During the webinar last Sunday, Mark suggested (not required) for us to do a time of silent reflection. No texting, no computer, no talking, no texting, no music, no reading, no texting, no Facebook, no Twitter, etc. (Did I mention no texting?). Immediately this appealed to me. I even commented in the chat that I had been adding in an extra sit meditation during the day because it helped to calm my mind. When I made the decision to have my silent retreat the next day (it simply worked out for me to do it that quickly), I felt energy moving around in the front of my brain (prefrontal cortex) and the right side of my head (temporal lobe). Interesting feeling. Not sure what it means. Any brain experts out there?
Monday dawns quietly. I did my Og reading and read my affirmation and service cards silently to myself. I did my T-Tapp and Kundalini yoga from memory silently. As I lay on the floor after my workout on my chi machine, I felt a layer of cement “burst” off my body, similar to my first acupuncture session in 2014 where I felt like a Vicki-shaped balloon “popped” and collapsed back on me.
During the day, my manifesting ability came quickly. I only needed to think of something and there it was. For example, I was looking at the beautiful blue sky out my window and thought how beautiful it is to be flying with my hubby and immediately a plane flew overhead. I thought back to a previous day I spent totally by myself back in 1995 where I went to the Riverbanks Zoo and saw a spider web that looked like a vinyl record playing on a record player in the spring breeze. Immediately a spider goes crawling across my window.
I ate a small lunch and did my lunchtime reading and another meditation. I felt at rest, peaceful, content…all was right with the world. Bliss.
During the afternoon, I watched planes fly overhead (evidently we’re on a flight pathway) every 15-20 minutes. I thought about the 100 or more people on board and wondered what their lives were like. Did they know that I was on the Earth below watching them traverse the sky? Or were they wrapped up in their devices or napping as they flew over Tennessee?
After my hubby left to go see a client, I did feel a bit anxious about not having my phone on. What if he needed me? What if he had a wreck? What if someone needed to reach me? I tried to soothe myself by remembering I hadn’t had a cell phone until I was in my late 20s and had managed to survive quite well. 🙂
Still, there was a feeling of relief when I heard my hubby open the door returning home. Yet also, I felt a bit of guilt that I had done nothing money-making all day long. As I thought that, a hot flash ran through me. Embarrassment? Shame? Guilt?
Because it was dark and quiet, I decided to go to bed by 8pm. I slept soundly through the night and awoke feeling a bit anxious. What had I missed? What did I need to do now that my silent retreat was complete? I then decided I needed to do another one, preferably longer and with a little more notice to be sure I wouldn’t feel as if I had left anything undone.
So what did I learn? I learned the world goes on quite well without me. A somewhat comforting thought and yet also a little disturbing. If the world could survive without me, then what was my purpose in being here? Deep thoughts to be contemplated on the next silent retreat.
I am most grateful this was suggested for us to do. It is something I will do again.
Have you ever done a silent retreat? Share your experience and observations in the comments, please. What changed for you by doing this?
Hi Vicki, wow I do love the way you describe your silent days.
It drive me to do the same, I had plan to do it today tomorrow and monday but I had to break it since a good friend of mine lost her mother this past night, in horrid circumstances… I am with her, her companion and their little girl. I will do my silence retreat another week-end… But being calm and present can help them. Have a great week Vicki !
So sorry for your friend’s loss. How wonderful of you to be there for them!
Very nice! I am looking forward to a 2 to 3 day silent retreat at a monastery. I I am in the process of setting it up. I will blog about it even if our class has ended! Can’t wait!
I look forward to doing a longer one. A monastery sounds perfect!
Nicely done Vicki and great demonstration of awareness. It’s all good.
Thank you, Terry!
Vicki silence is beautiful…see my poems on Kajabi that I just posted today.