How a Weekend in Joshua Tree Will Change Your Life
I grew up in LA. But I never knew Joshua Tree was a real place. I thought it was just the name of a U2 album. It wasn’t until I was in my forties (really embarassed to announce this) that I actually visited this magical space in my backyard. It’s roughly two hours away. A great motorcycle ride.
I’ve gone there three times now. But the last time was different. I felt something, more than mushrooms and the desert sun. It wasn’t adrenaline or dopamine. It was a spiritual stirring, like a gentle breeze felt on your back. But with a message, a knowing that I’m supposed to do something in this space.
I felt the same thing years ago when I was running groups in a dilapidated house in Los Angeles. And again when I connected strangers online for the first time nearly a decade ago. Then again when I started our Catalyst Life Coaching Intensive. Then a hint of it when I visited Costa Rica this year to prep a retreat for early 2019. It’s a strange feeling. It starts with a stirring. Then if there’s truth there, it’s almost like you leave your body. Like something takes over. I talk about being a conduit a lot. Something starts to work through you. If you’re a therapist or life coach, you probably know what I’m talking about. It happens during sessions. You become a messenger. A facilitator. A connector. A mirror. A catalyst. Time disappears.
Skip this paragraph if you know my story. I’m not your typical therapist. I got fired from treatment centers for doing things out of the box. I was coaching online when webcams were something you had to plug in. I’ve met clients in coffee shops. Done CrossFit with them. Gone on hikes with them. I’ve never had an office and never will. I show up on my Harley and practice transparency. I believe if you’re going to share your story, you should know mine as well. But I don’t do many sessions anymore. I teach. I write books. I produce a weekly podcast and daily content. I do some speaking. But most of all, I create spaces. It doesn’t matter if it’s a space for words, teaching, or a live weekly gather, which I just recently created online. I just trust that if I create the space, revelations will emerge and change will be created. Now I will be creating a space at The Joshua Tree.
I live by two truths.
- Build the bus while you’re driving it.
I execute on things before fear sets in. I pull the trigger if I feel something. I’m not always right. But I believe in the journey over the destination and if you allow fear to prevent you from going on one, life will be nothing more than a waiting game called hiding. And you will have very little impact in this world. I am doing the same with this retreat. I am putting it together as I type this. Tickets are already available. Six seats have already been filled. This means I cannot allow my fears and insecurity to stop it. The bus is moving.
2. Do what you feel called to.
I still struggle with this one. Making decisions based on my gut and intuition instead of logic is a skillset I’m still learning, a wobbling bike I’m still trying to straighten. I still don’t know if it’s ego or purpose driven. But I’m learning more and more that as humans we have to believe in something bigger or we will always live small. And that bigger lives in what we feel not what we think.
Nothing happened that weekend at The Joshua Tree other than a stir. It was just a feeling. And I didn’t really realize it until that seed started to grow and manifest into - My first Angry Therapist Retreat. It’s another space I’m creating and trusting that magic will happen in this space. This is how I live my life and will continue to. Create spaces that I feel called to, on or offline, knowing that they will lead to collisions, revelations, adventures, and new stories. All elements of growth.
I know that by connecting others, I will be connecting to myself. This is something I’ve been doing for the last decade. This retreat will be no different.
I don’t know if you’ve ever been to The Joshua Tree but if you’re reading this, you are invited. I will do my best to create the space for change to happen. That is my intention. I will focus on meaning, potency, and depth. A combination of group work, energy work, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, a guided hike, lectures, and of course, some good fucking food. Nourish your mind, body, spirit, emotions, and stomach. You will have time to reflect, process, and journal.
If the space I create doesn’t spark change, I believe you will collide with someone who does.
I don’t know what you’re going through but if you want to change your life in some way. Or if you’re not going through anything but need to get out of city and replenish. If you just need some life realignment. Or if you’re sick of reading self help books and watching video courses and actually want to take some form of action that’s fun and relaxing. Or if you just want to meet some cool ass like minded people. Then come to this little magical place in my backyard. I promise we won’t play U2. Maybe.
Here are the deets.
The Angry Therapist Retreat at The Joshua Tree
Return To Your Solid Self
Date: September 14–16.
As life happens, we disconnect with ourselves. In order to get traction in life and find fulfillment, we must come back home, reconnect with parts of ourselves that we have locked away into a hope chest. And that’s what this entire weekend will be about. Reuninting with you. So that you can live at a higher potential. Become a whole being. Instead of in parts, which is how must of us live.
Workshops (my containers concept)
Pesudo vs Solid
False beliefs / stop living your lies
Return what’s not yours to own
Non-negotiables
Unlock your code
Attract vs Chase
Here’s the space.
We only have 5 seats left.
Book HERE if you want to Joshua Tree to change your life.
Here are my partners in crime.
Vanessa Bennett, MA is an Associate Psychotherapist, Transformational Life Coach, Meditation and Yoga instructor, and overall wellness warrior. Through her graduate work, she uncovered a special passion for the unconscious world of myth, image, and metaphor and believes our unconscious has a lot to tell us if we only know how to understand the language in which it speaks. Her wellness background and passion coupled with 10-years in the corporate world as a Producer and Strategist assists her in helping to both illuminate a healthier more integrated approach to living and loving, and to uncover a person’s inner well of passion and resiliency.
Emily Cervini, MA is a Reiki Master, Crystal Healer, and Dream Tender with a masters in both Spiritual Psychology and Depth Psychology. Her work with clients goes much deeper than the words on the surface of the psyche. Through her work with images, dreams, and energy she is able to usher her clients to a deeper sense of healing through a profound connection to all facets of the self: what is seen, what is felt, and what has not yet been experienced.
John Kim LMFT (The Angry Therapist) pioneered the online life coaching movement seven years ago, after going through a divorce which led to his total re-birth. He pulled the curtain back and showed himself by practicing transparency and sharing his story, something therapists are taught not to do. He comes with you not at you and meets you at street level. Kim became known as an unconventional therapist who worked out of the box. He is on a mission to change the way we change.
If you want to reflect, process, stretch, get a tan, hang out with some cool ass like minded people, and start the journy of returning back to your true authentic self,
Book your seat NOW.
- Angry
If you want to be a life coach, come ride with us HERE.
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