Waking Energy 7 Timeless Practices Designed to Reboot Your Body and Unleash Your Potential

turned down an invitation to appear at Rancho La Puerta, convinced I couldn’t survive it. Lo and
behold, at a friend’s recommendation, I found myself on another silent meditation retreat, just weeks
afterward, at a location not more than two hours from Tecate, at the sister site to Rancho La Puerta.
Walking out the front door of my casita at sunrise, I found myself the object of a cruel cosmic joke. As
I was staring out at the very same mountain range and inhaling the very same intoxicating scents as in
Tecate, my mother suddenly appeared before me.
Rising to my throat at rocket speed, grief wrapped me in its stranglehold, choking me. I was
awash in molten hot tears—anguished. Sinking to my knees and sobbing uncontrollably, I looked up at
the sky beseechingly and shouted at the top of my lungs, “I can’t possibly endure this!”
Later that same day, the universe (or I should say, Mom) arranged an opportunity for me to finally
complete my first walking meditation, my labyrinth. She was with me, smiling every step of the way,
and I could hear her voice. “See, just look how exquisite! Look at that magnificent rock there, and that
gorgeous, delicate little fern growing out of it. Oh my God, the spirals! And oh wow—look at you, my
angel, out of all the spirals here you are the most beautiful one.”
Now We May Begin
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning.
—LOUIS L’AMOUR
This may appear to be the end of our journey together, but that’s just an illusion. This is actually
the beginning. It may feel as though we’re saying good-bye, but really this is just, “See you soon.”
And the most exciting part? It’s the start of your solo flight. I encourage you, a baby bird being pushed
out of its mama’s nest to test its wings, to use nature as your guide and take flight, relishing this sacred
meeting of yourself. Trust the wisdom of your body. Listen to the voice of your soul.
Now that you truly know yourself in the new way, trust is really all you need. Everything else will
fall into place around you like tiny magnetized metal flecks flying toward a magnet. Believe that what
you seek is seeking you. That radiant, gorgeous, loving font of boundless energy? That timeless, joyful
child? That sparkling, effervescent essence? That bright light?