Jamaica Retreat

I always was more of a minimalist, but my "enlightenment" and subsequent events and practices, like yoga, have truly led me to simplify my life even more.

Actually I have been re-evaluating my own livlihood these last months. I went to bed last night contemplating how I would feel about selling everything . . . yes, even the grand piano, and the bed my children were born in . . . gulp.

Why? Freedom to travel.

I was showing the girls an area of Jamaica on the Google Map where Rhonda, a friend of mine, owns 45 acres of tropical forest. She and a bunch of other people have been milling on the prospect of beginning an intentional community there. For me, it has catalyzed and reinforced such thought processes as how to lighten my load and the things that keep "taking" from my quality of being. It is likely that I stay here one more growing season, ie. through until next fall.

So, until I decide on travelling, part of my new ideas for shifting my livlihood away from computer software development to include hosting "get healthy" retreats for individuals and couples ... people who are "on the edge" and who have had enough of the consumer ruse, and just need some wind in their sails.

My guests would live with me anywhere for a couple days to a week, or more. What would we do? First we would begin reversing the process of desensitizing their sense of smell and exposure to toxic substances by washing all of their clothes in fragrance-free detergent and removing all make-up/cosmetics cremes in a hot bath. Then sit by the fire and do yoga. Food preparation and eat. Go for a long walk through the woods, and have a talk about nature. Play drums together. . . Essentially live with me and the chidren for a short while to experience how me and the girls live.

Not only have all of our guests been highly influenced, but truly inspired to for themselves and children.