About E

There is so much that can be said about a name.

Erika means eternal ruler.

Amanda means deserving of love.

When I found out what my name meant, it added a dimension to my life that I didn’t know I needed. At each stage in our lives, there is usually something that anchors us to the core of who we are. It can be something someone you hold close has always reassured you with, it can be a stuffed animal that reminds you of home or a scripture your grandma used to repeat whenever she needed strength. No matter what it is, as we are becoming, whatever it is that we are becoming, it helps to meditate on that which tethers us to what we are made of. For me, it is my name.

Erika. Eternal ruler. Sounds a bit daunting, I know. However, I never took it as a calling for me to try and take over the world with fire and fear. Sometimes the clue to something’s true meaning is in the subtlety of how it can be described.

Eternal means forever. That is a fact, but I chose to take the 4th descriptor on Dictonary.com to apply it to myself. Ceaseless. Without stopping. Incessant.

Ruler. Ruler could mean many things, though it is often attributed to a malevolent sovereign. That is not at all on my agenda for my life. I do know, however, through my life experiences and countless lessons both formal and informal, that self mastery is the key to many of the things that we question in our lives. Discipline is freedom.

Erika. One who ceaselessly takes control of herself and her life.

Deserving of love. Simple, no? The concept is, but the actions that must come to meet that takes true intention and authenticity. I created this to show myself that no matter what comes to me, the true, authentic self love must proceed all others in this world. I deserve that.

I am building this community around the meaning of my name and how it can apply to each and every one of us. As we navigate our lives, it’s best to do so intentionally and consistently and always through the lens of real love for ourselves and others.

I hope you will join me as I build, collaborate and create the spaces where we can live, grow and Be.

- — E

How it Started

It all started with the need. I was in a mental space where I no longer felt like myself. I could not pinpoint what it was that was missing, but I knew that I had to get away. When I realized that I was not alone in this, I decided to take the women who were feeling this way too to a space they could expand without hitting the confinements of their everyday lives.

About the Retreats

They mean so much to me because they are the culmination of the things I care most about. People, connection and a space that feels like it could be home to something greater than me.