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My mum (pictured here) has spent the last four weeks in hospital, during which time she was permitted to leave for a few hours to celebrate her 90th birthday. Spending hours each day with her at the hospital, there was plenty of opportunity to reflect on and to discuss ageing. It became evident that it was highly unlikely she would be able to return to independent living in her own home. Given her location, family and social network the most logical residential option is a local nursing home and residential aged care facility that my dad was responsible for being built as his ‘project’ when he was the president of the local Rotary club back in the late 60’s. This would mean that she would be going from a four-bedroom home to a ‘hostel room with an ensuite’. Until recently, mum had been going out to this nursing home for years, being part of the support group that helped with their singing days. In many instances she was older than the people she was serving. Intimately familiar with what this move would mean she asked (with tears) a very poignant question, “Who will I be now?” Observing the inevitable confrontation with becoming elderly, 14th century Italian humanist philosopher, Francesco Petrarch wrote, “How swiftly time before my eyes rushed on after the guiding sun that never rests…This morning I was a child and am now old.” Petrarch, in describing the ‘trumps’ of life explains how Time (in the medieval manuscripts of Petrarch’s Trionfo, Time would be depicted as an old man carrying an hourglass typical of il tempo or the hermit in the tarot cards) “dissolves all mortal things, both physical and mental. Men turn to dust and life to smoke. Old age brings misery and Glory melts like snow in the sun. Time, in his avarice, steals all and thus triumphs over the world and Fame.”[i] Whenever those of us in the Western culture are presented (often beyond our control) with times of significant transition we either consciously or subconsciously ask this same question? An adolescent develops ‘adult physical features’ and in the case of young women, commence their menses, and even if not conscious of it will wonder, “Who am I now?” Women go through menopause, men through andropause, as well as facing retirement and may well ask, “So who will I be now?” In astrology reference is made to two Saturn returns, seen to be associated with those times when we make the transition from our formative years to our productive years (around the age of 30), and from our productive years to our harvest years (around the age of 60). Each time we are presented with the same question, “Who will I be now?” If we live long enough there is this time, like that confronting my mum, where all that essentially defines who we are both physically and mentally will be taken away. This results in what can be best described as a crisis of values. In other words, if what you valued was invested in external measures like wealth, power, love and intimacy, and popularity, then anytime natural justice, ageing or misfortune take them away, (which is inevitable) you’ll experience a values crisis. The recent pandemic forced people globally to prematurely experience that very thing. It would seem that a significant number of people found it overwhelming, typical of what the elderly experience when ‘Time’ turns their world upside down. During the pandemic, people were and still are being confronted with the loss of freedom, being confined to their homes. In many cases they struggled to keep their businesses open and to find enough money to pay the rent or sustain mortgage payment for their homes. What has significantly affected many people is the lack of social contact. When you think about it, this is typical of what a lot of elderly people experience, more especially, the older they get. The world has been given an intimate look at what the elderly have been experiencing for many years. In many cultures rites of passage are used for significant periods of transition. In the case of my own children, when my son reached the age of puberty and had noticeably developed more manly features, a friend of ours and his two boys, who were about the same age, decided to hold a rite of passage ceremony. In addition to the ceremony, it was decided to do bungy-jumping, which as dads we also did as our boys were quick to point out that we hadn’t had our rites of passage as teenagers. My daughters had their rites of passage with their mum and their network of women and girlfriends. Recently, friends of mine separated amicably and I suggested they hold a rite of passage to hold sacred this significant period of transition. The ceremony began with one large lit candle from which they each lit their own candle. The first candle was then blown out, symbolic of their union coming to a close. The lighting of individual candles symbolised the idea that the light they shared still existed in their individually lit candles. In their independence they could still acknowledge the love that they had shared. They were each then given a ‘worry-bead’ bracelet and for the number of beads that were on the bracelet, they would send their ex-partner a SMS message telling them what they appreciated about them, for as many days as there were beads. They had to wear the bracelet for the duration, after which they could do with it as they pleased. With their last bead they wrote a message of appreciation for the way they had been blessed, having been together. While talking to mum, the thought crossed my mind that what she was about to experience was one of the most challenging periods of transition that someone might face. Of course, many people by virtue of their spiritual journey voluntarily make this shift in values way before becoming elderly. Typically, this process of transition is called the Dark Night of the Soul. It’s my belief that whether it’s done voluntarily at an earlier age, or brought on by natural justice, ageing, or misfortune (or is experienced in post-mortality), it will still be a Dark Night of the Soul. This transition from unsustainable values to sustainable values in the Christian tradition was formalised in a rite of passage called baptism. I like to think of it as spiritual bungy-jumping since the apostle Paul wrote, “It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10:31) Given the significance of this passage of transition, I began to explore that idea that people in the same situation as my mum could benefit greatly by holding a rite of passage ceremony. It would highlight the profundity of this transition from home to residential age care. It would give the elderly somewhere to ‘park’ their grief as their fast approaching ‘end of day’, that inevitable destination of Time, more quickly dissolves the body and the mind. By shifting the focus from one of loss to one of celebration and giving helps to reduce the impact of grief. This rite of passage would include family and close friends at the elder’s home and might include the following components: 1. In the ceremony, the family and friends that have gathered publicly acknowledge the elder’s contribution in their lives and highlight the key points of this elder’s journey, giving space for appreciation and gratitude, thus helping to minimise the impact of grief. 2. The gifting of personal artifacts to specific family members and close friends by the elder will fill the elder’s heart with the joy that giving brings (which they would miss out on after their death). The elder can now associate joy rather than loss with the things they have had to leave behind. 3. There could be a ‘key ceremony’ where the elder hands over the keys to their house, and in return are given an album of memories of the home they are leaving and a maybe an important plant or something similar that holds the symbolic essence of their home that will help to bring that energy to their new home. 4. A ‘mourning tea’ where family and friends gather to share food and company, thus helping the elder to be more of the observer of their past and less attached to it. Being the observer of their past, one is more able to be detached from the past. 5. The elder is then taken to their new residence by close family and friends where a priest or person of spiritual significance performs a blessing or clearing ceremony on the new space, highlighting that this is now a sacred space. A place of heightened spiritual alignment, given the gift of being release from their material-centred world. 6. Each family member and close friend will then publicly declare what they will do to support the elder while they are in their new ‘home’. When we have the capacity to see something differently, then and only then can we change our experience of that thing. One of the most important steps listed above is the fifth one. It’s creating this idea that where they have moved to is a sacred space. Sacred, because it’s here that the real work can be done to consciously prepare to cross the final human portal, from life to death (given that most of the mental faculties are functioning). Now free of those things that had defined who they were in the world (their home, possessions and activity in the world) the elder has the opportunity to contemplate who they are without those things and explore a whole new set of values with which to be aligned. The absence of that, can only result in suffering that attachment with loss brings. As an aside, this rite of passage would also be beneficial to the family and friends of the elder who might otherwise be burdened with the sadness and possibly even guilt at having to orchestrate this shift for their loved one. An expansion of their ongoing support is the encouragement and assistance they can give the elder in more fully embracing this sacred part of their life-journey. In Part 2 of The Ageing Epidemic, I will discuss what the nature of this contemplative time could look like. [i] From The Early Renaissance Personification of Time and Changing Concepts of Temporality by Simona Cohen

No, I am not another Greta knocker, but my question is serious. I have always taken what could be best described as a metaphysical approach to the human experience. Forty years in ‘natural’ healthcare, the last decade of which has been focused on western mindfulness, has provided plenty of evidence to support this notion. Obviously for some time I have tried to make sense of Covid19 and the global pandemic from a metaphysical perspective. This last week the penny finally dropped. A part of my perspective of the human experience is open to the idea that what manifests in physical form was first created energetically. From the human perspective, what the mind and heart (consciousness) are aligned with forms our reality. I have personally worked with enough people over the last decade to see that when people shift their state of consciousness, their reality changes. If this holds true, then in terms of our global pandemic, it begs the question, “What global alignment of consciousness could be powerful enough to have caused a pandemic?” In the context of social dynamics, critical mass is when a sufficient number of people become so aligned with an idea that it causes a tipping point or threshold where the perceived reality of a community or population is impacted. It’s my theory that in 2019 Greta Thunberg reached a critical mass of the global population with her passionate message to ‘save the planet’. In just one year she was presented with seven prestigious awards including Time magazine’s Person of the Year 2019. Called ‘the Greta effect’, Thunberg in one year created more global awareness and gathered more support about the need to reverse global warming than any other person in human history. The breadth of her influence, it could be argued, reached that all important global critical mass. This much change in consciousness, meaning that a critical mass of the global population has been impacted, meant that in the context of metaphysics, reality had to change, it could no longer stay the same. Since it came across that the agenda for change was primarily fear driven, then fear would infuse this collective shift in consciousness. Fear inspires urgency, which on this scale would be the catalyst for an almost immediate dramatic global shift in reality. Enter, the pandemic. Thunberg didn’t create Covid19. But, here is one example of how the pandemic mirrored Thunberg’s rhetoric. Greta was responsible for bringing to prominence ‘flight shame’, an anti-flying movement promoting train travel over flying in-order to help reduce the accelerating greenhouse emissions created by the airline industry. This movement already existed before Thunberg’s prominence, having been started by Swedish Olympian athlete Björn Ferry. It only became globally noticed (critical mass) when Thunberg refused to fly to her international engagements, choosing to sail instead. You may have already guessed where this was going. One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic was essentially the shutting down of almost all air travel. The reduction in air pollution was unprecedented and was achieved much more quickly that anyone ever thought possible. Thunberg clearly identified capitalism and consumerism as major causes for escalating greenhouse emissions. Once again the pandemic was more powerful than any capitalist as they couldn’t stop its ability to curtail consumption. All the while, the key motive that allowed the pandemic to bring about these changes was the global fear of imminent death. Ironically, Thunberg was also talking about death, but the difference was, she was talking about global mortality that was relatively more remote. That said, the poignancy of her message was heard by teenagers and the young adults who would be most impacted in the future by the rapid deterioration of the ‘health’ of the environment. The challenge when change is the result of fear and scarcity is the lack of sustainability. In spite of the critical mass buying into Thunberg’s message, the critical mass has also suffered from the forced loss of those things that they relied on most; their freedom to consume, to socialise and to travel. The very things that if limited, in terms of travel and consumption, could make a significant contribution to healing the environment. On a slightly different angle, these priorities were the primary distractions of choice that made it possible for most people to function day to day despite their personal suffering. Most people are struggling with scarcity in terms of wealth, autonomy, feeling loveable and acceptance. Having had a taste of what will be required to ‘save the planet’, there will be many people who aren’t so sure that what they experienced at the hands of the pandemic, is what they are prepared to do voluntarily. This is the point where the support for saving the planet begins to wane and the critical mass can no longer be sustained. That being the case, the world quickly returns to its habitual ways of avoiding those things that are responsible for their personal suffering, thus dropping the environmental agenda. The question has to be asked, “Can a critical mass of the population be inspired to want to ‘save the planet’ motivated by love and not fear?’ If the weakest link in the ‘Greta effect’ is the lack of sustainable commitment by the critical mass because of their need to avoid their suffering, then it makes sense that the sustainable remedy must be to have the critical mass shift their perceived reality from one of scarcity and fear to one of abundance and love. Imagine for a moment a critical mass whose values had permanently shifted from the need for wealth, power, love (eros) and fame to minimalism, self-realisation, agape (brotherly love) and social justice (for anawims and the planet). Imagine a critical mass with sufficient self-worth that their lives are filled with peace, joy, love, kindness, temperance, patience, gentleness and mercy, lives where feeling discombobulated is a rarity. The ‘church’ had a mandate to champion that state of consciousness, but because of its own greed, abuse of power, fear-centred teachings and self-importance, it forfeited that mandate. What the world needs now is the ‘Agape effect’, a global critical mass that is committed to remembering in each moment that they have a choice to be more loving to themselves, to others and to the planet.

You can’t just walk on into the Rose-garden, you need a key, and that key is revealed in the Cathar Code hidden in the symbology of the cards of the Marseille Tarot major arcana. Joseph Campbell in The Mythic Image make reference to the Rose of France, the centre of the rose window in the northern transept of Chartres Cathedral. “There, in the center, sits the Virgin, crowned, the scepter of world rule in her right hand and her left supporting the infant Christ. She is in this vision the ‘Mystical Rose’ of the litany, vehicle and support of the revelation of God, the very ‘Gate of Heaven’.” Barbara Walker further expands our understanding of the Rose-garden in her book, The Women’s Encyclopaedia of Myths and Secrets. “In the great age of cathedral building, when Mary was worshipped as a goddess in her ‘Palaces of the Queen of Heaven’ or Notre Dame (meaning Our Mother/Lady), she was at different times given a variety of rose centered titles: the Rose, Rose-bush, Rose-garland, Rose-garden, Wreath of Roses, Mystic Rose, Queen of the Most Holy Rose-garden.” Walker explains further, “The church, the garden, and Mary’s body were all mystically one; for she was Lady Ecclesia, the Church, as well as ‘the pure womb of regeneration’. Like the pagan temple, the Gothic cathedral represented the body of the goddess who was also the universe, containing the essence of the male godhood within herself. This was largely forgotten after the passing of the Gothic period.” In The World card the Rose-garden is symbolised by a yoni, the mandorla shape surrounding the central figure. At this point in the Fool’s journey, they can only go one of two ways. Not being in possession of the Rose Key that allows them to enter the sacred yoni, the Fool is reincarnated and is born of flesh once more, to once again encounter the Magician’s world of illusion. Having been born of water (having become a Fool for Christ) the Fool is in possession of the key, that opens the Mystical Rose, the secret Rose-garden, the Gate of Heaven. Now the Fool as the Christ is permitted to enter the sacred yoni and can now be born of the spirit. As Jesus explained, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The Cathars possessed the knowledge of the mysteries that would reveal the Rose Key, which was the only way the Gate of Heaven (the Rose-garden) could be opened. In this regard, the Marseille Tarot is much more than a tool for doing tarot readings. If people really knew what they had in their possession regarding the Marseille Tarot they would understand that it was ‘the pearl of great price’ that Jesus explained, would have a merchant sell all that he has to buy it. Anne Barring and Jules Cashford explain it this way in their book, The Myth of the Goddess. “The great myth of the Bronze Age is structured upon the distinction between the ‘whole’, personified as the Great Mother Goddess, and the ‘part’, personified as her lover-son or her daughter...This essential distinction between the whole and the part was later formulated in the Greek language by two different Greek words for life, zoe and bios, as the embodiment of two dimensions coexisting in life. Zoe is eternal and infinite life; bios is finite and individual life...The Great Mother Goddess can be recognised as the totality of the lunar cycle - as zoe - and her daughter and son-lover, who emerge from and return to her, can be seen as the moon’s phases - as bios...The sacred marriage, in which the Mother Goddess as bride is united with her son-lover, reconnects symbolically the two ‘worlds’ of zoe and bios.” This sacred union is not the hieros gamos, the sacred marriage of Christ and Sophia depicted in The Sun card. That created the androgyny which is the Rose Key. This Rose Key is the son-lover that now enters the bridal chamber of the Mother Goddess. There was a time in the Neolithic era “when the goddess was the image of the Whole, when life emerged from and returned to her, and when she was conceived as the door or gateway to a hidden dimension of being that was her womb, the eternal source and regenerator of life.” (Barring and Cashford) It was this knowledge and understanding of the mother goddess that became a key part of Mary’s mantle that was the precious knowledge secreted our of Montsegur by four Cathar perfecti on that fateful night in 1244. They possessed the mysteries of the Rose Key, the key that made it possible to unlock the birth passage to obtaining eternal life, becoming at-one-with the good God. This divine womb of the Mother Goddess was the Holy Grail, for which the Cathars were custodians. This knowledge was the purpose for these portable stain glass windows (the Marseille Tarot) being created in the first place. It was the perfect place to hide sacred mysteries - in plain sight! The image of The World card included in this article is from the Tarot de Marseille [Edition Millennium] © 2011 FJP (Paris) This photo is from my personal alter, which includes symbols of the Yoni Rose and the Key (the cross). The image of the 'Gate' is from the book, The Hermetic Museum, Alchemy & Mysticism. Alexander Roob, © 2001 TASCHEN GmbH, Cologne, Germany. #worldcard #marseilletarot #catharcode #holygrail #thespiritualrootsofthetarot #rosegarden #rosekey

Envision a life filled with inner peace, unconditional love, and abiding beauty, such that personal suffering becomes a non-event. The wisdom, that could have this be a reality, was 'hidden' by the medieval Cathar, known as the Good Christians, in twenty-two images that centuries later were entitled the Major Arcana of the Tarot. More significant than their modern use for divination, these images were originally a detailed map for what was required to end personal suffering and achieve transcendence. In 2020, Russell Sturgess’ book The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot, The Cathar Code Hidden in the Cards was released internationally. This course builds upon the foundation of his book, as Russell will explore the ancient wisdom of the Cathar embedded in the Marseille Tarot. He will explore the nature of human suffering, and illuminate the path that can lead each person to uncover their true nature, and the healing that brings. By registering for this course you will receive: - 12 months access to the full 16-sessions program (each session about 60 mins) - deep journaling prompts to integrate each experience - a structure that supports your own timing and intuition - a blueprint of the philosophy that sits behind my signature one-on-one mentoring programs 'Pathways to Mindfulness' and 'A Map for Transcendence' I am offering this program at a fraction of the price of the one-on-one mentoring programs because real transformation should be accessible for everyone. So, if you're in a season of unraveling, searching, or awakening... this map is for you. Join me and begin walking your path inward. IMPORTANT NOTE: - To register for this course, click the button below. You will be asked to sign up as a member (Already a member? Just log in.) You will then be redirected back to the course page to finalise the registration and payment for the course.

From a Western perspective, mindfulness is  about learning to pause  in each moment and consider how you could embrace  yourself, others, and the planet in a kinder, more loving way. It's the commitment to being mindful of this choice that results in a better quality of life.  Pathways to Mindfulness From a Western perspective, mindfulness is about learning to pause in each moment and consider how you could embrace yourself, others, and the planet in a kinder, more loving way. It's the commitment to being mindful of this choice that results in a better quality of life. About the Program At some point in life, most of us face a dark night of the soul —moments of loss, heartbreak, failure, or disconnection that leave us feeling powerless and dissatisfied with life. While these experiences can be profoundly painful, they also hold within them the seed of transformation. With the right guidance, what feels like an ending can become the doorway into a new way of being, one rooted in awareness, healing, and a deeper connection to your true self. Pathways to Mindfulness is a structured journey that helps you navigate these difficult times with clarity and purpose. Developed from ancient wisdom traditions and supported by modern neuroscience, PTM offers a step-by-step framework for shifting the patterns of thought and behaviour that keep you trapped in suffering. By engaging in this process, you’ll learn how to gently rewire your mind through awareness, mindfulness, and conscious choice, unlocking greater peace, joy, and freedom from suffering. Read More > What People Say "This program has empowered me with some very special tools and knowledge that I use on a daily basis and will continue to use for the rest of my life. I look back to my past with the opinion that I had been living my life with my eyes and ears shut. I now have a totally different perspective on life and the way I go about things." Travis L How to Participate We want you to experience the Pathways to Mindfulness process firsthand before making any commitments. That’s why the first two sessions are completely free, so you can explore the approach, ask questions, and see whether it feels right for you. From there, you have two ways to continue: Full Program (Minimum 25 sessions): A complete journey that allows the time, depth, and guidance needed to fully integrate these practices into your daily life. Short Course (Minimum 6 sessions): A practical introduction to the key concepts from the full program. This is a focused path that still equips you with tools you can carry forward on your own. Both pathways include: Weekly sessions (up to 60 mins per session) A printed workbook with deep journaling prompts to integrate each session A mindfulness journal to support you after the program ends Tools you can return to long after the course finishes Lifetime access to the private online community and monthly meetings Weekly, monthly and upfront payment options Your Next Steps Step 1 Attend Your Free Sessions Begin with two free sessions to experience PTM firsthand. Start today for FREE Step 2 Confirm Availability Confirm Russell’s availability, enrolment dates, and session times. Book a Chat What People Say "I write from my position as a medical specialist and also an international healthcare leader, having been an advisor to the NZ government and the WHO, and also as the cofounder of an international movement for compassionate healthcare, Hearts in Healthcare. Of all the many programs in self-development I have undertaken, this mentoring program would rank among the most valuable. The program is based on a great depth of knowledge and wisdom and the learning resources are truly excellent." Dr Robin Youngson Commence Your PTM Journey Today Choose a Path That Works for You One-on-one Full Program with Russell Sturgess $5000.00 AUD Pay in full and save 20% Book Now One-on-one Short Course with Russell Sturgess $1600.00 AUD Pay in full and save 15% Book Now Online Group Short Course with Russell Sturgess From $695.00 AUD - Coming Soon Interested in the group events? Subscribe to receive updates about events directly to your inbox From Depression With Love Russell makes an appearance in this upcoming documentary sharing wisdom on why so many people in todays world feel worth-less, and how when this belief is sustained, it can be the catalyst for depression. Make an Appointment Schedule a 30 minute call with Russell to explore the PTM journey and how it can support you, confirm availability, or discuss upcoming enrolment dates. Book Now

Pathways to Mindfulness is a mentoring program that makes the inner journey practical and accessible. Instead of offering surface-level fixes, PTM goes to the root of suffering, helping you see the subconscious stories shaping your life, and guiding you back to present moment awareness so you can be more conscious in your decision making moving forward. It’s a journey of self-awareness, inviting you to see what holds you back from living each day with greater peace, love, joy, and fulfilment. PATHWAYS TO Mindfulness What is PTM About the Program What is Pathways to Mindfulness Pathways to Mindfulness is a mentoring program that makes the inner journey practical and accessible. Instead of offering surface-level fixes, PTM goes to the root of suffering, helping you see the subconscious stories shaping your life, and guiding you back to present moment awareness so you can be more conscious in your decision making moving forward. It’s a journey of self-awareness, inviting you to see what holds you back from living each day with greater peace, love, joy, and fulfilment. Who is PTM For? PTM is for anyone who: Feels weighed down by old patterns or painful stories. Struggles with reactivity, judgment, or disconnection. Senses there must be more to life than surviving or “coping.” Longs for clarity, peace, joy and freedom from their suffering. Enhancing awareness and living mindfully is a transformative journey that will convert the heart and mind, and consequently the lifestyle of anyone who chooses to follow the path. How PTM Helps Our Personal Filter Each of us carries a personal filter that shapes how we experience life. Formed in early childhood, this filter is coloured by our environment and shaped by our personality and interpretations of the experiences and emotions we witnessed. By age seven (some say as early as five), this filter is firmly established, becoming the lens through which we see ourselves and the world. As adults, we often move through life unaware that this younger version of ourselves is quietly pulling the strings. It’s as if we are the puppet, and our inner child the puppeteer. The Story A central part of this childhood filter is what we call the story. The story is a belief we carry about our self-worth. A belief that, for most of us, says w ho we are and the way we are is not enough . This belief is closely tied to the degree of connection, or disconnection, we experienced with our primary caregivers in those early years. The more consistently we felt seen, safe, and nurtured, the more inherently worthy we experienced ourselves to be. The more disconnected we felt, the deeper the sense that we were lacking. It is not uncommon for people to try to fill this perceived lack through external measures such as power and control, wealth and status, acceptance from others, or success and achievements, and over time, we can become dependent on these things to bring us happiness. The problem is that when they are taken away, lose their influence, or simply fade in potency, our happiness fades with them. Unless we actively learn to cultivate a state of consciousness that connects us with an inner source of happiness, our sense of fulfilment will continue to rise and fall with the changing circumstances of life. PTM is a Doorway to Freedom PTM helps you recognise these patterns, understand their origins, and reconnect with the freedom that comes from awareness and conscious choice. By noticing the stories that have guided your behaviour, you begin to reclaim your own agency and step out of habitual reactivity. Furthermore, PTM teaches that true happiness is not found in external sources but arises from within when you no longer operate from the filter of who you were taught to be, and instead begin living from who you truly are. Pathways to Mindfulness provides participants with an enhanced awareness of their inner world and provides them with tools that, if utilised, will help them live more mindfully so that each day can be lived with greater peace, love, joy, and so they can find freedom from their suffering. There is happiness to be found in both awareness and ignorance. It is just that the latter has a use-by date. Three Behaviours that Prevent Healing In the Buddhist approach to mindfulness they teach that three things keep you trapped in a mundane and often painful existence. Buddha called them the Three Poisons because of their ability to cause sickness and disease. Ignorance is when you live life habitually, always doing what you have always done. You are completely enmeshed with your childhood narrative, believing your thoughts and perceptions are real. The degree to which you experience happiness or suffering is mostly governed by external factors. Avoidance is when you have become more conscious of other ways of doing things, but the change feels like it requires too much effort, or it’s too painful to face what needs to be addressed. So, you resort to maintaining your old habits. You have awareness—which means you have a choice—but you forfeit that choice and continue to do what you’ve always done, getting the same outcomes. Attachment is when you are aware of what you need to do to change, you want to change, so you use willpower to make the changes. This becomes unsustainable and eventually sees you reverting back to your old habits. You lack the understanding of how to dissolve your attachment to 'your story' and it's associated values. Buddha went on to say that "All evil things, and all evil destiny, are really rooted in greed, hate and ignorance; and of these three things ignorance is the chief root and the primary cause of all evil and misery in the world ." This suggests that the opposite of ignorance must be the remedy, and the opposite of ignorance is awareness (gaining new knowledge and understanding). The first four modules of Pathways to Mindfulness, are dedicated to just that—enhancing awareness. The fifth module is about how to be mindful of that new awareness in each moment. Awareness is understanding. Mindfulness is using that understanding in a way that truely serves. Awareness and Mindfulness Promote Healing Awareness is about expanding your understanding. In Pathways to Mindfulness, this includes noticing how you experience life mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually; observing your story and the beliefs you hold about your worth; and recognising how your life could be different if you were no longer limited by your childhood narrative. Mindfulness is about holding this new awareness as you engage with life, moment by moment . Once you begin to see the extent to which your story is turning up in your life, the next step is to untangle your sense of self from it. This is achieved through observing or "witnessing" experiences as they unfold, rather than getting caught up in the drama and reacting habitually from ingrained patterns. This practice, known as living mindfully, helps you pause the moment you are pulled out of stillness, step into present-moment awareness, and consciously choose how to respond. It is from this lived state of presence that healing occurs, and inner peace and joy are experienced more consistently. Pathways to Mindfulness guides participants through a five-step process for identifying their story and moving beyond ignorance, avoidance, and attachment by becoming more aware and living mindfully. To make the five steps easier to remember, we use the acronym CHASM, symbolising the profound gap between your current experience and a life where inner peace prevails. Current Reality Module C is an awareness exercise where you practice observing the facts of your current reality, free from any judgements or perceptions. Through this process you start to become familiar with what it means to be the witness of your experience. You will become aware of how subconsciously you have lived your life up until this moment, and you will begin to understand how being unaware is directly connected to your suffering. Holding You Back Aristotle once said “Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you the man.” There is a substantial amount of scientific literature that supports the notion that during the first 5-7 years of a child’s life they are exposed to the programming that will form the filters for how they engage life. In a gentle way, Module H has you identify the programming, filters, and beliefs that are Holding You Back. We refer to this as ‘your story’. Alternative Reality Once you have established your current reality and how your story brought you to that place, you will then explore what a kinder, Alternative Reality might look like. This is a state of consciousness where there is little or even no suffering. The minute you begin to imagine this alternative reality, you have already begun to lay down the foundation for creating a new neural pathway. Shifting Realities If you are going somewhere you have never been before, it is likely that you will use a map to guide you to your destination. This is what Module S is all about. You will build a strategic map for Shifting Realities from point A (your current reality) to point B (the alternative reality). Each time you review the strategy you strengthen the neural pathway that can lead you toward the kinder, loving alternative you selected as your destination. Mindful Not Wilful The Western Mindfulness approach to change requires you to be Mindful Not Wilful. In this module you will be given five tools, that if embraced, will help you to pause your stream of programmed thoughts and behaviours in any given moment. It is in this space, when the mind is silent, that you will remember that the choice to be kinder to yourself, to others and to the planet exists. This is the place where change occurs. Pathways to Mindfulness has proven to be aligned with the latest research regarding neuroplasticity and neural pathway development. The program has been packaged in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step experiential program. The process is simple, but the impact is dynamic. Using C.H.A.S.M as the foundation for each session, participants gain an understanding of how to make the changes that will result in a better quality of life through enhancing their awareness, and living mindfully. When kindness becomes the thing you value most, your suffering - burnout, depression, challenging relationships etc, are replaced with a more consistent state of inner-peace, joy and fulfilment. The program is delivered in a high quality workbook with a complementary mindfulness journal. Workbooks Profiling Activity Pages 2 Workbooks 1/7 What Results Can You Expect? Pathways to Mindfulness doesn’t guarantee results, because real transformation depends on your willingness to engage with the process, bring curiosity to your inner world, and apply the practices in your daily life. What it does guarantee is satisfaction: participants consistently report that the program not only meets their expectations but often far exceeds them. This is because PTM doesn’t offer quick fixes or surface-level changes. Instead, it gives you the tools, awareness, and support to make profound shifts in how you relate to yourself, others, and life itself. When you change the lens through which you see and respond to the world, change naturally follows. These are some of the consistent outcomes reported by those who have completed the program: Generally happier in all aspects of life Restored love and connection in relationships Able to communicate with more clarity and confidence More freedom to be themselves Less dependent on the approval of others Less demanding of themselves and others Take the time to really hear others Less consumed by negative thoughts Listen to themselves and their own needs more often Prioritise looking after their needs as much as the needs of others Less emotionally reactive; able to respond thoughtfully Experience less frustration, anxiety, and anger Feel less exhausted More motivated to engage in life Increased confidence More inclined to make values-based decisions Consume less alcohol and drugs Found fulfilment in their work—or changed employment altogether Improved financial circumstances Improved sleep More committed to health and fitness Improved overall health and wellbeing A deeper sense of self-esteem and self-worth Commence Your PTM Journey Today Choose a Path That Works for You One-on-one Full Program with Russell Sturgess $5000.00 AUD Pay in full and save 20% Book Now One-on-one Short Course with Russell Sturgess $1600.00 AUD Pay in full and save 15% Book Now Online Group Short Course with Russell Sturgess From $695.00 AUD - Coming Soon Interested in the group events? 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Join Russell for 16 sessions that unfold a step-by-step path of spiritual transformation. Together you'll explore the difference between living in illusion and living in awareness. This map offers a clear pathway to transcend the egoic self and return to your essential nature. A Map of Transcendence Join Russell for 16 sessions that unfold a step-by-step path of spiritual transformation. Together you'll explore the difference between living in illusion and living in awareness. This map offers a clear pathway to transcend the egoic self and return to your essential nature. About the Program Early in the 15th century, twenty-two sacred images were transposed from manuscripts into a format inspired by playing cards, in order to preserve their wisdom in a time of great persecution. Rich in symbolism, these images — often described by Russell as 'pocket-sized stained glass windows' — carried teachings that illuminated a pathway from human suffering to soul enlightenment. For centuries their mystery lay hidden in plain sight... until Russell uncovered their deeper meaning in 2007. Since then, Russell has devoted himself to sharing this long-lost map with the world, guiding those ready to move from human struggle into divine consciousness. A Map of Transcendence takes participants on a profound journey into the nature of suffering and reveals the path back to their true essence and the healing that follows. Join Russell as he unlocks these sacred mysteries — and discover how to live them in your own life. Who is this program for? those who are experiencing the Dark Night of the Soul people who are not just trying to fix their lives—but trying to understand life from a soul perspective spiritual seekers who have done lots of 'inner work', but peace, love, and joy remain elusive What the program offers: enhanced clarity about the spiritual journey guidance on how to navigate the Dark Night of the Soul insight as to what a life aligned with our true nature looks and feels like inspiration for aligning with essence instead of ego understanding on how peace, love, and joy is possible in the day-to-day experience a visual map with images rich in symbolism to inspire and guide you on the journey Ready to participate? Start Now Still undecided? Watch a recording of a 3-hr webinar where Russell introduces his philosophy, and start to see for yourself how these cards reveal the deeper architecture of the spiritual journey and how the rich symbolism contained within the cards offers a way to walk through the Dark Night of the Soul experience with greater clarity. Watch the Webinar Commence Your Journey Today Choose a Path That Works for You A Map of Transcendence Self-Paced Online Program $290.00 AUD Details A Map of Transcendence Group Online Program From $890.00 AUD Expression of Interest A Map of Transcendence One-on-one Mentoring $3000.00 AUD Contact Russell Interested in receiving updates about all upcoming events? Subscribe to receive updates about events directly to your inbox What People Say " Before starting this course, I felt lost and uncertain about my purpose in this lifetime. I was searching for meaning and direction. This course has been a truly transformative experience. The teachings have provided me with clarity and a deeper understanding of myself and the world from a different perspective. My mindset has shifted, bringing me prolonged moments of peace and insight, and I feel more grounded in my everyday life." Belinda Books By Russell In 2020, Russell Sturgess' book The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot: The Cathar Code Hidden in the Cards was released internationally. A Map ofTranscendence was built upon the foundation of this book. Tell Me More Spiritual Roots of the Tarot Spiritual Roots of the Tarot 1/1 Tarot and the Secret of the Cathars The medieval Cathars were persecuted and thought genocided by the forces of church and state... but did their esoteric knowledge survive in a hidden form? Russell Sturgess, author of "The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot: The Cathar Code Hidden in the Cards," has discovered a secret code in the Tarot with the cards laying out the Cathar path to enlightenment and divine wholeness. Join Deacon Jon and Jason as they go on this journey through the Tarot with Russell. Make an Appointment Schedule a 30 minute call with Russell to explore A Map of Transcendence and how it can support you, confirm availability, or discuss upcoming enrolment dates. Book Now