Rising Up From Our Roots
In November, my husband and I travelled to Japan and spent five days walking along the ancient, Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail. It was an energizing, cleansing and grounding experience. Cedar trees surrounded us as we walked over the intricate pattern of roots nourishing and holding them in place.
I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Rilke,
“If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees.”
I walked through this forest where people have been traveling for thousands of years, searching for healing, understanding, clarity and sustenance to meet life. We spent about 30 hours walking through these woods, passing by shrines, Jizo statues and even some 800 year old, ancient cedar trees. I was grateful that my almost 74-year old body could still journey in this way.
It was a welcome, visceral experience to keep returning to the ground that sustains me, to what roots and brings me in touch with what is most important…and to know with vibrant clarity that is where and how I want to use my energy—turning towards what creates connection to each other and to this gift of life.
Along the trail, I sometimes paused and literally wrapped my arms around the cedar trees that were accompanying me. I felt how they were rising from their roots, so firmly planted and strong in how they grew upwards.
These trees have to meet the changing weather that surrounds them. From gentle breezes to massive storms. We too have to meet the changing weather that surrounds us. One day on the trail, my husband and I walked for seven hours in pouring rain, drenched but vitally alive, carefully climbing up steep trails and even more carefully walking down over the roots, and slippery stones.
I trust that as we face the storms and challenges that come our way we can meet them with as much openness, freedom and energy as possible, rising up from our own roots.
Trusting in our own nature, in our capacity to respond— the path of Sensory Awareness practice—is what roots me.
As we enter into a new year with a lot of uncertainty, division and chaos, I am offering two retreats in Mexico that can help strengthen our connection to the roots that can sustain and nourish us.
How does my love for life want to express itself?
February 8 - 15, 2025
Barra de Navidad, Mexico
Fee: $875
For More Info Contact Lee - leelesser@gmail.com
To Register
(Scholarships available for all those actively engaged in responding to the Climate Crisis.
Veterans and Wildland Firefighters are welcome to participate on a sliding scale from $0 to anything you would like to offer. Everyone is welcome no matter the capacity to pay.)
During this 8-day workshop we will connect to the simplicity and depth of our own present moment experience and open to meet ourselves with kindness and compassion. This is healing and renewing and strengthens our capacity to bring calm, clarity and loving responsiveness to our changing world. As Howard Thurman so eloquently encouraged: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
There will be 14 two to three hour classes over the eight days.
Cultivating a Kind, Adventurous and Joyful
Approach to Life
February 22 - 28, 2025
Barra de Navidad, Mexico
A Bilingual, English and Spanish Workshop
Fee: $700
For more info contact Lee - leelesser@gmail.com
To Register
The capacity to wake up, be present and respond to whatever each moment is asking of us is the foundation of Sensory Awareness practice. This leads to more freedom, ease and joy even in the midst of difficulty. In this workshop through simple, direct explorations of our sensory experience, we will discover our capacity to rest, to be in connection, to meet what hinders us and to trust in what enlivens us.
There will be ten 3-hour sessions.