“Breathe. You’ve arrived.”
These three powerful words are posted on the welcome sign at the entrance of the Kripalu Center in Western Massachusetts. My Soul Shift retreat was held there last spring, and I will be returning March 7-9, 2025 to teach a new group.
It may seem odd, but I can’t wait to see that sign again. The words it contains helped me persevere through 2024 more than any others.
This ordinary, little sign acknowledged something human beings tend to forget upon arriving somewhere momentous: what it took to get there.
Reaching the grounds on that crisp, spring day in 2024 required doing things beyond my comfort zone, like completing an intimidating application process… traveling a long distance from home… and bringing art therapy into my Soul Shift curriculum for the first time.
The days that followed were some of the most memorable of my life. In a cozy space on the third floor of an iconic building, I was reminded of my most rewarding moments as a classroom teacher when a student would suddenly understand a concept they’d struggled to grasp. This time, it was not lightbulb moments in Mathematics or English but in building self-worth, overcoming an inner bully, reclaiming lost dreams, and so much more.
Every participant in the room had overcome obstacles to be there. Discovering their shared struggles and common hopes created a foundation to safely release emotional baggage and discover what true self-love was about. We all walked away lighter, more hopeful, with a living map to greater peace, joy, and fulfillment in our hands.
To this day, I still marvel over the immense load each participant carried and how far they managed to come despite it. I can still remember their expressions when I recognized the magnitude of their arrival.
Before we get too far into January 2025, it feels appropriate to make sure you, dear reader, feel this acknowledgement too.
I invite you to take a breath in, and when you exhale, please recognize where you are right now – a place you weren’t sure you’d reach when you were in the depths of 2024.
It’s ok if you’re not quite where you want to be; don’t let that take away from the ground on which you stand right now.
With so many factors weighing you down and holding you back,
you still managed to arrive in one piece—
Heart intact
Head held high
Hands open to receive in 2025.
Breathe.
You are here.
And that is momentous.
My hand in yours,
Rachel
Give yourself the gift of healing in 2025:
My friends, I am holding only one Soul Shift retreat this year, and it is happening March 7-9 at the renowned Kripalu Center in the mountain vistas of Berkshire, MA. It would be my joy to have you there.
This supportive experience offers you space to reconnect—both to yourself and to the natural world—and leave feeling refreshed, grounded, and equipped to nourish yourself and grow strong, no matter how unstable the world feels. The nurturing setting, nourishing food, and loving guide (that’s me!) create the ideal environment to shed old layers, reflect on past seasons, and quietly open to the promise of what’s to come.
Registration starts at $622 and includes accommodations, meals, and tuition for your entire stay. Click here to register.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions for me. If you feel a nudge to be there, let’s make it happen.
