Starting a 4:30 AM Routine: Why We’re Rising Before the Sun
This week, Katy and I embarked on something ambitious: waking up at 4:30 am to start a brand-new morning routine. Our goal? To carve out dedicated time for contrast therapy (sauna and cold plunge) and yoga before the rest of the day unfolds.
The Spirit of Place: Meditation and Celebration at Topanga Day
Topanga Days is the canyon’s most spirited annual celebration—a music festival and parade that bring the whole community together in color and motion. In this journal entry, I reflect on how Katy and I found presence in the middle of it all—through music, movement, and moments of quiet awareness woven into celebration.
Feathered Friends and Buzzing Blessings: New Life at the Retreat
This week, our retreat center welcomed four new chickens and a collection of honeybee hives. After weeks of preparation—clearing space, safeguarding the coop, painting, and placing crystals—our hens have arrived, each with a name and personality. Alongside them, a local beekeeper introduced buzzing hives to the hills. This journal entry reflects on the meditative power of caretaking, and how sometimes, the most spiritual moments come with feathers and wings.
What Raising a Power Pole Revealed About Meditation
When a team came to replace the old electric pole at our retreat center, I watched three days of grit, humor, and coordination unfold. What started as a loud, dusty project turned into a surprising meditation on strength, alignment, and what it really takes to stay grounded.
Zen and the Art of Building a Shed
What began as a simple plan to build two sheds turned into a deeper reflection on mindfulness, teamwork, and the harmony between form and feeling. Inspired by Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, this article explores the unexpected beauty of a practical project in the hills of Topanga.
Celebrating Love and Mother Earth at Butterfly Mountain
To celebrate our one-year anniversary, Katy and I attended the Mother Earth Day Celebration at Butterfly Mountain in Topanga. The day unfolded with song circles, indigenous music, vibrant mandalas, and a powerful sense of community and reverence for the land. It was a beautiful reminder of how deeply love, art, and nature are intertwined.
A Family Weekend in Topanga: Hiking, Superbloom, and Local Magic
This past weekend, my parents visited Topanga for the first time in spring. We explored the canyon’s hidden magic—from the rebuilding of Tuna Canyon to the sweeping yellow superbloom at Point Dume—and shared meals at some of the town’s best local spots. It was a weekend full of nature, reflection, and simple joys.
A Sneak Peek Into the Journey Through Meditation Tarot Deck
After months of quiet, intentional work, I’m excited to share a first look at the Journey Through Meditation Tarot Deck. Rooted in the symbolism of the Major Arcana and inspired by the land and spirit of Topanga Canyon, this deck is designed as a meditative tool—each card a portal to inner awareness. In this post, I walk through the creative process and reveal some of the finished cards, from The Fool and The Magician to The Tower and The Star.
Listening to the Wild: A Day of Stillness and Birds in Topanga
This weekend, I spent a full day outside at the retreat center in Topanga—lounging in the sun, slowing my breath, and tuning into the sounds of the natural world. As spring blooms across the hills, I found myself drawn into a deeper relationship with the birds around me: hummingbirds, falcons, owls, and a stunning pair of California quail. Their songs, dances, and quiet presence became the soundtrack to a day that reminded me how nourishing stillness can be.
Mindfulness Mushroom Walk: Lessons in Awareness, Curiosity, and Caution on the Trail
While visiting Ojai for the weekend, Katy and I joined a guided Mindfulness Mushroom Walk at the Ventura River Preserve. Alongside a group of curious hikers, we encountered colorful mushrooms, crossed rivers, and even spotted three rattlesnakes. The experience left me with a deeper appreciation for the power of attention—both in spotting the beauty of fungi and staying alert to nature’s dangers. It was a walk that sharpened my senses and reminded me how much wisdom lives along the trail.
A Birthday Retreat in Ojai: Orange Groves, Meditation, and the Wisdom of Krishnamurti
For Katy’s birthday, we made a quiet getaway to Ojai—just an hour from the retreat center, but a world of its own. We stayed at a small inn with sweeping views of the valley, visited the Oak Grove where Krishnamurti once walked and taught, and sat in silence in his former home. With blooming wildflowers, citrus trees, and stillness all around, the weekend offered a moment to reflect on attention, freedom, and the simple beauty of being present.
Together on the Trail: Finding Community in Nature
Every Saturday, I’ve made it a ritual to hike the trails near the retreat center in Topanga. This week, I was joined by a group of retreat guests—and the experience reminded me how powerful it can be to walk through nature with others. From quiet conversation to shared silence, the trail became a space for community, reflection, and vision. In this journal post, I reflect on the magic of hiking in groups and the quiet way nature helps us return to ourselves.
Stillness in the Canyon: A Meditative Hike Along the Backbone Trail
I recently hiked the Backbone Trail in Topanga, one of my favorite trails for its long, winding beauty and hidden corners of peace. Midway through, I paused at a rock overlook above a small gorge—where a trickling stream forms pools full of dragonflies and frogs. I meditated by the water, imagining what it might be like to be a cave yogi tucked away in silence. This journal entry captures the magic of that day: the quiet, the reflections, and the grounding energy of the land.
Honoring My Grandfather: Crossing a Threshold and Embracing Change
Returning home for my grandfather’s funeral was more than a moment of remembrance—it became a journey of transformation. From the solemn beauty of his military service to an unexpected speech at the reception, I found myself reflecting on presence, letting go, and the quiet ways we step into new roles within our families. In honoring his life, I also recognized a shift within myself—one that felt like both an ending and a new beginning.
Planting Seeds: A Garden, A Practice, A Path
Spring has arrived, bringing new life to the retreat center. As Katy and I planted a garden, we saw reflections of the spiritual path in the process—loosening the soil like moving qi, tending to seeds like tending to meditation. Growth, whether in a garden or within, takes patience and care. Read on for reflections on gardening, mindfulness, and the lessons nature teaches.
A Week of Worship: Part 2 – Birthday and Kali Mandir
Turning 35 felt like stepping into a new phase of spiritual growth. To celebrate, I took a road trip with my girlfriend, Katy, to Kali Mandir, a serene temple dedicated to the goddess Kali. The day unfolded as a journey of renewal—starting with an intense Thai massage, followed by a fiery lemongrass soup, and culminating in a kirtan that filled the temple with rhythmic drumming and chants. As Katy meditated on a yantra, I reflected on a simple truth: the real pilgrimage is always within.
A Week of Worship: Part 1 – Shivaratri Celebration
Shivaratri is always an intense experience, and this most recent celebration was no different. From sundown to sunrise, we immersed ourselves in meditation, chanting, and ritual offerings. Held in my guru’s old art studio—an expansive space filled with his visionary paintings and sculptures—the night carried an unmistakable energy. For the first time, I managed to stay awake through every session, feeling deeply connected to the tradition, the teachings, and the moment.
Hot-Cold Therapy: A Daily Experiment in Detox and Clarity
At our retreat center, my girlfriend and I have embarked on an exciting experiment with hot-cold therapy. By alternating between relaxing sauna sessions and invigorating cold plunges, we've discovered a practical routine that supports detoxification, boosts circulation, and clears the mind. Dive into our journey to learn how this practice is enhancing our overall wellness and inner clarity.
Envisioning a Regenerative Future: Reflections from the RegenWorld Summit
The RegenWorld Summit brought together forward-thinking leaders in sustainability, innovation, and community living. From fire-resistant geodesic homes to radical ideas about self-sufficient societies, the event sparked conversations about what a regenerative future could look like. I even took the stage to share my own vision—one inspired by the loss of my Topanga home in a wildfire.
Healing and Moisture – A New Chapter at the Retreat Center
After a period of fire and transformation, I find myself embracing the healing qualities of water and earth. Living at a retreat center in Topanga, I spend my days working the land and my evenings in the sauna, practicing hot and cold therapy. Through self-care rituals, Ayurvedic oils, and time in nature, I’m rediscovering balance and renewal. This journal entry explores how I’m shifting from destruction to nourishment—grounding into the elements of stability and flow.