Rescued by the Sun + The Geography of Being Open
Return of the Sun
For eight months in Sweden's winter, sun was a prayer in the distance. Mittens covered my hands, I wore wool all over, only my face got sun -- and very little -- for eight long months. In early May, a stranger smiled at me. I thought, Where has that smile been all winter? Yet I get it. Nordic winter is a beast. And... onward. I love you, Sun. Thank you for shining on my shoulders again.
What takes you away?
How much solitude, how much retreat time, do you need in life -- and do you get enough of it?
Most people I know would like more time in nature, more simplicity. Walking, playing guitar, meditating, admiring the moon. We need mental breaks. They're not a luxury.
What is a simple way you could give yourself a retreat in the near future? How many days, in what setting? Make it easy. Make it happen.
To celebrate five years of devoted mothering, I took a 5-day retreat in early May to Findhorn in Scotland. Each day dropped layers of pressure from my brain as I entered solitude, writing, staring at rain drops on leaves, just tending to me.
Walking barefoot on a trail one morning, I discovered this hand-built meditation hut (above).
Here's the piece I wrote about it, with slideshows: Falling into Findhorn.
The Geography of Being Open
Our free interview for May features the luminescent wisdom of Grace Boda, who says, "Light is constantly reaching for us, just as we choose to lean into light. There is a light, a gift, that is blessing us all the time." Listen to this 55-minute interview or check out all of our Conversations.
Hay Huevos!
Does Mexico take you away? Living through a Nordic winter has left me with a longing for more picante sights and sounds. If you are drawn to the sultry lure of Spanish speaking shores south of the border, you might enjoy this amusing essay written in Mexico by artist, writing consultant and community organizer Francesca Preston. Aqui esta (here it is).
Offering Me
With two months left in our yearlong adventure abroad, it's time for me to land part time work back home. Yes, all of my work at Leaning into Light is unpaid -- no doubt, a labor of love. Frankly I am thrilled to imagine who I'll get to work with, and what movement or cause I'll get to support. Perhaps you've got some leads? Here's my resume and LinkedIn profile. Thanks for helping me land!
