The journey of retreat.

The invitation into silence is a daunting one. At the beginning of any silent retreat, the anticipation of stepping into the unknown, the stripping away of distractions, can be nerve-wracking at best. For both those new to or experienced in meditation practice, retreat offers this cliff-jump into the mystery. The surrender to silence takes courage. What contact will I make with my own being? Will grief find me? Anger? Joy? What unclaimed aspects will come home?

Through the journey of retreat, we practice welcoming these parts, of being with whatever is arising. This isn’t always easy. The mind wants to sort, judge, analyze, control, categorize and understand. We practice letting go again and again until we start to ride the wave of the present moment. We begin to take notes from the redwood trees, the deer lazily grazing, the slow rise of the sun. We start listening to the heart. We feel into our bodies, amazed by the intelligence there. We are overwhelmed by what arrives at times but somehow we are prepared for and transformed by each wave. We are buoyed by the supportive nature of the group. Eventually we understand why we came.

The courageous surrender to silence helps reveal a truth that is always here. An aliveness that is always awaiting your discovery of it. A peace that reminds you all is well. A deeper love of self, of each other, of life itself. This reunion is the gift of retreat. An opportunity to re-center your life in your own sacred heart, in the truth that is revealed there, and in the awakened acceptance of receiving each precious moment exactly as it is.