By Saturday morning, the energy at SoHum had shifted. The heavy “clearing” of the early week was behind us, we’d planned for our transition back into the real world, and a vibrant, celebratory energy had emerged.
Morning Homa
As we gathered with Melody for our final morning Homa ceremony, she reminded us of the power of daily intention-setting: today creates tomorrow. Sitting on the porch around the fire, protected from the rain but welcoming the mountain air, we set our intentions. Mine was a solemn promise to the version of myself I was taking home: I protect my peace.
Melody reminded us of the powerful Ayurvedic truth: like increases like, opposites create balance. When stress is encroaching on my peace, I can balance that stress with intentional choices to protect my peace, like slowing my breath, stepping outside, or taking a nap. Without incorporating these balancing resiliency practices, stressful energy will attract more of the same.
I appreciated how Melody’s supportive energy was woven throughout our PK experience:
- Herbs: On the Friday before our arrival, Melody prepared our herbal formulations and shared this intention with us in our Healthie group chat: “My wish is that they bring much healing, love, and transformation to your being.”
- Nidra: On Tuesday evening, she led our peaceful Yoga Nidra practice.
- Homa: On Saturday morning, she led our intentional final Homa ceremony.
- Meeting Dr. Lad: I learned she was on Zoom, witnessing my Thursday check-in with Dr. Lad. She said she was struck by how much love he had for me. This is an essential part of Dr. Lad’s way of being – he sees love in everyone and encourages us to see the same.
“Last Time, This Time”
My final Total Body Serenity (TBS) treatment with Meredith and Melissa felt bittersweet. At the beginning of the session, as my mind clung to a negative thought, Meredith offered wisdom that stuck with me, “If you’re going to overthink something, overthink it positively.” I liked this connection to positive mental reframing and building new neural pathways.
It was during the final Shirodhara treatment – as the warm oil streamed over my third eye – that I finally saw the vision for the LEGO creation I’d been mentally designing for the SoHum team all week.
The “Kimpossibility SoHum Heart” has a base of burgundy coupling plates and a green plant plate, in honor of the SoHum lodge’s burgundy and green colors, topped by a red flower symbolizing the gerbera daisy that greeted me all week in my Isis room. I ordered the pieces that afternoon to make LEGO kits for the team; today, one month later, those pieces are still backordered!
I felt sad as I said goodbye to Melissa, who had accompanied me for more treatments than anyone else, including my first and last TBS experiences and my thyroid treatment. She gave me a warm hug and brought the mood up by saying, “Last time, this time.” While this was my last TBS treatment for this PK, I knew I would come back to SoHum again.
Lunchtime Gifts
Lunch was more leisurely since we didn’t have check-ins with Suhanee on our Saturday schedules. We enjoyed coconut soup with veggies and squash, and found it was even more delightful when we mixed it with kitchari. We discussed the importance of prioritizing our self-care, with Priya highlighting the wisdom of “treating our body like a temple” and Cam offering “the longest relationship you’ll have is with yourself.”
As with Suhanee and the Nobel Serpentine crystal on Friday, I felt pulled to give some of my crystals away to my friends. I gave Cam and Sam the crystal mushrooms from my friend Sarah’s summer solstice retreat; Shiva, my Pink Opal “angel connection” crystal; and Priya & Sri, my Moss Agate butterfly to attract abundance and good fortune. Sam gave each of us a bottle of his delicious Sam’s Pickle House dill pickle sauce.
The Great Outdoors
In the afternoon, I joined Cam and Sam for a walk on the SoHum trail. We saw the Shakti Cabin, what looked like bobcat prints in the mud, and the remnants of an amphitheater and many trees destroyed by the hurricane. While we were out exploring, Zachary took Shiva on a “golf cart” adventure ride around the property. The excursions added to the celebratory energy of the day.
The Manifestation
All week, I had been jokingly telling my PK cohort, “I don’t want to leave. I’m not going home.” I felt so nurtured in the “SoHum bubble” that the idea of returning to the real world felt daunting.
A concerning afternoon email from American Airlines warning “Adverse weather conditions may affect your travel plans” opened the door for me to stay an extra day – an impending East Coast snowstorm meant I could change my flight without any penalty. I looked at the predicted storm trajectory for Washington, DC, trying to figure out the right course of action – stay on my 2 pm Sunday flight, or move it to 2 pm on Monday?
The choice wasn’t clear, so I left it up to fate and asked Trinlay if there was availability to stay an extra day. I decided I would stay if I could stay at SoHum, but not if I had to move somewhere else in Asheville. The answer was definitive: not only could I stay at SoHum, but I didn’t even have to move out of the Isis room!
When I realized I could officially stay for a “bonus day” to avoid the DC storm, Priya joyfully exclaimed, “Kim, you manifested this!” I had asked to stay, and Mother Nature had provided the perfect snowy excuse.
While I was celebrating my own good fortune, the storm was forcing others to adjust, too. Trinlay was preparing a welcoming Arati Ceremony for two incoming guests who were rerouting their travel plans due to the snow, arriving a full day earlier than planned.
The Grand Celebration
Our final evening meal was a true feast for the senses. The table was adorned with a scattering of fresh lilies and carnations, glowing in the late afternoon sun.
Cam’s partner, Terry, joined us for the meal, and we were delighted to welcome her into our circle.
The “Celebration Dinner” was a far cry from the simple kitchari of the early week. We enjoyed:
- Tea: three queens tea with rose, cardamom, tulsi, hibiscus, and honey
- Soup: celery root soup with a kapha churna
- Salad: kale, chicory, golden beets, and a golden vinaigrette
- Entrée: digestive spices, amaranth, and grilled veggies, including carrots, sweet potato, romanesco broccoli, celery root, red chard
- Dessert: buckwheat pudding with all 6 tastes represented – Sam used his culinary skills to try to replicate it as soon as he got home
- Note: We are all eagerly awaiting Head Chef Sean Sigmon’s forthcoming book!
We toasted to the bonds we had formed.
We were a family of seekers who had shared the sacred work of coming home to ourselves.
Sound Healing: The Final Vibration
We closed Saturday night with a sound healing session led by Rachel, who had been with us for our first Homa ceremony on Monday. As the vibrations of the crystal bowls washed over us in the dimly lit room, she advised us:
Remember the people.
Remember the experiences.
Those perceived as good.
Those perceived as less pleasant.
May they all serve your higher selves and your healing journeys.
I went to sleep that night feeling profoundly grateful for the people and experiences of my PK week, and appreciative for the “extra” day I had been given.
In my next post: The “Bonus Sunday” shift. Navigating my friends’ departures, meeting the new PK group, and feeling a growing sense of “I’m not supposed to be here” unease as the snowstorm unexpectedly hits Asheville rather than DC.
Read Part 11: PK Day 8 | Bonus Day: The First Test of Peace
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Considering Your Own PK Reset?
If my journey has sparked your curiosity, you can use the code Kimpossibility to receive $500 off your own Panchakarma at SoHum Mountain Healing Resort (Full disclosure: I receive a small thank-you gift when someone uses it, but I would share this transformative experience regardless of the gift).
Gentle exploratory next steps:
- Learn more: Check out the Panchakarma Retreat details or schedule an Initial Consultation Call with the SoHum team.
- Connect with me: If you just want to talk to someone who has personally walked this path, you are always welcome to schedule a Call with me.
