Episode 5 Adventures with Charity JOY

Farming with Dale and Bette, in the blackberry bushes.

Adventure upon adventure, what a magical life we can create. On Long Island, in the Hamptons, my schedule was filling up with fun, abundant, and joyous days. With the first light of the day you would find me biking down Gerard drive to catch the sunrise and jump in the water, perhaps even a movement practice on the beach.

One morning catching the sunrise at the ocean.

I spent about 3.5 weeks of July here until it was time for an adventure to Upstate New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont for my earth day celebrations.

Boarding the ferry on August 2, 2022 I made my way north towards the Hudson Valley region. Singing and dancing my way with excitement, knowing I was meeting with family and friends.

Breezing on the ferry!

First stop, campground, Whip-O-Whil, where I was meeting my sister and her partner Carolyn for evening of camping in their new RV. We settled into our site and built a fire. Surrounded by nature and an evening o slaughter and catching up it was the perfect start to the adventure. Early the next morning we were up doing our movement rituals to welcome the new beautiful day. I packed up to head to my private yoga horse session at Caba Yoga, where I was greeted by Caitlin. She showed me around the barn introduced me to a few of the horses and we headed to a little barn where she had everything all set up for yoga , mediation, oracle cards, and two horses in their stalls would be with us. It was absolutely amazing to just be a student, and I came with an open heart and beginners mind to allow myself to have an experience catered just for me. What a delight. We moved to the barn and I groomed Jefferey, the horse, and then got to know him a little better in the arena. With a soft bareback pad on his back I went up and was guided through different vinyasas and poses on the horse. I could feel the soft connection between us and felt totally cared and nurtured for.

The girls met me at a waterfall nearby. Olivia and I jumped in and swam to the water falls and climbed up halfway. I covered myself in algae and allowed Mother Nature to cleanse and purify with the blessing of the water and the green slime. We continued on our journey to the next campsite in New Hampshire close to Lake Winnipesaukee, which took about four hours of driving time through the beauty of Vermont and then into New Hampshire. The girls leveled the Rv and we made a fire. Our close friends Javier and Jack showed up just after dark. We shared our vegetable medley with them and laughed into the night. The next morning, my earth day/ birthday, we all had our own little movement and morning rituals catching glimpses of each other and smiling and laughing out loud. Isn’t this what life is all about. Being present in the moment and enjoying time spent in nature with good peeps? ` Olivia had made a special lemon poppy seed cookie cake and we cut it in the morning, totally delicious. I chose a hike nearby that I thought would be perfect for all of us. We met my friends Alicia and Martina, who I worked on a farm with in Florida the previous winter. I was so excited to have them join us for the adventure. And adventure it sure was. I made up a little game, where everyone had to name something that brings them joy and a movement. We had things such as deep belly breathing, high kicks, saying no, smiling as big as you can, yummy food and others, making us all laugh a lot. We ascended up the trail with an extra giddy and a hop.

Five hours later, knowing we had more water and a fresh berry pie at the car we carried on. Alicia and Martina hopped ahead. We had a few stragglers until we all caught up to finish together. We dove into that fresh mixed berry pie in the parking lot of the trailhead with eager bellies, mouths and palettes. It was not your average hike. We climbed boulder and ladders, went through caves, came to two different summits and crossed rivers. What a beautiful adventure. We piled into the cars and met up at a lake to jump in and feel the soothing water on our worked bodies. Boy we are so blessed to have Mother Nature nurture us in so many ways and on my day of celebration, what a gift. The dark clouds began to roll in and I was snorkeling for algae and jumping off the float in the middle of the lake. Once we saw a few streaks of lightning we decided to head back to camp site and hunker down in the RV for the night. An evening filled with games, pies, quiche and loads of laughs. I fell asleep with a soft smile on my face surrounded by framily.

The next morning we were off to, Vermont Be True, Yoga festival at Milldale Farm Center for Wellness. Where I would be facilitating Equine and Unwind, Elemental Movement/ Ecstatic Dance and offering Thai body work.

A joyous weekend for sure. Surrounded by the green mountains in Vermont on a beautiful piece of land with wonderful human beings. Facilitating with the horses and being able to share my gift of elemental movement through Dj and didgeridoo was a real blessing. Many people throughout the weekend thanked me for the journey I took them on. There is just something so magical when you can invite people to a place of joy and release within themselves through movement, music and making some noise in nature.

What Brings you Joy?

Following the festival a day at Lake Willoughby is always a cherished memory!!!

As always I thank you deeply for reading and I promise more adventures coming your way.

Please reach out if you are enjoying these blogs? I look forward to connecting in person very soon.

In love and light

Blessed Be

Charity JOY