Explore Death To Liberate Life - A Transformational Retreat at Kripalu

It is always a rewarding experience to present at Kripalu, but this year, it seemed especially so. People, myself included, seemed more hungry than ever to feel what is real and true, in both our inner and outer worlds.

I felt so blessed to have a team of talented women supporting the Partner Yoga for Couples Weekend, including Gina Lee, a gifted teacher who shares poetry that opens the heart like only poetry can. Margie McSweeney, midwife of birth and death, serenaded the space with sounds from a beautiful hand crafted instrument, and Lara Christine, another inspired teacher also added her beautiful singing voice.

It was a celebratory infusion of feminine love, beauty and wisdom which was felt by all. This was so clearly demonstrated in the closing circle when almost every man shed a few tears. Our hearts were cracked open, in the way that lets the light in.

On Saturday evening, I lead a community conversation to quite a large group titled ‘Exploring the Great Mystery and Befriending Death’.

Going into the talk, I was feeling quite vulnerable and was asking myself, why do I put myself through this? Why do I ask myself and others to open up these vulnerable parts of ourselves? Partner Yoga is hard enough to get people to open to and now this - exploring death?? Sometimes this question makes me giggle, this particular evening, it was not feeling funny.

I opened the conversation with a meditation on feeling, encouraging myself and everyone to simply feel. All of it. Our sensations, emotions, the people around us, the space, the sounds. I encouraged feeling our thoughts and the stories we are telling ourselves, for they too can be experienced as feeling.

By the end of the gathering, I remembered why I do what I do. - because I want to be fully alive, to overcome my fear of expressing myself and to be true to my own heart. And, I want to feel intimately connected to others and to life.

This reminds me of the greatest regret reported in the book ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’, I wished I’d had the courage to live my life true to myself, not the life expected of me by others. I would add not the life my early childhood conditioned for me.

Sunday evening began the ‘Exploring Death to Liberate Life’ three night retreat. There were two cancellations the day of and another women who just barely made it there as her fear was so great.

She, I believe had the greatest breakthrough. At the end of the three days, she was simply bursting with joy, as we all were. (See testimonial below) It never ceases to amaze me how just being willing to show up when feeling afraid transforms us.

We all desperately want to feel safe, to stay in the known world, a world that feels secure and dependable. But we also see that the only thing we can count on is that things change. Just like the weather, we too are always changing. There is a beautiful and mysterious aspect to accepting this great truth, reminding us that this, whatever challenges we may be facing, will pass.

Although this appears to be a time of heightened fear and anxiety, it is also said that the veil between the worlds is thinning, and that if we are open, there is so much support available to grow and change, to let go of fear and open our hearts to our deeper knowing.

I would love to invite those who are willing to join Margie and I for another incredible opportunity to ‘Explore Death To Liberate Life’ happening May 15 - 18, at the Drala Mountain, in Red Feather Lakes, just north of Boulder, CO. It is a magical place that has been used for spiritual awakening for many years.

The healing sound that Margie provides creates a unifying, peaceful presence that can be felt in each of the sessions. My intention is that we each have an embodied experience of letting go of fear, and opening to the peace and joy that emerge when we are willing to open.

It is a unique and rare opportunity to come together in a safe and sacred space to explore this great mystery, and I hope you will consider it for yourself.

Feel free to be in touch if you would like to have a conversation regarding your own hesitation to attend. And don’t just take my word for what is possible, read some feedback from recent participants below.

Feedback from “Exploring Death to Liberate Life” participants:

“I am feeling blissful on the edge of tears with gratitude for my experience here. As a Christian minister, I came seeking renewal for myself and something to bring back to my community, and I definitely found it here”

“For those that want to explore truth and the essence of who we are, this retreat provided it for every participant. I am definitely feeling more liberated to live my life more fully”

“I came to this program with lots of terror and I totally did not want to come. The self-inquiry questions were so spot on to help us get to the root of our fears. It was truly transformational to come in with deep fear and leave with feelings of peace and joy and a whole new way to view death.”

“The fear and anxiety that often arises in groups dropped away very quickly. Everyone was very supportive and it was a lovely experience”