April 15th, 2018

Homeward

Over the last several months I’ve been doing some big internal work as my physical body has been dealing with a major injury.  I’m a very active person, so everyone assumes injury must be really difficult for me, and in some ways it us, but, I also treasure it as every injury has forced me to slow down and reflect.  Past injuries have led to massive growth and understanding about myself and, in turn, led to some pretty amazing physical transformations as well.

During this reflective time, I was gifted the opportunity to attend the Homeward series at Innerland Studios located above my favorite Portland store, Beam & Anchor.  Taught by the amazing Jocelyn Rahm, owner of the store and studio, the class has been truly amazing and transformational. Each week I sit with a small, incredible group of lovely women while we share our stories, behavioral patterns, dreams and souls and then dive into creating art with one another. These women have all become my teachers and inspiration. All so different, so powerful, so beautiful…I’m in awe.  This group has been so key to this growth period. 

I’m getting ready to have surgery in 2 days and am looking forward to moving through another stage of the recovery process and the learning and awakening that will be the byproduct of it. I can’t wait to see what’s on the other side of all this, and while some of the lessons have been painful, I’m so grateful for this journey of self-discovery. I’ve learned to be kinder with myself and especially my emotional self, abandon some old survival patterns…namely, feeling overly responsible and throwing myself against the wall to fulfill those responsibilities, and that I can and will fly. I’ve learned some compassion for myself and compassion for others. And, I’ve been able to walk through the door of endless possibility. I’m so grateful for this time to sit with myself, other beautiful women and lots of art. 

One of Jocelyn’s quotes that I love from the Homeward series:

“The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.”      - Alan Alda