Long time amazingly intelligent and even more resourceful Helga sent me this story yesterday – I had to share it with you!
From Helga:
“Tried hard to arrange for Sedona, but couldn’t get kid-care on short notice. Guess it wasn’t meant to be. I know it’ll happen when the time is right. Meanwhile, I had a different kind of retreat.
Knowing how much I wanted to go to your Sedona retreat, my daughter and one of our dear auntie friends gave me a “Tucson-Sedona” spa retreat as a b-day gift. They kicked me out of
the house for an hour and by my return had the place transformed into paradise.
There were candles, white flowers, and pictures of Sedona everywhere. There were baskets of potpourri, and bowls of beautiful stones resting in clear water. Rose petals and little handmade foot signs on the floor guided me to my candle-lit bedroom, where I was made to slip into jammies and a soft robe. Vibrating slippers were put on my feet. Soft water sounds began in the background as I lay on my bed, auntie giving me a facial, my daughter rubbing my feet. All warm and relaxed, we all did a guided meditation together, after which I was fed pate and champagne in bed.
There were wonderful snafus: the slippers didn’t fit; potions were knocked over; stuff sprayed on my feet was ice cold; stuff put on my face got into my eyes and made them swell up; the cat thought he needed to do his share by rubbing a generous portion of dander into my greasy face; and serenity was colored with many giggles from the “attendants,” who were just pleased as
punch with themselves.
Out of each and every detail, perfect and snafu, poured such fierce, unconditional love for me that I felt like the most blessed person on the planet. This is a gift I will draw from for a long time. Truly, I am fortunate!
Your retreat put the longing in my heart, put the idea in their minds, manifested their love to me, makes me share the story with you, … Oh, we are all SO connected!”
Oh we are Helga!!!
5 responses so far ↓
1 Molly Gordon Apr 24, 2007
Yes!
Thank you so much for posting Helga’s story. Everything about it: the longing, the sweetness, the attendants (the cat!), the sold spray and the ill-fitting slippers, rang so true. My day is lighter and sweeter for reading it.
2 Heather Apr 24, 2007
This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read and I don’t think that I will ever forget it. The one thing that sticks out for me is the kind of love that is shared between Helga and her daughter. That is so beautiful to see. Thanks for sharing the story
3 Anonymous Apr 25, 2007
A lovely story that made me smile AND brought a few tears to my eyes. Hmmm, I thought, if Helga’s daughter and auntie knew so well what to do for her, then, gosh, she must actually have been speaking out loud about her longings and frustrations….about her needs and desires. Oh.
4 Helga Apr 26, 2007
so glad you all enjoy the story.
thank you Anonymous! for pointing out that i must have expressed my needs and desires to receive that amazing gift. hadn’t even occurred to me that i did – duh! instead of patting myself on the back for that, i’ve been wondering (“shoulding” is probably closer to the truth) why i don’t just do stuff like this spa retreat for myself. so much to learn – again and again and again …
an aside: finding time and money to treat myself are major obstacles, but here’s a personal discovery that takes no extra time and costs very little: Showers by candlelight. they’re magic (ritual + altered reality + cleansing + sensual input + ? — elements of an archetypal retreat compressed into 5 minutes)!
sending a bit of retreat love your way,
helga
5 Kari Berg Aug 6, 2008
Much to my chagrin, I thought I needed
Psychiatric medication for a problem
that turns out to just be boredom and
severe loneliness. I was scared, depressed
and angry and ungrateful as all heck.
Then I went out on the porch and
a very kind gentleman showed up in
a big Cadillac and asked me out for a date!
People want me to do a background check
on him, but he’s a local and so far shows no sign of anything criminal. I hope it works! signed,Just a Schizophrenic