10/06/25 What We Created Together Under the Harvest Moon 🌕

 

There was a moment, just a few days before our Transforming Our World: A Full Harvest Moon Gathering, when I almost canceled.
Ticket sales were slow. Only two names were on the list. And I’ll be honest—it was discouraging.

But something deep within whispered, no… hold the space anyway.
So I did.

And then, the most extraordinary thing happened.

People began to walk in. One by one.
By the time we gathered in circle on Sunday afternoon, there were eight radiant guests and five incredible practitioners—all together, thirteen souls held in a room filled with golden light, tears, laughter, flowers, and frequency.

It was nothing short of transformative magic.

The tears, the connection, the love, the uplifting, the hugs, the flowers, the sharing, the support given and received, the learning, the unfolding of it all… absolutely, undeniably incredible.

I’ve been flying on that energetic high ever since.

And tonight—under the light of the actual Full Harvest Moon—I’m reflecting on just how powerful it is when we choose to show up anyway.
Even when it’s uncertain.
Even when the numbers don’t look “successful.”
Even when doubt whispers that maybe it’s not worth it.

Because it always is.
When hearts gather with intention, the medicine always arrives.

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With deepest gratitude to the circle that made this magic possible…

✨ Patty Young — For bringing the wisdom of the ages and welcoming our grandmothers, grandfathers, and ancestors from all directions into the sacred space. The depth of your wisdom was felt by all.

🌈 Jaci Dayley — For guiding us through the Colour Mirrors and helping us see the messages our souls were calling forth. The clarity and truth that surfaced were breathtaking.

🎶 Elise Burrows — For being the maestro with the singing bowls, blessing us with solfeggio frequencies and the high vibration of fresh-cut flowers. (My kitchen counter still hums with color and light thanks to you!)

🎤 Keturah Allgood — For opening hearts through song and story, and reminding us how deeply we are connected through sound and courage.

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The Full Harvest Moon energy pulses strong. A new phase begins—and with it, an invitation to keep letting go of what no longer serves, while welcoming in what’s new… with hearts full of gratitude.

This, my friends, is the way.
And I believe we truly did transform our world—one circle, one moment, one open heart at a time.

May we continue to gather, to grow, and to remember that even the smallest circles can hold the greatest light.
With love and gratitude,
Rachel Dickson

 

 

Photo Credit: Harvest Moon Over the Blue Ridge by Bob Peterson

 

10/04/25 The Remembering

 

Just over a year ago, Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina and left her mark on the land and in our hearts. So much changed forever — forests reshaped, rivers rerouted, lives altered in ways big and small and lives lost.

Today, while riding along the newly reopened Blue Ridge Parkway, I was reminded of just how Blessed we all are to be able to experience the majesty found along the BRP again. At one of the pull-off overlooks, among the rugged edges of autumn, I saw them again — tiny clusters of Smooth Aster, their violet petals swaying in the wind. Just like last year, when they caught my eye in the middle of grief, they whispered the same message:

“We are here to remind you of resilience. Even after the storm, beauty finds a way.”

As the Full Harvest Moon rises tomorrow night, I feel the weight of memory mixed with the promise of renewal. The moon has always been a mirror — illuminating what is ready to be released, and what longs to be welcomed in. And in times like these, ceremony matters.

That’s why I created Transforming Your World: A Full Harvest Moon Gathering — a space for us to gather, to pause, and to reconnect with what is sacred and steady within us.

Together we will:
✨ Open sacred space with Cherokee descendant Patty Young
✨ Receive color-inspired guidance through the Colour Mirrors Bottles with Jaci Dayley
✨ Soak in the healing vibrations of a live crystal bowl sound bath by Elise Burrows
✨ Journey inward with a guided meditation led by me, Rachel Dickson
✨ Carry it home with a downloadable Gratitude Journal for ongoing reflection

This is more than an event. It is ceremony — a circle of remembering, healing, and transformation under the light of the Harvest Moon. Please join us!

📍 Elk Haven Wellness Center | Brevard, NC
🕑 Sunday, October 5 | 2–4 PM
🎟 Tickets: $35 (includes Gratitude Journal PDF)

Come as you are. Leave with renewed energy, clarity, and connection.

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

093025: I see you. Because I am you...and you are me.

 

“Wherever we insist on pushing our differences on others we feel the separation. We name this separation resistance, laziness, loneliness, depression, anxiety, or some kind of lack in ourselves. Then we claim these as ‘who we are’—I am resistant, I am lazy, I am lonely, I am anxious, I am stupid, I am unappreciated, I am unworthy, I am alone, and so forth.

Meaning makers understand that everything and everyone is part of ‘the field,’ as Einstein said. We are always part of the ocean. The invitation is to become conscious of what we say ‘I am that’ to—because that is what expands our reality. When we align our ‘I am’s’ with something uplifting and meaningful, we widen the field of what’s possible. Our actions follow suit. We become more receptive, more open, more connected. We discover that we belong everywhere, rather than confining ourselves to one small group. Everyone and everything becomes part of the field to explore.

Thought transformation is the central tool of the meaning maker.

When we recognize that everything is sacred—that tat tvam asi (“thou art that”)—we begin to behave as if we are walking among the holy on sacred ground. We make eye contact with our holiness and recognize it as such.”

(Excerpt from The Zero Point Agreement by Julie Tallard Johnson)

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A few weeks ago, I made eye contact with the knowing that tender emotions would soon be rising up from within us all as the one-year anniversary of Helene arrived. I sensed the importance of meeting this with gentleness and grace, and surrounding myself with others who get it. I chose to walk among the holy, on sacred ground.

For me, this practice began with attending the healing Rising Appalachia gathering in Black Mountain, NC last weekend. With dear friends, I felt the deep connection, collective love, and intentional grounding that reminded us we are not alone in navigating all that last year brought to WNC.

The next step was creating a very intentional gathering of my own—one that would give us all a space to meet these emotions with light, connection, and transformation.

That gathering is the Transforming Your World: Full Harvest Moon Gathering on Sunday, October 5th at Elk Haven Wellness Center in Brevard.

We’ll open with blessings offered to—and received from—the Full Harvest Moon, followed by a resonant sound bath led by Elise Burrows. We’ll then explore soul-nourishing messages revealed through the Colour Mirror bottles with Jaci Dayley, and close with a guided meditation for reflection and renewal. To support your journey beyond the gathering, each ticket also includes a downloadable Gratitude Journal.

This two-hour event is about transforming sorrow and grief into joy, resilience, and hope.

📍 Elk Haven Wellness Center, Brevard, NC
🕑 Sunday, October 5 | 2–4 PM
🎟 Tickets: $35 (includes Gratitude Journal PDF)

Seating is limited to keep this gathering intimate, and I do expect it to sell out.

Because now, more than ever—
we need togetherness.
I need togetherness.
And I do hope you’ll join us.

 

 

Photo Credit: Image by Joe from Pixabay

 

 

 

 

Transforming Your World: A Harvest Moon Gathering 🌕 (Oct 5th, 2-4p)

 

You are invited to this very special in-person event!

Sunday, October 5th, 2025 | 2:00–4:00 PM
Elk Haven Wellness, Brevard, NC

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The Invitation

The October Harvest Moon is a time of completion, release, and transformation. It illuminates what we’ve grown through, invites us to let go of what no longer serves, and opens space for our deepest wishes to take root.

This gathering, Transforming Your World, is an afternoon of sacred reflection, sound, and intention. Together we will call in the directions, connect with Colour Mirrors, raise vibration with crystal bowls, and claim the golden wisdom available when the masculine and feminine energies come back into balance.

This is your chance to pause, reflect, and boldly step into your next chapter.

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What to Expect

During our two hours together, you’ll be guided through:

✨ Sacred Space & Directions – an intentional opening to ground and arrive fully.

✨ Colour Mirrors Connection – select a coloured bottle or spritzer as your mirror of transformation.

✨ Crystal Bowl Sound Bath – relax into resonance, allowing vibration to clear and uplift.

✨ Guided Meditation – journey inward with visualization to unlock balance, clarity, and courage.

✨ Harvest & Release Ritual – journal and let go of what no longer belongs in your world.

✨ Wishes & Transformation – write, visualize, and embody your wishes for the new season.

✨ Closing Gratitude – anchor your experience in appreciation and carry it forward with your downloadable Gratitude Journal (PDF included with reserved seat).

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Why This Moon Matters

The October full moon shines a bright light on what we truly want. It helps us see hidden dreams, release old patterns, and set goals that align with our heart. It reminds us that we already hold the keys to transform our world—one brave wish, one grounded step, one grateful breath at a time.

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Event Details

📍 Elk Haven Wellness Center (Community Room)
100 Elks Club Rd, Brevard, NC 28712
🕑 Sunday, Oct 5 | 2–4 pm
🎟️ Tickets: $35 (includes downloadable Gratitude Journal)

Seating is limited to keep this gathering intimate, so please reserve quickly. 
We expect this event to sell out.

(After reserving your spot, you will receive a confirmation email with details such as what to expect, the venue address, contact info for questions, and the link to your Gratitude Journal PDF.)

Photo Credit: pixabay dot com

Wholeness Is a Birthright: A Candid Conversation with Leslie Nease

 

“My church-going peers knew I was gay before I did.”

That’s just one of the candid truths I share in my brand new conversation with Leslie Nease on the Honoring the Journey Podcast.

We talked about what it was like growing up in a strict religious environment, being dismissed from Northland Baptist Bible College as a Summer Camp Sports Clinician because of my short haircut , and the long, messy process of moving from denial to self-acceptance.

This episode is real, unfiltered, and full of the courage it takes to live audaciously and claim wholeness as a birthright.

If you’ve ever wrestled with identity, faith, or the pressure to fit someone else’s mold, I think you’ll find pieces of your own story in this conversation.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FV6ND9EJdrO9OaIUhOKWj?si=WLFtT5DQTjafEAyItKI6RQ

or watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Iu-XNqmEt0g?si=KoLjrHF7RZ7Ti-Eq 

I’m deeply grateful to Leslie for holding such a beautiful space for this conversation. 💜

 

 

 

 

 

Honoring the Journey: Season 5, Episode 34

 

 

I had the honor and privilege of being interviewed recently on Leslie Nease's podcast called "Honoring the Journey" and I'm excited to announce the full episode (Season 5 episode 34) drops tomorrow!  Monday, September 22nd on Spotify.

Haven't heard of Leslie Nease or the Honoring the Journey podcast? No worries...here's the scoop:
 

 

About Honoring the Journey:

"Life is a journey, and we’re all walking our own unique path. But every now and then, we get the chance to step onto someone else’s path, to see the world from their perspective, and to learn from their experiences. That’s what we do here on Honoring the Journey. We walk alongside others, explore their stories, and then step back onto our own path—hopefully with new insights, deeper understanding, and a broader perspective for the journey ahead. 

Honoring the Journey is hosted by Leslie Nease, a former Christian Radio Host, Speaker & Writer and Contestant on Survivor China known as "Sister Christian". Leslie has since deconstructed her Evangelical beliefs, but is still deeply connected to God and is seeking to understand faith from every perspective. Let's journey together!"

Listen now on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FV6ND9EJdrO9OaIUhOKWj?si=WLFtT5DQTjafEAyItKI6RQ

This interview and podcast episode comes after my standing on the Tedx Stage and sharing my story.

You can view the full Tedx Talk by clicking here.

More to come.
Until then,,,,DARE to be YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pickleball Conundrum and How to Deploy a Jedi Practice

 

For those who may not know: in pickleball, you can only score a point when you’re the server. But here’s the catch—if your serve doesn’t land cross-court inside the correct boundary, it’s a fault. 

Translation: no point, no chance, game moves on. You sabotage your own ability to score before the rally even begins.

So you can imagine the importance of a “good” serve.

I LOVE playing this game! But lately, my conundrum has been just this...getting my serves in. Sounds small, but in doubles, when most of your serves drift out of bounds? Not great.

Enter the Jedi practice of visualization.

This isn’t new, and I can’t take credit for it—I first came across the power of mental imagery in a college sports psychology class. But here’s the magic:

If, right before serving, I pause and see the ball going exactly where I want it to go—in detail, in my mind’s eye—and then I serve? My success rate skyrockets! All of this takes less than five seconds.

The takeaway: when we’re doing something familiar, our brains love to go on autopilot. We think about other things, we drift. And when we’re not fully present, mistakes happen. (Lost keys, flubbed serves—you know the drill.) Visualization snaps me back into the moment. It’s a way of saying: I’m here. I’m focused. Let’s do this!

This is one reason I love pickleball—the way it challenges both body and mind toward a clear intention.

Have any of you struggled with focusing on the task at hand...and come up with ways to bring your mind back into focus? 

I’d love to hear about your “Jedi practice.”

Do tell!

Photo Credit: from pickleballunion dot com