During this week’s Embodied Rest practice, we explored wonder through the extraordinary migration of monarch butterflies.
Each autumn, millions of monarchs make their way south, traveling thousands of miles to the forests of central Mexico, where they gather together for the winter.
What I find particularly remarkable is that the butterflies making this journey have never been there before.
And yet, they find their way.
As I shared these words during Wednesday evening’s practice, something stirred within me. A softening. A recognition. A tenderness for the many journeys unfolding in our lives.
My daughters, each finding her way through a new chapter. Myself, navigating unfamiliar territory. And those gathered in the Sanctuary, each carrying their own experiences, hopes, and uncertainties.
We are all finding our way through places we have never been before.
Later, as I closed our practice with a quote from John O’Donohue, words I had chosen earlier in the day resonated in a way I hadn’t anticipated. His invitation to approach life with “the heart of wonder” felt especially timely. A reminder of the sacred gift of each day, even in the midst of all that is unknown.
One of the gifts of these first months at Anam Cara has been the moments that unfold around our practices. Conversations over tea, stories shared, growing familiarity, and the simple pleasure of lingering together.
There’s something deeply nourishing about these unplanned moments of connection. The ease, the openness, the opportunity to simply enjoy one another’s company.
I’m discovering something about the beauty of making room for what we cannot plan.
We can prepare with care, create welcoming spaces, and offer invitations. But some of the most meaningful moments arise in ways we could never have imagined.
There may be wonder in that, too. In remaining open to what we haven’t anticipated.
And in the unexpected beauty of gathering together.
Still Gathering in November
As we move through the final weeks of Gathering Season, there are still many opportunities to slow down, rest, and connect at Anam Cara.
Embodied Rest
Wednesdays, November 4, 11 & 18 · 6:00 & 7:30 pm
Thursdays, November 5 & 19 · 7:00 pm
Supported Yoga & Rest
Thursdays, November 5 & 19 · 5:30–6:30 pm
Tea Sit
Sunday, November 8 · 10:00–11:00 am
Rest & Ritual · Around the Table
Friday, November 13 · 7:00–8:30 pm
Open Sanctuary
Saturday, November 21 · 8:00–11:00 am
No cost · No registration needed
Looking Ahead: Winter Hearth
November 30 – December 31
As the days grow shorter, I’m looking forward to welcoming a new season at Anam Cara.
Winter Hearth is an invitation to gather around warmth, light, and the small rituals that nourish us through winter.
Alongside our familiar Embodied Rest and Supported Yoga & Rest practices, December brings new opportunities to explore:
Meditation Mondays
A quiet beginning to the week, with two morning opportunities for guided meditation at 7:30 and 9:00 am. Come a little early or linger afterward for tea or coffee.
Rest Together
An invitation for children and their caregivers to explore gentle movement, supported rest, and time together.
Rest & Ritual · Mothers & Daughters
An afternoon for mothers and older teen or adult daughters to slow down, rest alongside one another, and share in a simple seasonal ritual.
Winter Hearth Month Pass · $80
A new way to make room for rest throughout December, with unlimited Meditation Mondays, Embodied Rest, and Supported Yoga & Rest practices.
We’ll also gather for Winter Solstice Open Sanctuary on December 21, with space to stop in, get comfortable, and stay awhile.
I’m looking forward to seeing what unfolds as we make room for these new experiences.
Whether you’ve been joining us regularly or are considering your first visit, I hope you’ll find an opportunity to come, rest, and stay awhile.
A place to begin. A place to return.
With warmth,
Cara
Anam Cara Sanctuary
Rest, presence & accompaniment