Solo Ojai

Once upon a solo retreat in Ojai, I awoke every morning out of a deep dreamless sleep to this.

And outside...

The smell of rosemary.
Hawks flying overhead.
Birds in a constant, lively conversation.
Lizards crackling through leaves, like someone sneaking up on me.
Wind, constant wind, through the trees.
Bright wildflowers and California poppies.
Tall bald-trunked trees.
Meadows and meadows.
Lavender.
The movement of nature.
The quiet of wind.

I felt worlds apart from where I was when I arrived. My joints had loosened.

I did yoga in the mornings. These practices heal my body and mind as a way of maintaining health and balance.

In the course of my Christianity, I have always found my way back to these principles and have questioned their place in my life as a Believer. I practice releasing my mind and focus to one intention (God), all the while bringing oxygen to my organs and to my bones. I'm refreshed and clear-headed, fortified and strengthened, and prepared for some serious prayer and engagement with God, and for the world I'll face when I return to it.