Creating Feminine Culture
On May 1, 2011 near the end of the Coronado S Factor retreat, as we sat in a circle sharing personal highlights with each other, I felt divine feminine energy, both in the universe and in each woman, in a way I never had before. Choosing one moment felt impossible, there were so many: the masculine-feminine theme, dancing to live drumming in the ‘studio’ & on the beach, the birds waking me up each morning, the daily sand & waves, my erotic creature finding a jewel in the sand during her uninhibited unleashing…and so much more.
I was amazed at how we’d influenced each other to blossom, grow and deepen our journeys. I felt connected to each extraordinary woman by threads of light and love and in awe of the web of support we’d created. That’s what I shared.
After the retreat, witnessing the ripples of our radiance filled me with hope that we’re creating a culture that honors the feminine and inspires the masculine. And that by doing this we will change the world as we heal and transform.
Los Angeles Weekend
Before I knew I’d be attending the upcoming Kiawah retreat, I made plans to attend a friend’s 40th birthday weekend in Los Angeles. We’d met years ago through the S Factor Forum. I looked forward to deepening our friendship, reconnecting with other forum participants and creating a mini-retreat experience by using S Factor makeup classes and visiting with retreat alums.
After checking into the Hollywood Hills Hotel on Friday afternoon, I took my erotic creature window shopping, treating her to a few colorful leg ties and a leopard print gold coin hip scarf.
On Saturday I spent most of the day with the birthday girl—trying aerial yoga, being beautified with eye makeup and a blowout before her S party. I also reconnected with two friends over a two hour lunch, that could’ve gone on all day.
Four of us chatted over a late dinner after S birthday party. Unfortunately, after stopping by my hotel room, I never made it to the after-party at Bar Sinister.
I spent Sunday chatting with dear friends and making new ones.
After rest, writing and packing on Monday morning, I spent the afternoon frolicking in Huntington Beach ending with magic hour in sand with a Coronado retreat friend. The two of us attracted an audience of seagulls.
And one guy out for a walk with his gal (who hit him when he turned for one last look). My friend’s beach dancing inspired me to try music for the first time, along with the waves and wind.
I capped off the day with a magical makeup class in Costa Mesa, with Stacy Prunchak, our teacher from Coronado. The wonderful gals in her class opened their hearts to visitors from Australia, New York, San Francisco and Long Beach. Something about letting loose in the sand before class and Stacy’s music and guidance tapped me into my lust making my body crave hip-hop. She gifted me with the song Lollipop Madstyle by Madison Madly and new tools/triggers to experiment with. Witness our post S glow.
Before flying home Tuesday, I dropped into Sheila Kelley’s morning class. She used a Coachella Music Festival inspired playlist. I was too tired for her ‘challenge your muscles’ workout after my late night. I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed the warm up dancing along the back wall, yet how irritated I felt by the chaotic energy emitted from the bags of stuff on the bench. In San Francisco, because of our cozy 500 square foot studios, we leave our bags outside the dance space.
Every studio has its own personality. It’s interesting to experiment and play within their different environments. If you want to attend a retreat, but are not yet able, consider visiting another studio to utilize makeups in your account or take advantage of the new open access policy at a location in a city near friends or family you’ll be visiting. For example, the next time I make it back east to visit my family, I intend to visit my New York s’isters too.
Sisterhood
On Thursday, I was back home in my weekly S Factor class, enveloped in their warm embrace. I let myself go wilder than normal, bumping my head hard on a pole. After getting over the ouch/shock, having faced/confronted a worst fear (getting hurt), I recovered and felt myself sink into a deeper, somehow more secure place in me. I continued exploring the wildness with grindy hip moves at a different pole and a bold climb onto the back of the chair from this more secure center.
That evening while preparing to fill out the pre-retreat questionnaire for Kiawah, I reread some of my answers to the Monterey questions. I realized I’d just spent a week living life according to one of my deepest desires:
Q. What is your life’s desire?
A. To live a joyful and radiant life full of intimate connections…
My nearly seven-year S Factor journey continues to change my life. It led me down a rabbit hole of self-awareness, discovery and growth I never could’ve imagined. It helped me listen to and love my body. It enriched an already strong and loving marriage. However, I think for me, the most precious and unexpected gift is the ever-widening circle of spectacular and stunning women it brings into my life. Women I am proud to call sisters.
Not surprisingly, what I am most looking forward to at the upcoming Kiawah retreat is playing, dancing, and bonding with my sisterhood, my tribe. Those I know already and those I’ve yet to meet.
