7 is an Odd Number

so is it possible to bring together 7 women of very different backgrounds,  ages, lifestyles and experiences and end with a result that is filled with goodness, beauty, inspiration,  and love???  i am here to tell you the answer and it is a resounding YES!!

was it the constantly swirling mists with the light peeking shyly through ever so often?

or the white space between the swirling that our brains discovered following shiva nata practice?

was it the juicy conversations going on all day long with kindred souls who we felt really “got us”?

or the amazing variety of soul collage cards and their insights created and shared with the group?

was it the lovingly prepared, healthy and colorful meals?

or the interesting array of gourmet snacks everyone brought to share?

was it the intensity of the colors of nature muted by the flowing mists escorting the route on our hikes?

or the dilapidated barn we discovered and hung out at?

was it the cozy comfort of a rip-roaring fire in an inviting mountain lodge?

or the spirit woman stories shared amidst candlelight and said fire?

was it the lilting lines of soul-touching poetry filling the empty spaces?

or the insights being jotted down all through our days

 in each personal journal?

was it the vast smorgasbord of inspiring books available for our perusal?

or the excitement of making plans for the future

with friends we had only met 2 days before?

well, none of the above in isolation could produce the enchantment that we all were so fortunate to able to soak into..... but all of the above in combination..... well, i'm thinking that 7 is a MAGIC NUMBER!!!

Final Details

yup – that’s the stage i’m at.  shopping, putting together folders for the girls,  going over the itinerary,  putting  the finishing touches on  my powerpoints, sending out the final “homework” and “what to bring” list, checking the weather….

and getting excited!  i feel so much more confident having been through all of this once before.  i know in my heart that it’s going to be so wonderful and i truly cannot wait to greet each and every participant and give them a great big hug.  oh happy day!!

3 More Weeks!!

hard to believe after all this time planning and anticipating that it is just 3 more weeks till the fall retreat!!  just like with the spring retreat, there was a time when i had a lot of doubts, when i thought it was not going to come together - when there were not enough participants to make it happen.  i had put so much time and effort into it and i felt that it was crashing down around me.

i'm learning to trust.... (slowly it seems...)  i'm now completely convinced that the group of 7 brave and beautiful souls signed up for the retreat is the perfect mix.  women of different ages and backgrounds, different talents and life journeys.  i just know that it's going to be amazing!

                                          

after the heat we have been having here in southern ca, i'm loving posting these very fall-like pics taken last year up on mt. palomar.  there is certainly a good chance for lovely fall weather, but i have to remind myself that there is always a risk when heading up into the mountains.  it could rain or - gulp -snow!  things may not go exactly as planned and that's ok.

at the last retreat, when we drove out to to the site of our morning hike, we discovered that, unbeknownst to us, it was turkey-hunting season. yikes - hunters! with guns! this was not in the plans!

i had to change the hiking destination at the last minute.  here is carolyn making the best of the situation and posing with one of the poor captured turkeys!  (not my thing at all!) so, my point is, it won't be perfect.  nothing ever is.  but it's going to be great.  i can feel it in my bones!!  can't wait!!

It's About the People!

i was having a conversation last night with some friends, one of whom was one of my former retreaters.  this was her comment: "although i loved the setting, the hiking and doing the collage, the very best part of the retreat was the people".  i couldn't have said it better - it is SO MUCH about the people!  i can pick a beautiful setting, plan stimulating activites and discussion topics, choose a delicious menu, but at some point, it is all out of my hands. 

the magic that happens at a retreat happens because of the connections.  and when you bring people together that are open and want to learn from each other, there is a pretty strong guarantee that this magic will unfold! once that spark is ignited, there is no telling where it will lead. we will grow in new ways that we couldn't even possibly anticipate.

so i'm excited!  now that i have a group in place, i'm ready to start planning the details of the october retreat and putting together my little "curriculum" (yes, i'm still influenced by all those years of teaching, but this is much more fun!)

Your Inner Artist

isn’t it about time to get re-acquainted with your inner artist? what – didn’t know you had one?? highly unlikely!! remember those days as a child when you played, drew, painted, cut and pasted with abandon? and you proudly showed your work to your mom or your teacher? you weren’t worried about form or line or color or perfection – it was the process that was exhilarating! and the fact that you yourself created something from nothing and it was totally unique, never before seen by any other human being! stop what you’re doing – right now – and try to remember that feeling!

that’s what this long weekend will be about. recapturing the desire to create, whatever your medium might be. whether it’s painting or decorating or cooking or gardening or photography or……well, you get the idea. it’s amazing what can happen when you get together in the company of others who are wanting to rekindle their own sparks. it’s something i can’t tell you in words. you just have to experience it for yourself!!

and what better place to experience it than high atop mt. palomar at a gorgeous mountain lodge set in the pine trees. the retreat experience will begin well before the retreat itself as i will be sending out (optional) “homework” assignments to get you thinking about the topics we will explore together.

 

• read all 4 posts (especially the welcome one) and check the pages listed upper right for complete retreat details.

• for a more detailed description of shiva nata, check elizabeth’s post about it.

• any questions?? just ask!!

 

Permission

Dave Storer says, "We are all born with incredible creative abilities, and few things in life make us happier than fully engaging those abilities.  To let a belief that we haven't the proper "permission" - from either society, family and friends, or ourselves - stop us from developing our creative abilities and expressing our deepest, truest selves in the best creative way we know how would be a terrible loss."

Do you struggle (as so many of us do!) with giving yourself permission to do the things you really love? We all have so many responsibilities it seems, so many things that need our attention, so many things that are unfinished. It can be really difficult to let those things go even for a short time and step away into a space that is different. But different in a good way! Nourishing. Positive. Enriching.


I so believe in the truth of the quote above. Once you have mustered the courage to give yourself that needed permission and do allow yourself to step away, there is no turning back. The mystery that awaits you is powerful. It will change you in ways that you can’t yet imagine. I know this is true!

look forward to hearing from you!!

patty@nomadicnotebook.com

(as always - all photos taken in the area of the retreat)

July Updates

I’ll be on the road for a bit, but wanted to share some exciting updates regarding the October retreat before I go:

Only 5 spots left for this retreat!!

I know some of you are unfamiliar with Shiva Nata (me too!) Here is Elizabeth’s own brief explanation:

 “Shiva Nata is a form of movement that restructures and creates new neural connections in your brain. It's probably useful to know that it's really challenging, but it's also a practice where if you're doing it wrong, you're really doing it right. And the new neural connections can help you generate ideas and insights, which is wonderful and addictive.”

Sounds intriguing, yes?? I can’t wait to learn more!

Long-time friend and longer-time artist Carole Lee will be joining us and will be sharing some of her wisdom.

I've added a "Why I'm Doing This" page that you may find of interest.

Scroll down to read the other information about the upcoming retreat.  Be sure to become a follower if you would like to receive further updates.

I'll be in some remote areas while I'm gone, but I will respond to any emails eventually.

Thank you so much for stopping!!