what we say. Society values human made objects so highly and often to the detriment of nature. The so-called beauty industry sells the idea, primarily to girls and women that we must do so much to ourselves in order to become beautiful. So many Mums in the playground with eye lash extensions that on a timeline at my little ones preschool a child had included “put her eyelashes on” as part of her morning routine. Our children absorb everything and it subconsciously shapes them.

I dye my hair, I shave my legs…..there are some things that I cannot yet relinquish. But more and more, I see that we are being sold an empty shell of what a woman can be. And I wonder what could be more beautiful than letting nature shine through us? That women could once again be valued, protected and cherished as an expression of mother earth. That perhaps would be the most beautiful union, respect and liberation.

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