by Karen | Sep 18, 2008 | Events
The “Intimacies” Discussion Group
Attracting Love
Join The Good Life columnist Karen Kreps and special guest, Frank Butterfield, for a conversation about how to attract your perfect mate and create the union you want together. Frank is a channel and intuitive who coaches clients and groups on harnessing the power of the Law of Attraction.
Meet THURSDAY (not our normal night), October 16, 2008, 7 pm-8:30 pm on the third floor of BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar. Audience members will be encouraged to share their personal experiences. No charge, just bring your sense of humor and an open mind.
To join the email announcement list for this group, send email to p2paustin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
This event is co-sponsored by The Good Life magazine and BookPeople. For more information, see https://trueintimacies.com.
by Karen | Sep 10, 2008 | Intimacies Discussion Group
The “Intimacies” Group that normally meets at BookPeople on the Third Weds of each month, is going to have some surprise changes for the next few months.
This month, we meet Weds Sept 17 to talk about Risky Love, but my special guest will be Kelly Ann Burnett, LMSW. She will be taking the place of Annette del Canto, who was originally scheduled. Annette has to be out of town for a family emergency, but the talk will go on with her colleauge, Kelly Ann Burnett, who specializes in
(1) increasing assertive communication (which often leads to vulnerability/risk taking, which in turn often leads to growth within the relationship); and (2) increased self awareness of reasons for avoidance of emotional risk taking and a subsequent choice to take the risk or not (with a focus on increased self understanding, even if the risk is not taken.)
In October, BookPeople has asked us to alter our regular schedule. We’ll meet THURSDAY, Oct 16, and Frank Butterfield will be my special guest for a discussion of Attracting Love. Frank is a channel and intuitive who coaches clients and groups on harnessing the power of the Law of Attraction.
In November, we’ll meet on the second Wednesday, not the Third. On Nov 12, please join Gayle Michaels of the Institute of Sexual Wisdom and me for a discussion about how to keep your sexual energy strong.
by Karen | Sep 6, 2008 | General
At a recent technology Meetup, I was chatting with a man who is the CEO of a big Internet Marketing firm. While he makes decisions every day about how to spend tens of thousands of dollars of his client’s funds on Search Engine Marketing, he was at a loss about how to spend his funds to take his wife on a date.
They had agreed to get a sitter and go out one night a week. Last time, she planned a picnic and brought sushi to munch on in the park. When he learned that I wrote “Intimacies,” he asked me for some suggestions for the next date, when it would be his turn to come up with an inventive plan.
Off the top of my head, I was at a loss for ideas. But I promised to give it some thought and send him email with suggestions. Here’s what he got:
You may recall my promise to send you some suggestions for memorable dates with your wife. It’s lovely that you two are making a concerted effort to delight each other with nontraditional plans. Of course there’s always things to do such as hearing live music, dancing of all kinds, taking a massage class for couples, renting a Kayak on Ladybird Lake, or….
When we chatted, I missed the opportunity to tell you that one of the chapters in my book is focused on the topic of dating rituals. It’s Chapter 28: “Courtship rituals and dating: Just hanging out or mating?” I hope you will please consider ordering my book from https://trueintimacies.com. You’ll find lots of other topics about relationships covered in the book. You can preview the TOC online at https://trueintimacies.com/pdf/contents.pdf.
A date in which you order in Chinese takeout, give the book to your wife, read some of the short chapters together and discuss one or two of the topics they raise, may be just the ticket.
The essay on dating that appears on page 149 my book, Intimacies, suggests going on a date to a Sculpture Academy that no longer is in business in Austin. But you might consider making a date to participate in any number of programs in art centers around Austin. My husband, Arye Shapiro, organizes life drawing (costume drawing) sessions at the Austin Visual Arts Association. There are dozens of life drawing events around town each month, and those might be fun for the two of you. You might even try drawing each other!
Or go together to a Yoga class. I’m going to be teaching Yoga this Thursday night, and I recommend my gentle class and all the classes offered in Barton Hills at the ATMA Studio Center. See my class listing at http://netingenuity.com/yoga. (Karuna is my Yogic name.)
Come to one of the monthly events I host at BookPeople. We get a mix of couples and singles and always have a lively, eye-opening conversation about relationships. Sept 17, the topic will be about taking risks in relationships. 7 pm-8:30 pm. More details on my blog.
by Karen | Sep 5, 2008 | General, Intimacies Discussion Group
In anticipation of the Sept 17th event at BookPeople, please send me questions for Annette del Canto, LMSW and Kelly Ann Burnett. The two therapists will be talking with the “Intimacies” Discussion Group about risks we take in romantic love.
Please share with us what you feel are some of the risks you encounter in your relationships. Are they things you avoid or are you drawn toward the risky behavior? Do many of the risks you face involve communicating some truth about yourself (such as how you feel about your partner or yourself, positive or negative)? What’s happened when you’ve taken a risk? Did you live to regret it, or was it a freeing experience?
by Karen | Sep 5, 2008 | General
I expect to see a lot more of Karen Rayne, being quoted as an expert,, in the news soon. This is from her blog of Karen Rayne:
Adolescent sexuality has loomed large in the news this last week, with the announcement of rabid-anti-comprehensive-sex-education Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican VP nominee. The disconnect between Governor Palin’s political perspective on sex education and her teenage daughter, who is five months pregnant, has added substantial depth to the media coverage of comprehensive sex education. I have felt renewed excitement about offering comprehensive sex education to more teenagers as the Republicans have stated their support of Bristol Palin, her boyfriend, and her family.
Dr. Karen Rayne presents a four-session class for parents on how to talk with children and teenagers more easily and effectively about issues of sex and sexuality.
Topics include: What teenagers need to know about sex and sexuality and how you can help teach them that knowledge and those skills. Common assumptions about adolescent sexuality and what’s right and wrong. How to push past non-communicative teenagers and how to best support the talkative teenagers.
Dates: September 21st and 28th and October 5th and 12th
Times: Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00
Place: Oak Hill (South Austin)
Cost: $175/individual, $300/couple
If you have questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact her through her website and blog (http://www.karenrayne.com ).
