The #1 Question I live by

The #1 Question I live by

In October I traveled to Granada, Spain to co-lead a retreat called Hearts On Fire with my sister Kayla Floyd, and this past weekend I led a weekend retreat called Elevate near our home in Auburn, CA. The past several months have been rich with experience that want for sharing. 

Hearts On Fire was a vulnerable retreat to lead. It was a pulling back of the curtain where Kayla and I shared many of our own rituals, practices and beliefs around what it means to be a connected mystic living in this world...

Shift in Costa Rica

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I just returned home from leading my first Shift retreat in Costa Rica. The experience was rich, important and utterly game changing. It sold out. Everyone got what they came for and much more. The feedback has been incredible. Beyond incredible really. It was more than I hoped for in every way. Some of the participants were former or current clients, one found me via Google search (thank you Mr. Google!), some were brand new to my work and all now feel like chosen family. Shift Retreat | Lacy Young

I've been trying to put the experience into words and I trust that you will find what you need in here as I share. The very fact that you are here reading this means you are exactly where you are meant to be. Thank you for showing up! You are right on time.

Lacy Young | Shift Retreat

Last year I did a health history with a women who did not become my client. As I answered her questions about packaged cereal bars I knew that our purpose together was being served. I will forever carry what she taught me in our brief exchange.

I could tell by her voice and demeanor that she is a strong, proud and rooted woman. She took herself seriously asking questions with such conviction while inquiring from a place of gentle strength. She was full of uncertainty about what to actually eat to nourish her body but she was clear and unashamed about not knowing. She unknowingly changed me by simply being herself.

I remember talking with my sister after the call telling her how struck I was by this women and that starting NOW I would no longer dismiss myself in big or small ways. I would honor my desires and most of all my gifts. I would not shrink even in moments when I did not know what to do. I would be myself. I would continue to live more and more authentically. I would be rooted in transparency and give up the need to struggle. One baby step after another I have come back to those intentions.

Shift Retreat | Lacy Young

As I reflect on what unfolded in Costa Rica I'm recalling moments like that one on the phone with the women who did not become my client. I am seeing themes and threads in my life with such clarity that looking back they all seem like well worn paths leading me to the next chapters. I believe that the past is not who we are but that is shapes who we are becoming.

Shift Retreat | Lacy Young

So there we all are in Costa Rica on day 1. We sat together in a circle propped up on cushions and Mexican blankets on smooth teak flooring. It was humid + hot but not in an oppressive way. The weather felt intentional as if to invite us to begin the feeling process with sticky skin and beads of sweat rolling down our backs. The room was open to the jungle via two walls of sliding glass doors where Howler monkeys jumped from tree to tree. Yeah. Jungle. Monkeys. Magic. It was the perfect backdrop for doing transformational work.

I asked, "Are you ready to step into your new life?" and as I looked around the circle I saw beautifully eager eyes full of uncertainty. Someone spoke up saying, "Umm even hearing that I just had to swallow really big and I feel a little scared." Nervous laughter followed and then a "Yes, ready." And we began.

Shift Retreat | Lacy YoungInviting healing with fire + ritual.

What happened over the next few days was miraculous. Break downs. Breakthroughs. Tears. Laughter. Inquiry. Energy moving. Contrast. Breath moving. Time seemed to stand still. Old wounds were healed. Old beliefs shed or transformed. We ate clean food. We listened to each other. We sat in joy and discomfort and celebrated it all. We meditated our brains out. We Shifted.

Shift | PattyThis is Patty's Shift selfie before and again on the last day. Speaks volumes, doesn't it! I see love unleashed. I see her certainty. I see her inability to hide her infinite potential.

I watched their faces change as the week progressed. I watched my face change as each person in the circle held me with such love, trusted my guidance and listened to my voice chanting through the chakras. We were each others teachers, friends and confidants. We entered into a sacred circle and healed together.

lacy young | shift retreatsCliff + Bird | Costa RicaCliff had breakfast with this guy a few mornings with full on conversations.

One woman said, "There's a difference between making changes and being changed. I AM CHANGED." and she then went on to say that she knows now that she is not broken and the physical pain that used to live in her feet and ankles was gone from her body. Gone. I asked her to repeat herself and as she said, "I AM NOT BROKEN. I AM NOT BROKEN. I AM NOT BROKEN." I knew once again that I would never be the same, that another thread in my life was coming into focus.

This is work I am meant to do and I show up humbly to do it feeling more gratitude than I've ever known. It's wild you guys. Freaking wonderfully wild. While it's true that I can tell you about each of the chakras, what foods are best to eat in particular situations and even some of the science that is happening in your body when you're in meditation --- I know that what I'm bringing to this work is my own special alchemy.

lizardLacy Young | Shift Retreat joyShift Retreat | The View Can you even get over that view!?

I spent a decade with serious breathing issues and now I use my voice to share what I know. I have healed my throat chakra by continuing to take inspired action in my life like moving into an RV, going on soul journey to Bali, leading this retreat... Some days you can hear me breathe, some days you can't and all the days are perfect. I don't worry about it like I did before. I know that one can not fully heal until they feel the fullness and the truth of being whole health. As that dear woman said over and over I AM NOT BROKEN it resonated and reverberated through my entire body as truth. None of us are broken. We never have been and that realization may be some of the most worthy work of your life. The truth is, I am whole health. You are whole health. And being our authentic selves not only heals but it helps to give each other permission to be true and it ripples out into the world.

If you are ready to do this work, if you are feeling called then please join us in Calistoga July 31 - August 2. All are welcome. You only need two things... 1. The desire and willingness to change and 2. an open heart. The rest really will take care of itself.

You can read testimonials from some of the participants here. Apply for Shift Calistoga here.

Thank you for witnessing this journey. With my whole heart, thank you. Lacy

p.s. This. Watch this.

Tremendous gratitude to Ashlie Woods for all the images.

The unearthing of deep inexplicable joy.

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I just returned home from a month long journey to Bali. Over the past few days I've been noticing how different I am. I know that people go on trips all the time and come home saying they've changed but... I really mean it. I am SO different than I was a little over a month ago. I have seemingly unlimited patience. My impatience used to be a running joke around here. Today I went to the post office to mail Kale Yeah T's (they are on sale 40% off btw, get em while they last). There was a HUGE line. Then killer traffic on the way home from the post office. It was mid way through the traffic that I realized that I wasn't bothered by any of it. Not the traffic, not the line, not the screaming kids, not the lady with the literal wagon full of boxes... I am so non-reactive. I am in awe. My stomach used to turn into knots in situations that were out of my control. I'd get anxious in lines, frustrated in traffic and now... Poof! GONE!

I'm quiet, contemplative and unapoligetically internal. I've been leaving my phone off most days unless I have a client call. I'm hardly on social media. Cliff and I are sitting and talking for hours on end. I feel space inside of me and around me. I feel peaceful. I'm observing my body adjusting back into this time zone and giving myself plenty of time to rest, to sleep when I feel like it and be awake when I feel like it. It's actually nearly 3 am as I'm writing this. Two words friends... Jet Lag! It's real.

I feel deeply loved and protected despite learning that when our home, our RV went in for service it was stripped of every electronic gadget and gizmo in the place. The TV was ripped off the wall, iPods gone, Jambox gone, brand new Roku still in the box (that was buried in a drawer) gone... and so much more. I am observing my reaction to it and how different I am in processing it all. I spoke with a representative of the shop and his only response was that Cliff signed a "not responsible for loss" waiver when he dropped it off. Wha? That doesn't mean it's ok to shop in our home. How can someone run a business that way?

In times past I would have gotten in my car and driven down there to speak yell at the owner or manager and demand resolution. The anger would have eaten me up from the inside out. Instead I saged our sweet little home and reminded myself that I am safe. I am loved. Somehow this is all for me. And I sent love to whoever took all our stuff. And to the guy who was zero help on the phone. And to the owner who has refused to take or return my calls. I will still be writing a Yelp review and filing an official complaint but with the intention of protecting other RV families instead of sticking it to this place.

Beyond that I'm reflecting on this feeling inside. This raw vulnerability of having our home violated in this way. Memories are flooding in from my life. Memories of times when people have wronged me and when I have wronged others. I'm seeing their faces, offering forgiveness and asking for forgiveness and it's painful. And cleansing.

See what I mean? Different!

As 2014 draws to a close I feel brand new. I feel ready for the coming year and I feel excited for what is ahead. In 2015 I'm expanding my work to honor the knowing inside that has been clearly speaking saying, "Lacy, it's time to offer more. It's time to share what you know, to let people in, to hold them close and love them deeply so that you may grow together, open and heal together. It's time."

And so... I am thrilled to announce LacyYoungRetreats.com. The first retreat is going to be May 16 - 23, 2015 in Costa Rica. I'm calling it Shift and it's already being infused with so much love and careful attention to every detail.

Join me on a profound healing journey like nothing you have ever experienced. Join me for the transformation you have been waiting for. Join me for a journey into your true self.

If this is the right fit for you, you will you know. You'll feel it in your body. You'll feel it before you finish reading this page. And you'll bravely answer the call with YES. I will do this. I will trust this. YES.

The cure for anything is salt water -- sweat, tears, or the sea. - Isak Dinesen

This is for you if:

  • You want to better understand and experience higher states of consciousness.
  • You’ve felt blocked or stuck for some time and you’re ready to unclog those blocks
  • You want to understand how the universe works and what your purpose is in life.
  • You have an open heart and are willing to change. <—– You can do anything if you answer YES to this one!
  • You’re building a new business or you’re ready for your current business to grow.
  • If this is resonating with you on a level you can't quite explain.

This is also for you if:

  • You want to feel peaceful in your life. And joy. Heaps of joy.
  • You are ready to heal your body of physical and emotional pain.
  • You are feeling called to let go of unhealthy habits or addictive behaviors that are no longer serving you (ie. emotional or disordered eating, alcohol or cigarettes)
  • You are ready to heal past relationships and find a partner to share this life with.
  • You are looking for change in your career, in your relationship(s) and in your body.
  • You would like to feel empowered and hopeful.

This is not for you if:

  • You are not willing to invest your time and money in yourself.
  • You are not willing to explore new ways of thinking.
  • You would prefer to not share your experiences with other people or to listen to theirs.
  • You do not believe healing can happen in a matter of days.

What led me to this work?

To truly and fully heal you MUST be willing to feel and feel deeply, truthfully and consistently. Big shifts will happen if you trust that and practice it.

The past decade I’ve been on an intentional healing journey. Most recently I traveled to Bali because something unexplainable inside told me I needed to go. I’ve felt that call less than a dozen times my entire life and each time was nothing short of life changing. Bali was no exception. I have been meditating for years but what I learned and experienced in Bali created indelible changes in my body.

I watched in awe throughout the month-long trip as monumental internal shifts happened one after another. The space in my heart and belly where overwhelm and anxiety used to live cleared. My inability to truly cry was set free by meditations that invited movement of all that stuck energy. I will remember how it felt to release deep sobs and layers of profound grief for a long, long time to come. The feeling of being internally frayed all the time mended and was replaced with calm, even energy. And perhaps most notably, compassion has flooded the spaces in my body where anger used to rage. I was angry about everything from my parents divorce to feeling unheard as a child. You name it, I had anger about it. All that old reactivity is gone. All that pain has dissolved as a result of meditating.

I’ve never felt more free, light, alive, open and ready to share. Leading these retreats is an extension of doing the work I was meant to do in this life. It is my great hope that attending this retreat will be a rebirth for you, an opportunity to step into your power and become what you truly are. Together may we make the world a better place by helping those we love and each other to continue making empowering choices that raise the energy of all beings everywhere.

What exactly will we be doing?

“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estés

We will meet daily as a group for 7 days to meditate, talk, explore, write, rest, eat, relax, play, laugh, cry, heal and grow.

You’ll learn practical techniques and meditations to go deep within and to invite shifts so that you may know the truth of who you are. You will take mindful steps to invite healing and freedom from needless suffering. When you open up to this journey, you’ll learn how to listen to and connect with your intuition in ways that you’ve never experienced before. You’ll release old hurts both known and unknown. You’ll find joy. Serious, peaceful joy. You’ll feel the lightness that comes from eating life-giving foods. You’ll redefine self care. You’ll connect with other people who are on the path. You’ll feel tremendously loved and pampered by every detail. This is a course for individuals, an inward journey, but you are welcome to bring your partner if you’d like to experience this work side-by-side. You’ll leave with the tools you need to continue your work at home.

This is a non-denominational retreat. Our work will transcend religious and cultural barriers. It is ok if you’ve never meditated before and it’s ok if you have an established meditation practice. The only prerequisites are your desire and willingness to change. You can expect a loving and safe environment.

Our work together will be consistent, constructive and mutually nourishing.

Investment:

The cost of the retreat covers our work together; 3 deliciously, consciously prepared organic vegetarian meals daily; transportation to and from the Liberia International Airport; your room and select activities. Choose from 3 different rooms with prices ranging from $2,880 to $3,730 for the week.

Option 1: Nature Suite

Nature Suites are located on a hillside overlooking the lush vegetation. They are natural wood frame structures and have private bathrooms with an outdoor shower overlooking the jungle. Each Suite sleeps two people and includes a separate enclosed porch with a desk. All Suites have solar hot water as well as air conditioning. The Suites are a short walk up the hill to the Main Building.

Single Room: $3,730 Shared Room: $3,305

Option 2: Hermitage

Many of these rooms have partial views of the ocean and others of the mountains nearby, a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom with solar hot water and a natural ventilation system. There are also a few Hermitage Rooms available with twin beds for two people.

Single Room: $3,330 Shared Room: $3,800

Option 3: Eco-Cottage

The cottages are beautifully situated in lush vegetation. They are natural wood frame structures with screening for natural ventilation. Each Cottage sleeps two people and has a private bathroom with solar hot water showers and everything runs on solar powered electricity to provide a comfortable and ecological setting. The Eco-Cottages are situated below the Main Building and involve a short hike up a stone stairway to get to the Main Building.

Single Room: $3,130 Shared Room: $2,880

Space is limited. If you have questions, contact me directly here.

Every wise culture knows that there are times that are important to walk out in the desert or in the mountains, or to go on retreat and listen." -Jack Kornfield

What clients are saying:

“Thank you so much for your love and being there for me. You will never know just how much it means to me. I believe whole-heartedly that you were sent to me to help me work through my issues. You have such a gentle way of nudging me to get to the root of issues that I deal with and of helping me put things in perspective. I would never have dreamed that a business coach would be so much more that strictly business planning. You have changed my life and continue to help me move towards being a healthier person. No other business coach would do that. You are so much more and I was meant to connect with you. You truly make my heart smile and help me feel complete. And it has been a long time since I have felt like that. Thank you!” – Tania

“I was looking for a spiritual teacher. It wasn't that I was broke or deeply unhappy or desperate in any way; I just had a sense that there was more to this life, and I wanted to go deeper. In my mind, I pictured this guide as an Indian man with a turban. Boy, was I surprised when I realized that it was actually Lacy from Texas. I told her things I've never told anyone, and I felt so safe, so HELD, so SEEN. I felt loved, welcomed, and at home with Lacy in a way I've never felt with anyone. And she told me the truth. She told me the TRUTH. Sometimes it hurt. Sometimes after our conversations, I had to sit with that truth for hours before it rested onto my bones and - every time - healed them. I've never met anyone like Lacy. I truly have no words. She embodies everything she teaches. It's healing just to be in her presence. Everyone needs this work. Everyone.” – Lindsey

Together we will share seven days of meditation, healing, and the unearthing of deep, inexplicable joy in Costa Rica.

Apply here. Or get in touchhere with questions. See the retreat page here.