Amy has asked us to write about nature and our experience with it (assumably at the forest)....not sure if this is what the group wants to hear but here goes...

The cacophony of the birds annoys me so. 
You'd think I would love it, but it ain't so,
The noise, the chaos from morning until night bothers me greatly,  
like thoughts that will not move out of sight.
Oh, but for silence where can it be found?
I thought so in nature but there isn't any around.

My steps tentative judiciously so. 
I worry, will I trip, will I fall? Will I fail?
I write that the path should be this way or that. 
But the path though winding and tenuous doesn't need to be changed
It is my mindfulness or lack thereof that needs to be exposed
so with each step I pay attention as the consequences are great
Can I bring this back when it seems to matter less so?

I thought this, a writer's retreat, and the lessons would be there.
But instead it is with the simple footsteps that follow me as I leave the room
That there lay this..

Heading home, Isabella and I follow Sanchez down the path for our 20 minute jaunt to the car that awaits us to take us to the Guate Airport.  Out of nowhere a dog appears at my side wagging his tail and then barking sharply at Sanchez.  "No!" I snap my fingers firmly, worried that he is going to attack Sanchez who appears unflustered.  The dog appears sheepish as he returns to my side and then hurries ahead of us wagging his tail.  We pause for a moment and the dog patiently waiting for us to continue. At one point he curiously sniffs Isabella's bag that Sanchez is carrying.  I watch this dog in wonderment.  Why is he following us?  I notice that he has a tag unlike most of the dogs here who run wild.  He shepherds us around a group of dogs that face us.  Effectively communicating with them to get out of the way.

We finally get to the bottom of the trail where our driver Marcus awaits.  The dog again waits patiently as our stuff is loaded into the car.  I ask Sanchez, "Is this unusual?  The dog following us?" He doesn't seem to understand my words as he politely waves them away, "No problema," He smiles.  We start to drive forward and the dog continues to follow at the side of the car.  Then he comes around to the front of the car blocking our way.  I am alarmed.  We have seen many dead dogs a week before on the trek up hit by cars.  Marcus laughs though and waits patiently as the dog finally moves to the side of the car.  The car slowly picks up acceleration.  Marcus says to Isabella who is in the front seat, "Two kilometers.  He will follow us that far."  The car speeds up and the dog picks up speed, we go faster and faster and the dog gives chase to try to keep up with us with a distressed look shown on his face that he isn't able to. As we round a curve the dog finally disappears out of sight.  It was like he had been entrusted with us and was trying to oblige.  

Marcus asks Isabella in Spanish, Did you like the Yoga Forest? Curious about this mystical place.  She smiles with a sad egnimatic look as she answers, "Very much."

Retreat founder, Amy Hansen's energy is infectious when she asks us in her distinct voice, "What brought you here?"  I tell the group 'I was led here.'  Sometimes when we get quiet we can hear the whispering of our soul's desire and we are led to where we need to be.

Pearls garnered from my week in Guatemala

• Maintain your center. At all times
• Reality trumps illusions and fantasy
• Humor trumps everything
• Don't Rush.  Mindfulness in all things
• I don't need to look for reassurance anymore
• If something isn't working, don't suffer through it
• Listen to my gut
• Be the Dreamer, Not the dreamed
• The environment can be preserved if we Re-Use, Re-Cycle and Re-New
• Forgive myself. Forgive others. Don't take things personally--their dream not mine
• Be thankful. Everyday
• Be Grateful. In all things
• Embrace my idiosyncrasies--my need to be alone, to create, for comfort and happiness (Mayan Reading)
• Allow myself to be me
• We are all the Same. We are all Different (the lessons from the Direction of the Eagle)
• My life is open to transformation for the betterment of my soul and for other
• Cacao adds for pretty amazing stuff to happen during ceremony
• The presence of women in togetherness is Alchemy!
• Sound-Fire-Dance allows for the Expression of Self
• The Guatemalan people and the people of The Yoga Forest are truly lovely
• Telling your story is powerful, Re-telling it is Transformative

Thestorytellerwithin.com Writer's Retreat for Women (so much more...)