Winter Mindfulness Retreat: January 6, 2018

Happy almost Winter Solstice, Beautifuls! Please consider joining us at the Beach House for another retreat along the shores of Lake Tahoe. We're so fortunate to have this amazing property another year and look forward to being together to nourish and love each other up! We'll be leaving from The Studio promptly at 8:45 am so please RSVP so we can be sure to save a seat in the carpool for you (Email or FB event page). Also, our famous Vegan spread potluck will commence, consider bringing a contribution to share with community. Other than that, just bring your sweet self (and your beloveds to share the day with you...a New Year's surprise perhaps?:). May your holidays be bright as we all enjoy a huge exhale on January 6!

Tea With Sweet Santa

Give the gift of your Presence this season 

December is upon us! Last night, as I sat and pondered the Christmas display decorating our fireplace, gratitude and joy were strong. Eve of November 30, and I'm embellished and ready for the treasures of the holiday. I'm giving myself, my family and my community the greatest gift I can possibly imagine--strengthening the gift of my Presence.

I've begun 90 days of restoration that started on November 21 in the form of an at home Winter Retreat Plum Village style. What's the winter retreat entail?

• Time each day to sit comfortably in a way that is restful
• Time each week with people who restore and foster joy (thank you, LTMC:)
• Time each week to listen to a loving and tender talk given by one of my teachers, Thich Nhat Hanh
• Time to contemplate and journal
• Time to sing, create, write and nourish myself and others

Time and space are two enduring factors over these next 90 days. To give myself and others more space and time during the holiday hub-bub season has helped grow my compassion and joy. Since making this commitment the treasures have been many. One is that I've begun experimenting with Haiku--17 syllables condensed into 3 lines of 5/7/5 units. Here's an example:

(5) Tea with Sweet Santa--
(7) the only gift exchange is

(5) our joyful presence. 

Haiku will be the theme for my 2018 Inner Constellation blessings,* beginning this month of December ('cause I'm excited to start!) Haiku is the perfect tool for perfecting the beauty and simplicity of language, which has been a focus of my writings for the last few years. 

It's not too late to begin a winter retreat, heck it's only December 1, and the holidays may be more magical as a result. If you would like support on your journey, the following may be of interest:

• Weekly community gathering every Wednesday from 7:30a-8:30a with Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community
• Winter Retreat 2018 with Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community on Saturday, January 6 (more details coming...)
• I would also be happy to meet with you privately and assist in whatever ways best benefit your personal practice. 

May your December be peaceful and free with the possibility of leisurely tea with sweet Santa....

*Mon-Fri short and sweet, uplifting ditties gifted to your inbox. If you would like to be added, please contact me. 

Gettin' the Groove Back (Just in Time for Thanksgiving:)

Two days of heavy rain/sleet/snow breaks up just outside my Tahoe window. Life, the constant metaphor, is presenting a beautiful practice opportunity. The sun shines through magnificent puffy white and silver clouds in a canvas of blue sky. "Happy Thanksgiving" is a very real and visceral reality for me this year--I was released from hand therapy yesterday after 4 months, graduating with flying colors as my finger is only 5 degrees from straight! I'm back in the full time ASL interpreting saddle and life is a relative normal as routine returns, which means...creating has returned. Keyboard skills and writing are restored. I couldn't be happier. For the first time in almost a year, I sit before the muse with an open heart, waiting....

She Loves by Shiloh Sophia McCloud

What Needs to Be Said
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Almost a year since my focus has been pure,
intent on writing.
The reasons why:
lengthy illness and passing of a beloved pet,
injury, physical therapy,
deterioration and death of a loved one,
and all the day-to-day…
melt away,
insubstantial
as I meet you here,
in this constant and healing plane,
knowing a patient wait.

After so lengthy a gap
what needs to be said?

Space between the many moments
will allow gratitude to deepen and penetrate—
more space,
more space.

Love is the shining star of service,
guiding all paths to right action—
more love,
more love.

If these two guidances only are remembered—
space and love—
anywhere one goes
a panacea gently flows.

Right Livelihood: Land and Ocean

As we celebrate Veteran's Day this weekend, it seems a perfect opportunity to continue contemplation of the Noble Eightfold Path, picking up where we left off--step 3 on the path to happiness: Right Livelihood. One of the quickest ways to a happy life might be the path of service we choose. Thank you to all those brave ones who keep us safe and free and to all service men and women who care for people in harms way--running into the path of danger while most are running away.

How we express service is an expression of not only our skills but our hearts. What motivates our paths of service? Money, fame, love, sacrifice?

The Inner Constellation theme for November is service, which is directly connected to wholesome livelihood as a way to happiness. As beautiful life would have it, my husband recorded a movie this weekend, The Hurt Locker, written by a journalist who was on assignment with a bomb disposal unit in Baghdad. While watching the film I initially formed the impression that one particular character was fiercely ego driven, but then, as his story progressed, service to something much bigger than himself materialized--protecting human life. What struck me regarding this choice of service is the discipline and practice it takes to disassemble one's instinct for self preservation. Putting others before oneself is a calling, and it's also a practice in developing compassion.

Most of us will never serve in such an intense capacity, but we can consciously look at how we do serve and what drives our actions--perhaps it's compassion for animals, our planet, or a deep passion for what we love. Right livelihood expresses what we treasure and can move us and others in the direction of freedom.

From this land and across the many oceans, our choice of service affects the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. Each human being is as varied as the cosmos with talents that are numerous, mysterious and complex. On this Veteran's Day weekend, InnerConstellation.com* would like to honor and thank all the men and women who serve our country and protect the freedoms we enjoy everyday.

May all live in the world unharmed,
in a state of ease and grace.


 *mindfulness services are offered to Veteran's and their families at InnerContellation.com, scroll down for flyer details

Letting Go With Roses and Turquoise...

Fall Retreat 2017: Coming Home to Our Ancestors

Ancient Cottonwoods at our Glenbrook nest are about to pop! It looks as if we have this one timed perfectly and LTMC looks so forward to this day to sit together in community and enjoy this gem of a property tucked into a slice of Tahoe heaven. As our calendar has turned to October, LTMC plans a day of sitting meditation, walking meditation and total relaxation with the theme of coming home to our Ancestors. We also look forward to enjoying a Vegan potluck that has been known to be out-of-this-world delicious as we practice mindful eating together. Please RSVP for carpooling information from The Studio as our retreat location parking is limited. More details can be found on our Facebook Events page. Hope to see you there for a peaceful and happy Fall day.

September Theme: Healing the Ancestral Heart

This month's Inner Constellation theme is Healing the Ancestral Heart. How appropriate that it was my dear pop's birthday weekend--He would have been 77 years old. I spent the weekend reflecting on our happy times together and found myself caring for my ancient Geraniums. A poem was born. This piece also honors my momma, as she watered my love of plants and flowers with the many hours spent in the greenhouses where she worked...more precious memories.

  Ode to Wintering Geraniums

©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Every year they are brought indoors because

I can never bear to lose them to Tahoe's winter.

Four-inch annuals ten years ago

now fill the breadth of a sliding glass door.

Sitting upon my zafu*

I meet them most weekends,

clean the dead leaves

and collect red, heart-shaped petal offerings for the altar.

I've sat beside them for difficult phone conversations,

to journal great joys,

inhaling their pungent, earthy scent.

This year a tomato seed found home in their rich soil,

sprouted and bore fruit.

I'll care for it, too, through the winter

and gather more bright happiness. 

*round, Zen meditation cushion