“Silence: the fertile ground where the soul is nourished, intuition blossoms, and our spiritual journey is illuminated.” – Sarah McLean, American meditation teacher, author 

Imagine waking up early and remembering that today is the day you committed to being in silence. You glance at the clock and make the decision to appreciate your life today and to be as present as possible for each moment. The only sound you hear is the birdsong outside, and the gentle rhythm of your breath. You smile to yourself.

As you make your way into the kitchen to make your tea (or coffee) and reach for your phone, you then remember the promise you made to yourself: you will not look at or use your phone or get on your computer at all today. Though there is a moment or two of discomfort – you soon feel relieved.  

You settle in the chair by the window with your tea and allow yourself to be immersed by sounds, smells, and sensations that are present amid the peacefulness. Then, something remarkable starts to happen.

First, you notice how grateful you are that you chose to take a break from the noise and distraction of your normally “plugged-in” daily routine. Then, you notice the world around you coming more alive—the sunlight dancing through the trees, the plants on your table seemingly smiling at you, the sensation of the solid floor under your feet grounding you, the air on your skin caressing you, and you relax and let go a little more deeply. Today is going to be a good day.

Your thoughts begin to take over, the to-do lists, the memories, the judgements, the ideas, the what-ifs, and you soon realize that most of these thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday, and the day before that. So, you decide to tune into the flow of breathing in, and breathing out. In and out. The mind-chatter of your mind begins to loosen its hold on your attention, and as it quietens, you tune in to the subtler sensations of your breath, and notice your body begins to relax.

In this stillness, you become more aware of your emotions as they rise to the surface—gratefulness, joy, sadness, anxiety. One by one they seem to arise and dissipate without calling you to do anything about the. In the spaciousness of simply being, you decide to embrace the texture of every emotion as it comes and goes and allow all to here. The subtle rhythm of your own heartbeat comforts you. And you realize you don’t have to “do” or “be” anything more, less, or other than what and who you are in this moment.

As the day unfolds, you pray, you meditate, and you read spiritual texts from the books on your shelf.  You find yourself slipping into a state of deep relaxation, and you let go into the simple peace that seems to permeate every fiber of your being. In this space, clarity emerges—insights into your life, your relationships, your purpose, your spiritual path, and you feel that you are more alive and clear. Amidst it all, there’s a profound sense of connection—to yourself, to others, to something greater than yourself, to that which is looking through your eyes. You recognize the truth, that this, your life, is truly sacred and you are good and true. You make a promise to yourself to let your light shine, and to remember your own goodness, always.

By the end of the day—or perhaps the retreat—you feel transformed, you feel more authentic and are more content. Though the world may once again be filled with noise and demands for your attention, you remind yourself that, amidst the chaos, the choice to tune in to the ground of silence is always possible, whether for a few moments, or a few days. You realize that taking a day of silence is a haven for you, and it costs nothing. Silence is the essential ingredient for traveling your spiritual journey.  

“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” – Hermann Hesse (1877–1962), German-Swiss novelist, poet, and painter