The work that Lee has had the privilege and honor to do with Veterans, has been some of the deepest and most meaningful work of her life, and came about as a total surprise to her. She had no connection to current military veterans. Her father and uncles had served in the military during WWII but they never spoke about their experiences. And yet when the U.S. went to war in Iraq, she felt an undeniable calling to do something to try to ease the suffering of returning veterans. She trusted that if veterans were interested, the practice of Sensory Awareness could be healing and grounding.
Through her own life experiences, she knew the importance of turning towards pain and trauma rather than trying to avoid what cannot be avoided, and the importance of coming together in community. She trusted that when people holding the space are not afraid of pain, and are not trying to force something open, there is room for each person to drop in and meet what they are ready to meet. From that place deep, healing and intimate connections arise. She never had any intention of starting an organization or a nonprofit. But following one step after another led to the creation of Veterans PATH (Peace, Acceptance, Transformation, Honor)
This journey taught Lee that when we take one step at a time because we know that something is needed, then it leads to the next step, and then to the next step, and when we come together our power is deepened and magnified. These lessons offer inspiration on how each one of us can find how to respond in the midst of these overwhelming changes on our planet.
Antonio Machado, a Spanish poet wrote:
“Caminante, no hay camino.
Se hace camino al andar.”
Traveler, there is no path.
The path is created
with each step you take.
We don’t have to know what we’re doing. Lee had no idea what she was doing when she and her friend and colleague Chris Fortin began Veteran’s PATH. A skeptical US Marine Officer, who had served in Iraq, came to the second one-day event ever held at Veterans PATH. He sat with his arms crossed tightly across his chest most of the day. Even through his skepticism, he offered to meet with Lee and help her learn more about military culture and veteran’s experiences. He suggested books to read and films to watch. And sometimes when they coincided at some rather unstimulating networking meetings for people working with veterans, he would pass her notes about new resources to check out.
One year after attending his first event, he came to another event, and shared with the twenty other veterans there, that when he came to the first event he thought to himself “These two hippie ladies don’t know shit about veterans.” That was true. But they were ready to learn, and they trusted in what they did know, the power of Sensory Awareness and meditation practice. He could feel their sincerity and he and other veterans helped them grow and shape meaningful programs. Chris and Lee are very grateful that Veteran’s PATH continues with new leadership and that their lives have been expanded and enriched by the relationships and experiences they had over the twelve years they developed and led Veteran’s PATH.
Veterans are Welcome to Participate in Sensory Awareness Workshops with Lee on a Donation Basis:
Lee continues to honor her relationships with veterans and trusts in the healing and renewing power of Sensory Awareness practice. Veterans are invited to participate in any Sensory Awareness workshop that she offers on a donation basis, offering whatever you might want to contribute, without any obligation to pay. Just contact Lee, leelesser@gmail.com (She cannot offer this opportunity in programs held at Retreat Centers with their own pricing systems.)
A New Path of Service
Over the past year, Lee led an online group of veterans and civilians in supporting each other to become more aware, open and engaged in responding to the climate crisis. This is what these times are calling for — that we join together, that we bring our strengths, that we take one step at a time that leads us into what becomes possible.
The work of the last year has led to a new pilot program for Veterans and Civilians –
CAN DO – (Climate Action Now, Dynamic Opportunity) 4-month Program.
April 13 – August 6th, 2023, consisting of two-in person 4-day weekends, online small groups, bi-weekly practices, and committed action.
We will build community together and hold our concern for life on this planet in sacred space that leads to engagement and responsiveness.
The CAN DO pilot program is modeled off of Veteran’s PATH 4-month Anchor Programs.
Objectives:
- to build community and engagement around the Climate Crisis
to open a shared path of service and a way to stay informed and to contribute. - to provide a way to support each other
- to address the feelings the Climate Crisis brings up in us and to allow the feelings to open us rather than close us to what is happening.
- to create a replicable program that can be expanded and repeated by others so that we spread the impact
- to bring veterans and civilians together in positive connection and action
Structure:
- It begins and ends with a 4-day weekend, April 13 – 16 and August 3 – 6, 2023, that will be held at the Black Mountain Retreat Center, north of Bodega Bay in California, where we will work together on projects to care for the land.
- Bi-weekly practices, resources and inspirations
- Six small group zoom meetings – meetings to encourage, support and hold each other accountable
- A project we are all working on together over the four months that responds to our changing times. (A focus group will meet before the program starts to determine the project.)
Articles featuring the work of Veteran’s PATH:
What People Are Saying About Lee...
Upcoming Sensory Awareness Workshops for Veterans
Click an option for details and registration
CAN DO – Climate Action Now – 3-month program for Veterans and Civilians
A new pilot program for Veterans and Civilians. April 13 – August 6th, 2023, consisting of two-in person 4-day weekends, online small groups, bi-weekly practices, and committed action. We will build community together and hold our concern for life on this planet in sacred space that leads to engagement and responsiveness.