Travel Awakenings

As I celebrate my 6 year anniversary of the first true Vipassana I attended, I am posting an expanded version of the article I wrote a year ago in the hope that it will find you when you need it, now especially as most people are seeking something more. T hese multi-week  Vipassana's can be challenging even for someone like me who has g uided meditations and lectured on energy and other modalities for years. For those who are unaware, a Vipassana is insight into the true nature of reality. Below was my experience  at the Vipassana Center in Northern California in late November and early December 2013. It's about discovering inner strength and eliminating the misery that plaques most of our minds. Now, I had been off-the-grid in the woods silent for a few days before, but nothing can compare to this experience of being silent and meditating for 10 days alongside forty other people. When my friends and family heard that I was going, they all laughed at th...

Bohemian travel is not new to me as I immerse myself in the culture for the experience of it all. And  I've trekked through lands and stayed in places with dirt floors and no windows where the only thing keeping me separated from the natural inhabitants of the insect variety was a thin layer of netting. These are the nights where my full head of curls is securely tucked into a large stocking cap. That's to be expected as I travel alone for months at a time in the middle of the Amazon jungle, in the Andes where the coca tea is abundant, or hanging with locals doing Ayahuasca in remote areas of Brazil. Okay so no one has ever accused me of being a girlie-girl  all  the time. When booking through a travel site for a stay in a US based hotel, however, I do expect a somewhat comfortable bed with the amenities advertised in the posting, even in 3 star  accommodations .  So what happens when you get to your hotel after midnight and realize that it was a h...

I'm no longer 20 years old, but when I travel, I enjoy staying at off the beaten track  places, filled with mystery, romance and intrigue.  As a corporate traveler, I certainly was accustomed to traveling in style, yet these days, I travel mostly with a backpack and an idea, for periods extending a month or more. I don't worry about where I'll end up each day, allowing inspiration and the Universe to guide me where I need to be for I know I will be there when I need to make the most connections to aid me in my own spiritual development while I help the people I meet along the way. To do this you have to step out of your comfort zone and smile as you greet the people that cross your path.  I fly into one city and out another, not concerned with where I'll end up each evening, booking only the first couple of days and last day from my jump out point. Staying in 2-3 stay accommodations each evening seems to save my budget, but more often, it allows me to connec...

One of my resolutions for 2015 was to skydive, an item on my bucket list for over 30 years. Can you imagine taking this leap after qualifying for your AARP card? Although I am not afraid of heights, I was not sure how jumping out of a perfectly good airplane was going to feel, but it would be this year that I was determined to find out. I felt only peace and serenity from the moment I entered Skydive Lake Tahoe ; the staff warm, welcoming and knowledgeable. Smiles abound from personnel and client alike as new jumpers along with their seasoned instructors reentered the building, their experience together now complete. The lesson was succinct for my tandem jump with my instructor, Igor and I was fitted with jumpsuit and harness before we went over the game plan for my experience. I just listened and smiled, knowing that there was nothing to be afraid of. Any nervousness was in my own mind and I was not going to take away from my higher love vibration by allowing it to ...

I meet so many people these days from their 20s through their 70’s that also travel alone.  The reason behind these quests is usually the same; we all seem to have the deep feeling that there is something that needs to be nurtured within us. Some have grown children and grandchildren while others have not yet settled down, but all are seeking to increase their spiritual development and consciousness.   We all seem to be guided to similar places, although our experiences are as unique as our DNA. That’s the way it should be as we are all on similar yet unique paths. I am often so tickled and grateful, especially when I meet women doing this, casting aside the stigma that traveling alone is taboo. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having the courage to travel on your own without fear. Actually it's the way I like to travel when I'm looking to learn and develop since when you can do what you are guided to do without having to worry about others having a goo...

I have moments of such clarity and bliss all day living in the moment and I am making magic happen as I continue on my journey. I sing sweet songs from the heart in the morning as I rise, so filled with joy.   Even so, I have to admit that sometimes I have no idea what I'm doing.  I am so truly grateful for all the incredible people that I have met on this journey and send them all Love from my heart.  I would be lying to say this fearless girl does not have moments of just a little fear of the unknown that creeps in from time to time. And why you may ask? Well, I am at times at cross roads in this incredible journey toward enlightenment and there are so many choices to make, each one taking me in a different direction. As you know the old saying, want to make God laugh, just describe your plans. I know in my heart that whichever  road I continue to choose it will ultimately bring me to the same place, just perhaps not in the same time f...

It was in March and I had just flown into LAX from 3 months in Mexico where I had volunteered in the barrio. Dressed in true LA style, I met up for lunch on Sunset with friend Tone, a producer for reality TV. After a great visit I headed off to a hotel for the evening, before making my way back to Sedona. Unfortunately, not knowing LA, I got lost.  I took it in stride as I turned right on the only road name I recognized, Wilshire Blvd. I figured if I was going to be lost, at least I would do it in style. I drove for several minutes into Beverly Hills. As I drove past this upscale Beverly Hills restaurant, my heart fluttered and something inside, told me to turn around. I said out loud to my guides,   'Really? You want me to go to the one of the most exclusive restaurants in Beverly Hills?'   I shook my head from side to side indicating that there was no way I was going to turn around, yet my   car practically steered ...

Bohemian travel is not new to me as I immerse myself in the culture for the experience of it all. And  I've trekked through lands and stayed in places with dirt floors and no windows where the only thing keeping me separated from the natural inhabitants of the insect variety was a thin layer of netting. These are the nights where my full head of curls is securely tucked into a large stocking cap. That's to be expected as I travel alone for months at a time in the middle of the Amazon jungle, in the Andes where the coca tea is abundant, or hanging with locals doing Ayahuasca in remote areas of Brazil. Okay so no one has ever accused me of being a girlie-girl all the time. When booking through a travel site for a stay in a US based hotel, however, I do expect a somewhat comfortable bed with the amenities advertised in the posting, even in 3 star  accommodations .  So what happens when you get to your hotel after midnight and realize that it was a huge mistake ...