walk, and the path unfolds

from Substack to Costa Rica, and everything in the great in-between

Nightingale | HHEININGE

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” —Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

It starts with the whisper of an idea. For over a year, I was paralyzed with inaction because my ultimate vision for Soul Remedies extends far beyond my current capabilities and resources. Spiritual, art, and writing retreats, meditation centers, ancient wisdom teachers and plant medicine ceremonies, sound healing, and more—where to begin, and how would I manifest this monumental idea into the physical?

I felt intensely alone, and yearned to meet a community of aligned people who could assist in bringing my vision to the physical. I continuously waited for the right people to fall onto my path (a spiritual mentor; women who hosted spiritual retreats; a business-oriented partner who could help me ground my creativity) and erroneously thought that I couldn’t begin until the conditions were optimal.

Finally, I stopped questioning the how, and understood that it was time to simply take action and walk in any direction. I needed to trust that I would be provided with the essential resources that would synchronistically propel me along this journey—I knew from past experiences that this always proved to be true, so this unwavering faith had to be applied to my soul’s calling as well. 

It was time to plant the seeds for Soul Remedies in my own backyard. I had to choose a patch of land in a light-filled place where I could witness its growth daily, where I could nurture the soil and water the budding blossoms. And so my Substack was born, this initial seedling for the garden of Soul Remedies.

Sonetto by Jill Sykes

After about six months of cultivation, the first flower has excitedly bloomed with radiance, and this modest action of tending to my tiny Substack plant has serendipitously led me to preparing for my first trip abroad to a community-centered spiritual and meditation retreat in Costa Rica, a country that I have been called to for years.

In retrospect, the how is revealed to us. We notice, with gratitude, how everything is interconnected, and how synchronicity plays a marvelous role in allowing our dreams to gain momentum once we take inspired action and get out of our own way: At the beginning of autumn, continuing on my faithful walk, I came across Amara Amaryah’s Substack, Life is in Love with Me. I was transfixed by her striking travel essays and vivifying nomadic experiences as a solo traveler. 

While reading, I had an overwhelming conviction that this is a version of a life I am stepping into, a life that my soul desires most. And yes, life IS in love with me! Traveling abroad, connecting intentionally with diverse communities, and experiencing a range of unique cultural perspectives would be the integral pieces for bringing Soul Remedies to life in all of its color.

I recently received my passport this year, and I seemed to be waiting for the call to spread my wings. Amara emboldened me to leap.

The chain of events that were guiding me to Costa Rica continued—from Substack, I followed Amara’s Instagram account. I marveled at how the locations within her rich essays are witnessed, too, though an arresting array of film and photography. From Instagram, I “randomly” stumbled upon her Travel Noire interview with The Intuition School retreats.

By viewing the pictures within the article, I could immediately sense an energetic resonance, which led me to instinctively apply to the retreat while being completely unaware of where or when it would be held; I had to later revisit the article to realize that it was even in Costa Rica!

This entire sequence happened in such an unfathomably brief span of time that I’m convinced my conscious self had little to do with it at all.

Two days later, I received an email with the subject line: “Congratulations! You’re going on a retreat in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica!” To my astonishment, the retreat happened to be occurring in merely a month’s time at the beginning of November, and the virtual pre-retreat classes were to start in less than a week. In other words, there was little time for contemplation; if I had found it any later, my spot, limited to an intimate group of around ten, would have been filled. 

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica | travelrebels.com

As I learned more about the retreat and its week-long itinerary in the vibrant Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo, while also connecting with the group in our weekly class, I had an intuitive understanding that I had just taken a pivotal, fated step on this wondrous walk. 

SCHEDULE:

7:30am Plant-based breakfast (silent)

8am Yoga and breath work

9am Meditation and group class

10am Personal reflection time/ classwork and journaling

12pm Plant-based lunch

1:30pm Excursion in nature

5pm Personal reflection time

7pm Plant-based dinner

9pm Unwind solo or with friends

Now, with less than five days before I am on a flight to my first international destination, I find myself in a dream-like state of awe. I am reflecting on the interconnectedness of all things, what it means to be called to a place, and why it feels more like I am returning home to a sacred land. 

I don’t know what awaits me, but I have immense trust in every forthcoming step on this precious walk—and I give my most heartfelt gratitude to Amara, who, by simply writing and sharing her admirable voice, unknowingly directed me to the next level of my journey. We must continue emitting our light into the world; by allowing our energy to radiate, we naturally assist others as they courageously follow their inner compass, too. 

So it begins with a whisper of an idea. When we are receptive and take even the slightest stride forward, the path begins to unfold, an opening of light appears beyond the trees, and helpers await eagerly on the other side. 

“Leap, and the net appears.” —John Burroughs

𖤓 Think about a remarkable event/meeting of a significant person in your life, and trace back how everything connected to lead you there. Who/what are the people, places, or circumstances that are most conspicuous? 

𖤓 What is a brewing idea that you have been too paralyzed to act on? Consider what is blocking you, and what tiny step you could take to allow your idea to gain momentum.

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