On 11th November 2022 at 11.11 am, Kay Starr TV was born.
Having spent six months or so recovering from the passing of my beloved husband, Paddy, Autumn 2022 saw me dreaming into what was next for me.
To my surprise, it wasn’t writing my second book that was calling me, but a whole renewed vocational expression, picking up on momentum from 12 years before. I was ready to get in front of the camera again!
Back in 2010, I was thrilled by what was then new media opportunities – to create our own blogs and videos. I bought myself a video camera, had a make over, and started filming interviews, talks and workshops. I also contacted an agency matching expert presenters with TV programme makers.
A series of family, health and housing challenges quelled that trajectory, however. Then, after a couple of quieter working years while I attended to all that, in 2013 I was inspired to launch the Thrivecraft Academy, training accredited life coaches and meditation teachers
Five very fulfilling years followed, but by 2018 Paddy’s health was declining further. Days after completing a comprehensive rebrand and launching the online academy, I paused Thrivecraft altogether to become his very full time carer.
As you can see from my fresh new Kay Starr banner above and photo below, I’m looking a bit different from when the branding was created for this website in 2018!
(I had a really fun make over and photoshoot on 11th November last year, the day of the Kay Starr TV launch).
So hello new year – it is delightful to be getting back into business again.
I’m starting by creating and presenting a new talk show on my Scottish island’s radio station, Radio Millport, sharing the fascinating stories of island characters, projects and businesses. I’ll be out interviewing with my camera too, sharing videos on social media.
Being a business coach as well as a presenter, I’ll also be mentoring entrepreneurs, on air and behind the scenes. And I’ll be delivering my Money Making Mindset workshop to businesses in my locality and further afield.
This is all in preparation for Kay Starr TV, the creation of a media hub on the island offering film, audio, podcasting and social media services and broadcasting programmes from the new TV station – with a view to support enterprise, innovation and wealth creation.
I’m excited and inspired to say the least. Look out 2023 – I’m coming to get ya!
Yes he has. He is away, away in another dimension…
Paddy 2021, Scotland, sitting at his favourite window seat, gazing out to sea.
And he did it magnificently, slipping away peacefully after six and a half weeks in hospital from early January. He’d been increasingly poorly since the autumn, but we had Christmas and New Year together at home, unaware of what was about to happen. In hospital after a fall like a felled tree and seizures, he was in another world, yet seemed to be working through the last of his soul mission before letting go. He waited until after my birthday and Valentines Day and passed on 21 February.
Paddy’s funeral mid March was fabulous. Despite storms and a covid resurgence, friends and family from Scotland, Devon and Cornwall, old and new, gathered to celebrate his life. Our dear friends Mark and Christina (who had also helped officiate at our wedding in 2003) hosted the service beautifully.
For the three weeks after he passed, I had poured all of my love into creating a service, life story, music, visual tribute and reception that did him proud. And Paddy contributed during the process – switching on motion sensor lights, and the CD player off, and changing the screensaver on my laptop – at various points to illustrate his favour or otherwise of my choices.
My niece Karen’s choir sang A Thousand Years outside the crematorium as we arrived – a song I’d just been learning at Rock Choir and I’d sung to Paddy in his last weeks. Knowing he was close, I asked the nurses to play it to him an hour before he passed. “One step closer. Don’t be afraid. I will love you, for a thousand years.”
Paddy has been showing up frequently as a single rook – the first time wheeling and squawking directly above my head, then following me along the seaside road, despite the wind being so strong it was almost blowing me over. A spirited rook appeared at the funeral too, seen hopping and flying around through the floor to ceiling window behind his coffin at the end of his life story then visual tribute. We were all amazed!
Immediately after I’d said farewell to my last funeral visitors, I contracted mild Covid. The next 10 days was a forced retreat of illness, isolation and grief. It was harsh, yet fast-tracked me through so much. For most of the time before the funeral I was in a kind of supernatural state of sublime love and connection with Paddy, but the more ordinary part of me was waiting to be felt, bereft. Most of the big heartbreak painful tears were shed in those days.
Paddy and I were somewhat prepared for his passing as his health has been poor for some years and we’d discussed the eventuality of it happening before me many times. (He was also 12 years older.) As the thoughts, feelings and reflections poured through me when he was in hospital and after he died, I saw with great clarity that our relationship was complete, our soul contracts to one and other totally fulfilled. (And Paddy’s personal purpose in this life also complete.) And so there feels to be a perfection that he has passed and that I continue, that it was meant to be. It’s a comforting realisation.
For the last couple of months I’ve been gradually recovering from fatigue – post viral, grief induced and chronic exhaustion from four years of intense caring for Paddy. However I have been hugely supported by my dear friends and family and by the fantastic Scottish island community I am now a part of. And by nature and beauty and freedom and the joy of being able to do things I haven’t been able to for many years. I would say my energy is 90% recovered now.
And my grieving has become softer, gentler. Tears and chats with Paddy are quite frequent, but flow easily and beautifully without pain. My new friends and activities have poured into my life and I am recapturing so much that has been abeyance – not only through 20 years of intense focus and devotion to Paddy and our life together – bringing up my son Jamie and creating Thrivecraft – but also during the 18 years before that when I was involved in a semi-monastic Buddhist lifestyle, being a devotee of another sort.
So I am singing (with Rock Choir), dancing, sea swimming, cycling, walking (lots!), gardening, resting, meditating, writing, taking trips off island, having a stream of visitors stay over (including my dear friend Angie from Senegal for the summer), friends around for dinner or joining them at theirs, lunching out, exploring my incredibly beautiful locality and neighbouring islands. And continue to make amazing new friends and deepen relationships with existing friends and family. I am feeling so much joy, appreciation and love and am sooooo expanded and energtic – a whole new lease of life.
Inspiration for relaunching Thrivecraft (paused these last years while caring for Paddy) bubbles up frequently and I am delighting in those delicious creative impulses quietely gathering power beneath the surface. I am giving myself until the autumn to recover and restore and simply enjoy my new life, friends, family and places, and then I’ll be back with some wonderful Thrivecraft offerings. I can’t wait to see you then!
It’s been a while – and I write to you now feeling like a whole new person!
In March 2021, husband Paddy and I moved to Scotland, to the beautiful Isle of Cumbrae where my mum lived for 20 years with my stepdad. We’ve had many, many holidays and visits over the years and have wondered about moving here before. But now the time is right.
We are absolutely loving it here – so close to stunningly beautiful nature and the people are so warm and friendly. I have been amazed at how powerful it’s been to move back to my homeland after 36 years in London, Devon and Cornwall. I feel like my bones are made of the same stuff as the rocks and that the salty Firth of the Clyde waters are flowing through my veins.
The relocation followed an intense few years which saw three other house moves, Paddy recovering from a stroke and the diagnosis, illness and passing of my dear sister then beloved mum. These three were / are the closest loved ones in my world (along with my son Jamie who is still very much alive and well!) For the last couple of years, I’ve paused Thrivecraft to attend to all that – and to my own recouperation.
Then this September, I suddenly realised I’d completed the arduous, years long trek through the mountains and arrived in a bountiful valley of peace, ease and light heartedness once again. And after a year of honouring my health, fitness and wellbeing as a priority, am feeling more vibrant than I have in a long time.
But there’s more – I have a new name! Since coming back to Scotland I have taken up my middle name, Kay, again. It’s what my Scottish family know me as and it feels right. Since changing, it dawned on me that Maggie Kay was just a transitional label – a professional brand and pen name – after 20 years of being Srimati (my ordained Buddhist name). But Kay is coming home to the ‘real’ me, much like coming home to Scotland – the return of the prodigal daughter after all those years adventuring! So please do call me Kay if you remember!
And speaking of pen names, I also have a new book project! I’ve been feeling like my next book – True Love Cuts Deep: The Strong Woman’s Guide to Letting Go (working title) – is prompting me to start writing. It follows on from my first book, Diving for Pearls: The Wise Woman’s Guide to Finding Love which was published in 2017.
Then, last week, I noticed Nicola Humber of Unbound Press was offering a 5 day writing challenge. And as it happened, I had a clear diary for the first time in months. I took it as a nudge from the Universe, so I signed up. Our first assignment is to announce our book intentions publicly – so here you are!
How are you doing? Fancy some input into meditation over the next four weeks?
I’ve had an inspiration to host a supported 4 week meditation practice experience on Facebook from this Saturday 7th November.
It’s some extra support while you follow my four week Thrivecraft Meditation Foundation course…
…which teaches four wonderful and powerful meditations – one a week. See link below for details and to sign up for the Thrivecraft Meditation Foundation course if you haven’t already – it’s free.
I’m keeping the course free (was £199) to offer meditation nourishment to as many people as possible during this challenging year. (!!!)
Maybe you’ve already done the course or would like to recap? Or have some support while you finally finish it off? Or maybe you are new to it… Whichever it is, you are welcome!
We have a private Facebook group for Thrivecraft meditators which you can join here –
The idea is that we connect on Facebook live video on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 12 noon GMT over the four weeks. (or watch later if you can’t make it live.)
Sat 7 Nov – 12 noon
Wed 11 Nov – 12 noon
Sat 14 Nov – 12 noon
Wed 18 Nov – 12 noon
Sat 21 Nov – 12 noon
Wed 25 Nov – 12 noon
Sat 28 Nov – 12 noon
Wed 2 Dec – 12 noon
Sat 5 Dec – 12 noon
I’ll guide some meditation – whichever one we are doing that week – share some tips and answer some questions.
And in between, you’ll be following the course in your own time – watching the videos and practicing daily – so that it’s all complete within the four weeks Sat 7 Nov – Sat 5 Dec.
And we can all keep in touch here in the group – report in and share experiences and ask questions alongside everyone else.
I’ve been enjoying some supported online meditation experiences myself over the last few months and really appreciate how helpful it is to be practicing alongside others. If you’d like to join, just let me know.
And look forward to getting underway with you on Saturday!!
During this unprecedented time of global ‘retreat’, I am giving FREE access to my 30 day Thrivecraft meditation foundation online course (usual price £199).
Thoroughly learn and practice four wonderful meditations which help you feel good – bringing you calm, happiness, empowerment and wisdom.
I’ll be with you step by step via video – describing and guiding the meditations and sharing information and tips on how to be comfortable, relaxed and get the most from your practice.
Join now and get into your groove with meditation, whether you are brand new to meditation or wanting to refresh your practice.
Just click the link below, sign up and away you go!
I was inspired to post today when one of our awesome Thrivecraft Meditation Teachers inquired about taking our accredited Thrivecraft Coach training next year.
Like most of our Thrivecraft Coach trainees, she is already an impressive practitioner of many years standing, qualified and experienced in several healing and spiritual modalities, and deeply in tune with her intuition and vocation to guide people into well-being, fulfillment and happiness.
But she wants to add coaching skills to her portfolio so she can help people more systematically and comprehensively with ‘their stuff’!
With Thrivecraft Coach Landa Ananda Love last week on the drive of our new riverside home.
And that’s exactly what our one year professional Coach training does – provides detailed coaching skills and methods as well as Thrivecraft’s unique approach using guided meditation to cut straight to the heart and soul of those we are coaching.
The second module gives business mentoring alongside abundance and manifestation know-how – including defining our pricing, working style and branding as well as attracting ideal clients with telepathic marketing.
And the third module is practical – completing case studies and supervision before graduation.
Solstice Special Offer
And as it is solstice today, I am guided to offer the same special prices that I did in August when applications were last opened.
In the northern hemisphere, today is traditionally the day to celebrate the bounty of Lammas – the half way point between mid summer and autumn equinox.
And this year, the 1st August is also a favorably aspected by Jupiter and a new moon in Leo – the new moon being the best time to plant seeds of intention and manifestation.
So what better day to open applications to three wonderful Thrivecraft training courses…
The newly updated Thrivecraft Meditation Foundation in 30 days.
Which qualifies you to progress to the Thrivecraft Meditation Teacher training, if desired.
And the one year accredited Thrivecraft Coach training programme.
To celebrate Lammas, the new moon and opening applications today,
here are some awesome offers for you if booked and paid by 31st August:
I was just finding some resources to contribute to my amazing friend Caroline Palmy‘snew book – Loving Conversations With Me – ‘love bundle’ (more on that below) and came across these videos from a workhop I gave.
I’m not sure I ever published them on my website – so here they are!
And if you haven’t done so already, make sure you download your free MP3 audio of my specially created guided meditation, Ask Your Inner Wisdom.
Caroline has just opened orders for her new book, Loving Conversations With Me.
To launch her book, she is making available a delightful package of bonuses, including a ‘love bundle’ contributed by eight of her closest soul sister colleagues.
Any of you who have trained or had coaching or come to a workshop with me will know that we have a secret formula for successful manifestation here at Thrivecraft.
100% intention + 100% surrender = manifestation
Here’s my latest Facebook Live video revealing the subtle but powerful secret to mastering the art of manifestation.
When you have understood and practiced this, you can create the life, love and business of your dreams – over and over again for the rest of your life!
The Book of Soulful Musings – now published
You can read more about manifestation in Chrisoula Sirigou’s new book – The Book of Soulful Musings – where I contribute a chapter on the Thrivecraft manifestation formula.
And enjoy all the other inspiring interviews too.
Ah Om Manifestation Meditation Workshop
Learn all about our favourite manifestation meditation at Thrivecraft – the Ah Om Manifestation Meditation – right here, where I’m teaching and guiding the practice at a live workshop:
To celebrate opening applications for the new accredited Thrivecraft Coach training programme, Maggie is giving a series of Thrivecraft ‘Business Alchemy’ Top Tips on Facebook this month.
Thrivecraft with Maggie Kay 