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Wandering
August 20, 2023
“Wander a whole summer if you can... time will not be taken from the sum of your life. Instead of shortening, it will definitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal."
John Muir
- Have you been wondering where I wandered off to? Granted, it has been a while since my last newsletter. Most of you know I don’t send emails just to market Inner Compass services and events; there has to be inspired content to share that I feel will be of real value to my readers. Sometimes I’m too busy to receive more than little snippets of wisdom. Other times the inspiration needs more time for reflection. Both of these have been true lately.
- When my Facebook account was hacked several weeks ago, I took it as a hint from the universe that I needed more “me time” and decided to skip social media for a while. Then, off I went to summer camp at one of my favorite places on the planet: Lily Dale, New York, is my Wonderland, Neverland, Summerland – a place of tranquility that offers respite from the everyday world, invites personal and spiritual reflection, and ignites the heartfelt desires of the soul.
A wanderful respite
My mind has similarly been meandering this summer – winding about a curving path, thoughts turning over repeatedly, circling back to key ideas. It all began this spring with a journaling prompt: "What I love about _____ (fill in the blank)." That day I chose to journal “What I love about Lily Dale.” My responses included: its natural setting; I get quality time with so many friends and family members there; and it feels like home.
If one’s hometown is “the city or town where one was born or grew up” (Merriam Webster) Lily Dale is the closest I can claim. You see, my family moved households twelve times before I was graduated from high school. And while I am grateful for the opportunities that arose from those experiences – they broadened my perspective of the world and I learned to adapt to new circumstances – it was a defining part of my childhood in other ways. The moves weren’t glamorous; there were no exciting destinations. We simply went from small town to small town each time my father was promoted during his career in retail management. I remember all three of us children crying and stomping about whenever the announcement came, declaring “We won’t go! You can’t make us!” But each time, we seemed to like the new place just as well as the one that came before. Challenges came with this lifestyle too. While I was good at making new friends, keeping in touch with so many old friends was hard, and some friends I dearly missed. Amidst all the changes, Lily Dale was a saving grace because my family spent part of every summer there visiting extended family.
If one’s hometown is “the city or town where one was born or grew up” (Merriam Webster) Lily Dale is the closest I can claim. You see, my family moved households twelve times before I was graduated from high school. And while I am grateful for the opportunities that arose from those experiences – they broadened my perspective of the world and I learned to adapt to new circumstances – it was a defining part of my childhood in other ways. The moves weren’t glamorous; there were no exciting destinations. We simply went from small town to small town each time my father was promoted during his career in retail management. I remember all three of us children crying and stomping about whenever the announcement came, declaring “We won’t go! You can’t make us!” But each time, we seemed to like the new place just as well as the one that came before. Challenges came with this lifestyle too. While I was good at making new friends, keeping in touch with so many old friends was hard, and some friends I dearly missed. Amidst all the changes, Lily Dale was a saving grace because my family spent part of every summer there visiting extended family.
A saving grace that ignites the soul
Arising during a period of American history that saw the adoption of moral causes like the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage, Lily Dale was founded in 1879 as a camp and meeting place for Spiritualists and Freethinkers. Since then it has contributed a lasting impact upon the religious and social life of the entire nation.
Lily Dale has the charm of bygone days, with many residences displaying historic Folk Victorian architecture. There are quaint hotels, shops and eateries, as well as a history museum, research library, healing temple, labyrinth, and many gathering places (both indoors and out) for services, workshops, and other events. But don’t let its venerable demeanor fool you. Since its inception Lily Dale has been on the leading edge of progressive thought, especially in areas of metaphysics and the occult.
Lily Dale’s crowning glory is its unique setting in nature. Surrounded by nearly 150 acres of registered old-growth forests and over 200 acres of spring-fed lakes, Lily Dale is situated on an area of land once known as "Fern Island" because it is literally surrounded by the Cassadaga Lake system. Sitting lakeside or meandering along the many walking trails can lull me into an altered state of consciousness, if not absolute reverence – I am, after all, in one of nature’s handsomest cathedrals.
“Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” ~ John Muir
So, how do you do “me time?” Regardless of where you do it, the key to truly enjoyable “me time” is to block off a chunk that is wholly uncommitted and unstructured. Nothing beats an entire day for this – except two or three days in a row!
I consider a daily meditation practice as essential "me time" and it's often the first thing I recommend to my coaching clients. The amount of time to spend in meditation can range from five minutes (especially if you're new to it) to twenty minutes or more, but the "daily" part is required from my point of view.
I also recommend another activity I call a "standing date with myself." This is a once-weekly, hour-long (minimum), solo date. “Myself” may mean my inner child, higher soul, inner artist – whatever I choose to call that wise inner part of myself. "Standing date" may be a recurring activity at the same day/time each week, or it can vary. One thing remains constant: I schedule other commitments around it.
And now, in case what you really need is some “ME TIME” – meaning time with me, your intuitive life coach! – let me share with you some of my current offerings.
- Summer special continues on individual sessions: whether you want to connect with your spirit loved ones, make inspired changes in your life, go deeper with your inner work, or enhance your health and vitality, you can accomplish a lot.
- Virtual Student Reading Party: Receive full-length readings from the students in our Mediumship Mastery Program - all in the comfort of your own home.
- Spirit Speaks Combo Levels 1-2: Discover the joys of meeting and working with Spirit, and get all the empowering tools and techniques from both courses in one extended weekend of instruction.
- Mediumship Mastery Meet & Greet: Thinking about joining the program? Wondering whether it is a good fit for you, or now is the right time? Join us online for an informal Meet & Greet with Joanne, Chad, and students past and present. We'll share program highlights, important considerations, plus answer questions.
As always, we hope you'll find among our offerings something you feel was created just for you!