Anyway, I was somewhat restricted in what I was allowed to participate in having just had radiation on my hip lesion, so I settled in to have a reflective, quiet week exploring the retreat center and working with my new camera. It worked; I really felt renewed, especially when I wasn' t worrying about whether the group would survive until the next day. The women who lead these retreats are gifted community builders and story tellers, and these retreats are usually very special times to spend time in community with other women supporting each other and expanding our personal stories. I love that idea and am really looking forward to working on my story a great deal. We all sensed a great power in the jungle. In fact, i often felt that I was being watched during the night--not in a scary way at all, but in a benign, supportive way. We really could have had a great deal of trouble with all our injuries, but we found help and healing at every turn, and the power of the group and the place was palpable.
I went with a cane and a limited ability to do anything because of my radiated hip, but I ended up being the healthy one and helping others. Perhaps there is a lesson for me in this--perhaps my power comes from somewhere inside, and not only from my athletic ability. This isn't something I've believed in strongly, but I opened up a bit in Costa Rica and allowed the idea that this is true to percolate my layers like the rain on the jungle. Maybe something is beginning to bloom!
