Earth Moves Cooperative
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Paula Ishtar Biography
Qualifications:
Paula has an MSc in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Transpersonal Psychology (from Middlesex University)
and a B. A in Psychology and Women’s Studies (from Liverpool John Moores University).
She also holds professional qualifications in teaching adults and holistic therapies.
She has stress management and counselling qualifications.
Paula has a City and Guilds Science Technician Cert.
She is a mental health first aider and has completed courses in diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding.
Paula also holds a certificate in Mindfulness.
Paula Ishtar was named the Coronation Community Champion for the Wirral in 2023, chosen by King Charles and Queen Camila
Past Roles;
Psychology Tutor for Liverpool City Council for twelve years. Also, sessional work teaching Psychology for Sefton Council and
other educational institutions.
Dance work: Since 1998, Paula has been operating a dance business. She has presented dance in therapeutic, community, entertainment, educational and team-building contexts.
National and International Pilgrimages to a variety of Neolithic and other sacred sites. Paula has conducted numerous women's empowerment workshops and retreats in the UK and Europe. She has spoken at multiple events in the UK and abroad on the subjects of Feminine Spirituality, Embodiment, and Middle Eastern Dance, performing extensively throughout the UK, Europe, and the United States.
Previous Clients: Paula has delivered sessions and courses to many organisations, including Women's Aid and various corporate, charitable, and community organisations. Paula has had many clients, including Homotopia; Liverpool Gay Pride, various schools and colleges; Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival, Cosmopolitan Magazine, ITV; BBC 3, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, The Green Gathering, The Greenbank Project, The RSPCA, Age UK, Wirral Multi-Cultural Organisation, Wirral Change, Granby Children's Centre, Conscious Camp, Indian British association, BBC Online, Zoe's Place and many more.
Dance Background: Paula has attended numerous dance classes and workshops led by international teachers in contemporary dance, contact improvisation, ballroom, Flamenco, and Indian classical dance.
Her primary training, focus, performance, and teaching work have been in Oriental (Middle Eastern) dance.
Writing, Paula has been published in various international journals about dance and spirituality, including Spirit and Destiny, Kindred Spirit, and Archaeology Review. Her courses on The Psychology of Self, Sociology, Shamanism, and The Divine Feminine have been published by an international correspondence school, ‘The British School of Yoga. In the early years was a former columnist for Kerrang magazine.
Show Creator: Paula is the creator of 'Club Orientation', a vaudeville cabaret. The show is a mix of drag dance and music performances. The show features themes of Divine Feminine, values, and diverse community performances. This has been in operation successfully for fifteen years, running out of various venues with around twenty performers and technicians.
Horticulture /Permaculture One of Paula Ishtar's most enduring hobbies is horticulture, and she has created several gardens. She enjoys growing plants for food that also have an aesthetic value. Paula is learning about permaculture and advocates for this holistic and ethical approach to gardening and food production. Paula is interested in the research and application of ecopsychology.
Family and cultural background
Paula Ishtar's paternal grandparents were professional international dancers and had their dance school in Liverpool. Ishtar's father also taught dance on cruise ships and practised fine art.
Paula has a daughter and a grandchild. Paula also shares her life with two Siamese cats a Chihuahua and two Pythons.
Other Passions
Paula plays guitar and writes songs. She enjoys reading, film, science, ancient history, cooking and ecological interior design. She is a practitioner of meditation
and yoga. Paula enjoys live music and performances from a variety of genres.
