Playing with Expansive Stillness

April 3 - 30

 Stillness?!?!
After two years of pandemic living?

I know. It sounds like a crazy topic to explore for a whole month especially now that we’re finally able to be back out in the world.

But here’s the thing: stillness isn’t stagnant – it’s an enlivened space full of energy, creativity, and possibilities. And, it’s actually what we need in order to ground and inspire us as we re-engage with the world and begin creating our new future.

I invite you to join me.

Mapping the month-long journey

When: April 3 - 30
Where: at home, online + out in the world

I’ve been in Guatemala (my happy place!) for the last three weeks, and as I sat on the shores of Lake Atitlan one day, I was inspired to put together this four-week journey.

I’m envisioning each week in April as a mini-journey of discovery. We'll explore the movement, aliveness, and creativity in our inner and outer worlds, observing where our adventurous spirits feel called to play.

Each week you’ll receive a beautiful guidebook that will contain the intention for the week, a guided inner journey, an adventure prompt, and an invitation for creative connection/contemplation.

There’s really no right or wrong way to do this journey. You can pick and choose the weekly activities that resonate with you or do them all – it’s totally up to you. However this journey unfolds for you, my hope is that you find a rhythm of inquiry, play, and discovery that makes you feel expansive.

I’ll also be offering weekly, live guided journeys for those who want the support of community and connection, followed by time to explore the experiences and questions that are arising that week.

We’ll close our month-long journey with a gathering to celebrate all that we’ve experienced and explore how we want to move forward. If you can’t make it to the weekly sessions or the closing gathering (both on Zoom), no worries – everything will be recorded.

You can join any time in April. I’ll be available for support throughout the month.

I rolled out of bed to watch the sunrise the other day and was unexpectedly inspired to make this video.

SINK INTO STILLNESS | GO ADVENTURING | PLAY WITH CREATIVITY

What is expansive stillness?

To me, expansive stillness is the enlivened space that precedes inspired action. It is one of the places where inner wisdom resides. It is a welcoming, always-available space where you can receive and explore. Sometimes your stillness might be quiet and other times it may be filled with energy. Each moment of stillness is usually perfectly attuned to what you need.

What does it even mean to “play with stillness”?

“Playing with stillness” is an invitation to awaken your adventurous spirit. When we approach our inner and outer worlds with a sense of curiosity and playfulness, we move out our heads and into our hearts. We move from effort and heaviness into receptivity and lightness. The daily responsibilities of life don’t go away, but in the midst of it all we give ourselves permission – even for just a few minutes – to explore life, unapologetically and without inhibitions.

Sunrise: Santa Cruz La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Here’s how it will work:

  1. Each Sunday in April you’ll receive an email with a guidebook that contains the intention for the week, the audio recording of the guided inner journey, and prompts for your weekly adventures. 

  2. You’ll listen to the guided journey and go out on your mini-adventures, playing with the intention for the week. 

  3. On Thursdays from 12:10-12:45pm ET, you are welcome to join the live guided journey session on Zoom. 

  4. We’ll gather together on Zoom on April 30th from 1:30-3:30pm ET to explore and play together.

 Registration: $60

All proceeds will be donated to Amigos de Santa Cruz, an organization in Guatemala that’s been doing remarkable work in the community for two generations.

If you’d prefer to donate directly to Amigos (it has 501c status) or to your favorite organization, simply click the purple button below, enter the discount code AMIGOS at checkout and then click “Apply”. You’ll be asked to enter your billing address and click “purchase”, but no payment information will be collected. Once you are registered, make a donation directly to Amigos de Santa Cruz or to your favorite organization through their site.

 
 

More info about the month ahead

  • I’ll send out the first email on Sunday, April 3rd, but you can join at any time.

  • Yes, you may join at any time. You’ll receive all of the materials within 24 hours of registering and you can move through the journeys and prompts at your own pace. You are encouraged to jump in and join the live sessions too, even if you join mid-month.

  • At a minimum, I would suggest setting aside uninterrupted time to listen to the weekly, recorded guided journey (~15 minutes) and going on at least one mini-adventure each week. The destination and time involved in the mini-adventure are not important – you could walk to your car or around the grocery store with intention, hike a favorite trail, explore an urban setting, bring your attention to your experience in a coffee-shop, etc. The point is to leave your home with a sense of curiosity, carrying the prompt for the week in your heart.

    As your schedule allows, I would also invite you to deepen your connection to play and stillness by trying some of the creativity + contemplation prompts, joining the live sessions (or listening to the recordings), and exploring what it might be like to integrate some of these activities into your daily routine.

    If you were able to dedicate even 15-20 minutes, a few days a week to exploring these practices, you would find yourself so much more familiar with stillness, play, and inquiry by the end of the four weeks.

  • If, by meditation, you mean sitting in a rigid, upright posture and trying to empty your mind, ugh, I don’t like it either! While that style of meditation does have value, the inner journeys that I guide are vibrant explorations that engage your body, mind, spirit. You can join these journeys from whatever position is most comfortable – curled up on a couch, lying in bed, sitting at your desk…wherever you will be undisturbed. Some people even like to move slowly and allow the words and energy to simply wash over them. There is no one way to do an inner journey, and I encourage you to approach the experience with an open-heart and a sense of curiosity, knowing that you have permission to do it in whatever way feels full of ease for you.

  • If you feel called to participate, I welcome you! No meditation/journeying experience is necessary.

  • It would be helpful, but not necessary, to have a journal and a pen to capture aspects of your experience.

  • The live sessions are designed to support and deepen your journey, but the heart of the experience is actually playing with these activities on your own. So, if you can’t make the live session, that’s totally fine. You can watch the recordings if you feel called. Also, I am available for support via email or a quick call throughout the month.

  • Please check your inbox and/or your spam folder for your confirmation email; it will contain important logistics and a link to your Welcome Packet. The next email you’ll receive will be on our first day together – April 3rd.

    All emails will be sent on Sundays so you will have time to plan your week with stillness, expansiveness, and play in mind.

    Important: please add kdevoetalluto@gmail.com to your address book so you will receive the weekly emails and information about the closing gathering.

  • I lead journeys of discovery. While there may be some teaching and learning inherent in this experience, I see myself as a guide and you as a fellow traveler on this adventure into the expansive space of stillness. My intention with this exploration is the same as it is with all the trips I lead —that the experience inspires you to expand your vision of yourself, others, and the world.

 

Ready to join the adventure?

If you have any questions, please contact me:
kdevoetalluto [at] gmail.com