LOVE note from silence

 A few people have reached out after I posted about my recent silent retreat and so I thought I’d share a bit about my experience here, for those inspired to have a similar experience. This was my third silent self-retreat at Lake Shrine in 9 years. I always go with the same simple intention … to clear my mind and body of disharmony, and to get as free as I can possibly be. Then, after I arrived and get settled in, I let go of all of that and shift to staying present.

I find that the very “less is more” set-up at the center makes for an ideal environment to turn down the volume of the world, so I can hear my own truth, my own heartbeat, my own joy. This is certainly not a spa retreat, as the idea is to leave all the “extra” behind, along with all the busyness and distractions of the every day. The silent part removes all conversation from the situation, and you’re encouraged to also unplug from listening to content (podcasts, responding to calls/texts etc.) All interactions with others are wordless and for me, this is one of the most profound aspects of the experience. I remember the first time I stayed …on the second evening, I was sitting looking out of the big picture window in the dining room at the sun setting over the pacific ocean, reflecting on the fact that I had lived for over 5 decades and this was the first time in my life I had gone 2 days and 2 nights without speaking a single word, or being spoken to. Add to that the fact I had done very little other than meditate 3 times a day and when I tasted the delicious food that had been made from scratch, and with so much love; I got emotional just with the bliss of it all.

On this visit, I chose to stay 4 days (you have the option to stay between 2-4 days). This year has felt like a lot of output, a lot of holding, shifting and supporting and doing and I was ready for some free fall. I have been on quite a journey for the past couple of years with respect to taking big breaks from tech and being my own gatekeeper of my time and energy and welcome any opportunity to get quiet and unplug, especially in such gorgeous surroundings.

As a retreat attendee you have private access to the magnificently serene meditation gardens from sunrise to nightfall (I tended to stay out of the gardens during public visiting hours 11-4). The landscaping is exquisite with a lovely chapel, lots of little hideaway benches, and lakeside gazebos for enjoying the peace and beauty that is literally everywhere. The dining room provides 3 vegetarian meals a day and there’s coffee at breakfast time (whew) and tea service in the afternoon and evening. You’re invited to attend meditations with the monks 3 times a day and there’s an option to join the temple service one weeknight and Sunday morning where the monks share a teaching, blessing and lead you in meditation. Other than a visit to the temple, I opted to take my practice to the lake (besides, swans and hummingbirds, cranes, herons and koi and a visiting pelican at sunset). The rooms are very comfortable and basic (bed, desk, chair, dresser, shower) and I felt safe and at ease at all times. The staff are just lovely and there’s a lot of nodding, smiling and hands on hearts in the corridors and pathways.

I came to get free - to get as close to the gold that I absolutely know resides underneath all the coverings of personality, ego, identity, the jobs we do, the roles and relationships and responsibilities, along with all the fear, doubt, and insecurities. I came for clarity around a couple of questions. I came to be in my own energy and walk around in that home frequency for a few days.

If you’ve ever walked a labyrinth, you may understand the concept that you enter one way and return the same way, but in the experience of the quiet meditative walking you leave changed. My silent retreat felt like that. Like I had wandered into the center of the labyrinth and sat inside the quiet, soft heart of it for 4 days, where I was shown all the ways I have changed. All that I have let go of, forgiven, transformed, healed, and alchemized into gold. Where I am free to be me. And now, the assignment is to bring that experience back into my everyday life. To be that peace, that love, that joy, that presence, that gratitude. Not in a perfect way, but in a practice way. To remember who I am, and what I’m here to do … LOVE.

What a prize!

“You may be surprised at what seclusion will do for your mind, body, and soul … Through the portals of silence, the healing sun of wisdom and peace will shine upon you.”

Paramahansa Yogananda (click to link to retreat website)