by Maria Cook | Oct 17, 2019 | Curanderos, empowerment, learning, retreats, Rituals, Travel
A healing journey, Oaxaca, Oct 2019 We purified, released, let go of what didn’t serve, and exposed all the dark places that have kept us down. We opened, allowed, surrendered, and let in the light that filled us with joy and possibilities. Mostly we just had an...
by Maria Cook | Apr 13, 2019 | Belize, empowerment, Kayaking, learning, retreats, Travel
“NO PROBLEM” KAYAK, CAMP AND FABULOUS WOMEN Adventure Travel in My Fabulous Fifties April 5, 2019 by Laureen LOCATION: BELIZE It was convenient, since I was already in Belize. When I heard about this kayak, camp Belize trip I asked Arne if he thought we might...
by Maria Cook | Feb 12, 2019 | empowerment, learning, retreats, Travel
“What are you most proud of?” was the question. The things I feel the best about are the hardest things, when I chose to face my fears, or step up my game, when I did what was right and difficult instead of taking the easy way out. Those are the things that make me...
by Maria Cook | Nov 27, 2018 | empowerment, learning, retreats
When we are deeply rooted in a sense of purpose, we have a guideline or signpost that can help us make choices that serve us, that help us to be more fully who we are and to share our gifts with the world. When things matter to us, we can experience a deeper level of...
by Maria Cook | Nov 22, 2018 | empowerment, Travel
The Happy Traveler While on my flight home from Belize earlier this year, I realized part of what I love about traveling is how compact life becomes. I also love it when I remember all the little things that help my traveling companions and I to be more comfortable in...
by Maria Cook | Aug 14, 2018 | acupuncture, empowerment, learning, Rituals, workshops
I recently listened to Martin Prechtel, Mayan shaman, talk about grief and praise, how they are interconnected. There are so many approaches to grief, so many ways to experience it and recover from it, so many stages of grief, so many individual expressions. Grief and...
by Maria Cook | Aug 11, 2018 | empowerment, Kayaking, learning, Yoga
When I was 24ish, I was in so much physical pain from car-snowboarding-skiiing-soccer-ice skating-crazy teenager accidents that I thought I’d be in pain my entire life. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to not get days-long migraines, feel a knife...
by Maria Cook | Jun 20, 2018 | empowerment, learning, retreats, Travel
My mind is full of memories, my house is chock with souvenirs. The tiny picture of the church in Palestine, hangs next to the painted metal mirror from Oaxaca. The tile from Ecuador, poignant with grief, subdues the bold colors of the batik print from Tahiti. Nearby...
by Maria Cook | May 15, 2018 | empowerment, learning, Travel
I recently returned from Europe. I had been invited to join a friend to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, starting in Porto, Portugal. The Camino is a pilgrimage and there are many routes that end in Santiago, the most popular goes across Northern Spain....
by Maria Cook | May 14, 2018 | empowerment, learning, workshops
I recently flew to New York from Seattle to I join a seminar with Marie Kondo, the author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Along with people from 16 other countries, I’m now a KonMari Home Organizing Consultant in training! I’m completely sold on...
