The past two-plus weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. In fact, you may have noticed, I was conspicuously missing last week. All told, I stepped foot in seven airports and one train station, and I slept in seven beds. Whew! And it concluded in the perfect way, with retreat weekend.
It is my plan to hold at least one meditation retreat a year. Retreats offer an opportunity for reflection and renewal, a time to expand your practice and learn new practices.
Retreat is when I let me woo flag fly. Where airy-fairy carries the day. When rituals rule, and anything goes. I plan for months, then let go knowing things will unfold perfectly.
Planning a retreat always begins with a theme, and the theme this year was “Celebrate Community.” The theme, along with the moon phase and season, is the jumping off point for meditations and ceremonies, and so we breathed as community, cooked as community, created nature art as community, and shared as community. All while letting go of that which no longer serves us during this waning phase of the moon after the first full moon of Fall.
Without giving too much away (you really have to experience it for yourself), the weekend included meditation, ceremony and ritual. We welcomed in a sound healer, a henna artist and an ayurvedic practitioner. Gentle morning yoga opened each day, and sleep aromatherapy tucked us in at night. Our traditional popcorn and movie night returned and there was even a field trip to nature for forest bathing. There was laughter and tears; sharing of food and ourselves; celebration and education; and deep, deep meaning.
I always bring home many gifts from retreat, both literally and figuratively, all of which I am profoundly grateful for. And the best part? The gift of the remarkable women that joined me. Now, on to planning for next year!
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