When women gather: Summer Solstice Retreat

Last weekend I had the wonderful opportunity of being a part of a women's retreat on the beautiful isle of Nantucket. My dearest friend and yoga teacher, Jenn Falk, and I co-led this Summer Solstice retreat for an amazing group women, many of whom were meeting one another for the first time. For me it was a true honor to be a part of this circle, to teach about the herbs, and to hold the space for the women.  It's a simple idea, the act of going on retreat, of getting away from the normal routine, but it can be so profoundly shifting.  Time to slow down, time to play, time to reflect, time to connect to nature can be deeply healing for the modern spirit....

We were graced to have beautiful weather the whole trip, and our daily yoga practice led by Jenn had long views towards the sea, with plenty of beach roses to surround us. Indeed, we were so inspired by the gorgeous roses that they became a metaphor for our time together. We even made a flower essence out of the rose, calling upon it's ability to be open to love and to nurture self-love.  There was an abundance of other lovely plants in the vicinity, which graciously lended themselves to our herb classes and wild flower bouquets.

It was such a beautiful weekend and it reminded me of the power that resides when women gather together in a spirit of openness. I thank all of the women who came to be fully present, to share of themselves, and to remind one another of our magic! I especially send my thanks to Jenn for envisioning it all and inviting me to take part in creating this retreat so many months ago. We are looking forward to many more collaborative events together, in order to weave together the practices of yoga and herbalism, and creating a space that allows for both connection and reflection.