07.29.09

The Universe Works…If I Let It

Posted in Life, Writing at 10:53 pm by Kara

I’m a big believer in putting an intention out there to God and the universe, and then letting go, getting out of the way, trusting in it, and letting what is supposed to happen happen.

So many times, the result has been pure synchrodestiny, to use a word created, I think, by Deepak Chopra. So many times, the symmetry and poetry of how the world unfolds to allow something to happen has been nothing short of miraculous.

And yes, I do believe in miracles.

Over the past six months, I’ve witnessed a lovely example of asking the universe and letting it go with a calm, gut feel that what I’d asked for would come to pass if it was meant to.

Before I was laid off last year — a gift in itself — I’d started researching writing grants and exploring ways in which I could, perhaps, earn a grant to pursue some writing projects that I have deep passion for.

You know how you open yourself up to an idea and then information and help and tips start pouring in? That’s how this was. I remember the day well.

I’m on some e-mail lists for writers, and I have to admit I don’t read every message I get. If the subject line grabs me, I may open it. Somedays, many messages go to the recycle bin without reading them. But on that particular day, I opened one particular e-mail that shared particular information about the “A Room of Her Own Foundation” (www.aroomofherownfoundation.org).

Harkening back to my English major days, I knew this quote from Virginia Woolf’s book, “A Room of One’s Own”:

A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write.

Intrigued, I visited the AROHO site and the smile widened on my face. This felt so right; like I’d been looking for it all along.

AROHO sponsors an amazing award each year: the Gift of Freedom gives the recipient $50,000 to be used to pursue a year of writing or other artistic work. In addition, AROHO holds an annual retreat at The Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. About 60 women from all points of the world gather in this place so special that artist Georgia O’Keefe called it her home for many years.

This retreat, this place, my soul said, is where I need to go.

Ironically, the deadline to apply for acceptance into the retreat and to apply for a scholarship fell smack in the middle of a huge freelance project I was working on this spring. Long days — or more accurately, very short nights — for days on end were my life during that time, and I truly could not spare the couple hours I’d need to complete the application.

The project wrapped up and I again visited the AROHO web site. Sure enough, the retreat was filled…but interested writers could request to be put on the waiting list. And so I did, and so I was.

In the meantime, the Colorado Authors’ League (www.coloradoauthors.org) deadline was approaching for its annual grant. I’ve been a member of this worthwhile organization for a few years, and the grant has always intrigued me. Months ago, I knew that I would apply for it. And so I did. This deadline I actually made.

In the application, I shared that I was wait-listed for the AROHO retreat, and it was the writer workshop that I most wanted to attend if I was honored with a CAL grant. I described the book project that the retreat would help me with — a book that, in many ways, feels like the reason I was put on this earth. Being able to attend the AROHO retreat would help this book come to fruition and, I hope, help others.

A few weeks later, I received an e-mail from the grant director of CAL asking if I was by chance planning to attend the annual banquet where the grant recipient would be announced? She shared the amazing news: I had been awarded the grant.

Thankful? Grateful? Tearful? Yes, yes, yes, and overcome with more deeply blessed emotions than I can really describe.

A couple more weeks passed and I checked in on my wait-list status for the AROHO Writer’s Retreat. And then, because I fully believed that I would be at The Ghost Ranch one way or another, I opened myself up and shared with the AROHO coordinator what project I was working on and how drawn I was to the AROHO Foundation, its mission, and how deeply this retreat had spoken to me.

She was appreciative of my honesty and intention, and said she’d see what she could do…no guarantees, of course….

And a couple weeks later, she offered me a spot as a “free agent.” Thank you, thank you, thank you, God! Thankful, grateful, and tearful, I accepted immediately, so incredibly excited about the opportunity and the learning and the time away in a special place.

As a “free agent,” I’d be able to take part in all the general educational sessions, panel discussions, and readings. The portion of the retreat I wouldn’t get to experience was reserved for the “participants” — daily two-hour workshops for each genre. These are special: just 8 or so students and their highly respected and talented teacher, meeting every day to work on their projects, discuss, get better, grow.

I was thrilled to be attending the AROHO retreat in any way, so being a free agent was just fine with me. I figured I’d use the two hours a day to hike…or write.

And then, just a few days ago, I got another e-mail from the AROHO coordinator. A participant slot in the nonfiction workshop group had just opened up. Would I like it?

Would I like it????!!!

Yes, thank you. Thank you, God. Thank you, universe.

So from August 10 - 16, 2009, I’ll be staying in a stone casita with another writer at The Ghost Ranch, learning from every woman there, and relishing the small group workshop and my teacher’s input for 6 days. Yeah, I’m so excited I can barely stand it.

In the meantime, I have homework to do in preparation and I must do my best to stay present in the face of a dream that’s about to come true.

Sometimes, when we believe in something so deeply and it meshes so well with our path, we just need to put it out there, let it go, trust in it, and let it happen.

And it will.

May you be putting out to the universe your own version of this retreat. Let me know how it goes.

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