“It’s not happiness that makes us grateful but gratefulness that makes us happy.” – Br. David Steindl Rast
Please bear with my stream of consciousness post: This week, Carl gifted me a birthday treatment at a local spa, a place which, of course, is mainly available for people of privilege. The treatment that was booked for me was unavailable due to maintenance issues and I was kindly offered a free alternative treatment –…
Read MoreA note from Carl: Greetings. Before I begin, I wanted to remind you that Erin has recently created two free offerings that are incredibly valuable and beneficial. “Some Things to Do When You Can’t Sleep” (here), and “Women Embodied Free Taster Course.” (Access here for a limited time.) Feel free to share them with anyone who might benefit from them.…
Read MoreGood day! Before I dive into today’s writings, I’m so excited to share a few things with you. In addition to the “Things to Do When You Can’t Sleep” short free course I offered last week, this week I have a new free offering for the women among us, available for a limited time. It’s my Free…
Read MoreA note from Carl: Yesterday, as I was driving home from dropping our son off at school, I was in a hurry. I was trying to get to an online writing class that I deeply value, I was speeding, I noticed my phone didn’t have enough charge to make it through the class, my breath was…
Read MoreA note from Erin: Before I dive into today’s writing, here’s a reminder of a few upcoming events: Join us for an afternoon Feldenkrais Workshop on Dynamic Transitions October 28th. Details and sign-up link below. Women Embodied: Live and Online – registration will be opening soon. Women Embodied- the online version (which will include weekly live video meetings via…
Read MoreA note from Erin: some snapshots of The Encouragement of Light Retreat at Ghost Ranch I’d love to begin by sharing a poem, which is really a benediction perfect for these times, from Mark Nepo. Be A Circle I wish you the ability to breathe after pain, to begin again, though nothing else seems possible.…
Read MoreA note from Erin: I was rereading my journal this morning, reviewing some notes I took on a conversation I had with a wise elder in my life some months back. She asked, “So what are you going to believe, live and be shaped by? By the guidance that comes through you and to you? Or…
Read MoreA note from Erin: The western US on fire, more massive hurricanes and flooding, the first morning in a week we have a sky that’s blue and not white with smoke, a headache from breathing smoky air for days, distress at my son’s cough, heartache with more destructive policy coming from our president. It’s been a…
Read Morefrom Carl: Last Sunday I woke up crooked. My ribs were pulled over to the side of my pelvis and any movement of folding forward evoked sharp pain in my back. I was tweaked from playing basketball for 3 hours the day before. I love playing basketball. I’ve had the rare, good fortune of playing…
Read MoreA note from Erin: Twice this year, I’ve had the privilege of being on retreat with wise elder, Deena Metzger. Many people recognize her from this iconic photo from years ago. She’s a tiny and mighty woman with long white hair and a powerful presence. I love her and am so grateful to have her as one…
Read MoreA note from Carl: I wanted to begin with a quote from Mark Nepo that seems to most clearly to capture my sentiments of the last week: “In spite of all that is happening and because of all that is happening, I stand firmly in my belief in the strength of human kindness to overcome…
Read Morethe spectacular wildflowers at Albion Basin, Alta, Utah A note from Erin: In the Buddhist tradition, there’s an understanding of where we can turn for reliable support. They are called the 3 jewels, and are understood as a source of refuge from the craziness and suffering of life. You don’t have to be Buddhist to benefit…
Read MoreA note from Carl: This week I had two clients who came who came into my office and said something like, “I attacked that shoulder pain spot with a Theracane and it actually felt worse after.” Or “I really worked that hip with a lacrosse ball, and it felt good at the time, but I woke up…
Read MoreA note from Erin: Over the past several years, there’s a being I’ve met several times in dreams and visions. Can I tell you about a recent visitation with him? Here it is: I begin walking in the beautiful Escalante River. I walk and walk in the ankle-deep flow where ancient redrock walls loom…
Read MoreA note from Erin A note from Erin: This August, I’m happy to be offering a fresh version of my online course, Embody Gratitude. Part of why I love to offer this course is because I see the big magic that happens when we grow our gratitude. I see it in my own life and…
Read MoreA note from Carl: “Not Knowing Is The Most Intimate” -Zen saying from Fayan Yesterday I remembered a funny, humbling teaching moment in my life: It was 12 years ago in when we were in our Feldenkrais Training in Santa Fe. After cooking our nervous systems with 5 full days of Feldenkrais lessons, we would often…
Read MoreA note from Erin: I was recently listening to a favorite podcast, Living Myth with Michael Meade, and he quoted this proverb: The only heart worth having is a broken heart. Ain’t it the truth? (Dammit. It’s true. If only it were about feeling good.) But alas, it’s not. Not anymore. Orienting primarily toward our own…
Read MoreA note from Carl Greetings Friends, Happy Summer to you! I’m toward the end of my week of solo parenting while Erin is on retreat in California. Always humbling, I offer a bow of awe and praise to all those rockin single moms and dads out there. Ever since Erin introduced this video from her…
Read MoreA note from Carl Last week I attended a retreat in California. At this retreat center, they make amazing organic food. 3 meals a day, and every lunch and dinner they serve delicious home-made cakes with a huge bowl of freshly whipped cream. It is a funny thing- often when we attend meditation retreats, we sit for…
Read MoreA note from Erin: Hello! Our 7-year old son has been studying aikido for the past few months, and he just began taking guitar lessons from an amazing man who is also one of his aikido teachers. I love love love being a fly on the wall during these classes. I’m used to being a teacher,…
Read MoreA note from Erin: Before I get into today’s missive, I want to remind you that our upcoming Art of Sitting class starts on Monday! It’s our first online offering where we’ll be teaching the powerful movement lessons we do at in-person classes and retreats. We’re very excited to be able to share these transformational…
Read MoreSalutations! A few weeks ago in a circle I write with, we wrote to the prompt of a poem by Rumi. Here’s a short excerpt of that poem. “The miracle of Jesus is himself, not what he said or did about the future. Forget the future. I’d worship someone who could do that.” Here’s my…
Read MoreA note from Carl: Several years ago, when Erin and I were visiting Boulder, CO, we dropped in for a sit in the beautiful shrine room on the top floor of the Shambhala Center. At that time, the shrine room was left open all day so people could come in and meditate. The room was…
Read MoreA note from Erin: Hello, friends! How’s your heart? This morning I’m feeling it all. Full. Raw. Grateful. Heartbroken. Overwhelmed. Spacious. Tender. Deficient. Humble. Humorous. Wary hopefulness. Inspired. I’m grateful there’s room for all of it. This morning I woke early, grateful to beat my kiddo’s awakening hour so I had time to meditate, to…
Read MoreA note from Erin: I love to read books. There’s a gorgeous one I’m rereading. For one reason, simply because it’s so beautiful and also because I’ve gifted it to the participants in my Women Embodied group and want to read along with them. It’s called Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She’s a scientist, a professor,…
Read MoreA note from Carl Recently, I had a client come in for a first session. She was having difficulty and discomfort in her walking and wanted to figure out how to activate a certain muscle that she thought was at the root of discomfort. This type of request is quite common. Whether from one’s own…
Read MoreThe Encouragement of Light: September Ghost Ranch Retreat 2017
Friends, I’m dancing-in-my-chair thrilled to invite you to join me and my dear friend and guest teacher, Nan Seymour, for a one-of-a-kind retreat at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico this September. with Erin Geesaman Rabke, Feldenkrais, Embodied Life, & Meditation Instructor and special guest teacher Nan Seymour, River Writing Facilitator How Did the rose…
Read More