Courage Words This Week: Kaleidoscope.Sojourn.Svaha. Where do they take you?
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Dear Reader, I hope this email finds you well and warm. I'm reaching out to say hello! It's February, but we'll keep going (I hope) into spring. Here in Toronto, winter keeps coming: I’m gazing out through a slowly falling veil of snow. It’s Feb. 3rd. Such sweet news for me: we now have four people signed up for The Olive Grove Retreat! (And maybe five . . .) If you are still INTERESTED in joining us for the Olive Grove Retreat in Greece in May, please jump down or read through this COMPELLING LETTER to the end FOR A VERY SPECIAL 48 HOUR OFFER. Aren't capital letters bossy? Yet I'm not going to edit them. It's Monday; they're helping me stay lively. The most wonderful thing about my last letter (an earlier invitation to join me in SOJOURN to the Olive Grove) was the stream of enthusiastic responses back. (Sojourn is one of our Courage Words this week.) · You shared ‘grove’ and tree stories with me · Some of you shared your news, what you’re up to in real time, which is why I won’t see you in May. (I didn’t have the wherewithal to respond to everyone, but I’ll try….) Thank you so much for writing back. You are my people! Truly—inner-outer-adventurous [read, courageous] thoughtful humans. You are going to teach in Thailand. And visiting beloveds in the UK for the first time since COVID. Someone else is having a new baby (any day now . . . !!) Someone recently welcomed their first grandchild. Bless these new live. (And bless our older ones.) Another person in our community had life-saving surgery. Someone is doing her Masters, another ris building a house. And yet another is recovering care-fully from a long illness of spirit. We have an intrepid traveller in Columbia. And another working at a refugee centre in southern Mexico. No matter what we hear, what we dread and rightfully fear from the churn of the news and real-life challenges--amidst the shadows arises the glimmer and flash of movement . . . Life unfolds, delicately—little tendrils, grand flourishes, in tender or extravagant motion. The dance continues. Getting your news was like receiving an email kaleidoscope of human activity, turning, settling into the un/expected pattern of each life. Thank you for telling me all the good reasons that I won’t see you in Greece this May . . . Kaleidoscope is one of our Courage Words this week. I want to share something special with you – a true story from the Olive Grove. As I was reflecting on why I’m doing the Retreat, I suddenly remembered the last person to visit me in Greece before the global pandemic began. Disturbed about her life path, my friend Maya asked if she could visit me on the island to get clear after a dreadful business trip to Paris. I know—that really doesn’t fit together! She hadn’t wanted to go to France at all. Far from a carefree trip for this successful artist to a major art fair, she felt manipulated into attending the event by her extended family, for whom she did most of her paid work. I said Yes, come! I also explained how far Eresos is, that it’s an exercise in patience to reach an island much closer to Turkey than to Europe. And, I explained, the little house is tiny, a single room. She could sleep in the little house with me for a night or two (she didn’t want to rent in bustling Skala Eresos in July) but she would have more privacy in my big ole tent. That suited her fine. Her goal was to be among wise trees . . . I suggested that she walk through the grove and choose the tree that spoke to her, feel like diviner for the spot that pulled her in. She walked around--just as the Olive Grove Retreat participants will walk around and choose ‘their’ tree. She found her place in the grove. Distant from the little road, the little house, the sheep barns. Behind her, the mountains and the moonrise; beside and around, her olive tree and the other trees of the grove; before her, the blue ribbon of the sea. I gave her a table and chair; she set up her easel, paints, water jars, coloured pencils, electronic doodler. In the mornings, we talked and tea-ed on the little stone terrace. Then she went back into the grove to draw and paint out her struggle. Yep, it got a little thrash-y. There were swears and tears. She committed to expressing and exploring the nature of the “war” between herself and her ‘boss’ (a family member) to the paper. She journalled. She yelled. She sang. I witnessed her doing wild movements among the trees that looked like disco yoga . . . Several times, at night, we went down to the sea and she burned certain pieces of her art, as well as some strong written statements that she was ready to release / sacrifice to transformation. I taught her that other courage word we’ve explored here before: the Sanskrit word for release/sacrifice, also the name of the goddess who married the god of fire: Svaha. (Another Courage Word for reflection. Sojourn. Kaleidoscope. Svaha.) During those days in the grove and down by the sea, I led her through a series of eye-to-brain techniques I use in my practice to help people integrate traumatic and adverse memories. It’s also a powerful tool for getting un-stuck by creating new neural pathways, ‘seeing’ new connections between the past, the present and the future. As I’ve studied and practiced more hypnotherapy, I’ve also realized that these techniques are powerful self-hypnotics. It’s something we’re going to explore in the Olive Grove together! And by the sea . . . (My favourite 'end' of the beach--skinny dipping welcome!) Maya discovered what was already there, waiting to emerge: her courage, just inside the lip of her fear. Courage: one of the beautiful fruits that grow on trees (all trees, especially trees in groves, as you know--not just olive trees). She realized—in an embodied and full-brain way—that she didn’t have to remain 'faithful' to an old family pattern that was draining her life energy and her hope for a more independent, flexible (and fun!) future. By the time she left the island, she’d already begun creating a new life for herself. She was full of confidence. And trepidation. Her “retreat” served as a catalyst for a major life change. She’s been thriving ever since. Her work (and true career) as an independent artist took off soon after she left Greece. The power of “retreating” sometimes means we come forward within ourselves to discover something that’s difficult to see clearly when we’re immersed in ‘regular life.’ Plenty of research shows that travel (just about ANYWHERE, including a new part of your town/city/park) is extremely good for our brains; the stimulation of newness for all our senses does wonders for awakening fresh as well as old, forgotten resources. Each traveller—sojourner—carries unique baggage with them, real and metaphorical. Our creative biographies change with the landscape.That kaleidoscope of transfiguration is different for each of us. When we are shaken up and turned around, the pieces fall into place and a new pattern illuminates other possibilities. I’m so looking forward to offering this container of light that fosters inner and outer change, together in a small community of like-hearted souls. Imagine the possibilities, the connections, and the personal breakthroughs that await you. Not to mention my truly miraculous olive oil! To secure your spot at and embark on a transformative experience, please reach out! There are a couple more spots . . . See below! THE NEWS:Yes, I originally named my First Dibs / VIP date as Feb. 3. The VIP cost for The Olive Grove Retreat, with two options for extension to ten days or two weeks is $4888. This morning I’ve had a request to wait just a LITTLE longer—opera music here—for money to appear . . . Manifest it (as my cynical cowgirl sister would say): you have 48 more hours for the basic one week retreat cost of $4888 (add $1000 for ten days, $2200 for 2 weeks.) I didn’t want to give one individual extra time without offering it to everyone. I KNOW this Retreat is a costly offer, and I’ve done what I can to keep the costs down: so 48 extra hours will keep ‘em down several hundred dollars a little longer . . . Starting Wednesday at 6 pm EST, the Early Bird $5288 becomes available. My goal IS to offer at least one bursary opportunities (of a lower rate) in the future. There is ‘room’ and actual rooms, in the lovely Kyma Hotel right on the beach of Eresos, for two or three more participants. Please join us! I extend my First Dibs offer for you until Wednesday (with sincere thanks for those who’ve sent in their deposit today.) If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm happy to provide any additional details you may need, including payment options. Bon courage, Karen |