Julie Murray

Bravery is a curious thing...

"Nature never hurries, yet everything is accomplished ~ Lao Tzu .... . Image: unknown

Too good not to share.

Yes. Yes and Yes!!

Maybe she’s blowing you off. Maybe she’s a bad friend. Maybe she is keeping you in her back pocket for a rainy day. Maybe she’s fake. Maybe she’s fickle. Maybe ...she’s petty. Maybe she’s a bad fit for you. It’s entirely possible. Or maybe she’s busy. Maybe her plate is completely full. Maybe she’s coping the best way she knows how. Maybe she’s stressed. Maybe she’s maxed out. Maybe stuff isn’t going her way, and she’s saving her energy. Maybe she really did miss your text. Maybe she is overwhelmed with kids, family, and bills. Maybe she’s trying her best, but her best isn’t much right now. Maybe anxiety is getting in the way and rearing its ugly head, as it so often does. Maybe it has nothing to do with you at all. Maybe it’s about her. There are a bajillion million reasons she might be falling short. Maybe it really is that things have run their course. It’s a sad part of life, but it is, nonetheless, a part of life. Only you can make that call. But, then again, maybe it’s something else. Don’t forget to give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t forget to cut her some slack. Don’t forget to forgive. Don’t forget sometimes friendship means loving each other through the tough seasons, and the rainy weather, and all the ups and downs. Follow Sister, I am with you. for more. Written by Amy Weatherly Photo by Carl Magnuson

After my night in an arbutus tree, my sister shared with me the story of Julia Butterfly Hill who lived in a 180-foot tall California redwood tree for 738 days in order to save it from being turned into lumber. Her connection between our 'disposability culture' and our disconnection from the sacred is really resonates for me this morning...

Tree canopy solo time last night....connected to the strength of the arbutus tree...the warmth of the ocean breeze...and the sweet rhythms of the forest at night. Thank you @archetypal55 for making this possible. So grateful for this retreat into stillness in such a unique and powerful way. #archetypal #treesolo #solotime #solo #slowisthenewfast #theartofslowingdown #stillness #grateful #meditation #meditateinhighplaces Ken Wylie

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~Lao Tzu photo: lensa.kecil21

This summer's Incubate retreat is going deep in the Kootenay Mountains (B.C.) to the rustic and magical Tanglefoot Lodge. Participants will enjoy their own private cabin, nutritious catered food, a wild and remote landscape, hikes, yoga, meditation...and the opportunity to drop into stillness. A few spots available (Aug. 4-7) - could one be yours? Message me for more details.

"If someone from the dominant culture completes a yoga teacher training that is primarily asana based, and remains blissfully unaware of the complexity of yoga’s true aim or the roots of the practices, they are culturally appropriating yoga. By remaining unaware of the history, roots, complexity and challenges of the heritage from which yoga springs and the challenges it has faced under Western culture, they perpetuate a re-colonization of it by stripping its essence away." I am so grateful to my teacher Sandra Sagarmurti Shotton (Island Yoga Vista) for a thorough training that taught me the importance of the eight limbs of yoga...

Just reminiscing about last year's Incubate retreat...what an incredible few days. So looking forward to this year...new location, different views, same opportunity to drop fully into stillness...