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Dear Reader

Throughout my years working in Amsterdam’s acute psychiatry and crisis wards, I encountered countless individuals facing their darkest moments. I also experienced personal crises that shook me to my core. From these experiences, one conclusion became painfully clear: Crisis is here to teach us something.

Yet, despite this truth, many of us find ourselves wanting to run from it, fight it, or avoid it. As we learn through the lens of Polyvagal Theory, our nervous system often responds with what are known as “orange” responses — fight or flight — because crisis feels unsafe, overwhelming, and unbearable. These responses are natural, but they might not help us heal long term.

What if we could change our relationship with crisis? What if, instead of avoiding it, we learned to face it, and move through? The truth is, it’s not always fully safe to dive into every situation we encounter — but sometimes, it is “safe enough.”

When we dare to lean in, to go through the storm instead of around it, we emerge reborn. It’s not an easy journey. Our systems — our society, our structures — don’t always support us in embracing this transformative process. Yet, in my experience, we face more than one crisis in our lives — and often, they revolve around a similar theme, a thread of unresolved pain or unmet need.

Deep down, we know we should face these challenges, but the question remains: How?

This is exactly what we’ll explore in our upcoming free webinar, "Crisis as a Teacher: Understanding emotional stress, and how to navigate life’s challenges" I’ll walk you through how to begin embracing crisis as your teacher, understanding your nervous system’s reactions, and moving through the discomfort in a way that leads to growth and healing.

Don’t miss this opportunity to understand how crisis is a doorway to profound transformation, not an unbeatable wall.

Sign up now and join me for a journey of clarity, courage, and healing.

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Join us for this beautiful session on the New Moon, Sunday, December 1st, 2024, from 8:00 PM to 9:15 PM. This session will lay the groundwork for a deeper exploration in the Dark Night program. At the end, there will be a dedicated Q&A session, providing you the opportunity to seek clarity on the concepts discussed

I would love for you to join us live for this experience, but if you can’t make it, don’t worry — a recording of the webinar will be provided by e-mail to all who sign up.

Warmly,
Anneke Sips

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Founder of "Illuminate: The Dark Night of the Soul"​
Author of Wisdom of Psychosis (Coming 2025)