A Home in Which to Heal

a retreat story

Today I am blessed and honored to bring you some words from a remarkable young woman that I have been working with. Since I began working exclusively with people in a retreat setting, so many people have asked me what we do on retreat, what happens and how it goes, that I thought finally to ask someone to share. Ashlee agreed. I’ve done nothing to alter her words, though I have footnoted a few items.

I think of myself as offering something that has been present in human culture since the beginning of time; a home in which to heal. It is a humble home premised on the very human needs of food, water, love and care and built upon the miraculous truth that bodies heal especially when supported, encouraged and given the conditions in which we can listen to what is needed. The home is furnished with experience, research, knowledge and an engagement that regards each individual as a unique and marvelous expression of the universe.

I trust you know deep in your own soul that when one person heals, we all benefit as the health of our world relies on the health of each of us. And I trust that you will enjoy hearing about such an option even if your health does not invite you to this kind of engagement.

at home in the forest, in the meditation room and at the lunch table with tuna confit, flax seed foccacia & veggies

Why do I choose Retreats with Josephine as my main form of medicine right now? 

Allow me to share my experience with you…  As I am honoring the one year anniversary of when I received a MS diagnosis this week, I want to reflect on some of the most impactful parts of my healing journey thus far.  These personal medicine 1:1 retreats are definitely at the top of that list.  I have now been to four of them as I go every three months.  I was fortunate enough to have Josephine as my teacher and mentor during my four years of Classical Chinese Medicine School so I knew immediately upon receiving the diagnosis that I wanted her to guide me through the healing that is needed.  The healing that is needed for all of us as humans in this life is never just physical, but also mental/emotional and spiritual, and it takes time!  Josephine provides guidance and a safe container to explore all of these realms within to illuminate the path to realignment with Self.  Through this process, we are able to reconcile with our deepest fears and return to the ability to accept, surrender and trust the process.  And no, that does not mean giving up to the disease process, but rather allowing ourselves to trust and connect with the deepest parts of ourselves as we navigate all that arises in life.

The treatment: 

In terms of Classical Chinese Medicine, we are utilizing the Divergent Channels** for treatment of disease though acupuncture, Chinese herbs, essential oils and stones.  I receive a total of three acupuncture treatments from her during each retreat and that starts an 18 day cycle that I continue.  If you are interested in learning more about this process, you can listen to a podcast where Josephine explains it beautifully at https://www.qiological.com/divergent-channels/

If you yourself have a chronic disease of some sort, I highly recommend exploring Divergent channel treatments by working with her directly or if you’re in my area, working with me while she is my mentor. 

What exactly do we do on retreat? 

My first retreat with her was five days and each retreat following has been three days spent together.  She is located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC.  I sleep in a beautiful, peaceful and secluded Scandinavian-style cabin next door to her home.  I usually start my morning with a solo yoga and meditation practice and then I head to her home for the day.  We start in her living room by having her famous hot cocoa* as we sit to discuss the matters of the heart.  Her opening inquiry invites me to dive deep right away.  I feel supported by the space; clean with altars, books, artwork, natural light filtered in and a view of the trees through the big windows.  After an hour or so of discussion, we move to her office where she takes notes as she asks specifics about my physical body’s systems and how they are functioning.  We then move to my favorite room; the meditation/treatment room.  She feels my pulses and looks at my tongue and then gives me an acupuncture treatment.  I lay for at least 45 min (sometimes longer) which is required when working at the deep level where the Divergents reside.  I sometimes drift off into dream world and other times I lay peacefully with new ideas and revelations flooding in.  After the treatment, I integrate the experience by journaling and either sitting in a chair with a good view of the forest or I go outside and put my feet on the earth and absorb the warmth of the sun.  Next is lunch!  I could write a whole page just about the homemade food she makes as it is amazing, but I will just say that you can absolutely taste the love and nourishment.  She tailors the meals to my specific dietary needs and it is purely divine.  She encouraged these dietary changes on our first retreat together and I have committed to them ever since.  Available throughout the day is citrus/mineral water, hot tea, and delicious, healthy snacks. I usually go on a walk after lunch and then we spend a few hours diving into a personalized workshop (my favorite so far being a “stepping back into my ancestral lineage”*** using breathwork and visualizations to get insight into where I’ve come from, what I’m made of and what I’m ready to release from this cycle- very powerful).  A photo session is always incorporated at some part of every retreat to capture my essence through the lens and over time have access to see the journey of our time spent working together at this deep level of being.  We have dinner together and share stories.  Then we sit and meditate together.  Her meditation teachings have felt like the greatest gift of all that will live in me forever. 

Outcome:

All of my MS symptoms went away directly after our second retreat together.  Now that I’ve been MS symptom free for over six months, I am able to notice even the slightest of triggers (usually lack of sleep and/or stress) and make changes before the symptoms take over.  I’m fully aware that my relationship with MS will be a dance for the rest of my life, but I now feel I have the tools to let it be a graceful one.  The space, timelessness, self inquiry, safety, peace, tranquility and love that arises during our time together is priceless.  It’s like reentering the womb of love.  When you come out, you recognize yourself better than ever before. 

*my “famous” hot cocoa was originally designed to support people on a ketogenic diet for health reasons as opposed to weight loss or athletic endurance, and so it contains no sweetener, no milk and lots of good fats. If you are a black tea or coffee drinker then it will be just the ticket and if not, well, you can always add your own milk and sugar, lol.

**Divergent Channels are applicable in many situations but are especially useful when you have received an auto-immune disease diagnosis.

***You can read about this practice in a wonderful book; The Spiral of Memory and Belonging by Frank MacEowen