Sometimes, no matter what is happening around you, no matter what chaos comes your way, and maybe especially because of it, you need to rest, and rest well. There’s a part of you that instinctively knows how to rest, and yet these reminders are essential when the world feels unhinged, uncertain, and volatile. This week I am teaching a course on rest at Pendle Hill, a Quaker intentional community, and retreat and study center outside Philadelphia that has held fast to a 95 year-old mission of radical hospitality and compassionate boundaries. The learning this week as students arrive from around the world to settle into the rhythm of learning, worshiping, working, and community is about the importance of exploring the tension between the polarities of rest and action. That transformation begins with volition, your intention, which invites you to ask what do you really love? What are your love priorities? Do you spend time on your highest love priorities? Do your love priorities support greater belonging, compassion, understanding, and peace, modeling the moral and emotional character needed in polarizing and chaotic times. There’s a saying that we teach what we need to learn the most. I’m here, learning how to hold both rest and action. I was raised by a Cuban mother who worked herself into an early grave and a Jamaican father who taught me that rest is a luxury to be earned, a last resort and only when at the brink of exhaustion. I absorbed these messages and cultural norms rooted in grind culture, white supremacy, and patriarchy. Thich Nhat Hanh has said that we need to relearn the ‘art of resting’. He says that to practice learning to pause, breathe, and calm yourself is a ‘pre-condition’ of healing. Rest is our birthright. Reclaiming rest is an act of self-love and self-compassion that supports not only individual wellbeing but the collective care of weary world. Join me for these offerings that uplift self-love and self-care.  Open for Registration Now! Portuguese Camino: Walk in Beauty Pilgrimage of El Camino for 2026, Our Kindest Camino Ever! October 10-20, 2026 Duration: 11 days / 10 nights Distance: 80 miles/129 km Difficulty: Moderate Start/End: Guimarães, Portugal -Santiago de Compostela, Spain Includes All Breakfasts, Gourmet Picnic Lunches, Dinners and 3-4 star hotels. Let us pamper you in this exclusive, small group, amenities-packed pilgrimage where you’ll savor breathtaking natural beauty of the legendary coast of Portugal and Spain, charming, three and four-star accommodations, and regional delicious cuisine, including gourmet picnic lunches. Register and more information: https://valeriebrown.us/events/portuguese-camino-walk-in-beauty-pilgrimage-2026/ |
Inspiring Highlights
Beginning Guimaraes, the ‘birthplace’ of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Camino explores the allure and beauty of northern Portugal and Spain. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of coastal towns and estuaries, peaceful countryside villages, forested paths, waterfalls, and winding rivers. Showcasing a mix of Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architectural styles, this Camino follows ancient paths through historic towns, churches and squares, iconic castles, and cobblestones streets, and ending in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Santiago de Compostela, an urban sanctuary of medieval architecture and art.
Our kindest and gentlest Camino ever meanders through Ponte de Lima and the banks of the River Lima and Valença do Minho, to historic Tui as we cross the River Miño into Spain. Walk through rural villages, shaded wooded paths, the white wine-producing region of the Rias Baixas, and the estuaries surrounding Pontevedra. With coastal views and natural and cultural heritage full of magical, wild, and protected spaces, you’ll arrive at Santiago de Compostela, the iconic ancient city.
At the end of this Camino, you’ll receive the Compostela, official recognition of having completed this historic pilgrimage.
Accommodations are three and four-star hotels with private bath, charmingly restored country manor houses, and B&B’s that offer the best in hospitality, comfort, and location.
This Camino is for foodies! Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, with dinners at restaurants known for exceptional local cuisine, atmosphere, and service. During our walk, you’ll savor gourmet picnics, using the freshest local and regional ingredients. All breakfasts, picnic lunches, and dinners are included, and vegetarians and those with food allergies are fully accommodated.
Space is limited to 12 persons. Watch this 4-minute video on the Camino Portuguese.
What People Are Saying
- The scenery is spectacular and the beautiful rhythm of walking the Camino is truly revelatory.”
- “To walk the Camino my own way empowered and stretched me into new horizons, safely and in community….”
- “Everyday was a feast for the senses.”
- “I am venturing home with my heart burst wide open, full of hope and possibilities. I am deeply grateful.”
What’s Included:
- Courage & Renewal® Approach to reflection and expert facilitation
- Pre-departure confidential 30-minute coaching session with Valerie.
- Comprehensive pre and post-pilgrimage preparation, including customized training schedule, newsletters, virtual community calls, and 30-page Camino Resource Guide
- Carefully selected en suite three and four-star hotels, charmingly restored country manor houses, and B&B’s
- Private van support
- Luggage transfers
- All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- Pilgrim’s Passport & Credentials
- Compostela Certificate
- 2- English-speaking guides
- Pre and Post-Camino travel assistance
- Daily informational program and route map
- Celebratory farewell dinner
- Guided walking tour in Guimaraes and Santiago
What’s NOT included:
- Round trip airfare
- Ground transportation from Santiago
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance
- More Information & Register
AWARENESS IN ACTION: Meeting the World with Life-Giving Hands – Actualizing Unfaltering Engaged Practice In Our Time – JUSTICE with Valerie Brown
Online April 6, 2025 Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, NM 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time /1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time/10:00-11:30 am Pacific Time.
In this yearlong monthly series, I am honored to explore in the month of April, the topic of Justice as the public face of an ethical, peaceful, and sustainable global community.
Justice isn’t an abstract idea; it’s grounded in beliefs that translate into actions. We each have a vital role in visioning and creating a more just and compassionate society.
Join me online for this free program. Donations requested.
Register and more information: https://shorturl.at/5MHuU
Please join the Inner Practice of Medicine Retreat In Person at Upaya Zen Center, July 10-13, 2025 at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, NM. This retreat is open to MDs/DOs or medical students in clinical years, and scholarship is available for BIPOC.
Learn about the program: https://www.upaya.org/program/inner-practice-of-medicine-in-person-2025/
Scholarship form:
https://forms.gle/dyRv2xtV3JMjEftv7
Building a Bridge: Connecting Educators, Caregivers, and Youth Through Mindfulness New York City May 17 – 18, 2025
How can we help children and families cultivate balance and well-being in today’s stressful world?
This conference brings together leading voices in mindfulness, education, and family support to explore this essential question. This year’s focus is on practical, evidence- based strategies to build resilience and foster well-being for children, caregivers, and educators alike. Through inspiring talks, dynamic panel discussions, and hands-on mindfulness practices, participants will gain actionable tools to incorporate into their daily lives. Together, we’ll explore ways to nurture both the hearts and minds of children, equipping them—and the adults who support them—with skills to support growth and connection in and out of the classroom.
I will be offering a talk and joined by incredible teachers: Susan Kaiser Greenland, Mark Bertin, Ofosu Jones-Quartey, Kaira Jewel Lingo, Dzung X. Vo, and Christopher Willard.
Hotel discounts available!
Register here:
2025 Mind & Life Summer Research Institute ‘Reimagining Contemplative Education: Shaping a Collective Future’
June 1-6, 2025 Garrison Institute, Garrison, New York
This conference brings together researchers, educational and contemplative practitioners, and policymakers who are committed to exploring how contemplation can enrich and reimagine educational systems in the 21 st century. Contemplative education integrates academic study with practices that cultivate mindfulness, self-awareness, reflection, and compassion. It is based on the idea that education should not only focus on the development of cognitive skills and knowledge acquisition but on the inner development of individuals—emotionally, ethically, and spiritually.
I am thrilled to join friends and colleagues, including Angel Acosta, Meena Srinivasan, Patricia Jennings, Keiryu Lien Shutt, and many others.
For more information and to register:
https://www.mindandlife.org/ev…
- How do you make time for what matters most?
- What have you put off too long?
- What in your life is in need of rest?
