When my birthday comes around, there’s one thing I’ll always do. Tune into my heart, and find out what I truly desire for myself. If I could have and do anything, what would it be?
This year, I wanted to be with soul family. A group of people who are on the path of spiritual growth and holistic health. People who get me, when I talk about esoteric and witchy things. I wanted to connect with community and myself in soulful ways. I wanted to be somewhere I could rest, nourish, and reflect on my life.
I found this at the Harmony Mountain House.
Sometimes in order to receive what we desire, we need to open our awareness of what’s possible with our resources and creatively problem solve. In exchange for a free place to stay, I would help with projects they needed extra support on at the retreat center. Harmony Mountain House was founded and is run by two incredible women, Elyza and Sarah. This house was originally a family home. However, its layout and location is a perfect for fit for an intimate retreat and community center. As they are evolving and establishing this space, there are many projects they needed help with. It was the perfect exchange!
This was the perfect place for a birthday getaway. Two lovely ladies to spend time with, a gorgeous home in the woods, a fireplace, a yoga studio, a massive library of wellness material, a jacuzzi, an infrared sauna, and they were hosting a cacao ceremony the weekend I’d be there.
The best places are ones that offer an opportunity for growth, that ends with a sweet moment of bliss. For me, I was facing a lot of struggles with reciprocity. I kept feeling pressure and guilt if I wasn’t actively working on something every moment. Meanwhile my body was asking for more rest.
I felt uncomfortable receiving in a new space with new people. I didn’t want to be a burden. I am learning to trust and feel safe working with the universal law of compensation. I tend to give more in order to feel secure when I receive that it’s fair and balanced. However, this comes from a state of scarcity and control.
The law of compensation “refers to receiving gifts, blessings, and monetary rewards. The Law of Compensation reminds us to give what we want, to receive freely and to give it without expectations.” (Manifestationbabe.com)
This was the limiting behavior I was sitting with during the first few days. By the last few days, I was able to relax and enjoy myself with less guilt. I was able to return to my natural state of abundance.
Some of the tools that helped me:
- Communication of expectations for the projects
- Journaling and self reflection
- Movement to center into my body
- Cacao medicine – opened my heart and helped me relax and flow
Looking back, the cacao medicine circle was the true medicine that helped me to recenter and balance myself. A cacao ceremony offers medicine for the heart. Cacao when made into a drink with intention and prayer has many benefits. Learn more here
From personal experience, I’ve always left a cacao circle feeling refreshed, open, connected and softened in my relationship with others and myself. Opening the heart and softening its walls, offers so much healing.
The final day at Harmony Mountain House were truly so tender and sweet. I will always remember. The heart medicine helped me to feel present, grounded, and open hearted to all of the abundance available to me within myself and my environment.
The day after the cacao ceremony, we had a group of people come by for a dance class hosted by a woman in the community. They stuck around to hang out and chat over coffee and french toast. Even if I keep to myself in these spaces, I still feel the love and connection between people around me. It’s so special to have a community and support network.
Circling back to how the birthday festivities started with going home to Vermont, and choosing gratitude and love when I felt drawn to control, anger and frustration.
Accepting my imperfections and releasing my tendency to control has helped me to experience and feel in harmony with love and abundance.
We can change so much when we make a simple choice to shift our mindset, focus on love, and accept the support of community and plant medicine.
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