Remember,
the entrance door to the sanctuary inside you.
~Rumi
I am so excited to be a part of a growing conversation that is happening among women in my community. It began last year with the creation of my Women's Wisdom Circle--a six week journey where we explored themes like the power of intention, giving and receiving support, honoring our unique gifts and celebrating the creative spirit that lives within each of us. They say that we teach what we most need to learn. This is definitely true in my case and I would add: we create from our own craving.
Out of the weekly women's circle, grew the idea for my latest offering: Sanctuary Saturdays. I've become acutely aware of the fact that so many women, myself included, have been giving from what we have in our storage tanks. And for most of us, that's not very much. Our outer lives, which consist of all the roles we play, responsibilities we assume and relationships with which we are committed, leave very little time for our own self-care. I often hear women say "I'd love to do X (yoga/meditation/gardening/creative projects) if I had more time." The truth is that you will never find the time, but rather you'll need to find the resolve to carve out the time to nourish your whole self.
In terms of our total well-being, just as we need to spend time each day attending to the outer aspects of our lives: our work, families and relationships, we also must honor the "inner ecology" that each of us embodies. That is, we need to attend to what is operating inside of us and seek to grow in the direction of our highest selves. There is a direct relationship between our inner being and our outer doing. Ultimately, each should support the other, creating a harmonious and mutual exchange. Many of us have become so busy in our outer lives that we have lost a connection to our own essence--our Soul. In order for us to hear the voice of our Soul, we must be willing to slow down, let go of the distractions, and engage fully with our own process.
Joseph Campbell, the American mythologist, said "Your sacred place is where you go to find yourself again and again." My intention is to create such a sacred space where the inner life and the feminine heart can be honored and nurtured. From my own experience, I have learned that certain practices can open the way for us to connect with our essential selves. The practices are like guides that will walk us to the fresh springs of our deep longing and invite us to drink. To fill ourselves up. Sanctuary Saturdays is a day long retreat, 9 am-2pm, the first Saturday of the month (beginning February 6) at a private home in Clermont. Each month will offer a different theme and incorporate circle time, yoga, journaling, a creative exploration and a delicious lunch! You will leave feeling restored and recharged. Sharing this wisdom-well with other women is a blessing that I am honored to share. If you are a woman in the Clermont area, I'd love for you to join me!
I will be offering this day long retreat the first Saturday of the month (February to May). For more details or to register please go to Thrive Clermont.
**Thrive Clermont is a new non-profit organization in Clermont, FL that is dedicated to offering life skills and enrichment programs for the community. I am thrilled to be a part of their mission and vision.
