One week back from Baja and I feel as though I never left and I feel like a different person. Is that possible?
Last week was full – full of teaching, listening, facilitating, resting, and processing. More than half the crew had been there before so it was a reunion for many of us. It reminded me of when I used to pilgrimage to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA once a year to study with my marital arts teacher, Constantine Darling. I went 3 years in a row. Many of us returned and some new folks would join us. There’s something special about meeting once a year and connecting in mindful practices together.
I had Shani & Vela joining me to share their gifts, massage and breathwork. The two compliment yoga so well as our bodies and breath are the key to asana/postures practice. Both open those channels in their own way which bring more to our practices.
This year we added a traditional Temezcal (sweat lodge) with a local woman that added to our connection with the land. We sang together in the dark and every time the flap/door opened between each direction, the full moon graced us with her light.
On our last night we danced and enjoyed a bonfire to sweat out the last of our intentions.
Our closing circle had many moist eyes, including myself. The intimacy created through shared space in yoga, discussions, intention and prayer was felt by each of us.
We left with our hearts opened and our load lighten.
I’m also reminded how important it is to connect – connect with those we love, those we know and those we don’t. Retreats have a habit of bringing diverse groups together, which expose us to people we may not have sought on our own. Conversations at the dinning table, sharing during the philosophy discussions expose us to other ways of thinking and being.
In this age of monoculture, it’s important to connect and seek opinions that differ from our own so we can widen our own scopes of perception.
Your homework, if you so choose to accept it, talk to at least one stranger every day for the next week. Report back on your findings.
Sending you a warm hug,
Clara
📕 Trust by Hernan Diaz
📕 The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad
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