Journal
IRREGULAR PROFILE: ROBERTA WEBER, THE HUMAN DIFFERENTLY COACH
Jolene here.
Our beautiful + talented friend Roberta kindly recorded a bespoke meditation for us that you can find on our zero waste meditation eye pillows (manufactured in an NGO in India that provides employment to refugees).
We are delighted she agreed to be the first interviewee in our new 'Irregular Profile' series.
I first met Roberta via one of my best friends at a fundraising 'ladies cocktail evening' I was hosting in our flat. Timing was fortuitous, because I was in the middle of sliding into the abyss, and desperately needed help dealing with untreated trauma, resetting old stuck patterns, and learning to 'human differently' as Roberta terms it so perfectly. That was around 8 years ago, and since then I've worked remotely with Roberta both on a one to one capacity and in group sessions, at great enhancement to me personally which of course also benefits my ability to show up here.
WHAT DOES IRREGULAR MEAN TO YOU
Roberta: Irregular is the heart beat in the kid who is voicing their truth even when they know by doing so they may be out in the cold of their friendship group. Irregular is the breathing pattern of a person who is reading their poetry at an open mic night. Irregular is the light in the eyes of the one who is allowing their curiosity to flow through them. Irregular is the bravery to love and laugh and dance and create without concern for traditions that are perhaps just a few sizes too small. Irregular is seeing the dominant pattern and letting yourself dream anyway.
WHAT PART DOES IRREGULAR PLAY IN YOUR PRACTICE
Roberta: I'm a scientist who has refused to turn my back on the mystic truth of my very human heart. I know there is science in intuitive healing and I will continue to practice it in a way that honours both traditions. I see and feel the shame that wishes to be my cloak, and I refuse to wear it. Humans are incredible beings with capacities that are beyond what is considered rational and acceptable, but those times are done. Humans must embrace the irregular truth that flows in their veins and dances in their nervous system. The truth that the irregular is our gift and a gift that is coming right on time.
WHAT ARE SOME FAVOURITE IRREGULAR THINGS IN YOUR LIFE
Roberta: Leaving aside my Irregular Sleep Pattern nightshirts and duvet set.. my other favourite irregular things are my boys who are the artists who emerged from the scientists. I LOVE that! I love making jewellery as a part of my irregular healing practice. And I love my irregular hand. I was born with a limb difference (as it's called now) where I have less fingers on my left hand. It's not always wonderful, but it's actually a great 'humaniser' I find. It brings curiosity to the table early on and allows me to connect with people at that level more easily than if I had 'regular' hands. I guess having a difference from birth has also increased my resilience in life - finding the beauty in the irregular comes naturally to me.
If the above has grabbed your interest, I recorded an interview with Roberta which you can watch here, and learn how she went from studying genetics at Berkeley to embracing ancient arts of healing + intuition, as well as a tip on how to banish shame from your life as a starting point to "humaning differently".
