several years ago while in my 200 hour yoga teacher training, i learned the practice of shaking. the teacher i first learned this practice from had us shake for ten minutes and then asked us how we felt, i exclaimed, “my feet feel so big!” and then i started giggling.

after the kids are gone to school i heat up the rest of yesterdays coffee in my chemex over a low flame. when it is warm, i add a spoonful of honey, a dab of ghee, and my extra creamy oat milk. i lean over the mug and take a sip. i become of aware of this wondering, “my awakening is not sterile.” the flavors of the coffee dance in my mouth. i feel my breath filling my body. my bare feet pressing into my hardwood floors. my awakening is not sterile, it is the opposite actually - an exquisite leaning into the vast waves of sensations of life. a practice of learning how much i can feel, how loose my grip on controlling and judging my feeling can be. 

when i first met Katie Hess, of Lotus Wei (and SAN Center, and Earth Aura Retreats) i had that feeling in my system like, yes. this was several years ago and i was at the time still more mired in some of my shy/reserved patterning. we were both at a women’s circle gathering in california, and it wasn’t until the last day that i walked up to her (and Lisa Rienhardt of Wei of Chocolate) and attempted to speak to them directly. what came out was something like, “this probably sounds weird but i believe i’d like to know you.”