I simply got here off of a 4-day silent retreat on a non-public, gated property within the rolling hills of Northern California.
I had my husband Gene, my cousin PJ, and the 2 winners from my #BeHerNow Problem in tow. I put my telephone on airplane mode — solely utilizing it to take photos every so often, or to sort notes to speak with of us in the home each time crucial, with out breaking the silence. Unplugging from social was an enormous a part of this for me, and I by no means as soon as felt compelled to examine it!
I jokingly, however severely, instructed Gene (and crew) within the Uber on the way in which up the mountain, “Don’t look at me, don’t try to talk to me, don’t touch me! I don’t exist to y’all!” They revered that (largely), and all of us did our personal factor.
I ate minimally, drank tons of water and inexperienced juice, attended the obligatory twice-a-day guided meditations, took lengthy, scorching showers, loved an insightful one-on-one meditation session with co-founder Ruth, ugly cried cleaning tears, and simply typically discovered myself ‘misplaced in love.’
I additionally meditatively walked the acres of beautiful views, sipped natural teas with honey from bees stored on website, ran from mentioned bees on many events, and browse books from the extra-thorough library. The founding father of Silent Keep, Dr. Bruce, says, “As awareness rests in the heart, an indescribable joy from within unfolds…” and more true phrases have been by no means spoken.
An important trainer of our time, Dr. Bruce!
I had stumbled upon this easy delicate pleasure again in 2015, simply earlier than my bestie, Grandma Maxine, transitioned. I used to be along with her when she took her final breath and was tremendously grateful that, as grief descended, there was additionally a palpable, peaceable pleasure current within the background. With out that sense of deep ‘calmness,’ I’d’ve been totally damaged. I knew I had discovered one thing treasured, so over the following couple of years, I nurtured this internal peace with consideration and love, and knew a retreat could be an effective way to additional stabilize within the consciousness of IT.
Ruth shared that this presence is just like the ocean, or the sky, all the time there, you simply have to recollect to show to IT, to really feel IT. I would like that for you. I would like this peace for everybody. It is why you’re right here.
To recollect.
To like. To be.
“All needs can lead us first to more silence. Daily we can remind ourselves to approach the silence first so that everything we need comes so much easier. When we want shelter we can begin by taking shelter in the quiet presence. When we want food or companionship we can first nourish ourselves with the stillness and let the silence be our closest companion. As we are open, the natural order of things can answer all our needs either directly or by guiding us to the easiest solution. The more we fill our needs with the silence, the more love can reach deeper inside us, bringing the perfect shelter, the perfect food, and the perfect companion who expresses most what the silence wishes for us.” – Dr. Bruce Davis from ‘Monastery With out Partitions’
Dr. Ruth instructed us to seize groceries from the market earlier than we checked in. When you’re in, it is best to remain in at some stage in your journey, to maintain the silence. I purchased simple stuff ‘trigger I do not do a whole lot of cooking, and I needed to be centered extra on meditating and studying, not preventing with the range and washing dishes. I additionally washed and styled my hair earlier than we arrived, so I did not should spend any time wrestling with that scenario both! I did not even pack a single hair product! FREEDOM!
Along with our crew of 5, there have been three different ladies who joined us on our keep. It felt so highly effective being round them with out the necessity to communicate or find out about who they have been or the place they have been from!
In a method, there’s extra love and intimacy within the silence, even with strangers.
After which, they are not a lot strangers anymore. A lot of smiles and some notes have been shared with them.
I had by no means meditated with a bunch earlier than.
After the preliminary noise from the thoughts (largely worries about my abdomen grumbling rudely breaking the silence), I discovered it extraordinarily highly effective. I have been dwelling for 2 days and proceed to sit down twice a day, with candles and incense! Me and hubby, in addition to Remonde (one of many problem winners), have vowed to carry one another accountable and to proceed this follow it doesn’t matter what!
I wholly advocate a silent retreat, and HIGHLY advocate Silent Keep. Dr. Bruce and his spouse Ruth, and their mild, efficient pointers and guided meditations, will reintroduce you to your true self, so that you could be reintroduce your self to the world. They radiate love, the views are breathtaking, and the loud silence will soothe your soul. Additionally they take teams to Bali and Italy annually!
Deal with yo’ self!
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Initially printed on CurlyNikki on November 27, 2018
