Dear ones,
I knew I’d almost certainly write my summer solstice update a little late, as it was right in the middle of our Wayward art retreat. It was a power week in so many ways. Wayward is always a mini cosmos that is all-absorbing for me as host and co-organizer. This Wayward, besides summer solstice, encompassed the birthdays of THREE retreaters, amongst birthdays of dear family members, and also held Juneteenth, a full moon, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and the June 22 memorial of my longterm bodywork and movement teacher, Brenda Dempsey. It was a moving and beautiful commemoration of her not so long but very caring and action-packed life, with inspiring and hilarious stories of her dedication to adventure, spirit, and care for the bodies we inhabit. Her family sent her ashes out from Rebecca Spit near sundown, with love and rose petals, and big, poofy peony blossoms. I carry the vibrant image of her little granddaughter hurling a big handful of petals overhead into the sunset, calling out, “Hasta la vista!” It certainly felt as though many experiences peaked along with the daylight this June. The following week I got covid, then recovered in time to host 2 amazing HelpX guests from New Zealand, take a wetlands course, snorkel and boat and see whales and an octopus, and try to keep rolling through summer.
The compass points of the seasons have long felt like compelling markers to set life to, even when I miss one, so it feels worth getting this update out while the sun is still casting long rays over ripening tomatoes and nearly finished nectarines. CawsMos’ and Nebula seem to be on their own now, their four offspring presumably out in the world cawsing trouble somewhere. We had nearly a week of rain in late July, when my sister arrived from New Zealand, and another good stretch in late August, much of it during our qi gong retreat, which emphasized the cycles of the year along with the cycles of of the body.
I knew I’d almost certainly write my summer solstice update a little late, as it was right in the middle of our Wayward art retreat. It was a power week in so many ways. Wayward is always a mini cosmos that is all-absorbing for me as host and co-organizer. This Wayward, besides summer solstice, encompassed the birthdays of THREE retreaters, amongst birthdays of dear family members, and also held Juneteenth, a full moon, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and the June 22 memorial of my longterm bodywork and movement teacher, Brenda Dempsey. It was a moving and beautiful commemoration of her not so long but very caring and action-packed life, with inspiring and hilarious stories of her dedication to adventure, spirit, and care for the bodies we inhabit. Her family sent her ashes out from Rebecca Spit near sundown, with love and rose petals, and big, poofy peony blossoms. I carry the vibrant image of her little granddaughter hurling a big handful of petals overhead into the sunset, calling out, “Hasta la vista!” It certainly felt as though many experiences peaked along with the daylight this June. The following week I got covid, then recovered in time to host 2 amazing HelpX guests from New Zealand, take a wetlands course, snorkel and boat and see whales and an octopus, and try to keep rolling through summer.
The compass points of the seasons have long felt like compelling markers to set life to, even when I miss one, so it feels worth getting this update out while the sun is still casting long rays over ripening tomatoes and nearly finished nectarines. CawsMos’ and Nebula seem to be on their own now, their four offspring presumably out in the world cawsing trouble somewhere. We had nearly a week of rain in late July, when my sister arrived from New Zealand, and another good stretch in late August, much of it during our qi gong retreat, which emphasized the cycles of the year along with the cycles of of the body.