As I sit here preparing for our special annual rock star retreat I’m flooded with feelings, fueled by thoughts/ideas, nudged by experience and influenced by my inbox.
For our time together I’m inspired to find balance between freedom and form, structure and play, loose and tight, wanting the best experience with the highest possible ease.
Each participant will be invited to find/choose their own word
Courage is my word for the weekend, and the theme through our time together.
Ability to do something that frightens us.
Strength in the face of pain or grief.
Strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger or difficulty.
"the heart as a source of feelings, spirit, confidence” Etymology. Middle English corage
The word Courage can be seen as a combo of Heart (Cour) and Rage. I choose to regard the rage as a healthy fire energy fueled by a state of “ferociously determined”.
Although we plan to not be in any danger during the retreat, no tigers jumping out, no earthquakes or house on fire! when we’re on retreat guests are invited to explore their edges, to seek safe risks. Where participants sustain comfort, ease and pleasure, having a GRAND time, yet stretch some boundaries a little. Like dipping a toe in the water, to explore new possibilities, while submersed in a peaceful get away from home, surrounded by like minded caring individuals, who are walking a similar path, with each person honoring the uniqueness of each person attending the retreat. This is a difference between a vacation and a retreat. Ideally a retreat feels like a vacation AND MORE… something is sustainable is stirred, stimulated, revealed from within, while surrounded by nature, comfort, beauty, dance and joy.
Here’s a poem to inspire the environment and experience we’ll co-create this weekend.
Retreat
In the heart of stillness and serenity,
We gather to explore our edges,
To seek safe risks and venture beyond,
While embracing comfort, ease, and pleasure.
Amidst the grand time we share,
We gently stretch our boundaries,
Like dipping a toe in the water,
We embrace new possibilities.
Immersed in this peaceful getaway,
We find solace in each other's company,
Surrounded by caring souls,
Walking similar paths of self-discovery.
Let us honor the uniqueness of all,
As we journey together on this retreat,
Embracing the warmth of like-minded souls,
And the endless possibilities that await.
Although, as a seasoned teacher and trainer, folks may look at me and describe me as fearless, the reality is I live and experience fear every day. I assess the situations, remind myself there are no tigers and ask key questions like
what is the worse thing to happen?
what is the truth here?
what is the cost vs benefit of this choice/action?
what do I know from the past, that can help me now in the present, to launch me towards my dreams in the future?
“Nature loves courage.
You make the commitment
and nature will respond to that commitment
by removing impossible obstacles.
Dream the impossible dream
and the world will not grind you under,
it will lift you up.
This is the trick.
This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted,
who really touched the alchemical gold,
this is what they understood.
This is how magic is done.
By hurling yourself into the abyss
and discovering it’s a feather bed”
