Hellllllo beautiful friends ...

As always, wishing you as much peace as possible … and for good measure let’s throw in some grace, and kindness, and radical self-compassion, and fiercely sacred rage, and the energy of “beginning again.”

So much has happened (always) since I last wrote behind the scenes, and so much has to do with BUTTERFLIES.

If you’re on my Patreon, this is a little bit of a repeat, albeit with some new developments …

Recently on an airplane to attend my cousin’s wedding, I was reading a passage in the wonderful Valerie Kaur’s book See No Stranger and she was speaking about the butterfly effect - the idea in chaos theory that describes how small changes - like the flapping of a butterflies wings - can produce dramatically different outcomes elsewhere in the world. As I was reading the passage, my eyes drifted to the movie screen the passenger next to me was watching, and at that very moment her closed captioning read “butterfly effect.” I tapped her and said, “Not to be a weirdo but did your movie just talk about the butterfly effect?? Read this!!” And she was like, OMG WHOA! Love a good synchronicity.

The flapping of a butterfly’s wings surely had an effect on me as a 16 year old ~ I witnessed a small migration while in the thick of depression and it saved my life and has continued to be a symbol of hope for me - so much that I titled my first album Where the Monarchs Circled (2000) after this place and experience.

[Here's a writing from a few years ago regarding this connection "crashing into nature: survivor guilt and butterflies" - a blog written for a mental health org called Dissonance]

At the beginning of January, I was offered an opportunity to host (super-duper last minute) another retreat in Puerto Morelos - Quintana Roo - Mexico at Villas Shanti (aka Peace Villas). Thanks SO much to my teacher-bestie Tara Cindy Sherman for sharing this opportunity. I invited my dear friend from high school who I met in 10th grade painting class - she’s an entomologist who studies conservation and has a shared fascination and love for these butterflies and their critical preservation efforts. I exclaimed "Come come come with meeeee!!" She couldn’t during the retreat week so I asked "What if we explored some butterfly sanctuaries for a future eco-tourism retreat collaboration?”

And so, it is ON! Sair and I will meet in Mexico City next month and start scoping for a retreat in early 2027 to visit the overwintering sites/sanctuaries of the monarch butterflies!!! This is a BUCKET LIST. We'll visit a giant sanctuary as well as a few smaller ones, and scope out some cool lodging sites, and who knows what else. AND her 16 year old son is joining and it's his first out of the country adventure ... watch OUT!

Please know we are keeping a close eye on the violence in Mexico. It is definitely harrowing … and also …

(Most) People everywhere want to live peacefully, eat together, see music, play with their kids, read books, walk, run, play, like Dr. Hortencia Jimenez says below.

(And in no way minimizing the dangers and fear and forgive me if I come across as doing as such).

🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋🧡🦋

Now Transitioning into the (to be expected from me, lol) 🛑 “trigger warning” time! 🛑 Kindly scroll on if you don’t want to go there right now!

A troubling butterfly-symbolic development — have you heard about the “Blue Butterfly Zones” at the Dilley Detention Facility in Texas?

It has recently been reported that teenage girls have been kept in separate, closed off areas away from other detainees in “Blue Butterfly Zones” at the Dilley Detention Facility (this is where 5 year old Liam and his father were detained). It was first thought girls 14+ were held there, now the word is 18+ - I say it DOESN’T MATTER - if ANYONE is detained in an off-limits zone that can’t be observed by attorneys, family, or other people held there - GET THEM OUT!!!!!!

If you are up for making calls, here is a way to do so, plus a script if you are tongue-tied and riddled with anxiety from making phone calls like I am.

Detainees at ICE facilities have been subjected to inhumane conditions, abuse, and even CIA-style torture. 510 identifiable human rights violations have been reported, including sexual assault, medical negligence, and mistreatment of children and pregnant people. 5calls.org

The term "Blue Butterfly" has surfaced in the recently unsealed Epstein files — AND the blue butterfly is the LOGO from Epstein survivor Virginia Guiffre’s organization SOAR. “Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) empowers survivors to reclaim their stories and bring an end to sex trafficking.”

All of this SERIOUSLY is creeping me out.

Had a massive downward spiral a few weeks ago that led to a social media crashout regarding my SA 20 years ago. Received LOTS of support (thank you), LOTS of survivors sharing their stories both in direct messages and directly in the comments (at least 20 people), and a bit of a mental health breakdown. Oh, and unfortunately some backlash and bullying, as to be expected I suppose … le’ sigh.

The weight of the world, yo. It bogs me.

And we CAN’T LET IT STEAL OUR JOY.

Hence!

The Butterfly Path. Reclaimation. Let’s save us. Let’s protect what is innocent, what is joyful, what is creative, what is sensual. Let’s protect each other, and let’s protect our hearts.

I’m no angel. I have my vices. I am also full of rage. And the rage comes out when boundaries are crossed and sometimes it’s even hard to know when that limit is. But dang, trying to get a hold of this anger so I don’t burn out (just had an ayurvedic consultation and she said while I have a lot of fire and motivation to do so much, it appears my energy is deeply depleted & drained from heartache, trauma, lyme disease, and overwhelm. So. Goddess help me now. And you. And we are in this together. And also we gotta be fortified within and feel safe and so many people in our communities are not. So many in relationships are not. So many in workplaces are not. I wish I could fix everything with a flap of my butterfly wings. But … trying to spread some joy.

That said, wanna be a butterfly with us???

How excited I was to see this Kaleidoscope of Love event in Powderhorn Park on Saturday! I am not involved in organizing this in any way other than signing up to be a “brushstroke” within this magical art event. Not sure if they have met their goal of 1000 participants, however join us if you can!

Kaleidoscope of Love: Art Mobilization - Saturday, Feb 28 @ 1:00pm - Powderhorn Park MPLS (hopefully you can still join us!)

NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW BIG LOVE for creating art together in our community. Come be a "brushstroke" in our 1000-person butterfly mosaic!

YOU are invited to participate in a choreographed movement of more than a thousand people holding colored placards to the sky to create a gigantic open-winged butterfly, surrounded by poetry and choral singing.

WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS ART HAPPEN!

Kaleidoscope of Love is a celebration of you; of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; of neighbors who check in, deliver groceries, shovel sidewalks, walk kids to school and friends to work, sing, march, and offer comfort and care. We invite you to celebrate our city at Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis to lift that spirit of community into the sky, forming a living butterfly in a joyful, shimmering mosaic of color, co-created by you, your neighbors, family and friends.

Let this be our collective GRAND LOVE POEM to our community!

Butterfly with us (if there is room - if not - will share the video soon!)

LASTLY! Yoga, Meditation & Sonic Blessings coming to Powderhorn Park this Sunday 3/1 & more in April!

✨ Grateful to be offering the first of a new butterfly-inspired yoga series on Sunday, March 1st at Modus Locus in Minneapolis ~

This workshop promotes safety, sovereignty, the joy of creativity, sensuality & embodiment as play + empowerment. We’ll be exploring - imbue-ing! - the life cycle/metamorphosis of a butterfly in this 75 minutes together 🦋

All are welcome - and you can rest the entire time if preferred and let it wash over you! There will be yoga asana -inspired movement, meditation, poetry, music, and relaxation.

These offerings are about RECLAIMING & CELEBRATING the Butterfly ~ both literally and symbolically - our beloved creature is undergoing some seriously troubling times both in threats of extinction, as well as the disturbing link to detention sites’ “Blue Butterfly Zones” … We will not stay silent about the atrocities against the earth and humanity!

Pay what you like - no one turned away for lack of funds - kindly just let me know that you’re coming by 2/28 as space is limited!

This will also be offered virtually ~ 10:30am cst

33% of proceeds donated to Powderhorn Neighborhood Association Renters Relief Fund

Thrilled to be returning to share yoga with the friends in the neighborhood region where our old yoga studio was (Imbue Yoga was in Corcoran, bordering Powderhorn Park)! 4 week series also coming Wednesday nights starting April 15th ✨

May the butterflies be with you!

🦋 BIG LOVE! Mary

Escapism to the sun and sea on the Gulf of Mexico next month, anyone?

Sun | Sea | Peace Retreat ~ March 21-28th ~ Puerto Morelos ~ Mexico

Flights to Cancun from MSP are 4 hours (direct) Puerto Morelos is a 30 min taxi from there (I will coordinate for you!)

[Here’s a perfect flight via Sun Country for $650]

Sun | Sea | Peace Retreat invites us to ring in spring on the Gulf of Mexico the day after the vernal equinox in the dreamy, colorful, bustling village of Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun.

Enjoy gentle and soulful yoga practices, meditations for peace, and sonic blessing serenades. 2 daily (optional) practices intending to promote peace within and without: mindful movement, soothing breath techniques, slow flow yoga asana, meditation, Yoga Nidra, and ancient mantras for the heart, compassion, protection, and well being.

Add ons may include a private sail on a sunset cruise, sipping a citrus-mint mocktail or margarita from the open bar, a sizzling fajita dinner, a cultural excursion to a traditional Mayan village and women’s cooperative Muuch Kaab to learn about beautiful embroidery techniques, as well as ancient, sustainable beekeeping methods for Melipona bees (stingless!) ~ plus an opportunity to shop their gorgeous, handmade soaps, lotions, salves, and their hand-harvested medicinal honey.

AND! We are thrilled to welcome Ingrid Weise (Reiki Healer, Artist) of Elektrisk Healing Arts for a special Yoga + Reiki healing session combining slow flow yoga-inspired movement, breath practices, and ending with an extended rest in savasana with individual Reiki healing mini-sessions during Savasana. Ingrid will also be offering individual Reiki healing sessions for an additional fee for those who would like.