Tuscany Magic with St.Francis!

I’ve done a lot of different experiential trips over the years in the month of April, from swimming with dolphins in Bimini (note: this is a very windy time to go!) to hosting a group in Costa Rica at Blue Spirit Retreat Center (complete with monkeys who loved to yell at you and fling their poop in your general direction – no, not a Monty Python skit!!) to teaching in Switzerland in a beautiful hot summer with boat rides and a LOT of amazing dairy products, to hosting many groups in Sedona, Arizona, where I lived for 5 years, to teaching on 18 cruises (don’t ask). 

Never have I had such a magical experience as I’ve had here in Tuscany with Global Journeys, the best event company on the planet, bar none. I dare you to find me a better one.  

It’s been a while since I put a trip together, so when the amazing owners, Kay and Franco, approached me, encouraged by my dear friend Greg Braden, I just knew I had to do this. When I saw that they were specialists in gathering spiritual seekers together in Tuscany with a focus on visiting the town of Assisi I felt a strong call. 

The simple prayer of St. Francis has led me on a daily basis for the past 38 years as an essential prayer of my sobriety and my spiritual path. 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

I have always seen this prayer as an oracle, a reminder of how to live, the importance of humility and mutual respect, of bridging our divisions and reminding us that Love is always the answer. 

St. Francis is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment, and it’s not hard to imagine these beautiful hills with vineyards and olive groves calling for care and love in the 1200s as much as our world calls for the same now. 

Our group of 28 spiritual adventurers were all wonderful, fun loving, open and committed. Some came from as far as Australia, all gathered here for this experience. Everyone quickly bonded over gelato, chocolate, pasta, and did I mention gelato? 

We went to so many ancient churches, did meaningful life changing oracle readings, created unexpected spectacular transformative neuro art to shift our subconscious and turbo charge our connection to Spirit (I’ll share about THAT more another time) and also had more gelato, and no I really am not digressing. For those interested, there was wine tasting at a 400 year old vineyard, shopping, and more. 

The best part was what no one was expecting. 

I believe when we are in an environment where we feel safe, removed from judgment, and open to Spirit moving through us, using us as instruments of the divine, incredible things can and do happen. 

One day, the attendees sang “Happy Birthday” to my husband Marc.    

The sound in the room was so startling as our harmonies came together as if we were a choir that had sung together for ages. So many said they didn’t think they could sing, but we were all shocked when it was over. It was as if Spirit came through each one of us and set some deep magic free. I am so glad we got a recording to share. 

I could go on and on… 

Notice how I didn’t mention my broken foot? Let me say it was worth the agony. 

Even though I was the one who led this event, assisted by my dear friend Anna, I learned something important. I learned how to receive. 

I have never been so well taken care of. From Kay and Franco getting me a walker, a cane, walking sticks, and every other contraption to help me walk up and down the steep streets, to Elissa Wilds giving me Reiki, to her friend Jackie giving me her compression socks when my legs swelled like tree trunks, to my doctor friend in London who got on video with me to show me how to do some lymphatic techniques. I literally had to accept the help I needed. 

What a concept!  

When we trust, things really do work out. 

I am so blessed. 

I hope you can experience something like this one day yourself. (The trip – not the foot thing!!)