September 14, 2017

I was asked to share my story of how I got here.  I've just started a 3 month karma yoga program at Mt Madonna Institute outside of Santa Cruz, CA and as one would expect, there are an overabundance of introductions and questions about your journey of getting there.

Did it start in 2013 when I had my an epic identity crisis as I unexpectedly became a ‘failed’ entrepreneur?  Was The Celestine Prophesy (the first new age spirituality book that I read in my teens like probably everyone else) the catalyst, or maybe it was my first psychedelic experience that opened my mind up to a realm beyond my preconceived notion of human beingness?  Was it when I started practicing yoga twenty years ago or started meditating five years ago?  When I gave notice to my boss in April and subsequently left my job a month ago?  Difficult to know where to begin when considering the commencement of a path, so I’m sticking with the latest and greatest shift.  In August 2017 I quit my job, sublet my apartment and left Portland to go on a 'spiritual sabbatical'.  

Sabbatical might not be the right word.  I mean, I left my job and don’t have plans to go back.  I do have to go back to working at some point, girl’s got bills to pay.  The plan is for this not to be just a time out for rejuvenation, but a full bore exploration in how I want live my life.  One where spiritual practice, personal well being, relationships, livelihood and play can be integrated.  Where the purpose is centered around community, creativity, living in harmony with the land and less so focused on the American dream and cultural expectations. While Nietzsche said God is dead, I’m beginning to wonder if the American dream is dead.

I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful month before heading south.  I left said job, was gifted a ticket to Pickathon, spent time with so many people in Portland that I truly care about, I turned 40, squeezed in a few camping trips including a blessed total solar eclipse weekend with some of my favorite loves.  Serious magic. 

The road trip south was majestic.  Farm to table dinner with my dear friend Megan, followed by solo traveling through the redwoods and the avenue of the giants (ah yes mother nature!), fog laden twisting and turning down 101 and 1 into some of the most beautiful coastline in Mendicino County.  August 29th I landed in what I will call home for the next three months. 

Mount Madonna is an intentional yoga community founded by Baba Hari Dass focused on the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga.  I work about 25 hours each week, most often in the kitchen and dining room but also on recycling duty (obviously), setting up and servicing private retreats and resurrecting the neglected garden.  Five hours a week we are required to participate in meditation, pranayama, and asana classes; presentations, group discussions.  The rest of the time is mine to do as I please; hike in the redwoods, soak in the hot tub, take yoga classes, study philosophy, participate in daily ritual, meditate, read, take up a conversation with community members, make art, nap, absorb the energy of the neighboring ocean in Santa Cruz….whatEVES.   

The other question that we get asked of course is the one of why?  Though typically verbose, I find I have just a few choice words for this one.  The primarily goal is to nourish and relax; my sweet little nervous system has been hot wired for a long time and it needs to learn how to settle down.  I’m also curious about what it’s like to live in a community of like minded seekers, to have the time and space to deepen my own spiritual practice, foster my feminine energy, to be in service, shake off a few habitual patterns, not be tied to a desk and to limit my time with technology.  No particular goal, no training, no certification.  I just want to try on living life in a different way.  One that is more integrated and fuels my heart and soul.  After a few weeks of settling in, this feels like I absolutely found the right place for that magic to happen.