As I write this, the sun has come out and a swarm of ladybugs has landed outside my window. Ladybugs are a sign of good luck and kindness, including kindness to oneself.
The perfect symbol. After all, my blog topic today is kindness to self. And in that pursuit, it’s been my great fortune this week to interview Corinne Cayce, the great granddaughter of the late Edgar Cayce who was known as “America’s greatest psychic.”
Corinne Cayce is coming to East West Bookshop on Saturday, October 20 for an all-day workshop. This is one not to miss. As a working mother, Corinne is the first contemporary Cayce woman to carry on the family teachings. Her approach is kind, esoteric and practical -- in line with the Cayce legacy.
The summer before my final year of graduate school, my classmates and I went on a ten-day wilderness retreat high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The central purpose of this retreat was to prepare for and take a three-day backcountry solo. On our own, we were to each find a spot in the wilderness where we were to stay without food or shelter for three days and three nights.
Before I left on my solo, I worried that the lack of food might interfere with my decision-making. I worried that I might have a panic attack or get sick. Conversely, I imagined that the experience could be relaxing, that I might even feel bored. In reality, once I was alone in the wilderness I did not feel bored or have a panic attack. I felt pretty sure I was going die from a bear or mountain lion attack. I had no house or tent; no weapons, no fire; I had nothing to protect myself. I was totally unprepared for how scared and vulnerable I felt in the wild. I was amazed by how quickly all concerns of my former life disappeared as my focus honed in on survival. How could I save myself?
