Back From The Retreat

Have you ever stepped out of your life for a whole month?

Preparing to leave my work and life for such an extended period felt so crazy, so extravagant, and even a bit selfish before I left. Now I realize this was one of the smartest and even the most practical things I have ever done.

How did this come about?

I have been studying consciousness and spirituality in one form or another my whole life. I have read everything I could get my hands on about Enlightenment, Satori, Oneness, Presence, the True Self and Nonduality. My healing practice had made it possible for me to study with many incredibly brilliant healing masters and teachers over the last twenty years. Up until the last month, I was a dedicated spiritual seeker. 😉

Around 2014, after a few “not so great” experiences, I found a meditation teacher that was accessible, kind and moved through the world with incredible grace. Supriya Whittemore is a Universal Ishaya teacher who creates month-long meditation retreats wholly devoted to the direct experience with our Higher Self. That is how I ended up on a month-long Ascension retreat in North Fork, California, meditating for hours at a time in a beautiful and nurturing space.

There is a lot less seeking now, and a lot more just being.

If you have been reading this blog, you also know I am also a big fan of community. For me, a supportive community is vital when you are going through significant consciousness shifts. Being in a community environment with others as deeply committed to their meditation practice was such a gift.

It is impossible to write about all that happened last month. It’s like trying to describe an elephant one inch at a time.

In this first blog post, I will say that the first couple of weeks were incredibly challenging, sparked by the political situation at the beginning of the month. I was completely emotionally overwhelmed just as I was settling in for a month of deep transformational inner work.

How perfect.

To sit through all the emotions that flared up and let my nervous system rebalance and relax was intense. The Ishayas’ Ascension Meditation practice is very easy, simple and natural, but for me letting go of “doing” took a while. The second two weeks were flat-out amazing. The process is very different for everyone.

“there is no cookie-cutter enlightenment”

– Supriya Whittemore

I can’t say that I am fully awake yet, 🙂 but what I can say is that I have come back to my life and my healing practice deeply rested and connected to a simple sweetness of being.

Jeri Lawson has a full-time healing practice in Oakland, California and is available for Healing Touch, Reiki, Distance Healings and Clarity Breathwork sessions Monday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm. 510-601-9632