Sat, 15 Nov 2025 23:37:49 -0800WeeblyThu, 11 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/i-offer-the-possibility-of-regained-trustIt's been interesting to start to think about the value of my work in the values of what people will get at the end and that I'm actually "selling" love, trust, peace through conflict resolution, better communication skills, and relationship hacks.
]]>Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/im-a-lve-dealerIf you’re fighting with your partner, I can help.]]>Mon, 08 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/im-a-peace-dealerIf you're addicted to drama, I can do an intervention.
]]>Thu, 04 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/rant-warningI'm coming to terms with the fact that people will not come to see me until the relationship has become too unbearable, too big of a pain in their life, or there are too many consequences to not clear things up. As much as I'd like people to treat mediation as preventative medicine, it's mostly used as triage.
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Someday I hope to show the magic that happens in a mediation and that then people will trust it more. If people could see the time and energy conflict takes up in their mind and life against the amount of money it costs to hire a mediator early on they would totally hire someone right away.

End rant. Thank you for listening.
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​]]>Tue, 02 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/questions-from-insideI’m curious if it’s possible to initiate with someone who may not want to clear?

Having been hurt by someone is one of the most vulnerable experiences a person can have in their lifetime. Being hurt by someone has many layers. First, the thing that happened doesn't feel good nor safe and how do I know it's not going to happen again. Second, the hurt is often bringing up older hurts. Often, it's hard to distinguish between the hurt right now and the hurt from the past. It's also scary to hear what the other person might say about what happened. What if it hurts more? 

You can look at this problem as a consent issue. If they are a "no" to clearing, then honoring that boundary is key to them feeling safe to do so at some point (even if it's far into the future).

Keeping the door open and letting them know (gently) that you'd like to clear with them (even if it's far in the future) is key. Sometimes the invitation can come in a spontaneous moment you run into them and being ready with what you might say would be a good idea. Making sure your invitation is a request and not a demand is also key (let me know if you need further explanation about the distinction).

I'd also say being in touch with your "why" can help create a bridge to their yes. Exploring the layers of why you want to clear with them will help you name to them why they might get inspired to clear with you. Ask yourself over and over again, "why". If you can tell someone why it might benefit them too to have a clearing with you then they might feel safe enough and inspired enough to say yes.

]]>Mon, 01 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/will-this-year-be-your-year-to-clearStart off the new year right by having a clear slate and cleaning up your relationships. 

Tip 1: Empathy to yourself is the first step in getting out of the blame and shame spiral. But isn't empathy learning to walk in another person's shoes? Yes...but it's also not pushing away your own feelings and needs. Self Empathy is about allowing yourself to have all the feels.

Tip 2: If someone responds to you with a charge in their voice you can choose to react or get curious. Getting curious about what’s going on will invite them to say what’s underneath their words and tone. That way you can have a real conversation about what’s going on rather than just a reactive downward spiral into a fight or an avoidance of what’s really going on for that person.

Tip 3: When you have a long term relationship because of a commitment, be it romantic partnership, housemates, co-parenting, the small stuff can turn big rapidly. Being vigilant about staying clear with each other is time well spent. Staying clear early helps build trust so when the big stuff happens you have practice and not so many built up resentments. But bringing up hard stuff is risky. You can potentially make things worse. Setting up a structured time for feedback helps people prepare themselves to listen. 

​]]>Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.clearingconversations.com/my-journal/what-happens-when-a-party-isnt-fun-anymoreIt’s important that we include the side of parties we don’t generally think about, the experience of having a hard time. It happens more than we think. In fact, I bet many of us have gone through hard times at an event.

While some of us were having heart-opening, mind-expanding experiences that were totally reconfiguring our capacity for love, others were experiencing things like contraction, shut down, shame, fear and other very challenging emotions and sensations that arise when we get triggered.

As lead on the support team I want to name that emotional triggers happen. And, many times they are small, but sometimes they are big. This can especially be true in settings when we’re exploring intimacy and sensual connection. Even more true when we have partners, lovers, or exes in the space. Basically, the more layers of complexity we introduce to an experience, the more opportunities we have for this material to arise.

Small triggers can feel like slight repulsion, avoiding a person, or a yearning feeling. Big triggers can be traumatic responses from past events triggered by current events.

While experiencing triggers is a natural part of life and ultimately can be an amazing opportunity for us to investigate and integrate pieces of ourselves that need attention and care, they can also be quite overwhelming, scary and in some extreme cases dangerous as they’re happening.

As a community and as individuals, we can be mindful of a few simple things to help these situations stay constructive rather than destructive.  Here are some tips both to help us prepare ourselves as well as for what to do if we notice people in need of support.

1. Before showing up to an event that you know or even suspect could be challenging for you, take time to consider past experiences and look for common patterns or themes. It might help to write these out or speak of them to a trusted witness for the sake of getting clarity. Once clear, you can create a care plan for yourself.
2. Designate someone to be your buddy for the event. This could be a friend, lover, partner or even someone you meet and have a solid connection with early on. What are your agreements and what do you need? It’s important to specify in advance the kinds of support you’re asking them to provide. Is it set check-ins? Physical touch? Taking a walk? Offering you specific words? Holding space for you to vent or cry? Tracking you throughout the event? Negotiate this clearly and make sure your buddy truly is willing and able to show up.
3. If you know a friend or partner that you're at the event with has a history of getting deeply triggered, stay aware of their state throughout the event or other times when you’re connecting with others. Agreeing to a set check-in schedule is helpful but also staying attuned and tracking this person all throughout helps to create a safer experience.  
4. Make it safe and acceptable to interrupt you if a friend or partner needs you. Verbally stating something as simple as “Hey, I care about you and I want you to know it’s really ok for you to come to me whenever needed, no matter what I’m doing” can be extremely reassuring in some instances. And if that isn’t your truth, predetermine and establish what is.
5. Triggers show themselves differently in different people at different moments. Sometimes someone may be obviously upset - verbalizing, crying, shaking, etc. Other times they may dissociate and appear very withdrawn and even frozen. If you see someone who you are concerned about, whether or not you’re in direct connection with them, check in. You can do so yourself or you can call on support from designated community members who are here to assist in exactly these moments.

Also, continue to be kind to yourselves. Post bliss event-drop is a thing. Please reach out, you’re not alone.

Much love,
Misha
with major contributions from Darshana Avila of darshanaavila.com
​and Romi Elan of soulplayfestival.com
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