Extravagant Experiences on a Buddha's Budget

I prefer ample personal space, and I love to travel. When I don’t have these things, I feel claustrophobic.  Last spring, the walls closed in on me. My living situation shifted positively, but in a way that shrunk my personal space. My finances withered due to a lack of muggle's work, which was a boon for rewriting my memoir, but left me with few resources to travel. My summer looked bleak. I didn’t have the funds to pay my editor, so I couldn’t move forward with the next steps with the book. What was I going to do with all of this precious time and energy?  A low-level panic started to creep in. I decided to put myself out on a limb and offer a month-long writing intensive. I had never done anything like it before, but I needed something magnificent to do, and I needed some cash. To my great surprise and delight, eight incredible women signed up for the tarot-infused writing immersion. Out of the muck of a dark, challenging spring, a lotus bloomed. It never would have happened if everything in the spring had gone as “planned”. I never would have put myself out there if it hadn’t been for the exact circumstances necessary to pry me, once again, out of my comfort zone. 

Amidst all the planning for the writing workshop, a friend texted me some incredible news. She had won a coveted permit to backpack for five days in the Enchantments wilderness in Washington State. She invited me to join. It was the trip of a lifetime, and it hadn't even been on my radar. The day after the writing intensive ended, we left for our multi day adventure.

If that wasn’t enough, I discovered an interesting and affordable new way to travel. I booked a cat-sitting gig through the “Trusted House-sitters” app in the San Juan Islands, on the tiny magical island of Guemes. Upon returning from the backpacking trip, I spent ten luxurious days exploring the island, staying in a forest mansion with a hot tub overlooking the water. There is no exchange of money when using the app; however, the owners spoiled me with care packages, gift cards, ferry tickets, and even locally made jewelry. I would have never been able to afford a trip like that if it wasn’t for sweet little Chloe-the-kitty needing a caregiver, making her one of my spirit animals. I will continue to travel this way when I am able.

It turned out to be one of the richest and most soulful summers of my life. It reminded me to continue to focus inward, opening up to the experiences the soul longs for, trusting that where there is divine will, there is a divine way.