Flame RavenHawk is a Pagan author who has been teaching and writing about topics of interest to the Pagan community since 1987. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications including Llewellyn's Wicca Almanac, NewWitch and Elements Magazine. She also maintains an extensive website known as Flame's Firepit, dedicated to the exploration of Shamanic Wicca and Pagan Philosophy. www.flamesfirepit.org
The busy pace of the Western world keeps most of us stressed out and off
balance - moving us at breakneck speed from one activity to another, and
pushing us through an endless schedule of outside obligations. This frantic
pace takes a toll on our bodies, minds, and spirits, making us weary and in
need of rest. Going on a retreat is a time-honored custom that can bring
spiritual renewal to even the busiest person.
There are many benefits to be found in spiritual retreats. We take retreats
to re-energize our bodies, refocus our minds, reset our emotions, clarify our
purpose, and refresh our spirits. A retreat is a time to put our mundane
concerns on a back burner for a brief while and reconnect with our own inner
self. It's an opportunity to spend quality time with ourselves.
Anyone of any age can benefit from this practice. From stressed-out teenagers
to senior citizens undergoing major life changes, retreats create the space
where healing and renewal can take place. Retreats are for anyone who feels
over-burdened by obligations, uncertain of their spiritual direction, or
merely swept away by the pace of life.
Do you think that your life is simply too busy to allow you to take time off?
Do you feel like your obligations make it impossible to leave home and go on
a retreat? Consider this: a retreat can be whatever you need it to be. A
retreat can be as short as an hour or as long as you have. The retreat can be
taken in an exotic locale, or within your own bedroom. Even an unexpectedly
free afternoon offers the opportunity for retreat. For most busy folks, a
weekend get away is within reach, and it can result in a rejuvenating
experience.
Getting Away From It All
A retreat should ideally be a time away from obligations and expectations,
and it's up to each one of us to create the space for that to happen. We need
to start with the firm conviction that taking quality time for ourselves is
good both for ourselves and for those around us. Clearing our schedules to
create time for retreat starts with the idea that our own inner lives deserve
equal attention to the demands of others.
Caregivers of all kinds - especially parents of young children - tend to have
a Superman/Wonder Woman idea of themselves. We forget that in order to truly
serve the needs of those who depend on us, we must first start by taking
excellent care of ourselves. We're not doing anyone any favors by allowing
ourselves to become burned-out, emotionally drained, and physically
exhausted.
How long your retreat should be depends totally on your circumstances and
your needs. Even a few hours on a weekday evening can be just the break your
spirit was looking for. However, in order to begin to tap the true depths of
renewal, longer retreats of at least several days will bring the most
benefits. A retreat that lasts an entire weekend can truly transform the
outlook of even the busiest, most distressed spirit.
Home Retreat Solutions
Although taking a formal retreat at a location that specifically caters to
that purpose can be a deeply empowering experience, a successful retreat
experience can be found right on your own doorstep. And even if you share
your home with others, the solitude of a retreat can still be found.
It would obviously be ideal if arrangements could be made for family members
or roommates to be elsewhere during the weekend of your retreat. However,
with your family's cooperation, you can still make a successful retreat
happen for yourself even if they remain at home. Explain to them what you
hope to accomplish and seek their active help and cooperation.
Prepare for your retreat by clearing your calendar and setting a date. Once
you set the date, treat it as a high priority and stick with it. Do not
cancel your plans for anything trivial. If you show others that you value
this time for yourself, others will more likely honor your retreat by
supporting your efforts. When the day of your retreat arrives, be mentally
prepared to set aside all of your worries for the duration.
Tell people ahead of time that you will be unavailable for the weekend. Turn
the telephone answering machine on and turn the ringer off. Unplug yourself
from the outside world by switching off computers, television, and live
radio. Suspend newspaper delivery. Step away from the world. For the length
of your retreat, satisfy yourself that the world will keep turning without
you for the time being.
The next step for a home retreat is to help create an environment suitable
for contemplation and relaxation. Designate a room for yourself where your
family can guarantee you won't be interrupted, typically a bedroom. Create a
large "Do Not Disturb" sign to place on the door to remind them.
Perhaps there is an attic or basement that is already apart from the general
family living space that can be transformed into a suitable retreat spot. If
climate and location make it possible, a tented area in a back yard might
also be used as a retreat space.
Whether it is a single room or an entire house, turn the space into a
sanctuary where you can be comfortable and relaxed. Clear the space of
clutter, and fill it with things that bring comfort and inspiration. Bring in
fresh flowers, light candles, burn incense, heat scented oils, play soft
music, and dim the lights. Be sure to hang that "Do Not Disturb"
sign on the door where it won't be overlooked. This is your time.
Retreat Activities for Body, Mind, & Spirit
How you spend your time while on retreat will greatly determine your
experience. The primary goal of a retreat is to refresh the body, mind, and
spirit. With that in mind, there are many activities that can restore us to a
better state of wholeness.
To nourish and re-energize the body, treat it well for the duration of your
retreat. If you want your body to be the temple of your spirit, you need to
treat it like the sacred space it is. Feed your body with wholesome foods
made from the freshest ingredients possible. Eat slowly, and with intention,
honoring the gift of nourishment that is found within each bite. Reduce or
eliminate refined sugars, caffeine, alcohol, and other substances that stress
the body. If you smoke, try to reduce the amount you smoke as much as is
comfortable. Sip fresh water throughout the duration of your retreat to keep
yourself well hydrated. Reconnect with the body by doing yoga, tai chi, or
similar slow, gentle stretching.
Feel free to pamper your body as well. Retreats are a wonderful time to
indulge in leisurely things like facials, manicures, and massage. You might
spend some quiet time in creative play by painting personalized henna designs
on hands and feet. Try soaking in a hot tub filled with bath salts or scented
oils, and allow the water to soak away all of your cares, leaving your
cleansed inside and out. Above all, pay attention to and honor your body
during the retreat and you will emerge renewed.
Another important goal of a spiritual retreat is to help refocus the mind.
Unfortunately, too many of us live life on autopilot. One of the consequences
of living at the pace of Western culture is that we've forgotten the
importance of introspection in a balanced life. Simply put, we've forgotten
to check in with ourselves once in awhile and ask ourselves what's really
important to us. We don't typically spend too much time each day getting in
touch with what we're thinking or feeling. We rush from one thing to another,
rarely pausing for reflection.
A retreat is an opportunity to reconnect with our thoughts and feelings in an
empowering, growth-inspiring way. Writing in a journal is a powerful tool for
connecting directly to what we're thinking and feeling, because the very act
of writing forces us to clarify our thoughts enough to put them into words.
Creating scrapbooks or memory albums are an excellent way to help us reflect
on our past so that we can better understand our current situation. Building
an album can also give us the opportunity to safely recall the memories that
still weigh us down, in order to find ways to move past them.
While you're exploring your innermost thoughts and wishes, you might wish to
dust off an old childhood dream and create a collage. Try creating a collage
of images that relate to your dream. This contemplative activity can help you
clarify your goals and inspire you to find ways to bring your dreams to life.
Other activities to help you reconnect to your mind and emotions include
reading inspirational works or listening to evocative, uplifting music.
Reading the sage advice of the masters, or absorbing the mood of a moving
poem can lift our thinking out of the mundane cares of the world. Music can
help us tap into and express emotions. Try allowing your body to move to the
music in whatever ways you wish. See how dancing makes you feel. If you have
sufficient privacy, you might also try talking to yourself. Simply carry on a
running monologue of whatever thoughts pass through your head. Sometimes
speaking our thoughts out loud helps us to examine our own thinking from a
whole new perspective. A retreat gives you the time to make these
explorations.
Although a retreat will help you refresh your body and refocus your mind, the
biggest benefit is how it can renew your spirit. Taking care of the body and
mind gives your spirit the opportunity to stretch forth and embrace life. We
normally keep our spiritual needs stuffed far down on our priority lists, but
a retreat gives our spirits the chance to be nourished and grow. Meditation,
contemplation, or prayer should be a central feature of a retreat, since it
gives each of us the chance to sit with our own spirits and find our purpose
and direction in life. By slowing down, reducing the distractions of our busy
lives, and focusing within, we're given the opportunity to quiet our busy
minds and listen to the inspiration of the gods. Meditation is an opportunity
for each of us to find balance and peace.
Holding onto the Peace
By the end of your retreat, you should be feeling refreshed in body, mind,
and spirit. You've spent quality time in solitude honoring your body,
clarifying your mind, and becoming reacquainted with your spirit. But how do
you hold onto those peaceful feelings upon returning to the stress-filled
life you stepped away from?
The best way to hold onto the insights you've gained and the peace you've
experienced is to continue to honor your body, mind, and spirit in your
everyday life. Take mini-retreats whenever you feel stressed. Light your
candles, lock the bathroom door, and soak in a scented bath. Build a few
minutes of meditation into your daily schedule. Continue to keep a daily
journal of your thoughts.
By staying aware of our own needs, we can treat ourselves well, and hold onto
the peace we found while on retreat.
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