PK Day 1 | SoHum Arrival: Where the World Hits Reset

When I booked my panchakarma (PK) journey, the date was primarily practical. In my Washington, DC policy world, the week of Presidents’ Day is historically a little quieter. For two decades, I had traditionally used that week for a “staycation” to declutter my home. This year, I decided to use it for a solo vacation to declutter my internal state instead.

I thought I was just picking a convenient week on the calendar. I didn’t realize I was stepping into a global threshold – a week where major traditions across the globe (Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and Chinese) were simultaneously initiating cycles of renewal, fasting, and surrender. My timing couldn’t have been more cosmic.

Arrival: The Road to the Mountain

My journey began at Reagan National. During the flight, I leaned into the PK protocol, eating my airport-friendly kitchari and finding grounding in the film “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” It reminded me of the days of my youth, when it seemed like all the answers to life’s questions were in the pages of Judy Blume’s books.

The drive with Garrett from Asheville Hopper was delightful; he shared local history about the Biltmore Estate, the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Asheville, and even the “Patch Adams” rock, as we navigated through town and up the notoriously curvy Elk Mountain road – a path I was very glad not to be driving myself!

At SoHum, the first person to greet me was Kami. She didn’t just welcome me with a hug; she cared for me by whisking away my luggage so I could transition into the space burden-free. I didn’t know it then, but Kami would ultimately be the one to drive me down a snowy mountain road on my final (bonus) day, bookending my entire experience as the first and last person to touch my suitcase and offer a warm hug.

The Aarti Welcome Ceremony

Trinlay led me into the living room and performed a beautiful aarti ceremony. Five flames representing the Ayurvedic elements and the senses called back the scattered energy of my mind, body, and spirit as Trinlay passed them around my head three times. He anointed my third eye with nutmeg oil and heena attar to open my intuition for the PK experience, sprinkled rice in my hair to represent blessings, and offered a mala bead necklace.

My “always-on mom and DC policy” identity and the weight of real-world responsibilities began to dissolve. The preparation phase was officially over; my transition into the SoHum sanctuary was complete.

Exploring the Sanctuary

Kami provided a tour of the main level: the fire-warmed living room with its curated tea station, the inviting library/meditation room, the communal dining room and kitchen area, and the yoga room, already set up for our orientation meeting. She also showed me the ground-floor spa and outdoor cedar-soaking tub before taking me to the “Isis” room, my carefully selected home away from home.

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My room was bathed with light from windows on three sides. Waiting for me were thoughtful welcome gifts selected especially for me: an amethyst/hematite bracelet to inspire courage, clarity, and resilience; a deck of somatic exercises; a red gerbera daisy; a handwritten welcome note; and my schedule for the week. I settled in by unpacking, laying out my (SoHum-provided) yoga mat, and spending a few minutes gazing at the mountains from my private balcony.

The Orientation

Our orientation meeting in the yoga room was led by Nishita. My fellow retreat-goers, Sam and Shiva, were also there; Priya, Srinivas (Sri), and Cam were delayed. Nishita opened with a prayer to Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles, and led us in a simple So (inhale) Hum (exhale) breathing meditation.

Nishita shared that during PK, we are cleaning up our physical bodies and our subtle channels as well. She advised us to welcome whatever comes up and release as we needed to, and however we needed to. Better out than in: this advice would come back to me on Wednesday night…

We reviewed our protocols, including 12 tablespoons (!) of melted ghee for me on Monday morning.

Nourishment and the “Guest House”

Priya and Sri arrived in time for dinner, presented by Head Chef Sean Sigmon. The meal featured a delicious tea (rose, cardamom, tulsi, and honey), winter squash, root vegetables, kale, and dhokla (a seared kitchari that reminded me of meatloaf).

Sean offered nourishment for body and soul, reading Rumi’s “The Guest House” to help set the intention for the days ahead. He shared that SoHum lost 90% of its trees during the hurricane, but reframed this loss to demonstrate the healing power of nature: the lost trees were pines originally planted for lumber, and now medicinal and indigenous plants were growing back in their place.

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We started sharing our stories over dinner. Sam shared that his restaurant and business, Sam’s Pickle House, was devastated by the pandemic. Layers of stress resulted in digestive issues that he was seeking to address. As he successfully rebuilds his business, he wants to do the same for his body. Shiva shared that this was her second PK experience; she also discussed her past travels to India, working with a guru, and leading spiritual retreats. Priya and Shiva spoke about the westernization of India and the loss of tradition and wisdom. We were grateful for the authentic Ayurvedic roots of SoHum.

The final graceful note of the evening: waiting for me in my room was a single, delightful orange blossom date ball – a sweet, quiet reminder that I was here to be nurtured.

Winding Down

I returned to the main level to give my kitchari travel container to Rio in the kitchen for cleaning and storage for my departure. I met Cam, the final member of my PK cohort, who had just arrived. He shared that his truck had gotten stuck in the mountain’s mud, which struck me as an apt metaphor for how we were all likely feeling at the beginning of our PK journey: a little stuck, but ready to do the work for the release.

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I browsed in the library and checked out James Norbury’s “The Cat Who Taught Zen,” which I read before bed. It was a delightful exploration of Zen concepts with a surprisingly satisfying twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

Throughout the evening, rice from the aarti ceremony periodically fell from my hair, which made me smile. I wrote in my journal before bed,

“I love the quiet in my room. I love that everything is simple, intentional, and beautiful. Being here feels so relaxing.”

In my next post, I’ll share my first full day at SoHum, which focused on immersion and connection. We’ll move from the vibrational shift of homa, the traditional PK treatments, and chakra color therapy to the quiet meditation of folding origami hearts and an emotional healing session with my fellow travelers, where the “stuck in the mud” metaphor moves from the driveway into our hearts.

Read part 5: PK Day 2 | Immersion and Connection: The Art of Receiving

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