I needed to get away, regroup, think about who I am, where I have been, and where Im going. There was one destination that I felt was calling my name- Hollyhock. Situated on Cortes Island in British Columbia, between the glaciers of Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountain range of the mainland, is Hollyhock Retreat, a healing oasis that guests cant help but make repeat pilgrimages to. The retreat oozes peacefulness and is extraordinarily verdant. I guess that's what founder Rex Weyler was looking for... yeah, same guy who founded Greenpeace International.
The pristine property consists of 44 acres of old-growth forests where bald eagles, black tailed deer and barred owls dwell. Guests spend their days traversing the meandering trails that lead through the trees to the waters edge where gaggles of geese congregate protecting their kin. When not strolling along wild mushroom strewn paths or driftwood dotted beaches, yoga, tai chi, meditation and massage help unfurl frayed nerves and mangled muscles. Dance performances, farmers markets, and cultural activities take place only a few miles down the road in the towns center where you just might run into a local like Dr. Andrew Weil (yes, he has a house there). Hollyhock is a place where, no matter how still you sit and how quiet you are, you still wont hear anything but the nature that surrounds you that and the thoughts in your head. And thats exactly what I needed.
While every day at Hollyhock offers a treasure trove of healing activities, minds are encouraged to further expand and bodies are led to dance through an array of focused and intensive expert-led workshops including photography, drumming, poetry, even the zen of business. But for me, this was a personal workshop- I was working on myself. I went with intention. I was seeking certain clarity, looking for specific answers. And my questions were constantly in the back of my mind- allowing every conversation or experience I had to resonate, in some way, with my focus
Here are 3 days in the life of my Hollyhock experience:
Take Off and landing on a Sea Plane! This was my first sea plane experience, and despite major nerves (I actually have a fear of flying), the flight was calming and beautiful, flying low over the ocean, so close that we could see a pod of migrating whales!
Walking around the Point on Cortes Island was one of my daily activities. Not only was it an amazing opportunity to just be with myself, listening to music, processing long overdue issues in my mind, but it was amazing exercise!
even getting lost wasnt so bad as I skipped from one rock to the next, navigating the terrain like you would stack blocks in Tetris- always looking two steps ahead.
You cant buy an oyster on Cortes Island. Thats because it is naturally so ripe with sea life that if you feel like eating oysters on the half shell or having a clam bake, you simply go down to the waters edge and pick some up. Some areas are so littered with shellfish that you cant help but walk on them. They are literally under every step you take. Finding oysters or clams is as difficult as bending down and opening your hand! Talk about a bottomless oyster bar!
Hollyhock may be known for healthy, vegetarian cuisine, but I didnt expect to literally pick my salad! Between the hotels massive organic herb garden and the myriad of greens that you find lingering by the waters edge, you pretty much cant go hungry. Here I learned about Sea Asparagus
About once or sometimes twice a week Hollyhock has an oyster BBQ on the beach. Those oysters that I went hunting for in the afternoon, we got to eat them fresh just a couple of hours later. I even attempted to shuck them! Heres my attempt at Shucking Raw Oysters
Because this was a personal workshop- working on myself, I was constantly searching, seeking, taking in, and analyzing. And finally I came to some amazing conclusions just from watching a dance class
Confession: Time to Let Go
Its interesting how, even when away, you can fall into rhythm, create new norms, and design routines that make you feel comfortable. This was my final morning at Hollyhock, before it was Time to Say Goodbye to Hollyhock.
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