Leaving Home to Arrive Home
Eight years ago, I traveled to Costa Rica for a week-long retreat centered around ayahuasca, breathwork, yoga, and deep inner exploration.
Like many people who are drawn to these experiences, I went seeking something.
When standing at a crossroad in your life, it’s natural to seek answers.
To search for certainty about your next steps. To want assurance that the decision you are making will lead you in the right direction, with the best possible outcome.
So you think through the pros and cons. You talk with trusted people. You consider expert advice. You scroll the web and social media for guidance. Maybe you even check in with your own heart and soul.
And still, you can’t know exactly where this choice will lead you.
Eventually, after all the thinking and seeking, there comes a moment when it’s just you and this one guest that refuses to leave: Uncertainty.
The two of you sit quietly together, perhaps over a cup of tea.
You feel the mix of discomfort and excitement. The longing for clarity. The ache to know for sure that everything will work out beautifully.
But as you spend time with Uncertainty, something unexpected happens.
Your anxiety softens.
Your mind loosens its grip.
Your Heart begins to speak.
Quieter now, more spacious, you can hear the subtle conversation unfolding between your Heart and this mysterious companion.
They talk about the wonder of discovery and the potential for extraordinary growth.
Your Heart remembers the countless times you’ve navigated challenges with grace, strength, and grit.
Together, they soothe the body.
Worry loosens. New possibilities flicker. A different kind of courage rises.
Somehow, without trying, your Heart and Uncertainty become allies — fellow adventurers in this next chapter of your life.
And as the two of them finish their tea and begin packing for the journey ahead, your Heart notices an extra bag sitting nearby. It’s already packed and glowing softly.
“Who owns that bag?” your Heart asks.
“Oh, that one?” Uncertainty smiles.
“It’s for your Soul. Whenever you wander beyond the edge of the known, your Soul insists on coming along — offering its light, its wisdom, and its quiet reassurance.”
Your Heart relaxes, remembering the truth it keeps forgetting: You never walk alone.
So you gather yourself.
Take a breath.
Feel your feet on the ground.
You may not know what this path will look like, but you trust your companions — Heart, Soul, and even Uncertainty. Especially Uncertainty.
With a little spark in your step, you begin.
Not because you know exactly where you’re going,
but because everything you need is already within you.
Peace be with you and with all. No exceptions.
Learn the one essential skill that allows you to face any challenge with confidence, sturdiness, and inner calm.
More than a technique. It’s a game changer.
Eight years ago, I traveled to Costa Rica for a week-long retreat centered around ayahuasca, breathwork, yoga, and deep inner exploration.
Like many people who are drawn to these experiences, I went seeking something.
The women who arrive in my world are sincerely looking for healing, expansion, clarity, or sometimes just a little room to breathe. Rarely do they arrive because they want another spiritual philosophy.
more because they have a life that has become full. Beautiful in many ways, but crowded.
About twenty-five years ago, I was driving with a colleague to a local conference. As we approached the hotel entrance, I noticed an open parking spot near the front door.
“There’s a spot,” I said, pointing to the right. He drove past it.
During the Seeding the Light Gathering, I had the privilege of hosting Pascual and Jose Tomas in our home. I’ve sat in many ceremonies with Pascual in Peru’s Sacred Valley. His flute playing often carried me up mountain trails in the thin air and hot sun.
I planned to work a bit, complete some projects, and enjoy slow days with plenty of relaxation.
All of that certainly occurred, but beneath it all, something else began quietly inviting my attention.
The plane had begun its slow fall toward the earth when a sharp ache pierced my ears. Half-dozing, half-aware, I surfaced into the moment just as the toddler in front of me woke with a scream that broke her open.