Becoming Rooted at Home
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 7:49 AM 
My natural progression toward adulthood focused on finding ways to “put down roots”, mainly in order to fit the mold of “grown-up” by the world’s standards. Simultaneously, I battled with myself and defiantly declared in the words of Peter Pan, “I don't wanna grow up!”Do those battle grounds feel familiar? Are you as De Waal says “rooted at home in (your) own self”? Or have you stopped moving long enough to ask yourself the question? Perhaps you live on automatic pilot, not remembering you have choices in how you choose to live your life.
Personally, I forgot about my choices and scooted through life after firmly pushing the auto-pilot button. Life looked good and it appeared that I had roots. In effect, however, the roots were fairly shallow and began to pull loose from the weight of a heavy heart.
Somewhere along the path toward adulthood, I forgot how to play and be spontaneous. I seemed to be living someone else’s life. I had lost my way home to the heart of who I was created to be. Don’t get me wrong. Life was pretty good. Great spouse. Beautiful kids. Nice house. Plenty of food on the table. Nonetheless, I’d get the occasional twinge of longing when watching a movie or reading a great book that seemed to highlight a richness I was personally missing. There came a point where I knew something needed to change. Complacency had to be pushed aside. My own roots were begging to dig deeper.
Believe me, it was no simple fix and the journey is ongoing. However, today, as I read De Waal’s words, I know I have moved closer to “home." The movement has come through increased awareness and by pushing both interior and exterior boundaries. Throughout my ongoing process, I have discovered many keys to help unlock the complexity of who I am, and witness the treasure inside. It has become my passion to share with others who may feel what I have felt – stuck, lost, or in need of a reminder that life is meant to be lived and not merely endured.
Whether on a spiritual journey or a quest for greater peace or joy in life, it is important to find the key that fits your lock. Heightening awareness of those places where you feel stuck and the places of connection and joy is a wonderful framework for moving forward. I have found that I can only effectively communicate what I have experienced myself. Much of that is what I attempt to share in this space. Additionally, I created Serious Soul Play aka Returning Home to Yourself, a day retreat using some of the most effective tools I know. These experiential techniques include story, art, contemplative time, music, movement and play – all gently guided as you listen to the wisdom you hold for yourself.
By fostering a safe and welcoming environment, I offer this space to be as serious or as playful as your heart desires. You hold the key to your inner wisdom. Is it time for you to dust off your keys and shine them up? Are you longing for some time for yourself? Do you yearn to remember what it’s like to play?
2010 purports to be a year of abundance and going with the flow ☺. My creative juices are stirring and I’d love to share with a broader audience. For those of you around the globe, please let me know if you’d be interested in an online version of Serious Soul Play aka Returning Home to Yourself.
If local (Seattle and surrounding area), I encourage you to join me on Saturday February 6 for this unique day retreat. Register by Monday January 18 for only $75 (20%+ discount off the suggested enrollment.) To register and for further details click here.
Blessings!
photos © h3images
Reader Comments (19)
sounds so fabulous dear friend, I know anyone who joins will be richly blessed by your gifts and presence. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone contemplating this experience to dive in fully!
Oh, this speaks to me so deeply.
My word seems to be "simplicity" and in contemplating how to live with this word (akin to dread), I know without a doubt that all too often I've forgotten play and joy.
I'm on the other side of the continent, in Virginia so cannot come play in person on the 6th. On-line will have to do for me. Thank you!
Well, am going to the "Valley" to play for a month so this would seem to fit right in with that planned event - so count me in for an online version - and soon!!!
Forgot to give my name - Julet for the Anon comment
christine - thanks for your ongoing support and encouragement
barbara anne - yours words are perfectly timed. there is something so captivating (& simple) about children at play. my belief is we can recapture that for ourselves even in this grown-up bodies!
i will keep you "distance learners" posted. thanks barbara anne & julet!!
Lucy! Since it's just for a day, I'll definitely give it a go!
I meant online ((-:
darn, kigen - thought maybe you were going to hop on a plane :-) if i do it online, it will probably be spread out a bit. i can't quite wrap my brain around how to do it all in one day. i'll keep you posted.
Sounds like a terrific idea and of course, I'd love to play online.
xoxo
Yet again it feels like you're writing to me, personally. Within the last two years, my roots have definitely shown themselves to be shallow, and now I'm ready to strenthen them, to strengthen me. I so firmly believe that 2010 is MY year--that this is the year that I will begin becoming the Me I am meant to be. I won't be complete this year, because I will never be complete--and that's okay.
If I didn't live on the opposite coast, I would so definitely register for your retreat. That said, I'll say something else--a big, resounding "YES!" I would be interested in an online version.
Just yesterday I was listening to a fascinating discussion with Adele Diamond, who talked about the importance of play and how it could help a person attain spiritual growth.
Diamond said that an act teaches you the meaning of the act, that the act can purify the claim to live fully in the moment and to do that with a whole heart. She urged to just do, the reason doesn't matter, the doing is transformative. She also pointed out that our ability to reflect and the extent to which we refine and internalize that ability may help us resist hurting ourselves and others.
I will tweet the link on your offering.
karen - it's wonderful to have you presence back in this space (& at your site). thank you for your thoughtful read here and i will be delighted to have you participate as i create a new online version of this workshop/retreat!!
maureen - i will have to listen to Ms. Diamond. i haven't heard of her before, but we are definitely speaking the same language (as i read what you've offered here.)
thank you for sharing your vast knowledge and resources, and a really big thank you for the "tweet"!!!
I would be very interested in seeing and experiencing what you are doing. I, too, believe deeply in the richness of play and having fun in our spiritual lives, but have limited resources here in the far north to keep deepening my awareness and skills in that are in terms of sharing it with others. Please let me know more about when it might be available.
Love....
Oops, neglected to say about that I'm interested in something online. Can't make it to your day retreat. Just too far away! Love...
One day my plane will come...
Yes, all kinds of battlegrounds still around for me, which often lead to compromise and paralysis.
A simple example: I feel pulled to live in the city and I feel pulled to live in the country. So where do I live? A commuter town half-way between that I don't like and where I've never put down roots. Ack!
I have to know, who is that little boy? The way he is standing looking out, squishing his feet round 'cause it feels good - perfect pic for this post :)
I would love to join in, but it would depend on when it is and whether I can afford it. Am skint at the moment :)
hi rebecca - always good to hear from you. keep in mind that i have always wanted to visit alaska, so perhaps we could collaborate sometime to expand the offerings in your neck of the woods :-)
i will be sure to keep you apprised of the online offering, too!!
tess - "compromise and paralysis" are two pretty big words!!
we have country and city here, too! it's really beautiful and would work well as a base for an online business :-) xoxo
sue - thanks for asking about the pictures - they are almost my favorite part of this post!! the little lad of which you speak is the son of an artist friend in bermuda. he and his brother (in the pool) have an amazing zest for life. wouldn't it be great if we could just bottle it up?!?!?
Lucy, Now there's a thought! How wonderful to contemplate! Please email me. This is something that I would love to see happen. Have you always wanted to see Alaska in the winter or the summer?