Meditation, Michael Scott, and My Sister’s 30th
I was very honored to attend my sister’s 30th birthday (what a milestone!) and give a short toast at her wedding. It allowed me to reflect on just a few of the things that I most love about spending time with her.
A Day of Lattes, Mushrooms, and Meditation Dreams in Santa Monica
A day in Santa Monica brought more than just great lattes. From an Ayurvedic café inside the Proper Hotel to the mushroom-powered coworking vibe of Mudwater’s new space, I found not only focus—but a new wave of inspiration for what mindful workspaces and meditation communities can look like.
Sound Bath Under the Stars: A Mystical Night at Butterfly Mountain
A night beneath the stars, surrounded by harp strings and crystal bowls, turned into more than just a sound bath. It became a seasonal ritual. At Butterfly Mountain’s geodesic dome in Topanga, Katy and I found ourselves immersed in vibration, nature, and stillness.
Meditation in a Salt Cave
Meditation can happen anywhere. But the environment shapes the depth of the practice. In a Himalayan salt cave, sound and salt merged into a powerful experience of presence. It was a reminder that when the body feels supported, the mind follows, and stillness arrives more naturally.
Where Fire Meets Renewal
Eight months after fire swept through Tuna Canyon, the hillsides are alive with new growth. What seemed empty has returned, not as it was before, but as something changed — and in that change, something beautiful. Renewal does not erase loss; it carries it forward. Like meditation, the canyon teaches us that presence is found in both the scar and the sprout.
The Beauty of a Wedding in Nature
Weddings are more than rituals of love — they are moments of presence, union, and awakening. Outdoors, surrounded by trees, ocean, or sky, a wedding becomes not just a ceremony but a meditation, drawing us into connection with each other and the living world.
A Wedding in the Fog
This past weekend I traveled to Camden, Maine, for my sister’s wedding. Held in a small wooded outdoor chapel overlooking Casco Bay, the ceremony unfolded in fog and birdsong, surrounded by family and friends. It was a tender reminder that love, like meditation, invites us into presence — fleeting, precious, and unforgettable.
Sailing Into Presence: A Meditation on the Open Water
A simple sail off the coast of Maine revealed something timeless: meditation isn’t only silence and stillness. It’s being present in the wind, the waves, and the company we keep.
Lessons from Clarkson’s Farm
Watching Clarkson’s Farm, I saw how farming takes every challenge of property management and multiplies it — unpredictable weather, stubborn animals, steep costs — all demanding patience, grit, and a steady presence. 🌱
A Midsummer Night in Topanga
A summer night in Topanga: burritos from the taco truck, hot tea in hand, and Shakespeare under the oaks. Watching A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Theatricum Botanicum felt less like entertainment and more like a meditation
The Peace Beyond the Robes
A beach day isn’t always just a beach day. In the chaos of late departures, crowded sand, and sunscreen in my eyes, I found a quiet teaching about spiritual devotion—and why our real temple might just be the messy, imperfect life we live every day.
Rockstar Laid an Egg
When our chicken Rockstar laid her first egg, it was a moment of quiet celebration. After weeks of early mornings, feeding routines, and compost surprises, this little egg reminded me how presence and care truly pay off. In this post, I reflect on what backyard chickens are teaching me about mindful living, daily rhythm, and the sacred loop between effort and reward.
A New Chapter at OneCommune: Our Local Makers Consignment Shop
We’ve been working hard to bring a little more of Topanga’s creative spirit indoors. Our new consignment shop features handmade pieces by local makers—from stained glass and woven art to plant-based perfumes and honey straight from our retreat’s own hives.
Lessons from a Potluck: Authentic Relating and the Art of Connection
At a recent potluck in Topanga, I found myself reflecting on how we build meaningful connection. My friend Justin led an authentic relating exercise that brought strangers closer in minutes—reminding me that presence doesn’t just happen on a cushion. It lives in how we show up with one another.
Listening Inward: Reflections from a Satsang at Corazón
This week, I share reflections from a satsang (spiritual gathering) at Corazón Performing Arts in Topanga, led by Pandit Balmiki Sharma. We listened to devotional music, explored Vedic teachings, and sat together in stillness. It was a beautiful reminder that the path of meditation is also a path of listening—to ourselves, to teachers, and to the truth unfolding in the present moment.
Cooking Up Connection: Reflections from a Week with School of Lunch
This week, our retreat property hosted School of Lunch, a spirited culinary retreat focused on traditional, nourishing food. In this journal entry, I reflect on the joy, chaos, and meaning that unfolded—from pot-and-pan drumming to raw milk chugging—and what it taught me about the spiritual power of food and shared meals.
Walking the Path: Guiding Vivobarefoot Through Nature and Meditation
When Vivobarefoot’s global team came to our Topanga retreat center for a multi-day conference, I had the chance to guide them in something close to my heart: meditation, movement, and connection to nature. What followed was a week of meaningful moments—early morning hikes, walking meditations, and quiet time beneath the trees.
Paradise Cove: A Hidden Gem for Meditation, Rest, and Sun
Sometimes meditation doesn’t look like sitting cross-legged—it looks like letting the tide roll over your toes or floating beneath a wide, blue sky. In this week’s post, I share a visit to Paradise Cove in Malibu—a new favorite spot that reminded me how simple moments in nature can open the door to peace and presence.
Protest as Presence: When Meditation Leads Us to Speak
Meditation doesn’t always mean silence. In this week’s post, I share reflections from a peaceful protest in Santa Monica—and explore how speaking up, especially when guided by inner clarity, can be a powerful act of mindfulness.
Planting Lavender: Cultivating Calm, One Root at a Time
Over Memorial Day weekend, I planted two dozen lavender plants along the orchard path at our Topanga retreat center. In this post, I share why we chose lavender, how i planted it, how we’re caring for it, and how it ties into our daily meditation practice, herbal wellness routines, and plans for the retreat property.