• I strongly recommend setting aside as much practical matters (work, home, school, socialising) as you can during retreats so that you may gain the full effects and benefits of this inward stroke.
• Get plenty of rest – You may notice you’re more tired than usual – this is normal, give yourself permission to rest as much as is needed during the retreat.
• Take the opportunity for silence and inward introspection – Meditate or sit quietly as much as possible.
• Minimise inputs – I feel this is an important one to mention. Internet, TV, Media, Conversations – these all bring the attention outwards which means you could miss what is coming up from your own depths. When on a retreat it’s an opportunity to put it down and be with what is arising – to actually encourage that even, a lot tends to come up to the surface on retreats and learning to be present and compassionately holding space for it, and yourself helps with the processing of this. Don’t get me wrong… that can be uncomfortable and the mind will beg for distractions…. but it is very much part of and in service to the purpose of the retreat – a deep dive inward.
• Journal – Journaling can be a very helpful way to help process what is coming up. Be mindful to strike a balance of how you journal because that can become a distraction too, much like media. I suggest don’t hold on to any of the words, let the journal be the page to let it out and let it go and stay in touch and grounded in your felt experience rather than in the mind while journaling.
• Light exercise, walking, yogas stretching – Between each session after you’ve rested. At a minimum I highly recommend before each session stretch and shake out – it’s very good for moving energy and grounding yourself in the felt experience, and connecting with the body. If you’re feeling restlessness and excess energy take a walk in nature to help balance the nervous system.
• Stay out of the mind where possible – Don’t hold on to any experience or any expectation of experience. Try not to label, judge or analyse your experiences. Don’t try to control your experience or your mind just bring the attention back to the felt bodily/energetic level of experience rather than in the mind – allow it to come up and out.
• Let go and stay open – Be ready to let go of what doesn’t serve you and needs to be let go of.
• It’s different for everyone – Everyone will have different experiences so don’t compare. We are ALL receiving what we need in any given moment and I am here to support you all in that individually and as a group.
• Physical and/or emotional discomfort – Awakening can be a destructive process for held beliefs and assumptions in the conditioned mind and during an intensive retreat such as this a lot can come to the surface. This is part of the process and it’s important to not feel this is wrong or bad, it’s actually the opposite. However this can get uncomfortable for some in various ways. If you find this happening to you, firstly stop and lay down, listen to yourself, what your body wants. Secondly, don’t judge or go with the sense of fear around what is coming up, give compassionate space for it like you would a small child who is looking for love. Thirdly, get in touch with me… I’m happy to help and support you through what you are going through.
• Be KIND and LOVING towards yourself – Be easy with yourself during these days and the immediate days after – things can take some time to settle and unwind.