My Saturday with Marianne Williamson
An inspiring day immersed in metaphysics and spirituality, and a potent reminder to trust plans made with intention, because we're always right where we're meant to be.
Last Friday night I was starting to think I’d made a mistake. Not a life-ruining mistake – just the kind where you book something months in advance, then as the day approaches, your calendar, your to-do list, and your energy levels join forces to say, “Are you sure this is the best use of your time!?”
That ‘something’ was a full day with Marianne Williamson in the spectacular Light Auditorium of the Friends House in central London. So yes, I had of course been sure – when I bought the ticket. But now, knee-deep in preparations for an upcoming keynote, a couple of rough night’s sleep (thank you full moon!) and a brain full of tasks, I was not so sure. By 4am Saturday morning – wide awake, head buzzing – I considered bailing.
And yet, by some miracle (well: coffee, a cinnamon bun, and sheer will), I made it - just on time. I was greeted warmly by my wonderful friend Nadine who’d saved me a seat. Ten seconds later, Marianne took to the stage – and I exhaled.
You probably know of Marianne Williamson – spiritual teacher, bestselling author, or political candidate. But being in her presence for a full day confirms why she continues to command such attention and admiration decades into her illustrious career and fascinating life. She brings gravitas without ego - conviction without arrogance. She’s spiritual, practical, compassionate, unapologetic. And she speaks – without notes, without filler – from a place of truth that you feel in your body.
She had laryngitis, she told us early on – and might not be able to go the distance. But she managed the full marathon: 10am to 5pm, minus breaks. An entire day of transmission, truth, challenge and deeply caring presence.
Now, I’ll be honest – when I first encountered her work in my 20s (via A Return to Love, a gift from a friend), I wasn’t ready. God-talk weirded me out. I wasn’t spiritual, and anything resembling organised religion made me squirm. That book sat unread for years – and yet, I always packed it in every house move. Somewhere, a part of me must have known its time would come.
And it did. Years later, post-divorce, post-chaotic relationships, in the messy, beautiful business of becoming someone who could actually love and be loved, I reached for it again. And this time, I got it - big time. That shift into being able to sit with spirituality and let it nourish rather than scare me has been key to my own evolution. It’s a big part of why I do the work I do now.
Because you can’t transform your life from a to-do list. You can’t just move the pieces around and expect the change you desire. We have to connect to something bigger and wiser to create beyond our brilliant but inevitably limited human thinking. Only then can we find that elusive something that’s deeper than the constant striving and self-reliance that’s been sold to us all as “success.”
Marianne reminded me of that on Saturday. She reminded us all. She talked about activism and accountability. About how personal growth is meaningless if we don’t turn it into real-world action. She cited research showing that if just one person agrees with a woman who speaks up against injustice, the impact is transformative. It changes the room and beyond. The ripple effect is real. And so many of us have power we are just not using whilst the world burns. It brought me right back to my Psychology degree: there’s no such thing as an innocent bystander.
Marianne didn’t sugarcoat anything. She interrupted ramblers (gently, but firmly). She cut to the chase. She didn’t perform her answers; she delivered them. She didn’t try to impress us, she knew she didn’t need to. The woman is a walking, talking masterclass in presence and purpose. (A made a LOT of notes to self for my upcoming presentation!)
The biggest truth-bomb for me was around forgiveness. It was a theme she returned to again and again. But this part particularly struck me, in terms of how we might view someone who’s wronged us:
"The truth of both you and me is love. But the world is hard, and it’s easy to be knocked off track. Forgiveness is remembering that – and that love is real. Nothing else exists."
Read that again. Let it land. How much lighter do you feel?
We’re all carrying so much – stories, grudges, pain. But what if we remembered that beyond the mess and noise and sharp edges of life, the truth is love? That most of us are just stumbling through trying to be OK? That forgiveness isn’t letting someone off the hook – it’s choosing not to carry their baggage and our resentment anymore, and to reconnect to what matters.
By the end of the day, I was tired in the best way. Nourished, sated and realigned. A little more human and a lot more whole - which set me up rather beautifully for my wedding anniversary dinner with Hamish. And I kept thinking of something Marianne said midway through the day:
"I can say with certainty where all of you should be right now: right here."
Indeed. I had indeed been right where I needed to be. Not chained to my desk prepping slides. Not pushing through another “productive” day. But in that beautiful light-filled space, with a room full of (mainly) women, opening to something higher as we connected more deeply to each other and ourselves. Just being there and present to all that Marianne brings.
It’s a message we all need to hear far more often:
You’re not behind. You’re not failing. Relax: you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Especially if you too have been up at 4am questioning your plans!
Of course - being where we’re supposed to be doesn’t mean we give up on taking new actions. But it’s an important pointer. It helps us stay present and decide from where we are are - rather than beating ourselves up about what we haven’t done, and who we aren’t - yet.
If you’re ready to take intentional action and be supported into creating your new exciting next phase - and are committed to a future that’s bigger and better than anything you can currently imagine for yourself - then why not book in a FREE call with me? Let me help guide your way forwards. Click the button below, and if you want additional information - just scroll down…
DFY Recommends…
Read this:
It would be remiss of me not to recommend Marianne Williamson’s seminal book A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Perhaps you’re ready to expand into spirituality and start learning how to let go of worldly pettiness? Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned through all my messy and ongoing growth, it’s that we really can’t have too much love in our hearts. And the people who say otherwise, are just scared and need our help. Above is a photo of my old, well thumbed and faded copy of the book from 30 years ago. And yes, I am kicking myself for not having asked her to sign it as she was moving around the hall! Next time.
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If you’d like more love, happiness and YOU in your life, then it might be time to reach out for support.
Because making that shift into your 2.0 midlife version is hard to do without tailored guidance. The midlife maze is a bugger to find our way out of alone!
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It’s time to recalibrate to the life that aligns with who you are - and who you’re ready to become.
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Because when life drops bombs on us, working through the debris is hard - especially alone. Many of us are more disconnected from the help we need than we care to admit. Or, we believe we should be able to deal with everything alone - that needing help equals weakness.
Here’s the thing: that determination to struggle in silence? It’s keeping you stuck. It’s only in relationship with others that we can break free of old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve us - because it’s impossible to see those patterns and beliefs ourselves, let alone know how to transform them!
When there’s a lot to navigate, or when you’re a long way from where you’d like to be, coaching is often the missing piece you didn’t know you needed.
I work with women in midlife who’ve spent years living by the rules, roles, or routines expected of them and are now asking: is this it? I help them reconnect with themselves, release guilt and uncertainty, and create a life that feels real, rich, and fully their own.
Whether you’ve built a career, cared for others, or simply kept going without stopping to ask what you really wanted, it’s time to finally put yourself at the centre of your own life.
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So if you’re feeling emotionally exhausted, overlooked, or like you’ve lost yourself in the demands of life, working with me will enable you to reclaim your identity, expand into new possibility, create much needed boundaries, and finally make space for your own desires and ambitions.
And remember: needing help is ok and doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
So if you’re ready to commit to making REAL and lasting change, why not book a FREE Discovery session with me? Just click here and arrange a 45 minute slot. Together, we’ll explore your midlife reinvention and how you might best achieve it.
In our short time together, I’ll help you:
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That’s it for now - keep on reaching for your best self, and reaching out to those who might help you.
Because Drama belongs in the movies, not in your life.
Until next time,
Wendy