Too often we get so captivated by the busyness and hecticness of daily living that we forget to reference our deeper, intuitive selves. TV can be entertaining as well as educational, but it can also be a distraction, deflecting self-reflection. Our relationships with lovers, family, friends and co-workers likewise provide the juice that makes life worth living and the necessary friction out of which growth ensues. Yet, they too can be a diversion from the inner journey, where the potential for maximum fulfillment lies.
The benefits of retreating from our lives, taking the time to pull back, are manifold. Besides relaxation, rest, healing and reconnecting with oneself, the opportunity to go within allows us to gain distance and perspective from the circumstances of our lives. As a result, we encounter the clarity and the direction we have been seeking. Retreats afford the opportunity to reassess the direction our lives are taking, and to make the necessary course corrections.
The word “retreat” comes from the Latin root meaning to “draw back.” In spiritual retreats we withdraw from the “real” world–from surface living–and enter the deeper inner realms. For most of us the inner journey is an adventure that remains vastly uncharted and unexplored.
Going within
One of the constants found among most spiritual traditions is the importance of going within. Jesus is said to have said: “the Kingdom of God is within you.” “If human beings knew their own inner secrets, they would never look elsewhere seeking for happiness and peace,” asserts a Sufi master. A well known Wiccan prayer, “The Charge of the Goddess,” ends with: “And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.” The whole thrust of Buddhist or Hindu meditation is to quiet the mind and delve deeper inside.
Retreats, especially those that include time for silence, make possible the temporary quieting of the incessant inner chatter that Buddhists call the “monkey mind.” Our thoughts are like monkeys randomly jumping from branch to branch, and we end up utterly exhausted by the end of the day.
Types of retreats
Among the many types of retreats are meditation, yoga, and breathwork. Retreats can be solitary or in groups, guided or not. Camping for a few days alone in nature could be profoundly centering, healing and inspiring. Most people choose to join more structured settings, where they feel supported by a facilitator and a group of like-minded others, all sharing a similar purpose. Some choose to rent a secluded house or other venue and hire a leader to facilitate their friends or colleagues in a variety of experiences to deepen their connection to themselves and each other.
Generally, participants are then inspired to go without once again, and re-engage the world as integrated human beings making a real difference.
However you do it, please take some time for yourself, retreat, and dive deep into your own inner journey. You’ll be glad you did!
*******
Christian de la Huerta has been a writer, speaker, retreat and group facilitator for the past 19 years. Author of the award-winning and critically-acclaimed “Coming out Spiritually,” he is currently working on a new book “The Soul of Power.”
Christian is creator and teacher of several self-development programs focusing on personal growth and awareness, advanced transformational practices, understanding sex and relationships, mechanisms of ego and projection, life purpose, and reclaiming personal power. Retreats, workshops and other events led by Christian are known for their life-changing experience and for their inspiring and transformative exploration of our inner human potential.
The following events and workshops are listed in date sequence with links for more information. This list includes events that are day events (not overnight). This is a great way to sample wonderful spiritual retreats with outstanding topics and speakers. There are many more but these are suggested as starters for those looking to experience the Divine in the surrounding area. Speakers include Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, Laurence Freeman, Sharon Parks, Martin Laird and more…
In an era in which people are reeling from busyness and a deluge of electronic information, silent retreats offer a path back to the natural rhythms of the body, mind and spirit. To stillness.
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States bought the former Clarion Inn Kennedy Space Center, along with its furnishings and equipment, in June in a deal the church has said was valued at $3 million. More about this announcement…
See article entitled “Spiritual retreat centers face financial challenges in tough times” , Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More information about these tough times…
My silent treatments started 15 years ago. Stressed out, worn out and wigged out, I wanted out – of town, that is. But I was in no shape to make travel plans, so a friend of mine took one look at me and, over my feeble protestations, signed me up for a retreat in the Los Angeles mountains shepherded by a Benedictine monk. A silent retreat. No talking allowed.
This article introduces you to the world of silent retreats and some of their locations.
Lent is a time to reassess our relationship with God, and it’s difficult to do that if we’re busy all the time,” Father Pierson said. “It’s helpful to just get away for a little while and slow down and reflect.”
There are many kinds of retreats available to suit different personalities and different spiritual needs. Here are a few to consider during the Lenten season.
The Internet has opened a door for those individuals and groups to locate a retreat center and events without much trouble. The seeker of these retreat facilities usually uses a Search Engine like Google to search for places and workshops in the locale that interests them. The “search terms” vary but the most popular words include a combination of the following: retreat, retreat center, conference center, ‘state’ retreat center, spiritual, religious, health, etc… There are online directories that charge a nominal fee for retreat centers to advertise themselves and their events. In addition to your own web site, advertising with some of these retreat directories is an excellent way to effectively promote your retreat and conference center.
Can your retreat facility be found on the Internet? One way to test whether your center can be found is to run Google Search with words that include the state and city, the name of the facility, key words mentioned above and spiritual words if appropriate. With this test you are wearing the cap of a retreat seeker and seeing if your facility can be discovered quickly. Most likely, they will not know the name of your center but are searching within a specific geographical area. If retreat directories rank high in your search, you might wish to contact them about advertising.
Social media is becoming a popular way to advertise your retreat center and events also. It is free and can be used to direct traffic to your website. Popular programs include FaceBook, YouTube and Twitter. Some retreat centers are using blogs to generate articles that will promote them.
Once an inquiry is made about your facility and their activities, be sure to capture the information from the inquirer, including name and email address. Then you are able to use direct marketing techniques to send out newsletters and announcements with tools like Constant Contact to those in your database.
A few of the Online Retreat Directories publish information not only about retreat and conference centers, but the following: retreat events calendar, retreat jobs, retreat centers for sale, spiritual directors, retreat leaders, retreat books and retreat articles.
The Internet provides an automated meeting place for the seeker and provider of the retreat experience to discover one another. Computer technology is improving and the price to acquire online advertising is low compared to the benefits derived. Advertising your retreat center online is a low risk, high return investment with only a short term commitment to measure the benefits.
Christ the King is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse NY as a special address in the community: “It’s a peaceful place,” says Anne Richter, a member of the House staff of seven people. “You kind of feel God here.”
The diocese welcomes visitors of all faiths to the retreat house, “for either a casual stroll around our peaceful grounds” or overnight guests there for a retreat.
Click here for more about the history of Christ the King Retreat House
When driving south from Boston this month, your attention may be captivated by a rather unexpected sight along Route I-93S: a giant billboard proclaiming that “All are Welcome at Glastonbury Abbey.”
Glastonbury Abbey in Cohasset, MA, provides a place where men and women can enrich themselves spiritually. The Abbey is a place of welcome, prayer, and peace in a time fraught with spiritual and economic uncertainty. The beautiful and peaceful grounds provide visitors a setting in which to find an oasis away from the pressures and frenetic pace of contemporary life.
The Monks encourage all to experience a Benedictine approach to life – to sit quietly, ponder, pray, and be renewed. All are welcome.
