Our Third Overnight Retreat

What a weekend. With the rise of the full moon Friday night to Sunday mid-day, we put our desire to practice - to awaken, to live the most free, clear, and loving lives we can - into action. Groove Master Heather Winia, one of the Midwest’s funkiest movement teachers, kicked it all off, leading the lunar lit dance party. July’s Full “Buck” Moon comes from our Native American and Colonial past, when the moon was used to track the seasons, with bucks beginning to grow new antlers mid-summer. The Anishnaabe people of the Great Lakes dubbed this the Raspberry Moon, although in North America we missed the rusty, reddish hue of the blood moon given by the longest lunar eclipse of the century, hopefully enjoyed by Africans, Asians, Australians, Europeans and South Americans.  

SooJin Kim, an equally standout Michigan movement teacher, made the trip from Detroit to help lead the second half of the weekend, our third yoga overnight. Accompanied by the girls I’ve dubbed the Soo Crew – Wellness Expert Jaclyn 1 and Jaclyn 2.0, Kaylee, Naomi, Shanon, Stephanie, and new additions Natasha and Zena (who pointed out she was a warrior princess way before the American fantasy television series), this group returned from our time together in mid-March, when we kicked off the Spring season. That Lodge was a bit arduous, filled with tears and talk of anxiety, loss, and a sense of misdirection. This time around the circle, however, the report focused on healing, wholeness, and a sense of recalibration.

More than one participant reported a lightening, an ease of burdens carried in the material world. Another voice out of the darkness reported they “feel like they’re getting answers”, flowing from the deepening of their devotion to the spiritual path. Now, as I write this, I hear an enthusiastic, “Aho! Grandmother at the door!” and can’t help cracking up. Word has it they hijacked my Instagram account in a good way - higherhavenmi - so please check that out. These women not only have the ability to help amend my Luddite ways, they possess the courage to get low tribal style and face themselves, benefitting their own lives as well as the lives of their families. A deep sense of satisfaction is certainly mine, knowing they’re touching upon the same experience that rocked my world almost 20 years ago. That's when a Tohono O’odham Shaman named Rupert lit a fire – both literally and figuratively – and blew my mind and heart wide open. I'm proud to pass the experience on and  proud to be their teacher. 

We always end Ceremony with a Wopila – a potluck buffet that celebrates life. I’ve seen my share of some uh, let’s say austere Wopilas over the years, and the best it got on the Rez was french fries and fried chicken. This group whipped up a phenomenal feast, including Dolma, a traditional middle eastern dish, Mujadara, a lentil dish with hummus, sautéed eggplant with garlic and onions, potato cauliflower soup with shallots, zucchini avocado salad, and a Turmeric golden milk latté, a healing, anti-inflammatory Ayurveda drink. Good friends, great food, practices that help us and heal us at the deepest level of our being, these are moments when nothing is missing from our life experience. We’ll be doing it again with this group this Fall in October or November, with some additional upcoming classes and a Barre exercise overnight lead by Jaclyn 1 in September. Consider joining us, as none of this occurs by happenstance; it requires a great dedication to realization, great love of truth, and great compassion for all beings. Bidding this crew adieu, the collective response was “we’ll be back!” With that, Toksha, until next time. Aho Matakuye O’yasin. Grandmother at the door!

Mercury Retrograde July 26th - August 18th

The following article was written by Vedic Astrological Scholar James Kelleher, leader of my Winter trip to Southern India. They say in India if you submerge yourself in the waters of the Ghanges your sins will be forgiven. I'm remembering James seated across from me in a small boat on the river, the fires of the crematorium a hundred yards off, bodies floating by, as I decided it'd be against my better judgment to leap over the side. "So Paul, you're sorry" laughed James. "But you're not that sorry." I've also heard him joke "It's Mercury Retrograde. Oh no. Don't go to the store!" But jokes aside, I do know from my relationship with James and my teacher John that a retrograde period is a good time to plan, organize, rest, refine but not begin creative projects, and of course go on retreat. Or take a vacation.

Mercury will begin its retrograde phase on July 26th at 29 degrees of Cancer, in the last degree of Ashlesha Nakshatra. Ashlesha's desire is "the desire to defeat my enemies". It is a nakshatra who's shakti is "the power of poison". Mercury retrograde is normally a period that makes the communication process more complicated, but this period may be especially prone to arguments and disagreements. On the world stage, this can lead to greater acts of violence and aggression. This is magnified by the fact that Mercury is conjunct Rahu and in opposition to Mars and Ketu, so there will be much more tendency for various types of political conflict, now. 

On the individual level, Mercury retrograde in Ashlesha is a perfect time for doing your psychological homework. The best way to avoid arguments and disharmony is to re-frame your experience by trying to see things from the other person's perspective. When you realize that everyone is just trying their best to be happy, however misguided their means might be, it makes it easier to have compassion for them. 

So here's a theory I call JK's theory of crazy. Everyone is crazy. Some are crazier than others, but everyone is crazy in some way. Believe me, I know what I am talking about because I am very crazy myself : f you are walking on the street and you pass by a person who is out of his mind on drugs and also mentally ill, and if he hurls four letter insults at you in the most disgusting language you have ever heard, what do you do? Do you resent him or get angry at him? Do you go up to him and confront him and say, "Look here buster, you can't talk to me like that. If you continue, I'm gonna give you a fat lip?" Or do you just quietly cross the street and get out of his way. After all, he's crazy and out of his mind. He is just trying to be happy like everyone else, but he doesn't know how to do it. So why waste your time and energy arguing with him, fighting with him, or trying to change him? Just wish him well and get on with having a nice day. 

As the well-known spiritual teacher, Anthony Demello, used to say, "You can't teach a pig to sing. It frustrates you, and it aggravates the pig!"

Church Not Made With Hands

"Now The Lord God had planted a garden in the East, in Eden; and there he put the Man he had formed." (Gen 2:8) 

"The Church not made with hands, not contained by man, that precious place unmade by man...." The old Waterboys tune came to mind this week after a couple conversations with new folks interested in coming out on retreat. One inquirer asked if someone not necessarily into the practice of yoga would benefit. The answer? Absolutely. In establishing the Higher Haven, there was a natural movement toward the world of Yoga practitioners, given the popularity of the practice as well as the yogic mindset toward self development and spiritual growth. As stated elsewhere on this site, "Taking a journey of health, transformation and fullfillment is open to everyone, and the benefits of practice can soon be yours, regardless of your current level of physical fitness." We've had some newcomers to yoga take to and enjoy the practice thoroughly. But even beyond a focus on other practices like guided meditation instruction and Ceremonial  experience, just the simplified environment of being away and immersed in nature can be a real healer. 

Another caller conveyed aspects of her Christian background and affiliation with the Lutheran Church. "Our family is a family of faith," she explained. "But we understand that all people are children of God." Good one. I can relate, having a comfort with Christianity through a Catholic upbringing. I also went a little more hardcore during college, influenced by my girlfriends' sister, the first sincere, spiritually-centered person I ever met, and accepted Christ as my savior. Back then, I was quite sure I needed...  Something. Faith. God. Good Orderly Direction, as some people say. My own journey as a seeker continued - exploring indigenous healing methods and eastern Meditation practices - just as my understanding of sacred space - both in and outside traditional places of worship - evolves to this day. And I'm happy that its lead to offering a unified experience at The Higher Haven that transcends all creeds and categories, but includes all people. 

When I lived in downtown Chicago, I joined Fourth Presbyterian Church - "A Light In The City" - and still receive their Daily Devotions. A scripture reading came through this week on 2 Samuel, focused on David building a house for the Lord's name, and God in turn establishing the throne of David's kingdom forever. The Reflection on this Reading follows: "... we say that 'ground' or 'space' is made Holy only when the people of God gather for worship. Sanctuaries aren't Holy on their own, we claim. It takes the gathering of God's people to sanctify - or make Holy - space or ground. Despite our best efforts, stone and wood, gold and glass alone can't make a church building Holy. To put it plainly, it's only God's house when God shows up - and God only shows up when we show up together. 

David really wants to build a Temple for God. He wants to give God a dwelling place that is grand and fitting. But God stops David in his tracks: "Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle." God reminds David that God is bigger than any one place and cannot be contained by people. God has remained with the people wherever they sojourned. In fact, God tells David that the people of God - you and me - serve as the home of God. 

That's a pretty radical understanding of creating a sanctuary or dwelling place for God. God is with us when we gather - wherever we gather. At the family dinner table after a long day: God dwells. At the bedside of the sick and dying: God dwells. Marching on Daley Plaza with the faithful for those without food, without homes, or without safety, God dwells. Wherever the faithful gather, God's presence abides. And that's a liberating concept. We don't need the four walls of the church to bid the presence of God, although sometimes that helps. We simply need willing and open hearts. God does the rest." Amen.