More
Info on a Silent Retreat......
If you are wondering what a Silent Retreat
is all about, read the Testimonial below from one of the participants ….
Testimonial
‘”So what is a silent retreat? Well
from my point of view it sounded like bliss even if I was naive to the purpose,
any opportunity to get some time out and leave the city behind can only be a
treasure.
And a treasure it was, firstly Boondocks is
nestled in such a magnificent part of our country, raw African bushveld
surrounded by hills and mountains, gorges and streams, and a view that leaves
you in awe. The lodge itself is superb, lending and blending itself to
the environment and purpose at hand, an energy that embraces you wholly and
frees you completely.
Not knowing all too well what to expect I
was intrigued but quickly learned that a silent retreat is just that,
silent. Boondocks is magnificently quiet and in this stillness you
realise how disrupting the sounds of the city are, the constant talking is and
how our daily lives are affected by this uninterrupted noise. Out here
there is none of that suppressing noise what so ever!
We all had our own agenda and Nicky clearly
spells that out, “set your intention” she encouraged, and promptly provided
some enlightened material to get the momentum going. For me it was
stillness and peace, my spirt was exhausted and I just wanted to rest and
connect with nature and self. For the others they all had their own intentions,
answers to questions, and discoveries to life, a way forward, and their own
personal journey.
And this is what you discover, that in the
silence once you start listening to your being, not to your words but your
being, the discoveries are amazing. I wandered what I was going to
do for 48 hours, no cell phone reception, no TV, just about no contact to the
outside world and not even a chance to engage with my friends and family around
me, not even to the point of greeting them good morning or wishing them good
night. Do you realise how strange it is to wake when you want to, to boil
the kettle only for yourself, not to acknowledge the person you just walked
past, but to hold them in your heart, it is unbecoming, awkward and bizarre yet
incredibly powerful when you are committed and dedicated to you.
That’s what it’s about, time to your
thoughts, your needs, your interests and your being. If you allow the
others around you to gesture or touch you when you could be in a place of deep
self-awareness, that answer you are seeking could be gone in an instant. So
that is where the beauty is, everyone holds the space, there is no disrespect,
on the contrary its complete respect in honour of the others around you.
Just the knowing of them being around was comfort enough to know I was not
alone.
48 Hours went by far too quickly, I
acknowledged who I was, read amazing and insightful books, walked hand in hand
with nature, embraced my body, took insights from the labyrinth, hugged the age
old trees in gratitude for sharing their wisdom and stared wide eyed at the
magnificent view for hours, simply because I could, because these 48 hours were
mine and mine alone.
When our time was up, when it was time to
break the silence, I was not ready because I was in admiration of what I had
discovered without the influence of a gentle conversation, news headlines or a
phone call. The insights were from a greater power found all around,
found within and I needed more.
This is not what a silent retreat is all
about, it’s what my silent retreat was all about and it was magnificent.
Thank you Nicky, you have opened up a new
space for me.
Kind regards
Dorian’”
