The past few years have demonstrated more than ever the importance of having sacred spaces and retreats to nurture our Souls. How we create them and where we go to be in them are demonstrations of our own unique calling.
Retreats bring us into nurtured and sacred spaces. They can be at actual retreat centers, where we take part in a scheduled retreat program, or at places where we create our own. It is generally outside of our home as our homes tend to be filled with the energy of our busy lives. However, we can also create a special space in our home for a retreat of our own choosing. To truly be able to connect deeply within, these places and spaces are very important.
Retreats bring forth deeper spaces within to listen to heart guidance.
Where do we go to seek out the solitude and sanctity that brings nurturing awareness into our lives? One way to answer this is to know what is important and needed for each of us as unique individuals. Are we needing more nature, more solitude, more company with those on a similar spiritual path or are we looking to go deeper into meditation and spiritual practices? Asking ourselves the right questions will lead us to the right answers that guide us to our unique retreat bringing forth more heart guidance.
Inner Retreats
The Most Sacred Retreat is to Create Your Own
To deepen spiritual practices that are currently a part of ones life is a great goal. What is exciting about this is the creativity involved and the intention set. If you are longing to create your own yoga practice at home, you can create your own retreat around the theme and bring in many elements to make this happen. This would be ideal for someone who has practiced with teachers before and in yoga classroom settings to deepen this in the home studio. The same can be applied to meditation practices, mantra practices and the list goes on and on.
We can teach ourselves and others the sacredness of presence through nurturing it and through being a living example.
Ask Yourself What You Have Longed to Deepen
When we meditate or simply take a moment of silence, we can focus on our heart and breath. As our body and mind continue to relax with slower breathing, we can place a hand over our heart and another hand over our abdomen. Then, silently within, we can place our awareness and then ask ourselves, what we have longed to deepen. The longer we stay here, the more clarity and answers will come.
Taking whatever arises to a sheet of paper, we can begin to write these insights down. Whatever wishes to be deepened, will arise. We can then begin to visualize the most ideal location for our retreat. This could be in a home, a rented private cabin or even a hostel, retreat center or private accommodation. What is required is that there is a possibility for private times and sacred space.
Silent spaces in nature are great resources to connect as we can hear and feel all of the elements as messengers and guides. Very little money is actually needed. One could also find places where there are health services with a spa to include. The main thing is to go within and seek out what is wishing to come forth and be expressed.
Private and Silent Retreats Offer our Souls Solace
As our world continues to spin, we can get still within. Finding private and sacred opportunities to connect and create sacred spaces does indeed seem to be the medicine of all times. There is a time and place for everything and the time is always right for a special retreat. Times of silence can be quite expansive and informative.
First, making sure that we have a sacred space in our living environment for everyday life is absolutely essential for daily momentary retreats and resetting. I find having a separate room for this to be invaluable. If this is not possible, there are still endless sacred opportunities. Even creating a sacred space in a quiet corner of your most peaceful room can be heart expanding and meditative.
To create your retreat, ask yourself what elements are needed for who you are and what you embody. A candle, plant, stone, a fountain, a statue, an altar with sacred items, flowers, incense, soft and peaceful music and anything that lights a candle within is welcome. It is ideal to keep only your energy in this space and to embody it as your own. Keeping it clean and with light energy will enhance its meditative qualities.
Retreats in Sacred Spaces
Retreats bring us back home, within.
In our private space and self created retreats, we can light the candle within and all around as our energy expands. Focusing on a slowing down of our breath and a conscious dedication to each task before us will nurture a deepening of presence. Our inner home is our safe space always and nothing on the outside can ever take it away.
When we are dedicated to our life path and our purpose, our inner teacher awakens and lights our inner lamp. Retreating to our sacred spaces within and without assists us in connecting more deeply. Within is the ultimate guide for our lives.
Dedicating ourselves to our practices, we will begin to see more inner and outer flowers growing.
Let us return home to what is sacred and essential while staying connected to our breath.
