Let me just dive right in. As followers of this substack know, I do a little of this and a little of that and I like to promote others who do a little of this and a little of that. In my 60 years of living, there are very few things I’ve done for over a decade. I can count them on one hand: my marriage; Ayurveda. That’s it. Everything else has led to something else that I get totally absorbed in, obsessed with, and then certified in. That seems to be the path so far.
Just before Covid hit us, I went on a creative writing retreat. I became absorbed, obsessed then certified. That’s how I got on the path of the Gateless Method, which led to Natalie Goldberg's classes and Laura Munson's classes, and Diablo Mountain Writer’s. Which led to my writing salons and retreats.
When I went to that first writing retreat with Gateless founder Suzanne Kingsbury, I had no idea what to expect. I had written a book (Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide) but I knew there was something else inside me that wanted to tell stories. Personal stories. Even made-up stories. But I didn’t know how to begin. At the retreat, very little instruction was given (which is actually a gift), we meditated, got a head massage (!), were given a prompt, and encouraged to allow the words to flow, unimpeded, onto the page. And so it went on for 5 days. My notebook filled up with things I hadn’t thought about for decades. The accident I had when I was 13. Working in a bar on a Greek Island. Stories of Tel Aviv that formed the woman I would become. Hebrew scattered throughout - I was writing in two languages!
I left that retreat with a notebook filled with ideas, encouragement from the feedback the others offered, and words from their stories that amazed me. Inspiration. Momentum. Clarity. Curiosity. A door opened and I walked through it. Now I walk back and forth between the doorway, picking up old stories and bringing them forward into the light. Learning from them. Crashing into them. Sharing them.
What will become of these stories, I do not know. I know they have changed me and opened my mind up to memories that are stirring and unbelievable. Did I really work in a bar in Santorini when I was 22? Did I really have dinner at Anna Freud's house in London in 1980? How did I lose my dearest friend in 2021? What happened when I stood in front of the reincarnation section of the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in West Hollywood, in 2002? (That moment gave birth to my own bookstore, breathe books, in 2004). If I didn’t remember and write down the story, it might get lost. I might forget the magical moment. I might not even believe these things really happened.
I can teach you what I’ve learned and guide you to create your own package of memories or to make up new ones, and to create stories how you want to tell them. Examine the stories you have been telling yourself for years.
I’m teaching a 4-week writing salon at Manor Mill in Monkton in July. You can register HERE. (My June salons at The Ivy are filled, sorry!)
Experience the writing method along with traveling in exotic Iceland, ignited by the northern lights. I added an additional retreat week, as week one filled up quickly. Oct. 31- Nov. 6. Details HERE. Only FOUR spaces are left. To learn more about the Iceland trip, join me on a Zoom call: Friday, June 9, 4 pm; or Sunday, June 11, 10 am. If those times don’t work let me know and we can schedule a call for you. Please RSVP for the call by emailing me at susan@breatheayurveda.com
A few more things…
Tracy Houchins is a dear friend of mine. We recently rekindled our friendship that began at Breathe Books over a decade ago. I am in awe of her resilience, creativity, and generosity. Her new retreat is at the gorgeous Casa Om Potomac in West Virginia, June 21-25. It is specifically designed for women who have lost a child. Look HERE for more.
And Save the date for my first event for Ayurveda Home Remedies! We will be at The Ivy on Saturday, July 22 at 10 am. You can pre-order the book now from The Ivy or HERE.
ONE MORE THING!! I’m offering Summer Price Specials on Ayurvedic Consultations. Sign up for one meeting for $125 (that’s $40 off ), or sign up for a package of 3 for just $425 (save $75!) I’m only offering this special from June 1 - August 1. Contact me right away to secure a spot on the schedule. susan@breatheayurveda.com. I can help you create a plan based on your dosha, for balance, harmony, and better health. It’s the food you eat, the sleep you get, the way you move, and how you relax. I help you feel better.
Ok - go off and play in this beautiful weather.
lots of love,
Susan