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.
Read moreZen 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.
Read moreCelebrating 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreListening 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.
Read moreMindfulness 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreTogether 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.
Read moreStillness 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.
Read moreHonoring 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.
Read morePlanting 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreHot-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.
Read moreEnvisioning 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.
Read moreHealing 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.
Read moreA Journey Through Unconventional Living: Finding Home in Unexpected Places
A picture of Haven Coliving, after we were evicted.
Living in Los Angeles doesn’t have to mean sky-high rents and cookie-cutter apartments. My journey through unconventional living took me from a pod in a wellness coliving space to a trailer in Topanga, a dream house lost to fire, and now a wellness retreat. Each home shaped my understanding of community, nature, and resilience. In this post, I share the highs, the heartbreaks, and the lessons learned along the way.
Read moreEmbracing Impermanence: Lessons from Losing Nearly Everything
Losing my Topanga home to the Palisades Fire has been a heart-wrenching journey, but it’s also been a profound lesson in impermanence and resilience. Among the ashes, I found two items untouched: a Buddha statue and a lava-formed obelisk crystal. These symbols of serenity and transformation remind me that even in loss, there is an opportunity for spiritual growth and renewal.
Read moreFinding Peace Amid Devastation from Palisades Fire
Losing my Topanga home in the Palisades Fire has been an unimaginable heartbreak. Amid the ashes, only a serene Buddha statue remained, a powerful symbol of non-attachment, resilience, and inner peace. This tragedy has deepened my understanding of gratitude—finding appreciation for what remains and the lessons life continues to offer, even in the face of profound loss.
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