Fun fact: I am pretty much always looking forward to fall. I try to live in the present moment and enjoy the blessings of each day. And, at the same time, I kind of can’t wait for fall.
Yes. It’s March. Even now.
This is something my family likes to tease me about. However, it turns out, if one of your big dreams is to host an intimate retreat for the Fall Equinox (which also happens to fall on the weekend of your birthday), getting excited about fall when it’s snowing in January is a really fortuitous thing. Because, these kinds of dreams take time to plan, organize and bring to life. Plus, calendars seem to fill up faster and faster each year.
I am thrilled that my strategic daydreaming and a few delightful synchronicities allowed me to put into motion something magical: Some Days – Autumn Abundance, the first organized retreat of its kind, in Idyllwild, California, September 19th through the 21st (with the option to arrive on the 18th).
Aligning to the autumnal energies and always in service of the intentional pursuit of big dreams, Some Days – Autumn Abundance will include workshops, hiking, nature experiences/forest bathing, yoga, a soundbath, massages and other activities, along with healthful, delicious seasonal food (and excellent company, of course). I will be hosting the retreat at a boutique micro-resort with just-renovated cabins, sauna, cold plunges, heated pool, yoga hut (which will work great for massages too!) and gorgeous grounds.
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Picture this. The sun has set on summer, and you are entering the golden hour of the year. So much has happened. Perhaps it feels like lifetimes. Whatever it is, it has been full.
Perhaps, so full that there hasn’t really been space to process it all. Space to simmer. Space to reflect. Perhaps there hasn’t really been space for yourself. Your needs. Your growth. Your dreams.
Or, perhaps there has. And you have started to notice that whenever you give yourself time and spaciousness, everything just seems better. The parts fit together better. You find more flow and ease. You experience more joy and satisfaction.
Whatever the year has brought thus far, you find yourself in amber honey late September and you are winding your way up a picturesque mountain road. Breathtaking in its raw beauty and power. The leaves of the trees all around you are starting to change. Each corner you turn, you feel a releasing. Some of the heaviness falling away. Each breath feels a bit fuller as you look out and see the thousands of pine trees across the valleys and the glistening calm of the lake off in the distance.
As you near your destination, you see the charming Hallmark town of Idyllwild, perhaps for the first time or perhaps it wakes a familiar memory. Maybe you notice the sign on the way in, introducing it as the home of Adventure, Music, Art and Harmony. And, you wonder – What possibility does that hold for me?
You drive slowly through the idyllic town center, taking in the quirky, eclectic charm, noticing adorable shops and unique galleries, and making a mental note to return and stroll around. But, for now, you make your way towards the Humber Park trailhead known for world-class hiking that’s just a few turns further up when you reach the boutique micro-resort where you will spend the next few days.
You might have driven past it if you hadn’t mapped your journey. Perhaps because you’re taken with the stunning views of Tahquitz Rock towering over you or perhaps because it is a hidden gem tucked into the quiet residential road. Once you’ve parked, though, you start to see glimpses of the property itself, and the modern renovated cabins that surround the central grounds, where many of the retreat’s gatherings will anchor, juxtaposed with the timelessness of nature.
You put your bag down and take a deep breath of fresh mountain air. Perhaps you grab a cup of tea. You see a fellow journeyer inside the main gathering room. She has a cup of tea too. And a journal she is gently writing in. There is a quiet, yet welcoming and communal, feeling. Warm, friendly, yet without expectation or obligation. You take it in as you step back outside and savor the energy of the enchanted forest that surrounds you now. Each tree and its ancient wisdom. The quiet strength of the mountains rising all around. With a glowy gratitude, you ground yourself in this moment.
You’ve arrived. And it is just the beginning…
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I believe investments in ourselves, our dreams and our well-being are essential for creating the virtuous cycles we so long for in our lives. Where all of the different parts of our selves and our lives nurture and sustain one another. And that this is such a powerful way that we can support our intentional pursuit of big dreams. Something I am passionate about, not only for myself but for others. For the last few years, I’ve tried to dedicate my birthday to this purpose. And, I can’t think of a better way to honor that intention and welcome my favorite time of year than to create this magical experience.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact me. (Please note that space is limited and room selection will be handled on a first come, first served basis.)
In the meantime, sending you pumpkin spice wishes and apple cider dreams.