The Healing in the Mountains with Movement and Mindfulness Healing Retreat is now a distant memory, etched in our hearts; yet the beginning of something really special. It seemed like just yesterday, that I first started to envision this retreat, primarily geared for our fellow first responders, hoping to provide healing space, alongside my best friend, Michelle. What started as a small ember, became a full raging inferno of ideas.
Originally, the retreat was planned for March 2023, and then bumped to August 2023, finally landing on October 23-25, 2023. Part of the reasoning was to ensure that our fellow wildland firefighters could attend, with fire season and lay-offs, ending by end of September. I think that both of us envisioned a very calm, and nurturing environment, in which we could hold safe and sacred space, for anyone needing the time for self-care and reflection. Because we had been teaching these kinds of workshops together for years, and due to our own healing, we both felt passionate to pay it forward.
As things happen, especially with first responders, it all started to unravel, not long before the retreat. We were then faced with the dilemma of cancelling or moving forward – knowing that something was better than nothing. The decision was made to cut the retreat a day, and to minimize resources. And it all fell together nicely, and quite synchronistic! It was validated by a friend, and fellow first responder, by saying,
“She would come anyways, even if she was the only participant!”
That was all that was needed to know that the show must go on! What had started as a possibility, quickly became a call to action! And, as it turned out, we ended up with all women; actually, women from every generation were represented: 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s! You can’t make this shit up! What was so perfect, is that everyone that was supposed to be there, showed up! It was a perfect arrangement of women; first responders, mother’s, wives, and grandmothers; all there for self-care. We even had Dr. Sabrina, a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (and also my daughter-in-law), sharing her healing gifts of ‘miracle hands’. And, thus, began our journey!
Healing Americas Heroes, in Fort Stanton, N.M., was the perfect venue for this retreat. Quiet, remote, beautiful, peaceful and healing. The home cooked meals were delicious, the lodging was comfortable, the fire pit and drumming was releasing, the healing horses were beyond words, and the camaraderie amazing; what more can you say? The weather cooperated nicely, even being the end of October. Days were warm and the evenings cool; rainbows beckoned daily, and snow kissed Sierra Blanca peak on the last evening.
The HAH staff was incredible, from Eddie, the founder; Bernie, the chef; Debbie, the administrator; and Sonya who drummed and held safe space. And of course, Foxy, the therapy dog along with Dollar and Cowboy, the incredibly gentle horses. What’s so exciting is that this was the first healing retreat for first responders at Healing Americas Heroes. It was the first of many more to come, proving the miraculous healing that can occur when people come together, in a safe and trusting environment, in order to heal in community.
As we continue to move forward to the next healing retreat, I am so grateful to Eddie and HAH, along with the amazing Dr. Sabrina and courageous women who showed up for themselves, despite conflict and chaos, they were there! I can’t wait for the next retreat which hopefully will be sometime in Spring 2024. Be sure to stay tuned! Until then, Namaste’