women’s creative backbacking retreat [...]
March 4, 2008
Sorry to exclude my brothers out there. This is for sisters only. Maybe next time.
I know y’all are itchin’ for summer time and sleeping under the stars and breathing some fresh mountain air. Well, at least I am. I’m dreaming of doing yoga barefoot in an open meadow, sitting in prayer in front of a campfire under zillions of stars and mostly, some quality sister-time. I’m craving a retreat for drawing and writing and dancing and singing with like-spirits. Earth mommas, wise elders, young spirits. Artists and storytellers. Poets whose words bring me to tears. Sharing. And simply, hanging out with inspiring women friends. Plus, I’m yearning for another adventure in the Sangres, walking thru aspen-eyes and friendly-blue-pines and carmel-er-cottoncandy-scented ponderosas. Oh, and of course shooting stars.
Anyone else dreaming of this? A walk between heaven and earth? You know–that beautiful place of total peace and bliss.
My dear, beautiful, wise and really funny friend Elaine (who is an amazing poet/writer and one of the most adventurous gals I know) and I are leading a women’s creative backpacking retreat in August thru the Lama Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. While I know it may not be for all of you, I thought it might be exactly what some of you are looking for…
Elaine describes it a bit more eloquently:
Please join us for a week of walking through the wild beauty (see pics at left) of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico. From our base camp in a high alpine meadow, we will spend our days hiking, writing, drawing, sitting, stretching, cooking, eating, sleeping and dreaming. There will be time to share our stories and dreams, cook great meals, relax and open our hearts. This is a great opportunity for learning to listen to the land, and write in the language of wilderness. This retreat is open to all levels of wilderness and writing experience. Good physical condition and some backpacking experience are recommended.
If you might be interested, space is limited. It’s Tues. Aug. 12-Weds. Aug. 20, 2008. Click here for more info and registration, and ask any questions in a comment. Ahhhh! I am so excited. I hope some of you will join us. xo jenny
7 Responses to “women’s creative backbacking retreat [...]”
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HELLO!
March 4th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Ooooo, Jenny, HOW TEMPTING!!! I will have to ponder and arrange and project myself. It is enticing! Thanks for sharing!
March 4th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I would love to be there! And I love the latest posts quick moves between rainforest, snow and mountains :)
Thank you for all your kind words in your comment, I’m glad you enjoy. For the moment I’m limited in travelling but blogging seems a good substitute making connections.
Yes, South India is an experience of it’s own, I hope you can go there soon to make kolams each morning. I’ve been there, mostly Tamil Nadu, twice, and first trip I must say made an enormous impact in my life; i was prepared and ready, I guess.
Will be back, all the best Bibbi
March 5th, 2008 at 7:48 am
i’m sure many will jump at the chance to do this - you go women! Alas, I am the type that recharges in small doses, at home, surrounded by my fellow daily companions - the trees I plant, the lambs, the donks, dogs, etc…Never been into vacations. I always felt happy of that - but so many love to travel, and I know the ability to pick up and go, and see other views and vistas is rewarding!
xo
March 6th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Wow, that sounds like a great opportunity, hope you get a good response. Thanks for that link! Oh my gosh, I am going to lose a lot of hours on that site, you were right… I love it, already posted my blue heron color story.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
This sounds amazing. Ok, if the Spain trip falls through, I am coming to New Mexico!
March 10th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
This does sound so amazing… and unlike anything I’ve ever done. hmm… I will have to think about this. I am traveling a ton this fall already. :(
March 11th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
oh, how cool would it be to have you all come?! yes, you too, Katherine!
someone just emailed to ask more about the retreat. i sorta gave her a rambling answer, but i thought i’d post it hear for anyone interested:
As far as hearing more…Let’s see…first off, the Lama Foundation (the foundation and the land itself) is one of the most heavenly places on earth. It is so so special. It is a spiritual community that has a group of residents who live there year round. They celebrate and honor all world religions, so if we are there on a Friday, for example, we may do a Jewish Shabat celebration with Sufi dances. In the summer, they bring in teachers to lead different workshops, from Sufi Camps to Natural Building to Creative Backpacking Retreats.
We’ll the retreat start at the Foundation, having a day to ground and acclimate before heading backcountry. We’ll have horses to carry our kitchen/food to our base camp. We’ll all be carrying the rest: our tents, bags, clothes, camping things, and of course a journal and pen(s). Our base camp is about 10,500ft in a gorgeous meadow just below an 11,300ft ridge. The Hike up is really sweet—not SUPER steep, besides the end, it is quite gradual and the trail criss crosses the creek about 12 times–for NM desert, this trail has the feeling of Oregon–wet and lush, with thick aspen groves and really TALL pines. I ‘think’ it is about 5-6 miles. Everyday we’ll be doing writing together–Elaine is an awesome person and really good writer/poet, so she’ll be leading most of that. I’ll be leading some yoga (most likely, gentle yoga, since we’ll all be sore) and partner/group Thai Massage (which will be a life-saver).
Other things mixed into our days: day hikes, singing, some alone time, cooking, meditation, etc., and when we return to Lama, some collage/art time and hopefully a Native American sweat lodge. Hope that helps give you a better idea!