OM Appleseed – Retreat Week Inspiration

I am sitting down for the first time today – outside of my soak in the hot tub where I like to study on Wednesday mornings…. Which I would elaborate more about but I do not want anybody feeling sorry for me.

The dining room table in our house is officially retreat central, as I prepare the things from my home making their way into strategic bags & boxes for this weekend’s Restorative Yoga Retreat.

I have hosted and participated in women’s retreats for churches before, but this is my first time curating and programming a yoga retreat. It has been an interesting process, as I excitedly prepare my favorite ways to care for my body, partner with my breath and establish some sense of peace in my mind.

My yoga offering has definitely evolved; taking much time away from writing this year. Inspiration comes in waves of scent combinations for aromatherapy, creative ways to open the hips and use blankets and a desire to just sit and listen to music.

All the while, there is an active project in the work. Days go by without spending direct hands to keyboard time on it, however I do not worry about deadlines or meeting the expectation of what I initially set out to do because – well – I am the boss applesauce and I understand my creative process. lol. <pours a little rose tea out for all former bosses>

Sigh.

Remaining on my to do list today is to make a round of aromatherapy inhalers, type out my script for earth descent, record a vocal toning meditation and design a few illustrations for some stationary.

I am amazed at how, now that we are in the week of the retreat, one of the retreat participants will randomly come to mind – I’ll visualize them in their practice space or in line at the buffet, walking the grounds or reading the signs. It will give me ideas, propel me into my next steps and onward.

Two weeks ago when I thought I would be working on what I am heads down on now, I was daydreaming about a new class I’ll be regularly teaching at Joy of Yoga in Brentwood, MO.

I have wanted to teach a regular class for Joy for awhile now, but nothing ever seems to line up. One night, a few weeks ago, I dreamt I taught a noon Wednesday class. I texted Joy the next morning, asked if she had a Wednesday noon class open and low and behold: she did. I kid you not: I daydreamed and explored that class for four days straight. It was like I had fallen in love with it and could only think about this Dancing Warrior Flow class. More on that in a few weeks as it gets closer to launching.

Though fully aware there was not more than an ounce of creative inspiration happening for the retreat, I was confident. I knew – as last minute as it may seem – that it would all start tumbling into place a week before. It has and it is.

I wish I had time to go into more about how some things are unfolding. (I have a great story of how something came together today!)

I would love to explore in conversation the ways we experience divine timing and unconventional grace.

But – for now, I share with you “OM Appleseed”. Which is one of my favorite ways inspiration hit this week as we get closer to Friday’s Welcome Dinner. If you like it, I made the PDF available on Apple Tree Magic dot com. Here is a link to it!

Will share with you how it went next week! Erin

Growing up, we sang “Johnny Appleseed” before group meals. As gratitude plays such a big role in our greater connectedness, it occurred to me to offer a yogi version of the American folk song.

What Blog?

Rumor on the street is that blogging is making a comeback.

I suppose it makes sense. For most of us bloggers, (Frozen Spaghetti started in 2011), we started a long time ago in a way that appeased an early ambition for a side hustle. As Instagram grew and gave the impression of a blogger interface with a shorter, less expectant time frame, I know for me, at least – I came to LOOOOOVE how easy IG made it to get to the point.

I had a major pause in posting here on WordPress.

Where a picture of a Horse Ear on Frozen Spaghetti made me sit for multiple nights – even coming back to the post years later – trying to capture my draw to the horse ear, Instagram gave me permission to simply post a picture of the ear with whatever I felt in that very moment. “Do you hear what I hear?” and people who wanted to would get the point.

No uploading, arranging, bolding and emphasizing needed. Maybe a heart emoji… but even that came later.

As aforementioned ambition for a side hustle grew into actual side hustle grew into hey-yo this is my profession, a lot of those early blog loving content creators had to trade their storytelling in “to the man”. I think the cup of tea & foggy morning approach to writing on WordPress became the long lost best friend to those for whom the visual arts, sound entertainment and quick byte culture proved itself capable of being quite time-consuming, frustrating and – well, expensive as they require a whole new assembly line for a product that needs to sell the actual product.

As a blogger who doesn’t even ask you to “chip in a dollar” to “buy me a cup of coffee” to “show your appreciation for the work”, I will tell you an artful blog (who eats the $99 for you to read my nonsense ad free) is the still IG picture post in a world full of “Grandma’s Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Ever this FALL FAVORITE BEST did I say BEST already it’s Thanksgiving and this is my FAVORITE BEST STUFFING EVER, I LOVE Grandma! Best. Stuffing. #Thanksgiving” .

Was that obnoxious? Good. I thought so.

As a person who loves a good reel, my most popular reels in terms of views and shares have been off content I have taken on the fly, mixed in a minute and shared with pretty must little to no thought other than whatever comes from the core of the operation: my inspo.

The ones I tried to do? Ugh. Gross. Made me stop doing it.

Why do I bring this up? Well, primarily because one of my closest friends is passionate about this – so, she naturally inspires me to, at minimum, reflect.

Keyword: Inspires.

So here is my reflection. Reels, Blogs, Posts, Sound, Pin.

How about we all agree marketing is best when inspired?

(Or Is that too Emily in Paris of me?)

It takes talent to write an artful blog. It takes strategy to write a successful one.

But both take inspiration.

Heart. Patience. And People.

My blog was for me. But now it’s also, in a way, for you.

179 people get an email in their inbox when I hit the blue “Publish” button, and – you know what? That’s kinda cool.

And, real quick, going back to what I said about not having a donate button. For me? I don’t want YOUR money.

I want a publishing house and a Netflix deal and maybe a ride at Disney.

And then I want those people to go get all the money for me. hahaha :)

I don’t need you to buy me a cup of coffee (though I will let you take me out to lunch) when I need my writing to buy me a house. <SO TRUE>

“What you can offer now?”, you ask?

What matters to me?

A: Your listening ear. Your attendance.

Sharing a post or writing a review or inviting somebody to a class.

I for sure get SO much encouragement chatting with your relaxed self after an experience stretching, listening, sharing or singing along.

You can start with a comment on this here blog post. I got TWO the other day and THANK YOU Alyssa & Anonymous. Made my freaking day.

Every single part of my evolution thus far in my life has been off of my distinct belief that you cannot be wrong unless you’re trying to be right, that what comes natural to you should be what you spend your time doing and – lastly – above all costs, take care of your heart & treat with respect your power to form an opinion and…

well…

That if I ask for a fish, I won’t get a serpent.

Live your life according to your values, know who you are, and stay true to what you truly want.

The rest will unfold exactly as it should, which will partly be unforeseen & surprising.

Live inspired. Reel or Blog. Church or Studio. Hike or Kayak. Whatever. Just live your life.

And maybe, while you’re at it, enjoy Grandma’s Favorite Stuffing and make the Best Thanksgiving Ever come to life.