I was not born a mindfulness expert. I was introduced to mindfulness in the summer of 2009 through a book I stumbled upon by Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth. This book found me at a crossroads in my life. I was incredibly sad and untethered with my family situation, and I was living with an empty feeling inside with no idea how to fill it. 

When the Universe presented me with this book, I didn't know what mindfulness was because I wasn't in any circle of people talking about it, and it was not as mainstream back then as it is now. As I read it, a deep place inside me resonated with the teachings, and I started to see the possibility of shifting from being the main character in my life story to taking a step back and noticing my thoughts are not me. Mindfulness began to teach me to step off the rollercoaster and live from a different, deeply rooted place.

Of course, it didn't happen immediately, and I didn't know the full impact then (it's still unfolding daily), but this book led me to read more books. My perspective shifted from feeling alone and sad to feeling alive and more peaceful even though my circumstances had not changed.

I read about retreats in these books and signed up for my first silent retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the Berkshires in 2011. This experience was so different than any other experience up until that point. I learned how to meditate and began interacting with myself differently. A feeling of spaciousness grew inside of me. I repeated this retreat many times and found more where I learned mindfulness and meditation on a deeper level. I naturally moved into a daily home-based mindfulness practice that includes meditation, yoga, and spiritual practice. 

In 2021, I became a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through MMTCP, a two-year program with primary teachers and mentors Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. This experience has proven invaluable.

Cushion Tree is a direct result of my transformation over the last sixteen years. My oldest daughter, Norah, who was born with an undiagnosed seizure disorder in 2007 and crossed over in 2016, helped me move into an ever-evolving and significant spiritual practice. My passion and joy come from sharing the true essence of who we are and that we ALL can connect with our Higher Self. I have become a certified Spiritual Life Coach to support clients further on their paths.  Daily Practice is the lifeline that so many seek, and Cushion Tree has become a place where I can share how to create these practices, and I am honored to do so.

In Light and Love for ALL, 

- Erin