I’m already looking forward to the next in-person event to gather with others to question our stressful thinking (there are 3 coming up: one in May and two in June):
- May 13-17, 2020 Spring Cleaning Retreat, Lake Forest Park WA near or in my own little cottage in northeast Seattle
- June 2-7, 2020 Breitenbush Hotsprings Annual Summer Retreat duet of Tom Compton and Grace Bell 503-854-3320 in Oregon, USA
- June 26-July 1st, 2020 Eating Peace Retreat in France near Lyons: Margot Diskin Retreat Manager. Write to margotdiskin@gmail.com to book your spot.
Spring Cleaning retreat is only 12 weeks away. The blossoms will be bursting, the air will smell of sweetness and the sunlight will be cutting through rainclouds and showers.
Well, OK. Maybe there will be sun. This is Seattle, Washington. There will be lots of colors, green and fresh.
Coming to retreat is a powerful time of immersion in self-inquiry. We start at the very beginning. (I hear Maria in the Sound of Music singing her song “let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start….”)
Whether you’re experienced or brand new to The Work of Byron Katie and self-inquiry in any form….all are welcome here.
Our mission?
Spring Cleaning. The mental kind.
There is nothing so wonderful as a clear, calm, spacious patterns of thinking–especially about “problems” or dilemmas in your life.
Instead of chewing on these potent situations, obsessing over them, worrying about them, ruminating, perseverating, feeling despair or upset, wondering what will happen, trying to over-plan…..
…..we can clear the path through worry and find our own inner answers. No “right” or “wrong”.
This work is highly experiential, meaning the way we learn it is by doing it.
Sure, we can watch it done on youtube videos, we can watch someone else inquiring with a facilitator, we can read Loving What Is or I Need Your Love–Is That True? by Byron Katie.
We can even wonder about the four questions and try to answer them while we’re driving our car or sitting on the bus going to work thinking about it, LOL.
When on retreat, however, or sitting with someone else virtually or in person….we get to actually walk through The Work.
I have no idea why this often appears so difficult to set aside dedicated time to immerse ourselves in this brilliant self-inquiry–me included.
The mind wants to argue.
Can’t I just read the right book or meet the right teacher, and get “fixed” or “enlightened”?
Sigh.
I love how Byron Katie herself says it’s called The Work because, well, it’s “work”.
Too bad there isn’t a short cut, right?
But at this point in practicing The Work, I’m in love with it and the insights offered. The Work is the shortest short-cut or the nearest thing to a short-cut to peace you will ever find.
It is the only thing that has brought deep peace to my aggravated mind. No smoking, alcohol, binge-eating, TV watching, spending, signing up for trainings, doing, achieving or succeeding ever brought any abiding peace.
So let’s cleanse this thing together! (Pointing to head with forefinger). What do you want or need to work on in your life? What could use a little clean-up?
Join me on retreat in May. Can’t wait.
“Life is good. Life is flawless. Life is the push. It’s a school that allows us to play in the apparent physical. And when our mind can match the physical, and love what is, there’s no separation between mind and world. It’s like realizing over and over and over our true nature. It never moves….Anything that you see as out of order, no matter how cruel; do The Work with it. It’s never too much for us. Ever. ~ Byron Katie
Much love,
Grace
P.S. Spring Cleaning of the Mind. Holy Smokes what a relief, a joy, a rest. We do have fun. Read more HERE.