Kelly Minor, Ph.D.

I live on a hobby farm located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the course of lovingly restoring our 120-year-old farmhouse, my husband and I inadvertently created a sanctuary. Together we’ve hand-built gardens, terraces, orchards, and sitting areas throughout the property — providing outdoor spaces for personal reflection, connection with nature, and joyful reunions.

These “joyful reunions” are often spontaneous gatherings of friends, family, and neighbors — the timing of which is seasonal. In the summertime, dinner parties and movies take place under the stars, typically on short notice, because I’m reluctant to burn daylight in the garden. As the weather cools, and the garden slows, it’s time for our Annual Olive Harvest (a reunion of loved ones + olive picking + final BBQ of the year). In the wintertime, we look forward to friends visiting from faraway places (read: colder climates) until, in April, we’re back outdoors and planting again. Regardless of the season, you can bet that I’m hosting guests.

My relationship with guests is sometimes professional. The reason for their visit determines my hospitality. In the case of a Private Retreat, for example, it’s my role as hostess to ensure their privacy, provide their meals and lodging, and otherwise get out of the way so that they can enter into quietude. In the case of a Daylong Workshop, I fulfill the dual roles of hostess and teacher – welcoming guests into the space and sharing heartfelt teachings. Finally, in the case of a Group Retreat, I step out of hostessing altogether and focus on providing attuned teachings. (Our retreat manager and personal chefs take care of the physical support.) Although my role varies within each context, the invitation is the same: reclaiming your power, authenticity, and freedom.