who has your back? | the next retreat

How are you my friend? I reflected this week on how incredible it is to feel supported and of the people that have my back. This is something we can never assume, or take for granted. I have known this foundation my whole life, including a sense that the Universe has my back. With an abundance of gratitude for these gifts, my heart spreads to many on the planet who don’t have others in their lives for even moral support, including people in our own communities.

In these very challenging times of uncertainty and restrictions to our lives, people are really suffering. Are there enough funds to keep warmth in the house, food on the table, resources to support mental and physical health, and to ensure everyone is safe? People that live isolated lives are experiencing loneliness now more than ever. Some also feel isolated in unhealthy family dynamics.

I considered this question in my practice this week. We can’t underestimate the feeling of someone having your back. The idea that someone is there for you in a time of need, whether you send out an SOS or not. To feel cared for, safe and loved are not small deeds.

Then I contemplated on whose back I have. It’s not only an equal honour and privilege to be there for another but when we activate compassion for others, we get to bathe in the same light. Compassion ripples in every direction. The truest gift and essence of being human is our connectedness. In these global times of need, what can we do for one another?

How might I best show up these days for a loved one, a colleague, a neighbour and a stranger. For the month of November I want to take this on as an official practice with notes. Loving kindness in action. If you want to join me, choose a few people that might need a little extra kindness. Write their names in a calendar. Choose only as much as you can commit to. Hold them in your daily practice, send an email, make a phone call or knock on a door (with a mask;-).

Many people work with gratitude journals, this is its sister, the compassionate journal. At the end of the month, I'm quite sure that the pages will be perfumed with gratitude. What does it take to spread a little joy?

Our small retreat last weekend was so lovely we decided to do it again the weekend of November 20 - 23rd and will again accept only 6 participants.

We shared meditation, contemplative mala making, qigong and sound journeys, local seasonal food and the spectacular nature of the Muskokas.

Cedar Healing Art Centre in Gravenhurst is set amidst trees, a short walk to the lake. The house is spacious and airy with modifications done to comply with health and safety for the current times. Sonja guides us through Qigong to Yin Yoga to creating sound journeys with the crystal singing bowls. We explore the metaphysical properties of gems and the practice of making and using a mala to help us align, set intentions and destress our lives.

If this is not enough, the cook puts an abundance of love into the organic, locally harvested meals to make you smile with your heart and belly. Then if all else fails, the surrounding nature soothes the spirit and our practices awaken our energy body.

It was such a treat to share this small venue and see the malas that were created over the weekend from a thought to completion. Everyone indeed left nourished, including me.

If you are interested to join us Fri. Nov 20 - Sun. Nov 23rd , email me gisele@tbds.org Or to read more, visit: https://www.cedarhealingarts.com/malaretreatwithgisele

to you this day with love, a lotus and a smile,

Gisele