Episode Three - The Game of Life
‘Slowing down, letting go, being quiet. And probably in the first time in my life, I feel quite calmly that. The phrase I’ve used recently is, ‘I’m not chasing chickens’ and that feels like a big relief.
I love your introduction, it felt slow and gentle and that feels ridiculously almost like a novelty in this world. Everything’s quick, faster and convenient – or we’re led to believe’
Carmen Rendell
​
Old wise woman and fairy godmother Carmen Rendell joins us from Richmond on Thames amidst the autumn energy of stripping back and letting go in the air. From her childhood roots centred around sport, she invites us into her world and a series of endings that shaped the trajectory of her life. All based on her ability to decide ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and honour her choice. Wizard school offered a new pathway into psychotherapy and her creation of SoulHub brought alternate therapists together to form her tribe.
​
Her adamant belief she didn’t want to ‘sit in a box’ as a therapist and what emerged from one client who said ‘yes’ to heading outside. She guides us from playgrounds to graveyards with a beauty of not knowing what lies ahead physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically, metaphorically and spiritually.
​
We dance between Richmond tube station, Canary Wharf Waterstones book store, Everest Base Camp and the banks of the River Thames to gleam a snap shot into significant points along her journey. Before she leaves Carmen invites us to play the game of life with a lightness, joy and self-love; then leaves us to ponder the question - what world do you want to live in?
​
Listen here.
About
Carmen Rendell is a UK based therapeutic coach, walking therapist, trainer and founder of the wellbeing community and consultancy Soulhub. Over the course of 20 years, she worked in corporate communications in organisations such as Barclays, Musto, Jack Wills, and Lloyds and SportsAid Foundation. After divorce and a very personal journey of self-enquiry at the School of Wizards, she retrained to focus on healing work that combines nature, coaching, and psychotherapy.
​
Her therapeutic practice is “integrative,” thereby drawing on different methodologies; psychodynamic, person centred, among others, as she works both in nature (walking therapy) and online with clients from all walks of life.
​
She’s an adventurer, traveling widely, including to Everest Base Camp, walking the Camino, sailing the Clipper around the World Yacht Race. She a Sports Scientist from Loughborough University, and National League hockey player, and more recently tapping into her more creative side with upholstery, dancing and singing. These life experiences feed into her therapeutic approach.
​
She is also training to be a celebrant, and works in partnership with her soulmate and life partner Andrew Cuerden on projects such as “Walk In, Dance Out” and other immersive experiences.
​
Website: www.soulhub.co.uk
Insights
Bewitched by the novel...I read books, and to be honest, most of them I forget. Someone once said to me, what you need to remember will just form part of you, so I’ve let go of making that wrong. One which changed my life was ‘F*ck It. The Ultimate Spiritual Way’’ by John Parkin as I picked it up from Waterstones in Canary Wharf, in 2012, read it in 2 days (also really rare) and resigned from a job of 10 years.
Inspired by the quote... "If not now, when?" Not the most epic quote or sexy, but it’s one that has stuck with me for years, and I often use in my work. It reminds me of when a coach, Derek once questioned me about my procrastination and justification of decisions, especially when I can’t make a decision. And he prompted me to just make a decision. You can always change your mind, but don’t waste so much time and energy when sometimes we can just decide.
