Someone had to cancel their attendance at autumn retreat starting Weds due to medical emergency (she’s OK but going through a procedure on Thursday).
This means….we have room in retreat for you, plus a room available for you to sleep in a king size bed with plush beautiful pillows and comforter and everything you need, an absolutely gorgeous huge bathroom with a claw foot tub, and the peace and quiet of a retreat that shines a light on your inner transformation.
But, you don’t have to stay onsite to come. I myself commute daily the mile from my cottage to this beautiful house.
Last year, someone in fall retreat was chuckling with surprise at the antique flavor, the elegance, the hot tub, the quiet garden grounds in the middle of a large city like Seattle. Our retreat house was built in 1918. There’s a grand feel to the place.
Like a haunted mansion. LOL.
Isn’t that what it’s like sometimes in our minds, with all the thoughts, stories, memories, or nightmares from our past, or imagined future?
I love this time of year to question the haunted thoughts in our minds.
So, no matter where you are….you can bus, drive, hitch-hike, fly and you still have three days to call in “well” to your job. Come join us in the brilliance of doing The Work at this magnificent place only ten miles north of downtown Seattle. Hit reply if you have questions for me, and just ask.
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I receive a whole lot of brilliant, challenging and honest questions about The Work.
I got two this past week alone.
Different people from very different parts of the world asked these two separate juicy questions:
a) Do you think the work can be the only tool one uses in mental health therapy?
b) Isn’t all this self-inquiry kind of, well, self-centered?
Such great questions.
Every situation and every person is unique, even though we humans are so similar. But I can share with you my own ponderings, and you can sort out your own answers, as always.
First, I like to think about where my question comes from? Is it from my fearing mind, or a relaxed one?
I used to agonize endlessly about decisions and if I was doing something “right” or not. One thing I recognized was the belief I had about doing it “wrong” or making a mistake and the honest need to question that it was possible to do it wrong in the first place. I like to ask, when making decisions or wondering about something:
Is the question arising out of fear and urge-to-protect, or self-compassion, love and joy? Am I afraid something will go wrong?
If you’re asking Question A (can you use only The Work to address mental health issues?) then I love going further into it like this:
What part of me is asking? Who wants to know? Is it a voice that’s suspicious, or worried about using other therapeutic tools? Or is it a wise and loving voice?
(My thought is, why wouldn’t I use other therapeutic help, if it was in front of me and inviting or interesting?)
Sitting with these questions and noticing peace in the presence of your reflections can be so sweet, so easy.
Is a decision necessary? What do you notice works for you today, right now in this present moment?
With the second question, Question B, (“isn’t inquiry too self-centered?”) there could be a few things also to ponder:
What does self-centered mean for you? Like is there something you believe you’re missing, because you’re spending time questioning your thoughts or stressful memories?
What’s the worst that could happen, if you’re self-centered? Who is this “self’ that The Work is centering around?
I’ve had the thought in the past that if I meditated all day (or did The Work all day)….I’d be a lump of unproductive clay (unproductive sh*%t) and leave nothing to the world and offer absolutely no important wisdom.
But can I be sure the thing I’m expecting as an outcome is for sure going to happen?
No.
I love rolling up my sleeves and being in action. My capacity to be active and alive out in the world seems to be far more expansive since I’ve been doing The Work. The caution I once had is massively reduced.
It feels really good.
Who would we be without our stories, including our stories about inquiring into our stories….or receiving other kinds of therapeutic help?
I’d be open to however this is going, and however it changes.
If you walk through the world without suffering about what’s happened in your life in any area, who knows what amazing actions you might take and incredible things you might offer us all.
If you can’t take the spot in retreat starting Wednesday night, today there’s room for two at half-day retreat. We begin at 2 pm and end at 6 pm. Come on over.
Much love,
Grace
P.S.
Breitenbush HotSprings Resort Retreat is Dec 6-9. $245 tuition before 11/1 (you add your lodging and all meals are included–it’s a very sweet winter deal).