Costa Rica is going to heal me.
But I didn’t think that at first (thanks CPTSD).
The invite for this tropical adventure came from a woman named Bridget that takes my generative writing classes. She also has a phenomenal substack called “All Tabs Open” that you can read here.
Prior to Saturday, we had only met on zoom. What I knew about her were these things:
She is a brilliant writer
She has a house in Costa Rica
She has good energy
Typically, #3 is enough for me.
What I would come to find out about her is that she has the biggest most generous heart, she is hilarious and FUN FACT, her great-grandfather, Harry Warner, founded Warner Brothers Studio and that her grandfather, Mervyn LeRoy, directed and produced over 80 Hollywood classic films, including "The Wizard of Oz."
On my way to San Jose on Saturday, she sent me this text:
“You’re on your way! I’ll meet you at the airport. The biggest thing people who have never met me realize when they see me for the first time is, I’m tiny. I’m 5 feet tall. I know I have Big Dick Energy but, no.”
Dead.
Immediately, I knew we would get along, but I didn’t know it would take me a day or so to coax my inner child out of her ever protective shell.
I recently had this guy in the states tell me that my aura was filthy.
“I mean, let me just put it this way, I wouldn’t want to hug you” he said as we rode the elevator down.
Burn.
Maybe my resting empathetic face has finally turned into resting bitch face.
On the way back from the airport, Bridget told me that in my cabin someone was previously murdered. Not recently. And long before they bought the property.
Still, I swore silently at the Gods as she pointed out markets, birds, and other points of interest.
I will no longer stay in spaces that need clearing I recently told Spirit. I wondered if the reason I was brought to Costa Rica was to clear the cabin of a dead mans spirit.
I hoped not.
Thankfully, Bridget shamaned the shit out of her property already, so there was no need for me to have a conversation with the murder victim about personal space. Still, I was a bit spooked the first night.
Monday, we drove three hours to Dominical and Uvita, on the pacific coast side.
On the way down we saw TEN blue morpha butterflies, which Bridget said was very rare.
An omen.
Once we got to Dominical, something in me softened and opened to whatever medicine this country has for me.
Turns out, the first bit of medicine is the food.
Since arriving, I have subsisted on fruit, ceviche, and pinos this week, which is essentially pineapple and water blended sometimes with mint or cilantro.
We pulled into town and had breakfast at a little cafe, then checked into our hotel early and took advantage of the pool.
And now comes my favorite part.
We both got our nose pierced. I have been feeling the urge to do it for a year now, but it never felt right in the states. We found this tattoo shop and across from it was a piercing parlor, with a woman named Michelle from Puerto Rico. Bridget sat next to me on the table to hold my hand as Michelle pulled out the needle and then…all the electricity went out.
“That’s okay, I can do it in the dark” Michelle said putting on her head lamp. I would have argued but her confidence was so persuasive that I just sat in the dark and let a stranger stick a needle through my nostril. Just as she finished the piercing, the lights came on.
“That’s got to mean something” I said to Bridget.
I’d like to interrupt this post to let you know that as I sit here writing this outside on the deck (Bridget is on her flight back to New York), out of the corner of my eye I caught an animal a few feet away from me that looks very similar to a raccoon. Here was my reaction:
I screamed as loud as I possibly could and threw my computer off my lap as I stood on the couch almost tripping over my over sized silky gypsy pajama pants maintaining eye contact with what turns out to be a PIZOTE.
According to Google, if a pizote is your spirit animal it could signify an upcoming change or transformation in one’s life.
I can’t help but wonder (I think that’s a Carrie Bradshaw line) how much change and transformation one needs in their life? Wasn’t that what the camino was for me? And yoga teacher training? And isn’t that what every psychic has said to me over the years when they can’t get an accurate read on my life?
Nevertheless, had the past few days not shifted me in the ways that they did, I would maybe over look the significance of this visitor. But there is something special about Costa Rica. Maybe it’s the food, the negative ions, the blue zone, the energy of a new to me country, the sacredness of this land, or all of it all at once.
Our visit in Dominical concluded with a trip to the farmers market where they sold psilocybin…PSILOCYBIN. I’ve had a few beautiful experiences with the medicine and I believe in their potency and power to heal. I just couldn’t believe you could get eggs, kale, and a gram of magic mushrooms on your weekly trip to the market.
Pura Vida?
After the market we met up with two of Bridget’s friends who used to live in Vermont and now live in Uvita doing sacred geometry and dog training.
I immediately felt a kinship with both of them and the funky vibe of the area just as Bridget thought I would.
Long/short of my itinerary in reverse is that tomorrow I will go back to Uvita and check out a cute little place a few blocks from the beach where I can stay for a few months and as the Italian said today, “finally finish your book” (how do you say ‘cool your judgmental tone’ in Italian?).
My new soul sister ‘The Bridge’ (because she bridges people to places, opportunities, and humans) has left me to the land with a sneaking suspicion that something magical is about to take place.
I hope you will stick around these parts to find out.
AND…if you are a free subscriber but don’t hate reading about this unconventional life that I lead (that’s what my relatives call it) and want to read more, I’ve got a whole lot more behind that damn paywall (don’t blame me, blame capitalism). You can upgrade below and lose yourself in the times I have been a little lost and sometimes a little found.
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE!
It’s time for another GENERATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP. And before you roll your eyes and sigh, humor me while I tell you about this 8-week workshop starting September 23rd. Listen, I don’t sprinkle any magic dust or promise you are going to transform or suddenly become this prolific writer. But what I can tell you is that something simple, beautiful and profound has been happening in these workshops this past year. I believe it’s a mix of co-regulation and the creative energy that happens when you bring people together with the intent of tapping into their unconscious thoughts and feelings.
Here are some things people have said about the experience:
“Secretly, I've always loved writing but shied away from workshops and sharing circles out of fear of overthinking it all and critique. Then I met Megan and how she carries the art of writing. She set the tone of nothing being off the table through the vulnerability woven into all of her work and her understated passion for the process. The moment the workshop started, it was clear she was present solely for me to find myself in my voice, my heart, and body. She met my raw, honest never before revealed truths with full acceptance so that the whole experience became a celebration, and liberation of the writer, artist and creator inside."
“In her workshops, Megan creates an environment of inspiration and profound safety - a sacred space for the writer, and her thoughtful writing prompts waste no time unearthing the gold”
“Megan's Generative Writing Series was amazing. I love gathering and writing with others. Megan provided prompts that facilitated writing on a deeper level. She also encorporated breathing, calming and centering/grounding techniques to assist in the process. It was such a beautiful experience!”
Fine print:
8-weeks
September 23rd-November 11th
7-8:30pm ESt
Cost: $300
To register:
This makes me so happy!! And I feel that you are in your happy place (even if there’s a pizote there too!). ❤️❤️❤️