Life Curriculum
On Healing
Want to dig deeper in your writing practice, converse about creativity, practice yoga, eat delicious food, soak in the Hierve el Agua springs, sweat in a Temazcal, and experience the sensory explosions of Oaxaca? THIS IS THE LAST CALL for Writing from the Soul, a six-day/six-night retreat from March 15th to 21st, 2026 in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
I spent most of last year isometrically contracting my quadricep from every possible angle, learning anatomy vocabulary in both English and Spanish, and watching strength training tutorials on YouTube. I went to physical therapy every week where I re-learned how to walk and go up and down stairs. I became a regular at my neighborhood gym, where I joked with the trainers that every day was “leg day.” I practiced jumping up and down on a step, intentionally landing on the soft ball of my foot before my heel and toe hit the ground. I am less active than I was before but every movement is more calculated and conscious. Injury made my life very small but somehow within these constraints, I expanded.
I’ve become a big fan of the idea of the life curriculum. Whatever is right in front of you is what you are meant to be learning. I would not have chosen this life curriculum at all. Before my injury, my body was a car that took me wherever I wanted to go. Life was a wild road trip; the Cure was playing on the car stereo and my hair was blowing in the breeze. I had no interest in lifting the hood to examine the engine and the wires and the fluid reservoirs. These types of lessons would have felt like a total snooze cruise.
When I first heard the cartilage in my knee pop, I convinced myself that it wasn’t a big deal. “No pasó nada,” (nothing happened!) as they adorably say in Mexico, even when something clearly happened. As if to spite my injury, I even went to a Bachata social two days later. It was kind of like driving off into the sunset with all the warning lights blinking on the dashboard.
Once disassociating and ignoring the pain was no longer working, I scheduled an MRI and a series of X-rays. I went to a bunch of doctors and physical therapists and naturopathic healers and did whatever they told me to do. The first year, I tried to fix my knee though plasma infusions, prolotherapy, steroid injections, dry needling, endless hours of physical therapy, and even burning Kambo (frog venom) up and down my leg.
I remember so many late nights desperately scanning Reddit Forums for hope or insight on how I could heal myself. It was a very dark place. I felt like I would never be able to walk or move without pain again. I had thrown all of my life savings into experimental treatments and supplements that didn’t work. These were lonely moments. No one really understands what it’s like to walk when every nerve in your leg feels like it’s on fire. No one knows the joy you feel when you do the things you love, and what you lose when these are taken away from you.
About 9 months into my healing process, I stopped resisting and got more interested in how my knee could actually get better. I decided to schedule surgery, which felt like giving up on healing “naturally” but also felt like hope. I studied the anatomy of the knee and how the muscles and the fascia all worked together. I began to pay more attention to my body, and I took notes about the levels of pain I felt every day and what small steps helped make me feel better.
Once I accepted my situation, the life curriculum got more interesting. I stopped thinking about everything I was missing out on and started to focus on what was right in front of me: my healing. Of course, this came down to something I already knew theoretically: everything in life has something to teach us if only we could just be present and stop wishing we were somewhere else. But this was not easy to remember because I was certain life had gotten it wrong. I was supposed to be out in the world evolving and learning, not alone at my house, wrapping ice packs around my leg and watching Gilmore Girls.
Healing is a very long road full of very tedious and tiny action steps and no one else can walk it except for you. But I truly believe that life is always trying to teach us. If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice, I would say, “you have time.” You don’t have anywhere else to be but here. Yes—your life has gotten very small and feels contained to a tiny room, but if you find the courage to look around, there are some interesting things in here. There are possibilities that you would not have chosen but they are here.
To really heal requires that we accept what is in front of us and release all attachments to what lies beyond that. I had to let go of all time frames and expectations of when I would be back to walking up and down stairs, whether I would be able to play sports again, or when I would be able to focus on something other than the pain of my knee. I had to surrender to the path that was in front of me. I also had to start seeing it for what it was—a challenge—rather than just a tedious and annoying impediment to the real challenges I wanted to take on.
I am slowly returning to practicing sports, and my body is different but I am so much more conscious of how all of my muscles and ligaments and tendons are working together. People often say “you’re going to come back even stronger,” and I don’t think that is true. My physio says it is a “rodilla tocada” or a touched knee, which is a poetic way of saying that my knee is stuffed with scar tissue. But I am coming back with so much expanded awareness and consciousness and gratitude for the body that I am in. To be embodied means to feel everything that is happening in your body. You’re not embodied when you only want to experience what feels good.
There is time to heal. When you are really in it, whether injury or illness or grief, there is time for you to pour your energy into your body and your heart. What is yours will be waiting for you when you have put yourself back together. It will be different when you’re on the other side because you will have been touched by the process. Healing transcends the physical being. It requires we expand in all directions.
Today, I feel so grateful when I can walk without pain, and I am glad I know each delicate structure that lives inside my body. I healed my knee but more importantly, I developed a different relationship with my ego. For so many years, I found much of my self-worth in being athletic and sporty and productive. Now, I am learning to like myself when I don’t carry that identity, when I am nothing more than a soulful blob laying on my couch. If I get to dance and ride a bike and cruise around on my longboard, it feels like a miracle.
Losing what you love is so painful but it’s a reminder that nothing is ever really yours to begin with. Sometimes we have to visit the darkest corners of our consciousness to let go of our deepest attachments. Even the body you inhabit will eventually decay and slip away somewhere deep within the Earth’s soil. The more we can be present with ourselves in our circumstances, the easier it gets. Life doesn’t get it wrong. Our curriculum is always right on time. We don’t necessarily come back from difficult experiences stronger. But if we really heal, we come back more alive and vibrant and knowing. We get to move through the world as touched souls.
Thank you for reading. Have you ever experienced an injury or surgery or setback? How did you manage it? I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Emily
Writing from the Soul Retreat
What is it?
Writing from the Soul is a 6 day/6 night retreat centered around transforming the feelings, emotions, and experiences inside of you into creative expression. Through writing workshops, live music, yoga, nature outings, and cultural experiences, you’ll inspire your inner artist, awaken your voice, and find the courage to tell the story only you can tell.
When is It?
Sunday, March, 15, 2026 to Saturday March 21, 2026
Where is It?
Oaxaca, Mexico is a sacred land nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. Native to the Zapotecs and the Mixtecos, this region is rich in history and home to a number of significant archaeological and spiritual sites. We’ll be staying in Oaxaca City, an artist’s paradise filled with galleries, museums, markets, an iconic botanical garden, and some of the best food in the world. Mole, tamales, tlayudas, and quesadillas with squash blossom flowers are some of the regional specialties. We’ll spend six days and six nights experiencing some of the best nature, art, culture, cuisine, and healing practices that this region has to offer.
Who is Invited?
This retreat is open for new and seasoned writers of all genders, ages, and nationalities. We gladly welcome anyone looking to deepen their creative expression, regardless of your level of experience. Come solo or with a friend or partner. The retreat will be conducted in English.
Where are we staying?
We’ll be staying in a beautiful private villa in the heart of Oaxaca City.
Daily Themes
Every day will be dedicated to a different theme to guide us in our writing, exploration, and creative expression.
Sunday: Ground & Relax. Arrive and check in to the villa anytime after 2 PM. We’ll have a delicious Mexican welcome dinner at the villa so we can relax, get to know each other, and set our intentions for the week. In the evening, Oaxacan musicians David and Adrianna will lead us in a therapeutic sound healing so we can unwind after a long day of travel.
Monday: Awakening the Artist Within. On Monday, we will wake up fresh and ready to ignite the inner creator. Our workshop will focus on awakening the muse, listening to your intuition, and opening yourself up to divine inspiration. We’ll practice poetry-infused yoga in the morning, set our creative intentions for the week, and spend the afternoon soaking in the magic of the city around us.
Tuesday: The Past. On Tuesday, we’ll visit Monte Alban and reflect on the history of the Mexican land where we are staying. We’ll dedicate our writing workshops to reflecting and writing about our personal history. Emily will lead the workshop on the Alchemy of Memoir and we’ll dive into the process of turning our personal experience into story.
Wednesday: The Purge. As we reflect on our past, we may realize that some of our stories and limiting self-beliefs are better left behind. Local musicians David and Adrianna will lead us in a vocal activation workshop, designed to access our inner creative power through music and sound. We’ll also offer an optional Temazcal (a traditional Mesoamerican sweat lodge ceremony) for anyone seeking deeper purification and spiritual connection.
Thursday: the Present. On Thursday, we’ll travel to the mountains and spend the day immersed in nature. We will let the Earth be our guide as we soak in the Hierve el Agua Spring, walk through the trees, and journal while overlooking sweeping views of the mountains and petrified waterfalls. Our workshop will focus on how to draw upon the natural world for inspiration, symbolism, and metaphor.
Friday: The Future. We will enjoy one last day in Oaxaca together with plenty of time in the afternoon to explore the city. Today’s workshop will be focused on our central theme—writing from the soul. In the evening, we will celebrate the end of our retreat with an integration ceremony so we can set intentions about how we can channel our creativity and stay committed to our projects when we go back home.
Saturday: We’ll share one final breakfast together at the villa and then depart.
Investment
$1600 for a private room.
A discount is available for couples who want to share a room/bed.
What is included?
Accommodation for six days/six nights in a private room at a beautiful villa.
Mexican Welcome Dinner on Sunday.
Daily breakfast, coffee, and tea at the villa.
Daily workshops on writing and creativity.
Yoga classes with live music.
Sound healing.
Welcome Gift.
Drinking Water.
What Will We Eat?
We’ll enjoy a traditional Oaxacan breakfast every day prepared by local chef, Ari. The menu is mostly vegetarian with vegan options available.
What is not included?
Flights to Oaxaca City.
Taxi to Villa (We will be happy to arrange your pick-up from the airport with a secure taxi service for an additional cost. We will try to coordinate group pick-ups to make this more economical)
Outings and excursions. (These activities are optional and will have an additional cost as outlined below)
Hierve el Agua ($25 USD entrance fee)
Monte Alban ($5 USD entrance fee)
Temazcal (TBD based on our group size but probably between $40 to $50 USD)
Dinner (We will offer a daily breakfast/brunch but lunch and dinner will be on your own. We’ll suggest group dinner outings but these are optional and everyone is free to make their own plans. You can easily get by on $25 per day or less.)
Travel Insurance.
How do I sign up?
You can find more information and sign up at the link here.